Eostia: Harem Quest

by EostianScribe

The Gods have given mortals the power of The Gamer as a pass time. A hobby. A means to compete and relax. One goddess, however, sees it as a means of salvation; starting with one world. As such, she rolls the dice... (Harem, Citrus and Eventual Dark Content Warning)

71. Act II-Ch XLIV: The Turncoats

[ - Author's Note - ]

Well... Here we go. This is it; the end (Save an epilogue) of Act Two. What a long and wild ride it's been, eh?

I'll also be posting this on June Thirteenth. This will be the second year anniversary of the story. Amazing huh? A lot has happened in that time; mostly in regards to Putin deciding it was time to go full YOLO into Ukraine... and learning that yes, failure is an option. By all accounts it's his only option at this rate. I'd rather a giant war not happen in Europe but if it has to happen then at least it can end with Putin curled up in a corner, crying like a baby.

So... what is this chapter about? In short; things come to a head... And as a fair warning there might be...

E-MO-SHE-NAL DAHM-AGE!

So... let's get to it.

[ - Act II - Chapter XLIV: The Turncoats - ]

Flashback
Twelve Years Ago
Fortress Feoh

Across the table in the Fortress' rear courtyard a battles of wills was on going. Irresistible force wrestled against an immovable object as the two forces warred on. Two gazes met, locked in a mental grapple in a battle that on some level was massive although to the outside it would look like something very different.

An adult arguing with an unruly child. "You will wear the dress, Alicia."

"NOOO!" The unruly child in question, the young Princess of Feoh, Alicia Arcturus, glared back at Razon Beardsley with as mighty a pout as she could muster... looking not unlike her late mother when she was that age... Both he and Aston Arcturus had attempted to woo Catherine Fiorire when she stayed in Feoh (And several other men, as well) but Aston was the one who won her over. Sadly she was far more stubborn then her late mother was.

"This is a requirement for a lady of your station, M'lady." Beardsley let off firmly. And with Aston away at the Council of Lords someone had to look over his daughter. The choice for the king was his Prime Minister, Razon Beardsley.

"No!" The little blonde princess let off, pouting with her arms crossed as she wore a simple, blue tunic with a white leather vest over it. Her legs were bare but the tunic hung low enough to act as a skirt for the short haired girl. "It's stuffy, and itchy and too girly! I wanna be a knight!"

"I am aware." Beardsley said with a sagely nod. "But you're still gonna do it." He was rewarded with a pout as she smiled and lifted a finger. "Let me put it to you like this; do you like eating vegetables like peas, beans and spinach."

"Noooo..." The girl let off softly with a slightly confused look.

"But do you still eat them?" He asked as she nodded. "Why then?"

"...I need to them to grow strong to be a knight..." She said softly as he nodded sagely.

"Yes. You do something you don't like because you have to." He said as he pointed to her with a soft smile. "Now while you want to be a knight you still are a princess and one of Feoh. As such there are duties that needs be done by you in the realm of the political." She started to blink up at him as he explained things to her. "Political power, for a kingdom, is as required as much as military power; if not more so. A letter correctly worded can achieve more then a year's long war with no loss of life. You will need to be at least well versed in the basics of these means."

"Okay..." Young Alicia let off as she blinked to him. "But what does this have to do with a stupid dress?"

"In the realm of politics no one might die-" 'Usually.' Beardsley added in his own mind. "-but there is still a push and pull in strength and duels; but these duels come in the form of debates. In this one's status is important as it can act as a shield or blade in such conversations but, more importantly, the way you are dressed speaks volumes. It can speak of wealth, confidence, power... In the realm of politics a good suit or a fine dress is, in it's own way, armor."

The young girl deflated in her seat for a moment; the terms Beardsley had but everything in made sense to her as she huffed. "I still don't like it."

"But you'll do it."

"I'll do it..." She let off, pouting deeply.

"Chin up..." Beardsley let off with a soft chuckle. "Once we're done with that we can spend a couple days going to Ur to visit your cousin."

"Are we allowed to do that?" Alicia asked, blinking up at him as the older man chuckle, smiling as he leaned in.

"I won't tell if you won't."

[-]

"Hark! How has this happened? How is it you have come to me in the coat of the betrayer, Macbeth!?"

"I do not wish such, Stewart! But mine beliefs drive me. I must bring this change upon the land!"

"You would force this change? Against the will of it's king and people? To force an unwanted order only you asked for?"

"It must be done, my blood brother."

"No blood brother would turn his coat like this! No blood brother would leave such scars upon a man's soul! No blood brother would act like such a coward and force an ideology you are unwilling to debate and defend upon everyone! I renounce you, Macbeth, as no more then the basest of villains; the betrayer!"

~Taken from the play The Good Prince Steward by Gaelicson Buchanan

[-]

Alicia didn't want to give me the full details over the voxlux but gave me the summery of the situation; someone betrayed her and she didn't know who it was. She needed help and I was the best choice for her to turn to. She said she would meet me in Luxion Town; a town close to Lancefort City, at a watchtower. That made me more concerned but I told her I was on my way. I had a good guess who the backstabber was; now was the time to see if I could prove it...

I grabbed who I could to come with me (Once I explained the reason for my departure to my parents who agreed that this sounded urgent) but the party was a bit... it wasn't what I had hoped. Riri was with me, of course, as was Miria, Tiffany and Cress. Aeris was running a message for my father to Ferra and Makoto was training with the conscripts to bring them up to snuff in sword skills.

Rounding out our escort was four Mungale Regulars led by Kelly Conners. We rode hard towards Luxion and arrived in the late afternoon and quickly found the watchtower in short order; it helped she used the voxlux to send an image of said tower to help us identify it; it was maintained but it's paint wasn't. By all accounts it wasn't really used or staffed these days save by brief patrols.

Once we arrived, parked and disembarked Agni was awaiting us outside of the tower's gate and waved us over. I had the escort hang outside as I led the usual party (And Cress) inside the tower. Alicia was waiting for us and, to my surprise, Raphael Richardson; the doctor from Fortress Ur. Miria moved around me first as she hugged the princess as I smiled and spoke. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting." I said as I looked to her. She gave a soft, slightly eased smile as she looked to me hugging Miria back. I took a moment that her level had risen a bit since we last me; reaching level thirty.

"It's fine... It's fine, it's given me some time to sort my thoughts. If anything I apologize for calling you over so suddenly; but I do need the help of someone I trust." She said, a hand moving to her chest as she let the Catalan go; Miria stepping back and closer to my side.

"Given what the rumors say you've been up to you should be of good help." The old doctor quipped out. "At least not our worst choice."

"Well before I can try and help... what's happened that you needed to call me over?" I began as I looked to Alicia with a firm look. "What do you mean you've been betrayed?"

"Right... let me explain everything..." Alicia said as she began to tell me what had happened in Feoh. She began to explain everything that had occurred; how the bodies of three, different agents of Feoh were found dead in different circumstances and she asked Doctor Richardson to examine each one. He determined that each man had been assassinated and when he explained his discoveries to me I concurred. Next came something a bit more worrying; the king's health had taken a sour turn. The doctor assured me he wouldn't die anytime soon, thankfully, but it was a good scare. That led into the real meat of the situation then...

A street urchin opted to steal a pouch from a pair of pigmen and discovered a black letter of the storm in it. Thankfully he had enough moral courage to bring it to the right people which in turn led it to coming into Alicia's possession as she showed it to me. As she said the king's turn for the worse was kept quiet... Aside from four attendants, the king's doctor, Alicia and Raphael there were five people present, Albert, Beardsley and three people I've yet to meet Commander Eloise DeBataille, Oriel Sundance and Gershon Draken. And yet the black letter mentioned his decline in health and given how close the two events were I doubted it was from the rumor mill, meaning someone in know penned it.

I was sure of who our man was, of course, Beardsley. The Coeurnoir situation was further proof but not hard proof... I'd need that to nail him to the wall. There was another consideration I needed to consider; Beardsley might not be the only traitor present; I had to consider that as well. I considered things for a long moment before speaking. "Do we have any idea what happened to those pigmen the letter was lifted from?"

"I looked into it." Alicia said as she frowned deeper. "There was a report of two pigmen matching the description causing a disturbance and by all accounts they were... bludgeoned for their transgressions. Rather then press charges on them with anything they were released by the officer in charge of the prison on the condition they left Lancefort straight away and were sent off with two guards ensuring they left. I can't confirm it was them the letter was lifted from but it's the only explanation I have. I imagine they were merchants; they didn't leave names but left a sizable 'fine' to not have records left. Needless to say I'm auditing the guards..." She said with a huff. I groaned softly at that; we lost the chance at taking out two more agents of the storm because of bad luck and a few bad choices. Still...

"Were voxluxs on them?" I asked her as she shook her head. "Good. That means they can't call back to who wrote the letter. That means, with luck, whoever is behind it is unaware his letter was intercepted."

"You have a plan for this?" The doctor said as I smiled.

"I do. We can make a story of what happened." I began as I grinned a bit. "We can say that someone lifted a pouch from some merchants and found a black letter in it. He sent a message to Princess Alicia that he's willing to trade it for... hmmm, some platinum. Threatening to destroy the letter if his demands are not met. Alicia will, of course, ride out with some of her Knights of Iris to collect the letter; saying she'll ride in the morning. Before she does, however, she'll summon everyone that was present in the king's chamber for the news somewhere and... hmmm, three or four other people of import and let them know about the letter trade."

"That's the plan then?" The Doctor let off as he looked to me as Alicia was thinking over all I laid out. "Lure them out?" He let off with a thoughtful frown.

"Partially." I said with a nod. "There is something else we have to consider and that is the chance that whoever is involved will send agents in their place that will be... less then willing to talk. If they go in person, even with an escort, that would be for the best to catch them and further proof but we need to consider that they might not. What I plan to do is enchant small spell stones with a modified voxlux spell. I used them when I had to deal with Mandeville to spy on him and his. I'll add a tracking spell and a spell that will keep it in place so we can set it to someone's clothes, like their collar. That way we can listen in as they give orders. If they order flunkies to do it then we deal with them and playback the orders; that should coax a confession. Even if they don't we'll still have the mastermind dead to rights."

"Honestly; I was thinking of calling for Prim first..." Alicia said, giving a much easier smile to me. "And yet in mere minutes you've devised a means to uncover a traitor that would vex most."

"Don't thank me too fast. We still need to get those stones in place." I said as I looked to Riri. "So; I can use an illusion to help Riri sneak in as a new maid and-"

"That won't work..." Alicia said as she cut me off. "You see I won't need to call a meeting; there is already one to speak on the matter of Garan that will happening in two days and everyone in that room and more will be present to speak of it. But we are set to use a designated meeting room; it's enchanted to undo any sort of illusion within it."

"Tsk." I let off as I frowned. "Shit. I know the kind; anything larger then half a finger would have the Illusion dispel on it. Beardsley and Albert have both seen Riri before; putting her in there would give the plot away..."

"So, Tiffany then?" Miria let off as the blonde shook her head.

"No, sorry... Mom introduced me to Commander DeBataille before." Tiffany let off. "It'd be the same problem."

"So... who can we get on short notice that can get in there as a maid and place the stones?" I let off as we took a moment to think. "I don't suppose you have any maids you can trust for this?"

"Hmmm... Let's see... Well... I'm not sure." Alicia let off as she looked to me. "But Gershon is very popular with them and they... might not be willing to do anything to him."

"So we need someone we can trust to be a maid that can sneak stones without notice onto everyone that isn't known to anyone present and has the right skills to not give the plot away." I summarized. "We are... I have no idea who could do it..." I let off... and then Miria sighed deeply.

"I have an idea..." She let off with a small pout as she crossed her arms. "I know someone who they didn't see that would be able to pull it off..." Okay, so why didn't she sound happy about it?

"Great!" Cress let off as he grinned at his crush. "Who is it?" He asked as Miria looked right at him with a deadpan look. I looked to her waiting for an answer before looking to Cress... and I caught on. "So... who..? ... No..." He finally figured out what she meant before catching on as well.

"Yeah, I know... I know..." Miria let off. "Mmmmm... But maybe we can have him go in as a butler?"

"Sadly, no..." Alicia said with a sigh. "Maids are chosen because the uniforms are so skimpy; less chances of hiding weapons or poisons. Or a lot of men like watching the eye candy... The only butler that will be in the room is the head butler and that's only because he has the clearance to do so."

"I'm sure he can pull it off, and we can have the option on the table..." I began as Cress glared to me now. "But if he isn't comfortable with it then we need to consider any other option first." Cress' glare lessened once I made my point but I was met with silence. It seemed no one really had another suggestion. "Well crap..."

"No... No, no... I am not for this idea..." Cress let off, swiping his arms in the air.

"I know you don't like it..." Alicia said, looking to him bower her head to him. "...but we lack other options..."

"Cress..." Miria let off as she moved over to him as she leaned over and whispered... something. I couldn't hear but Cress' response was to perk right up and stiffen before nodding once.

"F-fine... I still don't like it though..." He let off, blushing as he crossed his arms. What... what did she say to him?

"Right. I left some stones in the carriage, so I can start enchanting right away. I'll need an hour or so." I began as Alicia nodded. "We'll also need a plausible spot to set up shop for the letter taker."

"Of course. I have a good idea for that." Alicia added in. "There's an old, abandoned ruined fort near the borders Feoh shares with Ur, Cameron and Sanka. The regulars just cleared the place of bandits two weeks ago. It would make for a good place for a blackmailer to await."

"Right... How quickly can you join us?" I asked her as she sighed.

"I know a back road and can set up a chain of horses thanks to the voxlux. It'll be a long, hard ride but I can do it in a day and a half and bring Cress in tow." She said with a nod. "I should be able to tell the guards to keep things a secret for now."

"Heh... Doesn't take you lot long to bring a plan together." Richardson let off with a soft chuckle. "But what if more bandits moved into the place while you were away?"

"We'll handle it." I said as I moved to plant a punch into my open palm. "We'll need a two or three days to get there and get things ready."

"And we'll need a day or two to both fit Cress with an outfit and ready him for the meeting and teach him what he'll need to know." Alicia replied with a nod. "Hmmm... What else..?"

"What about back-up?" I asked after a moment of thought. "I'm confident in our abilities but I have no idea what will be coming our way once we spring the trap. It could be a few men, it could be a few dozen."

"Hmmm..." Alicia let off with a soft frown as she thought. "I can call Auntie Rose and send a few Ur Regulars your way." She said, refering to Grand Duchess Primrose of Ur. "Once I explain the situation I'm sure she'll be quick to do so, quietly."

"Quiet's good." Miria added as she looked right at Alicia. "So... how are you holding up given the whole betrayal thing?" My sister asked her as she sighed deeply, hands on her hips.

"A little better that we can do something about it but... These are people I am trusting with the running of the Kingdom." Alicia said as she shut her eyes as she sighed deeply. "The idea these people who have gained so much trust is doing something ill to Feoh is... sickening. And no matter who it is it will be painful for me. Even so... this is a thorn that must be pulled free lest it fester... So in spite of the pain; let it be removed..."

Given who I suspected... this would hurt her horribly.

"Right... Let's work on the fine details and then get to work." I said taking in a deep breath.

Once we sorted a few details of the story Alicia would tell out I would go back to the carriage and break the stones out; quality enough and pick out small, pebble sized ones that would be easily snuck onto someone. If placed on a coat around a collar it should be unnoticed. Thankfully I knew the anti-Illusion enchantment on the room; such small stones would be unaffected by it; thankfully. The one thing I never got was why did such small Illusions bypass them?

(As usual I'd look into it later; a part of it was the spell was set up like a 'net' for lack of a better term. Smaller things could pass through this 'net' and be avoided. By having the gaps so small you avoided hiding weapons... But most people who wanted these enchantments still wanted to hide certain things with an illusion; ironically spell stones set up with either recording enchantments were the most common as a way of record keeping but also stones that could control something inside of a room such as some sort of shield enchantment for personal defense. Because of that it became the standard way of setting up these enchantments. Of course if you knew what you could get away someone else could take advantage of this little fact...)

I ended up making a dozen and a half of them in total and checked they all broadcasted; it was more then we needed but if the chance to bug other guests who might be a traitor was there then I'd provide the option. I passed them to Cress who was steeling himself as best able as he spoke with Alicia and Agni. They had a means to smuggle them in and she knew a couple people who would be able to help him set up. All I could do was do my own part and hope Alicia and Cress could do theirs.

Even if Cress would be embarrassed doing it...

[-]

We had two days to ride out. I had the carriage drivers head to another town fairly close to the fort and told them we'd call them when we needed them and to relax in the meantime. Our escort was on horseback and, as such, myself, Riri, Miria and Tiffany rode pillion with the guards; myself behind Kelly. We rode hard and it wasn't that easy on the horses, sadly. Thankfully we were able to arrive in two days in the early afternoon. We could have arrived in the morning but we agreed that we needed the horses in good shape if anything went wrong. As such we approached the old fort slowly as I used scry to check ahead in case someone had set up shop. It wasn't a guarantee to work; left over enchantments could block me... and they did. Annoying...

In response I just pulled back my view and looked from above to see what was there... And there were people; armed people. No proper banners in view and a rough looking batch. It wasn't a sure thing that they were bandits; they could have been mercs or adventurers as well. If the former case we could kill them with impunity. In either of the latter cases we could either ask them nicely to clear out or hire them as extra muscle.

Before we approached I had Riri dropped off so she could infiltrate the fort and scout out issues as we rode up to the front gate. The fort was likely Imperium Era or not long after it; it bore a wide, forty foot tall keep that was attached to three, twenty foot tall walls that formed a courtyard. One corner bore a thirty foot, square tower and the walls bore crenelations. It was a nice, small fort for a small unit to use as a home base. That said Mother Nature and Father Time both took their toll on it; one of the walls had collapsed all but fully, the tower's roof was missing and had fell off to the outside of the fort at one point, the gate was missing in full and ten feet of wall where said gate once stood was also missing. The keep had mostly survived; an upper corner was missing but it otherwise looked solid.

As we approached you could see activity; the tower was still a good place to keep watch from and two men were up there and were calling to their buddies. I would move off the saddle and walk ahead of everyone else as the wall started to be manned by a half dozen men. Three of them even had bows! The other three picked up rocks; that sounded silly maybe but remember; a pitched stone to the head still hurts. Another seven men walked out of the broken gate. Observe told me they were all levels sixteen to eighteen; I wasn't worried but I was cautious. Miria and Tiffany hopped of their rides as well as we prepared for the chances of a confrontation.

"That's far enough!" Their leader let off. He stood out but not for his looks or dress. He was the only one of the lot to be of eastern in origin and he was built with a powerful build (Even if he was only five six in height); not thick or wide but with thick, visible muscles over his abs, chest and arms given he only covered his torso with an old red, black trimmed leather vest. His black hair was long and tied back into a single, waist long ponytail with a tie neat the tip as he glared with brown eyes. His pants were black and baggy and looked like parachute pants with a wide, red sash holding them up. Red boots were on his feet but from the ankles to half way up the calves there was a white wrap. No; he stood out due to his very unusual weapon; a mythril bo staff.

It was about five feet in length and was set to his back via an enchantment I assumed given the lack of straps. There seemed to be a diamond pattern etching along it's silver hued shaft, likely to help with the grip and both of it's ends were rounded. What was odd was that the last quarter of these rounded ends were a dark gray My guess was they gray parts were another, much heavier material; the one downside to mythril was that being lighter compared to steel meant you lost some striking power but you could make up for that by adding something heavy like lead or iron. The shaft was, maybe, an inch and a half thick while with the ends being about two inches wide. He pulled the weapon from his back as he set one end to the ground, looking right to me. "Who the bloody hell are you?" He barked out as I tilted my head for a moment.

"Well; a bit rude to demand a name without giving your own." I said as I stayed relaxed. He and his buddies had weapons out (Mostly spears and clubs) but they weren't in combat stances yet. "But I am James Noxdecus. Who are you and your lot?" I asked as he glared to me.

"I am called Ryu no Kiba." He said, his off hand swinging to the side as he looked over at me. "And we are the Red Scourge."

(-)

Name: Ryu no Kiba
Title: The Bloodied Fang
Class: Monk
Level: 19
Alignment: Hostile
Reputation: 10
Status: Healthy, Angered, Battle Ready

Known Traits
[?]
[Bo-Man] You are an expert in the use of bo staffs and staves of all sizes. +Bo Staffs & Staves to Primary & Secondary Weapons

[Moxie] Each time you defeat a foe in battle increase your Con, Str, End, Dex and Agi by 2%, up to eight times. This lasts up until one minute after your last fight

Once a distant relation of the rulers of Arrona he attempted to blackmail his way into the position of a minor lord. Instead he was sentenced to death and barely escaped to the west. He would form the Red Scourge as a means finding a new path to power.

(-)

Well ain't this guy a charmer? And I've heard of this Red Scourge before; a fairly new but growing batch of highwaymen who placed small jobs with the guild... then killed (Or raped then killed) whoever showed up, took their equipment and coin. Needless to say he was on the Guild's shit list. "So just another bandit gang, just like any other. Save most don't have weapons like that." My guess was as he was related to nobility he was either able to afford it or was given it as a gift. That it was stolen was another idea, I should add. "I suppose It doesn't matter. We need to clear this fort out and ending a bandit gang like yours is good for everyone. Win-win for us."

"Bah! I am the Bloodied Fang. You think some trumped up, fancy pansy lordling will best us? Best me!?" He let off as he spun his staff before him as the good'ole boss music spun up. My view shifted towards him and I saw an odd seam in the center of the shaft; a small, red spell stone on each side in a diamond shape. He grabbed the two sides and twisted a side one way, the other in the opposite and the staff split into two spots; a foot long, steel chain deploying from the inside as he pulled it apart. The view pulled back as he started a nunchaku routine; spinning one end before swinging it under an arm, grabbing the other end, doing the same on the other side, swinging it behind him, around to each side of him as his men watched on and grinned. Finally grabbed both sides and thrust them forwards with a lout cry to give off an air of intimidation.

_The Bloodied Fang_
Ryu no Kiba

My view returned to normal and my response was simple. I swung my left hand up, two fingers pointed out as I fired a Magic Missile at him... that smashed through the steel chain and into his forehead; blasting the top of his skull off and sending him crashing to the ground as his buddies looked to him in surprise. "Right. Next?" I let off as the men looked to us in shock...

Right as Miria unleashed a pair of Arcane Arrows to two of the men on the walls as Tiffany quick summoned a massive, cartoonish butterfly (That kinda looked like a Butterfree, really) that fired Scatter Bolts from it's wings at the men as they scattered.

It was a short fight.

[Defeated List]

4 Red Scourge Wrecker x 130XP=520XP
4 Red Scourge Deadeyes x 135XP=540XP
6 Red Scourge Cutthroats x 125XP=750XP
Ryu no Kiba=1440XP x 1.25 Kill Bonus=1800XP
+20% Dark Horse of Eostia Bonus
Gain 4332XP Total

[-]

Once the fight was done I took the mythril staff and looked it over. The stones were small but of a good grade and did what I expected (Which was to stick to someone's back) but it was also the reason the two ends stuck together to make a single, solid piece; in spite of no physical means of holding it together I couldn't forces them to part without a specific twist. I opted to keep it for now; I had an idea for later that might be both cool and useful... but that's for future James to look into.

We moved the bodies away from the fort and myself and Tiffany used earth magic to bury them two feet under; although I took an image of Ryu and forwarded it to Kara to report to the Guild. She was very happy that he was dead and gone. Regardless, we burried them because we just needed to get them out of the way avoid attracting carrion animals. Once done I moved into the keep and picked out a mostly intact room as a command center, of sorts. Thankfully all of us, the guards included, had a voxlux which made things easier. We had a long table that was left in the keep, weathered as it was, and I set up each voxlux to listen into two to three of the stones with each stone's audio being recorded separately once we were ready to record. As opposed to projecting images they would project small balls of different colored lights which would waver as the attuned stone picked up noise. We had checked in with Alicia and the meeting was due in another hour...

Now all we had to do was wait...

[-]

Flashback
Twelve Years Ago
Fortress Feoh

"Onwards mighty steed!"

"Raaaahhhh!"

For most of the castle staff it was a rather odd, if cute and amusing, sight. Moving along the halls at what could be called something between a jog and light spring was Prime Minister Razon Beardsley. His hands held onto the shins of the girl sitting atop his shoulders with a hand on his head and the other holding a mop like it was a lance; said girl being the Princess of Feoh, Alicia Arcturus.

"Chaaaaaaarge!"

"Raaaahhhh!"

"What in the hell?" Albert Arcturus, uncle of the girl riding atop a slightly pudgy man, let off after he turned the corner... and felt the mop crash into his shoulder like a weapon of war... as wielded by a small girl with all the gentle force one would expect of such a child. Said girl giggled as she pulled back on the man's head 'steering' him as they took off down the hall. "...No, really, what the hell?"

[-]

Present
Fortress Feoh's War Room

Alicia noted the people walking into the room and settling in. There were still a few arriving, of course, but all of the people who was in her father's chambers that day was present and accounted for. In addition to Commander DeBatalille, Minister Sundance and Intelligence head Draken were people like Razon Beardsley and her uncle but also civilian minister Richard Griffin, instructor minister Adele Cray and naval minister River Quare.

She was originally confused as to why Feoh had a naval minister as the state was land locked but once she realized he coordinated with Cauldona, Ironside and Blackwell with their navies it made a bit more sense. The room itself was dominated by a horseshoe shaped table with a lone, additional table at it's opening which let someone move down the middle and pass paper about quickly. The room's walls were white and House Arcturus' banners hung along the side walls. In addition the back wall boasted their banner once more but also the seven banners of the other ruling lords of Feoh states under it in a horizontal line. She was at the font desk, reading a few reports while doing her best to watch the two maids in the room... including Cress.

It was a bit amazing at just how well he filled out a maid's uniform. Thankfully the head butler was new to his job and had previously worked in Fortress Ur... formerly under Halbert Oxford. Her father hired him in part to help him get away from old grouch but it also meant he wasn't as entangled with the powerful people in Feoh and, once she explained enough of the situation, he made sure to assist Cress in both getting dressed and how to conduct himself as a maid. He was, supposedly, using something to keep... things tucked away and she was glad the skirt came down to the mid-thigh to offer him some coverage.

That said she was also a bit jealous at just how well he looked in it... He really did look like a cute, feminine maid, better then she would at any rate... and he was doing his job in regards to the stones. He would bring the cart along the room and would set a hand on someone's upper back as he leaned in and poured the tea. His means of getting the small stones to position was simple; since the small stones could avoid the anti-illusion spell James programmed them to mimic their surroundings to be invisible he simply piled them into a corner of the cart. He could, discreetly, pick one up between the middle and index finger, set it to place as he poured tea and that was that. Indeed the only two without a stone on them like this was Eloise DeBataille and Oriel Sundance as they were on the other side of the table where the other maid was attending them.

Thankfully for the plan Oriel finished his first tea cup quickly and beckoned Cress over. What surprised her was that as he passed DeBaraille his middle finger pulled back along the thumb and, when no one seemed to be looking, flicked out. It took her a moment to realize that he had flicked the spell stone to DeBataille's collar or back... If it hit she couldn't tell; she just hoped Cress' aim was true. With Sundance, however, he could place the stone in the usual way, subtly setting it to his back as he poured tea-

"You got quite an ass on you lass!"

"Yeeeeee!"

-and nearly spilled said tea as the older man grabbed Cress by the ass. A glare from himself had him chuckling and letting go. She was just glad he didn't grab the other side.

Soon everyone would be seated as the head butler, Earnest Mundus, would dismiss the maids; Cress notably hurrying as much as custom would let him. She waited for conversation to idle down before a small mallet and banging it to a gavel at her desk. "Everyone, thank you for arriving in this meeting. As we all know the reports we've been getting from Garan is concerning as we are expecting a possible incursion in the coming weeks. Fighting Garan is often our most important priority however before we begin I must speak upon the matter of another one."

Murmuring started up at that as she tried to remain calm. It was time to play her own part; swallowing the guilt of needing to lie as she steeled herself; telling the now practiced story. "As you know the Shield Princesses and our aides have been uncovering a plot that is recruiting agents inside and outside Eostia with the aims of overthrowing the High Throne. As of so far we've uncovered three black letters they use to send missives to one another; a highly damaged one in Ur, one in Geofu and recently in Thorn... But there is a forth found recently in Feoh."

"Are you sure of this?" Eloise let off as she looked to Alicia as she adjusted her glasses. "Do we have it?"

"Not fully and not yet." Alicia replied as calmly as she could. "We've received a message by someone who claims to have stolen the letter from someone acting as a merchant. They did not say who or what race these merchants were but the message sent to us reveals some of the letter's intel; much of which is sensitive data of Feoh... Including the current location of the Second Feoh Regulars in Ironheart as they support our scouts investigating Highdagger Peaks and their current strength." Eloise frowned softly; that information wasn't wide spread; until now a few people in that room wouldn't have known of it. "They said there is more and suggests that the letter writer, known only as 'Bondsworth' is in a sensitive position and is seeking to sell the letter. As such I will be leaving in the morning to collect it."

"What if it's a trap, your highness?" Minister Griffin let off as she smiled.

"Not to worry. I'll have elements of the Knights of Iris with me; as well as Sanka Regulars moving to assist." She said as she looked to him. "It's an old fort near the Feoh, Sanka, Cameron and Ur borders. That said while I am away I need to be sure you'll carry on with preparations and in the event something does go wrong I'll need you all to act accordingly. As painful as it is to say that person could be in this very room; a thing I do not wish to say. If that person is here, and I hope he or she is not... It's a matter of time before you are found. Thankfully we've a trustworthy group so... I shouldn't let paranoia rule me."

"O-of course not..." Razon let off as her chuckled. "A traitor here? Preposterous!"

"Indeed... Now, with that done..." She said picking up her first report. "By our scout's reports there is more tree cutting them usual in Garan, suggesting the production of war materials in being accelerated. We are expecting-"

Alicia would being to give off what they knew as Beardsley turned his head slightly and caught the eye of Albert who looked back. A silent agreement to speak later was made as they returned to the meeting. Outwardly he put on the look of the good, dutiful Prime Minister... Inwardly, however...

'What the hell happened!? Those idiot pigs! Stupid swine! How did they lose the letter!?' His thumb rubbed the handle of his tea cup, almost ground into it as he tried to pay attention even with his thoughts. 'Grahhhh! The king's condition is in there... Alicia is naive but she isn't stupid, the moment she reads that letter she'll narrow the list of suspects down to a handful. If I'm lucky I can deflect her attention to Sundance or Draken, maybe DeBatille, but if the Black Watch gets involved...'

...

'If the Blackwatch gets involved it's a matter of time before the truth comes out. At best my connections to the Storm is uncovered but the Crowns are protected.' He let off, softly grinding his teeth as guild minister Micheal Isthmus started to estimate the amount of arms Garan could be constructing in the form of spears, arrows, bows and clubs. 'But if the Crowns are discovered because of me... No, no... I covered those tracks too well, no...'

'Luckily Alicia is a bit of a fool; if it was almost anyone else I would suspect a trap in the making... Alicia my girl, you are too honest and trusting...' Beardsley did his best to calm down as he moved to take notes. 'Indeed... As the old saying goes 'old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance' and I'll be damned if it isn't true. What do I do, then?' He took a calming sip of his tea as he thought once more on what action he needed to take.

'She said she planned to leave in the morning? If Albert knows the fort then we'll have only one choice; we'll need to ride out hard after this meeting to the fort first and take the letter by force or see it destroyed. I'll need to go myself as well; frustrating as it is this situation is too sensitive to allow for another screw-up. We'll need to leave tonight to get ahead of the Princess. Once we have the letter in hand or turned to ash I can turn north to Sanka. I can contact Andrew Caelum and pretend I was checking up on war readiness; they bear warehouses for additional arms for Garan attacks. Right... Right... We can salvage this...'

'We just need to get that letter...'

[-]

Listening to the meeting over the voxlux on my end was equal parts informative... and boring as hell. Given the situation myself and Miria were the only two listening in to the sensitive information. Kelly, Riri and another guard was examining the area for possible bandit patrols or anything else that might cause an issue. Long story short; we were in the clear by all accounts. Nice to know. Finally the meeting ended and I let everyone back into the room to help us listen into the devices as I started to record every conversation. At first it was dull; casual conversation mostly... but Beardsley barking out 'we need to talk' got me to center on the connection to his stone. Miria also noted his tone as she paid attention as I frowned a bit. I was right then, by the sounds of it. Beardsley had an accomplice.

That was... not unexpected but still it was disappointing. I did my best to focus on that voxlux and even rose the volume on it as I heard Beardsley's footsteps and those of someone else; heavier ones with a soft rattle of armor. Finally the shutting of a door sounded before a slam was heard; be it something thrown, knocked over or something else I didn't know. Either way what was heard next was Beardsley's voice; bellowing out loud and clear. "Those stupid swine! Arrrrrrgh! This is frustrating! I can't imagine what they were thinking! They're usually competent but they are too prone to simple mistakes! Gahhhhh! We need to get that letter back before Alicia can get to it!" He let off, calming down near the end...

I managed to not grin; I officially now had that smug, old man by the balls and he didn't even know it yet! It was recorded and his voice was unmistakable! The look on his face when-

"They are pigmen, what do you expect?" A new voice let off in a curt tone as I froze in shock, looking to the voxlux as my mouth dropped open.

"Was that...?" I let off. It couldn't be...

"Albert..." Miria hissed softly in matching shock as a chill hit my spine as Beardsley could be heard, groaning in frustration.

"Better then this!" The old man let off as he sighed. "I don't need to tell you what will happen if your niece gets that letter and sends it to the Black Watch. How fast can you be ready to ride?"

"Give me an hour. But we need to prepare for whomever holds the letter now; likely he's not alone." Albert added as Beardsley could be heard shuffling about the room.

"I'll bring what guard I can bring up on short notice. But if we're going to do it we need to do it quickly."

"Indeed. I think you'll find Alicia more difficult to convince then I was." I let off a 'tsk', so somehow Beardsley got to Albert and made him turn his coat. Shit! I pointed Albert at that stupid old man to try and bring him down and that backfired right into my face, Dammit!

"I'm as aware of how stubborn the girl is as you are. That said we need to move fast."

"And if it's a plot Alicia is employing to uncover the writer? Bringing it up at the meeting was odd." There was a long moment of silence as I assumed the men shared a look. "I am well aware Alicia wouldn't come up with such a plot on her own and she's never been a dishonest sort but even she is aware of the role of deception in combat."

"As am I and the chances this is a trap is there, but my alias I use for the letters is Bondsworth." It was now Albert's turn to be silent for a moment as there was a pause in speaking. "Even if it is a trap the fact is the bait is very real. That letter is real, otherwise she couldn't have dropped the name. Someone has the letter. Whoever took it knows the Shield Princesses are seeking them. Once the Blackwatch has that letter we are both coming under their watch... And if that happens our abilities to act will be drastically hindered and there's a chance they'll figure things out."

"So... regardless of the risks of a trap we cannot afford to not act?"

"Indeed." Beardsley gave a long, drawn out sigh. "Be it by coin or spear we must get that letter!"

"I'll make ready. I'll be by your manor in one hour."

"An hour. Right. Let's hope for the best... And prepare for the worst..."

Conversation ended as the door opened, Bearsdley giving off a soft 'dammit' before leaving as well, the door shutting behind him; the stone still sending up audio as I looked to my sister.

"Beardsley and Albert are both traitors..? Gods..." Miria let off, setting her hands to her hips as I crossed my arms in deep thought. "...Alicia is going to be... When she finds out Alicia will be..."

"Devastated..." I filled in for my sister. "Absolutely devastated..."

"Yeah..." Miria let off as she moved to rub her upper arm with a hand. "This is going to be rough..."

I nodded a bit as I considered it. No matter what happened we were in for a rough time. Albert was in the lower thirties, level wise, last I checked meaning he'd be the strongest person present. Alicia would be the best choice to go up against him... but she might not be in the best mindset once the bomb dropped on her. Miria and Tiffany would be needed to back her up and give her the support needed.

I should be a higher level then Beardsley now but that didn't change the fact his class was a Gunner; so he'd be the first guy with firearms I'd be fighting thus far. Firearms was nerfed here but unless he started to fire little, neon colored darts I imagined whatever he was packing was still lethal. Sure, he was an old man but he was Eostian nobility which often translated as 'able to fight well' so underestimating him was a bad idea.

By the sounds of it he was bringing an escort along as well; how large I didn't know and we kept a listen out to try and figure it out. I sighed as I started to get everyone up to speed on what we could expect as best as able.

Now we had to wait for everyone to arrive...

[-]

Flashback
Twelve Years Ago
Fortress Feoh

"-and as such Maxim Levantine would rise up to the title of the High Governor of Geofu, a title he would hold for the next thirty years as he started to lay out the ground work for much of the Dominion's current logistical hubs as well as... are you even paying any attention, Alicia?"

"...this is boring..." The sleepy voice came.

Razon Beardsley gave a long sigh as he looked to Alicia; both in Fortress Feoh's library as he read from a large tome of history. He would set the book down as the girl laid her chest on the table, looking at him through half lidded, bored eyes as he looked to her at the other side of the table. "It can be, at times. I'll admit that. I'm sure you'd rather hear about Maxim's ancestor, Hogan 'The Hero' Levantine and his deeds fighting Garan instead but there is a reason to learn of the logistical ends of things; doubly so as a knight."

"I don't understand..." The little girl said, starting to sit up properly as he chuckled.

"Do you like fighting when you're hungry?" He asked as she shook her head. "Well that's part of it. Logistics is about having enough food to make sure everyone can eat and keep up strength in the fight. Enough coin to pay your troops and ensure they are rewarded both for their hard work and their bravery. Arrows for archers, spare weapons for those that break, the means to repair weapons and armor, tents for shelter, wood for camp fires, water to drink, hay for the horses, medicine and potions for wounds..." He could tell the girl was listening now, even if wide eyed and seemingly shocked by the list as it grew. "War is more then just figuring out where the enemy is and giving him a beating. You need to ensure you have the means to fight as well as the will."

"Yeah..." She let off as the elderly man chuckled for a long moment.

"If being a knight was easy more people would do it. Regardless..." He said, smiling as he picked up the tome and patted the pages. "While Hogan is heralded by the masses as the man who helped lead the fight against the first incursion of Garan it is Maxim's systems for logistics that ensured we can fight long after the Hero had died."

"It's still boring..."

"It is..." He said with a chuckle. "But you'll be a poor leader of knights and soldiers if you understand nothing of it. As the old saying goes 'amateurs study tactics. Professions study logistics'. Now, back to his logistical hubs-"

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

"On second thought..." He chuckled as the small girl's belly made it's demands know. "Let's go to lunch and secure our own logistics, shall we?"

"Do we still have the roast beef left over?"

"One way to find out!"

[-]

Present

We kept rotating shifts on the voxluxs to see what other intel could be gleamed as we set up camp and waited. Based on what we heard we expected Beardsley and Albert to arrive in two days and change. At the end of day one we got our reinforcements; two dozen Ur Regulars led by a commander named Gordian Shine who I quickly brought up to speed. Alicia also made contact; she was rushing our way with Cress in tow. Meanwhile I used the voxlux network to get an idea of where Beardsley was; on the way and quickly, although not as fast Alicia. We could only hope for the best here, after all.

Come early evening of the next day Riri reported in; a horse and two riders were coming in hard; both in dark colored cloaks. She confirmed; it was Alicia and Cress. Once she arrived Kelly would take the horse to tend to it; ensuring it was fed and watered as Cress followed her into the keep. I was watching from the window and didn't need to wait long for her to come into the command room, as I was calling it, with Cress following. "Good to see you. How are you after the ride?" I asked her as she walked over to me. It was myself and Gordian at the moment; Miria was hunting to help stretch our food stores a bit (We had enough but a big meal before shit hit the fan was always good) as we readied for the coming battle.

"I won't lie, it was tiring... but I'll be okay. I just need a bit of food and rest." She said as I nodded.

"Good. Let's get you both; if I have the tracking spells read right they'll arrive early tomorrow. Once you're rested up I can brief you on what we're-"

"Who betrayed me?" She curtly let off, cutting me off quickly as I flinched.

"Alicia... Trust me. You'll want to rest first." I insisted, keeping me voice low. "I understand why you want to know quickly, but if I tell you you might be unable to get the rest you'll need if things come to blows."

"Don't coddle me..." She hissed out, putting her hands to her hips.

"I'm not coddling you; I'm being honest." I said calmly and evenly. "I'm not as close to you as Prim but I know you. No matter who you won't take it well; so better to rest before-"

"Please..." She let off with a sigh lowering her gaze before meeting my eyes with her own. "I need to know... Because... I can't rest well not knowing either..."

I sighed deeply... but she wasn't wrong, to be fair... No matter what we did here she was going to have a hard time resting... I hope I didn't regret this... "Very well. Come." I said, moving to the table as I moved to a voxlux on the table. "I'll warn you... You'll not like it in the least."

"I know... I know... But I must... Please... show me..." Alicia said, her voice turning soft and begging as I started to replay the recording...

"Those stupid swine! Arrrrrrgh! This is frustrating! I can't imagine what they were thinking! They're usually competent but they are too prone to simple mistakes! Gah! We need to get that letter back before Alicia can get to it."

"U-U-Uncle Beardsley..?" Alicia let off as her face went a shade paler. She only had a moment to register that when...

"They are pigmen, what do you expect?"

"Uncle Albert!?" She barked out; going a second shade paler. I let the recording play as she stared right at the voxlux, the little ball of light wavering each time it made noise. She was standing in shock as it played on; her jaw dropping further and her eyes going wider as it wore on. By the time it ended her legs were shaking and it was only speed and reflexes that let me catch her before they gave out.

"Easy... Easy..." I had an arm around her shoulders and one at her waist as I helped force her back to her feet. "Easy now..." I let off as she looked off in... a direction with shock; almost as if the lights were on but no one was home.

"No... No... You're lying... You have to be..." She let off as she looked to me; almost glaring as I looked to her more in pity. "You must be! This is a cruel prank!"

"No. No it's not." I said softly as she grabbed me by the front of my armor and spun me around, making me yelp as she shoved me back into the table hard enough to jar it. "Alicia!" I let off as she shook me.

"That's my family! My family! You're accusing my family!" She let off, almost screeching as she kept shaking me before I reached up and grabbed her wrists.

"Stop it." I let off softly but firmly as she kept glaring but at least stopped shaking me. "Alicia... why would I lie? Why would I lie to you about something this important?" My words seemed to have reached her as she stopped to think, lowering her head down a bit as I spoke. "I know enough that you love your family. How much you respect both of those men. Do you really think I'd hurt you by lying about that?"

"It... it just... can't be..." I let off as she felt to lean into me; both my arms moving around her shoulders as she just... went limp as she looked off to the side. "I can't believe it..."

"I'm sorry... I wish I had better news..." I told her as she quivered a bit. She gently pushed off me and I let go so she could stand properly.

"It's impossible.. but... if they show up... if they come here then... it has to be true..." She said, shutting her eyes as she took in a long, deep breath.

"Are you gonna be okay?" I asked as she sighed.

"...I hope so... I..."

"I'm here if you wanna talk about it."

"I don't... I... I need to get dinner... Get to bed... I just... I need to be left alone for now." She said, turning as she started to walk off and out of the room.

"Offer stands..." I said as she walked out of the room. I looked to Cress who, I would say, wisely stood out of the way and silent as Alicia had her world rocked. "Good work at the meeting... I'm sure playing the maid was a 'special' kind of fun you'd rather not deal with, but when it's all said and done it'll be for the best."

"Wasn't any kind of fun..." He let off with a huff as he shook his head. "...Is it really them..?"

"Yeah... Cress... This is gonna get rough..." I let off as I sighed. "Make sure you're well rested. Because if they don't surrender..."

"Right... Let's get ready then."

[-]

Following Morning
Road to the Abandoned Fort

Razon Beardsley sat in the small carriage as he looked over his weapon once more. All of his firearms that he brought were oiled, cleaned and loaded for action. He was hoping for the best but needed to be ready for the worst. It's why he summoned three dozen of his best men to come along with him in escort. One well loaded wagon and a dozen and change men on horseback; Albert among them. If things went well then it would take less then an hour, he'd collect or destroy the letter and be gone long before anyone else could collect it, let alone Alicia.

If things didn't go well...

...

He swallowed deeply. There would be only two ways this would go if it went wrong; victory or death... There was no other acceptable options. None.

Soon they would come to a stop as he sighed and opened the door, stepping out of the carriage and shouldering his weapon and double checking both the pouches on a belt he added around his normal outfit and bandoleers of spare bullets. "Drivers. Stay here. Just in case."

"Yes M'lord." One of them said as he looked over his men. Splint mail all around; even for his three mages; all three having a shield and wand both. The rest of the men bore swords, spears or maces as the slipped off their horses.

"The fort is not far from here." Albert said as he looked to him. "We'll go in on foot and, if luck is with us, be unseen and take the initiative. Let's go and stay close to me."

"Of course." Beardsley said as he held his rifle in both of his hands; Albert taking point as he and the men followed, eyes open and looking around. Between the road and the fort was a forest as he kept his eyes open, looking about for any hidden foes. A rather underdeveloped game path was the one chosen to reach their destination. What was beyond it he didn't know and he just clutched his weapon harder in response as a means to ward off his nerves.

Finally the small, abandoned, ruined fort came into view and something made him feel more nervous. A bit of smoke waved upwards, proof of someone inhabiting the place. He and Albert shared a look as he slowly moved to take point, crouching low; old training and experience coming to the forefront... if only he hadn't put on so much weight since the last time he had to fight which was over a decade ago...

Albert followed his lead as did the rest of the men as he moved as slow as he could to help avoid the armor of the men rattling about, directing them to either side o the gate.

"Mmmmm..." He let off as he looked at the camp in the fort's courtyard. Three men around a campfire. He could see the black letter on a box with a small rock set atop of it, next to a tent in it's shadow. The men were a rougher sort and seemed to be quietly speaking to themselves... Something was off as he looked to Albert. The look he got back said the same thing... Something was off but neither man could put a finger on it... What was it..? Another glance to Albert and the man frowned before pointing to Beardsley and making a motion. He understood it and was forced to agree... They had to make a move regardless of their unease and he was in the best position o do so. Using the rubble by the gate as cover he stood up and lowered his rifle's barrel to take aim at the man in the center of the camp, looking down the sights of the weapon... He took in a breath then let it out and mentally prepared for what would come next as he squeezed the trigger...

The shot rang out as he quickly worked the lever of the rifle; ejecting a spent cartridge and replacing it in a smooth motion with a fresh bullet even as he watched the result of his shot which was...

Nothing; save to watch the whole camp sans the campfire fade away. "An illusion..." He sneered openly. "Then this can only be-"

"A trap. Guess your eyes still work." The elderly man sneered as another Illusion dropped on the tower... Then two more as what looked like Ur Regulars, given the markings on their own splint armor, were revealed from both sides of the inner wall, moving to face them in a combat line.

"More behind us!" Albert let off as another dozen men moved behind them; all with weapons drawn, even as Beardsley kept his eyes on the person who spoke...

James Noxdecus on the tower... flanked by Alicia.

[-]

"I don't believe it... I wish I was seeing things..." Alicia let off as she looked down in disbelief. "But it's true... You two... are the traitors..." She let off as Beardsley had a worried look on his face before trying to speak.

"W-we were just worried that you would be having trouble with-"

"Those stupid swine! Arrrrrrgh! This is frustrating! I can't imagine what they were thinking! They're usually competent but they are too prone to simple mistakes! Gah! We need to get that letter back before Alicia can get to it."

"Grahhhh!" He let off as I held up the voxlux and let it repeat the recording. "Y-you..." He let off as I ended the playback and set the voxlux away.

"Wait... that person..." Albert let off as he looked to one of the men surrounding them on the outside of the fort... Cress. "You crossdressed as a maid!?" He barked out... And was forced to duck as an Arcane Arrow nearly hit his head.

"Shut up! Do you know how embarrassing it was!" My cousin let off rather loudly.

(As a side note I used Observe on Albert once more; his level was unchanged but his title had question marked on me. That was worrying; it confirmed to me that he did turn his coat sometime after I left Feoh... This is frustrating.)

"He must be the reason that was recorded. Albert... We need to get that recording, quickly!" Beardsley let off as he looked off to me. I chuckled at him, giving a small smirk.

"Beardsley, Beardsley you silly old man... Do you think this is some novel or play?" I let off, moving to lean on the tower's edge as I looked to him. "I sent the recording off to the Black Watch two days ago and have been coordinating with them." He gave me a shocked look, his pupils dilating as the words hit him. "I even arranged for them to wait until this morning before they started picking apart both your places for evidence."

"Damn you!" The old man let off as Alicia moved to step on the tower's edge and hopped off; a Combat Art allowing her to land with ease. She pulled a shield from behind her; a knight's shield with the House Arcturus emblem on it (Minus the blades behind it, of course) as she drew her sword but let it hang by her side as she looked to her uncle and once-honorary uncle.

"I don't know what's going on... Why you betrayed Eostia... or me..." She let off as she looked to both of them as I moved off the tower to the wall and walked closer as well. "But it's not too late to make it right. Lay down your arms and surrender. There will be fair and honest treatment." Beardsley and Albert shared a look; a silent conversation going on. To be blunt I'd prefer it if they surrendered; less chance of our people getting hurt and we get both alive to interrogate. However both men likely knew what awaited them if they were to surrender; an eventual execution wasn't off the table although Alicia would argue against it but being imprisoned for life was highly likely. At best they could hope for a house arrest under watchful eyes but I imagined that a narrow possibility. And if I imagined it then so did they...

Both Beardsley and Albert lowered their heads at the same time; coming to an unspoken agreement... And then...

My view flashed white as the boss music began and shifting forwards towards the old man as he lifted up his weapon before lowering the barrel and planting the butt of it to his shoulder, finger now on the trigger as he glared out, my view panning to see him fully. "No choice for it Albert... We fight our way out!"

_Agent of Treachery_
Razon Beardsley

The view shifted to Albert as he spun his spear about before dropping down to a combat stance; shutting his helm's visor before he set both hands on his weapon as he pointed it forwards. "Agreed... to fight our way through is the only option!" He bellowed out as my view shifted to bring him to full view.

_Turncoat Knight_
Albert Arcturus

Another flash and my view was normal once more and I was quick to bring up my glove's shield as a bullet impacted it; Beardsley's weapon roaring as Albert leapt sixty feet upwards and aimed down to me... before turning in mid-air and thrusting to deflect the stinger of a giant, smiling bee summons from Tiffany who stepped out from behind the tower, her new book hovering by her as she fired off a Magic Missile to the enemy group. I was in a better position to just chuck a Fireball into the mix; forcing the enemies to leap away from it as it detonated; it killed no one but knocked most off balance as the Ur Regulars came in.

As Albert landed Alicia ran right at him with Tiffany's bee moving to flank with Miria sniping at the enemy forces. As for Beardsley...

He fired his rifle at an Ur Regular who titled his head to let his helm take the bullet; the bullet in question deflected off but the force still rocked the man as Beardsley, to my surprise, charged him and swung the butt of his rifle upwards to catch him on the chin to knock him silly and to his back. Rather then attempt to kill the man Beardsley just made a run to it for the forest. "Oh no you don't!" I let off, using Levitate to fly after him as Cress snap fired an arrow at him.

To the old man's credit he saw it from the side of his eyes and tucked his fat body in to roll over his shoulder to avoid the missile and back to his feet; he stumbled a bit once back up but recovered quickly. As soon as I landed I ran after him; Cress right behind me. I fired off Magic Missile after Magic Missile as Cress snap fired Arcane Arrows after him as he weaved and maneuvered around the trees to take cover. For an old fart he could move...

I'll give him credit; I underestimated him a bit...

[-]

Alicia was well aware of how mobile her uncle could be in his armor. While most of the Knights of Iris wore some mythril/steel mix as armor Albert's was pure mythril and a hint thinner then normal; relying on the metal's strength as opposed to a standard thickness. While this meant his armor wasn't as strong as it could be it was also extra light which matched his combat style rather well as he bounced off a wall to leap at Miria; batting an arrow aside as she rolled to the side. Rather then stab he landed before turning to attack; this spear's swing blocked by the large, summoned bee. With a grunt he forced it aside only to have to turn; an arrow deflecting off his chest plate; the angle saving him from a potential puncture.

"Mongrel..." He hissed out as she was forced to draw her blade deflecting a thrust that still struck her side and scarred the leather armor she wore under her arm. He still smirked as he lifted it up, her armpit catching the shaft just under the weapon's head as he cried out and turned, using the weapon to roughly throw her in a haphazard way into a fallen stone, spine first and using a Combat Art to add even more power to the swing; the impact rattling the Catalan hard as she dropped both weapons before she fell on to her front. He moved in; feinting a finishing blow before moving to leap at his niece as she charged in. Rather then dodge she took his weapon head on; gritting her teeth as she dug in her feet and took the momentum from him before throwing his weapon to aside and lunged in with a thrust of her sword. In response he swung the butt of the weapon up to knock her blade aside, spinning and twisting into an overhead swing with the butt end. He knew with her Mana Armor he'd need to bring as much force as he could.

His weapon hit but too late he noticed she threw a punch with her off-hand; her shield slamming into his chest and knocking him back a step. He turned his head before turning and thrusting out; catching the summoned bee in mid-air and stabbing it through the center and shattering it as it's summoner moved down the wall and hovered down to the Catalan who was still struggling to stand.

He would thrust the butt of his weapon out this time as Alicia charged him; the barrier of her suit flashing as he impacted her over the abs and knocked her back with a soft grunt. Even so she didn't fall or falter. "What are you hoping to gain by this uncle!? Why would you betray me!? Betray father!?" She let off as she rushed in; this time shield first. He blocked it with the shaft of his own weapon, grunting as he shoved back, swinging the blade of his weapon down as she side stepped and swung her weapon in turn as he blocked with the spear's shaft.

"You're too foolish to understand... Like my brother... For a greater Eostia to arise-" He let off as he pushed her weapon back and swing his weapon; she ducked the attack, swinging with a back-swing only to catch a hard hit to the neck with the blunt end of his weapon; the flash of her Mana Armor blocking the worst of it as she was forced to stumble. "-a rightful emperor needs rise!"

"I thought you were over that!" She let off, backing up and bringing her shield up once more as she glared. "Father said you gave up those ideas before I was born!"

"And yet it's needed!" Albert let off as he leapt away. Alicia knew what was coming as she dashed.

"Tiffany!" She cried out as the girl ended her healing spell to bring up a shield around herself and Miria just before he impacted it; spear-point first, cracking it before his feet glowed with a Combat Art before kicking the shield; rocketing off to the wall as the barrier shattered. Tiffany went wide eyed as the knight pushed off the wall once more and shot off towards her like a bullet...

Only for Alicia to stand before her; physical shield raised and taking the impact of the attack, the man applying another Combat Art just before contact... that punched through the shield, through her armor's barrier and into it's bracer and through her forearm as she screamed out in pain...

[-]

"I'll make it... I'll make it!" The running old fart let off. While he was tougher then I expected Beardsley was still a fat old man who's best years was behind him. He had turned to fire at us as he ran with his rifle; making us take cover or me to bring up a shield, as he stayed ahead of us as he broke out of the tree line where he had parked; a carriage and wagon there...

"Nooo!"

Along with two, bound drivers and all of horses missing from the vehicles. It was the reason I didn't chase him at an all out speed and only just kept pace; I knew he'd wear out faster then I would... And I had Riri sneak around to deal with their escape route; leading the horses somewhere nearby. I slowed to a jog, drawing my weapon finally as I walked closer to him as he turned to face me, Cress moving to flank to one side as he aimed his bow; Arcane Arrow notched and drew. "Alicia's offer to surrender still stands." I let off at him. I'm sure the old man had pulled enough shit to deserve death but dead old men tell no tales and after Shamhaza fell on his own blade I was left without my story.

He lifted his rifle and fired another shot as I brought my shield up to deflect it but rather then reload he grabbed something from a pouch that was cylindrical and seemed to be made of painted metal and threw it out before him. Beardsley covering his own face with a sleeve was my only warning as I shut my eyes, raised my shield and bent my knees to cover more as a flash-bang went off...

And Cress screamed out as I started to get my vision back... as Cress was on the ground; bow beside him as he clutched a bleeding wound on his upper right arm. Oh now I was pisssssed!

Beardsley was forced to dive away as he reloaded as a Scatter Bolt shot out by my hand sailed over him and blew the wagon apart as I closed in. He fired at me once more but my shield was still up and blocked it as he reloaded... and stiffened. I knew what was coming and cursed internally as he swung the butt of his rifle back behind him... and caught Riri under the chin as she tried to strike him down.

Yeah, old man was more alert then I imagined...

Even so now we were in the melee as I thrust my blade at him. He was forced to block the blade with the barrel of his rifle as I used my off hand to throw a Power Punch at him that whiffed as he rolled to the side. I used the momentum to move to a Piercing Thrust but slammed a foot down to shift to the side as he fired from his hip at me. Once more I closed in and thrust my blade at him as he deflected it with his rifle's barrel. Rather then reload he shifted to hold it by the barrel with both hands and tried to club me with the rifle's butt like he was aiming for a home run. I blocked with the Unicorn's Horn as he started to circle back. From the corner of my eye I could see Riri crawling off to the side as she tried to recover and get out of the way before finally getting to her feet and moving to check on Cress as he got up, grabbing his bow in his right hand.

With both of them out of the way I was left one on one with the old man. I ducked under a swing and came up with an uppercut that struck his jaw as he stumbled back. I pulled back my D-Guard as I charged in, ready to deliver a knock-out blow...

Only to see his right hand pull something from behind him; a revolver that he aimed to my chest...

[-]

Flashback
Twelve Years Ago
Fortress Feoh

"Uuuughhh..." Alicia let off as she looked at the large brass plaque inside the chapel of Fortress Feoh. She had seen the statue of Saint Iris more then one but she never tried reading the plaque upon it until now and the words... Made no sense...

Defendere Infirma
Ad Iustitiam
Ut Veritas
Extollere Omnia
Gloria in Eostia

"To defend the weak." She heard as she jumped slightly, seeing her uncle come closer to her. "To bring justice. To bring truth. To uplift everyone. Glory to Eostia." Finally he stood behind her as she read it once more. "It's written in an old language; we're not sure where it originated from but we usually call it Imperia. It's an old oath that we don't usually use anymore but it is the basis of our current oaths.

"Why do we need the oaths?" The young girl asked as she looked up to him. "Aren't we just supposed to... do good?"

"Yes, but it's... not so simple." Her uncle began to explain as he looked up to the statue. "What is considered 'good' depends on who you ask. Is it good to harshly punish a man for a small crime? Some will say yes as it may deter others from breaking the law. Others will say no as such a punishment would be disproportionate. We may call slavery an evil but what of indentured servitude? A bought slave made into one still must do as told and isn't free for years and is still mostly a slave and yet they will be free down the line. And that's not to say of those who sell themselves into such servitude to pay off debts or gain coin for later in life."

"Ughhhhhhh..." She let off as she moved to think for a moment.

"We don't make such oaths just to ensure all our deeds are good." He told her as he sighed. "It's to ensure they are honorable and fair. We do our best to find those universal goods but it's not always easy... When you are grown I imagine we will butt heads over what is right or just. I know I've done it with my brother all too often."

"I don't want to fight you though..." She said as he chuckled softly.

"Not a real fight, I mean. I mean argue. People, even family, do that now and again. Sadly one cannot just force others into an agreement... It would make things easier..."

[-]

Present

Alicia swung her blade down in a vertical swing with her own Combat Art sending a wave of force outwards. She merely grunted as Albert hopped back and yanked his blade from her arm, landing some fifteen feet away. She could feel Tiffany's healing magics work over her as Miria grabbed her bow and tried to force herself to stand. "What... what kind of 'empire' demands the blood of kin to be spilled? The upending of the lives of good people!?" The princess barked out as she brought up her damaged shield up as she faced him down. While the pain from her arm faded thanks to Tiffany's healing magic she knew the truth; the damage was done and her left arm would be weakened until more proper healing could be done to it.

Not that she would let it stop her.

"...For the nation to be strong much will be sacrificed..." He let off before spinning his weapon once as Tiffany summoned a new beast from her hovering book; a blue beaver with a lumberjack's axe in hand moving to slowly flank Albert. Miria got back to her feet and stumbled as a hand moved to her back, but she stayed standing as Tiffany clicked her tongue and moved before her; casting a shield over the both of them. Alicia didn't delude herself; Tiffany would support her but it was now nearly a one on one fight. She slid her feet forwards as she grit her teeth.

"I don't know what the hell has gotten into you..." She hissed out. "I but at least I remember my vows. I am Alicia Arcturus, Princess Knight of Feoh and Commander of the Knights of Iris! And I still recall the vows of defending the weak, bringing justice and truth to Eostia! And uplifting our people, not trampling on them!"

"I am doing what must be done." Albert let off as he moved to a combat stance as Alicia grit her teeth at him and glared, gripping her weapon tightly.

"As will I if I must." She said as she brought up her shield. "Stand down before I must."

"The advantage is mine, girl... And I will show you the strength you lack!" He let off, leaping upwards before using a Combat Art to push off the air itself before rocketing straight down; turning in the air as an arrow slammed into a pauldron; sticking in but not doing damage to the wearer. Alicia back flipped out of the way as he moved in mid-air to land, thrusting his weapon out to catch his niece once more...

Only for her shield to slap his weapon aside before her blade collided with his helm; rocking him to the side and knocking his visor off; noting she used a Combat Art and only instinct to move with the hit kept his neck from breaking under the impact as he looked to her with shock and met her glare. He knew the woman; how passionate she was and how much faith she could put in people... and she just nearly landed a lethal strike on him.

"Maybe I underestimated your resolve..." He hissed out, leaping away as the strange, axe wielding beaver swung for him; he let it swing once more before ramming his weapon through it's chest and killing it before spinning his weapon as Alicia closed in once more as he swung and used a Combat Art to bolster it's power...

Only for Alicia to do the same and knock his back as he grit his teeth and stepped back as she swung hard at a diagonal angle and a screech sounded as a gash was torn into his armor before she swung once more. He was able to block it with his spear's shaft before lifting a foot up and kicking her back; her feet skidding away as she stayed on her feet.

Once more he leapt straight up into the air, teeth grit as he soared upwards and inverted himself before diving downwards at his niece once more; kicking off air with his Combat Art. He had to defeat her quickly; the other two would be easy pickings without her... As he dove down he was shocked as Alicia slipped her shield down to her hand before throwing it hard at his face; screaming in pain as she did so. The speed and force of the shield was surprising as he moved his off-arm before him to block it; grunting with the impact, lowering it to see his target...

Only to have her deflect his spear with her damaged bracer as she thrust her blade at him and catching him in the chest; the girl having leapt up to meet him in the air! He was well aware of the sword in her possession, Sky Splitter; his brother once used it after all. The enchanted mythril blade was as sharp as it could be made, as unbreakable as humanly possible and, as was easy to forget, allowed it's user to, for a brief moment every hour, bolster their strength, resistances and speed to seemingly impossible levels for a few seconds... Long enough that one could leap atop a castle from it's base, send a troll flying back for a hundred feet and send a shock wave of force out without any magic or Combat Arts, using pure brute force to generate an attack that could Split the Sky. It was what once let his brother match Olga Discorida and force her retreat.

Leaping up to meet him in the air was, comparatively, an easy feat for the blade's holder as the force of her leap lifted them up another ten feet in spite of his momentium before they came crashing down towards the earth; Alicia shifting to land on her feet over him; his body slamming onto his back with the blade burying into his chest and through the dirt to the hilt. "Gahhhh!" He cried out. That he lost his grip on his weapon didn't register until it clattered to the ground with force. "Damn... it... I didn't—haaack-think you could... Eostia will die... a slow death... or to the Storm..."

"Uncle... Don't speak..." Alicia said as his head fell to the side. "You will answer for this..." His lack of a response told him all she needed to know... She hadn't wanted to kill him but... What other choice was she given in the situation..? What else could she do? She stood and, with a grunt, pulled her blade from the ground and her once beloved uncle in one motion. "Tiffany... Make sure Miria is fine. I need to speak to Uncle Beardsley and get my answers!" She let off before taking off to the forest; knocking a man aside as that fight wore down.

"Alicia! Wait!" Tiffany let off, the Princess rushing out of sight before the sword's effects faded as she stamped a foot. "Dammit!"

[-]

I won't lie... I froze a bit in that moment as that fucking old man pulled out that revolver. For a moment I wasn't there... I wasn't there in that clearing, by that carriage, fighting for the good of Eostia and my friend...

I was back in a quiet little cafe having paid for our food and getting up with my date; a sweet, brown eyed brunette with a splattering of light freckles on her face wearing a nice, tight black shirt that hugged B-Cup breasts; hips clad in some nice, tight jeans. Melanie Best... that was her name. It was date number three and I was hoping I'd finally get laid. We'd gotten along thus far, talked about our lives and such... The only issue was her idiot ex-boyfriend that showed up when we went to a nice antique store to see what fun things we could find within; waiting for us on our way out. Despite trying to talk him down and trying to avoid violence he took a swing at me. I was lucky to avoid the first punch; the situation had me skittish so when his shoulders turned suddenly I was already moving to dodge and threw a hard elbow to the face in response and followed it with two more punches to the head.

He dropped to the ground and groaned and didn't rise up quickly so we took the chance to leave, thinking that would be that.. And then he was there as we left the cafe, a revolver in his right hand as he pulled the trigger and sent a bullet into my chest and ending my life in a second... I could recall it all, each sound... I could hear the soft clicking as the hammer pulled back, the chamber turning as a finger squeezed the trigger...

And then I heard the old man scream as an Arcane Arrow struck him right in the knuckle of his finger, severing it off as his gun was dropped and shocking me back to the here and now as I thrust my palm out and used a snap Gale Burst to send the old man into the side of his carriage, his grip on his rifle loosening as it clattered away as his back slammed the door of the vehicle. He cried out as he pulled out another revolver; this one with his left hand only for it to be knocked back by another Arcane Arrow.

Glancing over to Cress I saw Riri moving back to flank the old man as my cousin was now drawing his compound bow with his teeth with an Arcane Arrow notched! Hardcore man. Even so I felt a cold sweat over me as I tried to get over that flashback as I pointed my weapon at the old man who had turned; left side down as he used his mangled right hand to start pulling himself up; grabbing the carriage as he did so before lifting himself up to lean into it then look to his now maimed hand and it's missing finger. "Time for you to give up, old man." I let off; shoving my own trauma aside for the moment as I moved closer to him at a measured pace...

And then I slid back as he pulled out another cylindrical item and held it up in his left hand. It was painted red, about four inches tall and two wide and his thumb was set to the rounded tip as I used my hand to signal everyone to hang back. After a moment I stepped back, drawing my parrying dagger and inverting my grip on it and aiming to Cress as I casted Blessed Recover on him from a distance; it wasn't as effective as being right by him but it would do the trick as he shifted to hold the bow properly with both hands, his jaw flexing for a moment as I moved back to position. I had kept my eyes on the old man as best as I could as he looked about. The situation was a bit of a stalemate, although in isolation it favored us.

After all we wanted him alive to interrogate him and he wasn't in a position to cause further harm; disarmed as he was. If he made a move to throw the grenade Cress would shoot him or his grenade from the air; he knew or suspected this. As long as his thumb was on the cap the grenade wouldn't trigger; I knew the kind of device it was. You channeled mana through a weak stone set inside of it with a fire spell and was packed with black powder, gun powder or some sort of alchemist gel that would be more comparable to c-four or dynamite. He was channeling mana in his thumb; if he stopped then removed his thumb it would be fine. If he was still channeling mana when the thumb came off... boom. He wasn't trying to kill us with it; he was taking himself hostage and while I wouldn't cry if he died, once more, he was too valuable alive.

"You're not escaping, old man. Surrender and we'll see about putting that finger back into place." I couldn't do that but maybe Tiffany could...

"Don't mock me, boy..." He barked back as he glared to me. "We both know if I end up in a cell I'll be lucky if I die by a means of it not collapsing on me." He let off as I let off a 'tsk'; given what happened to Coeurnoir he wasn't wrong. Unless steps were taken he'd be assassinated in our custody; after all we didn't know how far the rabbit hole went. That said while the stalemate favored us in isolation it all depended on the outcome of the rest of the battle and, eventually, I heard someone rushing through the brush as I spared only a glance to see who it was; Alicia. I smiled as Beardsley looked like he was physically struck.

"Where's Albert?" I asked as I focused back on the old man as she walked closer to my side.

"He's... not getting up... not anymore..." She said sadly as I winced. Dead then... So, no stories from him then. Worse... worse is Alicia was the one to do him in, I had to guess. Shit. That must have been... hard on her... "Beardsley..." She let off as she stepped closer to him but stopped a few steps ahead of me. "I don't know what's going on... I don't know why you are doing this... I don't know what's driving you... But I do know this; you can still set things right. Set your bomb down. Set it down and let's talk... Let me understand... I want to know; why are you doing this? Why are you doing this to Feoh, to me? Do you understand how much this is hurting me?" She let off; her voice cracking as she looked to him moving to hold a hand out towards him. She bore a very, very hurt look to her but... you could see in her eye a spark of hope. A hope it wouldn't end with two men she loved as family dying... "Please..."

"...You are as honest and caring as your mother..." He said with a soft chuckle as he shook his head. "And twice as stubborn... And you know I do wish I could..." He said before giving her an... oddly honest smile and chuckle. "But one way or the other... I am dead... Goodbye..." I let off as his thumb came off the top of the grenade as he jammed the thing halfway into his mouth.

"NOOO!" Alicia let off and would have ran at him as if she could save him except I had managed to get my left arm around her as I brought my glove's shield up and used it as an anchor for a full Arcane Shield as I braced. Riri brought her blades up and knelt down, bringing up the shield spell in her blades as Cress (Further away from the rest of us) turned and dove to the ground. Like a grenade the explosion was delayed by a few seconds; a few, long seconds as Alicia kept reaching out with her hand, pressing to the shield I raised as abject horror filled her face. She knew what was coming and despite everything she still wanted to save the old man, save him from himself... and knew it was futile.

The explosion was powerful and destroyed the top of the carriage as it reduced his head to a red mist and blew most of his shoulders and chest away as well. The shock-wave knocked Riri off her feet as well as myself and Alicia; I turned us so she landed on me as I used Steel Skin to guard myself from the impact. It was still a rough impact of me as I groaned out from under her. She was already moving to her feet and myself a moment later as she moved forwards for a moment before looking to his remains and pausing in shock. She covered her mouth; her body shaking as I walked over to her. "Alicia..."

"I... I..." She began looking at Beardsley's remains as I set a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it. "What am I... Oh Goddess... Oh Goddess..." She let off as I moved my arm around her shoulders as I pulled her to me.

"Shhh, shhh... Easy now..." I said softly to soothe her. "I'm here... I'm here... I'm sorry; I wish it turned out different..." I moved a hand to her back to rub it slowly as she shivered.

"Unhand me..." She let off, whimpering as she grit her teeth. "I... I have to bear this... I have to bare this... I am I knight I can bare this..."

"Enough..." I hissed out softly; hugging her tighter and bringing my other hand about to hold her. "Yes, you're a knight and a leader... and a human being... You don't have to be strong right now... You are allowed to feel sorrow and let it out... Please... I'm here to support you so let it out..."

"I can't... I can't... I mus...tn't... I ca-haaa-haaaaan't!" She let off her hands moving to grip the back of my gambeson as she finally let out a long, painful sounding and anguished wail of pain and heartbreak as she leaned into me fully before pressing her face, now streaking with tears, to my shoulder as I made small shushing sounds, a hand moving to stroke her hair to help soothe her as she let all of her emotions out... as painful as it was for us both, she needed to unleash it all as opposed to bottle it up. "WHY!? WHY DID HE DO THIS TO ME!? HE WAS MY UNCLE! THEY WERE BOTH MY UNCLES! I LOVED THEM! WHY!? WHY!? WHHHHHYYYYYYY!?"

She would lose strength in her legs as we moved to our knees as she howled and screamed out with all she had... And until she was done I held her and offered what comforts I could...

[Defeated List]

8 Spellbinded Soldiers x 300XP=2400XP
3 Spellbinded Mages x 320XP=960ZP
15 Spellbinded Veterans x 320XP=4800XP
10 Spellbinded Bodyguards x 325XP=3250XP
Albert Arcturus=2740XP x 1.25 Kill Bonus=3425XP
Razon Beardsley=2400XP x 1.5 Black Storn Agent Kill Bonus=3600XP
+20% Dark Horse of Eostia Bonus
Gain 21354XP Total

Level Up!

You are now Level 29!

+1 to Str, Dex, Acc & Mnc
+1 to End
+1 to Rap
+2 RSP & SSP!
+5 to UTP

Achievement Unlocked: Agent of the Storm Slain - Beardsley
You've slain an agent of the Black Storm; Razon Beardsley

[-]

Alicia would literally cry herself to sleep which was... not enjoyable for me and less for her. Once she was at rest I took stock of the situation.

Miria had taken a hard blow to her back and while Tiffany did her best to heal her some back pain lingered. In addition Cress' wound was closed around the bullet that hit him as I healed him which... was annoying, mostly for him. Still he worked through the pain like a trooper. Riri had a small concussion but I healed that up nicely.

Of the small, Mungale escort there were light injuries but nothing that couldn't be patched up quickly. The Ur Regulars were... less lucky. Eight took moderate to rough injuries and three died outright. Luckily for us in addition to the two, captured drivers some of the opposing force was taken alive for a change; five in all. I was called to look at a mark on the back of their necks; a spell bind tattoo. That was... interesting.

A spell bind tattoo was made in the form of a rune and made of an ink with powdered spell stone. It acted like a slave collar in ink form save for a few details; one of which was activating it required the person's consent as any form of resistance would disrupt it as it was placed and it required the inked to receive orders or an oath as it was turned on so you couldn't just slap it on someone who was asleep. In short these men agreed to be subjected to it; they wouldn't just refuse to talk to us they couldn't. They could be removed but that would be better suited to an enchanter far more experienced then I; removing them in an incorrect manor could result in the wearer's death.

We would load up and return to Feoh; bringing Beardsley's damaged carriage and his body back with us, as well as Albert's. It was an... uncomfortable ride, to say the least. Pain lingered for both Cress and especially Miria (To the point I instructed the driver to take it easy; even if he had to go slower then normal) and that wasn't even referring to Alicia who just sat in silence save the odd sob. I took the liberty of calling on Prim to come to Feoh and once she heard the reason she said she would make a beeline for Lancefort. I offered her my shoulder to cry on, of course, but she just seemed... depressed and I wasn't sure what to do. I was lost, honestly.

Once we arrived at Feoh we met up with Agni who I told to see to Alicia's well being. I didn't think she'd do anything drastic but I was still worried. I then saw my sister and cousin to Doctor Richardson who, thankfully was still about. Miria's spine, as it turned out, was impacted in just the right way to knock it out of alignment. Turns out the man was also a chiropractor and was able to right that in a few minutes and she felt the relief straight away. Cress was a bit tougher; the bullet hit and was stuck in his bone (Ouch!) and surgery was needed to get it out. Thankfully in a world of healing magic I was sure he'd be fine which meant I got to do something I reaaaaaaally wasn't looking forwards too...

Reporting to the king...

"Even with the recording I find this difficult to believe..." Aston said as he leaned back in his bed as he looked to me with saddened eyes. "I had thought there was a traitor and was directing people to root them out but... To think Beardsley... My own brother... I don't know what to think about it..." He voice was rougher then the last time I saw him but given his condition that... was understandable.

"My apologies for bringing such ill news to you." I said softly as I sighed, sat in a chair next to his bed. "And I wish I had better to bring you. Stress is the last thing you need..."

"Indeed... Indeed, but as king I must know... Dammit... The worst part is while I find it difficult to believe I can understand to a point." He said as I tilted my head to encourage him to go on. "My brother loved Imperium history, mostly the Kaiser era and how it inspired parts of the Brazen Empire. He had sympathies to both, thinking them strong and powerful as he adopted their tactics when we challenged Garan once... I had to save him from himself then and once the time came I told him the truth outright; yes, the Imperium under the Kaiser and the Brazen Empire were both strong but that strength was always highly brittle. A might of that kind functions well against weaker foes but once something can defend without faltering or strike back with sufficient might that brittle strength shatters like glass. And even if it doesn't shatter it cracks and breaks eventually; much like Dominious today... I had thought he learned in full, I thought I had reached him... I suppose I was wrong... His death is not my fault but it is my failure..." He would pause to lift a glass with shaky hands, taking a sip of water as I mulled over what he said.

"As for Beardsley..." He picked up as he set the glass down. "I can only imagine. I think part of it is my late wife, Catherine. We both made an attempt to woo her as did many other men but she became my queen... And Alicia... Alicia looks so much like her... Her hair... Her eyes are a different shade but bear the same look... Her kindness and will to do right... She was a healer as opposed to a warrior but as brave as her daughter... She would be so proud of her right now..." He said as he smiled sadly. "Perhaps that love, that desire... projected onto Alicia in way that is less then proper... Given his crimes I should hate him but in truth I do not... I pity him... I pity him so much. If he were alive I would tell him I could forgive him if he could atone and help us fight whatever evil seduced his heart... Although I do not think he'd turn so..."

"I can say he didn't eat a grenade as a means to go out on his own terms or because it was heroic..." I began as I frowned. "I think he did it because he was scared... That whoever he was working for or with would find a way to do him in. I don't think anything less then crippling him would have prevented his death and I wasn't in a position to do that; not without killing him in the attempt, anyway."

"...My boy... Listen to me..." Aston began as he looked to me with a firm, hard look that contrasted his weak and frail frame. "When we first spoke I said I knew there was something Beardsley was not telling me. I had thought it a mere vice like an enjoyment of whores or illegal powders made by odd alchemists for the sake of euphoria... This goes deeper then I dreamed... James... I fear he may have sided with the Crowns."

"The Cloaked Crowns... That... would explain a lot..." I mused as I nodded. "Bad enough we have Garan to deal with; we also have those cockroaches biting at the foundations."

"The good news is that I know the Black Watch did a great amount of damage to the dastards a decade ago." He said with a small smirk coming to his face. "As Celestine and they have done for almost eight centuries now. It's hard to tell given how shadowed they are but all evidence we have suggests the Crowns are at their weakest..." And then that small smirk vanished. "Which doesn't mean they're no less dangerous then before; if true they know it and are throwing their lot behind this Black Storm and are going to put their full weight into it. They'll be desperate as they know they'll win or die on this Storm..."

"I see... Shit... This is gonna get worse then it gets better..." I summarized...

[-]

Flashback
Twelve Years Ago
Fortress Feoh

"Weeeee! Weeeeee!" A young Alicia was enjoying a good day. Most of her family was there, after all. Her father was there, on the blanket by the garden speaking with her brothers. Holding one of her hands was her Uncle Albert and the other hand was held by Uncle Beardsley as she let them walk ahead of her before pulling up to swing herself forwards and land on her feet before doing it once more, approaching the blanket bit by bit. She was a child being childish; it was all a girl her age could ask to be. "It's gonna be a good day!"

"Hooo!" Beardsley let off with a wise, wry old smile. "And why is that?"

"Becauuuuuuse-" She let off with a grin. "-all my favorite people are here; including my favorite uncles!"

"We're your only uncles." Albert replied dryly. "And one is honorary."

"Meeeeehhhh!" Alicia let off, sticking her tongue out at him as Beardsley chuckled.

"Come now, Albert... Let the girl have her fun." He let off smiling a bit wider. "After all; life can take us all in different directions someday." Albert huffed at that as Alicia pouted up at him.

"Are you gonna leave..?" She asked sadly as Beardsley chuckled.

"No, no, not for a long while." He said with a smile. "And not by choice. But life will have twists and turns."

"Good! I want my uncles with me forever!" She let off as Albert sighed the elder of the lot, Beardsley, chuckling.

"I can't manage forever, but years I can."

"Yaaaaay!"

[-]

Present

Once I left the king I returned to my own quarters as I picked up my current prize; the mythril staff that was once used by that bandit, Ryu. I turned it about, twisted it to pull it apart and moved the disconnected pieces about as I looked to them. In it's current form I couldn't use it; staves weren't available to my class as they weren't considered a normal polearm after all, but I saw a potential to make it useful. I would take it down to the Fortress' blacksmith and, after some discussion and coin, he modified it for me; melting the gray metal out of it (It was lead, as it turned out) and disconnected the chains and disassembled the sliding devices on the inside and removed them which he kept. That left me with two, mythril tubes that could connect to one another with widened ends. I still couldn't use it of course (Trying to use a weapon that your 'class' couldn't use in this system made it feel fairly clumsy in an odd way) but I had the means to rectify that... once I made my own modifications...

It was a good distraction as I awaited reports from others; starting with the Black Watch. As it turns out Aston was right; proof Beardsley was a Cloaked Crown was found. Sadly no stand out proof of who else was in the Crowns was there but something did shake loose; he had repeated meetings with two, pigmen merchants and on the day that the letter was taken and the two pigmen were arrested then deported; the brothers Mortadella. We had a name to put to them now...

I was asked to keep quiet as they didn't want the pair knowing they were now suspects; after all by keeping them under watch something could be learned of their activities... In a way the bad luck that saw them get away could be turned around as a means to learn more of the Storm's operations... With luck the Black Watch would learn a lot.

Celestine also called for an update once she had the chance. I didn't want to make the same report again, but I did anyway. She thanked me and was a bit curt; she said she needed to check up on Alicia as quickly as possible; I didn't blame her.

Come dinner I told everyone we'd stay a couple of days to support Alicia and there were no arguments. Really; the complaint was we couldn't stay longer but our duties in Mungale could only be put off for so long. When I called Merlin understood in full and offered me the best words I could hear in that moment.

"As much pain as that day caused you will have spared countless others far greater pains. You make me proud, my son..."

That was needed... Doubly so as I had my own issues to work through... I nearly died to an asshole with a revolver... again... I knew I wasn't... fully over being plucked from my old world but I had thought I was more over it then I was... but I guess I wasn't at all over how I died... Honestly seeing that gun brought back memories I'd rather leave buried... It wasn't just how I died but why; someone being petty, controlling and self-centered taking out the fact someone told him 'no' and someone else told him said 'no while introducing him to the ground and escalated things well beyond the rational...

After dinner (One Alicia took in her room; Miria brought it to her to speak with her as well. Between back pain and emotional pain the two didn't really talk earlier on the ride back and it was overdo) I tried to sort my thoughts out... And they were swirling too much for my liking. Fucking Beardsley... The old bastard got to me in a way that cut deeper then I wanted to admit. At least he died without knowing how painful it was for me...

As evening fell in full I moved out of my quarters, clad in pants and a tunic as I walked up to the keep's roof for some fresh air and maybe get my thoughts to settle for a bit. I sighed once I got up to the top; a soft breezing hitting me as I looked up to the stars and the moon; so alike and different from what I once knew... Dammit, maybe this was going the wrong way once more... Dammit!

A soft sob cut off my own thoughts as I looked to the side. There, clad in a blue, silken tunic with golden trim and white pants was Alicia, hands on the crenelations of the roof as she shuddered and wept. All of a sudden my own problems seemed smaller as I turned to walk to her as I watched her; hunched over and trying to bite back her sorrows. Once I was close enough I set a hand on her shoulder as she yelped and turned to me before turning her face away once more. "I-I was just-"

"It's okay." I told her softly as I moved to wrap an arm around her shoulder as I pulled her to me. "It's okay. I understand. You're bearing wounds I don't fully understand. You'll rise above the sorrow; you're too strong not to. But you don't need to be strong all the time."

"I am... I am expected to be the Queen of Feoh s-someday when father... when he..."

"Alicia..." I let off, cutting her off as I pulled her to me a little firmer. "Listen. No man and no woman is an island. Yes, you are expected to lead and be strong... but you're as human as anyone with the same feelings and needs. Maybe Prim would be able to comfort you better then I can but I am here if you need support, someone to trust... We all need someone to talk to. I have my father and Riri. Celestine has Claudia and Klaus. You have myself, Prim, Agni and more then you know. I'm here... I'm here... I'm here to listen and bear the burden with if, if only a little... if you let me..."

"It hurts so bad..." She let off as she sniffled as she shivered into me. "I don't know what to think anymore... I don't know who to trust anymore... I... I just..." She let off, quivering a bit. "I'm scared... I'm scared someone else will do this to me..."

"I won't lie... it could happen..." I said as I stroked her back once more. "I nearly died today. I'm not letting that stop me from doing what I need to. And yeah; I'm scared I might die but... I can't stop, can I? You can still trust people, Alicia but... maybe not as fully or as quickly as before, but you will. You're one of the strongest woman I know. You'll do it." She finally gave off something other then a sob or whimper...

She gave off a short chuckle. "Do you practice these words?"

"Wish I had the means to..." I mean I kinda did if I used the menus to pause the world, but I usually didn't. "But no I just... try to pick the best words I have and say what I mean and get both my meaning and intent through. And I do mean it. You'll pull through." I said as she gave a soft, if sad, smile before leaning into hug me more fully.

"Thank you... just... I don't need words now I just... I just don't want to be alone right now." She said as I nodded and moved to hug her fully around her shoulders as she set her head to my chest as I sighed...

And had my vision flash white before having yet another out of body experience as the view had me and Alicia hugging in the center before panning backwards and upwards as a theme; proud yet sad, began as that Narrator's voice began to speak once more.

"Having finished a long journey and ended it with a vicious battle our hero has struck down not one but two agents of the darkness that encroaches on the land... And yet the price paid for these victories comes in tears and sorrows. From facing Dominious in Feoh, bandits in Ur, Aberrant in Geofu, mercenaries in Ken, underhanded nobility in Rad, Garan forces in Ansur and a would-be god-maker in Thorn he has risen and met all challenges thus far and laid them low."

The view shifted northwards, maybe northeast as vast lands could be seen beyond the fields outside of the Fortress. "And yet in the distance and thus far faintly heard... the beat of the drums of war grow steady and with each beat grows louder... threatening to consume all in it's ominous and dreadful beat..."

"As it ever is a nation's history is written upon the parchments of the lands, cities and rivers we live upon... with a pen drenched in the blood made by war and destruction."

"The Black Storm is not the only one with howling winds..."

Act II: Complete!

Act Completion Rewards

+1 Level

Level Up!

You are now Level 30!

+1 to Con, Str, End, Dex, Agi, Acc, Mag & Mnc
+1 to End
+1 to Rap
+2 RSP & SSP
+5 UTP
+50% Current XP to Next Level
Gained 14500XP

Achievement Unlocked: Journeyman Adventurer
Complete Act Two

[-]

That Evening
Nightsong Palace, Mooncast City
Territory of Onyxcloak, Kingdom of Garan

The palace of the High House of Nightsong bore a series of ten foot high, stone walls painted pitch black around it. The palace itself bore several rounded sections as roofs with bladed spires rising from them colored a deep, dark gold while the smooth, shiny walls were colored a deep purple. Slaves of human and those dark elves born tainted of human blood worked the grounds, were bred by goblins and ogres or were kept locked up for later usage. In the back courtyard a series of wooden dummies had been set up. Several had been splintered already under the force of magic, blade or both.

The woman using sword and spell to shatter these dummies wore a black, thong backed, sleeveless leotard that looked like layers of thin, rounded leather but was in fact made of scale plate; something akin to Eostian Armor Weave which guarded her body despite the deep V-cut in the front. Around her waist was a red sash about her waist with a wide sheath hanging off of it. Her boots were made in a likewise manner to the leotard and the top of her feet were covered by what seemed like a metal goat skulls with horns by the ankles. Matching gloves were on her arms that were fingerless and moved up to her biceps; her left forearm covered by what looked like a large goat skull with red spell stones in the eyes; the tip over her fist and the back over her elbow. In one hand was a flamberge styled saber with a wavy, mythril blade and a goat's skull as a D-Guard; also with red stones set to it's eyes. Around her neck was a purple sash; once meant for a waist and now repurposed to a scarf.

Her nearly black, purple hair was cut short in a boyish cut, her dusky skin covered in sweat as C-Cup breasts rose and fell with each pant. One of her eyes, the left one, was destroyed and despite an elf's usual healing abilities she was unable to regenerate an eye; the socket now host to a red, enchanted spell stone; although the scar over her face had healed and faded. With a roar she slashed out with her weapon, cutting another dummy in twain as she stood up and panted as she glared to it; imagine a human in it's place... a certain human.

"Bronka!" She stood up fully for a moment before looking over her shoulder to the older woman glaring at her. "I have been ordering your summons for hours now. If you are done playing then-"

"I don't have time for you." The one eyed woman let off before looking ahead of her, as she looked towards the next dummy; projecting the image of-

"You will listen to be, you brat!" The woman let off as she let off drawing mana to her hands as she formed it into a whip, coated in lightning. For her it was frustrating; ever since she had come back without her sister Bronka had been far more rebellious to her! Her! Zhestokiy Nightsong! The matriarch of the High House of Nightsong and it's leader! The girl's mother! "Now, you will obey me!" She let off, pulling her mana formed weapon back and lashing out to grab the girl by the neck...

Only for her daughter to turn and swat the lash away with the odd shield over her arm before rushing in close in a flash; eyes glaring. Shocked she stumbled back and paused for a brief moment before the saber's D-guard was slammed to her face; breaking her nose and sending her to the ground. "Grahhhh!" She let off, starting to rise up...

Only to be stabbed in the chest; the tip of her daughter's weapon stopping just short of her heart. "Funny. You don't scare me anymore." Bronka let off coldly as she glared down to her. "Understand this, dear mother... I. Don't. Care. About what you want. Now I only live for three reasons. To kill the man who stole Branka from me. To crush Eostia into pieces. And to see Dark Elves come to dominate the world. So unless you're going to assist me with any of that get out of my way or be removed."

Zhestokiy grit her teeth and tried to not cry out as she breathed through the pain of a broken nose and punctured chest before a new voice came in. "Then I imagine you'll hear my words then." She heard as Bronka turned her head slightly. She knew the man; the sub-commander Casimir Bloodhunt. He looked to her and moved to pull a letter out of a pouch. "You have been summoned by Queen Olga's favorite pet, Commander Chloe. Certain things are coming to a head... and a chance to take revenge maybe closer then you think."

Bronka's mother gasped as the sword was pulled from her, clutching the wound as her daughter sheathed her blade as she walked closer and took the letter opening it as she recalled the words the Halfborne who was pushed up to the Lowborne had told her.

'Channel your pain. Make it a strength. Someday it will drive you forwards and you'll rise above your enemies.'

She looked to him; a hard, cold look coming as the stone in her eye socket began to glow. "I will answer the call to war."

[ - Author's Note - ]

Well it is done. Act Two is almost fully behind us with just the Epilogue to go. This is a longer chapter, yeah, with twenty one thousand plus words... The last one we had that was longer was the Xenera chapter... yeah.

So the Mortadella Brothers get away, but not scot-free, Beardsley and Albert's deceptions are uncovered with both men dead and leaving no stories told once more, Alicia deals with her pains, James remembers old traumas... oh, and Bronka finally reappears; sporting a new look, new equipment and a new attitude... Needless to say she'll be playing a role come Act Three... as will everyone's long awaited Dark Elf duo.

The ongoing Poll for the Best banners of Thorn is ongoing and I'll end it in the Epilogue. You can find it at strawpoll(DotCom)/polls/e6Z28OaEGnN or eostian on Twitter. As for said Epilogue?

Projects become finished, equipment arrives, the Shields talk and compare notes...

And we lay out what's to come in Act Three.

Until then...

~~Eostian Scribe