The Prince of Ascalon

Standing atop a lone hill, a man looked out upon the fort. He was a tall, proud person, his armor shining gold. His headwear suggested that of royalty, and his face suggested that of poverty. This was Prince Rurik, the bloodline heir to the kingdom of Ascalon. As the sky began to grow darker, he started walking towards the fort's gate. As he did so, he saw figures from far away, slowly coming closer. When they got within range, he heard the yells of the two women. They briskly stopped when they reached the gate.

"Hello, your majesty," Devona said, as she knelt down. Cynn looked at her and copied her movement. "We have dire news to tell you." She started to speak again when she heard the yells of Mhenlo. She turned around and the monk was almost to the gate. She also spotted Aidan walking closer from by the trees.

"Well, we have an odd crew here, don't we," Rurik joked. "So, what is it you needed to speak to me about?" As he finished his sentence Devona, Mhenlo, and Aidan all started talking at once. Rurik tried to listen to all three, catching few words like Charr and bugs, and the city is in danger. "Please, please one at a time," Rurik said calmly. The three continued talking, apparently not hearing him.

"ENOUGH!!" Cynn said abruptly. The three quickly stopped their babbling. "Ok…"

"Now then…you, warrior woman. You speak first," Rurik commanded.

"Well. First we were walking back to Ascalon city, when all of a sudden we noticed a band of Charr by the woods, slowly making their way to the city. There must have been at least twenty of them. So Cynn and I bashed their heads in, and then one of them got away. Then we saw a note on the ground, saying 'We're bad and blah blah' and then we came here," Devona said in a rush.

"Um. There were only about eight of them. And the note said that the Ascalonians will pay and they will feel the wrath of the charr," Cynn clarified.

Rurik contemplated this for a moment, and then asked Aidan to share his story.

"Well, I smelt a horrendous odor, so I followed it to a cave just outside the woods. When I got there a bunch of devourers were surrounding a woman. The next thing I know all the bugs are gone, and she was perfectly safe. Her name was Eve, I believe," Aidan said.

"Oh. I met her too. She seemed nice," Mhenlo added.

"Nice? Scary is more like it. Had a freaky skull she would talk to. Anyway, I thought it was weird, having just seen a grawl and charr attack earlier," Aidan stated.

"I see. Now then, onto the monk," Rurik said.

"Well, I was heading back to Ashford Abbey when I noticed a girl picking flowers. I started talking to her and telling her that it was dangerous to be doing that at this time of day, when I noticed some beings in the distance. I went to investigate and sure enough, there were some charr. I…released…them from this world, and I noticed I got shot. Well, I guess that's irrelevant. Anyway, I met Eve, and then went to the girl again and she told me that more Charr went to Ashford Abbey. When I got there it was already a burning ruin. I just hope that the townsfolk made it out alive," Mhenlo shared.

"Ok. So you're trying to say that the Charr are starting an uprising, and you think it will be soon. If that is the case, it would seem that the other monsters of woods are joining them," Rurik thought to himself, "Well, I must relay this news to my father. Please, feel free to stay the night in the fort." He walked off into a pavilion.

"Well. I guess we should get some rest," Mhenlo said.

"Yeah. We need all our strength to beat up those charr when the day comes," Devona added cheerfully.

"I was afraid you were gonna say that," Mhenlo said. He took a deep sigh, and then went to the inn. Cynn and Devona followed him, while Aidan stood still.

"This game the Charr are playing seems to be very dangerous. I fear that they are coming up with a plan to exterminate us," Aidan contemplated as he went up the fort wall, preparing to guard the fort. "I doubt the army here is sufficient enough to handle an onslaught."