Location: Harzel fort Mid-Morning [hr] [@Cu Chulainn][@Crimson Paladin] [hr] Grainne had just finished leading some soldiers and men towards the encampment and dismounting her steed as Ethelred approached. She immediately did not seem too thrilled to see either him or Marduk. “Oh, if it isn’t the Icicle. You want Lonan, he’s back in town I think? I haven’t seen him since we split up.” She’d click her tongue. “Knowing him, he wants to save as much of the village if he can since it’d be a real pain for the villagers if they lost it.” Her eyes turned towards Marduk but didn’t say anything immediately to him. “Just so ya know, this fort is considered Harzel territory. Do anything funny and you’ll find yourself on the wrong end of the law here, got it? I might just be Lonan’s squire, but I can definitely kick your ass if I need to, frosty, so unless you got other business here you should probably get going.” Ethelred could see the two kids in the distance. They hadn’t noticed Ethelred yet, and they were with an older looking woman now. [hr] Location: Southern Giants Rest Late Night [@VitaVitaAR] [hr] “Heh.” Sorcha smiled softly. “Be warned, it might not be what you expect.” The Queen exhaled, gaze once again becoming fixed on some far off point on the mountains as the moon dipped ever closer to disappearing under the horizon. “Hmm…how to start…its been awhile since I’ve told any of these stories…might as well start with this one since its been bothering me, huh…” Clearing her throat, Sorcha would begin recounting a story from memory… [hider=A long forgotten battlefield…] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlzqTb8SzQg] The sound of fighting had quieted. The holy blade wielded by the king plunged into the beasts chest.[/url] “...Faha…ahahaha!” The beast laughed derisively as its blood fell from its wound. “It seems I’ve been bested, ahaha! Oh this is glorious, a human, managing to kill me! I could not ask for a better death, fahaha!” The king said nothing, pulling his blade from the winged beast's body, sending its body falling to the ground. “What’s the matter, O one claiming to be the king of all Albion?” It questioned, as the life slowly drained from its now weakened body. “You should be celebrating your victory!” A cold breeze blew across the now corpse strewn battlefield as the King’s expression turned somber, the blade in his hand feeling heavy for the first time in a long time. “...ah. Don’t tell me…you’re troubled by all of this?” “...Why?” He’d question. “Why? Why do you look as though someone killed everyone you loved-oh, that’s right, I supposed I did sort of do that, ahaha.” “These people weren’t even soldiers! Most of this army of yours were people who could barely lift a sword, let alone know how to use it!” The king grit his teeth at the beast's response. “Oh, what’s the matter? Is the king afraid of some bloodshed? Oh that’s hilarious you naive king. You don’t think being a king would be so easy, did you? What if someone doesn’t follow your so called honor? Your laws and rules? What if someone [i]rebels[/i] -” “That’s enough, beast.” Before it could finish its words, a crackle of thunder and a flash of lightning tore through the air. The beasts head, soon fell from its shoulders. “Aha…haha…you may have killed me…but so long as even one of my Lightswords…survive…and man seek conflict…I will return…hah…haha…!” Slowly, the beasts body began to decay, wisps of light being carried away on the breeze. “...you. Dragon of White. Why are you here?” “...to see you.” The being before him responded. “I watched the battle from above. You did well.” “Well? Well?! Not a single person survived!” “They did not. Do not look so grim. I would have given you my aid had you only asked. I could have easily dealt with such a pitiful creature…but you chose to handle this yourself.” The dragon raised its head, glancing across the battlefield. “And they got what they wanted, following that creature I suppose. Using ‘the honor of death’ to trick people into following it…hmph, what a joke.” “...I…” “Arthwys. As abrasive as the beast was, it was correct.” The dragon softly responded. “Until now you have helped people purely out of the goodness of your own heart. You have gained the respect of many people. You have shown you’re not just some power-hungry upstart who seeks to control Albion.” “...What are you saying, dragon?” “That mortal hearts are fickle and easily tempted into evil.” The dragon responded. “Or do you forget the Betrayed God - mine and Varakels father - so easily? He gave his life to protect the fey, the elves, the humans…and yet, innocent greed and desire overcame the Elves and Fey, resulting in Albions current state and the Gods fall.” “...you’re saying that there may be an instance where I am the ‘Betrayed God’, then. I see…” “And there may…come a time when you must turn your blade on humans who are doing nothing more than following their own way of life and beliefs. If either time happens, I do hope that time…you will rely on me, Arthwys.” “...ah? You almost sound like you want to help me? What happened to that arrogant dragon who refused helping me even when I was half dead?” “Watch your mouth, you insolent oaf. I merely happen to understand that if I were not to offer this, there is a very good chance your human mind would break down into disgraceful tears or something.” “...ahaha. Thanks, sparky.” “Again with that nickname! Only the children are allowed to call me that!” The dragon reached out and flicked Arthwys on the forehead with one of its claws. “My king!” Artwhys turned to the source of the voice, who would stop just short of the pair, eyes turning to the dragon then to Arthwys. “I see you are in one piece. What do we owe the honor of the White Dragon’s visit?” “Ahem. Sigurd. Arthwys. With the Beast of conflict defeated…I am satisfied with your training and leadership, Arthwys.” The dragon lowered its head, bowing. “It has been long, and you have done well, but…I believe its finally time we put Varakel to rest, and as I said when we first met…I give you my word that I will help.” “...now? But we suffered so many losses. How can we-” “Sigurd. We’ll be fine.” “You all need not worry about Varakel’s army.” The dragon replied. “As I said, if Varakel and I truly clash…then all of Albion will be rent asunder in the aftermath. I will handle his armies. You and your knights, find your way to him and kill him yourself. He would not dare seek me out.” “I see. Then let us begin preparing once we return to Lunestel.” [/hider] “And there you have it. Not quite a happy tale, is it?” Sorcha finished recounting the story. It seemed to be of a beast hunt shortly before the King decided to take down Varakel himself. It didn’t have anything too important or ground breaking, save perhaps that if what she was saying was true, the White Dragon seemed to take some more active roles in the kings life and had even been present during Varakel’s defeat. Regardless, Sorcha seemed to be in a better mood at least. “Thanks, for listening Fio. I’ve been having that dream a lot lately. Sometimes its hard to sleep...” She'd yawn. [@Pyromania99] [hr] “Luna…you will hurt yourself.” Sucaria responded with a huff, catching Luna before she fell. “Now get in the bath.” She’d finish undressing Luna and then pushing her into the bath that had already somehow, for some reason, been prepared ahead of time with pleasantly warm water. Once Luna was settled whether she wanted to be or not, Sucaria would proceed with helping to wash the dirt and grime from Luna’s body and days of travel. She’d begin in silence, not speaking to Luna as she’d intently focus on the task at hand as the maid made every effort to keep Luna squeaky clean while also not getting her own cursed blood on the Knightess. “...Lady Luna.” She’d say after a few minutes of silence. “How long will you be staying away from home?” She’d ask quietly. [@FrogRFlowR] [hr] “Hey, who turned the moon off-?” “Who cares! Just go for them!” Deflecting and focusing on defense would give Niall only a minor advantage, even in such low light conditions. While he managed to deflect most of the blows, not all of them could easily be pushed aside. As he’d deflect a spear, he’d feel a heavy blow be landed on the side of his head from one of the men wielding a large club, clanging against his metal helmet. After pushing him off, he’d feel a blade bounce off his chest armor. “Just stand away from the gate, yeah?” The Tuatha shouted. “She’ll be here soon!” It seemed as though, there may not be too much time left for the pair. Though the light in the area had been rendered near pitch dark, Niall could see someone walking towards him through the mist. A large man, wielding what seemed to be a makeshift weapon of some sort that seemed to be a large metal hammer of some sort decorated with a deer skull atop. The armor he was wearing was similarly makeshift. Strips of leather and the occasional plate of scale. The most eye catching feature though, was his face…or rather, how hidden it was. It was obscured by a thick hood of fur with antlers for decoration on top. “Ho? We’ve got intruders.” “I told ya, Annagan.” The familiar voice of the Fomorian scientist from earlier was heard too. Niall could see her standing just to the side, a bit further behind this large man, apparently named Annagan. “You even let that Tuatha escape, huh. How pitiful.” “What’cha want from me? You shouldn’t have left the gates wide open.” Not bothering to reply, this Annagan would run towards Niall, bringing his heavy hammer down onto the Tuatha.