** Please note, this is the RP Thread. If you wish to join (assuming that slots are still available), please check the Companion Board for an OOC with the same name.
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I did it, Varen thought to himself as he stood near the center of the large antechamber with his eyes fixed on the door and a small, albeit self-satisfied smile on his face. I finally passed their tests. All that’s left is this Trial I’ve been hearing all about.
It had been a grueling six months for Varen, but that did not mean that the rewards were small. The Bloodhounds, a group of bounty hunters, mercenaries, and anything else that satisfied their contract, were demanding and strict, but if you had to say one thing about them, it had to be this:
They were good.
Varen was currently rocking back and forth on the soles of his stout leather boots, eager to move forward, but nervous about what lie beyond the door. When he and everyone else here had been led here nearly an hour ago by the weapons instructor Otebon, all the black furred wolf had deigned to tell them was…
“Stay here and wait until you are called. Oh,” he had said as he turned to leave. “Try to be polite.”
With that, the old wolf had left Varen alone with four other people he could only assume had just completed their training and were waiting for their own Trial. Although he felt he had already done it a thousand times, Varen gazed at each of his new companions, trying to learn as much as he could while he had the time.
Varen’s gaze first fell upon what looked to be a mixture between a cat and a crow. His wings were large and folded behind his back, though they did ruffle a bit as he rolled his shoulders. He was probably impatient to move along and Varen couldn’t blame him. Although he looked young, he seemed to have the grace of a technical fighter, someone that used their speed and maneuverability to win a fight.
The next person Varen saw was someone he had trained with on several occasions: Jesse. The black furred wolf was playing with the hairs on his tail, something he was prone to do when bored or nervous. Varen always felt sorrow when he saw the scar on Jesse’s face. He had never asked, but had heard a few rumors about its origin.
Continuing his scan of the room, Varen’s eyes fell on someone dealing with their wait a lot better than he was himself. She had her hood up, but Varen could tell that she was completely at ease. She did not move much or continually scan the room, though her position in the corner of the room may have assisted with that. Her hands lay perfectly still as they were crossed in front of her chest.
That left only one more person waiting with them. This was someone that Varen was intensely curious about, but honestly a bit afraid to ask. Varen himself was about six feet tall (fairly average considering the height of wolves) but this… creature (for he couldn’t identify the race of this individual) stood nearly a foot taller than that. He looked like he was not comfortable waiting in the midst of four other people. His eyes seemed to jump from person to person, his fingers twitched for weapons that weren’t there, and he looked as though he expected an attack. The creature was well-muscled and brutal looking with black skin, red hair, and blue markings covering some of the exposed skin, but that isn’t what Varen focused on. As he had spent a good part of his time as a healer, he hated to see scars and the remnants of pain. The wings of this strange person were mangled beyond repair and Varen had to wonder if the warrior missed flying.
His introspection was interrupted however by the door opening in front of him opening. “You may enter,” a distinctly female voice called out to the assembled. So without waiting, Varen entered immediately and was closely followed by the other attendants.
They all found themselves in a stone chamber brightly lit almost solely by windows that showed the valley, the only real method of approach beyond flight to the headquarters of the Bloodhounds, stretched out below them and a hint of the sea beyond.
“Welcome apprentices,” said the voice once more, this time originating from a gryphoness on the far side of the room dressed in white leather armor with a small red symbol over her heart that allowed her to use her full range of motion, especially for her wings. “My name is Lucasta and I am one of the leaders of The Bloodhounds.”
“That makes me the other head,” said a much deeper voice behind the group of five. The origin of the voice was a hyena just now coming into the room and was shutting the door behind them. He was dressed in dark red leather armor that featured plates also showing the symbol of The Bloodhounds bolted on to protect his right shoulder and upper arm. “The name is Kieran, and you better remember it.” With that done, the hyena joined the gryphoness at the far end of the room. “You are here because you are ready for our Trial, which is this. You will be given a contract. Complete it, and you may call yourselves Bloodhounds.”
Lucasta nodded. “Exactly. You have been assigned to find a Bandit Lord that goes by the name Saker. The Lords of Aethera desire this… annoyance to be brought to justice. You will track him down and either bring back proof of his death or provide for his transport to a prison controlled by the Aetherans.”
“Once you’ve killed him…” Kieran began before Lucasta struck him on the arm. “Fine,” he said with a sigh. "Once you have done that, you will return to us and report. We will then judge your performance.”
“If ever during your journey you require aid from The Bloodhounds, we have posts hidden throughout the cities of the world. Simply look for our symbol,” at this Lucasta gestured to the symbol on her armor, “hidden in plain sight. Our agents can hide you, give you supplies, or information if you desire.”
Kieran cracked his neck loudly. “So, you will begin your search in Kuasta. Saker’s thugs have been active there lately and it will probably give you the best lead. If you aren’t familiar with the town, it’s well within Aetheran territory and near the sea. You will begin your search there.”
“Do you have any questions,” Lucasta asked. “Once you leave here, you will not be allowed to return and must succeed or fail on your own, with the exception of our agents throughout the world. You may ask what questions you will however now, but then we will part. Your ship leaves soon.”
