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<|description|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt Age: 25 Gender: Male Appearance: Abilities:[Blood Of Fafnir] Fafnir was once an Elder Beast of fire and might that ruled over a Clan of Giants with brute force alone. Upon slaying the beast; Sir Sigurd von Reinhardt took Fafnir's strength as his own, the ancient Dragon's stolen might becoming inherent to House Reinhardt for generations to come. This power; bound to the Reinhardt bloodline, often manifests as a birthmark in the shape of Fafnir's final wound and located over the heart. [Peak Human] Though his sheer strength alone makes Reinhardt capable of crushing stone with his bare hands, his other physical capabilities are top-tier when compared to his fellow man. [Magic Sense] Despite having no magical ability of his own, Reinhardt is decently capable at detecting the flow and presence of magic. [Expert Swordsman] Though not among the best swordsmen in the land of Albion, the countless hours of practice Reinhardt has put into his swordsmanship can hardly be disregarded. [The Unbreakable] Due to Reinhardt's tendency to return from battles unscathed, rumors would suggest the man's skin to be impenetrable by normal means... However true such a thing might be-- no one quite knows for certain. Recent events have revealed that there may be more to Reinhardt's seeming invulnerability than it would at first seem.... History:Reinhardt. The name of a knightly house that has served the people of Albion since the rule of it's first king. A house renowned for producing heirs of unmatched physical might and tenacity-- as well as some of the most legendary beast slayers Albion has ever known. Charged with eliminating threats in the Northeastern territories of the kingdom, House Reinhardt upheld its oath to protect the people of Albion even centuries after the King had met his end. But every vigil is destined to end eventually. Through the countless years of fighting beasts and brigands and Fomorians alike, the overwhelming strength of the once great house was whittled away bit by bit. Constant fighting against tireless enemies slowly drained the House's numbers, ancient heirlooms were lost, stolen, or destroyed, what little crop the territories could muster was consumed just as fast as it could be produced. By the time Elias Reinhardt had come into the world, his mother, father, and uncle were the last of the Reinhardt line; the walls of their once venerable Castle Reinhardt crumbling and the many chambers within it's halls left dirty, and unkempt. Even as the end loomed over what remained of house Reinhardt, the Lord of the house; ever dutiful to the people of Albion, still raised Elias as a knight. At age eight, Elias was was taught to wield a sword. At ten, he was taught to hunt. At fourteen he learned how to harvest useful materials from the bodies of beasts. At sixteen the young man was Knighted, and at eighteen the young warrior even managed to successfully drive off a great vulture; an Elder beast of misfortune, from the Northeastern territories. At twenty-two years old, the young Elias Reinhardt was dispatched to face the most dangerous foe he'd ever faced. A Tuathan scholar that had been studying the nature a Fey artifact that had been discovered in the region had been driven mad by the twisted magics of the Unseelie, and threatened to make the lands of the Northeastern territories even more of a wasteland than they already were. For ten moons the Knight fought the mage; their battle raging without repose through night and day alike... It is said that the young Reinhardt; though his armor and weapon had been broken beyond repair, returned to Castle Reinhardt without so much as a scratch... But forever changed. Now the young knight travels South to the town of Airedale, carrying a letter addressed to the one rumored capable of saving the land; the very king his family had once so faithfully served. Anything else: * Elias is the first of house Reinhardt to leave the Northeastern territories since the end of the first King's reign. * Despite his family's reputation as beast hunters, Elias himself seems to avoid people associated with the elder beasts. * Elias has a tendency to accidentally break his weapons. * The Reinhardt family birthmark often gives off a dull orange glow that intensifies proportional to physical effort.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Her blade struck true. It had been a simple spell, all she could manage when she was keeping the Fomorian bound with two complex binding spells in a row. She could feel how weak her slender limbs had become, her legs trembling slightly beneath her. But Fio's phantom sword had found its mark, burying itself in the beastly bandit's center back and erupting out the other side. From the angle, even at this distance, she was sure she had pierced his heart. And now the monster fell. She'd struck her mark. "There." The crystal-like blade of magical energy dissipated, and Fio fell to her knees, no longer having the energy to remain on her feet. She'd protected the knights, and delivered the final blow that slew their enemy. She'd been perfectly confident in the outcome, but it was still a relief to actually see the monstrous figure fall to the ground and die. The battle was finished, and she would be able to recover from using so many complex spells in a short span of time. But there was still one more task she had to attend to before she could rest. The binding spell keeping the Fomorian in check had to be maintained until the others arrived, and her prisoner could be tied with more permanent restraints in order to be taken back. This was her prize. A Fomorian they could interrogate. Fio was not about to give her up. Adjusting her hat, the petite witch sat back on her knees. Just what had the Fomorian said to her? It was bad enough she was doing horrible experiments resulting in hideous, cursed, warped abominations. But that comment... what was that supposed to mean? "E... excuse me? What's that s-supposed to mean?" Fio managed between gulps of air, as she fixed her purple-blue gaze on the other girl, eyes narrowed. Exactly how didn't she look like a witch? Even if she was exhausted, she wasn't about to ignore a comment like that. @FrogRFlowR@Pyromania99</s> <|message|>Niall Ulchabhán As focused to the task as ever - and as silent - Niall ignored the man's taunts as he delivered what would turn out to be his last attack of this fight. Stay out of this? Niall thought, finding it somewhat ironic considering they had been fighting this whole time. Truly, this beast could hardly focus on more than one thing at a time. However, Niall still got grabbed and was about to be thrown to the ground when he felt the hand loosen up. Their plan worked, and as Annagan was distracted the knight's companions delivered the final blow. Niall felt only relief as he fell down to the ground when the massive hand, falling out of it and barreling on the ground for some way. He allowed himself this moment of 'respite' as he laid on the ground, looking up at the night sky. His body aching all over and stamina nearly depleted - but things were not over yet. The Own Knight stood back up once more, looking over to Luna and seeing she was alright. He then felt something against his foot. Annagan's eye, which turned to stone and rolled out as they fell. Niall took a hold of it, not oen for trophies but...this could be something to show the Queen, at least. It might prove useful - or not. When he looked over to Fio, Niall saw her on her knees, seemingly just as tired of not more so than him. The knight took his Lance and walked closer to Luna, motioning towards their Witch companion. "Let's regroup before we go into the camp." he simply said, the exhaustion audibles in the voice behind his helmet. Niall would then walk over to Fio or, rather, her caught prey whom he recognized as the Formorian from the room before. "We meet again." he simply said as he got out of his pouches some chains which sole purpose was this. He would tie her wrists together behind her back as well as her ankles and force her up, walking closer to Fio before throwing her to the ground there, hoping this would allow the Witch to finally catch a breath. "Good job, Fio. Thanks for the assist with that beast - both of you..." as he spoke, his Owl pet landed on his shoulder, pecking under its wing and staring around.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword It hurt. Where she had blocked the swing of the hammer had broken her arm someplace, but she didn't let it show on her face to the others. She winced every now and then when Niall, Fio and the prisoner weren't looking, but she let her shield arm sit at her side as she sheathed her sword and held that hand on the arm where it felt like there was a broken bone and poured some small amount of healing magic she could muster. "Glad to see you alive, Niall. That said, this all went a lot more horridly than I had anticipated, truthfully. I didn't think someone would turn into that monstrosity." The Knightess frowned a small bit. "Much more loss of life on our side than anticipated. These bandits shouldn't have been half as strong as they were." She grimaced for a second before a flush of anger crossed her face. It was obvious what caused the look on her face. It didn't take long before she closed her eyes and taking a deep breath. "There's three of them left. My men, that is." The Knightess shook her head. "I told them to clear the walls of archers if they could. And not to die." A small wry smile crossed her face. "If they did, I'll bring them back to life just to kill them myself." With that, Luna started back towards where she left the soldiers. "Still, I wonder if there's a feasible way to bring all their bodies back. I'd like their families to have a last chance to say goodbye." With her and Niall wounded and only three soldiers left aside, she wondered if they just needed to hide the soldiers bodies and then come back for them with some extra hands. "Maybe there's a cart around here I could push."</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred had only a moment to realize what it was doing in the air- it was going to stomp down on him with its claws. Clearly his frozen, jagged armor did not look as appetizing as that unfortunate Harzel soldier, and it was determined to do some damage. As it bore down, Ethelred leapt back out of the path of its descending talons. Given the sheer momentum with which it was coming down, it'd be best to not take this attack head-on. Once the Wyvern landed, Ethelred would rotate his lance into a reverse grip and bring it down on his opponent's foot like a stake. Once he embedded it as deeply as he could, he'd freeze through it, intent on holding the wyvern to this spot of ground. If it kept flying around, the ballista wouldn't be able to hit it, so it was imperative that he prevent it from moving around long enough for them to line up a shot. With his lance being used to try and stake the wyvern in place, Ethelred placed both of his hands on Elnith's blood-red sword and readied it to deflect or counterattack any incoming blow from his foe's jaws or wings. Even if if it was rooted to this spot, almost every inch of this monster's body could constitute a weapon.</s>

<|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt "All I need just enough time to catch my breath." Reinhardt replied, steam hissing from between his teeth with each breath. Looking over his shoulder, the knight assessed the situation-- while he knew full well the Dragon was preparing another blast of flame, there was little he could do to stop it. Despite his strength, he had no magic or any way to block or deflect the attack. While he could hurl one of the halberds down the beast's throat, he doubted that the creature wouldn't see it coming, and avoid the oncoming weapon. The best he could come up with was breaking line of sight. "Lonan-- veer left, right, left once more, then a hard bank back to the right!" Elias ordered as he raised a halberd high, "Brace for Impact!"</s>

<|description|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt Age: 25 Gender: Male Appearance: Abilities:[Blood Of Fafnir] Fafnir was once an Elder Beast of fire and might that ruled over a Clan of Giants with brute force alone. Upon slaying the beast; Sir Sigurd von Reinhardt took Fafnir's strength as his own, the ancient Dragon's stolen might becoming inherent to House Reinhardt for generations to come. This power; bound to the Reinhardt bloodline, often manifests as a birthmark in the shape of Fafnir's final wound and located over the heart. [Peak Human] Though his sheer strength alone makes Reinhardt capable of crushing stone with his bare hands, his other physical capabilities are top-tier when compared to his fellow man. [Magic Sense] Despite having no magical ability of his own, Reinhardt is decently capable at detecting the flow and presence of magic. [Expert Swordsman] Though not among the best swordsmen in the land of Albion, the countless hours of practice Reinhardt has put into his swordsmanship can hardly be disregarded. [The Unbreakable] Due to Reinhardt's tendency to return from battles unscathed, rumors would suggest the man's skin to be impenetrable by normal means... However true such a thing might be-- no one quite knows for certain. Recent events have revealed that there may be more to Reinhardt's seeming invulnerability than it would at first seem.... History:Reinhardt. The name of a knightly house that has served the people of Albion since the rule of it's first king. A house renowned for producing heirs of unmatched physical might and tenacity-- as well as some of the most legendary beast slayers Albion has ever known. Charged with eliminating threats in the Northeastern territories of the kingdom, House Reinhardt upheld its oath to protect the people of Albion even centuries after the King had met his end. But every vigil is destined to end eventually. Through the countless years of fighting beasts and brigands and Fomorians alike, the overwhelming strength of the once great house was whittled away bit by bit. Constant fighting against tireless enemies slowly drained the House's numbers, ancient heirlooms were lost, stolen, or destroyed, what little crop the territories could muster was consumed just as fast as it could be produced. By the time Elias Reinhardt had come into the world, his mother, father, and uncle were the last of the Reinhardt line; the walls of their once venerable Castle Reinhardt crumbling and the many chambers within it's halls left dirty, and unkempt. Even as the end loomed over what remained of house Reinhardt, the Lord of the house; ever dutiful to the people of Albion, still raised Elias as a knight. At age eight, Elias was was taught to wield a sword. At ten, he was taught to hunt. At fourteen he learned how to harvest useful materials from the bodies of beasts. At sixteen the young man was Knighted, and at eighteen the young warrior even managed to successfully drive off a great vulture; an Elder beast of misfortune, from the Northeastern territories. At twenty-two years old, the young Elias Reinhardt was dispatched to face the most dangerous foe he'd ever faced. A Tuathan scholar that had been studying the nature a Fey artifact that had been discovered in the region had been driven mad by the twisted magics of the Unseelie, and threatened to make the lands of the Northeastern territories even more of a wasteland than they already were. For ten moons the Knight fought the mage; their battle raging without repose through night and day alike... It is said that the young Reinhardt; though his armor and weapon had been broken beyond repair, returned to Castle Reinhardt without so much as a scratch... But forever changed. Now the young knight travels South to the town of Airedale, carrying a letter addressed to the one rumored capable of saving the land; the very king his family had once so faithfully served. Anything else: * Elias is the first of house Reinhardt to leave the Northeastern territories since the end of the first King's reign. * Despite his family's reputation as beast hunters, Elias himself seems to avoid people associated with the elder beasts. * Elias has a tendency to accidentally break his weapons. * The Reinhardt family birthmark often gives off a dull orange glow that intensifies proportional to physical effort.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna grabbed Elnith's hand and offered a smile back at her. "No, no. Please, I insist." The knightess said as she started to apply her healing magics to the woman. "Are we not comrades serving the queen together? I feel a kinship with all those with a similar cause, so feel no need to shy from assistance." Luna slowly moved her hand over the worst regions, barely touching them where she could to not cause much pain to Elnith. "Of course, healing isn't my strong suit so I can do what I can." As she was working on Elnith's burns, Vyrell came over and asked her about the bandits. "Hear more about the bandits? Hmm, I don't know how much more there is to say. They were stronger than the usual rabble you find holed up in abandoned places. Oh, yes, they did seem to be eating something like it was a fey or perhaps a fomorian. I had considered that as a connection of course, but... A soldier found a symbol while we were there." Luna reached into her pocket and pulled it out for Vyrell while still giving Elnith a bit of treatment. "Perhaps you recognize this for more than an abominable parody of my house's sigil."</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch She was sinking. Her first instinct, above all logic, was to panic. The fact that the water never seemed to end, like she was descending further and further, deeper and deeper down, clutched at her heart. She didn't want to drown. She didn't want to die. She didn't- Fio clenched her fists. This wasn't simply sinking into a deep pool. This was sinking back. Into her target's memories. Panicking like that was something only an idiot would do. This was exactly what she wanted, the outcome she was looking for in the first place! Her fears for now defeated, the petite witch felt her entire body relax as she drifted deeper. Now her bare feet were on a hard, white, smooth service. It felt almost like extremely polished stone. Above her wheeled celestial bodies she couldn't name. And then the world around her moved, when she stayed still. Suddenly she found herself in the campsite again. The indistinguishable chatting of the bandits filled the air, as they hoisted a figure over the fire. With no small amount of disgust, she noted it was a fae of the Laughing Wood. No matter how twisted such creatures were, eating them was barbaric. It was with more interest that she noticed the Fomorian, seemingly arguing with Annagan. To begin with, Fio was curious about that. She wanted to know just what their conversation entailed before she moved on. Thus, she focused, attempting to make out their words... Next, she'd proceed into the basement, regardless of if her efforts to hear the argument were successful or not.</s> <|message|>Ethelred "I am sorry to hear about the deaths of your men, Luna," Ethelred spoke to the knightess. "It appears that we both were up against foes who proved to be much stronger than we anticipated. If I may ask, did they have anything to do with the bandit band that attacked Airedale, or were they an unrelated gang?" If the brigands from before were trying to obtain strength after the glaring defeat the knights had inflicted upon them, that could be a worrisome development. This new knight, Niall, sounded like he would be a welcome addition to the group, if Sorcha could trust him. He noticed that the knight did not remove his helmet, and was curious as to why. Ethelred also never removed his helmet, but that was not by his choice- just like the rest of his armor, his helmet would not come off. There were many reasons why one might choose not to show their face, some more innocent than others. If he joined Sorcha's order, it would likely be inevitable that the others see him without his armor and helmet, unless it was stuck on him like in Ethelred's case. Whatever the case was, another knight would be a welcome addition, especially with the loss of Od. From what Vyrell was saying, two new matters had already come up. "I'd be willing to address the Unseelie sightings," he stated to Sorcha. "I know all too well the trouble they can cause, and they may have some answers that I seek." Of course, it'd be unwise to go alone. The Unseelie were a tricky race, and Od's abduction was a grim reminder of how important it was for the knights to be watching each other's back. Assuming Vyrell doesn't stay at the castle, he'll probably be more interested in the elves. Luna might be interested in the Unseelie if there's any chance that they were connected to the bandits' strength. I suspect Reinhardt will need to get his armor replaced or refitted, although he doesn't really need it. Fio is probably too busy working on her prisoner. Niall is a complete mystery to me, and I'd rather not put Lugh in harm's way, he thought as he looked over all the other knights. Elnith, however, she might have an interest, he thought has he turned to the cursed knight, currently receiving some healing from Luna. The Unseelie wronged her far more grievously than myself. Ethelred could feel his temperature becoming a smidge less frigid. Perhaps it was just the aura of Elnith's curse affecting his own curse. Clearly it was a strong effect, if it warmed him enough that she was able to sleep with her head on his shoulder without suffering frostbite. Perhaps the chill of his armor alleviated the pain of her burns. Whatever the rationale was, he was glad to be there for her. He hesitated to ask anything anything, however- after all, Elnith was still recovering from her burns and deserved some time off after her very unpleasant imprisonment. While his face could not be seen, the others might notice the direction he was facing, and the ice thawing on the outer edges of his armor, with beads of water running down his helmet. @Rune_Alchemist@Guy0fV4lor</s>

<|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt Reinhardt didn't waste time in departing from the War Room as he and the other Knights, only stopping long enough to give his comrades a brief address as he'd step out into the Village, "I'll be on patrol if anyone needs me." Though the Queen's reaction had been far more calm than he'd expected, unease played upon Reinhardt's nerves; though much like the injuries he still carried from the previous mission-- he would betray nothing of it to others as he would make his way throughout Airedale. Stopping by the Blacksmith to drop off his armor for resizing, the Knight would leave the workshop with a large canvas; wrapped tightly around whatever wad contained within. Continuing past the gate, Elias would march off into the woods; out of sight. He needed to clear his head.</s>

<|description|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt Age: 25 Gender: Male Appearance: Abilities:[Blood Of Fafnir] Fafnir was once an Elder Beast of fire and might that ruled over a Clan of Giants with brute force alone. Upon slaying the beast; Sir Sigurd von Reinhardt took Fafnir's strength as his own, the ancient Dragon's stolen might becoming inherent to House Reinhardt for generations to come. This power; bound to the Reinhardt bloodline, often manifests as a birthmark in the shape of Fafnir's final wound and located over the heart. [Peak Human] Though his sheer strength alone makes Reinhardt capable of crushing stone with his bare hands, his other physical capabilities are top-tier when compared to his fellow man. [Magic Sense] Despite having no magical ability of his own, Reinhardt is decently capable at detecting the flow and presence of magic. [Expert Swordsman] Though not among the best swordsmen in the land of Albion, the countless hours of practice Reinhardt has put into his swordsmanship can hardly be disregarded. [The Unbreakable] Due to Reinhardt's tendency to return from battles unscathed, rumors would suggest the man's skin to be impenetrable by normal means... However true such a thing might be-- no one quite knows for certain. Recent events have revealed that there may be more to Reinhardt's seeming invulnerability than it would at first seem.... History:Reinhardt. The name of a knightly house that has served the people of Albion since the rule of it's first king. A house renowned for producing heirs of unmatched physical might and tenacity-- as well as some of the most legendary beast slayers Albion has ever known. Charged with eliminating threats in the Northeastern territories of the kingdom, House Reinhardt upheld its oath to protect the people of Albion even centuries after the King had met his end. But every vigil is destined to end eventually. Through the countless years of fighting beasts and brigands and Fomorians alike, the overwhelming strength of the once great house was whittled away bit by bit. Constant fighting against tireless enemies slowly drained the House's numbers, ancient heirlooms were lost, stolen, or destroyed, what little crop the territories could muster was consumed just as fast as it could be produced. By the time Elias Reinhardt had come into the world, his mother, father, and uncle were the last of the Reinhardt line; the walls of their once venerable Castle Reinhardt crumbling and the many chambers within it's halls left dirty, and unkempt. Even as the end loomed over what remained of house Reinhardt, the Lord of the house; ever dutiful to the people of Albion, still raised Elias as a knight. At age eight, Elias was was taught to wield a sword. At ten, he was taught to hunt. At fourteen he learned how to harvest useful materials from the bodies of beasts. At sixteen the young man was Knighted, and at eighteen the young warrior even managed to successfully drive off a great vulture; an Elder beast of misfortune, from the Northeastern territories. At twenty-two years old, the young Elias Reinhardt was dispatched to face the most dangerous foe he'd ever faced. A Tuathan scholar that had been studying the nature a Fey artifact that had been discovered in the region had been driven mad by the twisted magics of the Unseelie, and threatened to make the lands of the Northeastern territories even more of a wasteland than they already were. For ten moons the Knight fought the mage; their battle raging without repose through night and day alike... It is said that the young Reinhardt; though his armor and weapon had been broken beyond repair, returned to Castle Reinhardt without so much as a scratch... But forever changed. Now the young knight travels South to the town of Airedale, carrying a letter addressed to the one rumored capable of saving the land; the very king his family had once so faithfully served. Anything else: * Elias is the first of house Reinhardt to leave the Northeastern territories since the end of the first King's reign. * Despite his family's reputation as beast hunters, Elias himself seems to avoid people associated with the elder beasts. * Elias has a tendency to accidentally break his weapons. * The Reinhardt family birthmark often gives off a dull orange glow that intensifies proportional to physical effort.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Nothing. There was nothing even resembling further memories this way. Damn it. She'd made a mistake. This ominous expanse was nothing useful for her, and put her at far too much of a risk of being exposed directly to massed curses. The only choice Fio had was to try and cancel the spell, at this point. There was no way head back as far as she could tell. Her hubris had wasted her opportunity to gain further knowledge. At the very least, she now knew that Cethlann was connected to the three-armed Fomorian, and she had some inkling of direction to drive her questioning at the very least. Any knowledge gained this way was valuable. Then the great sphere in the eye split apart. Within, there was an eye. Swollen, reddened, fixed upon her and bleeding cursed ichor from within, weeping blackness onto the world below. "That's...!" The fear that rose in Fio's heart simply wasn't something she could control. But even as she tried to turn, to cancel the spell and break the connection, she felt her lungs burning. Her skin, the sigils she'd painted on her body, burning. Her entire body felt like it was on fire. It was difficult to breath, to move. The world around her was collapsing, melting away, becoming a thick mud to entrap her feet and drag her down. The terror was mounting in her heart, cold fear eating away at her, her eyes wide as she tried to struggle against the decaying dream around her. She could hear a howling voice in her mind, demanding something from her, to claim something of her. How could she escape? She'd mired herself this far from the Fomorian's memories, in a land of hatred and malice, a nightmare dreamscape of curses and anger. How could Fio possibly pull herself away from this? Even as the Sword Witch... she'd been so foolish. So utterly foolish to come this way. It felt as if the sigils were going to scald her flesh, to burn their marks onto her skin. Had she failed? Was she going to be drowned in curses? And yet... there was the faintest light, flickering away... Even the sight of it suddenly reawakened something deep in Fio's heart. Her fists clenched. "... You... you won't have me, filth! I'm not an amateur who can be defeated by something like this...!" The glaring eye was no longer her concern. She had to leave it behind. She would leave it behind! The Sword Witch dragged herself towards that flickering, seemingly-distant light, putting all her power into her limbs to push herself onward, away from the cursed mud...!</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword The atmosphere at Nid's End was somewhat oppressive. When Sucaria mentioned feeling uneasy, well, Luna felt it as well. "It's not just you, Sucaria. I find it odd that elves would be here on that note." Why would they be? It was beyond expectations to be sure. This place was a craggy, dreary coastal mess and her limited knowledge on elves was that they liked forests and had some sort of ancestor worship. Perhaps there was something related to that here? Truthfully, despite thelack of road they had to take, Lunalel was surprised to find the place so easily. She'd have thought that they would run into a Fomorian or Unseelie of some sort as the two of them found themselves here but there were none. She coulent tell if that was a fortuitous sign or not. That said, she had lilely foumd her answer soon enough. The elves seemed to have some sort of party on the shores. Their two ships beached with a symbol that might mean more to here if she knew anytging more about elves. The majority of the forest-folk seemed to be dressed in red and green armor while there was one girl fighting some fomorian cyclops. While her first instinct was to jump in to help, it seemed to be a non-issue. Otherwise, the rest of the elves would do more than laugh, play and bet. Perhaps a rite of passage of some sorts. The knightess couldnt say she hadnt been throughbone at some point. She watched the fight a small bit before catching a look at the elf's face. Something about her ruby eyes transfixed Luna for some short time before her senses came back to her. Blushing a small bit from that, she looked towards the rest of the elves on shore. "Shall we greet our new friends, my dearest maid?" Hopefully they would not take offence to her joining as she moved closer to the elves not fighting and raised a hand. "Hail, friends from across the sea. My name is Lunalel Lightsword and this is my Maid Sucaria. How fare you all?" She asked, hoping that no one would be one the defensive here.</s> <|message|>Ethelred "I agree, something is amiss here," Ethelred replied to Elnith's observation, as he looked around atop his icy horse. "We need to find someone willing to talk." Ethelred knew that this was the place they were looking for. It was normal for people to feel some apprehension and fear at himself and Elnith, but this village was the only one where they fled inside and worriedly sought to avoid their attention. It certainly wasn't normal for people to claim that the Unseelie had returned when fleeing into their homes. The knights needed to figure out what was going on as quickly as possible- the longer they remained in the dark, the more danger both they and the locals would be in. The problem, however, would be getting people to talk. They might be frightened enough to not offer any resistance to those they believed to be with the Unseelie, such as Ethelred, but Ethelred would rather not cause any of them further distress, nor give them a reason to distrust Queen Sorcha. "Lugh, see if anyone in the town center is willing to talk," he instructed the squire. "Don't hesitate to give them those pleading eyes. Elnith, could you keep an eye on him, make sure nobody gives him trouble? I'm going to try one of these houses." Ethelred dismounted his horse and walked up to one of the houses whom he had seen a villager flee into. He knocked on the door, which he assumed would be locked, latched, bolted and barricaded. "Hello? I am Sir Ethelred, Knight of Airedale. Is anybody home?" He felt that it'd be best to try a somewhat subtle approach at first (or at least as subtle as a crystalline horseman atop a crystalline horse, a cursed berserker, and a Tuatha could be). He wasn't sure if they'd answer at all, but their reaction, whatever it was, might provide some useful information even if they didn't cooperate.</s>

<|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt Even as irritation with his own inability festered in the back of Elias' mind, his stone-faced expression held firm as he nodded to the handful of patrols and children he passed by. Though such sights in the forests about the border of Airedale's walls were far from irregular, the constant encountering of other people proved particularly bothersome given Reinhardt's mood. A slight frown crested the edges of the knight's face; the further souring of his mood was no fault of the people he encountered-- these were the very people he was supposed to protect... That he was sworn to protect. That he had given his very life to protect-- time and time again. ..... "Inadequate." It was the only word for a Knight too careless to fail foreseeing a Fomorian until it was too late, a Knight too incompetent to keep the comrades he was charged with safe, a Dragonslayer too sloppy to slay a mere Wyvern; even overgrown as it was. Elias' teeth ground together tightly as he dwelled on his failures, tossing his weapon-filled canvas to the ground in silent frustration once he was certain he was well and truly alone. "Interrupt my spellcasting, and I'll turn you into a frog." An unfamiliar voice snapped Reinhardt from his trance. With a deep breath, the Knight raised his shield of stoic composure once more before slowly turning to appraise the source of this unexpected interruption. Elias' gaze carefully scrutinized the short, brown-haired woman. Though her frame was unassuming she was clearly a spellcaster; meaning her physique would only betray precious little of her own capabilities, the lack of stains or otherwise marring the color of her white clothing did however hint that the woman's abilities were not insignificant at the least. Reinhardt frowned as his gaze travelled onward; tracing carefully across the formation the woman seemed to be tracing in the dirt. Though he normally would've dismissed this sort of seemingly innocent practice of spellcasting from what appeared to be an average human Mage-- this was uncomfortably close to Airedale's walls, and though Reinhardt couldn't say he was particularly well-versed in the study and practice of Magics, he was at least confident that spells requiring sigils and circles to be etched into the ground were designed were typically the kind that were designed to cover a large area, or channel something especially potent. Even innocent as this Woman seemed to be, this Stranger was far closer to Airedale than Reinhardt was comfortable with; especially considering how unusual recent predicaments had been. "I apologize for distracting you, I'm only out here to get a bit of quiet practice myself." Elias spoke calmly; retrieving a simple sword from his canvas as he would settle himself a decent distance from the Mage before casually beginning to take practice swings, "May I ask what you're casting?"</s>

<|description|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt Age: 25 Gender: Male Appearance: Abilities:[Blood Of Fafnir] Fafnir was once an Elder Beast of fire and might that ruled over a Clan of Giants with brute force alone. Upon slaying the beast; Sir Sigurd von Reinhardt took Fafnir's strength as his own, the ancient Dragon's stolen might becoming inherent to House Reinhardt for generations to come. This power; bound to the Reinhardt bloodline, often manifests as a birthmark in the shape of Fafnir's final wound and located over the heart. [Peak Human] Though his sheer strength alone makes Reinhardt capable of crushing stone with his bare hands, his other physical capabilities are top-tier when compared to his fellow man. [Magic Sense] Despite having no magical ability of his own, Reinhardt is decently capable at detecting the flow and presence of magic. [Expert Swordsman] Though not among the best swordsmen in the land of Albion, the countless hours of practice Reinhardt has put into his swordsmanship can hardly be disregarded. [The Unbreakable] Due to Reinhardt's tendency to return from battles unscathed, rumors would suggest the man's skin to be impenetrable by normal means... However true such a thing might be-- no one quite knows for certain. Recent events have revealed that there may be more to Reinhardt's seeming invulnerability than it would at first seem.... History:Reinhardt. The name of a knightly house that has served the people of Albion since the rule of it's first king. A house renowned for producing heirs of unmatched physical might and tenacity-- as well as some of the most legendary beast slayers Albion has ever known. Charged with eliminating threats in the Northeastern territories of the kingdom, House Reinhardt upheld its oath to protect the people of Albion even centuries after the King had met his end. But every vigil is destined to end eventually. Through the countless years of fighting beasts and brigands and Fomorians alike, the overwhelming strength of the once great house was whittled away bit by bit. Constant fighting against tireless enemies slowly drained the House's numbers, ancient heirlooms were lost, stolen, or destroyed, what little crop the territories could muster was consumed just as fast as it could be produced. By the time Elias Reinhardt had come into the world, his mother, father, and uncle were the last of the Reinhardt line; the walls of their once venerable Castle Reinhardt crumbling and the many chambers within it's halls left dirty, and unkempt. Even as the end loomed over what remained of house Reinhardt, the Lord of the house; ever dutiful to the people of Albion, still raised Elias as a knight. At age eight, Elias was was taught to wield a sword. At ten, he was taught to hunt. At fourteen he learned how to harvest useful materials from the bodies of beasts. At sixteen the young man was Knighted, and at eighteen the young warrior even managed to successfully drive off a great vulture; an Elder beast of misfortune, from the Northeastern territories. At twenty-two years old, the young Elias Reinhardt was dispatched to face the most dangerous foe he'd ever faced. A Tuathan scholar that had been studying the nature a Fey artifact that had been discovered in the region had been driven mad by the twisted magics of the Unseelie, and threatened to make the lands of the Northeastern territories even more of a wasteland than they already were. For ten moons the Knight fought the mage; their battle raging without repose through night and day alike... It is said that the young Reinhardt; though his armor and weapon had been broken beyond repair, returned to Castle Reinhardt without so much as a scratch... But forever changed. Now the young knight travels South to the town of Airedale, carrying a letter addressed to the one rumored capable of saving the land; the very king his family had once so faithfully served. Anything else: * Elias is the first of house Reinhardt to leave the Northeastern territories since the end of the first King's reign. * Despite his family's reputation as beast hunters, Elias himself seems to avoid people associated with the elder beasts. * Elias has a tendency to accidentally break his weapons. * The Reinhardt family birthmark often gives off a dull orange glow that intensifies proportional to physical effort.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna would reflexively accept the drink. It's not like she couldnt hold her Alcohol. "Looking for someone is she? That can be quite the perilous task in Albion." The knightess mentioned as took a sip of her drink. She'd ask for a second mug for Sucaria but the maid never seemed interested in drink. She took a deep drink, savoring the alcohol before stopping when about half was gone. The knight would look toward Sarah's fight and admire the elf's fighting style. Perhaps a small bit more than that as she took another drink. "Well, I hope to speak to your Lady Sarah soon then. I don't it would take much more for her to win from here." Luna mused before finishing her mug. "Think I could ask for a bit more?" The knightess asked, holding the mug out hoping the elf would leave long enough to ask Sucaria a question. She held to Sucaria's hand still, hoping to ease her heavy heart. After her drink if the elf left, she would leaned in toward Sucario to ask a question. "Sucaria, is there anything I can do to help? You know I'd do whatever I could for you."</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch It was true, the Goddess of the Deep Lake wasn't so commonly worshipped, as Fio understood it. The fact that she was apologizing was even more surreal then the realm they had arrived in. Her life had just been saved, and the one responsible was making an apology? "... Hmph, I'm showing you gratitude, you know," Fio replied with a huff, folding her arms over her chest as she spoke, "Don't apologize when I'm being thankful." After a few moments of silence she let out a sigh. "In any case, I can't stay here. Even ignoring my own personal wishes, I have plenty of things to do in the waking world," she continued. The rabbit-eared girl seemed lonely, and had shades of clinginess to her behavior. But the Sword Witch supposed a Goddess without worship would naturally be rather drawn to any newcomers. "But I can return, if you're willing to help me look into her dreams again, like you said," she added, "And... and maybe I can... do something for you, or something." The petite witch averted her eyes. "You know, to thank you for helping."</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred at least managed to get some answers as to what was going on- at night, the Unseelie used singing to lure people into the woods. The singing no doubt had a hypnotic or mesmerizing effect, and Ethelred wasn't entirely sure how if it'd have any effect on the knights. As Elnith asked how to go about dealing with the Unseelie, Ethelred had to consider both options. If they stayed and waited, it'd be much easier to find the Unseelie- just follow the singing and smash whatever trap they had set for the peasants. If they kept a low profile until dark, they ought to be able to completely catch the Unseelie off-guard. On the other hand, the singing could potentially affect them too, and if any of the peasants were lured out, the knights may not have the chance to save them. If they went hunting in the woods, they might be able to put an end to this thing before anyone else got hurt, but the fairies would have the home advantage, since they no doubt knew the terrain much better. Additionally, it might be much more difficult to actually find the culprits without a singing voice to home in on. Lugh could probably sense their corruption, but unless they had a bag full of stray cats, actually catching a fairy would be another story. "I'm worried about that too. I fear I may be uniquely vulnerable because unlike you and Lugh, if that singing affects me, I cannot reach my ears to muffle them," he stated to Elnith, tapping the side of his helmet as to demonstrate. "There's more to it than that, though," he spoke somewhat sadly. "During our previous mission, I witnessed several people being murdered by Fomorians. If I can avoid it, I'd prefer to avoid putting these people at risk. I say we spent what daylight hours we have left searching the woods for any whiff of the Unseelie corruption. If we find nothing by sunset, we'll head back here and prepare for whatever nightly trickery they have in store." It was risky, but Ethelred believed that waiting and using these innocent villagers as bait would be highly unbecoming for one of Sorcha's knights. Their duty was to protect these people.</s>

<|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt Reinhardt's practiced motions with the blade in his hands paused abruptly as the ritual the diminutive mage had been casting; as if on cue, went to shit. Calmly, the Knight relaxed his posture as he looked both the stranger and the tentacle that gripped her from top to bottom. Based on the Woman's outcry, it seemed safe to assume that this sort of thing had happened on more than one occasion; perhaps calling the quality of the spellcaster's skills directly into question. From the looks of things, the girl didn't seem to be in immediate danger-- it was likely that she would remain helpless and humiliated within the tentacle's grasp until her magical power ran out. The only issue was that this particular ritual apparently drew magic in from the surrounding environment as well to sustain it's function-- therefore offering no guarantee that the ritual would collapse once the Woman's magic ran dry... In fact, Reinhardt wasn't particularly certain if the fact she was supplying the ritual with energy was the reason she had yet to be harmed. A small smile creased the edge of the Knight's cheeks. Had this been any other day where he had duties to attend such a situation would be an annoyance, but today it would prove a welcome opportunity to blow off some steam as well as allow a chance for further honing of his skills. The indignation suffered by the previously (and still) arrogant mage was still a welcome bonus. "My name is Elias." Reinhardt replied as he gripped the canvas full of weapon, flinging it's contents to scatter around his newly provided foe. "Distress not damsel!" he mused loudly; mimicking the tone the Woman had used when talking down to him previously, "This gallant Knight shall save you from the clutches of this vile beast!" A faint glow emitted from Reinhardt's chest as he crouched low, hurling his sword toward the tentacle's top-- surging forward as if ready to snatch whatever it may drop!</s>

<|description|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt Age: 25 Gender: Male Appearance: Abilities:[Blood Of Fafnir] Fafnir was once an Elder Beast of fire and might that ruled over a Clan of Giants with brute force alone. Upon slaying the beast; Sir Sigurd von Reinhardt took Fafnir's strength as his own, the ancient Dragon's stolen might becoming inherent to House Reinhardt for generations to come. This power; bound to the Reinhardt bloodline, often manifests as a birthmark in the shape of Fafnir's final wound and located over the heart. [Peak Human] Though his sheer strength alone makes Reinhardt capable of crushing stone with his bare hands, his other physical capabilities are top-tier when compared to his fellow man. [Magic Sense] Despite having no magical ability of his own, Reinhardt is decently capable at detecting the flow and presence of magic. [Expert Swordsman] Though not among the best swordsmen in the land of Albion, the countless hours of practice Reinhardt has put into his swordsmanship can hardly be disregarded. [The Unbreakable] Due to Reinhardt's tendency to return from battles unscathed, rumors would suggest the man's skin to be impenetrable by normal means... However true such a thing might be-- no one quite knows for certain. Recent events have revealed that there may be more to Reinhardt's seeming invulnerability than it would at first seem.... History:Reinhardt. The name of a knightly house that has served the people of Albion since the rule of it's first king. A house renowned for producing heirs of unmatched physical might and tenacity-- as well as some of the most legendary beast slayers Albion has ever known. Charged with eliminating threats in the Northeastern territories of the kingdom, House Reinhardt upheld its oath to protect the people of Albion even centuries after the King had met his end. But every vigil is destined to end eventually. Through the countless years of fighting beasts and brigands and Fomorians alike, the overwhelming strength of the once great house was whittled away bit by bit. Constant fighting against tireless enemies slowly drained the House's numbers, ancient heirlooms were lost, stolen, or destroyed, what little crop the territories could muster was consumed just as fast as it could be produced. By the time Elias Reinhardt had come into the world, his mother, father, and uncle were the last of the Reinhardt line; the walls of their once venerable Castle Reinhardt crumbling and the many chambers within it's halls left dirty, and unkempt. Even as the end loomed over what remained of house Reinhardt, the Lord of the house; ever dutiful to the people of Albion, still raised Elias as a knight. At age eight, Elias was was taught to wield a sword. At ten, he was taught to hunt. At fourteen he learned how to harvest useful materials from the bodies of beasts. At sixteen the young man was Knighted, and at eighteen the young warrior even managed to successfully drive off a great vulture; an Elder beast of misfortune, from the Northeastern territories. At twenty-two years old, the young Elias Reinhardt was dispatched to face the most dangerous foe he'd ever faced. A Tuathan scholar that had been studying the nature a Fey artifact that had been discovered in the region had been driven mad by the twisted magics of the Unseelie, and threatened to make the lands of the Northeastern territories even more of a wasteland than they already were. For ten moons the Knight fought the mage; their battle raging without repose through night and day alike... It is said that the young Reinhardt; though his armor and weapon had been broken beyond repair, returned to Castle Reinhardt without so much as a scratch... But forever changed. Now the young knight travels South to the town of Airedale, carrying a letter addressed to the one rumored capable of saving the land; the very king his family had once so faithfully served. Anything else: * Elias is the first of house Reinhardt to leave the Northeastern territories since the end of the first King's reign. * Despite his family's reputation as beast hunters, Elias himself seems to avoid people associated with the elder beasts. * Elias has a tendency to accidentally break his weapons. * The Reinhardt family birthmark often gives off a dull orange glow that intensifies proportional to physical effort.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "Tall, eyes like the clear blue sky and irritable?" Luna thought on that for a small bit. "Hmm..." Luna thought on that description for a bit. That sounded like her queen of course, though... The Queen seemed a bit more reasonable than that. Though... Well, it was hard to say. Rather, there was much she didn't know about Queen Sorcha. There were more than enough times that the woman was rather somber and it was hard to point at what exactly it was that made her so. "Airedale has it's eyes everywhere. We have some of the best working there. In fact, your description sounds a lot like our hardest worker, Queen Sorcha." Luna said proudly. "Let me show you that the Knights of her Majesty do not slack in their training!" She took a drink of her alcohol and set it down, taking out her sword and shield ready for a little bout. It would be an honor to be able to give a fight with a warrior from the elves.</s> <|message|>Lugh Location: Nids End --- "...Queen Sorcha?" The elf smiled ever so slightly. "I see, well, maybe she's the one maybe she's not. I can't say for certain unless I meet her." Sarah would smile, earning a cheer from the elves around them and the Fomorian laughed boisterously at the thought of watching another bout. "Alright, but I must tell you, I'm no slouch. With these two hands of mine, a demon that wished to burn our forest was slain. If that would still not deter you," Sarah would draw her blade, staking her shield on the ground. "Then let us start." Sarah wasted no more time. With supernatural speed almost completely invisible to Luna's eye the elf closed what distance there was between them, both hands gripped on her blade and thrusting forwards right towards Luna's throat. Location: Hjrelskins Fall Paladin --- "I see…I think I remember something about a Queen going around claiming the land…" The man replied with a sigh, motioning with his hands as Lugh came over to help him stand. "And no, its alright. I'm rather tired." He'd take a few quiet moments to gather his thoughts. "You have my thanks regardless. Yes, I'm aware of the village I'm actually from. I was cutting some wood, see, and I heard this beautiful voice asking for help, I think? I don't remember much, and next thing I know I'm being swarmed by those things and you happened upon me then." He'd take a seat on a nearby fallen log, rubbing his temples. "Did this happen…during the day?" Elnith questioned. "Yes, it happened just after sunrise." The man replied. "I vaguely remember…a large flower of some sort, but other than that, no, I don't remember much." "Haven't seen it." Lugh replied quickly. "I can't really point you in any direction, except maybe follow those flowers," The man said, getting to his feet. "And I think I'll head back to the village now. No need for an escort, I'll be fine…probably. S'long as the fey haven't replaced me with a changeling or something, haha." He'd rather darkly joke, before starting to walk off back towards the village. In the direction the little imps had ran, there was indeed what seemed to be some sort of abundance of flowers littered upon the ground. Multiple colored ones, some exotic and sweet smelling in their direction. These definitely weren't flowers that were common in most parts of albion… Location: Airedale Forests --- "Y-you're totally mocking me-aaaaah-owowowow!" And skid the mage did, across the forested ground and nearly face planting into a nearby tree. She'd fall over, rolling over face first onto the ground, her white robes completely covered in dirt and grass from the forest now. She'd get to her hands and feet, face red with barely contained rage as she'd turn towards Elias. "Haven't you ever heard to be gentle with a girls butt! Wait that sounds wrong-gah-you know what I mean you sword wielding beast!" The tentacle slammed into the ground, crushing the earth and grass beneath it as it'd immediately retract upwards in fear of seeming retaliation. The octopoid appendage, immobile as it was could not avoid the blow that Reinhardt struck forth with - the axe cutting a deep, long gash in its base and spewing blood all over the ground and Reinhardt himself. In retaliation, the tendril reached down, wrapping its mass around reinhardt in an attempt to crush him with its coils. Airedale Prison --- The voice from behind the door paused for a moment, seemingly in hesitation before it'd call back that if she needed anything, to only ask. It was probably just a simple guard that heard some commotion or otherwise had thought she had taken much too long. Still, perhaps it'd be a good idea to get dressed sooner rather than later. "Eeeeh? We're on a first name basis now? Pfft. And here I thought you didn't like me. Yes, I'm Cethlann. Your average every day little Fomorian." The fomorian responded with her usual grin. "And you are…Fio, yes? I believe I overheard it when we were traveling. Well, Fio, its a good thing you're not that queen of yours then, heh." Despite not being able to see or move terribly much still, the Fomorian was tracking the sound of Fio's movements with her head, slowly turning it to where her footsteps and voice were coming from. "Hmm, I could tell, I could not…to tell or to not, hm…I get some good food, I lose a secret." Cethlann seemed to tilt her head back and forth in thought. "Hmm, I think I'll pass. Besides, if you're a smarty little witch you'd already know."</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Perhaps it was childish, but after her experience in the dreamworld Fio's patience had worn quite thin. Scowling at the bound Fomorian, she dipped one dainty hand into the dub of water and scooped out out, splashing it directly at her. Not much of it even made it to Cethlann, most of it simply splashed on the floor. But it was enough to get her feelings across, and make her feel somewhat less irritated. "You bit through the gag," she said, flatly. It was obvious, but the small witch's mind had been elsewhere when she emerged from the pool and so she hadn't even considered it until she was reminded of just how sharp the Fomorian's teeth looked, "It wasn't particularly durable, so with teeth like yours it wasn't an issue. I guess you couldn't stand not being able to speak, could you?" Then again, she needed to eat as well. "I'm going to tell them to serve up whatever they feel like, then," she continued, before returning her attention to whoever was beyond the door. "The prisoner needs food!" she called, as loudly as she could manage when her throat was still sore, "But don't you dare come in until I tell you!" With her underclothes soaked, her insurance against someone barging in on her had become a liability. Left with no other options, she removed them and set them aside, thankful once again that the Fomorian was blindfolded and there was no way to see into the room from outside, before setting about to locate the nearest object she could dry herself off with.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Sarah was rather fast wasn't she? Well, that did likely come as a speciality of elves from what she heard through word of mouth. It was almost as if she had teleported. It may have been a duel, but a strike like that would have been deadly regardless. Luna quickly raised her shield and deflected the blow to the side. "I've had my own fair of tough fights. I've cut down more than ten men at once before." Luna mentioned, not to be out-bragged. As she had deflected Sarah's sword aside, she moved one foot forward and thrust her sword at Sarah. She felt that it would not be wise to allow the elf to make distance between each other. She was far quicker than Luna was and there was little chance that she would be allowed to fight on her own terms so she had to make her own chances for victory. "Speedy aren't you, Lady Sarah?"</s> <|message|>Ethelred "There's definitely something strange about those flowers," Ethelred observed. "I've never seen flowers like these in this region, certainly not in such large numbers. " "They might be more of those plant creatures, lying in wait beneath the surface," he whispered to Elnith and Lugh. "Pleasing colors, pleasing smells, all the elements of a deadly trap. People walk into the flower patch, lured by the voice, and all the sudden the monsters pop out of the ground and swarm them. Could be why those other Unseelie creatures were trying to goad us into chasing them." "I'm going to put my suspicions to the test. Be ready for a fight," he advised his companions as he approached some of the flowers. He wasn't going to leave anything to chance. He took his lance and slowly pushed it into the ground where a flower sat, wanting to see if there was indeed a monster hiding down there. Even if it proved to be nothing, if the flower's stem merely led to benign roots instead of a monster's head, he'd move to the next flower, and the next one, poking the ground at each one.</s>

<|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt The grin cresting the edges of Reinhardt's face grew ever wider at the sheer rage of the miniscule Magus, "I'm afraid I'm often far too busy to familiarize myself with the proper treatment of girl's butts." As the tentacle reached down to grasp at him, Reinhardt's body twisted; his foot slamming into the ground as a molten glow suffused his chest. In a fluid motion-- Elias swung the blade of his axe upward as he attempted to launch himself back from the tentacle's reach!</s>

<|description|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt Age: 25 Gender: Male Appearance: Abilities:[Blood Of Fafnir] Fafnir was once an Elder Beast of fire and might that ruled over a Clan of Giants with brute force alone. Upon slaying the beast; Sir Sigurd von Reinhardt took Fafnir's strength as his own, the ancient Dragon's stolen might becoming inherent to House Reinhardt for generations to come. This power; bound to the Reinhardt bloodline, often manifests as a birthmark in the shape of Fafnir's final wound and located over the heart. [Peak Human] Though his sheer strength alone makes Reinhardt capable of crushing stone with his bare hands, his other physical capabilities are top-tier when compared to his fellow man. [Magic Sense] Despite having no magical ability of his own, Reinhardt is decently capable at detecting the flow and presence of magic. [Expert Swordsman] Though not among the best swordsmen in the land of Albion, the countless hours of practice Reinhardt has put into his swordsmanship can hardly be disregarded. [The Unbreakable] Due to Reinhardt's tendency to return from battles unscathed, rumors would suggest the man's skin to be impenetrable by normal means... However true such a thing might be-- no one quite knows for certain. Recent events have revealed that there may be more to Reinhardt's seeming invulnerability than it would at first seem.... History:Reinhardt. The name of a knightly house that has served the people of Albion since the rule of it's first king. A house renowned for producing heirs of unmatched physical might and tenacity-- as well as some of the most legendary beast slayers Albion has ever known. Charged with eliminating threats in the Northeastern territories of the kingdom, House Reinhardt upheld its oath to protect the people of Albion even centuries after the King had met his end. But every vigil is destined to end eventually. Through the countless years of fighting beasts and brigands and Fomorians alike, the overwhelming strength of the once great house was whittled away bit by bit. Constant fighting against tireless enemies slowly drained the House's numbers, ancient heirlooms were lost, stolen, or destroyed, what little crop the territories could muster was consumed just as fast as it could be produced. By the time Elias Reinhardt had come into the world, his mother, father, and uncle were the last of the Reinhardt line; the walls of their once venerable Castle Reinhardt crumbling and the many chambers within it's halls left dirty, and unkempt. Even as the end loomed over what remained of house Reinhardt, the Lord of the house; ever dutiful to the people of Albion, still raised Elias as a knight. At age eight, Elias was was taught to wield a sword. At ten, he was taught to hunt. At fourteen he learned how to harvest useful materials from the bodies of beasts. At sixteen the young man was Knighted, and at eighteen the young warrior even managed to successfully drive off a great vulture; an Elder beast of misfortune, from the Northeastern territories. At twenty-two years old, the young Elias Reinhardt was dispatched to face the most dangerous foe he'd ever faced. A Tuathan scholar that had been studying the nature a Fey artifact that had been discovered in the region had been driven mad by the twisted magics of the Unseelie, and threatened to make the lands of the Northeastern territories even more of a wasteland than they already were. For ten moons the Knight fought the mage; their battle raging without repose through night and day alike... It is said that the young Reinhardt; though his armor and weapon had been broken beyond repair, returned to Castle Reinhardt without so much as a scratch... But forever changed. Now the young knight travels South to the town of Airedale, carrying a letter addressed to the one rumored capable of saving the land; the very king his family had once so faithfully served. Anything else: * Elias is the first of house Reinhardt to leave the Northeastern territories since the end of the first King's reign. * Despite his family's reputation as beast hunters, Elias himself seems to avoid people associated with the elder beasts. * Elias has a tendency to accidentally break his weapons. * The Reinhardt family birthmark often gives off a dull orange glow that intensifies proportional to physical effort.</s> <|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit "Yay! Rune remembered to tag me!." — Luana Roycroft Paladin@Rune_Alchemist It wasn't uncommon for ambush predators to retreat. While it felt like the fighting had only begun, there was no reason to assume something that preyed on villagers would want to fight trained knights. Luana hadn't acknowledged Lugh, likely because she couldn't hear anything. The green cloth was still spilling out of the skunk's ears as it ran after the tree monster. Ethelred was likely the strongest out of all of them, but even he had to realize the situation wasn't great. It was trying to run off with him and seemed to be assisting with splitting itself even wider. Was this even their mark or merely a puppet controlled by some mastermind? There was no way to tell, but destroying it was a priority. The charging skunk gradually morphed into a larger shape. Its twig-like legs became furry logs, and a grizzly lumbered its way after the tree. A bear's claws were unlikely to do much damage to such a thick trunk, but it may have been enough to strip the bark off the roots for a good bite. The goal wasn't to put the tree out of commission, but to prevent it from running off. "Can anybody cook this thing?"</s> <|message|>Ethelred A horrific smell made its way into Ethelred's helmet and into his nostrils as he heard Lugh's protests. He glanced back just long enough to see the poor Tuatha near Luana, who had taken the form of a skunk. Poor Lugh, I hope that they have a magical way to get that smell out. Luana was probably trying to help counteract the tree's strange scent, but why didn't she just spray the tree instead, he wondered. He didn't have time to think too much about it- the much more pressing matter was that the tree seemed to cease as the trunk finally cracked. Once it did, however, the tree began to move again. A large mass of branches came towards Ethelred, compelling the Frozen Knight to withdraw his lance from the widened crack and attempt to move away from the attack- assuming the frozen roots around him did not maintain their hold. It was curious, perhaps perplexing when Ethelred saw the tree seemingly trying to widen its crack. Nothing could prepare him, however, for the sign of the tree trying to move away, seemingly in an attempt to escape its attackers. Normally the Frozen Knight didn't like to chase down fleeing enemies. But regardless of whether it was an Unseelie or simply something twisted by their curses, this tree was a threat to the good people of Albion, and it needed to be stopped before it could place its roots down elsewhere and consume more people. Assuming he escaped the tree's grip, he would pursue the tree and attempt to drive his lance into one of its roots in an attempt to stake it into the ground. Regardless of his situation, he would convey what was likely a rather pointless ultimatum, and one that'd probably appear rather silly to everyone involved. "You've taken your last innocent life, tree! If there's any intelligence in that trunk, you'd better surrender else we'll cut you down!" @Rune_Alchemist</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "She should be a lot more aware," complained Fio, her slender legs still kicking irritably as her grip on the pillow tightened, "It's not as if I think she's endangered, but just running off... hmph." The Sword Witch's irritable huff was followed by her pressing her face into the pillow, only her eyes now visible. "I go through all that effort, the least she could do is be here to say I did a good job..." Of course, her voice was so muffled by the pillow it would be very difficult to make out what she was saying in the first place. Indeed, even though she was exhausted, there was no way Fio would let anyone hear her complaining about a lack of praise from the Queen. She was supposed to be verifying if she was even who she said she was in the first place, not complaining about her not being around to praise her. Besides, it wasn't as if she cared in the first place! She definitely didn't. Clearly. When she fell onto her side on the bed, she hugged the pillow even harder. It was as if she was imagining it was Sorcha's head, and she was squeezing it until Sorcha apologized for just disappearing like that.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "What do you mean by that Lady Sarah...?" Luna started to ask before looking over at her maid. Sucaria, for her part, seemed normal. Mostly. There was just this hint of... Something. Luna couldn't quite put figure it out before Sucaria helped her out and suggested putting a healing salve on her head which. "Yea... That's not a bad idea, Sucari--a!?" The Knightess exclaimed as this Lady Sarah started to pull her back into the festivities. She wass suggesting to continue joining in on the festivities and in her semi-dizzy state, it was hard to really fight back being pulled along. Sucaria, for her part, did not want to stay here and said they needed to head back to Airedale. "Well, Sucaria, I won't take part in any more drinking of alcohol, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to stay with them to sleep before getting back on the road." That was when she remembered that Sucaria felt, odd, about this place. She frowned as she pondered it for a few seconds. "Hey, uhh, Lady Sarah, would you mind if I talk privately to Sucaria for a bit so we can discuss our plans?" She tried not to look the elf directly in the eyes as she asked, to avoid any more of these blushing incidents. Once the elf let her go, she went over to Sucaria. "Well, while you're applying the salve... Are you still having that bad feeling about this place and is that why you want to leave? If not, we probably should take a rest here while we can do so safely. If so... Well, we could get going."</s>

<|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt As the creature faded from existence, Reinhardt jerked his head to one side then the other; as series of soft pops sounded from his neck. With a deep breath, the Knight's expression returned once more to the usual stoic slate he was known for. Checking the condition of his weapons, Elias then turned to the Mages=-- eyeing her up and down to assess her condition. Fortunately, the only wound seemed to be to the girl's pride. "There's no need for thanks. I was simply doing what was necessary." The knight continued about the clearing; gathering his scattered equipment back into the canvas wrap. A small frown formed on the knight's lips as he eyed the thin trickles of blood that slowly dripped from his bandaged hands before he would wipe them clean on his pants. Hefting the canvas once more onto his shoulder, Reinhart would turn to the Mage once more-- "There's food, lodging, and bath in the city nearby. You look like you could use the rest-- and I'm headed there myself. Would you like to accompany me?"</s>

<|description|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt Age: 25 Gender: Male Appearance: Abilities:[Blood Of Fafnir] Fafnir was once an Elder Beast of fire and might that ruled over a Clan of Giants with brute force alone. Upon slaying the beast; Sir Sigurd von Reinhardt took Fafnir's strength as his own, the ancient Dragon's stolen might becoming inherent to House Reinhardt for generations to come. This power; bound to the Reinhardt bloodline, often manifests as a birthmark in the shape of Fafnir's final wound and located over the heart. [Peak Human] Though his sheer strength alone makes Reinhardt capable of crushing stone with his bare hands, his other physical capabilities are top-tier when compared to his fellow man. [Magic Sense] Despite having no magical ability of his own, Reinhardt is decently capable at detecting the flow and presence of magic. [Expert Swordsman] Though not among the best swordsmen in the land of Albion, the countless hours of practice Reinhardt has put into his swordsmanship can hardly be disregarded. [The Unbreakable] Due to Reinhardt's tendency to return from battles unscathed, rumors would suggest the man's skin to be impenetrable by normal means... However true such a thing might be-- no one quite knows for certain. Recent events have revealed that there may be more to Reinhardt's seeming invulnerability than it would at first seem.... History:Reinhardt. The name of a knightly house that has served the people of Albion since the rule of it's first king. A house renowned for producing heirs of unmatched physical might and tenacity-- as well as some of the most legendary beast slayers Albion has ever known. Charged with eliminating threats in the Northeastern territories of the kingdom, House Reinhardt upheld its oath to protect the people of Albion even centuries after the King had met his end. But every vigil is destined to end eventually. Through the countless years of fighting beasts and brigands and Fomorians alike, the overwhelming strength of the once great house was whittled away bit by bit. Constant fighting against tireless enemies slowly drained the House's numbers, ancient heirlooms were lost, stolen, or destroyed, what little crop the territories could muster was consumed just as fast as it could be produced. By the time Elias Reinhardt had come into the world, his mother, father, and uncle were the last of the Reinhardt line; the walls of their once venerable Castle Reinhardt crumbling and the many chambers within it's halls left dirty, and unkempt. Even as the end loomed over what remained of house Reinhardt, the Lord of the house; ever dutiful to the people of Albion, still raised Elias as a knight. At age eight, Elias was was taught to wield a sword. At ten, he was taught to hunt. At fourteen he learned how to harvest useful materials from the bodies of beasts. At sixteen the young man was Knighted, and at eighteen the young warrior even managed to successfully drive off a great vulture; an Elder beast of misfortune, from the Northeastern territories. At twenty-two years old, the young Elias Reinhardt was dispatched to face the most dangerous foe he'd ever faced. A Tuathan scholar that had been studying the nature a Fey artifact that had been discovered in the region had been driven mad by the twisted magics of the Unseelie, and threatened to make the lands of the Northeastern territories even more of a wasteland than they already were. For ten moons the Knight fought the mage; their battle raging without repose through night and day alike... It is said that the young Reinhardt; though his armor and weapon had been broken beyond repair, returned to Castle Reinhardt without so much as a scratch... But forever changed. Now the young knight travels South to the town of Airedale, carrying a letter addressed to the one rumored capable of saving the land; the very king his family had once so faithfully served. Anything else: * Elias is the first of house Reinhardt to leave the Northeastern territories since the end of the first King's reign. * Despite his family's reputation as beast hunters, Elias himself seems to avoid people associated with the elder beasts. * Elias has a tendency to accidentally break his weapons. * The Reinhardt family birthmark often gives off a dull orange glow that intensifies proportional to physical effort.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch ". . ." She was tired. She was already irritated. That was enough to make this stupid little fairy's intrusion even more aggravating then it would have been otherwise. But then the useelie opened her brainless little mouth. And she spoke. And the words she said... Had she come here with a desire for punishment? Was this unseelie a twisted mashochist who wanted to suffer? Perhaps that explained her behavior. Fio's left eye twitched as she watched the utterly pathetic display of the fae's attempt to curse her. She could barely even detect it, it was such a weak buildup of magic that it might not have even existed. What was it going to do? Turn the tips of her hair purple? Give her a minor cough? Whatever the case, she wasn't about to give this idiot the satisfaction of a successful curse. "Moonlit Shine," she said, in a casual, noncommittal manner as she put only the barest amount of mana into applying a ward to herself. It wasn't necessary, really, given how weak the curse would almost certainly be, but it was a perfect demonstration of the distance between the two of them. The only sign it had been cast was a brief blue-white light that flowed across Fio's body, before she simply reached out to grab the unseelie from the air. "A child? That's what you called me. A child," she said, wrapping her slender fingers tightly around the tiny fae's small body, "You're not talking to a child, you total idiot!" Placing her free hand to her chest, Fio continued. "I am Fio Fan Falisse, and I am going to make you remember that name, you brainless little moron! You absolute fool. Maybe you secretly wanted to be be punished, and that's why you came here?!" As she spoke, her free hand left her chest and sharply prodded the unseelie's cheek. By this point, the seething fire within her heart had completely overpowered her physical exhaustion. The Sword Witch was utterly livid. This stupid unseelie came here first intending to curse the Queen and then her, and yet she was that week? She was that utterly stupid? And so dumb she thought she was a child on top of that? She was perfectly mature! Perfectly adult! Who would ever make that mistake!? Only an idiot! That's just how stupid this unseelie was! "I have not had the best day recently, and lo and behold, a pathetic little ignoramus whose magical power is so low she couldn't curse a frog has decided to volunteer herself to help me let my stress out! If she's stupid enough to call me a child, I can't tell if it's idiocy or masochism that made her decide to help out!"</s> <|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit "That tree dropped a doom reference." — Luana Roycroft Paladin@Rune_Alchemist Well, that was one way to get out from under her opponent. The branch coiled around Luana's shoulders and freed her from that dirt prison. Just as she was whipped away, she reached for her seed pouch. A vine burst from her hand and coiled around the spear head still stuck in the tree. When she was thrown, she wouldn't move to far as- Oh, the spear head came free. Luana hurdled through the air. She had some choice words for the tree that kept throwing her, but that wasn't her problem anymore. In just a few seconds, she was going to land on a bunch of carnivorous creatures. Her head changed back just as one of her arms turned into a wing. This acted as a sail that stopped her from spinning through the air. Her remaining hand tightened around the spear-tipped vine, which spun overhead. The plant creatures scattered, likely not wanting to become a salad. Luana stumbled as she landed, but was able to stay on her feet by using her wing as a giant air brake. But the creatures weren't stupid. They had surrounded her now, but none of them wanted to make the first move. They'd make threatening advances, only to hop backwards once Luana looked in their direction. An attack was coming, and it would come the moment's she didn't expect it. With a yank, the vine and spear head flew into her hand. Her winged arm turned back to normal as she reached into her seed pouch and pulled out an acorn. In just a few seconds, Endless Eclipse had been restored. One of the mandrakes felt this was a good time to attack Luana, and lunged for her ankle. As it drew close, she thrust the butt of her spear into its head and smashed it into the ground. If it had seen Endless Eclipse's sheen, it might have noticed Luana could see herself from an overhead view. No attack would have come as a surprise. But now an opening had been created. Luana spun like a whirling dervish, and a tiny green creature was slain with every swing. With every creature she slew, her smile broadened. Though her rib was starting to bother her.</s> <|message|>Ethelred The group now found itself fighting not just the tree, but the surrounding Unseelie. If it were one or the other, it'd be manageable, but combating both at the same time was a lofty challenge, and the fairies seemed emboldened by their considerable advantage in numbers. "I've got one," he answered Elnith. "Keep them off me." With the druid dealing with the smaller Unseelie quite effectively, Ethelred saw an opportunity to strike at the tree. It was still attempting to pry its damaged trunk apart, and while Ethelred wasn't sure why it'd be worsening the damage, it did present an opportunity for the Frozen Knight to do some damage. Ethelred charged the tree and stabbed his lance into the tree's hole. There was something very odd about how this arboreal abomination was trying to pull itself apart, along with its strange words- was it perhaps trapped in a wooden prison much as Ethelred was trapped in an icy one? If it was not an insane, murderous Unseelie, he might even feel sympathy for it. In any case, they needed to take this tree out of the battle before they were overwhelmed. With this in mind- and perhaps because he was both curious about whether this thing might parallel his own curse, and because he believed in looking his foes in the eyes- he used his lance to try and pry the tree's damaged trunk apart. "Let's see what you are underneath all this, Unseelie!" @Rune_Alchemist</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword The night went fairly smoothly for Luna. Other than a few instances of a certain elf woman drunkenly clinging to her at the least. The knightess had removed her weapon from her waist and shield from her arm but kept her armor on. It wasn't all too uncomfortable to sleep in but she wanted to be ready in case something happened. Sucaria had such an off look about her. Not to much surprise, someone had woken her up because something had gone wrong... It just wasn't who she had expected. It was the cyclopian fomorian that Sarah had fought earlier and he mentioned that her maid needed help. "Maid... Sucaria needs help?" Luna said, half-sleepy still. As soon as the meaning of those words clicked into place in her mind, she hopped out of her rest to her feet and quickly gathered up her sword and shield. The instant lack of Sucaria's presence was more than enough for Luna to trust that much from this Fomorian. Though... Well, she was obviously skeptical of his words. "What Elder Beast do you speak of?" Luna asked, taking note that her head was feeling perfectly fine by now. Sucaria's healing salve was doing great. "And where is Sucaria? The maid?" Luna continued to question before looking up and seeing the yellow lights at the top of the hill. "There?" She asked a last questioned as she secured her shield to her arm and her sword to her side. She was ready to get moving to help Sucaria from whatever Elder Beast was a threat. The thought that this may be a trap never left the back of her mind though.</s>

<|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt Reinhardt's brow furrowed as he tried to recall what he knew of the Great Witch Morgan-- only to end up pulling a blank. With a few long strides, he managed to seamlessly catch up to the diminutive mage before providing introduction of his own. "A pleasure to meet you Mage Raella. You can call me Elias." Though he didn't intend to accompany the woman all the way to the keep, Elias intended to at least pry into her reasoning as to her sudden appearance, "So, what business brings you to Airedale?"</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Airedale Mid-morning --- Just inside the forest Amidst the foliage in an otherwise quiet forest, a small group of men had gathered. Most were rather rough looking, armored in leathers and simple armors indicating likely someone not of actual knightly origin, but rather someone that had simply taken up a weapon and set out to cause either trouble or look for fortune elsewhere. Normally, one of them would have been chatting up a storm. Now though, there was dead silence. "He dodged..." "It missed..." "She missed..." "...Ugh man, I don't need the chorus of failure, thanks!" The woman in question would click her tongue in a bit of annoyance, a look of mild exasperation and resignation forming as bells from the town indicating that their little ambush to take out the watchers quietly failed. "And I just wanted to lay down at the hot springs today and drink the fancy wine we got from the dwarves...guess we'll go meetup with the boss man..." --- Paladin@A Lowly Wretch@VitaVitaAR@Guy0fV4lor By the time Fio had made it back into the city proper, the streets had been emptied. The only ones left were the Militia manning the walls and running to their positions. Vyrell had taught them well, it seemed. The only one that wasn't a militia - was the familiar face of Lugh. "Lady Fio!" He'd wave the small girl over. "Bandits! North gate! Others should be there already!" He was speaking quickly, and more or less what was only needed to get the immediate point across in his opinion. "Lady Luna's informing the Queen!" well, that was that then. What were presumably bandits were attacking the city. Before Fio could ask for further clarification, the young Tuatha would bolt off back towards the ramparts himself. Following him, Fio would be greeted by the sight of the towns Militia standing atop the wall, Vyrell shouting orders. Really, none of them were trained soldiers. Most were just people that felt like they had to do something to protect the city they now called home. They only took volunteers, of course and the queen at least ensured they had satisfactory compensation. "Steady men," He'd say to one of the militia near him atop the ramparts. "Just focus on sniping any that come close to the walls." Noticing the young mage approaching, Vyrell would shout the situation to her from his vantage point. "Lady Fio! Bandits. About fifty of them from what I can tell!" He'd turn his head towards the outside of the walls. "No time to talk, they're almost here! The other knights have already gathered!" Reinhardt would be the first on the scene, not long followed by Od showing herself. The Unbreakable took the time to position himself for an ambush, using the tall grass of the plains to his advantage. Od, would take a much more defensive stance, peering towards the trees of the nearby forested area to the west, though it would seem most of the bandits were simply attacking from the plains. Armed with swords, spears, axes, shields...it didn't seem like they favored any type of weapon, nor did it seem they had any specific formation in mind as they'd rush towards the city. No doubt they simply thought a small city like this would be easily taken - not having taken much stock of the rumors it could be assumed. Reinhardt would get his opportunity. It seemed they were too busy focused on their target, and most weren't bothered with checking the tall grass for traps. No doubt as soon as he'd ambush them, they'd quickly catch on, so he should hopefully make it count. Running past him, about five would instead seemingly turn their attention to Od, weapons drawn and prepared for a fight. They didn't seem to think she'd be putting up much of a fight. The others, would seemingly be heading for the gate in an attempt to breach it. No doubt letting them in would be ill-advised. This, would be the scene Fio and Ethelred both find themselves arriving upon. Fifty decently equipped bandits that didn't seem like surrendering, versus four well armed and skilled knights. --- The Queens Chambers The queens chambers, were indeed where the queen currently was. Everyone had some idea of where it was, within the wood and stone fortress. Getting through the mass of people it was currently sheltering though, proved to slow her down just a bit longer than she'd have likely liked. Her room, was located above the throne room, up some stairs and across a large balcony that she could use to address a large number of people gathered there, if she needed to. Normally, it was off limits to anyone but the knights. There was no response upon her initial knock, and the large wooden double doors would open fairly easily. The queens room was surprisingly extravagant when you took her insistence to go for practicality on most other matters. A large, canopy bed with red and gold colored covers, a similarly plush carpet woven from the finest of silks. A few hunting trophies as well as a fire place. ...it would have looked better if her armor, a few clean plates of food, books, and some other articles of clothing hadn't been haphazardly left laying on the floor. The sight of the queen herself that greeted Luna within, though, was definitely something...excessively unqueenly to say the least. "Nnnhn?" The queen, was splayed out on the bed in a show if rather incredibly bad sleeping posture. She'd give a yawn in response, lazily waving at Luna as she'd sit up, half asleep. "Vyrell...five more minutes...or bring some mead..." She'd yawn, some of the covers slipping off her body, revealing in fact, she was completely unclothed under them.</s> <|message|>Od. Od Upon spotting the attackers she didn't hold position so much as charge headlong into the fray, not giving the five who were immediately in front of her the luxury of choosing who they'd engage. With light armor her muscular legs carried her fast into their ranks and she was already on the attack. Without even so much as slowing she cut through the head a spear attempting to pierce her, the blade encountering no resistance as it passed through the wood. With a flick of the wrist she angled the blade, still sprinting as he plunged the blade through the man's ribcage. She rent through the side of the man's torso with the same ease one would have dragging the tip of their blade across the surface of a lake, leather, bone and muscle parting like water as she swung her blade clear from the first man she slew and cleaved her next victim in two, the bandit falling in half across the horizontal slash. It had been only a couple of seconds and now two of them were dead. One which held an axe had only just enough time to swing. With a clang the axe struck off her left shoulder plate. The force of the blow wasn't concentrated due to how close she had already come to the axe man. Still following back through from the motion of her horizontal slash she swung her blade back across in a low arc, cleaving through both the axe man's thighs. Her last target's body didn't even have time to fall before she was already running down her forth enemy. _ A man with a sword and shield had stopped, hiding behind his shield after witnessing three people die in less time than it took for him to come to a halt. Neither his shield nor his sword offered any more resistance than the others. Od cut him in an upward looping cross cut, the first cut bisecting both the shield and the arm holding it. The man couldn't even fall to his back in time before the follow-up slash cut both him and the sword he attempted to block with in two. The ringing of the shorn metal mingled with the simultaneous screams of the man as their halves separated. The last person had only just enough time to pivot and turn to start running as it was clear than anyone in her blade's path was as good as dead. Though retreating he wasn't faster than Od as she quickly approached from behind. She stopped in a lunge, her sword piercing through the man's side only slightly above the hip bone. Given that it was on the bandit's right side there was a chance he might live if he went and sought the skills of a surgeon or healer in time. She didn't stop for this last bandit however, the stab only really coming to her as an afterthought. _ The reason she stopped was simply due to the fact that she noticed how the rest of the bandits were making their way towards the gate. This made her angry. Instead of facing me and the other knights on the field of battle they would choose to rush for the city gates instead!? With that thought she pivoted and started sprinting immediately towards the front line of the enemy forces, clumps of dirt and grass kicked up from the force of her feet striking the earth. "Stand and fight me, cowards!" She howled with a fervent rage as she reached the front-most bandits, rapidly slashing left and right as enemy after enemy were sliced apart without so much as even slowing her down. The way she saw it the faster she killed the bandits the sooner all the bandits would be dead. The sooner all the bandits were dead the less danger they posed to her fellow troops. If even a single soldier was wounded or even killed it would be because she couldn't kill them all in time. She wouldn't let that happen. She would kill them all.</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Hmph," huffed the small girl, "Who do they think they are?" And that was that. Bandits. Fio had zero tolerance for people like this. It was one thing finding yourself struggling in life and believing you had to take drastic measures. It was another thing entirely to band together for the express purpose of preying upon others. The purple-haired girl brushed her hair back as she strode up the wall, then adjusted her hat. Her sword gleamed in the morning sunlight. Indeed, the bandit forces seemed remarkably organized for their nature as a rabble of predators, but that was hardly a problem. They were still clad largely in leather armor, still wielding whatever scavenged weapons the had likely stolen from others who they had slaughtered in their pursuit of wealth. The Sword Witch had zero doubt in her own abilities. All she needed was a clear line of sight. Finding a suitable spot on the city wall, the child-like girl raised her catalyst, pointing the blade's tip towards the raiders. As she did, the familiar, electric feeling of magical energy coursing through her body began to run its way down through her arm. The edge of the sword began to glow faintly. "Sura," she began, eyes narrowed, "Ghost Blades." The glow on the edge of the sword grew brighter. "Prepare to cut down my enemies. Manifest five phantom swords in arc formation." As Fio spoke her command, there was a thrumming sound from above her. Blue circles of light flashed in the air, spiraling constructs of interlaced symbols and geometric patterns from which the shape of a blade emerged. They were themselves similar in nature to the circles they had emerged from, seemingly composed of interwoven light. And yet, the edge they possessed seemed no less keen then their steel counterparts. "Each one of them must be destroyed. Repeat this process once." The thrumming grew louder, as another arc of five phantom swords manifest above the first, spaced more widely then the originals. "Twice." And again. "Three times." Fifteen phantom swords, in increasingly wide arcs, spun gently over Fio's head. The edge of her own, far more solid sword gleamed brilliantly with blue light. It was time to teach this bandits a lesson. "Strike them down. Release!" There was a sound something like the crack of a whip, as each circle tightened for a moment before abruptly expanding until they vanished with a flash of light. Immediately, every single phantom blade manifested was released, slicing through the air as a blur of blue light and hurtling towards the attackers!</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Od. Od "Knights! Archers in the forest! Someone go take them out!" She was right in the thick of battle, cutting through the heel of a man who thought he could run past her into the fortress proper with a lunging sweep of her blade when Vyrell's message echoed from atop the walls. She turned to peer out into the forest and see what it was he was speaking about. It was only but for a second but in that moment arrows flew out from beyond her view. While these shots upon her were fired with pin-point accuracy arrows could only fly so fast. The milliseconds it took to hit her gave her enough time to tilt her head. With a sharp ting the arrow grazed the brim of her helm, deflecting the arrow down into her right eye. While initially it was en-route to burrow into her eye straight on due to the deflection it hit her eye at an angle, catching a bit on the edge of her socket bone and only digging into the eye itself. _ While having an arrow plunge into her eye was no cause for celebration this was at least good because it failed to penetrate into her brain. She hated it whenever things messed around inside her skull, it was the worst just due to how badly it robbed her of control over her own body. The agony was just something that was a part of living, at least back when these problems were part of her daily life. As for the arrow itself it would have penetrated deeper but due to both how tough her flesh was and the angle it hit her at the eye was able to absorb any and all force from it before it could dig any deeper. Of course she reeled from the hit, letting out a sharp cry of pain. No matter how often these things happened to her her pain nerves would never dull, coming back just as sharp as always. She was simply used to it. As she reached up to pull the arrow out from her eye socket one of the bandits had decided to try and capitalize on her moment of weakness. _ It was a large hairy man who hefted a heavy two handed axe. Just as she straightened up, her free hand on the arrow's shaft, he swung his axe with the aim of decapitating her in one solid blow. Unexpectedly however the axe only thunked into the side of her neck, stopping as though he were trying to chop through the trunk of a mighty tree. She needed to broaden her footing to not get thrown off her feet from the force of the blow but she was still standing nonetheless. The bandit's eyes widened, his grin fading into a terrified grimace as she, with a furious scowl, swept her blade up vertically through his handle and consequently his fingers. The large man staggered back, an expression of pure shock frozen upon his face whilst blood quickly flowed from his missing digits. Pulling the arrow from her eye the others could see a slow stream of thick, semi-transparent, yellowish green liquid oozing down along her cheek like syrup. She tossed the ichor-soaked arrow aside and gripped the head of the axe still imbedded in her neck. With a sickening slorp she pulled the weapon loose from her neck and tossed it to the man's feet where it landed with an unpleasant splat. "S-She's!- She's not human! SHE'S A MONSTER!" He started to scream as he watched this woman step forward with both her eye and a chunk of her neck missing, her expression unchanged. The unnatural elements at play here took a heavy toll on the man's sanity as he started to point with his stumps whilst screaming: "YOU'RE A MONSTER!" Just as he turned to flee she thrust her sword low into his back, her blade going right through the spine with the tip poking out from his bladder. The bandit's frantic screaming turned into incoherent screeches of agony as she swept her blade down, cleaving his spine, pelvis and manhood in half. He landed on his belly before curling into the fetal position whilst trying to keep his insides from spilling out. She brought the blade back to her side, turning to face the next unlucky fool she'd slaughter for their cruel opportunism. Despite having been deep inside so many people her sword did not have so much as a single spot of blood on it. It was as though the weapon were so sharp that even blood could not cling to it. It'd be cut away for simply even touching it. She would leave alone only those who were fleeing after witnessing this display of hers. Any who still continued for the gate and threaten her allies were who she'd turn her attention to next. She ignored the arrows which peppered the grounds around her, one hitting her back armor whilst another struck into her shoulder, only able to draw a pin-prick of blood from it's point of impact. Her attention was turned to the next fool still trying for the gate. The archers were little more than a nuisance for her. She couldn't abandon the gate while there were enemies still trying to threaten those protected within. She sprinted forth at her next victim, ready to dice him into gore and then the next. Until they were all dead.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna was shocked about how fast she was kicked out of the room, really. That was a rather frightening threat the queen had given her. Well, she suppose she should keep her mouth shut then. She scratched the back of her head before shrugging and making for the North Gate. As she ran, she made sure no one was standing around the streets, though it looked like it was mostly fine. Soon enough, she made it to the gate where the fighting was going on and made her way up onto the wall. She managed to catch the tail end of whatever slaughter was going on to Vyrell's announcement of archers. Luna narrowed her eyes as she looked on at the volleys of arrows. She wouldn't be able to help everyone, especially poor Od who, according to what she had heard, would probably recover just fine. She held her hands out and focused. While some of her knightly allies would be able to protect themselves easily, a few would find a bit more difficulty in such a feat. Notable Od that had just taken a few hits and likely Ethelred who didn't have a good defense for his horse. A golden barrier appeared in front of Ethelred and his horse and Elias Reinhardt to block any of the arrows aimed at them for a short period. She had a feeling that Fio could handle herself just fine. After she blocked the volley, she released the spells and switched to casting a new one, creating a golden spear of light in her hand. The proud knightess aimed towards the forest line where she saw the arrows coming from. She didn't need to hit any of the archers, she just needed to hit close to them. Using a bit of magic to power up how far the javelin would go and she launched it. It soared through the air and landed inside the forest... Before causing a blast of light! Hopefully, it would catch the archers off guard and give her allies a bit of cover to make it to them. After, Luna created some platforms with her magic, that disappeared after she stepped to the next, to safely reach ground level to assist her fellow knights with honorable combat.</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred Just as the bandits seemed to break from the knights' combined efforts, arrows started flying from within the forest. One arrow struck Ethelred square on the faceplate, but failed to penetrate the crystalline armor. That was either a very lucky shot or a very precise one, he considered as more, less accurate arrows began flying, with one glancing off his horse's flank. This could be a problem. The surviving bandits were now regrouping, their morale seemingly restored by the unseen archers' ambush, and now the knights had to deal with two groups of enemies, all while being completely exposed and out in the open. When this is over, we need to speak to the queen about having those trees cleared. Ethelred wasn't too concerned about himself- his shield and armor should be enough to stop these arrows- but his horse was another story. Its tough, ice-like flesh was tougher than that of an ordinary stallion, but wasn't rigid, unyielding crystal like his armor, and a direct hit from an arrow could wound it. Fortunately, aid came at just the most opportune moment. A golden barrier rose up in front of both mount and rider, shielding them from further arrows. It seemed that Lunalel had joined the battle. Ethelred had always considered her a reliable one, with her useful array of elder beast granted powers. This respite gave him an opportunity to assess where the arrows were coming from, and what to do next. Od and Reinhardt probably could handle the remaining bandits close by, thus Ethelred opted to focus on dealing with the archers. After seeing where the arrows were coming from, he spurred his horse on. With his shield raised, he drove his horse at an angle towards the forest some distance from where the arrows were emerging, all the while leaving a trail of frigid fog behind them. He didn't want to charge them head-on into a potential trap, or give them an easy, direct target, rather he'd want to get a good look at what he was up against, and flank them from within the forest. He'd have to proceed with caution once he reached the cover of the trees. The rapid speed of his movement would leave him at a considerable distance from the other knights even if any of them also opted to approach the archers before cutting down the remaining brigand foot-soldiers, but he wasn't entirely sure what he would be facing.</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch The blades vanished moments after they struck their targets or buried themselves in the ground. Only momentarily was the woven light stained with blood before it vanished into drifting motes, leaving nothing behind but the destruction as a sign of its presence. Archers. "Panzerschild!" With a swing of her sword, a thrumming sound filled the air. As the arrows hurtled towards Fio, a small light ignited in the air just ahead of her before birthing a circle much like the ones her phantom blades had originated from. The arrows hurtling towards her bounced harmlessly off her barrier, and any of the defenders in range of her barrier had nothing to fear from the projectiles. "As if that would be enough," commented Fio, eyes narrowed. There was no chance even an entire army of archers would touch her, let alone this handful! Of course, given they were in cover, she couldn't get an accurate line of sight on them. But that didn't mean she couldn't disrupt their formation... "Let's show them how the Sword Witch responds to that! Great Ghost Blade!" As Fio's barrier dissipated, another circle formed above her. This time, the weight of mana use flowing through her body was a little heavier, but not too burdensome to bear. As the interwoven blade of light emerged, it was clear it was at least twice as long as she was tall, if not more so. The air around it seemed to shimmer, as if waves on the surface of some invisible body of water had suddenly been disturbed. "Release!" With that, the hefty phantom sword was sent hurtling through the air, a whistling sound accompanying it as it careened towards the origin of the arrows.</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Od. Od She withdrew her blade from the body of a man, blood slaking the blades of grass, before looking up to see what had become of the battlefield. Ever fewer bandits remained on the field, most of the remaining kills being hers with the horseman having departed to confront the archers who laid in the woods. It was risky of him to go at it alone given what she already had seen but her worries would have to wait as an even greater foe approached. A tuathan man riding atop some sort of elder beast approached and at speed. The mammoth beast's were armored and thickly too. She worried that her blade wouldn't pierce deep enough to disable the legs if she tried to slash through and trading a non-lethal cut for an opportunity for it to trample her wasn't going to weigh in her favor. Instead she looked to considering her means of taking out the beast from the top. While it's head may have been armored by some form of crystalline protection the same might not be true for it's back. It was also being directed by it's rider. If she could take him out that might leave the beast aimless which would make it easier to goad away from the castle walls. In any which case she needed to get on top somehow. There was one way immediately available to her if his impressive strength continued to hold true. "Throw me!" She shouted back to Reinhardt, pointing up at the rider upon the great beast's back. She quickly sprinted to his side then pivoted, facing the beast rider as he charged for the gates and, consequently, them. Her focus was steeled, her muscles tight like a well wound spring. If the missing eye or chunk of her neck was bothering her any then it wasn't visibly clear to anyone onlooking. Her sense of duty superseded feelings of pain or fear for her own safety. In the name of the queen no threat to her lands would stand, no matter how tall. _ @Rune_Alchemist</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred Ethelred raised his shield, narrowly deflecting the arrow fired by the woman. There was considerable force the arrow as evidenced by the impact he could feel through the shield and the loud clang it made when it struck. If he had to guess, this markswoman was probably the one who shot him before with such precision, and the one calling the shots (literally) for this band of archers. She might pose a challenge, but the other bandits were as good as dead if the knight chose to attack. He needed to get this fight over with quickly, because something had just entered the battle in the field, something that Ethelred had not caught a glimpse of. He had been able to hear it and feel the rumbling, though. Whatever it was, it sounded like a formidable foe. Curiously, the woman before him didn't look like an ordinary brigand. She was well-dressed in fine, expensive-looking clothing, nothing like any of the other bandits that Ethelred had seen. Her bow, in addition to being of higher quality than the other bandits' bows, looked like it was magical. Quite an unusual person to be mingling with brigands. She certainly isn't hurting for wealth. Perhaps she was a commander, but her words were those of a subordinate, not a leader. A lieutenant, perhaps. Her words to him sounded more like a resignation to the imminent fight, rather than a serious attempt to parlay. At the same time, however, she didn't sound pleased, and judging by what Ethelred had overhead prior, she didn't want to be here. It might be dangerous to allow her to walk away, but if he could resolve this without violence, it'd leave more time to help the other knights with whatever he had felt and heard rumbling out into the field. "You'd be surprised," Ethelred replied to the woman. "Contrary to my appearance, I am not cold-hearted. Thus I offer you and your friends a deal- run along. Depart from this battle. Go home and get pampered. Live to see another sunset." Ethelred stared at each of the other bandits, as if to emphasize this last part to them. To further drive home of how unwise it'd be to fight him, he channeled his powers of frost, causing a small layer of ice to form on the nearby leave, branches, and brush. If any of the bandits got closer, they'd notice the temperature had dropped measurably around the knight. "The Queen is carrying out a great work here," he continued. "We are restoring order and driving back the curse. Those who become her subjects will prosper under her protection. Those who oppose her will fall. And when the battle is concluded, I strongly suggest that you reassess your choice in occupation, and consider the benefits of being the Queen's friend rather than her enemy." Ethelred stared in the woman's direction, ready to charge if she reached for another arrow.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Now that she was on the ground, Luna noticed that the enemy was already in rough shape all things considered. Half of their visible numbers were already wiped out by her allies which bode well for their cause... Though the thudding footsteps of some, then unseen, beast set her unease on end. As it came into view, she watched on in awe. The beast was massive. It was taller than Luna and was heavy enough to tremble the earth with each step. She'd love to take on the beast, but it might get difficult with the other twenty or so bandits still milling about the field. Od seemed to have some plan with Reinhardt and Fio would definitely be able to do some damage to the beast, so the Lady of Lightsword set her sight on the brigand infantry. Lunalel drew her sword and charged at the group of bandits. Luckily, their retreating helped put the lot closer together so it was easier to remove them. Soon enough, she reached the first of her targets. Or, rather first two of her targets. They watched as she closed. One attempted a swing of his sword and the other tried to thrust at her as she closed in. She swung her shield up hard enough repel the blow and throw the swinging bandit off balance before quickly sidestepping to dodge the thrust. Her sword arm swung, delivering a deep wound across the off balanced one's chest. As his friend fell from his wound a few seconds after receiving it, the thrusting bandit tried to take advantage Luna not looking directly at him by going on the offensive. He swung at the female knight and found his sword parried and the knight's own sticking through his chest soon after. "Two down..." Luna mentioned to herself as she retracted her weapon from the bandit's chest. She gave a small sigh to herself and looked at the rest of the bandits. She shook her sword clean and sheathed it. Then, in her hand, she created another javelin. She was a lot closer to the bandits than from the wall to the forest... and hopefully no interference from whatever ate her magi. Up last time... So she was confident she would hit. She lined up her shot and lobbed it. The missile flew and hit one of her enemies. It pierced through his back and out through his chest. The man fell to his knees and slumped to the ground with the javelin dissipating before he finally made it to the ground. With a loud voice, Luna exclaimed, "Face me, brigands! If you want to live, you'll need to truly win this day. Fight me like men, or die like animals!" There was some small amount of menace in Luna's voice as she taunted the bandits. Either they'd attack her or ran and either was a win for Luna today.</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Fio was not happy. These bandits had someone like that on their side? Someone capable of magic like that, something akin to a spirit, wasting their time with a bunch of raiders and thieves? When this was all over, she was going to give them a piece of her mind! But first it seemed as if there were considerably more pressing matters to attend to, a target far nearer and more immediately threatening. The red-haired tuatha man riding what was doubtless an Elder Beast. "For bandits, they have some awfully strong people on their side," complained the witch, as magical energy traveled up and down the edge of her sword, "But that's just going to make it all the more crushing when they lose!" Thrusting the blade into the air, another magic circle formed above her, each layer gently rotating as the air seemed to ripple around it. Naturally, she was going to try and hit this one harder. He was riding an Elder Beast, so there was no guarantee that it would do any lasting damage. But at the same time, a good, direct hit would stop him from attacking the gates and also slow him down for the followup. "Sura," she began, as a humming sound filled the air, "A single phantom blade. Reinforce. Reinforce. Reinforce. Craft an sword of slaughtering that can pierce the sturdiest of armor." Steadily, the shape of another sword of light emerged from the magic circle. "Reinforce. Reinforce. Reinforce. Repeat Eight times. Become the light that pierces." The sword grew brighter and brighter, almost like a miniature star hovering in the air. She took aim. It was a stronger spell then her basic phantom blades, but there wasn't any time to pour further power into it. Fio swung her blade down. "Release!" Immediately the brilliant phantom blade hurtled downwards, towards the man astride the Elder Beast.</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna fought like a woman possessed. As the fighting continued, she seemed to care less and less for her personal safety as she retaliated from where she was cut and bruised, ending with a lopped off head and sheathing her sword. After the men were all dead, she sheathed her sword. "... Good. Now, come this way, you four." Her concentration on her spell faltered, and the barrier dissipated. That's about what one would expect from her wounds. The stab on her shoulder stung the more she came to realize she had be stabbed at all. A glow appeared at her hand as she went to infuse some healing energies to it... Before the bandits started to run. "Bastards." She muttered as the bandits turned tail and ran. "This wasn't the deal." So the energy in her hand turned into a javelin that she aimed at the nearest bandit that ran. That is, before the Queen told her to leave them be. A small frown crossed Lady Lightsword's face as she comprehended the order and the javelin disappeared. She turned to her Queen with no attempted to conceal her dissatisfaction with the order, though she made no attempt to show she would disobey. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, if we let them go as such, they'll target small villages or lonesome travelers an--" Luna cut herself off and bit her tongue. She grabbed the unconscious bandit by the collar and drug him behind her. She gave a slight bow to the Queen before she spoke, more politely this time. "Understood, My Queen. I shall report in an hour." With that, she dragged the man to some of the guards that were by the gate before leaning against the wall and healing her wounds a bit. "I always get too riled up in situations like that..."</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred That could've gone worse. I suppose, however, it also could've gone better. The woman retreated upon hearing the horn, leaving Ethelred with a maimed, badly frozen bandit. Any hope of questioning them seemed moot now- the bandit was so deeply frozen that he probably wouldn't recover, and it'd be unlikely he could catch Cecilia even if he chased her on horseback. According to Lugh, the young Tuatha squire, the battle was over, and the knights were being summoned in the strategy hall. Ethelred would guess that it had to do with the bandit attack, and how they'd be responding. "Thank you, but, I don't need any help," Ethelred replied, placing his hand over his damaged pauldron, simultaneously relieved to be uninjured and disappointed that the blow wasn't enough to temporarily free a part of him from his crystalline carapace. "I'll be heading back now, but first, I have one other matter to attend," Ethelred stated, looking down at the frostbitten bandit. "I'm afraid your ice burns are likely too far deep" he grimly told the bandit. "If you are spared, you'd probably suffer quite painfully before passing, so I promise to make it quick." Ethelred readied his lance. "When you're brought before Rifelshka, I wonder if she'll commend you for your loyalty, or punish you for your sins of banditry." With that, he plunged his weapon into the man's heart. Finishing off a downed, defeated foe was a rather unpleasant ordeal for Ethelred, but it was his responsibility to ensure his powers did not cause undue suffering to his foes. With the bandit dealt with, the knight returned to his horse, which was no worse for wear, which was more than could be said for the bandit lying nearby, with a hoof-shaped mark on his forehead. Ethelred was in a merciful mood, and decided not to check if the fallen man was still breathing. Besides, surely the other knights had managed to take someone alive, right? His business in the forest concluded, Ethelred rode back to the town. He'd normally offer the small Tuatha squire a ride, but he was still quite cold.</s> <|message|>Od. Od It was somewhat satisfying to have her blade finally leave a lasting mark upon the beast, severing it's trunk as it pierced through before slicing free through the side with a draw cut. She looked down upon the creature despite their size disparity as it was brought low by the efforts of her comrades. Her icy stare lingered upon the beast before immediately snapping over to the queen as she spoke. Od's reaction was immediate, dropping to a kneel and bringing an arm across as she listened with her head bowed. This might not of been the standard the queen operated on with others but Od had been raised to act as such with the king she last served. Old habits were hard to break. While she would have pressed the attack it seemed the queen had other plans, talking Luna down to keep her from pursuing her foes no less. While it stung to know that the mammoth rider still drew breath, leaving her words unfulfilled, the queen had offered them the privilege to flee which they had accepted. Od would not dare contravene her queen's wishes, purging the very thought from her mind. With a flourish she sheathed her blade, it's sheath being the only thing the blade welcomed. She did not need to even clean her blade for it abhorred letting anything touch it, cutting away at the world in every sense of the term. During the queen's congratulations of her knights she seemed to express gladness towards Od being in one piece in particular. This seemed to befuddle her, her head tilting to one side with a quizzical expression as she blinked several times in confusion. Had the queen been particularly concerned regarding the possibility of her dismemberment? Od was hardly even aware of the deep slice in the side of her neck. It hurt, yes, and it made her breathing raspy, her voice hoarse as her vocal cords were still recovering alongside the rest of her neck. None of that really impacted her tremendously. On top of knowing that she'd be good as new as early as five minutes from then such wounds were things she had grown accustomed to living with. The Fomorians were always doing far worse to her before and even after she was freed from their cruel grip she knew nothing but war. Wounds were just a facet of living, a sight no less common than trees in a forest or bodies in a battlefield. _ After all was said and done the knights seemed to part for the time being, returning to town where they returned to their various concerns. Od's concerns were with the health of the soldiers who guarded the walls. She went over them to confirm that none were harmed during the arrow fire the walls sustained during their battle. Seeing as most if not all the soldiers were fine this led her back to Luna who seemed to have born the brunt of the damage from this battle. Out of all the knights she was the one who seemed to have had received the most lasting wounds, the others either not taking any or simply recovering from them. Upon approaching Luna she only slightly unsheathed her blade, lightly placing her palm upon the glassy metal which left a long fine yellowish line upon the skin of her hand. She extended this hand towards Luna in a silent offer of healing, sap-like blood oozing from the cut down onto her fingers. She didn't trespass Luna's personal space for this, staying a respectful distance back until her fellow knight consented to her treatment. No words were exchanged at this time. Od was never much of a talker, the lingua franca of this land still being her second language with her native tongue being fomorian. She can hold her own in a conversation but the intricacies of this language and her own accent often tripped her up. Such was the reason she was so laconic. _ @Pyromania99</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna's wounds were closing and Healing at a steady rate with her own healing power. She stood in thought for a minute, wondering if she'll be punished later for her small outburst. Likely not. She shook her head in attempt to rid her mind of such things before she caught Od out of the corner of her eye. Luna didn't see what had happened after she started her multi-man brawl, but she did remember Od had herself catapulted towards the mammoth at one point. The Knightess started to speak and ask Od about how her fight had gone, but before she had the chance, Od had cut her hand to release some of her sap-like body fluid with highly regenerative properties. She winced at the sight of it. Did she feel no pain? Luna had scarce talked to the girl and the thought had never crossed her mind. Lunalel looked between Od's face and sappy wound before giving a small frown. The girl was offering to heal her own wounds by wounding herself. The thought didn't sit too well with Lunalel as her vision landed back on the thick blood that came from Od's palm. "Thank you Od but, I'll be fine. You're not the only one here that can heal you know." Luna said, taking a step toward her companion to show her basically healed wound on her neck, the only real indicator was the remnant blood. That wasn't the same story for her back. It was a bit more damaged but that would heal with her constant attention. "I'm just thinking while I fix myself up." Luna giggled to herself as she smiled at Od.</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Fio lowered her sword. "... What a bunch of fools," commented the Sword Witch, a derisive glance directed at what little could still be seen of the fleeing bandits. Even with that beast, a bandit rabble like that assaulting them was doomed from the very start. Nodding quietly to her queen's words, the girl turned on her heel and quietly stepped off the wall, the wind whipping past her as she fell. Before she hit the ground, a blue platform of light spread beneath her feet, and she lightly bounced in the air for a moment before descending a far more harmless drop, bending her knees only slightly as she landed. Her hat, however, nearly departed from her head, and had to be held on with her free hand. She would allow her most well-behaved doll to accompany her to hear the Queen's words. The rest would have to stay home. If all three of them behaved well... That was categorically unlikely. There'd only be one. But in the off chance they all behaved, she would take all three.</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "Yes, a pleasure to see you too Reinhardt." Luna had mentioned as the man swiftly made his exit with little regard to her presence. Well, whatever. Just because they worked together as such didn't mean she needed to make fast friends with them, she supposed. And then Od just kind of... absentmindedly left. Well, whatever. Her queen had gotten together quite the... personable people. Well, that would be rude to at least Ethelred. Fio was someone you could talk to... but... Well, those dolls were a little on the creepy side. Oh well. For now, she was considerable healed at least. Everything was mended at least. She could focus on recovering the rest of her injuries while at the meeting later. For now, perhaps she'd check on the state of the town. Make sure no one had drank a little too much and started causing mayhem during the fighting. Not that she thought such a thing had happened, of course. The people of this town tended to act decently at least. Better than anything you could find out in the wilderness by a far margin. It made her want to check on the good people of this town. They deserved it. With that in mind, she kept her usual, confident demeanor and walked around town with a smile, greeting the people on the street that she saw. She had... A little time before she needed to be at the meeting, right?</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "As you wish, your highness." With a flourish of her sword, the blades of light restraining the mammoth disappeared into drifting sparks, which floated into the air. While she was uncertain of the nature of the self-proclaimed Queen, Fio didn't doubt her when she seemed certain that the beast would not attack when roused. If it had, she was prepared to immediately put one of her most powerful attack spells through its skull and end its life as swiftly as she could. Thankfully, such things were not necessary, just as she thought. It seemed that it would be a little time before she could return to her dolls, though she had no doubt they were watching her from somewhere... Really now. They were such troublemakers, she sometimes wondered why she put so much effort into making the three of them. The Queen's next words, however, caught her attention immediately. "Y-you...!" cheeks flushed at the embarrassing implication of her words, the petite witch immediately turned away, even as she walked, "I-I'm not sure what you're insinuating, y-your highness, but it's definitely not wh-what I meant! I just thought you may want to speak after the defense of the town, and that's it!"</s> <|message|>Lugh Location: Airedale Mid-morning Airedale Fields --- Lowly Wretch@Guy0fV4lor --- Vyrell would merely respond with a quiet chuckle in response to Reinhardt's request, not seeming intent on saying otherwise. Made things simpler between them, at least if nothing else. Besides, there was a far more important matter at hand. "Possible," Vyrell responded as he'd walk into the keep. The silver haired youth's expression didn't change from one of quiet thoughtfulness as he'd respond, a sliver of a smile on his mouth. "But I doubt it from what I've observed. Something tells me that if the curse had, we'd have…felt something by now." The inside of the keep had been mostly cleaned out by the militia of the civilians that were being safeguarded there by now, the large central gathering hall now empty save for the few soldiers standing guard. "As for if she's in danger…well, that could be likely. The Queen tasked her to look into a Fomorian that has been pillaging villages," He'd pause a moment only to hand a written message off to a nearby soldier with instructions to deliver it to a blacksmith in town as he'd turn to finish speaking to Reinhardt. "Near the Harzelslack border. A simple fomorian wouldn't pose a threat to her, but if some of Harzels knights found her, considering her reputation…" His voice would trail off, walking into the strategy room. The implication could easily be understood without needing to be said. Considering Elnith's reputation in the wider world of Albion… "Ah, Od, you are here too." Vyrell would greet Od, who would walk in not shortly after they would. The strategy room was fairly simple - a large map of Albion spread out over a circular table, chairs around it. Just enough for the Knights, Lugh, Fio, and the Queen. A few bookshelves lined the walls against the far wall, though aside from Vyrell and perhaps Fio, they typically remained where they were. A chandelier hung overhead, lighting the room as well as it could. "Good to see you in one piece as always. Question for you, Od. You've not seen or heard from lady Elnith, have you?" --- --- The town had quickly returned to its normal lively state, the people having started their day to day routine. The hammering of the blacksmith away at the forge. The gentle murmur of everyday conversation, children now out playing in the streets…the sound of Luna being followed by a curious group of onlookers and fans. It was no secret at least, that most of the knights were fairly popular…with Luna and Vyrell, perhaps, being the most of the group for their more affable seeming natures. "Lady Luna!" A village girl would shout. "Are you hurt? I know some herbal remedies!" "Lady Luna! Don't listen to her, my herbal remedies are much better!" "You dimwits! A Knight like her can't be healed with just average medicines…I…I know some exotic Tuatha healing techniques!" Honestly it was probably nothing new for Luna having to deal with a small fan club of admirers in the village. There was someone just a bit more familiar there this time, though. "Luna." Lugh's familiar voice would catch her ears. "Good work. Saw everything. You killed a hundred-bandits singlehandedly." "A-a Hundred! Goodness there were that many, Lugh?" "Mhm. Luna fought all of them. By herself." The young Tuatha responded, looking up at the knight with admiration. She was starting to be surrounded slightly by a group of onlookers. Probably best if she ditched them somewhere before she got completely surrounded. --- Paladin --- Tracking a small fairy was well, not exactly easy. The only trail Ethelred had to follow, was a faint trail of gold light that it seemed to leave behind as it would move from place to place, seemingly sticking near the edge of the village wall, not having made any obvious moves to cause trouble…yet. Everything seemed mostly peaceful as far as he could tell. "Heeeeeelp!" A sudden shout for help from nearby, shouting for help. Supposing Ethelred would go and see who was shouting, he would be perhaps, surprised to find two militia men watching a cat…bat around the fairy he was tracking like some sort of toy. "This dumb cat again-I'm not-chew toy! Lemme goooo~!" "...I'm not touching it. I'll get cursed!" One of the militia men would say. "Well I'm not! I'm not gonna let myself get charmed or something!" "Well what do we do? We can't just leave it here!" "...well…I mean the cat looks like its having fun-Ah! Sir Ethelred!" The two would turn to salute the knight. "We uh, have bravely cornered this fey here with our expertly trained attack cat, sir!" "Hey! Hey! Icicle pants! Help me and I'll give ya something-gwuh!" The cat proceeded to pounce on the fairy, shoving her face first into the ground and then decided she'd make a comfortable seat. --- --- "Hm? Was I insinuating something?" Sorcha replied, a slight smirk forming on her lips as she'd walk. "I was simply thinking we could spend some time over drink or something when we're not busy, and I could tell you a bit about the Old King. I certainly wouldn't mind the excuse to push some administrative work onto Vyrell." A laugh, that she seemed a bit too happy about pushing more work onto Vyrell. The Queen walked as she spoke and as Fio would make whatever reply it was she was going to make. The beast, Shabbi seemed perfectly happy not to bother them, letting herself be led away from the town and towards the forest on the western side of it. Considering the danger Elder Beasts posed, perhaps it was a bit odd that one would let itself be led by humans so easily. "What do you think about Elder Beasts?" The Queen would ask suddenly, as the two of them would find themselves just inside the edge of the treeline. Shabbi was having some difficulty moving between the trees, but was docile all the same. If anything she was behaving in a friendly manner, her severed trunk gently resting on the Queens hand as hers rested on its tusk. "You've seen them yourself on occasion, and I'm sure you know of that one that lives out in the northern fields, feeding and collecting the souls of the dead, or the one worshiped on the coast?"</s> <|message|>Od. Od It would seem that Reinhardt and Vyrell had arrived ahead of her. Alas, the other knights and the queen herself were yet to show. Until the queen arrives though it was no issue. She would not show the queen disrespect by appearing late to a summon such as this and she expected much the same out of the other knights. "Ah, Od, you are here too." Nod simply gave a short nod to Vyrell's greeting, her expression distant and thoughtful as always. She briefly wondered if the queen had sent summons for him as well to this meeting. There wasn't a chair set aside for him, was there? Did it matter? "Good to see you in one piece as always. Question for you, Od. You've not seen or heard from lady Elnith, have you?" The greeting, much like always, went over her head. A simple pleasantry, no reason to think deeply into it's nuances. The question however got her attention as her eyes locked on his. "No. Is the queen asking for her?" Her question for him was not unusual for her train of thought. If there was an issue her first and main concern was how it mattered to the queen first. Naturally she didn't find a reason for Lady Elnith to be absent as her first assumption, hence her path of thought leading her to believe that they were trying to find her at the queen's behest. If her absence were to cause the queen disquiet then it would be under Od's prerogative to immediately rectify this. She hoped it wouldn't come to that since her strengths were not in searching out missing personnel. That would be something better suited to others such as Lady Luna or Lady Fio. Nonetheless Od would not hesitate to undertake such a task if she so much as even suspected that the queen would desire it so.</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Y-you-...!" The Queen had to know exactly how she'd sounded, and exactly how embarrassing the implication was! Not to mention how utterly inappropriate it was! Not to mention any of the other issues with the idea! Regardless of her actual intent, there was no way that was an accident. She'd almost certainly sought to get an embarrassed reaction. Unfortunately, Fio couldn't exactly help that. With a huff, she looked away again, thankful that her Highness at least decided to change the subject to a more suitable topic. The witch's eyes drifted to the injured elder beast for a few moments, travelling over its bulky form. It was strange to see it so docile after the fight, but perhaps that wasn't entirely surprising. "Elder Beasts, hm?" Fio responded as she walked along with the Queen, "Well..." She considered the question for a few moments. Elder Beasts... They weren't exactly an entirely straightforward matter, were they? Not really. "... They're a part of this world, I suppose," she began, "Some are like spirits of nature, who just want to safeguard their lands. Some just care about themselves and their own kind. Some are our enemies, who want to kill as many people as they can. So, we should respond to them accordingly. Antagonizing the ones who can be reasoned with something only a complete idiot would do, but the same goes for trying to talk to the ones who just want to kill us."</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred This turn of events was quite amusing for Ethelred, and he couldn't help but crack a smile beneath his helmet. It appeared he wasn't the only one who had taken an interest in the fairy, whom he could clearly see had the inhuman features of an Unseelie- a cat had managed to catch her and her cries for help had alerted a few guards. An unseelie crying to humans for help? Irony abound. Scourges of humans, bringers of many vile curses, and prey to common cats. The guards weren't sure what to do, not wanting to get involved with a malevolent fey- after all, they were cruel enough that even helping them might not discourage them afflicting their helper with a curse. Of course, earning one's ire by standing by might just incite even crueler acts. That was assuming, of course, that the fairy wasn't so cruel that her acts ingratitude would be of the same rock-bottom depravity as acts of revenge. There was little doubt that the fairy probably deserved this...yet it wasn't Ethelred's duty to judge who is worthy of saving and who isn't. He had good personal reasons to dislike the Unseelie, but the fact remained that this was not the one that had cursed him. As distasteful as it was, this little fey was crying for help, and he felt it was a knight's duty to help. Not for a reward, but because helping others in need was the right thing to do. Besides, he didn't have to worry too much about curses, as he was already cursed. "I'll take it from here, men," Ethelred spoke to the guards as he dismounted. He approached the fairy, knelt down and gently shooed the cat off of the fairy, not wanting to hurt this very good feline. "Are you hurt?" he asked the fey. "Are your wings intact enough to fly?"</s> <|message|>Lugh Location: Airedale Mid-morning Airedale Keep --- Lowly Wretch@Guy0fV4lor --- "Hmm…not exactly. The Queen asked her to look into a fomorian causing trouble near the Harzelslack border, and she has yet to return even after a fortnight." Vyrell would respond, leaning over the table, observing the map below as he spoke, reaching for a few pieces of carved wood and slowly placing them on the map. "I'm sure you are aware, that is unusual for her at least not to write or otherwise send word. If not to the Queen, then to me." He'd look up from his position, fixing Od with a narrow gaze. "Thoughts, on the situation, Od? Do you believe her curse to have taken hold or would you surmise she has been having some other difficulty?" Reinhardt and Od, if they cared to look, would see that Vyrell had placed markers on several villages. Had they been the ones Elnith had been dispatched too? Perhaps, though they almost covered a wide range of area from Southern Albion all the way to its north while a lot of villages near the central regions weren't marked. --- --- The crowd didn't seem entirely impressed by Luna's talk of the other knights. Shouts of her just being modest, shouts of her clearly doing better than the other knights, as well as generally just saying it was nonsense that she didn't deserve the praise. Lugh wasn't helping either, though the boy seemed to be doing it entirely unintentionally. "O-oh…" The girl Luna's hand had taken, blushed…and the entire crowd fell a bit silent. "...are you single?" That was promptly followed by a torrent of other questions, entirely unrelated to the queen and entirely related to Lunas relationship status, questions of how she remained so pretty despite being so good with a blade, if it was true she killed a giant with her bare hands, and other general somewhat, nonsensical questions. Ah…she had been completely surrounded by a crowd now. "Luna." Lugh would bounce in place. "Castle. Meeting the Queen!" Making sure she wasn't going to forget. --- Paladin --- "S-sir Ethelred! Are you sure that's safe?" Ethelred would reach down towards the friendly feline, who'd meow a bit in complaint as it would be shooed away from the fairy. It would make a valiant attempt to bat at Ethelred's hand, only to realize that was a bad idea, for Ethelred was very cold. It'd run off some distance, out of the shade and watching the fey from a distance as she'd get up. "Guh." The fey in question would stand to her feet, barely a few inches tall and stretch her back and give her wings a test flutter. After making sure everything was in working order, she'd turn to Ethelred…and then promptly start laughing. "Pfft, ahaha, what kinda dumb human are you helping a Fairy?" She'd flutter up to Ethelred's eye level. "I'd give ya fun present, but looks like you already got one. Boy whoever did that on you was a nasty little bug, huh?" "It's talking…" "Don't listen! It might charm you!" The fey's eyes would slowly turn towards the two Militia. "...Boo!" She'd shout, while sticking out her hands. The two militia promptly screamed and ran off shouting something about a fairy. "Ahaha, man you humans are dumb…still…" Her gaze would fix back on Ethelred, studying him for a second. "...hmm…you know, I'm feeling generous. Here." She'd pass Ethelred a small, silver colored token about the size of a button. "Lose it and I'll turn you into a proper icicle." It was…definitely magical of some sort, and Ethelred would be aware that refusing such a gift would probably be seen as both a sign of rudeness and likely give the fey some easy motive for doing something. The small silver button itself seemed somewhat unremarkable, save for a simple engraving on it of some sort of small plant like sigil. It didn't seem…outwardly malicious. Might be a good idea to have someone look at it though, just to make sure. "What's it for? I have no idea!" She'd continue with a laugh before he could ask. "Dunno, just something I found in the Laughing Wood! Your problem now though, frosty butt." --- --- "Hm…" The queen would raise an eyebrow. A small smile as she'd lead the three of them through the forest, hand still gently resting on the beasts tusk. "A far more measured take than most others would have, you know. I suppose I shouldn't have expected less." She'd respond with a light chuckle. "Personally…I'm rather fond of the beasts…I know most can never truly exist with humans, but…" They had arrived and a small grove, not far within the forest. A gentle falling of snow that the sun had yet to melt, hidden under some shade. She'd release her grip on the Beasts tusk - its trunk was already starting to regenerate and was mostly healed by now. "...hm, no, its nothing." She'd turn to 'Shabbi'. "And you, I know can understand me…so go on, get out of here before someone else sees you. Or stay here, if you want. Just don't cause trouble or I'll have to be the one to give a beating next time, got it?" The beast would trumpet in response, looking back for a moment before taking a more deliberate, route with its slow, careful steps north. "...mhm? Oh is it just the two of us now, Fio?" She'd smile at the smaller mage. "Well now that I have you alone, maybe you'd want to ask me a question? Its only fair. Yes, I am free tonight if that's what you were going to ask."</s> <|message|>Od. Od "I'm sure you are aware, that is unusual for her at least not to write or otherwise send word. If not to the Queen, then to me. Thoughts, on the situation, Od? Do you believe her curse to have taken hold or would you surmise she has been having some other difficulty?" He fixed her with his narrow gaze and her eyes fixed back on him with their brilliant green hue. Furthermore the pupils of her eyes, unlike her countrymen, were white instead of black making her eyes up until the irides look like the interior of a fresh kiwi fruit. Unless such a fruit were native to this isle then none would draw the connection. Still, much like herself they were quite unnatural despite brimming with natural potency. Just one more thing marking her as different from the others. She stood and looked back into his eyes for what was likely an uncomfortably long moment, her face still locked in a distant expression. Before he could interrupt the silence however she spoke first. "Cause, does matter not." She turned from him after her laconic reply, turning her gaze back over to the tactical map they had laid out. "The queen's will be done. If asked I shall retrieve her." Her eyes scanned over the pieces set out upon the table, her mind dwelling on their purpose and how they tie into the queen's greater plan. In truth if Elneth was victim to her curse then it simply meant she would need to be subdued and taken back to the queen. If not then something else has happened and Od would aid her nonetheless. So long as the queen believed in Elneth then Od would believe in her too. The biggest issue that faced them in this case was their strained relations with the local monarch. Their men would not necessarily respect the authority of the queen's knights. This could lead to potential conflict, one that might put the queen's soldiers in harms way. It would be tricky to defuse if Elneth did anything to strain this already tenuous peace. Concerning indeed. As for the board it offered much potential, her mind could only wonder... Perhaps even wander.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- @A Lowly Wretch The soft clatter of wood upon wood drew Reinhardt's attention once more to the map upon the strategy room's table. Leaning forward in his seat, the Knight carefully scrutinizing the locations Vyrell had marked thus far. Reinhardt's eyes narrowed slightly; a finger roughly tracing a path in the air, his head tilting slightly as the edge of his lips would curl into a stiff frown. Looking up from the map he glanced toward Od, his mouth opening as if to say something-- but he shook his head, seeming to dismiss whatever thought had come to mind. Instead, his attention turned to Vyrell, "Do you have dates of when the Fomorian attacked each settlement? Evidence it was targeting anything specific in each attack? Information whether the more central areas that were seemingly untouched ever spotted it's movements?" Reinhardt slowly grit his teeth as he looked back down at the map, awaiting Vyrell's answer. Though he had yet to voice his thoughts, this fomorian's attack pattern reeked of suspicion. But before he'd voice his own thoughts, he needed to be sure he'd gotten the bigger picture-- lest his initial presumptions taint any future inquiries.</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "..." Certainly, she was a Queen, and the one that Fio had sworn to serve. Even if her reasons were largely for curiosity's sake, to understand what was going on and confirm if her claims were truthful, she had sworn such an oath. And Fio at least had respect for the manner in which the taller girl carried and conducted herself. None of this could be denied. Perhaps, then, that was why she took those words quite so poorly. Why the Sword Witch found herself raising her hand and snapping her fingers, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment at the mere insinuation. The circle that opened in the air, producing her sword catalyst directly above the Queen's head, aimed it carefully with the hilt pointed downwards, the pommel angled perfectly. It fell slowly. Fio didn't want to cause real harm, after all. But there wouldn't be any ignoring the impact. "Y-you're a Queen, aren't you?!" exclaimed the Sword Witch, "Th-think about what you say sometimes! Hmph!" The sword dematerialized moments later, Fio folding her arms firmly as she turned away in a huff.</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Redwater Point Mid-Morning --- Chulainn@Guy0fV4lor@Crimson Paladin --- The knights reactions were swift, effective. Ethelred's lance would not find the intended target of the larger fomorian, by the time he had charged the thing was already leaping towards the two wayward children. The lesser fomorians, barely managed to get out of the way, Ethelred catching one under the hooves of his steed while impaling a second on his lance. The lanky fomorian was only stopped mid-air by Reinhardt's harpoon as it impaled the thing in its chest and was pulled away mid leap, sending the creature hurtling to the ground and pulled towards Reinhardt with a pained shriek. Not out however, it would quickly scramble to its feet, leaping towards its assailant, claws bared to dig into Reinhardt's neck and shoulders and teeth to mangle his face. Unfortunately for the others, they would be caught up in marduk's assault - the half elf leaped right into the middle of their formation, scattering them from the sudden appearance of a third foe. They'd quickly recover, though, as his staff would connect with the skull of a second, sending it to the ground as the remaining four would in turn focus on him. One of the smaller ones carrying a fell colored blade aimed to attack him head on, the second deciding towards flanking from the side with its own blade. This however, left the third remaining one…to focus on the children. "Guh…I-I'm not scared of you!" The young boy with the sword would hold his ground as they'd approach. It attempted to swing at the boy, only to be met with the clang of steel as the boy's blade was effortlessly cast aside as the fomorian cackled wickedly, preparing a follow up strike. --- Location: Southern Giants Rest Early Night --- Ah, it smelled so good. There was something special about the atmosphere and general feel of a slightly cramped dinner hall that she could never get tired of. Probably due to her own upbringing and her past, really. She'd inhale the scent of cooked meat, listening and following Luna to as they'd come to the kitchen. Ah, it all smelled so good. She'd hover over where they were cooking the various cuts of mutton, deer and wild boar common in Albion. She'd look less like a queen and more like a kid watering over a piece of candy…in fact it Luna could almost imagine she saw a tail wagging back and forth like some sort of excited puppy. An excitement that completely disappeared when Luna handed her the bowl of stew. What were these horrible green things… "Luna you know d-ahem-I don't normally eat plants." She'd say, fidgeting on the spot as she'd hold the bowl some distance from her. "I-In fact you could say I am allergic to vegetables. Please remove these from the bowl and fetch me a nice, fresh, juicy cut of meat hm? Maybe add some bread? I wouldn't mind a fresh potato." The Queen met Luna's stare with a friendly smile of her own. "Yes, this is also an order from your humbly beautiful queen to her knight. Get to it, go on~" --- "...hm? Like…what?" The maid tilted her head slightly, moving the heart away from Fio just slightly. "Oh…this? Its…cursed? Oh, good…I thought it might have gotten…un-cursed somehow…" The sickly maid covered her mouth with her free hand again to mask a…muffled laugh? "Mhm? Why do you look…perturbed?" She'd proceed to pull the heart closer to her chest, shoving her hand and the organ both inside of a small cutout in her dress that was fairly cleverly concealed by overlapping fabric. "Mhm…Sucaria. Maid of the Lightsword family…" She'd remove her hand from her dress, revealing it now empty save for the blood that drenched it. In fact, now that she had time to look there were splotches of blood all over her dress. Her non-bloodied hand would hold a cloth up to her mouth, cleaning the small trickle of blood from her cheek. "Can…I help you…? You seem confused…Or do you want to see it again?" She'd stand there, sleepily waiting for instruction, using the cloth to clean her hands. Surprisingly the cloth itself didn't seem to get dirty no matter how much she used it to clean up. "...I know where almost…every book in the library is located, if that's what you're here for…" She'd tiredly state. "Also…somewhat good with magic if you need something done…" --- "Hm…scout the exterior, huh. Alright, sure I'll-" But he was off before Gabe could finish his sentence. The Lightsword knight watched in a mildly impressed manner as Niall ran off, a small smile creeping over his features as he'd chuckle…and start doing as he was asked too. Shouldn't be too hard, hm? Niall swiftly approached the front entrance, the cover of night obscuring him from the bandits rather lax lookouts. He could vaguely makeout a brief conversation between the two. "Can you believe it? We actually caught the guy." One of them said with a chuckle. "What ya think they're gonna do with him?" "Same thing they do with the rest of them, what else-ah?!" A brief moment, and the cloud of darkness would fall over them, their conversation interrupted as a dark cloud fell over the moon obscuring their vision even more. A cold wind blew past them, Niall expertly lunging past before the two could barely register what was happening…but he was in, but as soon as the cloud of darkness passed, seconds later the two guards looked up towards the sky. No clouds they could see. "...oi, go tell the other guards on the walls about this and go inform Annagan." "...ahaha, you can't be serious? You think one of those humans would-" "Shut your mouth! Just do as your told." Niall would have no trouble finding a decent place to hide. Behind the hastily constructed wooden shelters and the canvas tents the bandits had set up, was a perch for a lookout and a sniper, thankfully unoccupied. Leaping atop its roof, it was far from the highest point in the camp - but here he had a much better view of the happenings. The camp was roughly rectangular on one end, and circular on the other. The entrance he had come in was one from the eastern side, and the other was on the north. The rock that sat at the back of the camp was the west with the southern side seemingly having to entrance or exit at all, blocked completely by palisades. About four lookout towers including the one he was on, some covered, some not, dotted the wall. Two were occupied. As far as buildings went, there were about five temporary tents made of a variety of materials, and three temporary somewhat large wooden shacks put together by the bandits, no doubt made from trees in the area. There didn't seem to be much organization to their layout, the only noticeable thing was the clear path down the center that lead towards the back of the camp towards the rock wall where the largest building was. Built into the rock face was a large wooden building, built a bit off the ground and decorated a bit lavishly with hunting trophies. A majority of the bandits were gathered around a large bonfire where they were busy enjoying themselves with food, and…well, more than a little drink. It was hard to get a full count since not all were likely in the open, but he could at least count at least two dozen outside. Curiously, towards the large house in the back, seemed to be a one stationed as a guard outside a small dug out place that seemed to lead towards some sort of basement. Sadly though, there did not seem to be many weaknesses he could exploit from out here. Their defenses weren't anything spectacular, but they weren't exactly bad either, it seemed. He had a layout now, and a good grasp of their numbers. Unless there was something he wished to investigate in particular, now was likely a good idea to finish before he got caught…</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred managed to spear one of the creatures on his lance and catch another beneath his mount's hooves. After charging through, he turned his horse around, and shook his lance to cast off the impaled Fomorian. He didn't have time to freeze his foe, but with such a large hole punched through such a comparatively small Fomorian, it probably wouldn't be walking away. Ethelred's companions had joined the fray and struck at the Fomorians whom the Frozen Knight had missed. However, there was still one left, and it had decided to ignore the knights altogether in favor of attacking the child. Ethelred was aghast at this, that a creature would be so dedicated to inflicting pain and suffering on others that, upon being attacked and having their fellows killed just a few paces away, their only concern is trying to kill a child, with no sense of self-preservation. This Fomorian was clearly either extremely dedicated to its task of killing the child, or more likely, simply possessed by a mad, destructive depravity. In either case, it needed to be dealt with. Ethelred galloped towards the Fomorian, swinging his lance like a sword at the Fomorian just as it prepared to strike the boy. He needed to kill or subdue the monster as quickly as possible, before it had the opportunity to hurt those children. @Cu Chulainn@Rune_Alchemist</s> <|message|>Marduk Swordwind To Battle --- The two Fomorians that surrounded Marduk would quickly be met with retaliation for their futile effort. The brazen fool who had rushed the warrior head-on would be met wit the end of Marduk's staff lunged into his face with enough force to knock him back a few yards, if not kill him outright. As for the one who had chosen to flank Marduk, he would simply step to the side, sweeping his already outstretched staff towards its direction and slamming it into its side. Its blade would simply meet Marduk's cloak, the elf being too quick to be dealt with by such a rudimentary flank. As he glanced across the field, however, Marduk would soon notice that the others weren't having as easy of a time as Marduk was in their respective battles. While the frozen knight seemed to have the safety of the children already covered, it seems that the brutish knight was having a bit more trouble with his adversary. Noting this, Marduk quickly moved to end the engagement he was currently in. With a series of strikes to its legs and arms, Marduk quickly crushed the limbs of the Fomorian he was facing before kicking him in the chest, away from the elf. Diverting his attention away from the glorified torso of his own making, Marduk then took a deep breath as he began to draw upon his Leargas once more. Before he fully committed to his trance, however, Marduk, instead chose to end the battle without the aid of his ancestors. He would run towards Reinhardt, his staff clutched tightly in one of his hands. As he closed the distance between himself and his ally, Marduk would grasp his staff with his other hand, winding it up for a strike. Utilizing the momentum of his charge and his sheer strength, the Elf would swing for the Fomorian's head as it was essentially held in place. Once more, Marduk wished to play baseball, except now he is taking the position of the batter.</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "..." It was clear the person she was dealing with was... Perhaps abnormal was the best word for it. She couldn't be entirely certain, but going off of her strange, sickly state, the fact she could freely remove her heart and put it back in, and the fact her own blood seemed to dot her outfit all indicated to her that she would absolutely be dead on the spot if not for whatever curse was currently inhabiting her heart. A curse that the inflicted actually found to be beneficial? If not for how incredibly squeamish the sight of the heart made her feel, Fio would almost have wanted to see it again just to understand. But the fact it made her feel ill just to see it, as well as the embarrassment she felt over her initial panic, made it impossible. "No," she said, "I most certainly do not need to see that again!" Fio paused for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. The assistance from someone who knew the library certainly would be useful, but why did she have to introduce herself like that? The Sword Witch cleared her throat. "I have plenty of questions, but first I'm looking for any books you might have relating to Fomorians, specifically any factions formed by them," she brushed her hair back over her shoulder as she spoke, "If you have any related to anything called the 'Wings of Dark' that would be especially useful."</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Her strategy had been executed flawlessly, that much was certain. There was not a single hole in her plan. She knew they wouldn't be paying attention to the contents of her mug. Indeed, by the time they would notice something was amiss, they'd be too drunk to actually realize what was going on. Her timing, her execution, the subtlety with which she wove her water purification spells, everything was perfectly put into place. Unfortunately for Fio Fan Falisse, Sword Witch, she hadn't thought well enough about what would happen afterwards. For indeed, the punishing hangover she knew would strike her opponents was not the only result of their drunkenness. There was no time to react when she was suddenly swept into Queen Sorcha's arms. That lithe, slender, small body would weigh quite little to the Queen. "H-hey?! HEY?! W-w-w-wait this wasn't th-the plan!" cried Fio in a rather undignified manner, squirming in an attempt to escape. Her endeavor is fruitless, and it is only Luna's intervention that frees her. At least for the moment. Hardly happy to be tossed around like a prize to be captured, Fio was read to snap until Luna's behavior caught her entirely off-guard. What was this embarrassing situation?! Did Luna just kiss the back of her hand?! Aaah, she had to get out of here before Queen Sorcha picked her up again or worse! Much worse! "I... I... y-y-you're all drunken perverts!" Pointing accusatorily towards the both of them, the Sword Witch spun on her heel and turned to make her dramatic escape! Unfortunately for her, her stamina, her physical capability, her athleticism... All of these parameters were woefully below par. Thus, it shouldn't have been any surprise to her when she caught her left foot on her right leg, and the world suddenly began rushing up around her. Fio promptly fell flat on her face. @Pyromania99</s> <|message|>Niall Ulchabhán The very moment Niall put the Axe in the Tuatha's hands it was as if he felt it was some sort of mistake. Up to that point it didn't really cross his mind that Tuathas, like Humans, could widely vary from one individual to another. The ones that raised him were calm, collected and secluded - what about this one? It turned out to be revealed very soon that he wasn't as collected. "W-what you came here from? No, we have to leave, if you follow me I..." but he couldn't finish the sentence before the Formorian lady caught them. Niall took the opportunity when the Formorian dodged the attack to grab his own weapon, now at the ready. Niall knew he could take on the bandits outside if they came rushing in her - they could forge a way outside and, from there, escape the camp. He wasn't sure about the Formorian or her creations, so fighting a way out seemed like the safer choice. "Look." he said to the Tuatha "I freed you to spare you their horrible fate. I have a duty and Oaths to keep - help me fight out of this camp. No point in throwing your life away now, is there? We can still take them if we go now." With that, Niall was ready to use his speed to charge the humans blocking his way out and take them by surprise before they could form up if the Tuatha agreed to fight their way out. If he refused, then Niall would need to use the chaos and escape anyway. He gave this man a chance, but his own Knight's vows were more important than dying for an...obviously not all there Tuatha.</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Southern Giants Rest Early Night --- @Pyromania99 "MMhm, But she's mine? I carry her how I want too." Sorcha responded as Luna took Fio from her arms. The queen's posture had slumped a bit as she'd watch Luno place a kiss on Fio's hand and proceed to ask her about the 'reward' for beating the two of them in a drinking game. "Oh my how scandalous, Luna." Sorcha laughed, not being self aware of her own actions at all as the sword witch proceeded to flee from the scene. Well, attempt to flee. Before she could even get five steps, the sword witch was falling, tripping over her own feet. Thankfully, something caught her fall before she hit the floor. Unfortunately, that something was someone else she probably didn't have the highest opinion of. "Kya-" A shout of someone not trying at all to sound actually distressed by being run into, Fio found herself face planting into the bosom of the maid from earlier. The two tumbled to the ground, Sucaria landing on her back, seeming just a tiny bit dazed as she'd slowly bring her gaze towards Fio. "...ah? Miss…Hm, did you want my heart that badly after all?" As usual, her tone of voice was entirely serious and without a hint of any teasing or joking, and it looked as though she was making a move to in fact, pull out said heart again. "Eeeh, Fio's not even the drunk one, ahaha…" Sorcha walked over, pulling Fio to her feet again as Sucaria tilted her head to the side slightly, observing the situation. "...ah..." Upon realizing the situation, there was the faintest bit of a mildly pitying look towards Fio before she'd turn her attention to Luna. "Lady Luna…you're drunk." The Maid walked over to the knight before she could bother the sword witch again. "Don't bother your guests…" Fio, meanwhile, would find Sorcha happily pulling her along again...right up the stairwell and towards the bedroom she had been given by the Lightsword family. Fio's fate, was sealed. Like a princess being snapped up by a dragon, she was being princess carried off to Sorcha's bedroom. When the pair finally arrived, Sorcha rather unceremoniously plopped Fio down onto the bed. This, in and of itself might have proved some manner of concern. The fact the queen started stripping a few seconds later, probably proved moreso. Thankfully for Fio, she only managed to get her shoes and shirt off before the Queen would simply pass out on the bed next to the mage, though not before wrapping her in a bear hug and mumbling something about Erahith and Gerainth. Maybe Fio managed to actually get some rest. Maybe she'd stay up all night, unable to sleep any at all - though it'd probably be a bad idea to tell the Queen that. Regardless It would be almost dawn when she'd realize the queen was no longer in the bed with her. She'd see just a flash of light colored hair from a nearby balcony just off of the room. If Fio was so inclined to investigate, she'd find the Queen just sitting on the nearby roof, gazing off towards the Llobrokor Mountains. She didn't seem to notice Fio, so she could also chose to leave too, if she wished. --- "You should listen to the bird." The fomorian chided the both of them wearing her usual grin. "But I doubt you'll let your brain do the thinking for once." "My 'brain' thinks all the time, and right now its thinking that a good whack is gonna make you shut up permanently!" However, seeing Niall instead of engaging and choosing to flee, the Tuatha seemed surprised. Whether it was because he didn't seem intent on fighting now or that he thought Niall was a coward for fleeing was difficult to say. "Hey! We're not gonna get another chance easily to end this creep!" Still, if Niall was intent on his course of action, the Owl knight would bolt past the rest of the undead experiments blocking the entrance, choosing to flee instead of engage as he'd barely avoid their clumsy, but powerful strikes. "You should choose your allies better, ya know." "Shut it-" He barely managed to block a blow from one of the experiments strikes, its two extra arms attempting to reach and grab for the Tuatha's head. "-Only Cecillia gets to 'headpat' me!" He'd retort, shoving the creature back and glancing between the Fomorian and the retreating Niall before swiftly coming to a decision himself. "Damn it…fine!" With a powerful swing, he'd cleave his way through another undead that was creeping up on him, following Niall out of the storage area. "I'll get my revenge on you some other day, creep." "Oh my, so scary." "Everyone you've killed, I'll make you pay ten fold!" He'd blast out of the underground, just shortly behind Niall…but now the entire camp seemed to have been alerted to their presence. As they'd make their way out into the open, they'd find they were already surrounded not very far away from the entrance. "Hey, got any bright ideas?" The Tuatha asked Niall. Gabriel was nowhere to be immediately seen.</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Rather then directly hitting the floor with her face, Fio was at least a little relieved(if quite embarrassed) when someone caught her. Unfortunately, the one who caught her was the maid. And she was already offering to show off her heart again. "N-no, no, I'm fine!" cried the Sword Witch, waving her hands frantically as she tried to pull away and resume running as quickly as she could. Unfortunately, it was not to be. For Queen Sorcha was already upon her, grabbing her arm and pratically dragging her up the stairs. "Y-you-wh-what kind of Queen are y-you?!" cried Fio, frantically squirming, "Y-y-you're pulling to hard y-you... you idiot...!" But no amount of protest would save her from being tugged right up the stairs and to the Queen's guest bedroom. Before she could even react, she was suddenly in the air, her surroundings whipping past her as she hurtled through the air and landed on something soft. It was with no small amount of concern that she realized the soft landing was the bed. That in and of itself was worrying enough, but when she sat up and tried to desperately secure her escape, she could see Queen Sorcha shedding her clothing at a rapid pace. "W-w-wait what?!" she cried, feeling the heat rushing into her cheeks instantly, "S-stupid! I-idiot! P-pervert! Y-y-you-th-this is-y-you can't my h-heart's not r-" There was a soft thump as the partially undressed Queen passed out on the bed beside her. Fio was far too stunned to manage an escape, however, finding herself suddenly wrapped in Sorcha's arms and pressed to her chest. This was embarrassing in and of itself, but at the very least... ... ... Fio remained there silently for several moments. Slowly, she averted her blue-purple eyes. "Hmph... For a Queen, you sure are clingy..." she murmured softly. There was no way she could escape, and she was acutely aware her complaint would go unheard. Perhaps it was unfair to blame Sorcha for actions she undertook directly due to having drank too much trying to win an unbeatable drinking contest engineered by Fio herself, but the Sword Witch was hardly about to acknowledge her role in this outcome even internally. It had been a long time since someone held her like this, hadn't it? The last time was when she was much younger. And the person who did it wasn't a half-undressed supposed Royal. And yet, maybe, even if she'd never admit it, it wasn't the worst thing that could have happened. Maybe. ~ Fio didn't remember getting drowsy, but evidently, in spite of her situation, she had at some point. Blearily blinking her eyes, the petite witch pushed up off of the bed and yawned. Queen Sorcha wasn't there. Rubbing her eyes and grasping her hat, Fio returned it to her head as she sat up fully and stretched with another yawn. Ah... She'd slept really well. She'd never admit that she slept so well after being abducted by the drunken Queen, but she couldn't ignore that fact deep down. After a few moments, she stepped off the bed. Where was Sorcha, anyway? A flash of the Queen's hair from the balcony answered the girl's question. After some brief hesitation, Fio approached. "I'm not some kind of doll, you know," she began, as she approached, "You can't just carry me off like that. Hmph."</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Marduk Swordwind Dragonspotting --- "The whelp seems like she's fun at parties." Marduk would jest as Ethelred rode up to him. "That said, we should probably just ask her to let us in and assess the situation. We don't have to cause any havoc on our own to make a proper diversion, anyway. After all, they'll be too distracted to get us in." And before Ethelred would respond, Marduk would proceed to walk up to the gates with a swagger, leaving his horses to stand idly by the frozen knight. "Alright pipsqueak, we just lost one of our best warriors fighting that monster, so I'll make things crystal for you. We don't know if the wyvern will circle back here or not. What we do know is the thing is still in the general area, and this place sticks out enough for it to want to try and burn down. Now, I don't know about you lot, but we've got first-hand experience fighting that beast, and other beasts like it. Unless you've got men in there that have so much as scratched the beast's scaly back, I'd say our experience with the dragon eclipses your own. "Now say what you want about the Iceberg and his allegiances, but I know that neither him or your lot want those innocents in there to serve as food or tinder for the monster. So here's my proposition: my frozen... 'friend' and I will help fortify this place, and you let us in without a hassle, maybe give us a tour of the base so we'd have a better idea of what we're working with. From what I see, this place has got the weapons we need to take it down, and we both have the experience of ten of your own here. We both want what's best for the citizens, after all. "And more importantly, we all want revenge for what that mongrel dragon has taken from us."</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Even if the information wasn't entirely groundbreaking, it was only natural for someone who prided herself as a knowledgeable scholar to take great interest in the story the Queen had told. Indeed, Fio listened quietly, taking in every single detail that she could. It was hardly a tale that was entirely new, and yet some details caught her attention. The influence of the White Dragon, for instance, being so much more direct then she'd previously heard. However, the core ideas of the tale appeared to be the same as many of the others she had heard previously. "It's difficult to tire of the tales of the King," replied Fio, nodding her head slightly, "So it's fine if you want to share them. I'm willing to listen." She paused for a moment. "Not that there's any special reason, it's just that I'm curious," she quickly asserted. The Sword Witch wasn't soft and willing to act as a confident for any painful emotional struggles. At least, she didn't want to admit to any willingness to do so on her part. Nor did she think she was particularly good at it. "... In any case, there's no ignoring that fight must have been painful," she continued, eyes drifting down towards her lap, "Losing people like that..." Fio's hands clutched slightly at the hem of her skirt. "The only thing someone can do in a situation like that is to carry on the memory of the people who are gone." For a few more moments, she didn't say anything. No, the petite girl's thoughts drifted elsewhere, at least for an instant. "... But, at the same time, I've always felt like stories like that reminded me that the King was a human being," she added, "Not some perfect ruler who never felt anything, who just sought victory for Albion no matter the cost. Even considering how it ended, the King fought for Albion because of his heart, not a lack of it." She paused for a moment. "... I... guess what I'm saying is that, er... that you shouldn't..." Fio trailed off, now far more furiously fiddling with the hem of her skirt. Trying to offer those helpful words, it was way too difficult...</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Harzel fort Mid-Morning --- Chulainn@Crimson Paladin --- Grainne simply shrugged as Ethelred left and went back to doing whatever she was doing before, though she didn't get too far before Marduk showed back up. "Ha?! Pipsqueak!? I'll kick your ass, assfa-" She'd begin, her usual fiery temperament shining through and almost making her miss the following words…which immediately shut her up. "-ace?" Grainne immediately fell silent, though her glare and general agitated temperament didn't change as Marduk made his case. It was clear that as much as she detested the idea, she really couldn't find a logical reason to turn these people down. As Lonan's squire, she was technically in charge here as she acted as Lonan's sort of…second in command as far as things went. "...tch, alright fine. But do anything funny, and I'll have you in shackles and tossed into the prison!" She'd bark. "Also, I'm not showing you the prisons! I still don't trust you lot but if you can beat that freaky scaly thing fine…" She glanced to the side, frowning a moment before her usual fiery visage returned. "Come on then! And keep that weird horse of yours outside!" It seemed as though they had successfully convinced her for now, though it didn't do much for her mood all things considered. --- Location: Southern Giants Rest Late Night --- "...heh. Why so nervous? You already slept with your queen, you shouldn't be so reserved now." Sorcha grinned, placing a hand on top of Fio's head and ruffling her hair affectionately as she'd stand up, hair gently swaying in the breeze as the sun would just start to peek over the horizon, illuminating the world in a brilliant, dazzling orange glow of morning light. "Thanks, fio. Sometimes…its hard…hard to just…live up to him, you know? I always have to ask myself if this is what he wanted, or what if I do something wrong? It doesn't help with the…particularly vivid memories, especially ones regarding…" Sorcha visibly shuddered, exhaling and shaking her head as she'd extend a hand to pull Fio to her feet. "Mhm, no. That's a story for another time. For now Niall and Gabriel should have returned and the others should be awake now. Lets get some breakfast and get to a strategy meeting, hm?" Once either Fio accepted her hand or not, Sorcha would hop down onto the balcony with a smile. "I wonder if there will be any rumors of a queen and a mage meeting for a drunken tryst~?" --- "Hm? Mistreating?" Sucaria tilted her head to the side, seeming to think for a moment. "...hm if I say yes will you be upset?" Sucaria responded with a question of her own as she'd run the cleaning cloth across Luna's skin, still careful to keep any drops of crimson both out of the water and off of Luna's skin expression falling slightly as Luna mentioned being away for a significant amount of time. "...mhm, Gabriel hits on me still occasionally." Sucaria commented. "But other than that…no, not really?" The half fomorian would slowly use her hands to scrub Luna's chest and apply some warm, soapy water to the rest of her shoulders and muscles, delicate but firm hands also giving her a massage for her fatigued muscles. "...just wondering…" She'd say, perhaps a bit forlorn sounding. --- "Mmf-" Nialls foot met the large mans face and with enough force launched himself backwards and landed right onto a walkway built into the wooden palisade. "-ha…agile little vermin." The bandit harrumphed, hefting his hammer over his shoulders. "Hm…lets see how you handle…this. You got that thing ready, Fomorian brat?" "The false eye? Nah. It'll be ready by morning, though." "Hmph…unfortunate-" There was a trumpeting sound not far out from the gate. "...Here she comes! Jump high, owl!" The tuatha shouted with a laugh. Niall had only seconds to react before he'd feel the air around him chill considerably, the thundering sounds of hoof falls heading towards their direction. Another trumpeting call as something would shortly crash right into the gate! The tuatha followed his own advice, leaping high as his enhanced strength could force him into the air while the gate itself was completely shattered into many large pieces as an absolutely mammoth of a…mammoth barreled right through the gate. "Atta girl, Shabbi!" The Tuatha would land right on the Mammoth's back in a saddle as the creature would ram its tusks right into Annagan. "Get on Owl!" "What in the queens holy knickers…" Gabriel was peeking through the gate from the side as he watched the mammoth ram right through the gate.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna frowned when she was asked if she would be upset if Sucaria's answer was yes. "Of course I would be upset if someone mistreated you!" The knightess said with a frown, trying to ignore the maid's hands running over her body. "You're part of our house now, and I won't have any of our own mistreated." In Sucaria's case, Luna was somewhat worried based on the maid's heritage that some few in the house might hold grievances but it seemed to be a non-issue in her absence. "One could say that Gabriel's actions are the opposite of mistreating in the sense I was originally thinking of... But to hit on a maid as well... It looks like I'll have to teach both of my brothers a lesson tomorrow. After Gabriel returns." Luna then held back her voice as she felt Sucaria getting a little close to certain part of her torso she'd prefer her not. That aside, she couldn't quite tell why there was such a sad tone to her maid's voice. "Hmmm... I believe you've cleaned me up well enough, Sucaria. Would you be so kind as to help me dry off? I should probably sleep soon." Luna asked as she rubbed her temple and realized just how tired she was. As soon as she hit the bed, she'd probably fall right asleep.</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Y-y-you...!" She'd been trying to be mature and comfort the Queen, only to have her hair ruffled like she was a little child!? And that embarrassing comment...! The pout on Fio's lips likely didn't help with that childish impression, as the petite little Witch folded her arms across her chest in irritation. But the mood changed once again, as Sorcha discussed her feelings on attempting to live up to the King. Regardless of her true nature, it was difficult to feel that those sentiments were anything but genuine. Fio couldn't deny them. Besides, they really did have an important duty to attend to at the moment. Further stories could wait. Fio reached out, allowing herself to be pulled to her feet, her delicate little hand in the Queen's as she brushed herself off lightly. She was about to offer more words of comfort, when- "D-Drunken tryst?! I-Idiot! F-fool! U-Unfit Royal!" It should have come to no surprise that her sword materialized almost instantly, the flat swinging down to smack the Queen squarely on the head.</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Elnith --- Location: Southern Giants Rest Bandit camp, early morning. --- Another shield to block the arrows. Even if friendly fire might have been an issue, the bandits didn't seem concerned as arrows would pierce their flesh as they continued their frenzied assault without a care for their own wellbeing, but Luna too, continued her own assault. Another fell to her blade, as the rage-fueled knight slammed her shield into one of the small groups, just in time to prevent one of her men from being beheaded and knocking back their numbers as her blade pierced the flesh of a second bandit. A momentary lull in the fight ensued as the three remaining lightsword knights regrouped around Luna. Shouts from the east. Luna watched as some of Fio's blades rained down upon the land there - awfully close to her own men and position. Seconds later, two of the knights she had sent with Niall burst from the treeline, followed shortly after by a small group of bandits themselves numbering about eleven. "Lady Luna!" One of them shouted. "T-heir main force was at the other gate-" The man was quickly cut off, an arrow through his throat. The men with her hesitated just slightly, gripping their swords with a questionable amount of determination as the bandits went from six, to at least seventeen in number now, and with Fio's support seemed to be focused elsewhere…they were clearly outnumbered. Something, odd would happen as the battle would begin again, whenever Luna decided to tear into the bandits once more. The edges of her vision started to go white. The beating of her own heart resounding in her head like a drum of battle or war. Adrenaline surged through her body, her muscles aching to be moved and used. A single word would surface to the front of her mind. fight. …of course, she could resist whatever influence this was. It would be easy right, just take a moment to recover her breath. Assess the battlefield…but the shouts and cries of the bandits and battle made it difficult to focus on anything other than the battle. --- "Gahaha, we'll see!" Annagan replied with a laugh, seemingly none too concerned about the darkness enveloping him as he'd remain fairly still as Niall would begin his assault. At first, his familiar seemed to have the intended effect - Annagan would make an attempt to strike at the owl, only to hit nothing, followed by another swing to nothing, allowing Niall to land a fairly heavy blow…but such tricks could only work for so long. Nialls lance would hit the mans hammer, Annagan managing to deflect the blow as he'd start to learn the owls tactics. He showed no signs of slowing down or getting tired, either. "What's the matter! You're barely making me bleed!" A ferocious bellow as his hammer caught Nialls' lance, the impact sending the knight clean out of the cloud of darkness that he had trapped Annagan in, the large man barreling out after him and aiming to bring the hammer down on Niall's body. Location: Southern Giants Rest Bandit camp Overlook, early morning --- More ephemeral blades appeared in the sky, a crown of swords adorning the air above fio. Seconds later, a second barrage fell, the blades launching themselves at the bandits. Now that they were aware of a threat from above though, the bandits were able to dodge, avoid, and dive out of the way of the large blades. Ravenously following after the two soldiers who were barely managing to keep them at bay. Still, any of their numbers that lessened would make things much easier for Luna below. The Sixteen bandits were cut down to twelve, but that was all she'd have time for as long as she wanted to focus on Annagan next. Magical energy surged from her body and blade. A single, massive blade, gargantuan in size began to manifest over the girl, the ephemeral blade shining brightly above the battlefield. If the bandit below seemed concerned, he didn't show it though it was difficult to really tell thanks to the shadow Niall had cast over it…though with the sheer size of the blade, accuracy wasn't much of a problem. It seemed, as though, her spell would be completed without issue- Fio would be alerted to a very strong, very curse ridden magical energy quite suddenly, nearly instantly appearing behind her. Cursed energy began welling up from the ground under her, forming into a point behind her as it began to coalesce into a more solid form, the magical energy solidifying into a slightly more familiar form. If she didn't change targets or end her spell casting, she was certainly going to get jumped by whatever this thing was! "Hey, hey, hey!" A large, toothy grin in the shadowy mass as it began to properly take shape and form. It was…a fomorian? A rather mundane looking one, if one were to judge by looks but Fio…well, Fio could tell she really shouldn't judge this woman by looks. "I was gonna play with that lightsword kid, but I found something muuuuch more interesting! You can't just throw around that much magical energy and not get me all excited about it! You even made me do something I wasn't gonna show anyone yet." A toothy, excitable grin. "That's a pretty cool sword you've got there too. How about…you let me take a swing with it? No? I'm not actually asking. Hand it over and I'll be nice when I'm using your body for experiments." More figures began emerging from the ground under her, the cursed energy taking shapes of grotesque bodies, perhaps, experiments of this particular fomorian as they in no way should be living in the traditional sense. Extra arms and limbs sprouted from their necks and in other places, some even had extra torsos or even heads. About five in total, but something told Fio these were not going to go down easily. Location: Harzel Border Fort Paladin --- "I see…Ethelred," Elnith began, voice pleasant and even. "I might get carried away. If I do…please don't let me hurt anyone, okay?" As she'd lift her blade, the frozen knight could see blackened veins creeping along the woman's body, starting from her extremities. It might be a good idea to find Elnith's armor sooner, rather than later…but regardless, the assault would begin. The Wyvern roared as Ethelred's lance impaled the creatures eye once more, the beast thrashing in pain as the frozen knight made an effort to yank its neck to expose it. The beast though, had other plans as it'd lunge forward with its talons in the same instant, trying to pull Ethelred towards it and grab him with its talons…though this, proved less than effective. Elnith quickly leaped on the opportunity, blood red blade lashing out to cut the Wyvern's neck. The magical blade easily cut the scales. "Tch…shallow." Elnith hissed as the Wyvern would break itself free from the Ice Knights lance, beating its wings as it righted itself, roaring furiously as the entire right side of the beasts face was now covered in ice and frozen blood. It lunge towards Ethelred with its talons, making another attempt to grab the knight.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna sneared. Too many were dying. Her plan, whatever it may have been, had obviously failed. Well, the saying was "Plans don't live past first contact with the enemy". And then... There was this presence in her mind. A voice. She gripped her weapon before taking a small breath. No, she needed to keep her head. "Men! Hold these six off, use them as shields against their arrows. Kill them and none of you die." That was a command. Luna stabbed at the closest bandit to her before pulling the blade out and heading towards where the enemy reinforcements were coming from. "I'll win, on my terms." The Knightess passed the, unbeknownst to her, sole surviving soldier from Niall's squad and run towards the biggest group of bandits coming at her. There were no other allied targets in the way now so she could go all out. "Watch as my sword of light tears you asunder!" Luna exclaimed as she charged at the bandits. She sheathed her sword and in her hands, appeared a large sword of light. It looked to be about as tall as she was and rather thick. Despite that, she seemed to wield it with ease. Her blade swung forward as she were closing into the group and she swung it in a confident attempt to bisect as many as she could. She couldn't keep this weapon up for too long, but she should be able to keep it up long enough without exhausting herself too much.</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Ah?!" This cursed magical energy.. .there was no doubt in Fio's mind. This was a Fomorian! Turning on her heel, she sprang back, off of her vantage point and onto a platform she had formed in the air using a barrier, the spell she'd been casting cancelling. The enormous sword dissipated, fading away into blue motes of light that drifted skyward. This must have been the Fomorian mentioned in Sir Niall's report...! "I haven't the slightest interest in allowing you to handle this sword," replied the Sword Witch flatly. She couldn't provide further support like this, but at the very least she'd managed to take the Fomorian's attention. As frustrating as it was, this was also an opportunity. "However, I'm happy to demonstrate my capabilities, Fomorian, since you've given me such ugly practice targets." The monstrous, abominable things that emerged from the darkness, twisted and warped mockeries of life that could only be the experiments the Fomorian girl had created. Awful. Completely and utterly awful. She would be doing them, and the world, a favor. "Cutting them to pieces can only be an improvement! Sura, Luna Orbit!" A single command, for a specific configuration of blades. Ejecting themselves from a circle in the air behind her, the blue phantom swords began to circle around the small witch's body, at first somewhat slowly and then far faster. Rather then a simple barrier, it was offense as well. The abominations weren't likely to care about pain, but they certainly would struggle to attack if they had their limbs sawed through, especially given her position in the air. Of course, only an idiot would leave it there. "Five phantom swords. Now." They materialized from circles in an arc over her head, each one pointing at one of the abominations before rocketing towards them. It was a test, but ideally it would also at least keep them from moving swiftly as she picked her next course of action.</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch So rather then having to go through the initial ritual, making contact with the goddess had considerably streamlined the approach to viewing the Fomorian's memories. It was a surreal experience, and the strange drowsy sensation that afflicted the Sword Witch had likely muted her reaction. After all, it wasn't every day someone made direct contact with the divine, even one who had been in decline. "Then, you'll see me again," replied Fio, looking back over her shoulder as she turned to face the archway that the Goddess of the Deep Lake, "There's no way I'm going to let any information I can get out of her slip through my fingers." And she had absolutely no intention of letting a goddess who could influence dreams scare her awake. That definitely wasn't on her to-do list. "... And... thank you, again," she added, still turned away as she walked through the arch.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna accepted the second mug but neglected to drink from it. "Worst case, Sucaria, we'll finish up what we need to do as fast as we can and get out of here, alright?" She said before taking a sip and looking over at Sarah's fight as she finished it up and headed over. The Knightess set her drink down and stood. As this Lady Sarah walked over, Luna couldn't help but meet her eyes and stare. That is, until the elf started speaking. Long blonde hair, "H-handsome?" Luna repeated back, slightly confused by the statement. "But, well, I'm Lunalel Lightsword. Just call me Luna, Please. This is my Maid, Sucaria." Luna said, slightly hesitating to shake the elf's hand before accepting it. As the other elf started to compliment her footwork, Luna retracted her hand trying not to seem rude. Then Sarah mentioned the elves' sing and cheering was probably an odd sight. "It's not too odd to me. That's basically how we are out here too. I little more roof over our head though." The Knightess said, smiling. "I'll take it that you described whoever you were looking for, correct?" Luna questioned, looking the elf in the eyes for some seconds before blushing and averting her gaze to the surroundings. "What brings you all to this place in particular? I can't say I've heard anything good about this place though I've come to understand you had someone to meet? Perhaps we could help you look for them? It should be fairly simple if whoever it is happens to be in Airedale. Her Majesty might be able to help if I cannot."</s> <|message|>Elnith Location: Nids End --- "Mhm, I did." Sarah replied with a small smile. "She's fairly tall, eyes that could remind one of a clear blue sky. She's rather irritable, though, and tends to speak with her blade more than her voice." Sarah would heft her shield, staking it into the ground next to her and leaning on it. The elf passed her a mug with a grin. "Hmm, thank you for the offer but it'd be ill form to ask the ruler of a human kingdom for aid in a completely unrelated matter." She'd take a long swig of the drink. "I'd tell you more, but this is something I really must do myself. That and I promised her I wouldn't actually look for her and focus on my own duties, but well…let's just say I have a message for her I need to urgently deliver when I find her." Sarah turned to look at Sucaria. "We simply sailed around this land until we landed here, really. Thought it'd be a good place to avoid any humans, though it seems we've been discovered anyway." She'd chuckle, eyes drawn to Luna's sword. "So, Lunalel was it?" She'd flash a smile. "Care for a little duel?" Location: Hjrelskins Fall Paladin --- "Ah! Its a ice man!" "What's an ice man doing here?" "Ice man, Ice man, we'll play with ice man instead-" Elnith was in immediate agreement, charging in not far behind Ethelred. Blood red blade gleaming in the shady wood as she'd bring it down upon one of the creatures head. It'd nimbly disappear, almost as though it hadn't been there to begin with and ended up a few feet away before leaping towards Elnith with its large hands. "Hey you look like you're in pain. I can make you feel-ghhhk" "Nope!" Lugh leaping into the air, spinning once and slamming the spear down right on top of the Unseelie, smashing into the ground. Ethelred's lance would skewer one of the nearest ones easily, not having been able to react to the sudden, swift assault. "Wah, hey, are they playing with us instead?" "Aw, boring boring ow ow, it hurts!" The one that had been slammed into the ground said. "Hey hey, what are they doing here anyways?" "Who cares, run run~! A simple game of taggy?" "Catch us if you can ice man~!" And the small group would all proceed to run off after two of them had summarily been dealt with. Cowards that they were. The man would shakily get to his feet, holding his head slightly. "Urgh…thank the spirits for your timely intervention…" He was covered in a number of bruises and looked like he might have a few broken bones, but otherwise seemed fine. "Are you…travelers?" "Well…they fled rather easily…" Elnith frowned lightly. Location: —-------- -> Airedale Prison --- At being told that She'd be seeing her again, Ithica smiled sleepily, her ears perking up happily. "Please…don't keep me waiting." Were the final words of the goddess as Fio stepped back through the Arch. She'd be gone in seconds, so she wouldn't see the Goddess' smile fade, the realm itself slowly fading, too. The stars above darkening, slowly fading and twinkling out of existence. Only a cracked, blackened sky, a white floor and a broken castle, far, far, in the distance. She'd lay on the ground, ears drooping as a small puddle of water formed in front of her. She'd trace a thin, pale finger across its surface. --- Fio would find herself waking back up in the tub she had fallen asleep in. Soaked from head to toe in water, warding sigils completely faded and burned. Noticeably, she was extremely tired herself, her throat parched, and it was hard to tell exactly how long she had been out. Long enough for someone to be knocking on the door shouting something and asking if she was okay. "And here I thought Fomorians had a bad definition of consent but you witches always surprise me." The voice of Cethlann would greet her ears. Though she was still bound, blindfolded, and immobile otherwise, she had somehow managed to…somehow…remove the gag. Or at least tear it somehow. It looked like it had been ripped by something. "Hey, get me food. I'm starving or are you gonna just starve me to death?"</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- A slight grin played at the edges of Reinhardt's face as he rushed forward toward the oncoming attack; the sheer indignation in the voice of the previously haughty mage touching a cord of joy in the knight's stern heart. "But of course not milady--" Elias belted loudly as his hand short forth grabbing the diminutive magus; his feet twisting in a pivot to minimize loss of momentum as he continued barreling forth, "This lowly warrior couldn't imitate a shadow of your wit even if only hoping to mock it!" Noting that the tentacle seemed not to care whether it's summoner lived or died-- Reinhart's sprint launched in a low, powerful, somersault, landing into a slide; the mage held tightly to his chest, just in time to barely avoid the downward swing of the fleshy mass above. As his slide neared it's end, Reinhardt shoved the mage forward; sending the poor girl's butt skidding across the dirt; as far from the tentacle as he could get her. With a hard kick, the knight threw himself into a four-point stance; swiping a one-handed axe off the ground as his momentum shifted-- rushing to make a deep slash near to the tentacle's base!</s> <|message|>Ethelred "Yes, and they challenged us to pursue them," Ethelred added to Elnith's observation. "They might be trying to lure us into a trap. If so, we at least have some idea which direction to take to find their kin." Ethelred looked down at the man. The battle was quite brief, and the monsters didn't manage to put up much of a fight. Instead they had opted to flee, treating the entire thing like a game. It one of the reason that Ethelred didn't want to immediately pursue- those little plant creatures were too cheerful and enthusiastic about the prospect of being chased. The other reason was that they needed to help the Unseelie's victim. "After, of course, we assist this man. Might someone with warmer hands help him to his feet?" he requested, looking down at the traveler. He was lucky that the knights had come along. Even the lowliest of the Unseelie were cruel beings that delighted in causing others' suffering. He was bashed up a bit, but looked like he should be able to still walk. "We're knights of Queen Sorcha, come to deal with Unseelie activity in these woods," he answered, now addressing the man. "They've got the nearby village cowed with fear, and from what we've gathered, the fiends have been luring people into the woods with singing at night. Is there anything you can tell us about them that might help in rooting them out? And do you need help getting to safety?"</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch In spite of being surrounded by water, her throat felt dry. The protective sigils covering her body had done there job, but only barely. Her underclothing was soaked through, clinging to her body in a rather embarrassing fashion. Thankfully the only witness was blindfolded, and the person banging on the door hopefully wouldn't come barging through it. "I-I'm fine!" Her voice, unfortunately, didn't exactly convey that. Hoarse, and showing signs of her exhaustion, Fio stood up shakily, gulping in air. In spite of being completely soaked, she rather felt as if she needed a warm bath. The Goddess of the Deep Lake. The eye that had fixed upon her. There was much to think about. But more immediately, she had gained quite a bit of knowledge of the Fomorian and her interactions. The fact that she had been tied to the bizarre-three armed warrior, her name, the actions they'd been undertaking leading up to her capture... The Sword Witch took a deep breath. If only it didn't feel like her throat was so raw. She sighed. "You may be a Fomorian, but starving a prisoner is something only a monster would do," she said, stepping out of the tub. Her bare feet felt cold on the prison floor, all the moreseo due to the water coating her. She had to dry off and gather her clothing before the person outside barged in... "... You'll get something to eat, Cethlann," continued Fio, giving the bound Fomorian a sideways glance, "And maybe I'll pass on a request for a specific meal if you tell me just how you tore away that gag."</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- A slight grin played at the edges of Reinhardt's face as he rushed forward toward the oncoming attack; the sheer indignation in the voice of the previously haughty mage touching a cord of joy in the knight's stern heart. "But of course not milady--" Elias belted loudly as his hand short forth grabbing the diminutive magus; his feet twisting in a pivot to minimize loss of momentum as he continued barreling forth, "This lowly warrior couldn't imitate a shadow of your wit even if only hoping to mock it!" Noting that the tentacle seemed not to care whether it's summoner lived or died-- Reinhart's sprint launched in a low, powerful, somersault, landing into a slide; the mage held tightly to his chest, just in time to barely avoid the downward swing of the fleshy mass above. As his slide neared it's end, Reinhardt shoved the mage forward; sending the poor girl's butt skidding across the dirt; as far from the tentacle as he could get her. With a hard kick, the knight threw himself into a four-point stance; swiping a one-handed axe off the ground as his momentum shifted-- rushing to make a deep slash near to the tentacle's base!</s> <|message|>Ethelred "Yes, and they challenged us to pursue them," Ethelred added to Elnith's observation. "They might be trying to lure us into a trap. If so, we at least have some idea which direction to take to find their kin." Ethelred looked down at the man. The battle was quite brief, and the monsters didn't manage to put up much of a fight. Instead they had opted to flee, treating the entire thing like a game. It one of the reason that Ethelred didn't want to immediately pursue- those little plant creatures were too cheerful and enthusiastic about the prospect of being chased. The other reason was that they needed to help the Unseelie's victim. "After, of course, we assist this man. Might someone with warmer hands help him to his feet?" he requested, looking down at the traveler. He was lucky that the knights had come along. Even the lowliest of the Unseelie were cruel beings that delighted in causing others' suffering. He was bashed up a bit, but looked like he should be able to still walk. "We're knights of Queen Sorcha, come to deal with Unseelie activity in these woods," he answered, now addressing the man. "They've got the nearby village cowed with fear, and from what we've gathered, the fiends have been luring people into the woods with singing at night. Is there anything you can tell us about them that might help in rooting them out? And do you need help getting to safety?"</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch In spite of being surrounded by water, her throat felt dry. The protective sigils covering her body had done there job, but only barely. Her underclothing was soaked through, clinging to her body in a rather embarrassing fashion. Thankfully the only witness was blindfolded, and the person banging on the door hopefully wouldn't come barging through it. "I-I'm fine!" Her voice, unfortunately, didn't exactly convey that. Hoarse, and showing signs of her exhaustion, Fio stood up shakily, gulping in air. In spite of being completely soaked, she rather felt as if she needed a warm bath. The Goddess of the Deep Lake. The eye that had fixed upon her. There was much to think about. But more immediately, she had gained quite a bit of knowledge of the Fomorian and her interactions. The fact that she had been tied to the bizarre-three armed warrior, her name, the actions they'd been undertaking leading up to her capture... The Sword Witch took a deep breath. If only it didn't feel like her throat was so raw. She sighed. "You may be a Fomorian, but starving a prisoner is something only a monster would do," she said, stepping out of the tub. Her bare feet felt cold on the prison floor, all the moreseo due to the water coating her. She had to dry off and gather her clothing before the person outside barged in... "... You'll get something to eat, Cethlann," continued Fio, giving the bound Fomorian a sideways glance, "And maybe I'll pass on a request for a specific meal if you tell me just how you tore away that gag."</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "Tall, eyes like the clear blue sky and irritable?" Luna thought on that for a small bit. "Hmm..." Luna thought on that description for a bit. That sounded like her queen of course, though... The Queen seemed a bit more reasonable than that. Though... Well, it was hard to say. Rather, there was much she didn't know about Queen Sorcha. There were more than enough times that the woman was rather somber and it was hard to point at what exactly it was that made her so. "Airedale has it's eyes everywhere. We have some of the best working there. In fact, your description sounds a lot like our hardest worker, Queen Sorcha." Luna said proudly. "Let me show you that the Knights of her Majesty do not slack in their training!" She took a drink of her alcohol and set it down, taking out her sword and shield ready for a little bout. It would be an honor to be able to give a fight with a warrior from the elves.</s> <|message|>Lugh Location: Nids End --- "...Queen Sorcha?" The elf smiled ever so slightly. "I see, well, maybe she's the one maybe she's not. I can't say for certain unless I meet her." Sarah would smile, earning a cheer from the elves around them and the Fomorian laughed boisterously at the thought of watching another bout. "Alright, but I must tell you, I'm no slouch. With these two hands of mine, a demon that wished to burn our forest was slain. If that would still not deter you," Sarah would draw her blade, staking her shield on the ground. "Then let us start." Sarah wasted no more time. With supernatural speed almost completely invisible to Luna's eye the elf closed what distance there was between them, both hands gripped on her blade and thrusting forwards right towards Luna's throat. Location: Hjrelskins Fall Paladin --- "I see…I think I remember something about a Queen going around claiming the land…" The man replied with a sigh, motioning with his hands as Lugh came over to help him stand. "And no, its alright. I'm rather tired." He'd take a few quiet moments to gather his thoughts. "You have my thanks regardless. Yes, I'm aware of the village I'm actually from. I was cutting some wood, see, and I heard this beautiful voice asking for help, I think? I don't remember much, and next thing I know I'm being swarmed by those things and you happened upon me then." He'd take a seat on a nearby fallen log, rubbing his temples. "Did this happen…during the day?" Elnith questioned. "Yes, it happened just after sunrise." The man replied. "I vaguely remember…a large flower of some sort, but other than that, no, I don't remember much." "Haven't seen it." Lugh replied quickly. "I can't really point you in any direction, except maybe follow those flowers," The man said, getting to his feet. "And I think I'll head back to the village now. No need for an escort, I'll be fine…probably. S'long as the fey haven't replaced me with a changeling or something, haha." He'd rather darkly joke, before starting to walk off back towards the village. In the direction the little imps had ran, there was indeed what seemed to be some sort of abundance of flowers littered upon the ground. Multiple colored ones, some exotic and sweet smelling in their direction. These definitely weren't flowers that were common in most parts of albion… Location: Airedale Forests --- "Y-you're totally mocking me-aaaaah-owowowow!" And skid the mage did, across the forested ground and nearly face planting into a nearby tree. She'd fall over, rolling over face first onto the ground, her white robes completely covered in dirt and grass from the forest now. She'd get to her hands and feet, face red with barely contained rage as she'd turn towards Elias. "Haven't you ever heard to be gentle with a girls butt! Wait that sounds wrong-gah-you know what I mean you sword wielding beast!" The tentacle slammed into the ground, crushing the earth and grass beneath it as it'd immediately retract upwards in fear of seeming retaliation. The octopoid appendage, immobile as it was could not avoid the blow that Reinhardt struck forth with - the axe cutting a deep, long gash in its base and spewing blood all over the ground and Reinhardt himself. In retaliation, the tendril reached down, wrapping its mass around reinhardt in an attempt to crush him with its coils. Airedale Prison --- The voice from behind the door paused for a moment, seemingly in hesitation before it'd call back that if she needed anything, to only ask. It was probably just a simple guard that heard some commotion or otherwise had thought she had taken much too long. Still, perhaps it'd be a good idea to get dressed sooner rather than later. "Eeeeh? We're on a first name basis now? Pfft. And here I thought you didn't like me. Yes, I'm Cethlann. Your average every day little Fomorian." The fomorian responded with her usual grin. "And you are…Fio, yes? I believe I overheard it when we were traveling. Well, Fio, its a good thing you're not that queen of yours then, heh." Despite not being able to see or move terribly much still, the Fomorian was tracking the sound of Fio's movements with her head, slowly turning it to where her footsteps and voice were coming from. "Hmm, I could tell, I could not…to tell or to not, hm…I get some good food, I lose a secret." Cethlann seemed to tilt her head back and forth in thought. "Hmm, I think I'll pass. Besides, if you're a smarty little witch you'd already know."</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Perhaps it was childish, but after her experience in the dreamworld Fio's patience had worn quite thin. Scowling at the bound Fomorian, she dipped one dainty hand into the dub of water and scooped out out, splashing it directly at her. Not much of it even made it to Cethlann, most of it simply splashed on the floor. But it was enough to get her feelings across, and make her feel somewhat less irritated. "You bit through the gag," she said, flatly. It was obvious, but the small witch's mind had been elsewhere when she emerged from the pool and so she hadn't even considered it until she was reminded of just how sharp the Fomorian's teeth looked, "It wasn't particularly durable, so with teeth like yours it wasn't an issue. I guess you couldn't stand not being able to speak, could you?" Then again, she needed to eat as well. "I'm going to tell them to serve up whatever they feel like, then," she continued, before returning her attention to whoever was beyond the door. "The prisoner needs food!" she called, as loudly as she could manage when her throat was still sore, "But don't you dare come in until I tell you!" With her underclothes soaked, her insurance against someone barging in on her had become a liability. Left with no other options, she removed them and set them aside, thankful once again that the Fomorian was blindfolded and there was no way to see into the room from outside, before setting about to locate the nearest object she could dry herself off with.</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Fio gritted her teeth in frustration. She'd completely failed to account for her situation after getting out of the water. She could have brought something to dry herself off with, and a spare set of clothing. She hadn't done any of that. She'd bee so focused on her other preparations she hadn't even thought about it. And now she was left without any way of getting dry, aside from some old sacks, or... ... That really was the only option, wasn't it? The Sword Witch was only growing even more frustrated as she came to realize just how she was going to have to dry herself off. She didn't like it one bit, but she also couldn't sit in the prison, bereft of anything to wear, until someone slipped a towel and a change of clothes through the door. She was tired enough as it was, and there was no way she would admit to her situation to begin with. And so, the only dry article piece of fabric that wasn't her own clothing had to be acquired. Maybe that would shut the Cethlann up a bit. Make her share in the embarrassing experience. Once she had acquired the coat and used it to dry off, at least she could put on her dry clothing, sans underclothes.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- Reinhardt's smile froze on his face as the second half of the Mage's exclamation reached his ears. The Knight had gotten so caught up in the rush of a fight without stakes that he'd nearly forgotten why he'd come out here to isolate himself in the first place. Gone was the jovial smile from before; replaced by his usual stoic expression. "Better it be a second rate like me than anyone else..." he muttered under his breath. Elias' feet dug in as he faced the oncoming tentacle, his chest igniting with orange light as he gripped the hilt of his axe with both hands-- and meeting the tentacle with a downward swing!</s> <|message|>Lugh Location: Nids End --- The elf's wrist was caught, Luna barely managing to grab it before the weapon was brought to her neck. Sarah gave a mildly surprised grunt as Luna's head met hers, the impact of which caused her to stumble backwards just a bit, head swimming from the rough impact and shortly followed by a blow to her stomach from Luna's shield. "So you do have some tricks, huh." Sarah replied, barely managing to deflect Luna's sword, holding her sword with both hands beside her head, blade pointed towards the other knight. She was clearly on the defensive now, though how long that would stay so, remained to be seen. The elf in retaliation would attempt to side step around Luna, attempting to flank her with her speed. Location: Hjrelskins Fall Paladin --- "Ah the cat talked!" Lugh would exclaim as Luana made her presence known. Elnith's hand tightened on her blade, clearly wary of this feline beast as it began to speak, and only until it revealed itself as a human practitioner of druidcraft did her grip on the blood red blade relax a little. "Ah, the cat turned into a pretty lady!" Lugh would astutely observe, earning a soft bop on the head from Elnith. "A druid…out here…mhm, did you learn from the Tuatha?" Elnith would inquire, still a bit wary, shaking her head and declining the offer of earplugs. "My hearing is…far too good for those to be effective. I should be fine, for a while at least. My curse at least offers some resistance to other curses and spells." "Hmm…seems fine." Lugh nodded. "Not bad. Pretty lady is just pretty. Not Unseelie or Fomorian. Don't think earplugs work." He'd point to his large, fluffy ears. He'd need a lot of cloth for that. "But Sorcha says I should thank you for the offer so thank you." This, was about when their conversation would be interrupted. Not by unseelie or fomorian, or something else attacking them. But by a song. The entire forest went deathly quiet. An uneasiness settled over the air, birds that had been flying above fell from the skies near instantly, one falling to the ground near Ethelred as a few more could be seen falling in the distance, forced into a sleep while they were still flying. It was a mysterious, otherworldly noise. Whoever was singing, was singing something none could understand, but if it flowed like water but was dissonant as the grinding of stone. "...it hurts." Lugh winced. Every single one of their bodies, save for Luana would find themselves briefly turning in near unison towards deeper into the forest, an almost uncontrollable urge to follow overcoming them. Location: Airedale Forests --- The cephalopod tentacle slammed into Elia's legs, but in the same instance the axe was brought down onto its body. The axe cleanly swung through the flesh, cutting another deep gash into the writhing mass as it'd attempt to now coil around its leg…but that was all it could do. It shuddered, a wet squelching noise coming from it as it went momentarily rigid and then completely limp, falling to the ground and releasing the brief grip it had on Elias. Its body would turn translucent, before ultimately disappearing in little motes of light. "...haaa…" The mage relaxed now, shoulders slumping a bit as she'd pull herself to her feet, rubbing the back of her neck. "I suppose I should thank you." Airedale Prison --- "Eh, why aren't you saying anything? Fomorian caught your tongue?" Cethlann didn't seem cowed by Fio's silence. If anything it seemed to amuse her. "Come ooon, what's the matter? Surely you're gonna tell me? Eh? Why are you coming closer?" Those words had barely just left her mouth as Fio began, of all things disrobing her. "Eh?! Eh!? What are you doing!? Are you actually a high class witch?!" Cethlann would shriek, only confusing what exactly she thought a 'witch' should be even more as she'd struggle a bit in her bonds. "I'm a married woman you know! You'd do this to a married woman!?" Well, that was…information. Probably false, considering this was under duress and there was a high chance Cethlann was just messing with her. Still, this little show would continue as Fio managed to pull the Fomorian's coat off of her, the fabric surprisingly soft and extremely clean, and just the right size for Fio it seemed like. Cethlann herself was left red faced, and naked, aside from her own undergarments. This, would allow Fio to see the rest of her body. For the most part there was well, nothing of note. Save for a large, vertical scar that ran the length of her stomach. She could barely make out another, much larger scar on her back. "...I-if this is how you torture people I may have to rethink my opinion of your…witchiness." She'd grumble, seeming more like she was pouting than actually upset at the turn of events, though whether that made Fio feel better or not…remained to be seen.</s> <|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit "I was not pinged, probably because of the earplugs." — Luana Roycroft @Crimson Paladin Luana had mostly been addressing Ethelred, but the other knight and squire found time to interject with their own comments. If she heard Lugh comment on her beauty she made no attempt to acknowledge it. Elnith managed to catch the druid's attention when she asked about her teacher. "No!" She practically shouted her response. "I mean, maybe? Possibly? I don't know." She hugged her spear against her side. "Ever since I started my quest to find an elf, I've spent a lot of time in forests. Living in them, hunting in them, and once you become the forest's friend, it starts to talk to you!" She held her chin. "Or that was what I had assumed. Maybe the whispered instructions of the forest were actually a Tuatha who took interest in me. Maybe a distant admirer? But then why wouldn't they approach? Oh, maybe it was an elf!" But dreaming of such fantasies would have to wait.She offered makeshift earplugs to each of the knights. "Oh yea! I should have known you were too cool for that sort of thing." Her grin got just a bit bigger. "You're still not the coolest one here though." Lugh's refusal seemed to hurt her more, as she almost looked concerned. "Really? I mean, your ear canal can't be that wide, right?" She shrugged and grabbed a hold of her stocking. "I think I've got some more material here to shave off." But she wouldn't have time. Birds started to fall out of the sky, and Luana's new companions were drawn towards something. Cloth ear plugs weren't the best, but they seemed to do their job. She gave the knights a quick glance before correcting her posture and resting her spear on her shoulder. "I'll keep us safe." She remained behind the knights, ready to mirror their behavior. Their mark might know where they were, but had they anticipated one of them would be immune to their charms?</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "I'm not torturing you," protested Fio, already having to deal with enough of an awkward situation as it was without Cethlann's comments. Married? Obviously not even close to the truth. She tried not to glance in the Fomorian's direction, and used the outside of the jacket to dry herself as opposed to the inside. Leaving a prisoner to sit and grow increasingly cold without any form of clothing was torture, and even if said prisoner was a Fomorian it was wrong to do such a thing. So by using the outside of the jacket instead she could keep it from getting too wet. "What exactly do you think a witch is?" she complained. Why was this what Cethlann expected from a witch? What part of this situation screamed witch to the fomorian, exactly? What kind of experiences did she have with witches? Was that something she could have discovered if she went the other way in Cethlann's dreams? On second thought, perhaps she didn't want to know. The sight of the scar on the Fomorian's torso wasn't lost on Fio, and there was an even larger one on her back. Initially Fio assumed it was the result of self-experimentation, but it only took a few moments for the Sword Witch to realize why that didn't make much sense. Cethlann had not endured her own pain particularly well. While she'd like to assert that it wasn't important, there was every possibility it was. "I-in any case, I certainly learned some interesting information," Fio added, doing her best to not directly reveal anything she had learned yet and try and keep her mind off of the general awkwardness of the situation. The three-armed Fomorian was associated with Cethlann, and on top of that the latter had been getting pressure for results from another party. She'd have to investigate more, when she was able. She tossed the jacket back onto the Fomorian and set about retrieving her own clothing. Certainly her undergarments were soaked, but the rest of her clothing wasn't. Soon enough, she was adjusting her hat back in place.</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "Well, Sucaria, I don't want to set traveling again without proper rest. What say we spend the night here with the elves and set out at first light?" Luna asked her maid. As much as she would prefer to set the maid's mind at ease, while she healed from these wounds, she didn't quite want to set out with no rest. "If it makes you feel better, you can stay close tonight in case something happens." With that, Luna had made up her mind and the two would head back to Sarah and the elves. "Would you all mind if we rested here with you all for the night before heading out then? I think I could join in on the storytelling bit though I think I might need to hold off on the drink." Luna mentioned, wanting to stay fully sober to put Sucaria at ease. Luna grinned a small bit, "I have plenty of my own to tell, though I don't know how they'll compare to your own." It was almost as much a challenge as it was an admittance.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Still clutching the pillow tightly to her slim, petite frame, Fio didn't move to prevent Sir Vyrell's departure, instead glaring at a space on the wall irritably as she lay on the bed. That stupid, stupid Sorcha. After all that effort she put in, she couldn't even be here... Under most circumstances, Fio Fan Falisse would never have considered ever falling asleep in Sorcha's bed. Doing so was tantamount to surrender. To allowing all sorts of misfortune to befall her. It was, to put it simply, placing herself in needless danger. However, the exhaustion that had overtaken her after the experience in Cethlann's dream was impossible to ignore. As she gripped the pillow tighter, her eyelids began to grow heavier, dropping as her glare became less focused. Indeed, it seemed everything was catching up to the Sword Witch as she lay on the Queen's exquisitely, extremely comfortable bed. Her resistance to falling asleep was rapidly crumbling. At least, until something cut through her exhaustion. She caught sight of the tiny figure fluttering through the window, commenting to herself entirely obliviously as she fluttered over to the plates. Trash queen. Prank. Fio was certainly angry with Sorcha, but at the same time she was in her service. This was a matter of pride. "Sura, spectral swords. Bar the exit." The blade shimmered into view, and with a wave the window was promptly blocked by the glowing blue form of multiple blades interlocking to create a barrier. "A prank, unseelie? You were going to prank her?" she commented, placing the pillow to the side and rising to her fee. Perfect. There was no escape from the room, and she had someone to take her frustration out on. Someone who unquestionably deserved it. "I think you're the one who invited a little bit of pranking."</s> <|message|>Lugh Location: Nids End --- The elves were busy carousing, one was dancing a rather entrancing, flowing dance around the flames and Sarah was busy regaling the elves of the tale of some far off battle with a demon. A ferocious battle, where all she had was the great shield she was carrying, and the well wishing and training of her teacher that left shortly before. She was mid sentence when Luna returned with Sucaria. "Oh? By all means, having someone else familiar with these lands telling stories would be appreciated!" Sarah replied with a friendly grin. "Come on, you start then. I can finish mine later." Sucaria would stand pensively next to Luna, seemingly still uncomfortable but acquiescing to Luna's commands. Curiously the cyclopean fomorian could be caught casting a few glances towards the maid, but he didn't seem to say much or do anything aside from join the elves in their carousing, challenging a few of the elves to arm wrestling contests or other shows of strength. Eventually though, as the night wore on the elves would turn in one by one. Sarah was completely smashed by the end of the night as they say, and had at various points in the festivities ended up leaning and falling on Luna, earning more than a few cool glares from the maid before said maid also helped carrying her off to her tent to prevent further incidents. It was in the middle of the night, after Luna and everyone had fallen asleep would Luna be woken by a somewhat familiar voice. "Oi, human. Get up." It was the fomorian. He was leaning against a rock wall, seemingly sharpening a few sticks of large pieces of wood into spears. "I'll smack ye if I have too, on yer feet. That maid of yours needs some help." He'd gruffly reply. "Elder Beast out there's being ornery tonight. Her fomor blood is listening." It was true, Sucaria didn't seem to be anywhere. Up on the hill at the top of the rocky shoreline she could see little motes of yellowish light over it. Location: Hjrelskins Fall, Forest Paladin@BrokenPromise --- Elnith deftly avoided the slow, cumbersome tree, having been a distance from it to start with made it easy for her to avoid most of the blow as she'd avoid the hefty blow. Lugh fared slightly worse, being knocked on his feet from the impact and tumbling across the ground a bit…and giving the little Unseelie the perfect opportunity to swarm him. "Aw, they wanna be new friends!" "Garden~garden~" "Cut and prune the flowers~" "Until they are done~" Lugh growled, quickly rolling along the ground, avoiding one of the creature's claws and jumping to his feet, but one leaped into the air and latched around his head and neck, proceeding to viciously claw and rip at his hair and head. The tree would slowly try setting up from where it had fallen - only for Luana to grab it with her hands and proceed to well, quite effectively peck it. "Ah~ah! Oh that tickles!" The tree giggled as Luana's head viciously began hollowing a hole in the tree's bark. "Oh, but…I don't think its ready! I'm a tree! Still a tree! Can't be something else!" Luana would feel the branches wrap around her, swiftly yanking her off of the tree and tossing her away, and towards a group of the ravenous little plants. There was however, now a fairly deep, sizable hole in the tree's bark. Green sap was leaking from its body now, and the tree would turn its attention towards Ethelred and Elnith, the initial crack had almost completely extended from the creatures base to its top, along with the hole, the thing was nearly falling apart. Some of the things roots were still trying to pry itself apart, for some reason, but it also had significantly slowed down. "No you don't!" Elnith swung her sword, the blade bonking the one trying to get Lugh off and sending it to the ground, earning a huff from the youth and a thankful nod. His face was pretty badly scratched, but otherwise he seemed fine. "Any ideas, Ethelred?" "I'll carry an axe next time." Lugh commented, readying his own weapon. They likely needed to finish this fairly quick or find a way to deal with the small pixies before they were overwhelmed entirely. Queens Quarters --- "Okyaaa?!" The little fairy immediately did a 180, wings fluttering in a panic as she'd shout in surprise, somehow, having been completely oblivious to Fio. She initially seemed like she was ready to bolt, but upon seeing the diminutive witch, the Fairy's posture relaxed slightly, a look of mild annoyance forming on her face before her mouth turned upwards into a grin. "Ahaha, its a human child." She'd laugh. "A teeny tiny itsy bitsy human child! Ahaha, like I'm scared of a pint sized child that's barely bigger than me!" The pixie derisively cackled. "For annoying me, I'll guess I'll curse you instead!" The pixie raised her warped, twisted hand. She was certainly building up magic, though Fio couldn't say what for. In fact, she could barely detect any magic at all! Was it because the fairy was too powerful for her to feel? No, in fact, it was quite the opposite. This fairy, was so incredibly weak she'd barely be a threat to anyone. The curse would probably be an inconvenience at best for a few minutes, whatever it was if she was allowed to finish.</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch ". . ." She was tired. She was already irritated. That was enough to make this stupid little fairy's intrusion even more aggravating then it would have been otherwise. But then the useelie opened her brainless little mouth. And she spoke. And the words she said... Had she come here with a desire for punishment? Was this unseelie a twisted mashochist who wanted to suffer? Perhaps that explained her behavior. Fio's left eye twitched as she watched the utterly pathetic display of the fae's attempt to curse her. She could barely even detect it, it was such a weak buildup of magic that it might not have even existed. What was it going to do? Turn the tips of her hair purple? Give her a minor cough? Whatever the case, she wasn't about to give this idiot the satisfaction of a successful curse. "Moonlit Shine," she said, in a casual, noncommittal manner as she put only the barest amount of mana into applying a ward to herself. It wasn't necessary, really, given how weak the curse would almost certainly be, but it was a perfect demonstration of the distance between the two of them. The only sign it had been cast was a brief blue-white light that flowed across Fio's body, before she simply reached out to grab the unseelie from the air. "A child? That's what you called me. A child," she said, wrapping her slender fingers tightly around the tiny fae's small body, "You're not talking to a child, you total idiot!" Placing her free hand to her chest, Fio continued. "I am Fio Fan Falisse, and I am going to make you remember that name, you brainless little moron! You absolute fool. Maybe you secretly wanted to be be punished, and that's why you came here?!" As she spoke, her free hand left her chest and sharply prodded the unseelie's cheek. By this point, the seething fire within her heart had completely overpowered her physical exhaustion. The Sword Witch was utterly livid. This stupid unseelie came here first intending to curse the Queen and then her, and yet she was that week? She was that utterly stupid? And so dumb she thought she was a child on top of that? She was perfectly mature! Perfectly adult! Who would ever make that mistake!? Only an idiot! That's just how stupid this unseelie was! "I have not had the best day recently, and lo and behold, a pathetic little ignoramus whose magical power is so low she couldn't curse a frog has decided to volunteer herself to help me let my stress out! If she's stupid enough to call me a child, I can't tell if it's idiocy or masochism that made her decide to help out!"</s>

<|description|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch * Age: 20 * Gender: Female * Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this. * Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects. Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities. * History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be? * Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.</s> <|message|>Ethelred The Unseelie's demise was a victory, for sure. However, when it uttered an apology to its mother, Ethelred found himself taking and holding its emergent hand as it expired, somewhat touched by its sorrowful last words. "If you loved her, perhaps the goddess will consider it when you are judged," he spoke softly, unsure if the Unseelie held on long enough to hear his words. Following his foe's death and the retreat of the other Unseelie, he headed over to the others. Poor Lugh was dinged up a little and smelled awful, but that was the worst of it. Elnith had avoided injury, but the newcomer- the druid- had been unfortunate enough to be under the tree when it fell, yet seemed barely fazed by it. In fact, she was invigorated, and even willing to continue the fight despite having just taken a blow that could've killed a person. He certainly couldn't question her fortitude. "Yes, I have questions," he responded. "It's not every day we meet someone whom being crushed under a tree doesn't even slow them down. Where are you from, and where did you learn your magic?" Someone of her magical skills could be useful to Sorcha's cause, if she was willing. If not, she could still be a very useful contact and ally. "And, err, I don't suppose you know any any magic that can get the smell out of Lugh, do you?"</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "..." Fio wordlessly turned, still gripping the tiny unseelie in her hand. At first she was checking over the mess in the room, looking for anything that would serve suitable for her goal. A jar, a bit of twine, some cloth... Thankfully, all these things didn't seem particularly difficult to find. As much as the Queen's room was completely unkempt, at least it that meant you could find virtually anything you needed in there. What was she even doing with the jar? Regardless, she now had her method of punishment. The unseelie was unceremoniously dumped into the jar. Before she could do much of anything, Fio had already placed the clothe over the opening and secured it with the twine, ensuring that the diminutive fae would have no way of breaking out from the inside. Just as an added measure, she put a small amount of magical power into the cloth, reinforcing it to ensure it couldn't be torn through from within. "And now I've shown you to your room, unseelie," she commented, sitting on the bed and holding the jar in both hands. "Is it comfortable? Do you need some furniture? Maybe I'll consider it if I get an apology." After a few moments, a new question rose in the Sword Witch's mind. "... Just what are you doing here in the first place, unseelie?"</s> <|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit "I am speed." — Luana Roycroft Paladin@Rune_Alchemist "Crushed?" Luana chuckled. "No, I was not 'crushed.' I was fortunate that my body partially dropped into a void where the tree had been rooted. I assure you I'd have crushed down quite flat if your mark had fallen on me directly. As it were, I think I've cracked a few ribs. Moving is uncomfortable, but the adrenaline hasn't worn off yet." Her grin only widened. "Not to dodge your question, of course. For the longest time I made my home in the outskirts of Lymensari forest. Before that I lived in a small town to the east of Harzelslack called Gillia. The Roycroft name belongs to a long line of Gillian hunters. They didn't care if they had daughters or sons, that was our life calling before we left the womb. The last person you'd expect to know any form of spell craft, right?" She drew her spear and stood beside Ethelred. "During a hunting expedition, we chased a wild animal into Lymensari forest. I was saved by some elves, and one of them left me this spear. Endless Eclipse use to speak to me a long time ago. It was my teacher for my druidcraft, but now it just shows me things." If Ethelred cared to look towards the blade on the spear. he might have seen Sorcha looking back at him. "Do you see her? I originally came to Hrelskins' Fall because of the fey. I've always wanted to meet an elf, you see. I figured they might know a trick. But my spear wants me to meet this woman. I have to confess, my spear has shown me images of you with her. This is the first time we've met, but not the first time I've seen you. I apologize if your relationship with that woman is different than how I saw it. My spear is unable to do more than show images. I've never heard her voice and have no context for what I see. Your helmet has made your interactions with her hard to read." She tucked the spear behind her back. "I'm afraid turning into animals and accelerating growth is about all I can do with my magic." She huffed. "Which is why we need a tomato so that I can make a remedy for him." Luana pointed back towards town. "So let us return! Such things do not grow in areas like this. We will have to procure what we need from the market!"</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword As the two made their way up the hill, Luna was at a little bit more than brisk pace. She had considered the worst but was pleasantly surprised that Sucaria was just standing at the top of the hill, transfixed on the shoreline below. Looking toward where the girl was looking, Luna joined in gazing towards an oddity on crawling along with a Fomorian entourage. It was a terrifying sight, realistically, even so far away. The tide could have easily swept her and Sucaria up if it wanted. As she looked on, horrified by what she was witnessing, the cyclopian formorian spoke. Informing her as to what they were seeing. Ollipheist. A beast. "An Elder Beast?" She had heard rumors, perhaps, of an Elder Beast this way but she had never really put much consideration into it. "One that can control an army of Fomorians is... Do the Elves know just how close they were to this?" The Knightess asked before turning her attention back to her maid. Frowning, Luna was worried of what Sucaria might do in such a state. Perhaps because she was only part Fomorian she could resist it to an extent. Concerned, Lady Lightsword trotted over to Sucaria and swept her up like a bride on her wedding day. "Sucaria?" She questioned as she walked back towards the one-eyed fomorian. "Snap out of it." An order seeded by worry.</s> <|message|>Lugh Location: Nids End --- "Hah…this lot? Not a bit." The Cyclops responded with a derisive chuckle. "Not that they care, they seem more bloodthirsty then the elves I know. They'd probably welcome the challenge. Odd, for Lymensari elves." "...nhn?" Sucaria only responded briefly, head still locked towards the enchanting, golden flames of the beast below as she was swept off her feet. It wasn't until Luna had turned away did she seemingly come back to a bit of her senses. "...Lady Luna…have you seen my heart? I think someone might have taken it…" The cyclopes let out a loud laugh at that before stifling himself. "...thank you. That thing was…saying something. I couldn't stop listening…" Sucaria frowned. "...Mistress can I sleep with you the rest of the night?" Location: Hjrelskins Fall, Forest Paladin@BrokenPromise --- "T…tomatoes?" Lugh questioned, wondering why he would need to eat such a yucky vegetable…fruit? For getting the skunk smell out. Elnith remained mostly silent, looking across the now dead, hollow fallen trunk that had served as the Unseelies body. A brief melancholic prayer was offered, but she'd soon turn her attention back toward her companions and the newcomer. "I do believe its a remedy for that smell of yours." Elnith replied. "A pleasure to meet you. Elnith, though you may have heard of me. The boy here is Lugh." She'd introduce herself and Lugh, giving the Tuatha a pat on the head, rubbing his ears. "The village we passed might have some tomatoes at the market or whatever general goods store they might have if any, but we shall see. It isn't far." Suddenly, Lugh would perk his ears up, quietly glancing away from the group towards the forest. He'd frown, furrowing his brow briefly before shaking his head and turning back to the group. "...does it have to be tomatoes…?" Lugh frowned. "" Location: Airedale Forests Queens Quarters --- "W-wa-wait I didn't mean it!" The unseelie shouted as she realized what Fio was up to. Unfortunately, the small pixie lacked any sort of physical or magical strength in order to prevent herself from being tossed into fairy prison. While it was a question as to why the queen had these things in the first place (though it smelled faintly of some sort of fruit) it ultimately didn't matter. "Rudeness! Unforgivable!" She would immediately, however, start shouting about how this was the greatest sin in the world. "Do you have any idea what I'll do to you! I'll curse you so your hair is always messy! Or your eyebrows to fall off! I will I mean it!" She'd shout, pressing her hands against the glass cage she had been put in. "And I'm a fairy! I go where I want! Its not like I'm here to observe this backwater village. I'm just here to ya know…do fairy things. Like cursing someone's underwear to mysteriously be soiled or make someone's water taste like sand." The Fairy glanced around the room, eyes falling on the bed and then on Fio. "...hehe, hey, maybe you should let me go before Miss Queenie comes back and I tell her your...secrets!" What those secrets were, the fairy didn't seem keen on elaborating.</s>

<|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Ah yes, I'm sure you know so many secrets of mine you can share," Fio commented with an idle wave of her hand, one eyebrow raised. The little unseelie's threats didn't phase her in the least. She'd already seen the full extent of the fey's capabilities and to call them lacking would be an understatement. She could dispel such curses with her eyes closed, if they even managed to reach her. "After all, you've clearly been observing me for some time, given how you didn't know my name and you thought I was a child," she continued, tilting the jar from side to side as she spoke, intent on keeping the fairy off-kilter, "I'm so afraid of what deep knowledge you must have of me, you're such a genius spy I never even realized. It was almost like you weren't there at all." Even this little idiot would have to be able to pick up on the sarcasm dripping from Fio's voice. "... In any case, if you've been hanging around here that frequently... well, I suppose you could just be causing mischief, but I might as well make sure," the Sword Witch gave the fairy in the jar a smirk. The unseelie had earned every single moment of this punishment. "Even if you're not, you're clearly bothering people, so I don't think I'm going to be letting you out."</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- Reinhardt let out a quiet sigh as he made his patrol about the southern rampart. He'd been been at Airedale a bit over a month at this point and the most action he'd seen was dealing with a single case of petty theft. It was much more peaceful here than it was back home. Though it was admittedly rather boring at times... It wasn't bad. The knight paused his patrol, closing his eyes as he inhaled the cool breeze that drifted over the side of the wall; the barest smile playing at the edges of his lips. The frantic ring of a bell shattered the silence. It took Reinhardt only a moment to identify the source of the sound. "North gate, eh?" he muttered, unhooking his helm from his waist and affixed it neatly atop his head as he jumped down onto the streets below. With all haste, the man would quickly arrive at the North gate, sword drawn and chestplate alight with a dim orange glow. Taking quick note of his surroundings, Reinhardt stepped out the gate and stealthily lowered himself into the tall grasses that bordered the Northern wall. To face an enemy you could see coming was one thing, but to but set upon suddenly by a foe strong enough to cleave grown men in half? That kind of thing had the power to make most men turn tail and flee the moment organs started flying. And thus Reinhardt would wait, creeping forward ever so slowly-- eagerly waiting to receive the first of the bandits' assault force.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Doesn't it feel like something's about to happen? Doesn't it!? Doesn't it?!" The doll's pale hair bounced as she jumped up and down in place. "... I suppose, but I'm not sure why you're so excited," commented the blonde doll, glancing over her shoulder, "Just because something's going to happen doesn't mean it's going to be good. We should be on guard." Before the first doll could reply, the other, sitting opposite on the desk, faced away from the blonde doll, spoke up, brushing her white hair back. "On guard? Perhaps that's a good idea for someone as pathetic as you, but I am always ready to pierce any target that Mistress requires me to," she commented with a chuckle, a smirk on her lips. "Hmph." The blonde doll glared over her shoulder. "Sitting there and bragging doesn't help, either." The first doll's shoulders sagged. This was no good at all... --- The girl took a deep breath. The timing was crucial. Magic was not simply a matter of desiring something. It was a matter of knowing how to go about obtaining that desire. Only a fool would think you could practice magic with wishful thinking. Knowledge, too, was required. Knowledge of conditions, of one's own limits, of one's surroundings, of the manner in which a given spell was cast. She brushed her hair lengthy purple hair back, pointing the sword skywards. Her appearance was almost like that of a child. Indeed, there were few who would be able to tell the difference, given her short stature and youthful looks, even on close inspection. But she was Fio Fan Fallise, the Sword Witch. And she was going to ensure her practice went off without a hitch. Was it important in the grand scheme of things? Perhaps not. But timing this spell to the first rays of sunlight was important. It was utility-based, but involved specific locations of the stars and the sun. Not her usual forte, perhaps, but in terms of battlefield analysis it could allow much longer-ranged attacks. Launching an attack from across an entire battlefield would become possible. Even without being able to see the enemy, if she could target them using this spell then she wouldn't need to see them. But why was she doing this in the first place? To assist the Queen? Fio wasn't completely certain. She wasn't even completely certain she was even who she claimed she was. But at the same time, there was nothing wrong with expanding her repertoire. If she practiced this spell enough, she wouldn't necessarily require this specific timeframe as long as she had enough awareness of the locations of certain celestial bodies... Now it was time to begin. She pointed the blade skywards, taking a deep breath. She would begin casting- "Mistress!" Only for the voice of one of her dolls to completely break her focus. "..." Fio lowered the sword with a heavy sigh. "... What." It wasn't a question so much as a statement. A rather flat one. "Er..." Tirani hesitated, "Mieka and Kukkuro are fighting again..." Fio brought her palm to her face. Seriously? Tirani interrupted her for this!? They were always fighting! They never got along even once! What did she expect?! "You seriously-" And then there was another interruption. A far more important one. The ringing of bells. The city was under attack. "... Go back home, Tirani, and tell Mieka and Kukkuro." She had to get to the walls. Even if she wasn't certain about the Queen's identity, she was certain that she wouldn't let a single attacker through.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword The tavern had a number of customers despite the time of day. Early morning before the first rays of the morning sun shone upon the land. A small group was gathered around a table with mead in their hand. "Another quiet night. Good job, everyone!" A female voice cheered, Lady Lunalel Lightsword. "I believe they won't fault us for a round." There was a small cheer from all the others that came with her as they raised their drink high with a nice cheer. "Three cheers for Her Majesty!" Luna cheered, leading to the cheers before everyone took their drink. Luna was out drinking with the soldiers a lot. Perhaps a little too much, truthfully, though she didn't have much issue with the typical effect of drinking alcohol. As everyone finished their first drink, most decided one was enough, just incase. But not Luna of course. "Another round for me!" She called out to the bartender who had already started preparing a second round for her. A waitress, or, perhaps, the only one that was working at such a time, came around quickly with a second one. She took a little bit longer to drink this second one so she could actually savor the flavor of the mead. The city made a wonderful mead that she could only really hope to get back home by traveling merchants. "Another!" She called out. One of the soldiers with her looked on in disbelief. "She's going for another?" "She can hold her drink pretty damn well." Another said with a shrug. "She's also fine after she wakes back up, no hang over or anything." "I told you, House Lightsword has the blood of Giants. It's what lets me drink as much as I want!" Lunalel smiled as her third drink arrived, "My, do I need to regale you on the story of House Lightsword?" She asked with a wide smile. "Lady Luna, I think we heard it at least twice through out the night. You can enjoy the drink." Said one of the soldiers that had heard it more than that since the Lady of House Lightsword had come to the city. Luna sighed, "Fine, fine." She took the new drink in her hand and took a gulp. The conversation went on for a while until they heard a worrying sound. "Bells?" One of the soldiers hopped up, "Y-yes! Warning bells!" He just confirmed Luna's thoughts as they all looked at each other, nodded, and stood. They gathered their arms and headed out of the pub. The soldier looked at the barkeep and gave a small shout, "Put it on the tab of Lady Luna here!" The barkeep gave a small smile and nodded. "Hey! You better pay your own!" Luna exclaimed as they all piled out the door and started to head towards the north gate where the noise was coming from. Soon they were stopped by a familiar face. A Tuatha youth, Lugh, who informed them where to head to. Then Luna. She needed to head to collect the Queen. She nodded and agreed. Of course the Queen would want to be here for this. After telling the soldiers not to get hurt, she turned and headed towards where the Queen should be if no one had seen her this morning, her chambers. It wasn't too difficult to get there as she soon found herself in front of Her Majesty's room and gave a knock. "Your Majesty!" She didn't hear a reply in a quick enough time, that is to say, in the matter of two seconds. She threw open the doors and entered. She didn't mind if the Queen punished her for this action but she was needed at the ramparts. "Queen Sorcha, you're need at the gates. The town is under attack."</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Od. Od She withdrew her blade from the body of a man, blood slaking the blades of grass, before looking up to see what had become of the battlefield. Ever fewer bandits remained on the field, most of the remaining kills being hers with the horseman having departed to confront the archers who laid in the woods. It was risky of him to go at it alone given what she already had seen but her worries would have to wait as an even greater foe approached. A tuathan man riding atop some sort of elder beast approached and at speed. The mammoth beast's were armored and thickly too. She worried that her blade wouldn't pierce deep enough to disable the legs if she tried to slash through and trading a non-lethal cut for an opportunity for it to trample her wasn't going to weigh in her favor. Instead she looked to considering her means of taking out the beast from the top. While it's head may have been armored by some form of crystalline protection the same might not be true for it's back. It was also being directed by it's rider. If she could take him out that might leave the beast aimless which would make it easier to goad away from the castle walls. In any which case she needed to get on top somehow. There was one way immediately available to her if his impressive strength continued to hold true. "Throw me!" She shouted back to Reinhardt, pointing up at the rider upon the great beast's back. She quickly sprinted to his side then pivoted, facing the beast rider as he charged for the gates and, consequently, them. Her focus was steeled, her muscles tight like a well wound spring. If the missing eye or chunk of her neck was bothering her any then it wasn't visibly clear to anyone onlooking. Her sense of duty superseded feelings of pain or fear for her own safety. In the name of the queen no threat to her lands would stand, no matter how tall. _ @Rune_Alchemist</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred Ethelred raised his shield, narrowly deflecting the arrow fired by the woman. There was considerable force the arrow as evidenced by the impact he could feel through the shield and the loud clang it made when it struck. If he had to guess, this markswoman was probably the one who shot him before with such precision, and the one calling the shots (literally) for this band of archers. She might pose a challenge, but the other bandits were as good as dead if the knight chose to attack. He needed to get this fight over with quickly, because something had just entered the battle in the field, something that Ethelred had not caught a glimpse of. He had been able to hear it and feel the rumbling, though. Whatever it was, it sounded like a formidable foe. Curiously, the woman before him didn't look like an ordinary brigand. She was well-dressed in fine, expensive-looking clothing, nothing like any of the other bandits that Ethelred had seen. Her bow, in addition to being of higher quality than the other bandits' bows, looked like it was magical. Quite an unusual person to be mingling with brigands. She certainly isn't hurting for wealth. Perhaps she was a commander, but her words were those of a subordinate, not a leader. A lieutenant, perhaps. Her words to him sounded more like a resignation to the imminent fight, rather than a serious attempt to parlay. At the same time, however, she didn't sound pleased, and judging by what Ethelred had overhead prior, she didn't want to be here. It might be dangerous to allow her to walk away, but if he could resolve this without violence, it'd leave more time to help the other knights with whatever he had felt and heard rumbling out into the field. "You'd be surprised," Ethelred replied to the woman. "Contrary to my appearance, I am not cold-hearted. Thus I offer you and your friends a deal- run along. Depart from this battle. Go home and get pampered. Live to see another sunset." Ethelred stared at each of the other bandits, as if to emphasize this last part to them. To further drive home of how unwise it'd be to fight him, he channeled his powers of frost, causing a small layer of ice to form on the nearby leave, branches, and brush. If any of the bandits got closer, they'd notice the temperature had dropped measurably around the knight. "The Queen is carrying out a great work here," he continued. "We are restoring order and driving back the curse. Those who become her subjects will prosper under her protection. Those who oppose her will fall. And when the battle is concluded, I strongly suggest that you reassess your choice in occupation, and consider the benefits of being the Queen's friend rather than her enemy." Ethelred stared in the woman's direction, ready to charge if she reached for another arrow.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Now that she was on the ground, Luna noticed that the enemy was already in rough shape all things considered. Half of their visible numbers were already wiped out by her allies which bode well for their cause... Though the thudding footsteps of some, then unseen, beast set her unease on end. As it came into view, she watched on in awe. The beast was massive. It was taller than Luna and was heavy enough to tremble the earth with each step. She'd love to take on the beast, but it might get difficult with the other twenty or so bandits still milling about the field. Od seemed to have some plan with Reinhardt and Fio would definitely be able to do some damage to the beast, so the Lady of Lightsword set her sight on the brigand infantry. Lunalel drew her sword and charged at the group of bandits. Luckily, their retreating helped put the lot closer together so it was easier to remove them. Soon enough, she reached the first of her targets. Or, rather first two of her targets. They watched as she closed. One attempted a swing of his sword and the other tried to thrust at her as she closed in. She swung her shield up hard enough repel the blow and throw the swinging bandit off balance before quickly sidestepping to dodge the thrust. Her sword arm swung, delivering a deep wound across the off balanced one's chest. As his friend fell from his wound a few seconds after receiving it, the thrusting bandit tried to take advantage Luna not looking directly at him by going on the offensive. He swung at the female knight and found his sword parried and the knight's own sticking through his chest soon after. "Two down..." Luna mentioned to herself as she retracted her weapon from the bandit's chest. She gave a small sigh to herself and looked at the rest of the bandits. She shook her sword clean and sheathed it. Then, in her hand, she created another javelin. She was a lot closer to the bandits than from the wall to the forest... and hopefully no interference from whatever ate her magi. Up last time... So she was confident she would hit. She lined up her shot and lobbed it. The missile flew and hit one of her enemies. It pierced through his back and out through his chest. The man fell to his knees and slumped to the ground with the javelin dissipating before he finally made it to the ground. With a loud voice, Luna exclaimed, "Face me, brigands! If you want to live, you'll need to truly win this day. Fight me like men, or die like animals!" There was some small amount of menace in Luna's voice as she taunted the bandits. Either they'd attack her or ran and either was a win for Luna today.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "Understood, My Queen!" Luna exclaimed as she watched the bandits attempt to flee for their lives. She raised her hand and created a half dome barrier at the front of them. "Alright. You have one. Final. Chance. You choose your punishment. Either surrender yourselves to my custody and live to see another day. Hell, you might see your family again if you have one." There was only one real way out asides bashing their way through the barrier. "If you resist, I will kill you where you stand." She gave them a rather sinister looking smile. "If you do surrender yourself, you'll be treated humanely. In fact, I will give you a chance at a better life than banditry. Our Queen is just that kind." Her smile faded, however, as she then looked over them. "However, if you refuse... I will show you no mercy." The Knightess took some steps forward, as she glared at the men in front of her. If these were the last of the bandits, she'd be able to handle them easily enough. "If you will surrender, throw down your arms and move over there. Sit and put your head down to the ground. Or lay down. It doesn't matter much to me." Lunalel would keep an eye the bandits, ready to rush the ones not surrendering the second they would move toward her. If their morale was bad enough to break, they would be easy to finish off.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Perfect. The mammoth was down. Now all she had to do was make sure it wouldn't be able to get back up again. "Summon: Binding Blades," Fio said, thrusting her sword into the air, towards the fallen beast. The air around the catalyst gave off a low hum, as light traveled up its edge, flickering and building for a few moments. She didn't need to kill the creature in this situation, and that wasn't the desired outcome anyway. The air above the elder beast flashed with the same light that now surrounded the witch's weapon, a circle of light spreading from its origin point, before suddenly dispensing a stream of blades down at the mammoth. Rather then cutting through flesh, however, these blades instead caused no physical harm as they phased into the creature's body. Rather, the beast would find itself unable to move, as if it had been pinned to the ground by dozens of swords. The only sensation it would feel was a mild, unpleasant tingle where each blade had struck. @A Lowly Wretch@Guy0fV4lor</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- @A Lowly Wretch@VitaVitaAR@Pyromania99 As the beast fell-- it's rider leapt high; the Tuatha's axe raised high as he seemed intent on targeting right beside Reinhardt. The knight grit his teeth as he clenched his hand tightly around a gravelly bit of soil; tension building in his thighs as he prepared to dodge the incoming attack... But the strike would never come, the queen herself parrying the blow-- and issuing an order to subdue the beast, rather than kill it. A low grunt escaped Reinhardt's lips as he'd launch himself up and onto the wall, barking an order at the nearest militiaman, "You. Toss me a rope." With but a moment's hesitation, the militiaman tossed the knight a bundle of thick woven rope, and with rope in hand Reinhardt leapt down the wall, sprinting toward the Mammoth once more. Though his comrades had already done much to bind the creature-- it was still fighting it's restraints. With a concise, swift motions the knight wrapped the rope about the beast's neck, and with an end in each hand, he placed his feet atop it's head and pulled with all his might!</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Airedale Mid-morning Airedale Fields --- Lowly Wretch@VitaVitaAR@Guy0fV4lor@Pyromania99 --- "I suggest you lay down your weapon and run back to whatever hole you crawled out of." Sorcha would say to the red-haired Tuatha, low, rumbling tone. "Your force is already routed and your trump card has been dealt with. Any more fighting is just going to be humiliation for you. Or do you care that little for the lives of yourself and those who follow you?" "Tch, what do you know, miss high-and-mighty? You look exactly like the sorta stuck-up bitch that doesn't know the meaning of what its like to survive out there." He would rush towards Sorcha, the hefty axe swinging through the air. The queen deftly avoiding it, only to strike with her own blade and have it barely parried by the young man. "Heh, is that so? Looks can be deceiving, but fine...if you insist on continuing in futility, I shall grant you your request." While the queen would continue to parry with the bandits leader, it left the others free to do their assigned tasks. While Luna's barrier would stop most of them, a few had been too quick and moved too far away for the barrier to reach. Those left behind and within though, would tentatively raise their weapons in a defensive stance as they'd listen to what she was saying...well, maybe listening but not really hearing. You know what they say about cornered animals, too. About ten of the remaining bandits would charge Luna all at once, while only about four would quite literally, throw their weapons to the ground and deciding this fight wasn't worth it. Those attacking would swiftly close in, attacking with spears, axes, and swords, intent on either dying or earning their freedom. The Mammoth, was not going down without a fight either. Od would tackle its legs, the armor falling easily beneath her unstoppable blade. The beast would struggle, the leg Od was attacking kicking backwards as it struggled to its knees - and thus would reveal one of its tricks. The foot would slam into the ground, a wave of force as shards of thick ice spikes would form around its leg, slamming into Od as they'd quickly grow and knock her clear of the Mammoth. Had it not been for Fio's timely intervention, it'd have likely started a full on assault on the knights. Blades rained from the sky, ethereal but dull, designed for restraint rather than harm. They'd slam into the beasts back, and legs weighing the creature down with immense weight. The Mammoth trumpeted angrily in response, struggling to its feet, but getting to its feet all the same just as Elias would mount the creatures head, a thick length of sturdy rope around its neck. It had been slowed, but it was still moving. A leg would stomp the ground, shaking the earth and causing a coating of slippery ice to form under it along with spikes of ice as thick, icy armor would form on its legs. Its bloody trunk reached for Elias as it would shake its head violently, the rope digging into its flesh as Elias attempted to choke-out the beast. --- Paladin --- Believing the arrow had done some manner of damage to Ethelred, Cecillia landed on the ground readily, rolling across the ground and quickly jumping back to her feet in a show of agility that would have been hard to pull off for most people. "Ahaha, alright score one for-gwuh!" Cecilia would attempt to move, only to let out a surprised cry as she'd fall right on her ass, sliding a bit across the frozen ground a few feet away from Ethelred. Before he could take advantage of it though, a shout from behind as the bandit he had turned his back to would charge Ethelred. Apparently, he had decided if his bow couldn't work against the icy armor, his own fists would do well enough. The bandit attempted to wrap his elbow around the knights neck, trying to use his weight to pin Ethelred to the ground.</s> <|message|>Od. Od Again this beast tests her patience. The ice knocked her back, having been thrown clear once again. This time was even less impactful than the last blow to have sent her clear from the ongoing struggle. It didn't kill her, little could, nor did it really hurt her but the delays meant the queen would have to continue dealing out blows against this chaff alone. These bandits weren't worthy of challenging her and the shame of having it come to this only continued to build alongside Od's ire. The beast guarded it's legs and left pools of ice where it walked. Meanwhile it fought in struggle against Reinhardt as he attempted to strangle the beast. While it's attention was focus was on fighting him it served as the ideal opportunity for her to try and score a blow of lasting consequence for once. She quickly skirted the borders of the frozen zone as she rapidly dashed up front where the mammoth was attempting to toss her fellow knight off with it's trunk. With focused intensity she poised her stance, bracing her palm against the jeweled pommel of her blade as she readied a thrust. In one long smooth step her place stabbed up at the base of the mammoth's trunk. Though muscular and with hide it's trunk was unable to be armored without losing it's pliability. Neither ice nor steel could guard something that was required to be prehensile. It was time to finish what she started and finally sever that damn trunk.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna grinned, "So, most of you choose death." A golden light edged the blade of her weapon. "You can only blame yourselves for your fate." The knightess said as she met the charge of the men. She dove into the fray and knocked away a spear jab with her shield and deflected another thrust with her sword before thrusting it into on of the bandit's stomach. Quickly, she shoved the man as she removed her weapon and spun around, slicing another's neck and blocking another blow with her shield. One approached her with an axe and went to bring it down on her head. Not missing a beat, she rolled towards his side and launched a slash upwards as she jumped to her feet. It was a bit strenuous fighting so many people at once but it was getting a bit exciting. If anyone had paid attention to her fighting at all, they'd notice that there was a look of exhilaration on the lady's face the longer and longer the fight went on. Perhaps it was cockiness? Overconfidence? It was hard to say.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna fought like a woman possessed. As the fighting continued, she seemed to care less and less for her personal safety as she retaliated from where she was cut and bruised, ending with a lopped off head and sheathing her sword. After the men were all dead, she sheathed her sword. "... Good. Now, come this way, you four." Her concentration on her spell faltered, and the barrier dissipated. That's about what one would expect from her wounds. The stab on her shoulder stung the more she came to realize she had be stabbed at all. A glow appeared at her hand as she went to infuse some healing energies to it... Before the bandits started to run. "Bastards." She muttered as the bandits turned tail and ran. "This wasn't the deal." So the energy in her hand turned into a javelin that she aimed at the nearest bandit that ran. That is, before the Queen told her to leave them be. A small frown crossed Lady Lightsword's face as she comprehended the order and the javelin disappeared. She turned to her Queen with no attempted to conceal her dissatisfaction with the order, though she made no attempt to show she would disobey. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, if we let them go as such, they'll target small villages or lonesome travelers an--" Luna cut herself off and bit her tongue. She grabbed the unconscious bandit by the collar and drug him behind her. She gave a slight bow to the Queen before she spoke, more politely this time. "Understood, My Queen. I shall report in an hour." With that, she dragged the man to some of the guards that were by the gate before leaning against the wall and healing her wounds a bit. "I always get too riled up in situations like that..."</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred That could've gone worse. I suppose, however, it also could've gone better. The woman retreated upon hearing the horn, leaving Ethelred with a maimed, badly frozen bandit. Any hope of questioning them seemed moot now- the bandit was so deeply frozen that he probably wouldn't recover, and it'd be unlikely he could catch Cecilia even if he chased her on horseback. According to Lugh, the young Tuatha squire, the battle was over, and the knights were being summoned in the strategy hall. Ethelred would guess that it had to do with the bandit attack, and how they'd be responding. "Thank you, but, I don't need any help," Ethelred replied, placing his hand over his damaged pauldron, simultaneously relieved to be uninjured and disappointed that the blow wasn't enough to temporarily free a part of him from his crystalline carapace. "I'll be heading back now, but first, I have one other matter to attend," Ethelred stated, looking down at the frostbitten bandit. "I'm afraid your ice burns are likely too far deep" he grimly told the bandit. "If you are spared, you'd probably suffer quite painfully before passing, so I promise to make it quick." Ethelred readied his lance. "When you're brought before Rifelshka, I wonder if she'll commend you for your loyalty, or punish you for your sins of banditry." With that, he plunged his weapon into the man's heart. Finishing off a downed, defeated foe was a rather unpleasant ordeal for Ethelred, but it was his responsibility to ensure his powers did not cause undue suffering to his foes. With the bandit dealt with, the knight returned to his horse, which was no worse for wear, which was more than could be said for the bandit lying nearby, with a hoof-shaped mark on his forehead. Ethelred was in a merciful mood, and decided not to check if the fallen man was still breathing. Besides, surely the other knights had managed to take someone alive, right? His business in the forest concluded, Ethelred rode back to the town. He'd normally offer the small Tuatha squire a ride, but he was still quite cold.</s> <|message|>Od. Od It was somewhat satisfying to have her blade finally leave a lasting mark upon the beast, severing it's trunk as it pierced through before slicing free through the side with a draw cut. She looked down upon the creature despite their size disparity as it was brought low by the efforts of her comrades. Her icy stare lingered upon the beast before immediately snapping over to the queen as she spoke. Od's reaction was immediate, dropping to a kneel and bringing an arm across as she listened with her head bowed. This might not of been the standard the queen operated on with others but Od had been raised to act as such with the king she last served. Old habits were hard to break. While she would have pressed the attack it seemed the queen had other plans, talking Luna down to keep her from pursuing her foes no less. While it stung to know that the mammoth rider still drew breath, leaving her words unfulfilled, the queen had offered them the privilege to flee which they had accepted. Od would not dare contravene her queen's wishes, purging the very thought from her mind. With a flourish she sheathed her blade, it's sheath being the only thing the blade welcomed. She did not need to even clean her blade for it abhorred letting anything touch it, cutting away at the world in every sense of the term. During the queen's congratulations of her knights she seemed to express gladness towards Od being in one piece in particular. This seemed to befuddle her, her head tilting to one side with a quizzical expression as she blinked several times in confusion. Had the queen been particularly concerned regarding the possibility of her dismemberment? Od was hardly even aware of the deep slice in the side of her neck. It hurt, yes, and it made her breathing raspy, her voice hoarse as her vocal cords were still recovering alongside the rest of her neck. None of that really impacted her tremendously. On top of knowing that she'd be good as new as early as five minutes from then such wounds were things she had grown accustomed to living with. The Fomorians were always doing far worse to her before and even after she was freed from their cruel grip she knew nothing but war. Wounds were just a facet of living, a sight no less common than trees in a forest or bodies in a battlefield. _ After all was said and done the knights seemed to part for the time being, returning to town where they returned to their various concerns. Od's concerns were with the health of the soldiers who guarded the walls. She went over them to confirm that none were harmed during the arrow fire the walls sustained during their battle. Seeing as most if not all the soldiers were fine this led her back to Luna who seemed to have born the brunt of the damage from this battle. Out of all the knights she was the one who seemed to have had received the most lasting wounds, the others either not taking any or simply recovering from them. Upon approaching Luna she only slightly unsheathed her blade, lightly placing her palm upon the glassy metal which left a long fine yellowish line upon the skin of her hand. She extended this hand towards Luna in a silent offer of healing, sap-like blood oozing from the cut down onto her fingers. She didn't trespass Luna's personal space for this, staying a respectful distance back until her fellow knight consented to her treatment. No words were exchanged at this time. Od was never much of a talker, the lingua franca of this land still being her second language with her native tongue being fomorian. She can hold her own in a conversation but the intricacies of this language and her own accent often tripped her up. Such was the reason she was so laconic. _ @Pyromania99</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna's wounds were closing and Healing at a steady rate with her own healing power. She stood in thought for a minute, wondering if she'll be punished later for her small outburst. Likely not. She shook her head in attempt to rid her mind of such things before she caught Od out of the corner of her eye. Luna didn't see what had happened after she started her multi-man brawl, but she did remember Od had herself catapulted towards the mammoth at one point. The Knightess started to speak and ask Od about how her fight had gone, but before she had the chance, Od had cut her hand to release some of her sap-like body fluid with highly regenerative properties. She winced at the sight of it. Did she feel no pain? Luna had scarce talked to the girl and the thought had never crossed her mind. Lunalel looked between Od's face and sappy wound before giving a small frown. The girl was offering to heal her own wounds by wounding herself. The thought didn't sit too well with Lunalel as her vision landed back on the thick blood that came from Od's palm. "Thank you Od but, I'll be fine. You're not the only one here that can heal you know." Luna said, taking a step toward her companion to show her basically healed wound on her neck, the only real indicator was the remnant blood. That wasn't the same story for her back. It was a bit more damaged but that would heal with her constant attention. "I'm just thinking while I fix myself up." Luna giggled to herself as she smiled at Od.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Od. Od "Thank you Od but, I'll be fine. You're not the only one here that can heal you know. I'm just thinking while I fix myself up." Od's expression was inscrutable. Like a mask it moved little, showing none of the feeling that went on behind it. Inside she was a labyrinth of deep running thoughts and feelings. While she felt that Luna could just be speaking true of what's on the surface there was the possibility that she was simply being polite, shouldering the burden of her own care to not take advantage of her. Perhaps this reluctance to accept Od's help could be born from a distance between the two of them, rejecting Od's offer not out of kindness but out of a desire to not keep in her company. Od didn't know what to make of it. This wasn't something she was good at, reading people that is. She always felt a distance between herself and those who were cultural natives to this region. As a result of her minimal levels of socialization it made it hard for her to know in truth what one's words meant beneath the surface. It was hard for her not to read too deeply or even not deep enough sometimes. _ Od had been standing there stiffly with her hand out, lost in deep thought when Reinhardt passed her by. "You might be able to regenerate from any injury... I'd advise you stop hurling yourself at the enemy that recklessly. You expose yourself to unnecessarily taking blows that reduce your combat effectiveness to land attacks you should be able to manage regardless. It's unbefitting of a knight." She was stirred from her thoughts, turning to face him but he was already on his way past. Her flat distant stare was broken, giving way to a more perplexed expression. She didn't really know what to make from what he said. But the only injury I sustained was from ambush fire??? She wanted to say but the moment had passed and it felt like it would be awkward to stammer her thoughts towards his back. Instead she simply looked on as he left before turning to the castle proper. In truth she had felt somewhat useless in the battle against the elder beast but not because she was injured. Her left eye had already grown back for the most part and the cut on her neck was little more than a sliver now. What stung most however was how useless she was against the beast. Reinhardt had managed to all but fell the beast on his own for the most part and what had she contributed? A shallow poke and a cut on it's trunk. The bloody trunk hadn't even gotten severed in full, it was embarrassing just how poorly she'd performed against it. She felt like she had spent more time being tossed about than she had been in the fight proper. The queen should not have needed to intervene on their behalf and it was a failing on all the knight's parts for letting the battle last that long. In her doldrums she had failed to notice she was already at the castle, ready to proceed in towards the strategy room where their queen needed them. She would obey her queens command and obey without fail, there was no doubt of that. Even still, she cast her gaze briefly to the cursed blade, wondering to herself how truly needed she was in all this. In the end was she just holding back everyone by trying to join the battle instead of just letting them use her blood as the fomorians did? What was her purpose, truly? In the end, as it always was, silence was the only answer.</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred So that's what was making that rumbling, Ethelred thought as he passed the massive elder beast. It was unlike any creature he had ever seen before. He had heard tales of massive beasts that formerly inhabited Albion long ago, but this was the first he had ever seen of such an animal. The beast looked like its snout had been cut off in the battle, and curved formation of ice was now protruding from what remained. Perhaps it was regenerating, similar to how Ethelred's armor regrew. In any case, it suggested the Elder Beast had a connection to ice, something that intrigued the frozen knight. He wondered why it was involved with the bandits at all. It wasn't unheard of for Elder Beasts to menace human settlements, but why would one do so alongside pillagers? Ethelred was about to ride over to the queen and ask about the fallen beast, but something caught his attention. A fairy flew over the walls into the town. He needed to track the fey down before it could get into trouble. If it was an Unseelie, it'd be no doubt plotting how to inflict pain and suffering upon others. Even if it was a less malevolent variant of fae, it could still get into a lot of trouble. The knight rode into the town, determined to not lose the fairy's trail. This town seems to be attracting all sort of troublemakers today.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- Reinhardt removed his helm; tucking it neatly under his arm as he'd walk alongside Vyrell through the town, his face held firmly in his usual cold neutrality. "Spare me the hollow praise Vyrell. I simply performed as required in the situation. Nothing more." the knight responded bluntly as his gaze swept over the hustle and bustle of the townsfolk as they gradually returned to their usual routines, "While I likely could've handled the beast myself, our fortifications or more importantly; the settlement itself, would've sustained an unacceptable level of damage from the engagement... Fortunately the others; despite any shortcomings of temperament or otherwise, have proven adequate thus far in dispatching any threats that come our way." From there the two continued in silence until arriving upon the steps of the keep, where Vyrell would speak once more-- causing Reinhardt's deliberate gait to abruptly halt. "No-" the knight replied; his jaw tightly clenched as his gaze fell to the ground, "I have not heard from her." Elias' head turned slighty; just enough to keep the half-elf in his periphery as he'd then ask a question of his own, "And what of your own assessment? Do you think she's in danger? Or..." the man paused, almost hesitating to even entertain the idea he was about to mention, "Has her Curse claimed her sanity?"</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "Yes, a pleasure to see you too Reinhardt." Luna had mentioned as the man swiftly made his exit with little regard to her presence. Well, whatever. Just because they worked together as such didn't mean she needed to make fast friends with them, she supposed. And then Od just kind of... absentmindedly left. Well, whatever. Her queen had gotten together quite the... personable people. Well, that would be rude to at least Ethelred. Fio was someone you could talk to... but... Well, those dolls were a little on the creepy side. Oh well. For now, she was considerable healed at least. Everything was mended at least. She could focus on recovering the rest of her injuries while at the meeting later. For now, perhaps she'd check on the state of the town. Make sure no one had drank a little too much and started causing mayhem during the fighting. Not that she thought such a thing had happened, of course. The people of this town tended to act decently at least. Better than anything you could find out in the wilderness by a far margin. It made her want to check on the good people of this town. They deserved it. With that in mind, she kept her usual, confident demeanor and walked around town with a smile, greeting the people on the street that she saw. She had... A little time before she needed to be at the meeting, right?</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Od. Od It would seem that Reinhardt and Vyrell had arrived ahead of her. Alas, the other knights and the queen herself were yet to show. Until the queen arrives though it was no issue. She would not show the queen disrespect by appearing late to a summon such as this and she expected much the same out of the other knights. "Ah, Od, you are here too." Nod simply gave a short nod to Vyrell's greeting, her expression distant and thoughtful as always. She briefly wondered if the queen had sent summons for him as well to this meeting. There wasn't a chair set aside for him, was there? Did it matter? "Good to see you in one piece as always. Question for you, Od. You've not seen or heard from lady Elnith, have you?" The greeting, much like always, went over her head. A simple pleasantry, no reason to think deeply into it's nuances. The question however got her attention as her eyes locked on his. "No. Is the queen asking for her?" Her question for him was not unusual for her train of thought. If there was an issue her first and main concern was how it mattered to the queen first. Naturally she didn't find a reason for Lady Elnith to be absent as her first assumption, hence her path of thought leading her to believe that they were trying to find her at the queen's behest. If her absence were to cause the queen disquiet then it would be under Od's prerogative to immediately rectify this. She hoped it wouldn't come to that since her strengths were not in searching out missing personnel. That would be something better suited to others such as Lady Luna or Lady Fio. Nonetheless Od would not hesitate to undertake such a task if she so much as even suspected that the queen would desire it so.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Y-you-...!" The Queen had to know exactly how she'd sounded, and exactly how embarrassing the implication was! Not to mention how utterly inappropriate it was! Not to mention any of the other issues with the idea! Regardless of her actual intent, there was no way that was an accident. She'd almost certainly sought to get an embarrassed reaction. Unfortunately, Fio couldn't exactly help that. With a huff, she looked away again, thankful that her Highness at least decided to change the subject to a more suitable topic. The witch's eyes drifted to the injured elder beast for a few moments, travelling over its bulky form. It was strange to see it so docile after the fight, but perhaps that wasn't entirely surprising. "Elder Beasts, hm?" Fio responded as she walked along with the Queen, "Well..." She considered the question for a few moments. Elder Beasts... They weren't exactly an entirely straightforward matter, were they? Not really. "... They're a part of this world, I suppose," she began, "Some are like spirits of nature, who just want to safeguard their lands. Some just care about themselves and their own kind. Some are our enemies, who want to kill as many people as they can. So, we should respond to them accordingly. Antagonizing the ones who can be reasoned with something only a complete idiot would do, but the same goes for trying to talk to the ones who just want to kill us."</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- @A Lowly Wretch Reinhardt followed behind Vyrell silently; his left canines firmly clenched on the soft flesh of his inner lip as he'd mull over the half-elf's intuitions. Nodding in acknowledgement of Vyrell's assertions, the Knight of House Reinhardt took his place at the strategy room's table; setting his helm down at the table's edge. The knight leaned forward over the map, his eyes scanning across it's varied details; his usual stoic expression betraying little of what was on his mind, as his plated fingertips rapped softly against the wooden surface. Even as Od spoke with Vyrell, Reinhardt payed the two no mind; making only a single click of his tongue as he noted that the aforementioned villages that Elnith had been dispatched in aid of had yet to be marked. The knight at last settled into his chair; his arms crossed and eyes drifting toward the ceiling. While it was certainly annoying that nothing had been marked ahead of the meeting, it was likely intentional; the Queen likely wanting to brief the entire Cadre of her elite knights all at once... Or she'd just been drinking too much and forgot. Whatever the case, it didn't make much difference now. Reinhardt sighed quietly as he stared up at the ceiling; his eyes closing as his hand idly seeking the gap in his armor once more. Armored fingers probed carefully between the plates; gently appraising the damage to the Aketon beneath. The Knight's tongue clicked once again-- assuming the next assignment would be related to Elnith's recent lack of communication, he would more than likely need to have the garment repaired before departing... But for now? He was content to await the meeting's start, the Aketon's repair would come later.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna wouldn't admit to it, but she was rather people with the people here. At home, everyone was just very friendly and got along but... Here, well, it felt somewhat different. The people that crowded her felt a little more obssessed in a way. It wasn't bad, per se... But still. "Ladies, ladies. I'm doing just fine! See?" She flexed a small bit to show she wasn't hurting. Well, she was, but she didn't show it. But then, someone spoke up about her fighting a hundred bandits. "L-lugh! That's not quite right. It was more like twenty at the upper end..." Twenty was still a lot but she didn't want people to think she fought one hundred at once! It was impressive but Reinhardt and Od had fought the beast and it's rider, not to mention Ethelred who rode to meet the bowmen in the forest. All she did was distract the weak ones with a bit of support from Fio. "It wasn't just me, however. The other knights fought valiantly as well. You could say I had the easy part, fighting the rabble that would dare attack our beloved city. I didn't have to fight the large beast that was to assail our gates, nor the archers that rained down upon our walls. Not to mention the support I did receive from our very own Sword Witch." Luna said, singing the praise of her comrades. Truly, she had no intention to hog glory for her lonesome. "If you see any of the other knights, please give them the same praise you all have shown me, I'm sure it would brighten their day as much as it did mine." Luna gave all the people that surrounded her. Now, she should make it for the castle... but... First, she took the hand from the first girl that had offered her medical treatment and gave her a small kiss on the back of the hand. "Thank you for the first offer of medical aid, miss." After that, she gave her a smile before looking around to everyone. "Now, I need to go to the castle soon, but I might as well ask how things are. Any concerns from anyone that the queen might desire to hear?" It was good to know the thoughts of the people and... with all these people gathered up... Now would be a good time.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Od. Od "I'm sure you are aware, that is unusual for her at least not to write or otherwise send word. If not to the Queen, then to me. Thoughts, on the situation, Od? Do you believe her curse to have taken hold or would you surmise she has been having some other difficulty?" He fixed her with his narrow gaze and her eyes fixed back on him with their brilliant green hue. Furthermore the pupils of her eyes, unlike her countrymen, were white instead of black making her eyes up until the irides look like the interior of a fresh kiwi fruit. Unless such a fruit were native to this isle then none would draw the connection. Still, much like herself they were quite unnatural despite brimming with natural potency. Just one more thing marking her as different from the others. She stood and looked back into his eyes for what was likely an uncomfortably long moment, her face still locked in a distant expression. Before he could interrupt the silence however she spoke first. "Cause, does matter not." She turned from him after her laconic reply, turning her gaze back over to the tactical map they had laid out. "The queen's will be done. If asked I shall retrieve her." Her eyes scanned over the pieces set out upon the table, her mind dwelling on their purpose and how they tie into the queen's greater plan. In truth if Elneth was victim to her curse then it simply meant she would need to be subdued and taken back to the queen. If not then something else has happened and Od would aid her nonetheless. So long as the queen believed in Elneth then Od would believe in her too. The biggest issue that faced them in this case was their strained relations with the local monarch. Their men would not necessarily respect the authority of the queen's knights. This could lead to potential conflict, one that might put the queen's soldiers in harms way. It would be tricky to defuse if Elneth did anything to strain this already tenuous peace. Concerning indeed. As for the board it offered much potential, her mind could only wonder... Perhaps even wander.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- @A Lowly Wretch The soft clatter of wood upon wood drew Reinhardt's attention once more to the map upon the strategy room's table. Leaning forward in his seat, the Knight carefully scrutinizing the locations Vyrell had marked thus far. Reinhardt's eyes narrowed slightly; a finger roughly tracing a path in the air, his head tilting slightly as the edge of his lips would curl into a stiff frown. Looking up from the map he glanced toward Od, his mouth opening as if to say something-- but he shook his head, seeming to dismiss whatever thought had come to mind. Instead, his attention turned to Vyrell, "Do you have dates of when the Fomorian attacked each settlement? Evidence it was targeting anything specific in each attack? Information whether the more central areas that were seemingly untouched ever spotted it's movements?" Reinhardt slowly grit his teeth as he looked back down at the map, awaiting Vyrell's answer. Though he had yet to voice his thoughts, this fomorian's attack pattern reeked of suspicion. But before he'd voice his own thoughts, he needed to be sure he'd gotten the bigger picture-- lest his initial presumptions taint any future inquiries.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "..." Certainly, she was a Queen, and the one that Fio had sworn to serve. Even if her reasons were largely for curiosity's sake, to understand what was going on and confirm if her claims were truthful, she had sworn such an oath. And Fio at least had respect for the manner in which the taller girl carried and conducted herself. None of this could be denied. Perhaps, then, that was why she took those words quite so poorly. Why the Sword Witch found herself raising her hand and snapping her fingers, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment at the mere insinuation. The circle that opened in the air, producing her sword catalyst directly above the Queen's head, aimed it carefully with the hilt pointed downwards, the pommel angled perfectly. It fell slowly. Fio didn't want to cause real harm, after all. But there wouldn't be any ignoring the impact. "Y-you're a Queen, aren't you?!" exclaimed the Sword Witch, "Th-think about what you say sometimes! Hmph!" The sword dematerialized moments later, Fio folding her arms firmly as she turned away in a huff.</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred The little fairy wasn't exactly a polite sort, not hesitating to throw barbs at Ethelred's direction. It didn't bother him, however. If anything, in fact, her open, unsubtle nastiness it actually made her less threatening. The Unseelie were a tricky, deceitful lot, and Ethelred would much prefer dealing with one who wore her unpleasant nature for all to see rather than one that could conceal their malicious nature behind a mask of courtesy and cordiality. While he did not consider this fairy to be particularly dangerous, especially compared to some of the other Unseelie whom he had run afoul of, it would be best to not offend by refusing it. Aside from being unbecoming for a knight (or at least his romantic concept of knighthood that his fellows didn't entirely share), it'd be best to avoid needlessly earning the ire of the twisted fey. At the same time, it'd also be wise to have Fio look at it in case it was a malicious trick. I thank you for the gift, he replied. "Take care now,". Ethelred neglected to mention that he intended to capture the fairy if she continued to look for trouble in the town. He had no patience for those who took advantage of the kindness of others, or could not be swayed away from making trouble. With the business of the fairy taken care of, the Frozen Knight headed to the castle. He would need to discuss this intrusion, and the token, with the Queen. The people of the town wouldn't be able to sleep soundly if the Unseelie were sneaking into the town under the knights' noses.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna was taken aback by the uproar she has seemingly caused. "Am I single!? Umm, yes!? I've no fiance..." The knightess muttered, slightly embarrassed by the train of questions coming at her. "Pretty? I'm rather skilled with the blade since I've been training since I was young... Why would I kill a giant?" She seemed a little confused by these chains of questioned until Lugh spoke up, reminding her about the meeting. That was right, she needed to get going. How was she going to get out of the crowd? The knightess took a deep breath and then spoke in a sharp, commanding voice. Nothing rude sounding, but enough to catch the attention of everyone around her. "Ladies." The majority of the people in her view were, after all, women... For some reason. "I appreciate your questions, but I must be moving on. I need to attend to our queen. Perhaps we could discuss more later, but let me say this before we leave." A smile crossed her face as she continued to speak, "I'm pleased to see all of you hale and hearty after that attack, so please continue to be so. Now, pardon me and our squire here." She patted Lugh on the back and walked towards the castle, asking to ladies surrounding her to move aside, politely of course. As they clear the crowd, she gave a sigh. "Gods, that was embarrassing..." Luna said, loud enough for Lugh to hear. "Lugh, you know I didn't fight a hundred of them." She looked slightly frustrated with the youth, "I'd tell the queen... If I thought she'd punish you for those loose lips of yours." In lieu of the Queen's punishment, she gave him a slight poke in the temple. "Jeez."</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Od. Od Vyrell's examples were strange and seemed to lack origin. Odd simply looked at him with a confused cant to her brow. What to do if a fire came back each time you put it out? Submerge what burns in water or sand. If the fire continues to burn atop the water or upon the sand then it's probably magical in which case a wizard may need to be sought. Much the same was true of his other examples. If Elneth could not be found then they would need to track her. The freshness of the bodies as well as tracks leaving the scene would serve well for finding her, as would any potential witnesses should any still live. As with the fomorian if it could not be pierced by an unavoidable blade then the obvious answer would be to strike it with a stronger weapon. Failing that another solution would be instead of piercing it's skin she'd break it's bones. Failing that she'd wrestle it down and bury it alive. She could go down the list of things she'd do if her foe was immune to Elnith's blade but she failed to see what point Vyrell's exercise was mean- The moment the queen stepped into the room Od's long train of thought screeched to a halt and she immediately knelt before her. She emptied her mind and focused solely on what the queen was saying, paying her her undivided attention. _ So the mission was clear. She'd be seeking out Elnith under the command of Reinhardt. "As you command, my majesty." Was all she said, her face cold and serious as the queen's word was law. She wouldn't even think to question her decision, she wouldn't even acknowledge what she felt about the issue. Her feelings were beneath the will of the queen, a distraction. That being said she awaited her queens dismissal before she'd embark upon her task. Her will would be done.</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred The third village...that's a familiar location. Ethelred raised an eyebrow beneath his helmet he saw where one of the attacked villages was on the map- just a short distance from the ruins of his family's castle. Long ago, the protection of that village would've been the duty of his family and their retainers. Now, a century later, it looked like he might end up avenging them. According to the queen it was a Fomorian that was responsible, seemingly rushing up and down from coast to coast and razing villages in its path with unnatural speed and power over fire. With that in mind, it was a wise choice for the queen to send Ethelred along- if they encountered it, the Ice Knight's powers and fearsome mount should prove useful against the creature. As for what they'd be facing, that was less clear. For all that Sorcha had told them, it was possible that they could run into this Fomorian, the Harzel knights, or even Elnith herself, driven into a frenzy by her curse. The three of them could probably defeat and subdue her, but it could prove difficult- Elnith was a berserker in battle, and her magical blade always reached its target. Perhaps that was why Sorcha was sending these particular three knights, because Ethelred's armor, Od's regeneration, and Reinhardt's seeming invulnerability would make them more capable of withstanding a blade that always found its mark. Ethelred hoped it wouldn't come to that, however- he always held out hope that his fellow fey-cursed knight would be able to hold back the curse afflicting her. "My liege, have there been any attacks since you sent Elnith?" he asked the Queen, desiring more information about their mission. "Any possible evidence as to whether or not she has managed to slay the Fomorian?"</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword As Luna and Lugh got to the room with the rest, Vyrell seemed to have his hands full with Od. Well a disciplinarian by nature so she didn't really say much in that regard. Od was never really in a good headspace, realistically. Soon after, however, the Queen entered with Fio. Luna gave the Mage a smile, wanting to thank her for the help earlier but, that was something for later. For now, it was time to listen. It was a lot to take in, but there was a Fomorian threat in the west, one that not even Elnith seems to have taken care of, that Od, Reinhardt and Ethelred would be in charge of. Then, there was her and Fio accompanying the Queen in the east. "I can see why you would have me join you in the east." Luna commented with a small amount of a giggle. "I know all the patrol paths that are typically used. In fact..." On the map, she points to a spot along the river. "There's a small wooden fort around here. Usually there's a patrol or two based here for rest. I've spent many nights there myself, I'm sure they could accomodate use a night or two on our way." Luna added, figuring a safe place for rest would be helpful. "Not that there haven't been attacks on it, but it tends to be fairly well manned." Luna put her hand to her chin in thought, thinking if there was much more to add. Nothing that couldn't be said on the road. Though, she still needed to thank their precious sword conjuring witch. So she walked over to the woman and gave her a firm slap on that back. Nothing so much it'd hurt but maybe move her upper body a small bit. "Thanks for the help back there at the walls. Your blades were a great help against all those bandits. I look forward to traveling with you and Her Majesty. With us two, Her Majesty has nothing to worry about, right?" Luna told the smaller girl, puffing up her chest a small bit. She was obviously very confident in her own skills.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch While two of her daggers hit true, fading into blue light moments after, the rest were unable to reach their target in spite of Fio's layered offensive spellcasting. More worrying then that, however, was the manner in which the Fomorian shrugged off the injuries so swiftly and responded with two daggers of his own. The petite witch had no choice but to construct a barrier as quickly as possible, without even being able to verbally cast. The resulting circle of light was thin, fragile, conjured as swiftly as she could manage. As such, it shattered almost instantly upon the dagger's impact, sending them hurtling off in different directions but also transferring their impact to the small girl's body. The air whipped past her as Fio was thrown backwards, holding her hat and by extension Mieka on her head as she fell from her floating barrier. It was only just barely that was was able to form another barrier before she hit the ground, catching herself in mid-air. Had she fallen all the way, it was quite likely she would have been injured. The Fomorian was quite capable of enduring pain, that much was obvious. Fio scowled as she regained her footing, thrusting her gleaming sword into the sky. She was going to catch him with a direct hit this time, she had to! "Create five phantom swords, from above!" At the absolute edge of the range of her ability to manifest swords, she materialized the first phantom blade in the air. Each subsequent blade formed somewhat closer, a line forming above the Formorian and pointing downwards. Certainly, from this distance the would be more unstable, but it meant at the very least the moment they dropped he would be forced to disengage to the side. He would be struck if he didn't move, and if he tried to evade by moving backwards the other blades would catch him. If Fio could start controlling his movements, she'd be able to lock him down! @FrogRFlowR@Pyromania99</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred Ethelred kept his gaze trained at his foe as he struck it. His attack only managed to graze the surprisingly nimble Fomorian's neck, but it had been enough to bring it to its knees and release the elf warrior from its grip. He did not stick around to wait for it to recover and retaliate- Ethelred continued his current course, galloping around and away from his foe, out of the reach of its attempted counter-blow. He's weakened, but only somewhat, Ethelred assessed. The knight's blow to the creature's neck looked to be only superficial, but the elf's strikes had severely injured one of its arms. Still, even with one good arm, it remained a very dangerous foe. On the other hand, they no longer had the element of surprise, and the creature was now clearly quite aware of the threat it was facing. The Frozen Knight wasn't sure if the elf had sustained any injuries in his valorous assault, but Reinhardt was still unscathed (not that this was a surprise, considering how supernaturally tough the man was). Ethelred turned back towards the creature, readying his lance as if to prepare for another charge. He needed to keep its one eye focused on him so that the others could have a chance to blindside it. "Not so tough when you're up against someone who can fight back, are you," he shouted to the cyclops, in an attempt to maintain its attention. He readied his lance in case the creature took the bait and charged. He would not risk a wounding blow, but would instead attempt to evade, parry, or otherwise deflect the creature's club. With only one good arm, and probably a non-dominant one at that, the Fomorian ought to have trouble defending against all three of them at once.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- @Crimson Paladin@Cu Chulainn Reinhardt swiftly disengaged with a quick back step to the right of the Cyclopean Fomorian as Ethelred dealt a heavy blow to the creature-- ensuring he wasn't about to be trampled underfoot by any of the involved parties. Thus far the engagement had gone favorably; save for the elven stranger getting hurled off to the side. It wasn't clear if the stranger was out of the fight just yet-- but they'd already done a number on the Fomorian's favored arm, which didn't seem to be regenerating. Did the creature lack regeneration? Or was it something to do with those strange phantasmal weapons that the stranger had wielded? Whatever the case; it was an advantage Reinhardt had no intention on passing up. As the Cyclops moved to engage the foe it seemed to deem most threatening (Ethelred in this case), Reinhart followed behind it in tight pursuit; making ready to place a decisive strike at the monster's hamstring-- until the Cyclops; in it's infantile rampage, threw about the strewn wreckage of the market. A metallic glint caught Reinhardt's attention; his hand deftly snatching it from the air. It was a weathered, yet sturdy harpoon-- with a rope still attached. "How fortunate--" the knight mused as he ceased his pursuit; planting his feet firmly as he readied to hurl his newly acquired tool into the Cyclops' remaining good arm the moment it would raise it's weapon to strike at his fellow knight.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword He parried her attack so powerfully. Luna had to wonder if he was making a show of force or if it didn't really control it's strength, not to mention the sword he was using. "What an odd blade." The Knightess commented as she quickly sheathed her sword and held her arm out to the side, quickly forming two small daggers of light in her hand. If he was going to throw small blades at her, it was only right she returned the favor. She took some small steps back to toss the two blades towards the Fomorian's face. Her hope was that he would either take the hits or deflect them with his sword. "I don't allow myself to be deterred when so rudely challenged." As her heel hit the ground on her final step back, she dug in and roughly pushed off back towards the creature. In her hand, there was a now a spear of light, aimed towards the Fomorian. It looked like Fio had some sort of plan on how to subdue the beast, so Luna took her best guess as she was tried to aim his movements in a direction, or at least one that looked like the giant blades overhead would bear down upon him. As her feet moved forward, she aimed her spear up towards the Fomorian's abdomen. She hoped that, between her onslaught and what Niall might do, it would drive him into the corner that Fio was planning.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Marduk Swordwind Aftermath --- Marduk basked in the blood of his slain foe, seeing it as another unclean one wiped from Albion. He raised his arms to the air and let out a howl in victory as the Fomorian's tainted blood rained from the air. Victory has been attained, and the battle was over. This did not mean that his wrath waned, however. "Accursed witchcraft!" The Elf's spear quickly shifted into a massive blade once more as he cleaved his blade downwards at the Cyclops's hollowed neck. Gazing at how the arms were connected from within, Marduk let out a low growl as his suspicions were confirmed. His blade shimmered away as he hopped off the beast, walking past the two knights who had helped him slay the beast. "Black magic. That thing was likely an amalgam of lesser beings." Marduk began, picking up his discarded staff and scraping off what was left of the Fomorian whose skull he crushed from it. "Whether it's from other Fomorians or... Marduk growled, once more, "… other unfortunate souls is not known to me. What I do know is it was too smart to be a Fomorian of your standard stock, yet too dumb to be anything exceptional. My guess is there are darker magics at play." Marduk threw his hood up as he turned to the others, clutching his staff like a hiker's stick. "You two aren't here for vacation either, I take it? Hunting for the cursed kin as well, then? If so, perhaps you can help me find the source of these attacks. You two are formidable warriors, and I'd rather not hunt a witch on my own. Just know this though." The Elf's eyes would shine once more, with the same golden glow that permeated his weapons. "Don't get in our way."</s> <|message|>Niall Ulchabhán Success. Niall successfully managed to deflect the spear thrust which in turn at the very least helped Luna manage the rest the foe's attack. Niall's own counter attack in the form of a slash to the Formorian's abdomen seemed to have been dodged as the enemy suddenly moved after grabbing Luna's wrist to throw her. Niall had to back down and step back as to net get hit by the caster's falling swords. Though he did not see them stray too far from their intended target yet, he still needed to play it safe and defensive against this enemy. Niall was fully ready to engage again, this time unleashing his own ability...however, when the dust from the previous attack settled, the Formorian had himself backed out. He had stepped some distance away, but Niall figured he could still reach the corrupted elf with Gwdihw's wind - but he didn't. It was apparent that, for now, the fight was over. Niall stood down. Instead, as things calmed down, Niall walked closer to the queen herself and the other knights. He did not yet know them, having been contacted by the Queen only recently, and so remained silent for the time being. It didn't help that his interactions with actual fellow humans had been few and far between since he had left the Tuathas that raised him. He instead opted for finding the nearest rock or tree stump to sit at, Lance against his thigh as he would clean the blade until they were to move on. There would be time for proper introductions once things settled down.</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred had only a moment to release his lance from the cyclops before it exploded, showering him and his horse with gore. His mount reared up in alarm and backed a few paces away, but the knight managed to maintain his seating, but fortunately the explosion didn't seem hurt them. It looks like he was trying to use some sort of magic, and the elf's attack probably caused it to misfire, the knight guessed based on his limited knowledge of magic, as he surveyed the carnage. While he could normally see through his crystalline helmet, his vision was presently hindered by numerous flecks of gore now stuck and partially frozen to his helmet. Nonetheless, he was able to see well enough to notice that most importantly, the other two combatants were unharmed. He also couldn't help but notice the grotesque, unnatural state of the cyclops' insides. Those are...hands? Hands, emerging from inside of the corpse? Ethelred observed, aghast at the revelation of just how wrong this thing was. It was a disturbing reminder of just how truly inhuman the Fomorians were- as malformed-looking as they were on the outside, what lay inside was even more bizarre. The mysterious elf was clearly just as curious, cutting open the fallen foe's neck to get a better look at the limbs within. According to the elf, the cyclops was formed from many other beings, as evidenced by the hands and arms. Ethelred snarled at such a disgusting concept, to combine many beings into something like this, and even moreso if the victims were unwilling. It made him wonder, however, how many more of these things were out there. What if they were actively making these out of the inhabitants of the villages that were being attacked? If they're making these things out of the villagers, it's all the more reason we need to put them down. "You need not worry about us getting in your way, stranger," he assured the elf. "We are knights of Queen Sorcha, and have come here to put an end to the Fomorian attacks. My name is Ethelred. I apologize for not showing you my face, but ever since I was cursed by an Unseelie, this armor of mine has become impossible to remove." He would leave the particulars of joining their forces to Reinhardt, not wishing to undermine his leader's authority. "Speaking of which, I don't suppose you've crossed paths with a certain knightess passing through here, have you?" he asked the elf. "Blonde hair, red eyes, black armor of similar coverage to yours, bright red sword?" @Cu Chulainn</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword After she was tossed aside, she turned back to see his oversized arm meet with Fio's blade. And then a dust cloud. And then the Fomorian gone, off in the distance. He bid himself farewell and Luna had half a mind to chase after him but... No, it would be best she didn't. Instead, she gritted her teeth for a small time before repeating his words aloud. "Do not allow your paths to falter…or the Wings of Dark shall usurp your throne." She mewled the words over for a second before her Queen bid her to follow. And so she did. "Next time he won't be able to retreat unscathed." She looked to her two brothers and nodded at them, "Gabe, Leo, we'll have a nice little get together after our discussion." The woman said, almost tiredly after finally letting her shoulders shrink down, finally out of a fully guarded mind set. As her, the Queen and the two others convened, she looked toward the Queen. "Wings of Dark? Everything he said was cryptic. Was he talking about a raven or something of the sort?" She questioned aloud, not directly asking the Queen though it was obvious who her statement was pointed to. "Aside that, he was a rather powerful foe. His attitude was..." A frown. The knight shook her head, "Irritating."</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Niall Ulchabhán Silently and diligently cleaning his Lance's head, Niall was listening to the discussions going on around them. So that knight, Luna, was a Lightsword it seemed and these two men were her brothers. She certainly seemed to have a fiery character to her and obviously knew how to defend herself well, as expect of the Queen's knights. Niall was gad to have her around. The same would be said of the magic user - Fio. Her attacks were relentless and deadly, as well as often proved to be the focus of the three knight's strategy in the previous fight. As for Luna's out-loud questions, Niall remained silent. He could have theorized and asked questions of his own, but the fact of the matter was he knew nothing about that enemy so had nothing to share, for now. Being a newcomer in the group, he was content to wait and listen for now. When the Queen joined them, Niall stood up, Lance at his side. He followed them to the fort. Once in the room, Niall propped his lance against the table close by his. He did a small and polite bow to the knights when he was introduced. "Pleased to serve alongside such skilled fighters, Queen Sorcha ." he simply answered. He listened to the rest of the discussion and plans before adding. "If I may, my skills are best suited for the cover of darkness. It would be no issue for me to scout at night time. That being said, I will accept whatever decision the majority agrees with." he said, politely. Niall himself was already well rested, but food was always a welcomed sight.</s> <|message|>Marduk Swordwind Aftermath --- "Cursed, huh? No wonder why you smell like them." Marduk quipped Ethelred, noticing his curse previously before. As for the notion of them being knights of this "Queen Sorcha," such a thing only piqued Marduk's curiosity slightly. Not merely a duo, but part of a troupe of heroes wandering Albion and fighting off against the many threat that plague it? Well, if the "heroes" were anything like the two Marduk had run into, they might as well be a group of misfits rallied behind an even greater weirdo. Still, it wouldn't hurt too much to hear them out. "As for whoever it is you're looking for, I've only heard rumors. Otherwise, I would've crossed blades with them both." Marduk stated as a matter of fact. "If not for our common enemy, I may have even tried having a round or two against the two of you. Ancestors know that I'm itching for a good fight, and you two look like you'd give one, knights and all." In regards to the knight who seems to believe they're in charge, Marduk could only scoff at his demeanor. After all, he left the Elves to be free from being told what to do, his quest be damned. To be commanded especially with one who fights as crudely as this human knight only seemed to annoy the warrior further. Still, he chose to leave airing out his frustrations of the matter for another time. After all, they were still rocked from their previous fight, and Marduk had taken the brunt of it. "I'll join you monkeys on your quest," Marduk began, ignoring the fact that he, too, was also primarily of simian origins, "but I do not acknowledge whatever authority you have in this troupe. I will respect you as a fellow warrior, but do not treat me as some soldier you can order. So long as we can come to that understanding, the Swordwind will be more than obliged to lay waste to whatever it is you are hunting. "As for a horse, I only see a beast of burden as a burden to myself. As a trained warrior, my legs are more than suited for marching long distances..." Marduk began, before coughing a small spittle of blood once again. He did his best to hide this from his allies, although his painful wheezes make it difficult to mask his injuries. It was clear that he needed to not exert himself as hard. "... That said, a steed does sound helpful." In regards to the rather grim mayor of this town, Marduk simply nodded his head to the stables at the mention of a reward, making his way to take what he had rightfully earned by way of might.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "Yes, thank you for the assistance Niall. You seem to be a strong warrior as well. Glad to have you along." Luna said with a small smile. Still, scouting? That was a good thing of course, but still... "Truthfully, I could use some rest. We've been traveling for a while now and like to get a little shut eye before we did much else." The knight said, stretching a small bit. "But, it's up to you guys. If you want to head out tonight, I'll go with you." Still, she was looking forward to the food, most of all. It was a bit difficult to travel with good food when you were riding with a light load. "Well, it's up to you Fio, I suppose. Unless Niall wants to risk going solo." The Knightess gave a light shrug. If Queen Sorcha had approved of their skills, than Luna was confident they could likely handle themselves in most situations. "Either way, I'd like to talk to my brothers for a small bit before we do anything. I really need to tell something to Leo..." Luna seemed a bit... Irritated. Somewhat out of character for her. "Just something small to discuss with him. Nothing big. And it'd be nice to catch up with Gabe." She gave a small sigh. "Well, that aside, when was the last time I've slept in the barracks? It hasn't been that long, but it feels like a lifetime ago." The Knightess thought aloud. It wasn't that difficult really. They were always kept fairly warm with some magical items so no one was going to suffer from frostbite at night or anything. "If any of you need anything, just ask me if you can't get ahold of Leo or Gabe. I'm still a daughter of the house and they all listen to me still, I'd like to think."</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch While a larger library would have been appreciated, Fio found the surroundings cozy at least and an excellent place to do research. However, before she could begin searching the volumes for information on the 'Wings of Dark', she was interrupted. It was a maid, an elf with darker skin then expected from most of her kind. She did not seem particular healthy either, given the fact she looked exhausted and she was coughing. Fio hardly needed assistance with the library. Anyone attempting to help would likely be an annoyance, especially if their health was rather poor at the moment. She had no desire to babysit someone who was dealing with an illness, nor did it seem like it was the best choice for the maid's self-care. "You should li-" And then the maid pulled her own heart out. For a few moments, the Sword Witch almost seemed to go blue in the face, eyes wide as her jaw hung open and she stared in shock. What?! Why?! How?! These were the thoughts that circulated through the petite girl's mind in that instant. Her stomach felt almost like it was about to turn itself inside out. The heart was still connected, still beating, and the elven maid didn't seem to think anything was wrong with what she was doing! For a few moments this was the only way she could even function, to simply stare in mute shock with her mouth hanging open. But Fio's mind slowly caught up with the situation, and realized that the heart before her eyes was no ordinary organ. It was drenched, suffused in curses, magical energy radiating from it like the most wicked and abominable Fomorian. "That... y-your... your heart, it's cursed!" Fio nearly stumbled over her words. The alternative explanation was this girl was a Fomorian herself, but that seemed unlikely given her profession as a maid, "Y-you... C-can't you at least tell me before you do something like that?!"</s> <|message|>Ethelred It wasn't until after their meeting with the mayor that Ethelred had realized that Od was nowhere to be found. He hadn't had much concern for her, having assumed that she'd be fine. After all, with her martial skills and potent powers of healing, Ethelred was confident that Od would be able to handle herself against the Fomorians. Sadly, he was horribly wrong. During the battle, as far as Ethelred could piece together, Od must have been abducted by the Fomorians, no doubt to make use of her life-giving blood. Ethelred wanted to go after her while the trail was still warm, hoping to catch them before her abductor could retreat back to whatever dark place they had crawled out of. However, their Reinhardt instead insisted on continuing their original mission. It didn't sit well with Ethelred to let the trail of her abduction go cold, but the queen had ordered him to follow Reinhardt's orders as if they were her own. Additionally, as much as Ethelred didn't like it, there was a cold logic in Reinhardt's course of action. It was very unlikely that Od's abductors would kill her, because she was worth far more to them alive. For now they needed to find Elnith and ensure that the destructive Fomorian that they were pursuing was neutralized before it could destroy another settlement. As they left, they passed by another grim sight for Ethelred- the ruins of his family's castle. In the time that had passed since he had been thawed by Sorcha, Ethelred had only visited the site once before, prior to joining up with her. He had not set foot on the actual castle grounds since before he had been frozen, having at the time not been ready to face the discomfort of seeing the destruction up close. If it were not for the matters of both Od and Elnith's disappearances, and the urgency at which Reinhardt spurred the group on, Ethelred would have asked to have some time to walk among the ruins. Perhaps he would have the opportunity after the mission was complete. The combined shock of losing Od and seeing his family's ruined castle had left Ethelred in a rather poor mood. Even with his helmet concealing his facial expressions, his mournful demeanor could be seen in the chilled but not frigid air surrounding him, the accompanying condensation almost akin to the shedding of tears. As they continued onward to their destination, Ethelred pondered on how they would break the news to Sorcha about losing Od. It was true that the life of a knight was a dangerous one and that they must be prepared to lose friends, but it was evident that Ethelred had not been mentally prepared for this particular possibility. When they reached the burned village, it was largely what Ethelred had expected that they'd find. The entire settlement had been burned to the ground. Ghastly claw marks could be seen carved into the remains of some of the buildings, further evidence of the sheer violence that transpired here. Ethelred didn't anticipate finding any bodies aside from perhaps charred bones, but lying throughout the ruined town were the rotting, scorched corpses of Fomorians. "Judging by the burns and state of decay, I'd say these Fomorians fell during the attack. I doubt that a village militia would have taken down even one of them, however," Ethelred spoke to the others, assessing the corpses. "I'd guess that this was Elnith's work." Just then, Ethelred heard a scream coming from inside the ruined village. The Frozen Knight swiftly rode towards the source of the scream, where he found two human children surrounded by Fomorians. Most looked like the smaller variants that they had encountered on the road to Redwater Point, but one- possibly the leader- looked like the Fomorians that had attacked the town. From the look of everything, Ethelred figured that these children were probably from a neighboring village, trying to test their courage by visiting the site of the Fomorian attack. When he was a child, Ethelred was similarly adventurous. One of his childhood friends was the daughter of one of the family's housecarls, and had always insisted on playing the role of the young etheling's bodyguard whenever they snuck off to some place they shouldn't be. Fortunately, they never had the misfortune to find themselves in this much trouble. Ethelred needed to act quickly to draw their attention. He charged towards the group of Fomorians, lance couched. He was aiming for the big one but would not pass up the opportunity to stab or trample any that were unfortunate enough to not get out of his path. He was certain that Marduk and Reinhardt would be close behind, ready to cut down any beasts that avoided the incoming lance, hooves, and horns. Chulainn@Guy0fV4lor@Rune_Alchemist</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword As everyone made their seperate ways, Luna didn't have much to do. Any exploring of the camp was, well, something she'd do with Her Majesty. Not like it's been far too long since she's been at this fort anyhow. It was the last civilized location she stopped at in Lightsword territory before making her way to the Court of Queen Sorcha. "Let me accompany you, Your Highness." Luna said as she followed the Queen. As the walked, she took a look around to see if there were any changes to the fort or... almost more importantly, any structural damage. At one point, she was the one who took the most patrols and was held responsible with such things. Leo being involved in court matters and Gabe doing some of the many other things that were expected of him. Still, she was with Queen Sorcha now... And the soldiers were being complimented. This made Luna puff her chest with some small amount of pride. "Many thanks for the compliment. It does me well to hear such things. After all, many of the men stationed here were trained by me. Gabe also had a hand in things, I suppose. Until I took to your Court, Gabe would set the blade into shape back home and then I would temper it out in the field." "But, if it's food you're wondering about... Well, it's nothing the city couldn't readily out-do, but we do what we can to make it taste more than edible." The knightess held back a giggle from the Queen's embarrassed look on her face. "Follow me, if you will. I'm sure Leo told the kitchen crew to make food but they're probably not sure what to make for a Queen." The two soon arrived at a building inside the fort, one with more than a few chimneys actively releasing smoke. Once inside, it was obvious that this was the fort's kitchen with a number of chairs and tables acting as a cafeteria. Luna lead the Queen to a fairly nice table, obviously meant more for nobility than the common soldier, and pulled out a chair, "Please, take a seat. I'll be right back." Luna walked behind a small countertop where the Queen could see a number of soldiers working as cooks. There were a few stoves and some giant pots cooking something, a stew most likely. The woman started to discuss something with them for a few minutes before scooping some stew into a bowl. "Here you go, Your Majesty. For now, just think of this stew as an appetizer. I'm having them cook up something with a bit more of a Lightsword touch. This stew is a pretty common affair, but we were afforded some extra spices and such since Leo came here. It's venison with a touch of locally gathered vegetables... And I would appreciate if you ate the plant life in there as well..." The Knightess said as she half stared into her Queen's soul.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Fio had finally located the Queen and Luna, only to be hit by the strong scent of alcohol. She most certainly wasn't fond of the odor, given her enmity towards alcohol in general. Her disappointment only increased when she came to understand just what was going on. There was going to be no serious discussions happening now, and in all honesty the Sword Witch really would prefer not to be around her Highness when she was almost certainly drunk. Unfortunately, even given the difference of sobriety between them, there was no denying that Fio was inferior in terms of physical capabilities. No matter how she attempted to flee when she realized that the Queen had spotted her, her fate was a forgone conclusion. The royal embrace was something that could be thought of fondly, as a show of affection towards the loyal, those who proved themselves as true comrades and knights of royalty. In this moment, however, Fio could not have wished to be further from it. The petite girl give a frantic yell of "Stooop!" before she was abruptly restrained, her face buried in the intoxicated Queen's chest. No matter how she attempted to speak, she knew now there was no way anyone was going to hear anything but muffled cries for help. And perhaps mercy. Both would be ideal. No to mention how utterly embarrassing this position was to begin with. Why did Queen Sorcha have to do something like this? Flustered(and perhaps experiencing no small amount of jealousy), the petite witch squirmed frantically in a bid to try and escape. Alas, there would be no escape. Luna's words were hardly of any comfort. If anything, they managed to make the situation considerably worse. @Rune_Alchemist</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- @Crimson Paladin@Cu Chulainn Reinhardt listened intently to the words of the two children; slowly nodding as he came to understand their situation. From the sound of it-- Elnith had indeed been to this village previously, even managing to stave off the 'midnight-skinned Fomorian' during one of it's attacks. Further, if the little girl's description of the creature was to be believed... This wasn't a Fomorian. It was a dragon. Or at least something similar to such a beast; the likes of which hadn't been seen since the King's old hunts of glory... Especially not the black-scaled kind. Regardless of whether or not the creature in question was the genuine article-- there was something that needed confirmation. Kneeling down as Ethelred asked his questions first; Reinhardt carved something into the ground with the tip of his finger before looking back to the little girl. "You mentioned a glowing orange crest on the creature's chest. Did it look like this?</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Redwater Point Mid-Morning --- Chulainn@Guy0fV4lor@Crimson Paladin --- "She left town right after helping us." The brother said with a somewhat worried expression. "She said something about Harzel knights looking for her…" He shook his head. "I don't know why, she was really nice! E-even…if she was kind of scary when she was fighting that thing…" "U-uhm, now that you mention it…I think…it had wings? On its front legs…I think they sort of folded together when it was walking…?" The sister replied, watching as Reinhardt would draw a familiar looking marking into the ground, causing the girls brow to furrow in thought. "I…I think so? But…nnhn, only the very top of the crest I think? I didn't…really get a good look at it." Well, that was odd, but it likely would confirm something for the party. This was no Fomorian at all based on the information provided. "Uhm…we can lead you all to the village we live in now I guess…" The brother glanced to the ground. "W-we'll be passing through the same forest Miss Elnith went through, I think! She might still be there…but we might also run into some Harzel knights…" --- Location: Southern Giants Rest Early Night --- @Pyromania99 "Ahaha, sober my ass!" She'd laugh. "You look more drunk then Sig-Reinhardt did, ahaha…" She'd cough, chuckling in a mildly embarrassed manner before quickly downing another mug. "And please, I'll buy you as many mugs as you want!" She'd toss the mug off to the side, causing it to clang off the wall behind as she'd motion for another. "What say you, Fio? Come on, come on, it'll be fine! You got a late start so you'll totally win!" The Queen was definitely more than a little drunk it seemed, though she wasn't slowing down with the alcohol a bit. The queens grip on Fio would finally relax just enough for her to not be smothered in her chest, though, but she would unfortunately find herself then being leaned on by the queen as she'd toss an arm around her shoulder in a jovial manner, wrapping around her waist where her hand would instead, end up grabbing Fio's chest. "...your queen is about as difficult to handle as you were, sister." Leo would chuckle off to the side, though he'd quickly look away from Luna's gaze immediately after saying it.</s> <|message|>Niall Ulchabhán Niall had no idea who this Tuatha was nor this Cecilia for that mattered, but he did not let it deter him from her goal. There seemed like very little choices were realistically opened to Niall. He could not cut him loose from those chains, and nothing useful was around the room neither. With the information the captive gave him, Niall made his way to the door leading into the room the Formorian entered and peeked in. If he was lucky, the Axe might be somewhere he could be able to pick it up and somehow, with it, allow the Tuatha to free himself if he was to be believed. If the Axe was indeed left laying on a table or against a wall, Niall would attempt to stealthily grab it and bring it back to the prisoner. If otherwise it was on this female formorian, well... he would need to possibly knock her out, too, if such a thing was feasible. If she proved too much of a threat, Niall was still confidant enough in his own abilities and magic to be able to get away safely. He just...could not abandon the Tuatha to it's fate. His oath to the Queen made it so, if not other choices were left, he would abandon the captive to save his life so he could uphold said oath - but not before every options were depleted. With his options in mind, Niall peeked in the room, ready to act.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- @Crimson Paladin@Cu Chulainn The knight rubbed his chin in contemplation for a quiet moment before rising to his feet; dusting his hands as he'd deliberately scuff away what he'd etched in the dirt with his heel. "Based on what you've described--" Reinhardt began, sighing quietly as he began his assessment. "I'm confident what you saw was a type of Dragon... A Wyvern, specifically. Which is; fortunately, the 'weakest' of their kin." Motioning for the children to follow him, Elias would move toward his horse; continuing his assertions as he'd adjust the saddle for a shorter rider, "That said, Wyverns only tend to show up in the vicinity of a much stronger dragon... Which means that even if its a similar case to the Cyclops we fought back in Redwater Point, its unlikely to be alone." "The two of you can ride on my horse while we take you two back to the village you're staying in. If we find Elnith on the way there that'll be all the better. Should we run into any Harzel knights, they have little business trying to stop us now that we know the culprit behind these attacks is a dragon. Which begs the question..." Reinhardt's gaze swiveled to their Elven tag along, "It may not be a Fomorian like we'd originally thought, but would you still be willing to lend your aid to this hunt Sir Elf?"</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna gave a dirty look at Leo at a certain comment he may have made at her expense. The woman sighed before looking at her Queen and the small woman that she was trying to get to join the game. "You say I'm drunk, but you're looking pretty smashed yourself, Your Majesty." Luna snickered. Much like Queen Sorcha, Luna wasn't taking it easy with the Alcohol either. "I think you're looking a little worse off than I am." The Knightess proudly said, chugging some more. Luna for her part, seemed rather fine except for the quick reddening of her face. "Now, are you going to keep groping poor Miss Fio there or are you going to drink?" Luna smirked again, teasing both Fio and the Queen for the woman's poor hand placement. "Not that it matters much to me I suppose, since I'm not the one Fio is going to get mad at for it." Luna was definitely drunk. Her typical careful word choosing was seemingly gone. Hell, Leo probably knew what would happen if she got too much more drunk. It wouldn't affect many of anyone in the room except the women.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Marduk Swordwind The Roundup --- Marduk thought to himself on the matter at hand, namely the beast that the duo was set to hunt. Rather than a Fomorian, it was a dragon. While he wasn't quite certain if his ancestry bore beast slayers of any variety, he also knew that his Ancestor would more than likely have slain a few dragons in their long lifetime. Still, even if that weren't the case, adding "Dragon Slayer" to his pedigree of titles may be a tempting enough reward for his participation in their battle. "A dragon, huh?" The warrior stroked his chin at the proposition. "Heh... it is nothing to me. The Swordwind will slay all, no matter how many wings or claws it may sport. Very well, I shall aid you in this endeavor. However, my help does not come without a cost." Marduk looked at his cloak and boots. While the enchantment they carried has proven quite useful for its more subtle properties, even he would admit the protection afforded would likely be inadequate if he wished to face off greater foes. Such artefacts of clothing also did not seem to draw the ire of his foes. He'd need something grander to denote his status and pedigree, for those he would face in battle to truly fear the Swordwind. In other words, Marduk wished to upgrade his drip. "I shall lay my first claim on its hide, and you may have what is left of it." The Elf declared, as he meandered onto his horse. "Well? Shall we head off then?" As he would begin to set off towards their destination, Marduk could only chuckle to himself as he imagined how mighty of a foe a dragon would be. "You lot think it's a Fomorian, as well? A... Fomoriwyvern, perhaps?"</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Forest near Harzel Mid-Morning --- Chulainn@Guy0fV4lor@Crimson Paladin --- "A-a dragon!?" The boy shouted. "But…but aren't…they all dead? Didn't the King kill all of them…?" "I-I knew it! There was no way that thing was a fomorian! I told you, brother!" "If its a dragon how can we kill it?" The boy asked. "You seem awfully knowledgeable about them…" He'd question Reinhardt as the two would gratefully take up the knights offer of a ride. The two would settle in behind Reinhardt as the group would set off, leaving the burned village behind. "...ehe, mister that was terrible." The girl chuckled at Marduk's less than clever joke, offering him a small smile as they'd head out. Assuming there was nothing else that they wished to do here, the trio would set off. The ruins of the village behind them. The children contented themselves with talking to Reinhardt, or idly chattering to the knights. The boy seemed to take a particular liking towards Ethelred, now that the shock of the initial meeting wore off he seemed to think the icy powers and armor was rather cool. It was about when they were halfway through the forest that they would stumble on something of an obstacle. Some ways down the road in the direction they were going, was a group of knights. Wearing fairly stereotypical chainmail and armor covered by a tabard bearing the crest of Harzelslack. "What kind of children just run off? I'd be surprised if they haven't become fomorian dinner already." A red-headed, young looking girl near the front would say. She was wearing full plate armor, a well crafted blade at her side and seemed fairly important from the fact she was effectively leading the procession of about six knights, including herself and a purple haired fellow next to her. "That's enough, Gráinne." He was dressed in black, well put together armor with a cloak hanging from his shoulders. "Just because we've finally arrested that Black knight doesn't mean we can let our guard down. Whatever fomorian it is out here still. It concerns me that she went so quietly when she's fought us at every other turn." "Haa, really Lonan?" The redhead replied with a grunt. "She was half dead when we found her, she's probably just waiting to escape and taking advantage of our merciful laws. We should just execute her already." "The law exists for a reason." He'd reply, whacking the redhead on the back of her head. "She may be a criminal, but I will not besmirch the law laid down by the King. Now think. If she of all people were half dead from this Fomorian, then how do you think we'd fare if we ran into it? Keep your mouth shut and eyes and ears open for those kids." …now, who could they be talking about? Regardless, unless they hadn't been spotted quiet yet by the party as it had stopped and the five seemed to be discussing their next moves. The children seemed to shrink a bit at the Harzel knights appearance, trying to make themselves a bit hidden behind Reinhardt's frame. --- Location: Southern Giants Rest Early Night --- @Pyromania99 "Bweh~" Sorcha's head would subsequently meet the table as she'd faceplant from the unexpected impact of Fio's sword. Her hands released the small witch from her grip, allowing her to wiggle free and finally put some distance between the queen and herself. Not that the Queen seem bothered. "Ahahaha~!" She'd sit up, laughing boisterously at Fio's bonking, seemingly completely unfazed by it. "How many times is that? Twice so far?" She'd laughed again, in response to being bonked a second time in fairly recent memory. "Ehehe you're lucky I'm drunk and your cute or I might start taking offense." She'd immediately turn around, waving down a server. "HEY! ANOTHER DRINK!" She'd turn towards Fio offering her an excitable grin and passing the witch the mug she had been holding. "That's the spirit!" Sorcha would grab another mug as the server would bring them. "Lets make this more interesting too! A bet! Luna has to let me eat whatever I want if I win!" --- Heading down the small hallway Niall would quietly make his way towards the room the Fomorian had disappeared into. Her back was currently towards him, her white dress brushing against the ground as she'd make small movements, seemingly stitching something together on the table in front of her. Niall had to get a bit closer to see exactly, but what he saw probably didn't do much for his assumptions about this Fomorian. A human body. Fresh, from the looks of it. She had made several long incisions on it, practiced. Medical. Precision. "Hehe, almost ready. Once I finish you I can get onto that big guy in there…" She'd chuckle to herself. "But first…" The dark skinned woman would then, move from the end of the table with the head of the body towards the opposite, conveniently furthest from Niall. "You are something alright, heh." She'd bend over, attempting to lift what was likely the axe the Tuatha had mentioned. A large thing, bigger than a man was made from steel and bone it seemed. As she'd attempt to lift it, she'd make small grunts of exertion, clearly the weapon being far too heavy for her. But after a few moments, she'd manage to lift it over her head….and promptly swing it downwards with a little battle cry. "Ahaha-wah!" And promptly nearly sling her own smaller body into the nearby wall from the momentum and heft of the weapon. "Gweh…so heavy." She'd drag the axe and prop it up against the wall behind her. "Whew…maybe I'll dismantle you and see if I can get some of that giant magic myself…" She'd go back to the body, back still turned towards Niall. As long as he was quiet, or perhaps if he even could make a distraction of some sort again…even riskier, perhaps he could ambush her. She seemed pretty busy doing...something with the body, but he couldn't quite see what.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna had to stiffle a laugh at the Queen's expense. She probably should have stopped Fio from bonking the Queen on the head, but she couldn't help but feel that the Queen deserved that much. Still, adding some stakes to the challenge? "An interesting proposition, your majesty. Very well, I accept. Though, what do I get if I win? I already eat properly so I don't have anything to gain from the same reward as you." Luna said, putting down the rest of her drink and waving over for another one. "And, if Fio is joining, what does she get if she wins? You not groping her in front of everyone might be a good start." The woman mused as she was notably getting really red around the face. The other drink came quickly and Luna downed the entire mug, slamming the vessel on the table in front of her. "Perhaps if either of us win, we get to lead your hand in a dance." The woman smiled a small bit as she seemed very confident in what she said. None of the soldiers around looked much too surprised at this shift in tone though. Luna turned to the tiny mage before speaking. "Unless Fio wants me to lead her in a dance instead." The Knightess was definitely drunk, though she hasn't thrown the towel in yet as she waved another drink over for herself.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "I-idiot!" Sleeping face? Fio hadn't thought about that, but the Queen had totally gotten to see how she looked while she was asleep! Her cheeks reddened immediately, her small hands clenched into fists at her sides as she silently fumed for a moment, glaring at the Queen. But it was clear something was a little off. The normally cheerful Sorcha didn't quite seem so upbeat as usual. That wistful stare out into the mountains wasn't like her, and although she'd teased the Sword Witch, at the same time she seemed rather melancholy. It wasn't the useful unbecoming royal she had become familiar with. She hesitated for a few moments, before inhaling deeply and approaching. "I joined your court in order to learn, so it's only natural I'd want to hear a story like that," the petite girl replied as she took a seat beside the Queen, brushing her hair back as she did, "It'd be foolish to think I'd pass up such an opportunity." It simply wasn't something she could ever ignore.</s> <|message|>Niall Ulchabhán They're tougher than before... As Niall noticed this, his tactic switched. Taking them down for good was not necessarily the tactic, and he began simply dodging, parrying and pushing them out of the way with hilt hits, kick and shoving if he could not lands a decisive blow instead. This allowed him to make progress and soon the two had reached the gate. As the Tuatha began his ascent, Niall did not know what to think. His absence left the Knigth in a precarious position having to fend off this many enemies and they were closing in. With no other choice, Niall called forth the powers in his enchanted Lance yet again but to another extent this time. Seemingly coming out of the Lance's bit where the metal met the shaft, a black mist began leaking and rapidly expanding until Niall and his would be attackers were completely engulfed. From the outside, it literally looked like a mist descended on the area but it was dark and impossible to see through. From inside, it looked as if clouds suddenly covered the moon and they were in the pitch black of night. It did absorb light to a certain extent by any torches or light magic could help enemies see even in this magical darkness. Niall, as for him, had his enhanced vision and yet remained on the defensive for now. If anyone came forward to attack him, he would counter but otherwise was only playing for time. "Whatever you seem to be doing, do it now friend before we are completely surrounded !"</s> <|message|>Marduk Swordwind Dragonspotting --- Marduk was quite annoyed with the situation, all things considered. From who he was forced to work with to who they needed to free, Marduk knew for sure he was dishonoring his ancestors in some way. He kept it in the back of his mind for now, however, as they had a bigger foe to take care of. Indeed, they still needed to figure out how to deal with the dragon. The fortification could serve as a potential point for them to fight the beast at. The primary concern was the civilians also all being here. Given the destructive capabilities of the dragon's attacks, it's likely they'll be risking more lives luring it to the fort than just going after it on their own. At the same time, they were a man short if they wanted to fight the dragon on their own. They needed to break that Fomorian-corrupted woman out if they wanted a chance at that, but at that point, fighting the beast on their own was moot. "Luring it here is stupid, unless you don't mind the blood of those kids we saved on your hands. Would prove me right of your ilk if you really want to go with that plan, at least." Marduk began, heavy with his words as usual. "The two of us killing the dragon also is a fool's errand. Sure, we have a weapon that may help us fight that beast, but we're also a man down. We also don't have that Harzel knight with his fancy water tricks to help us. "Unless you want to be responsible for more innocent lives lost, the better plan would be to focus on breaking your cursed 'knightess' out. One of us could start a distraction while the other sneaks in to break her out in the chaos. After all, the knights of the fort are definitely on edge. If all their focus is directed at one direction, they surely won't be focusing on guarding some prisoner if they're called to battle. "Alternatively, we can just talk to 'em again. Seems like it worked the last time, and we do have a few others in there that recognize us. I spotted that Harzel brat alongside the two actual brats. They could make a good case for us. If they don't, we can just cause a ruckus and go with the other plan."</s> <|message|>Ethelred "I didn't mean lure the dragon in while the refugees are there," Ethelred replied, audibly irritated at the elf's biting words. "Nor did I mean catching the soldiers unaware and unprepared. I suppose I misspoke before, but I meant cooperating with the local knights and garrison to take it down, giving them time to prepare and move the non-combatants to safety. Assuming, of course, they'd agree." He paused to compose himself, then continued. He's right about fighting the dragon, if it was just the two of us, it might be a difficult fight. Considering how the last battle went, I'd might as well be fighting the dragon by myself. Ethelred had to bite his lip to not say that aloud. He knew he was downplaying the elf's role in the battle, but he was still quite irritated. "As for breaking her out, it could be done, but while a big enough distraction might divert their attention long enough for you to get into the fort, it wouldn't hold their attention long enough for you to figure out where she his, get in, free her, and get out without being seen by the now-alert guards. There's too much that can go wrong." Besides, he was under orders to not cause a major diplomatic incident with Harzelslack, and angering an entire fort might do that. "But..." he said, pausing again and contemplating, now calmed down somewhat. "Lonan did say that he needed to plan how to deal with the wyvern, and told us we were welcome to help. Yes...I think talking to them like you said is our best bet. If we can convince Grainne or Lonan to let us in the fort, we'd be able to look around and wait for an opportunity to break her out stealthily, while also giving us the option to cooperate with the Harzel forces in dealing with the dragon." Ethelred rode ahead, making himself known as he approached Grainne's procession. "Greetings, Lady Grainne, was it?" he asked, not entirely sure what her noble title was. "I am looking for Sir Lonan, to provide him further assistance in dealing with the dragon. Might I find him at the fort?" He wasn't particularly excited to be dealing with Grainne, from what he had observed, she was a rather abrasive person, and Lonan wasn't around to rebuke her. Chulainn</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "Father let you come?" Luna said, questioning it a small bit. Soon enough, however, it was followed by a small smile. "Hah. That dear Father of mine. I am rather glad to see you as well, Sucaria." Luna said, leaning on her maid a small bit. "But yes, I would appreciate if you could guide my way." The Knightess said, as she went along with the maid. She was mostly silent on the way there, aside a sneeze and a small cough. After they arrived, it finally dawned on Luna that they were definitely not in the barracks, though how it didn't dawn on her prior confused her a small bit. Perhaps she was more than a little tipsy after all. Still, she didn't say no. With no doubt would she not find a way to get to the barracks on her own so this much was fine for now. It was fine though. She was content to fall asleep here... At least, that's how it was suppose to be. Instead, she found that she was being undressed by her maid. If she wasn't already a slight bit red from the drink, it would be showing now as Sucaria began to remove parts of her armor. "Ah.. Ah! S-sucaria..." She grabbed her maid's hand. "There's no need to assist me for a bath. I can handle it fine." Luna mentioned as she brought the back of the maid's hand to her lips again, kissed it and lowered it whilst still holding it. As she lowered Sucaria's hand though, she made a small stumble with her foot but caught herself. Realistically, she probably couldn't handle herself very well.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Even if the information wasn't entirely groundbreaking, it was only natural for someone who prided herself as a knowledgeable scholar to take great interest in the story the Queen had told. Indeed, Fio listened quietly, taking in every single detail that she could. It was hardly a tale that was entirely new, and yet some details caught her attention. The influence of the White Dragon, for instance, being so much more direct then she'd previously heard. However, the core ideas of the tale appeared to be the same as many of the others she had heard previously. "It's difficult to tire of the tales of the King," replied Fio, nodding her head slightly, "So it's fine if you want to share them. I'm willing to listen." She paused for a moment. "Not that there's any special reason, it's just that I'm curious," she quickly asserted. The Sword Witch wasn't soft and willing to act as a confident for any painful emotional struggles. At least, she didn't want to admit to any willingness to do so on her part. Nor did she think she was particularly good at it. "... In any case, there's no ignoring that fight must have been painful," she continued, eyes drifting down towards her lap, "Losing people like that..." Fio's hands clutched slightly at the hem of her skirt. "The only thing someone can do in a situation like that is to carry on the memory of the people who are gone." For a few more moments, she didn't say anything. No, the petite girl's thoughts drifted elsewhere, at least for an instant. "... But, at the same time, I've always felt like stories like that reminded me that the King was a human being," she added, "Not some perfect ruler who never felt anything, who just sought victory for Albion no matter the cost. Even considering how it ended, the King fought for Albion because of his heart, not a lack of it." She paused for a moment. "... I... guess what I'm saying is that, er... that you shouldn't..." Fio trailed off, now far more furiously fiddling with the hem of her skirt. Trying to offer those helpful words, it was way too difficult...</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Harzel fort Mid-Morning --- Chulainn@Crimson Paladin --- Grainne simply shrugged as Ethelred left and went back to doing whatever she was doing before, though she didn't get too far before Marduk showed back up. "Ha?! Pipsqueak!? I'll kick your ass, assfa-" She'd begin, her usual fiery temperament shining through and almost making her miss the following words…which immediately shut her up. "-ace?" Grainne immediately fell silent, though her glare and general agitated temperament didn't change as Marduk made his case. It was clear that as much as she detested the idea, she really couldn't find a logical reason to turn these people down. As Lonan's squire, she was technically in charge here as she acted as Lonan's sort of…second in command as far as things went. "...tch, alright fine. But do anything funny, and I'll have you in shackles and tossed into the prison!" She'd bark. "Also, I'm not showing you the prisons! I still don't trust you lot but if you can beat that freaky scaly thing fine…" She glanced to the side, frowning a moment before her usual fiery visage returned. "Come on then! And keep that weird horse of yours outside!" It seemed as though they had successfully convinced her for now, though it didn't do much for her mood all things considered. --- Location: Southern Giants Rest Late Night --- "...heh. Why so nervous? You already slept with your queen, you shouldn't be so reserved now." Sorcha grinned, placing a hand on top of Fio's head and ruffling her hair affectionately as she'd stand up, hair gently swaying in the breeze as the sun would just start to peek over the horizon, illuminating the world in a brilliant, dazzling orange glow of morning light. "Thanks, fio. Sometimes…its hard…hard to just…live up to him, you know? I always have to ask myself if this is what he wanted, or what if I do something wrong? It doesn't help with the…particularly vivid memories, especially ones regarding…" Sorcha visibly shuddered, exhaling and shaking her head as she'd extend a hand to pull Fio to her feet. "Mhm, no. That's a story for another time. For now Niall and Gabriel should have returned and the others should be awake now. Lets get some breakfast and get to a strategy meeting, hm?" Once either Fio accepted her hand or not, Sorcha would hop down onto the balcony with a smile. "I wonder if there will be any rumors of a queen and a mage meeting for a drunken tryst~?" --- "Hm? Mistreating?" Sucaria tilted her head to the side, seeming to think for a moment. "...hm if I say yes will you be upset?" Sucaria responded with a question of her own as she'd run the cleaning cloth across Luna's skin, still careful to keep any drops of crimson both out of the water and off of Luna's skin expression falling slightly as Luna mentioned being away for a significant amount of time. "...mhm, Gabriel hits on me still occasionally." Sucaria commented. "But other than that…no, not really?" The half fomorian would slowly use her hands to scrub Luna's chest and apply some warm, soapy water to the rest of her shoulders and muscles, delicate but firm hands also giving her a massage for her fatigued muscles. "...just wondering…" She'd say, perhaps a bit forlorn sounding. --- "Mmf-" Nialls foot met the large mans face and with enough force launched himself backwards and landed right onto a walkway built into the wooden palisade. "-ha…agile little vermin." The bandit harrumphed, hefting his hammer over his shoulders. "Hm…lets see how you handle…this. You got that thing ready, Fomorian brat?" "The false eye? Nah. It'll be ready by morning, though." "Hmph…unfortunate-" There was a trumpeting sound not far out from the gate. "...Here she comes! Jump high, owl!" The tuatha shouted with a laugh. Niall had only seconds to react before he'd feel the air around him chill considerably, the thundering sounds of hoof falls heading towards their direction. Another trumpeting call as something would shortly crash right into the gate! The tuatha followed his own advice, leaping high as his enhanced strength could force him into the air while the gate itself was completely shattered into many large pieces as an absolutely mammoth of a…mammoth barreled right through the gate. "Atta girl, Shabbi!" The Tuatha would land right on the Mammoth's back in a saddle as the creature would ram its tusks right into Annagan. "Get on Owl!" "What in the queens holy knickers…" Gabriel was peeking through the gate from the side as he watched the mammoth ram right through the gate.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna frowned when she was asked if she would be upset if Sucaria's answer was yes. "Of course I would be upset if someone mistreated you!" The knightess said with a frown, trying to ignore the maid's hands running over her body. "You're part of our house now, and I won't have any of our own mistreated." In Sucaria's case, Luna was somewhat worried based on the maid's heritage that some few in the house might hold grievances but it seemed to be a non-issue in her absence. "One could say that Gabriel's actions are the opposite of mistreating in the sense I was originally thinking of... But to hit on a maid as well... It looks like I'll have to teach both of my brothers a lesson tomorrow. After Gabriel returns." Luna then held back her voice as she felt Sucaria getting a little close to certain part of her torso she'd prefer her not. That aside, she couldn't quite tell why there was such a sad tone to her maid's voice. "Hmmm... I believe you've cleaned me up well enough, Sucaria. Would you be so kind as to help me dry off? I should probably sleep soon." Luna asked as she rubbed her temple and realized just how tired she was. As soon as she hit the bed, she'd probably fall right asleep.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Ethelred "There's a lot to tell," Ethelred begun. "First, the most pressing matter. While we were in Redwater Point, the town was attacked by Fomorians and Od vanished in the chaos. We believe those fiends must have abducted her while we were busy fighting." I wanted us to go after her but...we had a mission." With those last few words, a light, visible mist emanated from his helmet as he exhaled. He sought to remain stoic and professional to Sorcha, but it still upset him. "As for the mission itself," Ethelred continued after taking a deep breath, "We encountered a group of Harzelslack soldiers led by a knight named Sir Lonan, who revealed to us that Elnith had been captured by them after she had battled the beast. It was at this point that our foe made itself known." Ethelred glanced over each of the knights before returning his attention to Sorcha, briefly pausing before continuing his narration. "It wasn't a Fomorian. It was a wyvern- a massive black wyvern, spouting fire from its mouth and holes all over its body. Intelligent, and capable of speaking. We fought it with Sir Lonan's help, and during the battle, Elias managed to temporarily incapacitate it, but he received a full blast of its power. All that remained of him was his sword. Clearly, it wasn't enough to keep him down, although at the time I believed him to be dead." Ethelred wondered if Sorcha knew about this power that Elias possessed, to come back from being reduced to nothing. "At this point Elias and I were separated, so I believe he can describe his side of what happened better than I could. For my part, Lonan directed me to the border fort where Elnith was being held. The man was too loyal to Harzelslack law to actually release her, but he was an honorable man who clearly wanted to help me in his own way. I managed to get Elnith out without raising a fuss, and during this, the fort was attacked by a group of ordinary wyverns. Suffice to say, they weren't in any position to object to her escape. Just as we managed to kill the smaller wyverns, Lonan shows up with Elias, naked as the day he was born, with the black wyvern in pursuit." Ethelred paused to let Sorcha take this part of the story in. "The four of us attacked it, and finally managed to slay the creature. The Harzelslack forces kept the carcass, and Sir Lonan dropped the matter of Elnith." Ethelred did not mention the elf that had aided them. Perhaps it was just because the detail didn't seem important, or perhaps it was his frustration with the elf's attitude towards him and his curse. "As for the creature's motivation, it claimed to be the herald of a returned king, if I am remembering its words correctly. Elias may have heard more of it, he battled it longer than I did," he stated, glancing towards Reinhardt, expecting him to fill in the gaps. @Pyromania99@FrogRFlowR@Guy0fV4lor</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch ... Had she done something wrong? Her intention was to further their cause. By taking this Fomorian, physically unimposing as she was, as a prisoner. Surely, the information they could learn from her would be valuable, wouldn't it? And yet the Queen's reaction... Not that Fio cared if the Queen was angry at her or anything like that! Far from it! Besides, her nature still wasn't completely confirmed! And... Fio clutched her fists at her sides, taking a deep breath. What's done was done. She had already come this far and taken this prisoner back, there was no backtracking simply because of Sorcha's reaction. Besides, she had preparations to make. The most concise manner of reaching her goal involved water. While the stars could also be of assistance, and would have been her preferred method, given the prisoner's position in a tightly-sealed dungeon it was far easier to get water down there then starlight. Then she had to spend some time purifying it, ensuring its quality was high enough for what she intended. Then it was a matter of getting some assistance to bring a huge, shallow container of purified water down into the dungeon. She obviously had no way of doing it on her own, after all. This wasn't even halfway through. Next came the chalk. First, the circles around the prisoner. Carefully, carefully drawing them out, taking advantage of the fact the Fomorian was so restrained she couldn't move to construct her elaborate ritual symbol. Then, the same process once again, this time surrounding the water. Needless to say, she was thankful this type of chalk was resistant to liquids. This process was dangerous. But it also meant that lying was virtually impossible. Their prisoner would have no ability to hide the truth from her. Navigating to find said truth, on the other hand, would be somewhat more difficult. Next was what she had to do to prepare herself. The cursed nature of a fomorian made this process dangerous. But counteracting that curse before it even had an opportunity to potentially affect her would be the ideal countermeasure. As such, Fio's next path was to remove all her clothing but her undergarments(demanding no-one enter the room once she had) and painting purification sigils directly onto her skin. Using a mirror, she painted them everywhere she could manage. Her arms, her legs, her belly... the only place she couldn't reach effectively was her back. Her belly especially tickled, but she managed to keep herself under control. Then she had to let it dry, as to ensure the water wouldn't wash it away. Now for the final step. The petite witch stood beside the water. She glanced at the heavily-restrained prisoner, then took a deep breath. "Sura." The blade materialized in the air above her head, floating and glowing with blue light. "Oh deep pool, may I sink into the memories of another. May I be immersed in past thoughts, past feelings. May I see the truth that lies in what I have never seen. But she has." The light from the blade began to shed, falling into the water below, imbuing it with a similar glow... "... Submerge." With that, she stepped into the water, lowering herself until she lay down, feeling its coolness against her skin... She had taken every measure she possibly could, but she still had to be careful. Fio would see everything she possibly could within the Fomorian's memories.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna was concerned with what her brother had mentioned and, perhaps, she'd ask Her Majesty when they have some time if she knew anything about the emblem. Well, for now, they had started to leave before Sucaria intruded and invited herself along. Not that Luna was sad or upset about that. Having a childhood friend nearby would be reassuring for some point. When they got back to Airedale, however, they had a small get together between their group and Ethelred's and Reinhardt. Queen Sorcha had asked both groups to share what they had and, truthfully, she wondered if Ethelred and Reinhardt didn't pull the short straw in this situation. And Od disappering.... Was odd. What's done is done. What woefully could have been only Ethelred surviving was both him and Reinhardt so, that much was good. It was her turn now, "Well, let me tell a small bit of what happened on our end. As you know, we headed towards my family's territory and we met Niall on our way to what's effectively a patrol center of operations." Luna said, trying to remember every little detail as she could be neglecting to mention some of the more scandalous things such as her chasing the Queen to eat her veggies or her drunken flirting. "As we arrived, there was open conflict between the forces my elder brothers led and many bandits. We contended with a strong fomorian before he decided he just didn't want to fight and left." "We spent the night in the fort while Niall and the younger of my brothers scouted out the enemy base. From what he described at the time it seemed horrific and it was in a Wasteland. I didn't want to believe it until the three of us and some of my men assaulted the base. The majority of the men I took died and the bandits... Did not seem normal. They were stronger than they should have been." Luna seemed remorseful of the men that died once again before she cleared it from her system. "This was only mad worse when their leader turned into a monster, a Fomorian? In front of our very eyes. It took me and mostly Niall become a battered mess, by we dispatched him once Fio had subdued her own enemy. After investigating the camp, it looked like they were eating a Fomorian or... Fey. I think, if we didn't assault the base when we did, all those bandits were going to turn into Fomorians." Luna mentioned, making a guess based on the leader turning into one and their unnatural strength. She seemed done with her part at least. "If you have anything to add Niall, feel free." With that, she walked over to Elnith to inspect her burns a small bit. "And Lady Elnith, if you wouldn't mind, I can assist your in healing in some small ways. While not as powerful as what Od could do... I can at least hasten the healing process a small bit."</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Ethelred "Yes, we might be walking right into the heart of their territory," Ethelred replied to Elnith as they walked up to the woods. "With a little freezing, however, their home territory should become my home territory. I'll err, try to not freeze either of you." It was good that Elnith was on board with the risky proposition of marching into the woods to take the fight to the Unseelie. "As for your questionn, I've fought them before," he claimed. "Long ago, I thwarted the odd petty scheme by the Unseelie every now and then. Then there was when I slew the one that turned me into...this." Ethelred trailed off, worrying that he had cast a shadow over this conversation. "Since Sorcha freed me, I've crossed paths with them or their proxies on occasion." Ethelred didn't normally bring up his curse in conversation. His feelings on it were mixed- despite the physical sensations that it denied him through his imprisonment within his icy armor, he couldn't deny that his new form granted considerable boons, giving this once-inconsequential hedge knight the power to serve as one of Sorcha's knights alongside the scions of heroes like Luna and Elias. It couldn't have been what that Unseelie had planned for him- it must have gone wrong somehow, perhaps when the creator of the curse perished at Ethelred's hand. --- Later in the day, after hours of no sign of the Unseelie, the trio heard a shout. Ethelred followed the cry, expecting the others to be right behind him. He would need to remain cautious- it was already established that the Unseelie were luring the people away with singing, so it wouldn't be too far-fetched for them to feign a cry for help. When he came to where the cry came from, he saw several vile plant creatures, a common Unseelie proxy from what he knew, toying with a human, mumbling something about a game. "We need to save that man!" Ethelred spoke to the others. Could it be a trap? Yes. Was it their duty to intervene regardless? Yes. With that in mind, Ethelred dismounted (not wanting to risk getting thrown from his horse by a maliciously placed root, which wasn't impossible given who they were up against) and charged the monsters, aiming to skewer one or two of them.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch So rather then having to go through the initial ritual, making contact with the goddess had considerably streamlined the approach to viewing the Fomorian's memories. It was a surreal experience, and the strange drowsy sensation that afflicted the Sword Witch had likely muted her reaction. After all, it wasn't every day someone made direct contact with the divine, even one who had been in decline. "Then, you'll see me again," replied Fio, looking back over her shoulder as she turned to face the archway that the Goddess of the Deep Lake, "There's no way I'm going to let any information I can get out of her slip through my fingers." And she had absolutely no intention of letting a goddess who could influence dreams scare her awake. That definitely wasn't on her to-do list. "... And... thank you, again," she added, still turned away as she walked through the arch.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna accepted the second mug but neglected to drink from it. "Worst case, Sucaria, we'll finish up what we need to do as fast as we can and get out of here, alright?" She said before taking a sip and looking over at Sarah's fight as she finished it up and headed over. The Knightess set her drink down and stood. As this Lady Sarah walked over, Luna couldn't help but meet her eyes and stare. That is, until the elf started speaking. Long blonde hair, "H-handsome?" Luna repeated back, slightly confused by the statement. "But, well, I'm Lunalel Lightsword. Just call me Luna, Please. This is my Maid, Sucaria." Luna said, slightly hesitating to shake the elf's hand before accepting it. As the other elf started to compliment her footwork, Luna retracted her hand trying not to seem rude. Then Sarah mentioned the elves' sing and cheering was probably an odd sight. "It's not too odd to me. That's basically how we are out here too. I little more roof over our head though." The Knightess said, smiling. "I'll take it that you described whoever you were looking for, correct?" Luna questioned, looking the elf in the eyes for some seconds before blushing and averting her gaze to the surroundings. "What brings you all to this place in particular? I can't say I've heard anything good about this place though I've come to understand you had someone to meet? Perhaps we could help you look for them? It should be fairly simple if whoever it is happens to be in Airedale. Her Majesty might be able to help if I cannot."</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna recovered from having her blade deflected in time to notice Sarah attempting to flank her. The Knightess would have difficulty keeping up with the speed of a well trained elf and at this point, she wasn't highly confident in her strength against this woman. Well, if the elf was going to try getting around her, Luna didn't mind too much. She kept her shield high and defended the back of her head as she hunkered down and spun on her heal to her right, swinging her blade low attempting to slice at the elf's thigh and following up with an additional slam from her shield into Sarah. Keeping the elf on the defensive was the best thing Luna could do at the moment.</s> <|message|>Lugh Location: Nids End --- Sarah managed to bring her blade low, steel clanging together as the elf deflected Luna's strike. She'd smile, seemingly none to concerned as Luna would attempt to bash her shield into her midsection, sending her stumbling backwards, though only briefly. The elf dug her heels into the ground, shifting her stance to quickly and easily regain her balance. In retaliation, the elvish warrior would grab make to grab Luna's wrist, pulling her close and ram the pommel of her blade into the other warrior's head. Location: Hjrelskins Fall Paladin --- Seeing that he was in fact, not fine from the apparent singing fey, Lugh would quickly grab the cloth from Luana, stuffing it quickly into his ears. If nothing else, he was quick on the uptake and to rectify a mistake of his. "...that is a horrid song." Elnith replied, holding the side of her head and cupping one of her ears. "Don't worry, Ethelred." She'd offer the frozen knight a smile. "Whatever that thing is…we can handle it." She'd begin walking forward, shortly followed by Lugh as the group began moving deeper into the forest. Making an abrasive noise seemed to assuage the song only slightly…at least the singing was both a blessing as it was difficult to deal with - it made it extremely easy to track the source of the singing. All they had to do was…let it lead, and not become enraptured with its voice. Deeper into the forest it would lead them, past more beds of fey flowers. Some trees seemed to have been twisted in the form of human faces upon their trunks, but it was likely just a trick of the light, surely. Some of the impish green creatures would run across their path, but ultimately not bother them as they ventured further. Until the point where the small group would find themselves standing before what could only be described as some sort of large tree, reaching high into the forest, a bit taller than most trees while its trunk was easily large as a house. Twisted, gnarled roots dug into the ground, licking up nutrients from it while its branches were barren of any leaves. Its bark was moving as though it was breathing, steady, rhythmically and it was clear the singing was coming from within this tree's interior. It was clear if nothing else, this tree was the source of the singing, but it didn't seem to bother or acknowledge them if it were even capable of it. Airedale Prison --- "This is torture, what else would it be? You beast, you absolute lecherous beast-bweh~" Cethlann was silenced by having her coat tossed back onto her, though it was a bit harder to get it back on then take it off with the restraints covering the fomorian in place. "And now I'm…clothed again. Tsk, for a witch you sure are whimsical. You want me one second then the next you don't. Did I not squirm enough~?" Cethlann would fall silent as there came a knock at the door to the cells. "Fio? Its Vyrell," The friendly, familiar voice of the knight, muffled from the otherside of the door seemed a bit concerned. "I've bought food for the prisoner…are you alright? You've been in there for quite some time and the guard seemed a bit distressed...I've also bought a change of clothes, if you so happen to need it. Call it intuition."</s> <|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit "That tree looks spoopy." — Luana Roycroft @Crimson Paladin Luana tipped her head when Ethelred placed his hands on the side of his head. "You're going to cover your ears? But isn't your helmet in the way?" She shrugged her shoulders. "Well, suit yourself." Her head snapped over to Lugh when he snatched the ear plugs out of her hand. "Yea, something's better than nothing, isn't it?" Luana continued to mimic her fellow knights' behavior. Though it was difficult to do from the back. Ethelred was wearing a helmet, and the earplugs prevented her from hearing him well. Elnith wasn't any more helpful. Her billowing hair made her face impossible to read. Lugh might have been a safe person to mimic, but his short stature and bushy scalp also obscured his face from Luana's position. Was pulling your hair back out of style? Did obscuring your face give some advantage when fighting the enemy? Were thick bangs just "in" this year? She could make an exception for Ethelred and Elnith because one was wearing a noggin protector and the other was a woman. But little Lugh had no reason to grow out his hair like that. Though if it grew out enough, maybe it would cover his ears and he could pretend to be a plant. He'd need to dye it a bit, but it was workable. Maybe it was okay that he was growing his hair like that. Still didn't help Luana's case. It didn't take Luana a moment to know that there was something up with that tree. Her imagination immediately got to work thinking of nightmare scenarios. They walk into the tree, one at a time, and a series of blades come out of the walls and dice them up. Or maybe the tree would draw them in and then crush them with a single chomp. Perhaps the trunk of the tree ran deep into the earth where a great beast waited to devour them. Her grip tightened on her spear. Her lips closed. Her brow furrowed. "You're going down!" She charged to the front of the group and hurled her spear into the air. Poets would write about the speed of her throw, or how it cut through the air, but it was on par for an experienced spear thrower. Unless the tree moved, the spear would continue its arc and smack into the trunk.</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred wasn't entirely sure if he was seeing what he thought he was, or the song was causing his eyes to play tricks on him. His ears, however, were quite insistent this massive tree was the source of the song. Lugh did mention that the Unseelie can disguise themselves as trees, he thought as he looked at this bizarre tree. He didn't see a face or mouth from which the sound emanated, but its bark seemed to be moving like skin and the sound was definitely coming from here. Judging by the gnarled roots, his best current guess was that it was feeding on its victims. The Druid wasted no time, and attacked the tree almost immediately. Ethelred didn't know if stabbing it would have any effect, but he opted to do the same. He raised his lance and drove it into the tree's bark and attempted to freeze it. He hoped that it'd at least cause the tree enough pain to cease its singing. "Elnith, Lugh, help us silence this thing!" @Rune_Alchemist</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna smirked slightly as she managed to bash her shield into Sarah's midsection, only to have her own wrist grabbed by the elf and pulled in just as she had done earlier. Sarah brought the pummel of her sword forward to bash her forehead. Luna calculated her options as quick as she could as she attempted to pull her head to the side of the pummel. She couldn't bring her sword forward in time to parry or attempt an attack to make the elf back off... So instead, she jerked the wrist that Sarah was holding toward her person to throw her aim off and bring her closer. After that, she purposefully took a glancing blow to the side of her head. It hurt a hell of a lot, but she had to fight through for now. Luna then, with a new welt to the side of her head, would bring her head forward to headbutt the elf to make sure the elf lost grip on her wrist and, if successful on that front push Sarah back a small bit before taking the small bit of distance she created to try tackling the elf to the ground. She hoped that her stubborness in taking pain could out-do the elf's. Willpower starting to dwindle as her head continued to ache.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit "Something smells funny." — Luana Roycroft Paladin Only the most inexperienced hunter would miss a tree, but a fool would expect to fell it. Despite her distance, the foul tree managed to grab a hold of Luana's ankle. Normal trees had extensive root systems that ran beyond their branches, and that was the case here as well. More roots would join this one, and the branches would come for her after they were done with Elnith. Beyond her immediate problems, she could feel the effects of the magical scent. It was impossible to discern where it was coming from, but not what was responsible for it. While Luana's spear had been ineffective, it wasn't done yet. The handle grew roots like the tree it was thrust into. It had been blessed by druidcraft and was growing out of control. Luana had enchanted the spear's handle before she threw it, and had no idea where the spear would land in relation to the tree. So it grew out in all directions, twisting around anything it could get a hold of. A mere distraction for such a powerful foe, but a distraction was what Luana needed. Her body changed again. Not into a cat, but a skunk. Her small legs were easy to pull free from the roots, which had coiled around her human-sized ankle. However, her smaller ears were not able to accommodate her ear plugs in a comfortable way. She felt like her head was in a vice, but she would survive. Skunks aren't known for their speed, but they can move quickly if they need to. At the very least, Luana wasn't any slower than a human. She zigged and zagged, then zagged and zigged. Anything to make herself harder to grab. It would be problematic if she was caught a second time. She was headed for Elnith, but Lugh just happened to be on the way there. As she ran past the young squire… She sprayed him. If not listening to the music saved you from its effect, then maybe diluting the smell of the tree would also keep up everyone's strength. She needed to get to Elnith to spray her, and then she could assist Ethelred. Luana had elected to help him last because he appeared to be struggling the least.</s> <|message|>Ethelred The tree was not going down so easily. The first thing it did in response to its damage was release a scent from its interior, and it seemed to siphon Ethelred's strength. The second thing it did was attempt to move its branches and roots to attack the intruders. Roots emerged from the ground and grabbed Ethelred, but froze upon contact with his icy armor. While this was going on, the tree's singing became louder. Ethelred had no doubt that it was becoming desperate, so whatever they were doing was probably working. The knights were growing weaker with every second, however, and they needed to finish this thing off before they succumbed to the sound and smell. Ethelred grabbed his lance and began to pull on it like a lever, attempting to widen the crack and break the trunk apart. But would he have enough remaining strength to do so? As he attempted this, the Frozen Knight looked over at the others and witnessed the tree's overhanging branches twisting and converging, preparing to come down on Elnith. He did not see if she had noticed this incoming attack. "Elnith, above you!" he shouted as he continued to pull on his lance, desperately trying to make the tree give before the knights did. The air around him became frigid as his own desperate exertion became evident. @Rune_Alchemist</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch For a few moments, Fio said nothing. Of course she was a little concerned about the Queen's absence, but given how tired she was and what she'd just experience, the chief emotion she was now experiencing was annoyance above all else. Well, if she wasn't going to be here, then she could hardly complain when Fio marched over to the bed, grabbed one of her pillows, and say down, angrily hugging it against her chest. "Hmph," she let out a huff, her feet kicking back and forth irritably, "I go through all that effort and collect information we probably wouldn't have gotten any other way, and she can't even be here to hear it? That's not very royal behavior at all." Struggling in the mud and dealing with Cethlann's attitude, and now she couldn't even divulge her findings until Sorcha decided she felt like staying around? The pillow was squeezed tighter, Fio's feet kicking faster with her irritation. Of course. Of course she had to leave. At this point the Sword Witch was certain that the queen was completely fine, but now of all times, when she was this tired, when she was this annoyed, when she had to finish up dealing with all that, she couldn't even share what she'd worked so hard to earn. "Hmph."</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna found herself on her back and Sarah on top of her. She was about to struggle more when her head throbbed... Despite whatever was telling her to win... Well, she could accept a draw... for now. Luna clenched her teeth for some few seconds before relaxing, "A draw sounds... Fine to me." She looked up at Sarah and remembered just how many times she had slammed her head into hers. Not that she looked exceptionally frail, but Luna had wondered as she set her hand up to the elf's head. She used her healing magic to heal any head injuries that Sarah seemed to have before she seemed to realize the situation that she was in now. She quickly retracted her hand and her face turned bright red. "I-I... Umm, Lady Sarah... Would you mind... Standing? This position is a small bit embar-- Ugh..." Luna cut off her request as her head started to hurt a small bit. Well, that's what one would expect when they repeatedly slammed their hand into another person. Luna moved her hand up to her head and started to apply some healing magics to it. "But, uhh... Y-yea." The red faced human woman said after she started to heal her head up. She couldn't manage to look Sarah in the eyes.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit "Yay! Rune remembered to tag me!." — Luana Roycroft Paladin@Rune_Alchemist It wasn't uncommon for ambush predators to retreat. While it felt like the fighting had only begun, there was no reason to assume something that preyed on villagers would want to fight trained knights. Luana hadn't acknowledged Lugh, likely because she couldn't hear anything. The green cloth was still spilling out of the skunk's ears as it ran after the tree monster. Ethelred was likely the strongest out of all of them, but even he had to realize the situation wasn't great. It was trying to run off with him and seemed to be assisting with splitting itself even wider. Was this even their mark or merely a puppet controlled by some mastermind? There was no way to tell, but destroying it was a priority. The charging skunk gradually morphed into a larger shape. Its twig-like legs became furry logs, and a grizzly lumbered its way after the tree. A bear's claws were unlikely to do much damage to such a thick trunk, but it may have been enough to strip the bark off the roots for a good bite. The goal wasn't to put the tree out of commission, but to prevent it from running off. "Can anybody cook this thing?"</s> <|message|>Ethelred A horrific smell made its way into Ethelred's helmet and into his nostrils as he heard Lugh's protests. He glanced back just long enough to see the poor Tuatha near Luana, who had taken the form of a skunk. Poor Lugh, I hope that they have a magical way to get that smell out. Luana was probably trying to help counteract the tree's strange scent, but why didn't she just spray the tree instead, he wondered. He didn't have time to think too much about it- the much more pressing matter was that the tree seemed to cease as the trunk finally cracked. Once it did, however, the tree began to move again. A large mass of branches came towards Ethelred, compelling the Frozen Knight to withdraw his lance from the widened crack and attempt to move away from the attack- assuming the frozen roots around him did not maintain their hold. It was curious, perhaps perplexing when Ethelred saw the tree seemingly trying to widen its crack. Nothing could prepare him, however, for the sign of the tree trying to move away, seemingly in an attempt to escape its attackers. Normally the Frozen Knight didn't like to chase down fleeing enemies. But regardless of whether it was an Unseelie or simply something twisted by their curses, this tree was a threat to the good people of Albion, and it needed to be stopped before it could place its roots down elsewhere and consume more people. Assuming he escaped the tree's grip, he would pursue the tree and attempt to drive his lance into one of its roots in an attempt to stake it into the ground. Regardless of his situation, he would convey what was likely a rather pointless ultimatum, and one that'd probably appear rather silly to everyone involved. "You've taken your last innocent life, tree! If there's any intelligence in that trunk, you'd better surrender else we'll cut you down!" @Rune_Alchemist</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "She should be a lot more aware," complained Fio, her slender legs still kicking irritably as her grip on the pillow tightened, "It's not as if I think she's endangered, but just running off... hmph." The Sword Witch's irritable huff was followed by her pressing her face into the pillow, only her eyes now visible. "I go through all that effort, the least she could do is be here to say I did a good job..." Of course, her voice was so muffled by the pillow it would be very difficult to make out what she was saying in the first place. Indeed, even though she was exhausted, there was no way Fio would let anyone hear her complaining about a lack of praise from the Queen. She was supposed to be verifying if she was even who she said she was in the first place, not complaining about her not being around to praise her. Besides, it wasn't as if she cared in the first place! She definitely didn't. Clearly. When she fell onto her side on the bed, she hugged the pillow even harder. It was as if she was imagining it was Sorcha's head, and she was squeezing it until Sorcha apologized for just disappearing like that.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "What do you mean by that Lady Sarah...?" Luna started to ask before looking over at her maid. Sucaria, for her part, seemed normal. Mostly. There was just this hint of... Something. Luna couldn't quite put figure it out before Sucaria helped her out and suggested putting a healing salve on her head which. "Yea... That's not a bad idea, Sucari--a!?" The Knightess exclaimed as this Lady Sarah started to pull her back into the festivities. She wass suggesting to continue joining in on the festivities and in her semi-dizzy state, it was hard to really fight back being pulled along. Sucaria, for her part, did not want to stay here and said they needed to head back to Airedale. "Well, Sucaria, I won't take part in any more drinking of alcohol, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to stay with them to sleep before getting back on the road." That was when she remembered that Sucaria felt, odd, about this place. She frowned as she pondered it for a few seconds. "Hey, uhh, Lady Sarah, would you mind if I talk privately to Sucaria for a bit so we can discuss our plans?" She tried not to look the elf directly in the eyes as she asked, to avoid any more of these blushing incidents. Once the elf let her go, she went over to Sucaria. "Well, while you're applying the salve... Are you still having that bad feeling about this place and is that why you want to leave? If not, we probably should take a rest here while we can do so safely. If so... Well, we could get going."</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Ethelred The tree's reply to his demands answered one question. The tree was indeed an Unseelie, with all of its kind's twisted mockery of the concept of friendship. There was a much more dire concern than the nature of the malevolent tree- the knights had found themselves surrounded by the plant-like creatures from before. It would appear that Ethelred's previous worry that there were more of those things lurking around wasn't too far off. Now they'd have to fight both the plant creatures and the tree. They had finally come face to face with the corruption in these woods. Now it was their duty to cleanse the forest and make it safe again. "Look out!" Ethelred warned as he lunged away from the incoming tree. "Elnith, keep that tree's branches off us!" he shouted, reading his lance. "Lugh, Luana, don't let yourselves get separated!" He didn't know if there were more of those beasts concealed in the brush, and didn't want any of the knights to get cut off from the others. Staying close would keep them within reach of the tree, but he trusted in the skills of his companions to support one another. @BrokenPromise</s> <|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit "...What?" — Luana Roycroft Paladin@Rune_Alchemist Bears were a lot of things, but nimble wasn't one of them. Luana, deaf and biting onto the tree's roots, was not in a great position. The lunging tree smashed into her with its lunge and carried her through the air. A tree weighing several tons was about to come down on her chest. She had little time to recover, even less after getting her wind back. Her body began to change again. Her flesh glowed, but that glow was snuffled out under several tons of cursed bark. She disappeared with a slam. The earth shook, nearby trees lost their leaves, and even those wearing earplugs might have heard a sound. When the dust cleared, half of a druid stuck out from the base of the tree. Her eyes open in horror as she stared into the sky. She laid there unmoving with a drop of blood rolling out of the side of her mouth. "...ow." Under normal circumstances, the lower half off Luana's body would have been crushed flat, but the dirt was soft. The tree's roots had been burrowing through it as well as a cavity from where the tree rested. The lower half of her body was hanging in this void, and the weight of the cursed tree was just enough to pack down the dirt around her. She was stuck, and might have broken something, but she was alive. Something she hoped wouldn't change. Luana had put off attacking the tree directly, but she didn't have too many options. She'd have to put what wasn't in her immediate surroundings out of her mind. Not hard, given that she was effectively deaf and couldn't turn her head that far. But she could turn her head a different way. She grabbed onto the tree with both arms and swung her head at it. Before Luana's face made contact, she had given herself the head of a woodpecker, which slammed into the tree's roots like a jackhammer. She didn't need to kill it, but if she could clear enough of the tree away, maybe she could pull herself free. Though if someone wanted to help her, she wouldn't pass up assistance.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "Well, Sucaria, I don't want to set traveling again without proper rest. What say we spend the night here with the elves and set out at first light?" Luna asked her maid. As much as she would prefer to set the maid's mind at ease, while she healed from these wounds, she didn't quite want to set out with no rest. "If it makes you feel better, you can stay close tonight in case something happens." With that, Luna had made up her mind and the two would head back to Sarah and the elves. "Would you all mind if we rested here with you all for the night before heading out then? I think I could join in on the storytelling bit though I think I might need to hold off on the drink." Luna mentioned, wanting to stay fully sober to put Sucaria at ease. Luna grinned a small bit, "I have plenty of my own to tell, though I don't know how they'll compare to your own." It was almost as much a challenge as it was an admittance.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword As the two made their way up the hill, Luna was at a little bit more than brisk pace. She had considered the worst but was pleasantly surprised that Sucaria was just standing at the top of the hill, transfixed on the shoreline below. Looking toward where the girl was looking, Luna joined in gazing towards an oddity on crawling along with a Fomorian entourage. It was a terrifying sight, realistically, even so far away. The tide could have easily swept her and Sucaria up if it wanted. As she looked on, horrified by what she was witnessing, the cyclopian formorian spoke. Informing her as to what they were seeing. Ollipheist. A beast. "An Elder Beast?" She had heard rumors, perhaps, of an Elder Beast this way but she had never really put much consideration into it. "One that can control an army of Fomorians is... Do the Elves know just how close they were to this?" The Knightess asked before turning her attention back to her maid. Frowning, Luna was worried of what Sucaria might do in such a state. Perhaps because she was only part Fomorian she could resist it to an extent. Concerned, Lady Lightsword trotted over to Sucaria and swept her up like a bride on her wedding day. "Sucaria?" She questioned as she walked back towards the one-eyed fomorian. "Snap out of it." An order seeded by worry.</s> <|message|>Lugh Location: Nids End --- "Hah…this lot? Not a bit." The Cyclops responded with a derisive chuckle. "Not that they care, they seem more bloodthirsty then the elves I know. They'd probably welcome the challenge. Odd, for Lymensari elves." "...nhn?" Sucaria only responded briefly, head still locked towards the enchanting, golden flames of the beast below as she was swept off her feet. It wasn't until Luna had turned away did she seemingly come back to a bit of her senses. "...Lady Luna…have you seen my heart? I think someone might have taken it…" The cyclopes let out a loud laugh at that before stifling himself. "...thank you. That thing was…saying something. I couldn't stop listening…" Sucaria frowned. "...Mistress can I sleep with you the rest of the night?" Location: Hjrelskins Fall, Forest Paladin@BrokenPromise --- "T…tomatoes?" Lugh questioned, wondering why he would need to eat such a yucky vegetable…fruit? For getting the skunk smell out. Elnith remained mostly silent, looking across the now dead, hollow fallen trunk that had served as the Unseelies body. A brief melancholic prayer was offered, but she'd soon turn her attention back toward her companions and the newcomer. "I do believe its a remedy for that smell of yours." Elnith replied. "A pleasure to meet you. Elnith, though you may have heard of me. The boy here is Lugh." She'd introduce herself and Lugh, giving the Tuatha a pat on the head, rubbing his ears. "The village we passed might have some tomatoes at the market or whatever general goods store they might have if any, but we shall see. It isn't far." Suddenly, Lugh would perk his ears up, quietly glancing away from the group towards the forest. He'd frown, furrowing his brow briefly before shaking his head and turning back to the group. "...does it have to be tomatoes…?" Lugh frowned. "" Location: Airedale Forests Queens Quarters --- "W-wa-wait I didn't mean it!" The unseelie shouted as she realized what Fio was up to. Unfortunately, the small pixie lacked any sort of physical or magical strength in order to prevent herself from being tossed into fairy prison. While it was a question as to why the queen had these things in the first place (though it smelled faintly of some sort of fruit) it ultimately didn't matter. "Rudeness! Unforgivable!" She would immediately, however, start shouting about how this was the greatest sin in the world. "Do you have any idea what I'll do to you! I'll curse you so your hair is always messy! Or your eyebrows to fall off! I will I mean it!" She'd shout, pressing her hands against the glass cage she had been put in. "And I'm a fairy! I go where I want! Its not like I'm here to observe this backwater village. I'm just here to ya know…do fairy things. Like cursing someone's underwear to mysteriously be soiled or make someone's water taste like sand." The Fairy glanced around the room, eyes falling on the bed and then on Fio. "...hehe, hey, maybe you should let me go before Miss Queenie comes back and I tell her your...secrets!" What those secrets were, the fairy didn't seem keen on elaborating.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Ah yes, I'm sure you know so many secrets of mine you can share," Fio commented with an idle wave of her hand, one eyebrow raised. The little unseelie's threats didn't phase her in the least. She'd already seen the full extent of the fey's capabilities and to call them lacking would be an understatement. She could dispel such curses with her eyes closed, if they even managed to reach her. "After all, you've clearly been observing me for some time, given how you didn't know my name and you thought I was a child," she continued, tilting the jar from side to side as she spoke, intent on keeping the fairy off-kilter, "I'm so afraid of what deep knowledge you must have of me, you're such a genius spy I never even realized. It was almost like you weren't there at all." Even this little idiot would have to be able to pick up on the sarcasm dripping from Fio's voice. "... In any case, if you've been hanging around here that frequently... well, I suppose you could just be causing mischief, but I might as well make sure," the Sword Witch gave the fairy in the jar a smirk. The unseelie had earned every single moment of this punishment. "Even if you're not, you're clearly bothering people, so I don't think I'm going to be letting you out."</s> <|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit "Ohwhatyouthinkpostingfasterthanmeonceisgoingtothrowmeoffmygame?Idon'tthinksomisshaughtyspellflinger!" — Luana Roycroft Paladin@Rune_Alchemist "You'll have to tell me more about yourself on the way back, Ethelred. Being the mysterious helmeted knight that you are." Maybe Ethelred had more to say, maybe he was content, but Luana turned towards the others as soon as they started speaking. "I have heard of you, and Lugh too." She answered Elnith. "But that was only because Ethelred introduced us. With all this excitement you forgot, huh?" Come to think of it, Ethelred had mentioned they worked for a Queen Sorcha. That had to be the woman she was looking for. Her apologizing for making an assumption earlier was kind of silly. Seemed even she wasn't above forgetting things in excitement. "But why not? I'm Luana, in case you forgot. You likely haven't heard of me. I was a hermit up until a month or so ago." She turned to Lugh. "Why not tomatoes? They are delicious and nutritious... which makes it a bit sad that we won't be eating them." Luana shrugged her shoulders. "You're going to bathe in them. I'm no chemist, so I can't explain why it works. It's very effective for getting skunk mush off of yourself and your clothes." She pat him on the back. "And then we'll have to rinse you off afterwards, so if you like bathing, you get to do it twice! And I do have an assortment of flower seeds we can use to freshen you up afterwards! Do you like lavender? Roses? Jasmine? Or would you prefer a more citrus-like scent like lemon or grapefruit?" It didn't look like Luana was going to be done with Lugh any time soon.</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Hmm. Well, the Fomorian was right. These elves were definitely some tough folk. Well, it should be fine for now at least. "Sucaria, your heart is in the same cavity in your chest it's always at. You can't fool me." Luna said, missing any semblance of figurative speech her maid might have been attempting. That made her a little more confused at the hearty laugh the Fomorian had let out. Perhaps it's just because of how close they have always been the thought never really crossed Luna's mind. "And... Yes. Sure. We'll sleep together so you can't go wandering off again without my knowning." Luna mentioned, more worried about Sucaria wandering off without her than any implications it might carry. "Just don't go pulling your heart out in the middle of the night alright?" With that, Luna turned to head back down the way they came up. "That said, perhaps we should just head on back to the camp." She had no intention to be out in the open where they might get caught by an army of Fomorians. As strong as their new cyclops friend seemed to be, she doubted the three of them could fight off an army. "That said, I haven't caught your name." She mentioned to the cyclops as she started head down the hill with Sucaria in her arms. "I'm Lunalel Lightsword and this is Sucaria." She offered their names first, "Would you grant us your name as well?" She asked, curious. As far as Fomorians went, he didn't seem all too bad. Perhaps it was out of a sense of unease of his kind being enthralled by this Elder Beast, but he did inform Luna of Sucaria's situation.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit "Ahahahaha! I ascend!" — Luana Roycroft "Welp! No reason to drag this out." She saluted Ethelred. "Sounds like we'll be working together again!" Luana bent over and pat Lugh's head. She might have also sniffed his hair. "I know the queen didn't invite you, but I'm inviting you, so you can come along if you'd like!" On her way towards the throne room, she stopped in front of Reinhardt. "Reinhardt right? You look capable, I can't wait to see what you're capable of!" Luana wrapped her arms around the knight and gave him a squeeze. "I can't hug Ethelred, so need to-" Her eyes shot open. "Wait, your not-" She released him and looked over her arms. Once she was satisfied, she sighed and looked back at Reinhardt with a sly grin. "I have to be careful around you folks! I know hugging some of you will turn me into an ice sculpture. It's hard! I'm a very physical person!" Before departing for the throne room, she turned to the girls that were departing on their quest. "Elnith, Fio, Luna number two, I'm sure you'll be successful, but I'll be praying to Aigorost for your success anyway!" With a laugh, she vanished* behind the threshold of the door. *But not like, literally vanished. She just moved swiftly.</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Airedale Keep, Meeting Room @Crimson Paladin@BrokenPromise@Pyromania99@Guy0fV4lor --- Sorcha had already made her way back to the throne room by the time Luana had made it. The queen walked up to her throne, as simply elegant as it was for now as she'd proceed to sit upon it. "Luana. Kneel." Gone was the slightly jovial nature the queen typically wore, and now it was replaced with her full authority as a queen, a sight rarely shown to her knights. The few servants that were around quietly made their way to the edges of the room. "You stand before me, Sorcha Mulryan…Queen, Sorcha Mulryan. Of your own accord, seeking an audience. I have allowed you to stay here as a kindness for your help at Hjrelskins fall, but I am not a woman of infinite charity. If you intend to stay in Airedale, and are genuine with your endeavor to help me and my cause…then I have but a simple request." She'd stand again, in front of her throne. "Swear fealty to me as your Queen. Above any God you serve, above any other mortal, you will serve me above all else." The queen's sky blue eyes seemed to shine with a slight glow as she spoke. "Speak thusly: I, Luana seek to serve Queen Sorcha Mulryan, above any God, mortal, spirit or beast. Upon betrayal, my life, shall be forfeit and my name stuck from any history or writing may the Queen forgive me." Hrelskin Fall's Village Nighttime --- Night had fallen over the village, the calm, quiet chirping and sound of nighttime animals the only sound heard amidst the trees and the village. The fellsong of the Unseelie had been dealt with, leaving many of the villagers eager to celebrate. Many had gathered at a local tavern, eager to drink away and finally speak of their recent troubles without a care. They, could not hear the sound of approaching hooves on the soft earthen road that led through their village…nor did they notice the thick mist, slowly rolling into the village. But soon…both the hoofsteps, and the fog, would pass. No one the wiser of its presence as it made their way into the forest. "...so the humans got to it first." "It would…seem that way, sir." "Unfortunate. Queen Nicnevin will be displeased." A heavy, armored step would meet the ground as it dismounted from its steed, black and gold armor glinting softly in the moonlight. "...rest well, child of the fey." "My lord, what shall we do now? Find the humans responsible?" "...nay, they were merely protecting their lands." A hand was placed on the carcass of the fallen tree. "...we must find who has been making these things. Thankfully, it seems…the humans left that part to us." Faster than eyes could see, a blade was drawn. Grass, severed at knee height. Long gashes carved into wood of trees. "Weah!" A cry of surprise, from behind. "You could at least warn a fella before you go off and try you know, beheading them." A young looking girl, one that the knights that had come here before would have met in the supposedly abandoned house. "I must say, I am impressed you managed to hide among those humans for so long...traitor to the fairy court of the Ancient Wood. You will come quietly." "Sorry, I think I'll pass on having the queen's lapdog drag me all the way to the wood to be lectured by some old, washed up hag that can't even move any more." "...your insolence will provoke nothing. Soldier. Watch the village. There may be more lurking." The skeletal knight would bow, before running off into the forest towards the village. "You will submit. And you will speak what you know, welp." "I think I'll pass." "Then you leave me with no choice." That night, the villagers would spread rumors of the sound of some fairy burning down the old, abandoned house where the man and his daughter had disappeared from… Harzelslack Castle --- "As you have, my lord, we dealt with a ferocious Wyvern with scales black as night. If not for the knights of Airedale and their queen we would have likely not been able to defeat such a beast." "Don't sell yourself short, Sir Lonan. You and your fairy steed performed admirably, I am certain." Within the large castle that served as Harzelslack's seat of power, a meeting had been called between the king and its highest ranking knights. "Your too kind, your majesty." Lonan replied. "But I am aware of my own faults and shortcomings. There is no way I could have slain that beast without their help." "Be that as it may, you and Grainne survived and I doubt those knights could have handled it without your help, either." A frown. "...but this is troubling, regardless. I suppose its about time for them to show up if the prophecies are to be believed." "Very true, your highness…still. For something so ferocious, we'll need to figure out how to handle it. There may be more." "Do not worry, I will not shy away from asking their assistance in this. If House Reinhardt has joined this queen Sorcha and Airedale, then that is their decision. It would be folly to not ask for their assistance. Still…something about this is bothering me." "Meaning what your highness?" "Hmm…I'm sure its nothing, sir Lonan. Lady Morgan?" "Yes, my lord? I have already sent my apprentice with a missive to meet with their court witch as well as request a diplomatic talk about the spoils from that dragon." "Ahead of my requests as always." He chuckled. "But, there is one more thing I want to ask you." "Yes, my lord?" "Your son, have him investigate the Wyverns sources would you? I have a feeling there's more to this." "...If it is your request, I can't refuse."</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Well, it looked like Luana was going to be officially knighted. That was fine enough, though Luna needed to get some items together for their trip. "For now, I shall go collect some things for the trip. Not to step on your toes, Fio, but Sucaria and I will gather together rations and the like for the road." The Knightess said, taking initiative, excited to get on the road to visit her highly distantly related related species. "Rations for four since I have a feeling a certain someone would follow along whether we asked her to or not." Luna mentioned, looking over to her maid for some short seconds with a tired look before it quickly turned into a soft smile. "What greater amount of loyalty can a woman ask for?" Luna teased before turning to Elnith. "That aside, it's a pleasure to be working with you this time, Elnith." She gave a smile and offered a handshake. Whether the other woman accepted the hand or not, Luna would head out after to get their supplies together. She went about collecting rations for four people and prepared for the trip on her end. Just in case, she made sure to bring a hunting bow and some arrows in case they needed to forage for food later. While her magic was usable at range, it was a good way to alert other animals to her position. Well, regardless of otherwise, they should mostly be ready for a trip. The part that was hardest to account for was the mountains considering she had never been out that way before. Well, Elnith will probably have a better idea so perhaps it would be best to ask her opinion on the matter. Regardless, Luna was as ready as she would be to go. Except for one more question, perhaps. "Are you going to be riding on your own or with me?" Luna asked her maid, guessing at the answer she had expected.</s>

<|description|>Lunalel Lightsword Age: 21 Gender: Female Appearance: Abilities: Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family's heir was close behind her. For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course. In addition to her family's boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn't much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant's relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won't be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors. History: A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn't mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family's heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best! In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides. As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it's frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them… The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him. Anything else: -Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead. -Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside. -Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they're friends. -Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred made his way behind Sorcha and Luana to the throne room to witness the knighting. It wasn't something he needed to be present for, but he believed it was considered right and proper to attend the ceremony for their newfound ally. In truth, he was a little surprised that Luana agreed to it. She hadn't exactly cast the impression as someone that would bind themselves to such a deep committment, especially after having only been with them a few days. On the other hand, Sorcha took just as big a risk in knighting Ethelred when he came to her. Sure, he had a bit of a reputation, but with his family's downfall, any knowledge of him would be hearsay, rumors, and spoken tales passed from mouth to mouth. Being knighted had been quite meaningful for the Frozen Knight. The first reason was that he hadn't actually been knighted prior- knightood wasn't really a tradition in his family, and they saw no real value in the formality of it. If a man wanted to call himself a knight, if they deemed him worthy in strength and character, that was good enough for the Ethelings of Ceolread Castle. In fact, their own titles of Etheling were emblematic of their disregard for the others' perceived limitations of social mobility. In the culture they had come from, it roughly meant "prince", connoting to someone who possessed the standing to potentially become a king. By calling themselves Ethelings, it was understood that they were making a statement declaring themselves royalty, and defying the authority of anyone in this broken land- or anyone of their homeland- who dared to say otherwise. If they were still around, they might have even suggested that being knighted by Sorcha was meaningless to them. To Ethelred, however, to be knighted by the returned King, whose court had codified the very concept of knighthood in Albion, was a very validating accomplishment and a great honor. I hope she understands the full magnitude of the vows that she is making. Such an oath is not something to be made lightly.</s> <|message|>Elnith Location: Airedale Keep, Meeting Room @Crimson Paladin@BrokenPromise@Pyromania99@Guy0fV4lor --- "Very well," Sorcha would draw her blade, pulling it from its sheathe and holding it in front of Luana. "Hands over the blades point. Now," Luana would feel it. A brief zap of electricity shocking her hands, leaving a painful electrical burn along her hands. "As the rightful ruler of Albion, and current Queen of Airedale and the surrounding lands, I knight thee in my name. You will serve none before me," The blade now rest upon her shoulders, sharp edge against her neck. "Be it god, man, or even your own desires. Know that I shall accept no betrayal and such actions shall be met with a swiftest of actions and executions." The blade would be swiftly withdrawn, back into its sheathe, and instead by the Queens hand. "On your feet then, sorry about that I have to at least try to look the part sometimes." A smile as she'd pull Luana to her feet. "Ethelred, Reinhardt? Lets get going. I'm eager to see these so-called wyverns." Without further words unless one of her knights had anything to say, the Queen would proceed to gather the horses and supplies, setting off towards Harzel…. @Pyromania99 Llobrokor Mountains --- Fio, not having much experience with riding horses would opt to ride with Luna. This, was fine for the most part. There wouldn't be any issues or running into anything troubling on their travel through the mountains…save for one slight Issue. A certain maid, that had been in her opinion, quite wrongly displaced. Fio had taken to sitting in front of Luna, while Sucaria was behind her. Most of the trip, Sucaria was simply spent quietly staring at Fio and when camp would be made, the Maid seemed to definitely go out of her way to definitely not mess with Fio. that'd require her to be upset, which she wasn't. Passing through Lightsword territory and through the graveyard of the giants, they'd soon find themselves at the foot of the mountains, Elnith leading them across winding hills and crossing dangerously close to the wastes before soon finding themselves near the towering sky piercing mountains in central Albion. "What do you know about the giants, Luna?" Elnith queried. "I hear your family has giant blood in your veins." Sucaria was quietly sitting behind the Knight as Elnith spoke to her companion. "They're such kind people, you know…they took me in when even my own parents disowned me, ahah." Elnith smiled, not seeing anything particularly wrong with that statement. Sucaria reached into her dress, though for now did nothing else. Paladin@BrokenPromise@Guy0fV4lor Harzel Plains --- The travel across the land to Harzel followed roughly the same path they had taken last, stopping briefly in Redwater to resupply and rest in civilization for the night, thankfully without any more or other Fomorian incidents happening…though there were unsettling rumors of people going missing occasionally, but most passed it off to impish fey. Still, there was little to be done about such rumors now. Aside from this, and running off some Fomorians harassing the main road the knights would reach their destination relatively undisturbed, eventually finding themselves close to the Harzel border, where the scorched and blasted forest, still smoldering from the Wyvern's apocalyptic blast of fire had charred the very land itself. "...so this is the destruction that Wyvern had wrought." Sorcha commented idly as they rode past at an even, steady pace. "An impressive feat, slaying such a beast unharmed." She'd glance towards Reinhardt, but said nothing as instead, she'd pull a small short, one handed sword from her steed's saddle bags. "Reinhardt, I was considering your particular issue with weapons constantly breaking." She'd casually pass the blade to him. "This blade has been in my possession for quite some time. Its nothing impressive, but its sturdy and forged by both the dwarvish smiths of a far off land and a clan of elves I spent a good portion of the last decade with." She didn't seem to think much of handing him the blade. "Ethelred, about how much further to that fort? We will be meeting the Harzel knights at the place where you slew that beast at. I desire to see its carcass myself. What about you, Luana? Your a druid and quite in tune with the land, are you not? What do you make of that destruction out there?"</s>

<|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Lunalel was, for the most part, uneasy all through the trip. Somehow, she had managed to get two beauties to ride on her horse with her. That in itself was fine. Neither of them were very heavy, one in particular especially so. No, the problem came with what they were doing. Fio, for her part, was somewhat understandable. She was not very fond of horses, it seemed, and was doing her best to not show. How obvious it was to Luna that the girl was, in fact, very cautious every second of the ride. As fidgety as she was. Still, as much as she had known Fio by now, it would be best not to mention it. The other problem was behind her. Her maid, loyal follower and dear friend. With all those things combined, Luna never worried much about what she was doing even if she seemed to be doing very suspicious things. On the other hand... Sucaria was very much so like a predator eyeing its prey. It made Luna silently question exactly what she was planning. It was very obvious and very deliberate but Luna didn't want to say much. Not until they had stopped to break. It was not a problem for her or Sucaria to dismount though it seemed Fio would need help. Luna helped the short woman down though perhaps a small bit more handsy than intend. After Fio had left Luna to tie up the horse, the Knightess asked her maid, "Just don't try to eat her or anything." Luna said, unsure of what was on the maid's mind before they took to camp for the night. That was when Elnith questioned Luna's knowledge of Giants. "Probably not as much as someone with first hand knowledge of their city." Luna mentioned with a small smile. "Well, I'd have to agree with you. All the giants I've had the pleasure to meet with were quite pleasant. Though they like to keep to themselves plenty. I've seen a number of them between patrols and visiting Giant's Rest and of the one's I've invited to Castle Lightsword I've had only a couple accept. Though, it might also be on account of their size, I suppose. Still, the few that did have visit were quite the interesting folk." Luna did her best to not frown at the last part of Elnith's statement. It did the woman no good to feel bad for her at that. "But yes, we do have giant's blood, as diluted as it may be by now. Still, it helps with the cold nights and puts me above the average man in physical strength. And that would be without training." Luna added with a smile. "Most importantly, it gives me quite a bit of an ability to drink a lot." Luna laughed a small bit at her own joke about drinking a small bit too much at times before looking over at Sucaria reaching into her pocket before looking back to Elnith. "Did I miss a bad interaction between the two of them? Sucaria has been eyeing Fio like a wolf."</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword The tavern had a number of customers despite the time of day. Early morning before the first rays of the morning sun shone upon the land. A small group was gathered around a table with mead in their hand. "Another quiet night. Good job, everyone!" A female voice cheered, Lady Lunalel Lightsword. "I believe they won't fault us for a round." There was a small cheer from all the others that came with her as they raised their drink high with a nice cheer. "Three cheers for Her Majesty!" Luna cheered, leading to the cheers before everyone took their drink. Luna was out drinking with the soldiers a lot. Perhaps a little too much, truthfully, though she didn't have much issue with the typical effect of drinking alcohol. As everyone finished their first drink, most decided one was enough, just incase. But not Luna of course. "Another round for me!" She called out to the bartender who had already started preparing a second round for her. A waitress, or, perhaps, the only one that was working at such a time, came around quickly with a second one. She took a little bit longer to drink this second one so she could actually savor the flavor of the mead. The city made a wonderful mead that she could only really hope to get back home by traveling merchants. "Another!" She called out. One of the soldiers with her looked on in disbelief. "She's going for another?" "She can hold her drink pretty damn well." Another said with a shrug. "She's also fine after she wakes back up, no hang over or anything." "I told you, House Lightsword has the blood of Giants. It's what lets me drink as much as I want!" Lunalel smiled as her third drink arrived, "My, do I need to regale you on the story of House Lightsword?" She asked with a wide smile. "Lady Luna, I think we heard it at least twice through out the night. You can enjoy the drink." Said one of the soldiers that had heard it more than that since the Lady of House Lightsword had come to the city. Luna sighed, "Fine, fine." She took the new drink in her hand and took a gulp. The conversation went on for a while until they heard a worrying sound. "Bells?" One of the soldiers hopped up, "Y-yes! Warning bells!" He just confirmed Luna's thoughts as they all looked at each other, nodded, and stood. They gathered their arms and headed out of the pub. The soldier looked at the barkeep and gave a small shout, "Put it on the tab of Lady Luna here!" The barkeep gave a small smile and nodded. "Hey! You better pay your own!" Luna exclaimed as they all piled out the door and started to head towards the north gate where the noise was coming from. Soon they were stopped by a familiar face. A Tuatha youth, Lugh, who informed them where to head to. Then Luna. She needed to head to collect the Queen. She nodded and agreed. Of course the Queen would want to be here for this. After telling the soldiers not to get hurt, she turned and headed towards where the Queen should be if no one had seen her this morning, her chambers. It wasn't too difficult to get there as she soon found herself in front of Her Majesty's room and gave a knock. "Your Majesty!" She didn't hear a reply in a quick enough time, that is to say, in the matter of two seconds. She threw open the doors and entered. She didn't mind if the Queen punished her for this action but she was needed at the ramparts. "Queen Sorcha, you're need at the gates. The town is under attack."</s> <|message|>Od. Od She sat at the barracks dining room, a simple wooden bowl of porridge before here. Looking down at the spoonful of creamy oat substance it brought to mind just how far along this land had come. Before it would of been impossible for the land to bear enough crops to make such a dish possible. The ability to make the land fertile once again was truly wondrous for it meant that everyone could eat, not just the few brave enough to hunt and lucky enough to survive. Just as her blood was able to heal the injured it seemed the queen was able to heal the land itself, "Ridding it of the curse" as they say. It had been at least three seasons since she had pledged her service to the queen. The death of her last king still hung heavy in her mind. She could not help the conflict brought about as her honor demanded she carry out his last wishes, even if that made her the enemy of those she had once considered something akin to family. With the only choice that didn't end with her killing those closest to her being to flee her lands she hoped that with her and the sword now absent there would be no more reason to fight amongst one another. But that was the past. This was her life now. She was a knight of the queen, her loyalty and obedience to her will was all she needed to consider now. _ The sound of bells cut through the air, followed by the noise of panic as the populace evacuated their homes and into safety within the walls. Luckily for Od she was already armored, having spent most of her day already either working or training in order to keep her skills sharp for the next battle. Sliding on her kettle hat and unsheathing her sword she stood up from the table and immediately leapt through the window. It was closer than the door and got her where she needed to be faster. Given how tireless she was just naturally she maintained an all out sprint as she dashed for the north gate which is where others appeared to be heading towards. As lightly armored as she was she was able to maintain an extremely quick pace, well accustomed to sprinting at top speed over long distances. She wasn't a horse but there were few bipeds who could keep up with her. Before anyone who wasn't already at the gate she immediately sprinted out into the open before stopping. She peered out at the forest borders, looking for enemies to rush down. She didn't know where her fellow knights were but surely they wouldn't be far behind. The last thing she wanted was to put the city at risk by hesitating due to the difference in their numbers. All she needed was to see her target.</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Outside of the castle walls, sitting upon a rock overlooking the shore, Ethelred sat with a book in his hand. His horse stood nearby, its reins held firmly in Ethelred's other hand. The knight's lance and shield lay nearby, ready to be used if he found himself facing peril. The horse seemed to be sniffing something in the air, but the knight paid no heed, his attention completely given to the book he was reading. While it was true that some found his found his appearance, being unable to remove his strange, crystalline armor, and it was true that the stable keepers were somewhat relieved when they didn't have to watch his strange, cursed horse, he had a much simpler reason for his isolation out here. He simply wanted better light to read by, with no shadows to obscure the rays of the early morning sun. The book told a tale, written after he had been frozen, of the struggles and conflicts of a village somewhere in the northern part of Albion. It was a rather quaint matter compared to the tales of the Betrayed God or the great king of Albion, but it was nonetheless a piece of history that Ethelred had missed while he was trapped in ice. Since being freed, he had sought to catch up on everything that had transpired in the century that had passed during his imprisonment. Sometimes he listened to the tales of bards in taverns, while other times, such as this one he sought out books from the town's humble library. From what he could surmise from the stories, things had gotten steadily worse over the last century. However, with this queen showing up and gathering the greatest knights of the land, it seemed like there was finally hope to make things better... Suddenly, Ethelred heard the bells from the town. He jumped to his feet, dropped the book, and grabbed his weapons. He made it a habit to always be prepared for trouble when venturing outside the walls. His armor, cold powers, and animal companion would normally be more than enough to handle most troublemakers, but the knight knew from experience that he might need his lance. He climbed atop his horse and rode off towards the town, the mount's excitement causing it to create a trail of frozen footprints and icy fog behind it. He wasn't sure what the commotion was about, but whatever it was, he needed to get there as quickly as possible. It sounds like it's coming from the north gate, he assessed as he drew close enough to the town to distinguish the direction. He cantered off, heading in the direction in the north gate, unsure what he'd find there. There were several possibilities he could think of. There were many greedy people out there who would seek to take advantage of the honest people of the town, and many supernatural beings that'd take delight in tormenting them. Furthermore, there were those, both mundane and mystical, that likely saw the Queen and her aspirations as a threat, and would seek to bring her down before her goals could be realized. Whatever the case, whoever they were, whatever their aims were, they needed to be stopped. Or perhaps a sentry simply saw a large animal lumbering about in the distance and mistook it for an Elder Beast...</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Hmph," huffed the small girl, "Who do they think they are?" And that was that. Bandits. Fio had zero tolerance for people like this. It was one thing finding yourself struggling in life and believing you had to take drastic measures. It was another thing entirely to band together for the express purpose of preying upon others. The purple-haired girl brushed her hair back as she strode up the wall, then adjusted her hat. Her sword gleamed in the morning sunlight. Indeed, the bandit forces seemed remarkably organized for their nature as a rabble of predators, but that was hardly a problem. They were still clad largely in leather armor, still wielding whatever scavenged weapons the had likely stolen from others who they had slaughtered in their pursuit of wealth. The Sword Witch had zero doubt in her own abilities. All she needed was a clear line of sight. Finding a suitable spot on the city wall, the child-like girl raised her catalyst, pointing the blade's tip towards the raiders. As she did, the familiar, electric feeling of magical energy coursing through her body began to run its way down through her arm. The edge of the sword began to glow faintly. "Sura," she began, eyes narrowed, "Ghost Blades." The glow on the edge of the sword grew brighter. "Prepare to cut down my enemies. Manifest five phantom swords in arc formation." As Fio spoke her command, there was a thrumming sound from above her. Blue circles of light flashed in the air, spiraling constructs of interlaced symbols and geometric patterns from which the shape of a blade emerged. They were themselves similar in nature to the circles they had emerged from, seemingly composed of interwoven light. And yet, the edge they possessed seemed no less keen then their steel counterparts. "Each one of them must be destroyed. Repeat this process once." The thrumming grew louder, as another arc of five phantom swords manifest above the first, spaced more widely then the originals. "Twice." And again. "Three times." Fifteen phantom swords, in increasingly wide arcs, spun gently over Fio's head. The edge of her own, far more solid sword gleamed brilliantly with blue light. It was time to teach this bandits a lesson. "Strike them down. Release!" There was a sound something like the crack of a whip, as each circle tightened for a moment before abruptly expanding until they vanished with a flash of light. Immediately, every single phantom blade manifested was released, slicing through the air as a blur of blue light and hurtling towards the attackers!</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna looked on at the Queen's incredibly Unqueenly posture with a small sigh. "Come now, your majesty. I'm quite sure I don't even look like a Vyrell. Even less the person himself." The Knightess mentioned as she moved closer to her liege. "And there is no time for more rest or mead, we..." The woman was cut off as she caught the sight of bare skin on such a beautiful woman such as Queen Sorcha and her words were stuck in her throat. It took some seconds for her to avert her gaze from embarrassment. Perhaps it was her lack of female company but she felt much too happy to look at... No. No, no. This was to be thought about later. She averted her gaze to the armor strewn across the floor. "Queen Sorcha, please wake up. You are needed on the ramparts. The town is under attack." She mentioned as she picked up the garments. "We can be off after you are dressed. She added, happy to not look directly at the sun that she shared a room with at present.</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Ethelred assessed the foe as they came into view and he brought his horse down to a trot. It was a band of brigands, perhaps fifty in number. Their goal was probably to break down the gate and sack the town, and their current objective appeared to be to break down the gate. I can't be sure how good their odds of success would ordinarily be against such fortifications, but in these very un-ordinary circumstances, I can be sure that they have no chance of success. While Ethelred had aided people against bandits before, he had never actually taken part in a siege, and knew very little of the field of siege engineering. The prevalence of banditry was a sad reality of the current state of Albion. This was this dark age, without law and without order. Men lived in fear of one another, and for strong preyed upon the weak. Even before being frozen, Ethelred had sought to undo these injustices, to fight against those who would selfishly darken Albion even further, but there was only so much that a single knight-errant could hope to accomplish on his own. But with the Queen and her fellow knights, they could do more than just fight bandits. They could lay the groundwork of a society where people can live without fear of being preyed upon by bandits, and make Albion a place where banditry is a much less attractive career choice than it currently seems to be. For now, however, working towards that lofty goal meant repelling this horde of brigands. The knights needed to convey the message that Airedale is off-limits to bandits, that depredations upon the good people of the town would not be allowed to happen. Ethelred was not the first one to have engaged the bandits. Someone was fighting them up close, and what looked like Fio's sword magic was being cast upon them from the walls. He couldn't see who it was that had drawn first blood, but it'd make a good distraction for his own attack. The knight rode closer, his mount increasing its speed to a canter, then a gallop. As he drew closer, he couched his lance under his arm and aimed for the first unlucky bandit in his way. Ethelred made no war cry as he closed the distance, for he needed no war cry. His appearance- an icy knight upon a frightening steed- and the effects of his powers would speak more loudly than any words he could shout. Prior to being cursed, his family's motto was his war cry, but with his family line wiped out, he no longer had a desire to speak it. The mounted knight plowed into the bandits' ranks. Anyone unfortunate enough to be in the path of his crystalline lance would likely be knocked off their feet, bearing a grisly, flash-frozen wound where its struck them. His horse was fighting equally aggressive, using its horns to ram any bandit unfortunate enough to be in its direct path, and trampling beneath its icy hooves any who were not thrown clear by the blows of the horse or its rider. It was fortunate that despite the horse's newfound aggression and surprising mastery of its new state (in fact, it seemed to have been a quicker learner than Ethelred when it came to getting used to their new forms), its obedience to its rider had never wavered, because Ethelred would not want to find himself on the receiving end of its horns or hooves.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Od. Od "Knights! Archers in the forest! Someone go take them out!" She was right in the thick of battle, cutting through the heel of a man who thought he could run past her into the fortress proper with a lunging sweep of her blade when Vyrell's message echoed from atop the walls. She turned to peer out into the forest and see what it was he was speaking about. It was only but for a second but in that moment arrows flew out from beyond her view. While these shots upon her were fired with pin-point accuracy arrows could only fly so fast. The milliseconds it took to hit her gave her enough time to tilt her head. With a sharp ting the arrow grazed the brim of her helm, deflecting the arrow down into her right eye. While initially it was en-route to burrow into her eye straight on due to the deflection it hit her eye at an angle, catching a bit on the edge of her socket bone and only digging into the eye itself. _ While having an arrow plunge into her eye was no cause for celebration this was at least good because it failed to penetrate into her brain. She hated it whenever things messed around inside her skull, it was the worst just due to how badly it robbed her of control over her own body. The agony was just something that was a part of living, at least back when these problems were part of her daily life. As for the arrow itself it would have penetrated deeper but due to both how tough her flesh was and the angle it hit her at the eye was able to absorb any and all force from it before it could dig any deeper. Of course she reeled from the hit, letting out a sharp cry of pain. No matter how often these things happened to her her pain nerves would never dull, coming back just as sharp as always. She was simply used to it. As she reached up to pull the arrow out from her eye socket one of the bandits had decided to try and capitalize on her moment of weakness. _ It was a large hairy man who hefted a heavy two handed axe. Just as she straightened up, her free hand on the arrow's shaft, he swung his axe with the aim of decapitating her in one solid blow. Unexpectedly however the axe only thunked into the side of her neck, stopping as though he were trying to chop through the trunk of a mighty tree. She needed to broaden her footing to not get thrown off her feet from the force of the blow but she was still standing nonetheless. The bandit's eyes widened, his grin fading into a terrified grimace as she, with a furious scowl, swept her blade up vertically through his handle and consequently his fingers. The large man staggered back, an expression of pure shock frozen upon his face whilst blood quickly flowed from his missing digits. Pulling the arrow from her eye the others could see a slow stream of thick, semi-transparent, yellowish green liquid oozing down along her cheek like syrup. She tossed the ichor-soaked arrow aside and gripped the head of the axe still imbedded in her neck. With a sickening slorp she pulled the weapon loose from her neck and tossed it to the man's feet where it landed with an unpleasant splat. "S-She's!- She's not human! SHE'S A MONSTER!" He started to scream as he watched this woman step forward with both her eye and a chunk of her neck missing, her expression unchanged. The unnatural elements at play here took a heavy toll on the man's sanity as he started to point with his stumps whilst screaming: "YOU'RE A MONSTER!" Just as he turned to flee she thrust her sword low into his back, her blade going right through the spine with the tip poking out from his bladder. The bandit's frantic screaming turned into incoherent screeches of agony as she swept her blade down, cleaving his spine, pelvis and manhood in half. He landed on his belly before curling into the fetal position whilst trying to keep his insides from spilling out. She brought the blade back to her side, turning to face the next unlucky fool she'd slaughter for their cruel opportunism. Despite having been deep inside so many people her sword did not have so much as a single spot of blood on it. It was as though the weapon were so sharp that even blood could not cling to it. It'd be cut away for simply even touching it. She would leave alone only those who were fleeing after witnessing this display of hers. Any who still continued for the gate and threaten her allies were who she'd turn her attention to next. She ignored the arrows which peppered the grounds around her, one hitting her back armor whilst another struck into her shoulder, only able to draw a pin-prick of blood from it's point of impact. Her attention was turned to the next fool still trying for the gate. The archers were little more than a nuisance for her. She couldn't abandon the gate while there were enemies still trying to threaten those protected within. She sprinted forth at her next victim, ready to dice him into gore and then the next. Until they were all dead.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna was shocked about how fast she was kicked out of the room, really. That was a rather frightening threat the queen had given her. Well, she suppose she should keep her mouth shut then. She scratched the back of her head before shrugging and making for the North Gate. As she ran, she made sure no one was standing around the streets, though it looked like it was mostly fine. Soon enough, she made it to the gate where the fighting was going on and made her way up onto the wall. She managed to catch the tail end of whatever slaughter was going on to Vyrell's announcement of archers. Luna narrowed her eyes as she looked on at the volleys of arrows. She wouldn't be able to help everyone, especially poor Od who, according to what she had heard, would probably recover just fine. She held her hands out and focused. While some of her knightly allies would be able to protect themselves easily, a few would find a bit more difficulty in such a feat. Notable Od that had just taken a few hits and likely Ethelred who didn't have a good defense for his horse. A golden barrier appeared in front of Ethelred and his horse and Elias Reinhardt to block any of the arrows aimed at them for a short period. She had a feeling that Fio could handle herself just fine. After she blocked the volley, she released the spells and switched to casting a new one, creating a golden spear of light in her hand. The proud knightess aimed towards the forest line where she saw the arrows coming from. She didn't need to hit any of the archers, she just needed to hit close to them. Using a bit of magic to power up how far the javelin would go and she launched it. It soared through the air and landed inside the forest... Before causing a blast of light! Hopefully, it would catch the archers off guard and give her allies a bit of cover to make it to them. After, Luna created some platforms with her magic, that disappeared after she stepped to the next, to safely reach ground level to assist her fellow knights with honorable combat.</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Just as the bandits seemed to break from the knights' combined efforts, arrows started flying from within the forest. One arrow struck Ethelred square on the faceplate, but failed to penetrate the crystalline armor. That was either a very lucky shot or a very precise one, he considered as more, less accurate arrows began flying, with one glancing off his horse's flank. This could be a problem. The surviving bandits were now regrouping, their morale seemingly restored by the unseen archers' ambush, and now the knights had to deal with two groups of enemies, all while being completely exposed and out in the open. When this is over, we need to speak to the queen about having those trees cleared. Ethelred wasn't too concerned about himself- his shield and armor should be enough to stop these arrows- but his horse was another story. Its tough, ice-like flesh was tougher than that of an ordinary stallion, but wasn't rigid, unyielding crystal like his armor, and a direct hit from an arrow could wound it. Fortunately, aid came at just the most opportune moment. A golden barrier rose up in front of both mount and rider, shielding them from further arrows. It seemed that Lunalel had joined the battle. Ethelred had always considered her a reliable one, with her useful array of elder beast granted powers. This respite gave him an opportunity to assess where the arrows were coming from, and what to do next. Od and Reinhardt probably could handle the remaining bandits close by, thus Ethelred opted to focus on dealing with the archers. After seeing where the arrows were coming from, he spurred his horse on. With his shield raised, he drove his horse at an angle towards the forest some distance from where the arrows were emerging, all the while leaving a trail of frigid fog behind them. He didn't want to charge them head-on into a potential trap, or give them an easy, direct target, rather he'd want to get a good look at what he was up against, and flank them from within the forest. He'd have to proceed with caution once he reached the cover of the trees. The rapid speed of his movement would leave him at a considerable distance from the other knights even if any of them also opted to approach the archers before cutting down the remaining brigand foot-soldiers, but he wasn't entirely sure what he would be facing.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Airedale Mid-morning Airedale Fields --- Lowly Wretch@VitaVitaAR@Guy0fV4lor@Pyromania99 --- "I suggest you lay down your weapon and run back to whatever hole you crawled out of." Sorcha would say to the red-haired Tuatha, low, rumbling tone. "Your force is already routed and your trump card has been dealt with. Any more fighting is just going to be humiliation for you. Or do you care that little for the lives of yourself and those who follow you?" "Tch, what do you know, miss high-and-mighty? You look exactly like the sorta stuck-up bitch that doesn't know the meaning of what its like to survive out there." He would rush towards Sorcha, the hefty axe swinging through the air. The queen deftly avoiding it, only to strike with her own blade and have it barely parried by the young man. "Heh, is that so? Looks can be deceiving, but fine...if you insist on continuing in futility, I shall grant you your request." While the queen would continue to parry with the bandits leader, it left the others free to do their assigned tasks. While Luna's barrier would stop most of them, a few had been too quick and moved too far away for the barrier to reach. Those left behind and within though, would tentatively raise their weapons in a defensive stance as they'd listen to what she was saying...well, maybe listening but not really hearing. You know what they say about cornered animals, too. About ten of the remaining bandits would charge Luna all at once, while only about four would quite literally, throw their weapons to the ground and deciding this fight wasn't worth it. Those attacking would swiftly close in, attacking with spears, axes, and swords, intent on either dying or earning their freedom. The Mammoth, was not going down without a fight either. Od would tackle its legs, the armor falling easily beneath her unstoppable blade. The beast would struggle, the leg Od was attacking kicking backwards as it struggled to its knees - and thus would reveal one of its tricks. The foot would slam into the ground, a wave of force as shards of thick ice spikes would form around its leg, slamming into Od as they'd quickly grow and knock her clear of the Mammoth. Had it not been for Fio's timely intervention, it'd have likely started a full on assault on the knights. Blades rained from the sky, ethereal but dull, designed for restraint rather than harm. They'd slam into the beasts back, and legs weighing the creature down with immense weight. The Mammoth trumpeted angrily in response, struggling to its feet, but getting to its feet all the same just as Elias would mount the creatures head, a thick length of sturdy rope around its neck. It had been slowed, but it was still moving. A leg would stomp the ground, shaking the earth and causing a coating of slippery ice to form under it along with spikes of ice as thick, icy armor would form on its legs. Its bloody trunk reached for Elias as it would shake its head violently, the rope digging into its flesh as Elias attempted to choke-out the beast. --- Paladin --- Believing the arrow had done some manner of damage to Ethelred, Cecillia landed on the ground readily, rolling across the ground and quickly jumping back to her feet in a show of agility that would have been hard to pull off for most people. "Ahaha, alright score one for-gwuh!" Cecilia would attempt to move, only to let out a surprised cry as she'd fall right on her ass, sliding a bit across the frozen ground a few feet away from Ethelred. Before he could take advantage of it though, a shout from behind as the bandit he had turned his back to would charge Ethelred. Apparently, he had decided if his bow couldn't work against the icy armor, his own fists would do well enough. The bandit attempted to wrap his elbow around the knights neck, trying to use his weight to pin Ethelred to the ground.</s> <|message|>Od. Od Again this beast tests her patience. The ice knocked her back, having been thrown clear once again. This time was even less impactful than the last blow to have sent her clear from the ongoing struggle. It didn't kill her, little could, nor did it really hurt her but the delays meant the queen would have to continue dealing out blows against this chaff alone. These bandits weren't worthy of challenging her and the shame of having it come to this only continued to build alongside Od's ire. The beast guarded it's legs and left pools of ice where it walked. Meanwhile it fought in struggle against Reinhardt as he attempted to strangle the beast. While it's attention was focus was on fighting him it served as the ideal opportunity for her to try and score a blow of lasting consequence for once. She quickly skirted the borders of the frozen zone as she rapidly dashed up front where the mammoth was attempting to toss her fellow knight off with it's trunk. With focused intensity she poised her stance, bracing her palm against the jeweled pommel of her blade as she readied a thrust. In one long smooth step her place stabbed up at the base of the mammoth's trunk. Though muscular and with hide it's trunk was unable to be armored without losing it's pliability. Neither ice nor steel could guard something that was required to be prehensile. It was time to finish what she started and finally sever that damn trunk.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna grinned, "So, most of you choose death." A golden light edged the blade of her weapon. "You can only blame yourselves for your fate." The knightess said as she met the charge of the men. She dove into the fray and knocked away a spear jab with her shield and deflected another thrust with her sword before thrusting it into on of the bandit's stomach. Quickly, she shoved the man as she removed her weapon and spun around, slicing another's neck and blocking another blow with her shield. One approached her with an axe and went to bring it down on her head. Not missing a beat, she rolled towards his side and launched a slash upwards as she jumped to her feet. It was a bit strenuous fighting so many people at once but it was getting a bit exciting. If anyone had paid attention to her fighting at all, they'd notice that there was a look of exhilaration on the lady's face the longer and longer the fight went on. Perhaps it was cockiness? Overconfidence? It was hard to say.</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Ethelred's attempt to change the battlefield to his advantage worked. The thief-woman slipped on the ice and fell off her feet. This was his chance, he thought, to catch her. At least it seemed so, until the last bandit grappled him from behind before he could rise back to the ground. It was, all things considered, immensely frustrating considering that he had only just managed to get the advantage over Cecilia. His lance was too long and awkward to strike at the man behind him. As a veteran knight, Ethelred was versed enough in unarmed combat that he could probably best this petty thug in wrestling, but he didn't have time to put that theory to the test. He needed to shake this assailant off now, before Cecilia lined up another shot! At the same time, however, he didn't want to simply kill the man. He might be the only one of this band still alive besides their leader, and there was no guarantee that Ethelred could catch the slippery thief even if he did manage to defeat her. Once again, the Frozen Knight invoked his powers over ice, while attempting to rise to his feet against the bandit's efforts. His armor seemed to become even colder. Any point in physical contact with him would rapidly draw heat away from the bandit in a supernatural manner, and even the bandit's clothing would provide only the briefest respite before the freezing reached his flesh. It was not something Ethelred did lightly- frostbite was a horrific affliction that not even Od's miraculous blood could fully mend- but right now, it was the weapon he needed. As his powers took effect, the knight made an effort to throw the bandit off of him while his foe was hopefully distracted by the terrible pain of one's surface flesh being frozen. In truth, he hoped for both their sakes that the bandit was not disciplined, suicidal, or loyal enough to try and hold on. If he succeeded, he'd charge towards Cecilia, still intent on attempting to apprehend her.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Lugh Location: Airedale Mid-morning Airedale Fields --- Lowly Wretch@VitaVitaAR@Guy0fV4lor@Pyromania99 --- "For all your talk you're doing everything you can just to defend aren't ya?" "If that's what you think, then by all means." Sorcha responded to the young man, deflecting another blow from the heavy axe followed by swinging the blade back around, barely missing slicing the bandits neck clean off his head as he quickly back stepped, putting some distance between himself and her. "But I seriously think you should consider your situation again." "Haha, if you think Shabbi could be put out by you guys - " A pained trumpet would come from the direction of Shabbi, the earth moving as the Mammoth would find Od's blade on its trunk, completely severing a good few feet from the massive beast and sending it kneeling to the earth below. Icy blood would soon clot the place that had been severed, but with Fio's spell weighing it down and Elias holding the noose around its neck...well, the beast would soon be pinned under the assault, the phantom blades holding it now in place since it had lost all of its momentum. "You were saying?" Sorcha responded. "Leave, bandit. I have no desire to see further bloodshed." "S-shabbi!" He would make a move to run over to the downed beast, but would be quickly intercepted by the Queen before he could get even a few feet. "If anything, you should be ashamed of yourself for bringing a peaceable beast such as that on an endeavor like this." She sighed. "Think about it fool. You have my word on my honor and life that I will bring no further harm to the beast...so do yourself a favor and leave." "...Tch-!" He pulled a horn from his belt, quickly blowing on it before turning tail to flee. The men fighting Luna well...it was a bloodbath on both sides. The men would fall beneath her easily, but she wouldn't come out entirely unscathed. One of the bandits would get a good stab right in Luna's shoulder, slicing deep into her flesh before she could retaliate, and she'd find another slamming against her torso, her armor absorbing most of the blow but she would definitely feel something had been broken, and someone had managed to get a good cut on her neck. When all was said and done, however, nine men lay dead, a tenth had been beaten into submission. Upon hearing the horn, and whenever Luna had dropped the barrier, the men who surrendered would make no secret they had no intention of sticking around...and promptly attempt to flee again. "Let them go, Luna." Sorcha would say as she'd approach the Knight...though her serious demeanor would quickly fade as she'd give a long, drawn out yawn and stretch. "Ugh, who do they think they are, attacking this early in the morning. Don't they know some queens need their beauty sleep?" She'd complain to all of her knights present. "Well, good job everyone! Glad to see you all in one piece, especially you Od." Now that everything was done, she'd address the knights in full. "Alright, no time to rest! Get yourselves all cleaned up and meet me in the strategy room in an hour! I'll see to our beast friend here myself." --- Paladin --- well, his plan was working as intended. The Bandit trying to grapple Ethelred would keep holding on, at least for the first few moments as the biting cold began spreading through the man. He'd grit his teeth, attempting to double down on the maneuver as Cecilia struggled to her feet, the slippery ground making it difficult for even an expert thief to find decent footing. "Jeez...I'm surrounded by idiots with no self preservation..." She'd say, pulling another arrow from her quiver and aiming at Ethelred. The man holding the knight would now shout in pain, before promptly releasing him and looking at his now frost-bitten body. He grimaced and attempted to try quickly rubbing his arms and front to warm himself up, but it was mostly futile...and then the sound of a horn. Not one that Ethelred would know - but it would make Cecilia pause...and then leap up to a nearby tree branch. "Well, Ice Knight who wasn't even polite enough to give me his name. Looks like we gotta go!" She'd say, giving him a friendly wave before leaping out of sight. "Hope to never see ya again! Not sure my heart could take it!" And like the wind, she was gone. The bandit on the ground was glaring up at Ethelred, shivering and taking short breaths as frostbite ate away the majority of his body. "Ethelred!" A familiar sound of Lughs voice would meet the Ice Knights ears. The young Tuatha would walk into view, sword at the ready to help...and seeming a tad bit disappointed he didn't get to help beating up any bandits. "Vyrell sent me. Was concerned. You seem fine. Battles over. Bandits fleeing. Sorcha says to meet her in the strategy hall in an hour. Need help?"</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna fought like a woman possessed. As the fighting continued, she seemed to care less and less for her personal safety as she retaliated from where she was cut and bruised, ending with a lopped off head and sheathing her sword. After the men were all dead, she sheathed her sword. "... Good. Now, come this way, you four." Her concentration on her spell faltered, and the barrier dissipated. That's about what one would expect from her wounds. The stab on her shoulder stung the more she came to realize she had be stabbed at all. A glow appeared at her hand as she went to infuse some healing energies to it... Before the bandits started to run. "Bastards." She muttered as the bandits turned tail and ran. "This wasn't the deal." So the energy in her hand turned into a javelin that she aimed at the nearest bandit that ran. That is, before the Queen told her to leave them be. A small frown crossed Lady Lightsword's face as she comprehended the order and the javelin disappeared. She turned to her Queen with no attempted to conceal her dissatisfaction with the order, though she made no attempt to show she would disobey. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, if we let them go as such, they'll target small villages or lonesome travelers an--" Luna cut herself off and bit her tongue. She grabbed the unconscious bandit by the collar and drug him behind her. She gave a slight bow to the Queen before she spoke, more politely this time. "Understood, My Queen. I shall report in an hour." With that, she dragged the man to some of the guards that were by the gate before leaning against the wall and healing her wounds a bit. "I always get too riled up in situations like that..."</s>

<|message|>Ethelred That could've gone worse. I suppose, however, it also could've gone better. The woman retreated upon hearing the horn, leaving Ethelred with a maimed, badly frozen bandit. Any hope of questioning them seemed moot now- the bandit was so deeply frozen that he probably wouldn't recover, and it'd be unlikely he could catch Cecilia even if he chased her on horseback. According to Lugh, the young Tuatha squire, the battle was over, and the knights were being summoned in the strategy hall. Ethelred would guess that it had to do with the bandit attack, and how they'd be responding. "Thank you, but, I don't need any help," Ethelred replied, placing his hand over his damaged pauldron, simultaneously relieved to be uninjured and disappointed that the blow wasn't enough to temporarily free a part of him from his crystalline carapace. "I'll be heading back now, but first, I have one other matter to attend," Ethelred stated, looking down at the frostbitten bandit. "I'm afraid your ice burns are likely too far deep" he grimly told the bandit. "If you are spared, you'd probably suffer quite painfully before passing, so I promise to make it quick." Ethelred readied his lance. "When you're brought before Rifelshka, I wonder if she'll commend you for your loyalty, or punish you for your sins of banditry." With that, he plunged his weapon into the man's heart. Finishing off a downed, defeated foe was a rather unpleasant ordeal for Ethelred, but it was his responsibility to ensure his powers did not cause undue suffering to his foes. With the bandit dealt with, the knight returned to his horse, which was no worse for wear, which was more than could be said for the bandit lying nearby, with a hoof-shaped mark on his forehead. Ethelred was in a merciful mood, and decided not to check if the fallen man was still breathing. Besides, surely the other knights had managed to take someone alive, right? His business in the forest concluded, Ethelred rode back to the town. He'd normally offer the small Tuatha squire a ride, but he was still quite cold.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Od. Od It would seem that Reinhardt and Vyrell had arrived ahead of her. Alas, the other knights and the queen herself were yet to show. Until the queen arrives though it was no issue. She would not show the queen disrespect by appearing late to a summon such as this and she expected much the same out of the other knights. "Ah, Od, you are here too." Nod simply gave a short nod to Vyrell's greeting, her expression distant and thoughtful as always. She briefly wondered if the queen had sent summons for him as well to this meeting. There wasn't a chair set aside for him, was there? Did it matter? "Good to see you in one piece as always. Question for you, Od. You've not seen or heard from lady Elnith, have you?" The greeting, much like always, went over her head. A simple pleasantry, no reason to think deeply into it's nuances. The question however got her attention as her eyes locked on his. "No. Is the queen asking for her?" Her question for him was not unusual for her train of thought. If there was an issue her first and main concern was how it mattered to the queen first. Naturally she didn't find a reason for Lady Elnith to be absent as her first assumption, hence her path of thought leading her to believe that they were trying to find her at the queen's behest. If her absence were to cause the queen disquiet then it would be under Od's prerogative to immediately rectify this. She hoped it wouldn't come to that since her strengths were not in searching out missing personnel. That would be something better suited to others such as Lady Luna or Lady Fio. Nonetheless Od would not hesitate to undertake such a task if she so much as even suspected that the queen would desire it so.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Y-you-...!" The Queen had to know exactly how she'd sounded, and exactly how embarrassing the implication was! Not to mention how utterly inappropriate it was! Not to mention any of the other issues with the idea! Regardless of her actual intent, there was no way that was an accident. She'd almost certainly sought to get an embarrassed reaction. Unfortunately, Fio couldn't exactly help that. With a huff, she looked away again, thankful that her Highness at least decided to change the subject to a more suitable topic. The witch's eyes drifted to the injured elder beast for a few moments, travelling over its bulky form. It was strange to see it so docile after the fight, but perhaps that wasn't entirely surprising. "Elder Beasts, hm?" Fio responded as she walked along with the Queen, "Well..." She considered the question for a few moments. Elder Beasts... They weren't exactly an entirely straightforward matter, were they? Not really. "... They're a part of this world, I suppose," she began, "Some are like spirits of nature, who just want to safeguard their lands. Some just care about themselves and their own kind. Some are our enemies, who want to kill as many people as they can. So, we should respond to them accordingly. Antagonizing the ones who can be reasoned with something only a complete idiot would do, but the same goes for trying to talk to the ones who just want to kill us."</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- @A Lowly Wretch Reinhardt followed behind Vyrell silently; his left canines firmly clenched on the soft flesh of his inner lip as he'd mull over the half-elf's intuitions. Nodding in acknowledgement of Vyrell's assertions, the Knight of House Reinhardt took his place at the strategy room's table; setting his helm down at the table's edge. The knight leaned forward over the map, his eyes scanning across it's varied details; his usual stoic expression betraying little of what was on his mind, as his plated fingertips rapped softly against the wooden surface. Even as Od spoke with Vyrell, Reinhardt payed the two no mind; making only a single click of his tongue as he noted that the aforementioned villages that Elnith had been dispatched in aid of had yet to be marked. The knight at last settled into his chair; his arms crossed and eyes drifting toward the ceiling. While it was certainly annoying that nothing had been marked ahead of the meeting, it was likely intentional; the Queen likely wanting to brief the entire Cadre of her elite knights all at once... Or she'd just been drinking too much and forgot. Whatever the case, it didn't make much difference now. Reinhardt sighed quietly as he stared up at the ceiling; his eyes closing as his hand idly seeking the gap in his armor once more. Armored fingers probed carefully between the plates; gently appraising the damage to the Aketon beneath. The Knight's tongue clicked once again-- assuming the next assignment would be related to Elnith's recent lack of communication, he would more than likely need to have the garment repaired before departing... But for now? He was content to await the meeting's start, the Aketon's repair would come later.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna wouldn't admit to it, but she was rather people with the people here. At home, everyone was just very friendly and got along but... Here, well, it felt somewhat different. The people that crowded her felt a little more obssessed in a way. It wasn't bad, per se... But still. "Ladies, ladies. I'm doing just fine! See?" She flexed a small bit to show she wasn't hurting. Well, she was, but she didn't show it. But then, someone spoke up about her fighting a hundred bandits. "L-lugh! That's not quite right. It was more like twenty at the upper end..." Twenty was still a lot but she didn't want people to think she fought one hundred at once! It was impressive but Reinhardt and Od had fought the beast and it's rider, not to mention Ethelred who rode to meet the bowmen in the forest. All she did was distract the weak ones with a bit of support from Fio. "It wasn't just me, however. The other knights fought valiantly as well. You could say I had the easy part, fighting the rabble that would dare attack our beloved city. I didn't have to fight the large beast that was to assail our gates, nor the archers that rained down upon our walls. Not to mention the support I did receive from our very own Sword Witch." Luna said, singing the praise of her comrades. Truly, she had no intention to hog glory for her lonesome. "If you see any of the other knights, please give them the same praise you all have shown me, I'm sure it would brighten their day as much as it did mine." Luna gave all the people that surrounded her. Now, she should make it for the castle... but... First, she took the hand from the first girl that had offered her medical treatment and gave her a small kiss on the back of the hand. "Thank you for the first offer of medical aid, miss." After that, she gave her a smile before looking around to everyone. "Now, I need to go to the castle soon, but I might as well ask how things are. Any concerns from anyone that the queen might desire to hear?" It was good to know the thoughts of the people and... with all these people gathered up... Now would be a good time.</s>

<|message|>Ethelred This turn of events was quite amusing for Ethelred, and he couldn't help but crack a smile beneath his helmet. It appeared he wasn't the only one who had taken an interest in the fairy, whom he could clearly see had the inhuman features of an Unseelie- a cat had managed to catch her and her cries for help had alerted a few guards. An unseelie crying to humans for help? Irony abound. Scourges of humans, bringers of many vile curses, and prey to common cats. The guards weren't sure what to do, not wanting to get involved with a malevolent fey- after all, they were cruel enough that even helping them might not discourage them afflicting their helper with a curse. Of course, earning one's ire by standing by might just incite even crueler acts. That was assuming, of course, that the fairy wasn't so cruel that her acts ingratitude would be of the same rock-bottom depravity as acts of revenge. There was little doubt that the fairy probably deserved this...yet it wasn't Ethelred's duty to judge who is worthy of saving and who isn't. He had good personal reasons to dislike the Unseelie, but the fact remained that this was not the one that had cursed him. As distasteful as it was, this little fey was crying for help, and he felt it was a knight's duty to help. Not for a reward, but because helping others in need was the right thing to do. Besides, he didn't have to worry too much about curses, as he was already cursed. "I'll take it from here, men," Ethelred spoke to the guards as he dismounted. He approached the fairy, knelt down and gently shooed the cat off of the fairy, not wanting to hurt this very good feline. "Are you hurt?" he asked the fey. "Are your wings intact enough to fly?"</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Od. Od "I'm sure you are aware, that is unusual for her at least not to write or otherwise send word. If not to the Queen, then to me. Thoughts, on the situation, Od? Do you believe her curse to have taken hold or would you surmise she has been having some other difficulty?" He fixed her with his narrow gaze and her eyes fixed back on him with their brilliant green hue. Furthermore the pupils of her eyes, unlike her countrymen, were white instead of black making her eyes up until the irides look like the interior of a fresh kiwi fruit. Unless such a fruit were native to this isle then none would draw the connection. Still, much like herself they were quite unnatural despite brimming with natural potency. Just one more thing marking her as different from the others. She stood and looked back into his eyes for what was likely an uncomfortably long moment, her face still locked in a distant expression. Before he could interrupt the silence however she spoke first. "Cause, does matter not." She turned from him after her laconic reply, turning her gaze back over to the tactical map they had laid out. "The queen's will be done. If asked I shall retrieve her." Her eyes scanned over the pieces set out upon the table, her mind dwelling on their purpose and how they tie into the queen's greater plan. In truth if Elneth was victim to her curse then it simply meant she would need to be subdued and taken back to the queen. If not then something else has happened and Od would aid her nonetheless. So long as the queen believed in Elneth then Od would believe in her too. The biggest issue that faced them in this case was their strained relations with the local monarch. Their men would not necessarily respect the authority of the queen's knights. This could lead to potential conflict, one that might put the queen's soldiers in harms way. It would be tricky to defuse if Elneth did anything to strain this already tenuous peace. Concerning indeed. As for the board it offered much potential, her mind could only wonder... Perhaps even wander.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- @A Lowly Wretch The soft clatter of wood upon wood drew Reinhardt's attention once more to the map upon the strategy room's table. Leaning forward in his seat, the Knight carefully scrutinizing the locations Vyrell had marked thus far. Reinhardt's eyes narrowed slightly; a finger roughly tracing a path in the air, his head tilting slightly as the edge of his lips would curl into a stiff frown. Looking up from the map he glanced toward Od, his mouth opening as if to say something-- but he shook his head, seeming to dismiss whatever thought had come to mind. Instead, his attention turned to Vyrell, "Do you have dates of when the Fomorian attacked each settlement? Evidence it was targeting anything specific in each attack? Information whether the more central areas that were seemingly untouched ever spotted it's movements?" Reinhardt slowly grit his teeth as he looked back down at the map, awaiting Vyrell's answer. Though he had yet to voice his thoughts, this fomorian's attack pattern reeked of suspicion. But before he'd voice his own thoughts, he needed to be sure he'd gotten the bigger picture-- lest his initial presumptions taint any future inquiries.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "..." Certainly, she was a Queen, and the one that Fio had sworn to serve. Even if her reasons were largely for curiosity's sake, to understand what was going on and confirm if her claims were truthful, she had sworn such an oath. And Fio at least had respect for the manner in which the taller girl carried and conducted herself. None of this could be denied. Perhaps, then, that was why she took those words quite so poorly. Why the Sword Witch found herself raising her hand and snapping her fingers, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment at the mere insinuation. The circle that opened in the air, producing her sword catalyst directly above the Queen's head, aimed it carefully with the hilt pointed downwards, the pommel angled perfectly. It fell slowly. Fio didn't want to cause real harm, after all. But there wouldn't be any ignoring the impact. "Y-you're a Queen, aren't you?!" exclaimed the Sword Witch, "Th-think about what you say sometimes! Hmph!" The sword dematerialized moments later, Fio folding her arms firmly as she turned away in a huff.</s>

<|message|>Ethelred The little fairy wasn't exactly a polite sort, not hesitating to throw barbs at Ethelred's direction. It didn't bother him, however. If anything, in fact, her open, unsubtle nastiness it actually made her less threatening. The Unseelie were a tricky, deceitful lot, and Ethelred would much prefer dealing with one who wore her unpleasant nature for all to see rather than one that could conceal their malicious nature behind a mask of courtesy and cordiality. While he did not consider this fairy to be particularly dangerous, especially compared to some of the other Unseelie whom he had run afoul of, it would be best to not offend by refusing it. Aside from being unbecoming for a knight (or at least his romantic concept of knighthood that his fellows didn't entirely share), it'd be best to avoid needlessly earning the ire of the twisted fey. At the same time, it'd also be wise to have Fio look at it in case it was a malicious trick. I thank you for the gift, he replied. "Take care now,". Ethelred neglected to mention that he intended to capture the fairy if she continued to look for trouble in the town. He had no patience for those who took advantage of the kindness of others, or could not be swayed away from making trouble. With the business of the fairy taken care of, the Frozen Knight headed to the castle. He would need to discuss this intrusion, and the token, with the Queen. The people of the town wouldn't be able to sleep soundly if the Unseelie were sneaking into the town under the knights' noses.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- @A Lowly Wretch@Crimson Paladin Reinhardt would spend a majority of the journey quietly, only speaking when issuing orders to his fellows or making callouts regarding any movement he spotted ahead of the party. Truthfully, he'd expected to encounter a bit more trouble than a few Unseelie and a single Fomorian hunting party... But perhaps that was just his upbringing in the Laughing Wood causing him to expect as much. It was still admittedly troubling that Fomorians were increasing their activity so near to yet another settlement. Was it perhaps linked to the Midnight-Skinned Fomorian? "The information is appreciated. Thank you." Reinhardt replied to the guard as the trio would enter the town. Dismounting his horse, he'd offer his steed's reigns to Ethelred, alongside a small pouch of coinage. "The two of you can spend your time here as you like, but remember that we wont be staying long and keep your ear to the ground for anything regarding current happenings. Ethelred-- I want you to put our horses up at The Soggy Pumpkin, and purchase us some provisions from the market with these funds... In the meantime I'm going to see if the Mayor has any recent information on Elnith or the Midnight-Skinned Fomorian. I'll find the both of you when it's time to leave." Before he'd separate from the others Reinhardt awaited any responses or questions the two may have had-- then the young knight would make his way toward the Mayor's estate. As Reinhardt would approach the stone building, he would notice that although there weren't any gates or walls around the property, the town's Mayor was at least cautious enough to have a few guards patrolling the perimeter of the property-- two of which immediately moving to intercept the heavily armed stranger walking toward the Mayor's residence... And thus, an introduction was in order. "Good morning gentlemen-- I am Sir Elias von Reinhardt of her Majesty Sorcha's Royal Knights... Is the Mayor available? I'd like to speak with him."</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword The days passed fairly quickly since their departure from Airedale. Traveling, trading stories, more traveling. She was on the road patrolling much of the time, but now she was traveling back home with a Queen and a witch. It was an interesting situation she never thought she'd encounter when she was younger. Leading the way, as she recognized the area quite well, Luna marched with joy thinking about how they would soon be home. There was little doubt in her mind that her father would throw a feast to celebrate the Queen and his daughter's arrival. Still, that was for days to come. For now, it was time to rest. The night prior the Queen had shared with her and Fio about a certain rabbit and king's duel, though she had to wonder how much of that was real. No, as they sat around the fire, Queen Sorcha asked her to tell of her family and the Elder Beast that they were blessed by. "My, my. Curious are you, Your Highness?" Luna asked, taking a drink. "Where to start, well. My father is the Lord, of course. He's a good man, though he can be a little overbearing when it comes to mother or one of us children. My eldest brother is a fairly dignified individual, though... When I see him, forgive me if I pull him aside a moment." Luna gave a small, nervous laugh before taking a sip of her drink and continuing. "My second eldest brother, well, he can be a bit rough and he's focused solely on his skill with a blade but he's a good guy, if not a bit of a... Womanizer? Or he likes to think he is. Just... Keep an eye on him if you meet him." She took a breath and sighed a bit, worried about him meeting the Queen and Fio. "Then there are my two younger siblings. My little brother is fairly intelligent, though before I left it seemed like he was focused on learning the blade. And then my sister. She's quite the dear. Much more girly than me, that's for sure. I wouldn't be surprised if she decided to hone our family's Light Magic." Luna smiled as she took another drink. "Of course, there are a few people outside my immediate family. A couple of my aunts and uncles and cousins but it wouldn't be too likely to meet them I don't think." She then looked to Sorcha after that, "And like you suggested, we charge ourselves with clearing a large area of bandits. Eliminating camps and making sure there isn't a chance for them to reassemble. We only have so many hands of course, so we are limited in some capacity, but we do attempt to clear from the castle and along the river as well as some of the more frequented roads and the villages we know of." She cleared her throat. "But enough of that. You're interested about our heritage now, are you?" She asked, a bright smile crossing her face. "I'm not sure how much you know, but this is the story of the beginning of the House of Lightsword." The Knightess took a breath before continuing. "The story goes that, Long ago we were but a tribe of warriors not far from here. One of the many tribes that were struggling against each other at the time. Our clan, at the time, was fighting a losing war. We lost much ground until we were pushed to our final hold, north of Giant's Rest. It was then, a being of bright light appeared and drove the invaders back. She gifted us with her power and we countered, forcing the enemy to surrender as we brought our troops to surround their hold. We integrated them and they too fought with us after that." "This being that helped us came to be known as Lucilia. She lead us in battle until, finally, she fell in battle. On her deathbed, she granted her powers to the chief of the tribe and his descendants. The Lightswords. According to the tale, it's where we get our affinity for Light Magic and our strength as well. Though, we seem to also be slightly better at braving the cold than most and that seems to be our giant blood." Luna said, informing the two women with her. She took a breath, happy to tell the tale yet again. "Many of the details have been lost to time though, it would seem. So it's hard to say what's true and not, but I for one believe that we were gifted with something by Lucilia."</s>

<|message|>Ethelred As Ethelred walked to the tavern, reins of the horses in his hand, he looked over the town. Seeing Redwater Point again was bittersweet. A century ago, it had been under the rule and protection of his family. Today, it was ruled by the man that had crushed his family. He didn't recognize any of the buildings, but the land that they sat upon was familiar to him. Either way, it was good to see that the town was still standing after all these years, and evidently hadn't been yet attacked by the troublesome fomorian. Unsurprisingly, he people seemed to have been unsettled by the knight's strange appearance. He didn't have much of a choice- the armor didn't come off, and even when damaged, it simply regrew- in fact, it had already fully regenerated the damage that Cecilia's enchanted arrows had inflicted upon it. Normally it might have bothered him a bit, he considered it a bit of a windfall. The more they worried about his crystalline armored form, the fewer questions they'd ask about the man within it. If the Alistains found out that the kin of their old enemies was still alive, they could make trouble and would likely resist any attempt by Queen Sorcha to bring this region under her rule. It was unlikely that some town guards would pose too much trouble for the Frozen Knight, and it would give him an excuse to take up arms against Lord Alistain, but in the current circumstances, they did not need further complications in their mission. For now, he'd have to focus on his mission. Still, it didn't mean he couldn't gather information pertinent to his long-term goals of obtaining justice for his kin. Ethelred reached the inn and knocked on the door. Assuming that the innkeeper wasn't too fussy about the knight's appearance, he'd offload the horses to be kept in the inn's stables, then would head to the trader in town. His own horse had been tied to a tree outside of the town due to its frightening appearance and frankly, it was for the best. Between both its aggressive personality and its ice powers, it was best for everyone that the horse not be handled by the locals. After the horses had been taken care of, Ethelred headed to the market to purchase the provisions that Reinhardt requested. Again, there was some concern that he might have some difficulty dealing with the traders due to his frozen armor. While he was at the market, he'd try to ask the merchants how the current rulers were treating them and how they were managing the town. It might prove to be an uphill battle to get anyone to speak ill of the rulers within hearing distance of the guards, especially to a man of an alarming appearance. He considered slipping them some extra coin to loosen their lips, but Reinhardt would definitely not approve of such a misuse of their funds. Perhaps they'd be more willing to trust them after the knights ensured that the fomorian was dealt with...</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword As the bandits dispersed, Luna gave a small sigh. This wasn't the first nor the last time this happened, though... In these numbers? Not so. She dismounted her horse and was about to disagree with Leo about the queen not liking that comment when she heard her name being yelled and Leo jumping in front of her, blocking something. A thrown blade hit the ground and Luna looked at where it had come from. An odd looking Fomorian came from the crowd that was retreating. He had a menacing look with multiple arms that all looked rather inhuman. "Not your typical fomorian running the wastes I gather..." Luna said as she readied some of her magic, coating her sword and shield with a magical light. She looked to Leo and smiled, "Regardless, whenever I'm around you guys I let my guard down and need you two to protect me like that, don't I? Guess it's Gabe's turn next." She looked back to her other brother with a teasing smile, "Take my horse Leo. I have a feeling that he won't be too helpful against this guy." Luna turned back to the Fomorian in front of them and gave him a hard, studying gaze after he brandished the large blade and a gust of wind blast past them all. If even her queen was worried about him, than perhaps this was a fight she was going to have trouble with. How fun. "Very well, if it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get." She was mostly sure her sword and shield would have zero problems with taking hits from this monster so she wanted to make sure he didn't go after Fio. "Niall was it? I'm counting on you, even if we've not met. Our Queen has pretty good decision making so if she trusts you well." With that, she charged at the monster, shield up with a defensive posture, testing the waters so to speak. As she closed in, she'd give a swing of her sword towards the Fomorian and what looked like a blade of light shot towards it. Behind it, Luna followed, swinging to connect with the Fomorian with her shield at the ready in case he countered with an attack with his weapon.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch The only logical outcome was what followed. The bandit rabble, now cut down in number, turned tail and fled immediately while fearing for their lives. Fio had never really had any doubt in the result of becoming involved in this fight. However, what followed was something far more unexpected. A Fomorian. Surprised, the Sword Witch paused for a moment at the sight of the lanky three-armed swordsman, his ashen-toned skin and scraggly white hair. She had never encountered such an opponent before, and wasn't certain what to expect immediately. Then again, why was that any reason to hesitate? Just because the enemy was strange did not mean anything changed. She was a peerless user of magic, excelling in her craft. Therefore, her enemies were the ones who needed to be cautious. Fio Fan Fallise's pride was unshaken. "Create five phantom daggers in line formation," she began, stepped back onto a more distant platform of light as she spoke, the barrier forming in the air beneath her feet. With a sweep of her blade, the daggers appeared much like the swords did, emerging from rippling portals in the air and formed from interlacing lines of blue light. "Five phantom swords," Fio continued, the blades emerging from the air in a layered formation, just behind and between the daggers, "Five more phantom daggers!" The final layer of blades materialized just between the line of swords, furthest in back. "Release, release, release and kill!" With the petite witch's declaration, each line of ghost blades fired in succession, hurtling towards the Fomorian. The daggers flew somewhat more quickly then the swords, with Fio's aim being to make the differently-flying projectiles more difficult to counter. @Pyromania99@FrogRFlowR</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Ethelred looked in horror as a cyclops emerged, right from the direction which most of the locals had fled. The broken bodies of its victims lay all around, and Ethelred turned his head just in time to see it strike a fleeing woman with its club. The one-eyed monster was surprisingly well-armored for a Fomorian, especially for one that was too big to wear looted armor. He wasn't an expert on cyclops intelligence, but it seemed quite possible to him that this massive foe was the leader of this attack. Given the Fomorians' penchant for their murderous cruelty, it was quite possible that its successful ambush of the fleeing townsfolk was pre-planned, and the smaller Fomorians had intended to herd those fleeing right into the cyclops' path. Or perhaps it was just very bad luck on the part of the townspeople that they happened to flee right into the direction of danger. Regardless, the sight caused the Frozen Knight's blood to boil at the sight of these innocent people being cut down. While an ordinary person might grow warmer with rage, Ethelred's body did the opposite and grew even colder, creating a noticeable fog around him. These people were no threat. They did nothing to you. But I am a threat, and I will make sure you don't leave this town alive! Enraged as he may have been, Ethelred wasn't a fool- if he charged in recklessly, he'd just end up being struck by the giant's massive cudgel. Fortunately, Reinhardt and the elf stranger had already begun to draw its attention with their own taunts and attacks. Reinhardt had attempted to distract it by throwing rocks. Given the man's strength, it was quite possible that those rocks could cause real injury to the cyclops. Meanwhile, the elf had thrown what looked like one of the dead Fomorians at their foe and was now employing considerable acrobatics in his attack. Seeing the cyclops distracted, Ethelred couched his lance and charged at the distracted giant, his weapon aimed at the beast's head. It could be a challenge to penetrate the giant's metal armor, but its head was unprotected and its eye presented a particularly large and soft target for his lance...</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Redwater Point Mid-Morning --- Chulainn@Guy0fV4lor@Crimson Paladin --- Reinhardt surged towards the creature, a rock hurtling through the air and slamming right into the creature's soft, fleshy eye. "GRAAAAAH!?" A pained, guttural bellow as the creature stumbled backwards from the sudden impact. The knights surprise attack had worked, for the moment! It would shook its head, using a hand to cover its sensitive eye as Reinhardt would land behind it. Instead of turning to face the source however, it gripped its weighty club in a single hand and started to flail the club wildly, slamming into the fomorian that Marduk had thrown and knocking it clear across the city. Marduk, however, had not gone unnoticed. The club would graze by his head, a hairs width away from knocking him clean across the city as the creature flailed wildly. He sailed over the beast, momentarily lock eyes with it, the singular eye red and swollen - but still fully functional as Marduk summoned his sword, falling downwards and slicing into the arm the large humanoid was using to wield its club. Black, inky blood poured from the wound as the humanoid responded with a pained howl, the entire arm going limp as the smell of rotten, burned flesh would meet Marduk's nostrils - and also something gripping him, his entire body suddenly yanked from the creature like an insect from a human as the cyclopes hand crushed his entire chest, likely cracking a few ribs as it flung him overhead, aiming to slam him into the ground - But the ground never met Marduk. Ethelred's lance would be his savior, the large humanoid howling in rage as it would pivot slightly to avoid its eye being injured again, the lance grazing the fomorians neck as it spun, falling onto its hands and knees as it lost balance and its grip on Marduk, sending him flying some distance away as ice began to grow on the creatures neck. Its single, red, swollen eye glared at Reinhardt as it swiftly returned to its feet, the club being shifted to its good, right arm. They had lost the element of surprise - no doubt any further assault was going to be more difficult. The creature roared, instead of focusing on Reinhardt it would spin back towards Ethelred, its club dragging along the ground and aiming to slam into the ice knight. Each step it took caused the earth to shake, the club flinging up earth and rocks as it raked the ground under it. --- @VitaVitaAR@FrogRFlowR Location: Southern Giants Rest Late afternoon --- Leo frowned, but didn't argue. He'd grab the reins, immediately mounting the steed and galloping off after the rest of the bandits. Thankfully for him, the Fomorian in front of them seemed far more interested in the knights than Leo. And so the battle would commence. "You are undeterred. Then allow me to see if these ambitions of yours mark you as the heirs…" Luna was the first to move, shield forward, a blade of light hurtling towards the Fomorian in front of her. Lanky, muscular legs quickly sidestepped the projectile, soon followed by the sound of a blade clashing against a blade as his Katana met Luna's sword completely deflecting her attack with, a purposeful and deliberate, powerful swing of his own blade. "...Or as mere pretenders." Fios blades would follow next. A rain of daggers fell, and the Fomorian reacted just as quickly, quickly stepping backwards just as the first wave of daggers would fall near, causing the majority of them to sink into the ground, with two embedding themselves into the fomorians cloak, sinking into the flesh of his shoulder and back, though he seemed completely unfazed by the blades as Niall's lunge would clang against the Fomorians own sword-spear and katana as he'd catch the lance on them. He responded by giving Niall a shove, driving the Owl Knights spear upwards and away just as the rain of blades would reach him - a fire would light themselves under his feet, a small explosion propelling him backwards at a high speed as the blades would embed themselves harmlessly into the ground. "Hm…not bad…" A smile would form on the fomorians thin lips. "But first...this annoyance." Almost faster than one could see, his free hand reached into his cloak, the dexterous appendage launching two throwing daggers towards Fio! At the same time, his feet would once more light themselves with fire as he would propel himself forwards, lunging towards Niall, swinging his heavy swordspear in a downwards motion. His Katana was at the ready to either defend or lash out at Luna if she came close. The queen had yet to make a move, watching the battle unfolding in front of her with a measure of hesitation.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch While two of her daggers hit true, fading into blue light moments after, the rest were unable to reach their target in spite of Fio's layered offensive spellcasting. More worrying then that, however, was the manner in which the Fomorian shrugged off the injuries so swiftly and responded with two daggers of his own. The petite witch had no choice but to construct a barrier as quickly as possible, without even being able to verbally cast. The resulting circle of light was thin, fragile, conjured as swiftly as she could manage. As such, it shattered almost instantly upon the dagger's impact, sending them hurtling off in different directions but also transferring their impact to the small girl's body. The air whipped past her as Fio was thrown backwards, holding her hat and by extension Mieka on her head as she fell from her floating barrier. It was only just barely that was was able to form another barrier before she hit the ground, catching herself in mid-air. Had she fallen all the way, it was quite likely she would have been injured. The Fomorian was quite capable of enduring pain, that much was obvious. Fio scowled as she regained her footing, thrusting her gleaming sword into the sky. She was going to catch him with a direct hit this time, she had to! "Create five phantom swords, from above!" At the absolute edge of the range of her ability to manifest swords, she materialized the first phantom blade in the air. Each subsequent blade formed somewhat closer, a line forming above the Formorian and pointing downwards. Certainly, from this distance the would be more unstable, but it meant at the very least the moment they dropped he would be forced to disengage to the side. He would be struck if he didn't move, and if he tried to evade by moving backwards the other blades would catch him. If Fio could start controlling his movements, she'd be able to lock him down! @FrogRFlowR@Pyromania99</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Ethelred kept his gaze trained at his foe as he struck it. His attack only managed to graze the surprisingly nimble Fomorian's neck, but it had been enough to bring it to its knees and release the elf warrior from its grip. He did not stick around to wait for it to recover and retaliate- Ethelred continued his current course, galloping around and away from his foe, out of the reach of its attempted counter-blow. He's weakened, but only somewhat, Ethelred assessed. The knight's blow to the creature's neck looked to be only superficial, but the elf's strikes had severely injured one of its arms. Still, even with one good arm, it remained a very dangerous foe. On the other hand, they no longer had the element of surprise, and the creature was now clearly quite aware of the threat it was facing. The Frozen Knight wasn't sure if the elf had sustained any injuries in his valorous assault, but Reinhardt was still unscathed (not that this was a surprise, considering how supernaturally tough the man was). Ethelred turned back towards the creature, readying his lance as if to prepare for another charge. He needed to keep its one eye focused on him so that the others could have a chance to blindside it. "Not so tough when you're up against someone who can fight back, are you," he shouted to the cyclops, in an attempt to maintain its attention. He readied his lance in case the creature took the bait and charged. He would not risk a wounding blow, but would instead attempt to evade, parry, or otherwise deflect the creature's club. With only one good arm, and probably a non-dominant one at that, the Fomorian ought to have trouble defending against all three of them at once.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Niall Ulchabhán Not unexpectedly, their assault did not have the desired impact on the Fomorian. Thankfully however, Niall had suspected it and remained on guard which was what may have saved his life. The Knight had intended to follow up on Fio's next attacks, as he did previously, but the Fomorian acted even faster than Niall expected. The Knight's next assault was cut short as he was forced to defend himself with his spear instead, being forced to take a step back from the sheer force of their enemy's attack. Back into the fight, Niall anticipated where the enemy would be led from Fio's swords and lunched himself forward. Once close enough and hoping to relive some pressure from Luna, Niall used his spear's length vertically hit the Fomorian's own spear, attempting to make the thrust miss Luna by going downwards instead. Niall would then follow up with a slash to the Fomorian's abdomen, trusting in Luna's abilities to block the sword swing and follow in the counter attack.</s> <|message|>Marduk Swordwind The Swordwind Fleweth --- Having crashed into the ground after being thrown, Marduk had taken a bit of a breather recovering from the Fomorian's grasp. He coughed up a bit of bloodied spittle, his insides having been crushed. As he sat up, he punched the ground in anger, enraged that he allowed himself to be grasped by the beast. To allow himself to be taken out of the battle by such a loathsome foe... Naught else could be more dishonorable than such a thing. Marduk's Elven blood boiled within his veins, the anger of his progenitor burning him from within. The bodies that surrounded him, the cursed monstrosities that infest the town... such transgressions had awakened the remnants of his forebears before him. The very notion that this one-eyed foe continued to draw breath only enraged Marduk even further. He could feel the impatience of his ancestor, who desired the beast's head to be separated from its body at this instant. Marduk could feel it within, the urging of his ancestor to take action with their own hands. Indeed, Marduk's ancestor wished to join the fight in earnest to bring justice to the fallen, and to bring this beast's foul existence to an end. The warrior took a few deep breaths, recalling the meditation techniques taught to him by his Elven caretakers. He was well aware that while fully allowing himself to be overtaken by his Leargas was something that would quickly end this fight, he also knew that he would lose himself in the process, being replaced by his ever-wrathful ancestor. Being locked into your own body, having it moved by another being without your own volition. To Marduk, such a thing was a fate worse than death, moreso with his current understanding of what would replace him. So instead, he took a moment to calm down, to gather the situation before him better. The shambling town, while a depressing sight, also bore its own fruit. Multiple avenues to enter the fight were available, especially those that allowed Marduk to disappear from his foe's one-eyed sight for a time. It helped that Marduk has miraculously landed near the Fomorian that bore his cloak. With a plan finally set and his angery somewhat quelled, Marduk spat out the rest of the blood that gathered in his throat as he made his first moves. Marduk quickly recloaked himself, staying low and allowing himself to disappear with the smoke and rubble that permeated the ruined market. His cloak helped in that regard, blending in with the wood and stone of the marketplace easily. He then ran opposite from the direction of the battle far enough to where he would seemingly disappear from the combat entirely before leaping upward atop the market stalls. Marduk quickly leapt between each stall as he slowly built an elevation advantage before reaching one of the nearby buildings. It was then that Marduk would start making his way back to the battle, using the heightened elevation to stay out of the Fomorian's sight. His footfalls were eerily silent, his steps all but muffled with his Elven boots. Maneuvering to where he was relatively behind the Cyclops and away from its line of site, Marduk watched and waited for the right opportunity to interject. However, the opportunity seemed to have already made itself apparent upon Marduk's arrival. As the Fomorian spoke its rudimentary Common, Marduk noticed it was currently embroiled in a contest of muscle against the knight blessed with immense strength. Marduk would also notice that the Fomorian's weight was also focused in one particular direction. Knowing this, and postulating the upper limits of the knight's strength, the Elf-blooded warrior would move quickly to set his plan into motion. The golden light of his Leargas once again shone and shimmered in his hands, except this time it took the shape of a mighty spear, its head in the shape of a short blade. He had it pointed right at the Fomorian's head, braced to pierce its skull. He made sure to make eye contact with Reinhardt as he set his attack into motion, ensuring that he got the message. Marduk simply wished to play baseball, and he had hoped that Reinhardt would be up to the bat.</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Ethelred was a bit surprised that the Fomorian replied to his taunts. It wasn't exactly fluent in its speech but it was at least smart enough to recognize the knight's unique powers and think of a mundane utility out of it. Ethelred wasn't fazed by its threats, although he was a bit peeved that he didn't have any breathing room to fire back with a retort. As the Fomorian moved to strike at Ethelred, something struck its arm from behind, restraining it. It took just a moment for the ice knight to see exactly what had happened- Reinhardt had taken advantage of the distraction to toss a harpoon into the cyclops' arm. This gave Ethelred an opportune moment to strike, but he would still have to heed its other arm- injured as it was, their massive opponent had demonstrated that the limb was still quite functional. As Ethelred assessed where to strike, there was a flash of light from behind the cyclops. Looking up, he saw the elf stranger from before atop a market stall and preparing a radiant spear. Evidently the elf was no worse for wear from the rough manhandling that the Fomorian had subjected it to, and he was ready to strike what Ethelred suspected was intended to be a death blow. With the Fomorian's attention focused on the two knights, the elf may very well be able to pull it off, but only if the blow landed. Committing to make it happen, and to take some pressure off of Reinhardt, Ethelred spurred his horse forward, seeking to drive his lance into the orc's free arm. Assuming it struck flesh, the knight would channel his freezing powers through the polearm to freeze it firmly to the wound it had made. His goal was to restrain the monster's other arm, to help hold it in place alongside Reinhardt for the elf's attack. He wasn't sure how long he'd be able to hold it, but if the elf's aim was true, they only needed a moment.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "I-idiot!" Sleeping face? Fio hadn't thought about that, but the Queen had totally gotten to see how she looked while she was asleep! Her cheeks reddened immediately, her small hands clenched into fists at her sides as she silently fumed for a moment, glaring at the Queen. But it was clear something was a little off. The normally cheerful Sorcha didn't quite seem so upbeat as usual. That wistful stare out into the mountains wasn't like her, and although she'd teased the Sword Witch, at the same time she seemed rather melancholy. It wasn't the useful unbecoming royal she had become familiar with. She hesitated for a few moments, before inhaling deeply and approaching. "I joined your court in order to learn, so it's only natural I'd want to hear a story like that," the petite girl replied as she took a seat beside the Queen, brushing her hair back as she did, "It'd be foolish to think I'd pass up such an opportunity." It simply wasn't something she could ever ignore.</s> <|message|>Niall Ulchabhán They're tougher than before... As Niall noticed this, his tactic switched. Taking them down for good was not necessarily the tactic, and he began simply dodging, parrying and pushing them out of the way with hilt hits, kick and shoving if he could not lands a decisive blow instead. This allowed him to make progress and soon the two had reached the gate. As the Tuatha began his ascent, Niall did not know what to think. His absence left the Knigth in a precarious position having to fend off this many enemies and they were closing in. With no other choice, Niall called forth the powers in his enchanted Lance yet again but to another extent this time. Seemingly coming out of the Lance's bit where the metal met the shaft, a black mist began leaking and rapidly expanding until Niall and his would be attackers were completely engulfed. From the outside, it literally looked like a mist descended on the area but it was dark and impossible to see through. From inside, it looked as if clouds suddenly covered the moon and they were in the pitch black of night. It did absorb light to a certain extent by any torches or light magic could help enemies see even in this magical darkness. Niall, as for him, had his enhanced vision and yet remained on the defensive for now. If anyone came forward to attack him, he would counter but otherwise was only playing for time. "Whatever you seem to be doing, do it now friend before we are completely surrounded !"</s> <|message|>Marduk Swordwind Dragonspotting --- Marduk was quite annoyed with the situation, all things considered. From who he was forced to work with to who they needed to free, Marduk knew for sure he was dishonoring his ancestors in some way. He kept it in the back of his mind for now, however, as they had a bigger foe to take care of. Indeed, they still needed to figure out how to deal with the dragon. The fortification could serve as a potential point for them to fight the beast at. The primary concern was the civilians also all being here. Given the destructive capabilities of the dragon's attacks, it's likely they'll be risking more lives luring it to the fort than just going after it on their own. At the same time, they were a man short if they wanted to fight the dragon on their own. They needed to break that Fomorian-corrupted woman out if they wanted a chance at that, but at that point, fighting the beast on their own was moot. "Luring it here is stupid, unless you don't mind the blood of those kids we saved on your hands. Would prove me right of your ilk if you really want to go with that plan, at least." Marduk began, heavy with his words as usual. "The two of us killing the dragon also is a fool's errand. Sure, we have a weapon that may help us fight that beast, but we're also a man down. We also don't have that Harzel knight with his fancy water tricks to help us. "Unless you want to be responsible for more innocent lives lost, the better plan would be to focus on breaking your cursed 'knightess' out. One of us could start a distraction while the other sneaks in to break her out in the chaos. After all, the knights of the fort are definitely on edge. If all their focus is directed at one direction, they surely won't be focusing on guarding some prisoner if they're called to battle. "Alternatively, we can just talk to 'em again. Seems like it worked the last time, and we do have a few others in there that recognize us. I spotted that Harzel brat alongside the two actual brats. They could make a good case for us. If they don't, we can just cause a ruckus and go with the other plan."</s>

<|message|>Ethelred "I didn't mean lure the dragon in while the refugees are there," Ethelred replied, audibly irritated at the elf's biting words. "Nor did I mean catching the soldiers unaware and unprepared. I suppose I misspoke before, but I meant cooperating with the local knights and garrison to take it down, giving them time to prepare and move the non-combatants to safety. Assuming, of course, they'd agree." He paused to compose himself, then continued. He's right about fighting the dragon, if it was just the two of us, it might be a difficult fight. Considering how the last battle went, I'd might as well be fighting the dragon by myself. Ethelred had to bite his lip to not say that aloud. He knew he was downplaying the elf's role in the battle, but he was still quite irritated. "As for breaking her out, it could be done, but while a big enough distraction might divert their attention long enough for you to get into the fort, it wouldn't hold their attention long enough for you to figure out where she his, get in, free her, and get out without being seen by the now-alert guards. There's too much that can go wrong." Besides, he was under orders to not cause a major diplomatic incident with Harzelslack, and angering an entire fort might do that. "But..." he said, pausing again and contemplating, now calmed down somewhat. "Lonan did say that he needed to plan how to deal with the wyvern, and told us we were welcome to help. Yes...I think talking to them like you said is our best bet. If we can convince Grainne or Lonan to let us in the fort, we'd be able to look around and wait for an opportunity to break her out stealthily, while also giving us the option to cooperate with the Harzel forces in dealing with the dragon." Ethelred rode ahead, making himself known as he approached Grainne's procession. "Greetings, Lady Grainne, was it?" he asked, not entirely sure what her noble title was. "I am looking for Sir Lonan, to provide him further assistance in dealing with the dragon. Might I find him at the fort?" He wasn't particularly excited to be dealing with Grainne, from what he had observed, she was a rather abrasive person, and Lonan wasn't around to rebuke her. Chulainn</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna sneared. Too many were dying. Her plan, whatever it may have been, had obviously failed. Well, the saying was "Plans don't live past first contact with the enemy". And then... There was this presence in her mind. A voice. She gripped her weapon before taking a small breath. No, she needed to keep her head. "Men! Hold these six off, use them as shields against their arrows. Kill them and none of you die." That was a command. Luna stabbed at the closest bandit to her before pulling the blade out and heading towards where the enemy reinforcements were coming from. "I'll win, on my terms." The Knightess passed the, unbeknownst to her, sole surviving soldier from Niall's squad and run towards the biggest group of bandits coming at her. There were no other allied targets in the way now so she could go all out. "Watch as my sword of light tears you asunder!" Luna exclaimed as she charged at the bandits. She sheathed her sword and in her hands, appeared a large sword of light. It looked to be about as tall as she was and rather thick. Despite that, she seemed to wield it with ease. Her blade swung forward as she were closing into the group and she swung it in a confident attempt to bisect as many as she could. She couldn't keep this weapon up for too long, but she should be able to keep it up long enough without exhausting herself too much.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Ah?!" This cursed magical energy.. .there was no doubt in Fio's mind. This was a Fomorian! Turning on her heel, she sprang back, off of her vantage point and onto a platform she had formed in the air using a barrier, the spell she'd been casting cancelling. The enormous sword dissipated, fading away into blue motes of light that drifted skyward. This must have been the Fomorian mentioned in Sir Niall's report...! "I haven't the slightest interest in allowing you to handle this sword," replied the Sword Witch flatly. She couldn't provide further support like this, but at the very least she'd managed to take the Fomorian's attention. As frustrating as it was, this was also an opportunity. "However, I'm happy to demonstrate my capabilities, Fomorian, since you've given me such ugly practice targets." The monstrous, abominable things that emerged from the darkness, twisted and warped mockeries of life that could only be the experiments the Fomorian girl had created. Awful. Completely and utterly awful. She would be doing them, and the world, a favor. "Cutting them to pieces can only be an improvement! Sura, Luna Orbit!" A single command, for a specific configuration of blades. Ejecting themselves from a circle in the air behind her, the blue phantom swords began to circle around the small witch's body, at first somewhat slowly and then far faster. Rather then a simple barrier, it was offense as well. The abominations weren't likely to care about pain, but they certainly would struggle to attack if they had their limbs sawed through, especially given her position in the air. Of course, only an idiot would leave it there. "Five phantom swords. Now." They materialized from circles in an arc over her head, each one pointing at one of the abominations before rocketing towards them. It was a test, but ideally it would also at least keep them from moving swiftly as she picked her next course of action.</s>

<|message|>Ethelred As the wyvern lunched towards him, the Frozen Knight dodged to the wyvern's blinded side. This foe might not be as strong as that large black wyvern, but it'd still require some strategy. It had already proven quite dangerous and quite resilient, and there were still two more of these beast to worry about. Ethelred recalled the words of Elias back when they were traveling. Sigurd the Dragonslayer; my great, great, great, great Grandfather– discovered and employed a great many methods on his hunts. He'd use anything from siege weapons, to traps, even poison… But what he found to be the most effective strategy; particularly on wyverns, was breaking their wings. A Dragon suddenly deprived of something it's instinctually used its entire life; no matter how wise, or cruel, or crafty it may be…quickly loses sight of this, and becomes little more than just another beast to be slain. There was no time like the present to put this to the test, and what better way to pay respects to Elias than by trusting in his ancestor's wisdom? The next moment the wyvern's wings would beat downward, he'd aim his lance and thrust it squarely at its elbow. Ethelred was placing considerable trust in Elias' words by performing this attack, but it was the least he could do to honor his fallen companion. "Elnith!" Ethelred shouted. "Go find your armor! I'll keep this one occupied!" Seeing the black veins appear on her, and hearing her ask him to stop her were both grim reminder that Elnith's curse was much more dire than his own. Ethelred's curse merely affected his physical form, but Elnith's curse assailed her mind. In her weakened condition, she might struggle to hold back whatever dark impulses her malediction brought down upon her, and Ethelred didn't want to risk Elnith's sanity in the fight.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword A wave of disgust crossed Luna's face as she watched the man's flesh contort and mutate into what she could only describe as an abomination. A cursed being... A... No. It didn't matter what he had most obviously turned into now. A frown covered the knightess' face as he started to assault Niall again. This was not going to be an easy fight. If she hadn't used up all of her energy using her magic on the thugs... No, that mattered little. Luna gripped her sword with both hands. She might be pushing herself a small bit, but she needed to make sure her blade could cut this abomination's body. She mustered any of her magical energy available just to give her blade a small coating of light to make cutting easier. If he was going to focus on Niall like this, Luna was happy to take a swing at him with his back turned. Especially the tendons in his legs! No matter the creature, it was difficult to move easily once those were cut, even if he could regenerate it could help ease the battle some. She dashed forward and delivered a low swipe at one leg's tendon, bringing the sword back around to cut the other before swinging a departing attack toward his back before stepping back a small bit to give some distance between her and the opponent. Even if he could regenerate the wound, it should give Niall and her a small opening to deliver some real damage to other parts of his body while he recovers. Besides, no matter what he was, nothing regenerated indefinitely.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Tch...!" The bandit leader had used a cursed object to become a horrible beastly abomination, and was bearing down of Niall with claw and tooth and hammer. And the monstrous experiments were feeding on the fallen one, surely using its flesh rife with malignant influence to grow stronger. However... There was one thing Fio could do. The Sword Witch had no better opportunity then now. Her true target was exposed. This was her chance, while the hideous experiments were too busy consuming the fallen to act as a shield for their creator. "Fighting not your forte, is that it?" she asked, a smirk crossing the petite girl's lips, "In that case...!" Light traveled up the edge of her blade. If she could just manage this spell, strike true and hit her target, then she'd have it! Or at least she hoped she would. Her plan hinged on a few different factors all lining up simply judging by what she had seen in battle When the circle of interlaced light spawned at the tip of her blade, she swung it it, an arc of similar circles appearing in the air as close to the Fomorian as she could manage. But she wasn't aiming to kill. At least, not yet. The magical energy flowing down her fingers, through the blade, igniting in the circles of light...! "Sura! Razor Light Bind!" The circles flared brightly, and what appeared to be chains of blue light erupted from them, snaking through the air towards the Fomorian a top speed, tearing their path right towards the abominations' mistress. As they ensnared her arms, legs, neck, and waist, their true nature became swiftly apparent. Each length of chain was composted entirely of tiny blades, biting just slightly at the Fomorian's skin, just enough to signify their true nature. "I'm sure you like causing pain, but do you like feeling it?" asked Fio, cocking her head to one side, "If those monsters attack me or my allies again, I'll pull on these chains and they'll chew through flesh and bone. You'll die, and it won't be a painless death." Illustratively, she flicked her sword lightly to illustrate her point. The chains tightened ever-so slightly, enough to just barely pierce the Fomorian's skin and draw a little bit of blood. "Have those experiments kill each other. Tear one another apart until there's nothing left that can fight." Deep down, even targeting a Fomorian she didn't really want to follow through. Razor Light Bind was for monsters, things more like those vile experiments. But for the sake of any one of the knights, Fio would do what she had to do.</s> <|message|>Niall Ulchabhán The owl Knight was on his last rope, having used most of his stamina and magic containing this menace mostly on his own until Luna joined the fray, providing him with much needed relief. However, things were to get worse before they get better as Annagan completed his full transformation into a hideous and horrifically malformed beast. It's bellowing roar alone would push Niall slightly back before it launched itself forward with intent to pulverize the Knight with its Hammer, now part of its arm. Niall had barely enough time to jump above and evade the hammer swiping at him, landing a little more back, hopefully distracting the beast enough for Luna to get close. Niall had now no other choices but to focus on evasion and defense, so depleted he was, but would be looking for one good opportunity to use the remainder of his magic for one last dash attack... Leading the beast on around their battlefield and remaining one step away from its hits and claws, Niall managed to get to the location of his spear and, rolling out of the way of another swipe, grabbed the weapon once more. As soon as the creature would be slightly distracted by either Luna's attacks or anyone else interventions, Niall would dash for it's eyes with his magic abandoning any form of defense in order to pierce the eye with the Lance.</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Ethelred's gamble had worked; the wyvern seemed unable to dislodge him from this spot. He didn't know if he hit anything vital, but even if he missed, the freezing would reach its organs or muscles so long as he held on long enough, and even if he didn't, Grainne and the soldiers might be able to use this distraction to attack it. The wyvern had other ideas, however. In the face of this attack, its reaction was to try and fly away. As soon as he felt his foe lift up higher as it attempted to become airborne, Ethelred knew he needed to separate himself from his opponent. As interesting as it'd be to take a ride on a wyvern's back, it'd be a bad idea to do so on one that might be suffering sudden, deep frostbite. Ethelred compelled the ice to release his lance- and himself- from the wyvern, and dismounted the wyvern just before it could take him plummeting off the edge. It was certainly different from dismounting a horse. As the Frozen Knight landed back on the fort wall, he took a moment to regain his balance from the jump, using his lance as a makeshift walking stick to steady himself. After regaining his bearings, he took a moment to assess the situation. This had actually gone better than he had anticipated. Grainne was still alive, the ballista was intact, and he had managed to actually kill something, even if it wasn't as prestigious as confronting and killing the other one solo. If he was wrong and the wyvern had survived the fall, it was at least severely injured, no longer able to fly, and would be a simple matter to finish off. "Grainne, are you and your team alright?" he asked the Harzel squire. "Are they able to fire on the last wyvern?"</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword The Knightess stumbled backwards a small bit from the trembling earth. As he had addressed her, it was only right that she answer his thoughts. "You are correct, beast." Luna said, bothered by the man's transformation into what she could only assume was a type of Fomorian. "I am the Eldest Daughter of House Lightsword." She continued, using what footing she could recover to slap away Annagan's reaching hand. In the worst case, she and Niall would have to widdle down his strength, which seemed to be not much either of them had at the moment. One good thing for the both of them was that they had the man flanked. It was hard to pay attention to both sides. While it may have been only a superficial wound, the damage towards the beasts ankle could always compound to more later. Especially like this moment when she moved to attack as Niall made him block a stab to the face with his weapon! Luna moved her shield carrying shoulder forward as she brought her shield in front of her body. Her right arm brought her sword up to her shoulders, poised and ready to pierce through her enemy's back. She just hoped he was distracted enough by Niall to let her get an easy strike in. She noticed whatever energy was coursing through the hammer. "You're right! It won't be just him. Fio!" The Knightess yelled, hoping that, if Fio was able, she would be able to help as Luna stabbed forward, aiming to pierce her foe's neck with her blade. Hopefully, should she not be able to stop his charging energy, it'd distract him from Niall who has already taken much punishment.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch The sight of the abominable experiments tearing one asunder was awful. She saw flesh scatter to the ground, organs spilling out, bone and muscle snapping and tearing until all that was left was a pile of useless, fetid meat heaped upon the ground. But no part of it could fight anymore. "That's where you have me mistaken, Fomorian," Fio replied, a smirk on her face as she turned back towards the dark, bound girl, "I may be in service of that apparent Queen, but I'm a witch. Not a knight." ... Not to say that she wanted to go any further. She was quiet thankful not to have to actually kill a helpless foe, even a Fomorian. Though she would have if she hadn't called off her experiments. But she'd wanted to take a Fomorian prisoner for a while now. Really, it was the best outcome for both of them. With a wave of her sword, Razor Light Bind dissipated... "Constrictor Light." ... only to be replaced immediately with an even tighter, but far less painful or potentially lethal bind of blue light, tightly securing the Fomorian's limbs to her body, binding her legs together and into a kneeling position. She would be even less capable of movement, now. Creating a set of barriers to use as steps, she made her way down towards her captive and positioned herself just behind her, to ensure she didn't try anything. Not that she could escape, anyway. The fight with that huge bandit had changed dramatically while she was distracted. Now, he had become some bestial, monstrous abomination. Quiet similar to one of the Fomorians himself. Keeping the Fomorian bound meant she couldn't necessarily use her biggest offensive spells, but at the same time she had to do something. "Sura," declared Fio, thrusting her blade skywards, "A single phantom sword. Its edge hard. A great blade of light that will pierce the enemy." The air rippled above her, and a sword of woven blue crystal-like energy emerged from the circle as it appeared, as big as Fio herself and pointed squarely at the bestial bandit. "Kill." And it was released, hurtling towards its target. Even if the blow didn't prove lethal, as long as it struck it would surely make an opening for her comrades. @Pyromania99@FrogRFlowR</s> <|message|>Niall Ulchabhán Niall went for the eye with blinding speed - but was once more parred by the bandit. OR what remained of him, at least. The Hammer going up to deflect the Lance upwards, sending Niall up with it. Out of energy and stamina for having fought this beast of a man on his own for so long, Niall was, however, not out of wits and managed to see what was happening. As he was now sent upwards, he witnessed Luna and Fio's attacks both aiming to kill and both needing a distraction of some sort. Acting quickly, Niall once more let go of his lance in order to change his trajectory midflight and not be dragged by the man's superhuman strength. Niall used his magic to boost himself right into Annagan's face - with the monster's hammer hand up, from such a close distance, it should be doable. This wouldn't be deadly, but it would hurt. Niall was out of weapons, but his gauntlet's ended sharply in order to mimic a bird's claws. On the giant man's face, Niall teamed up with his pet Owl Gwdihw, calling it to him by whistling into the night, and they both went for one eye. This should prove distracting enough.</s>

<|message|>Ethelred The wyvern wasn't killed, but Ethelred was content to call this a victory. Even if it managed to crawl away to safety, Ethelred was confident that it would not recover from its wounds. If it didn't bleed out, the frostbite would surely prove fatal, probably after extended agony as its frozen flesh expires. The merciful thing would be for Ethelred to finish it off once the battle was over, but that would have wait until the third wyvern was taken down. Grainne was still as impolite as ever, although given the situation, she could be forgiven for being deeply upset. He'd need to correct her on his name once this was over, though. They still had one wyvern to go, and they needed Ethelred to keep it busy while they prepped the ballista. "Alright, I'll take care of it. Just be careful where you aim it, I don't want to get hit." The Frozen Knight descended the stairs of the wall down to the courtyard, where he approached the wyvern. With Elnith's sword in his shield-hand, he swung the weapon at its belly as he drew nearer, taking note of the space-warping enchantment. He always did want to see what it was like to use Elnith's weapon. I'll have to thank her for letting me try it out. Considering how closely Ethelred treasured to his own lance, he found it quite touching that Elnith would entrust him with her sword. It was a slight disappointment that it didn't turn from red to blue in his hands, though, but no weapon was truly perfect. "Prepare yourself for death, beast!" he shouted at the Wyvern as he approached, brandishing both lance and sword. As much as this was only meant to be a distraction, he was intent on using what time Grainne and her soldiers afforded him to do as much damage to it as possible. This monster had murdered many soldiers, and even if it was just a simple predator with no sense of right and wrong, Ethelred wanted to make it pay.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Her blade struck true. It had been a simple spell, all she could manage when she was keeping the Fomorian bound with two complex binding spells in a row. She could feel how weak her slender limbs had become, her legs trembling slightly beneath her. But Fio's phantom sword had found its mark, burying itself in the beastly bandit's center back and erupting out the other side. From the angle, even at this distance, she was sure she had pierced his heart. And now the monster fell. She'd struck her mark. "There." The crystal-like blade of magical energy dissipated, and Fio fell to her knees, no longer having the energy to remain on her feet. She'd protected the knights, and delivered the final blow that slew their enemy. She'd been perfectly confident in the outcome, but it was still a relief to actually see the monstrous figure fall to the ground and die. The battle was finished, and she would be able to recover from using so many complex spells in a short span of time. But there was still one more task she had to attend to before she could rest. The binding spell keeping the Fomorian in check had to be maintained until the others arrived, and her prisoner could be tied with more permanent restraints in order to be taken back. This was her prize. A Fomorian they could interrogate. Fio was not about to give her up. Adjusting her hat, the petite witch sat back on her knees. Just what had the Fomorian said to her? It was bad enough she was doing horrible experiments resulting in hideous, cursed, warped abominations. But that comment... what was that supposed to mean? "E... excuse me? What's that s-supposed to mean?" Fio managed between gulps of air, as she fixed her purple-blue gaze on the other girl, eyes narrowed. Exactly how didn't she look like a witch? Even if she was exhausted, she wasn't about to ignore a comment like that. @FrogRFlowR@Pyromania99</s> <|message|>Niall Ulchabhán As focused to the task as ever - and as silent - Niall ignored the man's taunts as he delivered what would turn out to be his last attack of this fight. Stay out of this? Niall thought, finding it somewhat ironic considering they had been fighting this whole time. Truly, this beast could hardly focus on more than one thing at a time. However, Niall still got grabbed and was about to be thrown to the ground when he felt the hand loosen up. Their plan worked, and as Annagan was distracted the knight's companions delivered the final blow. Niall felt only relief as he fell down to the ground when the massive hand, falling out of it and barreling on the ground for some way. He allowed himself this moment of 'respite' as he laid on the ground, looking up at the night sky. His body aching all over and stamina nearly depleted - but things were not over yet. The Own Knight stood back up once more, looking over to Luna and seeing she was alright. He then felt something against his foot. Annagan's eye, which turned to stone and rolled out as they fell. Niall took a hold of it, not oen for trophies but...this could be something to show the Queen, at least. It might prove useful - or not. When he looked over to Fio, Niall saw her on her knees, seemingly just as tired of not more so than him. The knight took his Lance and walked closer to Luna, motioning towards their Witch companion. "Let's regroup before we go into the camp." he simply said, the exhaustion audibles in the voice behind his helmet. Niall would then walk over to Fio or, rather, her caught prey whom he recognized as the Formorian from the room before. "We meet again." he simply said as he got out of his pouches some chains which sole purpose was this. He would tie her wrists together behind her back as well as her ankles and force her up, walking closer to Fio before throwing her to the ground there, hoping this would allow the Witch to finally catch a breath. "Good job, Fio. Thanks for the assist with that beast - both of you..." as he spoke, his Owl pet landed on his shoulder, pecking under its wing and staring around.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword It hurt. Where she had blocked the swing of the hammer had broken her arm someplace, but she didn't let it show on her face to the others. She winced every now and then when Niall, Fio and the prisoner weren't looking, but she let her shield arm sit at her side as she sheathed her sword and held that hand on the arm where it felt like there was a broken bone and poured some small amount of healing magic she could muster. "Glad to see you alive, Niall. That said, this all went a lot more horridly than I had anticipated, truthfully. I didn't think someone would turn into that monstrosity." The Knightess frowned a small bit. "Much more loss of life on our side than anticipated. These bandits shouldn't have been half as strong as they were." She grimaced for a second before a flush of anger crossed her face. It was obvious what caused the look on her face. It didn't take long before she closed her eyes and taking a deep breath. "There's three of them left. My men, that is." The Knightess shook her head. "I told them to clear the walls of archers if they could. And not to die." A small wry smile crossed her face. "If they did, I'll bring them back to life just to kill them myself." With that, Luna started back towards where she left the soldiers. "Still, I wonder if there's a feasible way to bring all their bodies back. I'd like their families to have a last chance to say goodbye." With her and Niall wounded and only three soldiers left aside, she wondered if they just needed to hide the soldiers bodies and then come back for them with some extra hands. "Maybe there's a cart around here I could push."</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Ethelred had only a moment to realize what it was doing in the air- it was going to stomp down on him with its claws. Clearly his frozen, jagged armor did not look as appetizing as that unfortunate Harzel soldier, and it was determined to do some damage. As it bore down, Ethelred leapt back out of the path of its descending talons. Given the sheer momentum with which it was coming down, it'd be best to not take this attack head-on. Once the Wyvern landed, Ethelred would rotate his lance into a reverse grip and bring it down on his opponent's foot like a stake. Once he embedded it as deeply as he could, he'd freeze through it, intent on holding the wyvern to this spot of ground. If it kept flying around, the ballista wouldn't be able to hit it, so it was imperative that he prevent it from moving around long enough for them to line up a shot. With his lance being used to try and stake the wyvern in place, Ethelred placed both of his hands on Elnith's blood-red sword and readied it to deflect or counterattack any incoming blow from his foe's jaws or wings. Even if if it was rooted to this spot, almost every inch of this monster's body could constitute a weapon.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "Please do, Sir Vyrell. If you could figure out anything, I would be most appreciative. I... This thing makes me curious and for all the wrong reasons. Perhaps it makes me more concerned than it should." Lunalel said, looking to the side wondering if she's was being a bit too worried. "Hmm, yes, that issue aside you mentioned something about Elves at Nid's End? I've not seen many elves in my lifetime. Plenty of giants, but I can really count the number I've seen on one hand I think." Figuring out why there were any amount of elves nearby would be a pleasant escapade compare to what she had just observed. "I wouldn't mind going and see what that's all about. Know anything about them?" She asked hoping that they at least seemed friendly.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Cethlann. The prisoner's name was Cethlann. That much was already more new information, but it went further than that. The masculine voice was one she couldn't place, not immediately, but after hearing him talk a little longer she realized that it was the very same voiced as the Fomorian warrior they had faced before, with the distorted three-armed form. So they had been working together. Though it sounded like that relationship had been rather shaky. As if Cethlann herself was not performing as their leader-whoever that may be-desired. But that couldn't be it. She had to learn more. Fio's eyes narrowed at the faint sound of the voice beckoning her deeper into the cavern. It was dangerous. It was far more dangerous then anything she had done here so far. Fomorians were cursed beings, and there was no telling what touching that deeper blackness within the target's memories would do. And yet... "Oh wind. Oh water. Oh light of stars," began the diminutive witch, be it in her oh mind or words she was truly speaking it was difficult to tell, "May purity be granted upon me. May no curse or wickedness find purchase in my soul. May my body repel all evil." It couldn't possibly hurt to reinforce the purifying seals that she had painted all over her form. After a scant few moments more of hesitation, Fio steeled herself once again. It was not because of that whispering voice that she proceeded down this path. It was because she had to force her way deeper into the Fomorian's memories. And with that, the Sword Witch proceeded into the cavern.</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Ethelred looked away, embarrassed. Normally it'd be difficult to see what his eyes were doing behind his helmet, and it was handy to allow him to take note of things without alerting others to what his attention was on, but clearly he had failed to be subtle here. He only hoped it didn't upset Elnith. Unfortunately for the Frozen Knight, when he averted his gaze, it went straight down to where Lugh was, silently pleading with puppy-dog (or fox, or whatever animal he shared he bore the features of) eyes to accompany him on this mission. "Don't blame yourself, Elnith, you didn't know that you'd be facing that monstrous wyvern." he assured, looking back at her, unable to continue to meet the Tuatha's eyes. "If it was a Fomorian like Sorcha believed, I'm confident you'd have handily slain it." "And yes, I would like your assistance," he continued after glancing over the other knights. "It looks like Vyrell and Luna will be going to find the elves, and I'm unsure what Elias and that Owl Knight are up to. Might you accompany us on the mission to Hrelskins' Fall? You know better than most the harm those evil fairies can cause. Besides, it looks like Lugh wants to come, and I could use some help keeping an eye on him." He wasn't entirely comfortable with Lugh coming along, but the Tuatha needed some practical experience if he was to become one of Sorcha's knights someday. Additionally, given how elusive and nimble the diminutive Unseelie could be, Ethelred couldn't deny that the squire's magical skills and senses could be quite useful for this mission.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Nothing. There was nothing even resembling further memories this way. Damn it. She'd made a mistake. This ominous expanse was nothing useful for her, and put her at far too much of a risk of being exposed directly to massed curses. The only choice Fio had was to try and cancel the spell, at this point. There was no way head back as far as she could tell. Her hubris had wasted her opportunity to gain further knowledge. At the very least, she now knew that Cethlann was connected to the three-armed Fomorian, and she had some inkling of direction to drive her questioning at the very least. Any knowledge gained this way was valuable. Then the great sphere in the eye split apart. Within, there was an eye. Swollen, reddened, fixed upon her and bleeding cursed ichor from within, weeping blackness onto the world below. "That's...!" The fear that rose in Fio's heart simply wasn't something she could control. But even as she tried to turn, to cancel the spell and break the connection, she felt her lungs burning. Her skin, the sigils she'd painted on her body, burning. Her entire body felt like it was on fire. It was difficult to breath, to move. The world around her was collapsing, melting away, becoming a thick mud to entrap her feet and drag her down. The terror was mounting in her heart, cold fear eating away at her, her eyes wide as she tried to struggle against the decaying dream around her. She could hear a howling voice in her mind, demanding something from her, to claim something of her. How could she escape? She'd mired herself this far from the Fomorian's memories, in a land of hatred and malice, a nightmare dreamscape of curses and anger. How could Fio possibly pull herself away from this? Even as the Sword Witch... she'd been so foolish. So utterly foolish to come this way. It felt as if the sigils were going to scald her flesh, to burn their marks onto her skin. Had she failed? Was she going to be drowned in curses? And yet... there was the faintest light, flickering away... Even the sight of it suddenly reawakened something deep in Fio's heart. Her fists clenched. "... You... you won't have me, filth! I'm not an amateur who can be defeated by something like this...!" The glaring eye was no longer her concern. She had to leave it behind. She would leave it behind! The Sword Witch dragged herself towards that flickering, seemingly-distant light, putting all her power into her limbs to push herself onward, away from the cursed mud...!</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword The atmosphere at Nid's End was somewhat oppressive. When Sucaria mentioned feeling uneasy, well, Luna felt it as well. "It's not just you, Sucaria. I find it odd that elves would be here on that note." Why would they be? It was beyond expectations to be sure. This place was a craggy, dreary coastal mess and her limited knowledge on elves was that they liked forests and had some sort of ancestor worship. Perhaps there was something related to that here? Truthfully, despite thelack of road they had to take, Lunalel was surprised to find the place so easily. She'd have thought that they would run into a Fomorian or Unseelie of some sort as the two of them found themselves here but there were none. She coulent tell if that was a fortuitous sign or not. That said, she had lilely foumd her answer soon enough. The elves seemed to have some sort of party on the shores. Their two ships beached with a symbol that might mean more to here if she knew anytging more about elves. The majority of the forest-folk seemed to be dressed in red and green armor while there was one girl fighting some fomorian cyclops. While her first instinct was to jump in to help, it seemed to be a non-issue. Otherwise, the rest of the elves would do more than laugh, play and bet. Perhaps a rite of passage of some sorts. The knightess couldnt say she hadnt been throughbone at some point. She watched the fight a small bit before catching a look at the elf's face. Something about her ruby eyes transfixed Luna for some short time before her senses came back to her. Blushing a small bit from that, she looked towards the rest of the elves on shore. "Shall we greet our new friends, my dearest maid?" Hopefully they would not take offence to her joining as she moved closer to the elves not fighting and raised a hand. "Hail, friends from across the sea. My name is Lunalel Lightsword and this is my Maid Sucaria. How fare you all?" She asked, hoping that no one would be one the defensive here.</s>

<|message|>Ethelred "I agree, something is amiss here," Ethelred replied to Elnith's observation, as he looked around atop his icy horse. "We need to find someone willing to talk." Ethelred knew that this was the place they were looking for. It was normal for people to feel some apprehension and fear at himself and Elnith, but this village was the only one where they fled inside and worriedly sought to avoid their attention. It certainly wasn't normal for people to claim that the Unseelie had returned when fleeing into their homes. The knights needed to figure out what was going on as quickly as possible- the longer they remained in the dark, the more danger both they and the locals would be in. The problem, however, would be getting people to talk. They might be frightened enough to not offer any resistance to those they believed to be with the Unseelie, such as Ethelred, but Ethelred would rather not cause any of them further distress, nor give them a reason to distrust Queen Sorcha. "Lugh, see if anyone in the town center is willing to talk," he instructed the squire. "Don't hesitate to give them those pleading eyes. Elnith, could you keep an eye on him, make sure nobody gives him trouble? I'm going to try one of these houses." Ethelred dismounted his horse and walked up to one of the houses whom he had seen a villager flee into. He knocked on the door, which he assumed would be locked, latched, bolted and barricaded. "Hello? I am Sir Ethelred, Knight of Airedale. Is anybody home?" He felt that it'd be best to try a somewhat subtle approach at first (or at least as subtle as a crystalline horseman atop a crystalline horse, a cursed berserker, and a Tuatha could be). He wasn't sure if they'd answer at all, but their reaction, whatever it was, might provide some useful information even if they didn't cooperate.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch You won't have me! She felt something gripping her leg. Her heart hammering, her eyes burning, she pulled away, no matter how strong its grip was she would fight back. You won't have me! The earth was melting away around her, collapsing even as the grip on her ankle didn't falter, pulling harder, to drag her further down. The world itself was trying to devour her. You won't have me! You won't have me! You won't have me you won't have me you won't have me you won't have me! Something gripped her wrist, and she clung back onto it just as tightly. The mud gave way. The grip on her leg loosened and then lost her completely. Fio was rising now, a soothing feeling like cool water washing over her as she was pulled further and further into the air. Only briefly did she look back, to see scores of writhing, flailing limbs snatching at the air, emerging from the increasingly-distant muck as the cursed realm fell away. They wouldn't have her. Somehow she was somewhere else now. She was falling, but the soothing sensation around her stayed her heart and kept her from panicking as she had before. The slender, petite girl felt her bare feet lightly touch cool water. When she was able to examine herself, the sigils on her body seemed to have almost completely burned away. Their protections would have lasted scant seconds longer, at most, the pale skin beneath nearly completely exposed. That was more then the mere curse inhabiting the body of a Fomorian. That was something deeper and more ancient. Something twisted at the very core of a cursed being's existence. And yet here, in this place, that hatred and malice was gone. It was relaxing. Calming. Had Fio not had a goal in mind, she could have easily slipped into the dreamworld herself. Above her the stars. In the distance a tower stretching towards them. And she wasn't alone. The Sword Witch's eyes fell upon a slight figure, not incomparable to herself, seating in a gently swirling about them. A girl, with the ears of a rabbit extending from atop her head. There was no doubt in her mind who this was, for she had invoked her a the very beginning of the ritual. The Goddess of the Deep Lake. The Sleeping Girl in the Dark Water. But a gentle and soothing darkness, not unlike that of one's bed. When Fio looked at her, she could feel her eyelids growing heavy. But she shook her head and inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself. The Sword Witch wasn't entirely done here. To be face to face with what was undoubtedly divine was hard to come to grips with in her mind, but at the same time that didn't mean she was going to become speechless. Her voice came form her, but also from the entire shallow lake. Exciting. Fio hadn't found that particularly exciting at all! "Hmph, well, I guess if you thought it was a good story then something came out of it," she found herself saying, folding her slight arms across her chest as she shook her head again slightly to try and clear the sleep away. "You must be the Goddess of the Deep Lake. The one I invoked to come here in the first place," continued Fio, "I didn't intend to tell a story, myself... I guess it's more like I came here to read one." Given how the Goddess had reacted, perhaps she had ended up telling a story anyway. "... I shouldn't have strayed into that cave. I can't believe I let myself do something so stupid," she found herself saying, her frustration growing once more, fist clenched at her side as she averted her eyes from the Goddess. It was a waste of all her preparations. Certainly she had learned quite a bit, but she'd lost her opportunity for more. "... I-if you want to hear more stories, I don't know if I have many to tell, though maybe you'll see something in my dreams," she continued, still looking away, "A-and... and I'm... I d-don't sing, so..."</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna grabbed Sucaria's hand, to calm her a small bit through the discomfort she felt. "If you don't mind, we'd be happy to join you." Luna said before taking a seat with Sucaria. "I must say, we don't see many elves either in the Lightsword Domain nor Airedale. Glad to see you lot are at least happy to see me. My recent encounters with strangers have been at the end of a blade." The Knightess mentioned, recalling the recent encounter with bandits recently. "I wasn't too worried about that after I realized you all were watching." Luna mentioned, before admitted. "Though, at first my initial thought was to jump in to help. It's a dangerous world we live in after all. Besides, we have Rites of Battle back home similar to this. Though, it's usually sparring between recruits and they're nowhere near as skilled as... Lady Sarah, was it?" The human mentioned shaking her head. "Still, what is it that you seek help for? I can't promise help, but I'll do what I can." After asking her questions, she turned to Sucaria and spoke quietly, "Are you still feeling ill at ease?" She wasn't sure how good elven ears were, but she paid it no real mind. Sucaria tended to have good instincts and she didn't want her childhood friend to feel uncomfortable.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- Reinhardt paused briefly as he mulled over what the the mage had said, "So you're effectively using ambient Mana to create physically solid illusions within a set area?" though the stranger's explanation seemed to be intentionally overcomplicated, Reinhardt still wasn't entirely ignorant on the subject of magic; his general intuition doing the rest to piece together what the Mage had conveyed... In fact-- wasn't this (in a sense) similar to Fio's sword summoning? Regardless of what surface-level similarities the formation seemed to have with Fio's own particular staple Magic, that wasn't important at the moment. "So long as you're being truthful, I've no reason to stop you-" the Knight replied with a shrug, "I'll be fine right where I am. Just pretend I'm not even here." Regardless of how truthful the petite mage (which seemed thus far a running theme between the Female spellcasters he'd encountered) had been, she clearly didn't seem to regard him as anything more than a random passerby; likely assuming disregarding him as a typical villager. Even if it wasn't particularly good for his mood, it seemed he would be stuck babysitting the all-too-arrogant Mage; prepared to intervene in the ritual or even arrest and detain the Mage should things turn in a direction he disliked. The Knight sighed quietly. Could this day get any more irritating?</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Ethelred wasn't surprised by the occupant's unpleasant response. These people were clearly scared, and for those already living in fear of the Unseelie, it was understandable that they'd see someone like Ethelred and assume him to be with them. However, it still left him dealing with the difficulty of getting answers. One option would be to attempt to reason with the people, convince them that if they're right and he's an Unseelie, then it'd be most unwise to be uncooperative. On the other hand, he didn't want to scare or coerce these people, and like Elnith said, fear could push them to act rashly. It would be best to play it nice, although it'd take longer to coax answers out of these people. Fortunately for the Frozen Knight, someone else in the house answered him. A woman on the second floor looked down at him and, after correctly concluding he was not an Unseelie, asked what he was. Now they were getting somewhere. "No, my lady, despite my appearances, I am a human," he answered her. "Rest assured, I am no friend of those wicked fey, and neither are my companions. We've heard rumors of Unseelie around here and were sent by Queen Sorcha to help you. If your household is unwilling, is there someone that we may speak to that could explain exactly what is going on?"</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna would reflexively accept the drink. It's not like she couldnt hold her Alcohol. "Looking for someone is she? That can be quite the perilous task in Albion." The knightess mentioned as took a sip of her drink. She'd ask for a second mug for Sucaria but the maid never seemed interested in drink. She took a deep drink, savoring the alcohol before stopping when about half was gone. The knight would look toward Sarah's fight and admire the elf's fighting style. Perhaps a small bit more than that as she took another drink. "Well, I hope to speak to your Lady Sarah soon then. I don't it would take much more for her to win from here." Luna mused before finishing her mug. "Think I could ask for a bit more?" The knightess asked, holding the mug out hoping the elf would leave long enough to ask Sucaria a question. She held to Sucaria's hand still, hoping to ease her heavy heart. After her drink if the elf left, she would leaned in toward Sucario to ask a question. "Sucaria, is there anything I can do to help? You know I'd do whatever I could for you."</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch It was true, the Goddess of the Deep Lake wasn't so commonly worshipped, as Fio understood it. The fact that she was apologizing was even more surreal then the realm they had arrived in. Her life had just been saved, and the one responsible was making an apology? "... Hmph, I'm showing you gratitude, you know," Fio replied with a huff, folding her arms over her chest as she spoke, "Don't apologize when I'm being thankful." After a few moments of silence she let out a sigh. "In any case, I can't stay here. Even ignoring my own personal wishes, I have plenty of things to do in the waking world," she continued. The rabbit-eared girl seemed lonely, and had shades of clinginess to her behavior. But the Sword Witch supposed a Goddess without worship would naturally be rather drawn to any newcomers. "But I can return, if you're willing to help me look into her dreams again, like you said," she added, "And... and maybe I can... do something for you, or something." The petite witch averted her eyes. "You know, to thank you for helping."</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Ethelred at least managed to get some answers as to what was going on- at night, the Unseelie used singing to lure people into the woods. The singing no doubt had a hypnotic or mesmerizing effect, and Ethelred wasn't entirely sure how if it'd have any effect on the knights. As Elnith asked how to go about dealing with the Unseelie, Ethelred had to consider both options. If they stayed and waited, it'd be much easier to find the Unseelie- just follow the singing and smash whatever trap they had set for the peasants. If they kept a low profile until dark, they ought to be able to completely catch the Unseelie off-guard. On the other hand, the singing could potentially affect them too, and if any of the peasants were lured out, the knights may not have the chance to save them. If they went hunting in the woods, they might be able to put an end to this thing before anyone else got hurt, but the fairies would have the home advantage, since they no doubt knew the terrain much better. Additionally, it might be much more difficult to actually find the culprits without a singing voice to home in on. Lugh could probably sense their corruption, but unless they had a bag full of stray cats, actually catching a fairy would be another story. "I'm worried about that too. I fear I may be uniquely vulnerable because unlike you and Lugh, if that singing affects me, I cannot reach my ears to muffle them," he stated to Elnith, tapping the side of his helmet as to demonstrate. "There's more to it than that, though," he spoke somewhat sadly. "During our previous mission, I witnessed several people being murdered by Fomorians. If I can avoid it, I'd prefer to avoid putting these people at risk. I say we spent what daylight hours we have left searching the woods for any whiff of the Unseelie corruption. If we find nothing by sunset, we'll head back here and prepare for whatever nightly trickery they have in store." It was risky, but Ethelred believed that waiting and using these innocent villagers as bait would be highly unbecoming for one of Sorcha's knights. Their duty was to protect these people.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Sarah was rather fast wasn't she? Well, that did likely come as a speciality of elves from what she heard through word of mouth. It was almost as if she had teleported. It may have been a duel, but a strike like that would have been deadly regardless. Luna quickly raised her shield and deflected the blow to the side. "I've had my own fair of tough fights. I've cut down more than ten men at once before." Luna mentioned, not to be out-bragged. As she had deflected Sarah's sword aside, she moved one foot forward and thrust her sword at Sarah. She felt that it would not be wise to allow the elf to make distance between each other. She was far quicker than Luna was and there was little chance that she would be allowed to fight on her own terms so she had to make her own chances for victory. "Speedy aren't you, Lady Sarah?"</s> <|message|>Ethelred "There's definitely something strange about those flowers," Ethelred observed. "I've never seen flowers like these in this region, certainly not in such large numbers. " "They might be more of those plant creatures, lying in wait beneath the surface," he whispered to Elnith and Lugh. "Pleasing colors, pleasing smells, all the elements of a deadly trap. People walk into the flower patch, lured by the voice, and all the sudden the monsters pop out of the ground and swarm them. Could be why those other Unseelie creatures were trying to goad us into chasing them." "I'm going to put my suspicions to the test. Be ready for a fight," he advised his companions as he approached some of the flowers. He wasn't going to leave anything to chance. He took his lance and slowly pushed it into the ground where a flower sat, wanting to see if there was indeed a monster hiding down there. Even if it proved to be nothing, if the flower's stem merely led to benign roots instead of a monster's head, he'd move to the next flower, and the next one, poking the ground at each one.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- The grin cresting the edges of Reinhardt's face grew ever wider at the sheer rage of the miniscule Magus, "I'm afraid I'm often far too busy to familiarize myself with the proper treatment of girl's butts." As the tentacle reached down to grasp at him, Reinhardt's body twisted; his foot slamming into the ground as a molten glow suffused his chest. In a fluid motion-- Elias swung the blade of his axe upward as he attempted to launch himself back from the tentacle's reach!</s> <|message|>Lugh Location: Nids End --- "My teacher taught well." Sarah quickly swatted the blade aside with her own, a strong arm completely overpowering Luna's own strength. Unfortunately, being this close to the elf made clear the difference in perhaps not skill, but definite training made itself apparent. Perhaps creating some distance would have been a good idea, because at this range Luna could barely keep up with the elf. Before Luna could even react, the elf had slammed her fist right into Luna's chest, the strength of the blow knocking the air out of the other knight as she brought her blade down in an attempt to bring it to the other knights neck. Location: Hjrelskins Fall Paladin --- Elnith nodded, readying her sword silently. Lugh would do much the same, eagerly making a poking motion with his own spear. So Lugh would approach the flower patch, stabbing the ground near the first flower with his spear. Ice began forming around the hole, chilling and freezing the rest of the flowerbed…but no monster, if they were here, would make movement. He'd do this again and again, with one or two more flower beds with similar results. It wouldn't be until he was a bit further in, would something change. A flower bed just a bit out of sight, deeper in the forest. What he would have noticed as he'd work through the flower beds, is that they were somewhat oddly shaped, not just possessing odd flowers. Almost as though they weren't natural beds, rather something made them. It would be this, coupled with the discovery as he pulled his lance out of a final flower bed that would put a rather disturbing image together. A human arm, still somewhat fleshy but intertwined with roots and colorful flowers, would be pulled out of the ground, impaled on the tip of his lance. The flower beds were roughly shaped, perhaps as though someone had simply laid down to sleep and hadn't got back up again. "...there's a cat." Lugh would comment, not having been paying too much attention to Ethelred's deforestation attempts. Indeed, there was a cat. It was perched on the branch of a nearby tree for some reason. Location: Airedale Forests --- "...I'm gonna murder you myself!" The mage shouted, completely red faced out of both embarrassment and anger. "If that tentacle doesn't, I'm gonna kill you myself you hear!" Reinhardt's quick action managed to avoid the tentacles grasp from crushing and squeezing him, the blade of the axe just barely grazing the underside of the tentacle leaving another deep gash in its flesh. Annoyed and now bleeding profusely, it would lash out in a fluid motion of its own, its slamming grab transitioning into a powerful sweep, aiming to try and knock Reinhardt off his feet. Airedale Prison --- "Aren't you just sooo smart." Cethlann replied with an eye roll. Well, it sounded like she did. She was still blindfolded so it couldn't be for certain. "Now how about that foo-wuh, hey, wow I knew you were short but I didn't realize you were that childish. As a witch, you should be more mature." Cethlann replied with a huff, trying to shake her head a bit to make any water droplets that had gotten on her forehead fly off. There was an audible confirmation from the other side of the door as whoever had been knocking left Fio with the prisoner. Unfortunately for Fio, there was very little in the way of provisions or things to dry oneself off with in the prison. At least, not in the cell holding area. Didn't want anything left laying about a prisoner could potentially use to escape. This just left the fomorian's own clothes. Specifically, her rather odd if comfortable looking jacket. The only other thing she may be able to use were some rough, old sacks that were laying folded on a desk not far away. This was made somewhat more annoying by the fact, she could have probably asked whoever was on the other side to bring an extra set of clothes too. "So, what did you learn about little old me from invading my privacy? Learn my deepest secrets? Maybe my favorite way to cook a human? Or are you going to keep me in the dark so I can languish away here, slowly losing my sanity in this dark prison all bundled up unable to move?"</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Ethelred was clearly incorrect about his theory. As he withdrew his lance from a flower and beheld an impaled human arm, however, he realized that there was indeed quite a horrifying secret to these flowers. I think I may have found what's left of the missing villagers. Just as he was examining this disturbing find, Lugh voiced his observation of a cat. The Frozen Knight almost immediately dropped what he was doing and turned to where Lugh was looking. Indeed, there was a cat sitting on a nearby tree branch. Normally this might be something not worth paying attention to, but with everything else they had seen in and around this macabre flower bed, its presence was awfully suspicious. "What an odd sight. A cat, here among the Unseelie beasts and flowery grave. Just what are you?" he asked as he approached the feline, his eyes narrowing beneath his helmet. He probably looked silly, questioning a cat, but he didn't trust this thing. If he was wrong, if this was just an ordinary animal, it still would be worth observing closely.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred was clearly incorrect about his theory. As he withdrew his lance from a flower and beheld an impaled human arm, however, he realized that there was indeed quite a horrifying secret to these flowers. I think I may have found what's left of the missing villagers. Just as he was examining this disturbing find, Lugh voiced his observation of a cat. The Frozen Knight almost immediately dropped what he was doing and turned to where Lugh was looking. Indeed, there was a cat sitting on a nearby tree branch. Normally this might be something not worth paying attention to, but with everything else they had seen in and around this macabre flower bed, its presence was awfully suspicious. "What an odd sight. A cat, here among the Unseelie beasts and flowery grave. Just what are you?" he asked as he approached the feline, his eyes narrowing beneath his helmet. He probably looked silly, questioning a cat, but he didn't trust this thing. If he was wrong, if this was just an ordinary animal, it still would be worth observing closely.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword The wind knocked out of her, Luna threw her shield up to parry away the blow going for her neck. Her voice couldn't even crack a note to say, "So I can see" in response to the elf's claim about her teacher. Luna was many thing, and stubborn was one. It ached her, but Luna fought back with all she had. Something in the overwhelming strength from the elf awoke a desire in her to want to win. So strive for it she did, though she doubted she would at this rate. Whatever Sarah would do next would likely end the duel, but Lunalel Lightsword would not sit down and just let it happen if she could help it. Glaring toward Sarah, blocking the blade aimed for her neck Luna dropped the sword from her hand and grabbed Sarah's wrist before she could fully retract the hand and pulled her in close before rearing her head back, gritting her teeth putting a foot toward her and ramming her head forward to meet her opponent's. As their head' connected, it hurt a small bit for Luna, but really, it was no worse than having the air knocked out of her. She followed up by slamming her shield into the elf's chest to stun her enough to be able to pick her weapon back up and swing up at Sarah.</s> <|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit @Crimson Paladin And why not feel something was afoot? Even if one chose to rule the cat's position as a coincidence, it was still an unusual sight. Small cats like this were ill suited for the forest, often preferring to remain hidden from their many predators. The last place you'd expect to see a cat was perched on a tree branch. Even if Ethelred didn't know much about wildlife, it must have seemed unusual that it hadn't run off yet. Instead it looked back at him, its large eyes staring at his frigid helm. It seemed content to do nothing. Its tail wagged side to side as the knight and feline continued their staring competition. But it did not remain this way for long. "The talking ice block wants to know what I am?" The cat's form shifted. Its form grew taller, its shoulders spread apart along with its hips. Fur gave way to cloth and flesh, and the feline's diamond shaped pupils turned round. In a matter of seconds, the cat had turned into a woman. Braided red hair, eyes some shade between sapphire and emerald. They say that the clothes make the person, but it was hard to tell much about this woman by how she dressed. Her shirt and pants were short like an entertainer might wear, but she also had an ugly belt pouch that served some practical use. She wore lots of jeweled accessories, but her boots and gloves were well used. A bandit would have been more discreet, a commoner less so Which meant... "I'm a human, of course! One who practices druidcraft." A human with a very large, very ominous looking spear. It's grim appearance was a stark contrast to the woman's lighthearted personality. She hopped off the tree branch and landed at the base of the tree. "You've got a Tuatha kid, the most sinister looking sword woman I've ever seen, and you look like some crony a wizard would use to guard his tower. Yea, like, an ice golem or something." She placed a hand on her hip and kept her spear pointed in the air. "You still think i'm the weird one? The fuzzy eared kid must have excellent PR skills if he can get you two around without frightening entire cities. I dunno what you're paying him, but its not enough." Her grin got just a bit wider. "So aside from slaying plants and accosting the local wildlife, what are you doing out here?"</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Ethelred wasn't too surprised that the cat to talk back to him, or that it was quite smarmy. He was, however, surprised to see its shape shift into that of a human woman. By all accounts it was good news that this cat was actually a druid rather than a disguised Unseelie. He wasn't too pleased with her attitude, however, although he wasn't entirely sure if she was insulting him on purpose or if it was what passed for compliments from someone removed from human civilization. "If you must know, we're knights of Queen Sorcha. My name is Ethelred, and I can assure you that despite my appearance, I am human. The swordswoman is Elnith, the squire is Lugh. We've come here to investigate Unseelie activity and some disappearances of local villagers," he answered, trying his best to act professionally. "I've been told that the Unseelie have been using singing to lure people into the woods. Judging by these unnatural flower beds, the monsters, and...this," he said, pointing his lance to the arm that he had excavated, "Our foe shouldn't be too far away." "What about you, Druid?" he asked. "What brings you here to the site of the Unseelie's murderous games?" As long as Lugh wasn't sensing any corruption on her, the Frozen Knight was willing to give her the benefit of a doubt.</s>

<|description|>Ethelred Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed) Gender: Male Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him. Abilities: Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point. Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him. Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures. As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way. History: Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit. While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow. As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black. The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse. It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though. With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be. Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds. Anything else: About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.</s> <|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit Deep inhale "Mb….BOYS!" — Luana Roycroft Having already said far more than she probably should have, Luana had decided she was going to remain quiet for the rest of the meeting. She gave Ethelred a nod when he mentioned her. She wasn't sure why he had felt the need to include that she was talkative, but figured it was because he was a man of few words. Yes, that made the most sense. But the most impressive development was that Sorcha seemed to be an elf scholar of sorts. Luana could barely contain her excitement, but the tug of war in her mind between expressing that excitement and keeping quiet caused her to freeze in place. When Sorcha slapped her on the back, she didn't stumble, but tipped forward like a vase falling off a desk. She didn't hit the floor until Sorcha was well away from her. But this was good. This had to be why she was destined to meet this woman. Anyone who knew that much about elves would be instrumental in getting her in close proximity to them. The meeting continued. It seemed that she was going to get paired up with Ethelred again, along with Reinhardt. Initially it seemed a little odd that Sorcha and Luana were the only woman going up against the wyverns, but it did make sense. Woman were more charismatic than men were, which made them a good choice for locating a giant smith. Whereas slaying wyvern was definitely more of a guy's job. Luana would be fooling herself if she thought her spear arm was as strong as any mans. Though her ability to find her prey and general knowledge of creatures was sure to be a boon to the group, and Sorcha would want to see her in action. It was a little unfortunate that she wouldn't get to do any bonding with Lunalel or Fio, but she knew Elnith would keep them safe. Moreover, as an isolated hermit, she didn't mind being surrounded by men once more. It had been a very long time since she had gone hunting, and there was something nostalgic about clearing beasts out of an area. She was looking forward to it. She hadn't heard Lugh's name called. Was he the squire? If so, that meant they'd get to spend even more time together! But there was little reason to speak up at this time. After picking herself up, Luana allowed herself to be an observer.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch With her conversation with Sir Ethelred concluded, Fio bowed her head politely and focused on the Queen's words. Assigning her as leader for a mission to seek out and converse with giants? Seeking the assistance of a giant smith, for that matter? Well, Fio could hardly contain her approval of the choice of leader. She felt entirely confident in her capacity in such a position. She was, after all, quite mentally capable. Not to say that the others were stupid in her eyes, but when it came to certain kinds of intelligence she did believe she was a step ahead of any of the knights. And that made her extremely well-suited to leadership. When it came to giants, Fio had never personally interacted with them. What research she had done of them was also not entirely clear on all the details. She knew some aspects of their culture, their nature, but when it came to how best find a Giant Smith... Well, she was confident she would be able to figure it out, but at the same time it was important to have a good starting point. She had some idea of what to look for, but any information helped. "Do you have any suggestions on where to start?" asked the Sword Witch, "Not that I don't know what to look for, but the faster a Giant Smith is found, the better." @Pyromania99</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna would be lying if she said she didn't desire to see Harzelslack, but she understood why the teams had been divided as so. First, the team heading there already had contact with the nation's border so it would make perfect senses why they would go. On the other hand, Luna had some constant contact with them where she figured was why she would go to recruit a giant smith. Though she was a small bit curious why Her Majesty had given Fio lead on this mission. Truthfully, Luna would have expected it to go to her all things considered but it wasn't a big bother to her really. Fio was smart, if a bit...Sensitive? "The mountains west of our territory is probably our destination. I can't say I've been around the area much, though I've met a number of giants from that way." Luna mentioned with a nod. "I've not an exact location but I believe it was Llobrokor Mountain. Not exactly safe from what I hear, but what is safe?" Luna asked with a small smirk. "Have you been there, Elnith?" Luna asked the cursed knight, curious since she was signed on to this mission as well.</s>

<|message|>Ethelred Sorcha's briefing made it clear that she had a particular interest in dragon scales. She wanted to obtain the scales from the black wyvern, and wanted to enlist the services of a giant to hammer those scales into armor and weapons. Judging by her worry about the return of dragons, and the mention of a surge in wyvern activity, it sounded like she expected the band to be fighting more dragons in the near future, and wanted to be prepared accordingly. The returned king that the black wyvern mentioned...he couldn't have been referring to Varakel, could he? After all, if the Old King could return to life, surely it'd be possible for the evil black dragon could as well. The thought made Ethelred shiver. Ethelred's mission would be taking him to work with the forces of Harzelslack, to deal with wyverns that have been terrorizing the regions. Ethelred perked up a bit when Sorcha mentioned that they'd be working with Lonan and Grainne. It'd be good to see those two again, he thought. He wasn't sure if Luana and Grainne would get along, so it might be a good idea to observe their interactions carefully until he could be sure it wouldn't devolve into a scuffle. The wyverns would be tough foes, but assuming there were no unpleasant surprises awaiting them, it shouldn't be anything they hadn't already faced. "Meet up with Lonan and his band, clear out the wyverns around the Llothbrokr mountains," Ethelred spoke, summing up his mission to ensure he had heard it correctly. "You can count on us, your highness."</s>

<|description|>Elnith Gender: Female Age: 24 Abilities: The curse the fey placed on her is something of a double-edged sword. It gives her monstrous physical ability, being able to match most fomorians in strength blow-for blow, and generally outlast them even in battles of stamina. As well, it also generally makes her mostly immune to other curses of similar types, being able to naturally resist them. However, it also has the rather nasty effect of occasionally causing her to fly into monstrous fits of rage and once the curse as completely run its curse, turn her into something resembling a Fomorian herself. Her sword, pilfered from the corpse of a fomorian has the ability to 'Always reach its target' That is to say, it possess a rather unique ability to warp space around it so that it is always able to reach that which its wielder attempts to strike so long as its within her line of sight. The armor, while maybe not being the most practical, is of giant make given to her as a gift by some of the giants of Llobrokr after befriending them. It protects the wearer from most magical effects that would cloud the mind or the body and restrains the curse placed on her so its less potent. History: Elnith has a rather nasty and quite honestly - terrible reputation in the land. Born to some parents whos faces she can't remember, some years ago that she can't exactly recall, in a village that no longer exists. Elnith has not had a happy life for the simple reason that at birth, she was cursed by a Fairy. A curse that would 'Turn her into a beast that slaughtered her own kind'. Needless to say, knowing Fey magic carries real consequences and fearing for their lives...the parents left her in the forest, unwilling to kill her and too cowardly to even attempt raising her. If it hadn't been for a passing hunter that had took pity on a defenseless baby, she'd probably have just died. Her life from there to now is fairly colored. She spent her days training, figuring that a stronger body could resist the curse. That a strong mind could withstand it - its certainly helped, but there are times when she simply can't help herself and gets lost in the thrill of battle whatever it is. Not to say the rumors that surround her - that she slaughtered entire villages of people, that she's simply a fomorian wearing human skin, and other such things. Well, all rumors have a kernel of truth to them... Rather than her finding the queen, the Queen sought her out on rumors of a 'demon knight slaughtering humans' but upon seeing a girl that looked like and as the queen stated 'just needed a hug', she made her an offer. Elnith accepted, elated that someone saw something in her other than some...cursed individual. Despite her reputation and such, Elnith is surprisingly friendly with people, though often gets into bouts of depression and a bit of self-loathing if left alone for too long, believing that one day she will turn against her fellow knights. Doesn't help sometimes she'll blackout at night, wake up in an entirely different area with only hazy memories of what occurred. She tries to keep a positive outlook, and since meeting the queen she's certainly gained a somewhat more mixed reputation.</s> <|message|>Niall Ulchabhán Niall winced and let out a small gasp when he realized he had underestimated Annagan. That monster of a man was tougher than he thought, still on his two feet after the knight's flurry of attacks and now about to hit him. It was lucky then that this was when Fio strike came causing the bandit to miss his attack and sending Niall falling on the ground further. The knight caught his landing, hand on the side as he immediately straightened himself back into a combat position. The man's insults didn't seem to affect Niall at all, who elected to just ignore them. At this moment, Niall hesitated between going for the men leaving or Annagan, but ultimately figured that Fio and Luna could handle these ones and that keeping Annagan busy here was the most useful thing to do for now. "You sent your men to die." he simply said looking straight at the bandit as he approached. Right then, a thick, dark mist emanated from Niall's Lance as they were plunged in the dark. Niall dodged the hammer barely due to his wound, and jump up and back onto a nearby tree branch. There, in silence, he Annagan while recuperating a bit of his own stamina. He is stronger. Going at him straight on is not the way to go. Fortunately, I happen to be well suited for this... Annagan would hear a whistling sound coming from the trees, but Niall would already have moved by then. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar, would fly by the bandit's head to disorient him with the flaps or it's wing first front, then from the back. Eventually, Niall would go for an attack. Taking his words at heart, the knight elected to do the exact opposite than stand and fight; hit and run. He would dash in from the darkness and deliver a quick, precise hit to his enemy and keep going, out of reach. Every time the knight passed by him, Annagan would hear his cape in the wind like the flapping of a bird's wrings, and Gwdihw would then pass from another angle to confused the big man. If he didn't die from a thousand cuts, then he would be at least stuck here until his companions dealt with the lesser bandits.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch She could see many of the other bandits fall, but at the same time... that huge, monstrous man was still standing, still brandishing his hammer. And it seemed as if he had sent some of his men to pursue Luna, as well. The Sword Witch certainly couldn't see any other reason that the other bandits would suddenly break off of their fight. Thrusting her sword forward, Fio took a deep breath. She'd thin those reinforcements out. Then, she'd focus her attention on the biggest target. "Ten phantom swords. Form them, create them, give them the edge that takes life." At her commands, the magic circles in the air spun, and as they did ten more of her ghostly weapons emerged, tilting slightly to take aim at the bandits that had gone to reinforce the enemies fighting with the Luna's group. "Kill." With a whistling sound they tore through the air, bearing down on the bandits as they began to move. And now, she would be able to try and take down that monster of a man with her next blow. The bastard wouldn't take this one so lightly. "Sura. Open the way." The magic circles she had already constructed drifted towards one another, lining up and expanding, creating a multi-layered circle of light. "Form it. The edge of death. The piercing tool of destruction. That which slaughters the wicked. That which purges evil. Create it and give it form." As Fio spoke, the enlarged multi-layered circle began to grow brighter. She could feel the air around her practically vibrating, the intensity with which the magical energy was being gathered causing a weight to develop on her small frame. This would take up her whole being until it was complete, but she had to do everything she could to strike down the most monstrous of the bandit forces. To be honest, she didn't particularly enjoy using a spell like this to kill trash like that, but at the same time she couldn't allow any more of her allies to be harmed. She'd seen what that monster had done already. Fio couldn't let it happen again. And so the murderer's sentence would be delivered. "I shall take the role of the judge who dispenses the sentence. The one who bears all wickedness in the world and carries out the order of execution. This shall be a day of blood and a red sky." @Pyromania99@FrogRFlowR</s>

<|message|>Elnith Location: Southern Giants Rest Bandit camp, early morning. --- Another shield to block the arrows. Even if friendly fire might have been an issue, the bandits didn't seem concerned as arrows would pierce their flesh as they continued their frenzied assault without a care for their own wellbeing, but Luna too, continued her own assault. Another fell to her blade, as the rage-fueled knight slammed her shield into one of the small groups, just in time to prevent one of her men from being beheaded and knocking back their numbers as her blade pierced the flesh of a second bandit. A momentary lull in the fight ensued as the three remaining lightsword knights regrouped around Luna. Shouts from the east. Luna watched as some of Fio's blades rained down upon the land there - awfully close to her own men and position. Seconds later, two of the knights she had sent with Niall burst from the treeline, followed shortly after by a small group of bandits themselves numbering about eleven. "Lady Luna!" One of them shouted. "T-heir main force was at the other gate-" The man was quickly cut off, an arrow through his throat. The men with her hesitated just slightly, gripping their swords with a questionable amount of determination as the bandits went from six, to at least seventeen in number now, and with Fio's support seemed to be focused elsewhere…they were clearly outnumbered. Something, odd would happen as the battle would begin again, whenever Luna decided to tear into the bandits once more. The edges of her vision started to go white. The beating of her own heart resounding in her head like a drum of battle or war. Adrenaline surged through her body, her muscles aching to be moved and used. A single word would surface to the front of her mind. fight. …of course, she could resist whatever influence this was. It would be easy right, just take a moment to recover her breath. Assess the battlefield…but the shouts and cries of the bandits and battle made it difficult to focus on anything other than the battle. --- "Gahaha, we'll see!" Annagan replied with a laugh, seemingly none too concerned about the darkness enveloping him as he'd remain fairly still as Niall would begin his assault. At first, his familiar seemed to have the intended effect - Annagan would make an attempt to strike at the owl, only to hit nothing, followed by another swing to nothing, allowing Niall to land a fairly heavy blow…but such tricks could only work for so long. Nialls lance would hit the mans hammer, Annagan managing to deflect the blow as he'd start to learn the owls tactics. He showed no signs of slowing down or getting tired, either. "What's the matter! You're barely making me bleed!" A ferocious bellow as his hammer caught Nialls' lance, the impact sending the knight clean out of the cloud of darkness that he had trapped Annagan in, the large man barreling out after him and aiming to bring the hammer down on Niall's body. Location: Southern Giants Rest Bandit camp Overlook, early morning --- More ephemeral blades appeared in the sky, a crown of swords adorning the air above fio. Seconds later, a second barrage fell, the blades launching themselves at the bandits. Now that they were aware of a threat from above though, the bandits were able to dodge, avoid, and dive out of the way of the large blades. Ravenously following after the two soldiers who were barely managing to keep them at bay. Still, any of their numbers that lessened would make things much easier for Luna below. The Sixteen bandits were cut down to twelve, but that was all she'd have time for as long as she wanted to focus on Annagan next. Magical energy surged from her body and blade. A single, massive blade, gargantuan in size began to manifest over the girl, the ephemeral blade shining brightly above the battlefield. If the bandit below seemed concerned, he didn't show it though it was difficult to really tell thanks to the shadow Niall had cast over it…though with the sheer size of the blade, accuracy wasn't much of a problem. It seemed, as though, her spell would be completed without issue- Fio would be alerted to a very strong, very curse ridden magical energy quite suddenly, nearly instantly appearing behind her. Cursed energy began welling up from the ground under her, forming into a point behind her as it began to coalesce into a more solid form, the magical energy solidifying into a slightly more familiar form. If she didn't change targets or end her spell casting, she was certainly going to get jumped by whatever this thing was! "Hey, hey, hey!" A large, toothy grin in the shadowy mass as it began to properly take shape and form. It was…a fomorian? A rather mundane looking one, if one were to judge by looks but Fio…well, Fio could tell she really shouldn't judge this woman by looks. "I was gonna play with that lightsword kid, but I found something muuuuch more interesting! You can't just throw around that much magical energy and not get me all excited about it! You even made me do something I wasn't gonna show anyone yet." A toothy, excitable grin. "That's a pretty cool sword you've got there too. How about…you let me take a swing with it? No? I'm not actually asking. Hand it over and I'll be nice when I'm using your body for experiments." More figures began emerging from the ground under her, the cursed energy taking shapes of grotesque bodies, perhaps, experiments of this particular fomorian as they in no way should be living in the traditional sense. Extra arms and limbs sprouted from their necks and in other places, some even had extra torsos or even heads. About five in total, but something told Fio these were not going to go down easily. Location: Harzel Border Fort Paladin --- "I see…Ethelred," Elnith began, voice pleasant and even. "I might get carried away. If I do…please don't let me hurt anyone, okay?" As she'd lift her blade, the frozen knight could see blackened veins creeping along the woman's body, starting from her extremities. It might be a good idea to find Elnith's armor sooner, rather than later…but regardless, the assault would begin. The Wyvern roared as Ethelred's lance impaled the creatures eye once more, the beast thrashing in pain as the frozen knight made an effort to yank its neck to expose it. The beast though, had other plans as it'd lunge forward with its talons in the same instant, trying to pull Ethelred towards it and grab him with its talons…though this, proved less than effective. Elnith quickly leaped on the opportunity, blood red blade lashing out to cut the Wyvern's neck. The magical blade easily cut the scales. "Tch…shallow." Elnith hissed as the Wyvern would break itself free from the Ice Knights lance, beating its wings as it righted itself, roaring furiously as the entire right side of the beasts face was now covered in ice and frozen blood. It lunge towards Ethelred with its talons, making another attempt to grab the knight.</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch While two of her daggers hit true, fading into blue light moments after, the rest were unable to reach their target in spite of Fio's layered offensive spellcasting. More worrying then that, however, was the manner in which the Fomorian shrugged off the injuries so swiftly and responded with two daggers of his own. The petite witch had no choice but to construct a barrier as quickly as possible, without even being able to verbally cast. The resulting circle of light was thin, fragile, conjured as swiftly as she could manage. As such, it shattered almost instantly upon the dagger's impact, sending them hurtling off in different directions but also transferring their impact to the small girl's body. The air whipped past her as Fio was thrown backwards, holding her hat and by extension Mieka on her head as she fell from her floating barrier. It was only just barely that was was able to form another barrier before she hit the ground, catching herself in mid-air. Had she fallen all the way, it was quite likely she would have been injured. The Fomorian was quite capable of enduring pain, that much was obvious. Fio scowled as she regained her footing, thrusting her gleaming sword into the sky. She was going to catch him with a direct hit this time, she had to! "Create five phantom swords, from above!" At the absolute edge of the range of her ability to manifest swords, she materialized the first phantom blade in the air. Each subsequent blade formed somewhat closer, a line forming above the Formorian and pointing downwards. Certainly, from this distance the would be more unstable, but it meant at the very least the moment they dropped he would be forced to disengage to the side. He would be struck if he didn't move, and if he tried to evade by moving backwards the other blades would catch him. If Fio could start controlling his movements, she'd be able to lock him down! @FrogRFlowR@Pyromania99</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred Ethelred kept his gaze trained at his foe as he struck it. His attack only managed to graze the surprisingly nimble Fomorian's neck, but it had been enough to bring it to its knees and release the elf warrior from its grip. He did not stick around to wait for it to recover and retaliate- Ethelred continued his current course, galloping around and away from his foe, out of the reach of its attempted counter-blow. He's weakened, but only somewhat, Ethelred assessed. The knight's blow to the creature's neck looked to be only superficial, but the elf's strikes had severely injured one of its arms. Still, even with one good arm, it remained a very dangerous foe. On the other hand, they no longer had the element of surprise, and the creature was now clearly quite aware of the threat it was facing. The Frozen Knight wasn't sure if the elf had sustained any injuries in his valorous assault, but Reinhardt was still unscathed (not that this was a surprise, considering how supernaturally tough the man was). Ethelred turned back towards the creature, readying his lance as if to prepare for another charge. He needed to keep its one eye focused on him so that the others could have a chance to blindside it. "Not so tough when you're up against someone who can fight back, are you," he shouted to the cyclops, in an attempt to maintain its attention. He readied his lance in case the creature took the bait and charged. He would not risk a wounding blow, but would instead attempt to evade, parry, or otherwise deflect the creature's club. With only one good arm, and probably a non-dominant one at that, the Fomorian ought to have trouble defending against all three of them at once.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- @Crimson Paladin@Cu Chulainn Reinhardt swiftly disengaged with a quick back step to the right of the Cyclopean Fomorian as Ethelred dealt a heavy blow to the creature-- ensuring he wasn't about to be trampled underfoot by any of the involved parties. Thus far the engagement had gone favorably; save for the elven stranger getting hurled off to the side. It wasn't clear if the stranger was out of the fight just yet-- but they'd already done a number on the Fomorian's favored arm, which didn't seem to be regenerating. Did the creature lack regeneration? Or was it something to do with those strange phantasmal weapons that the stranger had wielded? Whatever the case; it was an advantage Reinhardt had no intention on passing up. As the Cyclops moved to engage the foe it seemed to deem most threatening (Ethelred in this case), Reinhart followed behind it in tight pursuit; making ready to place a decisive strike at the monster's hamstring-- until the Cyclops; in it's infantile rampage, threw about the strewn wreckage of the market. A metallic glint caught Reinhardt's attention; his hand deftly snatching it from the air. It was a weathered, yet sturdy harpoon-- with a rope still attached. "How fortunate--" the knight mused as he ceased his pursuit; planting his feet firmly as he readied to hurl his newly acquired tool into the Cyclops' remaining good arm the moment it would raise it's weapon to strike at his fellow knight.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword He parried her attack so powerfully. Luna had to wonder if he was making a show of force or if it didn't really control it's strength, not to mention the sword he was using. "What an odd blade." The Knightess commented as she quickly sheathed her sword and held her arm out to the side, quickly forming two small daggers of light in her hand. If he was going to throw small blades at her, it was only right she returned the favor. She took some small steps back to toss the two blades towards the Fomorian's face. Her hope was that he would either take the hits or deflect them with his sword. "I don't allow myself to be deterred when so rudely challenged." As her heel hit the ground on her final step back, she dug in and roughly pushed off back towards the creature. In her hand, there was a now a spear of light, aimed towards the Fomorian. It looked like Fio had some sort of plan on how to subdue the beast, so Luna took her best guess as she was tried to aim his movements in a direction, or at least one that looked like the giant blades overhead would bear down upon him. As her feet moved forward, she aimed her spear up towards the Fomorian's abdomen. She hoped that, between her onslaught and what Niall might do, it would drive him into the corner that Fio was planning.</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Redwater Point Mid-Morning --- Chulainn@Guy0fV4lor@Crimson Paladin --- The Cyclopean fomorian narrowed his eye towards Ethelred…before letting out a bellowing, deep laugh, earthy and rocky debris from the club slamming into nearby houses, leaving a deep trench behind it as he'd finish the motion. "Gahaha! Knight ambush me! Funny!" He would flex his injured arm, showing that while injured he could still move it well enough to fight with. "Dumb elf gave me a burn. You cold. Maybe I'll use your bones to cool down! Now get off that dumb animal!" He however, did not seem to take Ethelreds bait. Instead he'd raise his foot, slamming it into the ground with enough force to cause the entire earth beneath him to shudder, a shockwave of dirt, air, and rocks slamming into Ethelred and his horse. The next instant he'd raise the club, hoping to swat the knight out of whatever evasive maneuver he used to avoid it - thankfully for him, though, Reinhardt was already maneuvering. Hefting the harpoon, in the instant the fomorian made to attack Ethelred, the Harpoon would hurtle towards the fomorian's good arm, embedding itself right in the creatures flesh. "Graaah?! Dumb human I ain't no fish!" He'd growl, the attack he was making on Ethelred stopped as he'd turn his attention towards Reinhardt...he'd grab the rope with his free hand, and pull on it, attempting to pull Reinhardt towards him...even with his arm injured, Reinhardt would likely need to brace himself or put all his strength into it just not to be pulled towards the fomorian. --- @VitaVitaAR@FrogRFlowR Location: Southern Giants Rest Late afternoon --- The fomorians spear slammed into Niall, the hefty blade slamming against the Owl Knights lance as he would deflect it, the impact straining his muscles from the sheer weight of it. No doubt, this fomorian may have been lithe, but his strength likely rivaled either that of Reinhardts or was even greater, Luna's blades of light being deflected by swift motions from the Katana. Thankfully for Niall, however, before he could bring it down for another strike and break the Owl Knights guard entirely Luna's javelin hurtled towards its abdomen. The fomorian immediately pivoted on his feet, towards the javelin of light. His empty hand lit up with a fiery grip…a grunt of pain as the tip of the javelin just barely pierced his stomach, inky black blood spilling from the wound as he caught the spear of light. Growling with annoyance, the fomorian would then leap to the side, the light javelin still in hand as he'd narrowly avoid the first blade, the rest starting to descend quickly into the ground from above. If nothing else, Fio had managed to make him move as she had wished but he wasn't going to make it easy for her to take advantage of that. The Javelin of light would fade as he'd toss it to the side, the flames in his free hand would burst to life, three daggers being swiftly retrieved from his cloak. He'd leap, spinning in the air as three daggers would leave his free hand, a trail of fire behind them, hurtling again towards Fio. There was some enchantment on them, she could tell. A bundle of magical energy that seemed ready to combust upon impact. As he'd land, his swordspear would thrust forwards, aiming for Luna's abdomen while his Katana would make a wide, slashing motion just a bit higher, aiming to take her neck. Throughout the battle, the Queen merely watched. Arms folded against her chest, eyes observing every action in the battle. "Heh, you know…when Luna told me about serving a Queen, I didn't imagine she'd be quite so…beautifully commanding." "...are you hitting on me in the middle of a battlefield?" "Is something wrong taking the time to enjoy the most beautiful sight in the middle of a battle-torn field?" "...pfft, ahahah." Sorcha laughed. "Luna was right about you. I admire your straightforwardness." She would then raise her hand, and promptly smack the boy in the back of the head. "But there's a time and place for everything. Hit on me all you want once we're done with this and maybe I'll return the favor." "Yes ma'am."</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán Not unexpectedly, their assault did not have the desired impact on the Fomorian. Thankfully however, Niall had suspected it and remained on guard which was what may have saved his life. The Knight had intended to follow up on Fio's next attacks, as he did previously, but the Fomorian acted even faster than Niall expected. The Knight's next assault was cut short as he was forced to defend himself with his spear instead, being forced to take a step back from the sheer force of their enemy's attack. Back into the fight, Niall anticipated where the enemy would be led from Fio's swords and lunched himself forward. Once close enough and hoping to relive some pressure from Luna, Niall used his spear's length vertically hit the Fomorian's own spear, attempting to make the thrust miss Luna by going downwards instead. Niall would then follow up with a slash to the Fomorian's abdomen, trusting in Luna's abilities to block the sword swing and follow in the counter attack.</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch So he didn't have any other options when it came to maneuvering, and even with his extra appendages he could only react to so many things at once. While Fio had failed to strike him directly, she was able to obtain the information she wanted. She could force him to move in order to avoid her attacks, and thus control his movements at least to some extent. With that in mind, she had a much clearer path forward. But he had still been able to retaliate, sending another blade of his own hurtling towards her. This time, rather ten constructing a barrier intended to block it, the diminutive witch instead created a platform to her right and immediately leaped to it, holding her hat on as the dagger sailed past her. It was far easier to create a barrier that could support her weight almost instantly then it was to create one that could take an explosive impact, and she'd only barely managed to block the less potent daggers without taking damage. Still holding her hat on, the Sword Witch swung her blade up as her hair billowed in the wind. "Create three great phantom blades at the front and sides, and smite the wicked!" she commanded. The magical energy ignited, blazing across the sword's surface. This time, a single large blade emerged first from behind the Fomorian, the air shimmering around it. It was a thick sword, the interwoven threads of light composing its structure glowing brightly. It was followed by two identical weapons. Dodging them wasn't impossible. There was space. And the blade that materialized behind their opponent was more fragile and less sturdy then the others due to the range, even if it was still just as dangerous if it struck true. But dodging them and responding to her allies attacks at the same time, without either being forced into one the knights' swords or one of her phantom ones... That was a far more difficult task. It was time to see if this Fomorian was up to the challenge! @FrogRFlowR@Pyromania99</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Redwater Point Mid-Morning --- Chulainn@Guy0fV4lor@Crimson Paladin --- "Grraaah, human mocking me!" The Fomorian bellowed, frustrated that a human was seemingly matching him in strength somewhat. "If you won't come to me, I come to you!" Unfortunately the large fomorian seemed to have a different idea than what Reinhardt envisioned. Instead of pulling more, he'd instead choose to make an attempt to close the distance between the two of them. This in turn, made the uppercut somewhat less effective as the creature wouldn't be stumbling back as he had hoped. Still, if Reinhardt continued to do as he planned the strike would land true, slamming right into the creature's jaw. "Gah-!" The cyclopean humanoid responded with a grunt of pain, something cracking in his jaw. "Dumb-human-why so strong-!?" He would attempt to move his free though injured arm only to find that any attempts to move it were met with pain. A bellow of pain and rage as Ethelreds lance would pierce the creatures flesh, blood freezing instantly as the weapon hit its mark. It made an attempt to grab Reinhardt with its impaled arm - "Gggrrk….!" A pained, muffled growl as Marduk's spear would instead find its mark first, piercing the fomorian's skull from behind, positioned just right so the blade would come right out of the things eye on the other side. "Ggrk-gggrk!" The fomorian's entire body tensed, not immediately falling to the ground. Marduk would be the first to tell, something wasn't right. A mass of magical energy was being focused on its pierced eye. Whatever it was doing, wasn't going to be pretty - likely enough to blast away whatever it was immediately in their vicinity. "Ballooogggkkkk-!" Whatever he was shouting he didn't get to finish. The entire upper body of the fomorian began twisting and warping, blackening in a sickening manner as it began bulging and growing outwards like some sort of tumor rapidly growing…until it would reach critical mass, exploding outwards. The fomorian would fall to the ground, its mutated body looking far less humanoid now, its head missing entirely. Where its head had been attached to its shoulders, there fell no blood, only what seemed to be…dozens of hands that was now encircling its neck, hanging limply from what seemed to be a deep black crevasse within the giants body. A small stone sphere, cracked and hot to the touch rolled a few feet away from the body before promptly turning to ash, disappearing into the wind. … Well, it was at least, now, it was over. --- @VitaVitaAR@FrogRFlowR Location: Southern Giants Rest Late afternoon --- Niall's spear clanged against the Fomorians, metal clashing against metal as it would the force would drive the spear downwards, just barely grazing Luna's leg as the fomorians Katana bashed against the Knightess' shield. Her own sword would arc upwards, planning on disarming the fomorian - his free hand however, would aim to deflect the blow, grabbing Luna by the wrist, superhuman strength tossing her blow to the side as though he was merely pulling a small animal along on a leash - but before he made a move to finish the job, he'd pause, glancing upwards. "...heh." A small chuckle. Thankfully for the sword witch, she had plenty of time and foresight to dodge the attacks towards her, the enchanted daggers harmlessly falling into the ground some distance beneath and behind her. The fomorian didn't have the time to move, having to use the time to engage with both Niall and Luna. The blades would form above him…and come crashing down with righteous fury. "Very well. Maybe I'll get a little bit serious." A statement as he would inhale, the blades coming crashing down upon him. Something under his cloak moved, pushing past the ragged looking fabric and causing it to billow outwards briefly, just long enough for both Niall and Luna to see. Instead of possessing three arms on his left arm, all he possessed was a single large arm. He immediately pivoted, turning to face the large blade that was hurtling towards the ground behind him. With a mass of magical energy being gathered in his arm, his veins would light a bright, fiery orange as he'd meet the projectile head on. Light from the blade mixed with a fiery blast would shatter, briefly blinding the people present. When the dust settled, the fomorian had recloaked himself, standing some distance away from the group. "Hm…Ambitions knights that seek Albion's throne. I must commend you for your teamwork." He would say, bowing lightly, a horse neighing catching his attention as Leo would come running back towards the fort. "But with my allies having mostly fled…there is no reason for us to continue fighting." Assuming none of the knights would stop him, he would turn to leave leaving them with a simple final, somewhat cryptic warning. "Do not allow your paths to falter…or the Wings of Dark shall usurp your throne." "Luna, Queen Sorcha, I've returned." Leo would greet the knights, watching as the Fomorian left. A bandit had been hogtied and was currently laying across the back of Leo's saddle. "...are we going to let him leave?" "If you want to go after him, be my guest. We have more important matters to attend to at the moment." Sorcha replied with a glance towards her Knights. "Good work, you three. Leo, Gabriel, move him to some place where we can interrogate him. Luna, Niall, Fio, if you'll follow me we can get caught up on the situation here and introduce ourselves to our new guest."</s> <|message|>Marduk Swordwind Aftermath --- Marduk basked in the blood of his slain foe, seeing it as another unclean one wiped from Albion. He raised his arms to the air and let out a howl in victory as the Fomorian's tainted blood rained from the air. Victory has been attained, and the battle was over. This did not mean that his wrath waned, however. "Accursed witchcraft!" The Elf's spear quickly shifted into a massive blade once more as he cleaved his blade downwards at the Cyclops's hollowed neck. Gazing at how the arms were connected from within, Marduk let out a low growl as his suspicions were confirmed. His blade shimmered away as he hopped off the beast, walking past the two knights who had helped him slay the beast. "Black magic. That thing was likely an amalgam of lesser beings." Marduk began, picking up his discarded staff and scraping off what was left of the Fomorian whose skull he crushed from it. "Whether it's from other Fomorians or... Marduk growled, once more, "… other unfortunate souls is not known to me. What I do know is it was too smart to be a Fomorian of your standard stock, yet too dumb to be anything exceptional. My guess is there are darker magics at play." Marduk threw his hood up as he turned to the others, clutching his staff like a hiker's stick. "You two aren't here for vacation either, I take it? Hunting for the cursed kin as well, then? If so, perhaps you can help me find the source of these attacks. You two are formidable warriors, and I'd rather not hunt a witch on my own. Just know this though." The Elf's eyes would shine once more, with the same golden glow that permeated his weapons. "Don't get in our way."</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán Success. Niall successfully managed to deflect the spear thrust which in turn at the very least helped Luna manage the rest the foe's attack. Niall's own counter attack in the form of a slash to the Formorian's abdomen seemed to have been dodged as the enemy suddenly moved after grabbing Luna's wrist to throw her. Niall had to back down and step back as to net get hit by the caster's falling swords. Though he did not see them stray too far from their intended target yet, he still needed to play it safe and defensive against this enemy. Niall was fully ready to engage again, this time unleashing his own ability...however, when the dust from the previous attack settled, the Formorian had himself backed out. He had stepped some distance away, but Niall figured he could still reach the corrupted elf with Gwdihw's wind - but he didn't. It was apparent that, for now, the fight was over. Niall stood down. Instead, as things calmed down, Niall walked closer to the queen herself and the other knights. He did not yet know them, having been contacted by the Queen only recently, and so remained silent for the time being. It didn't help that his interactions with actual fellow humans had been few and far between since he had left the Tuathas that raised him. He instead opted for finding the nearest rock or tree stump to sit at, Lance against his thigh as he would clean the blade until they were to move on. There would be time for proper introductions once things settled down.</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred managed to spear one of the creatures on his lance and catch another beneath his mount's hooves. After charging through, he turned his horse around, and shook his lance to cast off the impaled Fomorian. He didn't have time to freeze his foe, but with such a large hole punched through such a comparatively small Fomorian, it probably wouldn't be walking away. Ethelred's companions had joined the fray and struck at the Fomorians whom the Frozen Knight had missed. However, there was still one left, and it had decided to ignore the knights altogether in favor of attacking the child. Ethelred was aghast at this, that a creature would be so dedicated to inflicting pain and suffering on others that, upon being attacked and having their fellows killed just a few paces away, their only concern is trying to kill a child, with no sense of self-preservation. This Fomorian was clearly either extremely dedicated to its task of killing the child, or more likely, simply possessed by a mad, destructive depravity. In either case, it needed to be dealt with. Ethelred galloped towards the Fomorian, swinging his lance like a sword at the Fomorian just as it prepared to strike the boy. He needed to kill or subdue the monster as quickly as possible, before it had the opportunity to hurt those children. @Cu Chulainn@Rune_Alchemist</s> <|message|>Marduk Swordwind To Battle --- The two Fomorians that surrounded Marduk would quickly be met with retaliation for their futile effort. The brazen fool who had rushed the warrior head-on would be met wit the end of Marduk's staff lunged into his face with enough force to knock him back a few yards, if not kill him outright. As for the one who had chosen to flank Marduk, he would simply step to the side, sweeping his already outstretched staff towards its direction and slamming it into its side. Its blade would simply meet Marduk's cloak, the elf being too quick to be dealt with by such a rudimentary flank. As he glanced across the field, however, Marduk would soon notice that the others weren't having as easy of a time as Marduk was in their respective battles. While the frozen knight seemed to have the safety of the children already covered, it seems that the brutish knight was having a bit more trouble with his adversary. Noting this, Marduk quickly moved to end the engagement he was currently in. With a series of strikes to its legs and arms, Marduk quickly crushed the limbs of the Fomorian he was facing before kicking him in the chest, away from the elf. Diverting his attention away from the glorified torso of his own making, Marduk then took a deep breath as he began to draw upon his Leargas once more. Before he fully committed to his trance, however, Marduk, instead chose to end the battle without the aid of his ancestors. He would run towards Reinhardt, his staff clutched tightly in one of his hands. As he closed the distance between himself and his ally, Marduk would grasp his staff with his other hand, winding it up for a strike. Utilizing the momentum of his charge and his sheer strength, the Elf would swing for the Fomorian's head as it was essentially held in place. Once more, Marduk wished to play baseball, except now he is taking the position of the batter.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "..." It was clear the person she was dealing with was... Perhaps abnormal was the best word for it. She couldn't be entirely certain, but going off of her strange, sickly state, the fact she could freely remove her heart and put it back in, and the fact her own blood seemed to dot her outfit all indicated to her that she would absolutely be dead on the spot if not for whatever curse was currently inhabiting her heart. A curse that the inflicted actually found to be beneficial? If not for how incredibly squeamish the sight of the heart made her feel, Fio would almost have wanted to see it again just to understand. But the fact it made her feel ill just to see it, as well as the embarrassment she felt over her initial panic, made it impossible. "No," she said, "I most certainly do not need to see that again!" Fio paused for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. The assistance from someone who knew the library certainly would be useful, but why did she have to introduce herself like that? The Sword Witch cleared her throat. "I have plenty of questions, but first I'm looking for any books you might have relating to Fomorians, specifically any factions formed by them," she brushed her hair back over her shoulder as she spoke, "If you have any related to anything called the 'Wings of Dark' that would be especially useful."</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán So they were smarter than Niall thought. It seemed they suspected something was afoul when his darkness dissipated, but they still did not see him or knew for certain someone got it, so he was still safe. While the camp was ordinary enough, it was well protected by it's location. Assaulting it would be difficult, as he previously thought. If there had been nothing else, Niall might have called it enough and head back top the meetup point, but something the guards said caught his attention. They apparently had a prisoner, or at least someone they kept somewhere and planned to "do something with him". MIxed with the basement entrance that was guarded, Niall's curiosity was picked. Furthermore if it turned out to be something or someone that could jeopardize a future mission on this camp, he'd rather bring the information back to the Queen. With the moon still high, Niall decided he would attempt to gather more information. Stealthily, he made his way across camp through elevated position or by sneaking between tents, whichever was more practical. He would use his Eye of Night only if absolutely necessary, seeing as how the two others seemed to think something was amiss. Then again, the one sin the camp seemed far too busy to drink and revel around the campfire. Once close to the entrance of the possible basement, Niall went high and scouted around to make sure the guard was alone before striking. He threw his land into the ground close by the guard, hopefully forcing him to look in the direction of the noise at the very least, then Niall would drop but a second later behind the distracted guard and take him out silently. He would then grab the body atop his shoulder and head into the basement. Before he was too deep, he propped the body against the wall inside as if the man was sleeping, which he might as well be since Niall did not kill him, only knocked him out. Only then would he head further in.</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Soon after she had begun reading, Fio swiftly became engrossed in the tome. The information it relayed was vaguely known to her. At least, she knew some of the lesser-known myths of the land and its peoples. But this one was new to her. "So, the Wings of Dark refer to a dragon? Curious..." To be honest, while the information was interesting it hardly deepened her understanding of the Fomorian's words. Rather, it gave her further questions. Of course, it was unlikely that the dragon referenced in the myth could possibly rise again. The Sword Witch was quite certain such feats of revival were impossible even for primordial dragons. But the monster's title, the 'Wings of Dark'... Perhaps, rather then the dragon itself, its role in the myth was the important factor here? Rather then the dragon itself, someone or someones were using the title as a symbol of opposition? Of their role as an enemy of the Queen? It was more likely then the alternative. Shutting the book, the small girl rose to her feet. If nothing else, this information was important to relay to the Queen. On top of that, she felt her own conclusions were of equal importance. Fio paused for a moment as she turned to leave. Had that strange maid seriously fallen asleep standing up?! "..." Perhaps some questions were best left unasked. The Sword Witch departed from the library, in search of the Queen. The sooner she found her and relayed the information, the better. @Pyromania99</s> <|message|>Marduk Swordwind The Roundup --- With the last of the Fomorians dead, or at least appearing to be so, Marduk swiped his staff to the side, letting some of the cursed blood fly off from it. He would then inspect each of the bodies, ensuring they were all dead. Those who seemed to be alive, whether it was due to slight body twitches or just Marduk thinking they were looking at him funny, would soon be rendered un-alive with a quick thwack of his staff. Once he was doubly sure their foes were dead, Marduk would then begin to survey the area, securing it from any further attacks. He wasn't too keen on intereogating the kids on what happened. He had nothing to say to the children, except that the boy's form was absolute shit. He'll let the knights handle the babysitting. Instead, Marduk's interests were once again drawn to the unusally large claw marks on the walls. "Oi, brats!" Marduk hollered, as tactful as always, "These marks on the walls... what sort of beast attacked this village? It still alive?" Whatever their response is, Marduk began to examine the bodies of the Fomorians, seeing if there was anything... outstanding about them. Between those clawmarks and the cyclopse they had faced earlier, Marduk was more wary if any of these variants seemed to make their way to this village, as well.</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán What Niall saw upon entering the building would put him in quite the dilemma, to say the least. It would be hard to make such a decision in face of any innocents in that predicament, but it was ever more difficult for Niall being faced with a captured Tuatha - the people that raised him and to who he felt he owed the most. From his relatively still hidden spot, the knight got to thinking. He had no idea how long the strangely clothed Formorian would be gone and the prisoner was awfully well shackled. Even if Niall could possibly use all of his might and magics to break the chains, that would make noise and take time. Time he did not possess. The knocked out guard could wake up at any moment, without mentioning that just anyone could enter this building at any given time, too. Faced with an impossible decision to make, Niall made an impossible choice. Silently, he dashed through the room close by the Tuatha to inspect his chains while signaling him to be quiet. Niall whispered to the captive; "Tell me all that you know." while visibly examining the chains and shackles to see if they could be easily removed. However, this was not his chose plan. Niall would scout for a spot to hide in the room, and attempt to ambush the Formorian as it came back, thinking she might have a key. As he did all this, he would also spy on the contraptions on the table and objects around the room to see if he could find something that looked more important than the rest. His train of thoughts was that if things turned badly and he had to make a quick escape, maybe he could slow her work down by stealing something of value while also bringing it back to the Queen and the others, who might have an idea of what is happening here.</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Forest near Harzel Mid-Morning --- Chulainn@Guy0fV4lor@Crimson Paladin --- "A-a dragon!?" The boy shouted. "But…but aren't…they all dead? Didn't the King kill all of them…?" "I-I knew it! There was no way that thing was a fomorian! I told you, brother!" "If its a dragon how can we kill it?" The boy asked. "You seem awfully knowledgeable about them…" He'd question Reinhardt as the two would gratefully take up the knights offer of a ride. The two would settle in behind Reinhardt as the group would set off, leaving the burned village behind. "...ehe, mister that was terrible." The girl chuckled at Marduk's less than clever joke, offering him a small smile as they'd head out. Assuming there was nothing else that they wished to do here, the trio would set off. The ruins of the village behind them. The children contented themselves with talking to Reinhardt, or idly chattering to the knights. The boy seemed to take a particular liking towards Ethelred, now that the shock of the initial meeting wore off he seemed to think the icy powers and armor was rather cool. It was about when they were halfway through the forest that they would stumble on something of an obstacle. Some ways down the road in the direction they were going, was a group of knights. Wearing fairly stereotypical chainmail and armor covered by a tabard bearing the crest of Harzelslack. "What kind of children just run off? I'd be surprised if they haven't become fomorian dinner already." A red-headed, young looking girl near the front would say. She was wearing full plate armor, a well crafted blade at her side and seemed fairly important from the fact she was effectively leading the procession of about six knights, including herself and a purple haired fellow next to her. "That's enough, Gráinne." He was dressed in black, well put together armor with a cloak hanging from his shoulders. "Just because we've finally arrested that Black knight doesn't mean we can let our guard down. Whatever fomorian it is out here still. It concerns me that she went so quietly when she's fought us at every other turn." "Haa, really Lonan?" The redhead replied with a grunt. "She was half dead when we found her, she's probably just waiting to escape and taking advantage of our merciful laws. We should just execute her already." "The law exists for a reason." He'd reply, whacking the redhead on the back of her head. "She may be a criminal, but I will not besmirch the law laid down by the King. Now think. If she of all people were half dead from this Fomorian, then how do you think we'd fare if we ran into it? Keep your mouth shut and eyes and ears open for those kids." …now, who could they be talking about? Regardless, unless they hadn't been spotted quiet yet by the party as it had stopped and the five seemed to be discussing their next moves. The children seemed to shrink a bit at the Harzel knights appearance, trying to make themselves a bit hidden behind Reinhardt's frame. --- Location: Southern Giants Rest Early Night --- @Pyromania99 "Bweh~" Sorcha's head would subsequently meet the table as she'd faceplant from the unexpected impact of Fio's sword. Her hands released the small witch from her grip, allowing her to wiggle free and finally put some distance between the queen and herself. Not that the Queen seem bothered. "Ahahaha~!" She'd sit up, laughing boisterously at Fio's bonking, seemingly completely unfazed by it. "How many times is that? Twice so far?" She'd laughed again, in response to being bonked a second time in fairly recent memory. "Ehehe you're lucky I'm drunk and your cute or I might start taking offense." She'd immediately turn around, waving down a server. "HEY! ANOTHER DRINK!" She'd turn towards Fio offering her an excitable grin and passing the witch the mug she had been holding. "That's the spirit!" Sorcha would grab another mug as the server would bring them. "Lets make this more interesting too! A bet! Luna has to let me eat whatever I want if I win!" --- Heading down the small hallway Niall would quietly make his way towards the room the Fomorian had disappeared into. Her back was currently towards him, her white dress brushing against the ground as she'd make small movements, seemingly stitching something together on the table in front of her. Niall had to get a bit closer to see exactly, but what he saw probably didn't do much for his assumptions about this Fomorian. A human body. Fresh, from the looks of it. She had made several long incisions on it, practiced. Medical. Precision. "Hehe, almost ready. Once I finish you I can get onto that big guy in there…" She'd chuckle to herself. "But first…" The dark skinned woman would then, move from the end of the table with the head of the body towards the opposite, conveniently furthest from Niall. "You are something alright, heh." She'd bend over, attempting to lift what was likely the axe the Tuatha had mentioned. A large thing, bigger than a man was made from steel and bone it seemed. As she'd attempt to lift it, she'd make small grunts of exertion, clearly the weapon being far too heavy for her. But after a few moments, she'd manage to lift it over her head….and promptly swing it downwards with a little battle cry. "Ahaha-wah!" And promptly nearly sling her own smaller body into the nearby wall from the momentum and heft of the weapon. "Gweh…so heavy." She'd drag the axe and prop it up against the wall behind her. "Whew…maybe I'll dismantle you and see if I can get some of that giant magic myself…" She'd go back to the body, back still turned towards Niall. As long as he was quiet, or perhaps if he even could make a distraction of some sort again…even riskier, perhaps he could ambush her. She seemed pretty busy doing...something with the body, but he couldn't quite see what.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna had to stiffle a laugh at the Queen's expense. She probably should have stopped Fio from bonking the Queen on the head, but she couldn't help but feel that the Queen deserved that much. Still, adding some stakes to the challenge? "An interesting proposition, your majesty. Very well, I accept. Though, what do I get if I win? I already eat properly so I don't have anything to gain from the same reward as you." Luna said, putting down the rest of her drink and waving over for another one. "And, if Fio is joining, what does she get if she wins? You not groping her in front of everyone might be a good start." The woman mused as she was notably getting really red around the face. The other drink came quickly and Luna downed the entire mug, slamming the vessel on the table in front of her. "Perhaps if either of us win, we get to lead your hand in a dance." The woman smiled a small bit as she seemed very confident in what she said. None of the soldiers around looked much too surprised at this shift in tone though. Luna turned to the tiny mage before speaking. "Unless Fio wants me to lead her in a dance instead." The Knightess was definitely drunk, though she hasn't thrown the towel in yet as she waved another drink over for herself.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch And so the drinking contest began. One would assume that the two taller women, with their size advantage and the fact they drank more frequently, would have an easy win in this situation. And yet perhaps that assumption would be mistaken. For, no matter how much she drank, Fio did not seem in the least bit intoxicated. Indeed, even after polishing off several mugs of alcohol, there wasn't the faintest flush on her face. She didn't sway or slur her words. No, she seemed quite comfortable, and composed, simply watching the Queen and Luna silently. It should be common knowledge that the Sword Witch rejected alcohol for a reason. And yet, in this case, she was drinking mug after mug without the slightest bit of concern. The drunker her opponents got, the more smug Fio's expression became. By the time they had each drank a considerable amount, she was practically radiating arrogance. At with the final drink, the Sword Witch slammed her mug down, hopping to her feet with a grin. "Wahahahahaha!" she couldn't contain herself. There was no doubt, her plan had went off without a hitch! "You said this was a drinking contest, right?" she asked, cocking her head towards the Queen, then Luna in turn, "But, you never specified what we had to drink! Didn't you know? Water purification spells are common knowledge for any self-respecting mage!" Certainly, if she'd been asked to purify any large amount of liquid at once, it would have been far beyond her reach. But purifying just what was in the mug, one at a time? It was child's play for an accomplished practioner of magic like herself! This was their punishment, to drink themselves into the world's worst hangover the next morning, when they never had a chance of beating her in the first place! @Pyromania99</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán From what Niall had seen in the first room, he was not too surprised when it was confirmed the Formorian practiced some sort of surgery and tests on prisoners. He was disgusted by it, of course, but more so worried at the prospect of what she could do to the Tuatha if Niall was unable to save him. The Knight briefly through about the possibility of overpowering the creature to maybe capture her, but just like the last time he dropped that pretty quick. In fact, it helped that the Formorian played right into the knight's hand by moving the axe slightly closer to him. He decided to go for exactly what the Tuatha suggested. If Niall could grab that axe without a sound and bring it back to him, they might be able to escape the camp afterwards - if what he was told was correct. The Formorian seemed absorbed in her work, and probably did not expect anyone to have snuck into the camp so that played in Niall's favor. For the rest, he had to trust his skills and stealth. The weapon seemed heavy enough in the hands of the smaller female, but Niall was a bit taller and felt like he could move it. Niall would drop his lance against the wall in the other room then sneak inside this one. He remained ready to jump the Formorian if she as much as began turning around, watching her like an owl would it's prey. Close to the Axe, Niall would attempt to lift it off the ground so it won't make a sound. If that was doable, he'd then begin to walk back out of the room, thinking at least he was armed now if she spot him. If everything went without a hitch he would move back to the other room, bring the axe to the Tuatha, go back for his lance, and stand at the ready close to the captive, prepared to help him if he so needed it. "Please, hurry." He whispered "There is not telling when she or anyone else might come back in here."</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword As the drinking cmae to an end, Luna's eyes seemed a small bit hazy. Her eyelids drooped down as it seemed she was at her limit on drink. Between her and the Queen... They drank a lot. As the Queen "let" Fio claim her "prize" Luna stood and followed behind. Just as the Queen stumbled, the Blonde Knightess reached for, and retrieved Fio from the Queen's hands. "Your highness, it is not appropriate to carry a lady over you shoulders as such." There was some different tone to her voice from normal. Normally, she spoke with an air of confidence of course, but there was something a bit more to it. "My Lady Fio, I apologize on behalf of our Queen." She dusted the small girl off as if the Queen had some dirt or something of the sort on her shoulder before looking over Fio with a nod. "You have won this challenge, Lady Fio, though I am unsure through which means." The Knightess' eyes seemed intent, though other than her looking at Fio, it was hard to tell what that meant. "That ponderance aside..." Luna knelt in front of Fio and took the girl's right hand. "Lady Fio, admittedly, I do not remember the stakes..." She brought the smaller girl's hand up to her lips and pressed a kiss, as Knight might give a Princess in an old story, onto the back of Fio's hand. As Luna brought her lips up from Fio's hand, her eyes would do their best to look into Fio's. "But, if the stakes were the losers following orders from the winner... Then I must oblige... With Our Majesty taking you off your feet as she did... Was the prize you desired... That?" The implication was concerning but as Fio looked closely, she'd notice Luna making some uncontrollable swaying so she could definitely tell the woman was quite drunk despite her fairly collected although different behavior.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Her strategy had been executed flawlessly, that much was certain. There was not a single hole in her plan. She knew they wouldn't be paying attention to the contents of her mug. Indeed, by the time they would notice something was amiss, they'd be too drunk to actually realize what was going on. Her timing, her execution, the subtlety with which she wove her water purification spells, everything was perfectly put into place. Unfortunately for Fio Fan Falisse, Sword Witch, she hadn't thought well enough about what would happen afterwards. For indeed, the punishing hangover she knew would strike her opponents was not the only result of their drunkenness. There was no time to react when she was suddenly swept into Queen Sorcha's arms. That lithe, slender, small body would weigh quite little to the Queen. "H-hey?! HEY?! W-w-w-wait this wasn't th-the plan!" cried Fio in a rather undignified manner, squirming in an attempt to escape. Her endeavor is fruitless, and it is only Luna's intervention that frees her. At least for the moment. Hardly happy to be tossed around like a prize to be captured, Fio was read to snap until Luna's behavior caught her entirely off-guard. What was this embarrassing situation?! Did Luna just kiss the back of her hand?! Aaah, she had to get out of here before Queen Sorcha picked her up again or worse! Much worse! "I... I... y-y-you're all drunken perverts!" Pointing accusatorily towards the both of them, the Sword Witch spun on her heel and turned to make her dramatic escape! Unfortunately for her, her stamina, her physical capability, her athleticism... All of these parameters were woefully below par. Thus, it shouldn't have been any surprise to her when she caught her left foot on her right leg, and the world suddenly began rushing up around her. Fio promptly fell flat on her face. @Pyromania99</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán The very moment Niall put the Axe in the Tuatha's hands it was as if he felt it was some sort of mistake. Up to that point it didn't really cross his mind that Tuathas, like Humans, could widely vary from one individual to another. The ones that raised him were calm, collected and secluded - what about this one? It turned out to be revealed very soon that he wasn't as collected. "W-what you came here from? No, we have to leave, if you follow me I..." but he couldn't finish the sentence before the Formorian lady caught them. Niall took the opportunity when the Formorian dodged the attack to grab his own weapon, now at the ready. Niall knew he could take on the bandits outside if they came rushing in her - they could forge a way outside and, from there, escape the camp. He wasn't sure about the Formorian or her creations, so fighting a way out seemed like the safer choice. "Look." he said to the Tuatha "I freed you to spare you their horrible fate. I have a duty and Oaths to keep - help me fight out of this camp. No point in throwing your life away now, is there? We can still take them if we go now." With that, Niall was ready to use his speed to charge the humans blocking his way out and take them by surprise before they could form up if the Tuatha agreed to fight their way out. If he refused, then Niall would need to use the chaos and escape anyway. He gave this man a chance, but his own Knight's vows were more important than dying for an...obviously not all there Tuatha.</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Southern Giants Rest Early Night --- @Pyromania99 "MMhm, But she's mine? I carry her how I want too." Sorcha responded as Luna took Fio from her arms. The queen's posture had slumped a bit as she'd watch Luno place a kiss on Fio's hand and proceed to ask her about the 'reward' for beating the two of them in a drinking game. "Oh my how scandalous, Luna." Sorcha laughed, not being self aware of her own actions at all as the sword witch proceeded to flee from the scene. Well, attempt to flee. Before she could even get five steps, the sword witch was falling, tripping over her own feet. Thankfully, something caught her fall before she hit the floor. Unfortunately, that something was someone else she probably didn't have the highest opinion of. "Kya-" A shout of someone not trying at all to sound actually distressed by being run into, Fio found herself face planting into the bosom of the maid from earlier. The two tumbled to the ground, Sucaria landing on her back, seeming just a tiny bit dazed as she'd slowly bring her gaze towards Fio. "...ah? Miss…Hm, did you want my heart that badly after all?" As usual, her tone of voice was entirely serious and without a hint of any teasing or joking, and it looked as though she was making a move to in fact, pull out said heart again. "Eeeh, Fio's not even the drunk one, ahaha…" Sorcha walked over, pulling Fio to her feet again as Sucaria tilted her head to the side slightly, observing the situation. "...ah..." Upon realizing the situation, there was the faintest bit of a mildly pitying look towards Fio before she'd turn her attention to Luna. "Lady Luna…you're drunk." The Maid walked over to the knight before she could bother the sword witch again. "Don't bother your guests…" Fio, meanwhile, would find Sorcha happily pulling her along again...right up the stairwell and towards the bedroom she had been given by the Lightsword family. Fio's fate, was sealed. Like a princess being snapped up by a dragon, she was being princess carried off to Sorcha's bedroom. When the pair finally arrived, Sorcha rather unceremoniously plopped Fio down onto the bed. This, in and of itself might have proved some manner of concern. The fact the queen started stripping a few seconds later, probably proved moreso. Thankfully for Fio, she only managed to get her shoes and shirt off before the Queen would simply pass out on the bed next to the mage, though not before wrapping her in a bear hug and mumbling something about Erahith and Gerainth. Maybe Fio managed to actually get some rest. Maybe she'd stay up all night, unable to sleep any at all - though it'd probably be a bad idea to tell the Queen that. Regardless It would be almost dawn when she'd realize the queen was no longer in the bed with her. She'd see just a flash of light colored hair from a nearby balcony just off of the room. If Fio was so inclined to investigate, she'd find the Queen just sitting on the nearby roof, gazing off towards the Llobrokor Mountains. She didn't seem to notice Fio, so she could also chose to leave too, if she wished. --- "You should listen to the bird." The fomorian chided the both of them wearing her usual grin. "But I doubt you'll let your brain do the thinking for once." "My 'brain' thinks all the time, and right now its thinking that a good whack is gonna make you shut up permanently!" However, seeing Niall instead of engaging and choosing to flee, the Tuatha seemed surprised. Whether it was because he didn't seem intent on fighting now or that he thought Niall was a coward for fleeing was difficult to say. "Hey! We're not gonna get another chance easily to end this creep!" Still, if Niall was intent on his course of action, the Owl knight would bolt past the rest of the undead experiments blocking the entrance, choosing to flee instead of engage as he'd barely avoid their clumsy, but powerful strikes. "You should choose your allies better, ya know." "Shut it-" He barely managed to block a blow from one of the experiments strikes, its two extra arms attempting to reach and grab for the Tuatha's head. "-Only Cecillia gets to 'headpat' me!" He'd retort, shoving the creature back and glancing between the Fomorian and the retreating Niall before swiftly coming to a decision himself. "Damn it…fine!" With a powerful swing, he'd cleave his way through another undead that was creeping up on him, following Niall out of the storage area. "I'll get my revenge on you some other day, creep." "Oh my, so scary." "Everyone you've killed, I'll make you pay ten fold!" He'd blast out of the underground, just shortly behind Niall…but now the entire camp seemed to have been alerted to their presence. As they'd make their way out into the open, they'd find they were already surrounded not very far away from the entrance. "Hey, got any bright ideas?" The Tuatha asked Niall. Gabriel was nowhere to be immediately seen.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch Rather then directly hitting the floor with her face, Fio was at least a little relieved(if quite embarrassed) when someone caught her. Unfortunately, the one who caught her was the maid. And she was already offering to show off her heart again. "N-no, no, I'm fine!" cried the Sword Witch, waving her hands frantically as she tried to pull away and resume running as quickly as she could. Unfortunately, it was not to be. For Queen Sorcha was already upon her, grabbing her arm and pratically dragging her up the stairs. "Y-you-wh-what kind of Queen are y-you?!" cried Fio, frantically squirming, "Y-y-you're pulling to hard y-you... you idiot...!" But no amount of protest would save her from being tugged right up the stairs and to the Queen's guest bedroom. Before she could even react, she was suddenly in the air, her surroundings whipping past her as she hurtled through the air and landed on something soft. It was with no small amount of concern that she realized the soft landing was the bed. That in and of itself was worrying enough, but when she sat up and tried to desperately secure her escape, she could see Queen Sorcha shedding her clothing at a rapid pace. "W-w-wait what?!" she cried, feeling the heat rushing into her cheeks instantly, "S-stupid! I-idiot! P-pervert! Y-y-you-th-this is-y-you can't my h-heart's not r-" There was a soft thump as the partially undressed Queen passed out on the bed beside her. Fio was far too stunned to manage an escape, however, finding herself suddenly wrapped in Sorcha's arms and pressed to her chest. This was embarrassing in and of itself, but at the very least... ... ... Fio remained there silently for several moments. Slowly, she averted her blue-purple eyes. "Hmph... For a Queen, you sure are clingy..." she murmured softly. There was no way she could escape, and she was acutely aware her complaint would go unheard. Perhaps it was unfair to blame Sorcha for actions she undertook directly due to having drank too much trying to win an unbeatable drinking contest engineered by Fio herself, but the Sword Witch was hardly about to acknowledge her role in this outcome even internally. It had been a long time since someone held her like this, hadn't it? The last time was when she was much younger. And the person who did it wasn't a half-undressed supposed Royal. And yet, maybe, even if she'd never admit it, it wasn't the worst thing that could have happened. Maybe. ~ Fio didn't remember getting drowsy, but evidently, in spite of her situation, she had at some point. Blearily blinking her eyes, the petite witch pushed up off of the bed and yawned. Queen Sorcha wasn't there. Rubbing her eyes and grasping her hat, Fio returned it to her head as she sat up fully and stretched with another yawn. Ah... She'd slept really well. She'd never admit that she slept so well after being abducted by the drunken Queen, but she couldn't ignore that fact deep down. After a few moments, she stepped off the bed. Where was Sorcha, anyway? A flash of the Queen's hair from the balcony answered the girl's question. After some brief hesitation, Fio approached. "I'm not some kind of doll, you know," she began, as she approached, "You can't just carry me off like that. Hmph."</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Ahh, Fio was running. A shame, truly. Perhaps she didn't desire anything at all and it was merely the victory that mattered? How curious. Still, the girl ran into someone rather familiar. "Do my eyes deceive me? Sucaria?" A wide smile spread from Luna's lips as her glazed over eyes studied the girl some as she walked closer. "I didn't expect to see you here. I thought you'd be back home." The Knightess mentioned as she threw her arms around the maid. "Not that I'm upset that you're here. I'm quite glad to see you." The knightess grabbed the servant's hand and gave her a kiss on the back of it. "Have you been..." Luna stumbled before finishing her sentence grabbing onto Sucaria to brace herself a small bit. "Well... Perhaps you are right. I might be a small bit drunk." With a small laugh to herself, Luna gave a small sigh. "I should probably lay down. Would you mind showing me an open bed? I can take one in the barracks of course if any are available." Luna always tended to act like this so it was of no surprise to anyone around.</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán "There are Horses waiting for us outside if we but reach them." Niall answered without looking back at the Tuatha. When they stepped out, Niall immediately began looking around himself to determine the location from where he came and where he had left his horses. Niall looked up, at the moon and the stars to see if he could deduce how much time approximately passed. Gabriel was to meet him back at the horses a hour after they had split up, and that time was drawing close. Hopefully, the Lightsword knight would have the horses prepared just in case as Niall came back. With this in mind, the knight's mind focused back at the immediate problems; they were surrounded. The Formorian and her creations were still behind them, meaning that - if they were lucky - between this aggressive Niall, his aggressive companion and freedom stood only some regular bandits. "Listen. The gates are the more direct way of leaving here and heading to the horses outside, but chances are they're closed. I will cut a path, follow through and open those gates." A feat the man and his axe could probably do, judging by their feat of strength from earlier. With this, Niall lost no time and lunged forward. With speed and grace he cut down the first few bandits closest to them while heading to the door. His strikes were precise and quick as he advanced, dodged and deviated strikes with his deadly weapon. Providing bandits were indeed the same sort he fought at the castle earlier in the day and no other surprised came their day, Niall would quickly cut a path to the gates to see if they were yet closed or not. If they were, he would expect the Tuatha to follow his plan. If not, Niall would move to keep them open at any cost. The Knight could possibly rather easily go above the walls, but he did not know of his new companion's abilities completely yet. Maybe he could go above the walls, or through them perhaps... but he could not create a plan on maybe's and perhaps'.</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Ethelred There were a few things to take away from this unpleasant conversation. First, Lonan was not at the fort, which meant that they wouldn't be getting in by simply asking politely. Second, despite his ability to turn someone into a frozen corpse with a touch, people were not afraid of him. Second, this arrogant little squire was an obnoxious, unpleasant whelp. Ethelred, stressed and increasingly angry over this whole ordeal, had half a mind to get of his horse and beat her senseless until she acknowledged his lethality, Harzelslack law be damned. If anything, getting arrested would just get him closer to Elnith, especially if the local Harzel forces underestimated his powers or lacked the magical talent to counteract them. On the other hand, it'd also be a pretty risky gamble, since he had no idea what they had up their sleeve for restraining unusual prisoners. Not to mention that even if everything went smoothly, he'd forever wanted by Harzelslack, and it was doubtful that they'd recognize his forefathers' custom of weregild as a legitimate means of paying off a crime. Alternatively, it might give him some relief if he let out his frustrations verbally, but he knew that such bluster with no bite would have the opposite effect of being intimidating. No, the more that somebody shouted and demanded to be taken seriously, the less likely that anyone would actually take them seriously. Hmm, there's an idea. Should keep their intention, without making myself appear as a real threat. It could potentially get me arrested, but it wouldn't be anything serious. Ethelred pondered his idea silently, before abruptly turning away from Grainne and riding up to the elf. He made no attempt to address Grainne further- he wasn't going to indulge her. Alright, elf," Ethelred softly spoke as to not let Grainne overhear them, his somewhat pained and hesitant. "You win, we'll get her out your way, and I'll keep them distracted. Conversing with that loud-mouthed whelp over there has proven to be just the inspiration I needed to come up with a good diversion." Chulainn</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna was embarassed and quiet as well. She was somewhat sobering by this point and she had to focus to not be blushing bright red. She really didn't like being seen like this. The knightess was deep in thoughts until Sucaria broke the silence. How long would she be away? "It's hard to say. Could be a year. Years. Who's to say. Maybe when I can no long pick up my sword and fight." Luna gave a small laugh, trying to put her current situation out of her mind. "It's not like I'm the one who'll be heir either way. I have two brothers ahead of me in the line of succession and I don't have the ambition to usurp them or anything of the sort." "Why do you ask?" Luna said, not having the courage to look back at Sucaria at the moment. "No one's mistreating you, are they?" She had to ask. The woman didn't think anyone would but she couldn't be sure.</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán The heavy blow to his helmet had Niall recuperate by making a side flip, avoiding another hit but also quickly being stabbed to the chest which, luckily, his armor deflected. This couldn't go on, he thought - they were too many. Easy to say, the Owl Knight thought while also not being able to stop himself thinking it'd be nice if the very large, very strong Tuatha actually lend a hand in holding them off. It was about that moment when the large man made his entrance; Annagan. Niall made a mental note of his looks and demeanor for later report and stood at the ready. An idea blossoming in his mind. Finally the man lunged forward, charging and delivering a heavy blow with all of his might. The Knight waiting on the last possible moment before recalling his mist to him and focusing all of his magic into his next move. With blinding speed - blink and you'll miss it kind - Niall did one step backwards and allowed the hammer to crash to the ground before jumping forward onto the hammer and following this with jumping onto Annagan's face and using him as a stepping stone to propel himself into the airs and, with a backflip, land onto the wooden palisade's walkway. "Whoever you are waiting for, now would be a good time for her to arrive."</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna thought on it and studied the map herself. "I agree with you here, Your Highness. With the gate destroyed we have an excellent place to assault. A perfect plan here for me... We take a few men to watch the gates whilst we assault to ensure none escape. First, I announce myself and get their attention at the destroyed gate. So long as that Fomorian doesn't show up again I'll be more than capable to fight. Fio, you stay out of sight and up high above if you can manage. Once enough of the enemies show their faces, I trust you know what to do. Niall, since you are able to overcome the walls easily, you wait until I start and drag their attention away and then you start to clean up from the other gate. Her Majesty has humbly requested that there be no survivors and I intend to show no mercy." The Knightess of Lightsword said, her face looking stern. She made a soft sigh. "Of course, Niall, Fio... Should you have any objections or additions, I would very much like to hear them. We are equals after all, and I would love any input." Luna gave a small smile at the two.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Hmph. Normally I would object to simply assuming I agree with your plan," began Fio, leaning back in her seat and folding her arms, "But I can't exactly object to my own suggestion." Indeed, getting up high and out of sight and taking the enemy by surprise had been her immediate thought on sight of the location where they would be conducting battle. She could devastate their forces at range, and unless they had sufficient magical protection there wasn't much they would be able to do about it. That Fomorian they had fought the before was a concern, but the Sword Witch was confident that she would have no trouble eradicating the enemy if she stayed out of reach and simply kept hammering down on them with magic. "As long as you lure them out, I assure you not a single one will survive," continued the petite witch, a small smirk on her lips. She felt nothing but self-assurance. She would utterly obliterate the enemy and leave not a single one of them standing. They would not be able to harm anyone else ever again. @Rune_Alchemist@FrogRFlowR</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán After being told that the Tuathan male he rescued was known to them from before and not as a friend, Niall was remorseful. Although he couldn't blame himself for desiring to save someone, innocent or not, from the terrible fate the formorians would have given him, he wished he knew or that he at least could have brought him back here. "A sound plan." Niall simply answered to Luna and Fio's input. "I would take a few men, if possible, and open the second gate once you begin your assault and after Fio's ambush. If we all go into the camp, we can clear it out like Luna said. The men can handle those that would flee. However, we have to be wary. There is the Female formorian that could spell trouble, as well as a bandit that was bigger than the others and stronger too. Annagan was his name, I believe. Slow, but powerful." Niall took hold of his lance and looked towards the queen for approval of their plans and if they had leave to go prepare and execute. Fio seemed so sure of herself, and Luna, with her passion, made Niall at ease despite his crippling lack of social experience with other humans in a 'normal' setting. Compared to those two, he could seem a bit 'narrow' and cold, but it was not intended. "I look forward to serving with you both again." was all he could muster to say in an attempt to pitch in this social interaction.</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- If the trip down was bad-- the return trips were always worse. Every time he died, no lingering injury would heal until Elias' soul returned from the underworld. In other words-- Reinhardt would experience his death twice over; once when he would fall, and once upon his return. The sensation that the knight would be met with upon his ejection from the underworld was an agony like nome he'd ever experienced. It was like being trapped in a void. Unable to move. Unable to see. Unable to scream. And despite being trapped in such deprivation; he could feel everything. The crawling itch of tissues reforming fiber by fiber. The stinging of muscle and organ exposed to open air. The burn of lung; starving for even a single breath-- Before his eyelids could even finish reforming, the Knight had already rolled onto his hands and knees; retching from the waves of nausea and pain that accompanied such a horrific return. Trembling, Reinhardt forced himself to stand; wiping his mouth with a soot-covered arm as he surveyed his surroundings. There wasn't a sign of his allies nor the Wyvern-- only a single sword planted in the earth beside him. His eyes rose to scan the horizon-- settling on a distant plume of smoke. The Knight's face contorted into a firm scowl as his fingers wrapped the hilt of the single sword that remained in the scorched section of woodland. It seemed there was still a dragon to slay.</s> <|message|>Queen Sorcha Mulryan Location: Border Village Mid-Morning --- --- Indeed, there still was a dragon to slay. So the now clothless dragonslayer would travel across the blasted, burned, twisted and ash forest towards where a plume of smoke was slowly rising into the air in the direction the dragon had crash landed into the earth below. It was something of a long trek on foot, with no horse and it'd be quite some time before he'd reach the edge of green that had been spared from the dragon's scorching fire. Before he could reach the crater proper though, it seemed as though a somewhat familiar face would be seen first. Lonan and some Harzel troops had formed a perimeter some distance away from the crate where the dragon had fallen, they being the only thing that stood between the dragon and the village behind. Lonan was busy shouting orders and having his men construct defensive barriers for what little they'd do against a Wyvern. More men in the town seemed to be trying to hastily construct siege weapons. Of course, the knights would soon notice completely naked men moving towards the crater…and as one could expect, would be immediately suspicious. A group about five shouted towards him, getting Lonan's attention. Upon seeing Reinhardt he'd narrow his eyes, petting Steblas' mane as he'd cautiously ride towards him. "...Identify yourself, creature that takes the form of a deceased knight before I end you for sullying a mans name with your illusion." --- Location: Southern Giants Rest Bandit camp, early morning. @FrogRFlowR@Pyromania99 --- Luna had taken ten men with her. Said ten men, had come with her to cover the gates. She had positioned them five per gate with herself at the helm of the one that had been destroyed. True, some of the men had been through Luna on that terrible day that they had met the Queen, and their skill could not be questioned. So the five with Luna would position themselves around her, three on her right and two on her left. Immediately as she made her proclamation, there was no words to be said by the bandits. A hail of arrows immediately shaded the sunlight from Luna as the bandits made themselves known. About a dozen bandits would run down the slope from where Luna had stationed herself, quickly moving towards the Knight and her five men who stood at the ready to intercept. The bandits would quickly meet the Lightswords, the five shouting in fervor as they'd block the blows of the bandits they met as metal clashed against metal and bandit against knight, but against over twice their number they were going to be quickly overwhelmed by numbers not to mention the arrows that were bearing down on them. Three would find their focus on Luna herself, striking at the knight with swords and axes. --- -The second gate- "...this is all they brought?" "Well that lightsword brat is confident…what's with these pathetic men? They're not even fit to be fed to dogs. Looks like this will be twice as easy as I thought." "Hah. Pathetic. I could crush her with a single arm…like I'm going to crush this pathetic attack force of hers." "I'll look forward to it, muscle brain, but don't underestimate that brat. Got the backup plan ready?" "Hmph, I doubt I'll need it but if I do I have it." "Good! I'll distract the lightswords at the front gate while you flank 'em. Leave a few bodies for me to play with." The soldiers stationed at the second gate had been given similar instruction as Luna had. Take no prisoners and ensure none escape. As soon as the second gate to the stronghold opened, they were immediately beset by no less than thirty bandits - lead by their leader, Annagan. There were no words exchanged as the large man hefted the hammer, the deer pelt covering his head obscuring his own face as he'd proceed to engage the five men before they could even realize that they were going to be fighting the bandits main force and that they weren't going to be fighting a defensive battle. They were going to be going on the offensive and seemed to have expected a far larger number of troops to fight. Annagan's hammer came down on one of the men as he'd try to block the blow only to be completely crushed by the mans seemingly inhuman strength. He wasted no time in swinging the hammer around, smashing it into another knight and promptly grabbing a third in his grip and slamming him onto the ground with a heavy swing and crushing his skull beneath his boot. "Weak!" Annagan shouted. "I expected more from the Lightswords!" Alas, his shouting and this battle was on the other side of the stronghold and Luna could not hear what was going on. --- ~Back at the Fort~ "So what is it you wanted to show me?" Sorcha, led by Gabriel outside of the strategy room and towards where the prison in the fort was. Most of the knights were grumbling about not getting to join Luna on the raid, but for the most part Leo had silenced them enough to keep their training and keep them at the ready just in case. "...well, uh, better you see for yourself." Gabriel replied with a sigh as he'd open the door to the prison. He'd quickly order the guards stationed there out, and the ones standing over the cell next to their prisoner to move away as he'd open the door, it creaking open with its aged hinges. Sorcha didn't seemed to concerned with what was going on here first, but as she'd step inside the cell and see what was in front of her…the blackened, twisted body of what appeared to be something elivsh in nature. Pointed ears, long fangs for teeth and a lanky, emancipated appearance. "...What is a fomorian doing here, Gabriel? Did they get in and kill the prisoner?" "Aha, so little faith in our security, eh?" "Explain. NOW. Or are you telling me-" "Basically...the man we captured from the bandits turned into that thing after I started questioning him and attacked me." "...Not a word of this leaves this room for now Gabriel. Understand?"</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Let's cut them down to size!" Fio's voice rang out clearly from her position to the fort's right. She had selected an out of the way spot that was not immediately obvious, though it would be difficult to miss the petite figure perched upon a barrier in the air once she began her attack. Not that they'd be able to stop her. "Sura. Manifest fifteen phantom swords." With that, the circles of light spun into existence in the air, a faint hum sounding as Fio thrust her blade skywards. From each circle, the shape of a gleaming spectral blade emerged, glittering and shimmering with magical energy. The Sword Witch's smirk only grew as the lights flashed brighter. "Ignite and pierce." Each one flashed briefly, spinning swiftly in the air as a flash of magical energy surrounded each of the swords. It was another enhancement, the effort put into the spell was greater, but what came with it was a greater piercing power. Rather then simply reinforcing this blade, the aura of magical energy would function almost as if each sword had been set ablaze. There was no second thoughts. It was doubtless that Fio would strike down every foe that her blades struck. To think otherwise was unfathomable. To doubt herself was unfathomable. She wouldn't consider it. "Kill them." She swung her sword down. The blades erupted downwards, whistling through the air as they hurtled towards the clustered bandits, tearing through the air and leaving a trail of light behind them. @Pyromania99@FrogRFlowR</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán Niall had been so far waiting on ambush near the second gate. Their plan had been hatched, and his fellow knights Luna and Fio were at the first gate doing their part. Even now, the owl knight could hear Luna's taunt from his perch, high on a tree's branches as he looked down towards the gate. Things quickly turned sour, however. It seemed they had been made... the bandits had a plan of their own. A lot more men poured from the camp than what Niall and his companions had planned - a surprise attack of their own! Niall and his two ambushed Lightsword men watched powerless as who the knight recognized as being Annagan butchered three men without them even being able to react. "Go. I'll take care of Annagan." Niall said with a calm yet affirmative tone. He then stepped forward and launched himself forward with his wind magic faster than he did before and immediately landed before two bandits; one on his right and one on his left. To them, it would seem like Niall appeared out of thin air. However, he did not wait for them to recover from their shock. In one fluid movement he kicked one of the men right under the chin and propulsed him into the air while he then pivoted and kicked the other man's legs from beneath him to make him fall. Niall then jumped high up and grabbed his lance like a javelin only to throw it right at the man in the airs still. The deadly weapon launched like an arrow, impaling both men on the ground just as Niall fell back ontop of his Lance shaft, balancing on it, staring right down at Annagan. Looking up, the bandit's chief would see the moon right behind the Owl Knight, with his cape in the wind and although he could not the knight's eyes within the dark holes of his helmet, he probably could feel the intent to kill his stare brought with it. "Annagan. You have killed in cold blood for the last time. There will be no chance of redemption for you, no cell or dungeons for you or slowly die in. Tonight, I will grant you a swift end." With one quick step backwards Niall fell back to the ground, grabbing his Lance and easily removing it from the two men, now dead. Last they met, Niall was on the defensive. He was under orders to be stealthy and trying to get out as quickly as possible. This time, he was under different orders; No mercy. He launched himself just as fast as moments before towards Annagan, but the man's hammer would find no target this time as Niall was already behind him, thrusting at the large man's side. As the bandit turned, Niall would be elsewhere already thrusting at him. Annagan was after Niall's after image, the Owl Knight using a lot more than his magic than he probably should to put a quick end to this fight and make an example out of the toughest, biggest bandit around. With incredible speed, Niall delivered dozens upon dozens of small cuts all over Annagan's body without giving the large man the semblance of an opportunity to fight back. His sides, thighs, arms, face, legs, tendons - nothing was spared. Niall fully intended to end this with a final thrust right into the man's heart, which was his next target.</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna sneared. Too many were dying. Her plan, whatever it may have been, had obviously failed. Well, the saying was "Plans don't live past first contact with the enemy". And then... There was this presence in her mind. A voice. She gripped her weapon before taking a small breath. No, she needed to keep her head. "Men! Hold these six off, use them as shields against their arrows. Kill them and none of you die." That was a command. Luna stabbed at the closest bandit to her before pulling the blade out and heading towards where the enemy reinforcements were coming from. "I'll win, on my terms." The Knightess passed the, unbeknownst to her, sole surviving soldier from Niall's squad and run towards the biggest group of bandits coming at her. There were no other allied targets in the way now so she could go all out. "Watch as my sword of light tears you asunder!" Luna exclaimed as she charged at the bandits. She sheathed her sword and in her hands, appeared a large sword of light. It looked to be about as tall as she was and rather thick. Despite that, she seemed to wield it with ease. Her blade swung forward as she were closing into the group and she swung it in a confident attempt to bisect as many as she could. She couldn't keep this weapon up for too long, but she should be able to keep it up long enough without exhausting herself too much.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch "Ah?!" This cursed magical energy.. .there was no doubt in Fio's mind. This was a Fomorian! Turning on her heel, she sprang back, off of her vantage point and onto a platform she had formed in the air using a barrier, the spell she'd been casting cancelling. The enormous sword dissipated, fading away into blue motes of light that drifted skyward. This must have been the Fomorian mentioned in Sir Niall's report...! "I haven't the slightest interest in allowing you to handle this sword," replied the Sword Witch flatly. She couldn't provide further support like this, but at the very least she'd managed to take the Fomorian's attention. As frustrating as it was, this was also an opportunity. "However, I'm happy to demonstrate my capabilities, Fomorian, since you've given me such ugly practice targets." The monstrous, abominable things that emerged from the darkness, twisted and warped mockeries of life that could only be the experiments the Fomorian girl had created. Awful. Completely and utterly awful. She would be doing them, and the world, a favor. "Cutting them to pieces can only be an improvement! Sura, Luna Orbit!" A single command, for a specific configuration of blades. Ejecting themselves from a circle in the air behind her, the blue phantom swords began to circle around the small witch's body, at first somewhat slowly and then far faster. Rather then a simple barrier, it was offense as well. The abominations weren't likely to care about pain, but they certainly would struggle to attack if they had their limbs sawed through, especially given her position in the air. Of course, only an idiot would leave it there. "Five phantom swords. Now." They materialized from circles in an arc over her head, each one pointing at one of the abominations before rocketing towards them. It was a test, but ideally it would also at least keep them from moving swiftly as she picked her next course of action.</s> <|message|>Ethelred As the wyvern lunched towards him, the Frozen Knight dodged to the wyvern's blinded side. This foe might not be as strong as that large black wyvern, but it'd still require some strategy. It had already proven quite dangerous and quite resilient, and there were still two more of these beast to worry about. Ethelred recalled the words of Elias back when they were traveling. Sigurd the Dragonslayer; my great, great, great, great Grandfather– discovered and employed a great many methods on his hunts. He'd use anything from siege weapons, to traps, even poison… But what he found to be the most effective strategy; particularly on wyverns, was breaking their wings. A Dragon suddenly deprived of something it's instinctually used its entire life; no matter how wise, or cruel, or crafty it may be…quickly loses sight of this, and becomes little more than just another beast to be slain. There was no time like the present to put this to the test, and what better way to pay respects to Elias than by trusting in his ancestor's wisdom? The next moment the wyvern's wings would beat downward, he'd aim his lance and thrust it squarely at its elbow. Ethelred was placing considerable trust in Elias' words by performing this attack, but it was the least he could do to honor his fallen companion. "Elnith!" Ethelred shouted. "Go find your armor! I'll keep this one occupied!" Seeing the black veins appear on her, and hearing her ask him to stop her were both grim reminder that Elnith's curse was much more dire than his own. Ethelred's curse merely affected his physical form, but Elnith's curse assailed her mind. In her weakened condition, she might struggle to hold back whatever dark impulses her malediction brought down upon her, and Ethelred didn't want to risk Elnith's sanity in the fight.</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán Niall had wanted to finish this quickly, but things were not at all as planned. He had a quick thought to the others, who more than likely also had a kink in their own part of the plan. Now - Niall's assault was working well. At least for a time. With this assault and the first one, Annagan had cuts and wounds all over but still refused to either die or back down. This was getting quite frustrating. What more, the beast of a man managed to block Niall's hit and throw the knight off balance, literally throwing him outside of his Eye of Night. The Owl Knight was still in the air when Annagan came rushing out after him, his hammer at the ready. A quick thinker, the agile Niall thrusted the lance into the ground to stop himself in the fraction of a second and used his momentum to transform his lance into a makeshift catapult. Annagan had thrown Niall away with such force that the lance wooden shaft bended with he built of momentum when Niall thrusted it down and, when it released, sent the knight just as fast towards the bandit. Nothing stopped Niall from having other weapons than his signature Lance, and so with one curved dagger mimicking the talon of a bird of prey, Niall aimed at the man's throat coming at him just as fast if not more than when he had been thrown away. His aim was to slash Annagan's throat and continue pass him, surprising the bandit with a move he didn't expect and ending the fight with a clean mortal wound.</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Ethelred Ethelred looked down at the decapitated head that had moments before had been lunging at him. If he learned anything here, it was not to take advice from Sir Elias. Not that he'd expect to ever run into Reinhardt again, rest his soul, but clearly no more of this talk about crippling an opponent's limbs to send them into a panic. Maybe it worked for a great hero like Sigurd, but from now on, Ethelred was going to stick to what he was good at- freezing things until they couldn't move, and stabbing them in the vitals until they ceased struggling. At least Elnith had been here to get him out of this particular mess. He was grateful for both her help and being lent her magic sword, although he harbored doubts that he was capable of using it to his full potential. He didn't have time to worry about it, however, because the most immediate concern was the two wyverns left. One had just finished making quick work of a group of Harzel soldiers. The other was in the process of attacking Grainne and the remaining ballista. It was a bit of a dilemma- if he attacked the closer one on the ground, he might be able to obtain one victory, one worthwhile kill under his belt in this disaster of a mission. He had already failed to land a fatal blow on the arcane archer, the cyclops, and both wyverns that he had previously faced, and there was no prestige or glory to be had in killing the few pitiful bandits and lesser Fomorians along the way. And now, that abrasive little brat that called him "icicle" and "frosty" and confidently told him that she could best him in a fight was up there and in need of help. She deserved to be left to her own devices, after all, if she fought half as good as she talked, she'd surely be fine. Furthermore, the destruction of the ballista and the deaths of the soldiers manning it would make it easier for him and Elnith to make their escape if the surviving Harzel forces' displeasure at her escape eclipsed their gratitude for the help fighting the wyverns. But like Elnith had said, Ethelred was too kind. His body may be cold and icy, but his heart was the one thing that wasn't frozen. A gust of icy fog emanated from his helmet as he cursed under his breath at what he was about to do. I am going to hate myself for this... With his lance in his main hand and Elnith's sword held in his shield-hand, he rushed up the nearest staircase and made his way to the ballista. He looked down at the second wyvern- there was still the opportunity to forget about that nasty, foul-mouthed squire and instead plunge his lance into the monster's skull from above. Ethelred looked away, trying his best to banish those thoughts as he approached the wyvern. As much as he wanted to chill the stone masonry beneath his feet, he felt that with what he was about to do, it might be better not to. To avoid its tail, and get a better angle, he climbed atop the battlements and took a flying leap at the wyvern, intent on embedding his lance into the beast's back while it focused on dealing with Grainne. Assuming it landed, he'd cling to the wyvern's back and invoke his powers to freeze the lance to the wound, and freeze his armor to the wyvern's flesh. This one would not be allowed get away.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "Haa... Ha...." Luna felt like she was out of breath. Was she pushing herself too much? Damn. If it were Fio that used that magic, she would have been fine, right? Probably able to cast it a few more times. She threw herself against the walls that were nearby. They should help give her cover against the arrows. She motioned for her men to join her under it. The next thing was to take care of the archers. Once her group gathered near her, she spoke to them. "Alright. These bandits are something stronger than we had expected but, we can handle this right? I'm worried about Niall since our... Sole survivor here had to retreat to us." The soldiers would know that this wasn't a denigration at least. "I plan to check on him. I don't want any more deaths. From our end, at least." The Knightess went silent. The life of a soldier was one that involved the distinct possibility of death. Luna knew that and so did every man and woman that found themselves at that fort. "We need to do two things. Recover Niall and dispose of the archers on the wall here. Now, if you guys think you can take the archers without casualties, I'd appreciate if you could clear them. If not, I don't want heroes. Stay safe, maybe just distract them while I go and get Niall. After that, we'll have him scale the walls and I'll come back to you and we'll charge through while Niall clears them from above." Luna then slapped one of the soldiers on the shoulder. "I'm trusting you boys. Make me and you families proud and come back alive. Shields high." After all, that's where any arrows would be coming from. With that, the Knightess ran along the walls towards where Niall should have been. She didn't know exactly what kept him over there, but she hoped that she didn't come around and find the man dead on the ground like she assumed the other three soldiers were. "Just hold on, Niall." That said, she wasn't sure if Fio was fine. She assumed the girl was fine but it could be hard to say. Still, Niall was the bigger concern at the moment.</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán Niall could feel the speed drops to zero as he was grabbed by the large bandit. It seemed Annagan was gravely wounded, and yet not enough to kill him. Any hope of going free was squashed as the knight himself was slammed down to the ground with the sound of her metal armor grinding against dirt and rocks. However, the following hit never came. In fact, Niall could barely move aside in time as the big hammer fell beside him, having been dropped. Niall could stand up, but his Lance was removed from him now some distance away behind the man. Holding his shoulder with one hand and his dagger in the other, he adopted a readied stance for whatever was the come. Fortunately, that was when he saw...Luna? His companion was running towards them and would most than likely soon witness the literal battlefield that happens to be Niall and Annagan's dueling grounds. The earth was turned over here and there as a result of the pwoerful hammer striking it, cracked. It probably looked like a skrimish between a dozen men happened, but it all had been only these two. "Luna!" Niall cried to her in an exhausted, wounded voice. "Take care! He ingested something the Formorian gave him. I do not know what will happen..." As for himself, Niall stood at the ready to dodge more than anything else, but he was beginning to get spent. Luna was much welcomed back up at this point.</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword They had no steed, aside herself or one of the others. Which may end up being their option. "Glad to see you three alive. Looks like you cleaned up the rest no problem." Luna gave a small smile to them as they secured the area. As the left vision, she couldn't help but let a frown cross her face. She could hardly help the fallen now with her arm as it was. A bit more healing and at the least she could load them to the cart, as much an indignity as it really was. Still, Niall was doing much worse than she was. "Niall, how are you holding up? Not going to die on us are you?" Luna asked, waiting for her men to clear the place. "Fio, having fun with our new friend?" She then asked the witch, curious about that issue.</s> <|message|>Ethelred He wasn't entirely unscathed by this scuffle, but Ethelred had managed to do his part, and the Harzel soldiers had done theirs. The ballista bolt had struck true and broken the wyvern's neck- it wasn't going to get back up from a blow like that. It was a costly battle, but they had won, and even Grainne seemed to be in a good mood with their victory. Ethelred, meanwhile, looked down to examine the damage to his armor. It had been scratched and smashed by the wyverns, but was still holding up. Now that the wyverns were defeated and Elnith was freed, he'd be able to look around for that elf in case he was injured, find Lonan, and discuss plans to deal with the big wyvern. Or at least that was Ethelred's plan before Grainne alerted them to the black wyvern's approach. He wasn't too surprised that it had recovered and was ready for another fight. However, nothing could have prepared him for the sight that awaited him when Lonan rode into view. What the...? Riding along with Lonan was what looked like...Elias...naked. Ethelred took a split second to check if he was seeing what he thought he was seeing due to just how unexpected this sight was. In calmer, less strange circumstances, he would have initially assumed it to be an Unseelie illusion meant to offend his sensibilities. But in the current circumstances, with their formidable adversary approaching and the fact that Elias was with Lonan, the Frozen Knight was willing to entertain a much more optimistic possibility. Could it really be him, somehow returned from having his physical form obliterated? If he somehow returned from being disintegrated, it'd explain his lack of clothes. The fact that he hadn't grabbed any clothes suggested either that he didn't have the time or was too single-mindedly fixated on slaying this dragon to worry about armoring or clothing himself. Ethelred didn't have time to muse on Elias' wardrobe choices, however. A beam fired right past the fort, completely destroying a hill. Their enemy had arrived, and its powers were as strong as ever. In fact, it was heading straight for the fort, and it wasn't slowing down. "Watch out, that thing is coming right at us," Ethelred shouted. The Frozen Knight dashed up the stairs, not wanting to be in the dragon's direct path, and desiring to get a better point from which to strike at it once it got closer. He had many questions to ask (such as how Elias survived being disintegrated) and many updates to give (such as Elnith's escape and the elf's unfortunate wyvern-powered departure), but this was not the time for such matters.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch With physical bindings in place, Fio no longer had to maintain the magical ones, allowing them to dissipate into blue lights. Her entire body sagged with relief, small shoulders shuddering slightly as she gulped in air for a few moments. It was a freeing, refreshing feeling, given how difficult it had been to rapidly switch between and simultaneously maintain that many spells in such quick succession. Not that she couldn't have kept doing it, of course. Far from it. But instead that it was simply taxing. Less relaxing were the words of her new captive, and the fact she felt that all too predatory gaze travel over her body and linger in certain places. "I-I'm plenty tall," she shot back, eyes narrowed, "Besides, it's not as if anyone would expect you of being a monster who perversely twists living things into abominations for the sake of nothing but experimentation, so I don't think you have any room to criticize anyone else." And yet, her hands did shoot up reflexively to cover her chest. She wasn't... she was a mature lady! No-one with a rational mind would mistake her for anything else! But this was a Fomorian, so of course she'd say silly things like that. Looking away sharply, the small witch rose on her somewhat wobbly, slender legs, taking a deep breath as she did. "No," she responded flatly, to Luna's question, "But we should be able to learn something from her, even if she won't talk." Indeed, there was more then one method to discovering information. @Pyromania99@FrogRFlowR</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- @Crimson Paladin Elias' eyes narrowed as the molten beam tore through the hillside. Had he delayed taking action even a moment longer it would've been himself and Lonan getting annihilated instead of that distant hillside. However now that he'd had a moment to catch his breath, and had ample reinforcement in the form of Ethelred and Grainne-- the chase was at it's end. With a downward swing, Reinhardt anchored the head of a halberd into the earth; yanking himself off of Stelbas' back with feet skidding across dirt as his momentum shifted. A hateful glare was levied toward the pursuer as the knight secured his footing, the Dragon's rampaging chase showing no sign of slowing. Good. Let it come. "Ethelred-- I'm counting on your support!" Elias bellowed as he rushed forward, weapons cleaving through the earth to create a smokescreen of dirt and debris. "Flee? From the likes of you?" Reinhart taunted the monster as he rushed through the swirling clouds of dust,"You just don't get it do you? You've committed crimes against Albion and her people! Burned their homes and families! Scarred their hearts and lands for generations to come!" One halberd sailed through the cloud, poised to strike the side of the beast's head-- as a shape darted to the Wyvern's side....</s> <|message|>Elnith Location: Southern Giants Rest Bandit camp, early morning. @FrogRFlowR@VitaVitaAR --- "Pfft," The fomorian laughed, Fio's words bringing her some apparent amount of humor. "I'm a fomorian, brat. Being a twisted, cursed, monster is all we're good at." She'd otherwise relax though, going so far as to yawn and make herself some manner of comfortable even though she was bound, intent on not seeming fazed by this at all. "Who said anything about not talking? I'll talk as much as you want, witchy girl. Want me to start with my life when I was born? Maybe give you a sob story about how my human mother hated me? Maybe you wanna know about where I got this robe from? I made it myself. I also know some potions to help growth in certain areas." She'd shoot Fio a sly look with her usual sharp toothed grin. Seemed like Fio had her work cut out for her. Now that the fort was silent, it was easy for the lightsword soldiers to pick through it, though it was likely going to take them a bit to by themselves. Location: Harzel Border Fort Paladin@Guy0fV4lor --- The gargantuan black wyevern didn't slow for a second. Its weight and bulk aimed right for the fort itself. If its breath had missed, then it would simply use its physical form to destroy this human construct and thus, the people within. And thus, this would put it in a direct path for Reinhardt as he'd leap from Steblas, cleaving the ground beneath him to create a cover of dust. "Uwoooh, Albion and the king are the same." The beast hissed as it charged forwards, fire spewing from its maw. "Thusly, thee are traitoooors, now buuuurn-RRRARAAAGH-!" A guttural, pained hiss as the halberd struck the side of its maw, the weapon being embedded into its flesh just above its eye, but that was not the source of its pain. So fixated on his singular target, the beast did not see Reinhardt move to the side, and lunge for the beasts injured wing. The blood had already started to cool and coagulate as Reinhardt dug his hands into the flesh, tips of his fingers quickly being burned from the things fiery blood as the wound would quickly reopen as he'd attempt to rip the rest of the wing from the beasts body. "Ceaaase this fighting…!" It howled, moving its body towards Reinhardt, trying to move the slayer off of itself. The holes on its body ejected more flame, its body started to rise into the air as it'd make a jumping motion - "Well said, Reinhardt!" A familiar voice of a certain black armored knight rang above the fort. Seconds later, everyone present would watch as Elnith leaped from the top of the fort, clad in her signature black armor as she'd land right on top of the Wyvern's back, quite close to one of the holes on its back. "Now stay...put! Ethelred! My blade!" Elnith's divebomb assault gave her both enough force and power to sink her gauntlets right into one of the molten holes, grabbing it by the edges and similarly to Reinhardt, began merely tearing into the beast's flesh barehanded, not seeming to mind the severe burns on her already injured body. "You cuuursed Wench…! Pathetic pathetiiiic!" Elnith's surprise attack had rendered the beast grounded again, giving Reinhardt ample opportunity to wrench the wing from the beast proper. Flames lit up in its maw again, as it began simply blasted everything in front of it with a rage fueled conflagration, not enough the inside of the fort safe from the heat. It'd buck and try to remove Elnith from its body while still aiming to try and pry Reinhardt from its body. "Sir Ethelred!" Lonan called out, leaping off steblas and drawing his own blade. "We will defeat this beast here and now!" If he had anything to say about Elnith, he didn't bring it up. "If I can have your assistance once more!" Through most of this, Grainne was leaning weakly over the ramparts, holding her wounds. She had lost quite a bit of blood, and while she'd probably be fine with medical attention soon she was mostly out of the fight.</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán Once Niall was done locking the Formorian wrists and ankles away, he took a moment to lay on his Lance and rest. "I'll live." he simply answered to Luna's question, as he also took in the rest of what had happened and came to the same realization that the battle was over for now. In front of him now stood the monster that created the monstrosities he saw earlier. She also attempted to kill a kinsman, surely something she had done plenty before. Even if said kinsman turned out to be a lot of problem, it didn't change the fact she was out for innocents. Furthermore, her constant yapping mixed with Niall's exhaustion caused him to grow agitated. When she disrespected Fio for the second time that he could tell and spewed her usual nonsense was when Niall lost patience with her. He suddenly used the butt of his Lance to smack her across the face, probably breaking a tooth or two if the monster had any of those. If she did not already fall on her side, the knight would then stick his Lance in the ground and use his foot to push her to the ground, on her back, before stomping on her chest and leaning in. He bared his clawed gauntlet close to her eye and said; "I have no qualms with removing your eyes from their sockets, monster. You can start answering questions, or you can keep talking in the dark." The holes of his helmet peering into her own eyes like two jet black emotionless eyes.</s>

<|description|>Niall Ulchabhán 23 years of age, Male ♪ History Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight. Anything else Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night. Abilities Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision. Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest. Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed. The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night. Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but they would be wrong.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword "Alright, well, I've healed myself up enough. After I've recovered my magic some, Niall, I'll come and get you patched up a small bit. Well, I'll do a little now I suppose." Luna said walking up to the man and grabbing his shoulders. He could feel an odd warmth as some of his body's aches disappeared. Not most of them or the worst, but some of the lesser ones were relieved. "Take a rest alright. I'm gonna catch up with the men and double check on this place. Make sure all the bandits are cleared out. And uhh, Fomorians, I suppose." The Knightess said, looking at the Fomorian woman that Fio had captured. The Knightess shook her head as she headed inside the fort. It seemed pretty much cleared out, from a cursory glance at least. Still, there were plenty of nooks and crannies to look into so she took a peak in most places. Looking for some supplies as well. Not that they needed a lot but it was still good to find some. "Hey, where are you guys at?" She asked aloud, looking for her soldiers. It'd be good to see if they found anything in the meantime. Or, rather, it'd be good if they didn't find anything at all.</s> <|message|>Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch The irritation Fio felt towards the Fomorian's behavior was only mounting with every word out of her mouth. Continually mocking her appearance... she was a mature lady! And... and she definitely didn't need any potions like that, where did a prisoner get off making those kinds of offers?! As she opened her mouth to speak, however, Niall intervened. It wasn't as if she didn't understand what he was doing, but merely because she understood it did not mean Fio approved. Brutal treatment of prisoners, especially a prisoner that she had taken herself, was not what she sought after. Even if the prisoner was a Fomorian. "... I should like if you stepped back and left her alone, thank you very much," Fio folded her arms across her chest, "The interrogation hasn't even begun, and won't until we have brought her to a far more secure location." Adjusting her hat, the Sword Witch stepped closer. Her purple eyes were narrowed. A Fomorian was a being of curses and hatred, that much was true. But that didn't mean that behaving as a common barbarian was the correct way in which to deal with one that had been taken prisoner. "Besides, torture and brutality are far from the ideal method of seeking information," she continued. Certainly, the Fomorian seemed to have little pain tolerance, but that was yet another reason not to utilize such methods. It poisoned the well. Hurting someone could make them say anything just to make it stop. The Sword Witch had her own methods in mind. "She is my prisoner, and I will handle her interrogation when we have returned," added the petite witch, "Not in the middle of a battlefield." @FrogRFlowR@Pyromania99</s> <|message|>Ethelred The wyvern did not manage to reach the fort, but it appeared that Ethelred was right where he needed to be. Elnith, now fully armored (as much as her rather revealing combat attire could be called "fully armored"), leapt from a tower onto the dragon's back and called out to him for her sword. In front of the wyvern, both Elias and Lonan called to him to lend them his aid. Their foe was clearly quite injured, and Elias was in the process of attempting to rip its wing off. It would not be able to escape this time, now was the time to finish it off once and for all. It looked like Grainne was too badly injured to join the fight, but it was possible that her ballista team might be able to ready another shot. "It's coming your way, Elnith!" Ethelred put his lance down just long enough to take the sword in his right hand and toss it in her direction, trusting in her ability to catch it without injuring herself. With that taken care of, he retrieved his weapon and jumped down the stairs, making his way to where Sir Lonan was. His guess was that the Harzel knight once again wanted them to combine their respective powers of water and cold against the dragon's fire. Or perhaps Lonan just wanted another warrior backing him up in order to strike at the beats with his sword. In either case, he trusted in whatever this Harzelslack knight had in mind. "I'm ready to give you whatever assistance you need, Sir Lonan," Ethelred spoke, channeling his freezing powers and causing a thin layer of frost to form on the ground beneath him. He wasn't sure if the unclothed Elias would be close enough to feel the effects, but if he could handle being burned to nothing but cinders, the dragon slayer's heir could surely handle a bit of cold air. Ethelred raised his lance and shield, readying for an attack. He would follow Lonan's lead- whatever the Harzel knight wanted them to strike at the dragon's head with their weapons or blast him with their combined powers, Ethelred was ready to lend his support. @Guy0fV4lor</s> <|message|>Elnith Location: Southern Giants Rest Bandit camp, early morning. @FrogRFlowR@VitaVitaAR --- "Gah-!" A shout of pain as the fomorian was knocked right over, blackened blood spilling from her nose from the rough treatment, Nialls boot placing itself roughly against her chest and holding her down. She'd merely glare upwards, a low snarl from her throat. "She hasn't even asked me anything yet, you flightless brick!" She was, seemingly just ever so surprised that Fio came to her defense just slightly, the hostile scorn turning towards a smug chuckle. "See? The lady doesn't want your smelly feet all over me." She'd chuckle. "Now why don't you let me up before you lose the only prisoner you have that can maybe help you?" Whatever she meant by that she didn't say, merely offering Niall a challenging smirk, almost daring him to get rougher. Perhaps it was referring to her little trick she had used to appear rather suddenly where Fio had been. Luna headed inside the fort. The three men that had started clearing out the place had combed a good portion of the buildings that had been there. Most were seemingly fairly simple, barely up to being habitable save for the main one, with numerous hunting trophies, fur carpets and a particularly large mammoth skeleton. "Lady Luna, we've not found much." One would say, saluting and waving her over to the main building. "Most of the bandits seemed to have holed up in a few of the buildings near the firepit." In the remains of said firepit was some sort of…creature. It looked like some sort of fey, or fomorian itself. Chunks of flesh had been carved off and it had been tied up as though it had been roasted. "I don't even want to know whatever it was they were eating…looks like it was almost pulled right out of the Laughing Wood…" He'd shake his head, the second running up and saluting. "We've cleared the main building, but the only thing else of note we've really found is this." He'd hand Luna what seemed to be a metal emblem of some sort, depicting a pair of radiant swords of light crossed and turned upwards, seemingly breaking a shield. "There were a few burned scraps of paper too, but we couldn't recover anything else…" "...I don't think we need to see any more of the basement." The third quietly shook his head. A few bits of information, though what it all meant for now was completely unknown. The Emblem would be somewhat familiar to Luna, in fact it looked uncannily similar to her own houses coat of arms - a pair of swords crossed downwards over a shield, but that was likely just a coincidence. Location: Harzel Border Fort Paladin@Guy0fV4lor --- "Useless! I Refuse! Impossible!" The beast screeched as the blood red blade hurtled through the air, intent on seemingly intercepting it before it reached its target. It lunged upwards, trying once more to take off from the ground as its entire body managed to jump just a few feet from the ground, its uninjured wing reaching for the blade. Elnith released her grip on the ventilation hole on the dragons back, having completely ripped the thing open, a long, nasty gash ripped from one side right down to his leg. She bolted, running along the dragons back, along its arm and leaping right off its head to grab her blade, the firey maws of the beast just behind her, a gout of fire ready to leave its throat. In the same instance, Ethelred had made it to Lonan, the Harzel knight having not moved an inch from in front of the dragon, the scorching heat seemingly not reaching his own icy, cool demeanor. "Much obliged. On my mark - as soon as sir Reinhardt pulls that wing off, I want you to pierce that creature's chest, right on that glowing mark! Steblas power is that of purification and warding, if my assumption is correct then that should fell this beast quickly combined with its other wounds! You'll have to get close but the other two should be able to draw its attention!" Lonan pulled his sword, breathing outward as the land beneath their feet turned to ice from Ethelred's lance. "Steblas, your blessing! Let not this evil stain this land and protect those noble people of this land!" Ethelred would feel a similar sensation as he had in their last encounter. The ice on his armor began growing, hardening as his own powers seemed to strengthen from the fey steeds blessings, he'd only once again have mere seconds to contemplate this as a horrible sound of flesh and bone ripping filled the air, the dragon screeching as those present watched as the Dragonslayer rent the dragon's wing from its body, tossing it aside as though it was little more than trash. Its legs began failing its body, as it started to topple to the now unbalanced heavy side of its body, the mark on its chest making a now easy target. Elnith twisted herself in the air, a swing of her blade followed. The space in front of the dragons head rippling and distorting as her blade would find its own mark, nearly cleaving the beasts jaw right off of its mouth as the blast of fire lost all steam within its maw, sputtering out as it could only glare at her with hatred as it fell to the ground.</s>

<|message|>Niall Ulchabhán The same blank, emotionless metal stare went from the Formorian to Fio. For a second, there was no friendship nor kinship in Niall as this would-be knight stepped in to protect the monster. Still, her remained silent as ever and listened to her little rant. Still, the Knight's boot remained in place on the Formorian's chest despite everything that Fio said. "She is the Queen's prisoner." Niall corrected Fio, rather bluntly. "Perhaps I have let a bit of anger slip through, but I assure you... it was not unwarranted. You have not seen this monster's lair as I did. This was hardly an interrogation - just a reminder.", he looked upon the Formorian again, "You are not in charge anymore and your survival depend on how you act and, of course, on the Queen's mood." Well. Fio was probably right, though, and she or the Queen might have better ways of getting information from such a foe. His own action now had not been so knightly themselves, but the things Niall seen in that wretched woman's underground room. Those tools, the prisoners and aberations she created - even Annagan's fate! Terrible, indeed. Niall took the formorian by the collar and the bonded hands behind her and raised up to her feet nonetheless. "We should regroup and head back then."</s>

<|description|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit Age 24 | Female | 5'10 Appearance Abilities Hunter's Spear MasteryLuana is capable with a spear in her hands. She's been using them since she was old enough to hunt and has become proficient in their use. Years of hunts have honed her body, but her athletic prowess is very much in the realm of what a human could normally achieve. She can reliably hold off common ruffians, but she'll need to get creative to overcome foes with enhanced strength. Endless EclipseA nigh-indestructible spear head that's as broad as her arm. The spear head sparkles like the night sky, but its twinkle is overpowered by sunlight. The spear itself is short (as long as she is tall) but is light and compact enough to be useful in a forest. While the spear head is strong, the shaft is made out of wood and isn't any stronger than a standard spear shaft. The spear's real special ability is to let it's wielder divine information. If they thirst, they can see the location of a pond. If they are hunting someone, they need only think their name to see their location. The visions that Endless Eclipse shows Luana are not accompanied by sound, and it can be difficult to discern something's location if Luana is not familiar with the area. As an example, she could easily see that a bandit hideout resides within a cave, but might have difficulty discerning where the cave was located if there weren't other hints to go by. Druid CraftAnyone who spends that much time in the wilderness is bound to learn how to control it. Luana has two primary uses for her druid craft. The first is that she can turn into any animal she has seen so long is it's no larger than a bear or smaller than a house cat. Any injury she sustains in an animal form will carry over to her real one when she turns back. She can also give herself small animal traits, such as gills for breathing underwater or light sensitive eyes for dark vision. She can only give herself one of these features at a time. The second aspect of her druid craft is the ability to manipulate plant growth. Vines can spiral out of control in seconds, and acorns can grow into fully fledged trees in minutes. While animal shapes are easy to maintain, plant growth requires quite a bit of concentration, especially if it's being used for more than a few seconds at a time. She does carry a few acorns and vine seeds on herself should she find herself out of the wilderness. SurvivalLuana knows her way around the wilderness. She knows what's safe to eat and what's poisonous, how to track animals, and the best plants to make antivenoms and salves out of. Even out of the forest, she usually carries a few vials to use in a pinch. But Luana is hardly an alchemist. Her antivenoms are good against most venomous attacks, but are too feeble to treat magical poisons. Salves and the like can stem bleeding and aid recovery, but won't instantly heal a wound. History Elves are content to live their entire lives in Lymensari forest, but most humans wouldn't dream of it. Ever since her parents told her about the betrayed god, she's had a desire to see an elf. Surely they looked more fantastic than any of those scary formorian fellows. Though at such a young age, she wasn't sure how to go about completing such a task. When you were only 6, no one took you too seriously. Sure, there were some boys her age that promised to show her some elves if she married them. Another claimed to be an elf in disguise. That was fascinating, but it was becoming more and more apparent that if Luana was going to see an elf, it was going to have to be something she did herself. Her desire to see elves shaped a lot of her childhood decisions. Luana spent a lot of time at the outfitters trying to understand how everything worked. What was essential for a trip or what made for the best hunting knife. Her parents refused to buy her anything that might help her run away from home, but they would buy her books that she liked. She read about all kinds of wildlife and plants. As she got older, her freedoms grew. Her knowledge about the local wildlife made her an asset during hunting expeditions. She insisted on being armed just like the guys, and trained with them extensively. When she wasn't training or hunting, she was practicing other skills. Most girls sewed clothes, but Luana was learning how to sew up wounds and make salves out of the local plant life. One day the hunting party got a bit too eager while chasing a boar. The frenzied hunters were unaware of how deep into the wood the boar had taken them. The trees were getting thick, but surely a wounded boar wouldn't be that much trouble. And they were right. But the forest was home to many creatures, most more dangerous than a common boar. What insued was a slaughter. The hunting spears did little to the creature's hide, and it was famished. The thick forest didn't impede its movement, and a single swing of its tail could break a tree, let alone the bones of the hunters. Everyone was running for their lives. Luana's thirst for adventure had been sated, and her only thought was that she had to survive. The hunting party split up, knowing that this creature was impossible to outrun. Better a few of them perish than all of them. Luana was not lucky enough to avoid the creature's gaze. She should have died. She was weaker than the other hunters and less experienced to boot. But be it luck or intervention, the creature was felled by a single stroke. A comet fell from the sky and split the creature's head in two. Though what appeared to be a comet had actually been a mighty spear. This was the first time Luana had set her eyes on Endless Eclipse. But what really caught her attention were the silhouettes that must have belonged to her saviors. They must have been elves, but she was too tired to move or talk. They moved deeper into the forest before she could recover. But the spear had been left for her. With the spear in her hands, Luana felt she had little to fear from the forest. She needed to find those elves, and was determined to remain until she saw them. She got no closer to finding the elves, but the spear revealed its origins to her in a series of dreams. It was an artifact that belonged to a god named Aigorost that resided among the stars. It was too weak to do much, but had been watching Luana for a while and decided to bestow its boon on her in her time of need. This emboldened her, and she had decided that she would not leave the forest before finding the elves. Before long she became a hermit. Her local village spread rumors about a wild spear maiden, but non suspected it could be Luana. She didn't need books anymore. Her spear could show her whatever she wanted to see. But it couldn't show her what those silhouettes were. After a few years, and out of the blue, Luana tried asking her spear for some direction. Just the vague request of where she needed to go. And the spear showed her a queen with hair as radiant as the sun. In truth, Luana had no desire to give up her search for those shades, but her spears answer had her interest piqued. She set out to find this queen on the same day. But she'd need to stop by the outfitters. She'd been wearing the same clothes for some time now. Anything Else Available upon request.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna smirked slightly as she managed to bash her shield into Sarah's midsection, only to have her own wrist grabbed by the elf and pulled in just as she had done earlier. Sarah brought the pummel of her sword forward to bash her forehead. Luna calculated her options as quick as she could as she attempted to pull her head to the side of the pummel. She couldn't bring her sword forward in time to parry or attempt an attack to make the elf back off... So instead, she jerked the wrist that Sarah was holding toward her person to throw her aim off and bring her closer. After that, she purposefully took a glancing blow to the side of her head. It hurt a hell of a lot, but she had to fight through for now. Luna then, with a new welt to the side of her head, would bring her head forward to headbutt the elf to make sure the elf lost grip on her wrist and, if successful on that front push Sarah back a small bit before taking the small bit of distance she created to try tackling the elf to the ground. She hoped that her stubborness in taking pain could out-do the elf's. Willpower starting to dwindle as her head continued to ache.</s> <|message|>Vyrell Menear Location: Nids End --- Something in Luna's psyche was telling her to fight more. To push harder. To burn every ounce of strength she had to defeat this elf in front of her, even if she wasn't quite aware of it herself. "Guh-another headbutt-!" Sarah complained, head reeling again from the second impact, likely earning a small concussion now and losing her footing. It was perhaps, quite an inelegant fight that they were having, but the fomorian and elvish spectators seemed to enjoy the spectacle regardless as Luna would lunge towards Sarah, body crashing into hers, the two of them falling to the ground. Yet, it was not Sarah that would end up pinned. A swift motion as they fell. Luna would feel Sarah's hands gripping her armor, pivoting with one of her feet as she'd catch the humans lunge using the momentum to spin them around and slam Luna's back into the ground. "My my," Thus, Luna would end up with Sarah on top of her, straddling the other knight with one hand pressed firmly into the ground next to Luna's head. "Its rare a human can even match an elvish warrior, let alone even hope to defeat one." Sarah would say, smiling confidently. "You're lucky that your head is unusually hard. Shall we consider this a draw, Miss Luna?" Location: Hjrelskins Fall Paladin --- And smack into the trunk it would. A solid, wooden thunk as the wooden implement impaled itself on the trunk as Ethelred soon followed, driving his lance into the base of the tree, ice blooming from the wound. Elnith followed suit, the crimson blade shimmering as she'd swing horizontally, space warping and distorting along the length of the tree before it sharply snapped back into place. It seemed to have some effect. The sound of wood cracking and twisting as a large crack appeared in the trees bark, starting at where Ethelred had impaled it with his lance and all the way up to where Luana's spear had embedded itself in the side of the tree. "...Ah! Wait! Everyone move!" Lugh shouted, forgetting that Luana was ear plugged. A sickly sweet smell emanated from the crack, making all present feel tired and sluggish…and then the tree moved. The branches above twisted and swayed in the wind, the ground beneath them rumbling as earth was ripped beneath their feet, malignant roots whipping from the ground and lashing out towards Luana and Ethelred. Some would wrap around Ethelreds' torso, though they'd quickly freeze. Another root would grab hold of Luana's ankle, more quickly aiming towards her. The branches above twisted and turned, almost taking the shape of a wooden hands as a group would attempt to slam itself into Elnith. The singing was getting louder. Urgent. Gleeful sounding as the groups strength seemed to slowly be sapped by the music and whatever scent was coming from within the tree. Airedale Prison --- "...was I just…ignored…" Cethlann seemed particularly offended by that, falling silent as Vyrell offered Fio the spare change of clothes while she'd get dressed. The fomorian would earn a cold glare from Vyrell, who'd pull out some spare strips of cloth. He'd walk over to their prisoner just as Fio would start to leave. "Sad, leaving so soon miss witch? Careful you don't get mud on your clothes on the way out migh-" Cethlann would say as Vyrell started gagging her again, cutting off whatever other words she was going to say as they'd soon be muffled from the cloth. As the pair would leave the prison, Vyrell would offer Fio a small cup of tea after having apparently asked a servant to prepare some for later, escorting her up to the queens chamber and knocking on the door. Only to receive no response. "...My lady? Queen Sorcha?" Another knock from Vyrell. After receiving another few long seconds of silence, Vyrell tossed open the door to an empty, if somewhat still messy room. A balcony on the other side of the room had its doors slightly ajar, but a quick check would also soon reveal no sign of the Queen either. "...She's…not here." Vyrell frowned. "...once that gluttonous, lazy, fool returns…" Vyrell held onto one of the bed posts, knuckles going white as he'd mumble some other not so nice things that he would do to the queen, like burying her in paper work or making her clean up her room by herself. "I apologize Fio. it seems her majesty is currently out of the building and has not informed anyone." Vyrell would turn back to the mage after a few seconds of regaining his composure. "I'll take full responsibility as her personal attendant for losing her."</s>

<|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit "Something smells funny." — Luana Roycroft Paladin Only the most inexperienced hunter would miss a tree, but a fool would expect to fell it. Despite her distance, the foul tree managed to grab a hold of Luana's ankle. Normal trees had extensive root systems that ran beyond their branches, and that was the case here as well. More roots would join this one, and the branches would come for her after they were done with Elnith. Beyond her immediate problems, she could feel the effects of the magical scent. It was impossible to discern where it was coming from, but not what was responsible for it. While Luana's spear had been ineffective, it wasn't done yet. The handle grew roots like the tree it was thrust into. It had been blessed by druidcraft and was growing out of control. Luana had enchanted the spear's handle before she threw it, and had no idea where the spear would land in relation to the tree. So it grew out in all directions, twisting around anything it could get a hold of. A mere distraction for such a powerful foe, but a distraction was what Luana needed. Her body changed again. Not into a cat, but a skunk. Her small legs were easy to pull free from the roots, which had coiled around her human-sized ankle. However, her smaller ears were not able to accommodate her ear plugs in a comfortable way. She felt like her head was in a vice, but she would survive. Skunks aren't known for their speed, but they can move quickly if they need to. At the very least, Luana wasn't any slower than a human. She zigged and zagged, then zagged and zigged. Anything to make herself harder to grab. It would be problematic if she was caught a second time. She was headed for Elnith, but Lugh just happened to be on the way there. As she ran past the young squire… She sprayed him. If not listening to the music saved you from its effect, then maybe diluting the smell of the tree would also keep up everyone's strength. She needed to get to Elnith to spray her, and then she could assist Ethelred. Luana had elected to help him last because he appeared to be struggling the least.</s>

<|description|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit Age 24 | Female | 5'10 Appearance Abilities Hunter's Spear MasteryLuana is capable with a spear in her hands. She's been using them since she was old enough to hunt and has become proficient in their use. Years of hunts have honed her body, but her athletic prowess is very much in the realm of what a human could normally achieve. She can reliably hold off common ruffians, but she'll need to get creative to overcome foes with enhanced strength. Endless EclipseA nigh-indestructible spear head that's as broad as her arm. The spear head sparkles like the night sky, but its twinkle is overpowered by sunlight. The spear itself is short (as long as she is tall) but is light and compact enough to be useful in a forest. While the spear head is strong, the shaft is made out of wood and isn't any stronger than a standard spear shaft. The spear's real special ability is to let it's wielder divine information. If they thirst, they can see the location of a pond. If they are hunting someone, they need only think their name to see their location. The visions that Endless Eclipse shows Luana are not accompanied by sound, and it can be difficult to discern something's location if Luana is not familiar with the area. As an example, she could easily see that a bandit hideout resides within a cave, but might have difficulty discerning where the cave was located if there weren't other hints to go by. Druid CraftAnyone who spends that much time in the wilderness is bound to learn how to control it. Luana has two primary uses for her druid craft. The first is that she can turn into any animal she has seen so long is it's no larger than a bear or smaller than a house cat. Any injury she sustains in an animal form will carry over to her real one when she turns back. She can also give herself small animal traits, such as gills for breathing underwater or light sensitive eyes for dark vision. She can only give herself one of these features at a time. The second aspect of her druid craft is the ability to manipulate plant growth. Vines can spiral out of control in seconds, and acorns can grow into fully fledged trees in minutes. While animal shapes are easy to maintain, plant growth requires quite a bit of concentration, especially if it's being used for more than a few seconds at a time. She does carry a few acorns and vine seeds on herself should she find herself out of the wilderness. SurvivalLuana knows her way around the wilderness. She knows what's safe to eat and what's poisonous, how to track animals, and the best plants to make antivenoms and salves out of. Even out of the forest, she usually carries a few vials to use in a pinch. But Luana is hardly an alchemist. Her antivenoms are good against most venomous attacks, but are too feeble to treat magical poisons. Salves and the like can stem bleeding and aid recovery, but won't instantly heal a wound. History Elves are content to live their entire lives in Lymensari forest, but most humans wouldn't dream of it. Ever since her parents told her about the betrayed god, she's had a desire to see an elf. Surely they looked more fantastic than any of those scary formorian fellows. Though at such a young age, she wasn't sure how to go about completing such a task. When you were only 6, no one took you too seriously. Sure, there were some boys her age that promised to show her some elves if she married them. Another claimed to be an elf in disguise. That was fascinating, but it was becoming more and more apparent that if Luana was going to see an elf, it was going to have to be something she did herself. Her desire to see elves shaped a lot of her childhood decisions. Luana spent a lot of time at the outfitters trying to understand how everything worked. What was essential for a trip or what made for the best hunting knife. Her parents refused to buy her anything that might help her run away from home, but they would buy her books that she liked. She read about all kinds of wildlife and plants. As she got older, her freedoms grew. Her knowledge about the local wildlife made her an asset during hunting expeditions. She insisted on being armed just like the guys, and trained with them extensively. When she wasn't training or hunting, she was practicing other skills. Most girls sewed clothes, but Luana was learning how to sew up wounds and make salves out of the local plant life. One day the hunting party got a bit too eager while chasing a boar. The frenzied hunters were unaware of how deep into the wood the boar had taken them. The trees were getting thick, but surely a wounded boar wouldn't be that much trouble. And they were right. But the forest was home to many creatures, most more dangerous than a common boar. What insued was a slaughter. The hunting spears did little to the creature's hide, and it was famished. The thick forest didn't impede its movement, and a single swing of its tail could break a tree, let alone the bones of the hunters. Everyone was running for their lives. Luana's thirst for adventure had been sated, and her only thought was that she had to survive. The hunting party split up, knowing that this creature was impossible to outrun. Better a few of them perish than all of them. Luana was not lucky enough to avoid the creature's gaze. She should have died. She was weaker than the other hunters and less experienced to boot. But be it luck or intervention, the creature was felled by a single stroke. A comet fell from the sky and split the creature's head in two. Though what appeared to be a comet had actually been a mighty spear. This was the first time Luana had set her eyes on Endless Eclipse. But what really caught her attention were the silhouettes that must have belonged to her saviors. They must have been elves, but she was too tired to move or talk. They moved deeper into the forest before she could recover. But the spear had been left for her. With the spear in her hands, Luana felt she had little to fear from the forest. She needed to find those elves, and was determined to remain until she saw them. She got no closer to finding the elves, but the spear revealed its origins to her in a series of dreams. It was an artifact that belonged to a god named Aigorost that resided among the stars. It was too weak to do much, but had been watching Luana for a while and decided to bestow its boon on her in her time of need. This emboldened her, and she had decided that she would not leave the forest before finding the elves. Before long she became a hermit. Her local village spread rumors about a wild spear maiden, but non suspected it could be Luana. She didn't need books anymore. Her spear could show her whatever she wanted to see. But it couldn't show her what those silhouettes were. After a few years, and out of the blue, Luana tried asking her spear for some direction. Just the vague request of where she needed to go. And the spear showed her a queen with hair as radiant as the sun. In truth, Luana had no desire to give up her search for those shades, but her spears answer had her interest piqued. She set out to find this queen on the same day. But she'd need to stop by the outfitters. She'd been wearing the same clothes for some time now. Anything Else Available upon request.</s> <|message|>Lunalel Lightsword Luna would be lying if she said she didn't desire to see Harzelslack, but she understood why the teams had been divided as so. First, the team heading there already had contact with the nation's border so it would make perfect senses why they would go. On the other hand, Luna had some constant contact with them where she figured was why she would go to recruit a giant smith. Though she was a small bit curious why Her Majesty had given Fio lead on this mission. Truthfully, Luna would have expected it to go to her all things considered but it wasn't a big bother to her really. Fio was smart, if a bit...Sensitive? "The mountains west of our territory is probably our destination. I can't say I've been around the area much, though I've met a number of giants from that way." Luna mentioned with a nod. "I've not an exact location but I believe it was Llobrokor Mountain. Not exactly safe from what I hear, but what is safe?" Luna asked with a small smirk. "Have you been there, Elnith?" Luna asked the cursed knight, curious since she was signed on to this mission as well.</s> <|message|>Ethelred Sorcha's briefing made it clear that she had a particular interest in dragon scales. She wanted to obtain the scales from the black wyvern, and wanted to enlist the services of a giant to hammer those scales into armor and weapons. Judging by her worry about the return of dragons, and the mention of a surge in wyvern activity, it sounded like she expected the band to be fighting more dragons in the near future, and wanted to be prepared accordingly. The returned king that the black wyvern mentioned...he couldn't have been referring to Varakel, could he? After all, if the Old King could return to life, surely it'd be possible for the evil black dragon could as well. The thought made Ethelred shiver. Ethelred's mission would be taking him to work with the forces of Harzelslack, to deal with wyverns that have been terrorizing the regions. Ethelred perked up a bit when Sorcha mentioned that they'd be working with Lonan and Grainne. It'd be good to see those two again, he thought. He wasn't sure if Luana and Grainne would get along, so it might be a good idea to observe their interactions carefully until he could be sure it wouldn't devolve into a scuffle. The wyverns would be tough foes, but assuming there were no unpleasant surprises awaiting them, it shouldn't be anything they hadn't already faced. "Meet up with Lonan and his band, clear out the wyverns around the Llothbrokr mountains," Ethelred spoke, summing up his mission to ensure he had heard it correctly. "You can count on us, your highness."</s> <|message|>Sir Elias Von Reinhardt --- @VitaVitaAR@Crimson Paladin@BrokenPromise@Pyromania99 Reinhardt simply nodded through the introductions and recap as Vyrell caught him up to speed. Though he'd initially intended to greet the newcomer to the Queen's guard-- the mention of elves quickly invited a flurry of overenthusiastic questions and speculations from the newcomer that halted the Knight's words before they could even leave his mouth. Clamping his mouth shut, Elias instead opted to simply hold his tongue until the briefing was concluded. After hearing the upcoming assigned task, as well as the distribution of resources agreed upon between Airedale and Harzelslack, Reinhardt finally opened his mouth-- "And what of the Wyvern's heart?" He paused, before continuing his thought, "If possible-- I wish to retrieve it for ourselves... There was something off with that creature compared to how the records of my family depict... And if there's another like it-- that would certainly explain the continued appearance of the whelps." Elias shook his head, returning to the topic at hand-- "I am concerned about what the beast's heart implies, your majesty. If you would allow me to make such a request; I would hope to be allowed to take it for myself."</s> <|message|>Elnith Location: Airedale Keep, Meeting Room @Crimson Paladin@BrokenPromise@Pyromania99@Guy0fV4lor --- "As Luna says, Fio. The mountains central to Albion are the home of the giants. Luna's family has ties to the giants, so her judgment should be sound when dealing with them." Sorcha replied to her court mage. "As for myself, Luna, Fio." Elnith smiled. "This armor was forged by them. They're quite the generous people, if reclusive." Her gaze turned to Fio a little, before smirking and seeming to stifle a laugh before shaking her head. "I'm sure they'll welcome us with open arms." "The heart?" Sorcha continued, addressing Reinhardt's concern. "...Hm, I did not think it terribly important myself. Such a cursed thing can only bring more curses, but…" A moment of silence as she pondered her knights question. "...If its a request, I can speak with the Harzel knights upon meeting them. Otherwise, it would have been theirs as per the agreement. Now then, Fio, Luna, Elnith." She turned to the three of them. "You are dismissed. Feel free to leave soon as you are prepared. Luana…if you truly do have a desire to serve me, then join me in the throne room. Ethelred, Reinhardt, you have sometime to prepare, or join me as well if you wish." "Lugh and I will remain here to oversee Airedale." Vyrell smiled, turning his head towards Sorcha as she left the room. "Ah, and my Lady, when you return we can discuss certain events where an important person was absent without telling anyone." "...A-ahem, yes, very well Vyrell." Sorcha responded, swiftly leaving the room and heading out into the throne room, expecting Luana to follow.</s>

<|message|>Luana RoycroftForrest Hermit "Ahahahaha! I ascend!" — Luana Roycroft "Welp! No reason to drag this out." She saluted Ethelred. "Sounds like we'll be working together again!" Luana bent over and pat Lugh's head. She might have also sniffed his hair. "I know the queen didn't invite you, but I'm inviting you, so you can come along if you'd like!" On her way towards the throne room, she stopped in front of Reinhardt. "Reinhardt right? You look capable, I can't wait to see what you're capable of!" Luana wrapped her arms around the knight and gave him a squeeze. "I can't hug Ethelred, so need to-" Her eyes shot open. "Wait, your not-" She released him and looked over her arms. Once she was satisfied, she sighed and looked back at Reinhardt with a sly grin. "I have to be careful around you folks! I know hugging some of you will turn me into an ice sculpture. It's hard! I'm a very physical person!" Before departing for the throne room, she turned to the girls that were departing on their quest. "Elnith, Fio, Luna number two, I'm sure you'll be successful, but I'll be praying to Aigorost for your success anyway!" With a laugh, she vanished* behind the threshold of the door. *But not like, literally vanished. She just moved swiftly.</s>

<|description|>Suzy Lawrence Age: 26 Appearance: One could recognize Suzy by her armpit-length black hair with dark brown-colored eyes and rather pale skin, complete with small nose and thin pair of lips. Her modeling manager would always request any journalist writing her profile to always add an adjective of being "doll-like", which was not wrong at all. Being a model, Suzy has her height somewhere higher than average among her kind. Of course, she needed to maintain her weight under the slim proportion and keep her fat percentage low to stay on her job. Her manager has ever suggested Suzy to make her physical "features" more "noticeable", but she has her personal decision to keep it "manageable". Occupation: Fashion Model, Social Media Influencer, Health Product & Cosmetics Endorser, Cosplay Personality Personality: Suzy considers her body to be a work of art, maintained under a discipline craftmanship. Whenever she has her chance, Suzy will always take her time to do a light exercise. Even though she understands that there are secrets which must remain hidden, her friendly demeanor was never a faked one. Even though her job may need her to lie in order to keep some professional matters remain as it is, Suzy never lies about her personal feeling to those whom she considers as friends. She frequently uses her wordplays to get out of any suspicion against her. Big Five: -- Openness: Inventive-Cautious Middle-ground -- Conscientiousness: Organized -- Extraversion: Outgoing-Solitary Middle-ground -- Agreeableness: Critical -- Neuroticism: Confident MBTI: ISTP Biography: Suzy Lawrence had only been famous since four years ago, early 2016 for exact. She was quite a media and internet phenomenon with her reach of followers growing exponentially in that four years period. Being rather discreet with her private information, people still quickly found her past origin: born in Singapore in 1994 and frequently moved around the Southeast Asia region during her childhood. Although Suzy professionally appeared in fashion magazines, both the modest ones and the more sensual pin-ups, people mostly knew her by her social media video posts promoting health and beauty lifestyles. Other than product endorsement, that included her exercise routines, yoga poses, and even belly dancing. She loved to flatter her lightly toned midriff so much in her videos. Her Secret: Being a model and social media personality are only her secondary job. Some people calls her using other name. Other Important Information: - A polyglot, fluent in 8 languages (Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Japanese, English, French, German, Malay). - Exceptional results in her aptitude and physical tests, can run faster than average person, also a great swimmer and gymnast. - Well-versed in Bajiquan martial art. - Got scandalized recently when a television persona made a negative remark about Suzy's indecency for her "excessive" showing of her belly button publicly in her exercise videos. She then publicly responded in a rather "cutely" manner for such comment. Importance: Major character</s> <|message|>Suzy Lawrence [mistakenly posted, suggest for deletion]</s> <|message|>Cast of Characters "Mayday! Mayday! This is Yamada Airlines Flight 217! We have lost power and are swiftly losing altitude! If anyone can hear us, our coordinates are-!" --- --- For two and a half hours the flight had gone normally. No turbulence, no weather. A clear, beautiful day above the Pacific. Bored children misbehaving and some college kids caught trying to join the mile high club, but nothing drastic. It had been business as usual. Then... A jolt rocked the airliner, accompanied by the smell of ozone and the sensation of static in the cabin. Outside the sky had become pitch black, punctuated by the occasional jagged crack of lightning. The "fasten seatbelt" signals flashed on as oxygen masks dropped for each passenger. A voice came over the loudspeakers, sounding as calm as possible despite the circumstances. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Please remain calm, fasten your seatbelts, and put your oxygen masks on. We are attempting to make an emergency landing." A second, harder impact hit the plane, sending bags, trays, and cups flying. Children cried, their parents trying to calm them down. Prayers in different languages to different gods could be heard in the air. And yet, through all of it, Yoshinaga felt a kind of serenity. Like she no longer had to worry anymore. No guilt, no worry, no nothing. Soon she'd be relieved of everything. She breathed slowly, taking her glasses off and slipping them into the case in her jacket before closing her eyes. Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad. Seems I won't meet you at the airport after all. She felt the plane tipping backwards before something struck her in the face. The last thought that went through her head was a semblance of thankfulness that she wouldn't feel anything when the plane went down. --- When Yoshinaga came to, everything hurt. Bones, joints, muscles, everything, however nothing felt broken. Maybe a bruise or a sprain here or there, though. Well that means I didn't bite it in the crash, she thought. Koi opened her eyes... or, rather, eye. Her left eye refused to open, and a quick probing with her fingertips told her that it was swollen shut from whatever had hit her. The next thing that Koi felt was the air: hot and sticky, like back in Guam, but magnified. The pilots must have managed to get land on an island or something. The odds of that happening seemed astronomically low, and yet, it had happened. Yoshinaga unbuckled herself and slowly stood up. The movement made her head throb. Her throat was dry and scratchy but she did her best to make herself heard, speaking English as clearly as she could. "Hello? Is anyone there?"</s>

<|message|>Suzy Lawrence Of all the things Suzy had never thought she had to prepare was this kind of situation. The emergency landing alarm was blaring and the oxygen masks were dropped. Announcements were made in English, Japanese, and Mandarin, repeating the same word of telling the passengers to put the life vest on, tighten their seatbelt, and cover their head low. Suzy did this quite quickly, the cries of panicking travelers inside the cabin did not affect her. She took her time to help the other passengers sitting beside her, even when Suzy was not sure both herself and the stranger she helped would survive the situation. Everyone in Suzy's reach were able to follow the protocol quickly as the pilot's speaker repeated the words that would make even any atheists to doubt their choice of not believing in higher power. "Brace... brace... brace...!" Suzy did not know how it felt when the plane finally touched the ground. The tumbling and the stress knocked her unconscious. When Suzy eventually opened her eyes, people were already out of the cabin, or dead. The passengers by her side were not there anymore. The plane's remain was stable enough for Suzy to stand. She did not regret of choosing to wear her travel boots and more functional clothing instead of any fancier dress. Suzy had her jacket, shirt, trousers and belt with pouches on both sides. Even so, someone had taken her backpack; Suzy could not find it inside the cabin. Fortunately, she kept her compass and the necessary medical kit inside her belt pouches. The first thing she needed to do was to check the pilot cabin; the radio could still be online and the pilot might still survive. While doing so, Suzy also looked beyond the window and tried to recognize where they had just landed. Were they on an island, or maybe somewhere in the continent? Were they on the shoreline, or deep inland? 1. Attempt to access cockpit -- if successful: ---- attempt to use the radio, use an aspect of Suzy's secret to contact "someone she knew" ---- ask the pilot of any information he knew, if he survived -- if failed: ---- determine the cockpit condition 2. Attempt to recognize where they crash landed (shoreline vs inland), GM decide the detail</s>

<|description|>Cast of Characters Major Characters * Yoshinaga Koi * Suzy Lawrence * Christopher Tang Minor Characters/NPCs * To be expanded...</s> <|message|>Suzy Lawrence [mistakenly posted, suggest for deletion]</s> <|message|>Cast of Characters "Mayday! Mayday! This is Yamada Airlines Flight 217! We have lost power and are swiftly losing altitude! If anyone can hear us, our coordinates are-!" --- --- For two and a half hours the flight had gone normally. No turbulence, no weather. A clear, beautiful day above the Pacific. Bored children misbehaving and some college kids caught trying to join the mile high club, but nothing drastic. It had been business as usual. Then... A jolt rocked the airliner, accompanied by the smell of ozone and the sensation of static in the cabin. Outside the sky had become pitch black, punctuated by the occasional jagged crack of lightning. The "fasten seatbelt" signals flashed on as oxygen masks dropped for each passenger. A voice came over the loudspeakers, sounding as calm as possible despite the circumstances. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Please remain calm, fasten your seatbelts, and put your oxygen masks on. We are attempting to make an emergency landing." A second, harder impact hit the plane, sending bags, trays, and cups flying. Children cried, their parents trying to calm them down. Prayers in different languages to different gods could be heard in the air. And yet, through all of it, Yoshinaga felt a kind of serenity. Like she no longer had to worry anymore. No guilt, no worry, no nothing. Soon she'd be relieved of everything. She breathed slowly, taking her glasses off and slipping them into the case in her jacket before closing her eyes. Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad. Seems I won't meet you at the airport after all. She felt the plane tipping backwards before something struck her in the face. The last thought that went through her head was a semblance of thankfulness that she wouldn't feel anything when the plane went down. --- When Yoshinaga came to, everything hurt. Bones, joints, muscles, everything, however nothing felt broken. Maybe a bruise or a sprain here or there, though. Well that means I didn't bite it in the crash, she thought. Koi opened her eyes... or, rather, eye. Her left eye refused to open, and a quick probing with her fingertips told her that it was swollen shut from whatever had hit her. The next thing that Koi felt was the air: hot and sticky, like back in Guam, but magnified. The pilots must have managed to get land on an island or something. The odds of that happening seemed astronomically low, and yet, it had happened. Yoshinaga unbuckled herself and slowly stood up. The movement made her head throb. Her throat was dry and scratchy but she did her best to make herself heard, speaking English as clearly as she could. "Hello? Is anyone there?"</s> <|message|>Suzy Lawrence Suzy Lawrence Of all the things Suzy had never thought she had to prepare was this kind of situation. The emergency landing alarm was blaring and the oxygen masks were dropped. Announcements were made in English, Japanese, and Mandarin, repeating the same word of telling the passengers to put the life vest on, tighten their seatbelt, and cover their head low. Suzy did this quite quickly, the cries of panicking travelers inside the cabin did not affect her. She took her time to help the other passengers sitting beside her, even when Suzy was not sure both herself and the stranger she helped would survive the situation. Everyone in Suzy's reach were able to follow the protocol quickly as the pilot's speaker repeated the words that would make even any atheists to doubt their choice of not believing in higher power. "Brace... brace... brace...!" Suzy did not know how it felt when the plane finally touched the ground. The tumbling and the stress knocked her unconscious. When Suzy eventually opened her eyes, people were already out of the cabin, or dead. The passengers by her side were not there anymore. The plane's remain was stable enough for Suzy to stand. She did not regret of choosing to wear her travel boots and more functional clothing instead of any fancier dress. Suzy had her jacket, shirt, trousers and belt with pouches on both sides. Even so, someone had taken her backpack; Suzy could not find it inside the cabin. Fortunately, she kept her compass and the necessary medical kit inside her belt pouches. The first thing she needed to do was to check the pilot cabin; the radio could still be online and the pilot might still survive. While doing so, Suzy also looked beyond the window and tried to recognize where they had just landed. Were they on an island, or maybe somewhere in the continent? Were they on the shoreline, or deep inland? 1. Attempt to access cockpit -- if successful: ---- attempt to use the radio, use an aspect of Suzy's secret to contact "someone she knew" ---- ask the pilot of any information he knew, if he survived -- if failed: ---- determine the cockpit condition 2. Attempt to recognize where they crash landed (shoreline vs inland), GM decide the detail</s> <|message|>Christopher Tang Christopher Tang --- The YouTuber was relaxing in his seat, enjoying some music downloaded through a premium account. Christopher's ears were filled with the sounds of old school R&B, his head slightly bobbing along to the beat. With how much flying he did as part of his job, Christopher always came prepared with a play list long enough to cover the entire flight. In this case that meant he had prepared just under four hours of music to cover the entire journey. As Christopher was listening to a classic nineties hit, he decided to take a drink from the airlines complimentary water bottle. But as he took off the lid, the plane jolted greatly, causing water to fall over his shirt. Christopher swore at his now wet clothing. But before he could get up to attempt to try it in the restroom, the plane began to jolt again. Out of the corner of his eye, Christopher saw that out the window that the sky had become pitch black. As the plane continued the rumble, the fasten seatbelt sign turned on and oxygen masks fell from the ceiling. The pilot then told everyone to remain calm and that they would attempt to land, before repeating the statement in several languages. As Christopher tightened his seatbelt and put on the oxygen mask, the plane was struck again, causing items to fly all around the cabin. As he felt the plane plummeting, Christopher wondered if this was it. Out of the countless flights he had been on, it was the one taking him to what could have been his biggest video, a collaboration in Japan with a much bigger YouTuber. Regret immediately swarmed Christopher's mind as the plane lurched forward. The force of this movement caused Christopher's neck to make a rapid movement, the stress causing him to black out. Christopher then awoke slowly, unsure of his surroundings and how much time had passed. As his eyes fluttered open, he saw that his oxygen mask had been torn from the ceiling of the cabin. As he tried to move, Christopher immediately became aware of body pain. His neck was very sore and his chest stung. Christopher prayed that it was just a bruise and that he had not broken a rib. As he unbuckled himself and stood up, he realized that some of the other passengers hadn't survived the landing. Christopher had to look away from the dead as he tried to get his bearings. Inside the cabin was hot and sticky, far too much so to be Japan. In fact Christopher didn't know that they were near any place to land when the plane was still in the air. The confused Christopher realized he might be in shock as he just stood still. He was aware that one of the passengers was trying to get into the pilot cabin. And across the row was a woman asking if anyone was there in less practiced English. "Yes," Christopher replied in English as he was brought back to reality, "I'm here. Are you hurt?"</s>

<|message|>Cast of Characters Yoshinaga coughed. She could hear other people stirring around her. A few people sounding off in English, muttering in Mandarin or Japanese. She looked out the window. All she could see were trees. The plane had crashed had crashed somewhere in a jungle, from the looks of it. It was a miracle they hadn't been shredded and pulverized when they hit the ground. She moved toward the cockpit, seemingly having the same idea as someone else: a young woman around her own age, though she couldn't tell her ethnicity in the low light. Yoshinaga cleared her throat. "Do you need some help?" Koi asked.</s>

<|description|>Christopher Tang Age: 23 Appearance: Christopher is of mixed heritage, being half-Singaporean half-French. As such he has slightly tanned skin, able to pass for Caucasian pretty easily. He has inherited his father's black hair that goes down to his neck. From his mother he got his ice blue eyes. From neither of them he got his height. While both his parents are in the 5'5'' to 5'7'' range, Christopher stands at 6'1''. He also has a slim build of someone who does light exercise. Christopher tends to dress plain, with maybe a t-shirt and jacket. He prefers simpler colors, like black pants, a white shirt, and maybe a blue jacket. Christopher likes to dress to blend in as it helps with the authenticity of his videos. Occupation: Travel YouTuber Personality: Christopher is a very personable individual, making friends wherever he goes. He is just overly positive and can brighten up someone's day with his irreverent humor and joyfulness. Sometimes his speech can be rapid stream of consciousness and hard to follow, as he rarely stays on one topic for too long. His ADHD also makes it hard for him to focus on anything for too long, which is alright for a perpetual traveler. Christopher has problems with forming long lasting relationships, as evident by all of his failed relationships. Christopher has a bad string of girlfriends who left on bad terms. It has gotten to the point where Christopher hasn't pursued anyone in over two years. Christopher is a little depressed over this fact, as he seems resigned to the fact that he is a bad boyfriend. Biography: Christopher was born the second child of two immigrants to America. His father was from Singapore, while his mother was French. Christopher had an average childhood, living middle class with his parents and two siblings on the east coast. The young Christopher did have some problems in school, eventually being diagnosed with ADHD. Even with help for that, Christopher would have a problem with most subjects like math and science. But he would excel in the arts and languages. Christopher would appear in many plays at his high school, as well as learning both Spanish and French. Christopher would end up graduating high school with an award in the arts. Now no longer in school, Christopher considered going to college, but instead he wanted to take a few months to travel the world. He would start in Europe, deciding to post his travels to YouTube. He would quickly get a following and a good response to his videos. When he did return to the states, Christopher found that people still wanted more content from him. So he decided to travel again, this time going to Asia. This would only bolster his support as he began gaining thousands of followers. Eventually Christopher decided to make this his full time job. For the last several years Christopher has traveled the world, making content on wherever he went. A few months back Christopher hit the one million subscriber count and decided to travel to his father's homeland of Singapore for the occasion. From there he would travel down to Indonesia, then the Philippines, and then Guam. He then revealed on social media that he was going to do a collab video with another travel tuber in Japan. So he got on the plane, not expecting anything significant to happen on the flight. Their Secret: [REDACTED] Other Important Information: * Christopher is fully fluent in English, French, and Spanish. He also has some basic skills in various European and Asian languages. * Christopher was on his school's track team and has maintained some of that athleticism. * Knows self-defense as he took many years of Karate classes. * He is sometimes recognized while filming a video as he does have a diverse fan base.</s> <|message|>Suzy Lawrence [mistakenly posted, suggest for deletion]</s> <|message|>Cast of Characters "Mayday! Mayday! This is Yamada Airlines Flight 217! We have lost power and are swiftly losing altitude! If anyone can hear us, our coordinates are-!" --- --- For two and a half hours the flight had gone normally. No turbulence, no weather. A clear, beautiful day above the Pacific. Bored children misbehaving and some college kids caught trying to join the mile high club, but nothing drastic. It had been business as usual. Then... A jolt rocked the airliner, accompanied by the smell of ozone and the sensation of static in the cabin. Outside the sky had become pitch black, punctuated by the occasional jagged crack of lightning. The "fasten seatbelt" signals flashed on as oxygen masks dropped for each passenger. A voice came over the loudspeakers, sounding as calm as possible despite the circumstances. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Please remain calm, fasten your seatbelts, and put your oxygen masks on. We are attempting to make an emergency landing." A second, harder impact hit the plane, sending bags, trays, and cups flying. Children cried, their parents trying to calm them down. Prayers in different languages to different gods could be heard in the air. And yet, through all of it, Yoshinaga felt a kind of serenity. Like she no longer had to worry anymore. No guilt, no worry, no nothing. Soon she'd be relieved of everything. She breathed slowly, taking her glasses off and slipping them into the case in her jacket before closing her eyes. Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad. Seems I won't meet you at the airport after all. She felt the plane tipping backwards before something struck her in the face. The last thought that went through her head was a semblance of thankfulness that she wouldn't feel anything when the plane went down. --- When Yoshinaga came to, everything hurt. Bones, joints, muscles, everything, however nothing felt broken. Maybe a bruise or a sprain here or there, though. Well that means I didn't bite it in the crash, she thought. Koi opened her eyes... or, rather, eye. Her left eye refused to open, and a quick probing with her fingertips told her that it was swollen shut from whatever had hit her. The next thing that Koi felt was the air: hot and sticky, like back in Guam, but magnified. The pilots must have managed to get land on an island or something. The odds of that happening seemed astronomically low, and yet, it had happened. Yoshinaga unbuckled herself and slowly stood up. The movement made her head throb. Her throat was dry and scratchy but she did her best to make herself heard, speaking English as clearly as she could. "Hello? Is anyone there?"</s> <|message|>Suzy Lawrence Suzy Lawrence Of all the things Suzy had never thought she had to prepare was this kind of situation. The emergency landing alarm was blaring and the oxygen masks were dropped. Announcements were made in English, Japanese, and Mandarin, repeating the same word of telling the passengers to put the life vest on, tighten their seatbelt, and cover their head low. Suzy did this quite quickly, the cries of panicking travelers inside the cabin did not affect her. She took her time to help the other passengers sitting beside her, even when Suzy was not sure both herself and the stranger she helped would survive the situation. Everyone in Suzy's reach were able to follow the protocol quickly as the pilot's speaker repeated the words that would make even any atheists to doubt their choice of not believing in higher power. "Brace... brace... brace...!" Suzy did not know how it felt when the plane finally touched the ground. The tumbling and the stress knocked her unconscious. When Suzy eventually opened her eyes, people were already out of the cabin, or dead. The passengers by her side were not there anymore. The plane's remain was stable enough for Suzy to stand. She did not regret of choosing to wear her travel boots and more functional clothing instead of any fancier dress. Suzy had her jacket, shirt, trousers and belt with pouches on both sides. Even so, someone had taken her backpack; Suzy could not find it inside the cabin. Fortunately, she kept her compass and the necessary medical kit inside her belt pouches. The first thing she needed to do was to check the pilot cabin; the radio could still be online and the pilot might still survive. While doing so, Suzy also looked beyond the window and tried to recognize where they had just landed. Were they on an island, or maybe somewhere in the continent? Were they on the shoreline, or deep inland? 1. Attempt to access cockpit -- if successful: ---- attempt to use the radio, use an aspect of Suzy's secret to contact "someone she knew" ---- ask the pilot of any information he knew, if he survived -- if failed: ---- determine the cockpit condition 2. Attempt to recognize where they crash landed (shoreline vs inland), GM decide the detail</s>

<|message|>Christopher Tang The YouTuber was relaxing in his seat, enjoying some music downloaded through a premium account. Christopher's ears were filled with the sounds of old school R&B, his head slightly bobbing along to the beat. With how much flying he did as part of his job, Christopher always came prepared with a play list long enough to cover the entire flight. In this case that meant he had prepared just under four hours of music to cover the entire journey. As Christopher was listening to a classic nineties hit, he decided to take a drink from the airlines complimentary water bottle. But as he took off the lid, the plane jolted greatly, causing water to fall over his shirt. Christopher swore at his now wet clothing. But before he could get up to attempt to try it in the restroom, the plane began to jolt again. Out of the corner of his eye, Christopher saw that out the window that the sky had become pitch black. As the plane continued the rumble, the fasten seatbelt sign turned on and oxygen masks fell from the ceiling. The pilot then told everyone to remain calm and that they would attempt to land, before repeating the statement in several languages. As Christopher tightened his seatbelt and put on the oxygen mask, the plane was struck again, causing items to fly all around the cabin. As he felt the plane plummeting, Christopher wondered if this was it. Out of the countless flights he had been on, it was the one taking him to what could have been his biggest video, a collaboration in Japan with a much bigger YouTuber. Regret immediately swarmed Christopher's mind as the plane lurched forward. The force of this movement caused Christopher's neck to make a rapid movement, the stress causing him to black out. Christopher then awoke slowly, unsure of his surroundings and how much time had passed. As his eyes fluttered open, he saw that his oxygen mask had been torn from the ceiling of the cabin. As he tried to move, Christopher immediately became aware of body pain. His neck was very sore and his chest stung. Christopher prayed that it was just a bruise and that he had not broken a rib. As he unbuckled himself and stood up, he realized that some of the other passengers hadn't survived the landing. Christopher had to look away from the dead as he tried to get his bearings. Inside the cabin was hot and sticky, far too much so to be Japan. In fact Christopher didn't know that they were near any place to land when the plane was still in the air. The confused Christopher realized he might be in shock as he just stood still. He was aware that one of the passengers was trying to get into the pilot cabin. And across the row was a woman asking if anyone was there in less practiced English. "Yes," Christopher replied in English as he was brought back to reality, "I'm here. Are you hurt?"</s>

<|description|>Tao Zhen Tao Zhen | Nicknames: Doc/CrashCart | | | | ____________________________________________________ C H A R A C T E R I N F O R M A T I O N Nicknames/Aliases: Crash Cart, Doc Birth City/District: Neo-Tokyo, Maebaru Age: 24 Height: 5'6" Racial Background: Chinese-Korean Race: Y.S.G Awakened Height: Self Explanatory. Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Emerald Green Appearance: Tao looks like a short Korean man. His eyes appear to be an owl and he tends to stare. He dresses in very nice clothes, normally neo-goth, dark colors normally black when he is out and white when he is in the clinic. He has long hair braided into a single braid that goes to his neck (was cut when his family disowned him). His hair is black with a splash of red. He tends to wear a hood covering his head as his eyes and his habit of staring right threw you makes people uncomfortable(His nurse told him this many times) when he is out. He will wear a filter mask to keep the smog out of his lungs. Mutation Marker(s): Y.S.G Holder He has the wings of a snow owl that fold to his sides. He has eyes with larger Irises and abnormal emerald green in color. Personality: Tao is a very driven and intelligent man. Has watched his world come apart due to unfortunate circumstances. One botched operation and he was abandoned by his family and his practice collapsed. Now his practice is under the control of the gang. In general, Tao likes people and does not care where they come from oR what they do. This is tempered with the understanding that some people are just cruel jerks. Tao can also be a bit gruff (Like House) when overly tired or stressed. He can be overly sure of himself (Chen from Remo Williams). Like many doctors, he thinks he is the best one to practice medicine, In social situations, he tends to sit back and watch. He is worried that someone will recognize him and bring up his shame and failures. He can be charming and polite knowing social estimates from his upbringing. In combat, he is not going to storm a building while shots are being fired at him with a compelling reason. He is more likely to point the gun in the air and pull the trigger to be a noise make and keep people's heads down when using live rounds. He prefers non-lethal rounds and hates flechette rounds. He will fight when he needs to and fights best when he is defending others. He believes he is the best cyber surgeon in Neo-Tokyo. He likes to complain that the gang is putting him out of business and how much it is costing him to fix all these people up. He claims he would be profitable if he did not do as much charity work. His clinic would not have survived without the gang. He has a love/hate relationship with the bookies two blocks away. He wants to burn the place down to get it out of the area, but it calls to him (He is in recovery). Aspirations: To get his clinic back up and running Money, women, the good life To be a good doctor that helps people. Fears: Fear of killing someone. Fear of messing up another surgery. Fear of being hunted Fear of not being able to protect his people. Fear of getting caught Women and the good life. Vehicle: Mitsuhama Shogun - in need of some work. P O W E R / C Y B E R N E T I C S I N F O R M A T I O N Strengths/Natural Abilities: Tao has a photographic memory and recall. He has some black market connections for bio, cyberware, and medical supplies. He is good with computers and electronics (for cyber stuff) His exceptional ability is as a healer. He is coming into his magic, mostly due to finances and training. He uses his magical abilities to help with his healing. Flaws: Tao is so focused on his thoughts. This means he misses social clues. Tao likes to bet on sports and builds analytic models which mostly have some flaws. Does not tend to be good in combat until he is defending someone or something he cares about. Always broke, his office manager is stashing money away so he does not gamble it away and keeping the place in good repair, food in the fridges, and the lights on. Y.S.G Ability(es): Primary: Healing powers Base healing touch - can heal a little bit of damage and clear stun. As it advances the healing can be greater. Soul Bond Weapon(s): Wakizashi - The blade is slightly curved and about 2' in length. It is made of steel and silver with a jade case and handles. When brought forth the blade glows blueish. The effect is a blast of cold that lasts for a while. Hold out pistol the gang got him. Cybernetics/Gadgets/Accessories: Induction data Jack for interfacing with cyberware. Medical equipment Mitsuhama Shogun E X T R A Anything else? NPC's Maryna Yuriyivna Popova - His young Russian nurse. (Prostitute smuggled into the city, no cyber, 18, in love with Tao, tall) Ramira Morissa Hopkins Mendoza - Receptionist/business manager. Runs the desk and Tao, hides money away to keep Tao from gambling. Keeps the building up and the fridge stocked. Zi Ping - heavy cyber. Handles cyber harvesting and disposal, As well as security. | H I s t o r y Tao was raised in the life of luxury in Neo-Tokyo. The best schools teachers, tutors, and servants to raise him. His parents to busy in their own lives to pay much attention to him. The one place he found acceptance and reward was in academics. When he did well his parents noticed him. He still prefers books to datapads and will tend to have something to read with him. He ended up graduating high school and then college early, going to medical school. He traveled out of Neo-Tokyo to study cyber modifications as an advanced residency. Things were going well for him till he performed surgery on one of the J.F. Leader's daughters. It was a cybernetic enhancement to her left leg. There was an unnoticed genetic issue that he had not scanned for. With government pressure being applied, his practice tanked. This is when he started gambling trying to make enough money to rebuild. Six months later is when the gang found him. The gang bought his services for the price of his gambling debts. He ended up in a building in Sakoshita that the gang has influence over. His business became late-night don't ask don't tell surgeries, replacing damaged limbs, caring for sick prostitutes, gang members, addicts, runaways, and people in trouble. In his clinic, there is a strict no-violence rule. He tries to help get people off the street and into better lives. Tao's healing powers were discovered as he was practicing the family's version of Buddism. It is a mix of Tai Chi and different forms of meditation. Healing magic has come easy to him and like all magic, there is a cost associated with it. Normally being tired and hungry after using it. He hopes to find a teacher to help him learn some additional spells at some time. |</s> <|message|>本体 Hondai, Kiyomizu 清水 [@everyone] --- It was hard to know whether or not the words that left her mouth were genuine or crafted from tricks of the trades, she had hoped it was the latter as it had been a few years since joining Tsukiyama. Things were different this time around, her first gang, Sons of Angels, was just a means to an ends. For some reason she felt like she could finally find peace with her peers, but for now old habits still die hard. Luckily for Hikari, Kiyo recently just cleared all the excess empty bottles in her car so they didn't spill out once she opened the door, a little habit she started to develop on tails. "Seems like he got his money's worth before you know. Well anyways lets hope you don't have to wear his skin for too long. Cigarette?" She asked with the orange end of the filter popping up out of a cramped carton. Hikari didn't seem like the type, but then again none of them did, regardless it was just good manners. She sunk back into her seat before the engine turned over once more and she took off. "She's my pride and joy, I've had her for a few years now. The only reliable house and bed I've known, take as much of a rest as you need. I'll get there before the meeting starts." "Out of nowhere, the mind comes forth.", she didn't quite know what Hikari meant by this, but she let it rattle in her brain before she slipped a disk into the tray and let the colorful jazz slip them into a stream of unconsciousness. --- Headlights pierced the nights fog jutting from the grates below the hideout. Lights dimmed and the hum of her car fell silent. "Right on time" she said before opening the passengers side door to let Hikari out. With no time to dawdle they entered right away. Familiar faces populated the room around her and the smile of Tsuki seemed like a good omen, that or it was just a particularly strong joint. Regardless, she found a seat before pressing the wrinkles out of her pants. It was all business from the start, Tsuki found no avenue for wasted breath or intel. Kiyo hung onto every word just waiting for her name to be called so she could get a head start on her mission, alone hopefully. After hearing all of the assignments she was a bit remised to have not been on the all girl mission, then again she wasn't one for glamour or sex appeal. Not that having an eyepatch lent any kind of support in that aspect, maybe someone would find it exotic. Explosives weren't her speciality, but she has played the role of saboteur quite a handful of time. As good as she was at stealth, the possibility of it going south was what excited her the most. After all, punishing the weapons dealers with her own weapons seemed poetic. She stood and began to walk towards her group assignment, "We'll be the first ones done Tsuki" she said confidently, before leaning on a table next to Hiroto.</s> <|message|>Alek Alek Alek swirled his drink, watching the golden liquid slosh gently against the frosted surface of his glass. It tasted alright, not quite top-shelf, but not quite the synthetic sludge that burned all the way down either. He rewarded himself just another sip, before turning his attention back to the screen. The mission seemed simple enough, hardly anymore complicated than anything he had done before. The only difference now was that he had a team. The Old Wolf knew that Alek preferred working alone, but he also knew better than to contest her decision. So Alek just shrugged, and carried on drinking. Besides, he knew his teammates, and they were no slouches themselves. Yashida was basically their second in command. Gabriel had useful skills, and he was entertaining, if nothing else. Then there was Joseph, the sniper. Alek knew ex-military when he saw it, and the man's gaze was definitely felt. "So, what's the projected earnings for this mission?" He did, however, have one question. The most important question, if anyone asked him to be completely honest. An army marched on its stomach, after all.</s> <|message|>Hiroto Chiba Hiroto Chiba It was to be war then. Hiroto slumped down, his shoulders slouching and his head ducking down even more than it already was. Well, it wasn't like they hadn't all known that this was coming. The Forgotten had been picking this fight for a while and most of Kurosagi had been waiting for the moment when the boss would make it official, or for when the Forgotten would force all of their hands. Hiroto hadn't been one of the ones looking forward to this, he'd been dreading it in fact, but he had still been prepared for it to happen. Three targets, struck simultaneously. The boss had evidently been preparing for this day, or more likely Yashida-san had been. It seemed like Hiroto was being put on the team dealing with the drugs and weapons warehouses; a stealth mission, for which he was ill-suited compared to the others, but it also had a good chance of going wrong and a fight breaking out and that, presumably, was when he would come in. He let out a sigh. Fine, he didn't like it but fighting and taking hits were the only things he was really good at, so that's what he would do. Taking out the warehouses would mean fewer weapons for the gang members and less drugs on the streets and that was something worth getting his hands a little dirty for. Of their group, Usagi was the first one to step forward and accept their assignment before she came to stand next to him. She was confident and he wished he could share in that but he couldn't; they would complete this task and none of them would be hurt in the process, he would make sure of that, but he couldn't help but worry something would go wrong.</s>

<|message|>Tao Zhen Tao frowned as one gang member took half his sandwich, the half he was eating and another too fries from his plate. Tao had added wasabi to the food to give it some spice and pleasure watching the reactions. He had learned long ago to protect his food. He listened to the briefing and almost choked when he heard his name called out. He looked at the boss with his normal gang look. Mainly a scowl with words muttered about being used. Blowing something up sounded fun. There isn't a man alive that does not like a good explosion. It was the added people shooting at you and the fact of what they were blowing up might be a toxic chemical dump that could make people sick in a fairly wide area. He was mostly worried about people shooting at him. One of the assistants slightly held up his stack of unpaid invoices and bills and gave him the stop now look. Her leaning forward a bit distracted his mind enough that he did not really have time to voice a protest. His mind instantly went to stealing an ambulance, maybe better a fire truck.. What the hell was he thinking?? This was outside of his expertise. Chemistry, was more his thing. Maybe a really hot fire would work as well as an explosion. High temperatures tended to make less toxic smoke and thermite was easy to make. Tao shot Tsuki a dirty look as his mind went back to flying lead. He sighed dropping some of his sandwich as he went and stood up front with his team member. He had to trust them. The gang let him practice medicine and help people and had saved his life more times than he knew and Tsuki held his markers from the bookies.</s>

<|description|>Alek Alek | The Stranger | | | | ____________________________________________________ C H A R A C T E R I N F O R M A T I O N Nicknames/Aliases: Suit, Cleaner, The Russian, Stranger Birth City/District: Moscow-0 Age: 24 Height: 6'2'' Racial Background: Russian Race: Y.G Holder Hair Color: Blond Eye Color: Pale blue Appearance: At first glance, Alek has the look of a mild-mannered office worker: polite and put together, his smiles measured and his clothing always immaculate. Since his recent change in career path, he ditches the suits and ties for casual attires, more suitable for the streets. These days, it was more common to find him in leather jackets and jeans, nursing a vodka between gloved hands in the middle of a busy Narazaki bar. His looks are fairly remarkable, and Alek knows how to use it to his advantage. His features are sharp and refined, icy blue eyes warm with each easy smile and casual touch. His hair is a fair shade of gold, tastefully untamed and meticulously kept, much like the rest of him. For a cold-blooded killer, Alek definitely does not fit the mold. Mutation Marker(s): Alek's mutation markers are mostly subtle, but they are all there if one knows where to look. His fingers are tipped with retractable claws, which he often keeps hidden under his gloves. His teeth are unusually sharp, and his jaws strength is inhuman, just enough to tear through even conventional Kelvar. Personality: Alek is the kind of guy you'd like at work. He is professional and proficient at his work, while also being fun and make for good casual conversation. Anything deeper than that, though? Alek does what he does for a reason. Under the veneer, he is cold and callous, a cynic who doesn't take life quite so seriously. Selfish and opportunistic, Alek is ruthless and dangerous when it comes to getting what he wants. Aspirations: Cheap thrills, good times, and finer things in life. Alek is a simple man, at his core. Fears: Weakness. The weak doesn't last long in this world. They need to get lucky. Vehicle: A YZF-RAZ0R model. The next generation, cutting edge, top-of-the-line design from Yamaha's SuperSport range. Comes with an arrays of fun and useful features: overclocked YoFuel dual engine, advanced aerodynamic framework, ballistic body plates, nano-thermal heatsink systems, auxiliary weapon attachments, etc. Basically the works. Popular among high-strung stock brokers, wannabe gangster rich kids and military fetishists. While Alek himself is hardly a speed demon, he needed a vehicle to get around, and this bike was just sitting there in the parking lot at his old workplace. Call it his severance package. The only downside though, is that this beast of a machine guzzles YoFuel like a drunkard on last call. P O W E R / C Y B E R N E T I C S I N F O R M A T I O N Strengths/Natural Abilities: Alek always has an inhuman grace about him. His strides soft and swift, his strikes quick and deadly, and his reflexes are almost uncanny. Towering heights do not deter him, and he seems to have a knack of almost always landing on his feet. In the concrete jungle of Neo-Tokyo, few can even keep up with him, and it seems like he can only be found when he wants to be. A hunter by trade and a killer by choice, Alek is a lethal and relentless opponent. He probably has done it all, from covert ops to corporate espionage to everything else in between. For the right price, his talents are for sale. He takes pride in his work too, and he simply does not enjoy losing. As a necessity, Alek is familiar with most forms of conventional weapons. While he is most proficient with his own guns and blades, should the need arise, he can still make use of whatever he can get his hands on. Weaknesses/Flaws: Being a relatively newcomer with a bit of infamy attached to his name, Alek is still fairly distrust among the denizens of Neo-Tokyo's underground. Everything about him still very much screams 'corpsman', and it seems that he has no desire to really play nice with anyone either. The termination of his contract with his previous employer did not exactly end amicably. While his old colleagues might not be actively looking for him, Alek is still technically in possession of a great amount of company property, and that could make him a target, wherever their path might cross. It is not easy to trust a man who does not want to be trusted. Weapon(s): A heavy pistol that loads .50 Action Express. Comes equipped with the built in Smart Loading system and custom silencer. Cybernetics/Gadets/Accessories: A subdermal armor implant all over his body. Designed by Keyence to appear fully authentic, while providing moderate protection against most forms of physical trauma. However, the most notable function of this prototype is the ability to activate a form of cloaking that renders the user invisible to the naked eye and most surveillance technologies. This ability requires the use of YoFuel cartridges, however, and extended use is not recommended, due to the limited capacity of the heatsink systems. Another one of Keyence's prominent design, which is quite popular among paramilitary groups or covert ops agents. The blade is designed to be razor-sharp and extendable from the user's cybernetics through a complex system of nano filaments. Alek's piece is located under his dermal armor atop his right hand. E X T R A like blood on the pavement | H i s t o r y Born in the border towns of Moscow-0, Alek's childhood was one of lessons: lessons in fire and ice, in blood and bullets. He had been beyond the safety of the wall, had seen from a young age what a Yokai could do to a man, and what a man could do in return, with the right tools aimed at the right spot. In his formative years, he ran with the Border Forces in Moscow-0, responding to Yokai threats and scouting the ruined world that mankind left behind beyond the confines of the city. And then Keyence headhunted him for a position in their Moscow branch. The work seemed simple enough. His official job description? A Solution Consultant. The company had problems, and he provided the solutions. The thing was, the problems were people, most of the time. Not that he minded; people or Yokai, they all bled the same. For a while, it felt almost as if he would fight and die for his corporate masters. But here was the truth: even the hand that fed could not be trusted, and Alek had seen it coming a mile away. Hostile takeovers, change in management, a new region manager here and there, and he was considered too much of a security risk to keep around. So he acted first, turning his teeth and claws on his own handlers before breaking off and leaving for Neo-Tokyo. For a time, he ran independent contracts and chase bounties, selling whatever info he had managed to swipe off Keyence's database before he made his escape. It was during one of these transactions that he met Tsukiyama and became acquainted with her gang, the Kurosagi. Eventually, he came to work under her, the promise of more steady work and better pay seemed far more attractive, now that his savings were running low and he lacked the connections to get a shot at high profile targets. |</s> <|message|>Joseph Arnell Joseph briefly sank into thought at the orders. So this time it was the gearhead, the cleaner, and the little boss. He had worked with all of them at least once before, and if he had to pick someone to watch his back, Alek was easily lowest on the list. It wasn't his skills - Joseph knew skill, and the blond haired russian had it in spades. He even trusted him quite a bit, in a way. Alek was smart, professional, and thorough. It was where his interests lay that was the concern. He could trust him to do the job right, and do it quickly, and that would have to do for now. The russian was a tough nut to crack, and Joseph had neither the time nor inclincation to look for a nutcracker. "No problems for me, boss." The gruff military man said in response to her question. Setting aside the question of allegiance, the question of skills was non-existant. Between his 3 teammates, they weren't lacking in any area when it came to infiltration. He had experience with this kind of mission, and there was nothing else left to say. All they would need to do was scope out the compound beforehand and they would be prepared for anything that came their way. Oh, and he'd probably need to ask for a silencer from Gabriel after the meeting. Joseph reclined in his chair, relaxing his mind as he looked around the room, waiting for the others to respond.</s> <|message|>本体 Hondai, Kiyomizu 清水 [@everyone] --- It was hard to know whether or not the words that left her mouth were genuine or crafted from tricks of the trades, she had hoped it was the latter as it had been a few years since joining Tsukiyama. Things were different this time around, her first gang, Sons of Angels, was just a means to an ends. For some reason she felt like she could finally find peace with her peers, but for now old habits still die hard. Luckily for Hikari, Kiyo recently just cleared all the excess empty bottles in her car so they didn't spill out once she opened the door, a little habit she started to develop on tails. "Seems like he got his money's worth before you know. Well anyways lets hope you don't have to wear his skin for too long. Cigarette?" She asked with the orange end of the filter popping up out of a cramped carton. Hikari didn't seem like the type, but then again none of them did, regardless it was just good manners. She sunk back into her seat before the engine turned over once more and she took off. "She's my pride and joy, I've had her for a few years now. The only reliable house and bed I've known, take as much of a rest as you need. I'll get there before the meeting starts." "Out of nowhere, the mind comes forth.", she didn't quite know what Hikari meant by this, but she let it rattle in her brain before she slipped a disk into the tray and let the colorful jazz slip them into a stream of unconsciousness. --- Headlights pierced the nights fog jutting from the grates below the hideout. Lights dimmed and the hum of her car fell silent. "Right on time" she said before opening the passengers side door to let Hikari out. With no time to dawdle they entered right away. Familiar faces populated the room around her and the smile of Tsuki seemed like a good omen, that or it was just a particularly strong joint. Regardless, she found a seat before pressing the wrinkles out of her pants. It was all business from the start, Tsuki found no avenue for wasted breath or intel. Kiyo hung onto every word just waiting for her name to be called so she could get a head start on her mission, alone hopefully. After hearing all of the assignments she was a bit remised to have not been on the all girl mission, then again she wasn't one for glamour or sex appeal. Not that having an eyepatch lent any kind of support in that aspect, maybe someone would find it exotic. Explosives weren't her speciality, but she has played the role of saboteur quite a handful of time. As good as she was at stealth, the possibility of it going south was what excited her the most. After all, punishing the weapons dealers with her own weapons seemed poetic. She stood and began to walk towards her group assignment, "We'll be the first ones done Tsuki" she said confidently, before leaning on a table next to Hiroto.</s>

<|message|>Alek Alek swirled his drink, watching the golden liquid slosh gently against the frosted surface of his glass. It tasted alright, not quite top-shelf, but not quite the synthetic sludge that burned all the way down either. He rewarded himself just another sip, before turning his attention back to the screen. The mission seemed simple enough, hardly anymore complicated than anything he had done before. The only difference now was that he had a team. The Old Wolf knew that Alek preferred working alone, but he also knew better than to contest her decision. So Alek just shrugged, and carried on drinking. Besides, he knew his teammates, and they were no slouches themselves. Yashida was basically their second in command. Gabriel had useful skills, and he was entertaining, if nothing else. Then there was Joseph, the sniper. Alek knew ex-military when he saw it, and the man's gaze was definitely felt. "So, what's the projected earnings for this mission?" He did, however, have one question. The most important question, if anyone asked him to be completely honest. An army marched on its stomach, after all.</s>

<|description|>Eun-hye (Elise) Kim * Age: 22 * Gender: Female * Appearance: Given her above-average height of 166cm (5'5"), Elise is a bit of an oddity among those of East Asian heritage—and something she jokingly blames her father's genes for in the first place. With nearly snow-white hair that barely reaches her shoulders and lightly colored eyes, though, Elise most definitely would stand out among a crowd—for better or for worse. Though not as athletic as her Pilot peers, Elise is at least physically capable enough to handle herself, both in the air and on the ground. In terms of everyday garments, Elise prefers to wear more modern casual outfits, such as simple shirts and jeans, though she is by no means opposed to something sleek or formal when it suits her mood (rare as that may be). In combat, though, her outfit ends up as seen below (see Chi-Mechframe appearance). * Personality: In spite of everything she has seen and encountered, Elise seems to be able to keep a strong front and face the terrors of a post-Warped world without caving in to the pressures the world places in front of her... If only because she has already done so far too much already. To break down would be to lose those close to her, and that pressure is what drives her onward. Determined though she is, Elise's heart and mind are not infallible—and it is her awareness of that fact that leaves her willing to open up rather than closing herself off from others and the world around them. To that end, she is fairly friendly to the other Frame Pilots on the team and willing to put herself out there to help provide what help she can to both them and the other staff on hand. With that said, Elise puts a lot more pressure onto herself than she lets on, despite everything else. The idea that the lives of others—her friends, family, and other allies—are in her hands remains firmly lodged in her mind, and to balance that fear with her own capabilities occasionally leads to her overexerting herself off the field than on it. * History: The child of a Korean soldier-turned-translator and American businesswoman, Elise lived a fairly 'average' life in the United States. Much of her time and effort was spent towards academia, be they studying for exams or trying to look good in preparation for college and beyond. Things had been looking fairly good for her by the time she was in her senior year of high school, at least—her grades were good, all her applications had been put on the table, and all that was left was to see what accepted her and what didn't. Pity that the Warped showed up when they did, though. Despite efforts by the government to keep the Warped from crossing over the Atlantic, the monsters had reached the eastern shores of the United States within a few months. Living in New York was as much a blessing as it was a boon to the teenage Elise, who soon saw far more military presence in her day-to-day life as resources were diverted to protecting all of the rich businesspeople odd enough to not take flight for greener pastures. But military presence alone was not enough to deter the first wave of Warped, who despite all odds managed to break through to the less fortified parts of the city and take them for themselves. Elise wound up critically wounded by the monsters as they eventually broke into the shelter they had been planned to weather the attack out in, and though many perished in the ensuing battle (her mother among their number), she and her father lived to see another day. Rather than throw his life away chasing vengeance for his wife, though, Elise's father chose to prioritize his daughter's safety and the miracle that was her survival. Bringing the wounded Elise to a nearby medical facility, the old soldier found himself praying that she would live to see the morrow—and she did, though not solely due to the work of the medical staff on hand. The years that followed were left a blur to Elise; though she had survived the encounter, she could see her father working himself to the bone in a desperate attempt to keep her safe—likely in part because he failed to keep his wife alive, or so she presumed. However, those days of being kept from trying to support him soon came to an end when a certain woman came to her home one day. She had been scouted, it seemed—her medical records off since the day of her mother's death—and was given the chance to either fight for the front lines or wait until the US government made their move to take her and do much of the same. Her father argued against joining such an organization, of course, but Elise chose to take the hand offered to her instead. She had seen what hell the Warped had wrought, and rather than be forced into action anyways, being employed by an independent group seemed much less restraining. She had to do something with the second chance she had been given—doubly so if it was because of the monsters that took her mother from her—and to repay those who had been lost like this felt like the right thing to do. * Skills: Elise is actually well-versed in taekwondo, mainly in part due to her father's insistence that she pick up some sort of marital art for self defense and to attempt to connect with her cultural heritage. Besides that, though, she is multilingual, with Korean, English, and Japanese under her belt (though the last one was more incidental and less fluent, given what options she had back in high school). She's also a fairly decent cook, even if she won't go out of her way to do so. When she misses the taste of home, though, expect her to slip into the kitchen to try and whip something up. * Chi-Mechframe: Selene + Appearance: "I've got your back." + Abilities: Built from the core of a vaguely angelic Warped, Selene is a Chi-Mechframe that leans towards long-range precision more than anything else. The halo that hovers atop the user's head works as an interface terminal that connects to the central system on the back remotely, allowing them access to rapid calculations and analysis of conditions to line up shots with ranged weaponry from afar. The 'wings' are connected to Selene in much the same way, enabling the user to fly in the air at whatever angle they so choose. This method of flight, though stable and maneuverable, comes at the cost of acceleration and reaction speed; this, of course, leaves the user ill-suited for close-range encounters. Selene also comes equipped with a long-range sniper rifle, able to fire both standard ammunition and beams of light with incredible piercing power. Said rifle can either be used while attached to the arm (allowing for some degree of freehand firing) or as a separate weapon (in order to increase stability and precision). * Other:: N/A</s> <|message|>Louisa Faye _______________________________________________________________ Louisa reclined in one of the sleek mess hall chairs, her arms folded, rocking it back and forth on its hind legs slowly as she idly pushed away from the wall with one of her feet. She was staring out of one of the observation portholes in the deck, which now revealed nothing but the dusky blackness of the night sky, and the bright reflected lights of the mess hall. She absent mindedly raised a hand to her collarbone, where a long band of dull burning pain extended from shoulder to shoulder, reminding her of the blow she had absorbed from the komainu. Her body felt cleansed and restored after a shower and a full meal, but her mind was troubled and producing a sort of frustrated physical discomfort along with it that seemed to manifest in her bruised torso. She was thinking about the final engagement in the mission, when she had killed the spent and crippled komainu -- well, that was really attributable to Lang, but that's not what the record's gonna show -- with a parrying stab of her glaive. She had been so pumped on adrenaline that no other thought had crossed her mind than putting down the ferocious monster, but in its weakened state it had seemed almost... pathetic. In close proximity, as she had lunged in to deal the parrying deathblow, there was a moment where the monster's face was near enough to see in detail, and within sunken and heavily calloused eyelids Louisa had seen its eyes. And there was a quality in those eyes near-death that was far too human for comfort. How much was the parasite, and how much was the person? This thought made the certain knowledge of the echidna lodged firmly in her own body somewhere - dormant or whatever though it may be - suddenly unbearably uncomfortable, and she was grateful to be snapped out of her reverie by the nearby squealing of Teodora. She took her foot off the wall, her chair falling back onto four legs with a thump, and she swivelled around to see Lang walking out of the kitchen laden with alcohol. "Are you really about to walk off with all that for yourself?" she called across to the conspicuously male pilot.</s> <|message|>PYRALIS CONSTANTINA --Opposites Attract...??-- Much unlike her mechframed self, Pyra exuded a completely different presence outside of Infernus; the unflappable stoic gaze of the 'perfect soldier' and that oppressively threatening aura were all but gone, replaced by an introverted geek who was perfectly content to be left to her own devices. The shift went deeper than mere appearances as the brunette's sense of awareness also took a nosedive, now feeling perfectly safe within the hull of Horizon, enjoying a glass of parfait and streams of digital entertainment, not a fiber in her being expected danger to rear its ugly head, any kind of danger, including one that might come from a supposed 'ally'... "...?!!" Thus when Teodora - who was somehow behind her - screeched like an onryo, Pyralis stiffened up like a deer in headlights, goosebumps raised and limbs frozen in place, blue eyes went wide as her pupils constricted in sudden panic. The sheer conflict between feeling safe a nanosecond before and now being 'ambushed' caused her fight or flight instinct to go haywire, resulting in brief petrification; her body wasn't ready to have another dose of adrenaline, not after that intense physical activity of fighting in a warzone, but the glands didn't care so thus flowed the hormone, elevating her heartbeat among other things. Everything that had been said only took a few brief seconds, but it felt like an eternity, a horribly unwelcome one. "...e... eh...?" It was only after that Pyralis consciously realized that it was just Teodora, not a banshee warped, and that the other pilot was being as infuriatingly nosy as usual like an evil version of Hoshiko. The brunette blinked a few times as she took in Teodora's departing form, apparently off to get a parfait of her own. It all came so suddenly that she wasn't sure what or how to feel about this. During her dumbfounded moment, she found herself instinctively taking in her surroundings, noticing that the mess hall was more occupied now; Hoshiko was there scarfing down food that could send an elephant into sugar shock, Seraphima enjoying a meal of more... humane portions, Louisa looking bothered (for obvious reasons), and Norika and Xuan-Yu just arriving. Oh good, there was no Warped here, that inhuman screech really just was Teodora. When the blonde had the gall to cross the line twice and sit beside her, seemingly set on mimicking Hoshiko's 'diet', Pyralis ever so slowly turned her gaze at the slightly older girl, pissed to the bone. Someone like Norika would probably be cussing like a sailor by now, but Pyralis wasn't that person, the opposite in fact, but it just goes to show that even a 'mere' hateful glare from the firebender conveyed more than a thousand profanities could. "Why... did you do that?" She inquired out of morbid curiosity, voice dripping with barely-restrained napalm.</s>

<|message|>Eun-hye (Elise) Kim Elise KimThe Horizon — Mess Hall With the battle in Saitama complete, Elise gave herself some time to breathe as the helicopter ferried her and her allies back up to the airship above. This was the first "real" mission that they had been put towards, and their success was more than just a boon towards their egos. A victory, of course, meant a celebration was in order, and the congratulations of the staff as the triumphant Frame Pilots returned showed that they likely thought much the same. First on her to-do list, however, was to wash up; though the others had fought major Warped threats on their own, it was likely that the one that they had fought would have done more mental damage in the long run. There were people flying down all the same to try and carve up their corpses (or what remained of them), and Elise pitied whoever was going to be sent to deal with the centipede and its foul bile-like liquid, but hopefully it wouldn't suddenly spring back to life and murder everyone. That would be... Less than ideal. After spending the time washing herself off in a hot shower and scrubbing anything that had managed to stick to her in spite of how long she had spent flying around, Elise dried herself off and changed into something a bit more casual—a T-shirt and shorts. The day had worn on her (as it likely had everyone, to some extent), but that didn't mean she was thinking of simply passing out and eating later. After making her way to the mess hall to pick something up for herself, Elise found that most of her fellow Pilots had similar ideas in mind; a few were off to the side in a manner reminiscent of her halcyon days in high school gushing over food, but what caught her eye was Xuan-Yu carrying a few boxes of beer on his shoulders. It was no question as to what he was planning on doing, but after the insanity that was today, the half-Korean girl had half a mind to join him. Never mind that he likely wasn't going to drink all of it on his own, of course, but compared to gorging herself on sweets, food and alcohol seemed a lot more appealing. "Do you mind if I tag along?" she asked, casually strolling towards him as she looked at the boxes again, "I can go get some food and snacks, too, if you wouldn't mind."</s>

<|description|>Louisa Faye * Age: 23 * Gender: Female * Appearance: An tall young woman with short fair hair (apparently cut by herself or otherwise cut badly by someone else), a pale complexion and dull blue eyes. Her build is angular and muscular, with any fat that might have gone towards a charming feminine physique ruthlessly utilized elsewhere. * Personality: Louisa (or 'Lou' as she is more commonly known) is approachable, straightforward, and rational in her demeanor, but internally she is haunted by a constant feeling of malaise and dissonance with regards to the path her life has taken, as if her mind has never quite caught up to the massive and traumatic changes of the last five years (i.e. the world ending, moving to the other side of the world, and becoming an experimental bio-weapon), or as if by some vague yet terrible mistake she has ended up living someone else's story. As a result, she can appear distant, or uninterested, or forgetful, and it can take a while for others to make an impression on her. In a practical sense, this resulted in her scoring below average on the psychometric tests of leadership and psychostability issued during her induction to the mechframe programme. * History: Louisa grew up in an utterly unremarkable and featureless housing development somewhere in the English midlands. At 18, she was working part-time as an agricultural worker, whilst her few friends had left to attend university elsewhere in the country, and looking with anxiety towards a decidedly uninteresting future. Needless to say, her plans of small-town angst were cut short when the Warped appeared, and disaster after disaster after disaster followed. Her family was not among those lucky enough to be at the front of the queue of evacuees awaiting resettlement, and after almost two years of delays and confusion they ended up stuck in a temporary housing settlement when an outbreak of Warped swept through. Louisa was seriously injured, but not fatally, and with the queue of evacuees infront of them substantially shortened by the attack, within a week her family was abled to receive settlement inside the Greater London Fortified Zone. With the medical services under massive strain, Louisa was given rushed and largely inadequate triage surgery for her wounds, and kicked out with little more than a dose of antibiotics and a prayer. Almost miraculously - or, in hindsight, suspiciously - she seemed to recover successfully with incredible speed, and disappeared into the obscurity of the desperate millions clining onto civilization. Two years later, whilst receiving an X-ray for a fractured rib she received whilst working as a labourer on the city walls, she was surprised when a squad of men resembling a SWAT team in business suits unceremoniously black-bagged her and tossed her into emergency military quarantine. It turned out that whatever doctor had triaged her two years previously had not noticed, or at least not considered, the Echidna parasite well-established but apparently dormat in her body. The following months - was it a year now? - passed as a blur, as after threats of jailtime, medical experimentation, and exile were thrown around, Louisa met with a woman representing a Japanese organization launching some kind of scholarship programme targetted at rare parasitized but stable humans. She offered protection, evacuation and specialist training to Louisa, with apparently no strings attached. With weeks of isolation and a lifetime of boredom pressing on her mind, it was the easiest choice she had ever made. --- * Skills: Louisa does not have many party tricks. She had few hobbies before the end of the world, and fewer after. Her main penchant is her raw physical potential, possessing a strong naturally frame trained by (at this point) years of labour and occassional contact rugby with her local evacuee community team. In a professional capacity as a mechframe pilot, this makes her a reliable and competitive training partner. In an everyday capacity, this means she can... get the lids off jars with ease, carry heavy bags, and move furniture without any trouble. * Chi-Mechframe: Grendel + Appearance: + Abilities: The Grendel Chi-Mechframe was developed using a core taken from a monstrous, heavily armoured wyrm-like Warped, inspiring a bulky design with high-density plating. The frame is not designed to be maneuverable or fast, instead opting for sheer mass and defensive capabilities, allowing the user to pull off a high impact charge once or twice to insert them into the center of combat, and then giving them the protection to endure staying in place afterwards. In line with this, Louisa has trained in a static, highly defensive style of combat, opting to tie down enemies, get in their way, and otherwise provide openings for her teammates to do their thing. Grendel comes with an attuned heavy glaive, that can be thrown at short range and recalled to the mechframe. The glaive itself is configurable, extending either to its default glaive-configuration or retracting to form a cleaver sword. In essence, Grendel is uncomplicated and elegant, harnessing the Warped power of a Chi-Mechframe into a classic suit of frontline armour. * Other:: N/A.</s> <|message|>Eun-hye (Elise) Kim Elise KimThe Horizon — Dining Area If someone was to ask Elise about how life as a Frame Pilot would have been a year ago, 'surprisingly comfortable' would not have been her first answer. The skybase that she and the other Pilots lived on was essentially a flying cruise ship, as far as she could tell—and all the luxuries that came with that were just so subtly uncomfortable to her at first. Even now, after a year on The Horizon, things still didn't feel quite right. Regardless of if a lot of the cities across the world had returned to something barely resembling normalcy, being able to sit up here with a clear view of the skies as she ate after spending the four before carefully rationing out rice with her father... The only thing Elise could really do now was to accept that her current living situation was both a blessing and a curse, if anything. And so here she was, about to start eating a bowl of ramen in the middle of the skies above Tokyo. The base had made the rounds around the world more than a few times over the course of her time here, and it felt just as fitting to eat local cuisine while they were present anyways. Not like they couldn't while The Horizon was elsewhere in the world, of course, but it was about the principle of the matter... Or something like that. Of course, it wasn't as if working as a Pilot was all about this sort of life—doubly so, given how she was supposed to head out later today on a hunt. A joint effort with the Japanese government in Tokyo to attempt to reclaim parts of the Saitama prefecture, if she recalled correctly; something more important than the usual small skirmishes with weaker Warped to help get them more used to fighting, at least. Hopefully the taste and warmth of the broth would calm her nerves instead of letting her stew in her thoughts any more... Or that the others would finish getting their meals before briefing. A nice chat was always nice to help break the tension in the air, and they did have some time to themselves for the moment.</s> <|message|>PYRALIS CONSTANTINA --Calm Before The Storm-- High above the sky of the Japanese archipelago was none other than the Horizon, a massive sky fortress serving as the mobile headquarters of the stateless organization of the same name, one of the most active contributors in the training and field of Frame Pilots in this bleak apocalyptic era of human history. Although Frame Pilots were the spearhead of the counterattack efforts, a spear wouldn't be complete with its shaft, and thus the skybase was crewed by tireless men and women of various ethnicity and origins all sharing a collective goal of ending the Warped threat and restore order to the ravaged Earth. One of the aforementioned Frame Pilots was Pyralis Constantina, a girl of Japanese descent who was rescued from a Warped attack by a Greek soldier and subsequently adopted by him. It had been a year since Horizon scouted her out as an asymptomatic Echidna carrier and inducted her into the intensive Frame Pilot training program. Although she missed her adoptive father, Pyra knew that she possessed a boon that few others had and she wholeheartedly believed that it'd be grossly irresponsible of her to not use this power to help humanity push back against the Warped menace. Besides, for all the destruction those monsters had wrought, civilizations weren't cut off from each other; global communications endured, and that in turn alleviated the brunette a bit as she could simply contact Papa whenever she wanted. Speaking of Nikolaos, she was just done exchanging text messages with him via her gadget-glasses when a certain person entered; Pyra knew her, how could she not? She was Elise Kim, a fellow Frame Pilot and one that possessed a Chi-Mechframe suited for long-ranged engagements just like hers. Since FPs were so few compared to the whole crew demographic, everyone tended to know everyone else. Seeing - and smelling - the finely-cooked Ramen prompted Pyra to partake in the same activity as she stood up to get herself a bowl of rice topped with thinly-sliced beef, boiled egg, and onions, a gyudon to be authentically accurate. Her order done, she approached the pink-eyed albino, "Hey, Elise, can I join you?" Once the older girl replied, Pyra would sit down across from her then began enjoying her meal. The Japanese comfort food soothing her anxious excitement for the upcoming mission; this would be her biggest operation yet and she needed to perform her best.</s>

<|message|>Louisa Faye Louisa wasn't sure a person's buffet selection was a particularly fair judge of their character, but as she stood examining her plate of beans (plain), rice (plain) and as much tuna (plain) as she could convince the kitchen to give her, she couldn't help but feel like it said something about her character relative to the other Pilots. She wasn't sure how food worked beyond 'maximum carbs, maximum protein', and as one of the oldest Pilots onboard (or so she was told), she felt asking for help would be too embarassing. As a result, her usual approach was to eat when no one else was around. Unfortunately, today that wasn't an option. She had woken up late, spent an extra hour in the physical training facilities, and had only half-changed out of her workout leotard before realising she barely had time to eat before the briefing. Mechframe sortie days were always like this. She got in her head - probably the nerves - and sleeping or working out was all she could do to keep her mind steady. So, now there was no alternative than joining the others. Still... given some of the awful examples of human beings she had to eat with back in the evacuee camps, and given in a few hours they would be fighting tooth and nail with aberrant alien lifeforms... having lunch with her pretty smiling team-mates in the luxury dining lounge aboard The Horizon didn't seem so bad. Walking over to the table where Elise and Pyra were sitting with her plate in-hand, she sat down quickly and smiled. "Good mor-..." Wait, what time was it? "...-I mean, what's good, guys?"</s>

<|description|>Louisa Faye * Age: 23 * Gender: Female * Appearance: An tall young woman with short fair hair (apparently cut by herself or otherwise cut badly by someone else), a pale complexion and dull blue eyes. Her build is angular and muscular, with any fat that might have gone towards a charming feminine physique ruthlessly utilized elsewhere. * Personality: Louisa (or 'Lou' as she is more commonly known) is approachable, straightforward, and rational in her demeanor, but internally she is haunted by a constant feeling of malaise and dissonance with regards to the path her life has taken, as if her mind has never quite caught up to the massive and traumatic changes of the last five years (i.e. the world ending, moving to the other side of the world, and becoming an experimental bio-weapon), or as if by some vague yet terrible mistake she has ended up living someone else's story. As a result, she can appear distant, or uninterested, or forgetful, and it can take a while for others to make an impression on her. In a practical sense, this resulted in her scoring below average on the psychometric tests of leadership and psychostability issued during her induction to the mechframe programme. * History: Louisa grew up in an utterly unremarkable and featureless housing development somewhere in the English midlands. At 18, she was working part-time as an agricultural worker, whilst her few friends had left to attend university elsewhere in the country, and looking with anxiety towards a decidedly uninteresting future. Needless to say, her plans of small-town angst were cut short when the Warped appeared, and disaster after disaster after disaster followed. Her family was not among those lucky enough to be at the front of the queue of evacuees awaiting resettlement, and after almost two years of delays and confusion they ended up stuck in a temporary housing settlement when an outbreak of Warped swept through. Louisa was seriously injured, but not fatally, and with the queue of evacuees infront of them substantially shortened by the attack, within a week her family was abled to receive settlement inside the Greater London Fortified Zone. With the medical services under massive strain, Louisa was given rushed and largely inadequate triage surgery for her wounds, and kicked out with little more than a dose of antibiotics and a prayer. Almost miraculously - or, in hindsight, suspiciously - she seemed to recover successfully with incredible speed, and disappeared into the obscurity of the desperate millions clining onto civilization. Two years later, whilst receiving an X-ray for a fractured rib she received whilst working as a labourer on the city walls, she was surprised when a squad of men resembling a SWAT team in business suits unceremoniously black-bagged her and tossed her into emergency military quarantine. It turned out that whatever doctor had triaged her two years previously had not noticed, or at least not considered, the Echidna parasite well-established but apparently dormat in her body. The following months - was it a year now? - passed as a blur, as after threats of jailtime, medical experimentation, and exile were thrown around, Louisa met with a woman representing a Japanese organization launching some kind of scholarship programme targetted at rare parasitized but stable humans. She offered protection, evacuation and specialist training to Louisa, with apparently no strings attached. With weeks of isolation and a lifetime of boredom pressing on her mind, it was the easiest choice she had ever made. --- * Skills: Louisa does not have many party tricks. She had few hobbies before the end of the world, and fewer after. Her main penchant is her raw physical potential, possessing a strong naturally frame trained by (at this point) years of labour and occassional contact rugby with her local evacuee community team. In a professional capacity as a mechframe pilot, this makes her a reliable and competitive training partner. In an everyday capacity, this means she can... get the lids off jars with ease, carry heavy bags, and move furniture without any trouble. * Chi-Mechframe: Grendel + Appearance: + Abilities: The Grendel Chi-Mechframe was developed using a core taken from a monstrous, heavily armoured wyrm-like Warped, inspiring a bulky design with high-density plating. The frame is not designed to be maneuverable or fast, instead opting for sheer mass and defensive capabilities, allowing the user to pull off a high impact charge once or twice to insert them into the center of combat, and then giving them the protection to endure staying in place afterwards. In line with this, Louisa has trained in a static, highly defensive style of combat, opting to tie down enemies, get in their way, and otherwise provide openings for her teammates to do their thing. Grendel comes with an attuned heavy glaive, that can be thrown at short range and recalled to the mechframe. The glaive itself is configurable, extending either to its default glaive-configuration or retracting to form a cleaver sword. In essence, Grendel is uncomplicated and elegant, harnessing the Warped power of a Chi-Mechframe into a classic suit of frontline armour. * Other:: N/A.</s> <|message|>Fukada Hoshiko "That's great, Du... ra... um... Durakku-san!" It was always good to hear Norika was doing well! Sure, she seemed a little strained and distant, but Hoshiko was used to that from the prickly girl. Really, it was just good to hear that such a young girl was still doing fine even though she'd been taken on for something as big as this. It was a little sad to hear she didn't want to be called by her first name still, especially since Hoshiko had been trying her best to get to know her better. But the brunette would at least try her best with the girl's surname! For some reason, even though she'd gotten okay enough at English, she still struggled with it. "I'm doing great too, this food is sooooo goood~" she added, cheerfully, as she proceeded to polish off another heaping amount of food. The crispness of the karaage, the richness of the ramen broth... so delicious! She would go back for seconds if not for the fact that they had to go on a mission soon. "Oh, hey, Teodora-san!" the older girl had just walked in, so of course Hoshiko's hand shot into the air to wave towards her with an exuberant greeting. @Medili</s> <|message|>Norika Dulac Norika had to agree that the food was good. They had it good here in The Horizon. Three meals a day, the safety of several inches of solid titanium and modern weaponry that could tear apart all but the largest of Warped, and the best and brightest in the world to train, heal, and equip them. "That's better," Norika said. "If we get to the point that I allow you to address me by my first name, consider yourself lucky." She sighed, standing up to her full height. "Just because we're on a ship in the sky together doesn't mean you can be this chummy with me. We're coworkers, not friends."</s> <|message|>Teodora Constanza --- Place(s): The Horizon - Dining Area Time: Afternoon Interaction(s): Small one with Hoshiko & Norika --- Teodora returned Hoshiko's wave with a much much less exuberant wave of her own. "My, as full of guts as ever, Hoshiko. Always quite delightful to see. And I see that you're getting along very, very well-" her mischievous expression as she said so made it clear that she's making a jab at them, "-with the ever so charming and delectable Domnișoară (Miss) Dulac. Very good. Fufu~" She had always found the interactions between Hoshiko and Norika to be amusing. At times quite rather adorable in fact. "Quite adorable, you two." And of course, Teodora being Teodora, she saw nothing wrong with stating as much openly. In a way, she was perhaps the worse among the seven girls in not recognizing that her words or conducts might cause others to dislike her. She was simply too self-assured and content with herself; painfully so. And just like that, with her smile still plastered to her face, she continued eating her desserts again. Soon enough, she was done with the small meal and after a small act of taking care of her dental hygiene, leaned back contentedly on her seating.</s> <|message|>Eun-hye (Elise) Kim Elise KimThe Horizon — Dining Area Nodding her head in silent agreement with the other Pilots' words, Elise took a few more moments to ponder upon the situation before shrugging her shoulders. She had only been apprised of the details of the job because she had been somewhat curious, given the sheer amount of work to be done on a regular basis. Even so, helping to take back a region of Japan was certainly on a scale unlike any they had encountered to date—even if it had been fairly sparsely populated compared to the nation's major cities, that was still a lot of ground to cover. With their meals winding to a close and the proper meeting time approaching, though, Elise chose to finally finish up her meal and deliver the dishes (now bereft of food) to the cleaning station before heading off to the command room. Better early than barely on time, after all. --- The Horizon — Command Room Situated near the bow of The Horizon, the command room had become a familiar sight to the Frame Pilots—Elise included, of course—and with the appointed time fast approaching, it only made sense that the area was astir. There were multiple people situated behind computers, all of them lined up in rows that curved around towards a view of a massive monitor in the center. In front of that, though, stood a certain woman waiting expectantly for the Pilots to file in. Once they all had, the woman—the owner of The Horizon and their boss, Sandra Morrison—cleared her throat and began to speak. "I thank you all for arriving here on time. The order of business today will be to give you an overview of the mission ahead," she said, raising one hand as the monitor behind her brought up a series of maps and images of the landmass below. "The primary goal is to aid Japanese military forces located within Tokyo in retaking the entirety of the Saitama prefecture. Given its close proximity to the actual city, doing so will provide a buffer with which the city can use to further prepare for Warped activity should the need arise." Stepping to the side, Sandra continued to keep her gaze trained upon the group as the monitor zoomed in on the prefecture, pinpointing a few locations on the map and a route leading towards the west from Tokyo itself. "This is, of course, a joint venture with the nation, so there is no need to worry about having to handle the entirety of this zone on your own. Your focus will be placed towards clearing out the western area here while Japanese forces make headway into the north of the prefecture. To that end, we have divided you all across three teams, each with a different purpose." From here, the visuals on the monitor switched from a focus on their route to a split segment, showing the separation of the Pilots into the aforementioned teams, their profile shots lined up accordingly. "Constantina and Fukada: your objective is to scout ahead and clear a path for the Japanese forces assigned to our group to be able to secure the area in its entirety. Place priority on targets that cannot be handled with standard firepower, and if possible, redirect them to areas away from the main force. Kim, Dulac: take out any Warped that Fukada either cannot handle on her own or that the other team may have either missed or deemed too problematic to engage with their firepower. Coordinate as necessary, and do not hesitate to retreat or call for aid if the situation requires it. Drakos, Faye, Constanza: protect the main force as they follow after the other two teams. Even in an ideal scenario, there will still likely be large amounts of Warped moving in towards your position, especially as you head further west. Be prepared for anything, including retreat. If you have any further questions about the objective at hand, speak up now. Otherwise, collect your Chi-Mechframes from the engineering bay and head to the hangar. You depart in thirty minutes; I wish you the best of luck in your efforts. Dismissed." @Laduguer@VitaVitaAR@Mole@JDubs@Medili</s>

<|message|>Louisa Faye As the other Pilots began to wrap up in the dining area and file out towards the briefing in the command room, Louisa glanced at the smartwatch on her wrist and sprang away from the table without excusing herself, lunging out the dining area door and towards the residential deck. If she was as fast as her average time to sprint between her room and the main deck (two minutes and forty-seven seconds -- not bad, right?) then she could get there, change clothes, and sprint back whilst only being a couple of minutes late. There was no way she was reporting for duty in her gym outfit. [00:02:30] Oh, a new personal best -- forget it! Almost tearing the door off its hinges, she barreled into her room and threw open her wardrobe, pulling out a suit of sleek grey military fatigues and a light jacket in urban camoflague. [00:03:00] Pulling a boot onto her left foot whilst running with the other, Louisa left her room open and nearly tackled a member of custodial staff to the floor as she began sprinting back up the auxiliary access stairwell... [00:05:40] ... to the command room, snapping off a salute and filing into the assembled Pilots as Sandra continued her briefing. As she listened, Louisa realised her geography was pretty poor. She had no idea where Saitama Prefecture was, but after studying the map on the monitor she guessed the region was to Tokyo what Surrey was to London back home. She glanced at Seraphima and Teodora as their squad allocation was announced and smiled, but felt her nerves building. That was pretty much the ideal team composition for Grendel's basic combat strategy, but lacking any flight capabilities herself (the added weight of high density plating came at a cost) meant that there was no redundancy for her if the situation on the ground became too hot. She rolled her shoulders and sighed. No pressure.</s>

<|description|>Louisa Faye * Age: 23 * Gender: Female * Appearance: An tall young woman with short fair hair (apparently cut by herself or otherwise cut badly by someone else), a pale complexion and dull blue eyes. Her build is angular and muscular, with any fat that might have gone towards a charming feminine physique ruthlessly utilized elsewhere. * Personality: Louisa (or 'Lou' as she is more commonly known) is approachable, straightforward, and rational in her demeanor, but internally she is haunted by a constant feeling of malaise and dissonance with regards to the path her life has taken, as if her mind has never quite caught up to the massive and traumatic changes of the last five years (i.e. the world ending, moving to the other side of the world, and becoming an experimental bio-weapon), or as if by some vague yet terrible mistake she has ended up living someone else's story. As a result, she can appear distant, or uninterested, or forgetful, and it can take a while for others to make an impression on her. In a practical sense, this resulted in her scoring below average on the psychometric tests of leadership and psychostability issued during her induction to the mechframe programme. * History: Louisa grew up in an utterly unremarkable and featureless housing development somewhere in the English midlands. At 18, she was working part-time as an agricultural worker, whilst her few friends had left to attend university elsewhere in the country, and looking with anxiety towards a decidedly uninteresting future. Needless to say, her plans of small-town angst were cut short when the Warped appeared, and disaster after disaster after disaster followed. Her family was not among those lucky enough to be at the front of the queue of evacuees awaiting resettlement, and after almost two years of delays and confusion they ended up stuck in a temporary housing settlement when an outbreak of Warped swept through. Louisa was seriously injured, but not fatally, and with the queue of evacuees infront of them substantially shortened by the attack, within a week her family was abled to receive settlement inside the Greater London Fortified Zone. With the medical services under massive strain, Louisa was given rushed and largely inadequate triage surgery for her wounds, and kicked out with little more than a dose of antibiotics and a prayer. Almost miraculously - or, in hindsight, suspiciously - she seemed to recover successfully with incredible speed, and disappeared into the obscurity of the desperate millions clining onto civilization. Two years later, whilst receiving an X-ray for a fractured rib she received whilst working as a labourer on the city walls, she was surprised when a squad of men resembling a SWAT team in business suits unceremoniously black-bagged her and tossed her into emergency military quarantine. It turned out that whatever doctor had triaged her two years previously had not noticed, or at least not considered, the Echidna parasite well-established but apparently dormat in her body. The following months - was it a year now? - passed as a blur, as after threats of jailtime, medical experimentation, and exile were thrown around, Louisa met with a woman representing a Japanese organization launching some kind of scholarship programme targetted at rare parasitized but stable humans. She offered protection, evacuation and specialist training to Louisa, with apparently no strings attached. With weeks of isolation and a lifetime of boredom pressing on her mind, it was the easiest choice she had ever made. --- * Skills: Louisa does not have many party tricks. She had few hobbies before the end of the world, and fewer after. Her main penchant is her raw physical potential, possessing a strong naturally frame trained by (at this point) years of labour and occassional contact rugby with her local evacuee community team. In a professional capacity as a mechframe pilot, this makes her a reliable and competitive training partner. In an everyday capacity, this means she can... get the lids off jars with ease, carry heavy bags, and move furniture without any trouble. * Chi-Mechframe: Grendel + Appearance: + Abilities: The Grendel Chi-Mechframe was developed using a core taken from a monstrous, heavily armoured wyrm-like Warped, inspiring a bulky design with high-density plating. The frame is not designed to be maneuverable or fast, instead opting for sheer mass and defensive capabilities, allowing the user to pull off a high impact charge once or twice to insert them into the center of combat, and then giving them the protection to endure staying in place afterwards. In line with this, Louisa has trained in a static, highly defensive style of combat, opting to tie down enemies, get in their way, and otherwise provide openings for her teammates to do their thing. Grendel comes with an attuned heavy glaive, that can be thrown at short range and recalled to the mechframe. The glaive itself is configurable, extending either to its default glaive-configuration or retracting to form a cleaver sword. In essence, Grendel is uncomplicated and elegant, harnessing the Warped power of a Chi-Mechframe into a classic suit of frontline armour. * Other:: N/A.</s> <|message|>PYRALIS CONSTANTINA --Infernus-52 Stratofortress-- @VitaVitaAR As soon as she left the vicinity of the Horizon, Pyra wasted no time in heading toward the exact coordinates of the objective assigned to her. To that end, a holographic HUD display spawned in front of her face, projected by the suit itself in lieu of the lack of holo-glasses. She gave a quick glance at the map of the Saitama prefecture, complete with real-time information such as the locations of other Frame Pilots and allied armies. Furthermore, scans had shown the presence of hordes of small-scaled Warped just beyond the perimeter of the Japanese forces' offensive line. Right, it was time to get to work and she knew just what had to be done. The fiery pair of wings at her boots grew slightly larger as she picked up her speed, soaring through air as she positioned herself high above the offensive line. She scanned the area ahead, crawling with goblins and oni-esque monsters, then spoke into the comms, in which would be received by Horizon's Central Command, Hinotori, and most importantly, the Japanese soldiers; friendly fire was nothing to scoff at after all. "Infernus reporting, to all allied forces in the area, hold your position and stand by for air support, over." With that declaration, her boot-wings flapped as Pyra flew forward... slowly, deliberately, in a select route she had charted for herself. Along the way, the brunette pilot aimed Infernus' lance diagonally downwards as the weapon's head swirled with infernal power. After a short moment of gathering up energy, Pyra gradually released them as melon-sized fireballs began raining down at various angles toward the ground. Visually, they were like meteor showers, except if each and every meteorite actually hit the ground instead of burning up in the air; beautiful and deadly in equal measure, each sphere of flames erupted upon impact, sending lethal explosive force to any Warped caught in the saturated area. Methodical, controlled destruction like a professional demolitions team, explosions of dragonfire followed one after another like an infernal symphony. After finishing her fly-by, Pyra returned to her previous position, "Infernus here. Area bombardment completed, allied forces may proceed, maintain caution for any surviving Warped as you go, over." According to her calculations, most of the horde would already be wiped out, except for those sturdy and/or lucky enough to withstand the onslaught, such as the larger oni specimens, but that was why she didn't work alone. Hoshiko should be more than capable of handling what stubborn monsters remained, and if Pyra could make her do that without having to worry about being swarmed by the smaller hostiles, then she'd consider it a job well done.</s> <|message|>Norika Dulac Norika wasn't exactly thrilled about the jump, but it had to be done. She followed after Kim, launching herself from the hangar into freefall without a word. She closed her eyes, straightening her body out as the wind whipped her hair. She opened them and scanned the heads-up display. It looked much the same, save for several words pulsing softly in the corner of her vision: `> GLIDER MODULE READY; activate?` She took a breath. "Titania, activate glider module." Norika felt static tingling across her skin. The sensation originated from her back and spread across her body. Though she couldn't see them, six hexagonal wings formed around her shoulders. Immediately she could feel her body slowing from freefall, and she fell in behind Kim, assisted by her visor tagging her signature; unlike the Warped, other Chi-Mechframe pilots showed up as yellow, as opposed to the Warped showing up outlined bright, red-orange. Her heads-up display soon began painting targets. Norika felt the corners of her lips tug up into a smile. "Quite the warm welcome," Norika commented over the comms. "Kim, are you going to soften them up for me, or am I going in hard and gutting them myself?" @VitaVitaAR</s>

<|message|>Louisa Faye Louisa followed the group of Pilots into the hanger, stepping through the airlock doors into a familiar but no-less noxious space of cold air, bright lights and the noise of industry and battle preparations. She sometimes wished the whole thing could be conducted with a little more peace and ceremony. She remembered watching some lame American samurai movie back when she was a kid, where prior to battle they would be quietly dressed by an attendant and drink tea and read poetry or something. She figured the historical accuracy of that was dubious at best, but with a budget as large as the one afforded to the Chi-Mechframe programme... couldn't someone pull a few strings? How about at least burning some essential oil or installing some mood lighting? Wouldn't that be a better idea? As she pulled on her sleek sea-gray combat leotard (her third outfit change of the day), she made a mental note to put that in the hypothetical Horizon suggestion box. Heading over to the armoury area, she hefted up her mechframe core. It was a sort of choker that clamped around her neck, but it hang as a plate over her breast. Compared to the armour plating in the mechframe itself, it was far lighter, but the thing still weighted a few kilos. She felt the heavy presence of it pressing down on her body, and walked over to her deployment area. She ran the briefing through her mind one last time, squared her shoulders, exhaled deeply... and hammered the central activation unit on the core with her fist. "Grendel, breach!" A layer of opaque shimmering film appeared over her body, ethereal and bright, taking the form of a tight mesh covering her limbs, head, neck and torso. It extended to thin blade-like projections skirting her lower body, and in her right hand a long and graceful blade materialized. The light grew brighter, until suddenly it reached some critical point, and piece by piece each part of the ethereal mesh began to darken and condense into itself with brutal force. Across her body it tightened into carapace armour, the blade-like projections snapped into a palisade-skirt hybrid that hung menacingly at her waist, and the graceful blade twisted and lashed into a strange and jagged glaive. Finally, the ethereal light crowning her head clamped shut into a long beak-like visor akin to an old European knight. Feeling her psuedo-Warped body react and adjust to the inhuman weight of the condensed mechframe, she tentatively raised a foot and stomped it down, sending a screaming shudder of protest through the reinforced hanger floor. Satisfied, she signalled to a member of the hangar crew to bring over her 'R2D2' (Rapid Retroburn Deployment Device) - a dumb name, she thought, and made another mental note to put that in the suggestion box too - and connected it to her 'frame. Owing to its high mass, conventional flight and gliding capabilities were not practical for Grendel, and the R&D team were still experimenting with solving the deployment issue. The 'R2D2' device was essentially experimental aeronautics tech developed by some abandoned pre-Warped space programme designed for use on self-landing drone shuttles, able to deliver a large amount of reverse thrust with high control and all in a very small package. In other words, it was basically a jetpack that would turn a regular human operator into jelly given the massive deceleration, but worked surprisingly well when operated by Grendel. She glanced to her side, and caught the lithe form of Teodora soar out of the launch bay. That was her cue. "Grendel, launching!" she yelled over comms, and with two earth-shuddering bounds she leaped out of the hangar.</s>

<|description|>Louisa Faye * Age: 23 * Gender: Female * Appearance: An tall young woman with short fair hair (apparently cut by herself or otherwise cut badly by someone else), a pale complexion and dull blue eyes. Her build is angular and muscular, with any fat that might have gone towards a charming feminine physique ruthlessly utilized elsewhere. * Personality: Louisa (or 'Lou' as she is more commonly known) is approachable, straightforward, and rational in her demeanor, but internally she is haunted by a constant feeling of malaise and dissonance with regards to the path her life has taken, as if her mind has never quite caught up to the massive and traumatic changes of the last five years (i.e. the world ending, moving to the other side of the world, and becoming an experimental bio-weapon), or as if by some vague yet terrible mistake she has ended up living someone else's story. As a result, she can appear distant, or uninterested, or forgetful, and it can take a while for others to make an impression on her. In a practical sense, this resulted in her scoring below average on the psychometric tests of leadership and psychostability issued during her induction to the mechframe programme. * History: Louisa grew up in an utterly unremarkable and featureless housing development somewhere in the English midlands. At 18, she was working part-time as an agricultural worker, whilst her few friends had left to attend university elsewhere in the country, and looking with anxiety towards a decidedly uninteresting future. Needless to say, her plans of small-town angst were cut short when the Warped appeared, and disaster after disaster after disaster followed. Her family was not among those lucky enough to be at the front of the queue of evacuees awaiting resettlement, and after almost two years of delays and confusion they ended up stuck in a temporary housing settlement when an outbreak of Warped swept through. Louisa was seriously injured, but not fatally, and with the queue of evacuees infront of them substantially shortened by the attack, within a week her family was abled to receive settlement inside the Greater London Fortified Zone. With the medical services under massive strain, Louisa was given rushed and largely inadequate triage surgery for her wounds, and kicked out with little more than a dose of antibiotics and a prayer. Almost miraculously - or, in hindsight, suspiciously - she seemed to recover successfully with incredible speed, and disappeared into the obscurity of the desperate millions clining onto civilization. Two years later, whilst receiving an X-ray for a fractured rib she received whilst working as a labourer on the city walls, she was surprised when a squad of men resembling a SWAT team in business suits unceremoniously black-bagged her and tossed her into emergency military quarantine. It turned out that whatever doctor had triaged her two years previously had not noticed, or at least not considered, the Echidna parasite well-established but apparently dormat in her body. The following months - was it a year now? - passed as a blur, as after threats of jailtime, medical experimentation, and exile were thrown around, Louisa met with a woman representing a Japanese organization launching some kind of scholarship programme targetted at rare parasitized but stable humans. She offered protection, evacuation and specialist training to Louisa, with apparently no strings attached. With weeks of isolation and a lifetime of boredom pressing on her mind, it was the easiest choice she had ever made. --- * Skills: Louisa does not have many party tricks. She had few hobbies before the end of the world, and fewer after. Her main penchant is her raw physical potential, possessing a strong naturally frame trained by (at this point) years of labour and occassional contact rugby with her local evacuee community team. In a professional capacity as a mechframe pilot, this makes her a reliable and competitive training partner. In an everyday capacity, this means she can... get the lids off jars with ease, carry heavy bags, and move furniture without any trouble. * Chi-Mechframe: Grendel + Appearance: + Abilities: The Grendel Chi-Mechframe was developed using a core taken from a monstrous, heavily armoured wyrm-like Warped, inspiring a bulky design with high-density plating. The frame is not designed to be maneuverable or fast, instead opting for sheer mass and defensive capabilities, allowing the user to pull off a high impact charge once or twice to insert them into the center of combat, and then giving them the protection to endure staying in place afterwards. In line with this, Louisa has trained in a static, highly defensive style of combat, opting to tie down enemies, get in their way, and otherwise provide openings for her teammates to do their thing. Grendel comes with an attuned heavy glaive, that can be thrown at short range and recalled to the mechframe. The glaive itself is configurable, extending either to its default glaive-configuration or retracting to form a cleaver sword. In essence, Grendel is uncomplicated and elegant, harnessing the Warped power of a Chi-Mechframe into a classic suit of frontline armour. * Other:: N/A.</s> <|message|>Norika Dulac "Merde!" Norika dodged the debris, though she was pelted by some smaller chunks of concrete. She growled and cursed under her breath, "Ta mère était un hamster!" However the rocks and concrete were the least of her worries. The Warped that burst out of a nearby building wouldn't look out of place in a horror movie, even by Warped standards. She reached for the revolver holstered at her hip-- And realized she'd forgotten it. Norika dodged to the right, muttering a string of curses under her breath. If she slowed down she was going to take a hit, and that wouldn't be the best way to start the mission. She moved to one side, attempting to dodge the massive, centipede-like monster's attack. God, it was ugly. Would have been nice to put a few rounds in its face.</s> <|message|>Xuan-Yu Lang There was much to be said about the sheer extravagant indulgence that was having an entire flying castle, while those below still toiled beneath the depths of ever-rising cities, skyscraper apartments designed to cope with population densities that would make Hong Kong look spacious. There was much to be said, as well, about how all his colleagues were girls younger than himself, a collection of pretty faces and high-pitched voices. Maybe six years ago, that'd be something to celebrate, but now, it just made things grossly awkward, especially when the youngest amongst them were undeniably still children. Some sorta burning pile of garbage this was. Literal infinite amounts of money, and they're still using kids as soldiers. Sure, the kiddos were motivated, and their Chi-Mechframes could wipe out a number of Warped that would make soldiers wonder why they've ever sacrificed so much, but still. More evidence that the world was shit and those in power were asshats. Though that just added another small thing to the pile of many shitty things that smeared this war. Xuan-Yu sighed. While those eager kids were diving into the fray, skydiving with nothing but the flight systems of their experimental warmachines to keep them alive, the airlift had landed, and the cargo-bay had opened up. Hot winds scoured his skin, the acrid smell of gunpowder and artillery blast mingling with the undercurrent of blood. Blood that seeped into ruins and fed coarse weeds. Weeds that would grow over unclaimed corpses, lost limbs and fetid organs. Had it only been three months? Ah, he did not miss this fucking cesspool. "Please." The click-clack of interlacing plates sounded as his body melted into the background. . .. … [DEATHSTALKER ONLINE] By nature, Xuan-Yu's Chi-Mechframe was a headhunter. Instantaneous, explosive power combined with stealthing capabilities made him more than capable of ripping any individual Warped apart with his metallic hands. In the best case scenario, he would be allowed to stay off the battlefield, observing from a high angle in order to pick out high-value targets or react to assist any squadmates stuck in the quagmire. It was almost a mistake then, to put an assassin at the helm of a defensive measure, especially when their enemy lacked any sense of tactics or strategy beyond rushing forward as a biomass wave. Grendel was a defensive bulwark. K-01 was built around skirmishing. Supplice was a natural all-rounder. On paper, at least, they were well-fit to respond flexibly to the chaos that a large number of Warped brought. But even at 60% operational capacity, Deathstalker could kill low-threat Warped. A wraith strode through the lines of barbed wire and trenches, palisades and turrets, the only sign of his presence the crimson that traced his blade in the brief instance it entered and exited the bodies of the goblins that scrambled past the wreckage left by Infernus's bombardment. What was that saying again? Ah yes, artillery sowed, infantry reaped. "Morning comrades," Xuan-Yu's voice sounded through intercoms, slipping into the Japanese that served as the common language between the Horizon's occupants. "Constanza's on overwatch today, right? I'll be busy not doing my real job, so if you spot something with a fat head, toss me a ping and I'll carve it up. And Faye, stick to the rear and pick up what trash I drop, could you? The distance between me and you should give plenty of time to get into position." And as for Drakos… Naw, there was nothing he could really say that shouldn't be obvious.</s> <|message|>Teodora Constanza --- Place(s): Battlefield - Saitama Prefecture Time: Afternoon Interaction(s): Other members of the Defense Team --- Three streaks of light blue energy beams followed by three identical, powerful sounds rained down from the sky toward the horde of Warped charging at the Japanese forces, extinguishing the lives of three oni-esque Warped in quick succession; two having their head vaporized while a smaller one was sliced in half by the beam that killed it. "First three! Hehe~" Fully braking from her descent. Teodora remained hovering about 10 meters above the frontmost of the Japanese forces' defensive line, an excited smile on her face. "My my, it seems like the vanguard teams did their job quite admirably indeed!" she said as she surveyed the battlefield. A sizable force of Warped were still heading toward the Japanese forces, however, and she quickly prepared to proceed with her next action to oppose their advance. "Fortunately... Still many more targets available for me to frag. Fufu, now then... I suppose I'll get up close and personal and let them dance with my trusty Uragan (Hurricane)!" She then got into a neutral combat stance with her rapier, the weapon she affectionately gave the name to, held perfectly straight vertically in front of her face. Power started building up within the engines of her wings, with blue glowing light visible from within the exhaust, telltale of an imminent burst of jetfire about to propel her forward right into the mass of advancing Warped. "Morning comrades," the voice suddenly sounded through the intercoms channel, just in time to make her pause and stop her charge. It was quite fortunate that the oldest and only male member of the team spoke up then, as in reality Teodora had quickly forgotten what her task was supposed to be in her eagerness to 'score some points' in her 'game' of killing the Warped. As part of the Defense Team, she most definitely was not supposed to advance far in front of the Japanese forces. She replied through the intercoms "Oh, good morning indeed Mr. Lang!" She then briefly contemplated Xuan-Yu's words; My, was I supposed to be on overwatch duty? Riiight. I must have forgotten! Silly me!; before then speaking up again "Indeed, indeed. I shall be performing as overwatch. You can count on me to be your eyes in the sky, my dear comrades! Moving into position!" Thus, Teodora performed a small burst using her wings that propelled her upward until she were hovering about 30 meters above the ground. The altitude provided a good line of sight for her without compromising her ability to effectively spot and react to the enemy targets, a good balance for her task. "Supplice, holding position~" She then quickly surveyed the area, finding out that the current wave of Warped advancing on their position were composed of the typical variety and of manageable number; nothing worth alarming any of her other team member about. Next time, Uragan. You will yet get your chance to shine. She smirked as she mused, once more aiming her beam rifle at the advancing enemies. Two more streaks of light blue energy beams fell from the sky followed by the awe-inspiring sounds, and two more low-level Warped received their sweet release of death from their agonizing existence.</s>

<|message|>Louisa Faye At three hundred feet above the ground, the R2D2 unit roared into life, kicking back against the rapidly encroaching earth with a monumental shove of remote thrust sufficient to slow several tonnes of metal falling from orbit. Suffice to say, it performed its intended function of softening Grendel's fall. When Louisa's head stopped spinning, and the ringing in her ears faded, she found herself standing in a billowing cloud of ash and cinders kicked up by her impact, that was rapidly dispersing in the downdraft of the airlift vessel. Tearing off the spent R2D2 unit and hurling it indiscriminately away from herself, she resolved to elect for a different method of transport next time. The full visual spectrum of the battle revealed itself as visibility was restored, and looking down at her feet she beheld a small impact crater in a mass of scorched and hideously deformed bones and viscera. Well, there was certainly no mistaking Pyra's handiwork. She began to stride over to where the blue flashes of Teodora's rifle fire indicated the position of her squad, before their voices crackled into life over the intercomm. She grimaced as she listened to Xuan-Yu's directions, continuing to push forward through the rear lines of Japanese infantry and towards the front. Physically activating her comms with a little more force than she intended, she sharply replied: "Copy that, Lang, I wouldn't expect anything else from you -- she grunted as her boot caught on a tangled Warped ribcage -- other than trash!" The twitching, surging expanse of steadily advancing Warped opened up before her as she reached the frontline. Feeling her heart beat faster, she thrust her blade forward to extend it into a glaive, and with one heavy leap forward she planted herself firmly in the vanguard.</s>

<|description|>Louisa Faye * Age: 23 * Gender: Female * Appearance: An tall young woman with short fair hair (apparently cut by herself or otherwise cut badly by someone else), a pale complexion and dull blue eyes. Her build is angular and muscular, with any fat that might have gone towards a charming feminine physique ruthlessly utilized elsewhere. * Personality: Louisa (or 'Lou' as she is more commonly known) is approachable, straightforward, and rational in her demeanor, but internally she is haunted by a constant feeling of malaise and dissonance with regards to the path her life has taken, as if her mind has never quite caught up to the massive and traumatic changes of the last five years (i.e. the world ending, moving to the other side of the world, and becoming an experimental bio-weapon), or as if by some vague yet terrible mistake she has ended up living someone else's story. As a result, she can appear distant, or uninterested, or forgetful, and it can take a while for others to make an impression on her. In a practical sense, this resulted in her scoring below average on the psychometric tests of leadership and psychostability issued during her induction to the mechframe programme. * History: Louisa grew up in an utterly unremarkable and featureless housing development somewhere in the English midlands. At 18, she was working part-time as an agricultural worker, whilst her few friends had left to attend university elsewhere in the country, and looking with anxiety towards a decidedly uninteresting future. Needless to say, her plans of small-town angst were cut short when the Warped appeared, and disaster after disaster after disaster followed. Her family was not among those lucky enough to be at the front of the queue of evacuees awaiting resettlement, and after almost two years of delays and confusion they ended up stuck in a temporary housing settlement when an outbreak of Warped swept through. Louisa was seriously injured, but not fatally, and with the queue of evacuees infront of them substantially shortened by the attack, within a week her family was abled to receive settlement inside the Greater London Fortified Zone. With the medical services under massive strain, Louisa was given rushed and largely inadequate triage surgery for her wounds, and kicked out with little more than a dose of antibiotics and a prayer. Almost miraculously - or, in hindsight, suspiciously - she seemed to recover successfully with incredible speed, and disappeared into the obscurity of the desperate millions clining onto civilization. Two years later, whilst receiving an X-ray for a fractured rib she received whilst working as a labourer on the city walls, she was surprised when a squad of men resembling a SWAT team in business suits unceremoniously black-bagged her and tossed her into emergency military quarantine. It turned out that whatever doctor had triaged her two years previously had not noticed, or at least not considered, the Echidna parasite well-established but apparently dormat in her body. The following months - was it a year now? - passed as a blur, as after threats of jailtime, medical experimentation, and exile were thrown around, Louisa met with a woman representing a Japanese organization launching some kind of scholarship programme targetted at rare parasitized but stable humans. She offered protection, evacuation and specialist training to Louisa, with apparently no strings attached. With weeks of isolation and a lifetime of boredom pressing on her mind, it was the easiest choice she had ever made. --- * Skills: Louisa does not have many party tricks. She had few hobbies before the end of the world, and fewer after. Her main penchant is her raw physical potential, possessing a strong naturally frame trained by (at this point) years of labour and occassional contact rugby with her local evacuee community team. In a professional capacity as a mechframe pilot, this makes her a reliable and competitive training partner. In an everyday capacity, this means she can... get the lids off jars with ease, carry heavy bags, and move furniture without any trouble. * Chi-Mechframe: Grendel + Appearance: + Abilities: The Grendel Chi-Mechframe was developed using a core taken from a monstrous, heavily armoured wyrm-like Warped, inspiring a bulky design with high-density plating. The frame is not designed to be maneuverable or fast, instead opting for sheer mass and defensive capabilities, allowing the user to pull off a high impact charge once or twice to insert them into the center of combat, and then giving them the protection to endure staying in place afterwards. In line with this, Louisa has trained in a static, highly defensive style of combat, opting to tie down enemies, get in their way, and otherwise provide openings for her teammates to do their thing. Grendel comes with an attuned heavy glaive, that can be thrown at short range and recalled to the mechframe. The glaive itself is configurable, extending either to its default glaive-configuration or retracting to form a cleaver sword. In essence, Grendel is uncomplicated and elegant, harnessing the Warped power of a Chi-Mechframe into a classic suit of frontline armour. * Other:: N/A.</s> <|message|>Teodora Constanza --- Place(s): Battlefield - Saitama Prefecture Time: Afternoon @Izurich --- "And that is a point for me!" Teodora remarked confidently as she pulled her beam rapier back after landing the stab at the creature's right foreleg. The creature fully revealed itself after that as it realized that it couldn't rely on being stealthy anymore. "Oh my. With some of the other Warped I can kind of identify what they're trying to look like as... But you? What are you supposed to be? Oh well, it doesn't matter. Ready to frag this one, Seraphima?" Teodora reset her stance as she prepared to continue her assault on the creature, while the creature itself; or rather its tail, seemed to watch both her and the now arrived Seraphima. The Warped then seemed to charge up an attack using its snake-like tail, aiming it at Teodora. "Oh. I'm afraid I cannot allow you to do that, fufu." In response, both Chi-Mechframe pilots quickly reacted. Seraphima flung a dagger at the creature's one prominent eye, while Teodora performed two moves in quick succession. First, she swiftly fired off a single shot from her beam rifle at the creature's snake tail. Then a split second after that, quick blasts of flames from the engines of her wings propelled her forward in an instant as she rammed the creature in the torso, her beam rapier held in front of her to stab the creature again while also hopefully pushing it back away from the allied soldiers even further. The beam from her rifle will hopefully stop whatever attack the Warped was charging up. If not, then Teodora was sure that her barrier can hold up to the attack. Thus why she made no effort to evade at all, counter attacking instead. It was a decision Teodora made almost by reflex in response to Seraphima's own actions. Hopefully, with both her own rapier charge and Seraphima's dagger and claws combo, it will be enough to push the creature back. Enough so that the incoming firepower that should be coming from above won't cause any friendly fire casualty to the Japanese soldiers, so to speak. "All yours, Infernus! Light 'em up!" And thus with Teodora protected by her barrier and Seraphima by her force field, to stop the creature from moving away the two were ready to risk staying in the danger zone of the incoming aerial bombing.</s> <|message|>Louisa Faye _______________________________________________________________ Louisa blinked, stunned by the explosive and unexpected tackle that had rendered her and Xuan-yu a snowplough blitzing through the mass of shuffling warped thralls. Suddenly aware that the cushioned surface she was reclining on consisted of the mangled, twisted and twitching remains of whatever aberrations had got in their way, she quickly rose with a violent shake of her body. After retrieving her glaive from the three monstrosities it had idly shish-kebab'd on their retreat from the komainu, she scanned her surroundings for any trace of the now-vacant Deathstalker. "What the hell did he say... he's going to take a shower?" That slightly bewildering thought was quickly shunted from her head as the exchange on her comms snapped her back to the situation at hand, and she began striding towards the frontline with heavy footfalls, returning to the besieged but gradually advancing vanguard of the Japanese armed forces. Leaping into a suspiciously active scrum of bestial warped, she bisected a score of dredges with a sweeping arc, and pulled the dismemebered-but-still-clawing torso of a warped away from a terrified and wounded Japanese infantryman. Hurling the torso into another nearby pack - an ineffectual but irrespectively cool move - she retracted her glaive into a sword, and promptly declined using it altogether, insteading choosing to clobber the head clean off a gibbering humanoid monstrosity with a single weighty punch. "Ngh! -- a crunch sounded out over comms -- Grendel back at the frontline! Looks like we took the big dog out of the picture for the minute. I'll keep the chaff away from the infantry whilst you guys finish off... whatever the hell those things are!"</s> <|message|>Eun-hye (Elise) Kim Elise KimSaitama Prefecture The sight of actual blood being spilled by the Warped meant that their efforts were at least showing some meaningful sign of progress, which was honestly the best they could have hoped for. The virtual HUD in her peripherals showed that the others were dealing with similarly problematic Warped, and the call-in from Pyralis showed that at least one group amongst them was better off than they for the moment. "I—" Elise attempted to respond to the offer of aid, but Norika seemed to have no part in it. Given how well she was faring, such an offer would likely have been unnecessary, but if it helped resolve the situation faster, then all the better. With that said, the call for help from the Seraphima left Elise without any worries about whether or not they could handle the beast (they clearly could), but rather to distribute people where they were needed instead of focusing solely on their positions as the vanguard. "...We should be able to handle this one on our own," Elise said, her words directed at herself as much as they were at Norika and Pyralis as she swapped out the bullets she had been loading into her rifle for something a fair deal more powerful. "Replacing live ammunition with light rounds. Aiming for the hea—!" Before she could finish her sentence, another wave of whatever vile liquid the Warped had in store was launched at the two, and Elise barely managed to slip out of the way to dodge it. A bit had barely managed to clip one of her wings, but inorganic as it was, it seemed to roll off harmlessly. With that said, cleaning up afterwards was probably in her best interests. After taking a few moments to recenter herself, the Frame Pilot brought her weapon up to her shoulder and took aim at the Warped's head from above. "As I was saying..." she said, eyebrows furrowed as a small sphere of light seemed to be forming from within the barrel of her weapon, "Aiming for the head—or whatever might pass for one on this thing. Don't get caught in the crossfire." And with that, Elise pulled the trigger and fired. What had formed as a small ball of light instantly turned into a thin, momentary laser that pierced through the Warped, well beyond where most of her other bullets would have stopped. Whether or not it mattered in the long run remained to be seen, but hopefully Norika would be able to carve up the rest of the monster as it recovered from the attack if it wasn't already dead. --- With the birdlike Warped most certainly dead after having its head pulverized into the ground below, the smaller Warped around it seemed to hesitate for a moment before the group seemed to split up. Some continued to charge at Hoshiko, apparently ignoring the beast she had just felled without so much as a scratch; others, however, seemed to be retreating—a wise decision, in many respects, but an odd one in the face of what the Warped tended to do. Not like it was any reason to be worried at the moment—fleeing enemies meant less bodies to have to clean up, after all—but the day was still not yet won as the young Frame Pilot chose to stall the remnants of the horde as her partner flew off to provide aide to their allies. --- Seeing its prey disappear before its eyes left the komainu-esque Warped disoriented for a moment, the heat around its body still leaving the ground alight. It's eyes flicked about restlessly as it searched for the two that had escaped, but as the monster finally figured out where the two had gone, it paused. The poison that Xuan-Yu had managed to infect it with had been easy enough to ignore before, but with the injuries it had now, the weakness that seemed to grip its entire body left it feeling heavy and sluggish. The heat began to subside, little by little, as it began to move back towards the sole Pilot that was left in its sights. It had burnt far too much energy attempting to kill the faster one among the two, but without that one in sight and the heat in its heart beginning to fizzle out, the Warped continued ahead, fully willing (it seemed) to throw its life away to at least take out one of the beings it had aimed to kill. @Laduguer</s>

<|message|>Louisa Faye No sooner did Louisa triumphantly announce their victory over comms that she noticed a rising glow out of the corner of her vision, a vibrating tremor in the earth, and a hot breeze of excited air and immolated earth blowing along the trajectory of their ad-hoc tackle-catapult maneuver. Leaping back from the scrum to get a better view of the battlefield, her fears were confirmed. She may have spoken too soon about the whole komainu situation. "... Scratch that, looks like we took the dog out of the picture for a lot less than a minute. I-I'm moving to engage." Gritting her teeth, she barged her way through the clearing she had made and took up a position far enough in advance of the Japanese frontline to somewhat reduce their risk of becoming collateral damage. Knocking encroaching warped away to the left with an armoured fist, and to the right with an extending flick of her glaive, she picked up each of her feet in turn and stomped them firmly into the ground, twisting her heels as she did. She had rooted herself firmly in the path of the suicidal charging komainu, and couched her extended glaive under her right arm, stabilizing it with her gripped left hand. It wasn't exactly sophisticated enough to call it a phalanx, but... If this thing wants to flatten me, or blow up, or run me over, or whatever, she thought, it'll have to skewer itself first! That at least makes my odds of survival better than the dog's... right?</s>

<|description|>Louisa Faye * Age: 23 * Gender: Female * Appearance: An tall young woman with short fair hair (apparently cut by herself or otherwise cut badly by someone else), a pale complexion and dull blue eyes. Her build is angular and muscular, with any fat that might have gone towards a charming feminine physique ruthlessly utilized elsewhere. * Personality: Louisa (or 'Lou' as she is more commonly known) is approachable, straightforward, and rational in her demeanor, but internally she is haunted by a constant feeling of malaise and dissonance with regards to the path her life has taken, as if her mind has never quite caught up to the massive and traumatic changes of the last five years (i.e. the world ending, moving to the other side of the world, and becoming an experimental bio-weapon), or as if by some vague yet terrible mistake she has ended up living someone else's story. As a result, she can appear distant, or uninterested, or forgetful, and it can take a while for others to make an impression on her. In a practical sense, this resulted in her scoring below average on the psychometric tests of leadership and psychostability issued during her induction to the mechframe programme. * History: Louisa grew up in an utterly unremarkable and featureless housing development somewhere in the English midlands. At 18, she was working part-time as an agricultural worker, whilst her few friends had left to attend university elsewhere in the country, and looking with anxiety towards a decidedly uninteresting future. Needless to say, her plans of small-town angst were cut short when the Warped appeared, and disaster after disaster after disaster followed. Her family was not among those lucky enough to be at the front of the queue of evacuees awaiting resettlement, and after almost two years of delays and confusion they ended up stuck in a temporary housing settlement when an outbreak of Warped swept through. Louisa was seriously injured, but not fatally, and with the queue of evacuees infront of them substantially shortened by the attack, within a week her family was abled to receive settlement inside the Greater London Fortified Zone. With the medical services under massive strain, Louisa was given rushed and largely inadequate triage surgery for her wounds, and kicked out with little more than a dose of antibiotics and a prayer. Almost miraculously - or, in hindsight, suspiciously - she seemed to recover successfully with incredible speed, and disappeared into the obscurity of the desperate millions clining onto civilization. Two years later, whilst receiving an X-ray for a fractured rib she received whilst working as a labourer on the city walls, she was surprised when a squad of men resembling a SWAT team in business suits unceremoniously black-bagged her and tossed her into emergency military quarantine. It turned out that whatever doctor had triaged her two years previously had not noticed, or at least not considered, the Echidna parasite well-established but apparently dormat in her body. The following months - was it a year now? - passed as a blur, as after threats of jailtime, medical experimentation, and exile were thrown around, Louisa met with a woman representing a Japanese organization launching some kind of scholarship programme targetted at rare parasitized but stable humans. She offered protection, evacuation and specialist training to Louisa, with apparently no strings attached. With weeks of isolation and a lifetime of boredom pressing on her mind, it was the easiest choice she had ever made. --- * Skills: Louisa does not have many party tricks. She had few hobbies before the end of the world, and fewer after. Her main penchant is her raw physical potential, possessing a strong naturally frame trained by (at this point) years of labour and occassional contact rugby with her local evacuee community team. In a professional capacity as a mechframe pilot, this makes her a reliable and competitive training partner. In an everyday capacity, this means she can... get the lids off jars with ease, carry heavy bags, and move furniture without any trouble. * Chi-Mechframe: Grendel + Appearance: + Abilities: The Grendel Chi-Mechframe was developed using a core taken from a monstrous, heavily armoured wyrm-like Warped, inspiring a bulky design with high-density plating. The frame is not designed to be maneuverable or fast, instead opting for sheer mass and defensive capabilities, allowing the user to pull off a high impact charge once or twice to insert them into the center of combat, and then giving them the protection to endure staying in place afterwards. In line with this, Louisa has trained in a static, highly defensive style of combat, opting to tie down enemies, get in their way, and otherwise provide openings for her teammates to do their thing. Grendel comes with an attuned heavy glaive, that can be thrown at short range and recalled to the mechframe. The glaive itself is configurable, extending either to its default glaive-configuration or retracting to form a cleaver sword. In essence, Grendel is uncomplicated and elegant, harnessing the Warped power of a Chi-Mechframe into a classic suit of frontline armour. * Other:: N/A.</s> <|message|>Norika Dulac As expected, the rest of the pilots had made their way to the mess hall. That wasn't surprising. Between physical activities and Echidna infections, Chi-Mechframe pilots tended to have higher than average metabolisms. But even so there were some outliers, like Fukada. No human, augmented or not, should have been able to put away that much food, let alone not gain a gram of weight from it. Norika sighed quietly, shaking her head. She'd have to deal with her teammates soon. Best to just grin and bear it. However she was less than pleased with Xuan-Yu's words and actions. She glowered at the man. "Fils de pute!" Norika swore at him. She made her way to the window to order. There was all kinds of smells from what was being cooked. God, it all smelled so good, especially on an empty stomach. Norika had made a promise to herself earlier. She'd survived the mission. Time to eat until she was stuffed. Two big helpings of mild curry and rice to start off with, washed down with a few bottles of Genshi-Cola. She'd never been able to figure out the whole marble-in-the-bottle thing, but she rolled with it. The soda tasted good enough for the trouble. Norika made her way to a table, making sure to sit a little ways from her peers. Close enough for her to hear what they were all saying, but far enough that she wouldn't attract much attention... hopefully.</s> <|message|>Teodora Constanza --- Place(s): Back at The Horizon Time: Nighty Night @VitaVitaAR --- Poor Pyra, I Wonder If She's Okay? Teodora sighed contentedly, a big happy smile remaining on her face as she slowly ate her parfaits. This is really the best way there is to sweeten up a glorious success. Haa... She remained oblivious for a while of the hateful, fury-filled gaze that the girl beside her was throwing her way, too engrossed in her euphoria induced by the sweet sweet heaven that was invading her sense of taste. "Why... did you do that?" It was only after Pyra spoke up that she finally realized that Pyra had been looking at her, although even then Teodora did not pick up on the incendiary tone in the angered girl's voice. She turned to look at Pyra, still smiling blissfully as she took her time to taste the parfait still in her mouth. "...? Why did I do what?" She tilted her head slightly to the left, still smiling. Teodora had no idea what Pyra was referring to. "Oh my, are you quite alright, dear Pyra? Pardon me for saying, but you do have quite the intense look there on your face..." Finally noticing that Pyra looked not the slightest bit happy, but still not realizing the reason why, Teodora's own expression turned to that of calm concern as she continued to speak. "Are you hurt somewhere? Oh my, were you perhaps wounded during the battle earlier? Should I call someone from medical over?" "Oh yeah, everyone, do you want anything else? I'm going to run over to get something to eat for dinner, so I can pick more food up if anyone wants anything!" Teodora briefly turned around as Hoshiko spoke of her offer to the other pilots. "I am quite fine, dear Hoshiko! Thank you for offering!" After giving that brief response, she looked around quickly, noticing who else were nearby just in case she needed more help with Pyra which she had mistakenly thought as potentially going to need medical help. Dear Hoshiko is there, and that's Norika there... Elise, Louisa, Seraphima, Lang. Good, everyone's here... Done with confirming that, she turned to look at Pyralis again, still looking calm but concerned.</s> <|message|>Xuan-Yu Lang Hoshiko took it better than expected. What a champ, honestly, especially compared to how naked Pyralis's expressions and emotions were. Xuan-Yu let out a low whistle at the sheer animosity that came outta bumfuck nowhere, then returned his attention to the ever-hungryin' punch-lass. "Yup, like I said, keep up the effort but cut down on the sugar," he replied, flashing his teeth. "Fuel's gotta be good or you'll turn spherical, kiddo." A thought struck, and he continued. "If you're playing minimum wage delivery girl though, package up a couple big boxes o' fried chicken and bring them to the hangar. Y'know, so that…" Convenient that Elise popped up for the ride. Did she really know what he was doing, or was she just there because she was too lazy to get her own beer? Didn't matter. It worked out. "…Elise doesn't have to. And no, I don't think anyone'd mind." He raised his voice to respond to Louisa, "Of course I am! The company can afford the hit either way!" And without further explanation, Xuan-Yu strode off, leaving Seraphima to stare, Norika to seethe, and Teodora to deal with the inflamed tempers of firecrotch over there. Whatever expression he had on his face faded as the cafeteria became further and further away, the man now more concerned about the state of his shoulders after this as 64 cans of beer weighed upon him. His gait remained steady all the way to the hangar though, all the way to one of the AI-assisted airlifts that had carried him down to the battlefield beforehand. With his foot, he popped the backdoor open and dropped the cases in with a heavy thunk, then leaned against side of the VTOL aircraft and pulled out his earpiece from his pockets. "Evening, boss. Going on a trip back down to Earth. You're welcome for the PR or whatever." There wasn't much need for him to await a response. He jammed the earpiece back into his pockets, then turned to face Elise once more, his arms crossed, eyes flickering down to her shorts and t-shirt combo. "So you gonna go out like that?"</s> <|message|>PYRALIS CONSTANTINA --Myth Debunked-- "..." Now that she had gotten a chance to 'interact' with Teodora up close, literally, Pyra couldn't help but feel her anger... slowly dissipating. It was as if though her engaged primal aggression wanted things to escalate, it just couldn't; twas' partly due to her docile personality, but the most important factor in this particular case was Teodora's genuine innocence when reacting to her fury-choked inquiry. The short-haired brunette frowned in doubt as she blinked once while breaking eye contact, in distress because the older girl wasn't pouring fuel into the fire so she could justify her anger. The worry Teo expressed about her well-being was sickening, in a good and bad way, because it directly contrasted against the image Pyralis had built for the Romanian girl. A queen bee bully shouldn't be acting like this, it wasn't supposed to go like this! "Nnngh..." She groaned, feeling equally regretful and annoyed that Teodora was doing a very good job at dismantling any arguments Pyra might have about the blonde being a bitch. The pyromancer went silent, conveniently occuring at the same time as Hoshiko's announcement, giving her plenty of time to mull over her thoughts while Teodora's attention shifted to the spunky girl. By the time the older pilot returned, Pyralis' demeanor had noticeably relaxed, the embers of wrath all but extinguished. With a rosy tint to her yellowish-pale cheeks, her focus returned to the projections of her holo-glasses as she murmured, "I... just don't like loud noises..."</s>

<|message|>Louisa Faye Louisa blinked as Xuan-Yu replied to her question whilst barely breaking stride, marching out of the mess hall with Elise in tow. She was feeling sufficiently exhausted after the days work that passing out in her room seemed appealing, but with a vague malaise still in the background of her mind, she decided the distraction of company was probably better. Whilst the lively conversation of Hoshiko, Pyra and Teodora certainly constituted a distraction, the difference in their ages wasn't negligible, and sometimes she preferred the company of pilots who didn't make her feel... old. Spinning off her chair, she pulled on her grey combat fatigue jacket and followed after the two. As she walked, she realised that whilst she might be getting in on a cool underground drinking sesh (they had those back in the evacuation camps, or at least she had heard of them), she might also have overlooked some covert ploy by Xuan-Yu and Elise to nonchalantly sneak away on a date. Was that possible? Did they know eachother that well? What was the policy on office romances, anyway? As she entered the hanger and saw Elise and Xuan-Yu stood by the drone aircraft, her latter suspicion grew, and she felt slightly embarassed about the prospect of becoming a third wheel (or third rotor, in this case). "Oh--uh... I didn't realise you were going somewhere. Am I interrupting, or...?"</s>

<|description|>Louisa Faye * Age: 23 * Gender: Female * Appearance: An tall young woman with short fair hair (apparently cut by herself or otherwise cut badly by someone else), a pale complexion and dull blue eyes. Her build is angular and muscular, with any fat that might have gone towards a charming feminine physique ruthlessly utilized elsewhere. * Personality: Louisa (or 'Lou' as she is more commonly known) is approachable, straightforward, and rational in her demeanor, but internally she is haunted by a constant feeling of malaise and dissonance with regards to the path her life has taken, as if her mind has never quite caught up to the massive and traumatic changes of the last five years (i.e. the world ending, moving to the other side of the world, and becoming an experimental bio-weapon), or as if by some vague yet terrible mistake she has ended up living someone else's story. As a result, she can appear distant, or uninterested, or forgetful, and it can take a while for others to make an impression on her. In a practical sense, this resulted in her scoring below average on the psychometric tests of leadership and psychostability issued during her induction to the mechframe programme. * History: Louisa grew up in an utterly unremarkable and featureless housing development somewhere in the English midlands. At 18, she was working part-time as an agricultural worker, whilst her few friends had left to attend university elsewhere in the country, and looking with anxiety towards a decidedly uninteresting future. Needless to say, her plans of small-town angst were cut short when the Warped appeared, and disaster after disaster after disaster followed. Her family was not among those lucky enough to be at the front of the queue of evacuees awaiting resettlement, and after almost two years of delays and confusion they ended up stuck in a temporary housing settlement when an outbreak of Warped swept through. Louisa was seriously injured, but not fatally, and with the queue of evacuees infront of them substantially shortened by the attack, within a week her family was abled to receive settlement inside the Greater London Fortified Zone. With the medical services under massive strain, Louisa was given rushed and largely inadequate triage surgery for her wounds, and kicked out with little more than a dose of antibiotics and a prayer. Almost miraculously - or, in hindsight, suspiciously - she seemed to recover successfully with incredible speed, and disappeared into the obscurity of the desperate millions clining onto civilization. Two years later, whilst receiving an X-ray for a fractured rib she received whilst working as a labourer on the city walls, she was surprised when a squad of men resembling a SWAT team in business suits unceremoniously black-bagged her and tossed her into emergency military quarantine. It turned out that whatever doctor had triaged her two years previously had not noticed, or at least not considered, the Echidna parasite well-established but apparently dormat in her body. The following months - was it a year now? - passed as a blur, as after threats of jailtime, medical experimentation, and exile were thrown around, Louisa met with a woman representing a Japanese organization launching some kind of scholarship programme targetted at rare parasitized but stable humans. She offered protection, evacuation and specialist training to Louisa, with apparently no strings attached. With weeks of isolation and a lifetime of boredom pressing on her mind, it was the easiest choice she had ever made. --- * Skills: Louisa does not have many party tricks. She had few hobbies before the end of the world, and fewer after. Her main penchant is her raw physical potential, possessing a strong naturally frame trained by (at this point) years of labour and occassional contact rugby with her local evacuee community team. In a professional capacity as a mechframe pilot, this makes her a reliable and competitive training partner. In an everyday capacity, this means she can... get the lids off jars with ease, carry heavy bags, and move furniture without any trouble. * Chi-Mechframe: Grendel + Appearance: + Abilities: The Grendel Chi-Mechframe was developed using a core taken from a monstrous, heavily armoured wyrm-like Warped, inspiring a bulky design with high-density plating. The frame is not designed to be maneuverable or fast, instead opting for sheer mass and defensive capabilities, allowing the user to pull off a high impact charge once or twice to insert them into the center of combat, and then giving them the protection to endure staying in place afterwards. In line with this, Louisa has trained in a static, highly defensive style of combat, opting to tie down enemies, get in their way, and otherwise provide openings for her teammates to do their thing. Grendel comes with an attuned heavy glaive, that can be thrown at short range and recalled to the mechframe. The glaive itself is configurable, extending either to its default glaive-configuration or retracting to form a cleaver sword. In essence, Grendel is uncomplicated and elegant, harnessing the Warped power of a Chi-Mechframe into a classic suit of frontline armour. * Other:: N/A.</s> <|message|>Xuan-Yu Lang Wait, Elise was actually going to get changed? Xuan-Yu rolled his eyes as she turned to leave, still rocking his own t-shirt and sweatpants combination. Maybe he just…won't expect her to be able to pick up any zingers from now on. What a serious kiddo. He scratched his head as she went off, leaving him with Louisa, who also seemed more than a little confused. "Naw, three's a party n all," Xuan-Yu replied. "I'm sure the folks downstairs wouldn't mind seeing another pretty face either." Verdict was still out there whether Lou was pretty, of course, but that wasn't the sort of jab he was planning on throwing right after a fight. Whatever thoughts he had, however, was disrupted by the near-catastrophic entrance of Hoshiko. The older man grimaced at the way she contorted her body in order to stabilize the boxes. At his age, considering his occupation, he was already feeling the youthfulness seep out of his own spine, so to watch that happen, her lower back bending out almost like a 'C' was painful, to say the least. He let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding, before helping receive the boxes of fried chicken with Elise. "Careful with your feet, wrecking ball," Xuan-Yu said. "Don't wanna be that top-heavy yet." With the VTOL loaded up and the others ready enough to go, all that remained was the hanger door. There was a spot of tension, of course. A hanging question mark as to whether the door would actually open or not, but Xuan-Yu was willing to take a hit his cross-country brothers: if it didn't open, it would open once Deathstalker kickstarted it. So they descended, the floating elevator taking the most direct route to the airfields that had been cleared out by the Japanese forces beforehand, with Xuan-Yu doing his due diligence with announcing codes and locations beforehand. With new advancements in how scouting functioned in the post-Warped world, security cameras being around the perimeter and surveillance drones being used to establish wider autonomous patrols meant that most who were on-duty and off-duty were more or less concentrated in the same camp. Convenient enough for his own purposes then. Night shifts were shitty enough. And of course, the first person they met was in fact quite shitty! While Elise fumbled with the introduction, Xuan-Yu opened up the back of the aircraft instead, allowing just a whiff of the still-warm chicken to waft out. He poked his head out from behind the VTOL next, a sardonic grin on his face. "Evening motherfuckers. The girls made too much chicken and no one even drinks up there. Airsickness and all, yeah? Anyhow, the big boss had the bright idea to send 'em off to the troops here, and here we are. Also super awkward to have just bounced the moment the operation ended, even with commander's orders n everything, so these lovely ladies here wanted to shake hands and chat with the boys too." He shot a wink at Elise and Louisa. "Anyhow, that's the gist of it. There a kitchen you've got for me to set up and portion things out in? Ain't enough to feed the whole army if it's a first-come-first-served deal, y'see."</s> <|message|>Norika Dulac Norika watched the others. It was good to see that they were in high spirits. Despite their differences, they seemed to gel well. However she still had her doubts about that pretty-boy Xuan-Yu. While Fukada was someone Norika might lose her temper with, she seemed kind enough. Maybe a little stupid, but kind. Xuan-Yu was definitely the type she'd "accidentally" shoot out in the field if he pushed her buttons enough. The others, though, seemed to be good eggs. Kim, Faye, and Constantina were solid and dependable; she hadn't worked with Drakos enough to form an opinion; and though Constanza rubbed Norika the wrong way, she could tolerate her antics. She ate slowly, wondering if she could get access to any of her teammates' files. It would be a concise way of getting to know about them more, and she wouldn't have to paste a fake smile on her face to talk with them. Definitely sounded like a win-win to Norika. "You'll never make friends thinking like that." Her mother's voice. Words came back on occasion, usually when Norika didn't want them to. But in this case she had a point. Once dinner was wrapped up, she'd go to the most approachable first.</s>

<|message|>Louisa Faye Stepping out of the relatively cramped confines of the VTOL into the dark expanse of the army encampment, Louisa was now roughly 75% certain she hadn't third wheel'd her way into a date between Lang and Elise. Although, either way, she thought, with Hoshiko there, that would make a fourth wheel. Wouldn't that make our social vehicle that much more stable? Maybe that isn't how the analogy is supposed to work. Wait, what am I doing... Snapping out of it, Louisa realised someone had received them, and turned her attention towards the conversation as Akio began speaking. She smiled faintly as he spoke, feeling slightly overwhelmed and disappointed that her hope of relaxing with an after-work drinking sesh had manifested into... uh... more work. Still, it was interesting to return to something resembling reality, after what felt like far too long pinging between the two extremes that were the gratuitous luxury of the Horizon and the adrenaline-numbed madness of combat. Looking around, she felt strangely nostalgic, as the features of the evacuation camps she had spent most of her post-warped life in were recognisable all around her. The smell, the sounds, the constant juxtaposition people trying to feel at home and remain human in an environment that was by its nature transient and alienating. It had a certain 'soul' to it that was absent abord the Horizon. On the other hand, the fact that a spartan military encampment on the frontlines reminded her of the evacuation camps - where thousands of civilians and their families spent years living - highlighted just how awful the situation had been for her back then, and how awful it continued to be for most people, and how absurdly fortunate she had been to randomly stumble into the precious security of the chi-mechframe programme. As Xuan-yu finished speaking, despite feeling somewhat awkward about being associated with his very much no-nonsense introduction, she found herself agreeing - the least they could do for these people was hand out some god-damned fried chicken. She bowed slightly - that's what you did, right? - and held out her hand to Aiko to shake it. "I'm Louisa. Pleased to meet you, um, Kougami-san. Is it okay for us to be here?"</s>