King Fabricus,
I'm rather interested to hear what you have to say. As for any bounty hunters, I was planning to give them to Archy. Rest assured, the bounty I placed has been called off as well.
-King Nieldun Gildedtongue
And so the various nobles of Nastrond dressed in their finest, but underneath wore armor of Stygian Iron and swords of the same. They did not plot treachery but would be prepared if it showed its face.

@Catchphrase

The soldiers bow to Fabricus before leaving, though they are not all that pleased about things. A few minor riots pop up in some cities, but they quickly dispersed without any intervention. Even so, this could be a sign of things to come.

Fabricus had Ursus brought before him. He then had the halls cleared, leaving only him, and Ursus. "Well Ursus. You have two choices. You can avenge my father, despite the fact that e would've gotten everyone killed just for his pride. Or, you can become my top advisor in all things, wait and see when I am at my weakest, and then try and take the throne for yourself. So, would you rather be rash, or patient?"

@Catchphrase

"I am old, so trying to take the throne would be useless." He says. "The reason I pulled out my sword, because it was my duty as his servant, even if he was a bit crazy, to serve him until I died." He says. "I will not attempt to challenge you for the throne, however, I will go into exile, my king, with only my sword and my horse with me for I have failed my duty as a servant of your father."

With that, he bows and waits for Fabricus's response, if he would allow him to go into exile.

Fabricus smiled, "I suppose it's no use me trying to convince you to stay. I like you Ursus, I always considered you more a father than Lucius ever was. Go, live in exile, but know hat you are always welcome." He got up from the throne, went over to Ursus and hugged him, "At the very least, promise to return when you are on your death bed. I'll give you a funeral that even the Gods will envy."

@Catchphrase

"Nothing will stop me from being buried in my homeland, your Highness." He says and leaves the palace. As soon as he gets out, however, several hundred soldiers voluntarily follow him. Your officers and army are glad that you solved this situation peacefully and will now fight slightly better than usual.

As Nieldun was in his throne room, waiting for his children to get ready, a disheveled priest barged in. Normally, Nieldun would have him thrown out but the poor fellow looked rather distressed. "Your Highness, I beg your pardon for barging in announced but someone has left a mutilated cat corpse on the altar of the gods in the Great Temple! I know you are not a spiritual man but please look into the matter! The people worry it will offend the mighty ones!" Nieldun massaged his temples, it was the second time something like this had occurred before a feast. "Very well, I'll look into it, now away with you." He then waited until he was sure the priest was out of shouting distance before thundering "NASVELL!"

Nasvell was scolded for toying with the priests so and forbidden from going to the feast despite his excuse "But father, I was sacrifing the cat to the dark gods!" Which Nieldun knew was a lie as Nasvell cared nothing for deities. On the other hand Nasvell, had many traits that made him a competent leader. As such, he would be left in charge during the feast and was permitted to refer to himself as "Temporary Supreme Overlord of the Nastrondi Empire".

In between human wars and waiting to see if anyone else accepted the invitation to the feast, Nieldun's mind turned to idly contemplating an invasion of the Shadowlands to permanently put down the threat of the Shadows. Then, he contemplated it not so idly. He ordered for a few Guardian Devils to go test what fear factor they had against the beasts and sent for Archy. Once Archy arrived, Nieldun asked a simple question "Why are the Shadows afraid of Demons?"

@Mardox

"I don't really know, I mean I have never seen of those things in my life. But if I had to guess, it's probably because we can kill them easier than humans can..." Archy says contemplating. "What if their afraid of the dragon as well?"

"Hmm, we'll have to ask the Tzieni about that one..." Nieldun said. "Might as well go talk with the new Grandmaster. I'm still rather irritated with the Tzieni for their poorly timed invasion." "Thanks for the suggestion."

@Mardox

"By the way, will you really be against the demon invasion?" Archy
asks. "Don't get me wrong, I betrayed the demons all that time ago to join your sole surviving ancestor, but maybe they'd let you live along with your people..."

---

Back at the royal palace.

"My prince." Lord Dragonstar said, bowing courteously. "I know that your father has left you in charge of the kingdom while he's gone, but that means that you must hear out all your vassal lords and people's requests as a king should." He says. "So we have a lot of things to handle." He says as the gates of the palace in Kuturka open.

"I'm thinking I may have to. However, I am going to try diplomacy first. Besides, what sort of promise is 'let us live'? Better to resist and take the chances."
--
At the royal palace. Nasvell nods "I will of course attend to the issues, what is the first manner of business?"

@Mardox

Archy sighs before saying. "It will be weird seeing other full demons again. I haven't seen one in over half a million years." He said. "It will be fun smashing them apart, though!"

---

"First, Lord Marthall of Dolgathasar has come to give their oath of allegiance to the king, which is now you." He says. "Also, Lord Braveshine should be joining us soon."

In front of Nasvall came a man in his late 40's accompanied by a young man in his early 20's, both knelt to him and awaited to see if he would receive them.

"I wonder if any in Czernibog are sympathetic to humans. Well, regardless, there will be plenty of violence for us all to enjoy."
--
Nasvell was delighted that Lord Marthall had waited until now, it made him feel like an actual King! He cared deeply for his father and didn't want anything bad to happen to him but the world was a harsh place and eventually his father would join dear departed mother in Vuldír's realm... Or more realistically Blámesh's. The point was, when that day came after a period of mourning, he would be ready to take the throne. Until then, he would substitute for father on occasions like this. He chuckled to himself, he had sacrificed that cat to his patron Grimnos praying for the chance to feel like a king without his father being harmed and part of his punishment for "terrorizing the clergy" was to learn responsibility by holding down the fort as substitute King! Of course, the people didn't know he was being punished but that was beside the point. He focused on the task at had and accepted Marshall's vassalhood with the proper ceremony.

@Mardox

Lord Marthall rose up and nodded before saying to Nasva.

"My king, I do not wish to sound disrespectful, but I had imagined you to be older than you currently are." He said his head still bowed down.

"Lord Marthall, please, there are other people waiting in line, so let's not drag this. Lord Marthall nods and leaves the court room.

A group of merchants enter the courts, however, a few guards come up escorting Lord Highmall, who was briefly surprised when he saw Nasvell on the throne.

"Did ya kill the king as that punk from Tar Sequinus?" He asks, not bothering to show courtesy towards him. "Or is he gone somewhere?"

Before Marthall leaves Nasvell remarks "I'm the prince who is filling in for the king."
When confronted by Highmall's blunt statement, Nasvell blinks in surprise "My father is off attending a diplomatic feast, in the meantime, I am filling in as a trial run to see if I would be a good substitute if more matters abroad required his presence and attention. Good to know you have been keeping up on global news though, it's always important to know what others are up to." Nasvell strokes his chin which sports a small goatee. "I'm not really sure what to think of the 'punk from Tar Sequinus' as patricide is an awful thing but his father was raving like a madman and making the most disgusting threats." Nasvell frowns and his eyes are briefly shot through with red flickers as he thinks about what the old king had planned for him and his family. Especially his sister, death would be merciful compared to that sort of thing. "Anyways, I'm sure you came to do more than just ask if I am a patricidal monster. What matter requires my attention?"

"The matters of selling your living steel." Spoke Ambassador Rationabili, "The new King of Tar Sequinus is eager to lay his hands on your metals, and even eager to test it in battle. And since you are acting on behalf of your father, I was curious if we could agree to both an amount of weapons and armour you able to make, and a reasonable price."

@Mardox

"At first I wanted to pledge to your father for being a beast on the battlefield, but you're not him, now are you?" He asks stroking his beard. "You, what do you think of this boy?" He asks lord Dragonstar. "After all, you're the one who received the order to slaughter my army."

Lord Dragonstar raises a brow and says. "He's been groomed like his father before him to rule this nation like his father has." Lord Dragonstar answers. "I'm sure, he would've been able to send the orders to slaughter your army as I already have."

Lord Highmall looks at Dragonstar, then at Nasvell before saying.

"I've come to pledge myself to you, your highness, but don't take it wrong, I am not your servant, I am your equal." He said with a slight growl before bowing down to Nasvell.

@Claw2k11
"But of course." Said Nasvell, seeing Highmall's pride and deciding not to fight that battle. "I'll let my father know of your loyalty to House Gildedtongue, I'm sure he'll be delighted that a respected warrior such as yourself has decided to join the realm of Nastrond."

That day, an army from Airgiallne sallies out to the Natayn Domani Camp during the night and starts fires all around the camp and some of the buildings, scaring the horses inside the camp and sending them rampant.

Seconds later, 25.000 men enter the camp and begins slaughtering the soldiers there and where they can, they capture the civilians. When the Domani begin to rally under their Khan and try to put up any resistance, a massive beast appears, though the Domani do not know what it is, the people of the kingdoms would recognize this as a Shadow Beast.

It's mere presence cuts out all lights in the camp and begins systematically killing all the soldiers there leaving the Khan alive, however, giving him immense pain and nightmares. By the time the sun's up, the camp was torched to the ground, it's army killed and it's people captured.

The author of this new slaughter was the King of Airgiallne himself, Lord Maekos Shadowtongue.

Decisive Airgiallne Victory

Casualties:

Natayn Tribe: 30.000 lancer cavalry, 25.000 sword cavalry, 20.000 shock cavlary, 30.000 archer cavalry.

Airgiallne: None