It was official, she did not like Grendrcik. She frowned as he went on and on about his disinterest in the rest of them. History was one of the things that gave people something to strive for in the face of adversity. The way he said it, she didn't feel she could trust him not to just abandon the rest of them if his mood soured. Failed in her hunt? He'd also failed to put anything but doubt in Ayse's mind.

Siph... Siph on the other hand... She immediately liked him. Even the grouchy wolf liked him, and he didn't seem to like anybody. The way he talked to Nove like a person and his humble bow to Marianne. They were the signs of a leader in his own right and just plain a good person. She was thrilled to have him along.

Though she did wish he hadn't entered like an avalanche, as her slightly burned hand could attest. Summoning flame in a panic wasn't good for anyone. It was... something to work on. She'd apply some balm to it later. If they were heading into the rifts soon she wanted to conserve her mana.

"Sir Siph," she wasn't sure what the actual formality for this situation was and ended up on a somewhat sheepish wave, "Noquin has told me a lot about you. I'm looking forward to seeing if all the stories were true. I can say that you've live up so far. Have you ever been to the rift we're going to? Do you have any tips or suggestions outside of the obvious?"

@Zelosse
Marianne couldn't help but blush at the man's sudden display of valor. She certainly didn't expect that from a battle-hardened veteran like him.

"My, thank you, Sir," she responded. "Please do not apologize, for you have done nothing wrong. I can see that you are quite fond of Novella, which is a sentiment I share," she said as she glanced at the young man.

Entangled in the clutter of the wooden chair, young Nove had been all but shocked by the blowback. It was but a tap, a simple clap of proven comrades… and yet… and yet it had sent him flying. He first let his thoughts roam to his longsword. A shuffle of his body had confirmed, through various small but highly sensitive sounds and movements, that it hadn’t been busted. Relief left him in the form of a sigh.

Good, I don’t have any way of buying another.

Sir Siph hoisted him back to his feet effortlessly. It made him feel weightless in a manner to be lifted up so easily. And then the most amazing thing happened, Sir Siph, had accepted his question and granted him true knowledge. Knowledge that he had felt deep-within resonating with his motivations. New or not, they spoke with one another and created a blissful reaction inside of him.

Once it was done and his chest-plate was printed in blood, his forehead dotted too, Nove had gleamed with admiration for the man in front of him. Without willing them, his arms were sliding forth, his rough fingers clenched and flinching from some mysterious strength.

Strength of will maybe? he guessed.

Would it be okay to hug him?

Nove kept himself from doing so, deciding that it would make the moment awkward and clumsy. Instead, he marveled and cherished the moment that had occurred, stashing it in a vault of memories that had rarely been touched by time. As he strode from the clutter, he held an almost child-like smile on his face.

Marianne’s words had touched him in a way he hadn’t expected either. He had never experienced such feelings. Even a warrior such as his uncle, who led an entire outpost of soldiers, had not inspired such vigor from him. Because of her lone sentence, Nove had felt more certain that his blade for the whole of the team more than ever.

“Oh man, I’m sooo excited now. Sir Siph, when can we move out? I want to step out onto that summit as soon as possible.” For the first time since his introduction, a kind of springiness was being displayed throughout his fit body. A innate flowing that rippled his form as he bounced on his tip-toes. His bronze eyes were afire with adventure.

@Hammerman @zelosse

Though her expression changed little, Alya was bemused by the tussle that unfortunately damaged the guilds wall. Certainly the most famous adventurer among those outside the Guild, Siph was no less than a living legend. There was no doubt that despite the height difference between Siph and the Lycan, the former's ‘presence’ matched the later. No, rather, it exceeded it. The denmother was more than proof of that. Any rumor about Siph’s amazing strength gained validity in the half-Sylphs mind after having seen exceed it in a wrestling match. Certainly an interesting fellow.

Still, she did not forget to watch the others as this odd but hilarious situation unfolded. As one would expect, the Lycan and Orc made their way out of the building in short order. Weird to her, the Lycan had reacted more poorly to the situation than she had thought. He really must have a one track mind. Just how much human was left in Mister Grendrick? And almost as important, which exact part of that human remained? Perhaps they could relate better than she had expected, though not in attitude. The humanity he lacked showed, which would inevitably lead to conflict within their group down the road. Alya was content to exist within the background, but to be a leader is to burden yourself. The half-sylph had no doubts about his potential as a warrior, but this situation was still bound to one day become delicate.

Shortly Grendrick had left and people began to crowd about Siph and his companion, they being the...dominating figures of the room that they were. She made sure to give the conversation some attention, but didn’t rise like the others. Instead, she went about preparing a list of basic provisions for their group that could last a few days. Alya was sure it likely wouldn’t last that long, but being careful was better than dying. Keeping your strength up on the battlefield was no joke.

“I’ll front the cost for our basic supplies. If it's fine, I'd like to buy them when we make our way to the Church.” She spoke up just loud enough to be heard by the rather enthusiastic group, list of supplies in hand. After all, you can't go into a dungeon without the most important tool for any adventurer; rope.

The only alternative to buying their own was relying on the guild for supplies, but she’d rather inspect the teams things herself. Siph made them a target, and there was no shortage of unsavory types in the city. She also didn’t want to stop some of the more impatient members to inspect things just before entering the rift. It wouldn’t set well with the Orc or Lycan in all likelihood, the later more likely so.

Marianne noticed out of the corner of her eyes Fariha bonding with the giant white bear. She was definitely impressed with how courageous she was. She herself wouldn't dare to get that close with such a huge creature, in fear of accidentally provoking it to attack and maul her by one wrong move. She had always been a distance fighter after all.

And adding to her surprise, the bear welcomed the elf wholeheartedly, allowing her to rest on its furs.

It was quite an adorable sight.

"That would be really helpful, Miss Alya," Marianne said when she heard her declaration. "Though I had thought that the guild would provide us with supply, at least for our first departure." Marianne eyed the half-slyph as she spoke to her. She still couldn't quite make out her temperament, though she seemed to be the loner type. As an introvert herself, she knew how bothersome it could be when people kept trying to start a conversation with you while you just wanted to be left alone. So she decided she would not press her any further and let her off to do her own thing.

Her attention then turned to the young knight. She could see how excited he was for the upcoming adventure. She agreed that excitement was good, but it must be tempered by a cool and rational head, or else you would just launch yourself into danger. So she made a mental note to watch over him, making sure to stop him before he did anything reckless.

"If that is all," Marianne announced to the group, "then I would ask to be excused for the night. My insects are already starting to get a little rowdy, you see, demanding for their dinner." Marianne smiled. She could indeed feel her little friends starting to gnaw on her skin, making her feel quite itchy. Of course, scratching the itch wasn't a solution since first, it wouldn't be very ladylike, and second, it would scare off her insects, making them even rowdier.

Sylvia saw the scene unfold in front of her -- the man crashing through the wall while wrestling some beast, talking to the beast, and then… petting the beast?

Must be one rowdy pet.

At that moment she had drawn her dagger so quickly she accidentally cut her palm, a trickle of blood from her stinging scratch streaming down the blade. She hid it back up her sleeve, feeling the cold metal return to its place.

She stood back away from everyone as they began to talk to the man, who happened to be a diamond-rank guild member.

Strange… a man of such experience was going to help us? This place certainly values its newcomers.

She remembered her time at Karadun; Assassins were highly sought after by both clients and counter-assassins alike. There was no academy of assassins people attended: People either died, or survived.

It made her relax a bit more. The good news was that at least these people weren’t trying to get them killed. The bad news was that the things they were going to kill were certainly more resilient than humans.

She looked back around the place to get a sense of what everyone was doing. The first thing she noticed, strangely, was a hooded and robed girl who also stood at the perimeter of the group. She noted her temperament; her movements, no matter how slight they were, could reveal much about her personality.

A slight darting of the eyes, as if analyzing potential targets and escape routes, her hands kept out of plain sight, as if she were readying a weapon for a potential attack. Her utterly calm demeanor.

Ah, a fellow assassin. While Sylvia specialized in staying out of plain sight and striking when most vulnerable, this woman seemed to be the more… combative type.

Good, I won’t have to be the only one sneaking behind the enemy.

Fariha paused for a moment to see the Denmother's response. It didn't come off as aggressive or even cautious.. Well of course it wouldn't be cautious of a tiny elf like her. She slowly inched forward, her hand seeming to disappear into the luxurious white fur of the Dire Bear. It wasn't long before the wood elf had her entire body pressed against the soft fur of the Denmother. It was pure bliss. Fariha closed her eyes as she basked in the softness; the coat filled with the scent of the forest, intertwined with the smell of the mountains and places she couldn't begin to describe.

"It is an honour.. Denmother.." She whispered in a happy tone.

The forest spirits within the young elf also wanted to revel in the magnificent coat of the Denmother, for they too knew of the legends that surrounded this figure. The rings on Fariha's hand glowed, spreading and enveloping her body in a soft, faint light. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for the young elf, the soft white fur had conquered all sense of urgency and time. She was out like a candle light on a windy day, a warm smile on her face as she fell asleep.

---

@Zelosse

@berd

Turning to the new speaker, he was immediately beset by the same overwhelming feelings of attraction he had felt for the first young lady. EvErykah lass in this group radiated their own form of beauty and it made his heart ache, and roused other feelings. If he wasn't the man he was, Siph mused quietly, he might even have been jealous of young Nove and offer to trade places!

Dipping into the same bow as he had previously, he performed the proper and respectful opening interaction that was common between a noble and a peasant who basked in their graces as if it were the sun itself. A gentle kiss upon her hand, and a bowed head.
For miss Temer, it was because he had noticed she was not only 'spoken for' he had realized, but because she was a member of the church. There might have been a time when this fair maiden had mended a wound that could have ended his legend. Such a thing, reality or not, was worth his respect.

"My advice is to survey your surroundings and know the enemy. A dark hallway or tunnel might contain more surprises than you would like. As for which rift? I do not know as of yet! We will see what is presented to us by the weaver upon the bridge and tackle it as a team no matter what it is!"

Rising to his full stature, answering what other questions he could with honesty but also reminding the asker that knowledge came from experience. Why be handed your answer and fail to understand, when you could uncover the answer firsthand!

"Miss Silverflame? I was told we would be departing within the hour. By all means, all of you included, go to the shops and find what you need. I will be escorting those who come to the infinity gates in exactly one hour."

Glancing back at Meesha, Siph could not contain a smile that nearly took in his ears as he realized the last maiden of the group had found her new favorite bed. How interesting that they shared a place to sleep. With that beast about her, Fariha could easily be described as the safest person in the city.
Would be a shame to disturb her.

In a bit of a hushed whisper, Siph turned to the group. "I will meet you all there. Hour and a half." It would take them time to get there, after all.

Like a father grabbing his new born child, Siph slowly and methodically worked his hands under Farihas head and legs, lifting her effortlessly from the Old White she had taken as a pillow, who began rising to all fours. Like a true mother would, Meesha was quiet as possible and issued a low growl.
Siph placed the peaceful sleeping Fariha on Meeshas back and waved to the group as the pair departed.
To every person they encountered after leaving the room, indeed even the guildhouse and into the street, Siph patiently whispered for others to give Mother and 'daughter' the peace and quiet they wanted.
When Fariha would finally wake, she might find herself already at the tower. Still atop a legend of the forest.

"Understood. I shall be there in an hour," Marianne gave a small nod.

When she walked out of the room, she saw Fariha sleeping soundly on the bear. She smiled once more at the sight. She herself was tempted to feel the fur of the bear as well but she must remind herself that she carried with her many insects that may upset the bear.

She left the guild building, heading straight to her inn.

The inn was a little fancier than your ordinary roadside inn. It had room service for starters, and most people who stayed there were wealthy merchants who came to the city. It was indeed odd for her, an adventurer, to stay there but she preferred the quietness of the place over the more rowdy adventurer-filled inns out there.

Once there, she ordered breakfast, chicken soup with some beef sticks, and told the caretaker to carry it into her room. After waiting for a short five minutes, her food arrived. She kindly thanked the maid who brought them, giving her a generous tip.

After that out of the way, she began undressing herself. Of course, she could order the insects to just come out from under her dress, but with her yet imperfect control, there would still be a couple of insects stuck behind. To make sure that everyone got the food they wanted, she had to take off everything.

With her dress and undergarments lying on the floor, she ordered her insects to eat the food provided in the bowl on the table. Of course, it wasn't her own food. It was the insect food she had bought beforehand. At a higher level, she could just feed them with her own mana, but for now, they had to be fed physically.

She then took her own seat beside the insects, and began eating her own food.

An hour later, as promised, she arrived at the infinity gates.

It wasn't the first time she had been there, since she had inspected the place when she first came to the city. However, it still awed her the second time she saw it. So many adventurers walking to and fro; it almost made her feel lost. And the architecture was certainly impressive. Even she who didn't know anything about building construction could say that. And she could feel the twisting magic pulsing around, making her feel somewhat uneasy.

She looked around. As she went near the tower, she saw the orc sitting on the steps to the tower, with a wine flask on his hand. It seemed he had been drinking while he waited for the group to assemble.

"Ah, greetings. It seems I am the second to arrive," she said with a smile. "I thought Sir Grendrick would already be here. Perhaps he's inside?"

Well, time to grab my things, then.

Sylvia walked down the streets, watching the dirty roads around her. The slum-like area of the city wasn’t nearly as bad as Karadun, but it did bring back some troubling memories. On her left, in an alley, she witnessed three thugs harassing a poor-looking woman, pushing her to the ground, kicking her. Any other person would jump in and try to intervene, but Sylvia knew better. Even if she stopped the three thugs, whoever sent them would simply send another few thugs to find the woman again tomorrow. She would be simply delaying the inevitable. And so, even as the woman’s gaze locked with Sylvia’s, she turned her head away and kept walking, ignoring the sickening beating.

She headed up to the inn she was staying in: An old, decaying, run-down excuse of a building she swore doubled as a public latrine. Bricks were out of place, planks were rotting, and every now and then a shambling drunk exited out of the rusting doorway.

Still, she couldn’t complain: It was better than what she had back home. She walked her way up the creaking steps, and found her way to the door to her room. She stepped inside, locking the door behind her.

A neatish pile of clothes sat on her dusty bed, and were what she planned to wear to the rifts. She quickly undressed, slipping on some clothes that wouldn’t get in the way of a fight (God, she hated dresses).

She didn’t forget to wear the chainmail vest underneath her clothes, which pinched and pulled, but she would happily deal with that rather than a fatal gash. She slipped her knife up her sleeve, checked her things, and headed out.

She stood in front of the infinity gates, away from the bug lady and the orc. Out of habit, she took her knife and began to meticulously sharpen it on a nearby rock, fine tuning the sharper-than-razor-sharp edge. It was a habit she’d gained over the years; You could never predict when a fight would break out.

His hour had passed with all the quickness of a slug-turtle. It strolled by in fragmented, momentary-parts of a second. In the thirty-minutes that it had took him to gather his belongings from his lodging in Apothicus, he was sure a few of the others had already been waiting by the famous Infinity Bridge. Once he had stepped into the area thirty-minutes later, he had to grip the straps of his luggage furiously just to contain his excitement.

With a nod and smile, Nove made sure to greet all of his companions before finding a quiet spot off to the side to await, Sir Siph and the others. While he did he pondered the great hive-labyrinths connected by the famous structure. For a reason, not actually reasonable, Nove unbuckled his longsword, balanced the sheathed tip on the dusty earth, and rested his hands on it's curved cross-guards.

Which one are you in, Skova, he thought to himself, his gaze piercing through solids. And for that matter where do I even begin? Do I just rift-hop until I get some clue of you.

A breath of heavy air left him. “I’ll find her though, she’s all I have left in this crazy world.”

Gormarr glance up at the person who was approach him as the orc drunk the wine. Quickly recognizing the person to be Marianne who was asking his about the werewolf. "The furball? I think he is around here I haven't bother to look for him," the orc said taking another swig of the bottle. He made sure to return a greeting of Nova as he came by.

INFINITY BRIDGE HOST TOWER
Current status: Operating at maximum efficiency
Lead Rift Herald: Felix Varden, Dwarven Scholar / Platinum Link
Notable figures: Arlen Fisher (At attention beside the infinity stone), Siph Barou (Rift Guide), Jasper Ardent (Treasury room)

The tower loomed overhead, soaring into the sky. Various lights illuminated the gigantic home of the largest trading venture ever witnessed. Inside was housed the king of Apothicus, Nicholas Whitemire. His many attendants and servants, Arlen Fisher and over 200 of the elite knights trained specifically to protect the infinity bridge and the ruler of the city, along with dozens of Iron Chain workers allied to the ruling council of Dwarven and Human traders from the Iron Peaks all had rooms in the expansive underground network. Adventurers filed in and out at every hour of the day, high ranking officials came and went in expensive carriages pulled by exotic beasts that marked their status at a cursory glance.
This was the hub of 'infinity'. Anything of importance to the city and the stone itself was said to transpire at the very peak of the tower.



Through the front gates, two armed guards holding short spears with well used leather grips, ushered in adventurers steadily. Guided by an usher for those who were unfamiliar, all adventurers were asked to show their papers declaring them an ally to the city and a registered member of the guild. While a mere formality for those who went through the proper channels, this was crucial in weeding out the riff raff and the wanted. Every guardsman who worked the gate could identify a wanted convict at a glance.
Those who dwelled heavily in the underworld, and crossed the Iron Hands, would find only death waiting at the door. The tower was as much a fortress as it was a hub.
Once inside, faerie fire torches illuminated the grand halls long path down into the heart of the tower. Branching side corridors bustled with activity as servants, squires, sages, magi, members of the church and adventurers guild, made use of the interconnecting rooms and side-passages to avoid cluttering up the main hall for the adventurers.
Banners hung from the ceiling, statues of the ruling council and heroes of the past littered the area for everyones viewing pleasure. Some even prayed at these well constructed likenesses of their personal hero, praying for luck and fortune. To return safely.

Various carts were pushed tight against the walls loudly shouting out their wares for adventurers. Those who were sanctioned to operate inside the great hall were undoubtedly wealthy. Access to the items brought in from the bridge gave them an advantage in the traders marketplace every day, and allowed the greedy merchants to sell necessities to adventurers who had forgotten to get the appropriate items they would need before leaving the city proper.
It was a gold mine.

As the carts of exotic gems, foods, items, weapons and armor, all vanished into the shrinking distance, the adventurers would be graced by the infinity bridge.



The floor was a masterwork of stone and gold, painstakingly collected by the towers original creator Sei Ostravis and finally molded into a man made spring. Fresh water flowed in, bringing with it the smell of summer at full bloom. The waters pristine edges revealed fresh fish swiming between the priceless artifacts thrown into its nearly 20 foot depths as an offering to the gods of the sea. Woe be to those who would try to steal such treasures, no matter how tantalizing. Even the current owner of the tower did not dare try to take an offering. Glimmering suits of armor, gold and platinum coins, necklaces. All of it was littering the rune carved bed of the waters depths as a promise of what you could find in the rifts.

A long slim pathway cut across the river and onto a solid gold dais rested in the middle of a circular 'island' of sorts, the entire platform was cut from stone and only went perhaps 2 feet into the water below. There, suspended by magical containment field, hung the fabled stone. In its glimmering depths lay the mysteries of the universe. Potential beyond anything the world could comprehend.
The Infinity Stone.

Beside it, resting in a chair of polished oak, sat an aging dwarf by the name of Felix Varden

At your request, he would grasp the stone and usher in a portal across the waters shimmering surface. One needed only jump into the 'doorway' to enter the rift. When you exited, you would return the same way you came. For some the idea of getting wet was unpleasant, but the revitalizing waters helped ache the body and soul after a hard days fight. Those who did not return alive... Their crystals were collected and returned to life in an adjacent room.

-------------------------



Siph proceeded through the tower with familiar ease. Many adventurers glanced at the party he was escorting with everything from jealousy to outright open hostility. To traverse a rift with a legend would mark them forever. It would make them the talk of the town in days to come if they should fail miserably, or return with a cache fit for a demon prince. It was only a matter of time.

"Keep up. We do not want to be slowed down yet." The big man called to the following group, pushing aside a few more overzealous fans with an apology.
The corridors were always beautiful but to Siph, the idea of adventure was far more thrilling. As it always was.
Upon entering the central corridor hosting the crystal, he spoke out to the gate keeper wit ha friendly smile and a wave.

"Felix! Old friend. I have come to traverse the unknown once more, this time as a guide."
Felix adjusted his glasses and raised his eyes from the book in his hands. Recognizing the barbarian adventurer, the aging dwarf gingerly rose from the seat and began his chant. The words were a mixture of prayer and spell alike, meant to call upon the spirits inhabiting the stone to open a rift. The words 'siege' and 'Dwarf' were echoed and the stone responded in kind.
The water took on a fierce glow of colors and shapes that could not be identified. Walking to the lip of the circular 'island' the stone was upon, Felix gingerly took a ceremonial cup and scooped up the water. With a flick of his hand it was sent in vertical line across the water, gouging it open in a scene of violent shimmering electricity that danced across the waters surface.

"After you, sir."

"A pleasure as always, Felix." The Barbarian walked up and bowed before the dwarven priest with deep respects before turning and leaping into the rift opening that now hovered a few inches from the waters surface. The rift rippled like waves as the barbarian disappeared entirely.

--------------------------------------



The rift exit deposited the party onto a long stone bridge suspended by masterful dwarven craftsmanship and ingenuity, that lead up to a long since destroyed city of the Dwarves. Thesuri. Once the bastion of resistance in the wild northern mountains some 3000 years ago, it was now little more than a legend. Yet in the rift it shined like a diamond. But the wind tasted of blood.

Across the bridge a battle was being waged. The corpses of either side littered the field. Over a hundred furry corpses were strewn between the corpses of two heavily armored dwarved. A score of heavily armored shield dwarves were left in a circular ring surrounded by bipedal ratmen. The Skaven, as they were commonly referred to, were usually tunnel dwelling ambushers but in this rift they had waged a head on assault of the front gates. Nearly 30 of them armed with crude poison tipped spears and rusted swords, these 5 feet tall rats were fast on their feet.
The poison on their weapons could numb your body in minutes, so they relied in hit and run tactics with blowdarts and other projectiles, before coming in to deal the final blow. The rats now were on guard against the dwarves, anticipating they would break their shield ring and try to attack. If and when it happened, the skaven would swarm the valiant defenders and slaughter them without pity.
Already there were a few of the rat faced vermin beginning to eat the dead.

The group could overrun the rat men if they managed to surprise them and create an opportunity for the shield circle to go on the offensive.
But a long rope hung from a sturdy pillar leading onto a small ledge upon the mountainside, worked stone telling of passageways into the fortress would allow the group to bypass the fight and enter the stronghold with surprise still on their side.

Marianne's plan to explore the tower first was cut short with the appearance of Siph Barou. He quickly gathered the group before leading them through the tower straight towards the rift.

The very first thing she felt when she stepped into the tower could be expressed in one simple word. Awe. Even though she had been here before once, it still awed her just as powerful as before. Everything about it was brilliant. Majestic. Beautiful. And magical. She couldn't help but to look around as Siph Barou led the group.

As she looked around, she noticed how the group was attracting attention from other adventurers. She assumed it must be because Siph Barou was with them. He was, after all, pretty famous to put it lightly. Some of them looked jealous, and even hostile to them. She now realized just how fortunate they were, to be guided by the legendary Siph Barou himself. And Siph even had to push away some of the more zealous fans of his, so that the party could move along.

And then, at the end of their walk, the Infinity Stone.

It was truly a sight to see. Marianne could feel the magic clustering in it. Just standing in front of it gave her chills.

She noticed the dwarf, who seemed to be the one in charge of the place. Siph immediately greeted him, talking to him like he was his friend. Made sense. No doubt Siph had used his services many times.

She saw Siph jumping into the water. And soon she followed suit.

She landed surprisingly nicely, right on her feet. She had expected she would land on her bottom, perhaps even landing right on Sir Siph himself. That would be terribly embarrassing.

Now they seemed to be on what seemed to be a bridge. A stone bridge to be exact. She then noticed the battle waging across it. Dwarves versus some sort of furry rat creatures. Skavens. She had read about them once. Mortal enemies of the dwarves, since they both lived underground. The tunnels they dig often intersect with each other, causing invasion to the other side.

Marianne looked at Siph, waiting for his instruction. She could help the dwarves by sending her bees to attack the skavens, but that would alert them to their presence. And doing that without full agreement from the party would be tantamount to suicide. In moments like these, they would have to cool their heads, and discuss what would be the best option to do.

"A dark hallway or tunnel might contain more surprises than you would like."

Those words echoed at her as she blew out the last candle in her home. Here in the darkness the house felt empty and she felt alone. After the meeting she'd done her shopping for supplies, joined her soul to a crystal, and picked up her travel pack. Some others might've used armor or shields, but not her. Her staff and companions would have to do as her bulwark, anything more would let the fire slip from her grasp. Now there was just the act of showing up and that was as anticlimactic as anything else. While the others chatted, she simply gazed up at the imposing tower and ran her thumb over the case of her compass anxiously.

The trek inside was not much better on the nerves. Siph exuded presence and brought eyes to them. Ayse was used to being overlooked. Nobody paid her much attention when she went about her work healing travelers. She couldn't say that all of it was welcome, but at least there was a pleasant thrill in the story she'd be able to tell when she got back. She gave the most honest and respectful of bows to Felix before leaping...

...into a battlefield apparently.

The dead bodies, the stench in the air, beast men feasting on the dead, it reeked of days long past in a sewer. One positive change from that situation was that she no longer played the role of a child. Seeing the beleaguered defenders, she knew which path she wished to take, although she held the flame in so as not to give their group away just yet.

"We should help them," were the only words that came to mind and that she felt needed to be said.

The grandiose exposure to the Infinity Bridge had given Nove a reality check. As he strode alongside the others, his longsword buckled across his chest, his jacket moving with the summer breeze inside, and his eyes settling on every amazing thing insight; he felt a certain gravity fall over him.

I’m so far out of my league that I feel heavy, he mourned.

Still, he decided. I couldn’t stop myself from running down this path if I wanted too. Its so… just so damn exciting!

Nove took a deep look into the spring. Inside he saw fanciful armors, swords, coins, and gems. Anything a ambitious adventurer could want or need. But that wasn’t the strength, Sir Siph had spoken of. He brought a hand to his chest, knowing that none of the others were interested enough to gleam him. No, the strength I have and want need the nourishment that only experience can take care of.

Once it came time for him to dive into the rift, Nove greeted Flix Varden with a salute and smile. “Thanks for the drop-off, Sir Felix, see ya later.” Then he leapt into the rift as if courageously falling from a cliff. Multi-colored energy from the exit below raised and stormed around him. When he finally met the end, he was alongside, Sir Siph on a massive bridge.

The stone was chiseled with love and skill, that much even Nove could tell. The situation unfolded, the realization that blood and death had scarred the rift became a horrible reality. It was something that, Nove had expected but wished against. Unafraid due to his own training with his uncle, Nove stepped forth with ire in his bronze eyes.

“I agree with, Ayse. Only thing is… well they're rats right? Probably fast on their feet if nothing else and too numerous for just us to attack head-on. We’d be slaughtered.” Nove bit his lip, hoping to impress, Sir Siph, and prove himself capable to the others.

His gaze turned to Marianne a few moments later. “You use bugs don’t you. Maybe we can use them as a distraction or something. Then..." He took a serious second to think even further. "Then maybe the rest of us charge in and take them down. Or at the very least help those dwarves save themselves. Dammit, I know its selfish but all I really wanna do... is save them.”

"I can indeed send my bees over to them but that would certainly alert them to us," Marianne answered. "A frontal charge might work but it would be a pretty risky move. We are new adventurers after all and we still don't have the experience to gauge our strength compared to the enemy. I know you wish to save the dwarves but we have to do it in a smart and calculated way. Charging in will just end badly for everyone involved."

Marianne ended her little speech with a warm smile. Once again, she admired the young warrior's fighting spirit.

"I will agree with your plan though if everybody else agrees," she added.

@Renny

Sylvia looked around, taking in the Dwarven architecture. She had read about Dwarven ingenuity, the words feeding into her imagination, but nothing compared to the real thing. She looked at the rat-men, who were attacking the fortified Dwarves.

Soon, they’ll crumble. She slipped out her knife, being careful not to accidentally cut herself, as the many scars on her arm showed. Even though hiding a knife in one’s sleeve was the preferred method of concealment among many assassins, but it was often painful.

If they took the rat-men by surprise, confused them, and rushed them while they were off guard, they would be easy targets, like jumping salmon during mating season.

“I could sneak around, take out a few of them in the back,” she said.

It was a simple thing, killing these creatures. A stab to the throat, a jab through the heart, the snipping of certain joints and ligaments in order to cripple and disable.
Sylvia had studied a bit of basic magic, enough to mask her footsteps or blend in with her environment, an invaluable skill for someone like her, especially with her extremely light armor.

She had that feeling again, a tingling within her core. Bloodlust, that’s what it was. A keen thirst for violence and death. Whatever they decided to do, she just hoped she could slit some throats.

“So, what are we doing, then? Better decide quickly, I doubt the rat-men are so patient.” Sylvia began to scan for weaknesses within the Skaven formation, trying to find the best route through or around them.

There was a gathering of people that marveled and rivaled many mall towns with ease, but it was a marvel for it's very nature. The Woods, the unmarked lands of the wilds, yielded a City-state's worth of men and women it seemed as they are rejoiced and moved about the land in song and dance. Massive drums thundered through all the land as they were pounded and hammered, and the people sang out in great chorus through their song of choice.



All the while the view was surveyed by Lady Stockton, who was no longer present in Apothicus, for her duties led her to the wooded lands to enact plans long established. This night seemed joyous for those of the woods, however this wasn't their truest nature and that was the certainty that lingered within Lady Stockton. She never trusted her client and the ordeals she would have to put herself through for her Client, but she had no choice, for her employer was more terrifying than her client. Yes, they were separate in this weird occasion, her client and her Employer were separate entities but they were far from unknown to one another.

This is why Lady Stockton did not hide herself as she would for most associates and Client's, but rather she walked freely among the crowd with ease and examined them all slowly, the nature of their appearance, design, and being were.. less-reputable. They were beginning to be easily understood as Bandits, Thieves, Marauders, and Cut-purses. They were an unsavory horde of Gutter-snipes and Alley-Cats, Highwaymen and Hoodlums, Scoundrels and Scavengers. However they were not un-governed in their own stead as they were ruled by the idealistic concept of a Black-Flag King, a Herald to controlled freedom, an advantageous Opportunist with a heavy hand and a sharp sword.

---

Meanwhile, as this glorious revelry happened out in the wilds, Grendrick was greeted by Siph and the group finally entering the Tower. This pleased Grendrick for the simplest of reasons, but it was nonetheless a pleasure he held with a nod to the entirety of the group and not just Siph. They all passed through the Main Hall slowly, walking with Siph at the head and Grendrick's snout wavering slowly as numbers began to crowd them and pester them about Siph. While Grendrick would have normally handled the situation with a quick series of snarls and a snap from his maw, he held back in stead of Siph's reactions while he hummed, he hummed a simple tune in his growl-esque tone. It was yet again the song of The Fire, and as they reached the Infinity stone, his song ended with a light whisper to himself for a measure of practice. He usually hummed or sang this song on his way to the Infinity Stone, and it did fit well with his belief in the events of the Rifts.

"Give yourself to me.." Grendrick ended his song just as the Rift was opened by the old Dwarf and Siph immediately jumped through with a fair gusto, his Bear and Fariha still asleep atop it's back without much rousing yet. Grendrick was the next to go, quickly followed by an eager Marianne, Ayse, Nove, and the rest who quickly found themselves as well as the others in the instant scenario that a Rift presented. Grendrick's leap through the rift was a practiced one no doubt, as he took several steps back and ran forward the short distance on all fours to leap through and get some distance on his exit, propelling himself past Siph, and a few feet forward onto the bridge. Grendrick immediately put his height and design to great use as he raised his nose to the air and chuckled under his breath with a menacing demeanor.

"Skaven.. pests if nothing else." Grendrick growled as the chuckled subsided into irritation and anger. He smelled Skaven, Dwarves, and their poison faintly, but he searched the air for every last scent possible, before he took to surveying the scene with his sharp eyes. The elaborate and hardy stone-work and masonry of the Dwarves of this place and time was a master-piece all its own and a grand thing to see in it's lime-light rather than as a dusty old ruin. Grendrick was not as dull as the group had believed, or hoped, for what seemed like those who wished Grendrick to not exist among the group at all, but they wouldn't be so unhappy should they potentially listen to him. This is where the lupine came in handy most of all, combat.

“So, what are we doing, then? Better decide quickly, I doubt the rat-men are so patient.” Sylvia began to scan for weaknesses within the Skaven formation, trying to find the best route through or around them.

"I will tell you exactly what we are doing.." Grendrick turned to face the gathering as a whole. "It is decided, we are working from the front, so far you all wish to save these Dwarves, and thus we shall in turn do so. Nove, Gormarr, and Siph, should you listen to me, I want you three behind me, staying back here for the moment. Marianne, Ayse, Sylvia, and Fari... Hold on.. Fariha is still.." Grendrick hated the simple fact that he had to break his game plan so comedically due to the fact that Fariha was still asleep atop the Den Mother of Siph's. He would walk over to the Great Bear, slide down on all fours and commune with the Bear in a way only a Beast could to another. Grendrick slowly stepped past the bear, gliding his side against the Bear's and rubbing softly before standing and Fariha by the waist and raising her up to sit, and Grendrick shook her a moment to rouse her from her slumber. "Awaken. We are discussing business." He added before finally stepping away from her and letting her awaken fully, once she had done so, he continued on his way with his instructions. "Marianne, Ayse, Sylvia, Fariha, and Alya, will take up the rear behind us with support and suppresion." He spoke before letting out a huff of anticipation to an irritating set of potential remarks. "No, I am not doing this because you are females, so don't even assume that. Your skils sets will be best utilized from the back-lines, where your attacks and methods won't be seen. Gormarr, Nove, Siph, and myself will ensure that they don't reach you, and that they fall. However before the fight even starts, I have a personal tactic I will be employing, and it will be happening right now."

Grendrick went silent, and ultimately he gave his instruction and beliefs, and didn't wait for any return from the group. He cared not what they felt of his plan altogether, if they liked it or believed it smart, they would follow in suit, but in turn his plan was simple, and that was the nature of the Skaven, simple. His plan wasn't about elegance but rather the utilization of each member's skill set to the fullest, and he was about to use one from his that few others could pull off as he stanced himself, taking several long strides forward on the bridge an putting several feet between him and the group, his body compressed and his figure curled up tightly and before they knew it Grendrick had launched himself forward. He sprinted on all fours at a bounding speed and came to a grinding, claw-sparking halt just a few yards from the Skaven. His claws tightened against the stone ground and began to dig in marks of rock dust that puffed beneath his curling hands, and his body coiled up with his head being brought down into his chest, and then.. Grendrick exploded. The Lupine Beastman unleashed a howl, a deep, unearthly howl that seemed to shake the ground beneath the Skaven almost literally, the sound was unparalleled in this world, a blood-curdling sound that would instill fear into all but the absolute most hardy of men and women. It was the howl of a creature far beyond anything of the natural world, something so devastating, something so chill-instilling, it made one's skin crawl, one's bone ache, and one's heart stop.

Grendrick took charge right away, just as Marianne had expected. It was either him or Siph really. No one else seemed to be the leader type.

His speech however was interrupted with the fact that Fariha was still asleep as she rode on Siph's bear. She couldn't help to chuckle at the comical scene.

After Fariha returned to the waking realm. Grendrick continued his explanation. He ordered her to stay back and be the support role. Well, that was her plan from the start. There was no way she could fight in the front line. She would just get murdered in seconds. Her beetle armor was only there as an emergency, in case of some stray arrow heading towards her.

And she had no idea why he even brought up her gender.

Grendrick's plan was that of a direct attack. Marianne could get behind that, as long as there was someone in the front to tank for her.

But before that, he would execute his own "personal tactic" first.

To her surprise, Grendrick just ran like that to the enemy, sprinting on all fours as he employed his lycan nature. His speed was certainly impressive and his leap also.

And then, his howl. Even from that distance, Marianne could feel terror seeping through her heart, her lungs, and her bones. Her insects also felt it, as they became unruly underneath her dress.

Truly it was a powerful howl.