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Link to OOC))
In a city like Doma, it is only natural that rumors from all parts of the surrounding country would contually fly around like birds. How many of these rumors are true and how many are false, who could say? To find out, one would have to travel far and wide, investigating each rumor seperately until the truth or fiction of all was known. But of course, by then more rumors would have flooded in.
One rumor that had been passed around for the last couple of weeks was that a particularly large number of hoboes had begun to congregate on the country's western shore. As it eventually turned out, these hoboes were actually refugees from an island to the south. But what had caused them to flee remained unknown.
A few days ago, however, information arrived on that mystery. A mage from Nekonia had shown up bearing news that trouble was brewing. If one were to encounter a truthful account of what she said, that individual would learn that an island near the Forbidden Plains was being invaded by demonic forces from the Underworld. Upon learning this, the mage had visited a guild in southern Doma to research the matter, and from the library there she had found information which led her to believe that the demons belonged to a clan known as the Kor Nong.
Kor Nong, as her research had told her, held extensive territory throughout the Netherworlds and now seemed to be planning a massive grab for land on Gaera. The island which was now being invaded, as well as a number of other locations which remained unknown, was to serve as a base of operations from which the demons would attack the nearby countries.
With this knowledge, the mage had come immediately to Doma City in hopes of finding a few travelling companions. She would then leave for the island and join in its defense, for the fate of western Igala hung on what happened there.
* * *
Presently, the Nekonian mage sat in the bar room of a largely disused inn known as the Missing Arm. Her name was Brinala Aldring and, as the rumor stated, she was indeed hoping to find a few escorts to the island of Maratoka where the demonic incursion was taking place. It was true that the previously mentioned current events could have a dramatic impact on the future of Gaera, but her motives for intervening were still partially ulterior.
Beyond saving the universe, she had another reason for seeking to involve herself: she had learned long ago from a tome deep with the library of Gunnir Academy that the ruling house of Maratoka possessed a fragment of an object known as a Mana Heart, a rare crystalized lump of pure mana that would somehow gather and dissipate over time within the Mana Stream. For one of these objects to actually appear in the material world was extremely uncommon, and for one to remain for any period of time without dissipating was almost unheard of. Right now was, of course, Brinala's chance to acquire the shard.
Of course, the demons themselves probably had it in their possession now. With any luck, though, they would not have taken it back to the Underworld yet. And with even more luck, they wouldn't yet have managed to solidify their position on the island, as the islanders who resisted them still remained.
Sitting at a table in the barroom from which she could see the door, Brinala passed the time by reading over her spellbook/notebook/journal as she waited for anyone to approach her.