"We're masters of the oceans wide,
Custodians of relentless tide!
For the Authority we fight -
Within this dark a blazing light."
— The Gideshu March, circa 1180
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Jeremy Sero walked down the steps of the Etrean Palace, the majestic Palace was built high into the mountains that Etris was built upon. The Etrean Palace was a thing of beauty, it looked unmistakable old, but elegant, and beautifully maintained. Walls of white, gleaming stone, made up the Palace. The roofs were a bold and beautiful red, they curved off at the ends. Lanterns dotted the Palace, illuminating it and giving it an odd shine.
Though, Jeremy couldn't really admire its beauty fully, not with the dozens of guards clad in black armor and helmets moving about. The Etrean Royal Guard certainly was intimidating, even though Jeremy was here on official business, summoned by the Lord Regent himself. He shuddered at the thought of the man, his stomach growing troubled.
Remember what happened to Kennith.
Jeremy forced the memory from his mind, sweat trickling from his forehead. He wiped it away, willing himself to think of other things. There was no use dwelling about it, Kennith was… gone. That's it, nothing further.
After the King of Etrea had disappeared some 20 years ago, he had heard that a new peculiar ruler, the Lord Regent of Etrea, had taken the throne. But he had never expected something like him.
Jeremy reached the end of the steps, leaving the Etrean Palace behind him. He stepped across the elegant bridge that connected Etris proper to the Etrean Palace. Crossing, Jeremy found himself garnering stares and whispers alike.
That wasn't surprising, Etreans were known for their… selective tendencies, a Felinor like himself stood out like a sore thumb, with his slightly furry skin, and cat-like ears that sprouted from his head, there was little to nothing he could do to stop the Etrean scrutiny.
However, the Etreans didn't seem to be wary of him, more in curiosity and awe. He had heard from a librarian that the Lord Regent hadn't made a public appearance in years, and that no-one had seen him for years outside his palace.
It's probably for the best that monster stays inside his palace… Jeremy thought, remembering that eerie black blindfold and suspicious smile. That throne… Just what was it?
Jeremy continued quickly through the streets of Etris, the city was built atop a mountain, proud above the waves. He considered living here once, Jeremy liked the heights, his Felinor heritage meant that he could climb and scale the mountain walls with relative ease, though living here was unrealistic. The Etreans only tolerated him because of his fame due to his adventures, other races like the Celtor could get by in Etris, but Felinors were thought of frequently as thieves or outlaws. Jeremy felt a wave of irritation creep up through him, sure some of his kin were bandits, but not all of them! Felinors simply wanted a life of freedom, and some had just gone about it the wrong way.
Weaving past the marketplace, Jeremy reached the outer-gates. Two Etrean guardsmen stood on guard, wearing the standard olive and forest green uniform of the Etrean Guards. The snake-skin leather and lightweight plate of the armor meant that the guards had good protection coupled with good mobility, a dangerous combination in the right hands.
Jeremy continued past, the two guards making a respectful gesture and nodding. Jeremy waved and nodded before continuing past the bridge and down the sloped terrain below into the Etrean Wilds. He didn't have time to dawdle, the Lord Regent had given him this quest, Jeremy knew better than to take it lightly.
"I've come to need something," The Lord Regent had said, "An artifact, from the Island Erisia. The Forge of Sin, We thought it lost, but the one named 'Duke Erisia' has seemingly found it."
Jeremy continued past the Etrean Wilds and into the docks, he would retrieve this Forge of Sin for the Lord Regent and then wash his hands clean of Etrea. Jeremy was ambitious, but even he wouldn't involve himself with… him.
He approached the Docksmen, who smiled at him, he was probably the only Etrean to regard him as anything more than a reluctant guest. Though that was probably due to the amount of notes he had spent here, hiring and renting ships.
"On another travel, eh, Jeremy?" He inquired warmly.
"Yeah, another. Your Lord Regent has sent me to Erisia, you got any ships for me?"
The docksmen eyes widened, "The Lord Regent? Some mighty important quest you must have, for him to give it to you himself."
The docksmen cleared his throat, "Well, I don't have too many ships left now, with Erisia drifting in everyone's heading down to explore, but I do have this old sloop left. It should do the job just fine."
The docksmen pointed towards it, it was a small, but thankfully larger than a Dinghy. It was old, and crude, but it would do.
Jeremy sighed, placing rubbing his temples troubledly. He didn't like sailing on smaller boats, they swayed far too much and the water would always splash onto both the deck and him. Hopefully though, it wouldn't be too bad. The Etrean Sea was more tame and calmer than most, but it still wasn't as calm as Jeremy would have liked.
"How much?" Jeremy asked.
"I think 30 notes sounds fair." He replied
Jeremy sighed and relented, 30 notes was a little steep, but agreeable. Not that he had any choice but to agree, really. Jeremy nodded, thanking the man and walking off towards his sloop. It was a little bigger now that he up close, maybe it wouldn't sway as much as he thought.
Jeremy stepped onto the sloop, feeling around before signaling the docksmen to untether it. He grabbed the handles on the pole the sail was mounted on, and turned it towards the Sea Highway. Sea Highways were gates enhanced with the power of Thundercall and Galebreathing, ships who passed through were enhanced and given a considerable speed increase for a duration.
The Eastern Luminant was the second most developed luminant, in terms of Sea Highways, Jeremy hoped this would be enough to make this quick trip. Passing through the Sea Highway, he held on tighter, smaller ships like his didn't handle the speed well. Inexperienced fisherman often underestimated this and were blown off their boat.
Holding on tightly, Jeremy felt a rush of wind surge his sloop forward, he adjusted the direction of his sail and settled in for what hopefully would be a brief journey. Letting the wind propel him forward, Jeremy sat down and pulled out the map the Lord Regent had provided him. The map detailed both Lower and Upper Erisia, it didn't detail a path, but rather a place. Marked with an X, Jeremy saw that deep in Upper Erisia was some sort of structure. It was marked 'Temple of the Forgotten Flame'.
Hopefully, this will be easy.. He thought, though something within him told him that this quest would change his life. For better or worse, he didn't know, though he hoped for the former. Jeremy sighed, before sitting back. Letting the wind accelerate his sloop, and sailing deeper into the Etrean Sea.