The World of Shannon Hale discussion

I hope you guys don't mind, but I took the liberty to start a thread for this. It just wasn't happening.

Basic plot:
It is after Dashti's time and the world of the realms is once more in chaos. Several of the realms managed to build themselves up again after Khasar, but now another war is on the horizon.
Thoughts of Under is growing stronger and stronger by the day. They are building armies, led by strong but strange women. Women who turn into wolves every full moon.

((WOOTAGE!))

((Let's get playing))

Bataar was sitting on the ground underneath a large tree. It was one of his favorite places to think because it was quiet and peaceful.
None of the other townspeople left the village much it seemed, but Bataar escaped from the busy life as much as possible.
Now, looking up at the sun, he realized he had been here far too long and should get back to his shop. It was almost the time in the morning that he usually opened the doors to his humble store.
He was a candle-maker. He lived all alone in the little house he'd lived in all his life. With his parents gone, he had to take of himself and didn't really have the time to go off in the deserts outside of Under.
He sighed and got up, brushing dust and sand off legs and shaking his tunic out. He really ought to go home.

((What if the war isn't declared yet, but gets declared sometime soon. Like in a few posts or so?))

--------
Aydan tied her hair back quickly and ran to her mother's side. "Can I help you, Ema?"
"Hmmm? Oh, no, go eat your breakfast. There is bean porridge on the stove."
Aydan went into the adjoining room and knelt before the brick mound that they cooked their food on.
Wrapping her hands in her apron she lifted the clay pot off the flat stones that were heated by the coals underneath, and spooned some of the contents inside her own personal bowl.
"Has Aba eaten yet?" She called to her mother.
"Yes, eaten and gone. He went buy some more wool for you to spin for me."
Aydan didn't reply to this, just went to her mother's side again and sat at her feet. Leaning her head against her mother's leg she began to eat the porridge.
"Any new of the other realms?" She asked her grandfather, who had just entered the little home.
"Not much," he said tiredly.
Her mother's father was tired all the time now. His decline in health had been worrying all of them for some time.
"I can't help but think that Thoughts of Under is up to something though. They've never been so quiet and peaceful in all their history."
"Maybe after the big battle with Khasar they decided war wasn't the best way," Aydan's mother suggested.
"No, daughter, that just isn't possible. They would never completely change."

((cool! Thanks for starting it.))

Alaina woke on her thin pallet in her tiny white room. A scroll on the history of Thoughts of Under lay on her stomach, and a short candle was beside her. It must've gone out sometime during the night. She'd fallen asleep reading, as usual.

She rubbed her eyes and carefully put the scroll and candle on her crowded table. Then she splashed cold water on her face, grabbed a brush and began to untangle her raven hair. It was her best feature, she knew, and she took good care of it.

A few minutes later, after a change of clothes and a bowl of rice, she went to receive instruction from the scribe-master.

((WOOT WOOT WAY! :D you beat me to it. But that's no matter. WOOOOOOT!))

((yes. That will work. I could do it, unless someone else would like to. My evil character is basically at the top of Thoughts of Under evilness. Haha))

*********************

Daynn walked into the shop carrying a pile of wood. He wasn't surprised to see his father already getting the shop opened. Daynn placed the wood in the firplace. And started it going. Today looked promising. The sun hadn't risen yet but the first cracks of light appeared on the horizon. That was one of the beautiful things about being a Blacksmith. Being up for the Sunrise.

Later as the fire was ready, Daynn took out his tools and set to work on one of his latest projects. It was a sword. He worked as long as he could until the first customers began to arrive.

***

Navarya walked along the cobblestone streets in Thoughts of Under. She felt the breeze. Lovely. The city was slowly waking. She could smell the bread baking. the town always smelled nice at this time of day. She finished her walk and returned to the large castle type building. Hurrying through the halls she came to a large oak. Door. She pushed it open. The meeting had already started. She took her place at the table.

It was not a typical meeting. The men occupied one side. But that was maybe 1/4th. The rest were women.

((Wait, Hannah who are you talking to? cuz Ali lives in Beloved of Ris.))

((Sure!))

Over in Pride of Nibus, Temujin struck the surface of the breastplate he was working on one last time. He then picked it up with some tongs and thrust it into some water, then set it off to the side.

It took all day and night to fill that order. 500 hundred breastplates were piled in neat stacks on the far side of the workshop wall. With the back of his hand, Temujin wiped the sweat from his forehead. His stomach rumbled and he went to wash up and make some breakfast.

The water in his wash basin was tinted black with soot by the time he was done. He chuckled to himself and poured it out by the side of his house. When he got back into the house, there was a knock at his door. Probably some customers here to pick up their order. But when he opened the door, he found that he was completely wrong.

Bayarmaa smiled up at him, re-adjusting the pack slung over her shoulder. "Hello Temujin."

He returned her grin with his own and took her bag from her. "Hello, Bayarmaa." He didn't need to ask where her tent was. She knew to park her wagon on the side of the house.

He lead the young woman to his kitchen. "You came at a good time. I was about to make breakfast."

Bayarmaa smiled and settled onto one of the chairs at the small, wooden table in the room. "I guess I am lucky. I did not roll on any dung piles on the way here either."

Temujin chuckled softly as he set down some bread and goat cheese along with a pitcher of milk. As soon as Bayarmaa had her glass filled, she quietly step outside. Temujin knew what she was doing. She was pouring a little bit of milk on the northernmost part of his property, a tribute to her ancestors in the sacred mountains. She came back in within a few moments.

While they ate, Bayarmaa and Temujin caught up on things that had happened since her last visit. She told Temujin of the savage weather swings in the Steppes and the other travelers she'd met. He told Bayarmaa of the latest news in Pride of Nibus and how there had been a lot of orders for armor and weapons.

"It seems as if there is going to be a battle sometime soon," he said grimly, rubbing his face with his calloused fingers. Bayarmaa let this information settle for a moment, then spoke. "Some of the other travelers I talked to spoke of a new, dangerous force in Thoughts of Under." She took a thoughtful sip of her milk. "Perhaps the nobles have too."

Temujin didn't know what to say to that. For a while they just sat at his table, finishing their breakfast, caught up in their own thoughts.

((Oh, I see. Nevermind. I missed the that first post thing.))

((Okay.))

((Now, we have to work on getting all the characters connected!))

Bataar wiped the water droplets on his brow and lifted the candles out of the large cauldron of boiling wax.
He waited a minute, then dipped them in again. He repeated this many times over.
When one order was complete he packaged them and wrote the name of the buyer in neat characters. Some of them would be delivered, but most of the customers came to pick up their candles.
His least favorite costumers were the generals. The women who were too busy to come get their candles. He had to go to their large houses and drop off the candles. He would have to talk to them.
Bataar shuddered, he had always been afraid of girls. He had never understood them. But now his fear was a phobia and not because he couldn't understand them.

((Yeppers. If one of the Beloved of Ris wants to come to the Blacksmith shop where Daynn is, (to fix a horse shoe or something) that could possibly start...I dunno. Emily you mentioned Alaina overhearing something. She could come there.. I dunno. Maybe if Daynn was friends with both girls it could cause a romance rivalry later or something.... in the future. Anyway. Those are just some ideas.))

((I know my girl was at least friends with Daynn. Maybe she'll come say hi. Oh, maybe her mother was doing some mending for him. Is that okay?))

((Okay so Alaina could already know him? That would be easier.))

((AWESOME.D))

Evelyn's dark amber eyes were wide with apprehension as she tumbled through the forest, trying to keep herself from tripping. She needed supplies. She needed shelter. The long days of fear, sorrow, and anger had been starting to wear at her heart and change her. She was becoming driven for revenge to exterminate the murderers that had killed her family. She wondered distantly where she was. Beloved of Ris, was the last she checked. She didn't want to admit it, but she needed help. A sudden thought struck her, and impossible, her eyes widened more.

((Yeppers...Daynn is bored. Haha. Yeah both girls could know him.))

((Is Evelyn in BOR to?))

As Alaina walked down the palace hall, she heard raised voices from a branching corridor. She stopped to listen. It sounded like the khan was displeased with someone.

In spite of herself, she followed her ears to a plain door and stepped close to it. Inside, a man was talking loudly, and another shushed him. Alaina pressed her ear to the crack between wooden door and stone wall.

((gtg--I'll finish later))

Daynn set aside his sword as the first couple customers arrived. This was how his day always went. He hardly had time to get out. If he got lucky sometimes his father needed something from the village so he could escape and sometimes visit friends. He set to work on a broken sword. Swords were his specialty. His father generally worked with Horse shoes and other things.

--

Navarya glanced at everyone "What did I miss?"
The man who sat at the head of the table, obviously the leader looked at her. "The attacks on the Realms are going as planned. Vera's Blessing as well as Pride of Nibus should be out of the Running within the next day or so. General Cavashym has gone with his troups to carry that out."

"There are rumors spreading of an uprising." Navarya remarked. Bronell, the leader doubtless knew, but did the rest of the council? Small whispers flew through the room. Apparently this was a surprise. Bronell did not react.

"Yes. This is becoming an ever increasing problem." Bronell frowned. "We'll need someone there. Someone who can give us information. We need to know what goes on there."

"As in a spy?"

"Precisely."

((I'm back. And Hannah, Alaina could already know Daynn a little.))

Now that she was closer, Alaina could tell by the man's voice that he wasn't the khan. In fact, he sounded like Amon, an attendant of the khan. Alaina had never liked the man much. Always simpering at the khan with a disgusting expression.

Amon, if it was he, was now directing the other man in hushed tones to--carry "the message" to Thoughts of Under? Amon, a traitor? Alaina gasped. Amon stopped talking. Alaina began backing away from the door. It swung open. Amon was in the doorway. A young man dressed for travel stood in the room. "Well, well, well," Amon said. His expression was far from simpering now. It was hard and intelligent.

Alaina tried to scream, but the man's fist swung toward her and everything turned dark.

"Aydan, could you take this to your friend. He gave it to me a couple of days ago," Aydan's mother held out a bundle of clothing. Aydan smiled wryly, she and her mother had been doing Daynn's mending since she could remember. That had been when they'd first met him actually.
"Alright, Mumi," she said, taking the bundle and tucking it under her arm.
She ran out into the street, excited to get some air and even more excited to see her friend.
People said she didn't have friends, which was mainly true. She had a friend, not friends. She wasn't scared of people exactly, she just didn't have time for them.
She spotted the smithy and quickened her pace, running so fast she slammed into the door and pushed it open.
"Daynn," she said, breathless. She held out his clothes to him and bent over, trying to catch her breath.

Daynn turned as Aydan ran in as was her custom. He grinned and accepted the bundle from his friend. "Thank you." He said stowing the bundle in a trunk.
He watched his childhood friend. Her hair was loose and free.
"I've got to take something to the castle. You want to come?"

((hey what if Daynn took a delivery to the castle. And somehow they found Alaina stuck in a closet for something. Aydan could tag along.))

((Sounds good!)
Aydan grinned, "as long as we don't take too long. I don't think I'm needed anywhere else." She paused, putting a finger to her chin.
"But why are you going to the castle?"

((alrightsies))

"Then it doesn't matter how long we take does it?" Daynn grinned. At her question he waved her over to a wooden trunk in the corner of the workroom. He opened it. And pulled out a long object wrapped in cloth. "Special delivery for the Khan." He unwrapped the cloth to reveal a beautifully done sword. He gazed at it. "My finest yet."

Hannah wrote: "((Yeppers...Daynn is bored. Haha. Yeah both girls could know him.))

((Is Evelyn in BOR to?))"

((Huh?))

((Yes, she is at the moment, but she hails from Vera's Blessing.))

Evelyn had almost reached a village (where Daynn, Aydan, and whoever is in BOR is), she realized that she'd be entering from the back, which was interesting. She tumbled forward suddenly, the tattered dress she was wearing had caught on a substantiel branch. Her head hit hard against a tree trunk and began to bleed, red blood trickling down her face, making her feel woozy and even more disorientated. After righting herself, she sat up in a crouched position, face in her hands, and began to sob quietly, not as much from the pain, but from the emotional strain this cursed war had taken on her sweet spirit.

((Alright.))

((Blargh, I don't feel like posting.))

Hannah wrote: "((alrightsies))

"Then it doesn't matter how long we take does it?" Daynn grinned. At her question he waved her over to a wooden trunk in the corner of the workroom. He opened it. And pulled out a ..."

"Uwah," Aydan said in wonder. "You get better by the day, Daynn." She tentatively stretched out her hand and touched the hilt.
"I suppose that such a treasure means we can't run?"

Daynn grinned. "Thank you m'lady!" He bowed. Then he re-wrapped the sword and tied it so it wouldn't come loose. "No...but we can on the return! I be I could beat you to the old Mill by Dovnan creek."

"Ha! You could never beat me in a race," Aydan snorted. "Puh lease!"
She reached out, holding the door open for him and then followed him into the street.

((I'll have Aliana wake up as Daynn and Aydan are walking down a nearby corridor. Then they'll hear her. And Hannah, since we're doing this Aliana won't have to already know Daynn.))

"Ha! We'll see about that." Daynn replied. He grabbed the wrapped sword. He grabbed Aydan's hand and headed out the door, headed for the castle. "I haven't seen you for a few days." He commented.

((Okay))

"Mhmmm," Aydan nodded, "I've been busy in the shop. Mumi's been having lots of orders and mending. I'm amazed at the number of people who can't sew." She jostled Daynn's arm at this, careful not to upset his parcel. "Like someone I know."

Evelyn tried to pull herself together. She picked herself up and slowly moved out of the forest to the village, trying to dry her tears. She was filthy, she noticed distantly, not that she cared. She hardly cared about anything anymore.

"Excuse me?!" Daynn said putting on an almost hurt-surprised face. "That's just mean Aydan." He shook his head. Then he grinned. "But you can't make a sword. So we are even."

Evelyn knocked on the first door she came too, unsure what she was going to do. She probably looked like a monster and if some child opened it, she'd frighten them off. ((Who's door should it be? ANYONE ONLINE?))

((Um, me, but currently my charrie is locked in a closet.))

((Uh it could be a random persons. It could be Daynn's door, but he and Aydan are on the way to the castle. So it would be his dad..))

Emily wrote: "((Um, me, but currently my charrie is locked in a closet.))"

((My charrie can get yours out...wait, how did she end up in the closet?))

Hannah wrote: ""Excuse me?!" Daynn said putting on an almost hurt-surprised face. "That's just mean Aydan." He shook his head. Then he grinned. "But you can't make a sword. So we are even.""

She nodded in agreement. "I suppose we'll just have to leave it at that."

((@ Mandy: she overheard something so this guy is trying to get rid of her. But apparently he didn't have time at the moment so he locked her in a palace closet. Daynn and Aydan are going to find her, but you could find everybody as they're leaving the palace or something. Like if your charrie was coming to petition the government.))

Alaina slowly regained conciousness. It was still dark. Where was she? What had happened? Her hands were bound, and a suffocating scarf tied over her mouth. She sat up quickly and her head began to spin. She was in-- a storage closet? She felt piles of soft fabric against her back. Only a faint light came through the crack between door and floor.

She'd been walking down the corridor when... that's right. Voices. Amon. He was a traitor!

Alaina struggled to her feet in the cramped space and kicked the door hard. It shuddered dully. "Mmph! Mmph!" She rammed her shoulder against the door.

Aydan say the large, palace-like building. The errand would soon be delivered.
She never tired of seeing the inside of the big structure. She only wished she had the time to explore all the little nooks and crannies. There were so many hiding places and passages.

Daynn and Aydan entered the Castle and moved through the passages towards the Throne room, having recieved the necessary premission. As they walked through a fairly quiet and empty hallway Daynn stopped. He motioned for Aydan to as well. "Did you hear that?" The sounds came again. It was muffled. There was also a banging coming from a wooden door a few paces down.

Aydan went to the closet and placed a hand on the wood, feeling it vibrate. Something was in there, it sounded like a person.
"Do we open it?" she asked, studying the handle. It looked like it could only be opened from the outside, perfect to put someone in.

Daynn nodded. When Aydan opened it a girl who appeared to have been leaning heavily on the door fell out. Daynn caught her. Her hands were tied and her Mouth gagged. Daynn began untying the girls hands.

Aydann went to her knees and began to try to rub circulation into the wrists after Daynn had gotten the ties off.
"Hello," she said, her voice going softer as it did when talking to strangers.

Daynn removed the girls gag. "I'm Daynn. What were you doing in a closet?" He asked.

"Traitor!" spat Alaina fiercely. "Amon's a traitor! And he locked me in a closet! Me!" She looked at her rescuers. "Excuse me. I have to find the khan." She shook off the strangers and scrambled to her feet. Her legs buckled immediately and she fell to her knees. Her cheeks grew hot.

"Amon?" Aydann asked, reaching out to help the girl up again. Or maybe it would be better if she just rested for a minute or two.

"He is the khan's attendant. I must warn the khan."

((How about Amon has already convinced the khan that one of the scribes is a traitor, so the khan doesn't believe Alaina? She could escape with Aydann and Daynn before she's imprisoned.))