Roleplay on Dolor with Ruby/Armella in the Hall of Heroes

Armella will go check out the fields and the forest if anyone wants to come along with her. She'll probably make her way through the temple too so she'll probably run into others while wandering around.

Ruby sees you wandering inside the temple entrance and approaches. "Hey Miss Mella. Quite somethin', isn't it?" She gestures to the strange halls, dusty and ancient. The echoing of their footsteps makes it seem even bigger, and even more quiet and deserted.

"How are you doin', now that we're here? I know it's...a lot to take in." She rubs her arms to rid them of a chill, feeling a bit awkward. It's cold here on the island, and with the thin air Ruby finds she has to rest more often.

Armella smiles at Ruby and looks around, "It is a different place. It is interesting to see such a place in person. Do you want to look around with me? Maybe we can find something interesting or just a quiet place." Pausing she looks at the ground and inspects her shoes. "I've been neglecting my duty, I should be doing better. Maybe I will find a place to seek guidance. Something here feels right, but I'm not sure what.”

"It is.... Peaceful," Ruby offers, trying to be helpful. "It's a nice change after all the crazy things that have happened. Like some... Ideal paradise." She looks around and sighs. "It's sad though that it's abandoned now... I wonder what happened to all the people."

She smiles. "Where would you like to go first? Perhaps the Hall of Heroes?"

"Sure, that would be an interesting place to see, I've always found heroes to be fascinating." Armella stretches her arms out and begins walking. Turning, she begins walking backwards, her cloak wrapping around her, (she's wearing a normal pair of pants and a tunic). "I've been thinking, it's actually quite pleasant here. I bet if we wanted, we could stay here for a while. I doubt anyone could find us here."

"I agree... It's so nice here. There is something sad about it... But nice. And safe." They pass by the dragon statues at the entrance and stop in front of the first tapestry in the hall.

Armella looks over the tapestry, "'The Great Whirlwind', that’s a pretty impressive title." Armella relaxes in this room a little while looking over everything. "They all seem kind of misfits for heroes. Do you think they are all from the same time or are they each a generational hero?"

Ruby ponders that. "I'm not sure. Either is possible I suppose?" She sits on one of the benches, picking up a very old toy doll beside her. "I'm sure Balgor or Nerezza would be able to clarify..."  She observes the toy for a few minutes, contemplating. Gently setting the doll down again, she stands and moves down the hall with you. "What about this one?" She points.

"I would rather Balgor over that shadow demon. That thing is not normal. It’s amazing Rodrick is as normal. Though with his personalities, it's not surprising when you know who his father is." Armella scoffs as she follows Ruby to the next image.

"A winged-child? Oh or maybe a Halfling? I would hope so because that would be horrible to send a child questing."

"Well... I agree, I'd rather Balgor I think," Ruby responds awkwardly.

"A child..."  Ruby looks at it again. “No...I'm not sure. It reminds me of a smaller race. Like Rodrick but without the beard..." She continues down the hall.

"Huh that's true, I guess they look kind of the same." she agrees, and follows. Armella stares at the next one puzzled. "Great...Bear? How can a person be a bear? Or turn into plants? I feel like the artist took great liberties on this description. Perhaps a magic user?"

"Perhaps... It sounds like magic can do a lot of things. Maybe she had a pet bear? Or rode a bear into battle?"

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that. That would actually make sense. Still odd to ride a bear into battle, but that would be pretty awesome. I'm not very keen on riding animals personally." Armella looks over at the next tapestry.

"This one seems... Different. A martyr? The reaver? Like..." She shifts uncomfortably, thinking of church history. "Like in the old stories about the Rend?"

Armella pauses to think, "Maybe she was around during the Rend? Perhaps they she died by killing it. It is a pity, maybe she didn't know what would happen after it died. But at least she didn't have to see the world get worse."

"That’s true..." Ruby looks at the image sadly. "I guess none of us know the effect our choices make on the world after our death."

"Well this has gone a rather depressing path, hasn't it?" Armella sighs, scratching the back of her head. "Why can't history have more happy moments?"

Ruby thinks. "I guess there are some happy moments. Like... When Tarj came, and saved the people of Pertesh?"

"That's true." Armella looks over at the next tapestry. "Huh, I didn't expect to see a Kitsune here, 'The Navigator', of a ship perhaps? Or maybe led people to a new land after the Rend?"

"Wow, a kitsune... That sounds kinda nice though. Not as...scary or sad." She looks closer at it.

"Bringer of the End..." Ruby looks at the next one. "This one does not look friendly... I wonder if it was his fault?" She peers at the details. "Maybe he's from the hells?"

"But why would be in a hall of heroes? This has suddenly gotten rather confusing as to what they classified as a 'hero'" Armella laughs and looks at the next. "Oh, it's Balgor, he really was a god of slaughter."

"That's true, I didn't think about that." She approaches the depiction of Balgor with his curved blades. "Well we know for sure this one is accurate."

"The Golden Dragon..." She stops by this one. "Looks like an elf. It's like the bear one, maybe the animal is just a title?"

Armella inspects the image, "Well now that I think of it, do you remember Azandar's dream? There was an elf that turned into a dragon. Maybe elves back then could shapeshift, like Rodrick, but into creatures" She pauses thinking, "Actually that would be terrifying" Laughing she looks at the next one, "We'll have to ask him and maybe Balgor knows more."

"The Fated God? Another one like Balgor? But not here. Perhaps he died with the rest."

Ruby laughs too, "That would be terrifying! What would you want to turn into, if you could be a creature?" She ponders smiling at Armella, a finger on her chin.

Thinking about the different animals she opens her mouth, pauses, thinks some more and repeats a few times. "Any creature? A dragon would be rather cool, maybe a moose? Something that looks calm but isn't. I'm not sure, what about you?"

She chortles, covering her smile. "Oh goodness... Both of those fit you well for different reasons."

Ruby thinks on that for a few minutes. "I'm not sure... Perhaps... A cat? I'm pretty finicky. What do you picture me as?"

"A cat? You would be adorable. Maybe a leopard, still a cat, but at the same time more mysterious. Knowing our group, I'm sure you have some kind of secrets." Armella offers smiling then turns to look at the next picture.

"Is this a skeleton? A walking skeleton? I don't even want to know."

Ruby stops short. "Yeah, haha.. That...does seem like a common theme for our group, doesn't it?" She lets out an awkward chuckle.

"Yeah...not a fan of undead looking things. Not since that dragon in Elbion..." She grimaces thinking about it. "Nasty zombie things there..."

Armella looks back at Ruby and then at the skeleton man again, "It really is though, but as long as no one is plotting to kill each other I don't think it matters. But at the same time, compromising information could danger the whole group. Like if Hikaru kept it a secret that his Uncle was trying to kill him." Pausing she turns and leans against the wall, watching Ruby.

"I'm only bringing this up because of everyone, I do trust you the most. I would trust Hikaru more since he was my best friend growing up but revenge is all that's on his mind lately. I'm not asking you to delve into your secrets, I just want to let you know that should you need to divulge anything that is on your mind we can always talk.”

"I...appreciate that." She walks over to the bench across from the skeleton picture, taking a seat. She stares at the tapestry for a long time, contemplating.

"At this point, I don't think it...matters too much. It's nothing compromising or dangerous, not like the secrets everyone else has. I don't have to take it to my grave."

She sighs, looking at her hands. "I told Hikaru actually... He said you'd probably understand too. I was just...worried I'd lose your trust." She looks up at you for a moment, watching you. "You're a very honest person, and... A paladin of the church, and... I..."

She sighs. "My name's not really Ruby. Just like... 'Arabella' is an alias of mine, so is she. She's just... a character I play."

Armella stops, "A character? Huh, you sound like Rodrick. Though less obviously different people. Well, I'm sure I like both of you, and to a point, we probably all play a character of who we are." Looking up at the ceiling she sighs and looks back down at the floor.

"I think I might be stuck playing the role of a Paladin, or at least what people thing Paladins should be. But I don't think playing a role is a bad thing if that's who you feel comfortable being."

She looks back up at Ruby, "Isn't our group just a fun one? Such an odd group. I mean, our group makes almost as much sense if all these people were in the same group." She gestures back down the hall. "We all have different talents though so we're more useful to each other than if we were all normal."

Ruby laughs, relieved and happy. "That's a good point, Miss Mella. Perhaps we are more like them than we know."

"You're a good friend...thank you for being there for me. I'm happy we met, and that you agreed to go on this ridiculous adventure for Luther with me."

Armella smiles, "I'm glad too, I'm not sure how I would handle with all these guys. After Nightengale left, and then Emma, I figured it would just be us two in the sea of men. But I guess I'm more 'one of the guys' than you, with you being all pretty all the time and me being, well. Me" She laughs and stands in front of the last portrait.

"Do you think this is a person or a creature, Ruby? Or do you prefer a different name? I think I'd probably stumble if I tried calling you by something else" Armella admitted with a guilty smile.

"I'm not sure about any of them," she says as she approaches it. The cold of the stone bench was beginning to make her joints ache. "Could be both, honestly?"

She smiles as she looks up at Armella. "Ruby is... Prissy. A characture of what people imagine as a poor 'southern belle'. People let their guard down more with a pretty lady. It worked well when I did investigative work or parties for Luther, people would sing like birds." She sighs. "I'm a little more...toned down, normally. Or I used to be, from what I can remember. It's been a long time..." She twirls a piece of her hair.

"...I didn't know what to do when we lost contact with Luther," she lets out a small, sad chuckle. "I didn't know if I should leave, or keep up the charade. I've tried to be more useful though, more like I actually am." She thinks about it quietly. "You can still call me Ruby. I'm used to it."

Armella listens as Ruby talks, she was aware there were people who were easy for pretty ladies, but she had never used those tactics. "Right, and that makes sense, you use your skills. I think some would be confused as to why you kept it up for so long, but most would understand. I truly think only one person would take it to heart that you hadn't opened up sooner but I'm pretty certain even he would come around." She stares over at the wall, shifting slightly.

"Yeah...." Ruby trails off. "I warned him though." She sighs quietly, knowing who you're talking about.

"Back when Zander asked me on a date, I warned him it wouldn't work. We were co-workers, after all. Though...Honestly I went on it because I'd...never interacted with an elf before. I was really curious what they were like. So it was more of a case study." She laughs embarassedly, kind of ashamed of it. She waves her hand, "I also wanted to find out more about him for work-related employee files."

"With the disguises I use as a...spy, more or less, I'm used to wooing men. 'Ruby' is one of several...flavors. Men will always let their guard down for the right attitude, personality, demeanor, words..." She chuckles. "Of all of them, Arabella is the opposite... My quieter alibi when I need to blend in and not draw any attention. I have a few of those, too."

"Anyway... I couldn't just write him off after the date because, well, Luther had me stuck with you guys on the ship! I'd see him every day. I didn't want to try to develop feelings with anyone, because I... Well, it was a lie, you know?" She looks over, a bothered expression on her brow. "I was a lie. He wasn't falling in love with me because he actually knew me, it was because he was infatuated with 'Ruby'. What she looks like, what she represents." She looks down. "That's part of her purpose, after all."

She chuckles a little. "Maybe nothing will change with me being... well, not 'Ruby'. I'm not sure." She looks up at the ceiling above. "Zander is very...aloof. Or has been, until we came to Dolor. He's much more relaxed and happy now. Honestly, I think it suits him better."

"It... does feel different here, doesn't it?" She looks at Armella, wondering if you feel the same way.

Armella cocked her head in thought. "It is different, it's peaceful. But how much of that is due to no one living here? Maybe we all just needed a break from the world."

"That's true..." Ruby looks around, listening to the peaceful quiet of the temple. "Very true."