Roses (gxg) (PAFP)

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    For centuries, the Kingdom of Dreamvale has existed peacefully among bountiful farmland. However, eleven years ago, the King died unexpectedly of an unknown illness. The Queen soon took on her husband's role as ruling monarch of the kingdom, with her daughter, Dove, at her side. The Queen rules with an iron fist, using a terrifyingly controlling new religion to hunt down any and all non-human creatures in her kingdom. Magic, now becoming a taboo 'curse' rather than a revered gift, has been outlawed and knights of a secret order hunt down those who possess it.

    There is a new movement on the rise, a civil war close to reaching the city surrounding the castle. The Nightingales, they call themselves, are an order of dedicated non-human and magic beings that are sick of the oppression and have decided to fight back.

    When Princess Dove is captured by the rebel group and taken under their young leader's watch, she learns the truth behind the way her mother rules, as well as the truth to her own bloodline.


    Basically, your character is the young woman in charge of this group of rebels. My character, Dove, has magic in her blood that may tie to something long-since-forgotten.

    You can use my form if you want, and I'll include an empty one if you'd like to use it. Please keep it semi-advanced - a simple paragraph is really all I want. You can make your character as magical as you'd like, as long as they aren't overpowered. Also, note that fae are not quite extinct in this world, but they are, in fact, rare to find anywhere near humans, thus believed to be legends. Feel free to post your character and jump right into the rp! OH, and feel free to use random little side characters if you want! Guards, Warriors, etc.


    Dove
    Blank Character Sheet

    RP:


    Dove doesn't remember much of the morning before she'd been taken. Most of it had been a blur - her mother telling her she must marry a prince to unite with a neighboring kingdom, so they can fight the growing rebellion in the south; her bird begging her to let it out; her chamber maidens whispering behind her back... and then darkness, as someone covered her eyes and knocked her out. She blinks open her eyes, a dull throb in the back of her skull as her surroundings slowly become clear to her.

    She's in a tent, of some sort. It's empty, and silent, but outside she hears the unmistakable hooves of horses, the whirring of magic, the crackle of fires, the mutterings of men and women. She hears a lion roar, and suppresses a shiver. Where is she?

    She looks around the tent, when a symbol painted on a banner that rests just above the entrance of the tent catches her eye. Her stomach swoops, her heart racing. The Nightingales. They've taken her prisoner.

    medieval-braids-young-woman-with-very-long-ginger-hair-decorated-with-several-braids-and-many-feathers-with-strong-green-eye-make-up-wearing-a-green-dress-with-hood.jpg

    //Her eyes are an icy blue color rather than amber/brown.

    Name: Faya
    Age:     20

    Species: She is human, but possess witch-like magick and abilities.

    Personality: Faya comes off a distant, snarky, and cocky individual. She is known to have a temper and anger quickly. She speaks out for what she believes in and is not afraid to speak her mind. She is cunning and intelligent and some have referred to as a trickster. She is said to be a fiery and passionate individual and its most likely where she got her name, Faya means "little fiery one." She is incredibly stubborn and headstrong and does not take well to being told what to do. However, despite her seemingly cold personality, Faya does have a soft spot that she rather deny exists all together. To those she cares about she can be incredibly empathetic and kind hearted and almost motherly.

    Strengths: Cunning and intelligent Faya is known to be able to get out of tricky situations.

    Weaknesses: Her stubborn and headstrong behavior are her biggest weakness. She tends to see the softer side of her a weakness as well.

    Abilities: She is skilled in using her intricate dagger as well as stealth and ambush. Her magick abilities mainly revolve around pyromancy. She also has the ability to shape-shift into three distinct animals, a domestic cat, a wolf, and a barn owl. Due to her ability to shapeshift, her senses are naturally heightened and she can produce the sounds of the animals she turns into in her human form (Growling, hissing, etc.)

    Cat form
    Wolf Form
    Owl Form

    Bio: Faya was born into a rough household. Her mother died in childbirth so it was just her, her father, and her two rowdy brothers. She was taught at a young age to dislike the royal family and the patriarchy in general. She was taught how to use a dagger at a young age and her father gifted her the intricate dagger she carries with her everywhere. When she was around 14 years old her village was burned to the ground, her father died in the fire. Her brothers and herself fleed and eventually stumbled upon the rebel group she now resides in. Her brother's died in a raid when she was 17. With a bitter heart, Faya quickly rose through the ranks in her rebel group until she became in charge of the small band.

    //Thank you! Yeah I wanted her animals forms to still be recognizable by her commands due to their color and eye color alone, also threw in the element of fire because of her name, personality, and her hair color~ Yep I'm ready! I'll pick up from where you left off


    The commander of the Nightingales rebellion strode easily across the small makeshift camp. The camp was far south of the kingdom, nestled in a small ravine in the rocky forest plateaus. The walls of the ravine gave the camp perfect camouflage and the forest surrounding the camp was dense enough that even a skilled tracker would get lost if they didn't know the way or know the location of the subtle and hidden markers. Her warriors, spies, and other members of the rebellion nodded to her respectfully as she passed. She walked with purpose and silent dignity. Faya, as they called her, made her way towards one of the many animal hide tents. This tent was different from the others, this one contained their prized prisoner. Faya waved at the guards dismissively with one hand and they both nodded their heads subtly. Faya parted the entrance of the tent and slipped in.


    She stared at the princess for a moment, almost sizing her up with cold and analytical eyes. Then a cocky grin twisted its way onto her lips, her eyes shining. Faya was pleased that the kidnapping had run well, after all, she did organize it. "Did you have a nice nap, princess?" Faya asked, her voice was sharp and contained a certain kind of roughness to it, a like a growl, and the way she said princess was in a near mocking tone.

    Dove tensed visibly at the sudden, but somehow not quite unexpected entrance of the leader of the rebellious group. She was, however, visibly shocked that the leader was a woman. Not just any woman - one not so much older than Dove, or so she assumed. She shook her shock from her face almost as quickly as it had shown. She was a princess, not a coward.

    She squares her shoulders, raises her chin, and meets the eyes of her captor with cold blue fire. "I did, as a matter of fact. Thank you for asking. Now, what do you vicious savages want with me?" She tried to keep her voice steady, cool and collected - a poor imitation of the frighteningly chilled tone her mother took on. "My mother does not take kindly to people who abduct her only heir."

    Faya blinked a couple of times, almost taken aback by the princess's confidence. Then she laughed. Her laugh sounded like it came from her chest and almost sounded like the soft call of an owl. "My, my," the commander clicked her tongue and grinned widely at her prisoner. Her smile was almost feral. "Who would have thought that the princess would be so fiesty?" With a unforseen elegance, Faya slumped into a pile of furs that acted a makeshift chair. She crossed her legs nonchalantly, now eye level with her prisoner.


    Faya shrugged at the notion of the princess's mother and waved her hand almost dismissively. "And my people don't take too kindly to being slaughtered by your kingdom. I guess we all have our grievances." She sat up slightly and stared at the princess with piercing eyes, her pupils seeming to narrow. Her gaze was firm, cold, and analytical. "You're special. You know it, and us Nightingales sure know it. You may try to keep it hidden, but word travels fast. We, I, want you to help us." Faya leaned forward slightly. Despite her small five foot two height and slender frame she looked like a large feline ready to pounce.

    Immediately, at the mention of her powers, Dove tenses. Her face becomes guarded, body now stiff in the small corner she'd been sitting in since she'd woken up. "How do you know about that?" She asks, voice not quite as Princess-Soft as she'd usually kept it. It was dark, hard - very unlike her. Almost on instinct, she feels the mental tie to her songbird. The creature was not far, following her even this far. She feels relief and fear all at once.

    "How can you expect me to help you, when you want to murder my mother and I?" She'd known the rumors of the Nightingales. She knows their intentions. How can they possibly think she can help them? She doesn't like the way this woman is looking at her. She doesn't like feeling so exposed. She's always been unseen beyond the eyes of the townsfolk that adored her.

    Faya chuckled. "I have my ways," she shrugged casually again. She leaned back slightly and studied the princess. The girl obviously had the wrong idea about what the Nightingales stood for. "Rumors aren't always true," Faya hissed, the anger that was bubbling inside of her she quickly diminished. She didn't want to start a fire, not in here of all places. "Our quarrel is not with you and we certainly do not want to kill you. You are one of us after all," Faya waved her arms, gesturing to the group outside. "We want to end the oppression. We want to end the slaughtering."


    Faya shook her head and chuckled softly. It was a low chuckle, full of pain and bitterness. "Innocent people are dying. I'm sure you are aware of that. Or perhaps did that bitch you call mother shelter you from that too?" Faya's voice was low, almost a growl.

    Dove flinches, biting the inside of her cheek to avoid looking at the fierce woman before her. She swallows hard, tries to collect her scattered thoughts that feel like shattered glass. "I can't." She says quietly, feeling almost pathetic at how meek she sounds. She clears her throat, looks back up at the leader. "My mother says you're all dangerous. Who knows what will happen if- if some- some magical freak were to attack a village? They're unpredictable..." Her voice dies in her quickening breath. "Besides," she huffs, "my mother didn't shelter me. She'd have to have been around me to do so."


    Unpredictable, she mentally scolded herself. You're the one who brings dead things to life. Who knows what that power holds?

    Faya growled. It was a low, gutteral, inhuman, sound, she sounded more like an animal than she did a human in that moment. Her eyes burned bright with fury and heat started to pour from her body in steady, pulsing waves. The tent was soon warm, almost uncomfortable for a normal person but to Faya she didn't feel much of a difference.


    "Sweetheart, you are a freak," Faya spat venomously, "What's more dangerous than a child with no control of her powers to bring things back from the dead? Do you know what would happen if your mother decided to exploit that? If she made you keep bringing back more and more soldiers to keep slaughtering us? The freaks?"


    Faya sucked in a deep breath and calmed her nerves. She sat back a bit, controlling her temperature before she set the entire place ablaze. "Let me put it in perspective then," Faya hissed coldly, "Innocent children are dying and being hunted down. Villages are being burned to the ground just at the accusation that someone magical resides there. Tell me, princess, how many innocents must spill their blood to this fruitless cost?"

    Dove gapes at the angered woman, her heart in her stomach and throat all at once. "I- what?" She hadn't known that innocent people - her people - were dying at the hands of her mother's soldiers. She'd known the animosity her mother held towards magical beings - but she'd had no idea she'd gone this far. A horrible grief settles in her chest. "I- she never told me... I-I thought you were the ones burning the farming villages? She..." Her world felt dizzyingly unfamiliar all of a sudden, the warmth of the room making her shift uncomfortably.

    Suddenly, she hears the familiar jovial tune of her songbird, just outside the tent. It really had come this far to find her.

    "So, you are to keep me prisoner instead?" She asks bitterly. "Make me heal your wounded? Is that it? As if I am to be paraded as the Freak Princess of the Evil Queen?"

    "Of course she didn't," Faya muttered and casted a long sideways glance to nothing in particular. She sighed and looked back at the princess. "I may have a tendency to start fires," she admitted, "But never have I cast my group to harm innocent people that have done us no wrong. I strictly forbid my people from harming innocents and other magic folk. I have made many strict rules to keep the Nightingales a nobel people. We are not bloodthirsty savages."


    Faya cocked her head curiously at the princess, as if considering the princess's question. But Faya shook her head and a small smirk twisted onto her lips. "No, nothing like that. We have plenty that know healing magic. No, what we want from you is to overthrow the Queen and liberate your fellow freaks." Faya's voice turned lighthearted and playful when she said 'freaks' as if teasing the princess. "We want you to join the Nightingales." Faya's stare was intense, full of flickering emotions, her mind buzzing and whirring with thoughts.

    All the dizziness makes Dove close her eyes. That offer, there's something there that makes a lump rise to Dove's throat. Yes, she knows her mother is not... the best woman. She's hardly pleasant around the castle - especially with vague threats of marrying Dove off to some noble prince lately. She knows she is far favored by her people over her own mother - her gentle nature is not entirely overshadowed by her mother's cruelty. But to join the group that has been trying to conquer her bloodline for years, against her own mother?


    She opens her eyes again, licking her lips slowly as she weighs out her options. Something about this stranger, and the way she talks, makes Dove's heart and mind race. Perhaps she isn't wrong. Afterall, Dove very well could have told her mother about her powers. But she hadn't. Out of fear, perhaps, but she'd never once brought them up.


    With a shaking breath, she nods. "Okay," she relents. "If you swear that I will come to no harm by your people, then I will join you. But I must ask: why me? Why would you even need me to overthrow my mother? Aren't you strong enough on your own?" Sure, having the queen's only child on your side would pull plenty of favor, but she doubts they want the emotional bargaining chip. If Dove was honest, her mother was planning on pawning her off anyway. "She really only wants me to bare a child in our family's name." Even as she says it, she can't help the cringe.

    //Hey sorry for the late reply, I got caught up in work and a few other things and wasn't able to get on until now.


    Faya smiled that gleaming and feral smile. Her eyes lit up with delight. Truthfully, Faya had not expected the princess to join in the affair so quickly. This pleased the commander greatly.


    She placed a hand on her heart and raised her other hand, as if giving an oath. "My people will not dare lay a finger on you," She lowered both her hands and leaned forward. The princess really didn't know what she was, but then again no one else did either. It was just a theory after all. "Well," Faya begin, trying to find the right words, "We have a theory. I'm sure you have heard about the fae, the nearly almost extinct race, and I'm sure you've heard stories about the kind of power that they carry. We choose you for two reasons. One being that you are the Queen's daughter and only predecessor, if anyone can take over the thrown and rule the kingdom, its you. Secondly, and this is purely a theory, we believe that you may have fae blood."


    Faya stood, and stretched and in that moment she looked much like a cat arching its back in a long stretch. "Fae's are the only race that can bring back things from the dead after all." Faya said nonchalantly. The commander walked over to the entrance of the tent then looked back at the princess. "Come," she said and gestured towards the tent entrance. "It's almost time to eat, and since you are one of us now you should join us. I can give the good news to our people then."

    (OOC: no worries! i get it! i have two jobs, and they sometimes keep me a bit backed up on... like,,, all of life lol Also, the foods Dove mentions are ones that wealthy people ate in medieval times... gotta try to be realistic a;skjf)


    Dove gapes at the woman, not quite sure of what to say. She stands, albeit shakily, and shakes her head. "I... I can't be..." she mutters in disbelief. "How could I...? I mean, my- my mother hates magic... my father was... well-" she isn't sure what she can say. "Perhaps I just..." She stops to take a deep breath. "I don't think any Fae are around anymore. I've certainly never heard of one - and if one were my parent, shouldn't I know?" But, of course, it was not uncommon knowledge that her father was mysterious when it came to his past. He rarely shared it, with anyone. He was just a rich commoner that her mother had married, nothing important beyond his favor of the people. But he had always been such a gentle ruler...


    Dove's stomach growls. She winces. She hadn't felt such hunger since she was a growing child. "I suppose a meal would be rather nice... I don't suppose you have lamb? Or perhaps honey-rich bread?"

    Faya ushered the princess out of the tent and into the clearing where the Nightingales were hiding. The sun was just beginning to set and bathed the ravine in a gorgeous golden light. "We will figure out what you are, one way or another," Faya said and shrugged.


    Faya had noticed that a small crowd of her people had gathered, eager to hear the news. A small murmur rippled through them when they saw the princess next to Faya. Faya smiled, pride swelling in her chest. She raised her arms above her head and cheered, "The princess has decided to join us!" The crowd cheered along after and they quickly scurried off to spread the news.


    Faya chuckled at the princess's inquiry. "Awh that's cute," Faya cooed, then teasingly tugged lightly at a strand of the princess's white coiled hair. "But no, we can't afford luxuries like that." She smiled and gestured for the princess to follow her towards the dining tent, "Instead we will be having rabbit stew! The vegetables in it are made by some of our finest nature magicks and the rabbits hunted by our finest hunters."

    Dove watches the people - the people she'd willingly joined - cheer for her, and feels something strange stirring in her chest. It's not quite the same as when she would do - what she considered a common - act of kindness publicly, and her subjects would cheer her on. It's fuller, somehow. It warms her chest and spreads through her arms and legs to the tips of her fingers and toes. She'd thought there would be outrage, at least. The princess joining their ranks.


    Dove feels warm when the commander plays with her hair, but the action takes so much of Dove's focus she forgets what she was thinking about for a moment.


    She shakes her head to clear it. "Stew?" She echoes. She'd heard her servants at the castle speak of the stuff all the time, but she was used to lamb stew - richer recipes made by foreign chefs to impress the royal family. "Rabbit?"

    Kyson

    Faya grinned again as she led the princess to the dining tent. She ushered the new comrad into dining tent. Inside it was warm and bustling with activity. Wooden tables were aligned in neat rows. Torches illuminated the room with an orange glow and the shadows of the Nightingale people danced along the walls of the tent. It was one of the largest tents in the Nightingale camp.


    Faya laughed lightly at the princess's naiveness, she waved her hand almost dismissively. "You'll like it. It's probably not as good as that stuff you eat at the palace, but here its made with passion. Something your food probably lacks." Faya then clicked her tongue and giggled.


    Heavy hoof falls approached their direction and a large hand fell on Faya's shoulder. "Faya! Looks like you convinced her after all!" A booming voice in a thick, foreign accent rumbled like thunder through the seemingly soft chatter of the dining tent. Faya turned and was met the kind eyes of a large centaur. Faya smiled and clasped her hand on top of his. His upper body was that of a strong man with black tattoos striking across his shoulder. His hair and beard were dark, but his eyes were warm and full of kindness. Across his left eye were two large scars. Attached to the upper body was a large black stallion body.


    "Kyson!" Faya greeted the centaur warmly, "Of course I did, were you starting to doubt me?" Faya's tone was teasing and light, playful. Faya turned back to the princess and gestured to Kyson. "This is Kyson, my best warrior. He's one of the last of his kind. We have two other centaurs as well, Jacarn and Pepos, but I'm afraid the last remaining centaur herd wanted to remain hidden." Faya shrugged her shoulders, "I really can't blame them." She turned back to Kyson and gestured to the princess. "This is Princess Dove, though you already knew that."


    Kyson sized up the princess for a moment, he loomed over the five foot two commander and the princess with his large stature. He rubbed his hand along his jaw before chuckling. "Perhaps we should just call her Dove, no? After all, you established the rule against no titles. Uh, something about equality?"


    Faya nodded thoughtfully. "You're right! Well, just Dove it is then!"


    Kyson chuckled, even his laugh was filled with warmth. "Wonderful! Come join me and the others for dinner!"

    The princess isn't quite sure what to make of Faya, or her opinion on passion and food, but she supposes the commander has somewhat of a point. The cooks she'd grown up with had been hired and paid for, but perhaps it didn't work quite the same way in such a group as the Nightingales. From what she's gathered, from both Faya and the environment around her, they seemed to rely on one another in a way that Dove has never seen before.


    Dove smiles politely at Kyson, though she feels out of place and a bit in awe of the centaur. She remembers tales from her nursemaid of the creatures, but she had never expected to see one in person. She collects herself quickly, a skill she's grateful her tutors and mother had taught her, and nods. "Yes, I suppose that would be suitable, though I must admit I haven't been called by just my name in some time." She pauses. "And, yes, I suppose dinner with... with you both would be alright, as well." She'd usually shared her meals with her mother on a long stretch of polished oak table, the distance between them seemingly endless. Dinners were usually silent, but from the looks of the other rebels around her, this would not be the case.

    As Kyson led them to the table in the far back where a few others were sitting, Faya took the time to explain to Dove. "Here, everyone is equal. We are all fighting for the same cause. Therefore, we don't carry special names or titles. I'm still the leader and the commander, but I heavily rely on input from people. We all have roles due to our talents and our magicks, but at the same time we all rely on one another and we all do our part protect each other and fight for our cause. It's like we are all one big family here." Faya spread her arms, gesturing to the entire room.


    Kyson stood at the table, as he was not able to sit, and Faya sat down and patted the seat next to her, indicating that Dove should sit as well. The two others who were sitting there, a stout and older looking woman adorned with feathers, colorful cloth, and beads, and a young bright eye skinny boy with bright blue hair and a white tunic, promptly shoved three bowls of stew in their direction. Faya passed a bowl to Kyson, and then one to Dove.


    "It's nice to be eating with you Faya," the old woman said in a warm papery voice, "And our new guest." Her black eyes twinkled.


    The boy simply nodded in agreement and turned back to his soup.


    Faya gestured to both of them. "Dove, these are Pasha, one of our best herbalists and healers, and her apprentice Wistari. He's from an Elf bloodline, Pasha found him when he was a child. He doesn't speak much, but he has a talent for water magick." After introducing Dove to two more of the Nightingale member's to Dove, Faya picked up the hand carved wood spoon and began eating. It was warm and flavorful.