The kobold woman gave a small, sad smile. "Not my son," she said, easing her tired back into the chair. "I've spent too many worried nights tending my son's bruises for three mothers' lifetimes. He's a good child, and means the world to me. I wish he understood that, and stopped picking so many fights."

"After her," came Rughoi's command. "We can't have local guard hounding our tails." Two of his company nodded, picked up a large crossbow, and left through the door the dracon woman escaped through. Rughoi took the opportunity to survey his new domain. This was to be his castle, his base in which he shall spring from and take the world. He turned to the rest of his little warband. "At first day, strip this place clean. Reap all the crop, sell anything that isn't nailed down. We won't be staying here long."

Nyx smiled as Orna approached, and grinned, pleased at the comment on Castor. "Yeah. He's a handful, but he's really a good boy" She said brightly, shifting to give Orna a hug, making sure Castor wasn't in the way. Nyz had come a long way from the girl she had been, avoiding touch and not particularly interrested in any friendships or relationships. Until Larek, and that had practically been like getting hit over the head. She'd been unable to resist.

"How are you?" She asked, happily settling herself and waitin for her sistes.

"Well, my first three sons have been pretty calm. Especially Larek. Kos, my stepson, is a bit more typical of dracon his age. Still, he gets along well, doesn't escalate fights, and knows when to stop."

As Aerta explained her family experiences, the female from the other farm dashed through the grassy fields in the direction of Adykon's farm, desperate for his help.

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

Orna returned the hug, happy to see that Nyx was much more receptive to touch than when they had first met.

"Oh, I'm fine, thanks. We've been waiting for you to show, but don't worry, you didn't keep us waiting too long. You can set your boy down on a cushion if you like, or keep holding onto him, doesn't matter to me. If you need anything for him or for yourself, I can get it for you" Orna explained.

"I just hope being a mother hasn't been too much of a transition for you. You look like you've handled it well. Still, it can be stressful. We were going to get a tub of water to soak our feet in. If you'd like to do that while we talk, there's plenty of room. You've probably been on them quite a lot, by the looks of it, but I'm sure it's been worth it for the sake of your son."

Orna's speech was a bit long-winded, largely due to the fact that she was trying hard to impress Nyx and show her support during this time in her life. Being a new mother could not have been easy.

Rughoi watched the dracon woman run, followed by his incompetent warriors loosing quivers and missing every shot. Curses formed under his breath, slowly escalating until he realized he was shouting at the top of his lungs. "Change of plans," he said, turning to the remaining members of his humble army. "Do everything now. Whatever you can hide in your shirts, do so. Shiny is preferable. If anyone asks, Astran and Daghet were acting alone." Quietly, Rughoi and company rustled up their things and departed from the small farm, minus two of them.

Aerta continued conversing until she heard someone calling for help outside of the side house.

"I think that's one of our neighbors. Hold on, I'll look." There was a bright flash of white light tinged with a bit of bright blue. The female dracon was gone from the house, having teleported outside. Sure enough, she found the farm lady from the other homestead.

"Oh-oh thank the gods!" She collapsed at Aerta's feet, Exhausted and frightened.

"Wha-?! I, what happened? Are you alright?!"

"I'll be fine, but they- kobolds- kobolds attacked my husband! I think he's dead!"

The tavern roared with activity. The ambience created by pouring drinks, casual conversation, and occasionally a fight or two kept steady since Rughoi and his band arrived an hour ago and hasn't stopped since. This small village outside Traeton was as large, as beautiful as he had hoped, and also claimed some of the largest kobold communities on the continent. Perfect for the plan he was about to enact.

"Hey," he whispered to the bartender. "I've just had a terrible day. My employer, he's a dracon, tied me to a rack and beat me after I dropped a sack of apples after half a day of work." The bartender looked at him sympathetically, then passed him another flagon and turned to another customer. Rughoi was pleased to hear him relaying that rumor to the eager listener. If all goes to plan, his followers were saying roughly the same thing to anyone who'd listen.

Hours passed, and they were pleased to discover that the conversations have changed. No longer were weather, harvest, and possible mates the subject of many a chat, but now dracons and their supposed hegemony passed from mouth to ear. Time to act.

"Everyone!" Rughoi shouted, standing up from his seat. That at least got everyone's attention. "We are all tired, having worked a long day in the fields. At the end of the month, a fat dracon sitting on his haunches will count all we've worked for, and how much will he return to us?"

"Half!" was the dominant answer.

"Should we accept this heavy tax, while we toil in the fields and they don't?"

"No!" came the reply.

"Then let us, today, declare no! No, to the dictators! No, to the oppressors! No, to the dracons! The kobold blood is strong, and should never bow!" Uproarious cheer rang out in the large hall, and Rughoi sat down, smiling to himself. The revolution has begun.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Krakas shook in fear at the dracon woman's plea. "This sounds uncannily like something my son would do. I pray to Nasha it's not him."

"If it's him, then he's in danger. These uprisings never end well for kobolds. Not for long. They might seize a town or even a small city, but all that does is to invite interference from more powerful dracon realms, which crush the rebels" Aerta got up and took Krakas' right hand and the injured dracon female's left hand. "With your permission, I'm going to teleport us to my husband, Adykon. He'll be able to deal with this, whatever the problem is. Is that okay?"

The injured female gave a weak nod, leading Aerta to turn her head in the direction of the female kobold.

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

The city of Traeton had fallen onto hard times lately. First, old king Mithrionen had died, leaving an incompetent pleasure-seeking son in charge. The current king, Mitron, was more interested in pursuing females and sport than running the kingdom. Too busy indulging himself to rule, Mitron had let corrupt ministers run the city with titles and powers largely awarded on the basis of connections and flattery. Misrule had led the city into three successive defeats with other cities, a minor victory against migratory dracon tribes, and a serious plague which infected the city's strained armies and burdened its healers to their limit.

Many merchants avoided Traeton to avoid the sickness and high taxes which came to characterize the city. Although the disease itself had halted its ravages a year ago, the city's recovery was stunted by the needless expenditure of tax money on frivolities by the king. His celebration marking the end of the plague was in reality little more than an excuse to spend more cash, and the city's coffers were stretched to the breaking point. Its walls were ill-maintained and with little pay, few of the city's sentries bothered to do their job. Crime was rife, with the only safe places in the city being those which were fortunate enough to be protected by highly paid private guards. On top of that, unpaid mercenaries who had worked for the city eagerly sought a way to extract their cash, and several dracon tribes which had faced defeat at Traeton's hands sought revenge. The city was ripe for a takeover, if only someone could pull these elements together.

Myx gave a small chuckle at Orna's speech, setting herself down, keeping her hands on castor. "It hasn't so much been a transition. I was scared, and at times i still am. There's a lot to it, but...well, i have a good base, and...I've done so much thats been amazing, but being a mother? Having Castor...well, its like nothing else" She said, gently tickling Castor under the chin.

She smiled at orna, her sisters, "but you all know that. I was going to leave Castor home, but i just couldn'tz" she gave a shrug, letting Castor move a bit, watching hi wriggle with a smile.

"Oh, Nyxie." -Hermia sighed contentedly, "it does me good to see that"

Nyx rolled her eyes at her oldest sister, "but what about you guys? How are your children?"

"Sybil is doing fine. Your brother is shaping up to be a good father. Really. Tran's been a pillar of stability for all of us. Strong, stoic, and just as attractive as the day I met him" Orna smiled. "Seriously, he's a hard worker and totally devoted to his family. I couldn't as for a better father. Or daughter for that matter. Sybil's been nice, calm, and doesn't cry too much or cause a lot of messes. She's going to be a great female someday, my greatest masterpiece."

Orna thought about her words for a moment."I guess I'm really getting into this whole mother thing, aren't I? Anyway, Sybil stays calm while eating and during her baths too. And speaking of water, I'll get the tub for our feet. And some epson salts. You like that, right Nyx?"

Smith had recently arrived at Adykon rubbing his thighs though his robes thinking how tired his legs feel after the long walk, "Bloody hell i hope i can have time to rest" He thought to himself as he was looking for his friend or his wife to speak to them. "Hello?is anyone home?" He yelled out loud now leaning a bit onto his staff.

Aerta heard a knock on the door and sighed. "It'll have to wait. Maybe that's him." She got the door and saw a human stagger inside. Someone she recognized. A fellow mage.

"Smith! I- what brings you to this neck of the woods so late. We're kinda in the middle of something, but if you want to help or stay for a while, you may." The pink-skinned female dracon closed the door behind him. "It's a long story. Something of a kobold emergency."

@Aristocles

"Mhm is their something the matter?Do you need any help from me?" Smith said as he came into their home,He wondered what was going on perhaps he could use his magic to help the couple."Oh well i was called here by your husband about some business" He said answering the first part of her question last because of unfocused he was right now.

"Second Commander Largon Arillos, I presume?" Rughoi drawled, speaking to a gaunt dracon across from him.

"Aye. At your service, kobold. And you are?" he responded, in similar fashion to Rughoi's previous greeting.

"I have the honor to present His Might, Rughoi 'the Brave', Rightful Count of Traeton and Emperor of All Kobolds," said an old lieutenant from the kobold retinue, stepping forwards and bowing to the two leaders. Rughoi bowed back, in traditional ancient kobold fashion. Largon didn't.

"Mighty fancy name you got there, Master Rughoi. Or should I be saying 'my lord', now? No, it's too soon, I think," said Largon, though his actions betrayed his false praise. He leaned on his spear, and made a big show of picking the dirt out from his nails. The two burly guards he brought with them tightened their grips on their spears and moved closer to their commander.

"I'll be quick. Mitron isn't a very effective ruler, is he? The city is deep in debt, most of all to its neighbor, Aredor, and increasing every day."

"Aye!" shouted one of the guards, before Largon could speak. "Had enough of him. Anyone would be a better King of Traeton! Sir, I suggest you take his deal." Largon quieted him with a wave of his hand.

"Very well. You have made your point, and you are of course right. I have a little less than half of the garrison under my direct command, and to turn them on the others would be an almost too easy method of unseating Mitron. However, what is in it for me? What can you offer me that the Commander Prime can't?"

"A better city. A happier people. What more could you ask for? That's why you joined the guard, isn't it?" Rughoi asked, tilting his head to look at the dracon's face. "Oh yes, and your record. I had almost forgot. Wanted for three counts of greater felony in Aredor, two of murder in the Fertile Valley. Under me, you will have complete protection from any ambitious guards officers looking for their public enemy number one. So, are we in agreement?" both members of the two parties silently shared a nod, then quickly left the scene, leaving no trace of their meeting.

Fasuto Fokkuso

A light-blue fox, named Fasuto walks in a straight road towards the market of Hurth, squeezing and excusing himself over the dracons he encountered. Holding a pouch of gold, he grinned to himself proudly. Soon, he reached the market, off he go to buy food for himself, fish could suffice him for the day with some rice if there's any. Fruits like apples and bananas, mangoes is also what he prefers, he started searching.

(Sorry for the delay. I have three people to reply to. We can post, but let's not get too far ahead of Caits).

@Eviledd1984

"Oh. Well, Adykon did say that he was expecting a visitor, but he didn't tell me it was you. Unless I forgot..." Aerta thought about it for a moment. "Well, anyway, we've got a bit of an issue with a rebel kobold who seems to have rallied a tribe or something like that. It's not a danger to any dracon army, but they can attack civilians, like this poor female over here. As for why Adykon called you, I am unsure. We're both mages, but maybe he wanted someone to help him on a mission? I'm a bit busy on the farm to go with him. At "least, I was too busy. This kobold thing could be a problem if I don't do anything about it."

Aerta closed the door behind him. "You can stay if you want, just take off those... foot shoes. Not sure if you need them, but I don't want them around the house."

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

@bloonewb

Aerta then turned to Krakas. "Sorry about that. Lots of things happening at once. Kinda hard to deal with 'em all. So, your son is leading some kind of rebellion. He's more likely to get himself and his followers killed than anything else. Where do you think he's gotten off to?"

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

@WingsOfBronze

Ophion was a well-known archmage of Minbenthac. He and his wife Aurescia operated the city's largest and best-known magic store, a true one-stop emporium for almost all magical or alchemical needs. He frequently had to make trips to other cities to acquire rare and exotic ingredients, and today's trip by portal to Hurthithes (called Hurth for short) was no different. No stranger to outsiders, he couldn't help but think he recognized a member of a blue-furred fox species, being somewhat similar to another fox-like species he had adventured with before, in his quest to stop Dememoras alongside Adykon. That was many years ago.

Clad in his rich silk robes, the red-skinned mage approached Fasuto, who was busy examining the market's fresh produce.

"Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt. Are you- oh. Sorry. I thought you were someone else. We don't get very many foxes around these parts."

@Aristocles

"Oh, hey it's okay sir, I get that a lot.." Fasuto replied with a smile, you can see a peeping spider on Fasuto's shoulder pad.

Not knowing Ophion, he asked: "Can I ask a favor? You kind off look like live here, sir. Thinking if you could help me with.." Fasuto yawned a bit long, covering his muzzle to look a bit polite. "Sorry, sir. I'm thinking of where I could find the cheapest products here, if you just wanted to, sir. Sorry for the bother." Fasuto flashed a smile.

@WingsOfBronze

"If you needed a bit of food, you had only to ask. I can spare some coins. Quite a few, in fact." Ophion reached into a coin pouch and gave several of the coins to Fasuto. "Name's Ophion, by the way. This should be more than enough for food, drink, what have you. No need to cover your snout around these parts. I don't suppose you've been in the dracon lands very long, have you?" He noticed the spider on Fasuto's shoulder but thought better than to ask about it quite yet. He was no stranger to familiars, given that his wife had had one a long while ago. She let him go when he wanted to leave, however.

@Aristocles
"O-oh.. you don't have to.." Fasuto declines the offer, he gives it back to Ophion.

"I'm Fasuto!" He grinned as he pointed at his self. "And yes, I'm new here, I'll be buying food and supplies and move to the next city, maybe i can find a job there.." He said, peeking at his pouch- 14 gold coins, rest is silver and copper coins.

"I'm in a budget too.." He muttured.

@Aristocles

"Of course i can help this will be easy for someone like myself" Smith said walking into the home making sure to remove his sandals, Thinking that he had forgotten that he was not allowed to wear any shoes inside of a Kobold home. "So when do you want to go deal with these rogues?" He then asked thinking he could go on the attack right away.

@WingsOfBronze

"I can give you a few more coins if you need them" Ophion explained. "As for a job, I'm on a bit of a search for some ingredients. If you want to accompany me as I look and help me out, I could pay you for your time and effort."

@Eviledd1984

"In a bit. We need to get ready. Get out forces together. Adykon needs to get things in order, we need to learn what to do. We're not going to accomplish much by charging out there, just the three of us. It's not going to work. Hmm. We should go back to the main house. Krakas, you can come with us if you like. And for our other guest..." she gestured at the frightened female, who was resting on a mat on the floor. "... I think it is best to let her stay here for now. She needs to recover." Aerta thought about the situation. They needed to move, but not too soon. They didn't even know where Rughoi and his insurgents had gotten off to.