Kara bowed before Leonore, then spoke. "Yes. I have so many questions. First, let me say that I am unbelievably happy to meet you at last. I didn't know that Smith's mother was still around, let alone that he was a prince. If I may ask, how exactly did this happen? I mean, he's half-human, and a prince. What exactly is he the prince of, and is his father some kind of king?"

@Aristocles

"Before I tell you the story please have a seat" She said gesturing towards two large comfy looking hand woven chairs. Taking a seat herself with her hands in her lap, "Well firstly it is indeed a pleasure to meet you as well, Secondly I am the queen of the nymphs have been so for almost forty or so years now. And protector of nature" She said quite proudly of her title. "And thirdly the father of Smith was a human blacksmith named Warren Lacroix, Quite a long story of how we met and fell in love" She said her voice layered in sadness.

Kara took a seat, wrapping her tail over her lap and holding it in her hands.

"So, I know that Smith's father was... not a good guy. He made that clear to me. But he also told me that you left the family at some point. Something to that effect. Smith never really liked to talk about it very much. Did you do that, and if you did, why? You seem like a nice female, and I don't know why you'd abandon your child."

@Aristocles

Leonore thought for a moment, A painful memory of when she had to leave her child to her awful former husband, " I left because I did not fit in with the humans, And I had to be with my people when they needed me the most" She said wanting to properly explain why she left.

"But what about your son? He needed you too" Kara asked, trying not to sound angry.

Rebat silently took the sealed paper. He knew what the words inside represented. The difference between peace and dissolution rested now on the shoulders of his emperor. He silently prayed that Scen would send him the right decision. "One last thing before I go," Rebat said, recalling something important. This was one of few things he could never share with His Might, even with his loyalty. "The kobold empire at Traeton once had two wise kobolds who held the coveted title of general. His Might has not given it to anyone since. One, Merat, was slain by a joint effort when he revolted and created a schism. The other, Rama, deserted in favor of dracons. I seek the latter, on behalf of Rughoi the Unbound. Have you seen a kobold, somewhat taller than I with a lighter scale tone by any chance? He may have passed through."

_______________________________________

"What brings you here, master?" Kutur asked, putting the finishing touches on one of his books. The pages occasionally let out a soft crackle or a burst of light, showing their magic. The human woman nodded, somewhat impressed.

"Your skills have grown since you graduated . . . marginally," she said. "But you know as well as anyone I am not here for no reason." Kutur nodded. His master never tolerated what she deemed 'nonsense'. "I am here because of Archmage Lionus. He has passed away in his sleep." Kutur stood up, shocked. Archmage Lionus was old when Kutur had stepped on the Bythesea shore, but still it seemed unimaginable that he would die.

"Another will have to be chosen," Kutur said, looking at his books and scrolls. He had been busy since the founding of Xigyll, recording his observations for future kobold aspirants of the Red Discipline, should there be any.

"Yes. All former students of the Three Disciplines, magister and up, are being called back to Constantsea. There, we will cast our votes." Kutur didn't know what to say. On one hand, it was his duty as a scholar to choose the next Archmage. On the other, his emperor needed him, as well as the realm. He would be far from his home, his kinsmen, in a land populated by humans. Still, he didn't think very long about it.

"Let us go," he said. His master nodded, and opened a portal in the room. Rughoi would have to function without his advice for but a few days.

@Aristocles

"A mistake on my part but another factor was my enemies searching for myself or my kin" She said her hands nervously rubbing her hands together, "I left because of a number of reasons, I did not want to endanger my people nor my child" She added sounding quite sad.

OOC: Sorry if this is kind of long, I just had to get this introductory phase done. And if there are any mistakes (inconsistencies with the lore and such), I'll fix them. IC:

Yssil was now the only male offspring in his family still living at his parent’s house. Gyveos, his oldest brother, had left Hekaga years ago, while Jaidra, his other older brother, was making a respectable (or at least lucrative) business in the city. As the youngest brother, Yssil felt that it was time he advanced and became independent as well.

For the past few years, he had been working various odd jobs; from patrolling the city as a guard during the nights to assisting Jaidra in his business to offering (mostly magical) training and sparring opportunities to any interested. He had a stable enough income, but Yssil felt he was stagnating. He could now afford to buy and keep a small place for himself if he wanted to, but there just were no opportunities of the kind he was looking for around here.

He’d also been studying magic ever since he learned to read and write competently from his mother, but there was not much else to do here as a sorcerer. What he needed the most right now was practice, he thought. So, Yssil decided to become an adventurer – he knew there would be challenges, travelling, new sights and people, and most importantly, plenty of opportunities.

Today was the day to leave. He already had a medium sized leather bag packed with various necessities, now he just had to clothe himself a bit more appropriately. He picked light brown trousers, a beige tunic and a leather belt. He had two weapons, kept in good shape, though rarely used (except for practice), and sheathed and belted both the short sword and the dagger.

He only had to say goodbye to his mother and sister now – everyone knew he was leaving of course, but those two would surely want hugs. He shuddered at the thought. Females could be so weirdly emotional, sometimes.

He picked his bag, adjusted his weapons, and left his bedroom. As he thought, Imra in Lyria were both waiting for him in the room closest to the exit of the house. As soon as they saw him, Lyria stood up from where she had been sitting and rushed to him, hugging him tightly. His mother stayed sitting, watching the two of them with a small amused smiled, somewhat wistful. Meanwhile, his sister was still clinging to him. As gently as he could, he pried her away.

“W-why do you have to leave?” she asked, her voice wavering with sadness.

“I want to do something similar to what Gyveos does,” he tried explaining simply.

“But he’s almost never home,” Lyria added with a slight whine.

Yssil sighed. “I know. I promise I’ll write whenever I can, but you know paper isn’t cheap.”

His sister looked at the floor briefly, fidgeting nervously. “I’ll miss you,” then she looked him fiercely in the eye and exclaimed “And don’t die!”

Yssil offered her a quick hug, grimacing lightly over her shoulder at the requisite show of affection. Thankfully, she let him go soon. He walked the few steps to his mother and knelt in order to hug her, too. Knowing his reticence, she released him quickly and smiled at him fondly.

“Be well, Yssil,” she said softly. “Have you prayed for a safe journey?”

“Of course,” he said, knowing she was worried.

“Good. I will leave you in the capable hands of the gods, then,” she stood up, leaving him kneeling. Yssil bowed his head, letting Imra offer him a blessing. Then he stood up, inclining his head in thanks. No more needed to be said between them.

And so, the youngest brother left his birth-home as well. He had a long journey ahead of him, having to travel all the way to the Fertile Valley. He travelled by ship, first via the Iron river, then the White river and finishing at Hewaniar river. The ship fare was rather dismal compared to what he was used to, but something he accepted. He had to stop at least for a day in each of the three cities that were on the way, prolonging his journey as necessity dictated.

Eventually, however, he arrived at his destination: The home of a great legend, the well-known hero and adventurer, Adykon. Yssil took a deep breath and steeled his nerves. Looking worse for wear than at the beginning of his journey, the young dracon male strode confidently to the farm-house and knocked politely.

@bloonewb

"I haven't seen any kobold like that. Hmm. Mazdak, what about you?" Ternoc reached for his parchment once again, writing down another note.

"Afraid not, Rebat. We have plenty of kobolds in Hekaga, and if this Rama was around here, I wouldn't know. I'd suggest a scrying spell or asking some of the kobolds who live here. If he is here, maybe he's hiding out in the southern neighborhoods. Of course, those districts are so crowded that if Rama wanted to be lost, he would be very hard to find. And to be fair, you are rather dark-scaled for a kobold, Rebat."

__________________

@Eviledd1984

"Can you be a bit more specific? I don't mean to judge, but abandoning a child is pretty bad. You'd have to have one hell of a reason to justify that. And if you had to leave your abusive husband, couldn't you have taken your son with you?" Kara explained, feeling the slightest tinge of anger. Smith's life would have been far better with both parents raising him, especially given how horrible his father was. She didn't think that Leonore meant any harm by her actions, but that didn't mean she wasn't wrong.

__________________

@SilverPaw

Adykon had finished writing a letter when a knock came on the door. So much had happened in the last few months; the war against Rughoi, his daughter Kara falling for Smith, correspondences from his daughters Aura and Orna, and various issues with Kos, Larek, Veax, and Caex. His adult children certainly led interesting lives, although none of them could compare with his.

He had been born in an impoverished and Diminutive Duchy on the edge of a wasteland, and he had grown up in austerity. His family's land had been poor, its soil marginally fit for goat pasture. In spite of this, his father Cayosin and mother Iskra had sent him to school for just long enough to ensure that he was literate and proficient in basic math. Not long after reaching adulthood, he was drafted into the duke's army to fight in a long and pointless conflict, a war which had taught him how to survive, as well as show him more of the world away from his family's petty farm. Although it was violent, he strangely found that he had enjoyed the ordeal, in spite of the scars it left on his chest; in fact, he wore those marks as badges of honor.

The duke won his war, but at the cost of its treasury. Adykon was let go, whereupon he became a mercenary. For years, he traveled from place to place, banding together with other adventurers in ad hoc parties, disbanding when their job was done. He rarely stayed in the same place twice, rarely slept in the same bed twice, and rarely slept with the same female twice. And those ladies loved a man in armor. One of then, a dancer by the name of Vaeri, had a son by him, although he didn't know that he had begat him on her until much later. This transient life continued on and on for Adykon until one day, he had received a call from a mage named Arcantas. The old wizard had asked for Adykon to retrieve a stone idol from the Lost City, a vast ruin in the middle of the continent.

Teaming up with Vaeri's daughter Rhiga and several other adventurers, they retrieved the idol, only to quickly learn that it was part of a wider conspiracy to take over the dracon realms in the name of the dark god Dememoras. Over the course of the next year and a half, Adykon fought against this great evil, eventually sealing Dememoras into a dark gem which was placed into the core of a carefully-guarded vault. During the struggle he had met his wife, the sorceress Aerta. Following his victory, Adykon was given a grant of land from the kings of Minbenthac and Naugoa in the fertile valley, where he built his farm, started a family, and tried to live a life of peace and quiet. Over two decades had passed since Dememoras' defeat, and life only seemed to be getting less peaceful, not more, a fact which weighed heavily on Aerta.

For his part, Adykon enjoyed the mix of home life and adventuring, and felt with great justification that the best of both worlds was at his fingertips. One one hand, he was still very much a farmer and father of his household. On the other, he was still the formidable adventurer. At age 55, he still had at least four decades of adventuring to go before time began to slow him down, and he had only grown more formidable with age; he had recently learned how to cast combat-oriented spells at least as well as his wife could, making him into something of a magical fighter.

For her part, Aerta balanced the life of a mage, mother, and adventurer as best as anyone could. She averaged one egg a year, and was quite happy to be with her husband. Almost every second of her waking life had to be planned carefully in order to ensure that she'd be able to oversee the farm along with her husband, raise her many children (she had over twenty and counting, all by Adykon), practice her magic, deal with unexpected problems, and still have enough time to relax. She took this latter time very seriously, and Adykon knew it. The pink-skinned sorceress was in the living room in the lotus position, her white-soled feet pressed against one another. She hovered in the air just above a blue carpet with the symbol of a hollow golden rectangle adorning its center. This put her quite close to the front door, but as she was deep in meditation, Adykon decided to get the door instead.

He opened it and found a young adult male dracon looking up at him. Yssil looked every bit the part of a tired traveler, and his armaments made it obvious that he was coming to Adykon with a martial proposal of some kind. Perhaps there had been an attack by a dragon. Maybe there was a threat from Dememoras' cult. Worse, he could be coming to warn Adykon of an impending assault on the farm. For all the possibility of doom and danger, Adykon kept a calm demeanor. No matter what Yssil could potentially tell him, he had almost certainly faced worse before.

"Hello there. I guess you've come to me seeking some form of help or an opportunity. Come in, please. Whatever you need, I am sure I can assist you." Aerta's eyes slowly opened as her husband spoke to the visitor, but she said nothing yet.

@Aristocles

"I could not take my son with me, If i did then he would be in more danger. When he was with his father he could not be found...he was somewhat safe" She said sadly looking at her hands now. "It was my fault for leaving him with "him" but it was the only way in the long run to keeping him safe, I should have protected him form him and not..the dra'con..." She said softly her face looking fully sadden feeling as well shame for her action.

@Aristocles

The door opened and before him stood Adykon. Yssil was awed to actually meet him and in disbelief that he had finally made it here. Hoping not to appear foolish, he cleared his throat and said “Well met. Yes, thank you,” his voice rather stiff with formality, a faint scratchiness present due to his arduous journey.

Following Adykon’s invitation, Yssil entered the house. Near the entrance he saw a draconess meditating, and recognized her as Adykon’s wife. Whether it was due to her own prowess or due to being a hero’s mate, Aerta was practically as well known as Adykon himself. Yssil inclined his head in a silent greeting to her, but decided to speak to Adykon first, although he hoped that if the latter agreed to train him, Aerta would be willing to share some of her knowledge and experiences as a sorceress too.

Turning to Adykon, Yssil began speaking “You guessed correctly. My name is Yssil and I have come seeking for an opportunity. I wish to be an adventurer, and I would like to be trained by you,” he finished his brief introduction and request by straightening his back, expecting to be questioned, perhaps even tested.

"Thank you," Rebat said, bowing. "The spirits are tricksters, and they would not make my journey end before I search. For that I bless them." He bowed again, but it seemed like he was bowing towards something nobody else can see. "I return home, then, to Xigyll. The emperor shall hear of our talks, and make his decision. Perhaps you would be kind enough to allow me a portal?" The dracon magics were abundant and strong, that Rebat could see in his career as a general. Where the kobolds were strapped enough for healers, the dracons always employed a host of magic workers in their armies.
__________________________________
"Where has he gone!?" Rughoi shouted. The guard jumped, his teeth chattering in sheer terror. Rughoi was a giant of a kobold, which nobody forgot when he was mad.

"I don't know, Your Might!" the guard squeaked, his armor rattling as he trembled. "He was inside the castle, and now he's gone!"

"Thousand curses," Rughoi muttered. "Be on your way." The guard nodded, and picked up his spear, rattling his way down the hall. Rughoi looked around in anger. Kutur was not the kind to abandon his duties. Something must have compelled him to leave, but what? Dracon kidnapping? Are they so desperate to spy on his empire that they would strike with their magic, especially now? Ardasa called him paranoid, but he knew who the enemies were. With Rebat away on a diplomatic mission . . .

Worry was never Rughoi's friend. Worry chased him up and down the meeting chambers, across his own bed, never leaving his side. There was no end to it. He could only pray to the three for his own safety, a safety he cannot even ensure himself anymore. He roared, and tore down a banner from the wall. He hated to worry.

@Eviledd1984

"I see. Well, I guess I'd like to know just one more thing, then. Why didn't you come back for Smith later? I mean, he's here now, so it's safe for him to be here, I guess. Why not try to get him back years ago?" Kara inquired.

@SilverPaw

"Here for training? Good to see initiative. Before we can really begin, I need to see what I've got to work with. But even before we do that, I think Aerta may want to take a look at you. Really. It's kind of a motherly thing. Now, you've caught me at a bit of an odd time, but I can fit something into my schedule. Speak to my wife over there and we'll get you set up... Ee-sill, was it? Anyway, meet me in the back when Aerta is done with you. I'm sure you must have plenty of questions, and I'll be happy to answer them all when you're ready." Adykon gestured towards Aerta, who came down from her hovering stance and walked towards the newcomer. Adykon took a few steps back to let her get a good look at Yssil.

"Well, you certainly are a likely looking one. I can sense the magic in you, and you've clearly been on a long trip just to get here" She extended her hand. "I'm Aerta, sorceress, mother, wife, and adventuress. Pleased to meet you. You're welcome to stay here as long as Adykon allows it. Before you begin, you look like you could use some food and a bath. And a fresh change of clothes. Don't worry, we have plenty of things in your size around here. You're about as big as a couple of my sons were when they were young adults."

@bloonewb

"I can arrange that, yes" Ternoc replied, nonchalantly. Once more, he took out a piece of paper and repeated the process of filling out a writ, complete with orders, his signature, a stamp, and a seal affixed to an envelope containing the document. "Take this over to my court mages. Mazdak can show you the way. Please send Rughoi- King Rughoi - my regards. Mazdak, have you anything to add?"

"Nothing at all, my lord."

"Then you two are dismissed. I shall send messengers to each of you should the need for further discourse arise. Have a good day."

@Aristocles

The green haired woman's eyes were still looking down at her lap, Her eyes watering looking like she was about to cry. " A good question, I cannot see him because...I was afraid of seeing him because I was away for so long" She said with tears running for her cheek.

Rughoi was pulled out of his thoughts by a brilliant light materializing right in the center of his meeting hall, looking for all the world like a tear in reality itself. He shielded his eyes from its blinding glow till it receded. When it was gone, Rebat stood in its place, already down in a kneel.

"Your Might, I bring good news," he said, with as much flourish as he could muster, holding out the sealed letter. Rughoi took it from his hand, then with one claw, broke the seal. His fingers were trembling as he read the letter, not able to hide his fear. He can't deny anymore that the powers that surrounded him were larger, crueler, and endlessly more powerful than he. Their demands he already knew would be unreasonable, but he would have to capitulate.

"Good news indeed," Rughoi muttered. The more he read, the angrier he became. But in that anger, an idea came to him, one that would hinge on the arrogance of the court of Hekaga and their disdain for the kobold forces. "There's no way out. I will have to honor our agreement. Rebat, you're our friend in their court. Bring with you three thousand legionnaires and send them back over to serve at the city of our new allies."

"But Your Might, that is no more than half of our whole army, probably less," Rebat said. He was never quick of mind, and he knew it, but he was beginning to catch on to the plan.

"They don't need to know that," Rughoi said. "March them around, flaunt their skill, make it look like that's our whole army. No doubt every dracon in this whole continent is sure we can barely scrape together a hundred. Now back to Hekaga with you, Rebat. Don't leave our friends waiting." Rebat bowed again, and left to assemble the army.

@Aristocles

“Indeed,” Yssil nodded, glad that Adykon seemed to appreciate his drive. “I’m looking forward to what kind of tests you will come up with,” he answered with a confident smirk, but the minute tensing of his body, particularly his shoulders, and a single flick of his tail gave away his nervousness. Yssil nodded at Adykon’s pronunciation of his name “I will be glad to speak to her,” he said, already half turning to Aerta, approaching her fully as Adykon left the room.

“It’s an honour,” Yssil accepted her hand. “I would certainly appreciate your hospitality, thank you,” he did feel worn out and his clothes were rather…ragged. “If you ever have the time, I would like to discuss magic with you. I haven’t met many sorcerers. And those that I have…” he shook his head in disappointment “Unfortunately, many choose not to hone their talents. But I,” he clenched his fists and jaw briefly, hesitating.

“I want to understand my gift and use it to its full potential.” He frowned slightly and added “For something good,” he would never do anything dark, his mother had warned him enough about what seeking power for its own sake could do. As much as Yssil wished to better himself, he would not want to become one of those evil beings that heroes fought against. It just wasn’t right, that kind of thing.

@Eviledd1984

"I-I didn't mean to upset you, oh..." Kara didn't ask anything more. She didn't know all the details, but it seemed like Leonore hadn't meant to do any wrong to her son. "T-thanks for letting me look around your home. This really is a beautiful place."

@bloonewb

Mazdak had been assigned by Grand Prince Ternoc to prepare a legion of Hekagan troops to meet the kobolds. He was not, however, the general chosen to lead that legion. That honor (or chore, as many would have it) would go to Seleucus, one of Ternoc's younger brothers. He was far more conventional by Hekagan standards, and led his army in the expected fashion. He also shared the same conventional Hekagan attitudes when it came to kobolds and their place in the world.

"For the last time, Seleucus-"

"-Prince Seleucus, Mazdak." The brown-skinned male brushed his green-plumed helmet, much like a strutting peacock might preen his lengthy feathers.

"Prince Seleucus... with all due respect, the city of Xigyll is to be our ally. And don't call them 'the kobolds.' You wouldn't call citizens of Minbenthac 'the dracons', would you?"

"They are what they have always been and always will be; our inferiors. Details such as their tribe and clan are basically irrelevant unless we choose to play them against one another. Oh. Are we doing that?"

"N-no. NO! Prince, how hard is it for you to understand that they are supposed to be partners? We have to treat them as equals."

Seleucus snorted at that last word. "I will live in no land where the one who shines my armor and polishes my wife's horns is my equal."

"Do you believe in irony, Prince? Because you are treading very close to an almost storybook ending, dead at the hands of kobold, or being saved by one."

"Spare me your fairy tales, Mazdak. I have no need of them. Now, is the legion in order?"

"Yes. All the troops are accounted for and fully armed."

"Then, we march!"

@SilverPaw

Aerta clapped her hands together. "I'm glad to see that you're eager to begin. Really. But first, you should get washed up and change into some fresher clothes. I can show you to one of the bathrooms- we have four in this house- and you can get cleaned up. I can leave you a shirt and some other clothing, but if you're going to be staying with us, please don't use the shirt in the house. I'm a bit concerned about keeping dirt off of the furniture and rugs. I'm sure your own mother has similar rules. After you've washed up and had something to eat, we can talk about magic, but then you should go out to the back and meet Adykon."

She raised her hand to get his attention, to make one more thing clear. "Just know that I'm a sorceress, not a wizard. That would be my sister, Tala. I was born with my magic; it isn't learned. I hone it through assiduous practice, not through academic study. I can help you use it, but I don't understand how it works. For me, it just does. Like moving my arms or my tail."

@Aristocles

"Thank you, I tend to the cleaning and well being of this forest since I first became queen" She said smiling looking towards Smith. "Would you like to see my garden Miss Kara?" She said not looking at the Dracon but was rubbing Smith's cheek.

Three thousand clawed feet stamped at the ground in reasonable unison. It was impossible to drill true discipline into an army that had just picked up the concept not one year ago, but Rebat felt that he had done a well enough job. Three thousand helmets glittered in the blinding sun, their glare extending out for miles around them. No doubt the troops were feeling quite uncomfortable under there. Metal is said to trap heat like cloth, and scorch the wearer like fire. However, he knew for a fact that some of those helmets have deflected glancing blows from dracon spears, and one of them saved his life in battle against a Meratid, so he insisted despite complaints that his entire army would be thoroughly equipped with plate.

Slowly, once again, the mountainous walls surrounding Hekaga rose into view. Most of the soldiers were rural folk, either living among the secluded tribes of the north or in the households of dracon slaveowners on plantations. Such majestic walls stunned most of them where they stood. Even beautiful Traeton, with its cracks filled in with gold, seemed small and decorative compared to actual walls with might and purpose. Rebat halted the army, not that he needed to. Most of them wouldn't go forth anyways. However, this is where he must make his signal. With a bow in hand, he drew one arrow from his hip. A flathead, with a red scarf tied around the shaft. He drew back the bow and loosed, letting the red signal fly upwards for all the city's garrison to see. Soon, he shall meet the Hekaga general.

“I realize that, I am a sorcerer as well. But any tips you have might come in handy,” Yssil addressed what he considered the most important first. “I agree, I should take care of my appearance first,” he gestured to his travel-induced scruffy looks. “And my mother does have similar rules,” he commented.

Then he let Aerta lead him to one of the bathrooms. Now that he had the opportunity to do so, Yssil cleaned himself thoroughly, the water both removing all the dirt and soothing his aches somewhat. He put his dirty and threadbare – but still functional, he thought – clothes in the hamper and put on the fresh loincloth and long dark blue shorts, which went to just above his knees, that Aerta had prepared for him.

After he finished, he found Aerta, remembering she had mentioned food but also eager to speak to her. “I personally find magic theory fascinating, if unhelpful, so I shall leave that topic rest,” he told her. “What I’m interested in – have you found some specific magical practices that you would recommend to me? Or are my powers really something I can discover, strengthen and learn about only on my own?” Yssil asked, curious; he had never got a clear answer regarding that. Oh, dracons certainly told him that he could never understand his own magic in the way wizards came to learn theirs, but he was stubborn enough that this had not curtailed his thirst for both the arcane knowledge and its power any.