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[h1]The Glade : Noon[/h1][/center]

[i]There was a breeze, one that was far too consistent and peaceful to be real. But it was, and the wind carried the sweet smell of wildflowers as it swept down the expanse of nature that seemed to go forever. There was little disruption in this flat grassland, trees were viewable in the distance many miles away. What disruption was there to mar this pristine scape of natural flora? One, two, three large towering stone structures in a triangular configuration that surrounded the heroes. It was a curious sight to behold, each pillar was of different height and held a different symbol at their summit. The northmost pillar was the tallest and bore the symbol of a shield. The eastmost was a bit more broken down and pieces of it littered the grass below, it bore the symbol of the sun. The southernmost pillar was the smallest and it was seemingly the oldest, nature had fully consumed the stone and covered the symbol at its top. 

A faint voice would then be heard, a whisper chanted into each of the heroes’ ears. [/i]

“[b]All in one piece. All at the right location. All according to plan. My heroes, adjust yourselves to your new bodies and head south. The Glade is only safe for so long, so don’t you dare slack off.[/b]” 

[i]The goddess’ words hummed to a silence as her message was conveyed. As her invisible presence dwindled away, so to did that lovely breeze and now instead there was an unnerving silence within The Glade. It was deafening still, strange, not a single creature seemed to dwell within this area. Or perhaps they just avoided these newly summoned “Heroes”. Though the goddess did say that it wasn’t exactly safe, and if that were the case how dare she summon these fresh from the jaws of death youths only to submit them to danger effective immediately. Oh, but that was the case wasn’t it? She said it before they had taken form in Twintania after all, that she needed them to strengthen and take on some generic forces of darkness. Already forces were in motion, the moment they were summoned a great force of mana could be sensed by any with the talents to do so.[/i]
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[center][h3]The Village of Tici[/h3][/center]

“[b]Village Elder![/b]” 
[i]A young Huma boy no older than ten charged, screaming all the while, aimed at an elderly woman just a few inches taller than himself. She was clad in leather robes, beads, and small bird skulls clung to her waist. Her hair was silver and brown, though most of her head was concealed by a hood and face wrap. [/i]

“[b]What is it shrimpy?[/b]” [i]She groaned, the boy’s charge not being dissuaded at all, rather making full contact and causing him to fall flat on his rear. She was a solid old geezer.[/i]

“[b]There was like, a bunch of lights! And then they fell from the sky? And hit the ground somewhere near the Mandrake Forest! Send scouts! Send me![/b]” [i]He was out of breath, messy black hair falling in his face as he ranted. He was a rough one, probably the son of a farmer or hunter.[/i]

“[b]Lights ‘eh? Have you been eating those funny mushrooms again?[/b]” [i]The elder’s eyes and nose visibly contorted as she lectured the boy, she was in disbelief. Which he did not respond to well, pushing himself off the ground back onto his feet and hugging as he stomped towards town without her. [/i]

“[b]Stupid batty old witch, I’ll go see what those lights were on my own.[/b]”
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[h3]Forward Camp - Rinanis[/h3][/center]
[i]The clacking of distant horseshoes could be heard in the distance outside of the military encampment. Two guardsmen clad in red-white mail and cloth garb stood in attention at the drawgate as the movement drew closer, and closer, and then the formation had finally arrived. The guardsmen hastily saluted as plated men and women on horseback tread past them, an aura of fear emitting from the two as they maintained their stillness. As the last white horse galloped on by, it instead came to a halt with a tug of reins and a upset neigh leaving the rider straight between the two guards.[/i]

“[b]Fear not the sun for its brightness.[/b]” [i]The helmed Rider spat words down at the two, eyes glistening through the skits of their visor. Upon her silver and crimson armor was several markings of rank, they led the calvarymen that entered beforehand. It was a crusader, the most feared presence in all of Melodia, these guardsmen knew this all too well and rather than swallow their tongues and dote in line they blurted out in cowardice.[/i]

“[b]But for the flames of its holy grandeur![/b]”
[i]They snapped back into their statue-like posture, stiffened and returned to attention awaiting the crusader’s response. Which was quite amusing in itself, they stared at the two with a hidden smirk beneath the metal cage that shrouded their visage. A pointed sabaton would then quietly tap at the horse’s side to goad them forward, the plated helmet nodding at the two in approval and responding in a metallic echo.[/i]
“[b]Goddess watch you.[/b]” 

[i]The pale horse stepped further into the encampment, the ground was an upturned soil, the walls quickly constructed forest wood and iron. This was truly a forward camp, meant to be deconstructed and reconstructed as advancements were made on the enemy. The facility itself was filled with soldiers, priests, and mostly Bestia slavesworkers. To this figure, it was a glorious sight to behold and the steed continued on towards the largest tent at Rinanis’ center.[/i]

“[b]Once the Templar arrives, we will discuss plans to approach the Glade.[/b]” A robed bishop with grey-blonde hair spoke, a council of armor-strapped men surrounding a war table.

“[b]I am here, what’s your decisions clergymen?[/b]” The plate-helmed figure announced, sliding off the side of their steed and stomping towards the group.

“[b]We’ve decided to send scouts first, and then once we’ve evaluated the situation we will approach the heroes to discuss their role in the campaign.[/b]” [i]The bishop looked down at the map with furrowing brows, extending his hand to the small village closest to the Glade.[/i] [b]”As for the rest of the troops, we will occupy Tici.[/b]”