[IC] Fire Emblem: Light's End

[Apollosarcher]

Jacob sighed took the finger, he knew she meant well, he'd pile with the bodies later. Gently he reach over and hugged Marianne and whispered to her. "Thank you... It helps." He said in quiet voice holding Marianne as he petted her head sighing. "Your a sweet girl Marianne and I thank you for this, I promise I'll do what I must to keep everyone alive and protect all my friends." He spoke a little louder as kept himself hugging Marianne. "Will you sit here with me for a bit Marianne? I'd enjoy the company." He said releasing as he leaned back in the cart smiling at her.

"I get why he did it, it doesn't make it right so I'm going to try and win this war without causing so much death and chaos... I have to for every man, woman, and child. They need me to save there loved ones from the fate of death and I will." He said looking over the Shepherds as they passed by him. "I will." He said shutting his eyes.

[Amaterasu]

"Are you certain they are whom we are searching for?" A slightly feminine voice speaks, as the figure gazes toward the pure white land, the figure's back faced the soldier being spoken to. The figure, Mei'lin under the disguise of a man, had a faint smile upon her lips in anticipation of meeting the man they were searching far for, the Champion of Naga. The journey from the far away land of Chon'sin had indeed been quite a long and treacherous one, but the troop that General Lei'min had lead out of Chon'sin had some of the most skillful soldiers from the army. The myrmidon herself was a pretty skilled swordsman, which earned her current position in the army. The power did not matter to her, just being able to serve her country in any way she could was in itself a reward.

"Affirmative. We had scouts informing us of a face that resembled the Champion of Naga. General Lei'min, your orders?"

"Very well. Forward the troops. We'll catch up to them at Regna Ferox."

[TheWendil]

Marianne sighed happily as Jacob petted her. Her one good eye closed in bliss and she even giggled a little as he accepted her gift of a finger. Not the most light heartening thing to witness in the world, but at least it was a nice moment away from the tension of warfare.

“Fearless leader is too kind and naïve,” she said with a smile. “Fearless leader should know that he can’t possibly save everyone. Not unless he was super duper strong!”

A pause.

“But then again, if anyone can do it, it’s you fearless leader!”

[Apollosarcher]

Jacob just sighed for awhile the caravan rolled onward until it stopped, it had not yet reached Ferox but before them lay an army and both Khans stood at the forefront. Therus and Tyran, these Khans were brothers and had simply traded who lead the country rather than have the tournament like the Khans of old.

Therus spoke, his voice was gentle and monotone. "Champion of Naga, we heard you were coming to ask for our aid. You will have it, our vanguard will stay and secure our border while my brother and I go to Ylissa, we will meet with your Queen and discuss more once we know if Plegia will join us." He said as Jacob slowly climbed out of the caravan bowing to the Khans.

Jacob spoke in his soft tone, nervously placing his hands in his pockets as looked at Feroxi soldiers before him. "Thank you... I'm sure the Queen will be most welcoming, I know it must have been trouble some to meet us here." He told them, behind the Khans they heard whispers from the soldier about how young he was and more importantly if he really was a Champion.

The mummers were silence Tyran slammed his sword into the ground and grabbed Jacob in a bear hug. "The Champion of Naga has repelled the invaders! Break out the cask's lets honor the boy in Feroxi way!" With that the men went from silence to cheers and Jacob was carted off to the be paraded about and meet the soldiers. Tyran having put the boy on his shoulders.

Therus sighed and watched this with a groan, Therus was the ruler and he was simply along as an adviser. So he stood of to the side, leaning against a tree as soldiers offered drinks to the Shepherds, a small band even began to play as tents were set up and the party went in to full swing. Jacob sighed, Ferox was a strange place indeed.

[Eisenhorn]

Jerod's scowl only grew deeper as the caravan got closer to Ragna Ferox. He was hiding out in a caravan as the group were halted suddenly by the twin Khans themselves. Well, great, the mercenary thought with a quiet sigh. Here he was hoping to avoid getting spotted by either Khan, and here they both were, confronting them with the bulk of the forces that Ragna Ferox could probably muster right now. They loved their shows of force, and he rarely could stand having any part of these posturing contests. But he had a reason to speak with at least one Khan, and would utilize the situation to his advantage, a rarely coherent and specific thought for the drunken warrior. So he hopped out of a cart while the camp was made and people were indeed celebrating, and stalked over quietly near Therus, speaking in a familiar tone to the Khan as he stepped out of the woods near the man. "'ow comes it tha' th' K'an tha' ain' in power makes th' calls w'ile t'e ruler 'imself goes an' stay's silent, eh?"

[TheWendil]

Marianne was quite surprised by the open fiasco the Shepherds would receive upon entering Ragna Ferox. Honestly, it was just a little border skirmish and she was pretty sure they had lost more casualties than saved. Still, if fearless leader was happy, then she was too.

She felt the burning urge to light the crowd on fire though for carting away her dearly beloved like he was some kind of champion. Which he was, but her champion alone. And she was about to do that too when something else caught her curious eye.

Jerod, apparently irritated by the Khan’s hospitality more so than her, had leaped out of the caravan and stalked his way to speak with one of them. Interested, the Dark Mage skipped along happily to follow, keeping close by but also concealing her form.

“Is Mister Jerod trying to make a new F.R.I.E.N.D?” she wondered to herself.

[Apollosarcher]

Therus shrugged at the comment of mercenary. "I'm Tyran's advisor on this little trip, I may in charge yet he's leading the men here. If I go out there and order them to end that party were just undermining one another. He can have his fun, so Jerod what are you doing escorting that youth? More important whose the little Dark Mage tailing you?" He laughed pointing his companion as he withdrew a flask and tossed it to the swordsman. "I know you like your drink so have my flask, I'll fill it later with something from the kegs." The Khan withdrew a smoking and some matches, lighting the pipe he sat down under the tree, gazing up at the sky as stars started to appear. "The winter constellations look beautiful tonight, I wonder if they see them the same way in Valm?" He asked the question to himself as he placed the pipe in his mouth inhaling the smoke. He was defiantly the opposite of his brother, quite and thoughtful perhaps he should have been born in another place where he might have been a philosopher. Here he was a renown swords, famous for ending opponents in one strike.

Jacob escaped the mass retreating back to a corner of the camp as the barbarians sang and partied. From there he retrieve his chess board, his tent, and some food. He slipped off to find a spot to make himself a little camp away from the noise, a place where he could think and plan. From here they would go to Plegia and ask them for assistance in the war, but before that... He'd have to face the enemy expedition, no doubt they were drawing in converts and preparing a army. He'd need to weaken them if he was to have a shot at there leaders and prepare for a counter attack on Valm and the church's capital in Rosanne.

[Dedonus]

Marius | Abra

The shock of the chilling cold creeped into Abra’s skin, just like when someone frightens you when he jumps out from an obstructed corner. She had forgotten how cold it actually was because of all the commotion and how fast everything happened. Although she had departed from her late foster mother’s house with a warm cloak, this protective vestment must had been lost when the church forces had kidnapped her. Cupping her hands together, Abra ignited a small flame inside her hand. The heat from the flame permeated throughout her body, countering the cold climate that was characteristic of Regna Ferox.

Suddenly, Abra felt a heavy cloak fall on her shoulders, causing her to clasp her hands together so that the flame would not catch the cloak on fire (and therefore herself too). When she turned her head back to look over her shoulder, Abra saw that Marius had tossed the cloak, which was probably retrieved from the caravan’s inventory.

“Hey! Watch where you’re throwing things. If I had not extinguished that flame, I would be a human fireball right now!”

“You’re welcome.” Marius replied, as if ignoring Abra’s complaints, since in his eyes he was offering a means of keeping the mage warm.

Then, one of the Feroxi soldiers came over to the two Shepherds, offering them their victory liquor. Marius was the first of the two Shepherds to answer the Feroxi man.

“Thank you, but I unfortunately have to decline your gracious offer. I don’t drink while on the march.” Abra was about ready to accept one drink, but from the corner of her eye, she saw Jacob sneaking away from the commotion that was the ‘victory celebration’. Knowing that by the time the Feroxi soldier would be back with her drink, the so-called “Champion of Naga” would have been long gone. Therefore, she too declined the soldier’s offer. The Feroxi man walked away with a puzzled look, wondering why anyone would decline some distilled Feroxi liquor.

Abra followed Jacob to his quiet retreat away from the rest of the camp. Even before arriving there, Abra discovered that Jacob had already set up his tent and was occupying himself with his planning and studying.

“So, too much Testosterone out there for your own comfort?” She said as she entered the tent. As she entered, Abra noticed the chest set that Jacob had brought with him to his personal ‘Fortress of Solitude’.

“You play?”

Meanwhile, Marius was still back with the rest of the company. Marius noticed that the swordsman named Jerod was making conversation with one of the Khans. When he saw the Khan hand over a flask filled with alcohol, Marius decided to speak up.

“I don’t think it would be the wisest of decisions to give this man some extra liquor. From what I have seen, he has had enough to drink already. While he seemed to be a ferocious warrior under the influence of King Liquor, I fear for the monster of a hangover he will have tomorrow.”

[Eisenhorn]

Jerod

Jerod snorted in response to the Khan's answer to the question. Typical of the man, really, to let the loud and boisterous one run around and act all big and powerful. Probably soothed the ego that he had lost out on being the ruling Khan. Hearing that Marianne had went and followed him out here was an odd thought, he fully expected her to be glued to the arm of Jacob, not stalking him around for whatever gods spawned reason she had this time. But he accepted the man's drink with no protest, rolling his eyes at Marius as he also trotted up to make off hand comments about his habits, taking a heavy swig from the flask in a not so subtle rebuttal to the man. He spoke rather informally to the Khan, considering the situation that most would see it being, but Jerod had long stopped caring about being formal or such towards Feroxians in general. "Ye always did coddle ye' brothe', aye Khan? 'ight up until ye would nea' claim 'is 'ead an' take ye t'rone again, much to 'is rage, aye? As fer ye', Dark Mage lass, why ain' ye clingin' to yer 'usband as usual, eh? Don' question me, 'orseman, drinkin' only gives th' poor sods a fightin' chance in 'ell, savvy?"

Jerod leaned against a tree, finding himself looking up at the same stars as the Khan Therus also looked up into the heavens and questioned their appearance differing elsewhere in the world, specifically Valm. A smirk came across the sellsword's face as he responded to the Khan, taking another drink from the flask. "Ah shan' tell ye, Khan. Ye can find tha' out fer yerself when t'is blasted damned war is o'er t'ere t' end a mad reign o' chaos an 'ate."

---

Niya

"For the last time, I am not entertaining a drunkard tonight!"

Niya twirled the staff, a crunch as the staff impacted a Feroxian right in the gut, sending him to the ground, wheezing trying to get his breath back. That got roaring laughter as the healer stalked off, leaving the drunk fighter on the ground, unable to get up anywhere close to a timely manner to even get a word back in edgewise at the woman who had so thoroughly laid the drunk out. Instead, she went to track down Solanne, wherever or whatever she was up to. When she did eventually track the woman down, Niya would endeavor to pull her aside from whatever task or activity she had engaged herself in to speak to her in some level or privacy. She had concerns to voice, regardless of the fact she was going to serve regardless of the actual situation. But they needed said, and about the only one Niya could see herself saying them to was Solanne, considering the time spent traveling this far together, as it were.

"I expected professional soldiers, not children and drunken excuses for former champions. Did you know about any of this before hand?"

[TheWendil]

When it became obvious that the others had found her out, Marianne stepped out of the cover of the tree and waved happily to the group that had gathered. She did not make a move to join them, instead keeping her distance as Jerod brought up a wonderful little point. Why wasn’t she clung to her fearless leader’s arm? Unless she intended to bring it with her. Only the arm of course.

“Hello Mister Jerod. Hello Mister Marius. Hello Mister Khan. I just wanted to see if you were making a new F.R.I.E.N.D. Mister Jerod. You spoke so much about Regna Ferox that I thought you had some F.R.I.E.N.D.S. here. Well bye now! I have to tend to fearless leader.”

The Dark Mage gave them all a crooked grin coupled with a wave that was intended to be warm. Soon after, she turned on her heels and merrily skipped over to where she knew Jacob was staying. She always knew where Jacob was. He was her dearly beloved after all. She was expecting him to be in his private study, strategizing as usual.

What she didn’t expect was the young woman standing in the entrance, apparently inquiring her Jacob about a board game match. The eye-patched girl twitched a little before waltzing up and tugging on Abra’s arm playfully, though she made sure to dig her nails through a little.

Even so, the warm smile on her face never wavered in light of her actions.

“Good evening Miss Abra. Was there something you wanted with fearless leader? He’s very B.U.S.Y. at this time of day.”

Back where the party was at, Solanne was having a merry time, suffice to say. In fact, she was just in the middle of winning her fifth arm wrestling match in a row before Niya appeared out of nowhere to drag her away from the victory streak.

“H-Hey, I was gonna win that!” she protested as the Feroxian soldiers looked on in confusion. How could the Crimson Hound that was kicking all their asses be dragged off so easily by one healer?

“Geez, and I had that one too,” Solanne muttered before listening to her partner’s complaints. “Well in a way, yeah?” she answered with a cross of her arms, misunderstanding her partner's concern. “I mean, it’s Regna Ferox, ya know? These guys are sorta the cliché barbarians with no work and all play.”

Then a grin sported her face.

"I mean in a way, you could say I’m no different than them right? Cept I’m way better looking, right Bone Mender?”

[Apollosarcher]

Jacob had just finished his battle report when Abra had entered his tent. He sealed the envelope and turned to greet her with a small smile. "Yeah, I'm not really one for parties. If you like we could play a game of chess, though that set is rather special." He smiled at her as walked over to retrieve the chess set Marianne arrived at the tent as well, he had honestly figured she'd have been here first rather than Abra.

"Relax Marianne, I do need a break from work occasionally and Abra was just giving me some company. Your both welcome to stay for awhile, I know the party is not for everyone and I'm happy I don't have to be alone out here." He hummed setting up the ornate wooden chess board. "This chess set was actually Robin's, passed down Andres, and now me." He told as finished placing the pieces. "If you touch the jewels you and you will be able to command actual troops and enter a world designed for them to fight again and again to help train young tacticians." He said the board was finished being set up for a game.

[Apollosarcher]

Therus

Therus sighed drawing his blade he cleaned it. "True, however I did hear an interesting rumor from some merchants. Chon'sin has sent forces looking for your Champion, I know not what for but they were looking for him. Headed this way no doubt and with that hole in the wall they could follow you right to us." He chuckled. "However the barbarians out there drinking would defeat an army that tried to take that camp. They would not surrender ground if their is alcohol to be had on it."

"I wish to know however, is that boy really anything special? Tell who is he to you?" He said drawing his water skin he drank deeply before once more running a silk cloth over his single edged blade. "To me he is a boy in over his, you all are either his rescuers or those who be dragged down with him." He said calmly before replacing the blade. "I pray you all succeed so I may invite you back to a proper celebration in our palace, not drunken soldiers in tents." He told as he stood up.

[Eisenhorn]

Jerod

Jerod shrugged about the rumor of some Chon'sin group looking to track down Jacob and his Shepards. If they intended to help, great, they could join forces. If not, it would be another slaughter. There really was no middle ground in dealing with this church fanatical group, anyone aligned with them fully intended to murder everyone who stood against them. And that left the rest of the world either standing against them, or bickering amongst themselves. Typical politics at work. But it was a statement worth addressing, and Jerod gave his opinion on the matter while taking another drink from the flask he had been given. "Ach, way ah' see it, tha' C'on'sin group eit'er means 'arm, and get slaug'tered t' th' man. Or t'ey ain' lookin' fer trouble, in w'ich case it get's taken fro' t'ere, savvy?"

Jerod sobered up as he was asked about why Jacob was so special, if he was at all. The Khan gave his opinion on what he saw, and it was valid. Jacob was just a kid way in over his head, and while the prayer comment might be appreciated, Jerod snorted in amusement at it. He had his beliefs, but no god like figures would be in a position to help them, probably. Men made their own miracles and fates, which was what was happening now. These gods and dragons of legend merely made things interesting, for the most part. "T'e champion o' naga? Kid 'as a lot t' learn 'bout 'ow the world works, savvy? An' a world weary drunk like m'self mig't teac' 'im a t'ing or two, eh? Ah didn' do 'alf bad last time I was 'round these parts, ye know tha' much. An' prayers are good an' all, but action mig't git a bit more done."

Niya

Niya sighed, resting the palm of her hand over her eyes. That was not what she meant in the slightest. More words were needed then, and she provided them as such, barely commenting on her partners own little joke. After all, she had thought that the healer was referring to the barbarians, which she was born and raised among so this was nothing new to her at all, and that needed corrected.

"You have the natural advantage of womanhood, for looks at any rate Solanne. And I was not referring to the Feroxians, I know their nature far better than you might think. The Champion of Naga, Jacob, is barely old enough to be beyond being a child and his company is worse. The black mage is psychotic, that damned bastard Jerod is a drunken fool of a mercenary, and the only sane man it seems doesn't appear to have any true command power over any of them. And this is ignoring our addition to the group, before you say anything. These are not the people I expected to be carrying the hopes of the world, it is a grim omen."

It was a lot for Niya to say, compared to her usual attitude and manner of speaking, but if Solanne needed it spelled out, Niya would gladly do so. It was obvious the healer was not happy about Jerod being around, considering her description of him, but beyond that she spoke plainly of her opinion of the group so far. It was not kind, but Niya thought it completely true and confided as such to Solanne, since she had been her companion for some time now.

[Dedonus]

Abra

Abra did not immediately realize that Marianne had enter into the tent. However, once she made her presence know, it was quite obvious. The little dark mage tugged onto her arm, almost like a nagging child would do to her mother. However, this would have to be a sadistic child because Abra could feel the crazy girl’s fingernails digging into her arm as she tried to get Abra’s attention. In response, Abra jerked her arm away from the dark mage, freeing herself from the girl’s grasp.

“What the heck is this girl’s problem?” Abra thought to herself as she glanced back toward the dark mage. If she did not know better, Abra might have guess that this crazy mage was Jacob’s control-freak girlfriend. She could not decide whether she should take it as a complement that, even though Abra was significantly older than Jacob and any sort of intimate relationship between them would be quite weird, Marianne seemed to look threatened by her. Heck, normally, Abra might have tried to irk her by bending over while standing up to examine the chessboard instead of taking a seat. However, Marianne, even with the little time she has been around her, has started to creep her out. She dug her nails into Abra’s arm without knowing what was going on. What the heck would she do if Abra was deliberately egging her on?

“See. He said that it’s fine.” Abra was going to tell Marianne to chill, but she thought it would be better if she did not act in that way. Again, Abra did not want to hit a nerve on this already paranoid young girl. Once she had made that short comment, Abra scooted the chair that was on the opposite end of the board a few inches away from herself, making sure there was a little more room between herself and Marianne. Then she turned her attention back to Jacob.

“The flashy magical chess set is good and all, but can these pieces be used in a regular chess match? Don’t you already see enough violence and gore on the battlefield to just relive it again while back in camp?”

[TheWendil]

Marianne cast a glance up at Abra, giving one last playful squeeze of her arm before moving aside. Naturally, she sat next to Jacob as close as possible with a trained eye on the other mage. If Jacob said it was fine then it must have been. Even so, if anything so much as seemed suspicious, she was ready to leap across the board and make a bow tie with Abra’s innards.

She hummed slightly, reaching out to place her hold now on the Champion’s arm. Gingerly placing her cheek on his side, she watched Jacob play the game with a curious expression. Her hold was much more gentle as opposed to the one she held on Abra.

“Hmm, fearless leader must be really good at this game to be so confident. I knew Jacob loved gore just as much as the next warrior!”

Back outside, Solanne listened to her friend’s confessions with a surprisingly serious expression. She was used to such things now from her time at the orphanage; she knew when a youngling was pranking and when they were being genuine. It was obvious to her that Niya was being genuine with her concerns.

The Crimson Hound breathed out a sigh before leaning back on the tree behind her. Crossing her arms, she gave the healer a knowing smile.

“Yeah, I get what you’re saying loud and clear. I can at least vouch for Marianne personally in saying that although she’s screwed in the head, she’s as loyal as anyone else here. For the others….I’ll be honest with you Niya, I can’t say for sure if they have a chance.”

A pause as the Crimson Hound breathed out a puff of hot air to contrast with the snow of Regna Ferox.

“But that’s just it Bone Mender. Wasn’t the old Shepherd group just like ours? I’ve only heard stories but from my understanding the old schoolers were just as ragtag as we are now. I heard that they had this crazy dark mage not too different from our Marianne…or maybe there were two of them. And then there was this archer fellow who tried to smooth it with the ladies all the time. And also…I think they had their fair share of kids too…ever heard of Donnel the Terrible?”

Solanne’s smile got warmer as she glanced now down at the other girl.

“They may not live up to your expectations. They may not even live up to the world’s requirements. But that won’t stop them from trying and surprising the both of you, y’know?”

[Apollosarcher]

Jacob

Jacob shook his head at Marianne's comment. "I despise war, it's why I went to Valm to try and stop one from happening. I also hate killing but I have to... We have no other choice but to fight and believe, if we can't unite the nations and end the war it's over, the Feroxi will fight to the last man and woman. The Plegian's will all be slaughtered for Grima worship, Ylisse will be forced to convert and the Exalt executed... My sister would be named queen and forced to sign over the governing rights." He sighed looking over the chess board. "The magical format is so I can train, I can order troops and see the consequences of my actions... I no longer see pawns, I see men and women ready to defend me to the last. It's to teach that no life should ever be wasted and your soldiers are not pieces on board to lose and gain. Most tacticians don't give second thoughts to the soldiers but Robin changed how Ylissian tacticians think. Andres is the last of Robins apprentices and I'm one of three to be taught by Andres, the other two left to sell their services." He looked to the pieces carefully removing a pawn from the board to look it over.

"Yes it can play a normal game of chess, just don't touch the gems. Though I think we should all retire for the night, your welcome to set up your camp here Abra if you want to be away from the noise. You too Marianne." He told them with a yawn as he got up and began to roll out his bedroll.

Therus

The Swordsman nodded. "You answer well and yes your work is remembered here. I must go and end that little party, we must all retire for the night, you are marching towards Plegia and we to Ylisse. May your cup never empty and you die a glorious death in battle." The polite Khan said bowing leaving Jerod to drink and think.

Therus walked into the center of the water and draw his blade, the moon shining off it as he raised it above his head. The Feroxi warriors looked between each other and nodded cleaning up they began to head to tents to rest.Even Therus's brother knew that the party had ended and that any challenger to that notion would face that blade. He would bring them down in one strike.

[Eisenhorn]

Jerod

Jerod nodded to the Khan Therus, finishing the last of the drink in the flask as he stared into the stars. It was going to be a long war, there was no denying that now. The Naga fanatics would fight to the last, such was their belief in their cause. And so would the free world, men and women like this band existed all over, who would not surrender their freedom and ways of life, even if it meant death and bloodshed. A sobering thought, a global fight over ideology and faith. A world spanning war, with everything on the line. The light of freedom and progress, or the darkness of oppression and enslavement to an ideology corrupted. Jerod sighed, running a hand over his face, sweating despite the cold weather. Still too warm for his tastes, or perhaps it was not just the climate putting him into such cold sweats. Either way, he couldn't rightly pass out against this tree, unobserved. That was inviting trouble. So, with a grunt, he hauled himself onto his feet and walked into the camp proper, careful to not make noise that would awaken those who slumbered. He happened to stumble, figuratively of course, across Solanne and Niya, to both he nodded towards with a tired smirk.

"Mornin' t' both o' ye, or evenin', whic'ever i' may be still."

Niya

Niya sighed, leaning on her staff and shaking her head briefly before straightening up, returning to her usual, cloistered and reserved standing. Her young companion was indeed right, the last Shepards were not anywhere remotely close to a proper military band, which was what led them to such success was that very diverse skill set and devotion to each other, in their own manner. So she nodded briefly, responding to the woman as she attempted to shake the dark thoughts that plagued her in her evaluation of this band of mercenaries and patriots.

"You are correct, Solanne. Guess that show's why I keep you around..."

It was the closest she got to joking, and she would have continued if Jerod had not stumbled upon the two of them. Niya glared at the mercenary, and if looks could kill the man would not have left enough remains to fill his boots. She detested the man, a drunken sellsword who abandoned the very government he had sworn his sword to, or that was how she saw it. She didn't know the whole truth of it, but she did not know that and did not care to hear him out. She knew all she thought she had to. With a scowl and biting remark aimed at Jerod, she turned and her tone softened towards Solanne afterwords before she retired.

"Drunken wretch of a scoundrel. I go to retire for the evening, Solanne, may you find a peaceful night's rest."

Jerod, for his credit, rolled his eyes and sighed, not rising up to her little comment as he watched her walk off and shook his head. She did not know the half of what she was talking about, but he didn't have the energy to try and correct her. She wouldn't have believed it anyways. The mercenary was merely hoping it would not interfere with her doing her job, or himself doing his.

[Dedonus]

Marius | Abra

The idea of camping near this Marianne character sent a chill down Abra’s spine. How was it a good idea to pitch her tent near the object of the extremely passive aggressive mage’s obsession? She probably would get a better night’s sleep with the rowdy party that the Feroxi soldiers had thrown together because Abra would not need to stay away all night in fear of what the heck Marianne might do.

“Er…I think I’m going to first go see what everyone else is doing. If you’re here, who’s watching everyone else and making sure they’re not, like, causing havoc.” After giving her excuse on why she would not be heading to bed just yet, Abra ducked out of the tent, leaving Jacob alone in his quarters with the dark mage.

When she returned to where the rest of the soldiers, including the Shepherds, had been celebrating their victory over the church forces, Abra was surprised that almost everyone had dissipated and headed back to their own tents. It was eerily quiet, since just a few moments ago, most of the men had been celebrating with drunken jovialness.

After walking around the camp, which had so quickly turned into a ‘ghost town’, Abra stumbled upon where Marius had set up his tent. He was sitting on a makeshift chair outside of his tent, carving a small piece of wood with a knife.

“So, it this where all the sane people stay?” Abra asked.

Abra looked up from his carving, noticing the mage who had just joined the group after the victory over the church forces.

“Well, I supposed.” Marius responded, placing his hand on his chin as he considered his answer. “Although a few minutes ago some of our fellow Shepherds had a little, um, what should I call it, disagreement. No, that’s not quite the right word. Drama. That sounds better. There was a little drama over there.”

“I bet intoxication was a factor in it.” Abra concluded as she looked toward where the three Shepherds had stood. Marius shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to take any sides. Since Marius was not proving to be talkative, Abra turned to setting up her tent. However, Marius immediately noticed that she was stumbling over herself while trying to put the tent up.

“Have you pitched a tent before?” In response, Abra just gave the cavalier a glare. A flame kindled in her hand, growing by the second. “Fine, I’ll be quiet.” Marius rolled his eyes as he listened to the young women is her (almost in vain) attempt to prepare her sleeping quarters for the night.

[TheWendil]

“Good night Miss Abra. I hope you sleep well,” Marianne called out with a happy wave.

As she said this, she moved closer to Jacob and grabbed for his arm, clinging onto it tightly and refusing to let go. It would seem that she took his offer to camp near him a little too seriously. She kept close to him with a bright smile, ready to study his every movements while he slept.

Farther away, Solanne raised an eye in surprise at the amount of venom present in Niya’s voice. She knew the other girl had a deep hatred of the sell sword but it was still shocking to see that rage billow out all the same. She nodded to her partner as the Healer departed for sleep before casting a look of sympathy to Jerod. Well then, she might as well catch some rest as well.

[Apollosarcher]

Jacob groaned and got up going over to his bedroll he laid down and sighed. He knew she was going to sit there watch over what ever she did. He grabbed his pillow and collapsed tired enough he didn't even bother to ask Marianne to leave or sleep a respectable distance away.

Andres slept sitting up on one of the wagons, not wanting to be near camp. The boy was no doubt still angry and until he could listen to reason then he wouldn't be speaking to him. He put out his pipe and sighed looking over the Feroxi before him. He prayed to Naga this would be enough to the mad crusade.

Caroline had squires set up her tent and bring in her backs before she laid down, after all they were here to serve and she would make sure they knew that. She got into a pair of silk pajamas and laid down on her bedding, one could always look at her tent and tell it was royalty. She pampered herself even here on this trip, Jacob would have words with her when he saw how much she'd brought.