"The Shallow Gate with you!! We need to act. Improve our defenses, strengthen our keeps and for Metatron's sake get more recruits in the Legion!" The large, hulking beast shouting was Oberon Molas, The Legion Commander and a Hero amongst the people of Damaska. the other council members looked on with lowered heads, knowing full well that the Commander was not in a good mood, and his anger was turning to rage by the second. "I sort of agree, Commander Molas, we can strengthen our keeps and gain more recruits, but our defenses are as good as they get for now." the voice slithered in from the tongue of Cornello, Royal Adviser and Leader of the Royal Council. "I knew I heard a snake coming. At least we do agreee on something, Lord Cornello." Oberon was surprised and relieved to know that such a man agreed with him. "If Durga fell to Velkari, then our options are to meet them in battle for when they do decide to march on us. Cornello explained, not taking a seat. Oberon looked and nodded. "Aye, we will need the aid of the Elves, and every other army in Triton to even survive this Great March. Velkari have always been savage bastards, and with a leader like Dyenak? Their bloodlust will only grow until Triton is reduced to nothing but a land of corpses." Cornello nodded as the Commander explained the possibility of a loss, and its consequence. "If you excuse me, I'd like to have a word with our Fiendslayer friend." Jarren Belmont, Grandmaster of the Damaskan School of Fiendslaying nodded, rising up and following Cornello out of the Council Meeting room.
Jarren looked upon the Snake with a puzzled look. "Any word from Dakeer yet?" Jarren asked, only getting a sigh from Cornello. "It will take some time to get a word, but be patient, Master Belmont. My best messenger is on his way there." Cornello smirked, whilst Jarren did not know whether he was trustworthy. Nobody is going to want to go to war without a king. You must know that yourself." Cornello agreed with Jarren, nodding. "True, and we are still deciding. However, the one true person to change the tide of any future is your son, Luca...A Dragon-Kin." Jarren's eyes widened, not sure how Cornello even knew his son was Dragon-Kin. Jarren was speechless to say the least. "Don't worry, Master Belmont. I knew ever since I met him here in Damaska. My lips are sealed" Jarren sighed with relief. But this was not a good sign at all. It only seem that Cornello would not keep true to his title as "The Royal Snake."
Lianshi watched as the Captain left her to get acquainted with the ship. She straightened her robe out, keeping both her rope darts and swords in place, as she then heard a peculiar voice call out. She quickly scanned the area around her looking up and down, left and right for the direction the voice was coming from. The voice was faint, but she could recognise it anywhere. Tears welled up in her eyes and she frantically searched even more
“Lian!”
She smiled with glee watching her friend come racing towards her. He picked her up effortlessly and gave her one of the biggest hugs she had ever had in her life. She almost couldn’t breathe, a tear slid down her cheek, she was ecstatic. “Jian…I..” she whispered as she was then placed back, embraced and hugged, but less bone crushing than
before. It felt far longer than it had been since they were separated, she didn’t know when she would see Jian again. She quickly got out of his hug, taking on a more serious attitude. “Well, you need to stop worrying, I can take care of myself you know.” She looked at him, but all was just for show. Lianshi knew that Jian would see right through her, and so she sighed. “I’ve missed you too, Jian…I didn’t know if I would see you again” she then hugged him herself. Another tear in Linahshi’s eye. “Don’t ever leave me again, you dolt! Understand?” She looked around. “So I guess this our only way home right?” She asked with another sigh, less relieving and more disappointing.
She noticed the figure above them, leading two Khulverian women off the ship. Both women looked more like whores than your common Khulverian Beauty. The figure was a man, a handsome one, wearing his shirt open as he walked down the plank both ladies smiling and waving as they left his accompany. The man in question was Eamon Fally, a young nobleman who joined Dakeer seeking adventure and fame.
“Morning, Jian. And morning to you, my dear.” Eamon greeted both Jian and Lianshi. He held her hand, kissing it as a custom he never forgot from the House Fally. The smile upon his face was that of a confident, charming nobleman. “The fool and his beauty? Perhaps not. I mean she does not wear the usual clothing of a whore. It’s slightly armoured and more form fitting.” His smile was still sitting on his face. “So she’s the beauty you’ve been crying for since Shellcoast Bay? She’s beautiful, definitely, but nothing special, in my experience. “He remarked straightening himself up and, fastening his short and tightening his trousers. Lianshi watched with anger as the young man headed off. “Well…I’ve already found one person I want slit the throat of.”
Dakeer laughed, holding the hand of Sable with his own free one. "And don't forget about his precise savagery, the man is a focused beast against his enemies and mine." Dakeer then smiled towards his beautiful companion. "Aye, the young lass is definitely pretty. And if not a lie, she's also quite the skilled assassin. I hope that Eamon can be well mannered just for first impressions at least. " As they walked through the market, Sable wanted his help in searching for a particilar item. A compass, with magic properties. This piqued his interest more than it would have if the compass itself only held sentimental value. "ooh? a magical compass, please don't tell me it leads to cursed treasure? I rather like my good looks as they are now" he joked, laughing at it as if someone else told it. "Jokes aside, I'd b happy to help you out ofcourse!" he replied with enthusiasm.
It was then Dakeer noticed the hooded figure appearing before them, silent as if he was a phantom."Greetings Mistress Sable and Captain Dakeer, a Message from an old friend. He wishes to have your audience within Damaska. The Royal Snake has urgent matters he wants to discuss" The hoodded individual appeared out of nowhere the pair could've seen him coming. He bowed slightly and left as mysteriously as he appeared. Dakeer had a curious and puzzled look on his face, as he then looked at Sable. "After we got this magical compass of yours, we sail to Triton. It's best not to keep a Snake waiting." Dakeer was was talking about the Royal Snake, Cornello Danteus, the Royal Adviser, and head of the Royal Council, the man was an enigma, and a very powerful one at that, with a web of spies and assassins at his command. Nothing in Triton happens without him knowing it.
"Let us hope my crew are back before the day turns to dusk. While it is a long way until then, Fancy a drink?" he winked at Sable, a grin that of a charming captain with the fastest ship in all od Triton and Veruvia, and a Crew so mismatched even a Necromancy Abomination would be jealous.