[fleabittengray]

x

GRACE

made by remi of rilla go! and adoxography

It had been a long time since she last set foot in the Neutral Kingdom, last under the alias of Infinity. Back during the reign of Arthmîn and Malmuirie, and when Vanth was Lord of the Underworld. Much time had passed since then, and her identity had probably been forgotten. So much had changed - from leadership to the lands themselves - that Grace was sure she had been forgotten. Should anyone begin to think that she looked familiar, she would merely insist that Infinity had been her mother, who had told her that the Neutral Kingdom would accept her should she be in any danger. The truth, of course, for her return was much more malicious. Her younger brother, a Fiend of Hell by the name of Ouija, had contacted her and asked a favor of her. He had promised a Helkaer mare, Harlan, to help her gain intel on the Neutral Kingdom, in exchange for her allowing him to take one of her captive's souls, a stallion by the name of Nyko. Ouija could not go to Meraki Woods without being easily found out, unless he hid himself and became invisible (which he very well may do, in the near future), but he knew the chances of hearing information that way were little to none. So, he had requested that Grace go back undercover in the Neutral Kingdom, weaseling her way into a trusted position and gaining information for both himself and for Harlan. Since Ouija was her brother, and they had always been close, she had agreed, deciding on the name Chanel this time around, just in case there was still someone who may recognize her former alias of Infinity.

It was high noon by the time she arrived at the border of Meraki Woods. Despite it being a different location than Tremala Woods, it still felt faintly familiar and she golden maiden halted at the nearest border, breathing in the scent of the heart of the Neutral Kingdom. She had had to travel deep into what had once been Tremala Woods to find the reaches of Meraki. The terrain was coated in snow. It clung to the bare branches of the trees above, sometimes falling in clumps down upon the earth as wind would rush through, causing the branches to shudder and shake. Calm and serene, the Paso Fino held steady at the border, ears perked and brown eyes searching for any sign of guards - Wild Equines was at war, so she was expecting to be found quickly. At first, there was nothing but the creaking of snow-laden branches above her until, at long last, she heard the unmistakable sounds of others approaching.

She spotted the guards through the trunks of trees, and upon spotting them, the mare whinnied - a way of announcing herself, kind and warm, as well as requesting their presence. One of the duo of guards responded and, after speaking with whoever they were with, the duo split. She assumed one of them was going to fetch the King and/or Queen or someone else of high rank, while the other was coming to question her. Grace did not feel unsettled or anxious at all, even giving a pretty little smile as the guard neared her and halted, blocking her from crossing the border and officially entering Meraki Woods. Grace gave a low, submissive dip of her head - feigning that she meant them and their Kingdom no harm. Before the guard could even demand to know who she was, she was speaking in faintly Spanish accented tones, "My name is Chanel, and I have come seeking to join the Neutral Kingdom. I want to help, in any way I can, to assure the Neutral Kingdom is safe during the war." After speaking, she lifted her head and smiled again, knowing there was no way to tell she was lying through her teeth. She had waited until the faint scent of Hell had faded from her own pelt, and then waited another day longer after it had gone before even heading to Meraki. There would be no connection between herself and Ouija, or her father, Acacias, or anyone else in the Underworld. To this guard, or to anyone else that met her, she would just seem like any other common mare hoping to help her alliance.


Open
724 | Profile
She is here to help her brother, Ouija, spy on Meraki Woods, as requested by Harlan (• illɘgal ◦ ), in exchange for Nyko's (Pippin ) soul
8 years 5 months, winter, afternoon

[aliyaah]

The king yawned widely as he stretched out his seventeen hand high frame, trying to dispel what weariness was worn upon him. He had already spent the morn deep in meetings, strategizing about the Neutral Kingdom's current state in the war, and what their next move might be. The conversations had been long and taxing, and Avinash was feeling the effects of it as the sun neared its highest point in the sky above. It was just visible through the thick canopy of the trees, shining its light through to the snow-covered earth below. There was a chill in the air, but it was not enough to pierce his heavy, thickened winter pelt. The snow might have been able to fall to the earth in Meraki, but the abundance of trees cut the cold wind from traversing through, which meant the inhabitants were protected from the worst of the chill. That didn't make the winter comfortable, by any means... But it was at least somewhat manageable. Today, the brisk air kept him awake, where he otherwise might have been struggling with exhaustion. Even without the business he had already attended to that day, the war had been keeping him consumed at almost all times, and the effort it had required had been wearing on him. But this was to be expected with the role that he had taken, and the choice he had made to support Utopia. And so, he did it without complaint (at least, with not complaining out loud...). But just as he thought he might have had a moment to catch his breath today, one of his guards approached him - his hooves crunching in the snow alerted the royal to the soldier's presence. He stated that there was a stranger who had approached the woods, and at this critical point of time in their lives, any newcomer needed to be approached with caution. Avinash nodded and asked the guard to guide him to the stranger, and so, they set on their way.

When they found the approacher, she stood with another guard. Avinash quickly looked between the pair of equines, assessing the situation. His guard seemed cautious, but at ease. The mare stood in a stance that was far from offensive or aggressive. The defender then stated that she had claimed her name was Chanel, and that she was here to help. He raised his brows in surprise for a moment, not having expected such a... positive encounter, to say the least, but soon his facade transitioned to one of joviality. "Well, we can use all the help we can get." The bay tobiano stated authentically, then dismissed the soldiers with a nod of his crown. Turning towards the femme, Avinash then pressed on to say. "Hello Chanel, I'm King Avinash. Are you... a member of the Neutral Kingdom?" He asked curiously, wanting to know why she had come to support them.

Tagged - fleabittengray
Muse - okay
Words - 400+
Notes - N/A
Words

[fleabittengray]

x

GRACE

made by remi of rilla go! and adoxography

The guard seemed cautious but not suspicious as they waited for the audience of the King or Queen. Grace did not make a move to try and get deeper into the territory, nor to converse with the guard. She stood in polite silence, casually looking around. The sun that streamed through the treetops was reflecting prettily off of the snow and she smiled despite the chill in the air. It really was beautiful here. Grace wondered what the trees would look like, consumed by hellfire. A smile slowly appeared upon her maw, but to those looking, she would merely look like someone admiring the view. She shifted her weight, then turned her head to look in the direction of approaching hooves crunching against snow. Her ears pointed in the direction of the footsteps and there, through the trees, appeared the other guard - along with the King, Avinash, whom she recognized from descriptions she had been given about the brute. She eyed him, curious, but did not speak right away.

"Well, we can use all the help we can get." Avinash stated, after the guard had informed him of what she had said. Grace hummed, lifting her head slowly as she surveyed the King and two guards. "I hope to be of some help, then," she stated, friendly and warm. She was soft spoken, her voice warm and casual. "Hello Chanel, I'm King Avinash. Are you... a member of the Neutral Kingdom?" To that, the golden mare gave a small nod of her head. "I have always aligned myself with those of the Neutral alliance - though I've not settled into a home since coming here. I arrived in Wild Equines shortly before this war. I have lived in the Free Lands since then, watching and learning. When I learned that the Neutral Kingdom fought for Utopia, I knew I had to come help. It is the right and moral thing to do." She let her words trail off, her eyes turned onto the King as he sent the guards away.

She wondered if she could take him down herself. She was skilled enough to try it, but she dared not slay the King. Not today, anyway. She had been sent here for information, not to become a king killer.


aliyaah w/ Avinash
378 | Profile
notes
8 years 5 months, winter, afternoon

[aliyaah]

When he arrived to the awaiting individual, the mare known as Chanel, she appeared to be reserved. She allowed him to complete his approach, to make the first move. He had felt her curious gaze upon him as he stopped before her, offering her his cordial greeting. As he had revealed that they could always utilize further assistance, he was met with the warm reply, "I hope to be of some help, then," The golden mare's tones were friendly, yet adamant. It seemed that this woman had a goal in mind, and she fully intended on reaching it. 

To Avinash's inquiry, Chanel gave a small, yet meaningful nod. "I have always aligned myself with those of the Neutral alliance - though I've not settled into a home since coming here. I arrived in Wild Equines shortly before this war. I have lived in the Free Lands since then, watching and learning. When I learned that the Neutral Kingdom fought for Utopia, I knew I had to come help. It is the right and moral thing to do." She told him, explaining a little about her past as well as why she had come here. It made sense that he had not heard of her, taking into consideration just how recently she had come to these lands. With him having been so completely tied up in the war, he would have had little chance of encountering a newcomer such as herself, had she not sought him out. Seemingly, the effects of the war had been so vast that even someone who was entirely new to Wild Equines was aware of the factions known as Utopia and the Underworld. He had grown up in these lands and he still found himself to be lacking a great deal of knowledge regarding the Afterlife, yet Chanel spoke so comfortably about it. Perhaps she was simply a devoted equine, who saw a cause worth fighting for and committed her entire self to it - which of course, including gaining information and learning more about it. He could respect her for that, if that was the case. "You seem so resolute in your beliefs. So many struggle with that. Myself included." He commented genuinely, mind flickering to the thoughts of uncertainty he had had at the start of the war. While he had never officially allied himself, nor the kingdom, with Utopia... It was now next to Lady Rasa which he stood. He had had interactions with both the leaders of the Utopia, Lady Rasa and Lord Nehemiah at the time, as well as the underworld, Lord Xerxes and Lady Mictecacihuatl, early into his kingship. One side had been kind and supportive, offering aid. The other, well... Lord Xerxes had made it quite clear that he did not believe in merely coexisting. That if Avinash allied with Xerxes' enemies, that he was an enemy as well. They were either friends or foes, there was no in between. And if they were foes, well... Xerxes would be sure to reign terror upon the Neutral Kingdom. It hadn't been straightforward deciding who to be loyal to... But if he had made his decision solely based on fear, because he was afraid of the repercussions, then what kind of a leader would he have been? "Have you had much interaction with beings from Utopia? Or the Underworld, for that matter? They are quite daunting." He then asked her curiously. He wondered whether her desire to support the heavens were based on personal experience, or only that which she had heard about the Utopians. And of course on the reverse, he wanted Chanel to know just what she was getting herself into, should she wish to go up against the Underworld. 

Tagged - fleabittengray
Muse - okay
Words - 600+
Notes - Don't kill him Grace!! Lol
Words

[fleabittengray]

x

GRACE

made by remi of rilla go! and adoxography

Grace kept her gaze focused on the King, not an intense gaze, but there was a hardness to her eyes that she could not hide. She would excuse it as having faced hardships, instead of being dark of heart, and she was a masterful liar. If Avinash did not believer her, well, she could always do this the hard way. She could take him or a member of his herd captive and force them to give her information, but Grace was prepared to do this the long way. To raise less suspicion. Plus, it would be fun and interesting for her to settle here in Meraki Woods and learn all about the herd and its rulers. What were their weaknesses, she wondered, and would they give word of those weaknesses freely? Surely there must be someone in the herd that had loose lips... it was only a matter of time before she found them. Hopefully, it would be before any suspicions were raised about her. After all, this was all meant to help her brother, Ouija, and to progress him further along in his quest for power in the Underworld. He was a fearsome beast, even at his young age, a demon unlike any other. And not just any demon - but a Fiend.

"You seem so resolute in your beliefs. So many struggle with that. Myself included." A quiet laugh left from the mare's lips and she gave another nod. "Yes, my King. I was raised to always be sure of myself and my beliefs. My mother taught me confidence in myself, my father the courage to act on said confidence. And both of them taught me that sometimes words are better to solve a problem, rather than with physical battles." It was all a lie, of course, but Avinash didn't have to know that. The words were spoken calmly, patiently, and with a hint of pride within them, as if she was fond of both of her parents when in reality, there was only one parent in her life. Acacias, a demon of Hell. He and Ouija were the ones to haul Nehemiah to the Underworld in the first place. She was proud of the two of them, very proud, indeed.

"Have you had much interaction with beings from Utopia? Or the Underworld, for that matter? They are quite daunting." She thought quickly on how to answer, deciding on the mention of the fallen Lord of Utopia, whom she had never met, but it wasn't like he was around to argue her statement. It seemed the safest bet. "I had met Lord Nehemiah, just before it was announced that he was taken. He showed me great kindness. I mourned his loss, as I am sure many others have as well." A frown came to her then, and she met Avinash's eyes. "I have seen demons from afar, as they wreck havoc in the Free Lands, terrorizing many, but I have not yet to meet them face to face. All the same, I am not afraid of death and dying. I made peace with death long ago. The Underworld would only give me more peace and purpose, should they slay me in battle. I would prefer not to go down without a fight."

A web of lies she spun. She did not care about Utopia, it was truly the Underworld that she had always been aligned with. She was more than willing to spread such lies and manipulate the King in the name of the Underworld, however. She kept her answers just vague enough, with splashes of detail, to hopefully not arouse suspicion. The less specific details she gave now, the easier she could manipulate herd members later, growing her lies into something magnificent.


aliyaah w/ Avinash
624 | Profile
She won't kill him... maybe.... at the moment :P
8 years 5 months, winter, afternoon

[fleabittengray]

aliyaah Bump!

[aliyaah]

He found, as he gazed into Chanel's eyes, that there was a hardness within them. While she seemed more than friendly enough, the weight she bore was worn upon her. He wondered what kind of a past she had that had instilled this within her, though he knew it was naught his business. Everyone had their tales, after all. Everyone had their hardships. "Yes, my King. I was raised to always be sure of myself and my beliefs. My mother taught me confidence in myself, my father the courage to act on said confidence. And both of them taught me that sometimes words are better to solve a problem, rather than with physical battles." What an honorable upbringing it sounded like she had. Chanel, by all means, appeared to be a devoted and well-rounded individual. A huge asset. "You sound fond of your parents." He commented on her mention of them. He knew he was fond of his own, having worked so hard both for the kingdom and raising him.

"I had met Lord Nehemiah, just before it was announced that he was taken. He showed me great kindness. I mourned his loss, as I am sure many others have as well." She explained firstly, addressing her interactions with Utopia. The youthful monarch agreed with her, commenting his own experience by saying, "As did I. I only encountered him once I believe, prior to his taking. But he seemed like a decent sort, and committed fiercely to Lady Rasa." It was then that her facade transitioned into a frown, and she continued to tell him, "I have seen demons from afar, as they wreck havoc in the Free Lands, terrorizing many, but I have not yet to meet them face to face. All the same, I am not afraid of death and dying. I made peace with death long ago. The Underworld would only give me more peace and purpose, should they slay me in battle. I would prefer not to go down without a fight." He listened to the woman attentively, nodding along with her story. When she completed her short tale, he found himself feeling in awe of her. "I envy your confidence, and wish I too had such peace with the inevitable," he shared candidly. He would be lying if he said that he did not fear death. Perhaps owed to the existence of the Afterlife, death was not the absolute ending as so many saw it to be, however... It still meant a great change. It meant meeting ones fate. It meant being separated from family and friends, if they had not too come to pass on. And as it seemed, sometimes the Afterlife took more control of a being than they might wish - such as when Lord Cadence had been taken by the mist. But if he readily accepted death, embraced it... Perhaps he would be able to better commit himself to this war. Maybe he could more easily throw himself into battle, secure more wins for the Utopians. He could fight, and not be afraid of what might happen to him as a consequence. It sounded like a much more valiant way to be. Perhaps Chanel could teach him how to head down this path.

fleabittengray
ooc. Sorry for the lack of formating, on my phone and will add it in when I'm back at my computer!

[fleabittengray]

x

GRACE

made by remi of rilla go! and adoxography

Grace was a wonderful actress. She made an excellent spy. She could play the part of a hardened soldier quite well, had just enough of a scattering of scars across her palomino pelt to make it seem possible that she had seen battle before. This character she was crafting for the King, Chanel, was not a timid mare, but a strong and quiet one, confident, someone that the Neutral Kingdom needed. Someone that they could trust. She gave no signs of hostility, even offering a genuine but small smile as Avinash stated, "You sound fond of your parents." She nodded, speaking quietly then. "They raised me well." She allowed a hint of sadness to creep into her tone, meant to make the King wonder. Were he parents dead? Were they hurt? Captured? Why was Grace here alone, when she seemed to love her family so much?

"As did I. I only encountered him once I believe, prior to his taking. But he seemed like a decent sort, and committed fiercely to Lady Rasa." Grace nodded, though she had a growing curiousness about Avinash's relationship to Rasa. Had they met before? How often? Why did he think of her? "Rasa does seem like a force to be reckoned with, from what I have heard. Though I have heard others say she is a tyrant who doesn't know how to lead." She shrugged, eying Avinash curiously, "But anyone will say anything to make someone seem weaker - or stronger - than they really are. We cannot cast judgement without meeting others ourselves, I believe. I do not believe in rumors and gossip out in the Free Lands. I believe only what I see and hear with my own eyes and ears." What would the King think of that, she wondered? Would he find it odd that she was so outspoken? Surely he had met other outspoken maidens in his lifetime!

"I envy your confidence, and wish I too had such peace with the inevitable," Grace's eyes hardened again, her head lifting as she released a heavy sigh. "It all came at a price. I was not always so comfortable with the idea of death, but when you see if often enough, you learn to accept it. There is no escaping death. La muerte es segura, pero su hora es incierta. My mother would always tell me that. It means, death is certain, but its hour is uncertain. We cannot let fear of death rule over us. I refuse to live in fear."


aliyaah w/ Avinash
418 | Profile
notes
8 years 5 months, winter, afternoon

[fleabittengray]

aliyaah Bump!