R A I Y A
G E A R H A R T
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|| Elven {possible hybrid~?} || Immortal ||
T H E N
|||- Nomad, Fugitive, Warlord, Dragon Rider -|||
__________
The begining is hazy
Much like how one never recalls the start of a D R E A M
||| N O M A D
She grew up astride the back of her guardian, Obsidian. The elf and the dire wolf led a nomadic life, traveling the planet at their leasure for as long as Raiya could remember.
Dangers of such a life were inevitable, for they occasionally found themselves in the crossfire of multiple wars, territory disputes between opposing civilizations, and tracked by hunters who so desperately desired the ancient wolf's hide. It was still a quiet, peaceful life for the majority of it, and it was a life that they were both content with. As Raiya grew older, her desire for knowledge and new experiences grew. Obsidian eventually allowed her to go off and visit populated areas when they stopped to rest, and he stayed out of sight with a watchful eye. Raiya socialized and learned from those she encountered, picking up various skills such as different languages, cultures, self-defense methods, healing, and much more. Raiya found that each place provided a different skill, and she could not get enough. Obsidian would always appear again after a few weeks, and he and Raiya would continue on their way.
They had no home of their own, and they never stayed in one place for too long. Raiya was fully content with this lifestyle.
Until, that is, She met Maigra Lainé.
||| F U G I T I V E
It was a chance happening, and one that would alter the course of life as she knew it. Raiya and Obsidian ran into Maigra Lainé, an ex-member of the infamous Warlord Army, and Leer, her black-feathered dragon companion, while ambushing a slaver's squadron as they transported their newest haul of prisoners. The four of them quickly subdued the slavers and freed those imprisoned. The squadron leader used his final breaths to mock Raiya and Mai, stating that they have done nothing but brush dust away from the surface, and had saved no one in the long run. The women soon found leads to the potential headquarters and, filled with determination to sever the head from the snake, began to plan their attack. Leer and Obsidian warned them to leave it be, but did they listen? Absolutely not. Alas, the pair were inevitably captured and faced horrors untold within a gargantuan underground slaver's prison.
Yet their spirits remained unbroken, and their treatment only fuled their motivation. The two ultimately broke free, and their escape and aquisition of the prison's database ultimately led to the violent self-destruction of the entire facility.
Raiya was absolutely devastated at the loss of so many innocent lives. Mai argued that that the lives sacrificed are miniscule in number compared to the lives saved in the future. Thus was the mentality of a Warlord, and it was a mentality that Raiya had yet to accept.
The four of them had to flee due to the following investigations. Raiya and Obsidian found a home with Mai and Leer, and they all lived together for a bit over a year. During this time, Raiya helped Mai study the lands and the creatures in it, and Mai taught Raiya various forms of advanced skills. Obsidian still had the heart of a Nomad, and soon became restless. He wished that he and Raiya move on, yet the elf protested. She enjoyed what she was doing with Mai, and felt like she had much still to learn. Mai found a solution; she would reach out to a colligue for a due favor;
And thus, Raiya and Obsidian traveled to the Warlord territory, and Raiya was taken under General Creed's wing.
||| W A R L O R D
Their initial arrival to the Warlord territory was met with quiet hostility from all of the high-ranking generals. General Creed himself seemed quite disgruntled that he had to take the young elf under his wing, yet he kept true to his promise to Mai, and took on the roll of Raiya's mentor.
Raiya was no stranger to magic and its many uses, yet Creed mentored her on exactly how magic worked. The physics, the theories, he overall taught her to better grasp exactly what magic was, how it interacted with the planet's many elements, and how it can be paired with more "artificial" components to enhance desired powers. Raiya gained a much deeper understanding of how to use magic, and thus, her abilities and strength increased tenfold.
Magic was not the only skillset that Raiya sharpened. She partook in weapons training and routine sparring matches with the other soldiers, hence honing her combat techniques both with and without weaponry.
Her time as a soldier did not come without qualms. The Warlords were a brutal bunch, and they relied on the strength of their teams and the strength of the army as a whole to survive. Any form of weakness in a soldier was seen as a threat to the rest of the squad, and hence, weakness was not tolerated.
Raiya got into frequent verbal spats with one of the Grandmasters, Mitchel Blade, most commonly known as “Wrath." Accurately titled, the inflammatory personality of the Grandmaster did not mesh well with Raiya's unsubmissive temperament, and those verbal spats quickly escalated into a physical altercations. The altercations proved to be a source of both amusement and annoyance to the colleges that had to pull them apart.
As time wore on, she began to gain a better understanding of the complicated world they lived in. The more she learned about the world, the more she learned about herself and the history of those she lived with. One could say that she learned a little too much. The familiar feeling of restlessness grew. One final and brutal battle with Wrath left them both with severe injuries; That was the final straw in the elf's mind. Raiya was no Warlord. She never could be; the difference between her nature and theirs was far too stark.
Raiya gained Creed's permission and forgiveness, and she withdrew from the Warlord army.
||| D R A G O N . R I D E R
The Empire of the Night-Winged, or more commonly known as "Nightwing." It was one of the two segments of the whole planet that was entirely untouched by the modern world, and it was completely and viciously free from the influence of outside forces. The gargantuan territory and all who dwelled in it were ruled under the fierce and watchful eye of Kaida and her trusted Draconian council. The territory was as great and feral as the beasts that called it home, and it was there that Raiya found her own true home for many, many years.
After Obsidian's departure, she found herself bonding with a dire Dragoness by the name of Atheria. Atheria was the mate of Chanook, the Dragon who ruled the lower crescent of the Empire.
Raiya and Atheria collaborated with their many companions to help build and defend the Empire. Raiya flew with the kings and queens of the sky, she fought wars side by side with friends, she helped nurture the young dragons and new life that blossomed during times of peace.
She learned, she loved, she thrived,
;---- and she l o s t,
The Empire of the Night-Winged met its premature and devastating end.
N O W
| | | - Drifter, Redemption, Keeper -| | |
__________
" --- You must live o n "
||| D R I F T E R
Raiya experienced death on that fateful day. The mental bond between Dragon and Rider allows the pair to share feelings, sensations, thoughts and notions even from afar. Raiya felt everything when Atheria fell to her violent and abrupt end, and with the loss of her partner, a part of Raiya died too.
Once she scrounged up enough strength to travel again, Raiya searched the ravaged territory for any signs of life. Any hope she had of finding those she cherished was quick to dissolve ;; with every death confirmed and every life unaccounted for, it became all too real that the life she knew was over.
Raiya began to withdraw deeper and deeper into herself. For the first time in her long life, she was truly, completely, and terribly alone.
||| R E D E M P T I O N
Light has an odd way of reaching even the darkest corners;; A gleam of hope was birthed by the unexpected meeting of Naomi Shimura.
Raiya's adaptation to life in the bigger city was a smooth transition thanks to Naomi's help. Rehabilitation came with time, and soon enough, Raiya found purpose once more.
||| K E E P E R
Omnia Oddities is Raiya's current "project." This two-story shop features a library on the top, and a general oddities shop below. It appears fairly normal to the untrained eye, yet Omnia provides necessary items and valuable tools for magic users. Some of these commodities include ritual tools, healing supplies, various herbs, stones and a plethora of other things both on display and hidden away. Ask nicely, and she may have it.
One best mind their step and keep ill intents at the door: Omnia is guarded by an array enchanted beings that are hidden in sight. These creatures become self-activated upon the detection of a thief or a patron with sinister intents both towards the shop or its keeper.
Comments
Gay
“Oh! Okay!” Seeing that there was nowhere else to sit, the goof of a sea drake decided to step around the counter and park his rear on a chair right behind her cash register, /if/ she had one in her shop. His mind drifted off while waiting, gazing at the various oddities found throughout the first room, one of these days his best friend ought to check it out at some point.
Once the elven woman had approached to inquire about whether or not permission was taken to bring it there, the corners of his lip rose into a grin. “What the boss man doesn’t know won’t hurt him. He was too busy for me to ask anyway.” Of course he didn’t, sometimes her reptilian friend was nothing but trouble.
“But he is thinking of outright exploring the inside. Gleeon found out most of it is flooded when he fell into water upon goin’ in. HOWEVER~ There’s fishies inside, and if they replenish themselves, that’s an unlimited source of food right there, so we’re looking at a big money-saver.
Because my best mate is a wind dragon and not an aquamancer like me, I think I’d rather bring /you/ along since you have way more experience with harsh environments. Guess what I’m asking is~ Could you go with me into the cube if I help you prepare? There’s no large predators or anything inside, as far as I know.”
There was a potential reward for this if his hunch was correct, and Tempest was more than eager to see what secrets awaited them in this alleged pocket dimension. It could also be an opportunity for other discoveries if the Nautilis Cube had more than just the oversized Aquarium her friend was describing. Having an aquatic being take point in its depths would certainly help.
After moving the item around with his digits for a short duration, his jade hues glanced up at Raiya. “Up for it?”
The scent of searing flesh and charred fur is left behind the shadowy figure as it traverses through the woods in a strangely graceful manner. Like an intricate dance, fluid and quick. A jump, a skip, a turn. And yet, despite its graceful nature, the stench of burning skin and the mangy and worn appearance revealed its unnatural origins. Surely no such hideous creature could be of this world? Black fur, rugged and weathered as if stained by tar, covered its emaciated form. Limbs, too long for comfort, and a snout so gnarly its face looked like death itself. And the eyes. An unnatural shine, as if a mirrored reflection of the full moon stared straight into your very soul. What had once stood on two legs, now looked more like a wolf. Or… something vaguely resembling a wolf. Something not quite… right.
The creature stopped for just a short moment to look behind itself, sensing something nearby. Torn ears poking forward, before swivelling back as it lowered its head. Hideous teeth like tusks were exposed by its grimace. Before you knew it, the creature had vanished back into the now wilted undergrowth, leaving behind it only a faint trail of blackened smoke and an undeniable sense of dread.
.
As soon as the creature had disappeared, it was replaced by the rustling from another direction. And then another. And another. There were definitely more than one…”thing” around. But were they the same as the creature before? Or were they something else? Something worse? Something better? Uncertainty has a way of breaking the minds of even the most seasoned characters. Uncertainty, the father of fear. That force which brought entire kingdoms to ruin. Uncertainty, the enemy of hope. Uncertainty, whose enemy is only one; bravery.
Despite having the power to ruin entire civilisations, the power to breed hate and genocide, uncertainty is short lived. Fleeting like the lifespan of a moth. Brought to end by the unravelling power of time.
First, a low growl from the west, followed by the shimmer of demonic eyes. Then the snapping of a twig north by northwest. From the south, a low snort. From the East, the sudden thump of a creature having launched itself from behind the dry shrubbery. One would not be blamed if one would expect a bark, a rabid howl, or a collective growling, and yet. “Eru thu… ekki… hraeddr?” a lowly whispered voice raspily spoke, followed by a gurgling growl. The words seemed to emerge from a slightly larger beast, standing just slightly taller than its brethren. Its fur, though as mangy as the rest of them, seemed to grow thicker around the neck than on the other ones. In total, there were 7 of them, slowly inching closer and closer to their Elven visitor. “Eru thu ekki einn Faar...? Thu er... ein út-lenningr... Hvi eru thu... kommin?”
The quiet in the room for the moment while they processed was heavier than most. Where would they go from this point, what steps might be safest in the face of what they planned to encounter? Would the ghost’s natural abilities be of use in the magical barriers? The cruelest irony of the Rider was also present. He might be so close as to reach out to Chanook and receive an answer if only he could. He had to think of the repercussions, and what was at stake should they not act carefully.
Mercury hues studied the sphere of energy as it manifested, with the same wonder that Raiya might have seen when it had first been shown to him. The half-elf to this day still wrestled with such things. Harnessing magic was his greatest struggle, and at times, some of his greatest success. Often magical objects held an aura, a story of their wielder, their past.
Some magic, in its purest form, simply was its own entity.
The further the mist traveled, the further a smile settled across the ghost’s face. The expression sobered into something of calmness when it dissipated. Spencer rested a hand on his chair and once more sank into the seat. His eyes fell longingly back toward the peak of the mountain that the display had been left on. It all felt so close if only he didn’t think about it too hard.
The simple question the elf posed drew a fine line across Spencer’s lips as they pursed. The man had gone quiet like a child might when it came to disclosing the answer. His jaw tightened. With a sweep back of his hair, at long last, the mage drew in a breath and exhaled. He looked at Raiya. “I cleaned out my bag,” Spencer admitted tiredly. “I… cleaned out my bag and I found a bug that had been hiding for who-knows-how long. Months. He had been tracking me all along, not that I’m safe now.”
A gentle smile shook the tiredness away and he shrugged. “I’ve traveled far enough now, I suspect that I’ve bought a considerable amount of time. I still don’t know what Skya saw in that old book, maybe of all things, Chanook might. I certainly don’t know what Marius wants with it. Nothing good.”
Spencer watched as the proposed site zoomed further towards them on the display, still marveling at the technology. It was just as impressive when it was sitting still, as it was moving. Had he thought out the dragon’s moves properly? The times of stress and duress as a Rider were far enough behind him to wonder just a little. He repeated the name of the peak in his thoughts when Raiya had presented it. A lot had changed in those past years, to turn his wandering attempts into something obsolete. The amount of planning and thought put toward the situation didn’t go over his head. It mixed with the vast sense of intel that his old friend had gathered during one another’s absence.
New details appeared on the map. Spencer’s eyes flit from one side to the other, studying the text box in the corner for a moment, then the location that was pinpointed. Distances were translated into days and nights in his head. It was then translated into provisions, among other concerns. “It’s the only type of terrain where even an injured dragon moves faster than whatever it’s pursuing it… so I hope,” He murmured under his breath.
After several moments of fighting the display (that didn’t want to pick up the old ghost’s cold fingertips), he managed to close in on the peak of the range. “...Safe for a dragon, I suppose we’ll have to get ourselves there somehow all the same, hm?” Spencer’s phasing lent him a hand in that, but the carved-out territory fixed itself to be more steep and hostile than those he was familiar with in Nightwing. Nor was he alone.
This could be it…
Raiya’s words earned a wild look on the other mage’s face. He was just as afraid of committing to the hope of it all, as he was afraid of what they might find. “It really could be,” He uttered with his own sense of disbelief creeping in. So close. Certainly far enough, but for now the projected image in front of them put it right at their fingertips.
Almost like it was too easy.
“Military… really?” The ghost echoed with an exasperated tone. There was a silence while he thought it over. Raiya’s synopsis earned a wayward glance as all the odds were laid out together. Spencer watched her face disappear in her palms with a pinch of concern between his brows. It faded soon enough when the laughter, utterly steeped in tiredness filled the room.
“...” The ghost walked toward the chair he had taken and allowed himself to drop into it heavily. He drew in a long, steady breath. For some reason he couldn’t bring himself to laugh, but a huff left his chest at Raiya’s own
“Well… it’s not Mount Everest,” Spencer chimed in coyly, harboring a beaten-down smile that spread further and further at the thought, rising to the other elf’s hysterics. Insult to injury? He couldn’t even call out to the dire dragon for a sign of hope that he might answer. It all should have been crushing. Utterly defeating… The two had been through too much bloody hell to leave it as something like that.
“The adventure of this lifetime… maybe the next,” They were doing it. They had more of an inkling of a lead than he had in decades, and they were pursuing it. “I will be, yes,” Spencer confirmed with a nod of his head. After who-knows-how-many days of walking the desert, even he couldn’t deny a little rest. A hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I’m glad you found time for your magic even among the Warlords.”
(Thanks for accepting my friend reuqest!)
How have you been? It's been a minute.
(hello there~)
Spencer studied the rippling surface of his mug for just a moment longer and hummed. “I do, yes… If I may be wrong, well, she can hold her own, I have no doubt of that.” Of the few certainties he had about the mysterious mage, that was one. His attention lifted from the table surface and remained on Raiya thereafter, sitting relatively still. Hearing the name always sparked something after so long. He heard it in his head but rarely spoken aloud, let alone by a voice that understood. Raiya had the ghost’s attention, no matter how hesitant he was to listen.
The photos. The townsfolk. The ‘enemy’. The variables made the man’s brows knit together while his thoughts were ultimately on the photographs she had shared. Spencer drew in a steady breath. “You know when the clouds grow dark enough, I look up and I wonder. The feeling never grows any stronger or weaker, but I still go. Raiya, I have chased after plenty of thunderstorms in the last hundred years.” He leaned back in his seat. “A lead is a lead, that alone I am more than grateful for, no matter the chances. We won’t know unless we see for ourselves. False hope or not.”
Spencer’s hand rested under his chin thoughtfully while the other reached for his cup. He leaned back in his seat to the point of testing the balance of its front legs tentatively. His eyes wandered their way out of his thoughts and into whatever Raiya’s business was with the bags nearby. Once an item had been fished out, he gave the cube-like form a curious once-over. When the device started to beep at her command he set his chair back on all fours and leaned forward.
“Surely,” Spencer agreed absently while studying what she was up to with the object. Once it was activated and the holographic display came alive before them, the blue glow reflected off his wide eyes. Without prompting, the mage stood up to get a better look. The technology was beyond him; even so, it was hard not to be impressed with the Warlords and their tactics.
He had a long enough look to gather his bearings before the terrain was altered and the mountain range was shown with all of its twists and turns. He glanced over the multitude of peaks, chasms, and minimal human settlements strewn among the more hospitable elevations. “Four-hundred miles long, sixty wide, ten thousand feet… that’s- over forty thousand square miles. The mountains are the only thing that could turn a dragon into a needle in a haystack,” He murmured quietly.
He ran a weary hand through his hair. He had his recent journey from the far southwest to the desert to compare with the hunt up ahead. Was he chasing another storm? Were the photos truly the work of a dragon, let alone one that had gone missing for so long?
“Caves,” Spencer responded relatively quickly. His head started to shake slowly thereafter. “-When he was at rest, but if our hypothesis would prove correct, if he has been under the earth for as long, he wouldn’t. I can’t imagine he would. Not immediately, no.” Where are you? He thought.
His fingertips rapped on the table for a moment. “If he were on the move, ravines or canyons would be the easiest way to lie low. That is… if I were to assume the worst about his condition. He may not take to the mountain tops unless it meant he was well out of range… what about its highest peak? How far was it from the photographed site? In the desert, we might not be able to use storms as an indication.” The mug was set down. Spencer was pacing, now, as if the other end of the holographic map would provide the answers any quicker.
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