Omosek 9th, 8644, the beginning of summer. The people of Tharia resumed living their lives normally. They were told and warned about the impending danger that are undead, but as nothing was happening, the citizens became relaxed. Nevertheless, the army had been on the lookout for the past three years, strenghtening security at Sar and Cherova, which were the two cities closest to the border with Hasfiria from where the danger allegedly lurked. To the east, Formelia also was cautious, and messengers were constantly travelling to and from Tharia, informing each other of the situations.

However, there had been certain discussions about what could be done about Gedhon. King and his men reached a solution not so appropriate, yet it was the only one they could come by. They needed to venture to the Forbidden Isle and see if they can ask another dragon for help, for there was no way they could take Gedhon back with a dragon protecting it. Such a task asked for reliable and capable people, and the list of such people had already been prepared, letters already written, and messenger birds already sent. It was a simple letter, not revealing any significant information; it said:



The letters had been sent to: Kamui Windchester, Kaitajan Kourasukii, Chiyou Masuka, and Aphelion Excelsior. They were the only ones who hadn't yet been contacted, but weren't the only ones whom this quest had befallen.

Fumbling with the paper between her forefinger and thumb, the girl’s hazy eyes gazed towards the Sun Elf once more.

“Tell me again what it says,” she said softly, yet with a tone of command. Reaching out for the slip of paper, the elf reread what it stated,

“After a long and strenuous discussion, you have been chosen to aid King and Country once more. You are to arrive in Marvor, Tharia, not later than 20th Omosek. If you do not comply, you shall be considered unwilling to accede the service of Kind Thar, which is a punishable offense.” The elf looked up to the girl, eying her warily. “Need that repeated again, Chiyou?” She asked, hinting at a slight joke between the two.

Chiyou leaned against the bark of the tree, feeling it unconsciously. Frowning, she thought over the summons. If I don’t go back...Letting out a short cry as her hand was pricked by some of the sharp bark, she sucked on her finger, trying to stop the blood from flowing. After a moment the small wound stopped bleeding. The girl looked to her companion.

“What will you do if I go?” Chiyou asked the Sun Elf.

“I cannot remain far behind you,” the elf replied, a touch of spite in her words.

“For the better,” Chiyou said, her words containing a greater anger than the elf’s. They stood in silence for a few moments before the elf began to speak.

“Are you ready to walk again?”

Chiyou slowly pushed away from the tree, making her way towards the elf. She slipped her hand in the elf’s. It was warm to her touch; a comfort in this cold morning.

I’m ready, Jest, Chiyou thought in her mind.

Then let’s go, replied the elf soothingly and began walking slowly down the hillside.

------- -------

Brushing his dark hair from his eyes, Tajan looked at the slip of paper. Gazing upward toward the sky for a moment, he began to wonder whether he should go or not. If the King found out he had been impersonating his own brother, he was quite sure things would not end well for him in that scenario as such would happen if he refused the orders and didn’t go at all. But he was sure Chiyou had received a letter as well. He had asked for the King to allow her to accompany the caravans before, and this was a similar summons. If Chiyou would be there, then Amarandine would appear as well.

Standing up from his resting place on the ground, Tajan dusted off his black robe, in return rubbing his gloved hands together to remove the dirt from them. Turning around from his present course, Tajan made his way in the direction of Marvor. This might be his best opportunity yet to find the child.

A ghastly weather, frightening atmosphere and pool of blood was a sign of welcome for me. I found myself near the abandoned village not far away from city of Ferem. Gods did not lead me here, nor was it a game of destiny. Knowledge and thirst for vengeance were my guide here. Horrible deaths and no mercy among the weak was the only picture I got in these past three years. Hooded men that got their hands dirty in every possible way. But I choose to stop them once and for all. I am Kamui, a revived human by the hands of evil. My purpose was to be used as a tool, but not anymore. The tables have been turn. Now I am my own master.

Kamui continued walking forward. The village he found himself into was destroyed to the very limit. Heads of some people were put on spikes, bodies massacred and tossed aside. Women, children and elder people. None was spared. But some were still alive it seems. A few voices could be heard from one of the houses in the village square. Apparently they were locked up. As the white hooded man walked by the houses, an evil breath of animals could be felt in the shadows.

They were aware of his arrival. When he reached the center of the town, Kamui was surprised to see a custom gallows and a few people hanged but three alive, woman and two men on their knees who were tied up was at least some good news. Around the survivors a common enemy was seen. Kobolds, dog-like creatures, more similar to the gnomes.
They haunt mines and other underground places. Strange to see them out in the open, serving someone other then themselves.

On the gallows stood one of those hooded men, a wizard. He was smiling through the cape as the spoke:
'' Welcome back, Caleb.''
'' That name has no meaning to me freak'' – Kamui answers with harsh sound.
'' Oh really, then how do I knew that you were coming here today dog?''
'' You mother told you that?'' – Kamui spoke with sarcastic voice.
'' Hehe, no. We created you so we have control and knowledge of where you are and what you do.''

'' When I'm through with you, you won't have control over yourself you jerk.''
'' Such a wasted threat. Three years ago when you turned against us I knew from that moment that you will be standing here in front of me.'' – hooded man speak with confidence.

'' Then you are aware of?'' – Kamui asked with a blink smile
'' Of what?''
'' Your death today?''
'' Maybe you did not noticed but I have the upper hand here. The slaughtering of these villages was just a small deal for my soldiers to worm up.'' – as he speak hooded man slowly raised his left hand and snapped with his fingers. It was a sign for the rest of kobolds to leave their hiding place and to attack Kamui directly. There were twenty or so of them, armed with small exes and small swords. They surrounded Kamui in a large circle quickly jumping and running thanks to their quick speed. The white hooded man slowly shattered his weapons, Ebony and Ivory, and stood in a defense position waiting for the enemy to strike first.

As kobolds attacked Kamui started to fight them all at once. By evading, blocking and attacking the enemy when opportunity was shown he made the fight look almost too easy as he showed his dance-like battle skills. He would parry an attack without seeing one, thanks to his elven abilities, and would struck or kill his opponent even through defense thanks to his strength who was a match for an orc. The fighting continued as Kamui didn't shown any means of tiredness. He would block the attack from the left, kick the right opponent with his leg, duck the blade from behind, jump and turn upside down while spinning himself in mid-air for a few seconds killing enemies from all sides with the help of his blades and his feet.
To put it simply, he didn't broke a sweat. Then again, kobolds weren't excellent fighters to begin with...

Wizard noticed this and decided to bring the fight to the new level.
He signaled with his hand for kobolds to stop fighting. They all started to withdraw a few meters away leaving Kamui alone on the field. The earth started to tremble as wizard smiled like a maniac. In a few moments a new enemy appeared making Kamui's worried face to show at last. It was a Mountain Giant with two long steel chains around it's wrists. They resemble thor in their facial features and they appear as huge, grey-skinned walking creatures with a longer neck, and serve as a stone-throwers. Their appearance here was also a mystery but it was soon cleared that all of his new opponents were controlled by some kind of magic as they are all weak-minded.

The giant rushed towards Kamui as he also charged back at him. The huge monster tried to punch Kamui with his fist but luckily the white hooded man evaded the attack by jumping little on the left side. Then he quickly rushed between his legs and slashed with his swords towards the monster's knees as he ran past through them.
The damage was minimal as the giant's body had a tough and hard skin.
The huge monster turned towards Kamui and without giving him any chance to evade again he quickly slaps him with his hand making his opponent to fall on the ground. Two blades fell a little further away towards the tied up people who watched the battle with fear.

Coughing blood from the impact, Kamui wanted to stand up but the Giant grabbed him, slamming him onto the broken house afterwards but still holding him very tightly.
One of the three prisoners, one middle-aged muscular man managed to free himself. He quickly stood up and took Kamui's blades to free his fellow friends. While the wizard and kobolds were busy watching the fight, the woman ran toward the locked house to free the rest of the villagers while other two men stood there to fight. In that moment Wizard realized his mistake for underestimating even the caged animals. He yelled to his kobolds who were under his command.

'' Kill them all!'' – he screamed in lunatic way.
The two man faced some of the kobolds but were killed instantly as they were farmers, not warriors. Luckily there were many others who were freed from the locked house. Some took sticks and shovels that were inside the house and ran towards the kobolds to face them. Other defenseless ones took the weapons from already killed kobolds. The showdown began with humans fighting respectively.

Giant's attention, who was slowly squeezing Kamui in his arm in order to crush his bones, was redirected at the battle where was showing how even the weakest of opponents can fight back. Wizard started to form a magical spells as he saw how the tide of the battle was slowly turning.
The white savior struggled to get himself free from the monster's grip but was in vain. But he knew that he had to give everything he has to win this battle. His red summoning signs started to glow brightly making his powers even greater. Kamui finally managed to break free, jumping on giant's hand and towards his head.
From his sleeves a three star-shaped blades came out in both hands only to penetrate through his opponent's eyes with them. The Giant' mourns in pain as Kamui then took the steel chains, jumping above monster's head, flipping himself in the air and making chains to be crossed right around giant's neck.

White hooded man stood on monster's back and pushed the chains hardly towards himself, choking the monster in the process. The plan looked as if it will work in the beginning but when the monster started to push back it was cleared that it will soon fail as Kamui's strength cannot match the one from the huge monster.
Wizard was just about to fire his newly finished red-like magical bomb but when he noticed Kamui and the giant he turned his view of fire towards them.
Without realizing that the giant would free in a few moments wizard fired his magic bomb towards Kamui but, through God's will or Lady luck, the fire was only picked up by the giant himself as he was resisting and moving back and forth.
The direct blast killed the giant but the magical impact sent Kamui flaying away and then falling on the nearby building wreckage.

Just when the wizard prepared another magic to finish off Kamui, a three men from the nearby battle came and grabbed the magic user.
'' You fools, I am just a puppet on the string... the Order will-'' – his words were interrupted as one of men pushed Wizard's hand, which was preparing the almost finished magical fire arrow, towards his own head blasting it in the process and making the three men, who held him, to be covered in blood from the now dead wizard. As their master was dead the kobolds started to flee. The survivors were victorious. Some cried over their dead ones and some hugged their children out of fear or happiness that it was finally over. A few of them gathered around their so-called white savior who was still on the ground, unconscious.

Dalton Matuko sits up against the prison walls, waiting, hoping for his meal. He knows not the time of day, or the day of the year. The prison had altered his concept of time. No longer was a day bound with sunrise or sunset, but with the words of guards. He could do nothing but sit, sit and review his life. After the guards had exited, leaving the prisoners in a dark chamber, he begins talking to himself, not caring who hears him. "What is to become of me... One moment I was a diplomat, the next.... A prisoner.." He could easily throw off a spell of magic towards his opressors, but that would only deepen his problems, so he just uses his arcane abilities as a battlemage to entertain himself. He began to form an orb of light energy in the middle of his cell, a spell he had learned from his mentor. A flare. "Well, I wonder what ever happened to my mentor.. He disappeared before my imprisonment... But that matters not." And he began to have the orb of light travel around his cell, as he began to follow it. As he walked into areas usually devoid of life, he could see various skeletons, curled up and brought about as though they had lost the will to live. "This would explain the smell..."

The cell he inhabits is meant for two or three men, of whom had once inhabited the cell with him, and were taken away by the guards. Returning to the area right near the cell door, he extinguishes the orb of light, the only thing on his mind is the hope that he would get his meager rations for what he suspects is the morning hours, but with no light from the sun (the only light being torches), he could not tell. "I wonder if I will ever have a trial...Or a way to freedom... One would be best doing the honorable thing... Ending one's own life.... Three years, not a word of law to offer me exit... I welcome death..." And finally, one of the guards, laughing and joking with another guard, slips an iron bowl with what appeared to be vomit (But in reality, was gruel) and he began to eat, not caring for the horrible taste.
After finishing, he left the bowl near the door, and rested against the corner opposite to the door, and he thus went about staring at the prison door, waiting... Wishing that he would have a trial, or a pardon... Whatever it would take.

--------------------------

Raymond Claudius, out in the region between Ivalice and Benedix, had been walking about, swinging his lance at trees and for some reason, yelling at a bush as though it were a person. "Damn it you bastard! He'll kill you for looking at him like that!" And he slashed at the bush, ruining it. He then proceeded to take the berries that were on the bush, and shoved them in a sack he carries around to hold rations. Moving on towards the west, he came across a tree, of whom he now did the same as with the bush, just different. "It's artillery! He must kill it! He Must kill it! And with that, he takes a few branches, and begins working to start up a fire, and burn down the lone tree. He is very unaware of his surroundings, and his madness, insanity could be quickly understood by anyone who came across him. As he makes up the fire, he begins to sound as though he were in the battle of Benedix, screaming and yelling out things that are long past. "He must kill it! He must help Commander Arius! He must stop the artillery before the Gedhonians use it!" And he finally gets a spark with the wood, forcing flame. "Oh! King Thar will be pleased with him! He will be able to go home, leave this war... He has gone on so long...." And as the fire starts to strengthen, he begins to let out a rather crazed laugh as he begins walking away from it. "Victory will be his, he will be promoted!"
He finally begins walking in silence, apparently talking to his dead friends as he goes along.

--------------------------

A large caravan of one two hundred men and women began walking and riding to the outskirts of Marvor, close to the walled gates. They are the nomadic band of Elves, Humans and half-elves that travel across the continent of Prafyr. They are the Mablung Culnámo (In elven, this means "The exiled that roam") and they are all worshipers of the diety Akadi, Lady of the Winds, of whom represents their nomadic lifestyle, as the wind is ever moving and changing direction. The Mablung Culnámo, one of two large nomadic groups in Prafyr, is composed of mainly bards, warriors, rangers, and barbarians.. With a few clerics and warpriests involved.. The other group being The Ainariël Culnámo (The drifters that roam).

Their priestess to Akadi sits in one of the covered horse drawn carts as they halt near the western outskirts as they begin setting up tents and unloading the caravan. At the gate, two guards stared on as they wondered to report this, then one of the guards remembered what is going on. "These are one of those nomadic caravans that stop off at Marvor once every few months to trade in meats, furs, and trinkets they find for supplies. They mean us no harm." And the other guard begins to rub his helmet. "I still think we should report this..." And that guard had wondered if the military will respond, or recognize the nomadic group.

Ragged breath issued forth from the man’s throat. He squinted in pain as the gloved hand around his throat squeezed harder. Closing his eyes in an attempt to try and fight off the agony, the man clenched his teeth.

“Where is it,” a soft, commanding voice said from under the hood of the man’s attacker.

“I...don’t know...what...you’re...talk...ing...about,” the man choked out. The hooded man intensified his grip on the man’s throat.

“Then die,” he said, finishing off the kill. The man’s eyes shut and fell out from the hooded man’s grip. Letting out a growl, the hooded man spun around, his eyes frantically searching from under his hood. He could smell the sulfur in the air from the burnt home, distracting his senses from what he truly sought out. Calling out angrily, one of his aids came to his side apprehensively.

“Make camp here,” the hooded man said. “We need to wait for the star’s revelation before we can continue on any further,”

“Can’t you-,” the aid began, but was cut off by a growl from his master.

“I cannot hunt them down in these conditions,” he said, raising the finger on which he bore a metallic black ring. It dimly shone in the bright light of day, but it gave off a dark presence. “We wait for night,” the hooded man authoritatively and the questions ceased.

---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

Sunlight shone off of the bronze skin, illuminating the emerald eyes from under the shroud of long, silky, black hair. Raising her head, the elf gracefully swiped the hair from her eyes, looking to the girl sitting contently beside her. The elf watched her, seeing as the girl stared unseeingly before her, her lips moving slowly.

“All is well?” The elf asked the girl, who stopped muttering and turned her head to face the elf. Her eyes were sad, the green seeming to be covered by a white film of mist. Black hair hung down haphazardly, her own skin a much lighter black mixed in with a tinge of brown. The elf smiled to the girl, who looked away and shut her eyes, leaning against the elf’s side.

“Come on, we should go, darling,” the elf said, starting to get up.

“We have time left,” the girl said calmly. Looking around her uncomfortably, the elf’s eyes searched the surrounding trees.

“I will not wait for the wolves to find us,” she said. “Let us go now, Chiyou,”

“It’s so dark,” Chiyou said, getting up on her own two feet. She took her gloves out from her robe and pulled them over her hands, careful not to irritate old wounds.

“It will not find us,” the elf said. “Will you be alright?”

Chiyou took a few breaths before she looked to the elf. Saying nothing, she began to walk ahead of the elf, who followed closely behind. A noise came from behind them and Chiyou stopped walking.

“I sense something...” she said, and the elf touched her shoulder.

“Be ready,” the elf said.

“Will you take care of this, Amarandine?” Chiyou asked. It would not bother her if she had to do this personally, but it would be more convenient if her companion did.

“Yes. It does not look like much,” the elf said before slinking off into the forest.

"Awright, we finally finished making out the entire layout of this unlawful prison. Time to get out of here." said Vincent towards Geoffrey and Sleifer. Geoffrey walked over towards the bedspread and grabbed it off the tattered mattress and grabbed the dopey rag on the floor where Vincent slept. Binding the two daunty pieces of cloth together he tied himself a small rope which he rolled up and stuck inside his robe pocket, in which, like the other two former elite guards, were worn and torn.

"Sleifer, your up." said Vincent instructing them as if they had practiced it many times before. Sleifer walked up to the doors an started a small flame with one of his fingers and while attempting to melt or at least weaken some of the iron bars, he formed a ice needle with his other hand and tried to pick the lock. After several minutes he decided to start trying to melt the front of the lock so it would make picking it a lot easier. Didn't take long before the front end of the lock fell to the floor with an echoing thud. Mere moments afterwards, Sleifer successfully picked the lock and the three gents made their way out.

Vincent, who had pulled out yet, another tattered piece of cloth which had what looked like a crudely drawn map on it. Pointing to what seemed to be a room right above them, he mentioned that that should be were their armor and weapons were. So, the three warriors quietly went up the stone steps. Upon reaching the top, they noticed some sentinals and sentries patroling the halls, including 2 guards stationed at the door they were supposed to get to. "Hmm, can't make too much of a racket, don't wanna trade blows with all the castle guards." said Vincent to the other two. Silently, Sleifer chanted a spell that put 2 of the guards closest to them to sleep....forever. It was this action that caused 3 more sentinals to investigate this strange turn of events. As soon as they were near enough, Vincent grabbed the first one to show up and broke his neck instantly, Geoffrey nabbed the ither guards and, like Vincent, also snapped his neck, while Sleifer sent a small smoke-looking spirit into the third one which quickly crushed his heart.

Sleifer finished off the rest of the guards along the corridor with the same means he had used with the other guards and they entered their targeted room. After exiting the room with their armor on and their wepaons ready, they charged up the steps with fury and vigor, completely apathetic to who they disturb....

--------------------------------------------------------

Kaim sat at his desk in the castle at Marvor, contemplating a small notice that was posted on his door earlier that morning. Like so many days before, he was smoking what he called "stix" shorter for spirit sticks, or cancer sticks what Gawain now calls them.

Sir Kaim,
You have been chosen to lead a small squad of trained warriors to the Forbidden Isle. We have chosen a select few to accompany you on behalf of my staff. You may choose the rest. Godspeed to you, sir.

Sincerely,
King Thar

Kaim sighed and sent his hawk familiar Fervur to Gawain, who had last been stationed in Sar...

---------------------------------------------------------

"Have you ever seen him?" asked Jack looking towards Vox and Zack. "Sorry kid, the only person whose ever seen Shadow is our supervisor, Gantz." said Vox who was leaning up against a nearby wall, occassionally looking out into the now dark streets of Sar. "Damn, this place has become so rundown. It's because of that damn cult runnin around. Everybody's runnin scared." said Zack.

"Hey, Master Shadow is supposed to be training me though, when's that supposed to start, huh? Maybe the guy isn't real." said Jack. "Oh, he's real alright, best swordsman I've ever seen. You'll learn alot from him, kid." said Gantz walking dow the stairs.

"Ah, Master Gantz, good to see you today, so what jobs do we have lined up now?" asked Vix curtly. "Well, we only have one today, but that's because it's long, we have to go to Marvor for it and the client is a Sir Gantz and a General Averey. All that's said is to meet one of the client's, I'm assuming the general at a tavern in Marvor by Omosek 11th. That gives us a little less that 2 days, so start packing." said Gantz sitting in a chair and lighting his small oak pipe. "But sir, what about my training? What about..." spoke Jack before he was cut off. "Don't worry about it, kid. Shadow is going with us on his mission, but don't speak to him unless spoken to, he's not a big fan of nagging. You'll get your training, dunno why you wnat it, dirty business bein an assassin an all." said Gantz with a sigh. "We leave tomorrow morning, so get some sleep tonight after your done packing." said Gantz and then he went back upstairs....

Sharp eyes glanced keenly from place to place, searching for the slightest misplaced leaf or stone. A noise came from behind the Sun elf and she casually turned around, a smile flitting across her face.

“Master mage, so good of you to catch up. I was starting to get bored,” the elf said, swaying slightly in a rhythmic sense. Snarling, Tajan pointed a finger at her with incomprehensible determination.

“I would not be so smug, elf,” he said. “You have not recovered your full strength yet. You are still susceptible,”

“Oh, yes,” Amarandine moaned playfully. Tajan could feel her presence compress his mind, but he calmed himself and ignored it.

“An old trick,” he said through clenched teeth. It was an old trick, yes, but it had everything to do with what always went wrong in the end. Amarandine gave a little laugh, walking up close to Tajan, leaning towards him.

“So what would you have me do, master mage?” She asked mockingly near his ear.

“I would have you die here!” He growled, a white disc forming in his palm. Amarandine’s eyes fell to the disc and her eyes softened. She closed them and Tajan concentrated more of his power into his magic, hoping that this time it would finish before she stopped it. Surely this time he could do it...

“So unusual...” Amarandine muttered, her eyebrows reflected what her eyes expression was. They rose slightly and fell at certain instances, almost as if she were watching a lover with no sense left, wrapped up in the emotion and unaware of what happened around her. Reaching out a hand, gently she took Tajan’s magic from his palm, converting it to her own. It swarmed around her hand and she smiled, an unknown exchange occurring before Tajan’s very eyes, but it was no news to him. She mocked him every time, slowly eating away at his being with every encounter.

“So soft,” she giggled, placing it to her lips and breathing it in gently before exhaling. Tajan cringed in pain. Amarandine squeezed Tajan’s magic in her hand, and he fell to his knees, burning with rage and regret amidst the excruciating fire that lit inside of his body.

“Stop,” he muttered. “Let...me go,” he whispered, pleading with her as he had countless times already. Amarandine paid him no heed, she never did. Her eyes opened and she stroked the magic disc with her forefinger; she had absolute command of Tajan’s magic, his entire being.

“Every time, master mage...every time...” she said with a smile. “Will you not learn? Do not play with that which you know nothing of...To leave yourself so exposed like that to me time and again...You will surely be the one to die. Do not come after me until you are ready,” Amarandine said. After regarding the bent-over man before her, she blew on the magic and it scattered throughout the air like dust. Tajan’s fingers dug into the muddy dirt, but he did not cry out. Once he had calmed himself, he looked up, some mud on his forehead. The elf was no longer in his sight.

“Stop playing with me...Stop playing with me, you bitch!” He shouted to the cold air, shaking with rage at being beat again. Standing up on trembling legs, only to fall back down on his knees again, Tajan held his head in his hands. It felt as if it would explode from the pressure. Much concentration had been needed from him to create that magic, and for it to disappear like that, it took much of his being with it. But next time...next time he would be able to strike first. Next time he would be able to strike down the serpent and step on its head.

“I am not...your plaything,” Tajan muttered, leaning against a tree. “Too long...too long...but I will break it, I will break it...You will have no more hold over me than you do the girl...especially not the girl,” he muttered vehemently. Closing his eyes briefly and allowing a shiver to escape down his spine, Tajan opened his eyes again and followed the footprints in the worn dirt. If he could not beat the elf in a play of strength, he would have to wear her down through this journey and destroy her in the darkness.

As the young elf was quietly reading a book, some staff member in the library addresses him.
'' You have a visitor.''
While he was still focusing his eyes on the book the elf gently answerers:
'' My time is reserved for greater things today. If it is Alexia from the class B tell her that I will return the spare key of the 2nd basement as soon as I am done today.''
But the person who wanted to see him was actually his own kin.
'' You do not have the time even for me brother?'' – a gentle voice was heard from a female elf who was standing right to the staff member.
Lolindir rises his head to look at the new visitor. It was Athelyna, her sister who came a long trip from Tharia, apparently to see him and her friends here at the land of the elves.

Lolindir quickly gets up, not embarrassed to show his joy after seeing his elven sister. He hugs her tightly as this is the first time he saw her for a past few months.
'' I am so glad to see you. You came all this way to see me?'' – Lolindir asked with a bright smile.
'' Yes and no. I volunteered to came here to see you but my real purpose here was to transport some weapons back to Tharia. Paladin's work is never done hehe.'' – she chuckles as she answers him.
'' How are things at you second home? I am sure they treat you well?''
'' Of course, the Palace and the city is safer then ever thanks to a few warriors from Gedhon that stand on our side. Tharia is a wonderful place to live now!''
'' That is good to hear. The times have changed a bit though, because of the King Vailen and his new Council of Evil.'' - Lolindir tells her with a worried look on his face.

'' Council of Evil?'' - Athelyna confusingly asked.
'' It is not official but that is the name we researches at Formelia call them. The witnesses say that Vailen, and a small group of different powerful warriors on his side, are the mightiest group that appeared on these lands in these past three years and that no one can match their might. One of them is of course the Red Shadow.''
'' You seem to know about this quite a lot. Care to elaborate more?''
'' Of course, this way please.'' – Lolindir sloses the books he was just reading and shows with his right hand a direction in which she should fallow. They passed the huge library into a small room where other two elven males were doing some kind of experiments with potions. On a huge celling there was a giant wallpaper of a huge beast. It was the name which no mortal can speak. The abomination , the doom, the ultimate destruction or simply....Vailen's powerful red dragon.

'' Oh, you were talking about THAT dragon?''
'' The artist of this picture was one of our half elves who died many years ago, but the whole picture is not correct as he only took the glimpse of the dragon. Other then the head some parts are made up, so don't pay too much attention to it.''

'' He really looks beautiful, but deadly nevertheless.''
'' Yes. First of all I should tell you about Valien's forces. They are not ''evil'' as we call them, because they do not go around killing everything and everyone on their path. People label them as that because they have a different approach on conquering the land and to do negotiations. So, if there is a different opinion on how to do things in this world then most of how other people do, they automatically appear as something bad.''
'' I understand that. But tell me more about the dragon.''

'' Well, there are two theories. This beautiful being, the Red Shadow is called like that by the people because, when he flies over some village you can only see two things. A huge shadow on the ground and afterwards it is known that destruction is upon those who are beneath him. Seeing that shadow will be a trigger to a certain death of the people, and so it came to people's mind to call it Red as the ground is always covered by a huge pool of blood when they see the dragon's shadow. Other theory would be when you sometimes look at the clouds and when they appear in dark red, you can be rest assured that the Red Shadow is flying through those clouds on that exact moment. Some people think that dragons are Gods themselves and there are some who actually pray to them. ''

'' Amazing, I had no idea. So you were studying that dragon for all this time? Did you find any means to kill it?'' - Athelyna asked with a surprised look on her face.
'' Unfortunately not, the only thing that could kill the dragon would be to destroy it from the inside but we haven't found anything like that so far. I guess the only one who could stand to another dragon would be.... another dragon. My superiors are looking further into it.''
Athelyna and Lolindir looked at the huge picture with silence for a few more moments. Then Athelyna spoke up:
'' Thanks for the information brother, I should really get the job done here, caravan is probably waiting for me to start with all the work.''
'' Not a problem. I shall accompany you of course, and if you have the time you should visit our friends, at least for a brief moment?''
'' I would like that, yes.''
They both slowly started walking out of the room with Lolindir taking a final glimpse on dragon's picture.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Kamui suddenly woke up, and by the time he started to recollect his final conscious moments he realized that he was lying on the bed in some small house. He noticed other injured men still sleeping on the nearby beds. A man appeared before him.
'' I am dr. Mezar, how are you feeling?'' – the man asked politely.
'' Where.... how did I get here?'' – Kamui asked with a confusion.
'' You are at Ferem's medical house, and my personal clinic. The people, if you remembered, who survived brought you here. You are in some way a hero of this town, yes.''

'' Really? Umm....'' – Kamui, still wandering what happened, tried to move but his back hurt quite a bit so he stopped as soon as the pain appeared.
'' Do not move too much, you were quite a mess when they brought you here. Try to stay still for a while, you do not want to see an old wounds open up, yes? Although I must say you do heal faster then the normal human. Quite interesting, yes.'' – the man tells him as he takes something from a pocket.
'' This message came to you while you were sleeping. Sorry for reading it but you cannot trust no one these days, and I am responsible for my patiences. If there was some dire news I wouldn't want you to get an heart attack in my clinic. It would be a bad reputation for me. Agreed, yes?'' – the man casually spoke to Kamui.
'' No need to worry, I thank you in advance.'' – Kamui shows his appreciation while taking the latter from the doctor and reading it slowly.

* After a long and strenuous discussion, you have been chosen to aid King and Country once more. You are to arrive in Marvor, Tharia, not later than 20th Omosek. If you do not comply, you shall be considered unwilling to accede the service of King Thar, which is a punishable offense. *

'' Well, I'm glad to see King Thar to be.... pleasant as always. As soon as I rest up a bit I should get going.'' – Kamui speaks his mind loudly while having a blank smile on his face.
'' Yes, but be advised that you are personally called to a dinner with Mayor of Ferem who wishes to thank you personally. Try to attend that first. I take you are good with table manners, yes?''
'' I'll manage somehow, thanks.''

Dr. Mezar smiles and tends to his other patiences. Kamui wandered a bit about what happened to other hooded man whom he battled.
'' My second battle with an unknown organization..... and yet... I still live...''

As the year stepped into summer, the snow in Gedhon's lowlands was gone, and on the mountains diminished. Five figures ran through Memoria forest, scattered about. At the motion of one's hand, they all gathered around. They were cloaked, but their hoods leaned on their backs. All of them had long hair, one with black, and the rest with brown, distinguished only by the difference of a few nuances. A fleeting wind blew, moving the ends of their cloaks and fluctuating the tips of their hair. They formed a circle; two crouched and the rest remained standing.

“Bragwul, you will go a bit in that direction,” the black-haired one spoke, pointing to the south, “and chase it here. Cailean, you will ambush it here with that sword of yours. The rest of you follow me.”

Bragwul ran south, while the other three ran south-west. Cailean climbed the nearby tree, and found a suitable branch where he poised himself to jump. There he remained waiting, absconded by leaves, his scent carried above any ground animal’s nose. He waited a bit longer than twenty minutes, when his ear detected the sound of heavy hooves digging the ground. Quickly he turned, and saw a big moose closing in on the tree he was on. Very quickly the moose reached the tree, and as it was about to pass below, Cailean jumped off the tree, his timing being much less than perfect, thus landing behind the moose, thrusting the falchion into the lower part of its back. The moose wailed, jerking its hind legs and kicking Cailean, who fell on his back about two meters away. Bragwul soon arrived and impulsively jumped on the moose’s back, took out the falchion, and quickly thrust it in the raging animal’s neck, pulling the blade down and making a big gash, causing instant death. The three others arrived as well.

“Good. Now we need to hurry back before the other team,” the one who gave orders earlier spoke.
“Gharulf, we’re here to hunt, not to compete,” one remarked.
“I agree with Gharulf,” said Bragwul. “We should beat them to it. They mocked us the last eight times they got back before us.”
“Greewl started leading them eight hunts ago, so we don’t really stand a chance,” said another.
“Be quiet Hrolf. You and Phelan will carry the quarry this time.”

So day did without further ado. They traveled casually for around an hour when they all stopped abruptly, looking around. The air felt uneasy and filled with tension. There was sudden silence around them, broken only by an occasional chirp of a bird. Bragwul separated himself from the group, but not much, and a big, grizzly bear burst out of the forest, hitting Bragwul with full force of its weight, and felling him to the ground, stopping to roar threateningly at him, tilting its head and opening the large jaw. Bragwul quickly got up.

“Go, you must get there before them. I’ll play with the bear,” he said cheerfully.
“Take your time Bragwul,” said Gharulf.

Bragwul laughed loudly as he took off the cloak. The rest left, their pace quickened, and arrived to the den after another hour. There they met the other team, triumphantly standing in front of the entrance. Their blood-smeared arms and faces were evidence enough that the feast their quarry provided was done.

“Is this the ninth hunt?” one asked sarcastically.
“Be quiet,” Greewl reprimanded him. “Good catch,” he pointed at the four returning hunters. “Ours weighed less. Where is Bragwul?”
“He should be here shortly,” said Gharulf.
A woeful sigh came from behind, and Bragwul limped to join them. “I’m here.” Blood dripped down his left side, and everybody noticed that his left arm was missing, ripped off to the shoulder. “Damn beast! I ripped its heart out and swallowed it whole!” He fell on his knees.
“Good! Then you won’t need your portion of today’s catch then!” one of them said, and the majority laughed loudly.
“Come on warrior,” Phelan helped him get up, still laughing, but not as loudly. “Let’s get you inside and patch you up.”

All ten of the hunters entered the den, muffled laughter springing from within until they went in deeper; then the laughter could no longer be heard.

------------

One of the guards, who was at the top of the stairs, saw the tree escapees climbing quickly.

“Prison break!“ he yelled. “Prison break!”
A few other guards came out from the guard room. “We’ll close them in,” said the warden, and all of them ran out, closing and locking the doors from the outside, which was designed for a situation such as this. Then one of the guards ran to the militia, informing them of the prison break. It didn’t take them long to start gathering in front of the prison.

-Five days earlier-
-The Sanguine Fortress; Fisehaar Desert, Hasfiria-
-Grand Council Chambers-

Lord Archono Lasette sat on his throne with six podiums, three on each side. His second in command at his right, and his third command at his left. Out of the six podiums, only one had been absent. The one absent is Ivan Retash, of whom is finishing up the organization of the Sanguine orcish alliance.
Finally, he speaks. "My brothers, the time of the Sanguine dawn is approaching. We shall now recite our words defining our ancient ritual." The council members stiffen up as he rises, pointing his staff towards the lower council and their appointed commanders. All men under the level of grand council member had kneeled to the ground, all weilding a staff or a blade, with their faces solemn. And he leads. "Sanguine dear brothers and sisters. It is the color of our night. And through our will and divine patronage, we shall extend our sanguinity from the night, to the dawn and beyond! Praise and worship our powerful lord and diety Velsharoon... Brothers and sisters, praise him with the might of our wrath, and please him with the spilled blood of the innocent so we may be granted our everlasting control of the continent of Prafyr! We pledge our souls, our allegiance, our actions to The Vaunted. The Lord of the Forsaken Crypt, The Mighty Archmage of Necromancy, for he holds his power through the very essence of unlife and our bodies are but tools to his will. Sanguine dears brothers and sisters, For power will belong to to the ranks of our order.." And he nods, as all members present repeated after him. After the completion of the Sanguine Oath, he seats himself back on his throne, commanding all to rise. "Lord Master Elitia, what is your answer, are we ready?" Darius stands, looking out to the council. "Lord of Necromancers, Your grand army of the undead for the initial invasion of Hasfiria is ready. We may begin our invasions at your command Lord Archono." With a pleased look, Archono responds. "Where is my army now?" With a confident look, he makes it completely clear. "My lord, it is hovering on the border of the desert, ready to strike at the city of Fsai." Archono then turns his attention to Cefca. "Lord Magister L'ndalusia, Are our arcane forces prepared for clean up and assistance? And are we positioned to set gates near the City of Marvor when the time comes?" And Cefca turns to him, and gives a bow, unlike Darius, of whom is more serious, "Your will be done My Lord."

Archono once again stands, all but the grand council members kneeling or bowing. "Then I give my will. We attack Fsai in five days. We will rally our forces, and we shall once again shed the blood of the innocent with our vast forces of unlife! You are all dismissed to discuss your strategies, but I make them final. And he walks through an entrance behind his throne and seals it.


-Present-
-Fsai, Hasfiria-
It was another peaceful day in the city of Fsai, since the last attack over three years ago... The people had become less interested, and they had ignored warnings from Tharia to be prepared for imminent attack, for they had been warning for three years with no results.
Now, outside the city, the army of undead creeps through the landscape. Zombies and flesh eating zombies are in the front, followed by bone golems, with skeletons in the back serving as archers. The bone golems and skeletons wear crafted black armor to fit their sizes, to offer some sort of protection, as the zombies were given armor before their transformation from corpse to undead. Now, as they enter the city,... The Sanguine Invasion has begun, and the slaughter of Fsai is only the beginning, with the first waves in the thousands.

Looking to the sky, Tajan saw a raven fly above, casting a small shadow over his sight momentarily. It gave a shrill call before turning back around. Was it a familiar, sent from its master to warn someone of something? Placing the bird to the back of his mind, Tajan continued walking through the hanging vines of the forest to get back on the dirt path. When he finally reached it, he saw that the foot prints he sought after were slightly faded. He wasn’t too far behind his prey, but he could not delay. In his weakened state he had been forced to rest much longer than he had intended, and now he had to make up for it.

The call of the raven sounded again from behind him. Tajan ignored it and continued walking, but did not make much progress. Crying out again, the bird beckoned Tajan closer. Eyeing the bird warily, he approached it cautiously. A note was attached to its leg. Reaching out, Tajan made as if to take it, but the bird stepped back, still eyeing the dark skinned man before it. It gave another call, this time extending its leg out. Quickly retrieving the note, Tajan backed away from the bird and it took flight, not waiting for a return note if it was necessary. Opening the note, Tajan skimmed it, seeing the signature at the bottom.

Looking back up to the path before him, his eyes shifted around desperately, seemingly trying to find something of assistance. Not finding anything to ease his mind, his eyes drifted back down to the opened note. Biting his lip, he looked back up at the path, trying to decide something. Glancing behind, Tajan let out a sigh. Retreating into the shrubbery, he sat down and read the letter in its entirety.

Haste is of the essence now, mage. I have sent out the other because I am finding it hard to give my complete confidence in your work. What you told me at our last meeting is still at the front of my mind, which is partly why you must understand I cannot trust you fully. Disregard the bonds between you and finish this job. Return to me with the severed connection and the blood of the serpent on the ring. Fail to do this within the next fortnight and I shall recall my magic upon you. Death shall come swiftly to those who fail to satisfy the darkness.

Nyri

Muttering an imprecation, Tajan lit the message and reduced it to ashes with what strength he had left. It was a trap, he knew that much. There was nothing he could do about it, however. Standing back up, he left the bushes and began to run down the path. He needed to catch up to the elf and the guardian. A momentary truce may be in order, for they were going to Marvor together, or so Tajan had assumed. He needed a chance to be able to find a way out of the trap that had been placed before him many years before. Time was against him, and the elf was perhaps his only way out of this. Getting her to release the hold she had on him would be a much more difficult task, but he had to try. If Chiyou could help him, he would be able to be free from the curse that hangs over his head.

Frantically stumbling over the rocks, sending stones tumbling down the mountainside and dust scattering through the already thick air, Lena did her best to maintain balance. Falling to her knees, already bloody and torn from the excruciating climb up the mountain, she paused for a moment to gather a sense of calmness. Sweat pooled on the ground from her exhausted form. Taking long, deep breaths, she closed her eyes, falling into a memory that hung about her like a haunting spectral.


Anxiously standing by the wooden dresser, the dark skinned woman stared into a mirror. Her twin sister stood with her back turned, speaking to her in a cheerful manner. The woman in front of the mirror wiped her forehead with her hand, brushing strands of black hair from her eyes. Opening her mouth, it seemed that she wanted to speak to her sister of something, but could not bring herself to say it.

“Kailo...” She spoke finally in a sad tone. Her sister stopped speaking, turning finally to face her sister. A confused look spread across her smooth features.

“Yes,” was the short, confused reply by the sudden seriousness of her companion. Lena looked at her sister from the reflection in the mirror.

“About last night...” she said slowly, almost muttering inaudibly.

“Yes?” Kailova asked again, approaching her sister slowly. Placing her hand upon her sister’s shoulder, she looked at her expectantly. “What’s the matter? Bad day?”

“It’s not that, it’s just...” Lena began speaking, once again finding it hard to mouth what she wanted to say to her sister. Kailova stood by her patiently, embraced her, and gently rocked Lena to calm her.

“You can tell me,” she said quietly. Lena looked to the ground. It was rare for her sister to hold such a mood of pure bliss about her. She could understand Kailo’s joy in Kali, but with all that had happened in the family recently, Lena wasn’t sure her news would be taken very kindly to.

“It’s just that...Everything thing I said last night...” she said slowly, stopping momentarily. Kailova stopped rocking her sister, waiting apprehensively to hear what her sister was going to say. “Everything I said last night was...a lie,” Lena finished, averting her eyes from her sister and tilting her head away. Kailova’s mouth opened slightly as she stared at her sister.

“What?” She asked, hurt. “You told me that-”

“I know, I know!” Lena said, angry at herself. “I couldn’t tell you the truth. You won’t hate me for this, will you?”

“It depends what you tell me,” Kailova replied coldly, stepping away from her sister.

Tears began to stream down Lena’s face as she accepted that fact and tried to find a way to truthfully tell her sister what had happened between her and her sister’s husband.

“I was lying when I told you we didn’t...we didn’t try anything,” she said softly. “The first time,” she whispered, “was a year after Kali was first born, when he came back from his work travels. We...slept with each other then, and I became pregnant,” Lena said. Her sister eyed her angrily, but did not interrupt.

“We’ve been seeing each other since then,” Lena turned to her sister, remorse clear in her eyes. “It wasn’t my fault,” she begged, “He forced me to,”

A small smile played across Kailova’s face, but it was not a forgiving one. “You were never weak, Lena. I don’t believe you ever will be. You are a marvelous actress as much as you are strong,”

“Kailo,” Lena said, desperately.

“How many children have you had with him? How big is your family? You always were the one guaranteed a greater fertility rate than I was,” Kailova spat. Suddenly lunging out, she struck her sister in the stomach, where it would do most damage. “You’ve stolen my children, my husband, my only love,” she began to cry.

“They died in childbirth,” Lena said, biting back the tears. Her sister softened slightly, but the venom was still there.

“How many did you have with him?” Kailova asked, trying to regain her composure.

“...six,” Lena said, her eyes blurry with tears at the memory of her dead children and with remorse for the pain she caused her sister.

“Six?” Kailova repeated. She glared at Lena before turning her back. “And now you’re pregnant with a seventh. Damn the child,” she said. “And damn you!” She screamed, turning back to her sister, unable to control her emotions any longer. “You can burn in hell along with them all,” she shrieked, hitting her sister again, this time in the face.

“Kailova!” Lena shouted, backing away from her sister’s fury while trying to calm her.

“Get out! I don’t want you anywhere near my daughter,” she shouted, enraged. Lena’s hands fumbled with the doorknob as she stumbled out of the room backward. Retreating to her room in the basement of the house, Lena fell upon her own bed. She hated her very existence. Living a lie against her sister for so many years, for it to be in the open now...

Letting out a cry of sorrow, Lena buried her face in a pillow, wiping her tears away with it. The baby inside of her was her own life. She would not allow for it to be killed, and she would not allow for Kailova’s curse of damnation to effect it. Regardless of its heritage, she would not let anything harm her child, for this one would live, she knew that much.


Looking up to the sky, Lena held back the tears that threatened to overcome her. A yell sounded from not far below her. Scrambling to her feet, she began to scale higher up the mountain, wary of the predators stalking its heights. Finding a small den, she hid inside of it, praying that whatever animal lived here would not be returning soon. Shutting her eyes, she tried to fight off the weariness that overtook her. She could not bear to recall any more of those accursed memories of her past life. All she could afford to worry about now was that she would survive through this ordeal and have a chance to see her daughter again.

(OOC: Joint post between Crimson Cloud, -Vincent-, and myself. Yes, you may all "ooh" and "ah" at our never-before-seen joint post mastery. )

Kali entered the throne room with her usual air of dark grace, brushing past the crimson-garbed guards on either side of the elegant mahogany and silver doors. Her presence drew very little interest, accustomed as the occupants were to her steady comings and goings. King Vailen’s eyes flicked over briefly, as he missed nothing, but he continued his close conversation with a nameless blue-clad soldier without faltering. By the king’s side, Kali noticed, was the sensual tiefling Rhohesia, looking altogether too smug for the commander’s taste. Vailen was never without her, it seemed. The assorted palace guard and serving staff were discretely stashed in alcoves and side-doors, alert and prepared for duty at the slightest hand gesture. Kali cast her glance about for Foulkner; he, too, would never be far from Gedhon’s ruler. And perhaps Rizian as well, she thought silently, though no word had reached her of his return as yet.

As the familiar face entered, Rohesia could not resist to speak her mind. As always she was gripping an edge of the throne, keeping herself close to him as he is everything to her. More then a God, and she would do anything for him. An attachment, if it can be called like that as it could not be called love. But that affection has it's price. An enemy of all races, the jealousy. Rohesia could never stand to see another woman to be close to her King. “Ah, a little princess is back to report I see. Make sure you bow down nicely and keep your distance. I do not want to see your filth close to my master.'' – the evil smile was upon her, but jealous nevertheless.

“Thank the Gods that Vailen is immune to that filth or he would get one a long time ago'' – Foulkner adds slowly to spice things up. He would still hold his staff tightly, always prepared for anything. After looking at Kali he would give one glance to Valien's advisor. His cape was covering his whole body, making his head in the dark. But even if you could not see through his face didn't mean that you couldn't feel the demonic aura coming from his eyes.

'' How dare you, sorcerer!'' – Rohesia yells at Foulkner.

With a simple motion of his hand, Vailen dismissed the soldier and gave Kali an ordinary look. There were thoughts in his mind, but he held no intention of sharing them with anyone, yet. “Be quiet Foulkner, Rohesia. I am growing tired of the animosity between you,” he said, agitated. “Any news Kali?”

Rohesia swallows her pride with anger while the new tense situation did not bother Foulkner at all.

Kali shot a defiant look at the tiefling before commencing her report. “I have a list of influential families openly opposed to your rule.” She approached Vailen respectfully and offered the wax-sealed parchment. “Most are Tharian, but some are much closer to the capitol. In addition, there’s news that King Thar has sent out messages to men and women he’s called upon before for special duties. We’ve been unable to read one of those letters, but there are certain…implications…to his actions.”

Vailen moved in the throne, straightening his back, resting his arms on the recliners. “And those implications are… don’t make me draw answers out of you,” he said, giving her a warning look.

She received his rebuke with a subtle nod of the head. “He’s plotting something, m’lord. I’ve dispatched some of our best men to watch likely recipients. There are those he called upon to lead that decoy caravan three years past: Kamui Windchester, Aphelion Excelsior, Kaitajan Kourasukii, Chiyou Masuka, Athelyna Seregon, Ethelia Excelsior, and Averey Durkheim. He may be calling upon recent allies from the former Gedhonian empire as well. Some of our agents suggest he may be looking for assistance from the Dragon Isle. Such an attempt would be foolhardy, but he has shown himself to use such bold measures before—I think he seeks another dragon to overpower yours.” She paused thoughtfully, “Though I may be mistaken.”

“He can’t be overpowered,” he said. “Though that elf,” muttering more to himself, pensively staring at the floor. “Rohesia, any thoughts?”

Rohesia quickly answered to her master with joy. '' My lord, King Thar is a fool to think that his warriors can match ours. And we have your mighty dragon. That cursed elf could be a small threat but threat nevertheless. First, we should act quickly and deal with him personally and others on the way! Cut their path from the Dragon Isle! If we go like that, I am assured in our victory! ''

Kali glowered at the succubus. “You’re too arrogant.”

He cut Kali off with a grisly look. “Impetuous tiefling, yet it might prove effective.” Before he, or anyone else, was able to utter a word, the door burst open loudly. A man entered, two swords sheathed on his back, making an X sign. Behind him, four others, wearing dark blue uniforms, and carrying a stretcher, followed. The one who led them stopped beside Kali and kneeled.

“What is the meaning of this, Revin?”

“My Lord, this is important. We found… this south of Benedix.” The four soldiers brought the stretcher forward and laid it on the floor. Revin approached it and pulled the sheet off with one quick move. It revealed a large beast, covered in almost black fur, with a few brownish locks here and there.

Vailen abruptly stood up from the throne, looking at the dead beast, his eyes glimmering in, what anyone could discern, fear. “Foulkner!” he yelled. “Burn this thing! Burn it I said!”

Kali stood astonished at his violent reaction. “By the gods…” she murmured. But she quickly transferred her attention to the giant beast situated before her. Could it be…? She stepped forward cautiously to examine the clouded, yet still-human, eyes. She hadn’t seen him since that night, and began to reach out to touch the bloodied muzzle…then realized that her actions could be condemning, and stepped back to allow the sorcerer to do his work. There was more than one way to confirm the identity.

''My my, girls are so fragile and weak on the sight of dead these days it seems.'' - Rohesia laughed while mocking Kali for examining the body. Again Kali shot her a look aimed to kill.

Foulkner was surprised by the hurried command from his lord. The beast was dead, and yet it was clear that a little history was behind between Vailen and the dead monster on the ground. After a few seconds, when he was done thinking, sorcerer answered to his lord. "Indeed.'' - he stepped up a bit to give himself some space in order to do what he do best. He pointed his Havocstaff towards the dead beast and fired a small energy blast that set the beast on fire. In just a few moments, skin started to fade away leaving nothing but bones. When he lowered his staff, the bones started to disperse.

Vailen wouldn’t rest until Foulkner set the beast ablaze, and when he did, it seemed as the king came to his senses, only barely. With a quick pace, he approached Riven and grabbed him by the collar with both hands. “You will purge the forest south of Benedix! If you don’t find anything, you will search the entire forest!” He let Riven go, turned and started walking towards the room behind the throne. Then he stopped and turned around, looking confused. “Kali, you will lead them. Take a battalion… take the whole army! I want you to find these things! Riven is familiar with them. I want them dead! Dead, you hear me!?”

When she heard the Vailen's command, Rohesia quickly rebelled with these words: “Her! To lead an army? What sort of pathetic man would take orders from that weak woman!'' - she pointed her hand towards Kali while saying this.

Vailen paid no heed to her. Her words may reached his ears but he already shut them up. Becoming aware of his own reaction, which he’d never uncovered before, he disappeared in behind the door, slamming them shut.

Rohesia looked at Kali with a bloodthirsty look.

Foulkner turns around ignoring what orders were given from Vailen. Before he left he tells Rohesia the following sentence in a quiet sound. “Do not trouble yourself with ones who haven't chosen their side.'' After that Foulkner left the throne room, leaving Kali standing beside Riven, the soldiers, and the now charred stretcher.

Ursha walked beside one of three carts which he and six others were guarding. The forest was alive with the sound of animals and birds. Everyone was visibly relaxed, their trip to Atmer had no difficulties and they were almost back into Tharia territory. One of the mercenaries behind Zack quickened his pace and came up beside him. "Umm, Ursha I think there is someone following us." he whispered. Ursha simply nodded and the man went back to his place. Ursha turned to the lead cart rider "I am going to take two men and find whatever is behind us, the three with you will make sure you get back to Reddin in one piece." after finished he pointed to two men and the trio walked off the path.

Ursha unsung his battle ax as the other two brought out blades. Ursha led through the woods, stopping at every twig snap or animal call. For two hours they searched. Finally one said "Ursha, I don't think we will find whatever it was. Let’s head back." he nodded and the group trudged back to the main road and began a slow jog to catch up with the traders. They followed the road suddenly the tracks of the carts went off the path and into the woods. Ursha once again unsung his ax and slowly followed the signs of the cart.

Ursha led the way, and not too long after they found a glow of a fire. Ursha crept on his stomach toward the camp with his two men hidden in the brush, waiting for a sign. He found one cart and the rider dead. He had a gash in his throat and probably died from blood lost before the wound. Poor Bastard Ursha thought. The trade goods were stacked near the cart, some opened others not. The next moment Ursha heard steel strike steel. He jumped to his feet and spun his head around to see three bandits engaging his two men.

Pain suddenly shook his vision as he found a knife stuck in his left arm. He turned to face another two bandits, one looking like he meant to kill Ursha with that strike. Ursha growled low in his throat as he ripped the blade out of his arm and brought his ax up. He roared as he charged the first man who ducked only to receive a boot to the face. The second had moved to Ursha's side and opened his side with a spear. Ursha sent his ax in a arc which split the spear and opened his chest. The man let out a gurgled scream as he feel which Ursha spun to strike out at the other who had vanished from sight.

Ursha gathered himself and ran to aid his men which were both giving good fights. One bandit dead and one received a killing stroke before Ursha neared. The other tried to run but stopped when a bolt imbedded itself in his spine. After a few minutes to gather their breath the three men took up all of the supplies they could carry and sent out to cross the border before night.

“What time is it,” Chiyou asked quietly. The Sun elf tilted her head and looked to the bright sky above.

“Roughly noon-ish, I’d say,” she said. Chiyou nodded, then proceeded to walk ahead of her companion. Amarandine watched her worriedly, but did not say or do anything.

“Just be careful, alright?” Amarandine said. “I don’t need you getting yourself killed,”

“I’ll be fine with you here,” came the confident response. Suddenly she stopped walking and turned around abruptly. Amarandine turned around as well, but much more slowly.

“Master mage,” she said pityingly. “Ready again are we?”

“Not this time,” Tajan said through deep intakes of breath. “I’ve come to ask a favor of you,”

“How odd,” Amarandine said, her eyes becoming little slits as she frowned.

“I cannot beat you in this game. What I need from you is your help,” Tajan said, approaching the females without hostility. Chiyou listened to the exchange silently, saying nothing, showing no emotion.

“Oh?” Amarandine asked, beckoning Tajan to continue. “What sort of help would an esteemed mage as yourself need?”

“I want you to free me,” he said.

Amarandine laughed flippantly. “You followed so closely behind to ask me to do that for you? I’m sorry, dear boy, but the connection stays,” she said and turned around. Chiyou remained motionless, her eyes gazing in the direction of her former mentor. Tajan regarded her for a few moments before a thought came to him.

“If I protect her, will you release me?” he called out. Amarandine stopped walking, biting her lip. Turning around, the sun gleamed off of her skin. Dark hair flowed down to her waist, enhancing her image.

“Why,” she said, more as a statement. Tajan looked from Chiyou to Amarandine.

“She received a letter, did she not? A letter from the king of Tharia,” he said. Amarandine nodded and he continued. “You cannot follow her all the way there. If he were to follow all the way...It would be dangerous,”

“Indeed,” Amarandine said callously. Tajan ignored the remark and continued speaking.

“If I watch over the girl, you can join one of your brothers and hide,”

“Perhaps...” she muttered in response. “But I think not,” she said with a tone of finality.

“Then I’m coming with you regardless,” Tajan said desperately.

“You want to kill her. Why should I leave you alone with her?” Amarandine snapped, angry at the foolishness Tajan was letting show through.

“I give you my oath,”

“Which means nothing to me, as for what I recall, you don’t keep your promises,” was the terse reply. Tajan approached her haughtily. Rolling up his left sleeve, he revealed the emerald serpent that wound about his arm.

“With the binding powers of magic, my oath shall be kept,” he said softly. Amarandine eyed the serpent tattoo before looking into Tajan’s eyes with a soft kindness behind them that it almost frightened him.

“You would speak those words from me to protect her in exchange for your own freedom,” she said gently.

“Yes,” Tajan replied. Chiyou listened intently, a glint in her eye, but made no move to interfere. Tajan glanced over at her, but took his eyes off of her almost immediately. The look he received from her gaze was chilling, the expression she held on her face was silencing.

“Speak them, and I’ll hold you to your oath,” Amarandine said, touching the serpent on his arm. Speaking softly, Tajan muttered the binding words. He could feel her life stir from within him, mixing in with his own thoughts and emotions. Trying to shake them off, he finished the verse and stepped back from the reach of the elf, holding his arm with his hand. Amarandine’s eyes were shut, her mouth forming the words Tajan had just spoken. After a moment, her eyes opened again and she looked into Tajan’s eyes.

“Keep her safe, or you both will die,” she stated and took off at a sprint before any more words could be spoken by either party.

“Chiyou?” Tajan asked, moving over to the girl. Her head tilted towards his direction.

“What are you doing, mage,” she asked unsympathetically.

“We are both headed to Marvor. You are my apprentice, are you not?”

“I am the apprentice of the gods who gave me this power,” she replied.

“The first time,” Tajan started, trying again, “we went to Sar together, to accompany the caravans. We were together; I was the master, you the apprentice,”

“And this time it will be backwards, yes, I realize that,” Chiyou spat unkindly. “You better not hold me back,” she warned.

“In the little time that I have been away from you,” Tajan began, “you seem to have acquired the disposition of a Siberian winter,” he said lightly. Chiyou frowned and ignored his response directly, not giving a reaction right away.

“Says the man who has been trying to kill me for the past three years,” she replied after a moment, trying to hold back her anger, trying to keep a leash upon her flowing magic.

“You know why. I haven’t kept anything from you,” Tajan replied. “It wasn’t I who did this to you. Why hold
the anger against me?” He asked softly, though he knew the answer. Old flames were not easily extinguished.

“You make life difficult,” Chiyou replied.

“So do you,” he retorted. They began to walk, or rather Chiyou began to walk and Tajan followed behind. “You might as well get used to me,” Tajan said shortly. Chiyou bit her lip and ignored him. “Alright then,” he said, shrugging. “Would you like me to talk, or will you be f-”

“I’m fine,” she snapped, nearly tripping over a large stone in the process.

“I see that,” Tajan replied and held his tongue afterwards as they continued their trek, together, towards Marvor, all the while keeping an eye on Chiyou in as discrete a manner as possible.

[Fast OOC: This is within about 10-15 minutes, and the ----- represents different sides of the battle.]

From points all over Fsai, the city watch, military garrisoned soldiers, and guards were battling the undead armada with heavy casualties as opposed to the undead, of whom are already dead.
Behind the lines of skeletal arches, of whom were letting off their arrows, the sanguine had another large group of bone golems, accompanied by Knights of Sanguinity and sanguine mages. The bone golems hauled trebuchets, ballistas, catapaults and battering rams, as well as carrying the artillery munitions for the bombardment and pacification of the city.
-----
"Sir, the invaders are preparing artillery! What do you want us to do?" Yelled one of the soldiers to the commander of the Fsai Garrison. "We are going to do a cavalry charge. They don't have cavalry, so the advantage is ours." Looking confident as the soldiers abandoned the town watch and guards as they battled against a futile hope of protecting the citizens.
"The soldiers abandoned us!" And a town watch captain finally spoke. "No, we are the city watch, it is our job to protect the city. Fight on!" As the entire town watch held their large shields and made a shield wall at a major intersection.

Many of the townspeople of whom were of age and strength to fight, stood behind the guards with swords, pitchforks, torches, hunting bows, hatchets and any object they could find. Many of them were enraged. Many others were regretting the fact that Fsai ignored Tharia's warnings issued over the past few years, failing to use the time they had to better form a defense around the city. They are paying for it, and at the mercy of the invaders.
-----
The Sanguine Necromancer Dageth Marian (The man of whom was responsible for the first attack on Fsai three years earlier, and now orchestrating the bloody siege and pacification of Fsai) looks on from the back and begins commanding the Sanguine Knights to man the artillery as he and the other necromancers forced the Bone Golems to begin loading the trebuchets. "Brothers, when the time is right, we are going to bring this city to a level of ruin never seen by this city. We take no prisoners, and we revive their bodies to fuel our armies. This city will be an example to all who decide against us. If they are hostile, they will all be slaughtered, no prisoners!" And he looks on to the massacre about to begin at the front lines.

While he looks on, Sanguine wizards begin applying magic fire onto the boulders loaded for attack on the trebuchets and catapaults.
-----

“Stop staring at me,” Chiyou murmured vehemently, falling back against the stone wall of the mountain as she tried to turn around to face Tajan, tripping. The end result was that her left foot slid through the layer of stones on top, getting stuck underneath it and causing her to lose all balance.

“Be careful,” Tajan said, taking in her image as she struggled helplessly to get her footing back. The long black hair hung down to the ground while she was in this position, usually only falling to her waist while standing. Her eyes looked pained, squinting to take in light vainly. They darted here and there, finally resting upon Tajan, but only for a brief moment.

“I can’t get up,” she said quietly and gave in to the pull of the mountain, falling down to the rocky ground in a flurry of dust. Tajan slowly walked up to her, but did not help her up. Sitting down, he put an arm around her, brushing off the dust from her forehead; his rough hand brushing across her delicate, smooth skin. Chiyou did not move, her breath visible in the cold weather. Digging around her leg, Tajan unburied it and pulled her leg out of the rocks. Chiyou took it from there, standing up on her own two feet, leaning against the wall of the mountain for support.

“Quite the place you two chose to hide in,” he remarked.

“Yes,” Chiyou said. “It has kept us from his sight for a few months, but I do not know if when we leave here that he will be able to sense us again. The face of the mountain has protected us thus far,”

Keeping his arm around Chiyou as they walked slowly, Tajan looked around at the mountain the two females had wandered within for the past months. It looked like a foreboding mountain; one that contained a great evil in it. The breath of the mountain seemed to swirl above it as a warning to all who entered it, the stones below formed barricades, seemingly ready to fall from the summit and crush all who intruded upon it. Tajan was just glad he wouldn’t have to wander up it and that all he had needed to do previously was follow the two through the forest. It had been a rather fortunate thing for him to stumble across them on their way down the mountain, at the very base of it.

“He sent one of his watchdogs after us in early Lehiir last year. We were both lucky to get out of that mess by traveling to the top of the mountain and running about it until he finally left...”

“I’m sure that mountain is like a home to you now,” Tajan said softly.

“In a way it is,” Chiyou replied, keeping the hostility out of her voice. “I haven’t stayed in one place for so long since I was a child, at the orphanage. To be able to make myself comfortable here and then leave...” her voice trailed off, but Tajan wasn’t sure if it was for sentimental reasons or if she thought someone was behind them. She tripped on another large stone and her arms swung out. Tajan grabbed her waist and steadied her until she had regained her balance.

“Should I go slower?” He asked.

Shaking her head, Chiyou replied, “No, just...keep talking. I like listening to the sound of your voice,”

Nodding, Tajan looked around, trying to think of what he would say.

“Have you seen my mother?” Chiyou asked unexpectedly. He looked back down to her.

“I haven’t, no. You forget, we’re on different sides this time, Chiyou,” he said lightly.

“I haven’t forgotten,” she replied gently, a longing in her eyes that she didn’t bother to explain.

“No, I haven’t seen her,” Tajan said, looking to the sky and the warm rays of the sun beginning to creep out from the forest. It had been too long since he’d seen her, but even then, she wasn’t the one he had wanted. He had loved Kailova, but she was dead now, and Tajan could only hope Lena was as well, though it was not something he would tell Chiyou openly. She no doubt already knew or would most likely be finding out soon.

“I haven’t seen her,” he repeated again, though he did not know why he was still lingering on thoughts of her. There seemed something odd in mentioning her now, but whatever was wrong, Tajan did not know what it was. It felt as if something were missing, or something he had forgotten about was rekindled by her mention.

“Damn,” he muttered. Chiyou looked over to him sharply, a smile playing across her face. He looked at her, angry with the girl. “You knew, didn’t you?” He asked. Chiyou nodded gleefully. “Then why tell me now?”

“Because I’d like you to live in the knowledge that it’s missing and you can’t do anything about it now,” she replied haughtily. Tajan glared at her, wishing he could poke her venomous eyes out right about now, though he knew it’d do no good. The way she looked at him was haunting. It was something that gave him chills it was so eerie.

“I know,” he replied, trying to remain at least civil. “I know what will happen if I leave you now, what will happen if I don’t show up for the king, and I also know what will happen if he finds out who I am. You are planning on telling him?”

“No,” Chiyou replied. “You have sworn yourself to protect me, I will not make life difficult for you to do so...Though I admit it would give me pleasure,”

“You’re quite the bitch,” Tajan said and Chiyou nodded, smiling. Looking away from her, he bit his lip to keep him from saying anything more.

“When we arrive at Marvor,” Chiyou began, “you will do all of the speaking for me,” she said sternly and Tajan glanced at her again, frowning.

“I’d imagine they’d like to think you’d have grown up and weren’t a child anymore,” he said.

“I’d rather they thought of me as a child in this instance,” she replied. “Agreed?”

“Alright, but I can assume you’re going to lock yourself in a room the whole time?”

Chiyou smiled at the small joke. “No, not this time. Though you’re a bit of a hypocrite in that sense too,”

“Yes,” Tajan said with a smile. “Perhaps I can get used to your company again, even though I admit you’re rather strange now,”

“No more than you,” Chiyou shot back, stumbling again. Tajan grabbed her and steadied her once more before they continued walking.

“We should be there in a few days, yes?” Tajan asked her. “I don’t actually know where we are,” he admitted and Chiyou laughed.

“I’m not quite sure either,” she said, laughing at the absurdity of what Tajan was saying and knew what he was implying. “If I recall correctly, Amarandine said we were close to the border of Formelia. Marvor isn’t too far off. We should be there in time so as not to be late,”

“Good,” Tajan said, “but I’m beginning to be concerned about me leading us when you’re the one who knows where to go,”

“Just follow the road out of here, and I’m sure you’ll recognize everything then...You really were desperate to follow after us like this,” she said.

“Of course I am. You’re rather desperate yourself, to still be alive after all that,” Tajan replied and Chiyou pursed her lips for a moment before her eyes gazed up at Tajan.

“If I find him, you will not get in the way?”

“Of course not. I work for him. I don’t plan on getting myself killed at his hands,”

“Coward,” Chiyou muttered.

“I am a coward,” Tajan admitted again, “but you can see it would be foolish of me to stand up to him in these conditions,”

“I suppose,” Chiyou muttered. “Just keep talking to me,” she said and huddled closer to Tajan, an odd feeling swarming inside her mind. Tajan continued to speak and Chiyou tried to take her mind off of the immense worry growing within her and to concentrate on what she was doing instead.

Kali readied her saddlebag but remained dissatisfied with King Vailen’s assignment. For years the pack had kept to itself and bothered no one, though she could not tell him that. The greater danger, she thought, still lie with King Thar and his plans on the Dragon Isle. She cinched the leather strap tight and paused, her hand resting on the smooth mahogany leather. Dalton. He’d been rotting in prison for just such a time as this. She handed the bag off to an attendant and set off across the castle’s carpeted halls toward the dungeon.

The fetid stench of Gedh’s underground chambers assailed her nostrils before the last door was ever opened, and once the iron door swung wide, she instinctively covered her nose and mouth with her hand. The prisoners lived like animals, sleeping in their own filth, she knew, but their sub-human existence came with the status of “criminal.” Dalton Matuko, however, was cast from a different mold. Of a diplomatic background with experience serving under the former king, he was unfit to be housed three years in this pit. More than once his name had been mentioned for release or, at the very least, a fair trial, but she had always denied the summons to appear, knowing that he would be useful to her one day, in a moment like this one.

She arrived at the last cell door in a dark hall and held her torch high to read the door number. She glanced once toward the other end of the hall to the hooded mage stationed there. A precaution. Satisfied, she thumped the cell door twice with her fist. “Dalton! Dalton Matuko! I have a proposition for you…”

<Tag Dalton>

“Everard,” Amarandine called out in a playful sing-song voice from behind, stalking her prey with glee. The elf and boy walking before her jumped and spun around in utter surprise. The male elf began to laugh, but the boy eyed Amarandine cautiously, still unsure of the situation. Embracing Amarandine, Everard kissed her gently on the cheek and ran his hand through her hair, ignoring the blond haired boy behind him.

“Where is Chiyou?” The boy asked, brushing away the hanging vines and stepping over the crackling leaves to approach the new-come elf.

“She is being looked after by the mage,” she replied calmly, her eyes shut as she gently rocked her body back and forth in Everard’s embrace.

“You left her with Tajan?” The boy said, outraged. “Are you mad? He wants to kill her,” he said, frustrated.

Amarandine opened her eyes and looked at the lanky youth. “Thomas,” she began. “you must understand that she doesn’t feel for you the way you do for her. Also,” Amarandine continued, “I am not an idiot, whatever impression you have received. Jaharid gave me his word, an oath spoken with the magic, that he would protect Chiyou. They are safe,”

“But...why?” Thomas asked, calming down a little.

“They are headed to Marvor. The King of Tharia has requested their assistance,” she whispered softly. “She will be safe in his hands, I assure you. Do you mind?” She asked, impatient suddenly. Nodding, Thomas grudgingly left the two elves alone so they could speak to each other in private.

Memories breached the gates Thomas set up as he ventured away from the elves, each one more unpleasant than the last. Visions swirled in front of his eyes, but he ignored them by closing his eyelids and retreating to his safe haven. He did not want to think of her right now, for he knew Amarandine’s words were true; Chiyou did not care for him as he did her. Every thing he had done up to this point, every sign of affection he gave, was worthless. In all their time apart, Chiyou had become someone else...something that he could no longer relate to. Simple word games they used to play were beyond her now. She was so focused on the task set before her, she would listen and see nothing else.

Sighing, Thomas fell to the ground and sat on the soaked grass of the Formelian forest, depressed. His loose hair hung down in front of his eyes, the playful flicker missing from the deep brown pools of his eyes as he opened them. Chiyou no longer trusted him. That was why she, the elf, would not let him near her. Thomas did not know why Chiyou was so hard towards him, but it was a fact he would need to accept. Needless to say, he was still determined to find a chance when he could speak with Chiyou alone. He needed for her to trust him. After everything he’d done for her, he thought he would have already earned it.

---- ---- ---- ----

Feeling the rough surface of the passing trees down the path, Chiyou held on tightly to Tajan’s hand, soaking in the warmth emanating from his body. The darkness that encompassed her began to pull her down, but Tajan was there to lift her back up again. As reliable as he was, however, she was concerned about not making it to Marvor in time. It was always possible that they would run in to some unwanted trouble on the way there.

“We’re nearing Eulen,” he spoke. Chiyou nodded, and they took the route that would help them to avoid the town, taking the road that would lead them to Olbrick and then Marvor.

“Is something bothering you?” Tajan asked, concerned. Chiyou’s lips parted and she fingered something in her pocket.

“No...” she muttered, her mind elsewhere. Letting the comment lie, they continued their march, praying for no interruptions along the way.

Breathing in the sweet fumes from the air around her, Chiyou let out a remorseful sigh. Tajan glanced over to her, but she paid him no heed. She saw images dance in front of her eyes, memories and dreams alike. Some of them held no meaning to her, but more than not they held a great significance. It was hard for her to live with herself in this manner, but she knew it was the price that had to be paid. A sacrifice for Amarandine to live freely, whereas she would live in regret, torment, even physical pain if she should fall.

“Do you need a break?” Came the soft, yet hard voice to her left. Her eyes searched around her for the source before they hesitantly lay upon Tajan’s glimmering eyes. Momentarily looking at him, she did not respond. She seemed not to have heard him, rather. Tajan did not repeat his question, but instead continued to walk with Chiyou.

Thief, came a whisper to her right. Chiyou’s eyes darted to the rows of trees beside her, vainly searching for the source.

Coward, a voice hissed in her left ear.

“Tajan?” She called out, her voice shaking slightly. Tajan squeezed her hand gently to let her know she was not alone.

“I’m here,” he said softly, trying to soothe her. Chiyou bit back her worry and kept on walking, until she felt something strike her cheek. Immediately she jumped into a defensive position, pulling away from Tajan.

“There’s nothing here,” he spoke, trying to approach her, trying to show her he was not hostile.

“I felt something,” she whispered, an edge to her voice.

“There is nothing here,” Tajan repeated. Slowly Chiyou eased her body into relaxation, but her mind was still racing.

Murderer, a voice cackled beside her. It was a female’s voice, a voice that Chiyou never thought she’d have to hear again.

“Go away,” she whispered, and Tajan stopped walking altogether, trying to figure out if she was talking to him or not.

To die for the one is a great cause, the woman’s voice crooned, but you’re a coward. You do not deserve life,

Clenching her teeth together in anger, Chiyou grabbed her head in her hands. “Leave me,” she repeated. Tajan placed his hand on her back. He could feel the muscles stiffen under his touch. Chiyou slowly lowered her hands, staring off into open space.

“Can’t you trust me?” Tajan asked lightly.

“You need to earn it,” Chiyou replied after a moment’s silence. Tajan took her hand once more and helped her to walk.

“I thought I had,” he stated.

Chiyou shook her head. “I don’t feel safe with you, mage,”

Bringing Chiyou’s body in close to his, Tajan hugged her. Surprised, Chiyou slowly wrapped her arms around him, shocked at the sudden embrace.

“Chiyou, let me be your eyes,” he whispered into her ear. “It’s the least I can do for my niece,”

“You aren’t my uncle,” she said. Tajan hugged her tighter.

“Even so,” he said, “I mean you no harm,”

“Why should I trust you?” she asked vehemently.

“Why didn’t you give Thomas a chance,” Tajan asked unexpectedly. Chiyou suddenly became motionless, at a loss of what to say.

“You know,” she said softly.

“Couldn’t you tell him?”

Chiyou shook her head. “We’ve drifted. There is someone else...someone else who I can trust...”

“Who?” Tajan asked.

“You’ll find out when we get to Marvor,” she whispered, shaking with the tears that would not fall. Shutting her eyelids, she let Tajan rock her gently. It was a calming gesture, but it was not enough to calm the turbulent waters of her mind. Breathing slowly, Chiyou allowed for her senses to be lost in Tajan’s embrace, if only for a little while before the nightmares caught up with her. Slumping over into Tajan’s arms, she fell into a dream. Tajan picked her up and began to walk. If they stopped now, they would never make it to Marvor in time. Chiyou would be just fine dreaming, and it was lucky for Tajan that she was relatively light.

Bastards...the whole lot of them, she thought to herself in the darkness. What is it they seek, but their own demise? Soft breathing ensued, but it came pained, stress on the speaker’s mind. Why...why must I dwell in a world so corrupt as this?

Girl...An accompanying voice spoke, harsh, yet kind. Girl, do not dwell in your own self-pity,

What are you doing in my mind? She spat back. Her mind was her own territory. To whom did it belong if not to her? Surely not this rat who invaded upon her privacy too often as it is.

You must not lose your senses, the opposite voice spoke.

Lose my senses? They’ve already been lost...lost, lost...Gone from me, because of that bastard, the girl’s voice reverberated despairingly, her cause lost in the ashes.

Girl, girl, the voice spoke in her mind. To lose one sense is to gain another...A greater gift has befallen you...One that even I wish were possible...Become one with it...

What do you know of this hell? The girl replied, weary and tired of the conversation. If I must weep, let me do it alone. I need not your blathering commentary, she said softly, mixing her own thoughts in with the voice that began to speak with her.

Chiyou, the woman’s voice warned, but the girl was not listening.

Shut up, you bitch, Chiyou said, callous. Shut up, unless you can give me what was taken from me. What have I done for you, but lay my life down. And for what? A demagogue? You make me sick,

Girl,

Coward,

Murderer,

Chiyou, don’t listen to them,

Damnable witch,

Chiyou!

Spawn of the black night,

All in me, shall life be given? Chiyou wondered, ignoring the voice of her protectorate, instead dwelling upon the deceitful will of her nemesis. That which is taken from me cannot be replaced, but you...you my good friend, you can be replaced. Many will continue to do so, until the end of the world...Fools, she gave a wretched laugh in her mind, mocking the voices that plagued her day and night. The voice of her protectorate diminished, no longer able to stand the corruption inside the young girl’s mind. It was not her will to allow anyone in, so no one would be left inside, except what was to be avenged.

“Chiyou,” Tajan spoke abruptly. “Chiyou!” He said, halting in his tracks. The girl’s eyes opened to little slits, unsure if she was awake or asleep yet.

“What do you want, scumbag?”

“You are having a nightmare?” Tajan asked, worried. The girl’s eyelids shut again, so Tajan began walking. “I...just wanted to inform you we should be able to reach Marvor soon,” he said, changing the subject. Chiyou tried to sit up immediately at the mention of Marvor, but Tajan would not allow her to.

“Save your strength,” he said, but she seemed not to hear him.

“He’s here,” she whispered. “He’s here,” she repeated.

“Chiyou?” Tajan asked. If it was his master, he had not felt the presence. Perhaps there was something else that worried the girl so?

The recovery took at least one more day. It was a battle he couldn't get away with just a scratch. Only this time, it was much more worse then a scratch. Thanks to capable healers his wounds disappeared rather quickly, of course some part in all this had his remarkable endurance which he did not get by training nor by Gods. It was a power from a people he did not want, but still he should be thankful for them as he would not been alive from the Mountain golem if he didn't carry the gifts received from them.

The dinner with a mayor of Ferem ended rather smoothly. He found out about the death of the hooded man and how brave villagers destroyed him. Mayor showed his appreciation towards Kamui for the rescue of the villagers, although in the end they helped themselves. Mayor said that he would always be welcomed here and that he gives his best regards to King Thar as he knew that Kamui's next destination would be Marvor.
Upon the entrance of his house, Kamui noticed a three women standing by the door. He did not know who they were but they knew him as they are one of the survivors from that village a day ago.
'' Please, take this!'' – one elderly woman gives a bag to Kamui. It contained some food.
'' For the trip...'' – another one added.
Kamui wanted to return the bag to the women but they refused, saying along the way:
'' No please....most of our belongings are gone so we could not give you anything valuable. It was the only thing we could give you now. We would be honored if you would take this small gift at least...''
Kamui, after a second thought, takes the bag towards himself and nods to the elderly women for their humble gift. Then he asks afterwords.
'' Is everything alright with you? Do you have a place to stay?''
'' Our husbands started walking already in the fields, and mayor pulled a few strings so that we can expect a our new homes built in a few days. The people of this town are kind so we shall be alright. And thanks to you too.''
The women kindly bowed to him. Kamui felt bad as they did not knew his reason of his venturing toward that village. The might think he was there to save them, but he was merely doing his own goals. Of course that didn't mean he should tell them either...
'' Thank you for the gift. I shall be on my way then.'' – Kamui slowly started walking away from them towards the town exit. His thoughts were flying towards a reason why King would send him a latter in the first place. Before he could exit the town he was stopped by few soldiers and a attractive girl in the middle.
'' So, Kamui, you plan on leaving by foot all the way to Marvor?'' – the girl asked him.
'' Who wants to know?'' – Kamui asked with a confused look.
'' I am Sharael, captain of Royal guards.'' – she tells him with a bit of ignorance.
'' Mayor's daughter then.... forgive me if I cannot bow down, my back is still twisted from the recent battle.''
'' Very funny.'' – Sharael says with a calm face.
''It was not a joke.'' – Kamui adds with a small smile on his face.
'' In that case let me give you a horse. You won't get far if you go walking to the capital.''
She shows him a way with her hand that he should follow her. The other soldiers stayed behind while they walked towards the stables. While they were walking, Kamui started a new conversation.
'' If you know where I'm going then I presume that it is a custom that everyone reads a man's personal letter?'' – Kamui states it.
'' We found you and the villagers half-way to this town. The letter arrived not so long after that. I gave permission for that doctor to read it and so I heard it's content too.'' – Sharael explains him while adding the fallowing question ''You must be some kind of war hero if King asked you to come then?''
''Perhaps...'' – Kamui doubtfully answers.

They came closer to one of the horses after a few moments of walking. Sharael gave order to the man in charge there to take one out. Kamui looked at the one being brough to him and asked.
'' He is a fine animal. What's his name?
'' A horse.'' – she seriously answers.
'' I know that, I meant his name.'' – Kamui appeared irritated as he though she was joking with him.
'' He doesn't have a name. You think we have time to give every animal here a damn name!?'' – she suddenly yelled a bit, much to Kamui's surprise.
'' I guess not.'' – he answered with a impassive face afterwards.
'' Well I'm off to tend my duties too. Have a safe trip Kamui.'' – Sharael sincerely bids him a farewell and started walking away.
'' Thanks.'' – he says it while she is leaving.
The men in charge comes closer to Kamui saying:
'' A fine pair of legs, right sir?''
'' Yes, you are right.'' – Kamui answers with a smile while still looking at Sharael from a medium distance.
'' I meant the horse, sir.'' – The man slaps a horse's back a bit while looking at Kamui's face.
''Err...yeah, me too.'' – Kamui smiles while trying to save himself from embarrassed situation.
Kamui slowly sits on the horse and leaves the town of Ferem. His new destination was Marvor.

-The day Kali had come to his cell-

A proposition? Dalton, glaring his eyes towards the musky wooden door responds with an angry tone, "And what might I ask would this "Proposition" of yours be?"
It is never a problem when a man is at the end of his tolerance. Sitting for years in dark and dirty cell with mocking guards and many ridiculous charges of many he had not committed. His anger was to the point he would risk his life to blast down that door and have his hands around the neck of a guard while he sends a shock wave of electrical magic through the victim. There is only one thing in that prison he hated more than even the guards.. The woman's voice on the other side of the cell door.
"Excuse my tone, I mean not be rude.. But I am going to be honest with you, Mysterious Woman"
He pauses and throws the bone of a prisoner who had died and decomposed long ago, at the door.
"There is only one thing in this very prison I hate more than the guards, this food, my cell.. Or the other prisoners. That my dear.. Is you! I'm sure you could imagine why, it has nothing to do with knowing you personally, but I could of easily blasted down the door before me while slaughtering those two imbeciles you call guards. The only thing stopping me is that wizard always backing them up. Make this quick, lest I am denied a meal."
He proceeds to wait while holding a skull in his hand, examining it.
[OOC: Cue Kathycsus]

Shaken awake by Tajan, Chiyou stood up from her spot on the ground.

“Where are we,” she asked.

“Outside the gate of Marvor,” he replied. Slipping her hand in his, she leaned against Tajan’s arm, breathing slowly. “Will you be alright?” he asked. Chiyou nodded, her cheek brushing against the soft cloth of his robe. After a moment, she seemed to regain her senses. Her eyes visibly hardened beyond the silver mist, and she stepped away from Tajan slightly, her hand still in his.

“Let’s go then, yes?” She said. Tajan gave her an invisible smile and they proceeded through the gate at the will of the gatekeeper.

“We will need to present ourselves before the king,” Tajan stated.

“Obviously,”

“You know what I meant. A cripple?”

Chiyou tilted her head and looked coldly at Tajan. “Where?” Tajan nodded, squeezing her hand gently.

“Alright. Let’s go,” he said, and they walked one again together through the streets of Marvor.




[OOC: I guess that was a bit of a speed walk, but since we haven’t all caught up yet in the same time frame I guess time could flow differently for us each still?]

Fer'Tal stood up almost as tall and big as the bear. Its sharp claws slashed at the young yet powerful elf. The young elf dodged roughly to the side and swung his axe up with great accuracy and strength. Hitting the large creature square in the jaw with the middle of the head of his weopon, the creature fliched. It Lunged and Fer'Tal dodged to the side, as he did, he swung his axe backwords striking the large creature in the back, and leaving a large gash in its back. The bear turned and ran as best it could.

Looking up into the tree, he saw the young boy that had angered the bear. "It will be fine, just limp for a few days. That is why you do not anger the creatures of this wood. Now lets get out of here before it gets back with freinds." The youth smiled at Fer'Tal and jumped from the tree into his arms, and they headed back to the village.

They arrived shortly after the incident. Fer'Tal headed back to his hut in the trees not to far away from the main hall of his village. He placed his axe down and began to wash it off with a wet towel. "Man, these children, then again, I ain't that old myself."

"Fer'Tal!" a calm sweet voice called for him. It was his freind Merry Bre'Cal.

He stepped outside, jumping out of his tree. "Yes?" he asked standing up at his full seven and a half feet.

"The elder wishes to speak with you." She said smiling up at him. He nodded and headed for the main hall.

He walked through the front door and approached the elder getting on one knee when he was in front of the elder. "How may I help you Decendent of Fenmarl Mestarine, our leader, Great blade." He asked as he looked upon the greatest of his tribe. An Aasimar, not to mention a powerful Wild elf Blade master.

"The country of Tharia is recruiting soldiers for reasons unknown to me. They asked me to send my greatest warriors, so I am going to send you incharge of them. You are soon to be as great a Warrior as I ever was. In my old age, I can no longer fight. So in my steed, as my top disciple, I send you."

Fer'Tal stood there, looking stunned at this statement. The great Wild elf stood up, reaching a height of seven feet, with a sholder length of three feet. This Creature was truly a giant. "I will go." Fer'Tal said as he stood up.

The soldiers gathered together, and they headed off.

ooc: Three questions, one, how long would it take to get to Marvor from the center of the Formelia forest? two, how much time has passed? And three, what all is happening?

OOC: You might want to ask that in the OOC neko. You'll probably get a better response from Vincent or others.

Standing in front of a small counter, there was a man behind it with a carriage beside him. Two small lines had formed in front of him, a fair skinned elf in the one to the customers' right. A middle aged man beside the elf had gotten to the front before him.

"A glass of water please."

The man behind the counter frowned, holding out his hand. "Ten gold."

Not entirely paying attention, the moon elf had it now. "What? You're having people pay for sustenance in this forsaken heat? Who the hell do you think you are?"

The sweating man looked over at the elf, noticing that he didn't have any beads of sweat himself. "I'm just trying to earn a living here. Besides, your not even sweating. Kooky elf..."

"Kooky!? You humans wouldn't be suffering so much if you'd just wear your clothing away from your body. And just because I don't look thirsty doesn't mean I am." the moon elf said with a negative tone.

"Whatever." replied the man behind the counter. "We leave you alone, you leave us alone. Why don't you just make it easier on everyone and go back to your little forest?"

Grinding his teeth, the elf clenched his fist, before halting. His muscles loosened as he sensed something familiar. Acting oddly to the ones around him, he calmly left the line and walked a number of feet down the busy street. His eyes focused on who he found to be a bit of an odd couple walking towards him on the narrow street. Of course, it was not the strange pairing that gained his attention, he could have cared quite less.

"You." Looking at the younger girl and the older man, though not at either one in particular. They had noticed the elf speaking at them. "You have been in the sacred Formelian Wood. Traveled...spoken amongst my elven kind. I smell blood on both of you...though not of the kind that bothers me. I must still be sure, are you allied to the Formelian Elves?"

“It can’t be,” Vailen murmured as he walked nervously in his private quarters. A bookshelf was placed against a wall near the grandiloquent desk. Vailen approached the shelf congested with books and tracked one particular book, separating it from the rest. With a thud, the book fell on the desk and Vailen opened the last page. His finger tracked the final sentence as he read it.

“’The last one was hunted down in the Weeping Woods, near the Ziedrich River, and slain mercilessly as by King Damion Seto’s order.’” Vailen stared at the page blankly for a couple of moments. “Then how?”

------------

Phelan, who left to wander the woods after the meal, returned into the den with a dead bird in one hand and a sheet of paper in the other.

“Cailean, your name was Aphelion, correct?” he asked as he put the bird on the roughly-made table.

“Yes,” Cailean answered curiously.

“It is mentioned on this paper. Here, read it for yourself.” He handed the paper to Cailean.

Cailean’s eyes followed the rows of letters as he read it silently. Upon finishing, he frowned and looked pensively at the floor before him.

“So they found you,“ said Zayev who was sitting on the floor together with Ylva.

“I don't know what this is about, but I think that I should heed this message.“

“You are certainly free to do so. Remember to be careful when, and in front of whom you transform.“

“I'll try,“ he said as he looked at his pack members. “It says until 20th Omosek, but it is better if I depart now, there is always stuff to arrange.“

“Come back,“ said Zayev.

“If I don't die,“ he responded and left the den. A couple of other werewolves were aware of that he left. They saw him leave, but as they didn't hear the conversation between him and Zayev, they didn't know it was for a longer period of time or maybe...forever.

Once outside of the den, Cailen turned to look behind at the hole dug on the side of a hummock, the whole which led inside of the den. Too quickly he made the decision to leave, and he was glad to leave. Spending three full years with the same people started getting to him. He liked them of course, but he needed a change of scenery, he needed to be put in motion. This message, although the idea of serving the country disgusted him, was his salvation from this routine he had developed. Invigorated by a strange sense of freedom, Cailean started half-running southward, his destination being Marvor.

Elf...Chiyou’s eyes shut at the sound of the fair creature’s voice. An elf...Is he one of them? I don’t sense anything...at all.

Tajan looked at the elf and gave a short bow out of respect.

“I am a friend to your kin,” he said, cautiously, not sure what was the correct answer. Chiyou seemed restless beside him, giving his hand a squeeze, and he continued, “Are you in any way familiar with...” his voice stopped suddenly, but at Chiyou’s urging, said the name, “Rasalmothallah?” He did not think it was a very good start for them, but since Chiyou insisted, there had been nothing to do but ask.

The name itself held no meaning to most people, except those who were familiar with the Triangulum. And, since not many in present time knew of even that, this name usually amounted to nothing more than what it was; a name. Tajan sincerely doubted this strange elf had any knowledge of who it referred to, but Chiyou seemed to think otherwise. Of course, considering her current state of being he could understand that, so perhaps her paranoia was not so bothersome.

Byrd's eyes narrowed, he trusted the older man just fine, but there was something off about the girl. Sure, the man was a friend to his kind, as for her, he was not so sure of. The mention of this Rasalmothallah, he had never heard the name before. He felt something cryptic with the name however, it somehow sounded foreign to him. He was reminded of a story about the ancient elves and the creation of magic to the world he had heard from the elder in his village. But he assumed that was just a myth. Byrd did not understand why he felt the need to possibly connect the name to that particular myth, it gave him a strange feeling in his chest.

Taking a breath, he tilted his head slightly, returning his comment to the man. "No, I have not heard of the name you speak of. That certainly sounds like a cryptic enough name though...you aren't like all the other humans. Even if it is only in the fact that you don't look at me with hostile eyes, unlike some of your kind in this city." Byrd paused, looking at them for a moment before speaking again. "You're clothes are dirty. You've been sleeping on the ground, the sense of my Kin is still on you, though fading. You just arrived in Marvor...Allow me to ask my own unorthodox question, what is your purpose in this city?"

Chiyou leaned closer to Tajan, and he hid his sigh. She squeezed his hand harder, and he returned it; her grip faded as she was admonished. Looking to the elf, Tajan regarded him carefully.

“We come to Marvor by request of the King himself.” Was it really wise to be telling this strange elf what their purpose was? Chiyou urged him on again, slightly leaning in closer. Her eyes closed, and she smiled inwardly.

Feed...

Chiyou...-

He will pay.

This is not the one.

He smells like him. Death...is such a sweet fragrance.

I’m coming, Chiyou. Hold on.

Stay away, stay away, she laughed inside. I’m free from you, you cannot touch me.

Tajan cleared his throat, aware of the silent battles, bringing Chiyou’s sense back to her. She opened her eyes, staring blankly at nothing.

“You? What is your business here, Elf?” Tajan asked, but not with hostility. Chiyou wore a malicious smile on her face, half hidden by Tajan’s robe which she was hiding behind.

Standing on the castle's balcony, the sorcerer's attention was pointed towards the sky while he was still in his own little world of thoughts. A familiar figure appeared behind him. He recognized that aura, which had a stench of seductive death.

'' Is there something you need?'' - Foulkner casually asked while not facing the person behind him, or rather the
thing.
She smiled while not changing her distance from the sorcerer which was about one foot away.
'' It occurred to me, how in one situation you are with your own kin and then after all those years you now stand side by side with the one who should be your nemesis. The conclusion is cleared.''
'' And?'' - Foulkner asked even he was not interested in the answer.
'' You are here acting as a spy from the elven empire, right? You lied about trying to kill the king. And about your stealing information... that was not even enough to be called a sin, so explain to me why should I think differently?'' - Rohesia showed her wicked smile thinking that she is right.
'' Pretty strong words from a she-male.'' - Foulkner smiled while mocking her.

'' Watch what you call me demon! I killed men who dare to even say my name!'' - Rohesia tells him while being extremely frustrated.
'' Why? Because it sounds so ugly?'' - Foulkner continued to mock her.
Rohesia quickly enhanced her nails at her right hand and strives to hit the sorcerer with a fast attack. Foulkner turned around and grabbed her hand just in time before her nails could touch his face.

'' Do not tempt me Rohesia, leave me alone or I'll destroy you!'' - sorcerer's eyes, hidden behind his cape, began to emit demonic aura.
'' Oh my, so you do have temper after all? If you think that my Lord picked me only to serve as a adviser, you are mistaken. My magic powers can compete even with your own sorcerer! '' - Rohesia smiled as she reclaimed her stopped hand.
Foulkner did not comment any further. He turned around and walked away without giving a single word of threat. He had no interest in taunting her any longer because it will result in a serious fighting no less. But even if they did, he was sure that his powers were superior. He was an elf after all.
'' If you make any mistake upon Lord Vailen I will hunt you down like a dog you are, former Lord of Formelia.'' - Rohesia spoke in her own mind while looking at Foulkner's back with murderous intent.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The last crate was put on the carriage.
'' That was all of them!'' - the elven worker yelled to the rest of the caravan.
'' All right, we sticked here long enough, let's go people!'' - the human worker yelled to his companions after shaking a hand of his fellow elven friend for all the hard work. It was a simple errand for some supplies for the King Thar. As the darker times are approaching more cooperation with foreign lands was needed.

'' Looks like I am done here. I should take my leave now, brother. ''