Location: Razed Village Noon [hr] [@Cu Chulainn][@Guy0fV4lor][@Crimson Paladin] [hr] “...hm, I see.” The mayor responded, watching Marduk walk off with what seemed to be his usual passive expression. “If you mean the supposed fomorian accosting the countryside near the Harzelslack border, I’m afraid I can’t say much, aside from rumors the occasional refugee has mentioned.” He would fold his arms behind him as he spoke, tired eyes seemingly studying Ethelred. “My advisor would know more, but unfortunately he is out and not likely to return until this evening. The only piece of useful information that I might have is apparently the thing is incredibly stealthy. The few rumors I’ve heard say it attacks with barely any warning. Only a ferocious roar moments before it does. Thankfully it seems to have been pacified or fallen into a slumber but there’s no telling how long it will. As for that cursed knight you mentioned. I assume you mean the one the guards barred from the town for causing a disturbance…I do not know where they went, though I am surprised to learn that someone would…employ such a woman.” “Sir Conand…” A guard would run over. “Apologies for the interruption.” “No matter. What is it?” “We’ve secured the area, the dead have been gathered. No Fomorian walk the streets now, sir.” “Ah, good. No more interruptions…will the tower be set back any?” “Nay, sir. They didn’t bother it.” “Good, good.” He would turn back towards Ethelred. “If there is nothing else then, I believe that is as much help as I’ll be able to provide. If you’ll excuse me…” Assuming he had no more questions for Conand, he would walk off, flanked by a pair of guards as he’d head back towards the manor, leaving the knights to head for the Harzel border… After loading up the pieces of armor that he could from the cyclopean fomorian they would set off. From Redwater, the trio would travel across the plains and along the coast, continuing northwest just as they would pass ruins Ethelred would be most familiar with. Remaining on high alert, Reinhardt would remain so for the duration of their trip - it saved them the trouble of getting ambushed by another small group of Fomorians and ultimately they would arrive at their destination about noon half a day later. It was a disheartening sight. The village was completely burned to the ground. Not a single building remained standing, black ash covering the burned and forsaken ground. Not even the trees nearby were spared becoming little more than burned, blackened husks. Curiously, some walls that remained standing had large marks carved into them, as though the massive claws of some beast had carved themselves into it. There seemed to be fomorian corpses in stages of decomposition, and similarly burned scattered about too. There was, however, no sign of Elnith or what had immediately happened here. “Eeeek!” Save for a shout that had come from deeper within. A brief investigation would reveal a pair of kids, barely old enough to be out on their own…and a group of Fomorians numbering about seven. Some short goblin like ones, and a single more lanky one with more agility that they had encountered in Redwater. “D-damn it! W-what are fomorians doing here?!” The boy would shout, holding a sword in front of him. A small girl behind him trembled in fear. [hr] [@Pyromania99][@FrogRFlowR][@VitaVitaAR] Location: Southern Giants Rest Early Night [hr] [color=fff79a]“Fine with me,”[/color] The queen would respond with a yawn, stretching her arms above her head. [color=fff79a]“I could use some rest. Horseback is not my preferred method of travel…that said, Niall.”[/color] She’d turn to face the owl knight. [color=fff79a]“I realize I do not have room to command you beyond our agreement, but if you are confident in your abilities, I’ll send you and one of the Lightsword brothers to scout the place tonight before we make an assault tomorrow. In the meantime, Luna, Fio, and I shall rest from our travels.”[/color] Sorcha glanced towards Fio. [color=fff79a]“Report immediately if you find anything, Fio. I shall be waiting for the food to be done.”[/color] The queen then left, leaving her knights to do as she instructed, Luna would follow not far behind her as they would both head towards the barracks mess hall. She’d let Luna lead the way as she was more familiar, content to simply follow along behind her knight. A few local guards would pass by, saluting both Luna and Sorcha. [color=fff79a]“Your guards seem well trained.”[/color] She’d idly comment as they’d pass.[color=fff79a] “I’d expect nothing less from the same family that trained you.”[/color] The queen smiled, giving Luna a friendly bap on the shoulder. [color=fff79a]“I just have one question - do they make food as good as they produce soldiers?”[/color] This was accompanied by the rumbling of the queen's stomach, earning a small embarrassed laugh from the queen as they’d step into the dinner hall. [@VitaVitaAR] [hr] The Library would be easy enough for Fio to find. A few directions from the soldiers stationed here and she’d find herself on the side of the fort opposite of the dinner hall and barracks and up a single flight of narrow stairs she’d find herself in a library study. The room was richly decorated, a carpet covering most of the wooden floor while against the back and left wall were a series of bookshelves. A single chandelier and a window on the opposite wall, positioned to face the setting sun was the only source of light. A desk set near the window, a few scrolls of paper and ink bottles on it ready to be used. Looked like this place wasn’t used much, perhaps no surprise considering it was a simple fort on the edge of the Lightsword territories. What was surprising though, was that Fio wouldn’t be alone. “...nhn?” It was an elf, at least she looked like an elf, dressed in a maids uniform, a more dusky skin tone than what elves usually had with rose colored eyes. A small stuffed animal that presumably belonged to her sat nearby on a bookshelf she was dusting. “...you must be one of the guests…” She’d cough, covering her mouth with her right hand as she’d turn to face Fio, the other being held to her chest. “S-sir Leo…asked me to look after you all…” Her voice was quiet, and a bit tired sounding and from the second cough she might have given, perhaps she was Ill. “I-I am terribly sorry to bother you, but…” She’d approach Fio, still holding a hand to her chest with a somewhat pained expression. “...I think…my heart hurts a bit…Can you c-check if something is wrong?” She removed her hand from her chest…and proceeded to [url=https://i.imgur.com/iBcVRbO.jpg]present Fio with her still beating heart.[/url] A small trickle of blood would pour from the corner of her mouth as she would smile at Fio in a completely innocent manner. [@FrogRFlowR] [hr] Night fell over Albion, the cold crisp air only kept at bay by the relative warmth of the hot springs. Gabriel had been assigned to go with Niall, having decided to let their prisoner end up in the prisons solitary confinement area for some…enhanced interrogation for the night. Asking the queen for details before the pair had set off, she made it clear that this was only a scouting mission. Their goal was to determine their numbers, any weakness they could exploit in dealing with the bandits, as well as any potential dangerous threats. The trip there would have Niall leading the way with his superior vision while Gabriel followed behind, relying on the moonlight itself to follow the knight in front of him. The Lightswords second eldest would make friendly chatter with the Owl knight, though not all of it completely…knightly. Like how beautiful the queen was, for example. He also chattered idly about Luna and his family, and the bandits themselves if asked. After some hour or so of travel though, they would finally be at their destination. In the foothills, near the easternmost part of the Llobrokr mountains, they would soon find themselves in a small forested area. A feeling of wrongness immediately hung in the air, noticeable immediately to the both of them, and even more so to Niall with his Tuathan upbringing. “...wait…this…” Gabriel frowned as he’d hop off his steed. “...a Wasteland? In this forest? This wasn’t in the report…” It was definitely one. The forest was silent. Eerily so, the only sounds coming from what sounded like human voices just over the hill. A feeling of wrongness hung in the air, causing the two to unwittingly just feel a tinge of hesitation upon nearing it. “...we’ll report that later. How do you want to approach this?” He’d ask, deferring to Niall’s judgment. The pair had approached the bandit camp from the east, and were currently just now on top of a small hill near it. The camp itself was fairly large, built into what seemed to be a small rock that towered over the forest. A wooden wall had been constructed around it, too, with only what looked like two entrances. One on the side they had approached from, and one on the northern side. Two guards stood at either entrance, though they looked bored out of their skulls. It was hard to tell anything else from this vantage point, but several more wooden structures could be seen. Seemed the bandits had dug in their heels into this place. Raucous chattering and laughter could be heard from within, though it would be hard to make anything out completely from this distance. How would Niall proceed?