@Aristocles

Smith nodded moving towards one of the shelves opening it and looking around for something, Pulling out a few jars of mushed up fruits asking her where the utensils and bowls were.

@Aristocles

"I did not think so. I appeared when he's in danger. Like I was summoned in a sudden. I was stuck with him since then, he did not know how he summoned me, yet he did. Through the years, he mastered it." She smiled. "You lovers sure have been rooted here for ages, I've heard this shop's a famous and powerful one. How's life faring?" Ennave asked with a smile and a tilt of her head.

"Mother?" Rughoi turned his head eagerly to look in the direction of the door. An advisor approached him with his decree, but Rughoi interrupted him. "Whatever, Do what needs to be done," he said, waving him away offhandedly. Almost running, he rushed over to the doors and flung them open, then charged down the hall to the main room.

Krakas paced worriedly across the main room. Was her son even here? What if one of millions of things happened, and this supposed "Emperor of All Kobold" was just Rughoi's successor? Her thoughts were dispelled by the heavy stomping of incredibly large feet racing towards her, in a gait that she knew by heart. Without having to look, she flung herself into the arms of the source of the noise the moment he emerged from the hall. Rughoi and his mother shared a warm embrace.

"What are you doing here, mother?" Rughoi asked, breaking the silence and the hug.

"I'm taking you home,” Krakas said, trying to be the stern mother figure she could never imitate.

“That’s the best part! This is home! Not just for you and me, but Xigyll will be a home for all kobolds! Our art and culture will finally surface after hiding since the days of dragons!” Rughoi explained excitedly, not caring if his cool, calculating facade was removed in front of his subjects.

“No. Enough with this imperial fantasy. Please, I beg you. If you return Traeton to its rightful rulers, I promise you the dracons will give you a fair trial in the Fertile Valley,” Krakas said, trying to appeal to reason. Rughoi stiffened, and let go of his mother.

“Guards, Her Kindness the Queen Mother is fatigued after her long days of travel. Please escort her to the safest room in the castle, where she can rest and regain her senses,” Rughoi commanded, as two guards in full armor stepped forwards.

“Don’t you take another step towards me, young man,” Krakas scorned to one of the guards.

“Please come with me, Your Kindness. I would not wish for us to do this the hard way,” he responded, offering his hand. Krakas scowled, but allowed him to lead her away. Once locked in her room, she kneeled before the bed and began praying feverishly to Scen.

@Eviledd1984

Kara began to feed the children when Adykon himself came into the room. He took one look at the situation and sighed. As he was dressed in his battle armor, his meaning was anything but peaceful.

"Kara, just what in the name of the 10 and the 12 do you think you are doing?"

She looked up at her father, a massively muscled beast of a dracon. Normally, someone approached by him would have been at least mildly intimated, but she knew it was just how he was. She liked it that way; he was a very protective father, especially when it came to keeping his girls safe. "I, er... actually worship over 20 gods, but... uh... I'm feeding Jarah and the others?"

"You should be preparing for combat with us. And Smith, are you going to just lie there in your loincloth all day? If you want to dress like that in here, that's fine. If you want to train with me outdoors, put on these pants, at least." He tossed Smith a pair of gray-colored shorts. "And, you do want to train, right? My daughter seems to have you in training for hatching care, but we need something a bit more... practical right about now."

@WingsOfBronze

"It's been fine" Aurescia replied. "Ophion and I are a bit lonely. Our children have grown up and left, you see. We still have plenty of time to have more, but my husband isn't really in the mood for it right now." Dracons could have children until they were about 100 years old, sometimes more.

"If you don't mind my asking, female spiders have rather... odd habits with the males." Such as eating them alive, but she didn't use those words "I won't ask for details, but are you a mother yet?"

@bloonewb

Krakas had been locked in a room which had once been occupied by Traeton's queen. While it had definitely seen the ravages of conquest, it still showed signs of its former opulence. The room's bath was a large pool set into the floor with a golden rim and a faucet head shaped like a dragon. The gems which had been used as its eyes had been pried loose and the water drained, but it was still a sight to behold. The bed was far larger than anything required of a kobold, and while the sheets were still intact, most of the fine silk pillows had been stolen.

The remainder of the room's decorations were largely intact. The main adornment was a large tapestry on the wall, proudly displaying Traeton in its glory days as the gleaming gem of a city it once was. There was also a large wardrobe pressed up against the east wall, a table with a mirror and some empty perfume bottles, a few torn cushions, and a few shelves alongside a bookcase. Most of the books had been vandalized, as was often the case during the conquest.

Meanwhile, Rama had given up trying to persuade Rughoi of anything useful. He figured that it would be better to work behind the scenes and let others try their hand at convincing their new king of the necessity of reforms and repairs. To that end, he knocked on Krakas' door.

"My lady? Are you in there? I have the key to the door, but if you are busy, I won't disturb you."

@Aristocles

Smith was blushing hard feeling very embarrassed by Kara's father walking into the room while he was helping her,"Yes..sir.." The young man said quickly putting on the clothing to cover up his loincloth."Sorry...i will be back.." He said to Kara in a rather quiet timid voice."What is it you need me to do?" He asked him leaving the room for the time being.

@Aristocles

Ennave stared at her for a bit, then she shook her head and made noise that sounds like throat clearing. "No. I still haven't thought of it." She politely said, stealing glances at Aurescia. She thought on changing the topic. "You said you had children. How many, if I may ask?" She asked politely and smiled, her fangs showing.

She can saw the table from there now, their distance is a few. She hopped down as soon as Aurescia neared the table.

The sharp knock at the door made Krakas jump. She heard a voice on the other end, saying something about having a key to the door. Grimly, she wondered how her own blood could imprison her. "Come in," she called to the voice. "There's nothing to occupy me here." The sound of a key sliding into a lock reverberated throughout the room, and the door creaked open, revealing a figure on the large side, armed to the teeth. "So? Do you need anything?" she asked.

(I am here. I can post at least once every other day for now. Sorry for delays)

@Eviledd1984

"Come outside with me. We have to train for the upcoming fight" Adykon explained, opening the front door for Smith. They walked a short distance from the main house, to a little sandy arena which Adykon had cordoned off. There was a weapons rack already set up outdoors. "Which weapons do you fight with, Smith?"

@WingsOfBronze

"Four" Aurescia explained. "Including a clutch of twins." Ophion looked around the room. "I really should go check on Fasuto. He's been upstairs for quite a while."

@bloonewb

Rama stepped into the room and closed the door behind him, then walked to the center of the room to help prevent any eavesdropping. The walls of the palace were thick but cracked, and it was unclear if anyone was listening in.

"Yes. I need to know anything you can tell me about your son. How to approach him, how to win his ear, what sort of things should I avoid, what flatters him, that sort of thing. I need to get him to either abandon this madness or else navigate it. Quit while he's ahead. Take his loot and run. If he flees now, he can probably take enough wealth and followers with him to be a very powerful chief beneath the surface. Any kobold would be satisfied with that. Anyone but him, it seems."

"i always knew that he would be" Hermia said, "He just needed to believe it himself. Yet that's what we do as wives, nudge them along when they need it, without making it obvious" She said, with a smile, "Oh, he is. Yvoir is going to be a handful when he's older, but he's a good child, really"

Nyx smiled, settling Castor again, she would have set him down, but knew he'd get into trouble the minute she took her gaze away from him for a second. And even if she did watch him like a hawk, he could get in trouble. "We'll have to get togeter, witth everyone. I'd like the children to know one another"

@Aristocles

Smith had quickly put on his robes but kept his sandals off so he could properly practice his magic, Following Adykon feeling embarrassed when he was found in that situation."Sorry" Was all Smith could say at the moment thinking Adykon was going to scold him as he made his way towards the arena.

"Mhm i guess i could take this one" He said taking a shortsword form the weapon rack.

Krakas rubbed her head and sat down on her bed. It gave a reassuring flumph, but no amount of feathers and straw could lighten her decision. Could she really plot against and manipulate her own child? Her only child? Finally, after keeping Rama far too long, she just blinked and cupped her snout in her hands. "At one time, he was the most hardworking, obedient son any mother could ask for. I don't even know who he is anymore . . . I have prayed multiple times to the snake god Hetuis to eat this Kobold Emperor and spit my son Rughoi back out."

@Aristocles

"Twins.. interesting.." Ennave said a little smile. Hearing Ophion's word she looked at the man. "Yes please, sir. And uhh.. get used to his shyness." Ennave said in a rather nonchalant manner.

@Caits

Orna thought about it. "So, all of the children. Could be interesting. We should collaborate on these things. Share notes" she lifted her right foot out of the water and began to massage it, starting with her clawed toes. "We're all relatively new at this mother thing. It would be best to compare what we do, see the results, try new things. Gotta raise our kids right, you know."

@Eviledd1984

"That sword? It's a fine blade. Good for stabbing" Adykon explained. "Now, take a few swings at the air. I'd like to see how well you handle it." The dracon stood a few feet away from Smith, waiting to see how he would do.

@bloonewb

"I haven't known him for very long" Rama admitted. "In fact, this whole thing has unfolded very quickly." The kobold paused for a moment to scratch his left leg with his right claws. "You say he used to be nicer? I imagine he must have had a hard childhood. I mean, your son is half-dracon, right? There's no way that he's entirely kobold; much too large for that. Was his father abusive?"

@WingsOfBronze

Ophon nodded as he heard Ennave's words. He knocked on the door. "Fasuto? Are you awake? Is everything alright? I was hoping to show you some magic spells later."

@Aristocles

There's no response but some snoring heard from the door. Fasuto's sleeping.

@Aristocles

Smith was still feeling embarrassed from before walking a few feet away form Adykon, Holding the sword in his pale hand taking a deep breath.Swinging the sword in the air in a sort of flaying motion, Doing this because he only use a sword a few times in his life.

"If only," Krakas snorted. "I wish he did. At least then he'd have a father." She didn't know why she was giving away all this information to this total stranger. Maybe it was the confined quarters, or the fact that her son didn't trust her, but right now she craved nothing more than a bit of attention and an open ear. "Listen, if there is any part of him that is still Rughoi, then what he may need is a little prodding. Appeal to his sense of self. If that doesn't work, then try poking his ego by suggesting he isn't capable of doing the things you ask for. This I know made him pick bushels more than he normally would in his youth." Krakas hoped that this would be enough to convince Rughoi of a compromise.

@WingsOfBronze

Ophion gave up on trying to wake the fox. "Guess he's really out of it" he said to himself, walking down the stairs. Half an hour later, they had finished dinner, and Aurescia had gotten some tea for the three of them. Ennave was given a shot glass for her tea.

"Perhaps we should all get some rest soon" Ophion suggested. "I'll have more to say to Fasuto tomorrow, when he's awake."

@Eviledd1984

"Hmm, good swing, but your form could use some work." Adykon demonstrated a few sword strokes, slicing the sharpened steel blade clean through the air with a loud whooshing noise. "You should also roll up those sleeves. They're getting in your way."

@bloonewb

"I can try that second one, my lady, although he might see through it given enough time. Hmm. Seems like I'm the one playing the role of father to him lately. Or conscience. Someone has to stop him from getting himself killed, and all of us along with him. This conquest is on very shaky ground, you know. We're exposed to counterattack." Rama sat next to Krakas. "We're both stuck in this boat together, you know? If I try to leave, your son will probably order me killed. I may not be locked in a room, but I am trapped much as you are." He put a hand on her's, trying to comfort the female kobold.

@Aristocles

Smith nodded his head thinking that since Adykon was the professional he should listen to his wise words, Rolling up the long shelves of the robes as best he could ready to take a crack at it. Getting in a position he had saw a long time ago as a child from a solider, Swinging his sword this time with a bit more formation then before.

@Aristocles

"Yes, thank you Ophion for the hospitality. At least when Fasuto demanded a job you should give him one, he once said he's adventurous as the wind, nobody will stop him from demanding a job from you, really. And you can't convince him to not repay your kindness. He's silly, but that's why I like him."Ennave grinned at the thought as she sipped on her tea, but it stung her so she gave it some blows.

Rughoi, during all this, was already planning the next attack, this time on the neighboring city of Aredor. "If you'll look at this report, gathered from kobold immigrants and a few spies," he said, gesturing to the map and handful of papers thrown haphazardly across the table upon which he and his advisors sat. "Aredor will be a tougher shell to break. We were lucky here. Traeton was not only conveniently nearby, but almost teetering on collapse. Aredor, you'll find, is far more stable. I'm taking any ideas. Merat? Kutur?"

"Your Might," Merat interjected, in his usual near-whisper. "Aredor is not better. Not much. Weaknesses in south wall. Extensive sewer system. Fascist totalitarianism."

"Also, if I may, Your Might," Kutur stuttered. "Perhaps, if you please of course, might win this battle before its even fought. Our reputation precedes us, you know? At least in the Fertile Valley, that is. Perhaps if we made a few grandiose threats, that might just tip the public in our favor."

"And then the Duchy of Draconis will be ours," Rughoi mused, his wolfish smile spreading across his snout. "What next? Shall we claim the Belayon Kingdom? The Irodils? If we lock down the Dragonblood, then what will Naushindcalgoa have to do but surrender? It's almost as if this entire continent is about to fall into our laps." The meeting was interrupted by Rama suddenly entering the room. "Ah, the Hero of Traeton. Speak quickly, what are your thoughts on Aredor?"