Plagued by a Rose [concluded]

[Spacing Out]

She leaned back and listened to what he had to say. Not agreeing with it but still considered it. "you underestimate me. My army is filled with trained wizards unlike what the rose kingdom have to offer. Understand that magic is used frequently here unlike the untrained roses. You miscalculate that they are in a plague therefore their soldiers are down along with all the essentials they need to survive. I have was of keeping land and I will not lose it over simple things. I have plans but I will not tell them to you. If you kill me you will be starting a war whether you like or not. I will be a martyr and I have support if Yunkai to avenge my death. My death will do more harm than good." She leaned back into her seat. Scoffing at his comment about the princess. " the Bathelon prince already made that offer of training and the princess personally denied. She is irrelevant, her twin brother is the true heir to the the one not her. She'll be a waste of my time. There are some traits if being a leader that can't be learned. When she abandon you out of fear is a good example of that. True power, the divine right to rule isn't something you learn its something you're BORN with. " She stood up."when I walk on a paths its very hard for me to stray from it and this is the path I've Chosen. I respectfully deny your offer and others that has come after." She turned to make her exit before stopping for Nephenee to reveal herself. She was stunned obviously but turned back to her usual stern look." I apologize but your help will be no longer necessary. Because I will take what's mine with fire and blood no matter what the circumstances are." She said before making her way out with her simple poise movements. She will take the rose kingdom no matter what. She did not get this far only to be manipulated by lesser beings.



​

 

[Trombone Geek]

At Cecile's next words, Lance felt as if every bone in his body had been broken. He broke away suddenly, taking a few steps backwards and shaking his head fiercely. Even as he felt the spell waver and dissipate, it still left behind a stronger form of caring for the princess.


He watched the girl warily, but soon returned to his original cool demeanor. He wouldn't let this get to him, but even so he still felt a tinge of regret for rejecting her. He hated the feeling of being so helpless to his own emotions; he enjoyed being in control. Being toyed with mentally shook him more than any amount of physical torture ever would.


"Don't.." Lance hesitated for a moment, as if still unsure of himself, but he restarted his sentence. "Don't do that again." However, it was obvious that he hadn't shoved his way through Cecile's spell unscathed, judging by the way he didn't quite meet the princess's gaze. Perhaps he was fearful of being locked in such a state again?


On second that, maybe old man Varudian wouldn't be so proud of his son, not with how that whole ordeal had turned out. Lance's father would scold the boy for letting his emotions get to him, even slightly.. Still shaken by the spell, the prince couldn't help his thoughts from turning down the oh-so-depressing path that hinted at his father's death. While there had been some strain from the king always being busy, Lance had loved him; his passing would not leave the prince in good mental health.


A messenger pigeon suddenly fluttered in through an open window, landing on the arm of the chair Lance had been sitting in before. Around its neck was a letter.. and the letter was sealed with the crest of Bathelon, a mighty eagle soaring over a trade caravan, with a mountain in the background. The prince stopped and stared for a moment, uneasy; it could be some normal question of how the negotiations were going.. or it could be more than a coincidence.


Lance walked over to the bird, hands drifting out to untie the string and take hold of the letter. He took advantage of the love spell's remains, glancing at Cecile as if to steady himself before breaking the seal and opening the letter, pulling out the sheet of paper within.


To the King of Bathelon-- Perhaps it was just some coincidence? Still, he should read it; if it really was Phillip or Varudian's matters, then he could suffer for it later. Maybe the pigeon got sidetracked? But, to come directly to the palace in Yunakai..


It is my regret to inform you that the Order of the Raven has made a return. Maybe just a warning.. Please let it be a warning..


They have made a bold move that allies them with the Rose Kingdom, for reasons unknown. King Varudian-- Time seemed to slow around the prince; someone could slit his throat and he wouldn't even realize he was dead.


--has been assassinated. It is of utmost importance that your mission succeed, lest Bathelon and its allies fall. When you return, you will be hailed as king, until the people recover and decide otherwise, if they do so. Lance didn't let himself process one sentence within the short, to-the-point letter, but continued to the bottom.


May Lady Luck ever be on your side,


Sir Phillip Orun ((I just made up a random name, don't mind me.))


And, in small print, at the bottom right:


Lance.. Be careful.


Now that Lance had finished reading the letter, he had no excuse to stall. His eyes reluctantly pinpointed the one sentence that had sent reality slapping him in the face.


Varudian was dead. King Varudian was dead. Lance's father hadn't even died by the sickness the Rose Kingdom had inflicted him with; he had been killed by its allies. Allies of the Rose Kingdom.


The prince's grasp on the letter tightened until his fingertips broke the parchment; even then, his hands curled into fists until his knuckles turned white. He stood as still as a statue, with the exception of the occasional tremor that ran through his body, before he gently set the ruined letter on the chair. He faced the wall, hiding his face effectively from Cecile, frowning as he attempted to keep from crying like a small child. He'd deal with it later.


"Later..." Lance murmured, trying to convince himself not to break down then and there. He was a man, damn it, and men did not cry! That lesson had been beaten into the boy's mind at a young age, by his father; and had been reinforced by the fact that he'd never once seen Dante, the closest thing to a mother he had, cry. Lance ran a shaky hand through his blond hair, sighing heavily.


After taking a while to regain his composure, Lance turned to Cecile. "Do you think Queen Kuvira will let our party remain here to rest? Whether or not you agree with her choice of actions, you can't deny rest would be good before heading off." He was quick to change the subject, shoving his father's death into the back of his mind.

 

[Andraus]

Lanister sighed to himself, before standing up, and leaving. He would return to the group soon enough, before bowing to Cecile, kissing her hand. "My apologies, Lady Cecile. I have been quite busy, that I've neglected to teach you anything like I promised. "He said to her, as he sat down in a chair, closing his hands together. "What shall we learn, my lady?" He asked of her, the smile on his face, but he was secretly worried about what would happen next. Lanister had to make sure that they were prepared for war, a war where they were incredibly outnumbered. Her lessons would have to be sooner than he hoped.


@Enuky K

 

[Spacing Out]

Kuvira entered into her chambers, knowing that she would have to depart soon. Before Jaime entered after being announced. He bowed before her "yes Jaime what is it?" He stood once more before beginning to speak. "My queen, the spies in bathelon has reported the death of King Vardun. He was assassinated by the rose kingdom" Kuvira stood there stunned. She didn't understand why he would be assassinated as far as she's known he served as a good king. But of course the others would not stand for that. It didn't take long for the her to Tie it together. "Hmm... Do not tell anyone you are aware of this, but this means we will have to leave sooner. Inform my uncle that he will be in charge of the kingdom in my absence. I want Grandmaster aerys to call his company of merchants ships to start the attack tonight. Make it discreet by taking the soldiers near the bay, I don't want the guest to realize my plan. As for Lance, he will ask for my help soon enough. Seems like someone here is a spy." She nodded towards him making sure that he know he was able to leave at tend to his duties. She adjusted herself before making her way to the banquet hall where the rest remained.


"I can escort you all to your chambers. I apologize for my absence, I had unexpected business to attend to." She was surround by a couple of her ladies in waiting. Who gestured politely towards the rest. She gave Lance a knowing look before proceeding to go into the halls.

​

 

[Enuky]

Little did Kuvira know, there was a spy among them. However, it was not who she would suspect. Edwin had followed the group to the palace, and spent the day watching the castle from a safe distance. He had seen the princess go in as well as the strange outburst of guards leading some of the guests out. Upon seeing the princess fraternizing with the leaders of Yunakai and Bathelon Edwin came to an immediate conclusion: they were planning something. The princess was taking part in these negotiations; she had betrayed her kingdom.


Edwin was not entirely correct, but what he saw pushed him to seek a new agenda. He would return to the Gallica Pass at once and alert his comrades of the potential new threat. The knight made haste in carrying out his decision and left the castle grounds at once. By nightfall he made it back to the Gallica Pass, and was successfully able to warn the Rose Army of the imminent threat. Knowing that most would not believe the word of a rookie, Edwin went straight to the commander.


"Commander, I have returned from my mission. All is well in the Yunakai nation, but today I discovered something amiss. The princess Cecile is in Yunakai along with the leaders of Bathelon. I believe they are negotiating political affairs".


He paused and watched the commander closely; he knew his leader would be interested to hear that the lost princess Cecile could be so close. He wondered what would happen to the princess now that she could be a threat. After all, she was engaging with enemy nations. (@Baconhands , welcome aboard!)

. . .



​

A smirk emerged on Cecile's white face as she witnessed the prince fumble. She enjoyed bringing him pain. Then a messenger pigeon flew into the room, diverting both of their attentions from what had just taken place to the bird. The bird held a letter around its neck that Lance reached for. The girl watched curiously as Lance read the note while trying to determine what it could be. Suddenly, the prince began to act differently.


She noticed that Lance appeared to deliberately turn away from her and murmur to himself. She wondered what could be wrong. It was unlike the prince to act in such a way... to act with such uncertainty. Then the prince attempted to change the subject by asking a stupid question. "Kuvira has already invited us to stay...", she said and added, "what's with the letter?" She gestured to the partially destroyed letter, but luckily for Lance the two were interrupted by the return of Lanister. He stepped towards Cecile and took her small hand in his. He also appeared troubled. She listened carefully as he spoke and soon she, too, began to seem worried. She knew by his actions that he had not been successful negotiating with Kuvira.


Finally, as if Cecile was thinking of the devil himself, Kuvira entered the room. She quickly took charge of the situation and she and her ladies directed the group to where they would be staying. To Cecile's surprise, she was also given her own small room. Lance had been right about one thing; the girl was tuckered out. From crying and screaming to walking through the marketplace she was quite tired. She quickly curled up into the small bed and drifted to sleep. When she awoke next it appeared late in the night, and the sound of a thunderstorm could be heard from outside.


She arose and cautiously turned her door knob. The door was unlocked! It was a privilege the girl had longed for. She slowly peeped her head out the door. There were no guards either. Now the girl crept silently through the hall; all of the guests had been placed in rooms near one another. She wondered again what could have happened to cause the prince to slack in his duties of keeping her secured.


Cecile came to the prince's room and slipped stealthily into it. She crossed the room through darkness and stood by the side of his bed. He was asleep, but his face appeared puffy. The girl keeled next to him, observing his face carefully to ensure he was asleep. Then the girl leaned delicately forward, pressing her lips against his cheek. She placed her crest on the floor next to his bed and took her leave. Perhaps it was a small way of saying good bye to him. Her next stop would be Lanister's room.


She entered Lanister's room and closed the door gently behind her. As she expected, Lanister was awake. He had never gone to sleep. She hesitated, "I think it is best for us to leave now". With Kuvira set on taking over the Rose Kingdom Cecile knew that the two of them had no place in the Yunakai palace. They would sneak away from the Yunakai palace that night and begin the girl's training. It did not matter if Kuvira took over the Rose Kingdom or not; what mattered was becoming powerful enough to end her rule quickly.


@Andraus

 

[Trombone Geek]

Lance frowned, unsure of how he'd managed to forget such a thing, and was glad that Lanister showed his face for once. It appeared his attempts to negotiate with Kuvira had failed; before he could find out anything else, the Queen herself entered the room. She would show the guests to their rooms, but at one point her eyes landed on Lance. She knew. Before the two's eyes could lock, Lance dropped his gaze, his expression deepening into a scowl. He stared at the floor at Kuvira led each of them to their rooms, and even Dante kept well away, knowing that the prince would talk in time. Whatever was causing Lance to act this way sent a shiver of dread down the half-elf's spine.


After laying on his bed and staring at the ceiling for a while, Lance couldn't hold back the few tears that threatened to spill. Before his vision could blur, he turned over onto his stomach and buried his face in his pillow. "Quit acting like a girl," Lance scolded himself, but it did nothing to stop his shaking, nothing to stop the tears.. Believe it or not, he found himself slightly jealous of Kuvira; the woman probably would've taken such a thing in stride and kept going.


After a while, Lance felt calm, and exhausted. The reason for his mourning vanished from his mind, and he quickly fell asleep.


Lance was asleep for only a few hours before the quiet creak of his door woke him. He had been a light sleeper in the first place, and Dante's training hadn't helped him; he was taught that no matter how tired he was, he should always be aware of his surroundings.


The light padding of bare feet was barely audible, muffled by the room's carpet, but even so Lance heard it. Either a clumsy assassin.. or a considerate princess trying to be quiet, he decided as the person's shadow fell over his face. He kept his eyes shut and breathing slow, a convincing image of sleep, and found himself extremely confused when the princess's lips landed on his cheek. He kept quiet, though, and didn't sit up until his door clicked shut again.


He reached down, grasping the crest the princess had left and looking towards the door. As stealthy as a cat, Lance slid out of bed and made his way to the door, opening it quietly and moving into the hallway, shivering at the cold stone against his feet. He watched the princess as she disappeared into Lanister's room, and managed to stop the door from closing completely, before opening it again and following in after Cecile.


"You'll keep her safe," was the first thing he said, not caring whether or not Cecile was surprised or annoyed at his presence, and definitely not caring for Lanister's opinion. "If she gets hurt in your care, I'll send all the hounds of hell on your tail, do you understand?" Lance didn't understand the overwhelming need to protect Cecile, but dismissed it as the remains of the love spell she had cast.

 

[Andraus]

( @Naomi Loriel If you want, you could have her follow him.)


Lanister nodded to Cecile silently, before thinking. It was a drastic time, which meant that there was only one place he could think of that she could receive training, where she would be truly safe....Lanister had to take her home. His home. The Queen would never be able to find it, and it was probably the safest place in the Rose Kingdom to be right now. Taking this into consideration, Lanister stood up, before approaching the Prince. He handed him a note, before speaking, in a voice with strong emotion. "I'll keep her safe.....I promise."


I will return soon, and will keep watch. Cecile, however, will not be returning soon. I will not leave you, and I will not abandon our agreement. So long as you have need of my skills to get this cure, I will do all I can to retrieve it with you. This is my vow, and my oath.





Lanister would take Cecile's hand, before running into the streets below. He would look up at the sky, hearing the bell toll. "We have a small window of time.......Hurry. "He said to her, before running. He seemed to be following a mental map, going through the odd streets with his eye's scanning the area. He would then take an unexpected turn: He would go into the Sewer's, following a path with cracked bricks, until they'd be met with a wall. Lanister would stop before counting to himself.


"Five......four......three......two........one......"


As soon as Lanister said one, a symbol would appear on the wall. Lanister would then grab his blade, before cutting open the palm of his hand. He would then press it to the symbol. "Come to me clouds...May you rise up a great storm born to rip open...let my blood summon the gate to your heart, to the eye of your storm......may it bring me to safety."He said to the wall. Suddenly, the bricks began falling away, as they gave way to a large gateway. "Cecile, I know this may be unsafe to you, but I need you to trust me......"He said, holding out his hand. "I will protect you no matter what, so please.....let me." He said, taking her hand, and squeezing it tight.

 

[Enuky]

Cecile's face instinctively took the form of a scowl when she realized she had been followed by the prince. Unlike the keen king, Cecile did not have senses trained well enough to hear him as he followed her down the hall until he caught the door. Then he intruded, but to Cecile's surprise he had not arrived to foil their escape. Instead, he demanded that Lanister ensure her safekeeping. Cecile only avoided his eyes, embarrassed by his presence.


Then it was time to leave. "Good luck", was the last thing the girl said to King Lance before Lanister grabbed the girl's hand and hurried away. Then the two went on a running spree through the kingdom, taking several dark streets before finally coming to a bricked dead end. She watched as Lanister summoned a mystical looking portal. She felt nervous about stepping in, but with Lanister's encouragement the two stepped in together and the gateway vanished behind them. Where the two would wind up was a mystery to her, but she had been released. She was no longer anyone's prisoner.

 

[Spacing Out]

Kuvira lead each of them to their rooms before going to her chambers in the other wing. She closed the door behind her before laying down on her bed. Her ladies giggled as she done so before she pulled out a smile."what's so funny?" Kenna, one of her 4 ladies sat beside her. "Nothing of the sort. You seem so scary back that even I would've shivered. Of course until I remember the time you tripped on your dress when you were practicing your stride and your mother's face when you did Haha." She said jokily while the others laughed. She pouted, feeling the need to defend herself. "That was once and I was taking too big of steps, it didn't happen again."


"True but when we snuck out to collect pixies on summer nights, when they're were none you would always cry." Greer added on before they started to giggle once more. She hit the closest person next to her playfully soon getting hit back in return. Feathers started to fly until Kuvira started to take it all in. Holding back tears. The girls soon stopped to try to tend to her till she shrugged it off." I don't know when I will ever come back home and I'm going to miss you guys. You were the only ones I feel I could trust." With a sympathetic look they embraced each other with hugs knowing that it would very well be their last. The journey that she will face would be a long one and she had to succeed. For the people, for her friends. The guards opened the door before commander Lenin walked in. Kuvira realized her grip on her ladies before nodding."what is it?" Lenin clenched his sword as he began to speak. "The princess has escaped along with the wilting rose member." Surprisingly Kuvira expected that after lanister tried to negotiate with her of course he would try to run away with her. To train her to become a "powerful" Witch or so he says. She shrugged as if the information given to her was nothing. That's fine, let's see if she actually has potential as for the wilting rose, I will take care of them soon enough. Make sure that they didn't take anything prior to their departure. The guard nodded before leaving the room turning back to her ladies. Nodding their way as they began to leave telling her good night as they passed her by. Good night. She laid on her bed once more before starting to sigh.



​

 

[Trombone Geek]

((I feel like I'm in a race against myself to see how much drama I can shove into as little time as possible.. Heh. Plus, wolfies.))


Lance took the note and nodded, satisfied. When Lanister took Cecile's hand to leave, the princess said good luck, and the two were gone.


"Become strong. Show Queen Kuvira she was wrong in her assumptions of you," he said quietly to their backs, before turning to go back to his room. He quietly slipped in, only a quiet click of the door being shut revealing he had ever left. He lit one of the room's candles for light, reading the note. Good; Lanister would still help Bathelon get ahold of the cure.


A slight shifting of shadows in the corner distracted Lance. It could've been from the candle's ever-flickering flame, but even so Lance didn't hide the movement he made as he reached towards the nightstand's drawer, opening it and pulling out a plain steel dagger. A slight growling noise, more beast than human, was his response.


Before Lance could so much as blink, the shadow rippled, and seemed to grow, and suddenly a giant, wolf-esque beast was on him. Lance shoved the dagger into its eye as it tried to snap at him, causing it to yelp loudly.


Lance heard the door open, and in that moment of weakness he turned his head to look at Dante; before the elf could tackle the beast off of him, though, its maw opened and clamped down on his shoulder. He cried out, reaching up to punch the wolf-thing in an attempt to get it away, but Dante beat him to it; her hands wrapped around the muzzle, prying it apart and flinging it onto the floor, before slipping a silver knife from her tunic and slitting the throat. So, it was a werewolf.


Lance was clutching his shoulder, shuddering as he watched the painful transformation back into a human form. The clothes, however torn, shifted with the attacker, showing it wasn't your normal, feral werewolf; that particular set of clothes had been enchanted.


"Never thought the Order would stoop so low.. Lance, why are they attacking you?"


Right.. still haven't told her. Glad to have pain as a distraction, Lance answered Dante's question. "He was assassinated by the same bunch who just tried to kill me," he said, and he hated the way Dante looked at him with sympathy and pity.


Lance looked to the bite wound on his shoulder; the skin around it was already a gray-black color, the infection probably spreading quicker because of the fact the moon was full. Already he could feel an invisible weight pressing down on his mind. "Dante.. is there any way to stop this?" he asked, shivering. The room was too cold and too hot all in one.


"I don't know. I could see if Kuvira knows anything," she said. "If you.. do turn, what should we do until the night lifts?" She had to get this answer now, before the worst had a chance to happen.


"Whatever the hell you need to do," Lance snapped. "Now go!" Nodding, Dante raced into the hallway, only to pause. Sighing to release the tension in her body, Dante relaxed and closed her eyes, letting her senses range outwards. There! Pinpointing Kuvira's room, Dante took off again.


When she came to the queen's room, she quickly wondered whether or not to knock, or go right in. Deciding she could pay for being rude later, she opened Kuvira's door. "Queen Kuvira, I'm sorry for the interruption, but you need to come, quick! Lance.. he's been bitten by a werewolf." Dante herself had never learned any healing magic other than minor spells, and so she really had no idea what to do. She hated feeling helpless.

 

[Andraus]

The portal would spread a warm sensation over the three of them (again, an opening for you @Naomi Loriel ), leaving them with a sense of security. To Haruka and Lanister, they'd see the familiar magic-stone torch's in their home, the blue-blaze from the crystal's a comforting change in scenery. To Cecile, she'd see these Torch's as quite advanced: Instead of fire or coal, they burned purely with magic energy. The hall's were lined with marble, the Torch stands were silver, and the feeling of security did not wash away.....It truly felt safe here. The Hallway they were in felt.....new, but old. There was obvious age in where they were.


The portal would close behind them, as Lanister would look back at it. "It is one of our secrets.....and one of our most carefully guarded entrance. To say that our reach extends everywhere is a bit of a stretch, but that doesn't mean we don't stretch far......The Moon-gate's are an old design, they can take us to any of the old lands. "He said to her, explaining to her as he did to Haruka so many years ago, on her first assignment.


Lanister would then walk over towards the exit, and the trio would see a small group of guards. Instead of the usual light armor and silver masks that the members on the outside wore, these wore masks that only revealed their eye's, pitch black clothing, and Dark full-plate armor that was likely made of Volcanic glass, a very strong material, and very light material. On the pauldrons were a printing of the Wilting Rose's symbol. Haruka and Lanister would know who these were, but Cecile would not: These were the Valpurna City Guard, those that trained to defend their homeland in case of invasion. Essentially, they were this cities military.


" ava'yorn trothar di hesi okarthel, si dronilnr mrith ve batobot wanotreyxkaiv di wer tilek."He said. Though it was not used often, Cecile would recognize the language he used: It was the Draconic native tongue. These people took their safety incredibly serious, it appeared. The Guard would simply look towards Cecile, before stepping to the side, allowing them to pass.


Lanister would take Cecile's hand, and squeeze it reassuringly, smiling towards her. He didn't know why, but he honestly felt better for Cecile to be here. It was a place that he could easily keep her safe at. Though Lanister did not understand this feeling, he still lead her through the halls of the entrance they came from, before they came before Steel-reinforced doors.


"What you are about to see, my Princess......no, My queen, is a city where you shall learn to harness your power to it's fullest extent.......Welcome to my home: Valpurina. "He said, as he pushed open the door.


What she saw would be truly amazing, to her.


The city was truly a work that was many years in the making. The city glew with the light from the crystals to keep things light, and the city stretched deep into the massive......caverns? No wonder no-one could get to the city: Without any surface entrance, the only way to get there would be magic. As they walked down the stairs to the winding staircase, they'd see that the design was.....old, very old. These were design's meant to be old wards against demons. This whole place, though obviously a well-constructed and comfortable city, felt like a fortress.


"The Fortress City of Valpurina Built in the Divine Era, to protect the common people against the Demon's, it was joint effort by using the numbers of the humans, the workmanship of the Dwarves, and the old magic of the Elves . Re-purposed by our founder's, it now serves as our stronghold, our home, our port in the storm. "He said to Cecile, brimming with Pride for his adoptive home. "All records of this place were destroyed during that time, so it's existence is a well-hidden fact, much more it's location exactly in the Rose Kingdom. "He said. "This is my home.......It's Haruka's Home.......and for as long as you want it to be Cecile, it is your home as well. "Lanister said, giving her a genuine smile.

 

[Spacing Out]

Kuvira arose shocked at having the half elf into her room. "What do you thi-" she was soon interrupted being aware of the future king being bitten by a werewolf. "Lead me to him." She said before taking her wand and rushing to his chambers.


She gestured to some of her ladies who followed."I need a Vinita brew tea. The chef will know what I talk about. Hurry" she said as they started to leave. She examined his injury on his shoulder.Vulnera Sanentur" she said as she trace the elder wand over his wound. The wound began to heal as if it was a minor scratch. Of course the wand she used wasn't ordinary.The Elder Wand is ancient and made of elderwood, rumored to be made by death itself. It is fifteen inches long and has a Thestraltail-hair core, which is "a tricky substance that only wizards that mastered death can control.".The Elder Wand, as well as being more powerful than other wands, is noticeably unique from other wands in its appearance, particularly because it bears carvings that resemble clusters of elderberries running down its length. This wand is passed down from ruler to ruler,during their coronation along with their crown.




She stepped back to look at the work she's done . gently touching his shoulder. "Luckily you told me soon enough. If you haven't it would've been harder to treat it." Kenna returned back to her queen handing her the cup of tea. Kuvira handed it to Lance. 'This will make sure none of the vemon take any affect on you." She smiled slightly before getting up. "Anything to help an ally. Is that all you need?" She was hoping he would bring out the fact about the assassination of his father but she didn't force it upon him. She understood how lost was.



​

​

 

[Trombone Geek]

"No.. I think I'll be fine.." Lance said, frowning at the assassin's corpse. He shouldn't have been surprised by the Order's appearance, even as far as Yunakai; it was obvious they were trying to dismantle Bathelon by taking out its rulers. All Lance could do was hope one of them didn't go after Phillip.


"He shifted because I noticed him, which means they had two plans: kill me; and if they can't, infect me. I'm glad they failed." Lance took the cup of tea from Kuvira, but didn't move his eyes from the corpse. "They killed my father. As soon as this war is over.. I will make sure the Order of the Raven never rises again. They've been nothing but trouble." Sighing, Lance stood; despite the power of Kuvira's wand and the spell she had used, a scar still remained, probably because the infection had already spread a bit before the queen reached him. As tired as he was, he didn't notice that he could see a bit better now, despite the darkness. Making his way over to the assassin, he searched for anything of worth, namely a contract, although he managed to nick himself on the man's dagger. He disregarded the small cut, and eventually pulled out a rumpled piece of parchment.


"Why they carry these things on their person so their target knows who to exact revenge on, I'll never know. It's convenient, though," Lance muttered as he unfolded the paper and read what was inside. One part was partially blotted out with ink, and Lance didn't bother to try and decipher the words there.


"I was right about the first part, although they didn't even know he was a werewolf. I was wondering why they would turn to such a thing, being as prejudiced against the supernatural as they are.."

 

[Enuky]

Cecile could not speak for a long moment as she took in the breathtaking city. Had her father ever seen this place? Her brother? Lance? Kuvira? She didn't think so, and realizing this made her feel even more privileged to be there. The city was dark but beautiful. Glowing gems decorated the city like stars. She gazed above them into the dark caverns. Bats were fluttering around; they were as common as birds on the outside. We must be in the mountains, Cecile thought to herself. It made sense really. How else could an entire city remain hidden for so long?


The princess was relieved to be there; it truly seemed safe enough. She knew that this city would be very different from the kingdom where she had been raised. She expected that the people here were free to use magic, despite it being technically illegal. Would the Valpurina residents even recognize her as princess of the Rose Kingdom? She guessed that the people in this city had no interest in the "governing" bodies outside of the mountain.


The change in scenery also left the girl with much to ponder. Never in her life had she been expected to make decisions about what to do with her future; it had already been decided for her. Now though, the princess wasn't too sure. It was tempting to think about remaining in the hidden city for the rest of her days, but she could also pursue the throne. She had never given herself as queen any serious consideration, but with the city of opportunities before her it seemed like a real possibility.


She turned to Lanister with big and eager eyes, "can we go", she asked while gesturing to the city. She couldn't wait to explore it. She couldn't wait to be trained. It was time for the girl to build a new life.


(@Andraus I do not know the ins and outs of Valpurina so I don't really want to move the rp without knowing if I am correct or not. Could you please get us to wherever it is they will actually be residing/training in the city?)

 

[Spacing Out]

She moved towards the table close to the bed, taking a seat as lady kenna sat beside her. Listening to what he had to say patiently. "My question is how they came in to my castle in the first place. Maybe they were disguised as servants." She said wondering if she should now secure the perimeter to make sure it doesn't happen again. She paid attention to everything else that followed while tying things together to make sense of the situation.


"The wilting rose..." She got up before looking out the window."I was aware of the order of the raven joined the rose kingdom so it would make sense that the wilting rose would aid them. When I have left earlier I had a meeting with lanister because he tried to negotiate that I denied. But he talked about me training Cecile to be a queen and stalling the war but one thing he said caught remained 'they never start wars, they end before they begin. They never targeted random people, theirs always been someone with a name or agenda. Maybe he was talking about your father. It can't be out of nowhere when he warned me, you're father was assassinated."


She knew this was something he didn't want to hear but it was the truth no doubt."he always tried to persuade me with this library of magic and Nephene. The wilting rose are the only people who isn't from yunkai that knows magic. All the evidence leads to them and they may use Cecile as their new representative. Perhaps why they wouldn't help her brother, the true heir to the throne But her. You've been betrayed Prince Lance or should I say king."

​

 

[Andraus]

Lanister glew with pride as she took in the city with Wide-eye's. "We sure can.....but not today. Not yet. Most of the shops and buildings are closed, and many are asleep. You have to understand the magic we use.......we didn't move to a different place during a set time. The Moon-gate moved us here instantaneously. "He said to her, which would make sense. It would explain how the Wilting Rose were able to strike a location and vanish before being caught. This type of magic was mainly used by elves, however. It was obvious most of the old machinery and rune's still worked to this day.


"Ah, yes though, you'll want to see your home.......The Grand-Masters suspected something like this to happen, and accommodations have been made ahead of time. Most of the guards here will be eager to see you: Never since the Divine Age have any of the Rose Monarchy seen this city, you're the first in years. If I am correct, you're also the first outsider to see our city since I was a child. It is quite an honor, and they want to make a good impression. "He said to her. "We rarely take upon outsiders, only those that show they have skill and prove their worth. It's a safety precaution more than anything. We've blocked the surface entrances, you could only get here by a Moon-gate. Also, you'd need a member of our order to summon the gate, and only at specific times. They're not open all at once, they have a set time-frame. "He said, explaining how they've managed to keep their home secret.


Given the location, the Moongates, the guards, and the old protective wards of this place, it was obvious that you'd need an army to take it.


Lanister would lead her through the streets. They were paved with polished granite, smooth to the touch. In a few places, there were flower bushels growing, as well as tree's. How they managed to grow without sunlight was a mystery, but an intriguing one. Lanister would take her to a particular tree, which glowed with purple wisp flowers. Lanister would remove one, before showing her. "Pretty, are they not? Almost like present company. "He said, before releasing what he said. Coughing slightly, he kept them walking through the streets. What few people they passed saw Cecile, and they stopped to bow. Even though she was a princess, they treated her like their queen.


Lanister would then take Cecile to a place that would more likely feel like a home: A Villa, built like a palace. "In case the lands on the outside were overrun, the King, Queen, and or their heirs would take up residence here. We had to put some work in refurbishing it, as it has not been used in years, but I hope it suits you. "He said to her. Guards stepped to the side in a long line in front of the Villa, and saluted, welcoming the Princess there.


Inside the Home was built to obviously cater to Royalty: The Entrance, the Library, the Bath-House, the Dining hall and the Bed Room were all places built for maximum comfort. "Everything in this building is yours. There are other rooms, but I just chose to show you the basics, as I am sure this has been a rather.....eventful day. "He said to her, leading her back to the bedroom. "Clothes have been laid out, and if they don't fit you, I can fetch others......"He said, before taking his hood off, and his mask, sitting down. He looked exhausted. "If you don't mind me speaking plainly......it's been one hell of a day, huh?"

 

[Enuky]

Cecile could not quite believe the events that took place next as the two approached what would be her home for the time being. The villa was beautiful, and she quickly learned that she had been incorrect in her assumption that the people here would not recognize her. She was greeted with a line of bowing guards. It was enough to make her blush, as she had not been treated with such respect by so many in so long. She followed quietly after Lanister as they toured the Villa. It all was so reminiscent of home. She couldn't wait to enjoy the bath house.


The princess quickly decided that this was a place she could reside comfortably. However, it was saddening to her how empty the building was. There weren't any others there it seemed, and each room appeared uninhabited. She missed her brother, and also the toad; who would she pick on now? She immediately dismissed her thoughts of the prince as she and Lanister entered the bedroom.


Cecile would ordinarily be tired, but the excitement of visiting such a place --and of finally being liberated-- was enough to make her feel energized. She wanted to play and explore the villa more, but she could see that Lanister was tired. She sighed at his question and paced the room, "I didn't mean to ruin everything with queen Kuvira...", she said and bit her lip. "We will have to train quickly to stop her now".

 

[Andraus]

( @Enuky K I hope you don't mind if I create alittle history. Also, I saw what you did with the Name's (Thornton and Gallica) so I worked with it alittle )


"No......we will not rush your training. "Lanister said, looking towards her. "Kuvira is a ruthless person, one that must be stopped at all and any cost......However, we are not ready. Not yet: Word has been sent out to every we have on the outside, and the Council of Grand-Masters is discussing a reaction to her declaration of war. The Wilting Rose will finally be able to fulfill it's duty: The protection and Defense of the Rose Homeland. "He said, before looking towards her. "Speaking of which......You never learned how our order was founded, did you?" He asked.


Knowing she was excited, he chose to tell a story. "Come. We will put your new Library to use..."He said, taking her hand gently, before leading her there. Walking to a shelf, his hand moved over the shelf before pulling out a book titled: 'The Divine Age'. "Here we are......"He said, as he sat down, opening the book. A servant brought Tea and Lemon bread towards the Princess for her.


"Let's start at here. It was the Battle of Gallica Pass, the end of the Demon Raids......"He said, as he pulled out a crystal. It was a memory crystal, an old attempt at making history 'Entertaining', but it did give accurate accounts on what had happened years ago, from the minds of those that participated.


Several Eons ago.....


The doors would slam open. Three would approach a table, each dressed in the armor of the Rose Military. One would stand out, a male in gold plate armor. He had the decorative red rose on his Pauldron. "I cannot believe King Moyesii! He would throw away all our preparation, our work, to try and rebuild places like the Capitol! Even if the Raids stop, we must remain vigilant! The other kingdoms could see this as an act of weakness!" Technoshi would say, staring at the map below them.





A female would be there, covered in very distinctive scale- Dragonscale, with a blue rose brooch on her chest. She tapped his staff on the ground, looking at the map. She looked infuriated." 30 years of protecting our home-lands future.......30 years of careful and constant watch......30 years spent thinking that our friend's sacrifices.....no, OUR sacrifices were in vain!......and this King would just throw it all away! He's not only pissing on what his father fought and died for, he's pissing on what we fought and died for!" Arintoth said, as she approached the table.





"It is not the King's fault entirely, he's being pressured to do this, the nobility are bellowing like children to get their comforts back. Forget what we all fought for, let's start focusing on trade and finery, forget that these kingdoms were ready to leave us to die." A male with a deep hood would approach. He wore a cloak similar to that of the Wilting Rose, only white instead of Black. There was, however, a Black Rose on the edge of his cloak."We can't sit by and let this happen, to hell with these Noble idiots. Someone has to take the defense our lands seriously." Maferath said, as he looked at the map of the Kingdom.





Technoshi would look at the map, before putting a finger on the map, where it showed the largest Mountain. "What about here? That's our Fall-back position in case the Capitol falls......Valpurna, right?" Technoshi would ask. "The place is built like a fortress......We could take our soldiers, those loyal to us, and leave for there."





"Even if we did that, The King could see this as treason. We only control a small portion of the military, they'd over-match us 5 to 1. Plus, we can't weaken our home-land further with Civil war, Technoshi!" Arintoth said.





"We have to do this, Arintoth! If the King and his court can't protect his land, we must do it ourselves. We are Soldiers, and we must defend our land by any means necessary!......Maferath, can your agents destroy the records of this place, Make it so that it doesn't exist?" Technoshi turned towards the hooded male.





"I don't want to do this.......but I love my homeland, and I refuse to see it destroyed....It shall be done." Maferath said, before looking towards the map. "Let's pray to the Gods that we are doing the right thing....."





Present day.....





".......and that, Cecile, was the beginning of the Illustrious order you see today. Those were the Original Grand-Masters: Arintoth, a Archmage, Technoshi, a Ancient of War, and Maferath, a Spy-Master. "He said to her.

 

[Trombone Geek]

Lance shook his head. "As it was, Bathelon was crippled. Killing him would have done nothing for the Rose Kingdom, and I doubt the Wilting Rose would find it at their level to kill a sick man; no, they would find it below them." Lance frowned, thinking. "Lanister promised me he would help Bathelon get the cure, and the Wilting Rose has never been known to go back on their promises."


"The Order, after Bathelon's formation, had served as a group of monster hunters, although they would fade and resurface constantly, each time with a new leader. It makes me wonder what's going through their leader's head this time around," Dante added, wandering the room absently.


"After Bathelon began accepting elves, dwarves, and such into their borders, and opened trade with kingdoms non-human species were native to, the Order began to cause nothing but trouble. This move was their own, and the way they did it was messy enough to catch the Rose Kingdom's attention, no doubt. It was simply their way of declaring allegiance." Lance didn't honestly think the Wilting Rose would do such a thing; but, if it turned out they truly had, he would dismantle them in a fit of fury and revenge they'd never seen.


"As to why they haven't helped Cecile's brother, I've been told that he is already as corrupt as King Thornton and his wife. Cecile, despite her.. poor manners, and naive train of thought, she can still be swayed." As Lance turned his head to gaze at Kuvira, the moonlight streaming in through the window illuminated his blue eyes for a moment; one could swear a streak of gold flashed through them in that instant.


"Are you sure you won't rethink your declaration? If you do march on the Rose Kingdom, Cecile and the Wilting Rose, along with the Rose Kingdom's military and the Order will all stand in your way. It would be troublesome. If you help place Cecile on the throne, both she and the Wilting Rose would owe you. Greatly."


Before the conversation could advance much further, a figure draped completely in black wandered into the room, moving instantly to Kuvira's side. "The castle has been secured. No more agents of the Order were found," said a female voice from beneath the cloak. She cast a glance to Lance and Dante, who both watched quietly, Lance with slight interest but mostly wariness, and turned her focus back to Kuvira. "Have you any more orders for us?" she asked, referring to the small stealth force she commanded when the circumstances called for it.

 

[Spacing Out]

Kuvira nodded. Though all the evidence was before him, he still denied it. She wanted to scoff and roll her eyes but she knew that would be disrespectful. "Be careful who you trust Lance, something you will learn on the throne is its better to trust no one than everyone. I had personal experience."




She thought of a memory before thinking same for love.She didn't take her eyes off the window as she continued to speak. " how many times do i have to say no before people start to understand that I don't care to be owed by anyone nor putting my hope in someone that may not be how I want her to turn out. It takes more than just training to make someone a great ruler. So no, I'm not asking you to aid me so I will do this on my own." As the cloaked woman walked in. She shook her head. "No but thank you." She said starting to leave. As she came close to the door she turned to him. "As for your order problem. The best thing you can do is your coronation for now. Show the order that despite the assassin you are still able to take on the role as king. And I'm sure you will be a great one." Before anyone could say a word, she departed with the girl in the cloak. "You will come with me into the rose kingdom. I will need you more than ever."


~~~~~Past~~~~

Kuvira sat in her room alone. Her head hung in shame as the fire crickled beside her. She fiddled with her fingers as she waited. Knowing her fate wouldn't be a kind one. The guard opened the door before her mother walked in, her head up in pride, a symbol of grace, something kuvira feared yet admired. The door closed shut behind her. "'Vira what do you think you were doing? Do you know how foolish its was trying to do things for-" Kuvira rose her head before Happiness... I know. Earlier that day she fell in love with a prince who wasn't next in line. Something that she knew wasn't acceptable in her father's eyes since she was the next heir. Her mother said before approaching her standing by her side. "Will I ever be happy?"

"Happiness is a luxury we queens can't have." Kuvira fell silent. As Rhaella continued. "Something you will learn is the more people you love, the weaker you are. When you are loved you are pushed aside , stumbled on, and abused. When you are feared no one will ever defy you." Kuvira nodded before her mother kissed her head. "You will make a great queen someday if you keep what I say in mind." Kuvira drifted off into thought. I know mother... I know.

​

 

[Enuky]

Cecile was somewhat disappointed when Lanister immediately refused to speed up her training. She wanted to be involved in the action of the war, but at this rate she felt as though she would miss the war. She would have to wait to learn the fate of her brother, father, and kingdom. It was that moment that Cecile began to feel a sense of uncertainty. It crossed her mind that, while safe in Valpurina, she had no way to leave Valpurina on her own. Then, as if to get the girl's mind away from the subject, Lanister jumped to a new topic.


"You never learned how our order was founded, did you?"





Cecile cringed to herself; she knew where that was going. Not a history lesson..., the girl dreaded to herself. Of course the princess lacked a strong attention span, but she did the best she could while quickly eating all of the snacks the maid left. Once she ran out of lemon bread the girl seemed to struggle more with paying attention to the crystal memory. Who were these people?


Finally, the flashback came to an end and Lanister put the stone away. She nodded to his comment even though she could not likely recall most of the information provided to her. She sipped at her cup of tea before saying, "I think I am rather tired now". She began towards the door and back to her room. Perhaps the next morning they could begin her training.

 

[Andraus]

"Yes.....Sorry, I understand that you're most likely bored, but knowing where you come from gives you a certain perspective........As such, I will give you one lesson in your training, that you'll need to remember: Your emotions? They're a wellspring of power. An Old philosophy is that 'There is no peace, there is only passion. Through passion, you gain strength. Through Strength, you gain power. Through power, you gain victory. Through Victory, your chains are broken.' "He said to her. He knew rushing her training was dangerous, but she was right: They needed to be ready. So he was giving her the most basic lesson he could, but he knew it was one she did not know.


"Your Anger.......After today, you think it's a crutch? It is not. It makes you Stronger. It gives you focus. Imagine if you're in a fight against your enemy, say a soldier of Kuvira's........They plan to take what is rightfully yours, kill your friends and family, and steal your birth-right. "He said, throwing a situation at hand, while snuffing out the fireplace, for her to light. " Or remember that your father left you in Bathelon......use your anger, use your pain. Let it fill you, fuel you....... Now, light this fireplace."He said, taking her staff. He wanted to see if she could light it without it.

 

[Baconhands]

Vohon was a patient man, but the relative silence of the last few weeks and months made the Commander of the Emerald Thorns somewhat uneasy, so much so that he had begun pacing back and forth sub-consciously when he was alone. Something seemed odd - then again something was always odd. He had watched the sun set, waiting as it settled under the horizon in the West, waiting for something to happen.


The Commander was in what was essentially a large tent with room enough for a bed, a small table and a few chairs. He rarely slept on the bed that was provided for him, preferring a bed roll or even the floor some nights as they reminded him of home. In some sort of meditative trance, Vohon was sitting in the middle of his pavilion when a human voice broke the peace he had worked to create.


"Commander, I have returned from my mission. All is well in the Yunakai nation, but today I discovered something amiss. The prince is in Yunakai along with the leaders of Bathelon. I believe they are negotiating political affairs," the voice reported.


There was a pause as Vohon internally sighed before his eyes snapped open. He was on his feet in an instant, and his brown eyes seemed to crackle with some sort of magical energy. His voice was clear and deep, laced with years of experience, "And you believe this to be troubling news? Negotiation is part of Prince Thornton's responsibilities to his Kingdom. Unless of course you think this is something a bit more... sinister?"


Vohon paused didn't let the recruit respond before he continued, "Our prince has appeared in a foreign land for the first time since the outbreak of the plague. However, he is in the court of one of our rivals, and we have not been notified... That is... worrying." The magical energy in Vohon's eyes seemed to die down as he begun contemplating this precarious position. Turning away from the recruit, Vohon began pacing anew, one thought swimming through his head; could this development lead the Emerald Thorns into open conflict? He stopped, looking directly at the recruit that had approached him, "Tell me, why have you returned when a letter would have also have been well received?"


@Enuky K (It's a basic post but it introduces the character somewhat)

 

[Enuky]

Cecile listened carefully as Lanister coached her on harnessing energy, but appeared discouraged when the man took her staff away and extinguished the fire. She hesitated; she didn't want to embarrass herself again. After a brief pause the girl held her hands out in front of the fire place and closed her eyes. Trying hard to concentrate on her anger towards her father, she called out. "Ignitus!" Her words were followed with silence. A moment passed and she tried again, "ignitus!" Still, the fire remained burned out. For the third time she tried in a hiss, "ignitus!" This time a small spark flecked from her hand and into the ashes where it quickly disappeared.


Now Cecile turned back to Lanister. She was not convinced she had the power yet to use magic with no medium. She frowned, "I don't know why I can't control it", she said. She could always feel the charge of magic energy flowing through her veins, but it was never enough. She turned back away and stared at the cold fire place with her arms crossed, "stupid fire", she muttered.

. . .

​

From the commander's tent Edwin's face became hot and red when he realized what a mistake he had made. What had been an important piece of knowledge for the commander was tainted by a stupid error. Now he would be lectured for it. The young man couldn't help but feel embarrassed. The commander would always see him as a dumb rookie.


Edwin said nothing as the commander reprimanded him and stood perfectly at attention. When it appeared appropriate to speak, he spoke. "I first completed my mission, sir. There has been a grave misunderstanding. I did not see the prince traveling in Yunakai today; I saw the princess, and I believe they are preparing to attack!"


The Emerald Thorns were under strict order to prevent the knowledge of Cecile's life from spreading to the kingdom and, most importantly, from spreading to Prince Thornton. King Thornton said once to the commander, "Prince Thornton must never know about the ransom. He has the heart of his mother; he would not understand. We must use whatever means necessary to protect our mountains!" The Emerald Thorns were the only men entrusted with this dirty secret, just as they were the only men entrusted with the truth about the cure. The cure to the plague was actually a beautiful mineral discovered in the Rose Mountains. For fear that the mountains would be mined away, the king chose to protect this secret from all others.


OOC: sorry about the edits and all. I hope I've cleared everything up. @Baconhands

 

[Andraus]

Lanister looked towards her, and held her close reassuringly. He then went behind her, and took her arms, putting his chin on her shoulder so he could see. "Your fear is a useful tool, but it is useless if you use it in conjunction with Destruction-based magic....Throw all inhibition to the side, forget about image, forget about embarrassment.....Bring your Father into mind, remember that he left you here to suffer your fate, Remember the pain of being abandoned, the Rage of being betrayed, and use that anger to strike forward. "He said to her.


Once she did her attempt, Lanister would then see what he was doing and, blushing slightly, move away. " *ahem* ...I plan to take you through the city tomorrow, but when we start your lessons in earnest, we'll be using the Moon-gates to travel to various other places.....I also plan on switching up your lessons: You'll switch from Magic lessons one day, to Combat lessons the next, and then to Strategy and History the third. To be specific, Arcane Exercise, Physical Exercise, then Mental Exercise. The Rest of week can be used to do with as you wish. "He said to her.


Lanister would then take her hand. "My Lady.......Cecile, I want you to understand that I am not trying to rule your life, I detest that to the upmost......I am trying to do what I think is best for you. IF you chose not to want to do these, I'll understand completely, but I wouldn't put you on this sort of schedule if I didn't believe you were fully capable of handling it. I don't want to you stay in these walls thinking your safe. I want to take you exploring place's that you've only seen in books......The Dwarven Machine cities, and the Elven guarded forests hold a sense of beauty and knowledge that you must see to understand. If we just keep you here, your talent's would be stifled. I want......no, I need you to trust me, Cecile."He said. Lanister, though he wouldn't admit it, had grown slightly affectionate of the Young Princess, and Truly believed in her abilities. He believed that she would go farther than most would think.