[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/534494524039495692/884358155029577768/villains.png[/img][/center] “She will be fine, have some faith in her,” Jeevak said as he sat down in a rather simple wooden chair next to a fireplace. He held his hands close to the fire to heat them up a bit before he sat back. The inn room they were in was a modest one. Nothing fancy, but it had all the basics covered. “Didn’t expect it to be so chilly. We haven’t even passed the ice mountains yet.” A woman was pacing around with a maternally worried look on her face. Jeevak’s last statement made her cut her eyes to him, “That’s precisely why I told you not to let Gadman make the arrangements for us. He’s a cheapskate. We should be happy we have a fireplace and beds…” She continued pacing a bit more in silence, her open front dress lightly trailing behind her. Normally her long white hair was pulled up and pinned, but right now it trailed nearly down to the floor as well. Her arms were crossed as stopped once more. “What if she got lost, or slowed down, or captured? I really wish you didn’t let her go on her own, she is still just a child.” [hider=Fiera][center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/557075062600237057/711650791760593046/Lumina.jpg[/img][/center][/hider] “Fiera, you should have some more faith in her. She is young, but I doubt thee is a person alive that can catch her. In fact…,” Jeevak started as he looked to the window and stood up. He slid the window open and then backed up as a red blur flew it, rolling on the floor and then popping up, hopping up and down. “HI HIIII! Kitchi made it back! Safe n’ sound!” the little Kobold said triumphantly. “All the way to Midrill? So far, is cold! Why here?” she asked excitedly. [hider=Kitchi][center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/557075062600237057/711650768259645450/Kitchi.jpg[/img][/center][/hider] “Now now, Kitchi. Rest first, then we can get on to business,’ Jeevak told her, trying to keep her calm and still. He gave her a few scratches behind the ear which summoned a rapid tapping from her foot. He reached for the soul gem she held and sighed as he looked at it. “Well, that's another one down, only a few left.” Fiera quickly knelt down and scooped up the small kobold child in a hug. “Kitchi! You had me worried sick. Why didn’t you wait for me to go with you? What if you had crashed while you were on your own?” “Kitchi fine! Found strange sand boat in desert, people on it feed Kitchi sweet things! Really good sweet things! So Kitchi make it back super fast!” Kitchi’s tail wagged side to side even when held up in the air. Fiera sighed and sat down on the side of her bed, setting Kitchi down next to her. The girl could sense something was wrong and her head tilted back and forth periodically in response. “What wrong, not do good!?” she asked, momentarily sounding distressed. “No-no, you did very well, but you need to be more careful. What have I told you about taking sweets or any other food from strangers? They could put something very bad in it for you,” Fiera scolded. The Kobold looked a little crestfallen, and Fiera couldn’t be mad at the girl. Drawing her in for another hug, patting her on the back she then continued. “But you still did very well,” she continued, playfully poking the nose of Kitchi’s mask. “how about I make something for you before I retire for the night, hmm?” she asked with a gentle smile. “Ah! Please, please!” Kitchi begged, though Fiera was already up and preparing to make a small meal for her. Jeevak watched as Fiera took care of the kobold as if it were her own child. It was both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, but now wasn’t the time to reflect on the past. They were a small step closer to his goal, and he was in a rather good mood. He clapped his hands together and stood up. “Alright then, I’ll try to help, I know she can have a big appetite. Tomorrow though, I’ll leave you two to stay here while I try to talk with the current queen of Tundral. Maybe there won’t be as much conflict here as the Crystal Sea.” “And if there is?” FIera questioned, lighting the stove. Jeevak stood there quietly for a moment in thought. He took a deep breath. “How many people have we gathered in Grandis?” “Roughly thirteen-hundred.” “Willing to fight?” “Maybe a little over five hundred… But… do you really think that-” “I do… Fiera… I think they will if it comes down to it. Powerful as I may be, no one person can stand against an army alone or with a handful of people. If we can’t negotiate peacefully… We’ll have to invade.” He took out some meat that was in a special preserving pouch in a bag next to the kitchenette counter. From it he took out some salted meats, placed them in the pan and passed some seasonings to Fiera. He walked to the window and closed it back. “Though, I understand your worry. We may have to bolster our forces beforehand. I just need to find out how…” [hr] Lord Vincent Calibris, head of the Calibris family and the Calibris trade company sat behind his desk in his study, leaning back in his chair with one leg folded to rest his ankle on his knee. He held one hand to his chin in thought as the other tapped on his desk. “So, let me get this right…’Captain’. Not only did I lose my prototype rune doll in the field, but I also lost around seventy five capable men at arms, both warriors and mages alike, to some group of sand dwelling neanderthals and a few tourists? And what do we have to show for it? All of that blood for WHAT, Captain?” A very nervous and confused looking man in half armor shuddered in front of the desk. “M-m’ lord, s-sir. There was an outside force at the town as well, we couldn’t have predicted Their best warrior to stay behind and get aid from-” “OH, BE QUIET! You act as though none of your men had seen combat before.What the Hell do you think you get paid for? Excuses or results?” Calibris snapped. “All of you have become soft, never leaving this city to get real combat experience… That will change. You should be grateful I’m still in a good mood and won’t kill you for this failure. I don’t care to have to deal with you and we need the numbers. I’ll just have your family work off this failure,” he said as he leaned forward in his chair and started taking notes. “In the meantime, you will make sure to raise a more combat ready unit. The next ambassador assigned will be much stronger and a bit more… lively.” “My family!? Please Lord Calibris, I beg you, let me work their share, you can even take my life, I’ll do anything! I’ll-” “I’m not going to kill you you idiot, I just got done telling you I needed more men, not less! Honestly… Hmm, leeeet’s see…,” Calibris began as he thumbed through a folder with the captain’s name on it, rebuffing the man’s pleas. “A wife, two daughters, aaaaaand THREE strapping young lads!? Well, my goodness, you have been an active man indeed.” “What will… what will you have them do?” he replied worriedly, hoping it was just something as mundane as physical labor. “Anything I want! Since you seem to be so wasteful with my resources, I may as well use yours. That wife of yours will be quite useful for a full range of tasks. Unfortunately your little whelps are of little use at their age. I’m sure I will get some work out of them, they can fit in pretty small places after all. As for you, however… I am glad you are so willing to cooperate. How would you like to be promoted?” Calibris asked, standing up from his chair and pacing around the desk and circling the captain. He could feel the despair from this man practically radiating off him, it was delicious. “Pr-promoted? I-I don’t understand m’lord.” Calibris, from behind, laid a hand on his shoulder as bladed arms started to peek from behind his back, “Why yes… after all, I’m in need of a new ambassador.”