"Actually, Shoganate, our nation's have fought these being in the past. If you do not contribute then it may lower the effectiveness of our defensive efforts," Felreich stated the Sha'an Tzien ruler. They would need as many men as possible in order to deal with these beings.

@Lauder

"I'm sorry, but my men will guard my borders against more immediate threats, like your own armies." He says, his tone filled with scorn.

The lady looked straight at the Toran warrior. She might have been the fairest being ever lived. A face so beautiful that when Castor laid eyes on it the first time he almost expected it to radiate. Yet she hid it under a hood for most of the time. “I hide my face not because of anyone here. I fear no warrior. Nobody in this hall can even touch me if I would not wish it. But I thank you for your nobility. What is your name, young man?” the fair lady asked the Toran warrior. Her voice so gentle, like a young mother talking to her baby.

King Castor drew the token. And for the entire hall he announced that that the Vaalgardi crown prince was allowed a second chance in the next fight. Swiftly the boards were lifted. Tomorrow it would be a joust. The opponents were:
- Lord Bornetall VS the Airgaillne warrior who won against the Vaalgardi prince
- Merias Bornetall VS the Toran Warrior
- The Vaalgardi crown Prince VS Elias Sylvanas
- The Airgiallne warrior princess VS Keiran Bornetall

Elias, seeing the uninterested glance, slammed his knife’s point into the table. Which gained him a stern look from his father. Castor whispered something in the ear of a servant. Soon Fendar, the Reaver Knight Captain appeared and had the annoying task of escorting Elias out. Who thankfully didn’t make too much of a scene.

Aline had had clear orders. Getting married to one of Northwood’s sisters was the job of her brothers. Elias failed miserably, but Imrik was having success. Her task to was to talk with the other countries’ their warriors. See which one would also be suitable. Instead she took up the seat of Elias who left and started talking and gossiping with king Markus’ youngest sister. Occasionally seeing the youngest brother and blushing.

The feast was only late in the night concluded, and everyone took to their bedrooms. The following day, after midday the grand jousting tournament was about to start as King Castor entered his booth. This time, without the hooded lady.

@Legion02

"My name is Ur'Aghan my lady, you can call me Ghan if you wish. My name in your language should translate to hurricane." He says with a chuckle.

"My lady, even though I am no knight, I wish to dedicate my fight tomorrow in your honor, no matter against who I fight, I will win!

The Airgiallne princess, now went after Elias and whispered in his ear something that should drive him to win in the next battle tomorrow.

"If you win, I will allow you to court, my prince." And she left to her quarters, only throwing him another glance before entering the quarters.

---

In the first battle were the Airgiallne warrior and Lord Bornetall. The Warrior had a beautiful brown mare, his armor was a simple but tough and his lance was made of oak. Lord Bornetall rode in on a black charger, his armor was black as the night and the lance was made from oak painted black.

The two lower their visors and charge their horses. Both lances hit home, however, only the Airgiallne warrior is pushed off his horse.

Frustrated, the warrior leaves leaving his horse there to be taken by his squire. Meanwhile Lord Bornetall bowed to the crowd with only a few cheers being heard around.

---

The second round was unfair from the get go. The first to enter was Merias, wearing the same armor as his father and a similar horse. The Ur'agahan however, entered on a massive brown warhorse, with only his leather armor on him and a large pine lance.

The two horses charge ahead and meet up in the middle. Both lances meet again, but the result is obvious, Merias was thrown several feet back off his horse by the sheer force of the hit.

At first the crowd went mute before cheering and throwing all sorts of flowers towards the Ghan. He only grasps one of the flowers, a beautiful purple wildflower and searches for the woman he had seen yesterday at the feast and hands her the flower.

---

The next fight is met with deafening cheers as two the two princes enter the field. Both enter on white chargers wearing gleaming and shining silver armor, both having a oak lance.

Whilst the two horses charge, Elias remembers what the Airgiallne princess had told him. In the last moment, he moves his spear to aim for the shoulder of the Vaalgradi prince, unbalancing him, causing him to fall of the horse.

Elias, then, went deaf for the people's cheers and only took one red rose and handed it to the Airgiallne princess, who was preparing for her own joust.

---

The last battle was yet again met with cheers from the crowds, it was split however, the women were cheering for Keiran while the men were cheering for the princess.

Both had about the same equipment, black armor, black oak lance and a black charger. The two nodded at each other and then charged at one another. The result was of the clash was unexpected, both had falls of their horses at the same time, however, before anything else could be decided, Keiran knelt in front of the princess and gave her a white rose and said.

"I forfeit for you, milady, may you win for both of us!" He said in a polite tone.

---

"Hmm, so we have, Lord Bornetall, Ur'aghan, the Toran Warrior, your son Elias and the young princess." He said. "My lord, I bet ten gold coins that your son will end up against the princess!" King Markus said with a chuckle.

@Mardox

"Unless you have the blood of these Shadows within your veins, I highly doubt that they'll do anything to you other than try to kill you." the Grandmaster says in a troubled tone. "Though maybe..." he says and suddenly realizes something and says to Nieldun. "After the meeting's done, could stay a bit more, my lord, I have a question or two to ask you."

"Well, if that is all, I must go. I have a nation to attend to and someone to keep my eyes on," Felriech said, casting a gaze on the shogunate. With that he got up and simply left without another word. Anqallyt would need to start trading with others a bit more so that it could increase its riches. Though that would need to be at a later date.

Vermiculus nodded and made his way to leave, "Farewell good people, I must leave as well. I have soldiers to train and coin to raise. Till we meet next." He hopped upon his horse and made his way home.

@Brithwyr

Several tribal messengers arrive from Nashal, the demons of the Czernobog(The Nightmare Lands) have begun their slow but steady march, the message is simple:

"March, noble Khan(title of tribe leaders), go into the kingdoms, and see if we'll be welcome there, if not, take your army and sweep into their puny kingdoms where we'll make our own kingdoms!" Signed, The Great Khan Temujin.

"Khan Isanda, we must take them by storm, there is no way they will receive us, let us attack them and be done with!" One of your tribal advisors.

(Your army is basically like the Mongols, OP cavalry.)

@Lauder

Back home, nothing had changed, though rumors are heard in Mtol Daerine that demons have been spotted exiting the Nightmare Lands, though they were weak ones and more often than not they were alone. This could still mean bad news.

(The leader is called shogun, Shogunate is the title of Sha'an Tzien, you know, like your territory is called a Kingdom.)

@Catchphrase

And home he is greeted by a Domani messenger smiling at him. "Hello, my king, I am Misadau Noyan from the Veitha tribe of what you call Kalak Doman." He says. "I have come to negotiate with you."

As a precaution, all guards are to be on high alert around Mtol Dærine, plus an order of 1,000 armor and weapon of Living Steel is to placed in an effort to combat these forces should they appear in larger numbers. Other than that, trade offers go to all kingdoms to see if anyone would like to set trade routes.

Nieldun nods "I will answer whatever questions I can. I presume this is about the other threat that rises to the South?"

@Mardox

"About that too." The Grandmaster says and takes Nieldun in another room, alone. "I need you to tell me one thing and I want you to answer me truthfully, are you truly a half-demon?" He asks bluntly.

Nieldun looks surprised by the Grandmaster's frankness. "Well, yes I am. How widespread are these rumors exactly? I'd rather not have to deal with crusaders determined to destroy me based on my parentage."

@Mardox

"No one would dare, your heritage, your family saved humanity." He said. "Only I know for now, after all, we have to be aware of our surroundings when nobody is."

"Anyway, what I wanted to speak of, Shadow Beasts are highly cautious around demons from what I know, even imps. Anyway, I thought maybe you could test something with that Shadow Fiend have in there to prove it."

Nieldun nods at the first part "It is always wise to be knowledgeable of what goes on nearby and even far away."

He looks rather curious at the second. "That is quite interesting. What do you want me to test?"

@Mardox

"Once everyone is gone, I would like you to approach the cage and see if the Shadow Fiend reacts differently than just pure anger." He says. "If it's true, then... hmm, we might have something."

"That would be quite beneficial if we could find that it reacts differently to those with demon blood. I'm guessing your plans depend on the sort of reaction? I'll gladly assist in the experiment."

@Mardox

"Yes, I need to know if they fear demons, or if they merely react like that because they've never seen a demon." He says. "Well, follow me, I will dismiss the meeting and we can test it out."
He says, going into the other room where the other lords were.

"Well, thank you very much for attending, my lords, if you have troops to send, then we'll gladly accept them and feed them." He says and bows curtly at the remaining lords.

All of them waste no time in getting up and leaving, however, the masked King of Airgiallne stood and stared at Nieldun for a few seconds before getting up and leaving as well.

"Approach the cage, my lord." The Grandmaster says. "It won't ever break out of that cage."

The lady receiving Ur’agahan’s flower smiled as she took the flower, and kept it close to her. She was standing among the public, still hooded for everyone. She was even amazed Ur’agahan found her. Yet also relieved that he did.

“I will keep you on that.” Chuckled king Castor. That night, there was no feast. But it was apparent that the activity within the castle would not lessen. More food and ale was brought in. Entire pigs were herded into the tiny room next to the kitchen. Where the pigs would be slaughtered. For those who’d want to mingle with the common folks, the main square of Euraith turned into a drunken party as prince Merias won his joust. When the clock struck midnight, the challenge board was altered to show the new duels.
- The Toran Warrior VS the Airgiallne warrior princess
- Lord Bornetall VS Elias Sylvanas

The following day, the second last challenge, a melee duel, would be fought before midday. So the final fight could be finished by the evening and the greatest feast could be given in honor of the victor. King Castor entered his booth once more. This time the mysterious lady was no longer dressed in cloak and hood. Instead she wore a dress so beautiful that it made even Aline jealous. The dress was emerald green, trimmed with gold. Her beautiful red hair adorned by the single wild flower. When she took her seat, still behind the king, the first duel could start.

Once Nieldun was sure the others had all left, he let his guard down and allowed his parentage to truly shine. His purple eyes became glowing red, magnificent curling red horns extended from his head, batlike wings emerged and his teeth became fangs. He approached the cage and looked the beast right in the eye.