[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/mi4iRsN.png[/img]
[color=FIREBRICK][b][h3]MALAKAUS FIREBELLY[/h3][/b][/color][/center]

Nodding his head, Malakaus would follow Maria for tea and snacks. She was speaking to Ryan about something called "Fruit Loops", which Malakaus could only assume was some sort of food native to Ryan's lands. Possibly this America? Malakaus chose not to interrupt, figuring that it really didn't concern him. Though he did imagine what Fruit Loops were, and imagined various ringas and mikas sliced into nearly perfect circular rings. It seemed tasty.

Soon tea was being served, and Malakaus finished his cup in one sip. Force of habit back in the old days; one always had to eat quickly, because life came rushing at you. As he waited for a refill maria wanted to discuss something, though Malakaus was slightly confused as to whom she was speaking towards. She mentioned something about someone's aide, but Malakaus wasn't sure if he was talking to Tani or himself, considering that Atisha isn't really his helper, and he's never sent out a message that she was even with him at the time. But perhaps news simply traveled fast; Malakaus did earn a bit of a reputation for himself and Atisha helping the countryside, including villagers off to market, merchants looking to trade, and simply travelers who run into some bad luck. And no doubt that the Iron Bell Knights were more resourceful then outsiders would realize.

Figuring that Maria was talking to him, Malakaus cleared his throat and organized his thoughts. [color=firebrick]"Ahem. Yes, well firstly on the matter of my... Aide. Her name is Atisha Eluvian. She is an elf I met while I was captured by slavers. During one of my quests I had received a desperate missive that one of the village elders had their daughter kidnapped by slavers raiding in the country side. I sought them out and confronted them, doing battle with them until I realized that their own guards were slaves forced to fight against me. Not wanting to slay them I surrendered to them and endured many days of torture and hard labor at their hands. It was then that I met Atisha, who due to her elven features, was going to be used as a sex slave. We had collaborated an escape plan and she helped me get my armor back. With my armor I was able to attack the slavers without harming their slave warriors, and together we liberated the camp after killing all the slavers."[/color]

Malakaus let the story sink in for those sitting at the table. Malakaus tried his best to be honest, though he did skip over a few details like how he initially didn't care about killing slave warriors (Anyone who held a weapon against him was his enemy, regardless of circumstances) and how he was ultimately taken out by being swarmed and disarmed. That, and there were some more interesting things that happened, such was various explosions, fires, and a rather epic fight he had against the slaver master (Turns out he was also a knight who once fought against the Sword Saint and lived, though he had to run away to survive), but these things were fluff. Once his tea was refilled and subsequently drained, Malakaus continued.

[color=firebrick]"Since that day, Atisha has been quite helpful. She shows a noble spirit hidden beneath her cynical armor. While her mannerisms and attitude could use some work I believe that she has the makings of a worthy knight, and I wish to make her my squire. I have already spoken to Atisha about this and she has accepted, and thus I am here to inform you and the rest of the guards that she shall be under my watch and protection. She can be a handful, but I know that this is merely due to the circumstances of her upbringing and being unfamiliar with the noble courts. I understand that typically, taking on a squire requires no real ceremonies and that Atisha herself comes from no noble family, but I feel that it is important that I inform you nonetheless, as I intend to take her as my squire regardless of her station."[/color]

Being that Malakaus himself was a orc, born from lowly swamp nomads, who only became a knight through distinction in battle, taking an elven warrior who at least was the daughter of a village elder was slightly above his own origins. Sure she didn't have nearly as many battles underneath Malakaus's belt but that would come in due time. As his tea was refilled for a third time Malakaus also went onto more immediate business. The main reason he came to the capital in the first place, after reporting himself still among the living.

[color=firebrick]"After we had escorted the villager elder's daughter back to her home, Atisha and I had also received word of various raids on neighboring villages. We had thought that this was the work of bandits, but when we arrived we discovered that it was in fact the work of demon beasts."[/color] Malakaus looked at Ryan and Chieko at that moment, realizing that they might not know what a demon beast is. [color=firebrick]"Demon beasts are animistic monstrosities that feed on mana found in our world. Unnatural and demonic, as their name implies, they are a constant threat to our civilization. Usually each village has a great crystal that protects them from demon beasts, however we found these village had their crystals stolen. I believe that this was an intentional theft to destroy the villages and weaken Lugnica infrastructure by bleeding out their resources. So far only one village has been completely wiped out, but we know of a few more villages under threat. Thus, I and sorry to say but I shall not be here at the capital for much longer. Though I will stay the night, tomorrow morning myself and my squire shall leave for these villages and investigate the stolen crystals and the demon beast attacks."[/color]

Taking his fourth cup of tea, Malakaus stayed quiet and let everyone mull over what he said. He spoke somewhat slowly since he had quite a lot to say, and frankly had no interest in repeating himself. But there was still more to say, now that there were two new squires added to the Iron Bell Knights. [color=firebrick]"As they are under your guidance, I would also like to ask if you would be interested in having your new squires, Cheiko and Ryan, accompany myself and Atisha to these villages. I have no doubts of the dangers we will face, but if they are to become proper knights of Lugnica, they should see first hand how a knight help the people."[/color]

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