Fantasy Dragon's Revenge

[roboblu]

Though she could hear her leather sandals making soft padding noises against the cobblestones, Svana felt as if she were walking on air. The lady tried to control her giddiness, but there was no stopping her pounding heart; for once she was alone, without servants or parents, on a crowded street in a foreign land. It would be reasonable to be afraid, she thought absent-mindedly. Yes, very reasonable. In such a thick crowd, no one would notice or care if she suddenly vanished, and Stendarr knew how many criminals were watching, waiting for an easy target. But Svana Varzhan was not feeling reasonable, and she was not feeling afraid. Cautious, perhaps, but not afraid.


The young woman stopped for a vendor selling some species of roasted insect; they were mounted on a stick and coated in spices and honey. She paid one Fil for a skewer and popped the treat in her mouth, savoring the dual spicy and sweet flavors as she walked. It seemed like Gilfaryl had every manner of vendor and merchant shouting wares along the street: hats, pots and pans, swords, cloaks, wool, jewelry, hot cakes, charms ... Svana thought she had experienced many cultures through the diverse imports and delegates in Nazkohr, but was delighted to find that she had been wrong. As she was beginning to understand, experiencing other cultures was more than simply trying a sample of such-and-such that so-and-so had brought back from wherever-it-was. This was diversity: walking down a street where no two faces looked even vaguely alike, and hearing foreign accents ring through the air like hundreds of bright bells.


Svana soon found herself at a riverside dock, with small, agile boats merrily bobbing up and down. The lady claimed a secluded spot near the water and gripped the rope rail in her small hands, feet peeking over the edge of the dock. Crewmen were everywhere, like little ants swarming around an anthill. Surprisingly, Svana found that she wanted nothing more than to go down and speak with them, speak with someone ... but of course she knew that her presence would be unwanted. Besides, what would she even say? Offer them a sugary word, compliment their city? Svana almost laughed. Etiquette didn't seem appropriate in a place like this. She was content to watch, but oddly, it felt more like waiting. For what, she did not know.

 

[Flabbysaurus]

Stanas Birillius


Location: The capital of Tyaznarak, The Drunken Rat inn

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As Stanas slowly sipped at what would be his last pint of ale there was one thought in his mind that continued to nag at him. He felt a strange presence outside the city earlier when he saw the man and woman fighting. At first he brushed the feeling off but with his mind now clear from relaxing in the inn he began to think more deeply into what it was that seemed abnormal. The first thing that came to mind was the red headed woman. She was amazingly skilled when fighting, like she had an unnatural advantage. Like Stanas she seemed to be naturally stronger even though she didn't look like it and he felt a strange presence from her specifically but it was faint due to the fact there were so many other things happening so he couldn't pinpoint it exactly.


Stanas knew there was something strange about this woman, she could possibly be a dragon but Stanas was still unsure as of now. He finished the last of his ale, handed the bartender five Fil and walked out of the inn. Stanas, although slightly drunk had now made it his mission to find the red headed women. But that was the only problem, he only had the information of what she looked like. He didn't know her name or job. Needless to say this would be difficult. But there was one location that Stanas knew where a dragon was (Dragh'dor) and hopefully like Stanas she was going there now or at least soon.


Stanas walked out into the fresh air, now out of the musty and strange smelling inn. For a moment he considered informing the caravan leader about his departure to Gilfaryl but decided it was best not to say and simply disappear. Everything seemed more risky as a dragon, even though it was hard to prove if dragons really were dragons due to them being stuck in human form. Stanas moved towards the north gate of the capital hoping to find some guards and ask if they knew the quickest route to Gilfaryl. After journeying through the busy market district Stanas had made it towards the north gate. Stanas noticed a lone guard standing next to the gate, he assumed more were on the opposite side or this guards co-workers were on a break.


Stanas slowly approached the guard. "Uh excuse me do you mind if I ask if you know the fastest route to Gilfaryl please." Stanas asked in as kind a tone as possible.


The guard turned around and gave a tired sigh before answering Stanas's question. "Well you could go by foot into Tanmaek then you could either go through Holnmoniik or Quezrevah. To be honest it's the same distance so take your pick. But you could take a ship to Aandural of you don't want to walk." The guard took a small breath after giving all the information he knew. "May I ask why you wish to Gilfaryl?" The guard questioned.


Stanas gave an innocent smile. "Well an old friend of mine now lives there and I wish to meet him." Stanas replied, trying his best not to stumble or pause and make himself seem suspicious. The guard looked Stanas up and down, being as thorough as he could so he didn't let a criminal out of the city. Stanas continued to smile and patiently waited for the guard to decide what to do. The guard nodded and opened the gate. Stanas thanked the man and made his way out of the gate and followed the path that went northwest. Stanas looked up into the sky and noticed the sun was in the middle. He gave a tired sigh and hoped that he would make it to Tanmaek before nightfall.

 

[ANONASAI]

Just a few more hours later and the fading in of a civilized area was beginning to show.Just like he expected,happy smiles...


A couple of farms and meaderies settled outside the city gates. The pillars of cobblestone proudly raised a title between them: "Welcome to Gilfaryl". As he tried to pass,two guards were staring at him suspiciously and the gates were locked. A strike of worry and trouble hurtled Altus' mind. At the state of how tall his horse is,surely,the guards could barely see him.


But there was another problem,Slifer. If she knows about him and his career...then that apple won't last long. He trusted on his speech craft as he dropped from his saddle and the steed moved away from the scene. He closed in at one guard and realized that he too,could barely even see them while he was on his horse. And at that moment he already knew what to say. Judging from the guard's scar on his left hand and that familiar posture of standing,and of course,how desperate he tried to keep the helmet in it's place,it was an old friend...and by that I mean one of Altus' partners in crime.


He glanced at the other guard and noticed a dagger on his boot,same,a thief. Looks like it was all clear. He tilted his head back to his fellow thief,


"I know who you are and what you do,just the same as mine. And I have a rich client just a few meters back at me and she doesn't know too. So don't worry. Your job is safe with me,mine is safe with you. Just as long as you don't talk too much." these words he uttered with a silent but understandable tone and a smile at the end.


"Wha-?" the guard now discovered as a thief tried to exit the conversation nervously. He tilted his head down at his right shoulder. "I don't know what your talking about...!" still,the words shook nervously.


Altus realized his hood was raised making his identity hidden. So he took it off hoping the thief might now him know. "How about now? Do you know what I'm talking about now?" he asked.


The thief glanced at Altus again with widened eyes. "Altus! THE PHANTOM FRO---!" Altus quickly budged his index finger on himself gesturing the thief to be quiet. "It's Flint..." he said. "Oh,right...sorry Altu--- ahhh... Flint.." the thief replied.


Finally,the guards cleared their throat and stood up straight. "You can pass now..." the guard permitted. The gates opened and revealed a joyful nation before them. Altus glanced back at Slifer and gave a smile. "Told you I was worth the coin" he said. He then took his horse and entered...

 

[Kyero]

Slifer was gingerly enjoying the stroll to Gilfaryl's capitol when she saw an apple drop into the saddle. She took a look at it, and saw that it had a crossbow bolt hole through it. It seemed that her new companion wanted her to have one... Interesting. She looked back with a smile before taking a bite and returning her gaze forward. It only took a few minutes to reach the gates, and her new friend seemed to have a private conversation with one of the guards. However, something interesting caught her ears.


'-- THE PHANTOM FRO--" Was all she heard.


She cocked her head to the side, completely bewildered. 'Phantom fro-"... ? Phantom... Phantom...


Oh if only she was more well versed in human trends and terms. She was smart, but she hadn't studied all the things that other humans enjoyed reading, writing, drawing, and talking about. She only knew enough to get by as a martial arts master back in Tyaznarak. So was this new friend of hers a Phantom? She really didn't think so. She couldn't sense anything special about him. He was a human, and... Well, he was human. If he were some kind of Phantom, she'd be able to sense the darkness given off by his body.


So was it a moniker?


"Hmm..." She mumbled to herself.


Oh well! What did it matter? If he wanted to be known as a Phantom, then that was up to him. Right now, she was here to see Dragh'dor, but she didn't know exactly where he wanted her to meet him. She strolled up to the guards on horseback and presented her license as master of her dojo at Tyaznarak and was granted passage after a brief inspection of her bag's contents. A few food stuffs, a jug of water, and a few other womanly things such as her hairbrush, her lipstick, etc. Once she and her new friend were inside the city's walls, she found the stables and left her horse there. She hopped off and walked a few blocks through the streets, searching for any signs of Dragh'dor's presence. She stopped on the main drag where most of the people were moving about and carefully examined the surrounding area.


Dragh'dor always left signs for her in the past, but he was always creative about how and where he left them. She both loved and hated him for that. She continued scanning, searching for that one thing that blended but was out of place by 'human' standards, and finally, she found what she was looking for. A cat figurine perched on a second story windowsill with a pair of Dragon Wings attached to its back at the Lion's Head Inn caught her eye. There was no doubt that this was Dragh'dor's work. Humans didn't associate cats with Dragons in any way, and when they spoke of Dragons or made artwork about them, it was usually depicting the Dragons being killed or 'tamed' in some fashion.


She turned to her friend.


"Excuse me, but I have some private business to attend to at the Lion's Head Inn. Feel free to go about your business, and meet me at the Inn's lobby at sundown. It's only about two hours away, so you have plenty of time to enjoy yourself." She said.


With that, she ran to the inn, not bothering to wait for a response. As soon as she was inside, she approached the innkeeper and asked about seeing Dragh'dor, and was directed to his room on the second floor. She walked upstairs, checking to make sure her friend hadn't followed her as she knocked on his door. He opened the door for her and let her in after inspecting the halls behind her. He locked the doors and checked the window, locking it and closing the wooden window covers and setting the bar across them to keep them locked as well. They had to keep this from prying eyes, and ears, as much as possible.


They began their conversation in their native tongue.


(You're late Sil'eph Niir... What took you?)


(I was delayed due to having acquired a new... companion. Do not fear. I have set him loose on the city for now. He will not bother us.)


(Hmm... I do not like this idea of you having a companion. If they are human, they could prove most destructive to our cause.)


(Perhaps, but I believe he could be useful. He's easily persuaded by coin, and you know full well that will be in anything but short supply where we're going.)


(True, humans who are driven by coin are easy to manipulate. Still, I advise caution.)


(Very well, I'll keep an eye on him... So what do you need from me?)


(I need you to take your companion and go to the hidden ruins in the mountains ten miles north of here. There will be coin enough to quench your friend's thirst for monetary gain, and there will be an opportunity for you to spy on the cult that I have discovered. But be careful. I have visited the ruins myself and they are well guarded. You must tread lightly if you wish to avoid being caught.)


Sil'eph Niir nodded.


"Very well." She said, in the modern human tongue.


"I will go there, and I will take my new companion with me. If we discover anything interesting, I'll be sure to relay that information to you." She said, heading for the door.


Dragh'dor put his hand on the door, stopping her from leaving.


(Do not trust your companion Sil'eph Niir. If he's easily persuaded by coin, then he'll be just as quick to turn against you the instant he finds out what you're doing.)


Sil'eph Niir nodded, brushing his hand away from the door.


"Thank you for that warning. I'll be fine."


He nodded, letting her leave.


She went down to the lobby and sat in a chair in the corner, bringing out a book from her bag and reading. She sat and read quietly to herself, waiting patiently for her new companion to come and see her again. He would like this.

 

[Kain]

He nibbled a piece of the juicy apple off, and munched it under his teeth. The sweet smell of the fruit clashed with the bitter odour of beer, coming from one of the taverns nearby his position. The sun shone as harsh as ever, glinting off the splashing water from a fountain, a drop of sweat dripping down his forehead.


Sitting down on the stone border, Darius glimpsed towards the noble, still interested in her presence in this merchant city. While its economy was rich and thriving, it was still an democracy; If he was right, then her father must be here, and presumably not for the delicious cuisine. The deals between a government and a monarchy were either, within that world, ludicrous and twisted, or for peace consultations.


In these day and age, he had no knowledge of ongoing wars, although he knew some tensions between nations were enough for a small confrontation to spark up a full fledged all out combat.


After a few moments of silence, something in his mind snapped. The man almost choked on his apple and quickly clutched the grey letter in his pocket. Indecision making his heart pound, he ripped the seal open with his fingers and opened the bright white paper that resided inside, his fingers sticking at a certain degree on the thick parchment. His eyes swiftly swept pass the long paragraphs in an instant. With no reaction coming from him but a vein sticking from his neck, he rubbed his fingers together and whispered a spell, making his irises flicker briefly. Shoving it back into his pocket, he sighed heavily, almost cradling his face between his arms.


"May Talos give me strength." Darius whispered under his breath, his brown eyes getting darker. Getting up, he threw an apple core on the ground and walked towards the young woman, steeling himself.


It's been long since he had used his aristocratic manners; He would be a bit rusty.


"Lady Svana." He bowed, curtsying, his head bowed down. "A pleasure to meet you here."

 

[roboblu]

"Lady Svana," someone spoke from behind. "A pleasure to meet you here." The young woman froze, her eyes closing as if in pain. Of course someone had recognized her; how could she have been so stupid? Had she really believed that she could walk down a busy city street without questions, without a name? It was easier to fool herself than to fool a stranger, particularly one who knew that head of white-blonde hair.


Slowly, very slowly, the lady Svana turned around to face the gentleman who had addressed her. She had to lift her head to look him in the eyes, as he towered over her petite 5' frame. "The pleasure is mine, sir," she responded amiably, searching his face as she spoke. He had a shock of blonde hair, with deep hazel eyes and altogether handsome features, she decided. The man was also young, perhaps around her age, and had muscular, blackened arms. A blacksmith, the lady thought, puzzled. How was it that a blacksmith knew her name? Perhaps he was the youngest son of a noble, learning a trade since he would never stand to inherit his family's estate. Or perhaps he had once worked for a noble and had heard her name tossed around once or twice ...


It made no difference. Svana would treat him kindly all the same, but she still did not know his name. "... Though I beg your forgiveness, I have forgotten your name," she admitted, donning the pretty mask of etiquette. Svana knew she looked a lady despite her simple attire; her posture was excellent, her hair long and brushed, and her hands a dainty white. However, there was a deep melancholy in her silver eyes that could not have been taught. They were the eyes of a caged bird.

 

[ANONASAI]

Altus heeded to Slifer's words but just after a couple of hours Slifer is already out of the inn. He hadn't have time for himself within those hours. Which probably means hadn't have time to steal. Just in those hours,he conversed with his fellow thieves in the hidden inns dotted in Gilfaryl. "Looks like your time is up Altus,it's sundown..." the bartender said. All the thieves gave him a happy farewell as he pressed his hand on the doorknob.


"Hey Altus!" the bartender said. Altus glanced back,"Yeah?" he replied. "This client you're talking about,we have no tracks or anything about her...all we know is that she's smart." the bartender briefed. "As long as she just wants a companion in her journey and promised coin,I'll have no problem." Altus replied. "Good luck..." the bartender's last words to him.


He left the inn and finally spotted Slifer sitting down patiently in the lobby. Altus sat down with her. "What next?" he asked.

 

[Kyero]

"What's next?" Her friend asked.


Slifer looked up from her book and smiled at him, closing it.


"We have a trip to go on my dear fellow!" She announced happily!


"There are some ruins about ten miles north hidden somewhere at the base of the mountains. I don't know the exact location, but my acquaintance has informed me that there is some kind of to do going on there. A gathering of some kind of unsavory folk we'll want to avoid, but if you don't mind taking a bit of a risk there is going to be plenty of coin there for you to fill your pockets with!" She said, standing up.


"So shall we go?" She asked.

 

[ANONASAI]

Altus stood up as Slifer did too. He nodded and moved towards the door.


Now,he was going to meet the real adventure. All his life,he hated ancient ruins the most. With all those mind twisting labyrinths that led to nowhere,confusing languages and symbols,dark crypts and anything that would easily kill you. How can one even live with such a place?


The chests that held great treasure in the ruins at least were worth it.


The promise of coin was finally here. He gazed at Slifer waiting for her to start the trip.

 

[Flabbysaurus]

Stanas Birillius


Location: Wilderness of Tanmaek

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Stanas looked at the rickety wooden signpost on the road. Stanas smiled after seeing that Holnmoniik was only 2 miles away. He would've liked to continue but night was upon him and the long walk had tired him but he didn't complain, he had made it much farther than he assumed. The only disappointment was that he wouldn't be sleeping in a bed tonight, the last town he had passed was a few miles away but he thought there was one not too far away. Obviously there wasn't. Stanas sighed and strayed of the path slightly to find a good location to set up camp, thankfully it wasn't too far away from the road and not too deep into the wilderness. Stanas gathered some kindling and soon after started a fire to keep warm.


As the fire crackled in front of him Stanas lifted out a loaf of bread from his bag and quickly devoured it. Stanas smiled at the delicious meal as he felt his eyes begin to close without his permission. Stanas stretched his arms and let out a huge yawn before finally dozing off. Hoping he wouldn't be attacked in his sleep.

 

[BloodThunder27]

Drake Iceshard


Third Year in Gilfaryl; Day 731


Current Location: Capital of Gilfaryl, Local Inn

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It has been two years since Drake has arrived in Gilfaryl. However, his endeavors have lead him onto the Adventure of a lifetime. Was he going to embark on it alone? Or with a party? Although there are times where Drake himself is selfish and arrogant, he was still a good team player and always made sure that everyone made it out of a sticky situation alive. For the past two years though, he has spent alone and built a life as a Middle Class Citizen. Since he still didn't have enough money to buy a house, let alone a caravan and horse, he had taken up residence at a local Inn, where the rent was decent and he had a place where he can store his trophies and other possessions while he goes out adventuring, whether it was exploring Ancient Ruins, Caves, Ruined Forts that were used many years ago or Ancient Demon Grounds.


Today, Drake decided to go and explore a cave a little to the West of the City he was staying at. He wondered what he was going to encounter there. Another Party? Trolls? Marauders? Bandits? He could barely contain his excitement. Upon leaving his room, he locked the door and notified the Inn owner that he was going to be away for a while, so he paid rent (50 Fil). Upon exiting through the city gates, Drake began walking to the Cave that he had marked the previous day. Stocked on Food, Water and Potions, Drake was ready for another exciting day.

 

[Kain]

Oh dear Akatosh, was she small.


She had the exact height like he had when he was a child. Darius did remember the last time he met her, which was at a ball when he was 17 between all the kingdoms of the nations.... She was even smaller then.. He wouldn't be surprised if she didn't know who he was. His eyes wandered at the top of her head, of which the light distorted around her alabaster coloured hair. It was strange, looking at the halo that reflected onto its surface. He was somewhat amazed by it, as though he had never perceived people with white locks before.


Ah, she forgot who he was after all. He near forgot her himself."My name is Darius Hier." He answered, with a slight polite smile. "I am from Luthrad. Perhaps you do not recognize me....?" The noble ended his phrase in a question, for fear that she would not respond agreeably to his presence. After all, perhaps she had disliked him once they met, because they were all obliged to act courteous in the court. Now, not so much. They aren't quite as...respectful if they talked to them in private. He palmed the bright red apple in his hand, resisting the temptation to eat it in five bites. Looking inside her grey eyes, he thought about her own life. Lady Svana's posture was perfect, without any flaws. Was she still sheltered in her castle in Nazkohr, like he was in his early years? Or was she just let out recently of it? The blond man sighed almost imperceptibly, for trying to ask too many questions.


The letter had made him more careful than ever now.

 

[ANONASAI]

Altus gazed back outside the inn. Ah,Gilfaryl. Happy children,prospering markets,friendly citizens,fresh air and everything that may rejuvenate Altus. But above all that,Fil was on Altus' top list. He decided to stay for a while before embarking. He'll be doing some...business.


Altus glanced back again at Slifer,"Uhmmm...On second thought,let me go take a...'stroll' for a while..." Altus said with a happy tone and an ending smile. He stepped outside and shut the door behind him gently,hoping Slifer wouldn't see what he really was. He paused for a second and scanned the market stalls. As he scrolled left and right,up and down he noticed about 5 guards walking suspiciously towards him. One guard was hand cuffed and it seemed to be the thief that he met earlier. Now he realized that he was now detected and about to be sent to prison.


"Are you Altus Kyro?" one of them asked. His Speechcraft won't save him now,he needed a more...violent escape. "Altus Kyro?! I thought that thief was killed long ago?!" Altus said angrily. "No,you thought wrong sir. And it looks like your Altus...take down the hood!" The guard shouted as he drew his sword and pointed it to Altus. "TAKE OF THE HOOD NOW!!!" The guard shouted again. And this time,Altus was ready to make his move.


He held the guard's sword from the blade's tip with both hands and hit the guard's head with the hilt of the blade. Then,his fellow thief helped even in a state of hand cuffed. The thief headbutted one of the guards and kicked another one. All the guards fell down groaning in pain,but one guard escaped and is now calling for reinforcements. "Go Altus! I'll deal with this!" the handcuffed thief said as he kicked repeatedly the guards. Altus nodded at the thief and thanked him.


But time was not on their side,Altus was too late to catch the guard. From every alley,from every corner,from every building,more guards showed up. But Altus does not give up too quickly. He took his crossbow and shot the handcuffs of the thief making him free. Now that the thieves were spotted,he needed to warn every thief that they need to hide. The hidden inn will not be safe any more. "GO TO THE INN AND TELL EVERYBODY THAT THE GUARDS ARE COMING!!! HIDE AND DON'T COME BACK FOR ME!!! I'LL KEEP THEM AWAY!!! GO NOW!!!" Altus ordered loudly as the thief accepted the command. There was no time to talk Slifer out of this. Right now,he had to escape.


Altus rushed towards the river docks of Gilfaryl in which there should be something to hide in. Adrenaline kicked in, and it felt like time paused as Altus scanned the docks and unfortunately found very honest faces that might be with the guards. He sprinted even more precisely hitting nothing in his way. Along the split decision chase, he eyed two people. One was a noble lady sitting by the docks, the other was much more like a young smithy. Altus focused on the noble lady, she was pretty and rich. But why alone instead of an escort? The smithy didn't look like much of a guard. The noble lady he aimed on. As if tagging someone and never letting go, this is because she was rich and no guards at all. Jackpot.


But his greed for riches distracted and blinded him. He tried to focus on the escape but was too late. Another guard already stood in front of him and swung his mace, ending the run. Altus crashed to the cobblestone ground while his vision was already fading to black. He was very familiar to getting hit by clubs and maces before,yes. But this was the first time the guard had a direct and critical hit on Altus' handsome face. The pain burst, the wound was crackling like sparks of fire, but above all that, he felt nothing. For all the things that landed on Altus together, there was one thing in his mind: He's done.

 

[roboblu]

Darius Hier: the name seemed familiar. Svana studied the man's face very carefully, trying to remember. ... A vague memory of dancing tugged at the edges of the lady's mind, and she seized it. "Darius Hier! I remember now," Svana exclaimed, her face lighting up in recognition. My, had he grown taller! The boy in her memory had been skinny, awkward, and a good deal cleaner than the man that stood before her now, although she doubted he was any better a dancer. The one song they had shared had been one song too many, Svana remembered with a secret smile. Darius had been pleasant enough, but his discomfort that night had been obvious- and now, looking at the strong, confident man before her, the lady knew why. Clearly Darius Hier was meant for something more than nobility.


"Yes, I remember," She repeated, in earnest. "Darius Hier, of Luthrad. You were at that international Nazkohri ball, weren't you? We were introduced, and shared a dance." The curious look in Darius's eyes told Svana that he had as many questions as she did, so she began to explain her presence in Gilfaryl. "I'm here on a business trip with my father; he agreed to take me along for my birthday present." The lady hesitated, swallowing her dissatisfaction. "I ... Wished to experience life outside of Nazkohr. Gilfaryl has not disappointed." Svana felt a lump in her throat and did not want to continue, but thankfully a commotion in the marketplace distracted her attention.


A man was haphazardly running through the square with soldiers in close pursuit ... until he came to a crashing halt on the cobblestones before her. Guards smashed at his face with their clubs, leaving gashes and drawing blood. Horrified, Svana moved to shoo the guards away. "Please, he's with me, he's with me!" she cried, and one by one the guards faded away from the bleeding man. The soldiers seemed strangely willing to go ... Oblivious, the noblewoman bent down and offered the broken man a handkerchief from her purse. "Oh, they've really cut your face up ... Sir, are you alright? Here, take this. We can sort this out after you've been to a .... To a ..." Svana had finally looked up.


A crowd had formed around a cluster of vendor's benches that served as a makeshift platform; several men stood atop it. Svana blinked in surprise at the sight of her father, with his light blond hair and deep blue eyes. She stood, forgetting the bleeding man for a moment, and tried to make sense of the scene. "My lord father ..." Her voice trailed off when she saw his bound hands, bloody temple, and of course, the sword in his captor's hands.


"GOOD PEOPLE OF GILFARYL," One of the men boomed, a dagger glittering in his belt. Svana froze; she knew that voice. It was Xander Xaruman, a lower delegate of the Gilfarylian government. Since the peace between Gilfaryl and Nazkohr required constant delegation, her father negotiated with the Gilfarylian councils on a regular basis and always had stories to tell about the councilmen. Xander was a cold man, her father had often complained, one who caused more problems than he solved. He has eyes like yours, Svana, Her father had said once, tapping the end of her nose. But your eyes are molten silver, and his are frozen solid. Svana shivered at the memory.


"I HAVE COME HERE TODAY TO UNEARTH A DISGUSTING CONSPIRACY," Xander continued. "THESE AMBASSADORS-" he said, spitting the word ‘ambassadors’ and pointing his dagger at three ragged men on the platform, "- HAVE MADE SECRET PACTS BETWEEN THEIR NATIONS AND YOUR ‘DEMOCRACY.’" Murmurs went through the crowd, and Xander smiled with angry eyes. "YES, YES, IT’S TRUE. THESE AMBASSADORS CAME TO IMPOSE AN INCREASED TAX ON GILFARYLIAN EXPORTS."


“Why should we care?” A thin-faced man called out from the crowd. Xander’s face lit up like a dog who had just been thrown a bone. "BECAUSE, GOOD SIR, THIS POISON TAX GOES DIRECTLY TO THE POCKETS OF YOUR HIGH COUNCIL." Xander paused for a moment, then continued.


"THESE CORRUPT POLITICIANS WOULD HAVE THE ECONOMY OF GILFARYL STAGNATE. THEY WOULD HAVE US STRUGGLE. AND THEN-" The man’s wrinkled hands slapped together. "I HAVE HEARD WHISPERINGS, BROTHERS, THAT THESE NATIONS WHOM WE HAVE DECLARED OUR ALLIES PLOT TO INVADE THE BORDERS OF GILFARYL WHEN WE ARE AT OUR WEAKEST." The last part of Xander’s sentence was swallowed up by the crowd. Men stomped their feet, and women clutched their children more tightly. Horrified, Svana looked to Darius, to the bleeding man, and then back to the platform. "This can’t be true," she said in a small voice. There were guards here- why weren't they doing anything? Why weren't they putting an end to this blasphemy?


When the crowd quieted, Xander continued. "YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE ENSLAVED WHILE THE CHILDREN OF OUR NOBLEMEN GROW FAT. YES, I HAVE HEARD THE WHISPERINGS." Behind Xander knelt three diplomats, their hair crusted with blood and their eyes filled with fear; behind them stood a few tough-looking men, likely Xander’s muscle. The delegate gave a wave, and suddenly the diplomats were lifted off of their feet, too exhausted to struggle. "I SAY WE SEND A MESSAGE BACK TO THESE EVIL NATIONS," Xander cried, and the crowd erupted with cheers. Svana breathed a sigh of relief. Her father would carry the message back to Nazkohr as quickly as possible, she knew. The Nazkohri King would want to hear about this.


"WE’LL SEND A MESSAGE TO THE WHOLE WORLD- A MESSAGE WRITTEN IN BLOOD!" The words did not process in the lady’s mind until the dagger had been pulled across the first diplomat’s throat. The crowd screamed for murder, but Svana could not utter a sound.


The second man went less easily. He struggled against his captors, but with one stroke it was over.


As Xander stepped behind her father, Svana could see her father's lips moving. She imagined his words: I have a wife, children that need me. I have a family-


Through the tears in her eyes, Svana watched her father die.


"GILFARYL BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE!" The crowd shrieked. "REVOLUTION! REVOLUTION!"

 

[ANONASAI]

After a few minutes of black out, he finally rose again to his feet. The unfamiliar cries of a crowd, the helpful touch of a kind lady, and the shout of...MURDER?!!


Quickly,Altus glanced at the lady who helped her. It seems like it was the rich noble lady. Again, he was slowly distracted but this time learned his mistake. He shook his head and realized he was in the middle of a revolution. He noticed a man mercilessly killing people above the stands. This was no matter for him, he had to get his feet up again and pull himself up. His mind was scattered, puzzles and fragments of events happening in every direction. He needed a quiet place to form this puzzles. Maybe at the thieve's hideout.


The crowd is a useful tool to make his escape. So he did, he walked out of the scene as if like a shadow. Leaving everything, everyone behind. He did not dare to say his goodbyes to Slifer, or even stay for a little while and take everybody's pockets, also not thinking where the guards have been and will they come back. His body wobbly, mind scattered, and vision was blurred. He knew he wasn't going to make it to the hideout.


And just after minutes of consciousness, he fell to the ground again. The vision fade black with his last thoughts: Will the noble lady help me again?

 

[BloodThunder27]

After a couple of hours, Drake had made it to the cave. He took a deep breath before walking inside. When he entered, rather then putting on his heavy shield, due to the darkness, he lit a torch and drew his Sword. 'Wonder what I'm gonna find today. What will I encounter too? Hmmm...' he thought to himself. He also had a Journal on him, so he would be able to write logs on his Adventures. Of his encounters, findings, everything. As a Swordsman of his caliber however, he was confident that he would be able to overcome just about any thing that comes his way

 

[Killigrew]

Fleur trudged along amidst the mercenary troop. Fate had gotten her the job at least; by Stendarr's grace, there'd been a member from the Aandural mercs at the harbor town, and their assistance had been invaluable, especially after Fleur had thrown away three quarters of her purse to the dogs. Quite literally.


The journey had involved a single bandit encounter, which had been rather fortunate occurrence altogether, solved entirely by the wit of the troop leader.


It went something like this;


They'd been travelling through a precarious mountain pass, and as soon as they came to an opening large enough to house the merchant caravan, foreign men and women poured in from the mountainside, scattering rocks and debris as they took up both narrow pathways; both the entrance and the exit to the clearing.


To be so caught was to feel like a rat trapped between two hungry lions.


Fleur anticipated a skirmish, but the merc leader stepped forward befire swords were drawn, his arms outstretched in welcome. In soft tones, he arranged a ceasefire, giving to the bandits what the merchants could spare in food and coin in exchange for safe passage. Fleur doubted the bandits would've agreed had the merc not spoken with such frank severity as to the capability of his troop. The bandits' fear at his explicit detail was more than apparent, especially because it was so starkly clear that the merc spoke only the truth.


The pass, though rocky and precarious, was from that incident on, bereft of any such encounters. And now, as they passed the border into Gilfaryl, en route to the country's capitol, a relaxed, bordering complacent attitude began to permeate through the entire caravan.

 

[Kain]

Hearing her talking about his past seemed a bit intimidating. After all, he'd rather forget what he was before. It didn't matter that she didn't mention how strange he had felt prancing around in that suit; She was thinking of it. He stood there, wondering if what she had said was true. Svana seemed...reluctant to admit of her presence here. "I see." Darius muttered, nodding slowly. "Perhaps I should present you this town later on, if you stay any longer for the peace council."


Somehow, he thought that the reason her father gave her was one that she was forced to believe.


Hearing a scream, his gaze snapped to the foreigner, being pushed around by a town guards. The man seemed like a queer fellow, being hooded and cloaked. Darius was aware of how these thieves were dressed and had no qualms about not helping an individual like that; They were a plague to society, serving nothing but harassing merchants and villagers. While the blond man didn't react to the abuse, the lady next to him did.


A noblewoman helping a thief? His eyebrow arched slightly as he observed the interruption with amused eyes. The normal ladies would rather huff in exasperation and wonder why the guards didn't kill the lowlife yet. He hated those kind of women. We'll be getting along fairly well.





Again, a disturbance came from the opposite direction, making his attention snap in a mere second. All his muscles tensed up when he heard the man bellowing those brazen statements. While he was vaguely interested, it only made him want to stick a stick in that Xander's eye. He had been rousing up the citizens of Gilfaryl for almost a year now, trying to get them to the side of the revolution, who, he thought, seemed like a ridiculous amass of children crying things that were obvious enough.


That is, until he saw the diplomats at his feet.


Sir Ceallach.


The brown haired man sat crossed legged on the flimsy stage, looking straight ahead in the eyes of the crowd. His green eyes once full of life and happiness were dimmed to a state of darkness. His once rich cloth had been ripped and dangled at his throat, like a severed ribbon. Bloodied and bruised, almost beyond recognition, Darius could barely make out his features. His dirty dark hair, greyed by time, was crusted with blood. One of the muscled men grappled his neck and threw him on the ground, yelling curses at him. A loud thud rang out in the court, not above the large yells of the crowd. Ceallach didn't even resist as they carved a line on his throat, making him bleed out almost immediately, coating the stage with a pool of red, intermixing with the other diplomats warm blood, crumbling down.


His letter. Ceallach was the one who wrote it. He came here, he actually came here. Even if he hated speaking with other people, the scholar actually came here.


"No." He began, out of his stupor, his voice trembling. "No." The noble repeated, "No."


The man who thought him words. Who brought this world to him to life.


Darius couldn't believe what he was seeing. His normally composed expression was reduced into a face of cold rage.


His nails were digging into his skin, drawing out blood, as he tried to remain calm.


Kill.





He snapped.

 

[Hime]

"I want you to go through your routine once more before we perform tonight. Remember to be back by six! Don't be late!" Madame Marilla called after her as she rushed out of the caravan.


"Don't worry, I won't be!" Artemis called back over her shoulder. It was just a little after noon, she had plenty of time to explore Glifaryl. Well, a small part of it, at least. She knew not to venture too far- she learned long ago that the greatest sin a performer of the Dragone can do is be late for his or her act.


Artemis half walked, half skipped to the marketplace, her long, white hair bouncing behind her. Gilfaryl was one of her favourite nations. She's been here a lot of times, of course- the Dragone had quite a large 'fanbase' here, and it was still growing. The people were friendly and excitable, so she was content.


She passed a fruit stall, halting and eyeing the juicy looking apples briefly before she started to walk again. She decided she would get a box of apples on the way back for the Dragone people to eat before the show. They always loved a snack.


Artemis passed more stalls and halted briefly in front a few of them, looking at the items and chatting lightly with the vendors, cracking a joke once in a while, making them laugh.


She turned to start walking again after chatting with an old lady who sold jewelry (the lady wanted to give her a bangle for free but she refused) when she heard the commotion. "WE’LL SEND A MESSAGE TO THE WHOLE WORLD- A MESSAGE WRITTEN IN BLOOD!" she heard a man yell. Her eyes widened and she ran over to the crowd. With her relatively small frame, she was able to make her way to the inner circle of the crowd without much trouble.


The first thing she saw was a man slitting another man's throat. Her mouth hung open. She then registered the other two dead men, with their throats cut. She glanced around to see if anyone was going to do anything, but they were cheering the man, the murderer, on.


"No," Artemis whispered, looking at the dead bodies, the blood, and the murderer. Before she knew it, she had taken a step forwards and was yelling at the murderer, the man with cold, silver eyes.


"You're mad! What- Why did you- who are you to-" Artemis struggled to form her words, glaring heatedly at the murderer, her hands fisted. She then looked around at the crowd, almost pleadingly. "That man just murdered someone! Why isn't anyone doing anything?"


It occurred somewhere in her mind that this was none of her business, that she shouldn't interfere, that it was a very, very bad idea, but Artemis being Artemis... she couldn't just stand there quietly and do nothing after someone was just killed in front of her.


She then noticed a man who stood not too far away from her, trembling, emitting the same air of rage and anger that she was, only on a whole different level.

 

[Kyero]

(aaah I didn't see Kain post D

Try to keep OOC chatter out of the RP please. Keep it to the OOC. Thank you.

 

[roboblu]

A cloud seemed to settle upon Svana's mind, making everything seem distant and blurred. Up on the platform Xander seemed to be grinning at her -no, that couldn't be possible, it was another white-haired woman. He tossed the bloody dagger down at the other woman's feet. "This is justice," he might have said, though Svana could not hear through her confusion. And then he was gone. How he was able to disappear so quickly was beyond her; like a ghost, he and his men had simply faded into the frenzied crowd. Xander was a plain-looking man, and clever. He would not reappear again unless it was convenient for him.


The crowd was still agitated, jostling bodies against one another like angry hornets. Svana lost sight of the other white-haired woman, and the broken man had up and run away. Her head spun. Where had the bleeding man gone? Had he ever really existed? And her father ... What had just happened? What had just happened?


Dizzy, the noblewoman groped out for something to grab onto and found nothing but empty air. Father is dead, she thought. Svana wanted, needed comfort, but there was no one to give it: she realized then that she could not go back to the Inn for her mother, nor search the streets for Rhodian. The realization hit the lady in the chest like a bag of bricks. Though she would gladly die her family, Svana knew that word of her father's death had to reach Nazkohr. ... And she could not send that message if she were dead. Besides, apart, the family was safer: Rhodian could fend for himself in the streets, and now her mother had extra guards to protect her.


But Svana was lost. She was too shocked to function properly, and stood alone, hugging herself with pale arms. Nearby a blonde man shook in rage, his hands clenched in bloody fists. "Darius ...?" someone asked, and after a moment Svana realized it had been her who had spoken. "Sir, I, uh, would you ... Please ... I beg your pardon ... Are you alright?" Courtesies tripped up her tongue, but the little lady finally managed to spit out her confused but well-intentioned concern.

 

[Kyero]

Slifer was about to head out with her new companion when he suddenly asked to be allowed to go for a stroll. She thought it was an odd request, but she allowed him to leave before she left the building herself and headed for the city gates, hoping he'd find his way there before long. Along the way she retrieved her horse from the stables and made her way to the gates where she found a pair of guards examining everyone coming in and out.


Slifer stopped and flirted with the guards a little bit, making them uncomfortable and embarrassed. It was just a game, but they were good sports and they shared a few laughs with her. However, the minutes seemed to turn into an hour and still her friend didn't come. Slifer looked back at the city and she knew she couldn't afford to wait for him now. Whatever he was doing, he had chosen over her and what she had promised him.


"Oh well." She said to herself.


She bid her farewells to the guards and proceeded down the dirt roads towards the mountains ten miles north as per Dragh'dor's instruction. With any luck she'd be able to find the cult there and figure out what they were up to. She gave her horse a gentle kick and a click of her tongue and so began the gallop down the paths. After a time, the horse slowed to a canter and then to a walk. Slifer guessed that they had gone about four to five miles or so judging by the distance covered and the fact that the mountains were now much closer than before. Slifer really wished she could take her Dragon form to find the ruins from the sky, but she couldn't and even if she could the size of her Dragon form would give her away to everyone from dozens of miles around.


Within the next hour or so she had reached the foot of the mountains and tied up her horse in a hidden area of trees and brush as she headed into the mountains herself. She searched for about ten minutes before finding the entrance to the ruins and made her way inside. It was a tight squeeze, and having a full chest didn't help her that much. In fact her chest got caught a few times and caused a tiny rip in her shirt over her breasts. Thankfully it wasn't over anything special, but still it was a bit embarrassing to have a rip over her chest. She cursed her human form's figure as she made her way through a larger opening into a more naturally spacious corridor and was finally able to stand up and walk normally. She made her way through the long passageways and winding halls and checked several rooms on her way. One of them was full of gold and jewels, and she didn't mind taking a few for herself while pocketing a pouch full for her friend when she got back.


She made her way through one final corridor and found that it opened up into a much larger chamber that looked to be a gathering hall of some kind. Currently it was empty, but the runes on the ground were unmistakable to anyone who was around when the cult first revealed itself. Slifer had been around for a long time, and though she was not around for the cult's earliest years, she knew enough about it and had seen enough of it to know exactly what those runes stood for. Written out across the outer rim of a giant circle in the floor was the message:


'Let the skies be empty and the land be walked by man alone! Let the darkness rule the light whilst the Gods quiver in fear! Dragons begone! Dragons begone! Maglissos be born unto this world!'





"Maglissos..." She whispered to herself as she crouched behind a series of boulders and statues in the corner overlooking the chamber.


She heard voices a few seconds later and kept herself well hidden whilst dozens of men and women in black cult robes walked into the room and filled the floor of the chamber whilst they waited for the one to lead the gathering who would obviously take their place on what looked to be a podium. Slifer waited for several minutes before the leader made his appearance and took to the podium. She couldn't see his face, but his voice sounded oddly familiar to her. It was unnerving just how familiar it was, but what was worse was what he was saying.


"Brothers! Sisters! Let there be silence!" He called, his voice echoing through the chamber.


Silence ensued, such that one could hear a pin drop.


"The time is nearly upon us to summon our Father! From the void beyond shall he rise to bring the world to fire and ash! From the void shall he rise to bathe our bodies in the splendor of his magnificence and bless our souls with eternity! For our Father!!" He yelled.


"For our Father! For our Father!" Came the unified response of the crowd.


Slifer did not like what she was hearing at all. This idea of one called Maglissos rising to bathe the world in fire whilst blessing these souls with immortality? No. This could't happen. She didn't know who or what Maglissos was, but if he had power anywhere near what these men and women believed, then he was beyond dangerous. If he was like what they were chanting about, then he had powers rivaling the Gods. Such a being could not be allowed to come to enter this world, but how did they intend to bring him here?


Slifer listened to the rantings of the leader, but all he spoke about from then on was how evil Dragons were and how beautiful the world their Father Maglissos would create was going to be. A utopia where humankind alone would rule the worlds of the Gods and men, and where nothing would stop them from reaching their absolute potential as Gods themselves. It was typical lunatic and heretic ranting, but coming from one so convincing and dedicated as this one, Slifer couldn't help but worry for the future of both worlds as she waited for the meeting to end. It took almost another hour, well into the afternoon, before it ended. Once everyone had gone, Slifer carefully made her way out of the ruins the way she had come and exited to the world outside where she found her horse and rode back to the capitol city as fast as she could.


She and to find Dragh'dor and tell him of what she saw.

 

[ANONASAI]

And for the third time, Altus' eyes opened as he let out a large pack of air from his mouth. But this time, he was in another place, the Ratways. Where thieves take up arms and reunite the guild in times the hidden inn couldn't help them any much longer. He was on a comfy bed roll just next to stolen furniture the thieves have put to good use. He was finally in good condition and it seems like he was the only soul in the room.


Altus tried his best to get back on his feet as joints clicked and his vision cleared. There was a small round mirror next to him on a drawer. He took it and checked if his face was still badly damage. But all he saw was a wound that looks like it's been tended recently. "Kyrus..." his voice although quiet echoed in the small room. Kyrus was the only thief that was a master in healing. Mixed with his own remedies, thief hands, and a large brain.


Familiar voices scattered all through out the ratways. He left the room and left the door open while unveiling a peaceful view before him. For a thief, at least. The ratways had everything like a regular palace had. Only, darker and quiet. The ratway had a very strange design of a palace. It was a round place surrounded by several rooms on each corner.


Altus carried on to the centre where he already saw wandering thieves that as usual greeted him. "Altus!" He circled around to look for the man shouting his name. And thus, he saw Kryus walking towards him with welcoming arms.


"Ah, good to see you Kryus..."


"You too, brother!"


They both embraced each other and let go.


"I found you unconscious in the middle of a wild crowd. What were you doing out there?"


"Guards tried to arrest me and I ran, saved a little thief's life and told him to inform the guild that we were in trouble. Then, a guard with a mace hit me hard threw me down the ground. Luckily, a noblewoman helped me by steering the guards away from me. After that, a lot of things happened. The crowd, the killing, my client. I tried to get up but failed. And that's where I woke up here."


"This noblewoman you're talking about, Altus, is Lady Svana of Nazkohr."


"I need time to form my mind up Kyrus, maybe help me with it? I need to know everything that happened."


"Well, let's start at the beginning. When the thief you rescued notified us in the inn, that's when I started looking for you. All the thieves hurried straight here but I went out looking for you. Bypassing the guards of course. I first saw a huge and wild crowd. When I looked further, some madman together with a few guards and some diplomats and scholars were standing on top of a market stall. The diplomats were in ragged robes and the madman had a dagger. What happened next was terrifying even for a thief. The madman started a revolution by slicing all the diplomats' throats one by one. Poor sods. Then the crowd went with him! Can you believe that! I recognized one of the diplomat's faces. The father of Lady Svana of Nazkohr. Lying dead. I didn't see Lady Svana helping you but I did see you were like a dead body next to her and a blacksmith. So like a shadow, I carried you with my beautiful muscles and strength and brought you here which I healed your wound a few hours earlier."


"You carried me like a shadow? With your beautiful muscles...?" Altus raised his eyebrow.


"Alright..alright...3 of us came to help me and here you are...Look I have a business to attend to so I can't chit chat with you all day..."


Altus said his farewells to Kyrus and eventually pulled himself up before leaving the ratway. A few minutes later and he reckoned the noblewoman that helped her. Forgetting Slifer, he checked the docks to see if she's still there and she was. He moved towards her very quickly, "Lady Svana,right? I'm here to say thank you for your help. That's all. I owe you one by the way. You saved my life and I can help you if you need something. Just call me in..." He tried his best to give a formal and respectful intro to a lady higher than him. But the years of living a dangerous life made him become reckless. He raised an arm and gave an open shaking hand. But Altus didn't know if Lady Svana would shake it.

 

[Kyero]

Slifer raced back to the city as fast as she could.


Her poor horse was near exhaustion when they finally reached the city gates. She slowed to a walk so that the horse had the time to catch its breath and rest as she met with the guards. Thankfully it was the same pair and they allowed her inside without a fuss. She dropped off the horse at the stables and made her way back to the inn where Dragh'dor waited for her report.


It was early evening with the sun slowly dipping beyond the mountains in the distance. The skies were being painted with blues and purples with a shade of orange over the sun's descending path. The stars were coming out overhead as Slifer entered the building and made her way upstairs to his room. She knocked on the door and Dragh'dor answered a moment later, checking to ensure nobody was following her as last time. Once she was inside she sat down on a chair and let out a breath.


"And, what did you find?" He asked, taking a seat opposite her.


"....... Well, I found insanity." She replied.


Dragh'dor rolled his eyes.


"That's hardly a detailed report Slifer." He said.


"I know, but that's the best I can do to describe in one word what I saw."


"Then explain it to me fully." He said.


"Fine." She replied.


"Alright. So I made my way into the ruins and found my way to a gathering chamber of some sort with runes in the floor. There was a rather disturbing message in the runes as well which read: 'Let the skies be empty and the land be walked by man alone! Let the darkness rule the light whilst the Gods quiver in fear! Dragons begone! Dragons begone! Maglissos be born unto this world!'"





Dragh'dor stopped her from speaking with a hand over her lips. His eyes had widened and he was staring into empty space, though his eyes were level with her chest which made her smirk at him as she kissed his hand which made him retract it in shock.


"Slifer! You know better than to pull little jokes like that with me!" He yelled.


She shrugged.


"It seemed a good idea at the time to get your hand away from my mouth." She responded.


Dragh'dor wiped his hand on his pants as he returned to staring into space for a moment to think. Slifer sat back in her chair and watched him, wondering what was going through his mind. He obviously knew about this threat to a greater extent than she did. Perhaps he even recognized the name Maglissos?


"So?" She asked.


He looked up at her.


"So, what?" He asked.


"What are you thinking? I know that look." She said.


He sighed.


"Yes, Slifer. I understand what's on your mind too. I recognize the name, as you likely have guessed already. It's the name of an ancient and evil Dragon from long before even our ancestors were born. If these heretics are speaking his name, then they have somehow discovered the fact of his existence which is a secret kept closely guarded by a select few of our kind." He said.


Slifer's eyebrow went up.


"And I take it that you are one of them? Because I've never heard the name before." She said.


He nodded.


"Yes, I am. My family line is one of only five to hold the secret of his name, which narrows down the possibilities of which one gave them the key to his name."


"And I take it that this Maglissos is a problem." She asked.


"No jokes Slifer. He's even more powerful than our King." Dragh'dor barked.


Slifer's mouth closed as she processed that little fact. The Dragon King was the most powerful of Dragonkind, with power and abilities beyond the scope of any single Dragon. He was as ancient as time itself, with rumors of his age going above and beyond one million years. How he had lived so long, nobody knew, though rumors about the secrets of his impossible life span were numerous. The most popular theory was that he was in fact a God in Dragon form, but nobody knew for sure. Either way, for any being to be stronger than the Dragon King was unheard of.


"Alright Dragh'dor. No jokes. So what do we do?" She asked.


"We don't do anything. I must return to the Higher Plane to bring this news to our King. You will remain here to continue your investigation. If you discover anything further from watching this band of heretics, then send word to me in the only way that you still have available to you." He said.


Slifer nodded, standing and turning towards the door. As she grabbed the handle, he stopped her.


"Be careful Slifer. If these heretics catch wind that you're onto them, let alone the fact that you're a Dragon, there's no telling what they'll do in retaliation. Take great care." He said.


Slifer nodded solemnly, opening the door and walking outside. She made her way to the lobby and to the front door as she walked outside into the night and made her way to the central square. Apparently there'd been a big to do earlier with some kind of revolution. A few people were still talking about it as they walked about the streets, and Slifer had to admit that this was not good news. A revolution could be a serious problem in a place such as this. After all, this was a democratic nation. If a dictator was chosen, the structure of the nation itself would fall apart and it would take generations before the nation would be able to repair the damages. This little revolution had to be stopped, but how? She had to figure out who was behind it, but she also had to continue her investigation into the cult.


"So which to investigate first?" She asked herself.

 

[Flabbysaurus]

Stanas awoke to the smell of smoke from the diminished campfire. He rubbed his eyes and sat himself up, yawning as he did so. He stretched his arms and then properly stood up to see the sun rising in the distance. Stanas was pleased at how early he woke up. Stanas looked at the campfire, debating whether or not to dismantle it. He decided not too so instead gathered his supplies and continued on his journey to Gilfaryl.


After several hours of walking Stanas had finally made it to Gilfaryl. The sunny weather had persisted through his travels but night was finally upon him and there was a chilly breeze. He walked up to the gates of the city and was cut off by two guards manning their posts. One was tall and very muscular, he was much taller than Stanas. He had a large great sword on his back. The second guard was much shorter and skinnier, he carried two daggers.


"What business do you have in Gilfaryl?" The tall guard asked, trying to look as intimidating as possible.


Stanas smiled and looked up to the tall man. "Just travelling the lands. I thought I would stop by here." Stanas said with a smile.


The two guards looked at each other and whispered something to one another then nodded. The smaller one spoke up. "Okay mate we're not idiots no one just visits towns. Well not someone of your standing. Just give us some Fil and we'll act like this meeting never happened." Stanas was taken aback slightly at their quick realisation. Am I that obvious? Stanas wondered. He sighed and searched his pocket for some Fil. He pulled out 50 Fil and split it between them.


"There 25 Fil each. Okay?" Stanas asked with a slightly aggravated voice. Both guards smiled at the money and let Stanas by. Stanas made his way to the central square. A cold breeze blew by, making Stanas shiver slightly. As he walked around, looking forma good place to sleep he noticed someone in the crowds. Stanas grinned. Could it be...the red headed woman I saw before? Stanas couldn't help but feel excited at the realisation that he may have found another dragon. But he tried to contain himself, for he knew this could be a regular human so he didn't want to give the game away of him being a dragon. Stanas approached.


"Excuse me m'lady but I need your help. I'm not from around here and I was looking for a friend of mine. Dragh'dor is his name, have you heard of him?" Stanas said in a polite manner. Trying to be as kind as possible so he didn't scare her away. He just hoped this person was a dragon but if not then they probably wouldn't know him so Stanas could thank her and leave to find Dragh'dor himself.