Your Beloved Leader, Jessica Wong. While making your life here on Tirraru better is also taking time out of Her busy life to help the injured and dying on a far off planet. Let's all have a moment of silence for Her Bravery. - Tier Two Loudspeaker


Deep inside the out of session chambers of the Telo Kale Yukon Board of Members, a messenger walked as fast he could, knowing everybody he passed had gotten within these halls by some despicable, yet powerful means. They were all of them, unchallenged. And a misstep or wrong glance by one of them could change the course of his life forever, or so he thought. This was the explanation of sweat on his brow, and the pertinency of his mail.

?It seems that chaos about the lands has spilt out something fierce.. We have off worlders to the tune of hundreds, enroute to assist here in parts of the city and I mean to have us ready for anything. More so, we will assist them with whatever they need. Also let?s get word out to the other Ministers.?

Clearing through the larger figures, he made to one with a glossy head of black of blue, or blue of black, diligently marking pen to paper. "Senator Kaiteki? From Rhy'Din, Sir." handing him the paper. Dyarhk took it and narrowed his eyes on the message it carried. It was not long, at all, when he was storming in the boots of his tidy black uniform through the newly established Tier Two on the outermost gravitational shell around Tirraru, specifically, the hallway leading to the current fourth most powerful head in all the planet: Jessica Wong. Jessica, who has been enjoying the privacy of the current stalemate as a result of her rapid rise to power.

No one, not even the Board of Members, dared approach her during this time. And here Dyarhk was, blowing past checkpoints and opening new air-locked doors to the fortress she had made for herself. Beside him walked his bodyguard, Corea. His partner, his associate, his red-headed gift in a pinch.
And it was no exception here, as she was saving his life by the second, flashing clearance to the armed women they passed regularly. None of them knew what Dyarhk carried, and thus Miss Wong's security was compromised.

"Stop right there. What brings you to My Lady's shell?" a woman asked, five fingers of stoppage on his chest. "Open the bloody door." Dyarhk showed little patience.

"Let us through." Corea said calmly, showing her ID and rank as the woman stepped aside. "You have got to relax. Jessica won't tolerate your attitude.? Corea swiped her card over the reader, opening the next to last door to the computer room. They picked up walking at their brisk pace almost immediately.

"I'm not having any of her games today. People are dying needlessly the more we traverse these stupid, unnecessary checkpoints!" Dyarhk came to the final door.

?You're gonna get us both locked to a war zone again as punishment." Corea rained down anger.

?Only if we're lucky.? he reached for the keypad to open the door.

"I'm sorry, that's as far as your level 3 clearance will get you." a beautiful woman walked up, bringing her security automatic around to her front. Corea sighed into her facepalm.

"Open the door."

?I know your hearing's not bad. So I'll just be nice, and give your one and final warning.? the sub-machinegun cocked.

Dyarhk faced her, fists at his sides, "If you don't open that door....."

?Should I take that as a threat?" Calm voice rose from behind the two of them only before soft click after click of those heels began to echo throughout the white room. "Must I remind you where exactly you are..?" The blonde spoke as the slightest hint of a smirk crossed those red painted lips. Her voice had been enough to cause the body of Corea to tense, stand at attention.. as if ready to listen and carry out whatever order left the blonde's mouth. She had every reason to act this way -- this bioroid was her superior.

Though the same class, being the personal body guard of Jessica Wong did have its special privileges. "Dark. A pleasure to see you again." Reaching into her breast pocket to retrieve what looked to be a cardkey. "Miss Wong has been alerted to your arrival and will speak with you in a moment. Please, follow me." like the so many times they've interacted before; Helen showed little to no care of the words that left the man's mouth as she began to step past him. In doing so the woman with the automatic quickly lowered her weapon and moved out of the way. "The office is still new.. Miss Wong has asked me to instruct you to Not - Touch - Anything." Her voice more stern with those last three chosen words. Corea and Dyarhk just looked at each other from the corners of their eyes.
The inside of the office was.. as usual, the same as always when it came to Jessica. Lavish paintings of herself that seemed to stare at those inside from all around. Dim lighting, rose-red colored walls.. all of this to bring the feeling of uneasiness, of intimidation. This was the lion's den after all.

They were the last words Corea heard him say before he was gone down the hall and out of sight. Corea looked into the portal. "He knows what he's doing... I just wish I did." she said to herself, going through the portal and instantly into the bustling sound of dispute, strife; war. Elbow to elbow with dirty and bloody men, she grabbed them by the shoulders of their shirts and shoved her way through them, getting more aggressive where it was necessary until she had caught up with her responsibility: Dyarhk. He was pleading to an official for information, for Minister Brian Ravenlock's whereabouts, for the the best location to setup a sickbay. But most importantly, he was shocked. "I thought Town Hall hadn't been hit yet!?"

"Have you looked around you? This is spreading more by the day. I'm just doing my best to contain it."

"Sir, you have to help me." Dyarhk emphasized.

"I am just too busy. Now, listen. Who did you say you were again?" Commander McDowell, principal supervisor for the relief effort, asked. Dyarhk leaned in closer, ever determined no matter how sad looking, to get involved; to help these people. "My name is Dark Kaiteki. I'm a friend of Brian's! Listen! I've got support coming in!! Where can you use us??" he yelled to the roaring of the mob, but it was for naught. All McDowell heard, trying as he might through the noise and as busy as he was; was this: "My name is D--- ----eki. I'm a friend -- -----'s! Listen! I've --- ------- coming in!! Where can you--? and he absolutely had to be cut off.

"I'm sorry son! I've got too much to handle." he said, grabbing Dyarhk by both his shoulders and moving past him. Dyarhk went after him, but was caught all at once by a surprisingly smaller figure, Corea, patting him at the chest she caught him by. "Listen, we have to take control of this before Jessica does. We need a plan."
Dyarhk looked around, so many confused people. He looked up, "Town Hall" the sign said. He took a deep breath before looking back to Corea. "How much time do we have?"

"Nella's with the dropship, but there's no guarantee she'll have the final say in the landing..." Dyarhk discerned the situation. "Then we'll have to have the final say."

He grabbed her as he walked past her and dragged her to the makeshift war room. A table laid with maps and markers was exactly what he needed, but a volunteer for the efforts stepped before him, and he was a large man, retired Rhy'Din watch. "No one allowed in the command center."

"I don't have time for this." Dyarhk said, going past him, just as his wrist was seized. But as his wrist was caught, so was the guard's, and twisted behind his back and face sent into the counter at the entrance by the short red-headed companion of the Palliator. "Find out what you need to." Corea said, holding him down. Dyarhk slid papers from the much-markered maps, and saw what posts there were, and where. He needed a little longer.

"Here. The forest. A camp is already setup. It's a perfect base of operations. We can treat the wounded in safety. The dwarves will help us." he nodded, his eyes lively once more, this would work. He began writing down the coordinates. "Dwarves?" Corea asked making a face. Her captive making a face as well, albeit a pain-stricken one.

"You'll see when we get there. Corea. I have to get these drop points to Nella." he said looking to her, a piece of parchment between them. She gave a confident grin to him, rising her captive up and out of his painful lock, all in one motion to turn and face the two of them. Holding his wrist, as Dyarhk put a hand on his shoulder. "Tell McDowell, when he gets back, that we've setup shop in the forest. Tell him the injured will receive their care. Let's go!"


Getting Situated

?Here. Don't trust these maps. Make your own.? Dyarhk said inside the camp, handing a rolled parchment to the chest of one of the emissaries from Wong. She took the blank scroll with some aggravation, ?I'm aware. Thank you.? passing by one of the patrolling dwarves and beginning to ascend one of the trees of the forest, vibrant with red leaves. Dyarhk sighed, looking around as to what he had to do next, he had to keep himself busy until evacuation plans were done. He decided to adjourn to the camp with the proud tunnelers, where a hot fire was blazing.

Eeli Greatforger, one of the strongest dwarves at the camp, next to Crall, was displaying leadership skills worthy of imitation, gesturing to his men a map of the camp; or rather a map of what the camp will look like when it is completed. But when he saw Dyarhk come up, that changed the subject a bit.

?Ahhh, the stranger with the medicine. Getting situated, are ya?? Greatforger asked.

?Yes, we're popping up the motor-office now. I am sorry to take up so much space, I'm aware your men planned to use the grounds we occupy. You've all been more than accommodating, I thank you...? he said, looking to those gathered with sincerity.

?None of it. It's good having ya. We're but a wee outpost so far. It's hard to lay down our axes knowing there's fighting to be had, and even harder not knowing when we'll pick them up again. But I hear this post is necessary.? Greatforger said. Some of the dwarves nodded with understanding, and some looked indifferent, unsure if they should be there.

?Oh it's very necessary. I doubt the camp will be discovered, but should it, we'll have our fight. Even still, for those of your men that are less than patient, my people are setting up a portal into the combat zone for rescue teams. Rest assured, your tents will be filled, and your men will have their retribution should they wish.? Dyarhk put his heavily armored elbow to his kneeguard of the same polished black.

?Magic!? Greatforger said with surprise.

?Science, my friend. Explainable things, but not from the likes of me. Our medicine is also foreign, but I do hope it is welcomed. I am expecting it to save many lives.? Dyarhk said, sticking his twig at the fire.

?Where do you hail from, stranger? Tell us your name.? a dwarf beside Greatforger asked.

?My name is Dark.? rolling the dark blue of his sleeve out from his gauntlet and back to his forearm, effectively showing the swarthy pigmentation. ?See? Dark Kaiteki. I'm an off worlder, but a friend of Brian Ravenlock. I reside on a planet called Tirraru.? several dwarves went ?oOhhh.? like they had heard of the region. They hadn't.

?Aye. Brian's a good man.? Greatforger nodded. It was enough. ?He's stationed at the command post in Town Hall, last I saw him, helping with relief.? Dyarhk's eyes lit up.

?You saw him?? I need to contact him.?

?You'll have to wait, Lad. We're waiting on word from Crall. He's on the war council at Town Hall. He'll know how to help you get word to your friend.? Greatforger said.

Dyarhk took a moment, nodding, and then coming to a stand. ?I see. I believe I'll check out the rest of the camp, if it's alright with you.?

?Be my guest. Your people are welcome to our provisions. We'll be eating soon!? Greatforger called out, receiving a wave from the already departing Dyarhk. Pocketing his hands, he looked in the opened tents facing him as he passed, weighing the supplies that were brought here and the men stationed. It was a very capable haven. But compared to what Greatforger's map detailed, and what Dyarhk planned on expanding, it was in its infantile stages.

At the back of the camp he found dwarf women, kneading dough and preparing corn. And beside their setup was many large casks of ale, and an ale master dwarf complete with a tiny mug worn around his neck for taste-testing. Dyarhk saw it fit to walk up to him and observe. ?How much does a drink cost around here?? he put a smile on.

?Around here, nothing.? he said, readily working up a mug. ?A man, eh? What brings you to our fortification?? handing him the ale. Dyarhk took it with one hand, walking around to inspect his casks.

?You're well stocked.? he took a drink.

The dwarf laughed. ?Well ya don't miss much.?

Closing his eyes, he began turning his mug up, little by little, until it was empty. He sighed out after smacking his lips. ?That, is the best way to start the day.? setting the mug down on one of the wooden tables beside the casks.

Out from the tent, in sabatons of gold, did walk Crall Goldcrusher. In his hand, a hulking axe, his height just by blade diameter. It was called The 'God's Edge,' and was a great symbol of the dwarves, and the strength they commanded. Now suited for battle, and in an incredible display of camaraderie, led his Order to the sickbay where Dyarhk was in warrior's company. The newly arrived Havelast Dagger Sasc, clad in full armor for the first time in a long time.

"We make for the government buildings." Crall said, standing his axe. "The time has come to put aside our pride, and swing our steel in the protection of the people. Assess the damages, save who you can, kill only who you have to." The sound of steel sung out of its case, and Havelast glistened both gold and white reflection upon himself and those around him with his weapon: The Sword of the Law. "I am ready to take back that which was lost."

"Sunset approaches. Let's make haste." Dyarhk said, coming to a straight stand. "We have portals mapped already. You just show us the best point of entry." offering him the newly drawn map, littered with equations that made sense out of the three-dimensional aspects. The silver-haired rifleman had done her homework. "Here." Crall put his finger on the map. "We have to see the state of things. We'll enter around Arcanum."

Havelast rest the face of his sword on his shoulder, the inscription on it facing the men:

?The people will always need the sword, so long as he willing to swing it for them does so with just and fairness?

Looking back for Nella, whom he had seen just the moment ago prepping the transporter, meant it was time to operate the new handheld portal production tool today. "Everything is prepared.. and my team will be ready to take in any wounded you find." The curly haired bioroid spoke as she stepped in closer. Adorn in only a simple labcoat and that skin-tight bodysuit of black that laid under it.

"We'll be in constant contact with one another.. So, please use the comlinks I've provided. Unorganization will be frowned upon." Hand reached into the coat pocket to fish out a small circular device. Making a small semi-circle to show all those around the map what she would be speaking of next. "All of you know what these are." Turning to place it down on top of the map itself.
?..and you have been briefed on how to use them so I will make this recap as short as possible. All you will need to do, upon finding one in need of our care, is to place this item onto them and press this button."

Speaking simply for even a dwarf to understand. She even did so while showing an example.. reaching down to push onto the dimly lit button. Only a moment after doing so did it flash green and the map, along with the table was engulfed with sparks of blue energy -- but before it could port she calmly reached down once more to press the button again, ceasing the function. "If you wish to stay and scout for more survivors you must back away after pressing the switch." Looking to each of them in the hopes they understood. "They will be transported here and taken into my care. If you require more, simply come to me and I will provide you with another case.. Remember -- you are each only limited to five at a time. Understood?"

"These are emergency transports. Use them only if you have to. For the critically injured, or even yourselves if it comes to it. Each of you should carry at least one. Havelast will be regulating the main pipeline portal from ground zero to camp. We'll be using it primarily to evacuate the wounded. See that no enemies pass through it." Dyarhk said, gesturing to Havelast, who displayed this very portal, albeit in a controlled and shrunken state on a circular ring on the inside of his palm, affixed to his gauntlet. He smiled, displaying the stop-motion to the men before hiding it back over the sword he held. "If we're all ready, then?"

Dyarhk looked between the dwarves who conversed about the technology, here and there grabbing the circular transporters and adding them to their munitions. While they did this, his attention was drawn to the MedBus, where the door had just opened, and out-stepped an unfamiliar woman. Short cherry-chocolate hair hand-brushed to the right, Corea approached them in a white suit of armor, befitting a woman, and only carefully exposing her red bodysuit underneath. She brought her long rifle around front, shifting the chamber open and beginning to load rounds from the satchel at her waist. "...Don't look so distracted. You're about to go to war." she called to Dyarhk, who was unaware how plainly he had been staring.

He blinked his green eyes. "Once we're inside, lead the way, Crall. Nella? I hope you can supply the demand once I get started." he playfully grinned to her, now beside Havelast, as he switched sword arms, opening the portal.

"Good luck, all of you. " her voice a bit louder as it carried so that the crowd could hear. She looked away from the few and instead, turned her attention to the many. ?.. and stay safe." with that she brushed a few curly locks behind her ear and began to make her way over to the MedBus. Passing Corea as she did so, but it seemed the two of them wouldn't even share so much as a glance as they went each others way.

Dyarhk looked behind him. Behind Crall, and his Order of decorated dwarves, were five-hundred strong dwarven. Equipped with stretchers, hammers, axes, and strong hearts, they cheered miraculously at the sight of the God's Edge held high. "Let's save the land!!!" the spirit was unwavering as they charged through the portal behind Crall. It was not long before the masses became a mass, the mass became a small band, and a small band no one at all.
The camp was ghastly barren, and empty, save for a few posted to make ready the flow of injured, the women, and the sickbay. What lay on the other side of that portal, was cloaked in both an indifferent silver pool, and the emotionless buzz it softly growled.

" Oof..! " A grunt, soft -- yet feminine, left those lips as the white robbed figure came to land down just inches away from the form of Dyarhk and Corea. Out from a portal overhead had come the white witch of Liltu.. and it seemed just in time at that.

As the final beeps of that bomb began to sound, all it took was a quick gesture of the hand and a curling of those fingers into a fist to cause those rapidly grown shards of ice to overtake the explosive device.. enough to render it useless in those final seconds before going off. Chest rose and fell with a soft sigh while body began to shift as she turned about to look in the two's direction. ".. It seems I came just in time. Your friend's picture camera picked up that close call by the portal. You seem to be disappointing me quite a bit, Dark.. I thought you'd do a better job at that." Offering him a soft smile before kneeling her form down. Pale fingers inched close as she moved to make an attempt to touch down onto his hurt shoulder.

He breathed heavy, yet quietly, keeping his ailments to himself upon seeing Lilith's arrival. The bomb had literally been put on ice, and he was indebted to the Liltus mage again for the umpteenth time. He smiled back to her. "This is why I hate off world work. Swords aren't this complicated." following her hand to the shoulder of his black armor, barely noticeable that it had been peppered with blood. Corea instantly began pulling him up by his other arm, effectively away from Lilith, and into her. "..Thank you for saving us."

"..." a thankful look from Dyarhk. He would have to talk to her later. Thanks now, would neither cut it or be appropriate. Havelast, not far in the background sideswiped his sword downward into the high of a trooper's thigh, helping him rise to a perfect stand and in effect drop his opponent to the ground. He made over to Dyarhk and the two women. "I had to close the portal. Couldn't chance it." catching his breath. "That was impressive, white witch. Do you know any other tricks?" laying his sword over his shoulder, golden hilt shining in the sky, almost looking as if it were some rich staff he were holding.

Dyarhk got to thinking, where there was Lilith, there was sure to be the other one. He looked around in the brief silence before there was a tremor in the planet, and much of the lower foundation of the first building they inspected crumbled. From the side of it, walked around Techichi, playing with the Master Lord sword Sava Ai as she casually strode over to them. "I despise hunting insects. If this was the kind of help you needed, Dark, it is an exterminator you should have called."

" Hm.. you're on a tight leash, I see. " Spoken to Dyarhk, yet her eyes had been looking to Corea's the whole time and likewise back to the white witch. Lilith could take a hint and began to stand as the magic began to fade from her fingers. "Tricks? I have many. Perhaps a private show is in order once our work for the night is done?" Offering Havelast the brightest of smiles before turning her attention to the direction of the rumble. A light stroll was taken across the grounds, stepping onto the fallen invaders as she went. "Now, now.. Maybe if we hunt together it wont be so distasteful. We could make a game out of it if you like." From one dangerous woman to another. This could easily be seen as a death threat to any of those who fell under the target of `` enemy ``.
Her smile still remained on her face.. even as a quick shot of glowing laser light flew across the air only to be stopped by a risen hand. It bounced carelessly off from that invisible barrier and made a small burn in a nearby wall. Lilith didn't miss a beat and lowered that hand, only to have its opposite rise up and two fingers at the ready to point in the direction the shot came. With a loud CRACK -- a torrent of arcane energy let loose from them and found their mark. An uprising of the body into the air could be made out into the distance before the energy became too much for the armor and body to handle.. causing complete disintegration. " ... They are like insects.. "

"Success"


It was the word that ran on everyone's minds at camp. A camp gaining a reputation around the realm. A camp of hope. A Camp of Marketplace survivors, a camp of Arcanum victims. Camp Nameless.
When first arriving, Dyarhk was boarded with the soldiers, while the exceptionals were given tents of rank, with risen banners and flags so they might easily be located in a crisis. This would not stay, as he was soon recognized as a military tactician leading portal platoons to yet another victorious rescue effort. The camp had more than tripled in size, holding several thousand men. Men who who were cared for, and choosing to take up arms and help with the evacuation. More tents rose, and walking from one side of camp to the other was no longer a short stroll.

It was the young of night, and Dyarhk sat in his new tent, at a newly fashioned desk made for him, with many pertinent papers adorn it. His candlestick flickered a flame from a worn candle while he addressed RSVP's from both far off personal allies, and unknowing allied resistances who had heard of the successes of this camp: Camp Nameless. Dyarhk clutched his nightly hair, aggravating at his forehead. "Why is it our secrecy must be compromised to help others?" he asked, knowing injured at other locations could use their resources, were in need of their resources.

He read the letter again, that so asked for their directions. "... ..No, our camp has grown too much as it is. Secrecy is no longer a luxury we can enjoy." he said, dipping his quill pen into an inkwell and responding to the request for their location. He had written up to their camp's name, to which his pen had frozen. A band of rescuers had turned into a small army, one that was increasing by the day. Dyarhk stepped out of his tent, into the brisk night air, and looked around. To his immediate right, was a much brighter tent, casting out the night's darkness with many lit lanterns at its opening. Inside, it was even better lit. It was Crall's war tent, where he and his council recalled the success of the camp. Camp Nameless.

Dyarhk clenched the parchment he had been writing, rolled in his hand, as he looked to his left and eased his grip seeing Nella outside her MedBus, a good sign that her work had slowed, and perhaps now not so many wounded required her attention. "Nella... what might we name the camp?

"A name?" Nella seemed to smile as the question. "Isn't it obvious? WONG." Spoke with the most innocent look upon her features as she looked down the papers held within her hand. Checking, even double-checking the current list of patients. Checking how far they had come and what treatment they might be needing as time went on. Currently -- at least what those watching the live streams knew; none had died under the treatment of Jessica Wongs watchful eye. This was true, Nella has had zero deaths on her side. Something she felt proud about. "Our Lady has given you much and asked for little in return. You should show kindness in response and name the camp after her."

"I'll strongly consider it." Dyarhk gazed about the camp, more and more lights filling it, giving it an almost enjoyable feel now, like a festival. It was not far from the truth, he thought, knowing this place was desirable when compared to where those brought to it had come from. No, what was out of place here, was these people's homes the places that felt unsafe. "You and the others have done fine work. Miracles, they're calling them. I'll be sure to show Jessica my gratitude when this is all done. If you yourself should need anything..." he turned, his thick black cape spun showing back to her as he began to walk off towards the beating heart of this camp, one dazzling silver shoulder of armor exposed. He stopped. "...Thank you." To Nella, personally, as he continued his march.

Past the war tent, he ran into one of Crall's Order, Vitan Glaiveslasher, a most fearsome dwarf. The two collided with one another's personal space and came to a halt, but it was Vitan who stepped out of the way. His unchanging face of anger contradicted his words. "Pardon, Palliator. Eat well and drink tonight. The day was yours." slapping his caped shoulder and passing him to enter the war tent. Dyarhk watched him enter before carrying on down to where the men drank around the camp's largest flame, a magnificent bonfire that was being regularly fed around merriment and dancing. And among them, he found the Siovanui woman, Techichi, grabbing her arm and tugging her to him.

"What the-- Dyarhk? I'm glad I checked it was you this time. Your nose breaks much easier than a dwarf's." she said to his guiding her to a calmer spot.

"Tetch... I am trying to think of a name this outpost. Do you have any ideas?"

"Camp Crystallake."

"...Gee, Thanks. I knew you were the right person to ask. Anyway, enjoy the celebration." Dyarhk said with a sigh of disappointment, moving his hold on her arm down to her hand where he clasped it with the both of his, patting, and then relinquishing as he made for the ale master, Rar Deephand, commanding a great many more casks than the camp's first days.

"Rar! It is becoming easier to spot your tiny frame among so many men now." Dyarhk smiled brilliantly, pocketing his gauntlets what allowed of his attire. One knee bent, he awaited his opponent's best shot.

"I like the new cloak, helps me spot out your indifferent face." calling back to him, the two shared grins now. "Have a drink. This one's to you. To hope." Rar said, snatching a mug, as Dyarhk reached to him.

"If it's to me, make it a cup of coffee. I'll need all the energy to RSVP to the rest of Rhy'Din's resistance tonight."

"Aye..." Rar poured him a cup of coffee from an earlier batch into an imperfect cup of clay, and watched him walk off, watchfully looking over the shelters, his shelters. "Hope, hm..?" Dyarhk said to himself, walking past two barracks as he was suddenly pulled into the grassed alley between them.

"What is this??" Dyarhk fought to regain his balance from the impressive distance of the tug.

"News, Palliator." a hulking and shadowed figure said.

There was little left for Dyarhk to do, save step back out into the light and make curious at the ruckus from far off in the crowd that was not there prior.

"Sir. " Feminine voice found Dyarhk's ears from the right as one of the few rifle toting bioroids took a pause beside him. "We've received visuals of another portal opening on camp. It holds the same energy pattern as the one that opened eight hours and thirty two seconds ago. It seems the reinforcements fro--.." But her voice was drowned out by the sudden explosion that filled the air, and the quick echoing bang that came after. Another voice took its place as the ghostly figure of Lilith moved past. Dyarhk found himself taken by the arm weakly as the woman began to hurry him along. "Liltu has arrived!"

Cheers roared from the surrounding crowd as more and more of those spectacular magically made fireworks filled the air "Make way, make way!" The white witch yelled forth as she began escort the male through the crowd.

"Lilith? Reinforcements from Liltu??" He struggled to maneuver dwarves and men alike from the way of the weakened head Magi of the Tower of Liltu, grabbing shoulders and tugging them aside as he cleared them both a path. Before long, the crowding stopped, and they stood before an impressively respectful opening where the white mages stood, fresh from their portal. Dyarhk had seen them before, never in action, that he had only heard about, but he had seen them. But one of them was incredibly familiar. He held onto Lilith's hand and removed it from his arm so he might step forward to them. Subtle gasps, few and barely noticeable, were heard as he approached this unknown faction by the masses. "Nima?? Is that you?" Dyarhk asked.

"My daughter! Where is she?" Men were seen flying several person's length in the air as Tetch shoved through to see the mages. She gazed eyes upon the same white-robed magician Dyarhk did. "..Nima! What are you doing out so late?? Don't you--" she continued on with motherly bickering as Dyarhk grabbed the men's attention. Flinging both shoulders of his cape back, he rose his hands. "Men! These mages are friend, come to help! Welcome them with a cheer or owe an ale tonight!" he shouted to much cheering, much to his liking.

He smiled back to Lilith whom he came close to in passing as he gazed over the stern face of Crall in the background. "I'll ease the war ministers. Go, love your daughter." passing her with a smirk at the showy fireworks that displeased the dwarven order, and thusly, displeased him as he made over there.

"Of course. Who else would be leading the Liltu mages into this conflict!" The white witch said gleefully as she looked to the elegantly dressed woman before her. They shared almost the same attributes. Their hair, their eyes.. it could be seen picture perfect if it wasn't for the fact that the taller of the two had more curves to her form. But some things just can't pass down from mother to child. The fireworks continued as the hooded magi that circled their leader kept their staves pointed to the sky. Blasts of arcane backed fire twirled about in the air to create shapes.. Circles, stars, and a magnificent dragon -- or two!

?You don't need to worry! I was told to help, remember? I would have waited till dawn like we planned, Mom.." Nima spoke with a roll of her eyes before grinning to herself. "Someone wanted to come as soon as she showed up at the tower." That's when one of the hooded figures began to move. At first glance it could be mistaken as any of the other mages, but it lacked one thing that the others did not. A staff. Hands rose up and pulled back that hood to reveal who was hidden inside. All the while Lilith took her place beside Techichi after giving her daughter a quick, squeezing hug..! But soon -- her attention was grabbed to the one who removed their hood. "...Seirichi..?!"

Nima's smile only grew brighter as she witnessed the family once more fully reunited with one another.

" ...... Hey, Mom -- Mommy... " Seiri spoke with a smile of her own.

".. My little Ichi..!" Lilith yelled. Fighting back tears as she rushed over to her other daughter. Arms quickly working themselves about her body to give another one of those squeezing hugs.

?Huh? Seiri?? Dyarhk blinked, frozen in place.

" You've returned..! My little warrior!" Lilith was overrun with emotion. Funny, because out of everyone, it was Lilith that suspected her wellbeing from the very beginning. Nima's chest rose and fell with a heavy, yet happy sigh. Turning back to look to the other mages while hand rose to signal the stopping of the magical display.

"Who are these mages, Peacekeeper?" Crall asked, distinctly nicknaming the Palliator with how he had been impressed by him.

"They are dear, dear family, Dwarf Lord. You may cast all suspicion aside. I trust them with my life as you do me. Their assistance will be greatly valued."

"...We should not believe the words of a human so new to our post so easily, Crall..." the second in command of the great dwarf's order, Eeli, said. A worried face worn by Dyarhk, but then Crall held a hand out to stop his brother's speculation. "...." he looked to Dyarhk, "...It would seem you have many friends, and of great worth, across the realms, Dark..." he began turning his order of confused dwarves, looking to their leader for the correct emotion, back to the war tent. Crall looked back to him. "I may have something good to say about you yet, before this war is over." he laughed a magnificent dwarf laugh, eliciting Dyarhk's faith-filled smile. Patting the nearest dwarf next to him, he paved back to the mages from Liltu, seeing for the first time in a long time, the whole Ichi family. He did a double-take on Seirichi, smiling the most to see her.

"I had heard rumors you were alive! But never thought I would see them proved right." Dyarhk said, smiling, walking up. Tetch jerked a look his way.

"Drop the act. I know you knew my baby was alive. And for not telling me her whereabouts from the start, I can never forgive you..."

"C'mon, Mom! He had nothing to do with it.. He has no idea where I've been!" Seirichi would have attempted to make a grab for Dark and to somehow make the two of them hug.. or something.. but she was too busy being squeezed currently by her other mother. ".. I missed you too." Spoken softly as she began to gently rub at the white mage's back.

Nima stepped closer just then and gave a curtsy to Dyarhk before facing her mother. "If you should be upset with anyone. It's me. Seirichi and I have kept contact with each other ever since the funeral." Reaching out to take her mothers' hands within her gloved own. "I think you'll have no problem in forgiving me." Even offering the brightest of smiles to make sure she could melt her heart.. In so many ways, Nima really was so much like her mother.

"Mom. If you want to be mad at anyone, be mad at me. Dark's pretty innocent in all of this! Isn't that right, dumbass?!" Said with a feisty grin in Dark's direction. Finally she was able to break free from the now sniffling Lilith who was trying her best to get a hold of herself. She was the Lilith of Liltu! She needed to look the part. Still, even the mages that came from Liltu could understand the situation.. and saw no weakness in it.

"Hey.. I got something to show you." Just to make sure Techichi would be subdued fully? Seirichi pulled out a small picture and held it to her. Nima knew exactly what it was and began to smile all over again. "You're a grandmother.. so I should start calling you old woman now, right?" Snickered Seiri, which caused her sister to do the same as they gave the woman time to look at the picture of her grandson.

? ........... A grandmother? Poor Lilith. She just started crying again as she came to peer over Tetch's shoulder before grasping onto her next.

The chill of fall blew at his brow at a critical time as he questioned the morality of his actions, and this camp here. It kissed coolly, a reminder; a reminder of his friends, and the children that graced the camp with their games that they would not be playing had this effort not assembled. The good outweighed the bad, he felt, even if a holiday was jeopardized because of it. "Hmph. I've enough time in this life to make up for a measly weekend getaway when this is over." he grabbed his black-caped shoulder tightly in the stronger chill of wind, and tugged it nearly to his breast as he walked past the war tent, it blowing behind him back to his tent, and this camp still without a name.
Reaching and failing to grasp a little girl being chased by a boy in-front of him, the latter was not so lucky, receiving a backside popping. "Run along to your parents now!" Dyarhk grinned as they laughed, never stopping in their chasing. He watched them vanish in the crowd of warmth and then gazed with a deep breath at his tent. Quiet work awaited. He looked forward to this. Grabbing the cloth and holding it open, he stepped inside, beginning to work his heavy gauntlets off.

Dyarhk would find out then that he wouldn't be alone in this tent. The Indian-style sitting Seirichi seemed to have invaded his personal space a good few minutes before hand.. items scattered about her, such as his Palliator V pistol, his rhino knife, and a few trinkets.. some pieces of clothing as well! But what the ichi seemed oh-so-focused on had been photos, taken back on that planet he had run off to: Tirraru. " ...... Hey, Dark. "Finally realizing he was there after a few seconds. Peering up from the photos for only the smallest of moments to offer him a look before looking back down to move onto the next photo. "Looks like you've been having fun."

"Huh? Seiri? What are you doing here. Were you not given a quarters?" He had moved to grab a carven wooden shield which served as a clasp for his elegant black cloak, roping the two sides together at the chest of his armor. But his hand left this when he had thought about this possibility: If Seiri had not been given a place to stay, it meant back into the cold, until this was sorted out. The cape stayed, for now.
He walked over, still however, undoing his gauntlets and laying them to his desk so he could point with a fleshy and worked hand the picture she had in her hands. "That was a wonderful day. That old man managed one of the proudest scrap heaps on Tirraru. This was taken the day he got it back." using his finger to note the man's happiness as he posed with a smile and his arms around Dyarhk and Havelast.

"Yeaaah.." Her voice dragged on. Looking a bit TOO focused on the photos. Everything else around her just couldn't compete for her attention.. but, at least she could spare enough to respond -- right? Her attention did turn as he pointed out the mans smile.. which caused her to do the same, ever-so-lightly. "I'm supposed to be staying over with Nima.. but I just thought here would be better. You know, where all the action is." It would be her turn to point out something in the picture. "Dark. Who's this woman?" Finger touching down onto the feminine gun-toting figure that stood beside Dyarhk in the shot. "I saw her around camp.." Looking to him out of the corner of her eye. All the while her opposite hand reached to push back a few of those dark brown strands of hair behind an ear. All before that palm found itself used as a chin rest as she waited.

"That's my bodyguard, Corea. Pretty, isn't she?" he took pride in that, with a laugh, going to his desk and pulling the dwarven-made chair out and sitting to it so he could work out of more of his armor. But his breastplate gave him more trouble than he expected. It reassured him however, that while it had been on so snug he had been that well protected during the events of the day. But that was not all that had been on the Palliator's mind, photographs were also. He looked to Seiri and smiled warmly to her. "You have that picture of your little boy? Let me see it." he held out his hand.

"Pretty? I guess." Her face seemed to contort a bit as she placed the photo down. ?Y--.. " But then Dyarhk spoke. Seirichi blinked and smiled then. "Yeah, sure. Let me see.." Feeling at her pockets just then before pulling out her wallet. Flipping it open, looking through it before finding the photo. She held it between two fingers at its very TIP, as if trying to make sure not to ``smudge `` anything. Handle - with - care. As he took it within his own hand, Seirichis cheek would take the place of her chin on that palm. "..What about me? Am I pretty? You haven't said one thing about me yet." Snickering out just then as she leaned back and crossed her arms under her chest. "Is it because I'm a mom now?"

"No." he laughed, focusing his green eyes on the photograph of the boy. He looked back and forth from him and his mother a few times, ultimately giving in to his smile. "He's got your eyes, you know." observing it still. A lot was said about how he was cared for. How his mother did his hair, Did she keep it neat, what she dressed him in. He handed the picture back. "He's beautiful, Seiri. Most beautiful thing I've seen .....you spoil him every chance you get." looking to her now as he came back within his own space, having delivered that picture as if the precious item it were. He put an arm over the back of his chair and dug his chin into it as he looked her over.
"And yourself? ...." looking at her, knowing their relationship, he smiled as if he were about to spit a punch-deserving joke, but that wasn't exactly how it flowed out of him. "You don't wanna hear what I think.."

"I know.. " But he had so much of Veron. She had seen his baby pictures before.. used to make fun of him for it when they had been younger. " Hmph. Granny's the one who spoils him.. I'm trying to raise a little warrior and she's over there buying him new little toys -- " Spoken as she took the picture back and began to fit it into her wallet once more. " -- and other things.. Eh, I guess I spoil him a little too." Lifting her rump up just a bit to slide the wallet back into her pocket before sitting that cheek back down. Seirichi half expected a joking response.. but when none really came, she couldn't help but grow silent and blink. Then -- with a small, yet serious tone. ".. Maybe I do. " She didn't smile. Her eyes adverted off to the side, then slowly looked back to him. It seems she really did want to know.

He grabbed the wooden clasp and worked it out of the loop of rope to lay his heavy cape over the chair now. He sighed a pleasant, yet still procrastinated sigh. Procrastinated that he now had to speak his mind and go through whatever mockery followed. But his escaping air, not unlike his voice, was as smooth and prepared as ever. He locked on with her eyes. "Personally, I think you're glowing, which I haven't seen a woman come close to out-shining. And you know why it is? ...that young man you just showed me's to blame." blame, normally a bad word, was rendered harmless and even okay when used in the context of his smile.
"So I guess you are right. It is because you're a mom now. You are lovelier, because you are a mom." he tried and explain. his eyes sparkling in that lantern light.

" .......................... " Lower lip found itself bitten as it seemed Seirichi fell speechless. Glances shifting away once more and a thought-filled look appeared over her features. A worried one, but still full of thought. ".. I think I missed you the most." Finally spoken as she looked back his way. But that wouldn't be the only thing she'd be doing. Body lifted itself and slowly moved about. Looking over this and that before finally lowering herself down onto his bed. ".. Dark, come here." Said to him with a smirk. "I want to show you something else.. I just have to find it." As she began to feel at her pockets once more.

He watched her move, noticing her change in appearance, while at the same time noticing how much she was still the same. She was older, and wiser, and a mother now. But a lost love is something that can never be gotten over, not completely. But by the books and stories of Adenna, she had done everything right. She had ascended to a Siovanui, she had survived it, and she had with her now the greatest gift of all: a child. Dyarhk slowly got out of his chair and sat down a fair distance beside her.

"More to show from your trip? I want to know all of your adventures during the time you grew caring and notably fat." he teased.

"Hmph. Now I'm glad you didn't have the chance to see me.. " She still seemed to be searching.. but then she stopped all of the sudden and gave him a look. "...... Probably would of teased me, right?" Raising an eyebrow. She was giving him a moment to respond, but before he could? She'd break the small distance between the two of them and have the man flat on his back on that bed. Her form straddling over him as she began to peer down with the most serious of gaze. She reached and took his hand. Dyarhk was shocked as to what was happening at this point.. but when she took his palm and placed it against her tank top covered chest? It should have come to him what she meant.

Here he was, he felt, ' 'victim,' ' of another prank when Tetch might burst in and, short and smiply, kill him. Or someone with a camera come immortalize this and likewise its corresponding blackmail. Something, to prove this was a hoax. But none of it ever came. Just the inflating and deflating of lungs in the breast he was held to; held to by another hand. And those breaths were short ones, frightening him more that this was not a joking matter. When had Seiri, ever, beat her heart so fast, not following any sort of spar of course. And why, for the love of gods, could he not look away from her. Her hips,
her legs, her hair, her face; her eyes. Whatever this was, he was damn determined to get to the bottom of it. She wanted him to hold onto her, and he did so tightly as he sprung to sit up with her, still atop him, but now on a more level playing field.

"I don't know what it is you think you're doing-- ... But-- " He found it increasingly hard to spit words back out at her. Her parted lips and her focused eyes seems to understand and discard whatever he might say before he even said it. And despite his climb to show more assertion, he was still every bit captured by her. None to mention, he had been infected by a very similar rapid thumping of a heartbeat.

"Dark.. you can't always talk yourself out of everything.." Seirichi whispered as she grabbed onto his head with both hands and pulled him into her; into a kiss.

His eyes closed, flickered tightly before calming, submitting, and then returning her kiss. They broke with calmness, and a lantern's glow reflecting in each other's eyes. Each their eyes loving, each their gaze different. Him looking for her seriousness, and her making sure he saw it in her. The worst thing this man could do at this point, is not take her seriously. She moved in again, and this time, she didn't do it alone.

Their lips met again, and this time they took much larger bites, hands deep in each other's hair. Her eyes closed softly.. her body lit -- burning much like the flame that danced about beside them within the lantern. Her mind wasn't on the threat of the outside.. the refugees around them. All that mattered to Seirichi was the man she was sharing this moment with. Thoughts ran through her mind.. scenes playing out from her past. It's what made this all the more special to her. The build up. The feelings she held for him for so long finally being able to come out and into the open in such a way.. she was no longer the girl from Adenna who needed his watchful eye to keep her out of trouble. No, she was now the woman who craved something more from him. Something deeper. " .. Ah.. " Lips parted and those eyes opened once more to take in the sight of the figure before her. "... Dark. "

Holding onto her in those big arms, she'd never fall, she'd never be taken away. His eyes opened when she called him, and he stared deeply into her eyes. "..Seiri. That night on the rocks. I want you to know something... I knew you'd be alright. Do you understand? I knew you'd be alright. Or I wouldn't have let you go." his eyes sparkled, but he was powerfully fighting them off as he ran his thumb time and again over her cheek he held, admiring who she was: someone precious to him.

".. You would of let me go anyway. Sometimes.. we just need to find ourselves.. find out what we really want.. what we really need." Seirichi loved Veron with all of her heart.. she still did to this very day. But she knew that he would want her to continue. To fight on.. to find her place in this world; and the only place she wanted to be was right here and now. This moment. " .. Shh. " She saw the urge for him to speak in the way his lips parted. But none would come as a well placed finger found itself pushed down against those very lips. ".. Don't." That very finger would soon be replaced by her lips. All the while reaching out to the side to touch at that illuminating lamp.. and with a twist, the light began to slowly die down. Dimmer, and dimmer, until darkness enveloped.

Swirling mystical magistry of arcane energy kept the camp from outside harm. Those inside could see the wisps of light moving about before the sky that it illuminated over. It was enough to have children constantly looking up in awe at the sight before them.. while many of the adults found comfort in knowing that such a thing could keep the enemy from finding them. For on the outside -- those looking in? They would see nothing but trees.. a reflection of the surroundings about them. The perfect cover with the magical essence of Liltu written all over it.

A quick ripple would be seen moving over the whole of the shield; and it caused one of the mages to speak to his resting partner only inches away. "Another bird. How many does that make?"

"Seventeen." The feminine voice responded before letting out a soft yawn before turning to her side to try and get comfortable once more. They needed to stay alert.. which meant resting as close as possible to the shield. So tents just weren't an option for them. But the heat emitted by a glowing ball of fire, and a few well placed blankets to for a make-shift bed was enough to keep them satisfied.

".. Hey, I think someone's coming."

"You sure? Said the same thing an hour ago.."

"No.. I'm serious." The mage continued to channel his energy as he leaned forward to press his hood covered forehead against the barrier, as if it could give him a better look. ".. A few of the dwarves from the out post look like their escorting some more refugees.. Throw up the alarm."

The woman sat up with a start at that point and looked out of the barrier itself. ".. Ah! You're right." Lifting herself up just then. ".. Mistress Nima wanted us to use the dragon call, right?"

"No, the Phoenix call."

Just then a BANG sounded out from around them as a quick beam of orange etched it's way into the sky.. Collecting to form into an orb before exploding to make the shape of a burning phoenix.

The rustling and bustling of dwarves and men and children and mothers was turning the camp into a morning of much noise. Plates of bacon, egg, and sausage were being handed out by the hundreds, by a fast and impressive team of dwarf women and men who had been preparing for speedy lines like this since the camp's inception. But while those breakfasts were being grabbed up and feeding the hungry spirits of those whose homes were destroyed, nothing went quite so fast as the dwarven muffins.
As if an unstoppable craving had come over these people, the muffins could not remain available, and were having to be cooked constantly. If you got your hands on one for breakfast, you were one of the lucky ones. Which would have shed many a tear if anyone had seen Techichi discard her own into the trashcan having only took two bites from it. "Hm. I can't find Seirichi anywhere. I do hope she doesn't run off again and stay gone. I don't think my heart could take it." she said to Lilith as she approached her, fully-armored for the day.

"Now, now. That girl knows better than to run off a second time without saying goodbye.. she's still here -- somewhere. Probably sparring with the dwarves." Nodding her head. That sounded like the most obvious choice of her daughters whereabouts. Tearing into her own muffin at this point to pull away a small piece and slipping it past plush lips before giving chews.. chews that continued their calm pace even as she saw, and heard, the sign fill the air above. ".. The phoenix call? That girl is just asking for a good talking too.."

Techichi would have had some Liltu knowhow. The Phoenix call had been adapted by the younger magi in the tower, used for themselves, their secret meets.. things they didn't want the older mages to pry into. It meant rebirth -- a new age. Still, the Liltu Lilith couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head as she left her plate and moved to stand. "It looks like we have new arrivals..Would you like to watch? It could be interesting." Said as she held out a hand to the woman.

"Anything's more interesting than watching these peasants scurry from place to place." Tetch said, taking her hand. She made for the mages at the edge of the barrier alongside her white magician. "I cannot help but think our time is wasted. If we must be involved, let it be the BIG battle, so then we can be done with it." she sighed, things were never as action-packed or gambled entirely on one, small hand, as she'd like them to be. But she could hope. "I enjoyed your company, last night."

"Now, now.. " A chuckle let loose at the mention of `` peasants ``. But she spoke nothing more of it as they continued their walk toward the barrier. Passing tents and a few refugees who had just made their start for breakfast.. but knew enough to make way when they saw the two of them coming. They did have that hair of `` do not come too close `` about them. "If only all wars could simply end like that, Techichi.. but I think honor and glory is the last thing on our enemies' minds." As they spoke another ripple had been made in the barrier, but this hadn't been one made by a misguided bird. At the moment the two off-duty mages had found themselves back on the job, they quickly began to peel back the barrier just enough to allow passage inside.

"As did I yours.. As I said earlier.. let us try and look on the bright side of things. We are together -- that is what is most important.. Even if a war had to be the cause of it." They wouldn't be the only one who came to investigate the newcomers, but they had at least been one of the first to have gotten there.. So they had the best view. "A small group.. To think, if this continues we may have to expand the barrier more. Perhaps even create a new camp site?" Another chuckle. But then something caught her dull eyes which made them spark alive with their golden yellow. "....... Interesting.." Was all she could say as the figures stepping behind the dwarves appeared..
In front of the new refugees stood a hooded figure. The way the fabric clung to those curves, it was obviously a female.. She reeked of forbidden magic. Her identity could of been kept hidden if it wasn't for the fact that Lilith's eyes had quickly locked onto the shorter one stepping beside the hooded figure. No, not beside, maybe a few paces behind.. but still at her side. "After five years.. I can still smell the essence of the Winterhill laylines on them.."

" .................... " An axe with the ability to harness such energy. It's what Lilith had on her mind the moment Techichi had fallen.. Dwarves.. and their fine crafted magical weaponry. At least it was enough to bring the Adenna warrior to her knees.. But Lilith wasn't the type who ever wanted to see such a sight in the first place. She turned her head and looked to her lover once more. Robe covered figure began to bend. Looking to the woman with a soft frown on her features. ".. Techichi.. Do not let them anger you. We must be the ones with cool heads.."

As of now she had been rather busy dealing with her partner.. and as she stood -- so did Lilith. The white witch turned her attention back onto the two. ".. This was just a simple misunderstanding.. They are enemies to the tower of Liltu and Adenna.. Old hatred is easy to give rise to emotions of anger.. Please forgive Techichi for her outburst.. But it is not without reason. Good, strong men and women of Adenna have died at the end of their blades and trickery.."

"Using the dead as an excuse. How very like you, white witch of Liltu." Those burnt eyes fell closed as she took in a deep breath of air. "I'm offended. We came here as heroes and now we're being spoken of as monsters.." The crowd behind them began to roar. Yelling. `` How dare you speak to them like that! ' ' ' ' They saved my family! `` `` If it wasn't for them we'd all be dead! `` This continued on.

"ENOUGH !" the booming voice of the gold-clad dwarf silenced the mob, and the mob alone. "...If it is a dispute you have, then have it outside here. But there won't be an uproar in my camp." Crall said, holding his axe level, but turning it as he looked back and forth between the two sides, showcasing the glow of power on its face..

"......... Techichi.." Erika's voice rose up. "Is my daughter here."

Tetch held her sword down low, supporting her wrist with her free hand as she took a soft lean to Lilith still in her weakened state, wobbly. "Nayon's in Adenna, living her life; and a far better than t'would be with you." she made a growly face.

"I know a game of back and forth when I hear one. And I do nae care if you are friends of the Palliator. You endanger my encampment with thess fighting words. And it ess, fighting words. And if this is how you fight -- " Crall held up the axe just briefly to show the glow it had. " -- then you'll not do it here. Say yer goodbyes, Ladees. Yer don talk'n."

Tetch grit her teeth at hearing this dwarf. If he hadn't been here, if these people hadn't been here, she could have already obliterated them. This is what she believed. But now things had changed, they wouldn't be fighting now. Would they have to let them go?? This angered her greatly. Holding onto Lilith's hand tight, she remembered the words she had spoken, to keep a cool head. She had saved her life before, and she wasn't about to put it past her doing again. She flipped Sava Ai to a backwards position and caught her breath. "No... I have nothing more to say to those two."

"That's what I thought.." She spoke out to the smaller female beside her. "This is farewell, Techichi.. but this is not goodbye. We'll be meeting each other again.. One day." Her hand reached to take hold of Felipe's shoulder. Drawing her in close to her cloaked form as she forced her to turn as she did so. ".. We must return to Nayun."

The group of survivors they had brought in began to part as Erika stepped toward them.. Making way, giving them enough room to escape out from that barrier. But before they could -- Felipe had stilled herself for only a moment, which caused Erika to stop in her tracks as well. Her face kept straight ahead.. but burnt eyes couldn't help but peer down to the side in anger. The shorter woman knew this may give the other a reason to hurt her later.. but, she would have been beaten either way.

Lilith of Liltu and Techichi of Adenna had been seen.. and she knew that harbored anger within Erika would come out sooner then later. With a turn, she spoke. ".. Tell her." She'd start. Already feeling that grip on her shoulder tighten up to the point of pain. "Tell her she's not been forgotten."

Lilith's lips had been sealed. She could see the visual look of pain.. but did she feel for this woman? Felipe was caught up in something Lilith herself had created.. in some small way -- this was her fault. She looked to the woman she now held within her arm and awaited her answer. It was up to her.. or was it?

"I will." The voice of Seirichi sounded out as she walked out from the crowd. "And she'll be happy to hear it!"

Dyarhk stepped out after her, capeless, but belting his sword onto his waist, straining his eyes in the richer daylight and newly risen barrier to see those departing. "Could hear that Siovanui crack from the clear other side of camp. The Hell happened?" he looked between them. Tetch's rage had left her at the sight of her daughter. Regardless of her calling out, she rose and grabbed onto her shoulders and pulled her into a hug.

"Seiri. You're still here." she nervously patted her. Crall, walking up, looked between all those gathered now that the barrier was closed once again.

The camp was lively, nightly, once again. And with the opening of several portals, teams began returning. A photograph of a dwarf giving his shoulder to a bloodied man, leading him to one of the medical camps, was taken, and sure to be remembered. Vitan Glaiveslasher stepped out from a portal eventually, a bloody swordlance in his hand, and many of Crall's war captains coming through behind him. He was the new captain of Havelast's extraction team, and one of the camp's most powerful heads. He gave a look around. "Where are the others???" he shouted, looking about, worried, unbefitting his appearance.

"They are coming, Vitan. It is okay." Crall had stepped out from a portal near him, filling up this very vacant zone just a while ago, with persons. Rar, the ale master dwarf, sat down a case of assorted stringed lights, beginning to undo them and check their burn on one of the silent generators beside other supply crates.

"No, no we're still missing one of our teams." Vitan was a caring, and fearsome dwarf, and also a smart one. He looked around, just as he was proved right when said team accounted itself at the opening of a new portal. Vitan approached it with his small band of dwarves and awaited its emergence. "....."
First through were dwarves on guard, backing out of the portal, as they had backed into it, fending off enemy fire. Vitan ran forward with his team, reaching through the portal completely on instinct and yanking unknowingly whatever he could grab back out. "Help, Lads!" calling them over.

But there was only so much they could do. Through the portal eventually came Eeli Greatforger, Crall's Second In Command. "Took us a while to setup a safe portal. But I guess sometimes there's no such thing." Eeli laughed, looking back as the rest of them flooded through, including Dyarhk at the head of many, keeping a hand on his right breast and a man's arm around his shoulder. "Aye, The Palliator took one to the chest. We scramble 'round 'im, askin' if he's alreight? First thing he says... ..Dahmm that's hot!!" Eeli acted out with energy and then some, causing the men to laugh as Dyarhk came up by them. "...well it did." to more laughter.

"Someone take this man to medical!" he yelled, a dwarf coming up beside him and helping the man off his shoulder.

"I got 'im, Palliator. You get your wounds looked after."

"Yeah yeah." Dyarhk replied, leaving a hand from the man he had helped evacuate. He watched him return a look to him, with the only eye he had unbandaged, looking however thankful one can when nearly dead. Dyarhk let his arm hang freely as he watched him go, save to pat a dwarf hard on the shoulder for their good work today. Spotting Rar stringing lights between tents, he leaned to one, and struck a curious look to him. "Just what is it you are doing, ale master?" he asked, sounding far more interested with the furrow of pain to his brows, holding onto his breasplate at the side under his arm.

"Haven't you checked your calendar? It's the first of the month! Ye best be putting your tree up in your tent, Christmas will be here before ya know it!" Rar said happily. Dyarhk panted, putting his head back on the post of a tent and moving his back to it as well. :: "I didn't know dwarves celebrated Christmas..."

"We all celebrate to some extent. One thing is universal though, and that's good food 'n togetherness. But I know you men like te blind yourselves in different color lights, so I thought it might spread some cheer around camp..." he looked at him who leaned off that post and had walked over to put his hand on his shoulder now. "Have you done something in your past life other than ale, Master Dwarf?" Dyarhk said coldly, which to be expected, caused Rar a hearty dwarven laugh.

Dyarhk left his side then, out of the Christmasy color and into plain lantern and light of fire once more, following the giant gold of Crall's axe. Sternly, he grabbed his arm and showed a worried face to him. "Dwarf Lord, have you seen the Adenna daughter?"

"Hm? Seirichi, isn't it? She is around camp, boy. Do not look so worried. She can fend for herself a fair better than us warriors can." Crall laughed, slapping his cheeks softly a couple times. Dyarhk patted his shoulder, stopping him once again.

"I see that cold of yours didn't stop you from going out with the rest of us." he grinned, pointing a finger at his nose.

"Pah! You must know little of mountain dwarves." They shared a laugh. Another pat and he let him go, walking past him and ignoring the dwarf's own half-assed send-off as he too continued on his walk. Dyarhk seemed to be looking through the dinner-hungry crowd for someone now, disinclined to make a ruckus, discreet about his business.


"Oi! That's cheating!"

"It's not cheating.. It's simply bending the rules." The white haired girl spoke with a grin after flipped her card.. what once was a two turned into an ace with only a passing hand over it. "Twenty-one." The one calling out the cheater had been none other than Seirichi. Looking a but fumed as she struck a elbow to the table and placed her chin against an open palm. Tap, tap, tap went a few fingers against her jaw line while her leg began to bounce, heel up-and-down, against the ground ".. This is why I don't play games with you.. Mommy always let you cheat.."

"It's bending the rules. You could do it too, I don't mind." Spoken with a grin as she began to deal once more. Seiri seemed uninterested in continue their game as she gave the cards a small glance before peering off to the side more. ".. You know I suck at that slight of hand stuff.." Nima only shook her head. Doing so caused those lovely snow-white locks to begin swaying about before she looked to her sister once more and offered a smile.

"One more game. I'll be starting my shift with the barrier soon."

Seirichi groaned and plopped her arm flat against the table. "Fiine.. But no bending the rules."

"Mmkay!"

Seiri peeked under the face down card just then. Nice, a ten.. and the other? A seven. What joy. Her sister had been sporting a two.. so she could stay if she wanted. ".. Hit me." As if on cue she felt a small tap against her leg. It was her sister trying to be smart. 'Yes. Hit me meant hit me, very funny.' The next card was then placed down and it was a three. Twenty -- great! She just might win this one! "Stay." The girl spoke as a serious look came over her features. 'C'mon.. win, win, win..!'
Nima seemed to grow concerned at that time. Her face showing a small bit of annoyance as she bit at her bottom lip after peeking under her card. "Aww. What's this? Getting scared?" Seiri couldn't help but grin now.

"Seirichi. You're a bad loser.. but an even worse winner." Nima spoke with a grin of her own as she flipped her card over.. another ace. This followed with a sway of her palm over that two -- and right when the card came back into view? A queen had taken its place. "Twenty one. "

Seirichi fell silent just then. Her look of victory leaving her face in an instant before she groaned out again. "I said no bending the rules!"

"I know. That's why I cheated this time."

Nima looked away from her mirror for a moment with a few blinks. "I expected mother to do the report without me.. but it seems someone wanted to speak with me." -- "Someone?" Was heard from the mirror. This caused Nima to give a look to her sister before peering back into the mirror. "No, not just someone - Fira." Yes. It seemed her on again off again girlfriend had been the one speaking with her at the moment. But the way the conversation went.. it seemed like she was just speaking business as usual for Liltu. If reinforces were needed, how the morale was, things of the sort.
Nima looked a bit put off by the whole thing as she periodically looked away from the mirror.. only to have her attention grabbed back by a slightly risen tone. "Yes, yes.. I'm still listening to you. I don't even know why we're having this conversation.. Everything is working out perfectly on Liltus end."

They continued on as Seiri looked about. Spotting her Mothers in their own little talks. Lilith was speaking with not one, but four mirrors. Each of them with a different member of the council shown. Much like with her daughter -- it seemed they had been doing much of the talking. But unlike Nima, Lilith was able to keep her attention focused on them the whole time as she sat straight and royal within her chair.

"Yes. I agree. But I'd rather not take from the sword just yet. "

"The council still believes it wasn't in the best interest of Liltu to get involved in this petty squabble.."

"I understand. The council isn't the only one here feeling a lack of interest. I would rather be back in the tower.. but sometimes we must move out of our comfort zones and help those in need. Liltu cannot always stay in the dark.. less we become like Nebura."

Seiri decided that even a hello would not be best given to her mother as she snuck about behind those mirrors. Though, they did catch each others eyes for the smallest of moments.. and a smile couldn't help but creep on Seirichi's face as her mother gave her a quick wink before focusing her attention on the council once more.

"If you believe we're wasting effort here.. Ryuani could always be called in for support. They do owe us many favors, after all." A feminine laugh sounded out from one of the mirrors. "I'd rather not have Ryuani involved at all! We don't need to draw even more attention to the camp, do we?" An inside joke, if anything. A few more of the council began to laugh, as well as Lilith herself.

"Hey, mom.." Seiri spoke as she sat herself down on the arm rest of the shorter haired woman's chair.
"Who do we got here?" Looking into her mirror to see. Tetch hated these chairs, but she ' ' tolerated ' ' them. The least she could do for the dwarves was not wreck their furniture. They were brave warriors, after all, a trait that garnered much respect from Techichi among other things on a very small list. She looked to Seirichi, normal as Seiri would ever see her look at her. It was, predictable. She reached up to her daughter, would hug her slow and tight, and then release. "Good Evening baby. Rijn and Atae were just telling me how things were going in Adenna. Look baby, it's Aro!" Tetch pointed at the mirror.

Inside were Atae and Rijn, sitting awkwardly to this video conference as if the iPhone had just come out yesterday, and sure enough, Aro, the sharp-mouthed soul-attached sword of the sea floated in-front of the call. His words, aquatically-filtered sounded as strong as ever. "Seirichi! You little brat!"

Techichi knew this was a joke, and would liked to have joked back, had she known how. "Aro! Watch who you're talking to, you butter knife."

"Butter knife am I?? Would you like to see then, how hotly I can cut through you??"

Atae promptly grabbed the sword with attitude by his hilt, and flipped him to the ground to hold him as a cane of sorts. Shaking several times, it showed he was not going anywhere under the seemingly effortless hold of the beautiful woman, once Techichi's dance teacher. "...That is enough out of him. Seirichi darling? You look beautiful. Absolutely beautiful." allotting time for her to respond, and Tetch to warmly smile before looking at her daughter. "She does, doesn't she." Tetch said, motherly moving some of her brown locks that stuck out from that hat.

"No, no. There is something different, Seirichi. What is it?? You look happy." the streetwise Atae fidgeted with the sword some, while Rijn did just as Dyarhk was doing, procedurally ' ' being ' ' there, in case they were called upon to speak. But he had far less on his plate than the Palliator. Seirichi would of responded fast enough but.. she was a little out of it. Maybe seeing such familiar faces after a while had gotten to her. A warm sort of feeling was felt in her chest and all she wanted to do for the moment was stare at them as that smile grew on her features.

".. Ah.. Thanks." Ahem. It was a little awkward. She was the type to grow embarrassed when people threw compliments at her that.. well, ones that weren't about her skill in combat. She began to frown somewhat as that hand brushed at her bangs. "C'mon, Mom.. not in front of them." she mumbled. She was in her twenties now! But, it's not that she didn't like it. A few blinks was given though as Atae spoke about how happy she looked. "I'm a mother now.. " Seiri said.. but then started to grow comfortable again. These were people she knew.. and here she was thinking that many would be upset with her for leaving Adenna.. but, it turned out to be the opposite: as if she never left.

"His name is Karaichi..! I can't wait to show him to you..! He's like.. I can just see so much strength in him!" she said excitedly.

"Hooooh?"
"Hooooh?"

Atae and Rijn both exclaimed together. Aro continued shaking, ignoring that, like it were no big deal. No he would bide his time until the perfect time to escape, which would prove difficult to challenge Atae, the dance master's, timing. Strong as she was, she did not show it until action was required, much like Techichi and Seirichi. No, now? she was just like any other overjoyed woman.

"What? A King is once again in-line to the thr--" Rijn found himself elbowed, and Aro sounded like he were stabbed into the ground for trying and flee then, by Atae. She gave him a look deserving of a jerk, before smiling back to the new mother. "Seiri, that is magnificent news! I cannot wait to see him. Look at you." Atae was taken back for a moment, beaming at her. "You can tell, things in your life must be going so well. It is a shame you had to venture into a war effort."

"About that, Techichi. When can we expect Adenna's Siovanui Sorte back?" to the point, Rijn leaned to a side, disrupting in no way one of the powerful runic stones that hovered over a pedestal of armor on one of his robes' shoulders.

"That sounds quite possessive, Librarian. Last I check, no one owned either myself or my daughter. We will return when we are no longer needed. And with any luck that will be soon." Tetch said, covering her lips with her finger in thought. She. Wanted. Out.

"Release me, vile woman!" Aro protested.

"So long as you behave, sword of the sea. I dislike detaining you but that does not mean I will not." Atae said. The stillness of the sword showed his compliance, and so she released him, flipping right-side up to address this call proper. "Nayon is a very calm girl. She is probably at the Dagger Sasc house, I will deliver her message personally." she gave an Atae 'nod of promise,' something never broken.

"Adenna is vulnerable with you absent, remember this. Consider the brevity of your stay." Rijn said distastefully to his two Siovanui. He rose, and rubbed in the new precautions they had made. "Come, Atae. We need you on guard duty as well." off-screen, as it were, Rijn could be heard walking off as Atae centered herself to the portal call and smiled like the caught teen who must get off the phone. "You girls all behave. Tell Nima I love her. Say hello to Lilith for me. Seiri, can't wait to see you doll. Mwah! Mwah!" she blew kisses. "Bye!"

Tetch let out a loathsome sigh, loud enough to be heard even outside. "That obnoxious mage. He thinks his magic missile's SO biig." she huffed to the side, looking to Dyarhk. "How was KB?"

"He's good." massaging his brow some more.

"I see. Lilith. Shall we prepare for bed?"

Seiri felt pretty great. Nayon would get the message! Though, she wished she could of been the one to tell her. Oh well.. when she gets back to Adenna she'll be able to spend some time with her as well. But it seemed their call from her home town was coming to an end as well.. "Byee~!" Waving at the mirror.. even a few seconds after it became a reflection of herself. Arm dropped then, looking at herself, and the woman she had turned into as she let out a happy sigh. "KB's always doing good." Making sure to point that out when he was brought up. As well as grin in Dyarhk's direction.. but looking at him did remind her of something else -- and it was only doubled when she heard her mom speak.

"Hmm..? Yes. We should." Lilith spoke as she began to rise up from the chair.. though, with an exhale of a breath she was forced to settle herself back down out of exhaustion. Eyes closed while her features seemed to show a small bit of annoyance for her current condition. "....."

But Seirichi hadn't caught it. She was too busy looking at Dyarhk while that went on. But, her attention turned to the white haired woman soon enough. Quick to speak, even before her mother could comment on the witch's current predicament. "Yes, Seirichi?"

" Could you enchant Dark's armor before you sleep..? I can't believe he hasn't asked you already.. But if the dope continues to think he can run out on the battle field unprepared he's going to wind up dead."

Lilith seemed to grow still at the request.. she knew her body well, and right now it wasn't the best of times. But.. this wasn't Dyarhk who was asking. She would have seriously told him no if it had been him. "....... Of course." A look given Techichi's way. As if telling her not to argue against it.

Dyarhk blinked. He looked to Techichi who crossed her arms and leaned against one of the posts that made up the tent. Backing down from a fight, that was a first. He rose to a stand. "Whatever you see fit, White Queen. Although my shroud could greatly benefit from a magical resistance imbuement." passing by Seirichi as said cloak grasped her leg and slid over it until the end of it had passed over her. It was a heavy black cape, much more than an emblazonment, threaded for harsh conditions. He stopped before her, then knelt with an arm on his knee, and a hand on her chair arm, to look her eye level.

".. That wouldn't do much against their weaponry. Last I checked they weren't magic based.. and what makes you believe I would give you something of magical resistance..?" Looking into his eyes with her own dull grays. She then reached for the cape and gave it a lift. Fingers feeling across the fabric as eyes looked over it for a moment. A flash came to those dull eyes just then. Glowing yellows, but that wouldn't be the only thing illuminating. The cloak would find itself doing the same -- but only for the smallest of seconds. "This is all I will offer you for now, Dark.. I'd rather not sit here and think of what to give each piece of your armor. This is something for you to decide on yourself."

Seirichi seemed content with this. It really was up to Dark to make up his mind of what he wanted.. many enchants could be used in many ways. But at least he got his cloak fixed up

"Thanks a lot."

Lilith looked please. ".. Could you two please leave? I'd like to speak with your mother and Crall alone."

He smirked at seeing the already feeble hands of Lilith show such promise as to lift his cloak. Dropped in its entirety on a small child and it would weigh him to the ground if not throw off his balance. She was not so weak, but was tiring, as he was. But, also like him, she trucked on. Another smile as he guided his cloak behind him, where it belonged. "I will see Seiri to her tent. I'll send in the Dwarf Lord." spoken as he rose and tried and ' ' feel ' ' any difference after the enchantment. It sure didn't feel any different, but then again, what weight did magic hold?

The Dark Therapy Knight Returns


(The following takes place after the events of 'Scarred: A Knight Is Made By That Which He Protects: Wyheree' http://rdi.dragonsmark.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=132058&highlight=#132058 )




"What's going on??" the young Lilith in-training asked, Nima, was freshly dressed in her white robes, stepping out from her quarters to a brisk new morning. She had spotted her sister among the crowd, and made for her hand. "Why is everyone distressed?" she asked, a worried look come over her face at seeing such discord. She held her other hand to her chest, watching the scrambling that was going on. Devotion was in uproar. The figures responsible for starting the camp were all but vanished. Havelast, Dyarhk, and Crall. Not a one of them had made contact for a full day now, Havelast going even longer, 5 days without contact.

People began spreading rumor, that they had fallen. As was overheard by the ale master, Rar, the people's morale was diminishing. The mage contributing aid to their camp was largely unknown, but friendly enough. And the strange medicine of the MedBus and their staff was even stranger without Dyarhk close by. A large deal fell on Nella, as did Eeli Greatforger, the new camp leader in Crall's absence. Morning had just broke, and a talkative assembly were gathered at the camp's makeshift auditorium which consisted of a lectern carved from a stump. A lectern Eeli took, raising his hands high, however short in actuality, getting the peoples' attention.

"Oi! Oy." he calmed them all down to a silent mob, calmly. "...I know, you're all anxious to feight. And I know you're all wooried about our missing. But we doen't know what kind of shape Town Hall is en right noew. We have to exercise patience." he said to a thunderous disagreement, but again, easily calmed with a hand. "Oepenin' a portal could mean compromising Devotion. And we do nae wanna do that. But we'll haev no choice, if we don't receive wurd from Crall or Dark by nightfall. We'll send a small team to Town Hall, and verify their safety. But for your loved ones, we ask that you please remain calm. I don't need to remind you, this camp is still saeffe. We have the powerful emissaries from Adenna, and neighboring mages from Liltu supporting our precious barrier. And the hospital beds from Wong. All these. So do nae worry your heart needlessly, we're not leavin' ya." Eeli said to the first round of applause heard this morning. He had finally cooled the reactor from blowing. But that was when a voice rang out from the crowd, higher than the cheers.

"I'm afraid we have no choice."

Everyone silenced, and looked to the voice that had come from. And as soon as it was discovered that the giant hooded man amongst them was Havelast, they all gasped, shocked at his survival; shocked, by the glass cut under his eye. "There comes a time when we must fend for our own. Our nation is facing an attack I do not wish to begin to imagine. Adenna can spare her Siovanui warriors no longer." Havelast said, a bit out of breath it seemed, but he had never been more serious. And the crowd had never been louder. Even Havelast, as booming as his voice was, had to repeat his decision. Even then, it was questionable if it was heard amongst the panic. "We are sorry! WE ARE SORRY! "

" .. Adenna is in trouble? " Seirichi spoke, almost in a hushed tone as she looked along with the crowd up at the towering knight. The hand her sister had grasped minutes ago began to tighten up in a squeeze of worry. Enough to cause the slightest bit of discomfort from the white silver haired girl. But, the siovanui took no notice in it. Right now her mind had been racing. "Wait..!" Yelling out. Finally letting go of that hand as she pushed forward. Wanting to get as-close-as-possible. "Havelast! What do you mean!?" Still moving through the crowd as she let loose yet another yell. Finally, with one final push, she'd break through most of the crowd to stand before him. "How is Adenna is trouble?! What's going on!"


Havelast's eyes focused on young Seirichi's worried face. No, she wasn't so young anymore. Was she? Conflict in the bold Adenna knight's eyes, as he resisted telling her. Down the rows, a distinct little turtle house stood out from so many tents, and its door slammed open, with Techichi bursting out.

"What is this commotion!? I have told you people, disturb my beauty-rest and I'll-- " was when her gaze fell upon Havelast, not only back, not only alive, but wounded. Her eyes widened as she made over to him. "Havelast. What is all this??" she asked. Now her, the knight could tell. He could tell Techichi the world was going to end and watch her try and think up ways to combat it. But Seirichi, Havelast looked back... her spirit was harder for him to weigh heavy things upon. When had that happened? At what moment had she garnered the acclaim that she be treated more like a woman, and less like a warrior? Therefore, in a softer tone than he would have told Techichi, he spoke.

"Adenna's darkest shadows have returned. We can leave our precious city unprotected no longer."

"But Havelast, I know we kidded around before, but.. -- " Techichi started, but Havelast rose a bandaged hand to stop her.

"Adenna needs her Siovanui. -- " turning to look at Seirichi then, "BOTH of them..."

Silver Mark's the Spot



Some odd day at camp...


?Ui! Don't go wanderen' off with my mugs!? a feisty dwarf behind the poorly built bar counter said. The men he addressed were Rhy'Din citizens, rescued and brought to this base where they spent their days expanding the camp with the other men, unless of course they chose to serve in combat with the portal teams. There were not many jobs that you could apply for at Camp Devotion.

?Oh. Sorry about that.?
?Yeah. Here.?

The two men were good-hearted, even with blushed cheeks metering their inebriation levels. The dwarf kindly accepted the mugs, pouring the excess into an empty nine gallon wooden cask to be drained elsewhere. Grabbing his silver cup chained about his neck, he poured a tiny taste of ale from one of his remaining stock, and took an assessment sip, smacking his chops with his eyes closed. ?Hm.? a contented nod. It was a passing grade.

?Rarrrrrr!? Dyarhk growled, walking up to his bar out in the open night air of this camp. ?What's with all this?? he reached, tugging down the string of paper lanterns strung over his counter, giving it quite the inviting atmosphere.

?Palliator! Yer back!?

?I'm not only back, ale master, but I'm also in the market for a good chat and thirsty for some good dwarven ale. Now how 'bout it??

Rar tugged a grin one way, pointing a workman's finger at him while he fetched two clean mugs. ?Ordinary barrel by appearance, but 'tis actually our wintry wine blend. We only brew about a hundred barrels a year. It's a spiced wine, but primarily, it's a steak enhancer. What you'd do, is have a glass with your dinner. But we'll do without, tonight. I'll give ya a chance first to experience the cinnamon and orange zest.? the sunny color of ale, but without a sud of foam, Dyarhk questioningly gripped his chin as he observed these mugs filled to the tops.

?Ho?? This is a most peculiar treat indeed.? Dyarhk seized his mug, bringing it before his chest and running his finger just over the liquid to paint his tongue with. ?.....?

?To bridgin' man again with the mountain lords!? Rar proposed, holding his mug up.

?To feasting in your mountain hall with no issues with the seating. To the perfect chair.? he clanked mugs with Rar, who Dyarhk had to be mindful of, when he hurriedly began consumption. Wide-eyed for just a moment, he quickly raced his wine to his lips and turned up his mug. Close one.

?AAAAHHH!? Rar exclaimed. From Dyarhk, there was a few smacking of lips before he hiccuped to MUCH surprise.

?How does she taste, lad???

?...Amazi?iccup!? he was even more surprised this time. He turned to Rar, ?I am truly sorry. This does not usually happen.?

The ale master laughed while the Palliator became more affiliated with his wooden stool at the counter. ?Ya know, I never could swing a sword as well as the others. Not like I wanted to. No, my real skill ended up being my nose. I like brewing. And I may not be cutting my enemies down, but I'm warming the bodies of the cold, frightened, and hopeless. Some men who had lost family members came by earlier tonight, and they were able to enjoy some merriment with my ale. I'm proud of that.?

?mmm.? Dyarhk nodded, amazed by the dwarf's passion and heart.

?We all do our part, I believe.? Rar took another savoring swig from his special spiced wine brand.

?Some are more important than others; all of them vital.? Dyarhk philosophized, as a slight buzz often tended to bring out in him.

?I just wish I could have brought my best stock, but it turned out being more trouble than t'was worth. The casks are a special wood that resonates with the mountain climate. The two are a necessity to the taste of the ale. In getting from there to here, it would have already lost its magic. Even its subtle nuances are important.? Rar explained as if he were talking to someone who shared his passion for the quality of ale. Dyarhk's attentive eyes glistened to even begin imagining what this special label must taste like. His smile steadily growing, the dwarf had his full attention.

?I just don't give in for this processed, filtered, ' 'today's man' ' beer. Some dwarves, and especially men are losing the taste of real beer.? the dwarf took another slurp, sticking even his nose in his mug to do so.

?Quality is just as important with ale as it is anything else.? Dyarhk added.

?More important, actually. Ale is a living thing! It has character. It is changing, unpredictable, ever second it's in the barrel!? Rar slapped the cask as reference. ?The shelf life isn't supposed to last, with so much distinction going on inside. Which is why today's breweries baffle me. Sacrificing taste for, longevity.? Rar took what seemed to be an angry sip.

?Aye... good beer is hard to come by.....? Dyarhk went for another sip when he was reminded of something suddenly. And it just so happened to be, good beer. ?Ale master. I don't think we should be losing hope so quickly. Brewing is a delicate, and you might say lost art, but I promise you there are people in today's day and age who haven't forgotten what a good beer tastes like.?

?Oh???

?That is right. A man I know has a label: Silver Mark. And it is of the best beers I have tasted in many years.? Dyarhk stated, going for a sip of his spiced wine before Rar put his hand over the mouth of the mug.

?A man???? Rar sounded in disbelief.

?This comes as a surprise to you?? Dyarhk grinned.

?Indeed it does. I don't believe it. Sure, there was a time when man fashioned together a good grog, but today it seems rather unlikely. No, surely not, not without proof.? Rar crossed his arms.

?Hahaha! Alright then! If your doubt is so strong, then your shocked face when you are proven wrong will be all the more valuable.? Dyarhk began fishing through his pockets. ?Here it is. Precious information: the Baron's mailing address. Write him of your distrust in a man's quality beer, and send for a sample! And do tell me when it arrives, I want to see the look on your face.? Dyarhk pointed to the piece of paper before setting his mug down, and walking back through camp, not shy a hiccup or two.

Rar looked down at the crumpled address, and huffed out a grunt. ?Man make a good beer. As if it could hold a torch to the mastery of dwarven brewing.? he cleaned up the two mugs, looking back to the paper and discerning it altogether in a different light.

?Rar! We're killing the fires. You best shut down your bar and get ta sleep.? Vitan Glaiveslasher, the second in command of the camp said, passing by with his entourage of dwarven war captains.

?Ui! Aye.? Rar called back, pocketing the address, only after blowing out his paper lanterns. Gathering his instruments and a few tools in an always-open wooden toolbox, he dropped his cleaning rag over it as he picked it up and gave a wave to some of the men on duty of putting out the large bonfires tonight.

?Goodnight, Rar!?
?See you in the morning.?
?Goodnight!?

?Goodnight, Lads.? Rar waved by rising his toolbox over to them as he walked to his tent, passing through its flap and depositing his things on his little desk. He started up his chubby lantern, closing its gate once the flame had caught. He sighed.

?A quality beer? How can a man make a brew worthy of remembrance? Does the Palliator have bad taste? Or, might he really have something..? It can't measure up to a dwarf's, not with their tiny nostrils and ambitions... but, I wonder...? Rar grabbed the ends of his glasses on the desk and tugged them over and behind his ears, smacking his lips as he pulled the lantern closer and surveyed what else he might need.

A blank parchment, his quill, and his inkwell. He dipped his felt tip, and began to sway beautiful cursive script down.

?Baron of St. Aldwin,

I write under the impression that you are in a category with myself of ale appreciation, as a fellow brewer, and a good one, and a man no less.

Being of Dwarvish descent, this came as quite a shock to me, for man to have allegedly reattuned with the secrets of fermentation. But a friend of mein spoke your name quite proudly, impacting me enough to write this lettar.

This Silver Mark if it is called, has bought you an audience with a great proven Dwarven Ale Master! But perhaps more importantly I should disclose, I run the shipment of assorted ales and wines for

A camp providing aid to men and women of Rhy'Din during this great disaster that has swept Rhy'Din City so soundly. If you understand ale like I do, then you must also know how it warms the heart in times of

Despair. And I know our stock, flavorful as it is, must be dulling on a few of the men's tongues here. A little variety, at the very least, could do no harm.

I ask for a few cases of your beer: Silver Mark. I am including our address at the bottom of this manuscript should you agree. I also understand nothing is free in this world, especially a good ale, so

Feel free to attach proper billing to your shipment. Either way, I shall decide if your make is worthy of reordering, and if my belief in men has been misplaced all these years.


Rar Deephand
Ale Master

Written at the bottom was the address, and then he began to roll the paper, opening again the cage of his lantern to hoist a red candle before it. Dancing it to a fine glossy cherry shine, he painted it over the lip at the center of his letter, and grabbing his official silver ale master's tasting cup, pressed its bottom on the wax, embedding a seal of a small cup seemingly exerting heavenly rays of sunlight. The proud dwarf then removed his glasses, stood, and made for the mail at the edge of camp.

Scarred Ending ? Devotion: Revisited
(Many thanks to Alain's player)


The crickets chirped as nightfall was claiming ownership over much of Rhy'Din. Particularly at the shelter camps of the Northern Forest of Rhy'Din, or where the shelter camps used to be. They were all but packed up and gone now. Mass amounts of acreage still showed the lived-in effects of thousands of refugees which demanded trees be cut down and the grassy ground be flattened under the shoes of so many people unable to return to their demolished homes. The site of so many camps now was livelier than it had been in some months since the total abandonment of the area. The fate of the grounds now was at the mercy of stealthy government men come to spend a great deal of money on trying to make more money from the rescue effort that had happened those months ago and had to shutdown because of finances.
White and yellow lights flickered from a series of trucks like there were some sort of emergency going on at this site, but that was not the case. Several two-man teams were dispersed out into the land in general with their tools and markers and were busy surveying the land; making sure the positions of the camp were correct for their abundance of information needing exactness when they would eventually try to retroactively assume control over what had gone on here. It was what brought back the key players of the camps, including the famous past-Commander, McDowell, who had played a pivotal role in the life-saving department. He walked with the lead grounds surveyor, a nasty Rhy'Dinnian Official by the name of Guy Vanderhorst, past Dyarhk who was standing in the calm cool of the night awaiting a rendezvous. Dyarhk's position had been managing one of the camps himself along with a band of dwarves that turned out a positive rescue effort. Because of that, he was asked to be here tonight and see the final moments of this story to its unexpected closure.
But that was not the only reason he, personally, was here. Looking around at the eerie life returned to these peaceful woods, he recalled that very reason. A mysterious man had made into the inn the other morning and brought attention to a man's name he would not have thought twice of, depending the man's name. But the man had dropped such a name that was never spoken without an air of worry along with it: Alain DeMuer. A friend of his, and one that had achieved a status that made people going around asking questions all the more dangerous. Dyarhk didn't think twice about it, he called Alain and scheduled a meeting at a place that could not be deciphered over the telephone, in case anyone had been listening in.

"The line's probably not safe. Let's meet in person, tomorrow night. Meet me at the site you gave your ale donation. 10:00 o'clock RST." Click.

Dyarhk was a little on edge, looking around at these flickering lights normally activated under construction purposes. He trusted his friend was alright, but was not thinking positively on this whole thing just turning out to be "nothing."

Alain emerged from the woods nearby, where the trees were still thick, where the refugees hadn't quite reached. It was a suspicious way to enter any area, but half of the answer to that was not getting caught by the wrong people in the process; the other half was not making it look suspicious. His walk was confident, and he appeared very sure of himself, as if it were a perfectly normal thing to do. Soon he crested the hill where Dyarhk stood, pulled two cigars from his shirt pocket, and had a look at all the activity on the site before them.

"How's it going?" He offered the other man a cigar.

Indeed, Alain had come from an unusual entry point. It garnered him a few unnoticed steps inside of Dyarhk's radius of awareness until he'd looked him with a slight bit of surprise. He walked over with that noticeable confidence that could have passed for the owner of this forestry come to make sure everything was copacetic. It was also true that none of the site surveyors would have stopped him to ask him a thing, but they would have anyone else. It was a clever walk Alain chose.

"Alain. You made it." he said, offering him two hands. One awaiting to pinch that cigar into his possession, and the other patient to shake his hand for a reminder to both their hands with a brief telling of warmth that it might have been slightly cooler out than they'd have liked. Windbreaker weather. "Sorry to call you out so far. I wasn't sure you'd remember where the place was." always anxious to throw a grin into the chat. He gestured with his repositioning beside of Alain to suggest they watch over this process of measuring the ley lines.

Alain smiled easily; the only tell that he was curious, and aware that they probably had anything to be suspicious of or guarded about, was in his eyes. He surrendered a cigar, trading it for a handshake. "It's not too far. I moved out to this end of town not too long ago. How are things?" It had been a long time since Alain had been so involved with Dominion Exports, then called DeMuer Exports, that he had watched a metaphysical survey being conducted. In a few moments, though, he remembered the familiar actions, and wondered just what they hoped to gain from this site.

"Oh you know. Geography." he tossed his head to the workers and didn't let so much time linger between them save for a comfortable amount before he thought Alain deserved an explanation. "Rhy'Din City was taking out loans a few months ago to pay for the relief services you probably saw last time you rolled in here. Now these Midwesterners have come to take over. Tons of people need homes, but others need their money first." he shook his head with an understanding of the hideous operation going on before them, one he wished he was ignorant of but had to sleep with the knowledge of at night. He sniffed, the cold air beginning to take its toll. Fortunately he had Dunlin's Coat on, that burgundy cracked leather thing had been the coat of a great adventurer in Huyglen that decided to hang it up for good one night. Those were the best, and often warmest jackets you could get; stumbling upon them resting in a closet. "I wanted to apologize to you, Alain. This is probably nothing, but on the off-chance it's something, you might like to know. A man came to the inn the other day... some kind of shady businessman. Had quite an interest in the Baron of St. Aldwin. Here's his card." producing the thing with some searching on the inside of his coat before offering it to him.

Alain accepted the business card, reviewed it, and something in his eyes paused... Then another smile crept into place. "Financial consultant?" he read aloud, and the smile turned to a smirk. "Just another no-talent asshole looking to climb the ladder through networking." He pocketed the card and suddenly his eyes seemed very interested in the site and the survey process. "He tell you what he wanted?"

Watching Alain now as his interest perked. He used this time to summon his memories as best he could. A life could be in danger, but damn if he ever prided in the quality of his memory. "It was real straightforward ? wanting to make some money making other people money. You're probably right. He just rubbed me the wrong way. And I don't like unfamiliar faces asking questions about my friends."

He bit the cap off that cigar and spit it to the side. Thank the gods he had a matchbook for that pipe he usually carried around; that pipe, that was holstered in a fine leather strap on his back. He flicked the tiny match across the strip igniting it and then rolling that cigar around the little flame. The deceased match soon joined cigar cap in the grass after a few flicks of that smoky gray ash before he offered the matchbook to Alain, also of course, after the first fine inhalation. He noted the quality of that cigar. Slow-burning. It'd probably last for up to an hour. Not cheap. "Sure wanted to know how he could find you."

Alain struck a match, lit his cigar, shook the flame out. "Mm. Probably nothing, but I'll post one of the rookies to keeping an eye on him, if we can spare anyone right now. Just in case." He cleared his throat slightly, waved his cigar towards the site. "So... who ordered this? The banks handling the loans? The local government, under pressure from the banks?"

"Sounds like a good plan. I tell ya what. If I see your man, I'll extend the great courtesy of not knocking him out. Just for you." grinning brightly with that cigar bit down on, his laugh muffled around it. He looked over the site Alain gestured to while fishing around in his pants pocket. "Yeah, man. If you mean banks you never heard of. You might have, but I don't know 'em. I just know when the relief finances ran out, these goons showed up and shut it down. It wasn't hard... they'd have to move out when the food stopped coming in anyway. But speaking of things I've never heard of. Here." he was finally done fishing in that pocket. A jingling of change was pulled out and he bounced it in his hand to make sure it was the correct coinage he produced. It was. He tossed it to hit Alain's chest and be easily barred off with his arm and hand to catch. The coin had Latin lettering, which says in English: People's Unified Rubles - The Council of Revolutionary Worlds. Dyarhk wrapped his lips around that cigar and breathed magnificent clouds a couple times.

"What that financial consultant paid with before he left. Thought my getting caught stealing might've been worth it if you could make any sense out of it."

"Huh..." He held it up to get a better look at it, and then told a lie. "You know... I've never seen it before. But then, all kinds of weird money comes into this city, all the time. Still, should help us corroborate whatever profile our rookie works up on this loser." He didn't return the coin, though, dropping it into his own pocket.

"Sure was one peculiar businessman. I hope it didn't call you out here for nothing... but at the same time, I do. I'll take a friendly smoke over an actual threat every single time." Dyarhk said with a puff.

Subjects were changed a second time. It couldn't be a coincidence now. "How many people did they move out? I know there were some thousands here before, but I thought you were getting a good number of them back onto their feet."

Alain was a detective, one who often used all methods at his disposal, or at least that that's what Dyarhk imagined. So he didn't think twice about him keeping that coin that he noticed. It was just part of the job. Might make a lead. But one thing he thought was that it would be a lot more use to Alain than it would to him. At least it seemed to Dyarhk that Alain was looking into his personal safety, which was the main reason they were here. And then that change of subject. Dyarhk was easily distracted. His green eyes fell over the land once more and he was exhaling something long.
"I know that some got placed. Their relatives helped them out. Some are rebuilding elsewhere. It was impossible to keep information on everyone. But what we do know is there's about a thousand still homeless. Maybe more. And they can't do a thing. That's what the camp leaders are here to discuss." points to the far, beyond the line-tracers to a group of overlookers not unlike Alain and himself. A hulking man, and three hulking dwarf-sized men around him. They were even smoking as they had been.

"Figure since we got dragged here to answer their questions, they might be able to come up with some sort of temporary lodgings for the remaining refugees."

The more he thought about the situation with the refugees, the harder it became for Alain to maintain a smile; something dark festered in his gaze. In spite of the company, and the good cigar, he didn't look like he was enjoying himself at all by this point.

"You know St. Aldwin opens its doors to people like this all the time," he said carefully. "But... we've had some situations of our own, lately, and I'm just their representative. A matter like this is up to the Baronial Council. Who are your friends?" He nodded down the ridge to the other figures observing the unusual site reclamation.

"Mm." he pleaded for Alain to wait just the second that he would be done removing the cigars to between his fingers. He sucked in with his teeth clenched and narrowed that gazed out the distance over. "The... big one's a freshly throned king. He was on the ground in Town Hall swinging a sword before his nation came under fire and he had to pull out. I tagged along to help. City's not in that much better of shape, but it's over. That's one reason he's probably denying the evacuees any form of residency. Still a hot zone. But after the situation was over he got a crown placed on his head. I'm sure that's subject of some of their conversation."
Letting that lull between the two of them, or that would be the excuse as he took another puff. He appreciated a good smoke. He did not do it that often, and rarely without good company or a good view. Tonight had both, in an eerie sort of way. " -- Around him uh, Crall Goldcrusher, Vitan Glaiveslasher, and Rar Deephand. All commanders of the camps at one time or another."

"I remember Master Deephand," Alain nodded.

Dyarhk's eyes narrowed once more as he was thinking of something, considering it harshly. "St. Aldwin, huh....? a look to Alain, ?I was just about to go over there. Why don't you come along?" a jerk of that cigar, and then another. Alain hadn't said anything, which was more than enough reason for him to start down that hill and out of the darkness where only tiny embers lit their faces. Now they were in the light and the heart of the chattering men ever jotting down measurements. Again, they walked through like they owned the place. For Dyarhk, he'd merely spent too much work here to be bothered by it.

Alain drew the cigar away, clutched between his left fingers, and followed Dyarhk. The unwelcome brightness began to dissipate as they trekked through the center and approached the larger opening in the woods. This had been were the forest was most occupied at one time, and inevitably about to become lit up when those workers got to it. But not now. Slowly as Dyarhk and Alain transitioned back into the darkness with the construction lights to their back now, so did they transition into the private murmurs of the men's conversation.

"Good evening, gentlemen," he offered as they drew near in order to announce himself and Dyarhk. This was a king he was about to meet, and he was sure his own state of dress did not mark him as a sovereign of any caliber, even a lowly baron; the dwarven lords were skeptical of men by nature, he recalled, and he was sure this would do nothing to help his case...

Still. It couldn't hurt to try and make friends.

(Kudos again to Alain's player for this awesome, awesome play. I hope you enjoy!)


Alain nodded to Rar, passing him by as he followed Dyarhk - it took him a moment to decide that's what he was going to do. "Should be interesting to hear what they have to say..." ...and just why the hell a survey team was interested in one of the rotating collection of miserable refugee camps on the edges of RhyDin City. One thumb was hooked ever so casually into a belt loop, and his opposite arm swung freely at his side.

"Hey! Wait up!" Rar said innocently as he ran to catch up with them. Dyarhk walked with some authority back into those bright lights and over to the busy congregation of workers gathered around a truck's hood and the map of the forestry spread out on it. Power tools served as paperweights and the men marked heavily upon the map with a red pencil, particularly a box perimeter that they were exacting upon. McDowell was there, and talking to Guy Vanderhorst when Dyarhk walked up with Alain and Rar. He saw this and triggered the chain reaction through his men to make curious faces at their approach.

"Friends...of yours, McDowell?" Guy asked, looking over to him. McDowell nodded soon after.

"They are, Mr. Vanderhorst. These men are noteworthy contributors to the aid of the shelter camp that used to be here. This is Dyarhk, Rar Deephand, and, the Baron of St. Aldwin, Alain DeMuer." indicating each of them with a hand as Guy looked over them critically and discerningly; unfriendly. "They all care deeply about what happens to the refugees."

"As do I, Commander. Are we any different? Since we've arrived you've responded very negatively toward my survey. Well, that's too bad, Commander. Because the law deserves to be upheld. Now, you gentlemen. I'm sorry, but I must be going to check on the state of the refugees. Sorry you came up here for nothing, but you shouldn't worry. We have the situation under control." Guy reached a single goodbye wave to the three men and headed around to the passenger side of one of his Vanderhorst & Sons LLC. trucks.

"I'll go with you." Dyarhk said almost immediately, glaringly, never taking his eyes off Vanderhorst as he headed to one of the three already running and awaiting trucks. The driver whose truck Dyarhk approached held his arm out the window and made an angrily confused look over at Guy. It seemed the all of the Vanderhorst band were shocked and frozen briefly. It was Guy that broke them out of it.

"Well, by all means! Take a ride with one of my boys! You're welcome! All of you are welcome! We're just gonna do our job, and we hope you'll let us do it." Guy laughed softly. The man was a little overweight, but he was showing that smile to his men, showing them the attitude they should adopt before he was giving it to Alain, McDowell and Dyarhk.

Alain checked on his wristwatch and, if one looked very closely, he was pushing a button or two: when the voices rose he ducked his head, spoke low into his watch when no one would hear and few were likely to notice. Then he looked up at Dyarhk, frowning, his look asking the unspoken question, Just what the f*ck are you getting me into? But without a single word spoken aloud to the other man he climbed into the back of the truck Dyarhk chose.
"Thanks," he offered over his shoulder to Vanderhorst conversationally, as if this were all casual; "it'll be good to finally see your firm's progress firsthand."

Guy Vanderhorst smiled to Alain. "I think you'll hardly find a more caring office for these people. We're just trying to move things along. HEY!" Guy shouted, standing up on the running board step of his truck between the truck itself and the door. He smacked on the roof. "Let's go! You coming, McDowell?"

"No. You go on ahead. I'll check up on you three in a little wile." :: McDowell looked over to the them, telling them with his sharp stare that he had their back, particularly in saying that. It meant nothing could happen to them, or people would get suspicious, in effect showing his own suspicion over the Vanderhorst firm. It was all he could do to protect them. He turned and began walking out of the way of these trucks about to roll out.

"Suit yourself. Come on, people!" Guy ducked into the truck and shut the door and his truck initiated the lead of this three truck convoy. Dyarhk walked past the door he would open some ways, giving Alain a sharp look as he saw him climb in the back. There was a fine, private line shot to him out of the truck driver's sight. He knew Alain was curious to his method, and he asked him to bear with him. That's all he could do for now. Rar reached up on his side until a grunt inevitably voiced his inability to get up by himself. Dyarhk emotionlessly gave him a hand and got him to put a foot up on a tire and from there he could climb up himself.
Dyarhk shut himself in the driver's cabin and hung an arm out the always down window, shooting one more look back to Alain and Rar in the back, this time through the back window before looking ahead again. A jolt suddenly, and the truck took off, last in line of its group, and still leaving quite a number of workers behind. They were well planted on the Camp Devotion site; a site that was not at all without turbulence as these trucks bounced around over the terrain. Rar grunted some to hang on back in the truck bed with Alain, but he made do. "Don't worry, Aleyn. The site's not that far."

"Who's worried?" Alain grinned at Rar, but he nodded all the same. As the cold night air whipped past them his mind struggled to keep up with the rapidly unfolding situation here with the refugees, forcing himself to sideline his future concerns over meeting his Council in favor of the more immediate concern, figuring out what the hell was going on and why Vanderhorst was so interested. Interestingly he kept a closer eye on his watch than his surroundings.

"I don't know. Ther's something odt about all thes, end it couldn't be taking place at a worse spot." When Rar was able, he pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking about his Dwarven Mountain Lourds.

Dyarhk was looking eager to arrive but still content to get there when they did. It was some ten minutes, and they seemed to take forever given the lack of conversation between him and the driver, and the quiet peacefulness outside. It would not stay like this forever, though. As they came to a very steep incline that Dyarhk noticed they took to with a gear shift to first. It was like rolling up on a carnival the lights were so mystifying; to Dyarhk, it was like rolling up on Camp Devotion again.
He knew all these people, and they knew him, they knew Alain, they knew Rar, and as they came up to these lights that were furnished by the dwarves just outside the great entrance to their Hall, they all noticed a true motorcade of the same kind of trucks all lined up neatly and empty. Many of the men in their partly yellow, partly red jumpsuits were spread out across the camp, but many were still together. All three trucks came to a stop and the driver turned and said his first words, smiling, over to Dyarhk.

"We're here."

Dyarhk looked at him just as quickly as he got out, shutting that door on the man before the truck itself was shut down. As if Alain and Rar needed it, he came back to the truck bed and placed his hands on the edge seeing how they'd fared with the ride.

Alain slid out easily and offered his hand to Rar to help him down, and as the dwarf got down he turned his head aside to mouth to Dyarhk, Think tank?

'What?' Dyarhk mouthed back.

Alain shook his head slightly, then went to catch up with Vanderhorst. "You know, I'm kind of surprised," he began. "I read the report on hypothetical income tax policies in RhyDin, about return on revenue, and it was very impressive work... but I had no idea your firm worked so closely on field operations. Especially on something like this, a simple humanitarian crisis."

Guy Vanderhorst himself got out of his truck and the smile he gave Alain was one to tell him not to forget what he had just told them only ten minutes ago, to let them do their jobs. His sigh was also towards this way of conveyance. :: "Citizens are citizens. I wouldn't be doing my job if I overlooked anyone because I let something like sympathy get in the way. If we all were so fragile Mr. DeMuer, a great many people would get away with a great many things."

Rar was the first to walk over and greet Vitan Glaiveslasher, one of Camp Devotion's originals, along with his patrol team dealing with the situation here. Dyarhk stood between the camp and Alain, keeping his eye on the Baron while he made sense of what was going on here. There must have been thirty trucks, all yellow, all with the red text written on their sides: Vanderhorst & Sons LLC. Dyarhk saw Alain talk to Vanderhorst and gave a sniffle, deciding he was going to do his detective thing. Very well. He made himself then into the front of the camp giving Vitan a low nod and an even softer wave. Many of the people lit up at seeing him; surprise mostly. He found himself shaking dozens of hands in the space of about twenty or so steps.

Alain listened to Vanderhorst; It was a massive nonanswer to his unspoken questions, but he made the best answer out of it that he could. "You're not approaching it as a humanitarian crisis, are you." Then somehow this had to be a financial opportunity... but how? By the nature of their situation these people were destitute, had nothing material to offer.

"The people suffered misfortune, that is true. We are allotting them time for that. But as you can see with our presence here tonight, we are reminding them there is still the legal matter of their prolonged evacuation of paperwork-tied real estate and squatting on first privately owned forestry, and now the Dwarven capitol, where I here they are not very well received. Why is that they are still here, Mr. DeMuer? That's what we're here to find out, is all, and we're interviewing all of these citizens and getting detailed plans of when they can expect to help us, help them. Excuse me." he stuck one hand into his pocket and turned from the Baron of St. Aldwin to head toward the line to the wooden desk out in the open where the refugees were presumably doing what Vanderhorst had said.

Alain frowned at Guy Vanderhorst's retreating back and raised his watch again. Though he was far from telling where it was headed, he got the sense this went a lot deeper than it first appeared. Dyarhk was looking incredibly worried, incredibly surprised, and flooded by more and more of this as people approached and took his hand, took his shoulder, and spoke in his ear. They wore sad faces, and transferred it over to him. What was it they were saying? That there was no way they could pay for any of this. That this was wrong. They were asking why this was happening. They were asking how they were going to get through this situation. Hopeless things.
Rar also looked like what he was hearing from Vitan was very negative. But oh well, there was a much larger issue that required attention right now, and it was that of a man who had cracked; a refugee. He threw his arms up at that desk and was looked at by the Vanderhorst representative like "he" was the out of line one. The man was running tears, and he had just heard all he could take of this taxation and further eternity that was being added onto this way of living.

"Now, now. Erendol. You'll be able to pay it. Slowly, a little bit at a time. We'll get through this." the Vanderhorst rep put his hand on the man's shoulder and the man erupted even more unbelievably, flailing his arms to get the other man's own off him.

"Don't touch me!!!" :: he barked.

Dyarhk looked over at Alain and gave a gesture of his head and a regretful look that they should investigate this. Both men would pay notice how to frightening it was becoming as more and more people got out of their tents to see what this commotion was, or more that, they knew what it was, and they were moving closer to it. Vanderhorst thwapped a chest of some of his men he stood in-front of and also gave the word for them to move forward and address this as well.

Vanderhorst's men came at the potential mob head-on, leaving Rar and Dyarhk to have to pick their way through the crowd to what he viewed as a potentially compromised position; it took all of a second for Alain to realize that, of the three, he was the one with the high ground. He approached from the side and somewhat behind Vanderhorst's men, their effective blind spot, apparently less concerned about exposing himself to the crowd. Already the pieces were falling into place in his head...

A few of these other men approached Erendol and even one of them was kind enough to crouch before him and begin talking. "Think about your family. You gotta do what's best for them." enraging Erendol even further, but he just allowed it to swell within him more. Another man spoke up.

"Yeah. You wouldn't want anything to happen to them." finally, a covert message through a whisper was shot to Erendol. This immediately got him a push.

"What is that supposed to mean?? Why are you people doing this to us!??" the push that Erendol had issued to the man earned him a hand on his shoulder to calm down from one of the other of Vanderhorst's; and THAT man got a hand on his shoulder from one of the refugees. They were beginning to stick up for one another, and it was not long before many of them were facing each other and saying things back and forth between shoves. Shoves led to punches, and Dyarhk's eyes widened at this. He dove in almost immediately. "Hey! Heey!!" Grabbing arms and walking between people. There were many outcomes Dyarhk wanted to see, this was not one of them.

The camp had exploded, to coin a phrase. A tiny brawl turned into a mosh of destructive flesh that shoved unmercifully and swung violent fists. Dyarhk hadn't realized the worst of it until he had gotten combo'd by one emotionally-compromised refugee after the other. Blasting punches that coincidentally set him up for the next one, and not so coincidentally dropped him below the average stand.

"HEY!" Rar yelled, seeing this and running much more dangerously into the mob, going so far as to throw a whole man out of his way. It was open season, and Alain was not without being in it, though he was in a strong running lakelet that fed into this roaring rapid, he found himself grabbed a hold of by a number of confused refugees who didn't know what to make of him and seemed to pass him in favor of going to punch someone else they were much more sure of: the men in the yellow jumpsuits. But this only happened two or three times with two or three refugees passing Alain off before one took a swing at him, and was probably not hard to dodge at all, but the second who'd come to back the up the first might have been.

"Hey, hey!" Alain said at the swings, doing only enough to deflect at best, backing off and in the process putting his back to Vanderhorst's men. "Let's settle down!" he hollered, loud and clear enough for the people gathered around him to begin to pay attention. "No one owes anyone a thing, alright? We'll get this figured -- " He really had their attention then, up to the moment that Vanderhorst's goons decided it was high time they took riot control to the next level, with clubs, and Alain was at the front of the line.
He caught a blow to the ribs and an elbow to the face from behind, hard enough to toss him off to one side, and matters got even worse. He lost sight of Rar and Dyarhk in the growing tide of pushing, pulling, punching, kicking and now swinging clubs, and the camp seemed ready to meet force with even more force... Refugees were reacting mercilessly to seeing other refugees injured, and some that knew Alain and had seen him get struck were even retaliating against that. It was a riot.

A single shot rang out, and tens or hundreds of gathered faces suddenly went very still. Alain stood at the edge of the halted fight with his pistol raised in the air. "Listen up... Camp Devotion, and Vanderhorst people alike! You're gonna stop this now, keep the peace, and let Dyarhk, and Rar Deephand, walk out of this fight. Rar, Dyarhk... come to me!" An engine rumbled in the distance, rapidly drawing closer, but Alain appeared unconcerned. It was likely someone he himself had called for.

Everyone stopped the punches they were delivering, charging, or receiving and looked to the loudest voice in the room, so to speak, the gunshot. Alain had all their frozen attention, except for the few who were used to sort of swim out from, being Dyarhk and Rar climbing to their feet and air in general. It was scary how easily you could suffocate under the stampede of warring persons, but it was very real, and Dyarhk showed in his panting as he held his arms out to keep those around him back while he looked around with alert eyes and a bloodied corner of his mouth.
He was together with Rar, grabbing a hold of him in reaching with very jarred motor skills as they both paved to Alain's area. Dyarhk gave a nod of thanks to him, very quick, very asking if he was okay. But they had no time to talk. Vitan rose his warglaive into the air.

"That is quite enough. Those of you in the yellow uniform. Take your machines and leave. You will do this right now or feel the wrath of the Dwarven Mountain Lords." Vitan said powerfully. "You are no longer welcome here."

Guy Vanderhorst looked over to Alain before hearing Vitan and being completely shocked by both of them on-top of the situation that had just unfolded. This complicated things for him, it complicated things greatly, and he did not need more of it to continue. "Come on men! You heard the dwarf lord. We can negotiate or fee later. Let's head out." he guided his entourage to their trucks and made sure they all of them were going, not wanting to leave anyone behind, not wanting anyone to get taken under interrogation, not wanting anyone to make him look worse than he did at this moment.
He made multiple glances to Alain while he saw them go to the trucks, and was fine with him seeing he was doing so. Make no mistake, Guy was certain he would have to look out for him in the future. He followed lastly to the trucks and was in his own seeing them all begin to slowly head out.

An unmarked cargo truck, probably old military surplus, rolled up as the other trucks departed, and three men on horseback arrived shortly thereafter. Each one carried a carbine and wore a sword at their hip, and each scanned their surroundings with a sharp scowl in place on their features.

"Come on... up front, Master Deephand, if you please," Alain guided him towards the passenger seat. "Dyarhk, in the back with me." He looked out over the crowd of refugees, many of them dispersing
but many still looking their way, and breathed a long sigh. "...We have a great deal to discuss."