Standing in front of the main gate of his portal system, Kuran crossed his arms as he was eager to see his guest. Then it starts flashing and he smiles as he saw Cross standing there. "Hello, Cross. Thank you for answering my invitation."
"No problem, I wasn't busy now."
He chuckles and offers his hand to her. "I see. Well… I have two rooms ready. One next to Gnarls room, to annoy or let him piss himself some more for your stay. Or one close to my own quarters. Which one may you like to take?"
"I would prefer to stay a little away from him if you don't mind." She replied taking his hand.
"Alright. Then let me guide you to your room." and starts guiding her. "Do you need something once you get comfortable?" he wondered.
"No, thanks."
"Good. One warning though. Laurent is experimenting with demon parts. And he expressed interest in feathers, salvia and… waste from you." explains the Overlord. "Believe me… I am not sure WHY he wants it."
"If he tries to get them from me, he better gives me a good reason before I turn him back to you in very bad shape." she frowned at him.
"I will inform him." he nods and they reach the door. "Here it is. Inside is a key to lock it. And if you don't want any minions in there for clean up, just lock the door underneath the table as well. That's the minion entrance."
"Thank you. That will be all." She said and goes inside.
Overlord: Kingdoms Rise
In a bar sat a typical young man with black coal coloured hair and beard with hazel eyes. His shirt appears to be created out of scrap metal and wears a leather jacket over it. Below he had cotton pants and of course leather boots. Next to him laid his bag and a sword covered with symbols which represent something while glowing in a light blue hue.
On a spot, was a beautiful woman singing and caught the attention of all men, except him.
As the barkeeper notices that behaviour he asks "I wonder why you don't get closer to the young lady."
"I'm not interested in her, because I've enough problems at this moment." he answers him with a cold shoulder.
The barkeeper took a bottle up for a customer and makes a neutral facial: "Ah, I see. Many travellers are here to rest and forget their issues for a while. I even heard that they like to match each other.".
The man looked up at the barkeeper. "That's stupid! Don't ya think?" The barkeeper is silent for a second.
While he takes another sip of his beer and looks to the singer comments the barkeeper "I just heard about the Overlord Tournament."
"Aaaand?"
"I thought it could be interesting for you. I know you don't like competition, but I heard some kind of interesting reward which are not easy to get!"
"Speak more... I'm listening closely!" His eyes wander to the barkeeper, his mouth forms to a small grin and without realizing it he gets closer to the barkeeper.
"I even heard that this prize was a prized possession of one of the past Overlords. And those guys always have a powerful artefact in their possessions."
"The possession of a past Overlord?" asks the boy and grinned, "I think I am going to try my luck there."
"I suggest to seek out one of the Overlords households of lords or mistresses. They are properly seeking out champions for their interest." explains the barkeeper and put a bottle in front of the boy "It's on the house"
"Thanks!" he said and took a sip of it… and then another. And another.
As he emptied the bottle, he found himself standing on the road and wondered… how did he end up here? And why does his head feel like he missed something? He recalls wanting to join the Overlord's tournament… and that he was convinced to do so for getting more powerful and stronger. But the rest… "Was something in that beer?" he asks but shrugged as he tossed the bottle away "No matter. I got a goal." and began to walk down the street.
At the bar, the singer was done and all men except the barkeeper and the singer were asleep. Moving towards the barkeeper, she grinned "Good job here. I take care from here."
"Thank you milady." he nodded and caught a small bag of coins
"Don't waste it!" smirks the singer as her body blurred and revealed herself to be the succubus Sunkrem "Now, Iskren Lahush… time to make you my champion~" she chuckles and head out, having already a plan for her next step.
Overlord: Kingdoms Rise
"Finally. Some land." chuckles a woman in brownish leather boots and dark-brown pants that are made of a specific material. The belt also holds a scrap of white cloth. Her top part contains a white blouse that is covered by a black jacket.
Standing on her old boat that looks like it could sink at any moment, she twirls her umbrella and once reaching the port, she jumps off it and at this, it cracked, broke apart and sank. Looking down at it, she shrugs and turns around. "Knew that thing wouldn't last." and moves off. As she walks she notices a gathering and raises an eyebrow. Moving over, she makes her way and saw that a public notice were placed on the board and she reads it.
"Hmm… that might help with finding clues I look for." she smirks and turns around. "Time to get registered for that tournament. Or my name won't be Anastasia Smimow, the Survivor of the Seven Seas!" she grinned to herself.
Overlord: Kingdoms Rise
Stepping into a guest room that was hidden from the rest of the tower, Gnarl entered it and the inhabitant, the Titan Hatroz looks down at the minion. "You took a long time until you took the pleasure of seeing me again. I was starting to wonder if you tried to make my rod down here."
"Don't worry. I never even dared to think about that idea." replied Gnarl with a chuckle. "The reason I am here is that it is time. The tournament is in its final preparations and soon you can stomp through the competition to gain the artefact you dearly want."
"Good," said Hatroz and stood up "Then I no longer have a reason to stay in that isolated room. That a little insignificant one like you can think you could hold me here. If I wanted, I would have already taken what I wanted, and have left. Even destroyed all here."
"Indeed… but then the secret I have about your people would be lost forever." chuckles Gnarl with a grin. "Just do as you were told and I tell you what I know."
"Don't betray me. Or you will pay for it." warned the titan and stomps out of the room.
Overlord: Kingdoms Rise
"Ah! Here comes our guest of honours!" declared Halbert to his two guests, Lady Miona and Lord Sindir.
The old Lord Sindir raised his eyebrows "A Jackal, a Taumin and a Wolf? With those three you think we will do that? I am afraid now you lose your touch, Lord Halbert."
"I would have to agree with you Lord Sindir… if I wouldn't recognize those three as some trouble makers that had to be placed in the better security cells of the dungeons."
"The dungeons?" asks Sindir surprised.
"Yes, oh Lord," chuckles the Jackal, "We were in the better-secured cell. And now… why are we here?"
"State me your names" stated Halbert first.
"Yvette" states the Wolf
"Aeva" came from the Jackal
"Abigail," told the taumin, "And I am a Taurus!"
"Good! Now listen up! We know you tried to break in to free your friend… Rox was his name?" asks Halbert, catching the attention of the three. "Now here is an offer. The Overlord is holding a tournament soon. And… if ANY of you three manage to reach the quarter-final, we give you your friend and your belongings back. And send you off."
"Only Quarter FInal?" asks Miona, "You are not trusting them much."
"Have you seen the champion Lord Kuran has chosen? I have my doubts they could perform better if they run into her." warned Lord Sindir.
The three girls, however, whispered to each other for a moment and then Abigail asks, "What's the catch?"
"If none of you manages it, you are back to the cells and you're reported of having escaped and were captured again by us." grins Halbert with his hands behind his back "I bet that won't work well."
"How nice of you to blackmail us like that" deadpans Aeva and shakes her head. "Well… given that, we are in."
"Good!" nods Halbert "Then my guards will guide you to your rooms and tomorrow you can start training! And believe me. My Instructors will be thorough to ensure you're fit for the tournament." and he chuckles loudly.
Yvette looks at her fellow females "I have the feeling that cell would be more comfortable than the coming weeks."
"Me too Yvette… Me too…"
Overlord: Kingdoms Rise
Lady Medin was sitting in her chair, rubbing her tired face while her guards are coming in. Between them was a tied up Fenek with grey fur. She found herself caught in his green eyes for a moment before she asks her guards "Is this the thief?"
"Yes, Mylady. That is the one who broke into your room last night. It was quite a hunt to catch him." explains the guard. "Not only was he agile on his feet, making the hunt hard, even as we had already cornered him, his skills with two daggers kept even the best of us on guard. But we managed to get him."
The Male Fennek was silent, his black-tipped ears shifted a little and the guard continues. "Shall we send him now to the mines or should we execute him?"
The Lady considered it for a moment before standing up. "Fenek! Tell me your name!"
"Why?" asks the "Why should I tell you that?"
"Because from what my guards tell me… you can fight well. And that I could use." she explained to him.
Looking up at her he grins. "So you are going to force me joining the guard or the army of the Overlord? I don't think that would work well."
"Nope. I am going to send you to the tournament. As my champion. Do that and you're free to go afterwards. Else… we cut your hand off and leave you on the street."
Without much hesitation, he said "Trevor. That is my name milady." and he looks at her with a fierce look. "Can we at least negotiate some payment?"
"The better you perform the better it will be for you in the end." she simply said.
"Guess that is the best I can hope for now." and close his eyes while lowering his head. Knowing that he lost his gamble now.