[IC] Crossroads of Astas [High Fantasy]

[Lucius Cypher]

The Azure Knight listened to Haklo explain what his mission was, as well as some of the rewards and benefits for coming along. That was always interesting, but they were more of a pleasant bonus rather than the reason why the Azure Knight would accompany him. As others step forward to give their consent, the Azure Knight also stepped forward, holding her sword with both hands. Her feet stood shoulder-width apart as her sword was perfectly parallel to her body, and it's hilt parallel towards the ground. "As my honor as the Azure Knight, you have the strength of my blade, and the will of my soul. Where your enemies stand I will create corpses from them. You have my word, Lord Haklo Desol." The Azure Knight than pointed her sword upwards, before bringing it back to her previous stance. Than she returned to her more casual standing stance, resting the blade on her shoulder as she watched the others who would join them.

[Thundercat]

As'ariiez payed close attention to the situation Haklo described. The past few hours went by so fast it felt like he had been dreaming. A few hours ago he was just a common thief, and would've been on a boat heading back to Ryyz if it weren't for these Night Lurkers. Now he was with many others, and would embark on something much bigger than himself. It was strange, when Haklo spoke of riches and titles it didn't phase As'ariiez one bit. "Lord Haklo, my knowledge and my skill are at your disposal. I will work with you and the others every step of the way to purge the Night Lurker threat." As the words left As'ariiez's mouth, he couldn't help but feel odd. He didn't really feel like himself at the moment. He brushed off the strange feeling and looked to see what the others would have to say.

[Major Ursa]

Luka ran down the halls…late for what was supposedly an important meeting, a potential important job and fun adventure…late! Skidding to a halt at the main doors to what must have been the meeting chamber, and completely disregarding the frantic yells of guards and servants alike, she raised a leg and kicked the doors down. Side doors, apparently not the main door doors…”Greetings, all! I will pay to have your doors fixed…!” Letting out a chuckle, stepping over the downed door..."I swear you this, I will pay for the repairs."

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Three Hours Previous

Skender left his Lord Vintair, after much listening and discussing of a quest…and of course, since Vintair was the one to bring it up, the closeted shapeshifter must attend to this quest! HE MUST! Leaving down the halls, then the building, he immediately assumed the form of…a fluffy, blue silkie rooster.

“Mister rooster, mister rooster!” Just then, a small child ran up and scooped him up in her arms, running over to one of the guards, “Daddy, look! A big, fluffy rooster!” The small girl smiled, holding up the rooster to show her father, who in turn reached down to ruffled her hair.

Oh me, oh my~?

One Hours Previous

Sitting on the little girl’s lap as ties many a small bows of pink ribbons in his feather, Skender took the time to just relax his (only slightly) healed up (and now transformed) body…and reflect on life as a chicken.

At Present

Skender returned to his human form once he managed to lose the little girl, and made his way to the meeting spot. “Forgive me for my lack of timekeeping.” Apologising with a slight bow to Lord Haklo, the shapeshifter absentmindedly removed yet another pink ribbon from his short golden hair.

[WitchChild]

Haklo was pleased as the group of wanderers and mercenaries pledged their services to the cause. However he couldn't help but roll his eyes as one of the last individuals finally arrived. Instead of repeating what he said to the others he gave the rude woman who just barged in and the blonde swordsman of house Vintair a summary of what he asked of them.

"You shall all reside in my family's estate until dawn. There you shall rest up before we set off to the mountains. Follow me to the carriage" He said to them and walked through the group and towards the doors where Desol servants had the forethought to have a large carriage waiting for him and the group.

Thalen followed a few feet away from Haklo, very interested on how things would turn out. He was in second after the nobleman and sat down in the far back seat.

The carriage was made of blackened wood, polished to a clear shine and accented with gilded metal. The house emblem was engraved on both left and right side door and was traced with the same gilded metal as the accent. Four horses dragged the carriage, two dark brown ones, a grey one and a single black one with white socks. The driver was dressed in the regalia similar to a Desol Honorguard but lighter, a heavy crank crossbow ready for use behind him on top of the carriage. Two unlit lanterns dangled from the two back corners of the carriage, a candle in each of them but unlit.

---

The ride to the Desol estate was slightly bumpy but the carriage was amde well enough so that it was at least comfortable on everyone's backside.

The estate was about three hours away from the main city and surrounded by a stone wall about the height of two men and an iron gate with the family's emblem on each gateway. There were two guardsmen there, dressed somewhat similar as the coachman but slightly heavier but not as much as the honorguard that went into public with the Desol family.

The estate itself was large with three floors and seemingly an addict. The roof was tiled but it actually seemed that on each corner was a battlement as if the estate was a miniature fortress or a stylish keep. The building faced east and stables were visible on the south end side of the estate. There was a front garden and at the small courtyard of the estate was a fountain of a snake coiling around a sword.

"Lots of snakes in the family" came the thoughts of the Rath'Kár hunter as he gazed upon the estate from the window.

[ShadowD]

Xavier chuckled at the remark the rath'kar made "You have no idea my friend." He says looking over their mansion, damned vermin have done well for themselves over the past four centuries it seems. He wasn't thrilled about being brought to their home, but he knew he had little choice. He sighed, he didn't like this, the others would be fine, but if these Desol's found out he was one of their past misdeeds one of their experiments gone wrong, he knew what would happen, he'd either have to run, and maybe kill these people that he fought alongside, no easy feat to be sure, one with enough planning could be done but he didn't want to think about that,,,and the pain that would come with it. He looked at the estate some more, the other would be letting them finish what they started, or just finish him. He knew that what happened to him is a dark secret that they want gone no doubt...how many of them have the gift anyway, he couldn't feel it from them... which is something their kind could, although he couldn't feel it when he was a fledgling, also when their family was alive and took upon the gift. He forgot that he had once been alive with the gift because of their experiments. Living blood had such a concealing effect on it, only showing when you didn't feed for months rather than the few weeks it was for him. He was lost in thought about it now, barely looking at the others from under his hood.

[Lucius Cypher]

The Azure Knight's journey to the Haklo estate went off without much words from the Knight herself. She was actually a bit tired now, the events of today taking a lot out of her. She stole a few minutes of sleep during the ride, but always woke up before she feel into a deep sleep in the event her service was needed. Soon enough everyone managed to get the to the estate, the the first thing the Azure Knight noticed with the addict. She drew her blade and pointed at the Addict, thinking it to be some sort of villain. However everyone else seemed to ignore the mind-addled druggy, so the Azure Knight simply gave the addict a mean look through her armor before walking away, constantly pointing her sword at the addict.

The Azure Knight didn't leave far from the carriage and waited in the garden, near a source of light. "This is a fine estate you have here, Lord Haklo. And might I say it will be very much enjoyable to go on an adventure with you. It feels as though weeks had gone by since I've lasted fought against the forces of evil."