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When Walls Crumble [RP Thread] [R] [Private Fantasy RP]

*Jean Grey*

Night Triumphant
Sylvia Edelstein
Khusha (Nightshade Manor, Subterranean Baths -> Changing Room)


“Er, you, soldier – Raleigh, I believe Sylvia called you? Is that your name?” the princess began, snapping Raleigh out of his daze. Instead of looking directly at the princess however, the soldier's eyes fell on Sylvia instead, seemingly giving her an appraising look - one which held more than a note of recognition.

Of course he does, she thought. She recognized him all the same. It was difficult to forget being interrogated for hours in the dim, dank underground dungeons, even after seven years. She had only been seventeen years old after all - barely an adult - and she didn't know any better. Of course she wasn't involved in any conspiracy, and of course, she hadn't been hired as an assassin by a member of the Lochesterian court. She was but a poor teenager from the streets, a sorry excuse of a thief disguised in stardust and glass, who was simply ordered to infiltrate King Siegfried's masquerade ball and eliminate a noble who failed to pay a debt of some sort.

Raleigh had been her interrogator, a magical human who looked to be rather new to the job himself, judging from the way he carried himself - as dignified as he could, but with a hint of uncertainty that the other guards did not possess. He was younger than the rest of them too, not much older than herself. Now, sexually abusive, he was not, but that didn't mean she was spared from his agonizing interrogation methods. He had magically probed into her mind and squeezed as much information as he could, trying to find something that wasn't there, and it hurt.

Oh, how she resisted, though her silver shackles burned and her wounds bled, even as her head painfully seared through the night and threatened to break after being questioned and probed. She wasn't going to give in to any guard, be it confessing to crimes that she wasn't responsible for - being a werewolf was hardly a crime after all - or surrendering herself to them. And that was what she did, which earned her three transfers over the thirteen days she was imprisoned, as well as crueler treatment from almost all the guards.

Get over your pride, you're going to be executed anyway. Might as well make your life less difficult before the time comes, beast. He had told her as he passed her by. Never once raising a hand, but never ridding his voice of its venom.

In the end, she had been released, and he had been the one to free her from her shackles as Josef spoke to her about why she was being released to begin with. This time, she didn't look into Raleigh's eyes. She had been in shock that she was being released to begin with. As far as she knew, nobody ever left Lochester's dungeons alive. Part of her perhaps, thought that it was a cruel joke and that Raleigh would've pulled at the strings of her mind to force her back in. But as Josef led her out the secret passageway that would bring her to freedom...there was no pain...no searing sensation.

"Yes, Your Highness. It is." Raleigh's attention shifted towards the princess after more than a few moments of silence, confirming his identity. Sylvia took the time to study him further. His eyes had not changed, even after all those years, cold, hard and belonging to someone who would've been much much older than his thirties. Yet, there was something else tucked deep within them...something more...melancholic, if that was the right word to describe them.

“Under what circumstances did you come to be lying half-dead in the middle of the Khusian desert, if what you say is true, and there are no other soldiers? You owe me – us – your life, so I suggest you speak honestly.” The princess pressed on. At this, Raleigh tensed for a moment, before replying.

"I let live a few...enemies I was told to kill. A grave offense, likened to treason. I fled to save my life," he spoke politely but curtly, the way he'd been taught to. "I lost the pursuers, but ended up lost myself."

Enemies. Sylvia knew what he meant. Werewolves. Vampires. Magical humans. He didn't have to sanitize his words. Everyone in Lochester was taught to shun and despise the "other" after all, for the most pointless reasons. After all, non-magical humans were just as capable of unnecessary killing as any other race. Those who were the "other" were taught to hate themselves...taught to believe they deserved to suffer and die in order to avoid tainting Lochester.

"It is as you say; I owe my life to you. Do with it as you will. Should you end it, worry not; no one will mourn me - nor come avenge me. Lochester holds no more love for me than it does for you." He addressed everyone.

"Lochestrian or not, I would not kill you for that. Besides, I helped keep you alive for this long, it would be a shame if that were to be for nought." Lyn spoke first, from where she was resting against the edge of the pool. Her voice was steady. Reassuring. Sylvia knew that Lyn was not one to take words lightly.

The princess took longer, before voicing her stand.

“No, we have no reason to bring your life to a premature conclusion. But I will not set you free. Your skills are useful to us, and I see no other way to prove that your words are true other than to allow you to assist us. If you flee, I would run the risk of you returning with an army, so you are all ordered to eliminate him should he attempt it. Am I understood?” She directed this statement to everyone. Sylvia put her glass down and gave a thumbs-up.

Gwen then mused about whether or not Lochester thought so low of her, to which Emerick asked if it really mattered, and if it would really change anything.

"If the Lochesterian court think so low of you, then they're fucking wrong. If they had half a brain and had to choose anyone to look down on, they have to take a look at themselves first. Backwards, cowardly bastards, they are..." Sylvia snarled, though her tone was a little less harsh, as Gwen stepped out of the bath. She looked at Raleigh again, at the broken man who sat across her. She knew he was a magical human. An "other", just like herself. Someone who was certainly taught to look down on himself, as well as vampires and werewolves from a young age, and to not question the laws of the kingdom.

"Raleigh, are these...enemies you speak of....your enemies because they truly harmed you, or are they your enemies only because you were taught by some fucking bastards to believe that they are the monsters? Think for yourself, idiot! Are these bastards always right? Are they your gods? Who are the real monsters? Surely there's a brain in that skull of yours." She spoke, her voice not once wavering, and her tone stark. Oh, how she despised him for what he did to her years ago, yet she despised Lochesterian laws more, with a burning passion. How much of him was truly the cold-hearted interrogator, and how much of him was a product of his environment, that remained to be seen.

Minutes later, after Dimmy stepped out of the bath, Sylvia followed suit. She got up and stepped out of the bath, squeezing the excess water from her midnight hair and pulling it up, exposing her back, a pair of tattooed dragon wings accentuating her long-healed scars. She dried off, before proceeding to put on one of the silk robes set out for them to use. The fabric was softer than anything she ever wore. She tied it loosely, not being one who cared much for propriety, and retrieved her headpiece, sighing with relief that it hadn't disappeared.

“If you will all follow us, we have prepared a few options for each of you to wear to court.” A maid addressed the group. Dimmy thanked her, before leading everyone back upstairs to a pair of rooms along the same hall, the maid ushering the women into one room, and the butler guiding the men into another. Sylvia followed the maid.

Sylvia took in this new room. It was rather identical to the bedroom they'd initially gone to, but there was more open space. There were armoires and vanities along the side walls, and a pair of changing screens, as well as a small table stood along the back. The vanities each had an assortment of perfumes and colognes, hair care items, make-up, and jewellery. A fancy carpet was rolled out in the middle of the room, atop which stood a sextuplet of mannequins, paired off, with each pair displaying a couple outfits in the closest size of one of the room's occupants that could be found. None of the clothes were the clothes on their backs when they had arrived, and when Sylvia's eyes fell on the tallest pair of mannequins in the room, all she could say was fuck.

Both mannequins bore dresses in the Khushan style, one was gold, and the other was black. She immediately made her way towards the black one and appraised it. True to the Khushan style, it was made of lightweight silk, with a low neckline and a lower back. It had a split front, revealing a sheer black underskirt that would expose the wearer's legs.

Now, Sylvia had no problems showing skin. Quite the contrary. What bothered her though, was the fact that she had to wear a dress in particular. Memories of the masquerade ball once again came back. She had been clothed in a gown that was almost literally stardust, and in the present, she could not help but run her hand over the black dress over and over, to feel if the silk fabric was real. Wasn't there another alternative? Couldn't she wear a man's outfit instead?

"I really should've gone and changed in the lads' room...fuck propriety, they don't have to wear damn dresses..." she groaned, as she slipped the black dress off the mannequin and pulled it on reluctantly. Her large breasts threatened to spill out of the low neckline, but that was the least of her concerns. She would gladly go shirtless if it meant not wearing a dress.

Looking towards her assigned vanity, she noticed an array of gold and silver jewellery and accessories laid out for her to use. Being a werewolf, she didn't exactly have a choice. She put on a set of golden body chains over her dress, followed by a wide golden belt. She put on golden earrings, before fastening the crimson cloak that came with the dress over one shoulder.

"Excuse me...I'll have to take that off you. It isn't...presentable." The maid chirped and before Sylvia could react, the maid's hand flew towards her nose, and plucked off her iron nose ring.

"Arrghh...hey! What the hell?!" Sylvia exclaimed in protest as she briefly rubbed her sore nose. She reached out for her nose ring, growling as her lupine form threatened to surface. As her other arm swung backward, her headpiece, which she had set atop the vanity, was knocked down. As it touched the floor, the dark metal flashed silver for a brief moment, though she did not notice.
 

Minteh

It's so shiny!
Lyn Grier
Khusha (Nightshade Manor)


Unlike Lyn, who had been quite forthcoming with her opinion of Raleigh's fate, Gwen was a bit more hesitant with hers. Although, unlike Lyn, Gwen would have the weight of a whole kingdom on her shoulders one day and such decisions about what to do with her perceived "enemies" were not ones to be taken lightly. She wasn't really listening fully when Gwen addressed Raleigh but was alerted when she caught the princess stealing a glance at the group when she ordered them that if he did ever try and run they were to eliminate him. Lyn merely gave a sharp nod in response.

A few more words were spoken before the group began to exit the bath and change into the silk robes left out for them. Lyn was the second to last to leave the bath, exiting the water shortly after Sylvia did. She took care to quickly dry herself off before putting on the silk robe that was left for her. The fabric was softer than anything Lyn had worn before and smiled a little to herself at the sensation of it touching her skin. She made a mental note to herself to ask Dimmy whether it would be okay to keep this after they left Khusha.

“If you will all follow us, we have prepared a few options for each of you to wear to court.” A maid would address the group. Ah yes - court. Lyn had almost forgotten that was among the primary reasons they were in Khusha right now. Dimmy thanked her before striding forward, taking the lead amongst the group as they followed the servants back upstairs. The came across a pair of rooms along the same hall, the maid ushered all the girls into one, and her butler.

The room was around the same size as the bedrooms they had initially gone to but had different furniture and more open space. A couple of armoires and vanities stood along the side walls, and a pair of changing screens, as well as a small table stood along the back. The vanities each had an assortment of perfumes and colognes, hair care items, make-up, and jewellery. A fancy carpet was rolled out in the middle of the room, atop which stood a sextuplet of mannequins, paired off, with each pair displaying a couple of outfits in the closest size of one of the room's occupants that could be found. Hesitantly, Lyn moved over to one of the average-sized mannequins. It was hard to discern which was meant for her and which was for Gwen seeing as they were around the same height, but Lyn assumed that she had found the pair intended for her as the colours were more complimentary to her complexion.

"Ugh," Lyn grumbled, as she pulled the red and purple gown from the mannequin and slipped it on. She didn't hate the dress, it was a very beautiful and skillfully crafted garment made from the light silk typical of Khushan fashion. It was primarily a deep red in colour, with a plunging neckline, and exposed shoulders. The dress was split at the front, revealing a sheer purple underskirt that showed off Lyn's shapely legs. Again, the dress wasn't ugly and was certainly comfortable to wear, but what Lyn wasn't happy about was how revealing it was. She understood that in the hotter climate they needed such lighter and airier clothes to be able to stand the weather, but was it really necessary to show this much skin off? Her bare shoulders and exposed legs did not bother her so much as the plunging neckline. She felt as though if she bowed too deeply or crouched one of her breasts might have popped out and she would wind up flashing Sylvia and Gwen. The notion that such a thing could happen at court filled her with even more dread and panic.

Moving over to her assigned vanity, looking among the jewellery and accessories laid out for her to use. Among the first accessories she grabbed, were the purple bracers set with lighter purple and pink gems. She then turned her eye to the jewellery, looking over the array of gold and silver pieces on offer. In the end, she went for the golden jewellery, finding them to a be more suitable match for the colours of her outfit. She found a large and very ornate golden necklace, which seemed to offset her exposed chest a little, and coupled it with golden earrings, a simple golden headband, and a purple and gold belt.

"I wish Khushan clothing wasn't so...revealing," Lyn mumbled, looking at herself in the vanity. The accessories helped, but she was still aware of how exposed she felt in this whole getup. Her own worries were put to one side when she looked over in Sylvia's direction, upon hearing the other woman call out in protest. "What's going on over there?" She asked, raising a brow. "You sound like you're being put into a torture device, not a dress." Though given how much Lyn had been internally complaining about her own outfit, she wouldn't have been surprised if that was exactly how Sylvia felt about her dress.
 
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Tangeh

Well-Known Member
Princess Gwendolyn
Khusha (Nightshade Manor)

Gwen faced pointedly away as her companions exited the bath one by one. Ral's words were echoing across her memory, but so were Sylvia's. “Backwards cowardly bastards, they are...” It couldn't be that unpopular of an opinion, certainly by the werewolves, but even further than that. Even if the Khushian monarchy held similar views, that didn't necessarily mean this meeting would go smoothly.

One of the Nightshade's family maids lighthearted announced that they had prepared a few options for each of them to wear. ...Options? Gwen turned, figuring everyone was out of the bath now, and quietly followed the maid as she ushered Gwen away from Sir Emerick. He quirked a brow at her but she followed the other two women into a changing room. Gwen's eyes flicked between the Khushian-style options – where was her own dress?

After a bit of complaining over needing to wear a dress from Sylvia, she slipped into a black dress. It did not conceal her cleavage very well, and Gwen averted her eyes and pretended to be very interested in the other options. Lyn coaxed a red and purple gown off the hanger. ...There was not any green in these options. Usually her servants liked to cloak her in Yloria's colours for formal meetings.

“Princess?” Gwen blinked and turned as one of maids bowed, extending Emerick's travel pack toward her. Oh, thank goodness. She accepted the bag with a gracious nod and gently lifted her crown out of it. Truthfully, did whatever else she wore matter? These clothing options would certainly better than that dress that had been across the sea, through a forest, and across a desert – literally all within the last few days.

But as Gwen reached toward a purple-sequinned dress that faded into yellow and black toward the bottom, she hesitated. “...This is see-through,” Gwen observed, holding the material at a few angles to test how the light reacted to it. “Er – is this – truly acceptable to wear to Khusian court?” Alarik had no sisters, so Gwen did not have much of a basis to go off. Lyn and Sylvia also had some qualms with the Khushian fashion – though not for the same reasons.

The maids ushered her into the dress, and Gwen blushed at her reflection once they were done. “Thank you,” Gwen said with as much poise as she could muster, and began slipping golden jewellery out of Emerick's travel pack. Earrings, bracelets, necklace – she felt like herself again once they were back in their rightful places on her body. She arranged her crown on her head as well, though she would need to fix it again once her hair dried properly. It was already starting to fluff up in the dry Khushian air.

A cry of pain from Sylvia caught Gwen's attention, and she turned in time to see Sylvia's headpiece – a mockery of the Lochesterian crown, as Gwen had pointed out earlier – hit the ground. She could have sworn it flashed silver for a brief moment. It must have just been a trick of the light, but for that moment, it almost looked like... no, nevermind. Gwen turned back to the mirror and resumed trying to coax the neckline of the dress into an acceptable position.

(meanwhile)

“Well gentlemen, what do you think?”

Emerick stared blankly. Twenty-five years of training with the Ylorian guard could not have prepared him for this. His truthful opinion – that anything outside of armor was unacceptable for protecting the princess – would probably be rude. This was the part where Gwen was supposed to swoop in and make the decision for him, but she was in another room – ah!

Emerick handed his travel pack to a waiting servant. “Kindly deliver this to Princess Gwendolyn.” She nodded and exited the room.

...Well, that occupied less than ten seconds, and now they were back to uncomfortable silence.

Emerick turned to Ral in confusion, hoping he had some semblance of fashion sense, but it didn't seem like it. So, Emerick gave the only response he could – a shrug and a dismissive grunt.
 
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GoldenHouou

antagoonist
Raleigh Ferghus Eachainn
Khusha (Nightshade Manor)


It might've just been his powers going awry, but the temperature in the baths seemed to drop by a dozen degrees the moment Raleigh was done speaking. He kept his gaze fixed on the princess, unflinching even in the face of Emerick's indirect threat. He'd already said his piece and was prepared to lose his head for it. Warnings meant nothing to him now.

Lyn was the first to break the silence. Her warm voice thawed some of the figurative frost that permeated the air around Raleigh, but he still refused to face her. Seeing her would only bring him hope. As a criminal about to be judged, he was to keep his eyes on the judge and the executioner, both still preoccupied with their thoughts.

“No, we have no reason to bring your life to a premature conclusion."

If Raleigh felt relief over Gwen's decision, he showed no sign of it. All he did was nod in acceptance - of both her decision and her terms. He had no intention of running, and no delusions of surviving if he did.

Then the princess' tone shifted, and Raleigh's diligent expression was muddled with a hint of concern. For a moment, he could have sworn she sounded almost pained over the prospect of being hated by Lochester. But why would she care about the opinions of her enemies?

He didn't get a chance to ask.

Sylvia's voice came like a bark, abrupt and loud. Raleigh almost jumped. For a moment, he'd forgotten she was there. He tried very hard to forget again, until he wolf turned her bark towards him. Raleigh turned to face her like a prey would a predator; apprehensive, suspicious, unsure of her intent. Even without seeing his reflection, he knew the look well. He'd seen it on the faces of dozens of captives.

Oh, how the tables had turned.

He expected Sylvia to finally reveal everything she knew about him and seal his fate once and for all. Regardless of the princess' stance, he doubted she would pardon a torturer - or a murderer.

The wolf revealed none of those things. Instead, she lectured him on the origin of his beliefs, calling to question who the true monsters were. At first, Raleigh tensed. He was taught not to tolerate insults towards his superiors, and was about to defend them with word and blade alike. But then he remembered the children in the woods. He remembered his superior officer's orders, and how a moment later his limp body had slid off a bloodied lance. Back then, hadn't he thought for himself?

...Why? Why did the wolf talk as if she knew him? As if after everything he'd done, there was hope for him yet.

The silence returned.

Raleigh left the bath after the others had already done so, wordlessly trailing after the servant that was to lead him and Emerick upstairs.


---​

“Well gentlemen, what do you think?”

Much like Emerick, all Raleigh could do was stare. He took in the outfits presented to them one baffling detail at a time, unable to utter a word. It was only when his mind started to try and conjure up images of what he might look like wearing such clothes that he found the strength to tear his gaze away.

Soon enough, the knight turned to him with a look of dread that mirrored his own. Raleigh couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie. They might have been mortal enemies, serving opposing kingdoms and ideologies since birth. But right here, right now, they were just two soldiers united by a common enemy.

Emerick didn't protest their fate, so Raleigh felt obliged to do so in his stead. For the sake of whatever dignity they had left after long years of service.

"Frankly," he finally found his voice, "I find all this highly unnecessary. A regular set of clean clothes would do. I wouldn't--"

He gestured towards the outfits, "Feel... appropriate walking in such, hm," Raleigh was struggling to find a balance between voicing his displeasure and maintaining a polite tone, a conundrum he'd yet to face in his adult life. Had the wolf's words gotten to him after all?

"Lack of... proper cover."

Revealing. The clothes were too revealing. How was he supposed to face nobility - much less royalty - with his abdomen fully exposed?!
 

VampirateMace

Internet Overlord
Lord Dimamire Nightshade
Khusha (Nightshade Manor, Changing Room)


Already knowing which outfit he preferred, the tighter cut, Dimmy didn't wait for their replies, but shed his bathrobe, dropping it aside. The maids would clean it up later. He tugged the tight cut pants free from the mannequin and started to slip them on.

Behind him he heard Emmrick instruct someone to take something to the princess, followed by a disgruntled grunt. While Dimmy himself wasn't sure exactly what this meant, the Lochesterian soldier seemed to derive some meaning from it, and started to voice his opinions on it. Ah yes, unnecessary and revealing. . . how very like an outsider and a commoner.

Dimmy laughed lightly as he slipped the vest off his mannequin, and admired the handiwork. He glanced back at Ral, suggesting, “You do better show up at court naked than in the clothes of commoners. Remember, we're trying to earn their favor. . . And don't even think about showing up in your armor. You're lucky I didn't kill you on sight.”

He turned back to the mannequin slipping on his vest, “But I am a civilized man. I recognize you didn't choose to be born in such a vile place. And may not even have really chosen to enter into their service.”

He glanced back again, as he tugged on the vest to ensure it was properly fitted. He probably didn't need to tell their prisoner that he didn't need a reply to that. Then he pulled down the shimmery cape without looking and slipped it on, heading for a mirror. After a moment of admiring himself, and straightening his clothes and talisman, he turned and headed for one the wardrobes. He selected some black stockings, a fine red leather belt and matching red and black boots to complete the look.
 

Tangeh

Well-Known Member
Sir Emerick
Khusha (Nightshade Manor)


Emerick's eyes widened as Raleigh began voicing a negative opinion toward Lord Dimamire's clothing options. Just moments ago they had been debating whether or not to end this man's life, and now he had the gall to oppose an order as simple as changing into a new outfit. It was an idiotic decision. But it was one Emerick agreed with.

He found himself respecting that, in a strange way.

And what was the young lord saying now? His armor – pleated with the scars of proud battles, his helmet bestowed upon him by King Leonius himself – the clothing of commoners?! He furrowed his brow and opened his mouth to join Raleigh in protest -

“- And don't even think about showing up in your armor. You're lucky I didn't kill you on sight.”

...Ah, yes, well, Emerick supposed that the Lochesterian guard being back in armor could be problematic. Was Khusha so fastidious that their clothing would influence their decisions? They were a bit eccentric, but maybe more important was stilling his tongue and letting the young vampire noble have it his way. Understandably, this was not nearly as pressing a priority for Raleigh.

...Hopefully Gwen would protest this the moment she laid eyes on him.

…​


Princess Gwendolyn
Khusha (Nightshade Manor)


The servants ushered the ladies out to reunite with the men, and Gwen blinked as she laid eyes on them.

Emerick was wearing a... a red toga? It covered only half of his chest – complete with loose silk violet bottoms, a silver cape, and black boots. Gwen's mouth twitched into a grin and she suppressed a laugh as Emerick glared at her expression. “Is... is that a circlet?” Gwen inquired at the silver headpiece adorned with rubies. Khushian colours – not the gold and emerald she wore on her own head. She was straining to keep amusement out of her tone.

“...I had no say in this outfit, Princess.”

“For the best,” Gwen quipped (Emerick's glare deepened), “Khushian fashion should please Alarik; Dimmy did well with you two.” (Emerick didn't look to check, but he swore he felt Dimmy smirk in satisfaction).

“You wouldn't prefer me in armor, Princess?” Emerick asked, a hint of hope in his tone.

“No need,” Gwen insisted. “We should be safe within the Khushian Capital.”

“...You are wearing your sword,” Emerick pointed out.

Gwen glanced at the sheath that she'd had one of Dimmy's servants retrieve. “It is just for show. You can bring yours if you wish. Father always wore one to the diplomacy meetings with Lochester.” Besides - the hilt matched her jewellery (and was even more expensive). “We can double back for the rest of our possessions after this is over. Night is starting to fall – is everyone prepared?”

…​

Khushian Capital (Royal Palace)

The dry air outside was surprisingly cool without the sun blazing down on them. The Khushian Capital was bustling now that the sun was gone, and their outfits seemed to allow them to blend in. Unlike in Zlelmore, nobody gave them a second glance. Gwen even had to politely decline a merchant who offered to give her an “incredible deal” on powdered dragon eggshell (“incredibly nutritious, wonderful for the hair and nails!”).

The city's charms weren't without its dark spots – groups of vampires were crowded around a so-called “blood bar”, pushing each other in anticipation of its opening. Beggars hassled them on every corner, a few human ones even offering their blood to Dimmy in exchange for a few coins.

When they approached the palace, the guards bowed and permitted them through without so much as a word exchanged. They were expecting her. Why were they expecting her? Gwen hesitated, but the Sage's artifact wasn't making any indication that her father was nearby. If she could even still trust him, that is...

They were guided deeper and deeper into the palace. Gwen stepped inside the royal chamber, and her hand immediately went to her left wrist. Atop the royal throne sat Prince Alarik himself, surrounded by his seven councilmen – both vampire and human. The royal throne – plated in brilliant silver and lined with rubies – sat underneath what would be a dark spot in the throne room, had it not been lined with two extravagant lit torches. Along the sides, several large palm trees adorned in polished silver snaked their way to ceiling tiles made of glass. The moonlight streamed through them, dancing off the cool floor. The walls themselves were composed of shards of multicoloured stained glass, displaying several important figures and events in Khusha's history – their first vampire king, the overthrowing of the human race, and the reconciliation. Prince Alarik's father was prominently displayed to the left of the throne. The intricacy of the glass must have taken a thousand hours. Tiny pieces made up the smallest details in the late king's glass portrait – his stern red eyes and long dark hair were mimicked in his son.

Gwen calmed herself with the knowledge that the Sage's gift did not react. It felt as if every eye in the room was staring at her. “I see you were expecting me,” Gwen said, trying her hardest to keep any suspicion out of her tone. “Have you been in contact with my father?”

Prince Alarik gave Gwen a pitying look, and she had to look away from him. One of the human councilmen cleared his throat. “Yes. He has been in contact with both the Khushian royal council and Sorcerer Glikore of Zlelmore. We were ordered to send you home with promise of a hefty reward, but as you already know, Zlelmore had other ideas...” his irritated tone trailed out, and Gwen tensed.

Another councilman, a vampire, spoke up. “Indeed, Zlelmore informed us they would be sending you to our palace,” Gwen felt a twinge of irritation at this light phrasing, “and that they recommended we assist you on your journey to Lochester.”

Gwen blinked, then dared to relax a little. “So you are planning on aiding us?” she asked, unable to keep the hope out of her tone. “You see how this would be good for Khusha, correct? We could avoid a full war, strengthen our inter-relationships on all fronts - ”

“Gwen.” Prince Alarik finally spoke, and Gwen stopped dead. His eyes were heavy with fear and sadness. “...What were you thinking?”

Stunned, Gwen frowned and looked away for the first time in shame. “I...” She shook her head, looking back up at him, her eyes pleading with him. “Surely... surely you understand my position, Prince? There are no downsides for Khusha, you would only see benefits - ”

Prince Alarik shook his head and rose from his throne. The councilmen bowed and stepped aside. “For Khusha? Gwen, I fear for Yloria! Are you even listening to yourself?!” His voice shook as he spoke, and he looked desperately to Sir Emerick. “You would allow her to do this?” Prince Alarik's tone was getting louder – more emotional – and Gwen shrunk back. Emerick looked away, and he stared instead at the rest of the party. “Lord Dimamire?! The rest of you – I – I understand Yloria isn't your home, but – is that why you recruited them in the first place, Gwen?!”

Gwen shook her head. “No, no, of course - ”

“Then why would none of them have stopped you?!”

Gwen stole a glance at Emerick, who was keeping his head bowed. Tears were pricking at Gwen's eyes, and she looked back at her party – her comrades who fought so bravely alongside her – who risked their lives on no reason aside from the fact that she'd conscripted them. Some did not even make it to this hall.

Gwen let the heavy silence hang in the hall for a few painful moments, then she watched Prince Alarik's eyes widen. “...You lied to them about your intentions?” he hissed.

“No, I would never - ”

“Then you omitted the truth?”

There was nothing Gwen could say to that. The tiara atop her head held such power that she was used to people obeying her every word without needing an explanation. Gwen turned again to look at her party. No – her comrades – whom she trusted more than she deserved to. “...I'm sorry,” she whispered, too low for the royal council to hear.

Prince Alarik's red eyes appeared filled with true fire. “Then shall I enlighten them on why they were being dragged across the entire realm on your bidding?” he asked scornfully, turning his attention on Gwen's makeshift army. Gwen looked at the floor. “Did you four not once wonder what exactly a Ylorian princess could offer the Lochesterian Queen that her father could not – or, more accurately, would never?”

“Alarik - ”

“Maybe a bit of a history lesson is in order here,” the prince huffed, glaring at Gwen. “I suppose this isn't exactly common knowledge, but a deal was struck between Yloria and Lochester many, many moons ago. Before Queen Eleonora took the throne, she requested King Leonius's second-born daughter – or firstborn, should the second be a son – to marry into the Lochesterian royalty. Despite doctor recommendations, King Leonius agreed in exchange for peace – which left Yloria without a queen, Princess Gwendolyn without a mother, and Prince Hendrick without a wife.”

Gwen turned fully around to her party, frowning, and continued where Prince Alarik had stopped. “...We did not rock the boat for many years – we felt we couldn't without a peace deal in place. And when we finally decided to amend our outdated laws and welcome all races within our borders, well, that brings us to present day.”

“So,” Prince Alarik continued, “you honestly thought that the best solution to this crisis – I cannot believe I'm actually saying this – was to abandon your homeland entirely – forfeit all royal power – and become nothing more than a – a housewife. A wet nurse, even – to pass on your genetics to Lochesterian royalty, and to leave the Ylorian royal family tree broken?!”

Gwen winced. “I – I see no other solution at this point – and I would not be powerless! Er, well, perhaps technically, but my voice will not fall on deaf ears. If Queen Eleonora and Prince Hendrick will not listen to me, then I can at the very least raise the next heir of Lochester to have a different viewpoint.”

Prince Alarik scoffed. “You truly believe they would listen to anything that came out of your mouth? Perhaps they would agree to this deal if only to weaken Yloria, but you would be silenced the moment you spoke anything out of line.” He hesitated, gritting his teeth. “...and all of that is assuming you didn't inherit your mother's constitution when it comes to childbearing, and let all this effort be nothing more than a footnote in the history books...”

Gwen reached automatically for her sword as blind anger controlled her arm. Every surrounding guard drew their weapon. Emerick stepped forward and muttered something into Gwen's ear. Gwen put her sword away and merely narrowed her eyes instead. “How dare you...! This is not about me – this is not about Yloria – this is about all of the realm. I desire far more than peace – I want equality!” She jabbed a finger backwards. “Do you see my comrades? Look at them, Alarik! Vampires, werewolves, magical humans – what should it matter?! And unless something changes in Lochester, it will ALWAYS matter!” She stepped forward, her gaze steely. “If you were in my position, what would you do?! Live the rest of your life with horrible guilt that you were the one person who could change the world, and instead you chose to sit in your comfortable palace and do nothing?!”

“Enough!” One of the councilmen shouted. The guards raised their weapons. Prince Alarik shook his head and turned around. “Princess, I'm sorry to say that the council disagrees with Zlelmore's position and thinks it best we send you back home. The repercussions from Yloria are more a danger to us than the possibility of any future benefit with Lochester could justify.”

Gwen bit her lip. “No – Alarik, please, you must see reason - !”

“Lord Dimamire,” the councilman continued, “I do not know how you got caught up in this mess, but you are pardoned. You have the Khushian council's utmost apologies for this hassle, and we will ensure Yloria is held accountable for this lapse in good judgment. As for the rest of you – guards!”

Three armored Khushian guards came toward each of them, save for Dimmy, and Gwen drew her sword. “Hey!” the guard shouted, parrying Gwen's desperate swings until the two others restrained her arms. Sir Emerick did not resist, and accepted his fate without further hassle.

“To the dungeons,” the councilman continued, “until the Ylorian guards come for the princess, and the others as well, I suppose. Council adjourned!”

There was a flurry of assent and Gwen squirmed helplessly against her captors briefly, but the difference in strength made it worthless.

They were led down a set of stairs that became increasingly darker and cooler. Gwen, Lyn, and Sylvia were led into one cell, while Ral and Emerick were led into one on the opposite side. Gwen couldn't even see Emerick.

Given Khusha's long history of peace, it was clear the dungeons were not used much. There was a steady stream of water leaking from the ceiling and cracks in the foundation. They were likely deep underground.

Gwen turned away from Lyn and Sylvia and smacked the stone wall in frustration, then sunk to the ground. Damn it – why would Zlelmore send them here?! Did they have no idea of the loyalty Khusha had to her father?! “I... I'm so sorry...” Gwen muttered, then looked shamefully back at Lyn and Sylvia. “This is all my fault. I should never have brought you here. I swear on my life, I will repay you.”
 

Minteh

It's so shiny!
Lyn Grier
Khusha (Nightshade Manor)

Lyn spent several minutes at the vanity, continuing to stare at herself and the Khushan outfit. Although there wasn't much to do to it, she tried her best to try and smooth it out, or try and adjust it so she didn't feel so exposed. But alas, nothing she did seemed to make it any better, nor her any more comfortable. By the time she had relented in trying to fix the outfit for herself, servants returned to the room and ushered the ladies out to reunite with their male companions. Much like Gwen, upon seeing them all, Lyn found herself blinking in disbelief at them. They too had been dressed in similar Khushan garments. Dimmy, a native to this kingdom, looked more natural and at ease in the clothing. Emerick and Ral looked as out of sorts and uncomfortable as she and Sylvia felt.

"My don't you all look handsome,"Lyn commented, a small smile accompanying her words as she tried to lighten the mood a little. She then listened as Gwen and Emerick talked among themselves, with the latter asking Gwen if she would prefer him in his armour, in an attempt to clearly change into something more comfortable for himself. Gwen was quick to assure him that there would be no need as they would be quite safe in the capital. After Gwen responded to a comment made about her carrying a sword, she turned to the others to ask whether they were prepared, to which Lyn gave a curt nod.

**

Khushian Capital (Royal Palace)

Without the sunning beating down upon them, the air was refreshingly cool. Lyn was glad for it - the heat had been oppressively hot earlier in the day. As well as being cooler, the capital was notably more active now, but with a high vampire population, it made sense that their residents would avoid the sunlight in the day. As they walked, Lyn noted that nobody really seemed to pay them any mind, and that the few people who did interact with them - mostly merchants looking to sell their wares - did not seem to treat them unusually. Although there was one odd moment when one man rather confidently approached her and referred to her as "Lady Bea". When she gave him a confused expression in return, he seemed to look at more closely, before admitting he was mistaken and hurrying off into the dark. She watched him go with a curious expression, but thought little else of the encounter as they made their way through the capital.

Eventually, they made their way to the palace. As they approached, the guards bowed and permitted them entrance without so much as a word exchanged between them. They were deeper and deeper inside the castle, until eventually making it to the throne room, where Lyn finally got to lay eyes on Prince Alarik of Khusha. Sat on silver throne, flanked on both sides by his councilmen - both vampires and humans - the prince cut an impressive figure. Although she did not know much of the history of Khusha, if she had to make an educated guess, she would have guessed that the man portrayed in the stained glass portrait to the left of the prince was his father or another immediate relative such as an uncle or cousin.

As Gwen and Alarik began to talk, Lyn was initially not listening much to the start of the conversation, much more interested in the architecture of the throne room and the other people inhabiting it. But when she heard Alarik accuse Gwen of lying to the group, she snapped to attention as if this had been said personally to her. From then on she listened intently, her face a mask of cool indifference, hiding the true feelings of hurt, confusion, and annoyance swirling around inside her mind. On one hand she could understand Gwen's reasoning for what she did, even with her loose grasp of the politics of other kingdoms. But on another hand she was deeply hurt by the fact that even after all this time they had not been told the entire truth.

A sharp word from Gwen did not go down well, and a councilman yelled at her to stop what she was saying, with Alarik quick to inform her that council had disagreed with Zlelmore's position, and believed it best to send her home. Although Gwen tried to beg for the prince to see reason, her pleas fell on deaf ears. The councilman from before cut in and pardoned Dimmy for his involvement in the schemes, before the rest of the group were ordered to be taken to the dungeons. Gwen resisted the guard coming to restrain her, attempting to fight back, until two more came and restrained her arms. Like, Emerick, Lyn did not put up much of a fight when the guards approached her, though she suspected both she and the knight had slightly different reasons for not resisting.

The five of them were lead away from the throne room and down a set of stairs that became darker and cooler. The three ladies were led into one cell, and Ral and Emerick into one on the opposite side. Once again they had been split.

Once in the cell, Lyn stood where she was for a moment, trying to get her bearings in this cell. Meanwhile Gwen smacked the wall in frustration and sunk to the floor. “I... I'm so sorry...” Gwen muttered, looking shamefully between Lyn and Sylvia. “This is all my fault. I should never have brought you here. I swear on my life, I will repay you.”

Lyn merely looked away, choosing to sit cross legged on the floor and lean back against the stony wall opposite Gwen without a word. She dipped a finger in a small puddle of water that had formed from the water leaking in from the ceiling. "You should have told us sooner," Lyn finally said, not bothering to lift her head up to look at the princess. "It was wrong of you to keep your secret from us for so long. Especially after what happened outside of Miredom."
 

VampirateMace

Internet Overlord
Lord Dimamire Nightshade
Khusha (Nightshade Manor)


Dimmy did in fact smirk when told he'd done well with Ral and Emerick (not that he done much more than tell them they could fail or be killed if they refused to wear the clothes the servants had laid out for them). Lyn's comment only increased his pleasure at the situation.

“Indeed,” he replied when Gwen suggested they were safe in the capital. But he didn't discourage them from carrying their swords, weapons were pretty much excepted in Khusha, in court or not. A civilized man was prepared to protect himself and his.

Finally Gwen asked if they were ready to go. He nodded lightly to her, “I believe so.”


Khusha (Capital) -> (Palace)

The cooler weather of the evening was pleasant as they headed for the palace, weaving through the opening market stalls and businesses. Dimmy knew the city enough to take preemptive steps from encountering hawkers and blood whores, but even he got cornered by them occasionally. Usually it happened because while trying to avoid one, he got to close to another. Not that he never bought anything from a street vendor or got blood that way (it was safer for him to do in Khusha than in Zlelmore). But he was kind of busy and trying not to be ostracize from his traveling companions, so definitely not right now.

Even Dimmy was suspicious of how easily they entered the palace. He knew the guards would know who he was given his status, but their total lack of questions or resistance concerning his traveling companions was almost concerning.

Entering the opulent throne room they found the prince surrounded by his most trusted councilors. Dimmy of course bowed to his prince, this being the one government authority he truly recognized. His eyes didn't dart around the room or scan the details, though he imagined at least some of the others were gazing around like awestruck children. It was only natural for outsiders to be impressed with the craftsmanship of Khusha.

He stepped aside and watched quietly as Gwen initiated an exchange with Prince Alarik and the councilmen. An exchange that got very awkward very quickly. Dimmy scanned his prince's face as Alarik questioned what Gwen was thinking, and it soon became apparent that things were not as simple as Gwen had led them to believe. Dimmy flinched when the prince called him by name, and looked at Gwen with hurt as Alarik started to unravel the lie. A lie of omission was still a lie even if she didn't admit it. He could see the pain in her eyes as well though as the story unfolded.

Dimmy knew some of what he'd heard, but hearing all of it at once from Alarik, it finally clicked. What Gwen was attempting, it really was just desperate madness. As was her current act of reaching for her sword. Dimmy tensed, raising his hands slightly, but Emerick stepped in to calm her down, right before the council ordered all of them except Dimmy himself arrested.

Opening his mouth, but not forming words, after all what could he say against the council? Dimmy stepped back and watched as the guards escorted Gwen and the other away. Some of them struggled and/or objected , but Dimmy knew well enough not to interfere, there was no escape for them. Still reeling he turned and bowed again, though stiff and teary eyed, giving an obligatory account of himself, “My sincerest thanks to your majesty and his council. I shall see myself out.”

And with that Dimmy turned and shakenly left the throne room. He wandered away, holding his head, running a hand through his hair, and shaking his head as he muttered to himself. Not that very far away from the throne room at all, Dimmy finally sat down against a wall and too a deep breath closing his eyes.

“Dimamire,” called a cold voice that Dimmy recognized easily, even before looking up into his father's cold red eyes. He wore a stern expression as he looked down on Dimmy, “That was embarrassing.”

“I know,” admitted Dimmy not bothering to get up. He gazed back down at the floor, studying the intricate pattern as he reflected, “I made a grievous error in judgment by following a human in her folly, no matter her rank.”

“Dimmy,” sighed his father kneeling down beside him, “Your error wasn't in trusting a human. Your error was in trusting blindly. You didn't ask for enough facts to properly assess the situation,” He felt his father reach over and brush a loose stand of hair out of his face, “I think sometimes in your distrust, you forget that you are half-human.”

“I haven't forgotten. . . but I'm not one of them, they don’t treat me as one of them. But you expect me to sympathize with them?” replied Dimmy looking up. His father sighed again, then stood up, dropping the subject as he instructed, “Go get something to eat, you look terrible.”
 

GoldenHouou

antagoonist
Raleigh Ferghus Eachainn
Khusha (Nightshade Manor)


Truth be told, Raleigh had very much expected his protests to fall on deaf ears. It came as no surprise that he wasn't offered a say in his choice of attire, nor that Emerick didn't back him up in his endeavours. Even the vampire's laugh, while irritating, was on par for the course.

"You're lucky I didn't kill you on sight."

He had not expected the condescending lecture or the poorly veiled threat that followed - though in hindsight, he absolutely should have.

The surprise in Raleigh's eyes was brief, replaced soon after by a glare. He was used to being bossed around and talked down to - by people better than him. Not by a monster wearing human skin, parading his unwarranted status and power over him. He knew vampires to be a savage, prideful lot, of course. He had received his fair share of insults and threats from them over the years. But never as a guest - a prisoner - in their court. No, they'd been hissing insults as they'd fled through dark alleyways or huddled in shadows to escape him and his fellow soldiers.

None of them ever got away.

You're lucky you didn't try, he wanted to say, but held his tongue. Considering his state back in the desert, there was no doubt the vampire could have killed him back then without breaking a sweat. Even now, Raleigh was unsure why he had not. Perhaps this was why; to play the puppeteer and subject him to his whims once some manner of a truce had been established.

Raleigh noticed himself longing for a spear. Though he was nowhere near fully recovered, his condition had improved enough to make him susceptible to old habits. And he only knew one way to deal with a vampire's threats.

Then those threats gave way for another sentiment entirely, and Raleigh was taken aback. He couldn't decide if the vampire's words were intended to show sympathy or simply insult his homeland in a subtler way.

...As if it could've been anything but the latter.
---​


Never before had Raleigh looked as uncomfortable as he did walking down the decorated Khushan halls to reunite with the ladies.

The silver wraith felt half as heavy as a helmet, yet offered none of the protective properties of one. The detached sleeves were nothing if not unnecessary - the jewelry even more so. The pants were too tight to comfortably move in, and made him feel naked. Then there was the... the piece of cloth he hesitated to call a vest. With every step, Raleigh had to concentrate on striking a balance between a proper posture and a hunch that could conceal his exposed abdomen at least somewhat. If an enemy was to ambush him now, he'd have nothing to protect his vitals with. Not even a weapon; suffice to say, he wasn't allowed to bring his to court.

Perhaps that was why his palms felt so cold. Without a weapon to hold onto, his powers stirred defensively. Raleigh rubbed his hands together to warm them up, suddenly longing for the scorching sun that awaited outside. The cold hands did not come alone, after all; with them came a rush of memories. The sensation of flesh turning to ice in his grip, the screams, the shattering - the silence.

"-- is everyone prepared?”

Raleigh straightened, still adaze. He looked straight at the princess, but did not really see her.

"Yes."

His hands felt colder by the minute.

---​

Khushian Capital (Royal Palace)

By the time they arrived to the Royal Palace, Raleigh's palms were practically blue.

With every vampire they'd passed by, his fight or flight response had flared and made him reach for a nonexistent weapon. Doubly so once they'd passed by 'blood bars' and their vile customers, frothing at the mouth for a taste of human blood.

Animals, the lot of them.

And yet, strangely enough, none of them had seemed to pay their little group any mind. They'd been approached by the same beggars and merchants as everyone else, despite the glares Raleigh must've subconsciously been throwing around. To think that an outfit that left so little to imagination could've proven such an effective disguise. It made the chafing of the pants a little more tolerable.

But only a little.

The Royal Palace itself was grand, and they seemed welcome inside. As they approached the throne and its occupant, it occurred to Raleigh that he had no clue as to the purpose of their visit. From what he'd gathered, they had traveled here all the way from Yloria to seek an audience - but for what purpose, he couldn't even begin to guess at. To beg for military aid against Lochester, perhaps. Whatever it was, Raleigh opted to stand back and simply listen. He was good at it, anyhow.

What he heard was quite far from what he'd expected - and it took him a while to process it all. So long, in fact, that by the time he understood what exactly the princess had intended to do - and why - they were already surrounded by guards.

Raleigh went to draw his weapon, then quickly realized he did not have one. Princess Gwendolyn did, and she did not intend to go down without swinging it. Briefly, Raleigh wondered if he should have helped her - but seeing the others stand down and realizing he was severely outnumbered besides, he simply raised his hands in surrender. But not without throwing a glance at the vampire, expecting to find his face twisted into a smug grin. He found no such thing. In its place, he could have sworn he caught the glimmer of tears.

---​

Royal Palace (Dungeons)

The dungeon welcomed the group with a cloying stench most familiar to Raleigh. Earth, mold, dust, and countless other things he could not name. It was dark. The air was still to a suffocating degree. Raleigh had missed it. It felt like home.

The others, save for Emerick, were taken somewhere unseen, though from the sounds of it, they weren't very far. Much to Raleigh's surprise, they weren't shackled. He supposed that was one of the many boons of being part of a royal entourage. They were not imprisoned for a crime, simply detained for a misdeed. At least, the others were. He wasn't sure what fate awaited him.

He heard sounds from the ladies' cell, but from where he sat, he couldn't make out what they were saying. Their tones sounded as though they'd given up. Just as well, then. Their cause was not his own. Up until a few minutes ago, he hadn't even known what their journey was for. To think it was a desperate gambit for peace.

With a sigh, Raleigh settled to sit against the wall of his cell, idly watching water stream down from countless cracks. The dungeons weren't well-maintained. Such an oversight would've earned someone a beheading back home. Not here, he supposed. Were Lochesterian laws truly that different? Regarding dungeons, prisoners, and... non-humans.

"Do you see my comrades? Look at them, Alarik! Vampires, werewolves, magical humans – what should it matter?!"

Comrades, was it? He found it strange that she had included him in that lot. Or that she'd so nonchalantly called him a magical human, something he didn't even realize she'd found out about. Had it really mattered so little to her - or to the others - that they had never even called him out on it? He didn't deserve such trust. The Princess had nearly thrown her life away to save strangers. They all had, joining her on such a journey. He would never show the same kindness--

Two children, cowering behind him. An order, which he'd ignored. Blood, but not the wolves'.

He always thought... that he would have never...

A few stones collapsed from the wall next to him, weakened from the steady stream that flowed through the structure. With a new direction to flow to, the stream instantly spilled onto the floor. It trickled towards his hand, growing redder with every blink. By the time it reached his palm, it looked thick as blood.

"Unless something changes in Lochester, it will ALWAYS matter!"

There was nothing anyone could do to change Lochester. There was no swaying the Queen. Perhaps if one of her children had ruled instead. Perhaps if the King had still lived. He had married a commoner and pardoned a wolf, after all - the only monster ever to be granted such a privilege. Sylvia, the wolf who shared his eyes. Maybe the King had felt some sort of kinship with her, misguided as it was. To this day, he never understood why.

"Do you think the King's got a secret?"

He wouldn't.

"There are some things better left in the dark... for everyone's sake, and if the girl is to stay safe."

He couldn't. Not with a monster.

"Who are the real monsters? Think for yourself, idiot!"

Raleigh raised his hand from the pool that had formed under it by now. It was dripping red, like it had so many a time before. That's all he was good for, after all. He was not trained to think. It was nothing but a hunch anyhow, conjured by an utterly broken mind. The Princess' marriage plan had far higher chances of coming to fruition than such a farfetched theory. And she'd already given up on it. A sensible decision, really. They were trapped.

He sighed, gaze turning to the ceiling. The water was still flowing. Steadily, insistently, as red as ever. Raleigh found himself following it idly, his gaze trailing along the cracks in the walls. Walls that had likely not seen repair in centuries.

"What would you do?! Live the rest of your life with horrible guilt that you were the one person who could change the world, and instead you chose to sit in your comfortable palace and do nothing?!”

Raleigh's palm curled into a fist, and the blood was water again.

"Princess," his voice cut through the silence, louder than he'd ever heard it before. He was a no one. One soldier among many, as expendable as the rest. But the people locked in here with him were different. His theory aside, if someone could find a way-- if there was a way to be found...

"If I take you all to Lochester," there was a guard around, but not within earshot. He'd seen the guard post on their way down. They were ill-prepared for prisoners, twice so for unchained ones.

Raleigh's breath came out as mist. The water on his hand had long since turned to frost. It was strange; he felt so very cold, yet something within him was burning.

"Will you change the world?"
 
Last edited:

Tangeh

Well-Known Member
Princess Gwendolyn
Khushian Palace Dungeons


Gwen watched intently for the responses of her comrades. Lyn looked away, the uncharacteristically cold response sending fresh waves of guilt through Gwen. “I'm sorry,” Gwen implored. “I wish I would have told you sooner, and certainly not in this manner.” Lyn had changed over this journey. She had become harder. Less forgiving. Stronger, even. When they first met, Gwen recalled she was one of few to accept her conscription without argument, and was quick to offer her own personal healing potions to those who needed them. Gwen should have brought more supplies. Gold and soldiers seemed like plenty to a child who had never led an army. She was naive. Not so naive to divulge her plans to total strangers straight away, but to never entrust them with the information at all was perhaps even worse.

What if she had told them? What would they have done? If Alarik feared her father's wrath, she found it hard to imagine commoners continuing to help her. Much less being welcomed into a noble's manor as Dimmy so graciously had. Gwen imagined he was halfway home by this point. She wished Dimmy were here – well, maybe not literally in the dungeons, but it had been an abrupt goodbye. If she were him she would not take kindly to an apology sent by mail. Nor would he likely appreciate her efforts to help find his mother anyways – though she doubted she would be granted such royal abilities any longer. Her father was going to be furious. Her kingdom even more so. If he didn't personally strip her of power, the Ylorian citizens might as well. Oddly, she cared little about this, other than being unable to reward those she had put in such grave danger. She left Yloria intending to never return; that was probably why. Her own fate had already been sealed – though it was hardly hers to begin with.

Sylvia wasn't like Dimmy, nor was she like Lyn – quite the opposite, in fact. Sylvia was very vocal about not wanting to join her, but she did so anyway and offered a great deal of help at that. Admittedly Gwen had never had such close contact with a werewolf before. She was glad she had the opportunity to confirm the hate that Lochester preached were nothing more than lies. Sylvia was an out of control beast on the most human level possible.

Gwen made eye contact with Sylvia. “Sylvia, do you remember what you told me when we first met?” Gwen's voice was unusually soft, but it hardly mattered in the silent stone dungeon. “You told me that being a princess is not an excuse to rob others of their freedom. You told me that people become heroes because in the end, they choose to. I dismissed this notion because it was convenient.” Gwen hesitated and bowed her head. “When I was an hour old my father held me, a fragile wailing newborn, in front of our kingdom's people. He told them that I, who knew not even the concept of humanity yet, would lead them to salvation.” Gwen looked back up, her eyes steely, and her voice equally so. “In truth, I know nothing of freedom. I know nothing of choice. I have been nothing more than a political playing piece from the day I was born. You were right. I am no hero. And I deeply apologize for risking your freedom in my attempts to become one.”

...​

Khushian Royal Palace

Above the dungeons in the Khushian palace halls, Sorcerer Glikore, dressed in heavy purple robes, along with several matching Zlelmore guards, strolled toward the Khushian throne room. He slowed down before entering, his entourage matching his pace, as he spotted Dimmy sitting just outside. “Ah! Look, my subjects! It is Princess Gwendolyn's vampire. How wonderful to see you again, and in such an odd location, as Sage Celeus assured me he teleported you to the Capital. Perhaps I wasn't specific enough.” His mouth curled upward into a grin. “Ah well. Miredom tells me they received the shipment of herbicides, and that only three of your subjects perished! How many of you were there to start, again? No matter, no matter. I believe it was a passing grade.”

“Sorcerer Glikore...?” Prince Alarik stepped out of the throne room and approached warily, surrounded by his council. “To what do we owe this pleasure?” The sharp eyes of the councilmen implied it was not much of a pleasure at all.

“Young Prince! How wonderful to make your acquaintance for the first time as reigning monarch. Truly sorry for the passing of your father. He and I were very good friends, as I'm sure you're aware. I happened to hear that King Leonius was invited to your court, and I thought I may as well make an appearance. All of the realm's monarchs in one location.” He clapped his hands together. “Remarkable! We have so much to discuss.”

Alarik blinked at the Zlelmore ruler. His red eyes, which should be his most intimidating feature, looked nervously away. One of the councilmen stepped hastily over and whispered something in his ear – Alarik shook his head and gently cleared his throat. “Sorcerer, the council disagreed with your notion to support Princess Gwendolyn on her ridiculous attempt to worm her way into the Lochesterian monarchy. I thought we were very clear on that matter.”

Sorcerer Glikore sighed. “You are so very unlike your father, much less fun. Perhaps it comes with the human heritage. In any case, as you've apparently deduced, I indeed have come to state that Zlelmore firmly disagrees with Khusha's disagreement. Shall we discuss it further? Or...” He flicked his wrist and a small spark of electricity danced up his palm. “Shall I take action myself?”

...​

Khushian Palace Dungeons

Gwen had lost the ability to face Sylvia and Lyn and had turned to face the wall, head buried in her arms. Her mind would not stop echoing the disappointment of her father and the fate that awaited her in Yloria. It may not be too different from her fate here. At least their dungeons were better kept.

It would have been worse if she'd seen her plan through, she supposed, but at least then she would be able to have hope for the future. To be a faceless member of the royal council, working to ensure she both kept a good rapport with the true monarchs while secretly educating the next in line about what needed to be done. Alarik was right: there were too many variables for it to be a good plan. She was foolish to put such confidence in herself, especially after everything that had happened just on the attempt to get there. She couldn't even see that first journey to fruition...

“Princess.” Gwen didn't recognize the voice at first and turned in confusion. After a few moments, she placed it: the Lochesterian soldier. Raleigh. She had nearly forgotten he was here. He had been with them for less than twenty-four hours and she'd already gotten him imprisoned. By this point that was typical. “If I take you all to Lochester... Will you change the world?”

To... to Lochester? That was impossible. Gwen was silent as she struggled to wrap her mind around that proposition. A proposition that was her goal when she'd walked through the Khushian palace doors. No. She can't change the world. She was just told as much by the entire Khushian council.

“You... you are a magical human?” Sir Emerick's stunned voice echoed across the dungeon, and Gwen's eyes widened. “You, a Lochesterian guard...? How is this...”

Indeed, it seemed unlikely, but if Sir Emerick observed it himself, it must be true. There was no denying Raleigh's armor was authentic, and even Sylvia could make a claim to his identity. Gwen knew little about the inner workings of Lochester, but she knew much of their hatred. His life must have been hell. They would have needed to break him in order to trust him. She had been educated on similar practices in Yloria in the years where their laws were one and the same. She hadn't considered just how backwards Lochester still was. Raleigh may be more dangerous than they realized – yet despite him not being disarmed when they removed his spear, he had not harmed them. Why didn't he attack, once he was healed, bathed, and threatened with going to royal council?

What was it Raleigh had told her, in the bath – he spared a few “enemies”. If he was broken, he at least had a moment of clarity. He nearly paid for this decision with his life. But they saved him in the desert. ...She saved him in the desert. Gwen's eyes widened. She made the decision to spare a life that by all means she should have ended.

Maybe... maybe she was a hero. To of all things, not her own nation, but to a soldier of their enemy.

It wasn't too late. She could still be both.

“Raleigh,” Gwen said, her voice shaking, but louder. “If you take us to Lochester. I... I will do everything in my power to change the world. There is no going back for me now. I will change the world, or I will die trying.”
 
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VampirateMace

Internet Overlord
Lord Dimamire Nightshade
Khusha (Palace)


Dimmy knew his father was right. He hadn't feed properly since that first night in Zlelmore, and even then that blood had been tainted. But there was so much on his mind it was hard motivate himself to move. Instead he stared at the intricate tile work and let the sounds of other palace visitors wash over his numb senses. It felt like nothing he'd done since leaving home had mattered. He hadn't located his mother or actually managed to help Gwen.

The swoosh of overly thick robes was not enough to get his attention. The man's rambling was however. Dimmy looked up slowly, cold unfeeling red eyes, and flat expression. To be honest he was just imitating what he'd seen full vampires do when intimidating people. He replied softly, with just a hint of accusation, “People died. You sent them to their deaths.”

However the sudden appearance of his Prince had caught Glikore's attention, and as the old man rambled out pleasantries, Dimmy got quickly to his feet. He did a quick self excusing bow and retreated several paces behind the sorcerer's party, but still staying within earshot out of curiosity. He knew the prince (and probably the council) would know he could still hear them if he wasn't too busy to think about it, but it was not likely the magic users would know even if they even bothered to look back at him. It was the illusion of privacy.

Keeping to that illusion, he turned leaned against the wall, acting like he was still merely at some sort of leisure or rest. He nodded to a passing noble lady, who smiled smugly and shook her head before continuing on her course.

He sneered lightly to himself when he heard Glikore's mention of human heritage. Even the humans were spiteful on their human halves.

His head swiveled quickly when he heard the sorcerer comment 'Shall I take action myself?' and he saw sparkles of magical electricity flicker around the mage's hand. He stepped away from the wall and lifted his hands into a ready position, watching the Grand Sorcerer carefully as he summoned his own magic. Balls of black flame formed in his palms, flickering ominously. If they looked back now, he definitely risked a fight or at least a stand-off, but in his mind at least their attention would be off the prince long enough for palace guards to act.
 

GoldenHouou

antagoonist
Raleigh Ferghus Eachainn
Khusha (Royal Palace Dungeons)


The silence seemed to stretch on forever. Raleigh wondered if the princess had even heard him. Even if she had, there was no guarantee she'd listen to the empty promises of an enemy soldier. Without seeing her, he could draw no conclusions. All he could do was wait.

At last, someone spoke. But it wasn't the voice Raleigh had hoped to hear.

"You... you are a magical human?"

Raleigh turned to find his cellmate staring at him in disbelief. Though there was no need to convince him, Raleigh opened his palm to reveal the frost upon it as a wordless confirmation regardless. Did the revelation make Emerick hate him more? Less? He supposed it did not truly matter.

"Raleigh," he heard the princess call out from somewhere unseen. Raleigh held his breath, afraid that if he were to exhale, he would miss her words. The words that dictated the fates of all those present.

"If you take us to Lochester. I... I will do everything in my power to change the world. There is no going back for me now. I will change the world, or I will die trying."

Raleigh found his lips curling into something akin to a smile. His face was stiff and chapped and hadn't borne a smile in years. Feeling one forming now was almost painful.

He stood up. The smile was gone from his face, but not from his voice. "Understood."

With that, he turned to the wall only to catch himself hesitating. He hadn't used his ice magic often. His superiors had deemed it less useful than his powers over the mind, and twice as difficult to conceal besides. As such, he'd never gotten the chance to cultivate or learn to control it. So far, he'd only been able to freeze areas the size of his palm, and even then it was never in an instant. What he was about to do... would it... could he even...

He could. He had to.

Raleigh inhaled sharply. With no further warning, he slammed his hand against the wall. The wet rock under his palm froze in an instant, and a wave of cold traveled along the rivulets that snaked throughout the structure. The water streams froze rapidly, expanding against their confines. The stones that made up the wall, worn and eroded, offered little resistance.

And so, the wall practically exploded. Rocks flew every which way, pelting the cell and the area outside of it in debris. A few struck Raleigh. One caught him in the shoulder hard enough to push his torso sideways. Another caught him in the thigh, dangerously near the knee. The air was thick from mold and dust, but Raleigh had no time to wait for it to settle. He staggered out of his cell towards where the others were kept. Theirs was a conspicuous escape, and once his ears stopped ringing, he could already make out distant shouts. Every second mattered.

"Stand back," he instructed as he reached the women's cell, raising his hand. Another explosion, another cell without a wall.

Raleigh gasped for air, throwing his side against the wall of the dungeon. The world was spinning. Not even a full day ago, he'd visited death's door. And now... he'd never used his ice powers to this extent - or known that he could to begin with - and it was nothing short of draining. Shivers ravaged his spine as if his powers had drawn their fuel from his own body heat. His palms bled from taking the brunt of the flying rocks - or they would have, if the blood hadn't frozen in his wounds.

But there was no time to rest. The shouting was getting closer, accompanied by hurried footsteps. The guard they'd seen on their way down was no doubt coming. And he must've alerted others.

"It is as you said," he breathed out, voice like gravel, "There is no going back. From here on, I won't be the only fugitive. If any of you don't wish to abandon your current lives, stay."

Raleigh turned just in time to catch the guard bursting into the scene, aghast.

"Otherwise, we're leaving."

He pushed himself away from the wall, ready to rush the guard. Hopefully, the others would do the same.
 

Minteh

It's so shiny!
Lyn Grier
Khushian Palace Dungeons


Following her words, Gwenappeared to struggle to find the words to respond to her. “I'm sorry,” Gwen finally said. “I wish I would have told you sooner, and certainly not in this manner.” Lyn sniffed a little in response, before looking away, turning her attention to the pool of water she had dipped a finger in minutes earlier. She still wasn't entirely sure how to deal with what had been revealed in the throne room, but her annoyance was beginning to subside at least, if only slightly. She knew that annoyance would not go away soon, but given the current situation they found themselves in, she knew it would not do her any good to dwell on those feelings for too long.

Suddenly, she was aware of the princess talking again, and turned her head ever so slightly to listen as she spoke to Sylvia. She was reminding her of what she had said when they had all first met each other, a conversation that felt like it had happened half a lifetime ago after everything that had happened between then and now. Lyn had no strong feelings towards this conversation between her two companions at first, but when she heard Gwen speak about knowing nothing of freedom and choice, a pang of sympathy flared in her chest.

After this, the room fell into eerie silence again, as Gwen seemed unable to face Lyn nor Sylvia, turning away from them both and facing the wall. Lyn watched her back for a moment, before leaning her head back against the wall and emitting a heavy sigh. She wondered what would become of the group once the Ylorian guards came from them. No doubt Gwen would be given back to her family and Emerick would naturally follow suit. Lyn couldn't imagine that no amount of pleading from Gwen would spare Raleigh nor Sylvia from another stint in the dungeons or worse. Her own fate was unclear too - though she imagined if she didn't wind up in another cell they would send her home to Zlelmore with her metaphorical tail between her legs.

“Princess.”

The sound of Raleigh's voice drew Lyn back to the present, and for a moment she blinked in confusion, not understanding how she was hearing his voice at first before recalling his and Emerick's cell was nearby. “If I take you all to Lochester... Will you change the world?”

“You... you are a magical human?” Emerick's stunned voice echoed across the dungeon, and Lyn blinked in surprise. “You, a Lochesterian guard...? How is this...”

Lyn sat up with intrigue following this, and studied Gwen, trying to gauge what her thoughts were on the matter, or what she might say. After a moment, she spoke back to him. “Raleigh,” Gwen said, her voice shaky, but louder than it had been when she had spoken before. “If you take us to Lochester. I... I will do everything in my power to change the world. There is no going back for me now. I will change the world, or I will die trying.”

A moment later Lyn heard Raleigh give a simple one-worded response. Curious at how the whole situation was about to play out, Lyn stood back on her feet and came to stand close to Gwen. They waited in silence until a fairly loud noise came from Raleigh and Emerick's cell, and the sound of debris falling to the floor and flying off in every direction. In the distance, Lyn could already hear shouting, and truth be told she wasn't surprised.

"Stand back," Raleigh instructed a moment later. After the noise that had come from his cell, Lyn was quick to turn away from the wall and braced herself for the following explosion. When the debris and dust had finally settled, Lyn was the first to tentatively step through where the wall had once been. Her brow creased with concern when she caught sight of him, clearly drained and exhausted from whatever magic he had used to break the walls.

"It is as you said," Raleigh spoke, with a voice like gravel, "There is no going back. From here on, I won't be the only fugitive. If any of you don't wish to abandon your current lives, stay." He turned just in time to see the guard from earlier reappearing, looking aghast at the scene unfolding in front of him. "Otherwise, we're leaving." He pushed himself away from the wall he was leaning against, ready to rush the guard.

Lyn saw what he was doing and was quick to follow suit, and moved to rush the guard. He was caught by surprise at her charging at him, perhaps because he was simply not expecting her to be the one to strike him first, or perhaps because she looked odd charging at him whilst still wearing the outfit she had changed into for court. She thrust an arm into his chest, and then she twisted suddenly so she was facing back towards her companions, using the momentum to grab his arm and throw - though it felt like more like she had to pull him in this case, due to the height discrepancies between them - over her shoulder. It was a takedown Lyn had used and practised many times before, so she knew it would be effective at downing him, the only downside was that in her dress the whole move looked incredibly clumsy.

She didn't take a moment to wipe herself down, as she knew she simply didn't have time to lose. With no time to spare, she quickly threw herself onto the downed guard, who seemed even more startled and confused by this than he had been by her rushing him. The two of them wrestled on the floor, the guard trying to get Lyn off of him, and Lyn trying to further restrain him. After a moment, Lyn was forced to grab one of the rocks that had come loose and scattered on the floor by Raleigh, and with a precise motion swung it at his head. He went limp almost immediately, his head going flat against the floor. For a moment, Lyn thought she might have killed him despite that not being her intention, but the steady rise and fall of his chest told her otherwise.

Carefully, she stood up from the man and looked back at the group. "It is too late to turn back and give up now," She said, referring back Raleigh's comment and Gwen's earlier words. "After everything we've been through and everything we've lost..." Lyn's voice faltered for a moment before she looked over to Gwen. "Regardless of my opinion on certain matters, I am with you, Gwen. I am with all of you." Her green gaze glanced between Raleigh, Emerick, and Sylvia, and even cast a glance upwards as a subtle nod to Dimmy. He might not have been here with them currently, but he was still a part of their group...or at least she hoped he still was.

"From now until the end."
 

Tangeh

Well-Known Member
Khushian Royal Palace

The atmosphere in the throne room changed in an instant. Khushian guards raised their weapons and stood in front of their Prince and his council, all of whom were struggling to fight back the surprise in their expressions. “Why?” Alarik pressed, stepping forward even as Glikore smirked and the electricity in his palm intensified, brightly illuminating his tattooed face. “What would Zlelmore possibly have to gain?”

“Well,” Glikore started, his intonation much too casual for the level of threat the sparks in his hand were suggesting, “aside from that the Ylorian Princess offered much more to me than you did – might I remind you offered me nothing, and neither did Leonius – and aside from that young Gwendolyn is correct in that a weaker Lochester would benefit all other nations – if I must go on, this day was foretold many moons ago. I am not one to be involved in petty politics, but this is not that, and if I must force your hand, then so be it.”

Alarik's expression hardened. “What do you mean, “foretold”? You'd allow Gwen to go through with this because of a... a prophecy?!” The councilmen tried to quietly stop him, but Alarik shrugged them off and motioned for the guards to ready themselves.

Glikore's grin never faltered, his eyes glowing as if the electricity had traveled to his irises. “If I don't, the world will never see what true royalty can accomplish – but don't worry yourself; I'm not talking about Gwendolyn.” Glikore's grin slowly faded out – in fact, everything slowly faded to white. The blinded Khushian guards yelled in alarm, and the chaotic clanging of armor and an explosion of magic filled the air. When the light returned to normal, two dozen Zlelmorian guards had appeared and rapidly engaged with the Khushian soldiers.

A fireball flew past where Dimmy was hiding. About half of the Zlelmore army were women, and one of them had caught sight of Dimmy. Like the rest of the Zlelmore army, she wore a lightweight purple cloak that obscured her face. “Vampire...” she muttered, raising her arms to send another fireball in his direction.

Khushian Palace Dungeons

Raleigh uttered a single affirmation, and then more silence. The words Gwen spoke moments ago echoed in her head. Yloria's rolling pastures, the sweet scent of apple blossoms, the modest life of the townsfolk. To trade never being there again for the chance to preserve it... that was an easy decision. Gwen clutched the golden artifact on her wrist tightly. Lyn had come to stand next to her and she quietly took comfort in her company.

Gwen started as a loud bang rumbled across the complex, and she rushed to the front of the cell. Emerick cried out and Gwen's attention snapped to beyond where she could see. “Emerick!”

He didn't respond to her call, and Gwen strained her eyes into the darkness. Raleigh appeared out of the dust, with Emerick following shortly behind. “Stand back,” Raleigh advised. Gwen warily took several steps back and stuck a hand out in front of Lyn as if to shield her. Even so, the explosion surprised her, and she threw her other hand in front of her head and let out a squeal. She slowly lowered her arm, and stared in awe at the newly-created escape route.

Raleigh advised the group if any of them didn't wish to abandon their current lives, then to stay. Stay and become a prisoner? Gwen opened her mouth to assure the others she wouldn't let any harm come to them, but she hardly even believed herself anymore.

A guard rushed them, and before either Gwen or Emerick could react, Lyn was on him, performing such an impressive feat of strength on a man much larger than herself that all Gwen could do was stare dumbfounded. It was Emerick who spoke up as Lyn leapt on top of him and started wrestling him to the ground - “L-Lyn, er - ” She grabbed a rock and Emerick started toward them. “Lyn - !”

Too late – the guard was bonked and out like a light. Emerick knelt down quickly beside him and pressed two fingers against the man's neck. “Still alive,” Emerick confirmed. No sooner had the words left Emerick's lips than an icicle plunged through the Khushian man's chest. Emerick and Gwen stared up at Ral. Emerick came to his senses first, hastily swiping the sword that was in the man's sheath, keys off his belt, and gently pushing Gwen toward the stairs with one arm and gesturing the others on with his other. “We need to go, quickly.”

Gwen nodded, tearing her gaze away from the blood pooling beneath the young guard's still body. May the Gods have mercy on him, and may Alarik have mercy on her. “I don't know why you did that,” Gwen said to Ral, exasperated, “but don't do it again.” She gave a nod back at Lyn when she confirmed her loyalties to their group regardless of her personal opinions. A sentiment that Gwen was certain to be echoed by the majority of Yloria when they found out. But her citizens hadn't shared the same journey; they would not be so quick to understand.

“I have a plan,” Gwen said carefully to the others, turning to address them just before the stairs. “But it's a little... crazy.” Emerick quirked a brow at her, but she didn't elaborate on the specifics. She couldn't risk losing them now. “We need to get to the back of the palace, near the gardens, I think.” Damn it, Dimmy would probably know the best way there, but who knew where he was now? “Ral, I'm going to need you, so save your strength.

Emerick led the group up the stairs and fiddled the key into the locked door. He burst through and was welcomed with yells from two guards stationed at the top of the stairs. Emerick engaged one, and a flash of fur told Gwen that Sylvia engaged the other.

That was it? Two guards? Gwen stared desperately around for more opposition, but found none. But there wasn't silence, either – just down the hall was a chorus of frantic shouting, flashes of light, even smoke starting to billow out of the throne room. It was decidedly the wrong way, but Gwen gestured her party to move closer anyways – cautiously, from behind a wall – but once they were close enough to clearly see, Gwen could do little more than stare in horror. Zlelmorian guards – why were they here?! Alarik... Alarik was gone – Sorcerer Glikore was here, though, sending fresh waves of anger through Gwen as she recalled the lives of her party who were lost due to him, and -

Dimmy – Gwen spotted him off from the rest of the action, but being cornered by a Zlelmore mage – and a second and third were starting to approach. Before Gwen could react, somebody grabbed her left wrist. She whirled around, realizing in that instant that it hadn't been somebody - rather, something. The Sage's gift was squeezing her wrist and beginning to glow bright red. “Father...” Gwen muttered. Her heart felt like it doubled in speed. She had to retreat to the rear of the castle, before her father got here, and before the guards noticed them – and yet, she found herself rushing toward Dimmy.

“Dimmy!” Gwen cried. The three Zlelmore guards hesitated upon seeing Gwen – despite her being completely unarmed and none of her party in any sort of armor.

“Get out of here, Princess,” one of the female Zlelmorian guards hissed at her. “We'll hold them off as long as we can.” So, Glikore went as far as to follow her himself with an army. She hoped her father wouldn't be in danger – the bracelet on her wrist was becoming painful.

The look on Dimmy's face told Gwen he wasn't exactly thrilled that she'd chosen to assist. Tears pricked at her eyes. “I'm sorry, Dimmy, I truly am, I should have told you - ”

“Hey!”A Khushian guard yelled, finally taking notice of the princess and her party. “Seize her!”

She didn't have much time. The Khushian guards were rushing them, and the Zlelmorian guards wouldn't have time to react. “Dimmy, I need to get to the back of the palace. The big room near the gardens.” She stared at him pointedly. Her words would have carried much more weight to a citizen of Khusha. The big room near the gardens was where the royal dragons were held.
 
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VampirateMace

Internet Overlord
Lord Dimamire Nightshade
Khusha (Palace)


Dimamire, eyes narrowed, spell ready, watched the encounter carefully. Prince Alarik was clearly unafraid of Glikore. That was either pretty respectable or kind of foolish. But it wasn't Dimmy's place to judge his prince. . . but then they started speaking of a prophecy and true royalty. Dimamire would have tried to analyze these facts further, it was rather intriguing, but a sudden bright flash forced him to shut his eyes and causing him to lose concentration on his magic. When it had passed, dozens of Zlelmorian soldiers were now fighting Alarik's forces.

Dimmy was still trying to relocate his prince when something bright flew past him. He could feel the intense heat coming off it, before it slammed into the floor behind him, scorching it. Realizing he was in danger himself, Dimmy raised his hands again reactivating his magic. It formed into a dark fire-like balls as he looked for the source of the fireball. The female mage before him was already preparing another attack. She had more magical power, but his smaller unrefined spell would be ready faster. He let loose, leaving a rusted splotches on her armor, and leapt away as she cast her spell. However he still caught her fireball across the arm, splashing flame onto his cape. Hissing from the pain, he backed away, patting out what fire remained on his cape (it was too fast to catch properly, for which he might be thankful if he wasn't in so much pain at the moment).

He'd raised his hands again, seeing more mages joining his attacker, when he suddenly heard someone calling his name. He whipped his head around to see Gwen. How did she escape? And more importantly, what was with royals and putting themselves in danger? Fearfully he glanced back at the mages advancing on him, they seemed to be hesitating, and Dimmy understood, the princess (who they were now trying to tell off), was too important to risk.

Everything seemed to happen too fast at that point. Gwen was so sorry. The palace gaurds spotted her, and were moving in as well now. She wanted into the back room of the palace for some reason. The incredibly dangerous back room.

The fact she was still trying to do this infuriated Dimmy. He'd had enough, and decided to let her know it, “Oh, just get you into the back room now? You know what? No. . .” his voice grew louder, “Look around you princess!” he winced as he gestured with his injured arm to the scene before them, “This is on you! This is all on you! You and Lyn were the only humans I ever thought I could respect, and you betrayed us both! People are dead because of you!” he smashed the dark fireball in his hand, forgetting the mages, “Because you thought you could fix the whole world's problems by getting knocked up! Did you even consider what was going to happen to the rest of us in Lochester?” he patted his chest, “Where they don't even think of us as people? The best I could hope for in that case it to end up a pet in their menagerie! But more likely they'd have killed us in front of you the first time you happened to step out of line!”

He made an exaggerated downward pointing gesture on that last note of his speech, face flush (at least for a vampire) and breathing hard from the pain and exertion.
 
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Minteh

It's so shiny!
Lyn Grier
Khushian Palace Dungeons


After she had knocked out the guard, Emerick came over to the body, crouching down beside him to confirm whether he was still breathing. “Still alive,” He confirmed, not that Lyn had thought any different. She had been careful to hit him hard enough to knock him out not kill him - or at least she hoped she had when she struck him. However, no sooner had the words come out of Emerick's mouth did a giant icicle burst through the man's chest. The action took her by surprise and being so close to the body she saw it all up close. She was too shocked to say anything else and could only watch silently as Emerick plucked the sword and keys from the guard's body, before gesturing towards the stairs and urging the group to move quickly.

Lyn gave a curt nod and moved along with the group, only hesitating slightly to look across at Raleigh and ask, "Why did you do that?" Surprisingly, there was little anger in her voice, despite the effort she had gone to ensure the man had lived. There was some anger inside of her over what he had done - she could feel it in the back of her mind - but she was too stunned to yell at him or question him further for his reasoning.

Just before they reached the stairs, Gwen turned to the group to address them. “I have a plan,” She said carefully. “But it's a little... crazy.” Lyn's expression mirrored Emerick's own. Gwen didn't elaborate on any specifics following this telling them that they needed to get to the back of the palace, near the gardens. So not much of a plan at all then, Lyn thought to herself. Still, some sort of a plan was better than no plan.

When they reached the top of the stairs the group met surprisingly little resistance, finding only two guards waiting for them that were quickly dispatched by Emerick and Sylvia. Lyn looked around curiously, wondering what was going on. There might have been nobody nearby but it certainly wasn't quiet down the hall the group could hear shouting coming from the throne room, flashes of light, and even smoke was beginning to billow out not. Lyn wasn't sure it was a wise idea going towards what was quite clearly a potentially dangerous situation, but she would have been lying if she said she wasn't curious about what was going on. Gwen gestured for the party to move closer and investigate what was going on and it was fair to say that what they found was nothing good. Lyn was shocked to see Zlelmorian guards in the room. The Prince was missing and for some reason, Sorceror Gilkore was there too, whose mere presence seemed to reignite the dampened anger Lyn had felt earlier.

“Dimmy!” Gwen's voice suddenly called out. Upon spotting her the mages hesitated slightly, which was odd considering they could have easily overpowered Gwen or any one of the group at that moment. Understandably, Dimmy didn't look exactly thrilled to see Gwen at that moment, which the Princess responded to by trying to make some hasty apology to him, which was promptly cut short by the Khushian guards taking notice of the group.

With the guards closing in on them, Gwen only had time to explain to him that she needed to get to the back of the palace.

Lyn wasn't sure what sort of reaction Gwen would have been expecting after she said that, but it certainly couldn't have been the one she got. “Oh, just get you into the back room now? You know what? No. . .” Dimmy's voice only grew louder with every word. “Look around you princess!” He gestured to the scene around them, before pressing on. “This is on you! This is all on you! You and Lyn were the only humans I ever thought I could respect, and you betrayed us both! People are dead because of you! Because you thought you could fix the whole world's problems by getting knocked up! Did you even consider what was going to happen to the rest of us in Lochester? Where they don't even think of us as people? The best I could hope for in that case is to end up a pet in their menagerie! But more likely they'd have killed us in front of you the first time you happened to step out of line!”

Following his speech, Lyn could only look at him in surprise and admiration for letting that out. It might not have been the most ideal time by any means but it needed to be said. She couldn't claim to understand how much harder things were from his point of view, but at the very least she could empathise with his anger and frustration at the situation they found themselves in.

Now they just had to deal with the guards that were inching ever closer.

"You know Raleigh, I think now would be an excellent time to put your newfound gifts to use, don't you think?" Lyn prompted, looking to the man and hoping that with his magic he could offer them some much-needed defence from the enemies closing in.
 

GoldenHouou

antagoonist
Raleigh Ferghus Eachainn
Khushian Royal Palace


And just like that, they were fugitives on the run.

Lyn acted first - even faster than Raleigh could. She threw herself at an approaching guard and managed to knock him out in an impressive struggle despite their difference in size. The Lochesterian stared in awe and moved to follow her, ready to continue their push out of the dungeons, when--

"Still alive," came Emerick's voice from near the guard.

Out of sheer reflex of not wanting to leave the job unfinished, Raleigh formed an icicle from what moisture he could muster from the walls, then threw it at the fallen guard's chest. It pierced him precisely where the heart was.

"Not anymore," Raleigh confirmed with a nod as he ran past the scene.

“I don't know why you did that,” he heard Gwen say a moment later as they made their way forward, “but don't do it again.”

Raleigh glanced at her, surprised at first. It took him a moment to realize what she was referring to; finishing off an enemy was simply that natural to him. As he connected the dots, though, he hung his head ever so slightly. There was no time for promises or apologies however, as she soon continued with the promise of a plan. "It will need to be a little crazy, princess," he assured her, "I'm ready."

With the group all together and out of the dungeons, there was only the... matter of the vampire. They found him soon enough, but not in a favourable spot. Raleigh was too far away to hear exactly what Gwen asked of him, but whatever it was, it set the vampire off. Even Raleigh had to turn around to see the sudden outburst - partly because it was so uncharacteristic of him, partly because he half-expected Dimmy to attack her. He didn't. And, Raleigh supposed, his words weren't exactly unjustified.

But this was no time or place for infighting.

"You know Raleigh," he heard Lyn say and immediately turned to her, attentive. "I think now would be an excellent time to put your newfound gifts to use, don't you think?"

He followed her gaze to the approaching guards. "Yes," he bowed with one arm to his chest. "As you say. I only ask that you won't... hate me."

Ice magic was one thing, but that was not at all where his specialty lay. If he really wanted to put his magical prowess to use, he had to turn to what he was most apt at; the dark arts. But perhaps, if this time he used them to protect and not to harm...

"Don't do it again."

"I won't."

As Raleigh pulled his hand away from his chest, dark tendrils traced his fingertips. They convulsed, crackling like fire. And as he extended his arm, similar tendrils burst forth from the shadow of a wall near the approaching guards. They shouted, startled as the tendrils lashed out at them, sharpening with each swing. He'd only ever made blades from shadows but-- perhaps, if he just focused...

Hand cramping and veins threatening to burst, Raleigh willed the shadows to stay dull; more like whips, they lashed at guards that tried to run past, swiping at their ankles and wrapping around their waists. Raleigh felt blood trickle from his nose. At the very least, most of the guards were restrained. The ones that weren't...

He turned to Lyn, daring to lay a hand on her shoulder. "The ones that reach us - reach you - are the unlucky ones."

A nod of affirmation, and he ran towards Gwen, Dimmy and whatever argument they were in the middle of. "We don't have much time, the shadows won't last forever." His gaze narrowed as it turned to Dimmy. "Complain on the way."

With that, he reached towards the vampire, attempting to grab him by the collar of his shirt - and hoist him over one shoulder like a dangerous, fanged sack of potatoes.
 

Tangeh

Well-Known Member
Princess Gwendolyn
Khushian Royal Palace


Dimmy's voice increased in volume, and it stung. Maybe Gwen deserved it, but she hadn't expected it. Dimmy was always the composed gentleman, but now he didn't hold back. An unintended benefit was that the Khushian soldiers seemed to assume Dimmy had Gwen covered, and turned their attention on Ral and Lyn instead. Dimmy was right. People died who would not have died if she hadn't interfered. It was a burden she was always destined to bear, but still, the directness of it haunted her. Gwen's expression swam with pain, but as he continued, perhaps letting his anger get the best of him, her gaze hardened. The pressure on her wrist was weirdly grounding her – reminding her why she came – reminding her what needed to be done.

“Dimmy, I'm sorry. I used you. I used Lyn, and I used all our comrades that didn't make it to these halls. I wouldn't blame you if you never forgave me.” Her voice steadied, but her gaze fell. “But the truth is that I didn't have a choice. If I had done nothing, a battle would have waged in my own kingdom's halls, and it would be one we weren't strong enough to win.” She met Dimmy's gaze again, cautiously. “And so where does that leave Khusha? Stuck between Lochester that – as you put it – doesn't think of you as people; Zlelmore, which is currently waging war with your army over whom the Ylorian princess marries; and a weakened Yloria that isn't in a position to help anybody but itself.” She winced and massaged her wrist. “It should not have been up to Father to make decisions regarding me. The monarchy will always prioritize itself over its kingdom. But what does that say about Khusha, who has spent four generations breeding the vampire genetics out of their bloodline? I know you aren't safe in Lochester, Dimmy. But unless something is done, you won't be safe anywhere. I - ”

“We don't have much time, the shadows won't last forever,” Raleigh implored as he ran up to them and stopped Dimmy from leaving. Shadows? The sounds of battle seemed to have dulled... Gwen turned, seeing most of the guards restrained by shadows, with the remainder understandably hesitant to advance – though Lyn and the Zlelmorian soldiers seemed prepared to fight in case they did. Gwen couldn't give Ral more than an astonished expression before the red flow from the Sage's artifact took over her peripheral vision.

Gwen's expression fell blank, and she turned slowly around. Six armour-clad Ylorian guards were striding through the Khushian hallway, and Gwen steeled herself as they spotted her and hesitated. With the Khushian soldiers restrained, running was a viable option, but she couldn't risk it ending in bloodshed for either party. She glanced backwards at Ral and quietly raised a finger to signal him to wait.

King Leonius strode out from the middle of the guards, clad in full formal attire, his hard gaze meeting Gwen's. For all the anxiety she'd felt anticipating his arrival, now she felt nothing. She expected his anger. She expected him to use that strict barking voice he used the few instances he tutored her on political knowledge and etiquette. It wasn't until he actually spoke that she realized she had been hoping for it, not expecting it. “Gwendolyn...” he said, his voice a mixture of shock and desperate relief, but his eyes drifted away from her and toward the halted war behind her. “What have you done?”

Still, Gwen felt nothing. Between the war raging on behind her and her father set to end the hardest journey of her life, she supposed it was preferable. “Zlelmore halted the Marigold, took the lives of half my party, and forced my hand to come to the Khushian palace. I do not know their stance against our army, but the Khushian soldiers should not engage you. Believe me, this was not my intention.”

The King stared for a moment, then the fury she'd expected alighted in his expression. “I had enough damage control to attend to before this – come here, Gwendolyn. We must make amends.”

Gwen continued to hold his expression. She could tell he was anticipating her to reject him, so she obliged. “No, Father.” The Ylorian soldiers shifted uncomfortably as their King glared at his daughter. “Do you think me ignorant?” A fire was finally lit in Gwen's chest, and emotion spread through her body in waves. “Do you think me deaf?! I know Lochester requested me – I know this is what your advisor recommended; I heard him say it!” Tears escaped from her eyes, but she fought the burning in her throat. “I am one person. My status does not matter; one person is not worth Yloria, Father!”

Leonius shook his head. “To understate your worth in such a way does make me think you ignorant!”

“There is no other option.” Gwen's firm gaze conflicted with the tears running down her face, but she held it anyways. A presence appeared on her left, and she glanced up at Emerick, who had abandoned the battle in favour of standing next to her and staring at his king.

“It wasn't an option in the first place!” Leonius snapped. His furious stare shifted to Emerick, who – unlike Gwen – quickly bowed his head in respect. “Emerick,” Leonius snapped, “you knew that just as well as Gwendolyn did. You are no longer to guard my daughter. I order you to seize her.”

Gwen tensed and her head snapped to her lifelong guardian. She had no weapon to raise in her defense, though she doubted she could bring herself to use it anyways, but Emerick dropped to one knee and kept his head bowed. “I cannot, my King.”

Gwen took a few steps back as the rest of the Ylorian guards tensed and prepared for combat. “Emerick,” Leonius growled, “you are obligated to serve me.”

Emerick didn't move. “No,” he rejected, then continued with unwavering confidence, “I serve Yloria foremost, my King.”

There were a few seconds of stunned silence. “Guards!” Leonius shouted.

That was the order Gwen had been prepared for. She turned to run, but there was no need – the shadows that froze the Khushian soldiers in place spread past Gwen to seize the entire Ylorian army, save for its King. Gwen's shocked expression fell first to Ral, but a dark cackle pulled her attention to the middle of the room. Sorceror Glikore was literally hovering above the fight, grinning over the fight like this was the best day of his life. “I must say,” he began, his voice high with enthusiasm, “I didn't realize Yloria employed such raw dark magic in its ranks.” He looked pointedly at Ral, then shook his head. “Though, I suppose I also didn't realize Yloria employed Lochesterian soldiers, either. And ones from Khushia, and even my very own Zlelmore!” His gaze shifted to Dimmy and then to Lyn, and he clapped his hands in delight. “Such resourcefulness, Princess! I do believe such tactics deserve to be rewarded – don't you, Leonius? Alarik?” He snapped his fingers and Gwen's entire party had their original clothing and weapons returned to them – freshly laundered and dried. Glikore bowed deeply in midair. “My gift to you, Princess.”

“Glikore,” Leonius said sternly, “I have never seen you so insistent on anything – and of all things, you wish to abet my daughter in leaving her kingdom?”

The Sorcerer shrugged. “You will thank me later. Alarik?” The Khushian Prince had reappeared, though he was pale and jumped a bit when Glikore called on him. “What say you? Do you still wish to put your army at risk and oppose me?”

Alarik hesitated, his gaze shifting to both Gwen and Leonius. “I... Khushia will not betray Yloria. Zlelmore has failed to offer an explanation for why we should halt their King's orders.”

Glikore chuckled. “Ah, well, that's fair enough. Right then – Gwendolyn, you'd best be going, we can't hold these restraints much longer.” Even as he spoke, some of the guards were freeing arms or legs out of the shadows.

Gwen nodded. “Emerick,” she called. He turned. “Stay here with Father – I need you to support the army and minimize casualties. We will be fine from here.”

Emerick nodded without argument - it was the first time in her life that Gwen had dismissed Emerick like that. He was no longer duty bound to guard her, after all... He walked calmly over to Dimmy and Ral and gently placed a hand on Ral's shoulder. “Please look after her in my stead.”

“Hurry!” Gwen called to the rest of them. Ral hoisted Dimmy unceremoniously over his shoulders, and Gwen walked swiftly over to them, lowering her voice to speak to Dimmy. “Regardless of your opinion – we can either waste time and cause more bloodshed as they fight each other to get to me, or you can direct us to the castle's gardens and remove that possibility. We can at least stop the three kingdoms we are trying to help from killing each other. Please.”
 

VampirateMace

Internet Overlord
Lord Dimamire Nightshade
Khusha (Palace)


Dimmy was hurt and tired as he glared at the princess. She admitted her mistake at least, but he didn't imagine there was anything she could say to change his mind. And maybe there wasn't, but there was something she could say to shake him. She still clung to the delusion that she was right, but as she described her vision of the fallout if she didn't go through with this plan, she mentioned Khusha trying to breed the vampire out of their royal line. That gave him pause, it was completely true that the prince was more human than vampire, though he hated to admit it, and he had more human aids and nobles around him than there would have been in the past. It even gave him a sudden terrible suspicion about his own family, his whole generation (him and his cousins) were all half vampire at best. Was this a preemptive attempt to make sure their family stayed palatable to the court?

He barely registered the exchange between Lyn and Ral happening nearby. Lyn was prompting Ral to use some gift and he agreed on the condition that she didn't hate him for it. Beyond the main focus of his vision, dark tendrils were now attacking the guards. Dimmy would have recognized this as magic not too different from his own, if he weren't already mentally occupied. Ral dashed between him and Gwen, stating, “We don't have much time, the shadows won't last forever. Complain on the way.”

Dimmy didn't like the look in his eyes as finished that statement while looking at him.

The sudden appearance of Ylorian guard, from behind whom their king appeared, did nothing to ease the situation. The heated exchange between the king and his daughter did give Dimmy a second to process his thoughts, not that it was easy. Looking away from the king and towards to the dark whips, he finally understood. Ral had used magic, so it was no wonder he'd fled Lochester.

He looked back on hearing Emerick ordered to seize the princess, though the knight refused, a move that likely would shorten his life. And then suddenly the Sorceror Glikore was flying and speaking over the rest of the chaos, as he magicked them back into their traveling clothes. Just then the shadow whips were started to break. So Gwen bid Emerick to stay, who in turn asked Ral to look after her.

Gwen called for them to hurry. Suddenly Dimmy found himself being pulled forward and hauled up into the air. It took a moment for Dimmy to realize exactly what had happened, but this new position, looking down Ral's back helped make it pretty clear. Dimmy resolved to definitely complain. He balled his hands into fists and beat them against Ral's back, protesting, “Let me down, you brute! I will not be treated this way! I have not agreed to come with you!”

Gwen came up beside them and calmly requested directions to garden as if this was all still perfectly reasonable, claiming it would stop the three-way fight currently in progress. Dimmy looked at her sharply, he was kind of screamed out, but the irritation still carried in his voice, “Even if it does, to what end? Do you think the fight won't follow you? Do you think Lochester will take you when it means armies arriving to take you back?” He sighed heavily, letting his head drop. He was so sore and so tired. He wondered if maybe if he gave them what they wanted they would let him go. He lifted an arm and pointed, not returning his gaze to her, “That way, but don't make the mistake of thinking I believe in your mission.”
 

Minteh

It's so shiny!
Lyn Grier
Khushian Royal Palace


How fast the night’s events changed from arriving at the castle, to being thrown into the dungeons, to now escaping said dungeons.

Following her suggestion, Raleigh had been quick to act, bowing in agreement to what she had said before wishing that he would not hate her. Lyn had quirked a brow at this, curious what he had meant until dark tendrils stretched up his arm and then appeared to be summoned out of the very shadows themselves. They whipped out towards the guards, lashing at their ankles to fell them and wrapping around their waists to restrain them. Lyn watched the scene unfold with an expression that was equal parts one of awe and fear. Raleigh’s hand on her shoulder pulled her back into the present moment and she looked to him for answers. Seeing the blood trickling from one nostril her healer’s instinct kicked in for a moment and she went to ask him if he was alright, but the answer died on her lips before it could be spoken.

The next thing she knew Raleigh was marching over to where Dimmy and Gwen were and Lyn felt compelled to follow - though she would have happily stayed to fight alongside the other guards had the situation progressed that far.

“We don't have much time, the shadows won't last forever,” Raleigh implored, literally stepping between the two to stop their fighting.

The tensions between them were not eased by the sudden arrival of more Ylorian knights and the king himself. Standing next to Dimmy and Raleigh, Lyn felt incredibly awkward watching the heated exchange between king and his daughter. She tensed slightly hearing the king order Emerick to seize Gwen, fearing for both the princess and the rest of her companion’s fates at that current moment. If Gwen was taken what would happen to them? Thankfully, Emerick refused, a move which Lyn was undecided about whether to think him brave or foolish. The next thing they all knew, Sorcerer Gilkore was there, flying and speaking above the chaos unfolding down below. To Lyn’s relief, he magicked back their clothes and weapons during his conversation. Afterwards, he urged Gwen on her way, warning that the shadow restraints would not hold for long. As the group left, Gwen ordered Emerick to stay behind with her father. Lyn half expected him to protest but the older knight had been nothing but loyal in their journey. He calmly walked over to Dimmy and Ral, put a hand on the latter’s shoulder, and urged them to watch over her in his stead.

A shout from Gwen spurred the group into motion. Raleigh hoisted Dimmy over his shoulder unceremoniously, earning some shouts and thrashing in protest from the vampire. However, the further the group fled from the area, Dimmy seemed to relent and calm down, eventually consenting to giving directions at Gwen’s request.

“How about you wait to hash out your problems until after we get out of here?” Lyn suggested from where she was running behind the group. The hint of irritation in her voice was unmissable. “I’m so f ucking sick of Khusha right now.” She added, letting out a groan of frustration.

ooc - please note this was not my original post. the original got ate when the forum rolled back and I could not restore it. I'm still annoyed at losing it but wanted to quickly rewrite what was lost and this was the best I could do.
 
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