The King of Fiends Lies Sleeping (Closed)

[Leon Durandus]

(( OOC: As decided in this thread, this thread is for Leon Durandus, Freya Crescent, Yuna, and James Cabuelo. If anyone, like, really REALLY wants to join, shoot me a PM and we'll try to work something out. I probably won't make more than one or two exceptions, though.

Also! To be clear, we're not in Eden yet, we've still gotta find the mirror. ))

All was quiet in the forgotten World at the Universe's edge. The grass atop rolling planes swayed and hissed as the winds, undaunted in their travels, brushed gently over and around their fragile stems. Mighty willows draped the countryside in billowing, green curtains which stretched ceremoniously over the beaten, dirt road running through it all. High above, a thick, impermeable blanket of clouds, heavy and gray, stretched to the horizon in all directions, staving off the sun's rays and keeping them from a place that so badly needed their warmth. Homes of wood and stone could be seen in the distance, if one were inclined to look so closely, surrounded by ever-so-slightly larger structures of the same materials. This was not a World entirely without life, nor was it conductive to its prosperity. Rather, it was at a standstill, as though preserved in time by unseen forces from beyond, like a perfect crystal at absolute zero.

What interested the traveler, though, was the monolithic structure that served as its centerpiece. In the midst of the rustic doldrums there sat a most intimidating mountain whose peak ran the clouds through like the tip of a mighty pike. Jagged, steep, and uncomfortably vast, it may have been a humbling sight to a lesser man. Leon Durandus, however, was driven by a desire - no, a need to explore its depths. Of course, he had no interest in scaling the beast, for such a feat would have been of little consequence to his sinews, enhanced by the marriage of science to mysticism. What he sought were the cavernous depths of the mines that surrounded it, for therein was held a secret of tremendous power and importance. Leon, looking always to expand his knowledge of the cosmos, jumped at this chance the moment it was offered to him.

"It must be destroyed." The old man had said. "The thing that lives on the other side of that mirror has to be dealt with. I'm warnin' ya, you best not be lying about your skill with that hunk of steel you've got." He had grumbled and shook his finger at the wary swordsman. "I wager a hundred normal men couldn't topple this beast, and I can only afford to send four'r so - they've gotta be the best."

The ex-SOLDIER obliged, and, no, payment would not be necessary. He was told of an Inn not far from the entrance to the mines. There, he would meet his companions on this treacherous quest. The World, he said, was not named on any star map, save perhaps in the homes of the eldest wisemen and warlocks. Those who lived there did so in ignorance of the arcane magic at their doorstep, save for an enlightened few. The Inn's owner, Leon had been told, was one of those few. So, as he saw the quaint little tavern come into view, his heart grew staunch and resolute. Gotta bring my A-Game today. Now more than ever, I can't afford to screw up.

More than a few heads turned as the tavern's wooden door swung open and, from the melancholy infinite, Leon walked in. The sight of a traveler was rare enough, let alone one of his nature. A cloth cloak was wrapped about his athletic frame, but it wasn't enough to cover the slab of blackened steel strapped to his trim back. The local thugs were deterred by it alone, for the massive blade was easily heavier than its wielder. However, though his weapon was fierce and brutal, Leon's wore on his face a soft, friendly smile as he strode up to the bar and took a seat. "Mead sounds pretty good right about now." He said, his tone quite unassuming.

"Aye." The bartender absently cleaned a glass and gave a knowing look. "I don't suppose there's any use warnin' ya, is there?"

"'Fraid not, my friend." Leon replied with a pleasant, almost relaxed sigh and leaned on the bar. "This is more important than fame or riches. Maybe you can talk the others out of it when they show up, but I'm not going just for my sake." He stretched his muscles and shrugged off his cloak, letting it fall unceremoniously to the hardwood floor. "Nothing to do now but wait for the others - whoever they are."

[Yuna]

(Bleh…. I hope this is alright x.x)

Yuna had never intended to get herself wrapped up in another big adventure. She had truthfully wanted to be done with the hole “saving the world thing” After she and her friends had defeated Sin. But, unfortunately that was not the case. Apparently, people still needed her, and being the kind of person she was, she couldn’t really say no to those who really needed help.
She had been approached by an older gentleman not long ago. He spoke of something of great power that needed to be obliterated. Yuna, obviously would have turned him down right there, again, not being particularly interested in fighting another battle…. But apparently she was specifically selected. There would only be four people taking this challenge on. She didn’t want to let the other three, whom she didn’t even know, down, so, She agreed to do it. Plus, there had to be some reason this old guy wanted her in the first place.
Yuna was also told of the inn, where she would meet the others on this journey with her. It was in a strange world, but she had no worries about getting there. If this place did exist, she’d for sure find it.

The young Sphere Hunter walked along the road, keeping any eye out for her destination, but also just looking around at her surroundings. This world didn’t look to strange, or at least, compared to Spira, but she could recognize the presence of the strong magic force of the area.
Once it was in sight, Yuna made her way to the building that she assumed was where she needed to be. She walked in the doors, and just as was the case with Leon, she too turned a few heads. She wasn’t quite as obviously a traveler of sorts, but her very distinctive style of dress defiantly set her apart from the normal towns folk present inside.

She looked around, trying to differentiate the people she was supposed to meet up with from common people. No one particularly stood out to her, until she came across the man the abnormally large weapon. Found one. Yuna thought to herself. She wasn’t actually sure if this man was someone she was looking for, but, he seemed to be a good person to start with.
She walked up behind him calmly, before raising her voice only a little so she could be heard. “Excuse me, Sir?” Yuna stood patiently for a moment to see if he would answer to her, or else she’d have to try something else.

[Freya]

ooc: Gosh,so sorry it took me so long to post this! Thank you to James for coming up with the Bronze Brandy speciality of the pub!


bic: Seated at the bar, Freya nursed a pint of cider, temper rising as her glass emptied. She was drifting,here-too long with not a friend or her kingdom in sight had jaded her almost to the point at which she'd been when she had challenged Zidane in that pub in Lindblum.

She'd been devastated at first-well,who wouldn't have been, ripped from their world and all they knew, then dropped unceremoniously in an unfamiliar land. Back to square one, like searching for Fratley all over again but with no Burmecia to return to, and so much more to look for.
It wasn't like the travelling life didn't suit her. Freya had found it difficult to remain sedentary in Burmecia, steeped in ceremony and luxury after years of roaming the wilds of Gaia with only the occasional town along the way and comforts in short supply. All she needed could be worn or slung over one shoulder, the dingy inns along the way a rare luxury amongst the unforgiving ground and her rock-hard sleeping roll.

This place was somewhat similar to a few of those smaller towns,really, bar the fact that they were reluctant to take any of her gil (who in the heavens calls it 'munny',anyway?) and devoid of any good fighters.
Well,the alcohol was good,but the company was somewhat lacking,she found.

As a Dragon Knight, she was sworn to help the people, to not take things or actions for her own gain. Dragon Knights were chivalrous, level headed and the pride of Burmecian values and culture. But right now, Freya was itching for a fight. Even in the really isolated towns, they'd been clever enough back home not to outright stare at a Burmecian, let alone a dragoon, if they came in. It was downright bad manners!

Oh well. At least the weather was somewhat similar to back home. Grey clouds and rain-what better weather was there?

She called for another pint, this time of the house specialty. A Bronze Brandy ought to be good...

[James Cabuelo]

It has been 3 weeks at the universe's edge where young James Cabuelo had his new job as one of the cooks in the "The Bronze Brandy" named after their famous drink mixing milk chocolate liquer and a few fruit juices like strawberry, banana and a hint of coconut.
James gets it with chocolate milk instead since he isn't old enough to drink alchohal. But that wasn't what was on his mind at the moment.

The bartender who he worked for told him a lot about this beast that is supposedly really dangerous yet after overhearing a conversation with a man with a really big sword on him says he can take it on. Well James knew that guy wouldn't stand a chance without knowing how to fend for himself but as much as he wanted to go along he needed to do the end of his shift first.

Before he headed back to the kitchens to cook up a storm of dishes for the patrons he noticed a few new people. One a rather strange figure that liked the drinks here but couldn't pay for them and then there was a young lady who was lightly dressed and got most of the mens' attention. James didn't really care by now he had seen all types after being thrown from his world and having to start anew with many people and places he never knew about.  

"James get me three orders of our house special and make sure not to taste test it this time!" ordered Tom his boss and also the bartender.
Although he said it pretty loudly a few people could hear him and promptly left which displeased Tom. James knew the recipe by heart so he had no need for his taste testing antics when it came to his favorite recipes.

"Three orders of Cabuelo Curry coming up!" James knew this recipe the most since it was his trademark and named after him.

The steam of the rice cooker and the sizzling of the stir fried vegetables made a mix of smells in the air as the blonde haired boy was cooking up a storm and as he started mixing up the sauce made with a lamb and special herbs found only on James' world which he has been growing with the garden outside. He then took the stir fried vegetables mostly peppers and a few carrots and poured them in bowl where he would save them then he took the rice from the rice cooker and dished up even scoops of rice on each plate then put the lamb sauce on and the vegetables on the side of the plate. It had taken about 5 minutes then he was done.

"Order Up! Three piping hot Cabuelo Curries! Named after yours truly!"

They were given to the 3 travelers free of charge.