Planning to return home from a fruitful dig in Egypt archeologist Demetri Knollis decides to be a 'good neighbor' and offer a small handful of travelers a free flight on his small plane to where ever they wish to go. With a strike from bad luck Demetri finds his good intentions slain by the engine's failure and the blaze that followed suit, resulting the traveler's abandonment out in the treacherous terrain of the Arabian Desert.

For hours Demetri and his company wondered aimlessly through the dry sand until they stumbled upon a tomb-like door. Curiosity, he had claimed, was what drove the human race to progress so with little reluctance the group make their way into the cool shadows of the rocky structure. At first only darkness welcomed them but soon they felt the walls retract into a wide enormous space. Light was here they found, bright light that flickered warm and bright to their tired eyes. As they began to observe their surroundings more carefully they realized the looked over a large city.

The City of Ancients, dubbed so by archeologist when the legend of it's disappearance first began to be spread throughout the world, though it's original name and text were said to be lost when the last of it's inhabitants deceased. Since it's disappearance from the vast desert many many centuries ago most locals and archeologists who had explored for say it was never there to begin with; only a legend to ward off unwanted visitors.

Though this city is said to be empty, it is in fact bustling with life. Those who reside here are societies rejects: sorcerers, sorceresses, shape shifters, and the like. All have made a life here for themselves among those who would see them for what they were and nothing else. Here they have lived for the longest of time, having no fear of those from the outside intruding in on their secret sanctuary.

Now that the two worlds have once again collided, how will the travelers react to the world they have stumbled in upon; how will the others take to the "normal" human beings?

Your story, our story begins on a hot afternoon in a small poorly air conditioned building next to a plane runway. Outside this crumby little buildings lay a runway fit for a small private plane. It is inside that we wait for the arrival of archeologist Demetri Knollis.

Intro/Setting, Rules, Profile Skeleton

1. My first and foremost. BE RESPECTFUL. We're all big kids and don't have to be rude to each other over something a character did or didn't do/say.

2. Follow Menewsha's rules and T.O.S

3. Please PM all profiles to me, doesn't matter what the subject is.

4. No god modding or power playing. If you're unsure on what that means just ask me and I won't care a bit to explain =).

5. Please be literate. This means no chat speak or text talk...it's just annoying and sometimes confusing :P. Also no ** for actions and please use quotation marks when speaking.

6. I and Ursus.Veritas own this role play, if she asks you to do or not please listen. I have the right to change/add rules if I see fit.

7. For the love of all that is soft and fluffy....HAVE FUN!. No one likes to be in a boring role play. (I don't mind you PMing me with plot ideas and/or suggestions)

Intro/Setting, Rules, Profile Skeleton, Accepted Profiles

Username:
Name: (Last, First, Middle)
Date of Birth:
Gender:
Race: (Not accepting Vampires, Werewolves, or Mermaids)
Color: (If you're playing double roles)
Orientation:
Appearance: (Picture or link preferred)
Personality: (Optional.
Biography: (Optional. Sometimes it‘s fun not to know everything)
Other:
Role Play Sample: (Five to eight good sentences. Can add more if desired) NOTE: RP sample WILL NOT be displayed to other role players.

Code:

Username:
Name: 
Date of Birth:
Gender:
Race:
Color: 
Orientation:
Appearance: 
Personality: 
Biography: 
Other:
Role Play Sample:

NOTE: Any and all "travelers" must be human. Anyone living inside the city is permitted to be a half breed =).

Intro/Setting, Rules, Profile Skeleton, Accepted Profiles

Travelers

Username: Ursus.Veritas
Name: Knollis, Demetri Asher
Date of Birth: June 27, 1984
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Color: Body, “Speaking”, ‘Thinking’
Orientation: Heterosexual
Appearance: The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery.
Personality:
Native American: Woodpecker
Western: Cancer
Eastern: Rat
Biography:
Other: Demetri always has his pet, Apollo, with him.

Username: Lady Tsukiakari
Name: Swan, Abigail Olivia
Date of Birth: March 18, 1986
Gender: Female
Race: Human
Color: Body, “Speech”, “Thought”
Orientation: Heterosexual
Appearance: Looking for open doors.
Personality: *may fill in later*
Biography: *may fill in later*
Other: Abigail is a freelance photographer. Where ever she goes her camera goes with her.

Resident

Username: Ursus.Veritas
Name: Daun, Cecilia Eris
Date of Birth:February 3, 1809
Gender: Female
Race: Elemental Demon
Color: Body, “Speaking”, ‘Thinking’
Orientation: Heterosexual
Appearance: Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.
Personality:
Native American: Otter
Western: Aquarius
Eastern:Snake
Biography:
Other:

“The pursuit, dear Mother, is about to come to a close. Maybe then Father will be able to rest, to be at peace. I pray to any God listening that he will be, and that he’ll be proud of our findings, our legacy.” The blonde haired man stood tall beside the crooked willow tree as he spoke to his mother’s grave stone. She had died when he was a small child and he rarely remembered anything about her, but she had always been known her for great guidance and experience. He needed that now, more than anything in the world, well…almost anything.

”I’m leaving, Mother, I hope to see you eventually, but now I’ve got to go establish myself and our family. To Arabia.” The wine glass the man held in his hand clanged roughly as he tapped it to the grave stone before taking a long drawl of the fire inside. A light grimace was brought to the man’s face but he was so used to the feel of hard whiskey that it barely bothered him anymore. He took to drinking after his father had been labeled clinically insane, and he almost drank himself to death when his father died alone in the asylum. Giving a nod of farewell the pale green eyed man turned his back to the setting sun and to the graves that were cradled by the willow’s arms.

It was a good thirty minute walk from the grave site to the man’s limousine but he enjoyed the silence and the wilderness around him. It had been so long since he had found either of the two elements that he dearly loved and he was going to savor them for as long as he could. Slowing his walk as he approached his vehicle the man was startled from his thoughts as he saw his driver step out of the car.

”Mr. Knollis! Mr. Knollis, there is a phone call for you. I think it’s the University, they say that it is urgent.” The chauffer yelled over the light rumble of the vehicle and the man jogged his way over with a grimace on his face. Reaching the other man Knollis gave a light smile before climbing into the car with the driver and attaining the phone.

”Hello? The man was polite, but the person on the other end of the phone knew of his annoyance but didn’t give him time to say anything else before he began his rant.

”Hello Demetri, you’re day has gone well I suppose? Good, good, I knew it would. You were visiting your parent’s graves, yes. As I thought. But anyway, enough with the small talk, the board of directors has approved your private jet to where ever the hell you wanted to go. We think it’ll be good for our best professor to get out and explore a little bit. Does that sound good to you? I knew it would. Listen, Demetri, I’ve got to go, the misses wants to get a little frisky and I can’t do that with you on the phone, now can I? I’ll see you when you get back.” The older sounding man hung up the phone and the man sighed in complete relief. Demetri had been working with the man since he was fourteen years old and he still couldn’t stand him, even if he did mean well.

Shaking his head the blonde motioned to his chauffer, who had been driving the whole conversation, to pick up his end of the telephone. As he did Demetri told him to head directly to the hotel, he was going to be leaving for his home in Louisiana as quickly as possible. After receiving a reply from the driver the man kicked back and began to think over his trip, he would arrive in Egypt in approximately twenty-seven hours if his calculations were correct. Slowly he drifted off to sleep contemplating his excursion.


Wiping his brow from the sweat that had accumulated there Demetri Asher Knollis let out a low growl as he searched the country side for shelter. He had been in Egypt around two weeks now and he was just about sick of the desert. He had searched and searched for his contact and couldn’t seem to find the slimy S.O.B. for nothing. Suddenly an idea struck him as he looked out across the market. Glancing around himself a thought sprung up and basically attacked him. A cruelly satisfied look made its way onto Demetri’s face before he swiped it off and began making preparations for his arrangement.

With a graceful leap the young woman threw herself into the air and let a string of curse words harshly escape from her lips as her bar knees landed hard against the carpeted floor. "Damn phone..." grumbled the woman as she quickly tore the ivory phone from it's over sized base.

"Hello?" Answered Abigail in a voice no more than breathless. "Oh hello Abby darling! It's me! Mom!" Exclaimed the chipper voice on the other end of the phone, "oh I was so afraid I misse- Abigail why did you answer the phone like that? Is something wrong?" Abigail pursed her lips and released the breath that had been waiting behind her lips slowly as her mother's voice quickly flooded into her ear. "No, mom, nothing's wrong. You just caught me on the other side of the room and it took a little longer to get to the phone. That's all.". A long moment of silence took place between the mother and her child, "did you hurt yourself too badly?" Questioned her mother blandly. At this Abigail couldn't help but giggle softly, "No, I might have bruised my knee but that's about it...it would appear as if bounding over couches doesn't suit me very well either I guess." She replied as she sighed heavily in playful disappointment, at this the two shared a quiet laugh for a moment or two longer than time would have liked.

A soft smile lingered over the soft features of her face as she felt the air between them thicken with a mixture of emotion. "Oh Abigail....I don't know what I'll do without you." Her mother finally spoke, her voice cracking ever so slightly as the last word touched her ear. "You'll be all the way in Egypt..." Abby allowed the expression to float away from her face as looked out a nearby window, "It's alright, don't worry mama." She replied softly, "You know I'll still keep in touch. Besides...you know I'll only be away for a few weeks. I'll be fine.[/color]" The familiar sound of the taxi's engine brought the woman's thoughts back to the trip she was soon to be on. "Mom I've gotta go; taxi just pulled in. So...I promise to call sometime tonight. Good bye." Slowly she gently tucked a lock of light brown hair behind her ear, "promise me." Came what she had been waiting for, which again sparked the same soft expression, "I promise." Came her reply. "Alright have fun darling." Was the only words she was left with before she heard the line cut on the other end. She sighed as she quickly slung her camera strap around her neck and proceeded out the door.

Anyone watching the slender figured woman would have thought of a child staring eagerly at the paper wrapped packages beneath a Christmas tree as they awaited the "go ahead" from their parents. She stood a large traditional looking market place with her eyes wide and her shoulders pinched towards her head and her hands covering the wide smile that broadly displayed itself. This was what she had always dreamed of: Standing in Egypt...with her camera. Slowly her hazel gray eyes examined the small wooden booths with their ragged clothed roofs and the packed golden sand that formed neat even passages between them. With her large suitcase back the room she rented, Abigail couldn't help herself from giving in to the temptation that lay before her.

(I know this sucks but you have to understand, I've not been to bed yet and it's 7:30...in the morning =(. I'll try harder next time.)

’What to do, what to do?’ The fair haired man sat in a crowded pub and contemplated the plan that had accumulated in his mind. Sure it was devious, but if his calculations were correct no one would be harmed or any such thing as that and he would get exactly what he had always wanted. A wicked smile graced the man’s handsome face as he decided that he would follow through and the smile only grew wider as he glanced around the area, he would find many willing subjects within the walls of the tavern.

Swirling around the contents of his drink in the stone goblet Demetri gave a sensuous smirk to the woman across the room who had been glancing his way ever since he had arrived. She would be his first ‘victim’. Standing the attractive man began to make his way over to the bar where the female was sitting enjoying a drink of her own. Slathering on as much manly charm that he possessed Demetri sat down beside the woman and struck up a decent conversation with her.

Minutes passed, and then an hour was consumed before the fair haired man found out all the information about the woman that he needed and decided that it was time to put his plan into action.

”So, you said that you have no way of getting home to America, am I right? Demetri wasn’t expecting the woman to burst into tears when he asked, maybe she had had too much to drink. When the woman’s answer was affirmative Demetri went on after putting an arm around her in consolation.

”Well, I think I might have some good news for you. You see I’m an archeologist and I’m here on an excavation dig but I’m leaving next week. I’m leaving by private jet and well, I have room, quite a bit of it actually and well… I’d be willing to lend you a ride back home. What do you say? Putting his best suave, sincere look upon his face the devious man glanced into the woman’s eyes and immediately knew that she would take up his offer.

Time shifted away like sand in an hour glass after Demetri’s proposal and finally he was able to slip away from the woman after telling her that if she finds anyone who needs a ride, to bring them to the air strip that he told her to meet him at in one week’s time. A deep sigh was released from the man’s lungs as he walked through the blistering sun to his hotel room; he was ready but discouraged slightly. He felt bad for what he would have to bring himself to do in a week’s time, but he knew that he would swiftly get over that. Shaking his head the man continued on his way with a slight sulk.

The majority of her day was spent around the market place, on random tours, and taking photos of the locals whenever they didn't turn up their noses and walk away at the mere sight of her and her lovely camera. She had taken none of their negative feelings to heart though so when the sun finally became too unbearably hot she returned to her hotel with a happy smile and a feeling of accomplishment.

A sighed filled the air around her as she lay with her limps spread wide over the cool bed. "If I continue to make this kind of progress I should have ten thousand or more when I leave...still..it's a bit less than I'll have hoped." Another contentful sigh she gave before rolling over onto her side and closing her eyes to listen to the low hum the electrical air conditioner had to offer.

Several hours had managed to slip away by the time the woman opened her eyes again. "This place is amazing..." She thought groggily to herself as she rose from the maroon bedding and rubbed her eyes. It was there that she froze; sitting in bed with the base of her palm pressed against the lid of her eye that she realized she had fallen asleep. "It's called time management." Muttered a slightly agitated Abigail as she stepped inside the bathroom to fix the mess she'd made of her face before going down to the small reception area set aside from the hotel lobby. Once she looked 'presentable' she re-entered the room and walked to the bed. As she examined the room her eyebrows furrowed in deep confusion. "I could have swore I put it right here..." She said aloud as she continued to search the room for her beloved camera, and when it could not be found she sat on her knees in the room's center; concentrating as hard as she could....trying her hardest to remember when suddenly it came to her. "Ohhh oh no! Oh no! Oh no! How could I have left it THERE!" She exclaimed in panic as she jumped to her feet and ran as fast as her limbs would carry her to the end of the hallway and down the stairs.

It seemed to Abigail as if she were jumping down the stairs at the speed in which her feet were taking the deep chocolate steps. Only when she lost her footing and almost tumbled down the remaining six did she steady her pace. When her feet were planted solidly against ground again she stopped to allow her breathing to shallow, though it didn't stop her from looking almost frantically around the room for her lost item.

As her breathing finally stabilized a dark haired woman at the front desk looked up from the papers she had been reviewing. "Yes? May I held you?" She asked with a pleasant smile. "Yes, I'm hoping so." She answered returning the smile, "I was sitting down here with an older gentleman a few hours ago, and I seemed to have been a little careless and left my camera beside my chair. Has anyone turned it in by any chance?" The woman peered around her to examine the space she had occupied earlier and upon not seeing the item turned from the desk and went through a door. Moments later she returned, "As of this moment we have nothing but if we find some thing we'll let you know." Abigail bit her lip with worry and with a nod showing her thanks she turned from the desk and merely stood looking at the set of dark brown and beige chairs. "How could you have left it here? That of all things....the camera..." She thought to herself as she fought to hold back the tears that were now gathering in the corners of her eyes.

A long string of mild curses left the fair haired man’s mouth as he drifted around the markets, he had went back to his hotel room, but for some reason he just couldn’t be still in the room so he decided to go get some supplies for the dig that would take place the next day. Demetri had been walking around for about two hours and couldn’t find the stand that he was searching for.

”Damn, I really must be out of my mind. I was here not two days ago and I don’t have one clue to where it could be. A look of deep concentration and anger crossed the man’s face as he continued to walk along the crowded street.

After another thirty minutes of searching the handsome man decided to give up and return to his hotel room, probably for a nap. Making his way across the street Demetri entered the hotel and was stunned when his name was called by the person at the front desk. Maneuvering that way the man found out that he had gotten several calls all from the University. Rolling his eyes the man took out his cell phone and sat down in one of the chairs in the lobby of the hotel. Calling his department manager Demetri gave a huge sigh and listened to the ramblings of the man, all he really needed to know was the first sentence out of the large man’s big mouth. He told him that he had to be back in the states ASAP, but Asher already knew as much. Shaking his head the man was suddenly pulled from his phone call and his own musings by a woman falling down the stairs to the hotel lobby.

Jumping up to assist Demetri found himself stunned when she jumped right up and made a frantic dash to the front desk, not being able to hear the two women’s conversation the man simply shook his head and ended the tête-à-tête that he was having with the man on the other end of the phone and began to make his way, once again, to his hotel room. Standing Demetri began to walk out of the lobby but was stopped by a slight tug on his left leg. Looking down the fair haired man found himself staring down at a high dollar, state of the art camera. With eyebrows raised in surprise the man picked up the machine and inspected it to make sure that he hadn’t stepped on it or anything. Inspection over Demetri made his way forward to the front desk intent on giving it to the woman there, but a thought stopped him. Maybe it was the woman’s. Glancing around the room the man found the beauty across the room still searching frantically.

Dusting himself off Demetri made his way over to the woman and lightly tapped her on the shoulder as to not alarm her. Clearing his throat Asher spoke to the woman.

”Excuse me, miss? I’m sorry to interrupt you, but… Is this your camera?” Demetri stood with the camera in his palm awaiting the answer of the woman.

Abigal's will had finally broken and a tear or two trailed after one another down her smooth skin. "I can't believe you lost it..." She continuously scolded herself, "What will you tell her?" The optimist asked herself.

The woman was whole heartedly ready to just lay down and die; the camera had been a gift from her mother, who really couldn't afford it in the first place. Abigail had spent at least a month obsessing over it, looking over and understanding how every feature and button worked before she decided to take her trip of a lifetime.

As she stood there in the middle of the room looking like a foolish child, she felt a light tap on her shoulder as a voice spoke. "Huh?" She hadn't expected any other human interaction until she was forced to call her mother later that evening. "Oh! I hope you'll forgive me for being so rude you see I sorta lost something really really specia-" It was at this time she had turned to look the being in the face but her hazel eyes fell on the familiar black camera instead and as a result a gasp was pushed from her stomach. "Oh my goodness!" She breathed as she slowly reached up to take hold of the camera, once the camera was safe in her her possession once more she then turned her gaze to the handsome face of the stranger who had pretty much saved her life. "You...you don't know just how much this silly thing means to me." She said as their eyes met, "I don't know how to thank you..." Admitted Abby with a more shy smile than she usually offered, "Would you please at least allow me to buy you dinner dinner? It's the least I could do..."

"Way to go." She thought dryly to herself, "If he doesn't think you're a moron already he will, or he'll think your some kind of crazy stalker" She thought to herself as she averted her eyes from him and began to inspect the camera once gain. There was something about his eyes that seemed so mesmerizing but yet so intimidating that it was near impossible to keep from staring. She soon began to wonder just what secrets lay behind these hypnotic orbs of ice, what sorts of plans did this innocent seeming handsome stranger have for the remaining of his stay here...or for his life. "Here you go AGAIN Abby! Attempting to making another mess!" Unconsciously a deep frown formed on her unpainted lips as she continued to fiddle with her camera. Something about him, though she couldn't tell exactly what, make him seem dangerous to her...interesting.

A slow, light smile graced the tall man’s features as he watched the lovely young woman turn around to meet him. His smile transformed into a grin as he watched her expression as she saw her camera. Letting the woman take the machine from his grasp Demetri couldn’t help but notice her hands and how they moved. He had always noticed weird things like that, how a woman turned her head to expose her neck, or how a woman’s hands worked. Shaking himself from his thoughts he listened to the woman as she spoke, her voice was light with emotion and it made the man smile again.

”It’s alright, you don’t have to thank me at all…” Demetri answered the woman’s first statement with one of his own, but he wasn’t ready for the shy smile and question that followed. His shock shined brightly upon his face and an extremely light, unnoticeable flush crept up his neck slowly. Coming back to himself the tall man gave a smirk; he couldn’t resist his next teasing words.

”Oh, but, my lovely lady, you don’t even know my name; but perhaps I could make an exception for a beauty such as yourself.” The teasing smirk on his face never gave way as he waited for the woman to respond to his playfulness.

At first the woman felt relieved from her own embarrassment when she thought she noticed a faint flush on his part but soon the entirety of her features glowed a deep scarlet. "[Color="DeepSkyBlue]I'm so so sorry![/COLOR]" She began her apology, "It's just that my mother bought me this camera and she really couldn't afford it so it was pretty much a gift and I love it so much. So when you found it and gave it back to me and I didn't even think to ask your name!" The longer the young woman ranted the darker the shade the shad became on her face until she finally stopped. Realizing only now that this very handsome stranger hadn't taken any offense to her boldness and had even made a playful attempt at reassuring her. "Great job, Abigail" She thought sourly herself as the shy smile lingered on her features.

Though she found herself, again, in an embarrassing situation with the same person she allowed her eyes to meet his for a moment. "....I'm glad you're going to allow me to make it up to you." Said the woman as she sighed reluctantly, "Sometimes I get a bit...a head of myself and don' think before I think...I hope you'll forgive me not introducing myself properly." Her shy smile remolded her lips to a much warmer inviting expression as she held out her hand, "My name is Abigail. Abigail Swan."

Light, handsome laughter flowed from the man’s throat as he watched the lady before him stumble over herself after hearing his attempt at playful banter. He didn’t mean to embarrass her, but he truly couldn’t resist teasing the lovely woman. The deep scarlet of the young woman’s blush made Demetri want to touch her cheeks to see just how warm they had become in her discomfit; but he restrained himself and settled for simply watching her wild hand motions and the emotions that crossed her eyes. Which were the most intriguing shade of violet brown, by the way.

”Of course, I’ll forgive your forwardness; it simply is the least I can do for the offering of a dinner with you.” Demetri gave a suave, yet lighthearted smile as he replied to the woman.

”Hmm, Abigail? That is quite a lovely name, if I may say so. I’m Demetri Knollis, and, if you don’t mind me asking, my dear, why are you visiting this exquisite country?” Demetri was quite moved by this woman. She wasn’t exactly over attractive, nor was she homely. She wasn’t overly, in-your-face, intelligent yet she wasn’t a trophy pet either. She seemed to be quite neutral. Aristotle’s Golden Mean, if you will.