Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was late in Bern and Ayla was just getting home. She told her 15 year old brother, Saul, that she'd be home before nightfall and it was only four hours before dawn. As she rattled her keyring in search for her house key, she overheard little footsteps scurrying around inside. After unlocking the door, Ayla stepped in slowly though she already expected what she'd find and there it was. Ayla's five year old sister, Lianne, was hiding behind the kitchen counter now fully aware her older sister was home.
'Li... what are you doing up?'
Lianne just giggled as she poked her head from behind the counter. '..Nothing..' As Ayla placed her helm on the kitchen counter, she noticed the cookies Lianne was in persuit of.
'I see..'
Ayla quickly snatched Lianne who kept giggling as the wyvern rider got a hold of her. As Ayla handed her one of the cookies, more footsteps were heard, this time coming from upstairs. Barely four seconds later, ten year old Logan ran into the room and got a hold of Ayla's leg. When Li noticed Logan's show of affection, she began hugging Ayla's neck as tightly as the little girl could. Finally, Saul came trailing into the kitchen, ashamed he couldn't get his younger siblings into bed. 'They wanted to stay up until you got home..' Ayla tilted her head and forced herself to accept his excuse.
'Alright.. Well I'm home now, so off to bed.'
Ayla put Lianne down and started to pry Logan off her leg who refused to go upstairs.
'Logan, get off..! Both of you go to your room and I'll be up in a minute.'
Though Li's face lit up and she ran upstairs, Logan didn't seem as enthusiastic. He finally released Ayla's leg and did as he was told. Ayla took a sigh of relief and ruffled Saul's hair.
'How are you holding up?'
'Alright, I guess. You're really late tonight.'
'I know. I'm sorry. I was barely even given the time to stop home at all. I'm already expected back in a few hours. How's dad doing?'
'He's been better. He had a lot of pain today. I called the doctor, but I didn't have enough gold to get him to come on such short notice.'
Ayla rubbed at her face, exhausted. She was working as much as she could to help bring her father back to normal health. Ever since Nate left home, she was struggling and her work already wasn't proving to be enough. Saul tried his best to lighten up the situation. 'He slept a lot though..'
'Good. ..You should get some sleep too.'
Saul nodded, but still had one last thing to add. 'Yeah. ..Are you going to see dad tonight?'
'No, I don't want to wake him. I'll talk to him tomorrow. ..G'nite.'
Ayla ruffled his hair once more as they parted ways upstairs. After tucking the two younger ones into bed, she went to her room. She collapsed on her bed and in full armor, she started her two hours of very much deserved sleep.

((sorry it's so long guys. it's my little intro to the family and stuff like that. i'll be adding my sprites a little later.))

A little more than an hour after Ayla fell asleep, she awoke from a knocking at their door. She sat up slowly and rubbed her eyes, curious of who was coming at this hour in the morning. As she moved to the side of her bed, she saw Saul already on his way downstairs. The poor kid was doing too much, Ayla thought. She took a moment and went to the stairway, listening quietly to try and figure out who it was at the door.

Ayla narrowed her eyes trying to make out the conversation coming from the kitchen. She couldn't hear more than mumbles and grumbles, but it was obvious Saul was discussing something with the visitor. 'Whatever..' As Ayla made her way back to her bedroom, she saw her window through the doorway and it was already getting light out. There was no point in going back to sleep if she'd have to leave in less than an hour. She sighed and dreadfully began walking down the stairs. The moment she reached the bottom, Saul stopped just before bumping into her as he turned the corner.
'Woah.. careful. ..Who was at the door?'
Just as she asked, a very uncommon face turned the corner after Saul. Ayla felt her chest tighten. He had the same hair color as Saul and her mother and in an instant, Ayla recognized him as her faternal twin brother who left home roughly a year ago. She just stood there, starring at him with an almost disgusted look on her face.

Ayla didn't budge as her brother greeted her warmly. She tried her hardest to bring herself to hug him in return, but it wasn't working. He apologized, but how could she forgive him? He mimiced their mother and abandoned them without saying a word. Without realizing it, Ayla's hands clenched into fists.

There he went again apologizing and again Ayla was only reminded of what happened since he left. She was forced to take care of the entire family, their father worked himself until he couldn't work anymore-Ayla snapped. Without warning, she tackeled Nate to the kitchen floor and swung a couple punches at him. Before it went any further, Saul had ran into the kitchen and started pulling her off their brother. 'Ayla, what are you doing!?' Ayla tried to break free of Saul's grasp, but wasn't able to get loose and so she started demanding answers from Nate.
'Where the flux where you!?'

A dark cloaked figure sat within the "Taloned Serpent" in Courvia, he was drinking a fine mead and a few lackey assassins sat around him examining the scene.

"Boss, Emingard is threatening us again, what should we do."

The malevolent figure took a sip and turned his head slowly, and a handsome yet dark voice rang out serenely
"He tells me what to do again, I'll kill him myself, I don't give a rat's a** of people trying to overthrow an usurper."
"But boss. wh..."
"Shut up and drink your poison."

The darkly clad and hooded figure arose and left gold on the counter, he quickly exited the bar, and made walked onto a mountain pass towards the fortress upon a cliff. The fortress was geographically isolated and prepared for battle, through the dark trees a few assassins rustled quietly as if they were the wind. They seem to be holding post's well. The man thought. As he finally reached the tall gate of the outerwall of the fortress the two guards quickly parted and the gates were opened letting the 'Lord' of the province enter without delay.

"Father..." He said, smiling at his sisters 'hospitality', "I originally left because of father. The same reason as mother, he had the two of us slaving away for him..." He closed his eyes and sighed, "I'm sorry... Ayla."