Crimson Paladin

Prophetiae Adventum: Envoys of the Pantheon

Sir Aurelian Asellius

"Nothing has happened since you contacted us," Aurelian replied to Vyandar. "Judging from what the girl said, and what you found, I think we'll be lucky if we find enough to positively identify our missing scouts," he whispered, not wanting the girl to hear his grim assessment. Of course, giving half-elven, she probably overheard it all the same.

Aurelian was greatly relieved when the Dragonborn finally arrived. The revelation that the attackers were giant insects, and the evidence of blood and aftermath of acid in the field dimmed the chances of finding the girl's parents or the scouts alive. Depending on how ravenous these insects were, they might not even find enough to bury. On one hand, it meant that they could afford to wait to assemble to proceed onward, but it also cast a shadow over the paladin's mood, that it was likely too late to save anyone.

The wait gave him time to anticipate his opponents. There wasn't enough time to prepare spells, but fortunately most of his spells were still ready for use. For an hour he had picked up an ant off the ground and examined it, speculating that their foe would be somewhat similar. They'd probably be armed with massive mandibles and powerful acid, and protected by a hard exoskeleton, yet at the same time be unintelligent and driven by the simplest and basest of instincts. According to Vyandar's sending, there were at least several of them.

From the Dragonborn's information on the dead Nuniel soldiers, Aurelian was able to explain to his companions that the insignia on their uniforms marked them as being apart of part of the Nuniel Army's Forward Scouts and Reconnaissance unit. If they were snooping around in Coris, it was possible, the paladin surmised that Nuniel may be planning an offensive. At the same time, however, the insects' slaughter of the camp may have slowed down his former country's plans- a silver lining in this otherwise tragic sequence of events.

As the emissary of Sol prepared to set out to find and slay these creatures, he couldn't help but think of the half-elf girl. Once this was over, assuming that her parents had already been eaten, they should find the girl a new home. Perhaps she had family, or perhaps there might be a local farmer that knew her and was willing to take care of her. Whoever it was, it would need to be someone who wouldn't malign the girl for her mixed ancestry. He hoped that the people of Coris were more accepting of half-elves than those of Nuniel.

@Psyker Landshark@Click This

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Fleuri Jodeau

Name: Fleuri Jodeau

Age: 25

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Appearance:

Unmasked. Fully Armored. Fleuri stands 5'10'' without his armor.

Personality:
The Jodeau family is known for its devotion to Reon, and originally, Fleuri was no exception. Tutored by priestesses and paladins, he was brought up to be honorable, selfless, and devoted. During the last few years, however, he cast many of these values off, becoming proud, materialistic and glory-seeking, desiring above all else to obtain the fame and wealth that his family no longer possessed and to capture the glory that he missed by not being involved in the War of the Red Flag. After being humbled by his near-death experience, he has returned to his old ways as a faithful worshiper of the sun goddess, along with a few pangs of guilt of having fallen so far. He does, however, miss the friends he made in his tournament days, and even if he has parted ways with them and no longer shares their values, he hopes that they'll come to understand his decisions to rededicate himself to Reon and to join the Iron Roses.

Those who have met him can attest that Fleuri is a man of action. He is hot-blooded and quick to act or speak, but not necessarily foolish or impulsive- his experience fighting in tournaments taught him the importance of quick thinking and decisive action when windows of opportunity appear. When he speaks, he never makes claims he cannot back up and never makes promises that he does not believe he can keep.

As an Iron Rose Knight, Fleuri is fiercely loyal to the order, to its customs, and to its captain. Serving in the order is an honored tradition for his family, and he pays no attention to the criticism of the order or its traditions. As far as he's concerned, Fanilly was chosen the goddess just as Elionne was, and one need only look at the deeds and valor of the previous captain- a woman who be enshrined in history as one of Thaln's greatest heroines- as proof that the soundness of their means of selecting a captain.

Brief Backstory:
The Jodeau family is a once powerful, now minor noble family in northern Thaln. Over a century ago, its head at the time, Armand Jodeau, dedicated himself and his house wholly to Reon. As proof of his devotion, he gave most of his family's then-considerable land to the peasants that worked them as a gesture of piety and lack of materialism. Armand would go on to serve a Paladin of Reon and later an Iron Rose Knight before embarking on a quest which he never returned from. Ever since then, the Jodeau family has remained close to the Church of Reon, both to honor Armand and because in their considerably diminished state, they have become reliant on the charity of the church.

Fleuri was the second child of the Jodeau family and was thus raised to become a knight. His family had little in terms of wealth or holdings, but the church provided that which his family could not. Consequently, Fleuri received an education from Reonite priestesses and was trained in knightly combat by Reonite paladins. While the rebellion raged, Fleuri served as the squire and later accompanying knight of a paladin of Reon, battling necromancers that sought to capitalize on the bloodshed and death. As noble as it was, and as important of a duty as it was, he was frustrated by the unsung nature of their behind-the-scenes quest while others were gaining fame and prestige on the battlefield. Their quest would last until shortly after the end of the war, with their final defeat of the necromancer coven taking place just a few days before the final battle. Fleuri was, at the time, greatly distressed at not having been able to participate in such a historical moment for Thaln, all because he was undertaking a quest that few people would ever hear about. After the war ended, he parted ways from his mentor, seeking opportunities for a knight to make a name for himself.

During his travels, he began entering the tournaments in the lands he passed through, where, with many of Thaln's knights dead or disgraced as a result of the war, there was a shortage of contenders. Utilizing the training he had received from the Reonite paladins, Fleuri proved himself a capable tournament fighter, and as time went on, the "Flower of the North" had much success in the competitions. With the winnings, he was able to replace his hand-me-down armor and weapons, and considered buying back some of his family's ancestral lands. He pushed out the virtues and lessons of piety and humility that he had once been taught, and reveled in the attention and prestige of the competitions. He stopped aiding those in need, and became focused solely on gaining fame and money.

While traveling to a major tournament, he fell deathly ill from a fever and sought aid from the Church. As he laid there, tended to by the priestesses, all he could think about was how he had fallen from his path, more concerned with gold and glory than helping others, and now faced the prospect of dying before he could make amends and correct his mistakes. When he recovered, he attributed it to the will of the goddesses. He renewed his vows and vigil at the church, rededicating himself to fighting evil and aiding the innocent, and wrote a letter to his former mentor apologizing for his actions and promising to make things right. Fleuri may not have died, but he was reborn.

During the next tournament, he fought harder than he ever had before, and when the dust settled, he was the last man standing in the infantry melee. Hailed as a champion, and standing on the precipice of fame and glory, he proved himself a changed man when he donated the prize to the church and soon afterward petitioned to join the Iron Rose Knights, following in his ancestor's footsteps. Since ending his tournament career, Fleuri has served the order faithfully.

Equipment:
Fleuri's suit of armor is a dark silver plate harness, purchased with tournament winnings to replace his old hand-me-down armor, and accompanied with a white cape. His primary weapon is a two-handed sword, his preference for which he picked up as a squire, having come to appreciate its effectiveness at dismembering undead that'd otherwise shrug off stab wounds and shallow cuts. His other possessions include a dagger as a backup weapon and a gray warhorse for transportation and mounted combat. When riding into battle, he often additionally carries a cavalry lance and attires his horse with a white caparison, both bearing his family's livery.

Skills:
Fleuri has been trained in the use of a variety of knightly weapons, but he is most experienced and proficient in the wielding of greatswords. He employs an aggressive and surprisingly fast-paced fighting style not atypical for devotees of Reon, moving and attacking far more swiftly than his armor and heavy weapon would suggest. He is additionally skilled in horsemanship and in the use of a lance, owed to frequent travel and the many jousts he has participated in. While he lacks the fire magic of the Reonite clergy that mentored him, he will sometimes carry vials of Reonite holy water if he expects to face undead.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Here's my re-revised CS

Fleuri Jodeau

Name: Fleuri Jodeau

Age: 25

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Appearance:

Unmasked. Fully Armored. Fleuri stands 5'10'' without his armor.

Personality:
The Jodeau family is known for its devotion to Reon, and originally, Fleuri was no exception. Tutored by priestesses and paladins, he was brought up to be honorable, selfless, and devoted. During the last few years, however, he cast many of these values off, becoming proud, materialistic and glory-seeking, desiring above all else to obtain the fame and wealth that his family no longer possessed and to capture the glory that he missed by not being involved in the War of the Red Flag. After being humbled by his near-death experience, he has returned to his old ways as a faithful worshiper of the sun goddess, along with a few pangs of guilt of having fallen so far. He does, however, miss the friends he made in his tournament days, and even if he has parted ways with them and no longer shares their values, he hopes that they'll come to understand his decisions to rededicate himself to Reon and to join the Iron Roses.

Those who have met him can attest that Fleuri is a man of action. He is hot-blooded and quick to act or speak, but not necessarily foolish or impulsive- his experience fighting in tournaments taught him the importance of quick thinking and decisive action when windows of opportunity appear. When he speaks, he never makes claims he cannot back up and never makes promises that he does not believe he can keep.

As an Iron Rose Knight, Fleuri is fiercely loyal to the order, to its customs, and to its captain. Serving in the order is an honored tradition for his family, and he pays no attention to the criticism of the order or its traditions. As far as he's concerned, Fanilly was chosen the goddess just as Elionne was, and one need only look at the deeds and valor of the previous captain- a woman who be enshrined in history as one of Thaln's greatest heroines- as proof that the soundness of their means of selecting a captain.

Brief Backstory:
The Jodeau family is a once powerful, now minor noble family in northern Thaln. Over a century ago, its head at the time, Armand Jodeau, dedicated himself and his house wholly to Reon. As proof of his devotion, he gave most of his family's then-considerable land to the peasants that worked them as a gesture of piety and lack of materialism. Armand would go on to serve a Paladin of Reon and later an Iron Rose Knight before embarking on a quest which he never returned from. Ever since then, the Jodeau family has remained close to the Church of Reon, both to honor Armand and because in their considerably diminished state, they have become reliant on the charity of the church.

Fleuri was the second child of the Jodeau family and was thus raised to become a knight. His family had little in terms of wealth or holdings, but the church provided that which his family could not. Consequently, Fleuri received an education from Reonite priestesses and was trained in knightly combat by Reonite paladins. While the rebellion raged, Fleuri served as the squire and later accompanying knight of a paladin of Reon, battling necromancers that sought to capitalize on the bloodshed and death. As noble as it was, and as important of a duty as it was, he was frustrated by the unsung nature of their behind-the-scenes quest while others were gaining fame and prestige on the battlefield. Their quest would last until shortly after the end of the war, with their final defeat of the necromancer coven taking place just a few days before the final battle. Fleuri was, at the time, greatly distressed at not having been able to participate in such a historical moment for Thaln, all because he was undertaking a quest that few people would ever hear about. After the war ended, he parted ways from his mentor, seeking opportunities for a knight to make a name for himself.

During his travels, he began entering the tournaments in the lands he passed through, where, with many of Thaln's knights dead or disgraced as a result of the war, there was a shortage of contenders. Utilizing the training he had received from the Reonite paladins, Fleuri proved himself a capable tournament fighter, and as time went on, the "Flower of the North" had much success in the competitions. With the winnings, he was able to replace his hand-me-down armor and weapons, and considered buying back some of his family's ancestral lands. He pushed out the virtues and lessons of piety and humility that he had once been taught, and reveled in the attention and prestige of the competitions. He stopped aiding those in need, and became focused solely on gaining fame and money.

While traveling to a major tournament, he fell deathly ill from a fever and sought aid from the Church. As he laid there, tended to by the priestesses, all he could think about was how he had fallen from his path, more concerned with gold and glory than helping others, and now faced the prospect of dying before he could make amends and correct his mistakes. When he recovered, he attributed it to the will of the goddesses. He renewed his vows and vigil at the church, rededicating himself to fighting evil and aiding the innocent, and wrote a letter to his former mentor apologizing for his actions and promising to make things right. Fleuri may not have died, but he was reborn.

During the next tournament, he fought harder than he ever had before, and when the dust settled, he was the last man standing in the infantry melee. Hailed as a champion, and standing on the precipice of fame and glory, he proved himself a changed man when he donated the prize to the church and soon afterward petitioned to join the Iron Rose Knights, following in his ancestor's footsteps. Since ending his tournament career, Fleuri has served the order faithfully.

Equipment:
Fleuri's suit of armor is a dark silver plate harness, purchased with tournament winnings to replace his old hand-me-down armor, and accompanied with a white cape. His primary weapon is a two-handed sword, his preference for which he picked up as a squire, having come to appreciate its effectiveness at dismembering undead that'd otherwise shrug off stab wounds and shallow cuts. His other possessions include a dagger as a backup weapon and a gray warhorse for transportation and mounted combat. When riding into battle, he often additionally carries a cavalry lance and attires his horse with a white caparison, both bearing his family's livery.

Skills:
Fleuri has been trained in the use of a variety of knightly weapons, but he is most experienced and proficient in the wielding of greatswords. He employs an aggressive and surprisingly fast-paced fighting style not atypical for devotees of Reon, moving and attacking far more swiftly than his armor and heavy weapon would suggest. He is additionally skilled in horsemanship and in the use of a lance, owed to frequent travel and the many jousts he has participated in. While he lacks the fire magic of the Reonite clergy that mentored him, he will sometimes carry vials of Reonite holy water if he expects to face undead.

Prophetiae Adventum: Envoys of the Pantheon

Sir Aurelian Asellius

The door opened by itself. As soon as the paladin's eyes adjusted, he took a good look at what was inside. It appeared to be empty at first glance, and aside from some flipped furniture, nothing looked too out of place.

Just as Kyra arrived, Aurelian spotted something moving in the house. Upon a closer glance, it was a half-elf child, clearly frightened. After a few moments of hesitation, she ran towards the two knights and begged for them to find her parents.

Poor thing, who knows what horror she might've been through.

On one hand, it should be a relief that someone had survived this. On the other hand, it was heartbreaking to see a small child crying for her parents. He couldn't be sure if they'd be able to bring them back alive, not until they knew what happened or what they were dealing with. He greatly hoped, however, that they'd be able to save the mother and father. After all the children in Coris that became fatherless due to his participation in the war, he wanted to do some good for the people of this country for once by preventing similar tragedies.

There was more to this, though. The disappearances of the girl's parents, and the lack of physical evidence as to what happened, wasn't too dissimilar to the patrol's disappearance. It was quite possible that the same culprit was behind both disappearances, meaning that if they found the girl's parents, they'd also find the lost patrol. If they were lucky, this child would have some information on what did this and what it did with its victims. In truth, though it didn't matter to much whether or not the disappearances were connected, because Aurelian wasn't going to let this child's plight go unresolved.

"Forgive me for asking this, but what exactly happened here? Did you see what caused this, and if you did, what did it look like?" he asked after Kyra had given her questions, kneeling down and removing his helmet as to appear more welcoming. "Please, I know it's painful, but whatever you can tell us could go a long way towards helping to find your parents."

The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

There were a few things to take away from this unpleasant conversation. First, Lonan was not at the fort, which meant that they wouldn't be getting in by simply asking politely. Second, despite his ability to turn someone into a frozen corpse with a touch, people were not afraid of him. Second, this arrogant little squire was an obnoxious, unpleasant whelp. Ethelred, stressed and increasingly angry over this whole ordeal, had half a mind to get of his horse and beat her senseless until she acknowledged his lethality, Harzelslack law be damned. If anything, getting arrested would just get him closer to Elnith, especially if the local Harzel forces underestimated his powers or lacked the magical talent to counteract them.

On the other hand, it'd also be a pretty risky gamble, since he had no idea what they had up their sleeve for restraining unusual prisoners. Not to mention that even if everything went smoothly, he'd forever wanted by Harzelslack, and it was doubtful that they'd recognize his forefathers' custom of weregild as a legitimate means of paying off a crime. Alternatively, it might give him some relief if he let out his frustrations verbally, but he knew that such bluster with no bite would have the opposite effect of being intimidating. No, the more that somebody shouted and demanded to be taken seriously, the less likely that anyone would actually take them seriously.

Hmm, there's an idea. Should keep their intention, without making myself appear as a real threat. It could potentially get me arrested, but it wouldn't be anything serious.

Ethelred pondered his idea silently, before abruptly turning away from Grainne and riding up to the elf. He made no attempt to address Grainne further- he wasn't going to indulge her.

Alright, elf," Ethelred softly spoke as to not let Grainne overhear them, his somewhat pained and hesitant. "You win, we'll get her out your way, and I'll keep them distracted. Conversing with that loud-mouthed whelp over there has proven to be just the inspiration I needed to come up with a good diversion."

@Cu Chulainn

The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

"I didn't mean lure the dragon in while the refugees are there," Ethelred replied, audibly irritated at the elf's biting words. "Nor did I mean catching the soldiers unaware and unprepared. I suppose I misspoke before, but I meant cooperating with the local knights and garrison to take it down, giving them time to prepare and move the non-combatants to safety. Assuming, of course, they'd agree." He paused to compose himself, then continued.

He's right about fighting the dragon, if it was just the two of us, it might be a difficult fight. Considering how the last battle went, I'd might as well be fighting the dragon by myself. Ethelred had to bite his lip to not say that aloud. He knew he was downplaying the elf's role in the battle, but he was still quite irritated.

"As for breaking her out, it could be done, but while a big enough distraction might divert their attention long enough for you to get into the fort, it wouldn't hold their attention long enough for you to figure out where she his, get in, free her, and get out without being seen by the now-alert guards. There's too much that can go wrong." Besides, he was under orders to not cause a major diplomatic incident with Harzelslack, and angering an entire fort might do that.

"But..." he said, pausing again and contemplating, now calmed down somewhat. "Lonan did say that he needed to plan how to deal with the wyvern, and told us we were welcome to help. Yes...I think talking to them like you said is our best bet. If we can convince Grainne or Lonan to let us in the fort, we'd be able to look around and wait for an opportunity to break her out stealthily, while also giving us the option to cooperate with the Harzel forces in dealing with the dragon."

Ethelred rode ahead, making himself known as he approached Grainne's procession.

"Greetings, Lady Grainne, was it?" he asked, not entirely sure what her noble title was. "I am looking for Sir Lonan, to provide him further assistance in dealing with the dragon. Might I find him at the fort?"

He wasn't particularly excited to be dealing with Grainne, from what he had observed, she was a rather abrasive person, and Lonan wasn't around to rebuke her.

@Cu Chulainn

Prophetiae Adventum: Envoys of the Pantheon

Sir Aurelian Asellius

Something had definitely happened at this humble farmhouse. The occupants were nowhere in sight, and it looked like there had been a struggle. Most worriesome, however, was the tracks leading to the fields, which were heavily damaged. It didn't look like Nuniel's handiwork- whatever did this was monstrous enough to plow through crops as if they weren't there, yet simple-minded enough to leave the peasant's dwelling unscathed.

There was no sign that the patrol could've been here, but whatever attacked this place could potentially be connected to their disappearance. Even if it wasn't, Aurelian felt a duty to root out and eliminate this threat before it could prey on more innocent peasants. Besides, removing whatever monster was lurking about might curry some favor with the Marshal even if they didn't find any evidence of the patrol.

It appears as though some sort of monstrous creature had attacked this place, and judging from the damage to the crops, it was something big. I don't see any damage to the home, so perhaps there could be a survivor within.

Aurelian cast a spell, conjuring a bright light about 50 feet above him to signal to Kyra that he had found something important and needed her at his location. He wasn't sure if Vyandar would be able to see it, but didn't expect that the dragonborn would be close enough or have a suitable vantage point to notice.

I wonder if he's found anything, he pondered as he watched the radiant sphere reach its full intensity.

After the spell was cast and his beacon of light was in place, the paladin opted to take a closer look around while his companion was descending down to the ground. He dismounted, walked over to the house and knocked on the door.

"Hello? Is anyone in here? I am Sir Aurelian, Paladin of Sol. I chanced upon your dwelling, and if anyone's still here, I'll help you however I can."

If there was no answer, Aurelian would tentatively open the door, but not step through the threshold. Rather, he would peer into the interior, attempting to gauge whether or not anyone was within, dead or alive. With his eyes acclimated to the bright light of the spell that he had cast, however, it might take a few moments for him to see anything within.

@Click This

The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

"This certainly complicates things," Ethelred vocally observed, looking at the fort. "When Lonan mentioned an outpost, I was expecting something a bit smaller than a fully garrisoned border castle."

If they tried to spring Elnith out of there, there'd probably be a lot of bloodshed. There were a lot of knights and soldiers in the fort, and they wouldn't think twice of turning those ballistae on the duo. Moreover, as much as Ethelred wanted get Elnith out of there, the thought of killing scores of good men and women who were merely doing their duty- especially while their fellows were occupied getting the villagers to safety- was a rather repugant prospect. The elf might be able to sneak her out of there, but that was a risky prospect. Given the the elf's burning disdain for Ethelred's cursed state, and his even greater hatred of Fomorians, the Frozen Knight feared that the elf would be tempted to leave her there, or even kill her himself.

"I've got two ideas, if you're willing to humor me," Ethelred spoke to the elf. "If the Harzel forces manage to regroup, they should able to bring that dragon down. However, if we're able to finish it off ourselves, now that we have Elnith's space-warping sword, the spoils will be ours and ours alone. I'd be willing to bet that King Harzelslack would be very interested in obtaining the beast's head, especially if he believes that otherwise Sorcha would get it, and would be willing to hand over a prisoner in exchange. Even with the wyvern's wounds, be quite risky, but I've seen you in action, I've seen what that sword you carry can do, and I think we might pull it off."

This would be a lot easier with Reinhardt, not only due to his dragon-fighting skills but the fact that his charisma and heroic bloodline would make it a lot easier for him to charm the king compared to the uncouth elf and cursed ice knight that were Elias' companions.

"My second idea is that we lure it here," he continued. "With those ballistae and a garrison of soldiers aiding us, it'd be a much easier fight, and in the chaos we should be able to spring Elnith out without trouble. It's lower-risk, but much lower reward. What do you think?"

@Cu Chulainn

Heavens Torn Asunder

Kitagaki Terumori

Mifu Province

Terumori stood in place next to a fabric merchant's stall, eyeing anyone who approached it. Every so often he would glance at either the position of the sun in the sky or the shadows that it cast, waiting for the day to be over. The town they were in was a small inland trading stop in the Mifu province, with several roads leading to local fishing villages and one leading further inland, surrounded by a few outlying farms.

Standing around and minding a market wasn't exactly what he had agreed to do. When he had taken this job, he had agreed in advance to provide protection for the anticipated duration of the trip, however, because they had managed to arrive at their destination a day ahead of schedule, Terumori found himself ending the last day of his hired service standing around keeping an eye out for thieves. He didn't expect to run into any trouble- the ashigaru militia patrolling the roads and palisades appeared adequate to keep this little town secure and orderly.

The end of this day can't come soon enough...

Some samurai would consider it demeaning to find take such a position, answering to a mere peddler. His own brother, in particular, would be deeply ashamed at the notion of deigning taking such a job. It wasn't so bad when they were on the road, only crossing paths with the occasional traveler, but Terumori found it somewhat embarrassing to be standing around the market for everyone to see, playing security for a lowly (albeit well-off) craftsman. If he had been wearing his armor, he'd at least be able to take comfort in the fact that nobody would see his full face, but his employer requested that he try to be suitably subtle while he was here.

Besides, he had been paid to protect the man's wares for one more day, and he wasn't going to sully his honor by failing to fulfil his end of the deal.

The day so far had proved to be uneventful. Locals came and went, a few people came to the stall, watched like a hawk by Terumori, and there was no trouble. Then, in the late afternoon, just as his agreed-upon service was about to conclude, they were approached by a well-dressed man.

"Shigetane, my friend!" joyously shouted Terumori's employer. "I didn't think I'd see you here. What are you still doing here in Mifu?"

"Trying to reverse my misfortune," the stranger replied, speaking much more softly than his friend. "In my foolishness I have slighted a youkai, and am trying to make amends to it."

"That sounds serious, Shigetane," the merchant replied, noticeably worried. "What happened?"

"It all started a few days ago," the man began, briefly glancing at Terumori. "I had just picked up my goods delivered from the ship, and was beginning my usual route to Hakkou. While I was just outside the village, the wheel of my cart broke, spilling my goods into the road. Just then a terrific wind blew, sending some...very important sale records flying. I managed to recover them, but in my anger and frustration, I cursed the name of a local Tengu. He evidently heard me because whenever I try to pass through this area I am constantly assailed by gale winds. Every time I try to leave town, my cart is blown over!"

"Yes, I've heard of this Tengu," the merchant remarked. "The locals claim he is easily offended, but not unreasonable. He has a shrine in the hills for those who wish to pay their respect. I would suggest you make amends quickly."

"That is what I am working on," this Shigetane fellow replied, reaching into his kimono and pulling out a pouch. "At the advice of the local farmers, I have obtained rice cakes and fish, to make an offering at the Tengu's shrine. I need to make the offering while they are still fresh, but unfortunately the path to the shrine isn't safe. The farmers tell me that a large, aggressive boar has moved into that area, occasionally coming down to feed on the rice crops. He hasn't hurt anyone yet, but he aggressively chases away anyone unlucky enough to be in the paddies when he's hungry, and the militia refuse to tangle with him."

"That is a dilemma, but I think I have a solution," the merchant spoke, gesturing at Terumori. "This is Terumori, a young ronin whom I hired a few days ago to protect my merchandise, and his service to me is at its end. I recommend you hire him to escort you to the shrine."

Shigetane walked over to Terumori, carefully and silently scrutinizing the samurai. His face suggested he was unimpressed.

"I don't know anything about him, but if you trust him, then so will I," Shigetane spoke to the merchant. He then turned back to Terumori.
"My job for you is simple. I need you to escort me to the Tengu's shrine and do not allow any harm to come to me. Once the offering has been made and we have returned here, you will be paid. Do you agree to this?"

Terumori, having said nothing for almost the entire day, gave his reply.

"Yes, I agree. I can leave when you're ready."

Prophetiae Adventum: Envoys of the Pantheon

Sir Aurelian Asellius

Aurelian rode along a path of the patrol's approximate route, visor raised as to better see his surroundings. He'd hardly be able to keep up with a Pegasus Knight like Kyra, but on the ground he'd be able to see things that she could not, so far up in the air.

It wasn't much of a choice for Aurelian to participate search for the patrol. Paladins were not meant to be idle when there were people in need. Even if this wasn't potentially a ticket to gaining an audience with a very powerful man, there were people that were missing and needed to be rescued or at worst, recovered. Other things like visiting Sol's temple or exploring the city could wait.

Judging from what the guards had been saying, it sounded like Nuniel's Warforged soldiers had the locals pretty scared. He couldn't blame them- even many among Nuniel's forces were unsettled by those mechanical men. From what he had heard, they weren't anywhere close to the intelligence of a human, but were nonetheless obedient, fearless, and tough. They wouldn't lose heart if several soldiers next to them were skewered on a ballista bolt, they wouldn't stop fighting if a limb was hacked off, and would not disobey even the most suicidal or immoral orders.

It would be important to remember, however, that they were weapons, not warriors. If the person wielding them fell, they would not have the creativity and initiative to adapt to the situation as a mortal soldier might.

Aurelian glanced around the area as he rode. He wasn't much of a tracker- he had done some hunting in his previous life, sure, but it wasn't anything like this. However, he was familiar with the military capabilities of Nuniel, and should be able to recognize any telltale signs of a scuffle with his former nation. Even if there were no bodies left behind, the marks from stray magiarm fire or fragments broken off from a Warforged could remain behind as damning evidence of Nuniel's involvement. There was also the possibility, however, that Nuniel had nothing to do with this, it could be a third party taking advantage of the kingdom being occupied by the war. It also was possible that the patrol had simply deserted, having been worn down by the horrors of fighting this war.

The paladin looked up and watched Kyra fly about in the sky. He recognized the pattern- it was a searching pattern used by Nuniel's airships. He had not served on one, but he had seen them make that same pattern in the sky above them. His younger brother- or rather, his vessel's younger brother- was in fact an airship officer, having jumped at an opportunity to be at the forefront of the Empire's new technology. The younger Asellius was probably still up there, serving Nuniel faithfully. Aurelian wondered if it was easier serving in the sky, distanced from the horrors of war on the ground. In correspondences between them exchanged during the war, his brother's only grievances shared was of his uniform not providing adequate warmth against the cold winds, although who knew what was an officer might have been compelled to leave unsaid.

If we meet again, it's likely to be as enemies, he thought, saddened at the prospect of finding himself at odds with someone whom his vessel clearly cherished.

He couldn't allow himself to be distracted, however. He had to keep his eyes open for any sign of the patrol. Additionally, if something made this patrol disappear, it was possible they could still be lurking around.