Tales of Harmony

[Xewleer]

Tales of Harmony

 

 

 

The Hero!

 

 

 

Kurtiss Yaman

 

Age (like all heroes) 18

 

Abilities: Is considered a natural genius when using just about all non-magical weaponry. No magical ability what-so-ever. And none of that "power of the heart" nonsense either.

 

Bio. Comes from a healthy, well-adjusted, patriarchal, typical household. Since his father runs the neighborhood dojo as a job, he gets lots of practice. He is currently in charge of training first to third year students of the night class. Has saved Carrie many, many times. Has an actual tally that he keeps secret. Hates "Ropers" with a passion. Likes Jasmine a lot, despite her slight sadism.

 

 

 

The Teacher and Father!

 

 

 

Harra Yaman

 

Age: 40

 

Abilities: Master swordsman, practitioner of the "Soldier" style

 

Bio. Very competent. He loves his family above himself. So, when his son said that he wants to go on a manly quest, he made a hard choice and left the Dojo in the care of his wife, and Kurtiss' sister, Mariee. He met his wife, Karla, on the field of battle, and, after several fights, decided to marry to fight more conveniently. Despite their hot-bloodedness, they settled down and started the Dojo to provide both support and stability to their children.

 

 

 

The unrequited, absolutely devoted, Love-interest.!

 

 

 

Carrie Turya

 

Age: 18

 

Abilities: Spear. Has one or two mild healing moves. Also is quite good with axes as well. Has a good grasp on basic physics and simple machines.

 

Bio. Loves Kurtiss. She essentially grew up with Kurtiss, who, because of unknown factors that make monsters extremely attracted to her, has had to save her almost weekly. Loves Kurtiss a lot! Both Harra and Karlla support her in pursuing him. Kurtiss, however, only views her love as thanking him for saving her all those times. Kurtiss centric. However, she can act on her own for a time, but inevitably must visit Kurtiss once a week. Happy and nice, she would do anything for Kurtis.

 

 

 

The Sadistic, partially Ax-crazy, indifferent Love Interest!

 

 

 

Jasmine Le'Claire

 

Age: 25 (says 18)

 

Abilities: General mastery of knives, daggers and other extreme short-range implements. Can ignore great deals of pain while spouting insults at her opponent. Adept at spell-casting.

 

Bio: She was a hero once, but she and the King decided to step down and give the Villain back his spot on the throne. No one knows her past very well, except for Orlando Le'Clair, who visits her quietly every now and then. She knows that Kurtiss is infatuated with her and toys with him, but she doesn't love him much.

 

 

 

Mysterious Traveling warrior!

 

 

 

Orlando Le'clair

 

Age: 27

 

Abilities: Long range fighter. Specializes in the Long bow. He is also able to engage in hand-to-hand combat when necessary. Also has mild healing ability

 

Bio: People assume that he and Jasmine are relatives, as he visits often. He comes and goes when he pleases. He is worldly-wise and has a calm demeanor. However, there are hints that his sanity is not in the best of shape. Seems to care for Jasmine a great deal, in his own way.

 

 

 

The Overlording Villain!

 

 

 

Lord Alvern MalPernon

 

 

 

Age: ??? (triple digits, known for sure)

 

Abilities: multiple. No one but his Dragon (title of his trusted lieutenant), Erik Longbarb knows half of his abilities. However, he is quite weak when unable to fight at a distance. Is an excellent administrator.

 

Bio: Ruled the land for who knows how long. People turf him off the throne every ten years or so, but he always takes it back. His subjects don't really mind the fact that he is evil because he actually excels at being a ruler. Jasmine and the King are the only ones to have voluntarily given the throne back to him.

 

 

 

Chapter one. Harmonious meeting.

 

 

 

Harmony was just another village. There were, maybe, five thousand other villages like it in the entire world. To distinguish it, it exists in Cameo, not one hundred miles from the shore. Cameo, in turn, is among many nations, distinguished by its universally excellent cuisine and large amounts of plains, for the past 200 years it has been under an evil man named Alvern Malpernon, who has not had the throne for more than ten years at a time. Cameo is bordered by Shabbotholm to the east and Jaedinar to the south.

 

 

 

Returning to Harmony, it is a way station of sorts for anyone and everyone. Pirates, soldiers, lone warriors and adventurers come and go near constantly. However, Harmony is well removed from trade routes, and agriculture is its main export. But that does not mean it is boring! Oh no! The famed Yaman Dojo resides there, which teaches the children of the village, as well as anyone who can pay, how to fight and how to live. Also, the bar, Inn of the Seven Swells, is a great favorite among passerby, known for its brew and hospitality. Lastly, the river that flows nearby, Verone Rapids, is impassable to ships but provides excellent fish in season.

 

 

 

Yes, it is a lovely place, not over-blessed with prosperity, but certainly not suffering for it. Villages also are host to many, many interesting characters. It is raining, and everyone has umbrellas out. Walking down the street is Jasmine Le'Clair, a quiet girl who recently moved into to town. No one knows much about her, but that suits her just fine. Across the street, Harra Yaman, the Master of the Yaman Dojo stands outside, enjoying the breeze from his door, but soon, his students request he return. The Dojo is very sturdily built, not out of the current architectural fad, but the door is framed by old swords, stuck point first into the lintel. Let's continue then?

 

 

 

There on the far side of town, running down the street screaming, is Miss Carrie Turya, chased, like always, by some monster. Ah! It's a Roper, a strange creature made up of octopus-like tendrils that draw people under ground. Unfortunately we aren't allowed to interfere, so we'll leave her alone.

 

 

 

The Inn of the Seven Swells is next. It is a pleasant place, a lovely shade of blue paint with white windows. Mr. Poah is the owner of this establishment, here he is wiping the counter with his hanker chief. He does so love his job! What? It looks like Jasmine Le'Clair is talking secretly with a traveler! Ah... no gossip there, it's only her relative, Orlando Le'Clair, traveling archer, not much known about him.

 

 

 

We'll continue then! What? Carrie got caught? Let's see then. Ah! She'll be okay, here comes Kurtiss Yaman, son of the before mentioned Harra Yaman. She'll be alright, look, he's already freed her! Let's listen in on what they're saying.

 

 

 

"Thank you VERY much for rescuing me again! I appreciate it!"

 

 

 

Kurtiss smiles at her and pats her head. He wipes his sword on the monster's corpse before "Your welcome. One more for the tally then. See you for the lessons."

 

 

 

"Uh.. Kurtiss?" Oh! She's embarrassed! This should be interesting! "You know I turned eighteen last week...?"

 

 

 

He turns, the fool doesn't read her face! "Yes, thanks for inviting me to the party!" Gah! Why doesn't he notice she's uncomfortable?

 

 

 

"Oh... your welcome! But... I... Never mind." She can't say it!

 

 

 

"Alright then! Bye!" He leaves her standing there.

 

 

 

"I really like you..." Aw. Sweet love even in this hamlet, pity Kurtiss doesn't see it. No matter. Lets move forward the clock a little. Ah, it is now three in the afternoon let's see how things changed.

 

 

 

The rain has stopped, and the puddles are drying up. People are in their normal clothes at last. There's Ukkan D'ooitt on his way to his next case. He's the village doctor and is very serious about his job. Mrs. Monken is having another baby and her eldest says "She thinks it's time!" Soon, another baby's wail shall grace the Monken Household. Mr. Monken is sure to be pleased once he returns from work!

 

 

 

There's Jasmine is sitting on the fence of her house. There! We can get a good look at her now! She wears very dark, nearly purple clothing. Ribbons in her hair flutter about nearly constantly, but she likes it that way. Her long purple hair is kept in place by those ribbons. Around her neck is a choker. Her blouse long, as are the sleeves, which go well past her hands. Her bottom is a skirt and she wears very tall socks. Apparently, she is alright with wearing no shoes in her own yard. Lets move on, she looks like she is deep in thought.

 

 

 

Orlando is leaving town with a bag over his shoulder. He wears medium armor. Nothing abnormal about it, you could find it at any armor store. His weapon is a tall long-bow, taller than he is. It is strapped on his shoulder opposite his sack and quiver, which is full of fine arrows. His hair is red, it is unkempt, and probably unwashed. He looks ahead, laughing at some private joke that was only funny if you had been there. He waves behind without looking, and, to our surprise, Jasmine waves back. He passes Kurtiss as he leaves.

 

 

 

A friendly nod passes between them. Kurtiss is dressed in his favorite outfit. Full leather armor, minus a helmet, with a t-shirt and shorts. He wears heavy military boots for their grip, and his brown hair is controlled in a undirected way. He is carrying a sack full of what might be wolf pelts. Seeing Jasmine sitting on the fence, he walks over to talk to her. Lets listen in.

 

 

 

"Hello, Jasmine." He says with a flourish and smile.

 

 

 

"What do you need now." She says with great indifference.

 

 

 

"Well, a nice greeting would be acceptable." He says with a bigger smile.

 

 

 

She glares unnoticed daggers at him. "My, you are nothing like a dog. I only like dog-men. You are more like the hamster that was ran over in the street. Smelly roadkill. Go away." She says with boredom. I don't think she was really concentrating on what she said at all.

 

 

 

"Huh. I thought I was a human... I'll be your dog!" He says it like a bark.

 

 

 

"... The kind of dogs I like are the ones who do it naturally. Leave me alone." She is too deep in thought to care about what Kurtiss says.

 

 

 

"YES MA'AM." He walks off with a dog-like panting noise. Dear Lord, I'm the narrator and I'm finding him obnoxious. Let's move on to what Harra Yaman is doing.

 

 

 

Ah! We're in luck! He moved up his evening class so that the Dojo could be used as a nursery while the Inn has it's monthly town meeting. shush! He's starting.

 

 

 

"A warrior is not a warrior unless he is like a clock. A warrior is well-tuned with himself, and his surroundings; a clock is well-made and built to last in its environment. A warrior constantly improves himself; a clock is wound daily to preserve its time. A warrior, this is most important, values and understands the beat of battle, a clock must keep its time or it is worthless.

 

 

 

"I know that sounds confusing, but here it is. If a warrior can keep up to his opponent, then you can ensure that the battle won't end within the first seconds. Essentially: A master strikes when his student is thinking about striking. You sir! Name and style!" He points to a man in the front center.

 

 

 

"They call me rapid-fire Hyl, sir. I am trying to master swift, deadly strikes to end a battle in its first instance. My spear has been known to strike five times a second." He was proud. "One hundred strong warriors fell before me when I fought in the last war!" His chest swelled a bit as he said this.

 

 

 

"I could beat you with this paper fan." Harra said, holding it out.

 

 

 

Hyl is taken aback but regains his composure in a moment. "Sir. If you want it to be, I'll kill you before you can strike me. I warned you." The other students steps away. As soon as they are out of range he unleashes his spear. It is covered in intricate gold and silver filigree, and he stabs it in the air, making a little pop.

 

 

 

"Gatling!" He rushes at Harra. His spear is cupped in his left hand and the right hand starts pumping it rapidly, until it is a blur. Harra does nothing until it is in range. He moves faster, deflecting every blow with his fan. He then throws it! It strikes Hyl in the cheek, drawing blood. "I lost. Heh. Makes sense, after all, I came to learn from you." He takes it in good humor and sheathes his spear. "Ha! Beaten by a fan!" Chuckles ring out from the group.

 

 

 

"Well taken. You aren't too bad. I'm just too strong. Now then. I'll tell you what you did wrong. You didn't have enough power in your strikes. If you had been stronger, you would have destroyed my fan and I would have had to use my bare hands to defeat you." He leans against the wall, as if talking casually. "Strengthen your arm before you start working on your speed again."

 

 

 

Hyl nods as the students reform their files. "Take my lesson to heart. Find a partner and practice, please. No killing, and if you can fight with the sheath on, do so." He watches them and shouts out advice to one group or other. "Your not trying enough!" ... "Keep your guard up when fighting club wielders!" ... "Remember! Spear attacks can strike anywhere in the front of your body, but is weak when you can get past the shaft!" And so on.

 

 

 

I think we've learned enough... Wait! It's Carrie, coming in for her personal lessons. Interesting, she wields a spear. Harra trains her as he watches the class. "How's things? Thyme, heard you nearly got caught by a roper."

 

 

 

She strains to get past his guard, unfortunately, she is nowhere close to Hyl's skill. "Fine, Kurtiss saved me again."

 

 

 

"Your distracted!" He strikes the spear in a certain way and she spins around. "Speaking and fighting is one thing, but you must still concentrate on the battle."

 

 

 

"Sorry. I wish..." She fights more earnestly this time.

 

 

 

"That he would notice you?" He moves past the shaft, but Carrie spins the spear around to strike him with the butt, but he moves back out of range. "There was embarrassment in that strike."

 

 

 

"Yes, I want that very much! And now he's interested in that new girl! It's horrible!" She spins vertically and brings her spear crashing down an inch from Harra's toe.

 

 

 

"He is not a warrior yet, just try to show him you care greatly for him. I know that one of the reasons he likes Karlla so much is because she feeds him."

 

 

 

"You know I have no confidence in wooing him or whatever it's called." She makes a quick three strike to his mid-drift. Not even close.

 

 

 

"You have both mine, Karlla's and Maree's blessing and confidence. Don't give up. That girl is too dark. He's not the brightest and... You're distracted again! Guard up! One-two! One-two!" He grabs the shaft and pulls her towards him, before pushing back and knocking her down, painfully. "Why don't you stop for now. We'll continue talking. Try to find Kurtiss and invite him for a snack or something. I know you can cook well, you just lack the true 'want'. You two are on kids duty tonight, bake something."

 

 

 

He gives her a dismissive gesture as she gets up and bows. She then leaves. He turns to his students and begins to shout out his advice and direction to them again.

 

 

 

It seems that Carrie is fighting something within herself. We'll join her once she's in her house. For now, let's enjoy the war-games of the students.

[Bluejayfan94]

Yay! Its back!