Medarne

[Zet]

A large town sitting basically in the middle of nowhere, but still highly populated. Many travelers find salvation here when they believe themselves to be totally lost. One of the more interesting points of the town is there is a large dragon statue in the center of the town.

[Feneroe]

The red armored man named Jacob and the girl with him leave the small and dusty shop. Both of them had done all the shopping they needed. They both walked to the town's stable and picked up their partners, a Sacaen horse and Ilian pegasus knight. The two walked while talking. Marine started the conversation hesitantly. She had forgotten something she should know.

"Umm... So where are we supposed to meet the client again?"

"... Outside the north wall at the cracked part of it. Marine, this is what, the sixth time I have told you?"

The girl, Marine, looked down at the ground. She just couldn't remember the small details no matter how many times she was told. She answered him in a whisper.

"... The ninth."

Jacob sighed and shook his head. It had been like this every job they have taken in the past half year. She never remembered the name of the client or the meeting place. Always remembered the payment, though.

"It is almost time to meet up. You have everything you need, right?"

"Yep! Food for a couple days, filled both our waterskins, got a couple light blankets in a saddlebag, and we just did shopping for battle supplies."

"Good. ... You sure you do not want to see your father while here?"

"No. You know that-"

"-we are your family. Yeah, you have told me at least once a week."

"That's right. I don't have anyone in Bern to see, now do I?"

Jacob sighed once more. He would have to let the matter drop for now. He still wanted to know what caused her to be so distant from her blood kin that she would not ever go see either of them. Maybe he would get a chance to ask again later.

[Miracles]

A figure cloaked in the garb of the shamans walks into the town slowly, the hood up to hide the shaman's face. It glances around upon reaching some point past the northern entrance and looked towards the buildings. It looks to each building and stares at them with an abnormal fascination. The girl within the cloak is stunned by the sheer magnitude of the town, and she moved over to place a hand upon the building closest to her, feeling what she had never felt before. The material was rough yet would not give way and the girl began to knock on the building's wall in curiousity. She really did act out of character for one who practiced elder magic.

[Zet]

*Finally getting out of his trance for the newly acquired axe, he wouldn't need a new one until his iron one was worn down and had to be replaced. There was just something off this time around when he came into the town. The first was seeing an Ilian pegasus in Bern for reasons stated with just the word 'Ilian'. A Sacaen horse wasn't as much of a surprise given that Sacae itself wasn't too far off from Bern, though one thing took over each of them: a hooded figure knocking on the wall of a building. He didn't know whether he should approach or not after seeing that since it just was...well, something he wasn't quite accustomed to seeing anyone do.*

[Feneroe]

The two travelers that were headed to leave the city passed a tailor's shop. This caught the eye of the pegasus rider, Marine. She looked over to her traveling companion.

"Hey, maybe we should get Vivi some new clothes while we're here? She's got mostly rags and we do have some spare gold."

"Maybe... Hold that thought."

Jacob had just noticed something very odd near the northern wall of Medarne. There was this girl standing there... Knocking on the wall of one of the buildings. This was something he had never seen before. He handed the reigns of his horse to Marine and walked towards the odd girl. He was not sure what to say, so he simply asked the first question that came to mind.

"... Do you need any help, miss?"

[Miracles]

Nadine by this time had put her ear to the wall as she knocked, pulling her hood back slightly to do so. Once Jacob spoke, however, the shaman jumped back in surprise, looking at the unmounted cavalier with wonder. He was tall...he was older...he was wearing weird clothes. Metal clothes. They called it...armor? She had read a few texts at home before leaving but she was still fascinated by the real thing. She walked up to him and poked the man's chest armor with her right index finger. "N-no...not really...this is armor, right?" She questions, now balling her hand into a fist and proceeding to knock on it as well. She would've put her ear to it too to hear the sound if she had not caught sight of the horse and pegasus nearby.

She immediately dashed over, her hood falling back to reveal long brown hair from behind and a young a joyous face from the front, her expression one of fascination as she came to the horse. Her eyes sparkled at the sight as she reached a hand out. "What...is this...and that?" The unknowing girl asks as she looks at both of the creatures.

[Phantom]

It wasn't long now before something happened out of nowhere. A wyvern, several at that rather were seen overhead of Medarne and circling the city in the skies above. They continued to circle it until one flew from the group, several following after him as they went off their own way momentarily. The rest flew off elsewhere, heading toward the Wyvern's Nest for those who were familiar with Bern's layout. The wyverns that had split off from the group though flew over some houses shortly afterward, letting out a roar as they began to attack people suddenly anyone and everyone that was outside at the time. Even some houses got slammed on by some of them during the random occurrence.

[Zet]

*The girl seemed to hold an odd fascination with everything, and the man looked like he was taking care of her....as best as he could anyway. Well, the peace was broken relatively quickly, the sudden attack from the wyverns happening. They had some that were untamed sure, but they hadn't just gone in and attacked everyone like they were now. Reaching for his iron axe, he did his best to swipe at some of the ones that came within range. He never did like fighting flying enemies...nor did he ever really want to until now either actually.*

[Feneroe]

Jacob was not sure how to react to the girl. The girl seemed, to him, like she was sheltered most of her life. What other excuse could there be for someone to have never seen armor or a horse before? Her being sheltered would explain the way she was acting, too. Knocking on walls was odd, after all. So was knocking on armor unless you were trying to make sure it was not some cheap tin disguised as something better. The girl probably did not know the proper way to act in public. Normally he would probably be irritated, but not this time. He let out a soft laugh and walked over to his horse.

While Jacob was amused at the girl's actions, Marine was not. Instead, she was slightly worried. People did not go around acting like that. Was she ill? Maybe injured or possibly crazy? She looked at the girl with a look of concern.

"Jacob, she alright?"

He almost laughed once again at Marine's words. The whole deal seemed slightly absurd. Instead of laughing, he patted his horse's neck.

"She is just fine. This one here is a horse. The one over by Marine, the girl standing right there -" Jacob motioned to indicate he was talking about the pegasus rider, "- is a pegasus. They-"

He was going to say more about them to the girl, but the sudden arrival and attack from the wyverns cut him off. He looked over to Marine, who gave him a nod - She understood what the cavalier was going to say before he did -, and quickly slung himself into the saddle of his own steed. He looked down at the girl in the bulky robes.

"Get somewhere safe. Either hide between some buildings and kneel down or lay on the ground or inside one if anyone will open their doors."

He hoped the girl would listen to him. If not, well, he could always pull her up on his horse. He would have to be more careful if he did, but he could keep her safe. He took a quick glance around then drew his sword. They, he and Marine, would try to drive off these beasts, but first... He took a deep breath and shouted.

"Anyone who cannot or is too afraid to fight, take cover! In a building would be best! Anyone who can and is willing to face a wyvern, take up arms and join me!"

He halfway hoped that they would just fly off after their initial attack, but he knew better. Animals never attacked if they planned on running. Beside Jacob, Marine had tied her new weapons to the back of her saddle and mounted up. She had spear in hand and was ready to fight. When it came to aerial combat, the only thing that could match a wyvern's ferocity and strength was a pegasus's speed and agility. Having that and her spear, these beasts did not scare her.

[Miracles]

Nadine nodded fervently as Jacob began to explain, but once the wyverns had interrupted her obtaining of new knowledge the girl frowned. She turned to watch the creatures fly by and then start attacking the people. Of the many things she had read, all of which were of a rather 'dark' nature, wyverns were one thing she knew about. Her knowledge of the uncommon was rather outstanding but when it came to the simple and common, like a horse or brick, she was easily fascinated due to seeing something she had never come across.

The girl looked to Jacob as he told her to hide, but she shook her head and reached into her robes and pulled forth a rather heavy book, one she still struggled a bit to carry but could still use. The black bindings easily told what kind of book it was, an Elder Magic Tome, specifically Flux. This would indeed explain her appearance in the heavy robes of a Shaman; she -was- a Shaman. "I'ma help too! My magic should do a number on them, and then we can talk more about horsies!" She said, the smile appearing on her face again as she stood by Jacob's horse. Things were going to get hectic, but she knew how to handle things, mostly...kinda...sorta...maybe.

[Phantom]

The people took to Jacob's words rather quickly, moving for shelter or their homes immediately. The wyverns continued soaring about, flying past Jeb after he swung at several of them. It was then that they noticed the easiest prey of them all: unmoving prey. Jacob, Marine, Nadine and Jeb each being in plain sight for them to attack, letting out a roar that only fit their species. The creature soaring upward before making a nosedive down and for their prey before they would hunt out the rest.

[Skirmish - First Flight: Feral Wyverns]

[Zet]

*He was glad that was over....but he was certain that the other wyverns had been headed their way. Apparently not actually, so what was done was done. Why would the wyverns suddenly go into such a rampage though? It didn't make any form of sense at all really. Not like they'd find out from him thinking about it, he was usually the one they said wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Though if he looked at who he was being compared with.....it was hard to tell if they were right. So far it looked like everyone was alright, but it never hurt to ask anyway.*

"Is everyone alright?"

[Feneroe]

The cavalier dismounted at the odd sight of the empty house. Well, presumed empty house. He thought he had saw someone, but he wasn't sure. Jacob walked over to the house and looked inside, trying to see if anyone was there. He called out ("Hello?") and, while waiting to see if there was a reply, examined the sword. He recognized the sword's make as a horseslayer, more specifically a longsword. It seemed odd to him for it to be stuck there.

-

Marine had also dismounted, but led her pegasus over to where the fighter was. Along the way she had dumped the rest of a vulnerary on the wounds caused by the wyvern's claws. It wasn't the normal way to use one, but she didn't think she could stomach drinking more of them (Marine hated the taste!) and there was no healer in sight so this was her method. It worked and the gashes closed as she walked, but they did feel odd. Marine was sure she was fine, but made a mental note to ask about it later. She looked at the fighter than over to where Jacob was (and wondered why he was looking into a house) before answering.

"Fine, just fine. Why'd these ugly lizards with wings -" Marine kicked the corpse of the last wyvern Jeb felled, "- attack like that? Ain't normal, right?"

[Zet]

"Definitely abnormal....."

*Jeb shook his head at the thought. Though the wyverns certainly weren't the sort of creatures that should be angered, it was awkward for them to just come out of their way entirely and attack the town. More than that, they came in a rather large pack. The only thing that saved them of the remaining forces was the fact that the rest had moved on to somewhere else....something that didn't sit too well in his stomach either. He couldn't imagine them going after another place like this and no one being there to stop them.*

"If there's something wrong with them, we might have to go to some experts on it. If there's some cause for it that might lurk at their home then maybe removing that could help too..."

*Of course, he could only speak like this because he had spent most of the fight when he wasn't actually axing things to think on the possible and plausible causes. If he hadn't then the best he could have said then was 'I wonder' with a few extra choice of words to try and make it look like he didn't completely understand what was happening.*

[Feneroe]

The cavalier ended up taking the sword with him, hoping it was left there for someone to get. If not, he would simply have to replace it if he ran into the owner later. He walked over to Marine and Jeb as they talked.

"Might. There's experts on wyverns, though?"

"A wyvern lord, obviously. There's probably some researches who have studied them extensively, too. This is Bern after all. But I'm not sure if we should go looking for one. Those distant wyvern cries bother me. I was sure they were coming this way at first. Where did they end up going and why? Jacob Zerliab by the way."

The cavalier figured he should at least introduce himself before trying to discuss about the beasts more (and possibly go flying lizard hunting). It never hurt to know who you were talking to, especially when they just helped keep a bad situation from getting ugly.

[Zet]

"I'm Jeb Emulus. It's good meeting you, circumstances aside."

*Introductions were good to do, especially given that they sort of just knew one another by some sort of thing. Jacob had been the sword rider, Marine the pegasus rider (though he didn't know her name either), and he was the axe fighter. There was that caster too, but she looked like she vanished after the fighting had ended.*

"The time it would take us to find any of those things would be better put to use figuring out where the rest of them went. If they aren't trying to attack somewhere, maybe they're going to their nest before their next attack?"

*He was still confused on why the wyverns were attacking, yet alone where they would go completely or why there. At the very least, he knew somewhat where their nest was, though saying he knew accurately where would be saying a bit much given how long he hadn't been around here.*

[Feneroe]

"Yeah. I don't know... Wyverns generally don't attack towns like this. Hard to say what they're doing. Damn, we really need more information to do anything but hunting it might do more harm than good."

Jacob frowned as he looked around the town. If the wyverns were nested nearby, then chances are that it would be attacked again after they left. If they just sat around and waited for an attack, there's also a chance the beasts would simply find another town or travelers to attack. He didn't like it. While he was thinking on what to do, Marine remembered that there was something they were supposed to be doing.

"Umm... Maybe we should just alert some Bernian knights and let them take care of it? I mean, we do have a job, right?"

When she mentioned it, a scowl crossed the cavalier's face, an expression that ended up making the girl recoil. She knew immediately that it was a bad idea to bring up the job now.

"Forget the damn job! This is too important to let them handle and you know it!"

Marine breathed a sigh of relief. She was expecting a stronger reaction than that. Well, he had probably held back.

"Sorry..."

[Zet]

*It was hard to discern where or what they should do in this situation. Splitting up wasn't particularly an option because if they got caught when they did, they wouldn't be able to fend the wyverns off and by that point they would end up prey for the savage beasts too. Alerting the knights was a possibility, sure, but even he knew that it wasn't something to do at the time. Though it was something to keep in mind, it was certain someone would do it out of those who saw the encounter.*

"All of our options are looking pretty bad...but I would rather go looking for them. It does run the risk of making things worse, but I'd feel even worse just sitting around and seeing if they come back."

[Feneroe]

Jeb's opinion mirrored Jacob's own. It was probably best to hunt them. He only wished they had more information. He sighed.

"Going out and hunting for the wyverns right now is probably the best choice. Not one I feel good about, but the best. We'll start the search in the direction of the cries and -" the cavalier looked at Marine, " - if we meet any member of Bern's army, we'll alert them to what happened. That sound alright?"

[Zet]

*They were few, but that didn't stop them the last time the wyverns came in. The cries of the beasts had been heard from....the northeast? It was somewhere in that general direction at least anyway. If he recalled correctly given his past, there was a cavern in that direction. No one ever went there and usually avoided it. He had never been there himself either so he couldn't serve as a guide at all once they got there. He just knew of its general direction. He felt uncomfortable taking the lead though, be it from the fact of what he was previously or that he just felt nervous being in a leading position.*

"All agreed then. I think it was from the northeast last then..."