~[@Eisenhorn], [@Lugubrious]~ [quote=Jerod Staudinger][color=a0410d]"Besides the favors owed to me by my sister for the duels won at her behest? My mentor in swordplay and combat training, Sir Fyodor, moved onto a posting within the Army, if memory serves. Well liked by his men and his superiors, tad stern, but a good man all the same. I could also, if necessary, do some digging with the morally questionable of society, being a sellsword has taught me a thing or two about the seedy underbelly that every kingdom hides. Enough gold can get you just about anything, if you pay the right professional."[/color][/quote] "[color=ivory]I see. Looks like we'll be relying on your sister and mentor then.[/color]" Jarde said, choosing the former options than the latter. "[color=ivory]We're not exactly in a position to be hiring a lot of mercenaries. We can only rely on the goodwill of others right now.[/color]" The prince continued. "[color=ivory]Ah, but don't worry Jerod. I believe we have enough to pay for your services though just your services alone.[/color]" [quote=Rionach]“...Yes, that would be ideal. I thought as much myself, of course. We might not have gotten the whole story when chaos broke out last night, but we were at 'ground zero' so to speak. If we can put a stopper in this...calamitous brew, I need never worry for my homeland. And of course, the world would know our names!”[/quote] Keerin could not help but give a small, subtle smile. "[color=deepskyblue]I admire your feelings toward this, Miss Rionach.[/color]" "[color=ivory]We are glad to have you, Rionach.[/color]" Jarde was the next to speak, welcoming [u]Rionach[/u] into the fold. "[color=ivory]Let us work together and save Arcadia and its people.[/color]" [hr] ~[@Zaphander], [@Polaris North]~ [quote=Luna][color=ed145b]"I do believe I have access to information that would be otherwise privy to you all. King Hardin is rather accomodating, given the right conditions and reasons for whatever we have to do. If we're restricted, then perhaps we can talk to him about it."[/color][/quote] "[color=mediumorchid]That's good to hear.[/color]" Shade replied. "[color=mediumorchid]We'll be counting on you, okay? The fate of Arcadia may be resting on our shoulders.[/color]" "[color=red]We'll keep in touch regardless though. You know, to keep you updated about what we find and stuff.[/color]" Emma interjected, back to her cheery self. "[color=red]Still, it's quite a way to Archanea so we're not going to be separating anytime soon. Let's enjoy our time together in the meantime.[/color]" [quote=Dancia]“How dangerous will it be in Archanea, you think?”[/quote] "[color=mediumorchid]If the war between the League and the Dwarves goes through, it's going to be [i]very[/i] dangerous.[/color]" Shade answered. "[color=red]Well we're not at that point yet so it's going to be pretty safe.[/color]" Emma added. "[color=red]I mean, besides any bandits, Undead or Terrors we encounter.[/color]" She continued happily as if the information was nothing to be worried about. "[color=red]But if we do, I'm sure we can handle them. We're pretty awesome after all. I mean we've got you, me, Shade and Luna who is an Archanean general.[/color]" Shade chuckled softly. "[color=mediumorchid]This is going to be one interesting journey.[/color]" [hr] [center]And thus, the first chapters of this tale end and the true journeys begin.[/center] [hr] [hr] [hr] [center][h3]A Girl From The Plains[/h3][/center] ~[@Eisenhorn], [@Lugubrious]~ Two weeks passed after the Battle Of Dragonrage Pass. Jarde's party have finally reached the border of Elibe and entering the region of Sacae. The place was dominated by grasses and mountains. Prince Jarde explained that the region lacked a solid form of government with the local people living inside nomadic tribes although there are a couple of villages and town here and there that were mostly trading hubs between the Sacaeans and the rest of Elibe. The party's destination was one such town called Bulgar. However, their trip was interrupted when they chanced upon a traveling band of what appeared to be [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/fireemblem/images/f/f1/Echoes_Brigand.png/revision/latest?cb=20170405091417]axe-wielding Brigands[/url]. At the front of this bandit group was a [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fd/68/a1/fd68a15502642dcf017ce1727ca34b98.jpg]warrior who was more decorated[/url] than the rest. It was safe to assume that this was the band's leader. With the party hiding behind the hills, they could let the band pass by without incident. However, the bandit band was stopped by a lone figure who bravely stood in the path of the Brigands. The figure was a [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9e/76/04/9e76040d406b1e51860072a3063c776c.jpg]she of of green hair and a blue dress-like clothing[/url]. In her hands was a drawn Iron Sword, ready to do battle with the thugs. Despite being outnumbered ten-to-one, the girl kept her ground as the bandits readied their axes. "[color=ivory]We need to help her out.[/color]" Jarde declared quietly to the party. "[color=ivory]Does anyone here have a plan of attack?[/color]" [hr] [center][h3]A Foreign Visitor[/h3][/center] ~[@Zaphander], [@Polaris North] (LNA)~ Two weeks passed after the Battle Of Dragonrage Pass. The party were almost at the border of Archanea, stopping by a town to rest. The town appeared to be there for people traveling large distances as evidenced by the amount of inns and taverns the place had. An ideal rest stop for the party before they finally enter the kingdom of Archanea. However, the town was in an uproar. A crowd had gathered upon the center with four bound men standing on a wooden stage with rope tied upon their necks. It was becoming clear that this was a public hanging with the aforementioned four men being at the receiving end. A man in robes stood with them, addressing the crowd. "[color=fff79a]...them! They have engineered the incident in Dragonrage Pass! I was there, my brothers and sisters! They wish for us to go to war so they would weaken us! Ripe for the taking! But we have seen through their plots! They will not get away with this! The Ortusians will pay! Starting with these four![/color]" He motioned to the captured men. "[color=fff79a]We shall show them what happens if they mess with us! We shall show them the wrath of the Concilium![/color]" The hatches below the four men opened and the nooses were about to do their parts when suddenly, with a single slash from a blade, the ropes were cut and the four men simply fell. All attention were shifted to the interrupter, [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/fireemblem/images/4/46/Yuzu_cipher.png/revision/latest?cb=20171103175910]a girl with purple hair in foreign clothing clutching a single blade[/url]. "[color=mediumpurple]Accusations of conspiracy must be investigated thoroughly rather than mindlessly thrown about, no?[/color]" The girl said. The guards of the town immediately surrounded her. They were but meager Footmen, the militiamen of the League Of Arcadia, but what they lacked in quality was compensated by their quantity. There were eight of them but only one Myrmidon. Still, the girl did not budge before her opponents. Ready to do battle once it started. What will the party do?