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The Gray - Blurb:

It was a rumor really, no one believe it existed... unless they personally visited it, and those that did never spoke of it, weather it be fear of being look on as insane, or just that the experience itself left one stunned...of frightened. Now, don't get the wrong impression, this is not some form of hell in which monsters with their eyes dangling around their cheeks roam in search of babies to devour, but nor is it paradise with rainbows and happy little dumpling fairies, no this place was said to be the gray. Yes, that's right, they call it The Gray, seems kinda dull huh? Well, yeah it is... very dull in fact, but what keeps people so interested in such a dull place is why it is all "gray"? How did it get this way? Well, allow me to explain this "Gray" first...

It is within a dense forest, suffocated by fog so thick you can't see your own feet looking down, but here, deep within a ruin’s remain, were a castle once was, where life and wealth used to flourish, is where that all came to an end... Now the inhabitants of the castle and surrounding villages are left dazed and gray eyed, their memory is fading and they remember little of their home and what happened to it, or even their own names...

But down where the castle once was, deep within the cellar, layers and layers down into the cellar one girl sits alone, kicking her soft brown sandal clad feet against the legs of the chair she sat in, awkwardly, she sat in the middle of the room, no table or other chairs around her....talking to herself, rambling on about blue skies and white peaked mountain tops. Her soft black eyes seem dazed or at least not focused, surrounded by a mass of thick lashes, she continued to talk, smiling and laughing - showing off pearly white fangs as she did so - to no one, as the dark damp room was empty, left with a less than pleasant musk of an old uncleanly aroma, of burnt out fires, and dried up flowers, of animal remains… and the lack of life and joy.

This girl was the brightest thing in the room, she seem far to happy, especially for being alone, at her age, she could hardly be 12 years of age, but her hair - like the mother of pearl - swung and bounced around her in fluid waves as the mirth and laughter rolled off of her in waves that would seem to devour and destroy everything around it, only bring more lifelessness around her…

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Some actually would venture into this forest, most to afraid of the rumors, but those that did would quickly remove themselves, or would chance being devoured by the dull drained ambiance of the forest and life within it.

Outside of The Gray a village immediately on the outskirts of the fog was dainty, dusty, and old. The village fit the citizens of itself and no one ever seeked trouble with in it, so when the signs started showing up in search of brave adventurers to seek within the village and find the cause of this gray and put an end to it the villagers were less than happy, they didn’t like new comers and they most certainly didn’t like people coming to stir up trouble.

Posters hung on every window and every poll of the small village, requesting any interested participants come to the village headmaster’s home in the middle of the village. It was going on mid day and the dirt paths were littered in foot prints of citizens going about their daily business most ignoring the signs, some would stop and examine it before walking away others would angrily rip the signs down and shred them. The Gray had been around for at least a decade now and people had come to believe it would always be there.

(Okay, don’t be intimidated, my first posts are ALWAYS long, I hate people who have like five posts because they don’t want to put it all in one, with a table of content and all… agh..

~Any who, I’m easy to get along with, just remember I am god within this thread, which simple means that if you do something I don’t like or don’t agree with and you argue me about it; I have the right to kick you out. Don’t worry I’m not going to kick you out cause your character has purple hair, as long as you have a reasonable explanation I’m cool with that.
~Which next it should go without saying, there will be no Dragon/demon/fairy/mermaid/phoenix/gryphon/elf characters… >.> that right there is ridiculous. The most you can be is a halfbreed, no tribreeds, quadrabreeds, or decabreeds etc. (I don’t mind if you make up your own creature as long as it reasonable)
~You are not god, you can get hurt, if I think you avoid an attack where I think you shouldn’t have been able too I reserve the right to “pause” the roleplay and have you edit the post so you are either struck or find another means to avoid it. If you refuse to than you go against the first rule and I kick you out, problem solved.
~I should have put this one first, I will not deal with illiterate people, typos are one thing, but you should be able to post at the very least three sentences EVERY SINGLE POST!
~On that note, there will be no one on one posting, you slow down and wait for other people to catch up, its so damn annoying to get back online less than an hour later and see two people have gone post crazy and had this huge battle while you were away. However, contradicting this, if you are the only one who hasn’t posted in three days we will leave you behind.

I do not personally like huge roleplays, so I’m asking that there be no more than 8 people excluding myself. I will post basic character profiles in a second post, all of the must be sent to me through pm. I do not want a three page essay on your character I want it sweet, simple and too the point, in depth details about your character should have to be learned not given, these profiles are mostly for reference should someone need to check your race, name, age, w/e.

Profile example:
Username: yours of course
Character Name: whatever your character goes by even if its not their real or full name
Age: what they appear to be
Race: self explanatory
Personality: few words to explain how they outwardly act
Appearance: basic appearance, not what they change into (if they do)
Attire: any clothing, or what they’re carrying.
Visible weapons: any weapons someone wouldn’t see without stripping you should not be stated.

On a final note this story will ride itself, I will be playing the little girl so my intereference in this story will be little until later on, I will mostly be playing side characters to run the story along and keep everyone in line. Do not be afraid to add into the story your own little mini plot just do not detor from my plot. Have fun with it!)

The cold air gently brush against what exposed skin the lone wanderer had that wasn’t covered. Covered completely by a dirty brown traveling cloak with his one hand keeping his pack and weapon on his back, the figure bent his head slightly downward, hoping the rim of his wide brim hat would keep some of the gale away from his face. Each footstep he took was silent as he continued on a dirt trail towards a town he has never been to. It wasn’t till ten minutes into his hike that he notice the mysterious fog slowly envelope him during his hike.

I wonder if this is what the posters is talking about? The wandering swordsman thought to himself as he continued his trek, his eyes remaining on the road in front while his other senses tensed slightly. Conditions like these were usually favorable to bandits and other creatures that prey off of lonely travelers. Sounds of woodland creatures communicating could be heard within the environment as the dim sunlight filtered through the strange mist.

Though it seemed like it went on forever, the strange fog eventually parted once the trail within the forest curved out into a wide opening. In the opening lied the sleepy town responsible for the rumors. Keeping a smirk beneath his brown scarf, the man picked up his pace as the trail seemed to go downhill slightly towards the town. Heh, a big quiet town. Don’t see those that much these days… Mused the adventurer.

It was only minutes later when he passed the first three houses within the town. At first glance, it looked that all the gray brick houses looked the same, but with a closer observation, one could pick out distinct subtle differences outside each building. Nonetheless, all the homes in the quiet town were made of the same dull clay and had the same wooden roof. Also, the cloudy skies didn’t help with the villages image as it continued to make the place seem grim and void of any color.

Pulling his mask down to allow his face to be exposed, the man gave a deep breath as he past what he guessed was a local baker and studied the villagers that went about their daily duties. There were many different folks that were out that day, doing what they did everyday in their bland existence. Giving a weak smile at the thought, the man paused as he noticed a worn poster on one of the walls of the building he was passing.

Giving a sigh of relief, the man in brown turned around and looked for a place that resembled an inn. Well, at least I know I’m at the right place. With that, the wanderer waltz towards the moderately busy street for an inn, leaving a stained paper asking for adventurers.

With all the building looking the same and little to no signs referring to what business a building was holding, it took the weary swordsman a good hour before finding the two story inn. Entering through the swinging double doors, the traveler walked into a huge dining area with a bar at one end of the room and a stairwell that lead to the second floor at the side. Nodding his head towards a local man staring at him, the figure silently waltz towards the wooden bar counter.

“Excuse me.” The man in brown uttered with his voice void of emotion as his eyes briefly glanced at who he assumed was the innkeeper. With his attention caught, the man went to the stranger and nodded. “Yes?” The balding bartender questioned, his voice filled with a hint of annoyance. “Yes, I would like to purchase a room. Only for one night though.” The stranger stated. With his hand that remained hidden his cloak, the brown figure removed something within his belt and placed it on the counter. Laying against the beer stained counter were two gold pieces, enough to purchase a room for three days in most towns.

Swiftly snatching the gold, the bar tender reached beneath the counter and tossed a pair of keys. With what looked inhuman, the stranger caught it before it struck him in the face. “You’re room 13, sir. If you need anything, ask.” With that, the bald bartender waltz back to his side of the counter to talk to a drunken man. Examining the keys briefly, the man tilted his hat forward as a silent thanks and walked up the creaky wooden stairs to his room.

The room was like you basic room. A bed, dresser, a table with a bowl filled with water, and window facing the front of the building. Sighing, the man quickly locked the door behind him and drew the blinds down. The wanderer didn’t need to have any peeping toms at this moment in his trip. Laying his heavy pack on the floor and his sheathed sword against the wooden bed frame, the man began to unload. Taking off his dirt covered boots, his water stained brown hat, cloak, and scarf, the dark haired figure sighed as he laid back against the stiff bed.

Blah, at least it is a bed and who knows when will be the next time I can sleep in one again.. The wander thought to himself. Staring straight at the ceiling, the wanderer’s eyes began to get heavy as he ran a mental check list of what to do when morning comes around. According to the poster, middle of the town is where I want to go to get started. Well, I guess I should rest up before heading out. With that, the figure laying there slowly drifted into a light slumber.


((Sorry if it is a little long. Heh, OP with me are usually long.))

"Oh, quit your whining," he murmured softly in an eerie alien tongue to Siph as he secured an end of rope to a post as horses snorted and whinnied, "It's just for tonight. Besides, be thankfull that these strange townspeople were able to put aside their dislike for new faces and ideals enough to let them house a dragon in their stables."

The other end of the rope encircled the slender neck of a sulking dragon who had no response for his master but to continue sulking.

"Well, you be good and don't spook the horses too much," he patted the dragon's pale cornsnake scales then threw on a fair canvas riding coat he wore only where ladies may be present.

His bare feet patted the aged, creaking, fog-moist wooden steps, his cream coloured canvas pants swooshed together, his stave tapped against each stair, the door moaned open beneath his fingertips.

Immediately a good number of individuals in the room looked up at him, then above his head, then swiftly averted their eyes. His fingers ran through his scruffy blonde hair, gingerly touching the base of his horns as he did so. Somehow he didn't take them into account when he ventured here...

Instead of hiding as he so wanted to at this point, he drifted over to the bar, pretending not to notice. He told the man simply that he needed a place to stay for the night and a drink. He recived a key and a tall glass of amber coloured liquid for his small handfull of coins.

He then took seat next to the nearest person, a woman in what appeared to be a tattered wedding dress with long green ringlets of hair... not exactly the type you would find in such a 'blah' sort of town.

"Hello," he said to the woman gently as he pulled a poster out of his riding jacket, "you here for the same reason as I?"

(Just to make sure everything is clear, the village you are currently in is not affected by the Gray they are on the outside edge of it. You all seem to have fallen right into the rp, great! Don't be afraid to add your personal edge, this is not "my" rp, its yours, make it happen!)

Hiroshima had been headmen of the village for 25 years, he'd seen the village only just next door to them, he'd known the king of that palace, they used to trade with the villages now trapped within the Gray. Hiroshima had sent his own sons into the Gray, he's yet to hear from them, its been nearly a year now and he's decided to do something about it.

Hiroshima himself was an older man, he was balding on the top of his head, his hair was a dark gray, there were thick layers of wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. His face wore a sort of strong tiredness, though it was very hollow, he was obviously missing his sons, one look around house and you could tell he had no wife, or at least not any more.

Which his house was only slightly bigger than the other rows and rows of houses around the village, it was build gray just like all the rest, with a wooden top. The inside was scarcely furnished with only a few extra seats and decorations.

---

Hiroshima, dressed in basic brown breeches and tunic was sitting on a chair rubbing his temples as a woman in about her 40's sat on the floor of his house. The fire pit in front of her as she stared at it as if it would suddenly imploded within itself and start gushing out magma.

The woman's hair was starting to gray but you could still see the rich brown it was. Her eyes was a blue-slate with calm collectedness. Her clothes were like drapes, huge mountains of fabric that laid out around her in layers like waves of water gushing out of the source - her body. Her soft fingers gently massaged a small green glass ball in her palm.

Mint slowly opened her eyes and was alarmed at the sight of the two strangers before her. Quickly she sat up, clutching her staff, and look at the both of them.

“You are here for the same reason as I? ...What brings you to this humble village?...”

She remembered the questions, yet refrained herself from answering. She did not know these men. She preferred to work alone. What do they know about her suffering and loss? What good would they do for her? In her mind, she could do well by herself. Yet while she aimed to be cold and distant, there was a side of her that yearned companionship. It’s been months…yes…many months since she had someone called a companion. The trek itself was an odd one and she did not feel right going on her own. She convinced herself that playing nice with these men could serve her an advantage.

“Poster,” Mint said sternly. “I am here for the poster. Do you know what I am talking about?” She looked from the blond man to the wanderer, hoping they too were on the same quest.

" I am in the dark as well. But I suppose finding the story behind it all is only half the reason we are here. We all have some motive...don't we?" Mint replied.

For some reason, she pressed her lips together, almost forcing back her words. Her lips parted, but she shut them once more. Her expression showed disturbance and curiousity. One thing was certain to her, these men were no threat. She let go of her staff, and crossed her arms.

((Eh, sorry to hear about the vacation. As for the RPG, I was waiting for Rosepetal_mosaic to post, but I guess I can post. *shrugs*))

S nodded his head at the woman's comment as his gaze traded between them both. A smile played across the young man's tan face as he leaned back in his chair and placed both hands behind his head. "Going to be a very interesting mission if you are me..." He mused, his voice low as his mind thought about the possible dangers that would accompany the journey towards the "gray".

A sigh then escaped from him as he got up suddenly and turned towards the stairwell. "Tomorrow we have a big day. I'm off to get some rest." the dark haired man told the group, his smile still playing across his face as he strolled towards the stairwell with silent footsteps.

He nodded to both, slightly taken aback by their abrupt departure. Then, realization creeping up upon him as well as to how late it was decided it was time he slept himself.

He stepped out to check on Siph, who was curled up asleep snoring lightly.

He then journeyed back and upstairs to bed.