The sun rose above the splendor that was the Imperial City as it always had and the crystal tower that overlooked the whole of it glittered with its usual splendor.
The poor part of town would have been up hours ago, going to work, making the basic necessities that the rich lived on, doing what they could to survive and take care of their families. In the rich part of town, a select few would be rising with the sun- other than those who were up that early for practice or for study. They were to report to the western most gate of the city were a council member would be waiting for them to give them a map to guide them to their goal. It was fairly straight forward, though, as he would tell them, they would need to expect detours throughout Waylox. The country had been torn apart first by an usurper that dethroned its queen, and then by that same queen as she sought retribution against the country that sought to get rid of her after all she had sacrificed to protect them and keep the peace. There was a darker evil in that country than evil produced by the beast in the crag.
Some of the first to arrive at the gate- which stood about a mile away from the nearest buildings- were the Valtoris cousins. Miral and Ryfon were both astride horses of high breeding as they approached the [url=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/cd/6a/bc/cd6abcaa99528071169fb69d8b022d2b.jpg]older mage[/url], but he did not even seem remotely impressed by them as the people in the lower quarters had. He was a council member after all, he lived even higher than anyone on this trip. He was also here to make sure the Grand Sage's puppet showed up to keep things as in control as they could manage from a distance. The Valrtoris cousins and the LaMontiya girl would know the most of the thing's existence than the others, who might have heard mere whispers, but know no details (That's not up for debate by the way). The cousins looked up at the rather morose looking [url=http://coolvibe.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/gate.jpg]gate[/url], wondering why no one had bothered to fix the thing up, but Miral finally settled upon the fact that their workers- the nonmagical members of society- would be too at risk being this close to the dead wood. That being said she didn't miss the magical runes and markings that covered the entirety of the wall. While it looked in rough shape, nothing short of a dragon could get past it. 
Ryfon looked around as they stood to the left of the mage, by his own directing, wondering what others had signed up for this potential suicide mission. Even when they passed the war in Waylox, they would be entering dragon country. True, dragons weren't the bumbling beasts as some tales made them out to be, but if any of them knew what they were up to, he doubted the dragons would let them just waltz on by. They were going to have to come up with reaons between here and there that the giants would buy and allow them to pass. Hopefully there were less rash individuals than his cousin would likely get fed up with the whole planning idea and decide to barge right in and try and show off her moves- which would be useless against a fire dragon. He sighed, suddenly nervous this whole thing was a terrible plan.He looked at Miral and whispered a question for the mage to her. He wasn't allowed to talk directly to him because of his lower station and lack of magical abilities.
Miral rolled her eyes but looked to the mage, [color=firebrick]"My cousin wishes to know if there are enough people signed on for this venture,"[/color] she said in a rather bored tone.
The mage gave a sort of grunt as if he were personally insulted by the question, [color=gray]"The Grand Sage approved the start of the journey, that's all you need know, boy,"[/color] he snapped directly at Ryfon who bowed his head as if to apologize. He hated the council sometimes. He turned his attention back to the road that lead up to the gate, waiting for their comrade in arms to join him