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[center][sub]Time: 2:46 - The Forest[/sub][/center]

[hider=Lilie/Ben]

Nothing else happened for a minute before the statue took note of the objects again and repeated itself.

[color=deepskyblue]“Beyond the mortal lifetime did a threat tear us asunder. Tooth and nail widen gaps few of us remember. Our meals in peril and lands ransacked, the Families nearly cracked. Family Noila bore the burden of tying them back together. 

First knelt those who revel in slaughter. Their kin cared not for ruling lands so long as their metal stained red. Their sister shied away from it, content with scrolls beyond, while those who walked between the feuds knelt next to us. The whispers of the second brought the next to heel soon, those who dallied with dulled blood and earned our rightful scorn. Eventually the Council rose with time we did not have and bound the threat away again with chains of ink and pen.

But one single truth still simmers to this day: your friends are close and your enemies are closer. Found the Council and be set free but fear the one that doesn’t fear me.”[/color]

The marble pillars glowed when he stopped speaking.
[/hider] 

[hider=Salem/Victor]

Lord Astorio didn’t acknowledge Victor’s presence. The door to the cottage was locked but through the window, Victor would see a blade sticking out of the floor with a hibiscus flower balanced on top. The flower itself was glowing.

Meanwhile, the mage didn’t notice the grass that had grown up to his waist, continuing to conduct whatever spells he was weaving. The trees grew closer, their forms still blurry in the thin light. The vampire’s blade clashed against the glaive, Salem successfully catching it, but the vampire wouldn’t be stopped so easily. Using unnatural grace, the vampire let go of the sword as he sprung effortlessly over Salem’s head and landed a heavy jab in the center of his back. 
[/hider]

[hider=Maddie/Amaris] 

Maddie listened carefully to the clue. The entire thing was confusing. The only ruler she knew that was dead was King Geoffry but who stands against him? All of the noble houses chose the Noilas to lead so why would anyone of them stand against him? Especially if he was dead. At first she was inclined to say the Eves but they don’t stand and definitely can’t organize themselves enough to successfully stand against King Geoffry, symbolically or otherwise. The other three could raise unified voices against him but again, he was dead. What good would that do?

The second part made sense for the first half and then meant nothing to her for the second. “Fear their lies and their truths…” was a clear directive. Out of the noble families, the Sinnenodel’s were the best known for the poison in their words but what chaos? They cause it plenty but far more often than every century. Maddie didn’t think any Sinnenodel could last more than a day or two without causing new problems for people. They thrived on it. 

[color=FC8686]“Head of houses makes sense and it seems… obviously geared towards those two but it seems to me that they are just partial fits.”[/color] Maddie worried. [color=FC8686]“And why would anyone stand against King Geoffry? Wouldn’t they want to stand against Queen Anastasia? But I can’t think of anyone else. Should we put chips on both then, just to cover our bases?”[/color]
[/hider]