[i][h3]Lady Renata's Household - The Gates[/h3][/i]

Their travels took them far and wide, to the east. For most of the evening, Jinn remained vigilant of their surroundings. When morning should have arrived and they were greeted by eternal twilight, the elvish warrior gave a sharp whistle, to stir the others. 

[color=#d12b3e]“So, we are close now,”[/color] he stated, as he gestured for the horses to slow their trot. [color=#d12b3e]“Why don’t we stop for a bit and ease out the saddle sores?”[/color] He didn’t even try for a graceful dismount, instead deciding to just go limp and crash on his side. He groaned a bit as the ground broke his fall, cursing the Divine for putting him in this situation. As he stood, joints popped and cracked as if they were speaking a secret language. 

[color=#d12b3e]“Did I ever tell you guys about the time I nearly got sold into slavery?,”[/color] he asked with a chuckle. [color=#d12b3e]“So get this,”[/color] he began as the others dismounted, [color=#d12b3e]”I am living in Jasi for a good fifty years or so, doing odd jobs to meet end’s meet and put food in my belly. Suddenly, this damsel offers me a job to be one of her helpers. Now normally, I would ask what that entailed and what not. However, there was something off about this lady. So here I am, eating roasted oats with some yak’s milk and a platter of cookies, and before I even know it, the bitch pulls a gun on me faster than I could blink. Thank god she was a terrible shot, only grazed the side of my ear as I rolled out of the way. Now, I have two options here: Kill her and face the charges later or run like a bitch. So I decided to book it and hopefully find a weapon of my own. I should also include that the entire time I am in nothing but my birthday suit and a towel I was sitting on for comfort.”[/color] 

It was here that Alice raised a hand. She blinked a couple times and looked between her cousin and sister. [color=f6989d][b]“Uhm… Why have I never received a birthday suit? They sound comfy. Can I see yours?!”[/b][/color]
Krissandria sighed, shaking her head, a slow shake of her head following. [color=82ca9d][b]“You don’t want to, trust me.. So, Jinn, as interesting as this is… can we wrap it up..?”[/b][/color]

[color=#d12b3e]“Not done yet! So I chuck my bowl at the bitch, splashing yak’s milk all over her gown and run for the back exit of the place I was staying at. Shame to me that she happened to have her older, much larger siblings with her. So I get decked in the jaw, knocked the fuck out and the next moment all I know is that I am in shackles with a bunch of other naked dudes and chicks. Now, this may sound like one of those parties I go to, but I wasn’t having any of that. So I turn as best I could and break my wrist and thumb to slip out. Now I have two weapons, my own broken wrist and a new shiny shackle. The guards posted around us were coming in fast, so I had to act fast. I was in some deep pain. My wrist was on fire, my head was throbbing like a bull hit me, and I was still hungry from earlier. I whipped around and jabbed my bone through the one guys’s side, took ’em out quick, but I didn’t have the time to celebrate before any other smucke came to tackle me to the ground and beat me to a fine red mist. Using the shackle, I broke both my ankles to free myself. Now here I was, in an open market full of Jasian dickholes with three broken limbs and only a shackle for a real weapon. One, two, I cleaved my way through the others slaves to hobble my way down a back alley. I didn’t want to harm them really, but I had to do something to get away. I run into this bathhouse to try and lose the guards, use the mist to my advantage right? I actually managed to slip on the damn floor and bust my tail bone. So I am sore all over, bleeding heavily, and I am still bloody hungry the entire time. I crawled my way around through all the chaos and confusion into the ladies section and stole some old bag’s drab pea green dress.”[/color] 

Alice’s eyes widened along with her smile. [color=f6989d][b]“I love pea green..~”[/b][/color]

Krissandria, on the other hand, let loose another sigh. [color=82ca9d][b]“Is this story going anywhere now..? Please, shut up…”[/b][/color]

[color=#d12b3e]“Yes, if you are patient. Now, with how I was walking, it was an easy disguise. I still had to hide the shackle though, it was an ugly eyesore. So I actually nicked a stray kid off the street and told him that if he was good and just followed along I would adopt him and be his father. So, long story short, that is how I am a happy father of a Jasian sprout.”[/color]

Krissandria frowned. [color=82ca9d][b]“I thought this was the story of-... You know what? Nevermind…”[/b][/color]

Alice grinned ear-to-ear, [color=f6989d][b]“I HAVE A SECOND COUSIN?!”[/b][/color]

He couldn’t help but laugh loudly at his younger cousins, but of their reactions brought him joy. [color=#d12b3e]“That’s right Alice, you do! I think I have pictures around here somewhere…”[/color]

After a few moments to relax and recover, more so from Jinn’s story than the journey, the trio casually made their way down the trail to the manor looming before them. [color=#d12b3e]“Think this is the place?,”[/color] Jinn asked while nodding his head towards the gates before them. Regardless, he lead the others onward until they stood just outside the intricate gates barring their path. Shrugging, he raised a fist up and started banging wildly. [color=#d12b3e]“Oi! Open up! I’m tired and my ass hurts!”[/color]

It was probably a fortunate coincidence that someone happened to be nearby to hear the banging almost as soon as it started. It was also fortunate that not only was this individual was Barcean, but the Prince himself as well. That morning, he had found himself pacing outside; he was anxious, and it was an emotion that he didn’t want any of the others to see for any length of time. It was as he was passing by one of the fountains closer to the fence that he heard the banging, and blinking slightly he quickly made his way in that direction.

His eyes widened slightly as his gaze fell upon two he recognized with one extra, and quickly he went to the gate. [b]“Krissandria, Alice-!”[/b] Before he could quite reach the gate, however, it suddenly opened inward on its own, forcing him to quickly backtrack one large step so that he wouldn’t be struck. With the way clear, he stepped forwards to meet them, saying, [b]“You’re earlier than I expected! How far away is Kori’s group?”[/b]

Krissandria was quick to dismount and make her way to the Prince. She bowed low, eyes closing tightly as his sister’s name was mentioned. [color=82ca9d][b]“It’s just us, M’lord… She… Kori, she gave herself to them… They came to the city, and…”[/b][/color] her bow fell further, taking a knee, one arm draped over knee, other hand touching to the ground lightly. [color=82ca9d][b]“I couldn’t stop her… Her decision was made.”[/b][/color]

It seemed to take a moment for what the elf was saying to register with the Prince, but when it did his face immediately paled as his expression fell. Slowly he took another slight step back, hand coming up to rest on the side of his head briefly. [b]“Oh, I see… How did… Never mind. Who are you…?”[/b] With that he looked over to the third member of the group, the one that he didn’t yet recognize.

He gave a short bow, his hand placed against his heart.[color=#d12b3e] “I am Jinn Sagaro, your Highness. First son of Aust, heir to the Sagaro line, and cousin to my dear Alice and Kriss here.”[/color] He wore a grin as he straightened, meeting the Prince’s gaze. [color=#d12b3e]“I haven’t been around much this past century, but I am still loyal to my homeland. I fought in the last war, you can bet your ass that I will fight in this one.”[/color]

The Prince nodded slightly, and was clearly only half listening to the strange newcomer. [b]"Thank you. I'd say get some rest after your travels, but..."[/b] He didn't quite finish that thought as he turned, but he didn't have to. After a few steps he suddenly raised his voice, shouting out with surprising volume, not quite unlike a sergeant barking orders (for he knew he wasn't the only one outside at all): [b]"EVERYONE, SPREAD THE NEWS! WE LEAVE IN FIFTEEN MINUTES!"[/b]

While those not a part of the Sentinels might have confused or even startled by the sudden yell, the members of the group knew that something terribly important was at stake, and moved quickly to ensure that everyone else knew it as well. Eventually, the details of the situation began to spread throughout the group in general, and the sense of energy was known by them all.

Those who thought fifteen minutes was too short forgot about where they were. The home of the Lady of Demons, while confusing most of the time, in those moments became surprisingly clear and straightforward. People found each other in a matter of seconds, and it was easy to gather supplies for the impending trip. In those few minutes, a few decisions were quickly made; the diviner, Etsuko Tanaka, would remain behind at the Lady of Demons, while Calypso would proceed with the group. Though this seemed to displease the silver haired woman greatly (even if her odd smile didn't slip), she eventually accepted the idea.

Within fifteen minutes they had gathered and were mounted up, like the Prince had ordered. He was prepared to leave; any would-be stragglers would simply have to catch up. Just before the departure truly began the Lady of Demons herself appeared with her sister and her butler, the former of which keeping quiet and still for once as she practically clung to the Lady Renata's arm, seeming to understand just how serious this was and not liking a second of it. The Lady of Demons, meanwhile, remained perfectly calm, and for once didn't have a shadow of a smirk upon her face as she looked to the Prince, and said one simple thing:

[b]"Good luck, Prince Serio."[/b]

[b]"Thank you for your patronage, Lady Renata."[/b]

It was with this brief, polite set of pleasantries that the group left on. They travelled hard, with the absolutely minimum amount of breaks. So quickly they went it was around midnight that night they reached the Hanasaki inn once again, where they stopped briefly as the Prince entered. There, they lost almost an hour, waiting outside before the Prince finally emerged alone again, stony faced, and joined by no one. They continued riding from there, and only stopped to rest at somewhere around three in the morning.

With dawn, they immediately began travelling again. A full day passed, the absolutely necessary rest was taken again, and then with the next rise of the sun they continued on to finally reach the Capitol. However, they did not stop; there was no reason to, after all. They already knew the Queen had been taken, and they would find no good army waiting for them there, the Prince knew. So they continued on, and it was the next day they finally properly stopped again at one of the border fortresses, where what was left of the Barcean army had gathered.

There, they learned that the Barceans had already tried several times to penetrate the H'kelan border, but had failed miserably each time. Their forces were bled and tired, and this was all Cyril had to try and make his own incursion...

Until they heard the horns blowing from the north, which prompted a rush to the walls. There, they could see the disorganized procession of the Gurtans approaching, a loud rabble of weapon toting men and women, singing and clamoring for battle. While most of their group remained outside, three figures in particular approached the gates, which were opened so that the Prince could greet them in person. While Yihira rode upon a plain brown horse, Seryosa was upon her snow leopard, which had been fully armored, and Kisarin was on a massive steed that had clearly been bred to handle his stature.

[b]"Ah, there's my favorite Barcean Prince!"[/b] The massive man said with a laugh. [b]"Tell me, have you been having trouble without us? We've already poked a few holes into our mutual enemy, and sent them scurrying back some! Then again, I'm not quite sure what's defined as the border down here, so perhaps we're actually the aggressors, but..."[/b]

Kisarin's mirth, though welcome, quickly faded away as Cyril explained the situation to them. From there, they quickly made a plan; what was left of the Barcean forces would join with the Guratans, and from there they would use overwhelming numbers to break through the H'kelan line properly. Even as they were speaking of what would come next, the Chieftans sent off messengers to have their forces "soften the line," so to speak.

From there, the decision was made that, while the Guratans would wage war on a more "traditional" scale, the Prince would lead his own group into H'kela to locate the Queen, and mount a rescue mission. They knew the plan was risky, but they also knew that Gartian was notoriously unstable, and who knew what the man would do when faced with even the slightest possibility of losing his prize.

A few additions and subtractions were made from the group. Chi and Ayano would remain with the Guratans, where the Princess would be the most protected, and Chi as a sort of escort. The Guratans, meanwhile, added two people to the ranks of the Sentinels, if only for a little; they were people that they would recognize, being the blind swordsman Badain and his archer companion Sarah. They would come along to assist as necessary, but also to act as messengers if necessary.

When the news returned that they would be able to pass, the Sentinels were prepared to move, and left again with speed. Without incident they passed over the border into the land of their enemy, and the change was quickly apparent. Grass and hills fell away to rocks and dunes. The temperature, even as the sun began to set, seemed to be greater than what they had felt earlier that day, on the other side of the border. Night quickly fell, and they made camp.

It was decided that night that Alasa would head on, towards one of the nearest towns. He was to covertly learn as much about Kori's situation as he could, if possible, and then wait for the group at predetermined point on the map. Alasa was more than willing to go alone, but Cyril wasn't willing to send him alone; so Calypso was to go with him, and the two left quickly and quietly, cloaked.
[i][h3]H'kela - Alasa and Calypso[/h3][/i]

They were a strange duo, that much was certain. However, Calypso wasn't necessarily a bad travelling companion; though she was strange, she listened to the orders he gave without hesitation, followed them to the letter, and when it mattered acted on her own. It was a learning experience for the archer, but a quick one as well.

When they arrived at the village it was quiet, very quiet. The structure of the buildings weren't like that of Barcean villages, more made from sandstone rather than any sort of wood, and they were quite low to the ground as well, in some cases actually sunk down within it. The bar they stopped at to gather information was one such building, a set of three steps leading down to the door, and into the building. For the most part, the bar was empty of all save the true drunkards, but Alasa knew that those kinds of persons could be gold mines, so long as they didn't vomit anywhere.

While one man got a little too close for comfort to Calypso (though he certainly had no chance of actually telling that she was upset, with as inebriated as he was), Alasa was focused on the three men he had sat with. With careful questions that were more general than anything else, he found the drunk men sharing more than enough. They had plenty to talk about, what with the violence on the border due to the "damned Barceans," and as soon as that was said Alasa subtly pounced, turning the conversation towards the Queen.

It was a struggle to control his reaction due to what he heard next, but he managed to simply steel his jaw and keep from paling too much. For about a week the H'kelans had been celebrating the capture of the Barcean Queen, thinking it would finally bring conflicts to a ware. With the capture of the Queen, however, came an announcement from the Rabid King himself that had set the date well in advance: The Queen's life was to end in two days.

Alasa knew that meeting the Prince the next day had to go off without a hitch for them to have a chance of saving the Queen. It was a matter of getting away from the village as quickly as possible, hopefully with no pursuit, but thankfully Calypso picked that moment to act on her own. A terrified scream came from the man that was getting too close to her as he fell back, tumbling to the ground with a pale, sweaty, and disoriented expression.

[b]"Her face... Her face-!"[/b]

Alasa moved quickly, and grabbed Calypso by the shoulder to begin leading her away. As he did so he had forced her to turn, keeping everyone from seeing how the structure of her face was rapidly shifting and resetting back into what could only be thought of as a so-called "standard" Calypso, from the somewhat twisted reflection of the face of the man who had bothered her. Even as they passed the collapsed man, Alasa gave him a glance, before calmly saying, [b]"Seems like you had something bad in your drink, mate."[/b]

And, like that, they were gone.
[i][h3]H'kela, the Next Day - Full Company[/h3][/i]

The next day the sun rose early, and so did they. The heat they felt the day before was nothing compared to that day, and the dark cloaks they all wore to conceal their identities from those passing by did little to help keep them cool. After an hour of travel they saw both Alasa and Calypso waiting for them, and quickly closed the distance.

Quickly, Alasa caught them all up on the terrible situation. Simply learning that the Queen was to be executed wasn't enough for the archer, and after a little bit of extra travel and the crossing of a camp, he had learned where the execution was to take place as well: a temple dedicated to Danmun.

Cyril knew that their only chance to save his sister would be that next day, at the execution itself. Though it would be dangerous, there would be the least number of walls between her and them at that time, and more importantly they would be able to use the crowd itself in order to get as close as they could.

Once again they began to move, and they knew they were heading in the right direction soon enough. From far and wide, H'kelans were coming to witness a historic moment: the beheading of the Queen of their greatest enemy. The crowds were quickly and thickly gathering, and they had to be careful to maintain their anonymity even with their cloaks and covers.

The temple of Danmun came into sight in the evening, and it was certainly one to behold. They set up camp nearby, as far away from other travelers as they could while still remaining close, which was easier said than done with how more and more were coming with each passing hour. From their position they could easily see the temple, and examine it to plan for the next day.

The temple itself was rectangular in shape, made from dark stone and three floors high. There were plenty of columns set around it, and it seemed to be that there had once been a surrounding structure, perhaps an outer temple of some sort, that had collapsed and was in broken ruins. The most eye-catching feature about the temple were the great stones hand that surrounded it, larger enough to have the fingers curl up and around the structure, fingers for the most part above the front end of the temple. Of them all, only a single finger was broken away, being the left thumb, which had apparently long ago tumbled and rolled away a decent distance from the temple, but was still within the ring of ruins created by what once may have been the outer temple's structure.

All around the temple were H'kelan soldiers, heavily armored, and preventing the rabble from entering.

Without knowing too much more, the plan was made in broader strokes. To say what they had to do was easy: stop whatever method of execution that was to be used on the Queen, rescue her, and then all escape together. For that, they would rely on the Guratans securing them a path. Through hearsay they had heard how those from the north had surged into H'kela, and were rapidly spreading, but that had apparently done nothing to keep Gartian from going forward with his thirst for the Queen's blood. It was then they said farewell to Badain and Sarah, the two quietly leaving in order to take the news to the Chieftans, and ensure their route for escape. Unfortunately they didn't have time to wait for any sort of confirmation, so they had to rely on faith alone.
[i][h3]H'kela - The Day of the Execution[/h3][/i]

They were up before the sun that day, preparing themselves. Weapons were checked and readied, spells were prepared and rehearsed, and those who prayed got their penitence in, whether quietly to themselves or openly with others. The Prince kept mostly to himself to begin with, standing away from the others; there were rings under his eyes which showed how he hadn't slept at all the night before, but who could blame him for that? Already he was running on pure adrenaline, and it was taking every ounce of effort he had not to charge in then and there.

It was just before midday they began to move, for it was at that time the soldiers stood down, retreating back towards the temple itself and allowing the people to come forward as well. They moved quickly, ensuring that they were at the not quite front of the crowd, able to examine the environment even as they entered.

Apparently, Gartian was going to go with something simple that day; a scaffold had built, and a chopping block placed upon it; the chopping block was surprisingly clean. The soldiers that had been keeping anyone from entering the night before had instead set up a perimeter around the scaffold, protecting a decent space around it with defensive lines several men deep.

With everything they could see observed, Cyril whispered orders that spread throughout the group quickly and quietly. They were to spread throughout the crowd, and get as close to the front as they possibly could without alerting anyone. Those who relied more on range, however, were to do something else; they were to get as close to a place that they would be able to do plenty from, and prepare to move into it on Cyril's order. The collapsed thumb came to mind in particular.

Though they spread out, they did so in a way that one person was never truly isolated from any other, one of their allies just a few feet away. With that, the wait began, and Gartian didn't keep them in suspense for very long.

Both the Queen of Barcea and King of H'kela emerged at the same time, but in very different places. The Queen emerged from down below, from the main doors to the temple, flanked by H'kelan guards as an escort; from what they could see, she was surprisingly uninjured, clean and dressed in her finery, complete with her crown upon her head. On the other hand, Gartian emerged up above, on the balcony that surrounded the third level of the temple. He too didn't emerge alone, but with him was only the Advisor, who stood back and away from the King slightly. Gartian too was dressed in his finery, but seemed to have made a conscious effort to appear grander than the Queen down below.

When both royals emerged, the crowd erupted in cheers for the one up above, and boos for the one below; it created a strange, discordant mix that clashed in the ears, the conflicting emotions filling the air with an unpleasant buzz. The King brought up both hands, basking in the noise even as Kori was led to the scaffold. The soldiers on the rear of the structure moved aside for her, and she was able to walk up the steps herself alone at first, before she was followed by the man who could only be her executioner, with the way he was wrapped up and hooded.

At the sight of Kori being led to the block, Cyril nearly surged forward then and there, but Sampson had the foresight to stay near the Prince, reaching out to grab his arm and hold him by it tightly. Up above, Gartian suddenly dropped both of his hands, and very rapidly everything went silent.

[b]"GOOD PEOPLE OF H'KELA! TODAY IS A GREAT DAY FOR OUR NATION!"[/b] As he gave his decree from above, the Rabid King began to slowly pace back and forth, going three steps in one direction, turning to go six in the other, and then from there continuing to go back and forth in sets of six steps. One hand came up, clenched in a fist. [b]"IN FRONT OF YOU STANDS THE WHORE QUEEN OF BARCEA! LOOK AT HER, EVEN AS HER COLD GAZE LOOKS DOWN UPON YOU ALL!"[/b]

Here, the crowd overwhelmingly roared with their boos, and Gartian allowed them for a full ten seconds before he once again cut them off by lowering his hand, so that he might continue. [b]"THIS WOMAN IS THE SPAWN OF OLAIN SERIO, WHO WAS ONLY THE MOST RECENT KING OF THE BARCEANS TO PILLAGE OUR LANDS! THOUGH SHE KEPT QUIET TO BEGIN WITH, IT WAS ONLY HER BIDING TIME, PREPARING TO DRAIN OUR BLOOD ONCE AGAIN! NO MORE, I SAY, NO MORE! TODAY, THIS ENDS WITH HER WRETCHED LIFE! NO LONGER WILL THE BARCEANS BLEED US; WE WILL HAVE THEIR BLOOD INSTEAD, BEGINNING WITH THE BLOOD OF THEIR PRECIOUS QUEEN!"[/b]

With that the cheers rose once again, and Gartian allowed them to continue much longer than the booing before he once again cut them off. He pointed down below, and with that gesture the executioner moved, going to grab Kori's arm; however, the Queen pulled away, and under her own effort knelt down in front of the block. She was completely and utterly calm.

[b]"OBSERVER OUR NEW NATIONAL MONUMENTS, GOOD PEOPLE OF H'KELA! THE BLOCK WHERE WE WILL TAKE HER HEAD WAS MADE JUST FOR HER, AND WILL ONLY BE STAINED WITH HER BLOOD! AND LET'S NOT FORGET HER HEAD, THE ONE THING WORTH COLLECTING FROM BARCEA!"[/b] Again he made another motion, and the executioner tried to move again, but once more the Queen moved first, placing her own head on the block.

[b]"OH, IT SEEMS SHE'S DECIDING TO MAKE THIS EASY FOR US! VERY WELL THEN, LET'S OBLIGE HER! EXECUTIONER, HAVE AT HER!"[/b] Even as spit flew from the King with his words, the executioner was moving to the side. The axe he held in his hands was a terrible tool, one that he began to bring up.

And, finally, Cyril let loose. [b]"NOW!"[/b]

From where he stood next to the collapsed stone thumb, Alasa surged upwards. It was easy to climb, the rock well-worn with plenty of cracks, and it took him no time at all to make it to above. Once there, he pulled his bow around from his back, arrow at the ready, and with just a second to aim he let loose. The arrow cut through the air and collided with the axe on its descent, knocking it away from the executioner; before the man could realize what was happening, the next arrow found his head, and down he collapsed.

Screams erupted throughout the crowd, which began to surge backwards, fleeing. In contrast, Cyril and the Sentinels stepped forwards. The Prince's hand came up, and with a single movement he pulled the cloak around him away, tossing it to the side and behind him; the rest of the Sentinels did the same, before they all drew their weapons together.

Up above Gartian howled with laughter, both hands gripping the railing of the balcony tightly. [b]"OH, WELL WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT! IT'S THE PRINCE HIMSELF, COME TO JOIN US! I TOTALLY DIDN'T EXPECT THIS AT ALL! KILL THEM ALL!"[/b]

With the orders given, the soldiers all turned together to face the Sentinels, and the first line charged. Outnumbered, a tension passed through the Sentinels, before Cyril suddenly thrust his blade forward.

[b]"CUT DOWN ALL BETWEEN US AND THE QUEEN!"[/b]

In that moment, those greats among them, such as Joachim, Alsius, and Damon surged forwards, more often then not sending enemies truly flying as they dove deep into the enemy ranks, while the other members of the Sentinels clashed into that first line with steel ready.