Myth or Reality?

Rumor tended to circulate far and wide, reaching even the most far removed corners of the realms. Urania had known about Yggdrasil since she was a kid, it was a huge part of her homeland's culture. "The Bridge Between the Nine Realms" as it was called. She didn't quite expect to be hearing that old Myth once she was exiled and cast out, but then she came to Fiore. She began to hear its name again, only in hushed murmurs and spoken of as if it were a legend. It was all stuff she knew of course, except for one thing. One name mentioned over and over in discussion of it. Sabertooth. One of the many guilds Fiore was famous for, had apparently made residence inside the World Tree. She was never one to immediately shoot down ideas immediately but that was just preposterous! There was no way that any mortal could just claim The World Tree.

But that sat at the back of her mind, an itch she couldn't scratch. Could it be possible? Is The World Tree just allowing folks to... live in it? Build around it? However it worked. She decided that she would make the journey to The Ace of Spades and attempt to join the guild and crack the mystery once and all. It couldn't hurt, and if it ended up being just a myth shed still end up with room and board after half a decade of wandering the world. The trip to Ace of Spades took around two months, and by the time she arrived she had learned enough to know where to head: The Red Dragon Inn. Perfect place for someone with bardic skill and charm.

Pushing her way through the doors to the inn, Urania quickly felt the rustic charm wash over her. It felt like home already. It wasn't packed, but not empty either. Perfect amount of clutter, nice orange light. Out the window, the moon was just rising over the horizon. Sitting down in front of a window and pulling her guitar off her back, she began to play a song she knew well, one from her childhood.




As she sang, the notes of the song formed around her in glittering shades of gold, the area around her seeming to warm to a sort of cozy feeling. Yes, Bardic magic typically had that effect, a song was never truly just a song after all. They were catalysts, tools that pulled from one's emotions and magic and turned into a spell. Most songs, like this one, would remain basic without spending too much of the casters magic. But they could be refined, honed into powerful spells that are not to be taken lightly.

Yuudai pushed the door open to the Red Dragon Inn as he let out a yawn. He had been here in Ace of Spades on guild business since he had recently joined Sabretooth. While he hated being away from his girlfriend Adalinda he knew he still had to do jobs and keep in contact with his guild. Sadly today he was delayed so he decided to have a few gallons of alcohol before he headed back for the docks so he could get back home on divide island. As he entered the inn he had to duck down to make sure his head did not hit the frame and he headed towards the bar.

“barkeep two of your biggest mugs of Apple raspberry ale” he said as he sat down on a stool and he heard a crack and he sighed.”Ill pay for that too” he added before he was given his ale and he took a large sig before he glanced out at the person singing and having magic react to it. It surprised him and he wondered if the woman was already in a guild or if she was looking for one. If she was to glance at him she would see the Sabretooth mark on his lower back in purple standing out against his black fur as his tails move slightly behind him.

Ryo smiled as he sat inside of the Red Dragon Inn drinking the whiskey that he always loved. Thankfully his new condition allowed him to continue to drink his most favorite drink. Today he was dressed in his pretty usual fashion, his black cowboy boots with the red card suits printed on them, and the electric green vest were the only difference in his usual garb. Of course, his blood red duster was on the back of his chair and his hat was tipped in front of his face while his feet were resting on the table. He usually took up a stationary position inside of the inn a corner table reserved for him and Gora his great Dire Wolf which lay on the floor under the table. He watched as guild members and regular folks came and went, so he didn’t have to bother much. As he was taking a long draft of his whiskey his brow raised at the new entrance into the inn. This new woman arrived without much warning, but when she came into the inn she started to sing.

The song was nice to hear, and Ryo could see that she had a lot of talent as a singer. The guitar playing was very nice as well and he had to admit that there weren’t many better that he had heard. He watched her and let her play without interruption. He did notice when one of the new members of sabertooth arrived. Yuudai was his name if Ryo recalled correctly, but that wasn’t important. He also noticed the interchange between Kenna and him, but that wasn't very interesting to him. He well knew the two of them, and knew they weren't a threat, but this stranger while not a threat just yet was still a potential threat and he was a guard of Sabertooth. So instead of paying attention to those he already knew, he returned his gaze to the bard and when she finished he would clap his hands together slowly but loud enough to be heard. When the applause for her died down he would say “Welcome to the Red Dragon, Thank you for the music. What brings you all the way here to Ace of Spades stranger?” he asked lifting his head enough to peek at her from under the brim of his hat.

During her song, Urania had noticed two people in particular. She didn't have superhuman reflexes or anything, but when she was looking for something she would find it sooner or later. The first person she noticed certainly stood out. He was a veritable giant and covered in fur. Most importantly- he had the sabertooth logo emblazoned on his lower back. The second was someone that, in all honesty, warmed her hear and made her blush a little. She was... gorgeous, and when she turned and used what was presumably her magic to lighten up the room a bit more. The area felt a lot more like home now that there was a song in the air and wonder everywhere you look.

Soon enough, however, her song ended. She had noticed that the woman who had given thanks or support also bore the Sabertooth guild mark, though in a quite less noticeable place. She slung her guitar across her back and approached the two of them, her heart practically beating in her throat. On the way, however, she heard someone speaking to her. She turned to see a man, quite a bit shorter than her (Though that wasn't a surprise as she had come to learn here in Fiore) but he spoke with confidence and... he had applauded. That wasn't something she often got on the road or in some of the other inns and bard around the world. She smiled at him and offered her hand for a handshake. "Actually I was here hoping I could find a member of Sabertooth, I was hoping to join after I heard some rumors about the guild." She said with a smile, before continuing on her way to Kenna and Yuudai.

Upon reaching the pair, she tapped Kenna's shoulder and cleared her throat. "Hi there, hey, excuse me. I hope you don't mind me interrupting your conversation but I heard some... Rumors? Yeah, rumors, about Sabertooth and I couldn't help but notice that you two happen to be members. If you don't mind my asking, I was wondering if one of you could help me join?" She said, tripping over her words a bit. She had been on the road for a few months before this, and even while in Fiore she didn't talk much she was still getting used to it again. It felt good though in the end, a warm feeling that filled her up head to toe.

Her song was still swimming through her ears, she was humming it under her breath once she had finished talking. There was always some sort of song playing while Urania was around. One might hope that a bard would be thinking about that, after all, it was their job. She was thinking about home now. If either of them said yes and helped Urania join well... she'd have a home again. It wouldn't compare to the rolling hills and forests of home, but if rumor was to be believed, it would be something much greater. Yggdrasil, the world tree. That thought tossed around her mind a few times, still not sure if she should believe the rumors of Sabertooth living in The World Tree of all places.

Yuudai was given two huge tankards of ale as he grinned a bit and he took a few glugs of the first one and let out a sigh of satisfaction before he heard Kenna beside him asking him how he had been and how his travels had been going.”its been good Kenna though I need to set up some kinda of quick transportation from here to home its a long trip from here back to divide island and it feels longer knowing I have little ones on the way” he said with a smirk knowing he and Ada were eagerly awaiting when their children would be born. Just the thought had the hybrid excited.

As the woman who had been singing approached Yuudai took another few drinks of his ale as she asked if he or Kenna could help her join Sabretooth and Yuudai blinked before he looked at Kenna and the other member Ryo who Yuudai had yet to really interact with.”well I’m not sure I can since I just recently joined but Kenna or Ryo could help you more then I could?” he admitted as he thought for a moment.”would you care for a drink you can consider it a tip for such a good song?” he offered trying to be polite to her.