- INTRODUCTION CUTSCENE:
You have traveled far from your welcoming home in Silverport. Memories of the time spent with your two mentors, Sorren and Willy, as well as the banished elvian prince Caladaer, who has joined your odd little birdfamily group, fill you with happier times of warm seasonal pancakes and chilly winter weather by the ocean shore. You never thought you’d long for the sight of water this much...
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You and Caladaer have traveled together to a distant desert territory far to the east. An exotic land of endless sand, shape-shifting wolfkin clans in constant dissention, and old magic that whispers within the depths of broken, ancient ruins, rising and falling among the waves of golden dunes as they become lost to time.
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Your mentor, Sorren, requested that you seek out and aid a close friend of his whom he believes may be in trouble. Your only guide, the pale dire wolf Delilah, leads you steadily on as you search for her alpha, not knowing what you may happen across in the vast, untamed deserts of Darak’i.
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THE OASIS
The searing sun beats down harshly upon your burning skin. Sweat beads endlessly across your entire body, offering you little comfort. You keep your head low and out of the harsh light above in an effort to ignore the heat which surrounds you in waves, as you unceasingly trudge onward across the endless sea of sand and open sky with no end in sight.
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It has taken you and your elvian companion, Caladaer, a few weeks to reach the eastern territory of Darak’i, a land which belongs to the fabled beast race known as wolfkin, and whose deserts are as vast and untamed as the people and creatures who call this place home.
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You follow Delilah, a large, white dire wolf you met back in Silverport, as she guides you without rest throughout the curving dunes. Your small group was sent here to find her alpha known only as Fenrir, a personal friend to your mentor, Sorren, whom he requested you to seek out in hopes that no ill-will has befallen him, since his wolf companion was alone without her master.
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Sealer - Ugh, I don’t know if I can stand this heat any longer... how much further do you think we have to travel, Cally?
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Caladaer - As far as Delilah takes us.
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You pause for a moment at the elvian’s abrupt answer. The banished prince had said little these past few days, a stark contrast to his usual kind and open demeanor. He seemed distracted and distant to your attempted conversation, as if something were bothering him or perhaps making him uneasy...
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You decide to let it go for the moment. Anyone was bound to get irritable after trudging through the desert for over a week, but now water was beginning to run low as well. However, you couldn’t stop yourself from attempting to break the silence once again.
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Sealer - I hope Sorren’s friend is alright. I feel like we are taking forever to find him. Actually... I haven’t seen anything besides a few gemstone runes mulling about in the sand here and there.
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Sealer - I thought for sure we would have at least seen one wolfkin or dire wolf by now, but this place seems like an empty wasteland. Hey Cally, do you think—
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Caladaer - Shh!
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The elvian prince cuts your words short, startling you into an abrupt silence. His gaze is intense, searching as his cervine-like ears swivel to and fro urgently, as if to capture a sound that only he could hear.
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You notice his elkirn mount, Vipen, seemingly do the same. The large, pale stag paws the loose sand in anticipation. Lowering his antlers threatingly, as he breaths a deep, challenging snort.
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Sealer - ...Caladaer? Is something wrong?
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You whisper with hesitation to your elvian companion as you begin to realize how silent the area around you has become. The desert has never been this quiet before... it is unsettling, and you feel yourself begin to gradually tense as you wait for an answer.
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Sealer - Cally?
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Caladaer - ...We are being hunted.
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Sealer - Hunted? By what?!
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You blurt out that last part as Caladaer urges for you to be quiet once more.
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Delilah begins to growl low by your side in contrast, her ears pinned flat against her scarred head as she bares those unusually long saber fangs at the unseen threat.
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Caladaer - They have been tracking us for the past four days now, keeping their distance. Their methods are confusing, it’s not like a typical predator... perhaps they are confused about us. Whatever the case, their intentions just changed from observing to hunting.
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Sealer - Okay, that’s greatly alarming to hear, that we’ve been stalked this whole time—who’s they!? I don’t see or hear anything...
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Immediately, Delilah bolts from your side, rushing forward with a sharp snarl. Out of nowhere, six other large dire wolves appear over a nearby dune to follow after the she-wolf in an attempt to outflank the large white canine, only to be outmaneuvered at the last second as she dodges to the side with ease and leads the baying pack away from you, Caladaer, and Vipen.
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Sealer - Delilah! Cally, we’ve got to help her!
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Caladaer - I’m afraid we have our own problems.
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??? - You never can sneak up on an elvian or their mount... they always hear you before any scent or sight can be had. The hardest prey to catch...
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You turn sharply around at the new voice, only to see a group of people with more dires walking up to you both.
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At the lead was a rather short and stoutly built, feminine figure with frizzled locks and brown canine-like ears in her fro. Her companions clearly followed her command as they kept respectfully to the woman’s side, her dark features stern and full of authority that bore down with a fiery green gaze.
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??? - Imagine my surprise when our scouts reported that an elvian of all things was in our territory. Not only that, but he was following a white saber dire that we know all too well in these parts, and alongside a human no less. You both are not what we expected to see wondering about the dunes aimlessly...
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You find yourself staring hesitantly at the woman and her group. You had never seen a wolfkin up close before, certainly not a native to Darak’i. The ears and tail of these people were captivating your attention as they swayed to their moods. It was then that you realize they must be the ones who were “hunting” you as Caladaer mentioned before.
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Caladaer - We do not mean you or your people any disrespect, milady. My companions and I are only passing through. Nothing more.
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You glance nervously at Caladaer as he responds to the woman with a polite yet guarded answer.
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??? - Polite and respectful, just like the rest of your kind. Typical. I prefer we be straightforward and honest if you don’t mind. You elvians exasperate me with all your formalities that take forever to get through.
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Caladaer - ...As you wish. My companion and I are searching for one of your kind who is a friend of ours. We fear for his wellbeing and only wish to know he is alright. That is why we have come here.
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??? - Oh? An elvian that actually gets to the point? How incredibly rare. Then again, rarer still to see one out of their protective forests...
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Caladaer - ...
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??? - Shouldn’t you be frolicking among your own kind in a glade somewhere? Our deserts are sure to singe that fragile skin of yours.
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Caladaer - I appreciate your concern, but your deserts are quite tame compared to some of the places I’ve seen. My fragile skin is sure to be just fine out here. A bit of sun will do it some good, I’m sure.
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??? - Hmph. It is not often we get kal’roth, outsiders, out here. What are your names, strangers? Give me yours and I shall give you mine. I will at least grant you that courtesy despite your blatant trespassing and disrespect for my clan’s territory.
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Caladaer - Of course, forgive us for our trespassing. It was done so only in ignorance. I am Caladaer Isilidilinsyr, my elkrin mount is called Vipen, and this...
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Caladaer - Is the Sealer.
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??? - The Sealer? It seems like you are all just full of surprises. I didn’t expect the ba’tho, a human, to be the so called Sealer. We have heard quite a bit about you, young ban’on.
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Yasimi - I am Yasimi Roth’tai, alpha to the Roth’tai clan and second largest pack known throughout our deserts. As a native wolfkin and ves’en, clan leader, I welcome you to Darak’i.
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Yasimi - I suppose I should apologize somewhat for our abrasive behavior. You’ve come at a tense time for my people, it isn’t easy to trust anyone these days...
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Yasimi - Now, since you don’t appear to be our enemy, perhaps we can help you find this friend of yours that you seek. What is this wolfkin’s name?
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Sealer - Thanks for the help! His name is Fenrir. Do you know him? He’s a close friend to my mentor, Sorren. We’ve been following his dire wolf for a while now, the one that your dires just chased after. Can you call them off? She’s been through a lot lately...
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A moment of heavy silence follows as you watch the shocked features of these wolfkin change from curiosity to flat out aggression before looking to Yasimi.
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Yasimi - You are allied with that a’taihin? That traitor, Fenrir?
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The female wolfkin’s tone becomes strained as she glares at you in question. Immediately their once inquisitive body language changes to that of distrust, as the rest of her group and their dires begin to slowly fan out around you in a predatory circle.
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Sealer - I-I he’s my mentor’s friend... we just—
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Caladaer - We are simply seeking him out. This has nothing to do with the followers of Hubris or your Ancient of Wild’s clan disputes.
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Immediately, Caladaer intervenes as you falter under the wolfkin leader’s hardening gaze. Yasimi’s eyes seem to flash with rage as she steps boldly up to the elvian prince in challenge.
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Yasimi - Liars!
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Yasimi - You think I did not notice that charm you dangle so brazenly from your ivory crown, elvian? There is only one other with a matching, blasphemous trinket. Only one who travels with a white saber dire that he calls his own. Only one called Fenrir.
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There was such hate and accusation behind her words, which only seemed to confuse you. You could not help but feel as if there was a deeper reason for this unbridled emotion. You watched as Caladaer did not balk under the wolfkin’s sudden rage.
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Neither seemed to blink as they stood fast against the other’s stance in silent challenge. For the first time, you thought you saw a flicker of anger spark across the elvian’s fair features, as he quietly refused to back down, keeping himself between you and the alpha, Yasimi.
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Yasimi - You have no idea how much pain he has caused us. What he has done to all of those who follow our Ancient deity...
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Sealer - Yasimi... has something happened here?
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You don’t know why you reached out to her just then after her threats, but her voice... it was filled with such a broken sadness. Your words simply came out as she seemed so distant from everyone just then.
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Yasimi - Your ‘friend’ killed our Ancient. He hunted him. He murdered him. He took on a form of pride and became a large beast like all those who follow Hubris. He harbors a monster within him, one that has always hated our Ancient lord. He is Hin’skel, Ancient Slayer, and I will see his throat slit for what he has done!
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Sealer - What? He killed an Ancient!?
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Caladaer - Impossible.
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You could feel yourself grow numb at the unexpected news. You had no idea... but then, you had witnessed an Ancient’s death before. You could not help but feel yourself begin to recoil at the horrific memories as you tried to ignore and forget them. Not again. Ancients were not meant to die. Sorren said Fenrir was a friend... wasn’t he?
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Yasimi - That is why you can’t be trusted.
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The ferocity from before replaced the fear in Yasimi’s voice. She now looks to you both with a gaze that could only mean one thing.
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Yasimi - Kill them.
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Sealer - No, wait!
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Caladaer - Let the Sealer go, Yasimi! They are just a child. I am the only one allied with Fenrir. I’m the one who wears the mark of Hubris willingly, not them. Do not let your anger and hurt consume you to harm an innocent.
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Yasimi glares in silence to you both as she makes an unseen gesture to the rest of her clanmates. The dires snarl as they snap their jaws in anticipation next to their masters, all while the rest of the wolfkin draw out their weapons with fangs bared and tails bristling at the chance for some small vengeance.
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Caladaer - Sealer, get on Vipen, now. I’ll distract them while he takes you both to safety.
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Sealer - No! There’s no reason to fight—
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You stopped suddenly in your protests as a low, deep, and unearthly howl echoes hauntingly all across the desert around you.
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The sound itself sends an unexpected chill down your spine as you feel its power rattle your very bones. With that, everything goes deathly silent within the area, and you notice that the wolfkin surrounding you look about in fear with ears pinned back and eyes wide, searching for the source.
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Yasimi - So Fenrir comes for you. I knew you two were no better than a’taihin yourselves.
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Yasimi - Everyone, be alert! Keep the kal’roth close... they are what he’s after, no doubt.
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Dire wolves begin to whine softly in fear as they follow their masters reluctantly. Even the wolfkin seem uneasy as the silence is broken by a sharper howl close by that you recognize immediately.
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Sealer - Look, it’s Delilah! She’s alright!
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Your heart soars for a brief moment as you see the silhouette of the white saber dire stand alone atop a nearby dune, only to then balk somewhat at the enormous form that slowly pads up beside her, dwarfing the dire by comparison as this new beast casts its shadow across you all.
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It was a giant wolf, one far taller than any man, and who rivaled even a drake in height. It loomed on top of the dune before marching down slowly to meet your group.
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You felt everyone seemingly tense around you as the dark beast drew near, an ever-present wolfish grin upon its scarred muzzle. Its golden-hued eyes settled upon both you and Caladaer with what could only be described as hidden amusement.
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??? - Quite the rare catch you got here, Yasimi! But I’m afraid this one belongs to me... so why don’t you back off for once so I don’t have to chase your hunters back to you with their tails between their legs... again.
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You watch as the giant wolf approaches with a smirk and speaks in a light tone. You can only look on in disbelief as the creature’s form slowly changes to that of a male wolfkin in a flash of blinding, white magic.
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Yasimi - Bite me, Fenrir!
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Fenrir - No thanks! You’re not really my type.
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Fenrir - I will take that elvian off your hands, though. He’s already a part of my pack. Got the mark to prove it on his antler right there, so by Darak’i law you have to hand over all pack members to their alpha if they become separated from their clan.
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Caladaer - Excuse me? I don’t recall—
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Fenrir - Taking the pup there, too. Ban’ons don’t get dragged into clan disputes. You know that.
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Yasimi - You expect me to believe these two belong to your pack? Packs are made up of wolfkin, not humans, and especially not elvians of all things.
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Fenrir - Well, my pack is.
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Fenrir - I’ve also got a halfborn and a pirate as part of my group. Sad they couldn’t be here, but you know how long distance relationships can be sometimes.
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You can’t help but smile at Fenrir’s last comment. He made it sound like his pack was the birdfamily in a nutshell, and you couldn’t help but be proud at how he defended them so despite you just meeting him.
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Yasimi - This isn’t a game! You’re a murderer and I will not tolerate your insults any longer. You’ll pay for what you did to our Ancient, filthy a’taihin!
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Fenrir - You still think it was me that killed that guy? Are you serious? How many times do I have to tell you Wild followers that I didn’t do it? And they say I’m the prideful one.
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Yasimi - You dare make a mockery of his death?!
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Fenrir - No, but I’m not afraid to call out shortsighted wolfkin like yourself who point fingers first and ask questions later. A real ves’en leader doesn’t go around killing strangers and pups that have nothing to do with this. I thought you at least were better than that.
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Yasimi - !!!
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Tensions were rising to a boiling point as you noticed that both Yasimi and Fenrir looked ready to tear the other’s throat out in all-out war. Clearly whatever was said next would spark a battle between them and Yasimi’s clan, and without thinking you jump to try and put a stop to it before anyone becomes severely hurt and regrets it.
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Sealer - Stop, please!
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Sealer - Yasimi, I don’t know what happened, but clearly you and your clan have been through a lot recently.
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Sealer - An Ancient has died... it doesn’t matter who or what killed him. Fenrir claims he didn’t do it and I believe him. We should show more respect and try to figure out what happened to your deity instead of fighting over something we don’t fully understand.
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Sealer - Surely the Ancient of Wilds deserves that at least...
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There is a moment of drawn out silence as you watch the heated anger slowly ebb from the alpha leader’s features. Fenrir merely looked on with a blank, unreadable gaze before taking a step back, a show that, for now, he wasn’t going to press the issue.
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You couldn’t help but release a small sigh as things became a bit calmer among the group, for the moment, at least.
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Yasimi - Very well, Sealer. You speak the truth, albeit a rather naive one, and I am not a ves’en who won’t listen to reason.
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Yasimi - However, I know where you’ve been hiding, Fenrir. You can’t protect what’s in that cave forever, and we both know that you won’t dare leave it either.
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Fenrir - ...
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Yasimi - We will make camp at this oasis. However, you and your elvian companion are not allowed to leave, Sealer. Prove to me that this a’taihin, this traitor, is innocent and my clan and I shall let you all go. But, if you can’t, then we cast you all into The Pits to be feasted upon by sand wyrms. You have one week.
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You look on in heavy silence as you simply nod in agreement. Even if the stakes were high, at least for the moment you had a chance to make things right, and to figure out what the heck happened out here to result in another Ancient’s death.
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Yasimi - I’ll leave you with one warning, Sealer. Be careful who you call a friend out here. You will, after all, be literally sleeping in the wolf’s den...
Remember to bold all the sections (ex. "Stealing from Azara" for Yuletide Events)