[center][color=00aeef]Carver Pentaghast[/color] and [color=004b80]Claudius Ker'Rak[/color]. Main and Side.

[h1]Palace Courtyard, Great Praelium, Praelium[/h1] [/center]

[color=00aeef][i]I suppose I'm not living up to the Swift part in Swift Colossus...[/i][/color] Carver thought to himself as the bear planted him into the palace stone masonry. The wall was quite unforgiving to his back, as Carver couldn't help but let out a loud grunt as his armor met the hard surface. The tackle from the bear had been so great that he had dropped his great sword, and it seemed that the Lord Tyrannus was left unarmed against this monstrous beast.

Guards began to rush towards him, but Carver quickly waved them off to dismiss them from helping him. The guards looked at each other nervously then stepped back. They figured if they intervened with Carver's fight, they would get in as just as much trouble as if they let the Tyrannus die. Carver noticed their apprehension and gave them a wink to reassure them that they made the right decision.

Hidden from the two guards, Carver reached underneath his plate mail and pulled out a dagger, to which he drove straight into the bear's eye. The bear screeched and reared back, freeing Carver from his pinned position to the wall. He quickly rolled over to his fallen weaponry to rearm himself with his preferred weapon of carnage. The bear was still in a daze from the dagger to the eyee, which gave Carver the perfect opportunity to exact revenge on the bear by charging it, great sword aimed true at his target.

Carver let out a war cry as he stabbed the bear beneath it's throat, twisting his blade to finish off the beast. The creature managed to stifle out one last growl before falling limp. Victorious, Carver let out one final roar before falling to the ground exhausted.

[color=004b80]"You act like it's your first time fighting a bear, Carver."[/color] Claudius said, making his way to him from the other side of the courtyard. [color=004b80]"I thought you had faced one before."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"A lot... can happen in 8 months... old friend."[/color] Carver said between breaths. [color=00aeef]"The other one... was probably... a lot smaller..."[/color]

[color=004b80]"Or maybe you're not the same age as when you were fighting Orcs at Fort Gloria,"[/color] Claudius said, offering a hand to his prone friend. [color=004b80]"And these exercises may be doing more harm than good."[/color]

Carver chuckled as he reached out and grabbed the dragonborn's hand. [color=00aeef]"Last time I checked, you were a High Dec, not my mother."[/color] Carver groaned as he rose, reaching for his back. [color=00aeef]"That slam into the wall is going to hurt way more in the morning."[/color]

Carver walked to the palace, and motioned for the guards to clean up the mess. Claudius quickly followed him.

[color=00aeef]"I'll bathe before I attend to the rest of my duties for the day."[/color] Carver said to Claudius.

[color=004b80]"Should I expect you in about an hour then, Carver?"[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Actually, send me up a handmaiden as well, if any are in the mood. A brunette too, if possible."[/color]

[color=004b80]"Alright, I'll send whoever wishes to come."[/color] Claudius said, beginning to part ways. [color=004b80]"I'll see you in an hour and five minutes, if you want a hand maiden."[/color]

Carver chuckled at he parted ways with his friend. 

[color=00aeef][i]Bear fights, a warm bath, and hopefully a nice lay. A good start to the day, if I do say so myself.[/i][/color]