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[h2][color=#4bbef6] Percyvallus Crowglide [/color][/h2]
[h3][color=#4bbef6] Location - Terreille, Dhemlan Territory, Landen town of Ironmawr[/color][/h3]
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What had been green, lush scenery now had the appearance closer to a wasteland than anything else. Dead trees, barely a few leaves still dearly clinging to the lifeless branches. Merely shrubbery still possessed a hint of life and volume.  The influence of darkness spreading throughout the Dhemlan territory in Terreille clearly reflected by the barren lands. 

The ghastly wind gave motion to the spiritless woodland only overshadowed by the sound of crunching leaves hidden among the woods.

"Show yourself." a voice called out in an echo, yet no response came and the unseen stir continued.

Percyvallus had spent the last twenty minutes luring one of the guards of Ironmawr out into the woods. The lacking of abundant greenery made it all the more difficult to remain unseen. Actually getting guards to follow him was also becoming an increasing nuisance. Intended to be a force against any outside threats, the defenders of Ironmawr, under the rule of Percyvallus' father turned their wrath towards the innards of the town.

[color=#4bbef6]"Over here!"[/color] Another voice came from the guard's back to which he froze mid step.
[color=#4bbef6]"Turn around. I'll let you."[/color] Percyvallus spoke to the guard in a smug tone. He stood with his sword drawn so close to the guard he would have had no issue ending him without the guard even feeling his presence right up until the cold sword would stick out from his chest. Still, he did not. He never did.

[color=#4bbef6]"Draw your sword."[/color] Percyvallus said in a commanding tone.

"I recognize you." The guard responded as he pulled out his blade from his sheath.

Percyvallus spun his weapons as he slowly began circling the man in front of him. [color=#4bbef6]"You people always do. Yet none of you have ever survived to tell my father I am here. Neither will you."
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"We'll see about that!" The guard yelled as he raised his sword and swung at Percyvallus, starting a flurry of attacks. Each strike Percyvallus parried with ease, slowly backing away, toying with his foe. Percyvallus had done this too many times already, every time he returned home.
Another high stroke of the sword bore down on Percyvallus. Blade met blade and sparks flew as Percyvallus guided the sword of the guard into the ground with his own. The motion continued with a twirl of his body, straight into the man's leg. The guard collapsed to his knees grunting in pain. At that point, usually guard would try to bargain for their lives. Promises of silence or riches, whatever they could think of in their desperation.
In time Percyvallus however grew tired of it. This one was not even offered another chance to speak as Percyvallus drove his blade through the back of his neck. The now limp body slid of the sword and thumped to the ground.

Percyvallus was free to nonchalantly wander into town unchallenged. Or rather the opposite, he had lured the challenge right to him and dealt with it swiftly.

Ironmawr was in no better shape than the woods outside of it's walls. The people of Ironmawr had suffered under the oppressive rule of house Crowglide. The buildings were ravaged by time and practically no maintenance. Poverty and famine took their toll on everyone. His efforts to help the town had seemed to be in vain. Yet still the people remembered, what he had done for them.

As Percyvallus made his way towards the town tavern he failed to noticed the guard walk right past him, being careless now that he was back in his home town after such a long time. Some of that may have also been attributed to the increased number of hands his house had.

"Hey you." The guard called at him. Percyvallus merely increased his walking pace. "Come back!" The guard started following him. Just as he was gaining on him a woman carrying a half empty basket collided with him, sending both to the ground. The guard was the first back to his feet.

"Watch the where you're going! Do you have a death wish?!" The guard berated the woman desperately trying to collect the few foodstuffs now strewn across the ground.

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again." The woman spoke in a scared voice and continued gathering her items. Briefly glancing at Percyvallus the scared expression melted away, as if dropping a charade. He nodded in appreciation and continued on his way, realizing he could not afford to let his guard down like he did just now, lest pay for that mistake with the life of a friend. The guard didn't waste much time with the woman and attempted to continue in pursuit yet found that he had lost Percyvallus.

The door to the tavern creaked as if it had not been in use for a long time. Percyvallus made his way in and scanned the room. Other than a group of four people idly chatting at one of the tables and one person at the front counter, the tavern was deserted. It seemed poverty and famine took it's toll even in such a place. Many elected to drown out the hunger with ale, yet these were indeed troubling times if many could not afford even that ironically.

Percyvallus sat down at the front counter and was greeted by the man behind it with a nod of acknowledgement.

[color=#4bbef6]"The usual."[/color] Percyvallus said as he took a gander at the person next to him. An outsider, possibly a mercenary just like himself.

Without a word the man behind the counter turned around and shuffled around, retrieving a small glass and a dark bottle. 

[color=#4bbef6]"Thanks."[/color] Percyvallus spoke as the glass was filled to the brim with a brownish liquid.

Percyvallus emptied the glass with one gulp and coughed weakly, not being used to the strong drink after not having had the chance to taste it for so long.

[color=#4bbef6]"Things are worse than they used to be. What happened?"[/color] Percyvallus asked the taverner but before he could the man next to him spoke up.

"Are you blind, or deaf, or both? The twisted influence of our queen is spreading across the land. As if the Crowglides weren't bad enough. Since the pledging of their allegiance to the queen it has come to be even worse. Look around you!" The other mercenary ranted, Percyvallus narrowing his eyes at the mention of the his family name.

[color=#4bbef6]"Perhaps I've been gone for too long..."[/color] Percyvallus spoke just before bringing a once more filled glass to his lips.