Overview & Main Roleplay

Yaro would balance the child in his hand, before thinking. "You've had a long day, my child.....some rest would do you good. My room is not much, but it is something. "He said, trying to calm the wailing child. He began walking to his room, before he felt as if his body....was shaken. Falling to one knee, Yaro would place a hand over his heart, trying to gasp for air. "What....what is this?...."He said, before getting up, and opening his room. He knew he'd need to talk to Klaus about that, as losing breath wasn't a very comfortable thing to do. However, upon walking into the room, Yaro's mind drifted away from his own problems....and towards the figure on the bed. Yaro would rush over towards it, before moving the covers, seeing it was Prudence. "Pru....?"He said, before  feeling her head.


Cold...losing warmth....


Yaro would then check her breathing, to see if it was ragged or she was sick.


None....


Yaro would then set the child down, before placing a hand on Prudence's heart. 


No beat....


No...


No...!


NO NOT AGAIN!


PLEASE GODS NO!


Yaro was shaking lightly as he held Prudence in his arms. "Pru.....No....come on, wake up......Prudence?...."Yaro would shake her lightly before setting his face ito her neck. His mind finally snapping. He felt tears pouring down his face as he held her there, not believing reality for a second. She couldn't be dead....No, it wasn't fair! IT WASN'T FAIR! He had lost his best friends, his family, his home, and his people, now he had to lose the woman he loved?! Why!? WHY DID THIS WORLD SEE IT FIT TO DO THIS TO HIM!? WHAT DID HE DO TO DESERVE IT!?


At that moment, Yaro could do little more then let out a scream of agony.


Chalondra would just smile as she would listen in on the doctors words, laughing to herself. "My, what an interesting young man you are! I sure would love to hear of your hobby of language, but I think right now we should focus on your inquisitorial work. Tell me, what do you know about-" She stopped when the scream echoed through the hall, before looking over. "What the...?" She said, before walking towards the sound (hopefully) with Klaus. She would step into the room, before seeing Yaro holding Prudence in his arms, shaking. She would then walk over and pick up the baby on the bed. "By the spirits...." She muttered.


Yaro would simply look up, and towards Klaus. "Klaus...please.....save her. I can't lose her too! Oh dear gods, help me!" He said, his body frozen up.


Mizuki was busy preparing the vials on her shelf for sale and inspection. Love potions and Healing Elixirs sold like candy, so she made sure to have a plentiful stock. Healing poultices and bandages were also displayed on the shelf. She would then hear the door open, but wouldn't look up. "~Hello! Welcome to my humble alchemy shop. My name is-" She stopped when she heard 'that' voice, Turning around, Mizuki had to keep the tears out of her eyes as she was scooped up into a huge by her elder sister, hugging the giant woman in return ."Ferris....Thank the Seven you are alive! I thought for sure that you.....Oh my lords." She said, hugging her with strength that someone of her petite form should not possess.


Backing away, Mizuki would look towards her. "Sorry, Sorry! I've been busy developing poisons and healing tonics! By the way, Did you know if you feed someone Rosary peas, they'll die? Well, they'll die AFTER the vomiting, fever, nausea, drooling, and dysfunction, but BEFORE the bizarre hyperexciteability, edema and fatally convulsive seizures, renal tubular degeneration, bladder and retinal hemorrhage and widespread internal lesions typically develop ." She said, with a cheerful smile. This girl was smart, and if one little pea from a plant could do that much damage.....well, She would kill a lot of people. She loved researching stuff that could kill people, and this was something that was so small, it could be dropped into someone's meal! "The noble son I fed it to yesterday had the most marvelous reaction! I would show you, but....I kinda burned the body already. I do have drawings though!"


((THIS is actually a legitimate thing, I shit you not))


Maeve and Kalamitat would hear the sounds of fighting, that would (likely) wake them up. They would see Demons being....slaughtered before them! A silver flash danced through them, cutting them down as the glowing light would shoot through. There wouldn't be any sound from him....It was almost as if he wasn't there at all. Soon, Lexus and the unknown figure would clash weapons, spear meeting sword, before the figure would slash down, knocking the weapon away. He would then bring the sword to Lexus's throat. "Nan iChîr Gelair." The figure would say. If one could recognize it, they'd know he was speaking in Alethean!


Lexus would be holding his arm, and arrow sticking through it. "So have you come to kill me, Silver Lord..? You didn't hesitate before, when you murdered mine and Ferris's parents.....why now?" He said, as the glowing figure would rush forward, trying to strike him down. Lexus would grab his war-spear, before slashing the male away. Holding up the spear, Lexus would growl. "I am not stupid....I know I don't stand a chance in my condition......But I won't hesitate next time. "He said, tossing down a smoke bomb, before darting off into the forest. He knew fighting the male was a bad idea in his wounded condition would only end in his death. A tactical retreat was necessary.


The glowing figure would approach Maeve's body, it's footsteps now echoing, before tracing the blade over her neck. "i'Warth, dangarnen. Nor edúath Ah an noded rammas."He said, before kneeling down, and taking the broken sword from his hip. He would then reach over towards Maeve....and cut her free, instead of killing her. He would then help remove the bindings. "Your time is not yet, Demon-Bound."He spoke, in the common tongue. His accent....was not of any known nation. He would then remove a small vial of healing tonic in his bag, before tossing it to her. "Take it."


@Trombone Geek @Enuky K @DemetrioMachete
 
Klaus was about to speak to Chalondra, when he was cut off by what sounded as though Yaro was screaming his heart out. With a quirked eyebrow, he followed Chalondra to the source, and sure enough, there was Yaro and Prudence... except Prudence was motionless. 


"Ooh.. should have expected this." he whispered to himself, inspecting Prudence's body. "Then again.. she had this coming. Ooh, I'm expecting a demon baby soon, please, Doctor Klaus, give me some drugs! Asking me, of all people, for drugs? If you needed an example of stupid, that's it right there.." he laughed it off, briefly, before turning to Yaro. 


"Now you listen to me. I can bring her back. But for this, I expect a favor for this.. it's no easy task to bring the souls of the dead back into a body." the doctor took a deep breath, before he picked up Prudence's body, and calmly set it upon the floor. Then, he seated himself at Prudence's feet.


"Come. Sit down, and take hold of my hands. The first step of resurrection is to find the lost soul.. where they are, and if they wish to come back." It actually wasn't required of Yaro to take hold of Heinrich's hands.. just if he wanted to speak with Prudence, too. Whether or not Yaro followed his instructions, Klaus would sit in meditation for about 15 seconds, before he began to chant.


"Ooooh, diyaro, nu miwa ti shia... mortistro tu malis kre'ha." [Oh, soul, no matter your stay, death is temporary respite.] It was then, that Klaus' psyche was connected to the afterlife. Anyone simply spectating would not be able to comprehend this.. as Klaus had displayed no outward changes.. just sitting up straighter.


"Hello..?" Klaus' voice echoed throughout every aspect of the other realms, for he was conducting a broad search. The angels, the demons, and all other lost creatures would be able to hear him. "Hello! This is Klaus! I'm uh.. I'm looking for a Prudence... er wait, she never gave me a last name. Well uh.. this Prudence is a witch, really short, died just a few minutes ago.. childbirth exhaustion, or something of the sort. If you fit that description, please speak up! I need to know where you are."


@Enuky K @Andraus
 
"Aww, you missed me, didn't ya!" Ferris teased with a grin, slipping out of Mizuki's grasp before the girl accidentally crushed her. She listened intently with a savage grin as Mizuki described her latest discovery. "We'll be using that at some point, right? I'd really love to see that in action! We could take out the entire Bathelonian and Roselander royal class with a few pulled strings and a handful of rosary peas!" The door opened right then, with a customer frozen in the entrance, having overheard the last sentence by accident. Ferris straightened, her intimidation factor skyrocketed, and she glanced over her shoulder at the man with a dark light in her eyes. 

"You heard nothing," she said threateningly, turning and taking two steps with her long legs to tower over him. Glancing outside for witnesses, she grabbed his collar with one hand, wrapped the other around his mouth, and pulled him into the shop, letting the door bang shut as she moved to hide him from the window with her tall form, slowly walking him back to Mizuki.

"I've captured you a specimen," Ferris said in a flippant tone, seemingly oblivious of the man's struggling. "An elf, how rare," the demon remarked as she noticed his pointed ears and sharp features.

///

Maeve's eyes widened at the scene before her, and the woman was immediately confused. She'd been so out of focus during the battle with Yaro that anything that happened after she didn't remember. Although, she did remember one rage-inducing detail.

You forced me out of control and tried to kill him, she snarled mentally at her 'partner,' who said nothing about the battle in reply.

:We will talk later, child. Focus outside for now. This thing may kill you, too, because of my presence. He is an Alethean, I believe--I recognize the language, just barely; and they wouldn't take well to my kind--: Kalamitat cut herself off in surprise as the man freed them.

"I--" Maeve protested, fumbling to catch the bottle as their savior tossed it suddenly; the quick movement on her end caused a wave of dizziness to crash onto her, and she shut her eyes tight against her wavering surroundings. 

"You're not going to kill me, even though I host a demon, Alethean?" she asked, hoping Kalamitat's assumption had been right. "That's rather out of character from your people," she added, watching him suspiciously.


///


Lance didn't notice Cecile's embarrassment, more focused on leading them to the stables. He briefly wondered why Cecile would much rather fly on her broom--did she get saddle-sore easily?--but when Edwin suggested Cecile ride with him the thought was deserted. "Don't treat me like I'm useless," he muttered with a grumpy tone of voice, and silently answered Cecile's question by mounting the bay, which wasn't quite as heavy as Edwin's chosen horse but would be able to bear the weight of two people easily with great speed and agility. 

The Bathelonian king noticed--with a smidgen of jealousy he refused to admit to-- that the Rose princess didn't react with hostility when Edwin addressed her condition. With a sigh, Lance held a hand out to the Rose princess. "Climb up behind me and make sure you hold on. It wouldn't do for you to fall off, would it?" he said, waiting somewhat patiently for her to accept.
 
South Yunakai--


From deep within another realm, the lonesome spirit of Prudence was seated alone, perched atop a large rock. Her spirit was quite different from her mortal form, and in this realm Prudence resembled a small fairy. She stood at only a mere six inches in height, and protruding from her back was a set of pale wings that sparkled softly. Prudence's spirit gave off a white glow, a sign that perhaps her soul was good after all.


Surrounding the tiny spirit was the realm between the mortal world and the afterlife. It was a vast, desert like landscape, covered in steep cliffs and mountains. The ground was sandy and barren. It was dark here, and above her was a black and empty sky. 


Prudence was hugging her knees and crying softly. She felt a deep coldness within herself, and she was struggling to believe that this was the end of the road for her. Having no faith in herself, Prudence was too frightened to explore the realm. She could only wade in her sorrows for her orphaned child, for her failures. It was all too late for her now... She died alone, and it was all her fault for being so cold and callous.


The hopeless spirit would have remained there indefinitely if it weren't for the unexpected and familiar sound of the doctor that echoed across the realm then. She looked up and stared about, wondering if she were imagining the man's voice. Nevertheless, the female took flight, leaping from the rock and into the air where she headed towards the unknown. It was impossible to determine the source of the sound, but she hoped she could find something that would lead her to Klaus. 


From a distance the spirit appeared to be a glowing orb, and although the girl hadn't encountered any other spirits yet, the light of her soul would soon attract them. She was gliding quietly through the air, passing over a craggy mountainside. 


Suddenly, a black beast resembling a large dog pounced at her. It swiped the fairy-like spirit with its paw, throwing Prudence into the ground. Prudence fell into the sand and twisted around to flee as the canine spirit leaped at her. She narrowly avoided being squashed by the other spirit, and zipped as fast as she could away from it. The dog spirit chased her from behind, barking and snarling at the fairy as it did.


Prudence did her best to avoid looking back, and instead focused all of her attention on escaping the beast. At some point, the beast gave up its chase, but Prudence didn't realize this until coming across a river. She glided around the area to check for the dog spirit before landing at the river's edge. Its surface was dark and empty, and across the river she could see the terrain changed into a dense jungle. She was studying the jungle and debating crossing over into it when a light from the water caught her eye. In the water, the scene from the mortal world was manifesting before her eyes. In a matter of seconds, she could see Yaro, Klaus, and her baby. They appeared just below the water.


She dropped to her knees and watched the scene from above. Her eyes settled on Yaro then; he was clearly devastated by her death... her gaze shifted to her child and then to her lifeless body on the floor. A chill ran through her body as she gazed upon all she had lost. 


The spirit fluttered desperately above the surface of the warer, "I'm here, Klaus, I'm here", she called out, but it appeared the ones below couldn't hear her. Finally she closed her eyes and dove towards the light below. To her surprise, she couldn't feel the water against her body at all, and in a flash she was back in Yaro's room. 


She was in the mortal realm once again, but her spirit was still seperate from her body. However, now she was of her normal size and appearance, no longer did she glow or resemble a fairy. The spirit world sometimes contorted souls, but now her spirit could return to normal. She paced the room in attempt to draw their attention, but no one could see or hear her. She was beginning to grow in her frustrations; unsure of how to communicate with Klaus.


The spirit had little energy, but across the room something of Yaro's fell to the floor wit a soft clank. It was her best attempt at acknowledging the doctor's words. 


Bathelon--


Cecile didn't hesitate to take Lance's hand. He hoisted her up, and once on the horse's back she wrapped her arms around his waist in a snug embrace. "I won't", she said to him as the two horses sprinted into the road before them. Cecile remained with her arms tightly around him and eventually rested her cheek against his back as well; she was beginning to grow sleepy.


Their journey began with a speedy start, and in no time the team was passing through the Bathelon countryside. They were travelling on a trade route leading from Bathelon to the Yunakai, and like most Bathelon roads it was well-kept and relatively easy to navigate. Edwin was riding alongside Lance, and secretly he was racing the king. Each time Lance began to pass Edwin, the Emerald Thorn would tug the reins of his horse to get ahead of him. 


The two continued to race one another as time went on, but out of nowhere a small, brown figure dashed through the air. The fuzzy thing collided into Lance's ear, sinking its tiny claws into his skin to keep itself from sliding to the ground. It was a bat, and it seemed to be struggling to regain its balance as it fluttered about, "wait, wait, wait!" a scratchy squeaky voice called out to him. 


From behind, Cecile jumped awake due to the noise, she took one look at the critter in front of her face and let out a high pitched screech.


@Andraus @Trombone Geek @DemetrioMachete
 
Since he was connected to the spirits at the time, Klaus could hear and see Prudence; the moment she made herself known, he locked onto her, and no longer had to project his voice throughout everywhere.


"Oh perfect! You're coming through." Heinrich spoke out, an accomplished smile crossing his face. "Worry not.. I can hear your soul form right now. You don't have to make a ruckus. Now listen.. and listen carefully. I can place your soul back into your body. It is not a tricky process, but it does take a while, even when freshly dead. All I need on your part, is consent. A soul will never return to its body unless it truly desires to. If and when you tell me you want to go back.. I must recite the Song of Return. That sermon is... ten minutes long. Patience is key." Heinrich took a deep breath, before continuing. "So to reiterate: I, Heinrich Klaus, am attempting to bring the soul of Prudence the Witch, back to her original body. You will return at peak condition, with all injuries healed and all illnesses gone, all of your memories, skills and free will intact. Do you consent? Yes or no?" Prudence's fate rested upon her answer.. Heinrich felt he knew what she would say, but asking for consent was mandatory.


@Enuky K@Andraus@Trombone Geek @Robyn Banks
 
South Yunakai--


It was a miracle. Prudence could be heard and she was glad that her spirit could be seen. She knew now that she would be saved, and all would be well. Now she wouldn't have to behave as a spirit because she already had the capabilities of a living soul. 


Prudence calmed down then and no longer appeared stressed by the situation. Her ghost wandered back over to Klaus since he could see and hear her. She was so relieved that he could see her; it meant there would be no further issues for her. 


"Yes", Prudence said without hesitation. She was ready to return to her mortal form. She waited to see what Klaus would do next. 


@DemetrioMachete @Andraus @Trombone Geek
 
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Mizuki would walk over towards the Elven male with a scanning pair of eyes. After a minute of deliberation, she would hold up her hook claw....and knock the male out. "I can't use him." She said, taking the male, and setting him down behind the counter, out of sight. She would then lock the door, to make sure there were no more interruptions. "Reason one, just as you said: Elves are rare. People will notice if one suddenly goes missing. Two, It was in broad daylight. If anyone saw him out in the streets, even before my shop, they'll make mention, highlighting our general area. Three, people are already distrustful of me, due to my immense beauty-" She said, with just a touch of pride. She loved making noblewoman green with envy over her agelessness. "-and my profession. It will draw too much attention. I've spent a long time ensuring my position in this kingdom, I cannot have it go to waste. I am trying to get the position of Royal Alchemist in the Bathelon Court." She said. She was always the more pragmatic one, using her brain in the situation that demanded it. She would then start looking around, before grabbing a bottle of ale. She would then splash some of the contents on the male, before pouring four tea spoons down his throat. 


It may seem like a show of dramatics, but Mizuki always had to make sure cover-up stories sold. Getting drunk and mishearing under the hot sun? Not exactly uncommon. Mizuki would then set the male down, before looking towards Ferris. "Anyway, dear sister, what are you doing here anyway? Not that I don't love to see you, but what do you need? I haven't seen you since the Raids ended. You take up assassin work or something?"She asked. She assumed that the raids were over, and that the clans were all disbanded.


Mizuki's pragmatism was also the source of ire for many in the clan. If she didn't find worth in something, she would not commit to it. If Ferris wanted Mizuki to rejoin the raiding clans, she'd have to convince her that there was still something to gain from participating. Otherwise, Mizuki would see no reason to join. Mizuki was one of the original designers of the Repeater rifles, her knowledge would be invaluable. She loved violence as much as any in the clan, but you couldn't cause violence or death if you were dead yourself.


The male would look down, thinking carefully before answering. The moon be hidden by the clouds then, and his visage would be visible. He would then answer. "Because....despite the demon in your body, I sense no malice in you....You have a good heart." He said. Kalamitat would be able to recognize this man as Natha, the Gravewalker. To demons, this mans sword as a silver streak of vengeance, his arrows a storm of death, and his dagger a silent blade in the night. It was also he who trapped Muramasa in the blade, destroying her physical form in the first place!


Killing a member of the Demon clans was one thing, but Muramasa was never a demon clan-member. She had only entrusted this information to Kalamitat, but Muramasa was Noble-born Demon. She was born to one of the Lords of Hell itself, specifically the Demon Lord Melkor, The Demon of chaos and discord. She had the strength of a Lord behind her, yet somehow this half-blood managed to defeat her in open combat. He was the bane of a Demon's existence....yet here he was, offering aid and comfort to a demon-bound human. 


"Who are you, Valmaric, and why were you being hunted by these shadow bringers?" Natha asked. The word he used meant 'stranger'.


@Trombone Geek
 
"Straight to the point. I like that." Klaus remarked, as he placed his hands on the body of Prudence, he clutched at her stomach, squeezing it harshly before letting it go as he began to pray. Like he said.. this prayer had to go on, uninterrupted, for ten minutes.


Then, he started.


Klaus' voice filled the air with a melody his quirky voice did not seem capable of. It was professional, soothing, and up in a Soprano range.


One minute had passed.


Prudence's body began to glow with a white light. Klaus did not stop his song, except to breathe.


Two minutes had passed.


The light surrounding Prudence's body began to react to her soul, and from what the witch's spirit would see, it was like a door opened on her body, beckoning the soul to go through it.


Three minutes had passed.


If Prudence hadn't already headed through that portal to her body, it would begin to pull her in, like a tractor beam.


Four minutes had passed.


The glow around Prudence's body vanished. The last six minutes would be devoted to returning her bodily functions and memories.


Five minutes had passed.


The blood in her body began to flow throughout. What had been lost was replaced, and all illnesses would be promptly eradicated by her magically charged white blood cells.


Six minutes had passed.


Prudence's pulse returned, and her heart began beating.


Seven minutes had passed.


Prudence's brain began showing activity. She would relive her life, as her memories collectively returned to her.


Eight minutes had passed.


The magic within her body, having been tapped into as a witch, would rejuvenate and swell with power, and soon, Prudence would be able to recollect her spells.


Nine minutes had passed.


Her soul was back, her body was healthy, unpoisoned and disease free. All that mattered now.. was the striking of that tenth minute, where hopefully, Prudence would take her first breath into her reawakened life.


The tenth minute struck, and Klaus finished his prayer, opening his eyes, and looking down at Prudence... then up at Yaro and Chalondra. He then stood, looking down at the witch... waiting for her to wake up.


@Enuky K@Andraus
 
Ferris listened quietly, watching her sister go about her business as she spoke. The girl's reasoning made sense, although personally Ferris would've made use of any unconscious being, damn the consequences. She would deal with those later, likely with the help of whatever discoveries she'd discovered. 

"The Raiders who had survived long enough for Alethea's invasion and those who hadn't gotten out of the city quickly enough were trapped by the Wilting Roses three dastardly founders. They're still alive, of course, and we're all regaining our strength; not to mention, we've found a way through the barrier that once had us trapped and we're performing a few setup operations in the wide world. I came firstly to make sure you really were alive, to pay you a visit, and also to invite you back to what remains of the Clans. We'e rebuilding ourselves, Mizuki, and we might actually win this time.. We have human help. The leaders of Southern Yunakai--surely you've heard of that ordeal--are both extremely unstable in their own special way. We can manipulate them easily" As Ferris presented her case, setting up for any evidence and rewards Mizuki might decide she would need, the demonic woman began dragging the 'drunken' elf out of the shop, unlocking and opening the door just long enough to set him outside the shop before closing and locking the door again.

"We really could use your knowledge, Mizuki. Hell, I'm sure if you wormed your way up to Bathelon's royal class you could get at King Lance as well. He'd be a bit tougher--he's stubborn just like his daddy-o--but with a few well-calculated threats we could shake his supports easily. Or piss him off. Who knows?"

///
 


:A good heart.. Tch. I think he's blind as a bat.: Kalamitat muttered, although Maeve ignored her easily. :Wait.. By the seven circles, be eternally grateful this man isn't trying to kill us--me--right now.. Natha the Gravewalker; I'm sure you recognize that name from my stories, yes?:

The man who sealed Muramasa and killed thousands of demons in one strike? Or so you claimed. That could've been fear talking, Maeve said, but there was no joke, just a flat insult. The assassin rose somewhat weakly to her feet, borrowing heavily from what little energy stores Kalamitat had left. "They hunt me because of the demon I host. Why else?" Maeve honestly didn't know the answer to the Alethean's question. Not that it mattered to her. All she cared about was returning to the palace where her queen had once ruled. Of course, she was dead now. Did she have any reason to feel loyalty for this new monarch? He seemed unworthy, to both her eyes and Kalamitat's.

///


Lance shifted, suddenly more claustrophobic at Cecile's presence than he would normally by. Muttering a few bitter words towards Edwin, he settled in for the ride. When Cecile rested her cheek on his shoulder, he almost hung his head in defeat. As they rode, the king admired the countryside, proud of how well his people had recovered from near decimation at the hands of the Plague. It also distracted him from Cecile's warm body behind him. The poor king was gradually becoming more unsettled, part of it just to do with the openness of the fields and farms they passed through. 

After a while, Lance's uneasy emotions accumulated into annoyance. "Could you be any more childish?" he snapped at Edwin, as the Emerald Knight kept trying to race him. Right as he said that, some small creature flew into his hair and latched on painfully to his ear. "What the--?! He almost fell off of his horse with surprise, and the princess was obviously jolted awake as well, judging from that blasted screaming assaulting his eardrums. 

Glaring at nothing in particular, Lance reached up to tear the creature, a bat, from its self-proclaimed perch. It seemed to be.. talking? Okay then. "Er, wait? Why?" The king felt rather foolish talking to an animal, of all things, but it seemed to be rather convinced he needed to listen to it.
 
 
South Yunakai--


The spirit of Prudence first drifted around the room to gaze at her child and lover. She looked over them with solemn eyes while reflecting over this small life surrounding her. This little one who needed her, this man who loved her... she wondered how true it could be. Before joining the doctor's side, the spirit reached a hand out to touch Yaro's hand, sending an icy chill into it. 


She floated towards Klaus then. He was sitting next to her lifeless body. Prudence winced at the sight of her physical form; it was hard to face ones own death in such a way. She turned to face the doctor as his prayer chant began, and an unusual surge of energy rushed through her form. As the clock ticked and the doctor continued his supernatural song, the body began to glow and a portal into the soul's resting place manifested at the center of its chest.


The energy in her spirit began to flutter; it was being drawn into the portal as if by a magnetic charge. Prudence took one last look at Yaro before being pulled into the body that laid across the floor. As the soul met the portal the lights brightened, but in a flash it was all gone. Now, the witch was alive. As the tenth minute reached its peak, she took in her first breath. Her green eyes blinked open and she slowly sat up. Returning from the dead was deeply unsettling, and magical energy was bustling in her chest. 


For a long moment Prudence seemed unable to speak while she took everything in. She was alive, but her spirit was permanently changed.


"I'm alive...", Prudence said finally, realizing she would never forget the chilling experience.


Bathelon--


When Cecile began to scream, Edwin was moving too quickly to stop easily. He pulled at the reins and twisted around, hurrying to aid the princess. He jumped off the horse and instinctively drew his sword, but it didn't take long to see the issue was nothing but a small rodent of sorts-- a bat. He let out an aggravated sigh at the worry it caused.


Cecile was also calmer now that Lance carried the bat in his hand. She was sitting up higher now to peer over Lance's shoulder at the critter. The bat in question was squirming slightly from Lance's hand while trying to make himself comfortable. 


The bat finally broke free of Lance's grip and slowly crawled up the horse's neck to its head. He was dusting himself off, and most would notice his human like behaviors. The bat finally spoke again, "I am the queen's familiar". The bat lived in the Bathelon castle for many years, including after Queen Katha's dethronement. Seperated from his witch, the bat chose to live in hiding while he waited for her return. It wasn't until that day Katha ventured into the catacombs of the castle to find her old friend.


The old bat continued with a look of discontent on his face, "you were supposed to see the queen before leaving",he complained, "I can't see very well during the day you know". The bat was supposed to be their messenger for the duration of the trip. He could fly to Bathelon and back in no time at all. 


"now if you'll excuse me...", he said while edging closer to Lance. He eventually settled for hanging upside down from Lance's armor. The thing didnt seem to realize that decades had passed, Katha was no longer queen, and Lance was the new king. He only thought of Katha as queen of Bathelon. 


He wanted to be left alone to sleep, but then it was Cecile who grabbed at him. She seemed entertained by him, "Katha sent you?" 


The bat squirmed from Cecile's hand; irritated with how they would hold him. 


"Indeed", he grumbled. He vastly preferred his witch's leadership to these children. 


@Trombone Geek @DemetrioMachete @Andraus
 
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As she woke up, Klaus backed away, beaming proudly. He had done it; proved his usefulness. Not even the throes of death could end their goals, Klaus thought. Now he had done both Yaro and Prudence a favor, in one fell swoop. Miracles like this was just a day's work as a doctor and cleric, but deep down, Klaus began to feel selfish. He really wanted to track down and retrieve the Gray Truth, for with it, Umbra Carcerem would bend with fear, he thought! 


"You are. Welcome back, Prudy-poo. How was the Realm of Spirits? I didn't keep track of where you were, where was your spirit sent to? You've committed a few murders in the pastz.. was it Hell? I bet it was Hell. Heh heh.. well not even Hell can contain either of you.. not while Klaus is alive."


The doctor stood up, dusting off his robes. He looked over to Yaro, then to Prudence.


"So, my friend." he spoke to the girl, freshly brought back from the dead. "Do you remember what I asked you to tell Yaro? About Klydebern? The Gray Truth? Or.. do I need to repeat the story again?" at this, he nudged Yaro's elbow, whispering to him.


"It's a long story but I promise you'll love it."


@Enuky K@Andraus
 
Yaro would hold Prudence in his arms, refusing to let go for a second. He would open his eyes, before speaking. "Please Prudence....Don't let me again. I can't lose you too.....You're all I have left in this world...."He said, before looking towards Klaus. Yaro actually knew what he referred too. The Gray Truth was recorded in the lore of the Wilting Rose as one of the best demon slaying blades in history. Yaro knew this likely involved the Umbra Carcerum, but at the moment, he didn't care: Klaus just saved the love of his life, and Yaro was indebted to the man. "Say nothing more, Klaus....Whatever you need, be it my blade or my spell, I'll lend it to you to retrieve the blade.....Also, I have a gift for you Klaus, one I've been meaning to bestow upon you at the appropriate time....now is as best a time as any." He said to him.


He would reach into his armor, unclasping an interior pocket, before handing something to Klaus: It was Symbol of Tamara, The Dragon-Goddess of Light, Life, and Mercy in the Yunkanian Pantheon. "Through all of this, Klaus, you have been (surprisingly) a stabilizing element. You've saved hundreds of lives during this crisis, including mine, and now you've also saved...."Yaro would think of the appropriate term for Prudence. She wasn't yet his wife, so he couldn't lawfully call her a Queen, but he knew she needed an official title. He would think of one later, however." Prudence. With that in mind, Klaus, I would be honored if you'd take on the position of Royal Physician. "He said, holding Prudence close.


Yaro was offering Klaus an official position in the Court of Yunakai. If he accepted, it would elevate Klaus to the status of a Noble, thus giving Klaus the resources of the entirety of (Southern) Yunakai. It meant an official say in anything that happened in Court, the freedom to request anything needed from the crown, be it tools or coin, and the support of the royal family.....as well as political amnesty to perform his experiments in peace. Yaro was giving Klaus the free reign to do whatever, though obviously as long as he didn't do it in public. Yaro's power only stretched so far.


Mizuki would sigh, as she'd listen to her sister, running a nearby brush through her hair. "Ferris, I thought we were done with that nonsense. The raids killed everyone, and it nearly killed me. I am not really eager to go through that again......think of all the experiments that I won't be able to Complete! I still need to figure out if Wolfsbane or Nightshade does more damage to the body." She said, before stopping to listen to the rest of Ferris's words. Mizuki couldn't lie, she was tempted. It would mean she was close to her sister again, and if she could achieve the position of Royal Alchemist.....just think of all that she could accomplish! All the noble bloods that she could experiment on!


Mizuki would then do a typical 'Mizuki' thing to do when she was close to bending on a subject: She would reach for liquor. When Mizuki was close to being convinced on a subject, she would reach for anything to change the subject. The bottle she had was interesting though: It was a rare bottle of Diamond Reserve. This was interesting for two reasons: One, it was liquor poured into a fucking hollowed out diamond, and two, This bottle was specifically made in Hell. The only way she could've gotten it was if she either A. had kept it since the last time they were in hell, or B. Stole it from the Infernal Kings liquor storage in Alethea before it was sealed away.. "Want a nip?" She asked


This bottle showed how well-off Mizuki was. If she had this little beauty,  then she obviously had coin to throw around. At least her taste in alcohol hadn't changed. Demon liquor was a 'hell' (ba dum tss) of a lot stronger than human liquor. It actually gave a proper kick that could get a demon drunk. If a human tried to drink it, they wouldn't get drunk: It'd kill them.


Natha was about to respond, before he heard a sound behind him. Swinging his sword out, Maeve would be able to watch as his blade.....cut through an arrow, which uselessly fell to pieces in front of her. Natha would then pull his bow out in one swift movement, knocking an arrow, and shooting it in the leg of a nearby demon that had avoided his earlier onslaught. Natha would then walk over, as his hand would begin glowing with a sliver flame. Kalamitat would be able to (painfully) remember this as a tool used to interrogate Demons and torture them into servitude. The most skilled with it could burn the will out of a Demon, and force them to serve their 'Master'. They turned the Infernal Kings most useful pawns against them. 


Thankfully, Natha did not know how to do this yet. He could only use it for interrogation. However, Kalamitat DID NOT know that yet.


Placing the burning hand on the Demons head, Natha would question. "Where did your leader go?"


The Demon would be trying to move away, obviously in pain from the flame in the mans hand. His thought could not lie. "F-Fort Typhon, most likely! It's in Yunakai, the coast!"  He said, scared to death.


Natha was in no mood for mercy, and merely squeezed harder, causing more pain to the demon. "What is a Fort Typhon?"He demanded of the demon.


The demon would whimper in pain from having his mind burned by mage fire. "I-I don't know! I was only recruited a few days ago! Word from the others said it was one of their main bases......see, I've been helpful, right?! Will you let me go?!"


Natha would stare down at the pathetic creature, begging for his life. He would then raise his other hand, as another silver flame would appear. He would then only utter one word. " No." Before closing his fist. The Demons head would then.....explode from an overload of the fire. Natha would drop the corpse to the ground, and wipe his hand on it's shirt, in an attempt to rid the blood on it.


There was a reason this man was feared.


Natha would then begin to think as to why they would settle at this 'Fort Typhon'. He didn't know the location, and he didn't know the lands of Yunakai that well. This meant the only way he would know where it was, was if he talked to a local. He would then turn towards Maeve. "You there, Demon-Bound. Do you know the place he speaks of?"He asked her. Fort Typhon was an abandon military outpost meant to keep pirates under control, but had been abandoned by the Yunakanian Military ages ago.


@Enuky K @Trombone Geek


@DemetrioMachete
 
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"So you already know about it? Good!" Klaus seemed ecstatic, as he scoured the room, looking for something.


"Wheres a map? Is there a map? Heres a map!" Klaus pointed to the map, in particular, to an island straddling the borders between Yunakai and Bathelon.


"You see this island, Yaro? Klydebern's tomb is there! I know a path to it and everything! All I need from you, is your companionship and a means to get there. When the blade is in my hands.. believe me when I say you will have no reason to fear any demon or devil. The memory of the Gray Truth.. and its new wielder, Heinrich Klaus, will make them bend knee, I swear it.." his arm was trembling in excitement.


"Think of what an... adventure, it will be." he looked over at Prudence, blinking as he took in a deep breath.


"So how do you feel now? Moving just fine? Breathing okay? Go ahead, jog a little, cast a spell or two.. oh who am I kidding, you weren't dead that long."


His attention was broke as Yaro spoke of making him a royal physician. He looked upon Yaro, bewilderment in his eyes.. as though Yaro were the crazy one. To the doctor, the position sounded like what he was doing already, but with a payroll, and legal immunity. 


"I accept.. Your Majesty." Klaus replied, bowing politely to the young man. In truth he had many questions.. but it would have to wait. Right now, the doctor wanted to get his hands on the Gray Truth.


@Enuky K @Andraus
 
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Oromis


"I don't like these rebel scum" He hissed to himself as he stalked across the empty halls of the throne room. His military training had been...interesting. The division of ranks in the army had been widely successful, but alienation of the Magi simply didn't work. They were too afraid that they would be hit by stray arrows, and just didn't work as a cohesive unit. He couldn't figure out why though, he had always been able to work together with people...


Unfortunately for him, he was learning a fairly hard lesson-that he couldn't just take a time out on this war- and had continued to lose more and more land. He could tell that the public support that he briefly had while he was changing the army had degraded to nothing. Many of his servants quit on him, and he could no longer enjoy the luxurious life that he so loved. Well, he could, and he figured he could have for years, however the resistance moved fast, faster then he could have thought.


All and all, he had to learn the hard way that he couldn't just wing it in this war...and his old plan of cutting off peninsulas would no longer work. No. Now, he needed to simply march and destroy the south...and now he had to come up with ways to do it. He was no expert on the landscape, and that was certainly a dampening factor, nor did he know much about his enemy...his lax style was beginning to catch up, and now he needed to fix it. He would fix it. He would fix it so any who dared rebel against him never saw the light of day again.
 
South Yunakai--


Prudence was seated in Yaro's lap on the floor. He was holding and cradling her, something that comforted the female. She listened quietly on while the doctor explained his wishes; unwilling to make any commentary lest it cause Yaro to let her go. In truth, she felt guilty. Guilty because while the two men were discussing important political issues, her mind was only on Yaro and one other thing. Her gaze shifted across the room and towards the bed, where she knew her little one was sleeping. She turned her head back to the doctor and nodded to whatever it was he was saying; she wasn't entirely sure. It would seem the doctor needed to visit a small island off of the Yunakai coast, an adventure she wasn't sure she was up to. However, it seemed Yaro readily agreed. Perhaps it was right to honor the man's desires; he had just saved her life, literally. 


But priorities were different for Prudence now. Having faced the bitter cold of death alone, she was desperate to never allow it again. She was given a second a chance in this world, a chance most would never receive, and in it she wanted meaning for herself. To love, and to be loved, and to have a family. These were the things that mattered most to Prudence.


It was then that the doctor addressed her directly, which got her attention. He was asking about how she was feeling. "Um", she hesitated as if caught off guard by it, "I think I'm okay...", she said. At the doctor's suggestion, she decided to cast a simple spell.  She brought a hand out and waited, but nothing happened. It would seem that while she was fully healed, there was no substitute for having depended on the strength of demonic energy for nearly nine months. Naturally, she was horribly out of practice. She blushed and with a look of slight agitation called out the spell, realizing she was unable to cast without the aid of a spell and stave. She blushed, "maybe later", she said. She would need to practice on her own to reach the same level she was at prior to her pregnancy, but in time she would.


The witch looked up into Yaro's eyes before reluctantly breaking free of his embrace. She crossed the room and slipped under she sheets of Yaro's bed and lifting her baby into a cradle position. He was sleeping so sweetly, she thought before looking back across the room and blinking.She wanted to remain where she could focus on her child, but she also didn't want to be apart from Yaro.  She wondered if they would be willing to make the journey without her, and leave her to stay in the manor. Of course, none of them had any earthly idea that Cecile, Lance, and Edwin were already on their way to Amberjack. 


At last, she decided she had too great a debt to repay to not assist. She looked down into her small bundle and frowned, "how soon do you wish to leave?" she asked the doctor. The witch looked at all who were present in the room, inwardly wishing to be alone with Yaro.


@Andraus @DemetrioMachete
 
Maeve rose to her feet, stumbling slightly as her body tried to recover from using so much energy to cast a summoning spell that had, in the end, been diminished before someone had been defeated; Shiva had been unhappy at the quick and uneventful fight and had sapped a bit more energy in disappeared than she'd necessarily had to. Spirits were temperamental like that.

She was about to rush off to confront the demon, but the Alethian stranger beat her to it, and when his hands were engulfed with fire the wave of Kalamitat's fear was so strong that it even caused Maeve to back away a step and whimper.

:He knows how to use the fire don't let him use it on me get it away! We are LEAVING, Maeve!: In the demon's sudden and explainable panic, only what little self control Maeve had left kept them in place.

There's nothing to be afraid of! It's just fire. What's the matter with you? Maeve snapped, and the demon quieted, murmuring to itself in its own language and not bothering to translate for its host. With an outward sigh, Maeve plopped back onto the ground and watched the Alethian's harsh interrogation. 

"It's just off of the coast of Yunakai, like that demon said," Maeve replied, having a hard time speaking past Kalamitat's mental wailing at the 'cruelty of humans.' Apparently it still had some form of sympathy for the demons trying to destroy this world, Maeve thought venomously. Shut up and help me a bit here! Do you know anything about this demon, at all?! Maeve demanded, and Kalamitat went silent again, although without muttering this time.

:No. It's been a long time since the Raids, and this isn't a demon I recognize. Sorry, human,: was the reply, and it retreated deep into their mind, obviously not wanting to talk.

"I can take you there, if you wish. It's the most I could do for you saving my life," Maeve suggested.

///

"I'll take a bit, yeah," Ferris said with a nod. "Not very much, since I'd love to be able to think straight enough to drag your rear end back to the clans." Ferris had no idea where anything was in this shop, so she had to wait for Mizuki to get a cup or something. A bit awkwardly, the demon took a seat. "Mizuki, even if we don't win, we can at least free the kiddos stuck in Alethea. Granted, they'll probably go crazy and start killing people, but if you keep your involvement quiet, say, with a disguise or something, then you can keep your position, do inside work, all that fanciness, y'know? It's not really my thing so much but I think you'd enjoy it. And when the demons start raiding again, you can even request access to prisoners to use for your studies, 'n claim it's for finding ways for defeating the demons that don't involve 'wasting human lives.'" 

Shrugging, Ferris sprawled across the cozy chair she was in. She'd been in much more comfortable spots, and it wasn't really warm, but she decided while she was here she might as well get comfy. She cast a glance out the window to the streets outside that were filling with more people as the day went on, rolling her eyes. How could humans even remotely enjoy lives where they waddle around like sheep? (Or was it those weird tuxedo-birds that waddled? Or maybe ducks? She hadn't ever cared enough to bother remembering). 

///

Lance covered his face with the palm of his free hand and sighed. "Right, I forgot," he muttered, when the bat brought up meeting with Katha. He'd been unable to sleep very well last night, but that wasn't really an excuse anyways. Scolding himself internally, Lance went back to holding the reins. He didn't seem to notice the fact that the bat still called Katha 'queen,' and if he did he didn't care. 

"Katha is a witch, so it would make sense she would have a familiar," Lance added to the bat's confirmation when Cecile grabbed at him. "Let the poor creature be, Cecile. It had to fly all the way here in the middle of the day because I forgot to meet with Grandmother," he admitted. "Let it sleep. It's going to be a great deal of help when we reach Yunakai, so we should probably repay it now." He didn't mean to call the bat an 'it' out of rudeness, just that he had neither a gender nor a name for it. If the bat wanted to introduce itself later, then he decided he wouldn't push. He was too tired to bother, really.

///

Syniad had been awoken by the scream from Yaro, more from anguish than fear, it seemed, and because of that the man had acknowledged his personal needs and gone back to sleep. He wasn't all that close to the group anyways, and whatever had happened was probably not something to do with him, and nothing he could've helped in. There were no signs of enemies in the castle, Syniad knew this as he sent threads of magic through the halls in search. What was revealed was that Prudence had died, and that there was a demonic creature--two--in Yaro's chambers.

Unfortunately, Syniad didn't know the layout of the castle well enough to find his way to Yaro's room in a short amount of time. In around 15 minutes, he'd finally found the right room, but when he looked inside the place reeked of resurrection magic. So it's solved, he thought. It wasn't likely Prudence, Yaro, and Klaus would want to be interrupted, so he turned around and left. He would ask if he should start bringing the Order later; first, he really just wanted to sleep. He was exhausted from fear and his long run.  The Order leader returned to his room and promptly fell back asleep, his body not caring that he had been jolted awake in the first place and thus not fighting him on his decision.
 
Oromis


He checked on the army for the 6th time that day. He was getting restless. Now he needed to think...who were his allies...nobody, everybody hated his crown...So he decided he needed to gather as many loyal adversaries as he had. To start, he would need to bring back anyone in the south that was in danger of being attacked by rebel scum or anything else of that sort. He decided after a bit of thought that he would send an army to come get them...and hopefully damage some rebels as well. He wondered who he could trust to lead such a mission, and how much soldiers he should even send. He thought for long hours, and finally came to a decision.


He would lead a small army of a few thousand down south, and essentially recruit and call as many loyal citizens as he could to move North while this war fought on. He was confident in his speaking abilities and believed he could not only get people to join him, but to find any knights or soldiers that needed help. He swiftly banded together a few thousand, knights, archers, and magi, and began his march south. He didn't like leaving his capital, but the bulk of the army still defended his lands, and he was confident in his own abilities. His eyes gleamed with a feverish hate as he rode South towards his enemies. @Robyn Banks @Enuky K
 
Bathelon--


Cecile reluctantly released the bat at Lance's suggestion, and allowed it to climb onto Lance's back. He blinked looking at Cecile; his poor eyesight made it difficult to take in their features. He was trying to decide what the female's purpose was in being there.


"Listen to your master", he finally said to her, deciding Lance must have been the authoritative figure there. Without another word, the bat circled around Lance's neck and this time hung from the front side of his armor. He wanted to be away from Cecile; afraid that she would continue to pester him. 


Cecile blushed at his suggestion, "he's not my master", she complained, but it would seem the bat had no interest as he made no comment. 


The old queen's familiar hung from the collar of Lance's attire, placed almost at the center of his chest. "The name is Augusto", he said with an air of dignity in his voice. He wrapped himself with his wings, and tried to sleep. 


Shortly after their encounter with the familiar, they resumed their journey towards South Yunakai. Soon, the air became more humid and it was increasingly apparent that they were nearer to the coastal kingdom. It wasn't long before they reached the Yunakai, and from there they would have to travel deeper south to find the rebel leaders. 


@Trombone Geek @Robyn Banks @Inheritance @DemetrioMachete @Andraus
 
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"You do not need to thank me for saving you. No-one should be left to the devices of these fiends. I've seen what they do with demon-bound humans first hand. Trust me, by the end of it, you'll wish someone would an arrow through your head. These monsters know no boundaries. "He said, grabbing anything useful from the demon corpses (arrows, food, water, coin, etc), before standing. "But I would greatly appreciate if you could take me there. "He said, placing his bow back on his back. He didn't seem too old, maybe in his late twenties or early thirties at best, but his eyes had the tell-tale signs of someone who had seen too much, and lived to tell the tale. 


The man would follow Maeve, occasionally toying with something around his neck. It was a locket, and he fiddled with it as if to remind himself it was there. "I don't believe I've introduced myself properly....my name is Nathadhir Tognir inAinn, 38th in line for the Alethean Throne.....probably the last of my blood-line left in this world, if they were spared being trapped away. "He said, tucking the locket in his shirt. "My friends used to call me Natha. Feel free to do the same. I am known as the 'Sliver Lord' among my people, for being a Forge-Master, though your demon probably knows me as the 'Grave Walker'. An insult given to me by most demons I meet." He said. He was trying to find a way to properly have a conversation with this woman. It would be clear to Maeve that this man was not used to being around people, likely due to years of self-inflicted isolation. He was trying his best to be friendly.


Mizuki would let out a sigh, pouring the liquor into a small cup, before handing it to her. Hearing her continue, Mizuki would down the one she made for herself, her cheeks turning pink at the immediate kick, and speak up. "Alright, alright, alright! Fine, fine....I'll do it....But, I am doing it on one condition. "She said, as she began grabbing various bottles, both for use and for sale on the road, before reaching into a hollowed out block of stone, and pulling out her 'Special Research Material', before looking towards Ferris. 


"Researching has been fun, Ferris....but doing it alone gets boring after awhile. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like telling someone new how best to make someone's heart explode, with a few nightshade petals and a piece of spiked chocolate, but I can't really connect with anyone....."She said, packing them away in her bag, before getting up, and turning towards her. 


She would then say words that would (likely) make her sibling choke on her drink."If I help you do this, I want you to help me find a husband, one that I can actually talk shop with. " She said, and the look on her face said she was completely serious. It appeared that insanity, both good and bad, ran in this families line like water in a river. No-one in their right mind, be it demon or human, would ask their older sister to help them find a husband....so casually, especially to someone as....special as Ferris.


Yaro would watch as Prudence went to lay down, and would begin to start a conversation with Klaus over the sword, when a Messenger would reach him. Yaro would listen to the messengers words, before nodding, and getting up. He would then tell the Messenger one thing: Bring Syniad to the war-room. Yaro would then walk over towards Prudence, and kiss her head, before whispering. "I won't be long...." Before walking towards the war-room himself, Chalondra in tow.


Once there, Yaro would wait for all of his military advisers, including Syniad, to arrive, before speaking up. "It's time....We've gathered all the forces we can. The Royalists have finally decided on who will succeed Kuvira. For the last few months, we've trained as many men and women for the battle to come as we can. Now, it is time to meet their response with action. "He said, before pointing towards the capitol. "The bulk of their armies remain here. Likely to 'defend' the land and keep order. It is no secret that we hold the hearts and minds of the people. From what my soldiers have gathered, they are trying to recruit more allies against us..."He said, putting a hand to his chin.


He would then set a gold coin down on the coast. 


"We'll have our pirate friends act as privateers: Offer them full amnesty, in exchange for choking up trade. Prevent the North from getting any supplies here as possible. "He said, walking across the map. He would then pick up three daggers, and stab them on the board. Each one was stabbed into one of the major roads or trading lines to Yunakai. "The Virtue Mercenaries will pose as bandits here, here, and here,. They will prevent trade to the North. Act as bandits, keep traders away, and cut a vein into the Royalists coin and supplies. We'll bleed them of their most powerful asset."He said. He would then think for a second, before looking up towards Syniad, and placing a Raven over the path that the Royalist army was to cross.


"Syniad, I have a special task for you and your people.....You're to infiltrate the army proper, steal any information you can, and forward it back to me. Other than that, I want you to perform Asset Denial, Retrieval, and Subterfuge. You'll be working with the Wilting rose Agents still loyal to me."He said. The Wilting Rose and the Order of the Raven got along....to a point. They both knew the real dangers of this world, and they both acted outside the orders and demands of their monarchs to ensure the safety of their people. However, the Wilting Rose had an entire city to themselves, and they supported magic. The Order of the Raven did not, as far as Yaro knew. However, Yaro had the up-most respect for Syniad and the Order. He wouldn't give them such an important task otherwise, and he made sure his voice said it.


Asset Retrieval was to take anything of value, such as weapons, supplies, and coin, and send it back to their allies, so they could utilize it themselves. Asset Denial was, in the event of being unable to take the item, they were to destroy it. Asset Subterfuge was to cause malfunctions in the army, their supplies, or their weapons. This included convincing them to betray their king, contaminating and poisoning their food, causing siege weapons and cannons to jam up or break, and assassination. Perfect for the Raven and the Wilting Rose agents.


Yaro would then turn to Chalondra, before holding up a hand. "I do not trust you, you are an unknown element and a threat....but I'd be stupid to turn down aid when I need it. "Yaro said, before placing three chess pieces on the map: Two knights on the sides, and the King piece in front. "I want you to split your forces, Chalondra, and once they arrive here, my armies will meet them. "He said, pushing the King forward. "Wait until I give the Signal, and then have your forces hit them on both sides. We'll catch them in a three pronged attack, and if we're lucky, cut off the head of the snake. This isn't going to be just to eradicate them, however......Once the Royalist learn of the crushing defeat of their army, they'll learn the severity of what it means to cross us. "He said.


Though Politics were not his forte, Yaro was a brilliant strategist. His strategy was to tear and wear the army down, bit by by, then finally crush it. It would minimize casualties, weaken the amount of support for the Royalist forces, show the people in the South that the King was truly here to defend them, and tear a chunk in the number of forces the Royal army had.


Lances group would spot a a rather large number of people blocking the road. It was 18 or more hooded beings, each one seemingly blending into the shadows. One stepped towards the group, purpose evident in their step. By their weapons, their appearance, and the fact that they appeared to be blocking the road, most would assume they were bandits. They were likely here to rob, steal, or murder the people of Lance's group and-


One pull of the hood revealed that this was false: It was Lanister!


No-one had heard from the Wilting Rose in months, after the events at the Castle in the Rose Kingdom. The most anyone had seen were the ones that were with Yaro and the rest, and people just assumed that the Wilting Rose supported the Rebellion. Lanister would raise his hand, and the rest would step out of the way, each one bowing to them, though it was Cecile who they were bowing too. He'd signal for Aizen to approach, before bowing. "King Lance......Lord Edwin......My Princess Cecile. I am glad to see you are all alive and well. "He said, taking off his mask.


"I am sure you have questions..."


@Enuky K @Trombone Geek @DemetrioMachete @Inheritance @Robyn Banks
 
Yunakai


"There is a rather large group of others nearby", Augusto suddenly muttered out to Lance without a single twitch of movement. His eyesight might have been poor, but his hearing was excellent. For this reason, the group was already on alert when the hooded men came into view. Cecile's hands clenched around Lance's waist in nervous anticipation, and she peered around him as they approached. She was worried they could be resistance bandits, but very quickly she came to learn otherwise when one of the men stepped up and revealed himself. 


"Lanister!" Cecile said, happy to see her old friend. She clumsily climbed down from the horse, letting out a slight grunt as she dropped to the ground. She held a hand out for Lanister to take and kiss, as customary. "I am doing well... I've learned a lot from the old witch queen Katha", she said to him. 


Edwin quickly joined Cecile's side. Recognizing Lanister as a Wilting Rose leader, Edwin paid his respects with a bow. He stood respectfully in silence while waiting for the princess to respond. Cecile's crystal like eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and she was smiling brightly to Lanister. She spoke, "yes... what are you doing here?" She glanced around at the rest of the men there and frowned. They were an intimidating group. "Are you reinforcements for the Yunakai aristocracy?" she asked. She knew of the political instability facing the kingdom, and wouldn't be surprised by the Wilting Rose coming to the aid of the monarchy. She hoped that the men would allow them to pass and travel to the south.


South Yunakai


Prudence was seated in an upright position with her baby cradled in her arms when Yaro approached with a good bye kiss. The witch's eyes saddened and inside she felt the urge to accompany Yaro; she found herself feeling uncomfortable with being left there alone. Please hurry back, she thought to herself, wishing to say it aloud but worried it would make her fragility visible. Instead, she only remained fixated on him with pleading eyes as she attempted to will her emotions to him. She watched on as the others left the room, and not long following their departure the infant began to stir and cry.


The newly mother attempted to soothe the child, and perhaps with a bit too much caution handled him. It was evident she didn't quite trust herself yet with caring for a newborn. When it seemed the baby would not be soothed Prudence rose from the bed and crossed the room. She exited the master bedroom and entered the large bathroom that it led to. 


The bathroom was luxuriant, and most of the room was taken up with the pool-like bathtub. Tall columns lined the ends of the pool, and steam was rising from the water's surface. At the far end of the pool hot water was flowing into it from a stone fountain. The water was inviting; and about the room were cloth towels stacked next to a stone bench. Prudence filled a large fruit bowl with water to bathe her child. After cleaning her young one, she undressed by the pool and descended down the short staircase that led into the steamy water. She carried her baby in her arms and sat on the steps, holding him close with his head kept safely from the water. 


It was nearly impossible to see in all of the steam, but lining the floors, walls, and inside of the pool were smooth river stones. Prudence sat straighter and brought her son to her breast, nursing him quietly for the first time. It was now safe to do so because of the doctor's work, and the baby was soon soothed as his body was warmed and his hunger satisfied. 


She couldn't help but feel a deep sense of guilt as she stared into her baby's pink colored face. Her Alfio. She felt as though she was a failure of a mother to him; bringing an illegitimate half breed into this world. This cruel world that she knew would never accept her fatherless son. She wished she could provide him with more, but she was only a Welder...


@Trombone Geek @Andraus 
 
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Oromis


The sky darkened as the sunset, and he stared out over the land. His land. He glanced back at the disposal following him...he almost wished he was alone, it would be faster...but still, he was glad to have backup. He picked up a rock, and hurled it as far as he could. He counted the yards...in hundreds... After it landed a good 300 yards away, he smirked to himself, pleased with his physical abilities. He figured that he would need as much physical practice as possible, as he hadn't practiced neither magic or combat for the past few weeks. He knew that was bad, and had a teacher begin keeping him in shape while they marched, and had a magi drill him in destruction. Sure, in the first few days of the march he was awful, but about now, he began to remind some of the doubters in the army why he was King. Even in his rusty state, none of the Magi could match his destruction spells, and he was the best hand to had fighter in the army. Sure, his swordplay could use lots of work, but he didn't focus much on that. He sighed, bored on waiting for the army for the third time.


Ever since he was young he loved sports and physical activities. His brother sat inside reading his books, practicing his powerful magic...but...Oromis went out and worked. He got stronger, and used his magic for the sake of bringing others down. He had always been a cunning and tricky leader, for what he lacked in raw charisma he made up for in intelligence. He was prideful, but he never considered that a bad thing. He didn't know much of his own faults, because anyone who tried to point them out didn't last long. Something about being unable to heal or use utility spells? Who cares! He got the job done...


When the army caught up, the laziest of them started setting up camp without his order. He glared at this, knowing they needed to be in better shape in case combat broke out. "We are marching through the night" He commanded smoothly. After a few groans of complaint, he turned around. "You are all lacking endurance and are getting weak and lazy. Until I see it fit, we will not rest. Move on." He barked the last bit, and while most moved on, there were four who stayed. "Halt." He hissed, as he strode toward them. "Are you deaf or are you stupid?" He growled. He saw them all stand and look at him, with the same look of defiance in all of them. "March with the rest of the army, or your entrails will feed buzzards." No movement, just a cold stare to see what he would do. Well then...he would show them...


He turned around, then whirled to the right with a solid right hook to his jaw. No magic, but the man stumbled back. The next one over jumped back in surprise, but simply did not prepare fast enough. With fierce agility, Oromis struck out against this soldier in the gut, then in the eye. The man went down, and Oromis turned to his next two victims. They both charged, weapons drawn, as Oromis swiftly disarmed one, then jammed his elbow into the other's face. He heard bone crunch, and he threw both men onto the ground. He saw the first charge at him, and that had triggered him to his final resort. He was furious that these dogs dared defy his rule. NOBODY DEFIED HIS RULE! "Urash kura"  He hissed, and spread both hands out towards them. Lightning danced off his finger tips, and lanced across the four insubordinates. For a few seconds, he sat there, releasing his rage onto the four. When he stopped, they didn't have enough muscle to twitch...they were almost completely fried, almost unrecognizable as humans. With a grunt, Oromis strolled to the front of the army. He said nothing, just walked on ahead.

The army followed.


@Robyn Banks @Enuky K @Andraus
 
"I'm not her master," Lance corrected, in unison with Cecile. He refused to acknowledge that he'd done that, and went back to riding silently, growing more uncomfortable with Cecile laying on his back as it got hotter and more humid. The king didn't complain, though, and the group continued mostly quiet until Augusto spoke up. The small creature had a rather fancy name, but it acted like it was a human noble so Lance supposed there was no surprise there.

The 'others' August spoke of had been in Lance's sight for some time; and at first he thought it'd been a trick of the heat, but as they got closer and the figures didn't move the man only became more wary. As the quintet drew closer, Lance's hand went to his sword, gripping tightly as if to relieve some tension before unsheathing it slightly, with a quiet scrape, flashing the forte of the blade as a warning but not fulling drawing the blade.

When one of the people--probably bandits--stepped forwards, Lance drew his sword further, but the face he saw surprised him. "Lanister?" he asked incredulously, sliding his weapon back home. As Cecile jumped off of the horse to greet him, and Edwin followed, Lance decided there was no point in staying on horseback and climbed down himself, joining the group. He was about to voice his question, but Cecile beat him to it. 

"I was a bit unsure of what side your people would join, Lanister. With Kuvira's death, you no longer have any connection to the Yunakaian royalty, and you don't particularly seem to enjoy listening to the Roseland's ruler either. So before we get too far into chatting, I need to know: which side are you on?"
 


///


Syniad listened to Yaro's plans, nodding when the noble reached the plans he had for the Order. The job would be difficult, especially dealing with Wilting Rose agents who might possess a holier-than-thou attitude towards Syniad and his guild, but if they could control their attitude (on both sides) then things would go smoothly. And maybe he could recruit some of them in the process. He had no problem with magic, obviously, and if there were enough Wilting Rose mages to be spared then hopefully some of the Order's people could be trained in the art.

Yaro's plan seemed fairly sound. With the vast expanse and unique experience among his forces, he was able to make a strong strategy that would tear the Rose army to bits. He saw no real issues that were preventable, not at that moment.

///

Ferris sipped at her Diamond Reserve and grinned as Mizuki accepted her offer. She listened intently to Mizuki's condition, honestly expecting something like free reign at any corpses or prisoners of war, but.. A husband?! Ferris rose an eyebrow, setting down her cup on the table and leaning forwards with interest, bracing her elbows on her knees. "A.. husband," Ferris repeated, wondering if someone more insane than herself had come along. 

Shrugging it off, Ferris stood. "Sure, why not? Dunno if we'll ever find anyone, though. We'll have to see. Pack whatever you need, erase any incriminating evidence you have here, and we can head off to Yunakai and join up with Chalondra and Mazoku." The demon picked up a flower and examined it, waiting for her sister's okay to leave.
 
Lanister would kiss Cecile's hand, bowing his head. "I am glad you are well, Your majesty. Since your departure, things have not.....been well in the Rose Kingdom. I daresay you are the only pure rose, among a wilted garden. "He said, politely, not realizing that it sounded like a flirtatious comment. He would then turn towards Lance. "You are not the first to believe we would support a open revolt in an enemy kingdom, and I doubt you'll be the last.....But I will tell you now: We do not support this revolt. The members you see with Yaro are Extremists, believing it's time we started getting more involved in politics and the public, not realizing that our secrecy is what keeps us safe. "Lanister said, pulling his hood back on, before signalling for the members of the group to encircle Lance's, 


"I am currently heading to the Southern segment to speak to Yaro. I'm hoping I can convince him to pursue reconciliation with the Yunkanian monarchy....God, this has been a total nightmare. "Lanister said. "You guys probably don't know much, so I will fill you in with what I can.....What you heard was true: Kuvira murdered Troy. "Lanister said. It still stung that a woman like Troy, who only wanted to help people, was cut down like a common criminal. "My people discovered the truth, and we tried to deal out appropriate retribution.....However....."


"Your brother decided then and there to stab us in the back."


Lanister just had a look of disgust on his face. "Instead of providing justice for the murder of a young woman, he sided with his Queen, and promised action if we took the matter into our own hands....So, I gave the order to abandon the Rose Capitol. I wasn't about to commit my forces to quell a revolt for a kingdom that ONLY exists because my ancestor kept the royal family there. "He said. He would then rub his eyes. "Then....things exploded from there. Yaro flew into a fit rage....Troy was the last member of his family, and the others had previously been killed by the Yunkanian Royal family.....He murdered Kuvira, as well as the rest of the Royal family." He said to them. 


Lanister would keep walking, choosing to let them digest that, before he continued. "Everything went south from there.....Yaro took over the South, a revolt has started in the Rose Kingdom, and from what I've been told, This new king that Yunakai has selected isn't much of an improvement."He said, just shaking his head. "It's gotten so serious that the our Grand-Masters are considering calling for an Inquisition."He said. Anyone that knew of the Roseacae Inquisition knew that, if it got that serious, then this world was in bad shape. A New Inquisition is only to be called in extreme emergencies.


((This is all I can write for now))


@Enuky K @Trombone Geek @Inheritance
 
Oromis


Days had gone by, and after they had gotten about 3/4 of the way there Oromis began to wear a hooded cloak, and traveled deep within the army. Of course, his word still rang supreme, and he had his specialized agents, the Knights of Solmania, around him to defend him.Solmania was just a small city that was unnoticed until he himself had gone there and saw the power of their soldiers. Battle Magi unlike any he'd ever seen, brave enough (or stupid) to challenge a dragon for those he loved. Well he had gave them a place in the Capital and now asked them to be his personal guard. They accepted, and he scarcely felt safer when they were around. Of course he relied on his own abilities, but one could never have too much backup.


The clouds darkened, and it seemed like it was going to rain. He loved rain, but in conditions when they had to march, rain was not welcome. He ignored it, however, wanting to get to the south as soon as possible then depart, so he just pressed on.
 


Two more rebellions had broken out, one with seven people, and the second with thirteen. Oromis had handled the first one himself (using much more energy then he would have liked), and had the Knights of Solmania aid him in breaking the second one. It had been over 24 hours now without an incident.


At first he was afraid this would inspire more and more disorder, but now he grinned happily under his hood. This was a model for the real world would work: they would try to fight, and he would break them...sure they could have some hope, and the rebels were strong willed and would fight to the last man. So he wouldn't waste time tracking down the last man...no...that takes too long.


What he needed was to crush their will to fight, he needed to crush their hope. 


@Enuky K @Trombone Geek @Robyn Banks @Andraus
 
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Yunakai


While Cecile readily approached Lanister, the cool headed Bathelon king was instead more hesitant. Rather than wasting any time on salutations, he went straight to the point, uninterested in much else Lanister had to say. Cecile did not notice his guarded attitude as she glanced around at the other men. The maiden princess was too trusting of others. However, Lanister was quick to reiterate the Wilting Rose's support of the monarchies. She was relieved. 


When the agent reached Cecile's brother in his summary, the curly haired maiden frowned and looked guiltily away. It was hard for her to choose leaving her kingdom during such a difficult time, but the princess was left with no choice. She knew Thornton was a depressed wreck following Kuvira's death, and she did not wish to burden him with the additional stress of caring for her condition. She did her best to keep her thoughts away from King Thornton, but felt a sick feeling develop in her stomach upon Lanister's final statement.... an inquisition. 


The back of Cecile's throat began to hurt, threatening a round of crying from the girl. She couldn't stand the thought of losing the Rose Kingdom-- did they not understand her brother's grief? And she herself was in no condition to assist the kingdom since the witch Prudence laid a dreadful curse on her. The young witch became somewhat defensive then, "forgive my brother for his grievances", she said. "It is to my knowledge Commander Vohon is assisting in my kingdom."


The girl stood straighter and continued, "I intend to take responsibility for my kingdom, but I cannot do so until I have rid myself of this curse. That is why we are here, Sir Lanister; we are on a witch hunt for the woman responsible for this", she explained. It seemed Lanister was also on his way to the southern capitol, but was choosing to do so peacefully. Cecile agreed with this, deciding that peaceful measures should be attempted first.


It was then that Augusto began to flitter around Lance's head. He clamped onto the man's ear again, twittering nervously. 


"Something bad is coming, something bad", he bantered into Lance's ear. Without awaiting instruction from the king, the bat familiar flew away, quickly vanishing in the distance. He was clearly frightened by whatever it was he detected.


Cecile looked towards Lance and in the direction of the bat, "what's the matter with him?" she asked impatiently. 


Augusto was flying to the source of the disturbance, deciding to see it for himself and report back. However, he didn't have to travel for long. Only a mile or so away there were armies. It wan't hard to judge by the dress of the soldiers and flags they carried that these were the Yunakai royal forces. Augusto squeaked in surprise and zipped back to the group, returning in little time. 


"The Yunakai royal forces are here", he said, "all of them!" He landed back on Lance's shoulder, huddling closer to him. Of course, the entire Yunakai royal forces weren't on their way, but to a creature as small as a bat the small army was as large as he could imagine. 


The Rose Princess perked in interest, "you mean the new king is here?" she quirked. She spun around to face Edwin and sputtered, "return!" Instantly, her broomstick kicked up and dashed to her side. She hopped on and took off in the direction the bat left before she could be stopped. Cecile was quick then to reach the armies, and did her best to spot the king among the soldiers, but many of the men were in hoods. She wasn't worried the men would harm a princess from a allied kingdom. 


She hovered over the army for a short time before landing among the men. However, she was given a harsh welcoming. The small princess was immediately seized by hooded soldiers, whose magic was much stronger than her own. They confiscated her broomstick, wand, and dagger, and brought her promptly to the king.


The blue eyed princess was struggling to break free of the men the entire way, protesting as loud as she could, She screamed and yelled about her identity, but the soldiers had no reason to believe her while dressed in peasant clothes. Cecile was disguised as a peasant to travel safely in the south, "I am princes of the Rose Kingdom! I am your ally!" It was of no use though because to the soldiers a peasant witch was likely to be of the resistance. 


They dragged the princess to their leader, who turned out to also be wearing a hooded robe. 


"It's a woman", one of the soldiers said gruffly to King Oromis. 


"Please listen; I am princess Cecile", she pleaded, her curly hair was a tousled mess around her shoulders, and she was staring up at him with her big blue hues. Oromis was at least familiar with King Thornton, her twin brother. It would take Lanister, Lance, and Edwin several minutes to reach the army on horseback. 


@Andraus @Inheritance @Trombone Geek
 
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