@Aristocles

"Well actually i am a bit sore with my left leg, right leg with the spot behind my knee ad my ribs right here" He said softly pointing to the places where it was sore. When the conversation of where he learned magic first was a simple thing, "I learnt it form my mother who taught me most of the illusion spells i know" He said rather proudly.

@Aristocles

By that time, Fasuto is snoozing off on the guest room's bed. Ennave is just there, doing nothing. Guarding Fasuto probably. She's made a little web hammock beside the bed, to her satisfaction.

Yeah.. nothing bad, nothing good's happening..

Rughoi laughed as the loyalist armies broke and ran for the castle walls. His army had performed brilliantly, far greater than even he had dreamed. The jests, the doubts, all left him, and vigilance was his close friend throughout the first assault. "Ready the catapults," came his command. "That castle can't protect them forever." His good spirit, however, was shattered by the arrival of a panting Kutur.

"Your Might!" he said, between gasps. "A few Rockblades and Redshadows survived the betrayal, and won't stand down even with threats to their chiefs."

Rughoi cursed loudly. "Well hunt them down then!" he shouted, partly to Kutur and partly to his men. A small contingent broke off of the main army and chased after where the dracon tribes were said to have escaped. However, he doubted that would be enough. "And hurry up with those catapults! Argh, where is Rama? He said he would have his flank ready hours ago!"

(Sorry for delays! The site wasn't really working for me earlier.)

@Eviledd1984

"Well, let me try something" Kara put her hands on his chest, on the ribs he had pointed to. She used her magic, and there was the same soft light glow and warmth as she had applied before. "Does that feel better? I can't actually tell if anything was healed or not, because there was no real injury. A bit of soreness doesn't usually leave a mark, you know."

@WingsOfBronze

There was a knock on the door. Aurescia's voice called out. "Fasuto! I made you some dinner! You can come down to eat whenever you want!" There was a pause. "And you can bring Ennave, too!"

@bloonewb

Rama's forces burst out of the sewers and behind the enemy lines. Pressed from both sides, the defenders stood no chance. A few surrendered, but they were cut down from the front and rear alike. Now, little stood in the way of Rughoi's army and the city's palace. Built like a cross between a luxury palace and a fortified castle, it was nevertheless undermanned and ill-maintained, although the defenders falling back to protect it served to strengthen its defenses somewhat. Even so, there was no way it would withstand a large-scale assault, especially once the catapults were used on it. There were over a dozen weak points in the western wall alone which could be breached in just a few good hits from the siege engines.

By this point, the streets were littered with rubble, both from demolished buildings and from the city's walls. Civilian casualties were high in neighborhoods which were directly exposed to combat, but low in other places. Chief Rama himself caught up with Rughoi as soon as the defenders in the city streets had been broken.

"Sir! I mean- sire! We've got them on the ropes. There's still some resistance in a few districts, but they're mostly down the royal palace. If I may ask, where are the Rockblades and Redshadows? I don't see them here? Are they busy looting? Not that I think we need them to take the palace. At this point, we only need a few thousand soldiers at most to claim it. It'll be basically over after that."

@Aristocles

Some more knocking and he still hasn't woke up, and Ennave knew. She crawled all the way to the door and under it. "Aurescia. I'll accompany you instead, he won't be walking up now." She said like she was carefull of her words.

@Aristocles

"Yes that feels amazing thank you...now that is the magic i need to learn" Smith said smiling and rubbing the former sore spot, It felt better now holding onto his knee feeling the pain surge though his leg.

" . . . They've deserted," Rughoi lied, trying to hide his nervousness. Rama was still new, and showed signs of dissent and challenge. If his morals can't be completely trusted to execute his order no matter what, best keep the truth to himself. "Excellent work as usual. I see a promotion in your future." With that, he left to check on Kutur and his siege weaponry.

"Your Might, good to see you!" Kutur shouted, waving his claw. He was only ever this excited when he was working on his pet projects. "I did as you asked! Catapult two should fire far more efficient than the rest of them, with a bit of tinkering! If you observe this lever here, Your Might . . . " he started right into his long-winded lecture, but Rughoi interrupted him before he got too far.

" -Yes, that is of course an excellent achievement. Now if you're ready, I would like this palace taken. Today, if possible," Rughoi commanded.

"Erm, right. Yes, Your Might," Kutur said, nodding, and loaded a stone into the new catapult.

(Still here! Work was crazy. Thanks again for your patience)

@WingsOfBronze

"I... see. Well, is everything alright?" Aurescia asked, walking next to the spider. "If he needs something, just tell me, please. I'm not about to let one of my guests suffer in silence if there's a problem."

@Eviledd1984

Kara kept it up for about half an hour more, but stopped her massage when she realized how much time had elapsed. "We should get down to lunch soon. After that, we can practice some more. I have chores to do around here, but we can still talk if you help me out." She rubbed her tail against him for a moment. "And you will help me, won't you, my dear?"

@bloonewb

Rama didn't quite believe Rughoi, but he had no time to fight him about it. They still had a much more literal fight on their hands.

"Alright, thanks. I'll take my warriors and charge the palace. There must be a weak point in the walls. If it isn't there, we'll create one and get inside."

Within an hour, they had breached several holes in the palace, but the defenders stubbornly fought on for another two. Finally, Rama managed to direct a secondary force to the western side of the palace, while the main force continue to attack from the east. The remaining resistance ended within a few minutes as the palace was stormed. Rama himself ran back to find Rughoi not too far away.

"It's done, sire. Finished. We're going room by room to find the king. I thought you might want to come along for it. His guards have surrendered and what little resistance is left in the city just has to be cleaned up now. The king himself is probably in some hidden chamber or a closet or something. He wasn't in the throne room."

@Aristocles

"He's sleeping, let him be. He's been through a lot.." Ennave spoke hushly, crawling on Aurescia to her shoulder. "If you don't mind, can I ride?" She asked, tilting her head a bit.

@Aristocles

"Of course..i can help you" Smith said now sitting up on the bed looking over towards her feeling his face getting hot, Blushing form her tail rubbing against him wanting to impress her in some capacity.He wanted to get to know her better and perhaps strike up a conversation more about her.

Rughoi brushed past his prying generals and almost ran to the throne room. He pushed open the doors and looked in wonder. There it was, within the slightly damaged walls and melancholy air, a tall and glorious gilded throne. Rughoi took one step towards it in awe, then another, and before he knew it his left claw brushed against one of the armrests. He felt as if the spirits of those who had sat there before him were calling his name, offering their advice and inviting him to succeed them. When he rested on the throne, something in him changed. He truly felt like Rughoi the Unbound.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Days later, news of the battle reached the Fertile Valley. Krakas listened intently in the middle of the crowd, trying to focus on the words of the herald. Her eyes widened in shock as she heard one name. Rughoi. Pushing her way out, she rushed to a carriage station. "Take me to Traeton," she commanded, slamming a bag of coins on the table. "I need to speak with my son.

@WingsOfBronze

"Alright. I don't mind letting him rest. And yes, that's fine; you can ride" Aurescia let the spider ride, giving Ennave a little pet on the head. "So, I've never conversed with a spider. Do you have a web somewhere? And what kind of food should I get you?"

@Eviledd1984

"Very good. Now, was there anything you wanted to know, dear?" Kara asked. "You have a look on your face like you're about to ask me something, but you're afraid to."

@Aristocles

Smith was feeling himself blushing more so then before, "Mhm well...you are looking very pretty today?" He said getting more nervous wanting to say he had a crush on her. But he always had butterflies in his stomach form when the subject came up.

@bloonewb

Rama had been given the bulk of the clean-up work in the city. A handful of resisters still fought on in a couple of neighborhoods, but it was down to individual houses. He had already begun to order that the walls be repaired. This was easier said than done, as the conquering armies were too busy dividing up the loot and the neighborhoods, carving up Traeton into a series of tribal territories. So far, they were all still loyal to Rughoi, though. Rama had to resort to using prisoners of war to begin repair work on the walls, but it would not be an easy task.

The walls were in terrible condition when the attack had begun, they were in even worse shape now. Furthermore, most of the city's supplies of tools, materials, and food were already in the hands of the tribes and other groups which aided the assault on Traeton. The rebuilding would have to largely take place by hand using reused piece of rubble and whatever could be scavenged from nearby buildings, at least until some rock quarries could be opened. Rama had already sent out scouts to examine those, but the nearest ones were some distance away.

Meanwhile, the city's temples had been looted, their treasures despoiled and their altars largely desecrated. While Rama had kept his tribe confined to a residential area of the city, several other tribes turned temple sanctuaries into their new sleeping quarters. This was something he had brought up with the chief of the Ironclaw tribe. When asked why he had led his tribe into the Sanctuary of Basilides, Rama was told that it was one of the few large and sturdy structures around. That still didn't explain why the Ironclaws found it necessary to rip the pages from the books the temple's library, turn the baptismal font into a kobold-sized bath, or use the stained glass windows as target practice.

@Eviledd1984

Kara glanced at Smith, "Well, that's nice of you to say. Still, actions speak louder than words, so if you could help me out with my chores, I'd appreciate that." Kara led him to a room with several of her younger siblings. The oldest was no more than five years old. "I have to help my mom out with the younglings. Could you give me a hand? We'll be going into danger in a few days, probably. This may be one of the last time I'll see my siblings for a while."

@Aristocles

Smith was gulping loudly form what she was saying wanting to help her as much as he could,Walking inside of the room with Kara's many siblings feeling nervous to say the less."So what do you want me to do first?" He said trying to avoid avoid eye contact with the lizard eyes staring at him.

@Eviledd1984

"At first, just watch" Kara replied, giggling. "They seem to like you. Just watch your step at first and- NO! Jarah, don't do that! Smith's toes are not food!" Kara gently pushed a young male back using her right foot, careful not to hurt him. He was only about one and a half, but his teeth were already sharp.

@Aristocles

"I've built some web restplace next to Fasuto, if you don't mind Ma- Aurescia. I eat insects if you got any, it was okay if I hunt them myself. Though, Fasuto helps me on it." She smiled at the thought of Fasuto jumping high just to catch a fly.

"He's been through a lot of adventures though. I can feel his body tense and stiff. Poor guy." She gave a little sigh, barely recognizable. "He's too shy and polite and kind and juvenile. He's always being tricked by muggers and lowlifes. If only it wasn't for me to sense malice, he's gone as long as he stepped outside his trees of Payon." Ennave said matter-of-factly.

(I'll be gone for a bit. Check my status)

@Aristocles

Smith almost feel down on the ground form the bite,"Ouch" Smith yelled out taking a moment to sit on the ground rubbing the bite mark on his toe.Looking at another one of her siblings smiling trying to be nice.

Krakas shivered as the carriage approached the ruined walls of Traeton. The steady stomping of the giant lizards sent quakes up the reins and rattled the cart uncomfortably. It was as if the carriage was intentionally trying to slow down, to put off arriving at the city's massive gates for as long as possible. Knowing her son, Krakas could see why. Eventually, the wheels creaked to a halt. "Why are we here? The city is still miles away," she asked, to a nervous looking dracon driver.

"Apologies, madam. This is as far as I'm willing to go," the dracon stuttered out, looking in horror at the city walls. Krakas nodded.

"Thank you, that will be all," Krakas said, stepping out of the carriage. With a shout, the driver turned his lizards around and took off in the other direction far quicker than he came. Slowly shaking her head, Krakas made her way to the gates. When she arrived, she was stopped by two guards.

"Glorious day, fellow kobold," he said. "Another enlightened individual, come to join the mighty Rughid Empire!"

"Shut up, you," Krakas spat. "Tell me where your emperor is." The guard almost recoiled at the sudden directness of her statement. He raised his spear in a wordless threat.

"And on what grounds do you think you can speak to His Might?" he asked.

"On account of Rughoi being my son," she answered. The guard straightened himself and held his spear at his side. Without saying anything, he pointed toward the ruined Castle Traeton. Nodding, Krakas began walking in that direction.

@WingsOfBronze

"Payon? Isn't that a far way from here? You two have traveled far indeed. Are you also from Payon? Hmm. Well, you've found some good company here. Anything I can do to help you two, just ask me, please." Aurescia responded. "Still, it is better that he be kind than be mean. Naivete will work itself out eventually. Might take a while."

@Eviledd1984

Kara picked Jareh up. "Is someone hungry? I'll get you something." She gently patted him on the back. "Smith? Can you get some food for him? It's on the top shelf, right there." She pointed at the shelves, many of which had jars on them.

@bloonewb

Rama was in castle Traeton, trying to impress Rughoi of the seriousness of the situation. One of Rughoi's advisers argued with him, trying to convince the chief that everything was fine.

"Sire, please! We have the city now, but everything's a mess! Our food stocks are low-"

"Easily replenished once we raid the outlying farms!"

"-the walls are a wreck-"

"We can fix them once we put more of our prisoners to work!"

"-and I'm not even sure that this castle will stand up!"

"Nonsense. It's nothing that a bit of kobold ingenuity won't fix." A bit of plaster from the ceiling fell down onto the floor right next to them.

"My lord. With all due respect, we risk losing everything we have if we don't deal with these issues now. If you would only-"

A herald ran into the room, inserting a horn designed for a dracon's snout into his little kobold mouth. He blew on it, making a cacophony which abruptly ended the exchange.

"Announcing Krakas, the queen mother of the Rughid Empire." The herald then put his hands over his head as another bit of plaster cracked off and fell, landing where he had been standing just a moment ago.