The Forests of Death
      
             It was noon in the city of Shar'es, and activity was booming. Elves littered the streets here. However, they where not the only ones present in this city. Humans, halflings, and even dwarfves roamed the streets. However, the white city did not yet know of what had transpired at their city's heart. At the pristine white fortress of the elves guards moved here and there searching and hunting for someone. That someone was Nova, their princess. She had gone missing, kidnapped perhaps. Some chalked it up as she just ran away for awhile to get some fresh air. The other story on the grape fine was that one of the family's enemies had took en a hold of her and would soon demand a ransom. It did not take long for the guards to exit the royal grounds and into the city. They asked shop keepers, tavern owners, merchants , and even posted up posters for the citizens. 

       Ishmael stood outside the large throne room doors standing rather steadily. His squire beside him waiting at his every call. He did not want a squire ,but the order demanded it of him. What did they possibly want from him. His job was to go in and slay demons and destroy evil at its source. It was no place for a stable boy. He sighed and looked to the boy. "Make your self useful boy and get me some water." He said. Might as well make the boy do something rather then stand there nervously. Then he rose his hand up and the boy stopped in his tracks. "Wait?..." He said and the doors opened. A hand maiden approaching them. "The King and Queen will see you now, Brother Ishmael." She said. He gestured for the boy to follow him. "Lead the way young lady..." He almost choked with laughter on that one. Young lady... this elf was likely older then him by a hundred years or two. She bowed and lead them inside. His blonde hair blowing from the draft of the door. His blue eyes now full of seriousness. The walk down the long blue rug trimmed with silver , and designs of flower pedals. It was a good sized throne room and took a bit of walking ,but once he reached the steps leading up to the thrones of the queen and the king he went to one knee and waited for them to speak. He rose up a hand and grabbed the boy beside him pulling on his shoulder to get him to kneel.

    "Stand, sir Ishmael, knight of the holy order that helps guard my city from the evils of this world." spoke King Ellisar. Ishmael did so and motioned for the boy to do the same. The king smirked at the young lad. The boy looked as if he was in his early twenties. "Looks like they gave you someone to teach..." Ellisar commented. Ishmael looked to his squire and sighed. 
"He can be a royal pain in my side, but he does learn rather quickly" He said. He then looked to the King and the Queen. "You summoned me?" He asked.

     "Yes, if you have not heard from the gossip and news in the city, our daughter Nova has gone missing." Queen Maylin answered. "We gave it a few days to see if she hadn't just gone out on her own. She has not returned...." 

"You expect fowl play?... sorry to interrupt you. What leads have you?" He asked getting right to the point. "Our seers have told us who might be responsible, we have no clue as to where they are located ,but the bandits of the Black Moon clan are responsible." replied Ellisar.

"We know this because, two of their members where spotted in the city by the guards no soon after. We have them in custody right now." The Queen added. Ishmael nodded and gave a smile. 

 "Don't worry, I will find her, first things first going to gather a posse to help me go after their comrades. Then I will take one of those prisoners with us to help us find his friend's base of operations." He said. With that he bowed and left the Queen and King in the royal chambers. His squire bowing nervously and ran to follow the holy knight. It did not take long to pass through the turns and doors to the outside. Once he did he headed for the jail cells. It was there that he saw the two prisoners. He motioned for the man on watch to unlock the cell that held the one. Once he did he grabbed the man by the side of his head pulling him out. He then held him in place as the guard put shackles on him. "Your coming with me,... brigand." He said and then pulled the man along a rope tied to the iron cuffs. 
 
          It took them only a hour or two to reach a tavern. It was named 'The Royal Serpent'. He sighed, saying a prayer of the holy order and then entered. He then brought his squire and the bandit to a table and sat down. Forcing the bandit to stand. He then told the squire to bring out a piece of paper. "Write down on the paper, these words" He instructed.

    "The Holy Order of the Great Pegasus, had commissioned a quest. To which a brave few will go with me to brave the wilderness and challenges of this world to bring back to the Royal Family what was stolen from them and the bandits punished. A reward will be issued upon success of this mission." 

       He did not say the reward. Only that there was one. The simple mentioning of a reward was enough to get people interested. He then instructed the boy to post it on the bulletin by the taverns doors. It was now that they played the waiting game......

...... Meanwhile, three days away from the city a small wagon moved upon the road. It carried precious cargo. That cargo being lady Nova Lysanthir. She was tied and gagged left in only her black  and thin clothing. With white boots trimmed in red. The grabbed her before she could armor up. Lucky bastards. If she could only get loose she could end these fools. The wagon had two bandits in front and one sitting in the back to watch her. On the left and right of the wagon road to men on horses. There was another horsemen covering the rear as well. They were armed with long swords and morning stars. They wore chain mail underneath their tunics and had tattoos upon the sides of their necks. That of a black crescent moon.  They where nearing their destination.