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Posting on behalf of Cal

She laughed dryly in response. "I may have a proposal for you." She had a small smile on her face. "People in my Kingdom think that I'm a saint, a God. Imagine if people thought the same of you. You'd have go Jayce running, if he thought..." Her voice trailed off. She had a downcast look on her face.
"What am I thinking? You wouldn't want to do something like that." She frowned. The remnant looked at Jaden with a kind of sadness, a puzzled look crossed her face as if she was thinking. She stood up, and paced around the room. "Of course. I could always do it for you. It would give you so much power..."

Jaden reclined in his chair and listened as the spirit of a long dead woman talked through the body of her descendent. It was an interesting proposal that she made. Her case wasn't strongly detailed, but he could already foresee potential advantages of this approach. Of course, there was one problem... It was a lie. And Jaden did not like lies that he could be easily caught up in. And there was something else, something deeper than that. Pride. The title of Inheritor in the Shards of Hope, it was about inheriting the legend. But Jaden didn't want to be just the embodiment of Aidan Samarost, he wanted to be more than that. His position was the tool to get there, but he would surpass his grandfather. He would not find himself carried by the legend of a man dead 150 years. He made a good cause, but the dead were dead.
"Tempting as your offer is, I'll have to decline Princess Calxiyn." He answered, clasping his hands together and setting them on the table. "If you could give me this ability for real... Perhaps you would sway me. Unfortunately this is not the case. I am not above deception, but this does not suit me. You see, I am more than just the next Samarost heir. I am not content with being thought of as Aidan Reborn. That isn't who I am. I am a different man, Princess. I bear the title of Inheritor as a path to something greater. I will not be remembered as his reincarnation, I will be remembered as a true successor who built on what came before! Besides, why would I want to claim to be the rebirth of a man who failed? And where would that make us stand?"
"It's a good deal for you, isn't it? You get a free pass to significance with no effort, and no right to it. Say what you want, but you're not one of us." Jaden's tone became deliberately scathing suddenly. He had to make his position clear. "These are not your lands any more, and I am not Aidan. Perhaps you were able to bewitch him, but the same shall not befall me."

Meanwhile, the Captain negotiating with Ransak reached over and shook the thief's hand.
"That is a deal that we will be happy to accept. A pleasure doing business with you." A few moments later, a soldier came in with a large wooden case. He placed it on the table and opened it. The requested some of money lay there, ordered in neat bundles of notes worth 1000 each. "As for what you can do for us, give us some time to think. Do you have any questions for me?" The soldier took the goods and left. There was a medium sized research lab in the camp set up in one of the large warehouses, where they were delivered. Immediately, excitement rose in the research teams. One of them sent a runner for Jaden.

A soldier found David, Zahariel and Prince Andar wherever they were.
"Sirs, a shuttle is ready for you to leave when you're ready." He said.





Carissa looked at Kala with a bemused expression. How doesn't she know anything about horses? Who is this girl, and how could she be so ignorant of basic things? I assume Jaden had a good reason for sending them here
"We found wild horses a long time ago, and we tamed them. Now we ride them. I don't know which came first though." She answered. Perhaps she had some sort of condition. Severe memory loss? It was possible. She may just need re-educating. As the convoy progressed, very little seemed to happen, until...
"HOSTILE SHUTTLES! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"
"Let's get out there! Move!" She ordered, grabbing her crossbow and opening their transport at the back. She could see an enemy shuttle landed there, stopping their retreat and Order soldiers began to exit, guns blazing. She returned fire with her crossbow, and so the battle began.




The shuttle that they were on soon arrived at their destination and they could see the convoy en route. They were supported by craft with other troops inside, but they'd need to make the most of this surprise move. They had three transports as well as some lighter vehicles and troops. He looked at the team that was assembled with him. He nodded to them and drew Duskfall, the huge weapon glowing red.
"Let's go!" The Demi-God ordered. The shuttles swept down above the convoy and the back ramps opened up. Kalak ran for the exit and jumped out, landing gracefully on the ground amidst the Shard convoy. Two of the shuttles landed on either side of the convoy, effectively blocking it. They were staging a battle - Here and now.

Meanwhile, at The Valiant, a soldier approached Ashleigh and Veera.
"When you're ready sirs, there is a transport ready. We should start the attack soon though." ​

Corvo moved through New York, trying to get to his hotel. There were only a few people around at this time in varying states. One particular group of humans saw him walking down the street, nursing his wounds. They asked him if he was okay. He was tempted to angrily blow them off to get their concerned expressions out of his way so he could get to somewhere actually suited for healing. However, he allowed them to fawn over them and let them guide him to a hospital near to his hotel. Once they got him there, they left. Luckily they didn't pry too much into his story. He was attacked and managed to fight off the people going after him, but he took a few hits in the process. After they were gone, he slipped out quiet as a shadow. Now, he decided, this operation got a whole lot more difficult and it was going to require more care. He regretted revealing himself so soon. There was obviously a plot at hand here. Handing over the Institute to Werewolves with the help of an Ifrit and quietly extracting Hendrick... It reeked of a conspiracy. This Institute was bold. Doing this alone was going to be difficult. He'd need equipment, and possibly other men to really win this war against the plotters. He now had no choice but to assume that everyone was guilty. It would make sense. Of course the other Nephilim would disappear because they knew a pack of wolves was coming! And Brianne didn't tell him! The Barrier Rune seemed like an inconsistency in the story... There was no other answer. All of these people were rebelling against the Clave.

The Inquisitor made it to the hotel and punched the buttons on the elevator. He slotted his room key in, entered and slammed the door behind him. He needed to get a message to Yorick who had given him the directive on this case. It was bigger than either of them had realised. For now though, the Inquisitor had to prepare. If he was going to fight this out then he was going to need both Runes on himself, and his weapons. The conspirators had made their first mistake, and he intended it to be their final one - They had let him live. Now he would wage a war of justice. One that he would win. ​

Sometimes Derrick debated the merit of carrying around his tent. Sure, it made the nights a bit more comfortable but setting it up was certainly a pain in the backside, and so was taking it down. Once he was done, they stopped briefly for breakfast and got back on the road again. He heard Treasa trying to motivate herself to stay awake and wondered if she had slept properly. He didn't bring it up because he still wasn't quite sure where her boundaries were. It was hard to judge. So he would just assume that she'd be alright and wait for her to start trusting him. Not that it would be any time soon, judging by her attitude. The Witcher sighed and continued to ride. They had a ways to go. They were only halfway to Novigrad - Not close enough as far as he was concerned. If only he were a sorcerer and could open a portal just to get to Kaer Morhen. Not that it went particularly well last time. He flexed his right shoulder - It was feeling significantly better. He thanked the improved metabolisms of Witchers for the speedy recovery. It wasn't fully up to speed, but he wouldn't tear it open again unless something terrible happened. He hoped that wouldn't be the case.
"Anything you want to do when we hit Novigrad?" Derrick asked. "Once we go past it, I don't intend on stopping until we hit the Kaer."




Adolin awoke bleary eyed in a tavern room. A dancing candle flashed waving shadows across the room. He was aware that he was laying on his front and his back stung. The Doppler gritted his teeth and grunted as he pushed himself up to a kneeling position. He hissed as he moved the skin as his back, prompting the burns to twinge and shoot pain up the entirety of his back. It was then that he realised he was shirtless. He looked around and saw what was left of the Witcher's armour on the ground, the chest armour having been completely ruined. He had to hand it to the mage, he made a bloody good fire. It would have been a miracle for anyone to survive that fla- He remembered Evander. The old man had passed out in the street just by where they were fighting. He was probably dead now. A sorcerer he may have been, but in his state there was no possible way that he could have survived that fire. He almost felt guilty. It was a shame that it happened, but he wasn't really their friend. Just a stranger. He got off the bed and walked around the room a bit. He wasn't too seriously injured judging by the fact that he could move around properly. The door clicked and he jumped back, instinctively reaching for a sword that wasn't there. His eyes scanned the room and he went for the blade leaning against the wall, but before he could reach it Alanna stepped inside and kicked the door closed with her heel.
"This is a set of replacement armour. It's not quite as good as Carrak of Cintra's, but it'll have to do. You'll look the part again at least." Alanna explained, crossing the room and dumping the new equipment on the bed. From a satchel that she now had slung across her chest hanging from her left hip, she produced bandages. "You're going to need to cover those burns. I'm not a doctor, and judging by their attitude to Dopplers I don't think we'll find one that'll treat you here. It's best not to risk it. Either way, I think that it's best if you don't have that exposed. You might get an infection. Now sit down on that chair and let me put them on." Thankfully, he merely grunted and sat down facing the back of the chair, allowing her to get to work. That damn mage. If he wasn't such an uptight idiot then he wouldn't have died and this wouldn't have happened to Adolin. All of our lives would have been so much better. She finished quickly, tying the bandage off and gesturing to the armour on the bed.
"Put that on. I've also bought a hood for you. I'm not sure whether they'll know our faces or not. If I tell people I'm a sorceress I think it'll be okay, but we'd best not go anywhere near that gate." She explained, leaning against the wall while watching Adolin get dressed again. "Now, your objective is to get ahold of something that'll help destroy Kaer Morhen. Sadly, Oxenfurt university is out of the window which leaves us with this city. If sorcerers are so well liked around here, then I suspect that we should be able to find an alchemist."
"This is all very well and good Alanna, but what about if we encounter another situation where they try to kill me for being a Doppler? They figured it out once. It wouldn't surprise me if they did it again." She frowned as he posited the question. It was a good point, and one that she didn't really know the answer to. "We can't fight our way out. Before we were at the gate, now we'll be in the middle of the city. This is the centre of their power. We won't get away." What she wanted to say is that she would convince them to leave him alone. But she couldn't expect herself to be able to do that, especially after the incident at the gate. She cursed herself for not coming up with a solution.
"I'll figure it out." She said, mustering the best tone of finality she could. But both of them knew that there was only one real option if things went the way that they did last time.




Boenn and Wilfred pulled the cart between the two of them. They had been walking for a while now, but it was a ways until they reached Novigrad. They were going to go there to appeal to the King, or at least some authority that could investigate and deal with the situation in Pontarsfork. It wasn't like they could do anything themselves. Neither of them were good enough fighters to take on that monster who had those dead things. The Dwarf looked more haggard than the Elf had ever seen him. No words were spoken - There was nothing to be said. What could he have possibly said? Wilfred's life had evaporated in front of him today. Nothing would ever erase those scars.

"N- No. Nothing is due to happen for another week." Gordon answered, looking at his village. It was strange, not seeing anyone in the fields. His father would be out usually, but he wasn't. He looked to Ellyn, but it was the Nifgaardian with them that spoke up afterwards.
"Wait here, I'll check it out." He held up his hand to the rest and rode ahead a little bit. He'd been in enough conflict to know that something wasn't quite right. The air here was off. It was a fine thing, something he picked up last year during a short lived rebellion in the South. Villages were places of business and agriculture, but no such thing existed here. Instead... It was silent. It was too quiet, too still. It was like an abandoned village. It was worse. He didn't have to enter the village properly to see all the signs he needed to. "By the Great Sun..." He rode hard the other direction with a grim look on his face. He knew that he had seen bodies in there, or pieces of them. When he returned to the group, he wore the most solemn expression that Matilda had ever seen on his face. Her face fell and she began to chew her nails worriedly.
"Don't look." He ordered. He looked at the knight. "If you have to Ellyn, do so. But Matilda, Gordon, you stay here. You do not want to see that."
"Gods... Wh- What happened? Arval?" A despairing look crossed her face. The Corporal shook his head.
"No, the less you two know, the better. Neither of you are ready for it." He looked helplessly at them, and then at Ellyn. "We need to talk. You and me. About this. About what's going to happen now." Gordon nudged his horse over to Matilda with a bit of difficulty.
"What do you think this means?" He whispered, scared. Matilda closed her eyes and the young man noticed a tear rolling down one cheek.
"I think- I think this means that we're not going to see mum and dad again." ​

Aedan hurried through the crowd of the camp, carried by the sense of urgency from the drake's promise that it would return. They had to stop the Winter Man before they came back and more people started to die. He was rushing past a fairly quiet area, and he almost missed the group but Sanderson's shout caught his ear and he was able to spot everyone else. He waved at them as he approached. There was somebody new here. Perhaps it was a new member? They didn't look like a member of the town to him.
"Who's this Sanderson?" The druid inquired. He cleared his throat and addressed everyone, placing both of his hands on the staff. "Okay everyone, I have good news and bad news."
"The good news is, I was able to talk to one of the drakes. They're going for now, which is the good news." He paused. "The bad news is that they're coming back, because their natural habitat has been invaded by someone or something called the 'Winter Man' in their tongue. Drakes aren't the smartest things, so it could be a lot of things. I think it's a mage, and they're powerful enough to prolong the winter in the drakes' homelands. We need to find the Winter Man and stop him before it's too late. If we don't, they'll come back and attack the camp." This would surely redirect Sanderson so no creatures had to die. There was no way that he would willingly go after the drakes when a better solution had just been presented to them. ​

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"Did you hear that? He wants us to stop pushing him around!" They laughed, because that's what thugs did. They laughed at the perfectly decent folk trying to make perfectly decent requests. These guys weren't anything special. They were just paid to be here. They didn't care much for the whole thing, so may as well have fun with it, right?
"I didn't like his story very much either." The other one spoke.
"Yeah, it wasn't very funny. Sounded almost like a threat, didn't it?"
"Yeah it did. Heh, there's two of us you know."
"You're right."
"Alright then tough guy, let's see if you can take us!" They cut the bonds on Roric and both of them prepared to square up against him as they neared the stone steps leading to the Keep.

It was this precise moment at which everyone else arrived.

Fogwarden Keep was visible, as they had now broken out of the forest and now faced a short stretch of clear land leading up to it. As they had got closer to the edge of the forest, the party would have begun to notice the mist rolling down from the hills. When they did break free of the woods, a layer of fog obscured much of what was in front of them, save the mountains which rose proudly above them and the impressive spire of Fogwarden Keep itself.
"This must be it ahead of us. Come on, I think I hear voices up ahead." Kellan led them urgently forwards up the path. They were moving quicker now, and as they arrived they spotted a group ahead. They stood in front of a large stone platform with stairs carved into the middle, presumably the entrance to the keep. Two brutish looking men were bullying a thinner man, and they appeared to have pushed him back to fight.
"Quickly, over here!" Aston called out, drawing his swords. The two thugs whose focus had been on Roric before looked up in surprise at the group that had just emerged from the fog.
"We got company lads!" One of them yelled and three others came rushing down the stairs. He could see one of them was carrying a crossbow.
"You guys handle this, I'll get inside the keep and scout around!" Kellan called back to the group as he ran ahead, slightly off the path and disappeared, using his pure magic to Blink up the wall to infiltrate.
"Looks like we've got a fight on our hands. Let's see if we can help that guy in the middle!"




Let's fight! Arch, you're free to move/attack as you will if it wasn't clear before.
​

Corvo was furious. He had this stupid Ifrit in his grasp and he was about to get everything that he needed out of her, but then the Werewolf had to show up. And she just had to be leading the pack around here. Clearing out the Institute so werewolves could live in it? That was brave, and usually it would have failed. Apparently their plan was going to go off without a hitch. The other Shadow Hunters were conveniently missing and he hadn't heard a peep out of Alarick or this Nick which Brianne claimed were here. That meant that they were all traitors. He gritted his teeth, reloading his Contender, flicking the safety on and holstering the weapon. He knelt down and drew the Rune of Cancellation, stopping the pain for Clarity but as a last, spiteful act, he stabbed his Seraph Blade into her arm.
"Fine." The Inquisitor hissed. "But I will remember you wolf girl, and I will kill you." He wasted no time after his threat, running for the window and jumping out. He suppressed a shout of pain as the shock from the landing twigged his wounds. He jogged away from the Institute until he was what he believed to be a safe distance away, and then ducked into an alleyway. Drawing his Stele he carved a pair of Iratze Runes over his wounds, quickening the healing process. He should be back in action in a few hours, but first he needed to reach his hotel to rest. Hence, the Inquisitor made his way to his base of operations. It was a stroke of luck that he had already forseen this turn of events. Now he could prepare. He'd need to contact Yorick and draw Runes on his bullets. They'd last a while before burning out. Long enough for him to be able to start hunting efficiently. ​

"You're rather negative about our chances for someone absent from the wider world for 150 years." He remarked. He was not fond of the naysayers that didn't seem to believe that he was going to win the war. Just because the rest of his family had been ineffectual, he was different, better than them and the Order of the Hammer had the same, failing staff. They were pitiful. All he had to do was look at the strategies they applied before. He could tear them all apart. He would. This foolish, ignorant relic was going to realise that. "Well I'm glad to hear you're on our side. That makes things much easier." The rest of it he listened to with a certain amount of interest. This was history talking. He couldn't help but wonder what his predecessor was thinking - In the face of such loyalty, how couldn't he have manipulated and used it? Why did he just turn away from it? It made no sense. He should have tried to use that, rather than simply stab her and throw her aside. He understood the rationale, but to hear it from her then her loyalty was plain. It was an error on his grandfather's part. Unlike the majority of the followers of the Shards of Hope, he did not believe that Aidan Samarost was flawless. This proved it.
"I can't say that I can think of ways you can claim revenge. Even if I could, I doubt I'd tell you." Jaden smiled wryly. "Now that we've managed to establish sides, I suppose the purpose of you coming here is really in question. You still haven't told me. I presume you want something, so tell me. What is it that we can do for each other? I assume this isn't just a catch up?" He spoke with a dry humour. The Inheritor hoped that her intentions were actually to help. He didn't particularly want to deal with any plots from her end, and certainly not today. He had a lot to do, and many meetings. ​

Jaden looked at her. He was surprised at how juvenile she seemed, but he was aware that there was meant to be more to her. He gave her a cursory nod as a response and then suddenly, her body language changed. He smiled, noticing the sudden shift. Now I'm dealing with the real deal. So there may be something to you, reincarnation of the one that my grandfather once knew and loved.
"Although one has since passed from this world, and the other disappeared. It seems that not even the Demi-Gods know where Xanatos Reaver is." Jaden replied, hoping that it would bring her up to speed, perhaps filling out a gap that she was not aware of. What she knew and what she didn't was unclear, especially given that she had, by her own admission, been ignorant for the past 150 years of the affairs of the wider world. There was a certain amusement to be found in that. For a time, Aidan absorbed himself in the government of Sarn. That all changed when Xanatos came. Perhaps it would have been the same - Aidan's life spent in ignorance of the outside world while he rebuilt the country that he both destroyed and created anew. "But yes, the war goes on and shows no sign of ending. That is my objective. To end this war at long last with the realisation of what Aidan strived for, to finish the war upon humanity - and him - That Xanatos and the Demi-Gods started. We are the Shards of Hope, named for the broken remains of that ancient sword. You should know it well, Calxiyn." She had been stabbed with it after all.
"In any case, your attempts at impressing me with oratory skill are meaningless. I'm not interested in your philosophy of this war. Whatever the truth of it may be, men and women will die until one side has won or both sides have destroyed themselves in the attempt. That is the only truth that you need concern yourself with." He dismissed what she said as what it was - Irrelevant and pointless conjecture on the subject. "Now then, let us get to the crux of the matter. What is it you have come here for Calxiyn? Do you have unresolved business with the Samarost family? Are you here for revenge? Have you perhaps come to take our side this time?"​

Sorry Fogwarden people, I'll post for this soon. Need to prepare the next battle.



"I'm sorry." Mumbled Aedan as Greenbeard berated him for not having read up on his history. He was even more confused now. It sounded like the grudge was personal but it was years ago... He was a crazy old man. What was he getting so confused about? The old guy probably believed he was alive around them for all he knew. As if he could read his mind, he felt the stick going into his ribs. He yelped. "You need to learn not to stick your stick into other people's ribs!" He rubbed his ribs where he was poked. That guy was far too fond of abusing people with the stick. Luckily, the Drake seemed to give up at that point. It flew off, promising that it would return for more. He exhaled a deep breath in relief. I managed to talk it down! Now we have some time! Let's see what's going on with this Winter Man.
"Good idea. Good luck with healing everyone. I'll see you later Greenbeard." He knew that they were heading towards the fortified survivors' camp. Now he just needed to find them in it all. There were quite a few people here, and he wasn't having much success yet. "I just need to find the sideburns. Once I see those, I'll definitely have found Sanderson." They were his defining characteristic. ​

When she started screaming, Corvo stood up and began to pace. She wasn't going to move anywhere while she was in that level of pain. He'd let that stand for a while, letting her experience agony while he watched. There was only one way to teach people like her who were stubborn and resisted at every possible opportunity. He considered himself an excellent teacher. It was effective with other Nephilim when it was necessary. He didn't think that there was anyone it wouldn't work on. His wounds annoyed him though. He'd check the rest of the Institute out once he was finished with Clarity. As he paced around her, he heard something coming faintly from the doorway. His paranoia tripped and he immediately drew the Contender and loaded it. Not a moment too soon as a woman threw a knife at him from the doorway. He mentally groaned. What's the deal with people and these bloody things around here? He stepped aside neatly and pointed the Contender at her, firing. Two more knives came in and he ducked, allowing both of them to sail past his head. His wounds twinged and he grunted. Blood leaked out between the makeshift bandages.
"Somehow, I really don't believe that. That doesn't explain why you're here, or why you brought a pack of wolves to deal with a single Inquisitor." He growled and reloaded swiftly, returning fire. He reloaded and backed away, knowing that the wolves were going to close in. He needed to find a way to handle this. "So give us the real reason woman before I start to lose my patience." ​

"Excellent, then I shall leave you to it. You'll be working with a man, no I should say an Ancient God named Zahariel. Additionally, there'll be a mage named David Hammerkop with you." Jaden explained. "May the eagle guide your way too Varraki." He wasn't entirely sure of the cultural significance of the eagle, but he'd probably take the time to learn when he could. After all, it may be possible that Andar follows their prince into the Shards of Hope, meaning that Jaden's army would grow even larger. He hoped that would be the case. It would tip the scales of the war firmly and perhaps finally against the Hammers. It was a slowly tipping scale. He wanted it to tip faster. However, perhaps this was the chance to. Jaden picked up the phone in his office and ordered the Captain to bring in the princess. It was time that they talked, and for him to see whether what Onamakritos said was true. It wasn't impossible, but he was a skeptic.

The Captain of Jaden's personal guard stepped out into the waiting room. He saw the princess there, and he couldn't say that she looked like the traditional princess that he would have expected. To start with, she wasn't even wearing a dress. Nevertheless, this was her identity and there was no reason to make an issue of it. He cleared his throat.
"The Inheritor will see you now." He spoke, opening the door to the room. Jaden was seated behind his desk, looking over papers, as usual. I can't tell whether he actually needs to look at those damn things all the time or whether it's just for show. When she had entered, he close the door and he heard it snap shut behind him. The Captain wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this meeting, and so he fingered the button under his desk in anticipation. He could open a secret door in the wall through to Jaden's office if it was necessary. He hoped it wouldn't be, otherwise there'd be a diplomatic scandal.

"So, you're the princess Calxiyn that I've heard so much about. Come in and take a seat." Greeted Jaden. The hair colour was different, but she seemed to match up with descriptions. Not too many inconsistencies... Yet. "What brings you here? Your brother didn't tell me you were coming. I suppose that means he wasn't aware."





"Okay, everyone is here. That means we're ready to go. Feel free to talk en route unless I call to cut the chatter." Carissa stated as they boarded the vehicle that they would be in. It was a troop transport with doors out three sides so they had the freedom to get out as best they could. There was also a pen for a horse so Aster could ride it. Apparently they knew who they were catering for. She took a seat near the front, away from the beast. She hated animals. The transport set off. Their mission had begun. ​

Jaden watched Varraki perform the ritual. It was an interesting one, and Jaden didn't understand the language. Clearly this was something specific only to the Andaran people. There was a lot of untapped potential here. He was curious now. If only the Andaran people themselves would commit to the war, they could actually be useful in the war effort. But it wasn't to be it would seem. He was lucky that the ancestors agreed with this course of action. Now then, how best to make use of him...
"I'm glad to see that you're happy to join the Shards of Hope, Varraki." Spoke Jaden. "Now, there are two operations setting out right now. If you want, you can join either one. One is a prison transport which we're expecting an attack on, and the other one is helping one of our smaller camps defend against an incoming Order of the Hammer attack. You can of course stay off the field, but that's your choice. If you want to stay off the field, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Apparently there's a princess who wants to talk to me as well. I can't seem to get a break." ​

Corvo listened to her inane chatter with a look of impatience. He noticed her other arm moving. His arm twitched and he shouted in pain as the knife drove into his stomach. He dropped the blade. He wasn't going to need it now. He gripped the arm with the knife and pulled it away from him.
"You just don't know when to quit!" He headbutted her face and drove his knee into her stomach. He kept the sword arm pinned with his other knee and wrestled the knife out of her hand. He threw it to the other side of the room. He hit her in the face again and changed position, now placing his boot on her other elbow. Her arms were now caught. He drew his Stele and shook his head at her. "You could have made it easy, now you're going to wish for death!" He inscribed the Rune of Pain on her chest, but he was not going to stop there. It made the Rune more complicated, and he had to push down on her limbs harder to stop her struggling, but he added the Rune of Amplification into it. After what she had just done to him, he wasn't going to let it slide easily. When he finished, he didn't get off, or move. Instead, he picked up the blade and sliced a few scraps off her clothes and used them as a temporary bandage for his wounds while he watched her pain.
"I can make it stop any time I'd like Clarity," He explained calmly, tightening the cloth around the wound she gave with the knife. "But you'll have to be a good girl and answer some questions. I'll ask you again, who hired you, and why?" He watched her every move. There was a certain sense of satisfaction he got from seeing her defeated, but she had been problematic and he didn't feel like another stab wound. She was more annoying than she needed to be. Really, it frustrated him that it took him this long to subdue one pathetic little Ifrit. She made up for her weakness in cunning. He gave her that much. ​

"Eh, whatever. It's not as if it's a formal occasion. Manners seem optional at the moment, but as you wish princess." Derrick replied nonchalantly. He continued to put up his stuff, and soon enough it was finished. A decent tent for him to stay in. Apparently she wasn't resting, so he simply shrugged and clambered into his tent and lay down on his back inside. "Sure thing! Wake me up in the morning! And if we die because you fell asleep on watch, I'll kill you!" He sincerely hoped that she realised that the last part was a joke. With an aching shoulder and a stressful day of exhaustion behind him, Derrick of Kaedwen fell straight into a deep sleep, uninterrupted by the horrific phantasms that plagued most of those that had seen the horrors that he had would see. He rested peacefully, and dreams came. Dreams of a future time where he had set down his blades, hanging them over the mantelpiece at home and simply relaxed, working as some kind of merchant with a wife whose face he never saw. All that he knew was instinctive - That she was beautiful, that he loved her and that she loved him too. A dream idyllic, beautiful, and on the whole unrealistic. He smiled as he rested, enjoying the moments of peace that he was getting - He had no idea whether he would get the same chance again. ​

"Then you should have thought twice before acting against the Nephilim!" Corov criticised. "Was the money worth your life, Clarity?" She wasn't giving up, even if she was on the ground but her attacks were pitiful. The Inquisitor merely laughed as she struck twice at his chest. He didn't even need to move his blade very much. She was desperate, resorting to the attacks that she could manage, but she was weak. However, his moment of distraction cost him, earning him a slice across the side. He growled and smashed her Katana aside with his blade and viciously kicked her in the chest.
"You should have just surrendered, it would have been less painful for you!" Corvo knelt down over her now that she was prone and pinned the arm holding her Katana down and held the Seraph Blade at her throat with his eyes burning. "You'd be right. Your money, nor your favours nor goodwill mean anything to me. Now then, we're going to have a chat. Drop the weapon and don't think about acting up. I'm not famed for my patience." His face seemed to show nothing but contempt.
"Now, I don't quite believe you about not asking your clients' histories. So who was it, and what do they want?" He demanded. "Easy way, or hard way. Make your choice." He put the Seraph Blade a little closer to her throat for emphasis. She was getting in his way, and she gave him a wound that now needed tending. He could feel himself bleeding, which only threw fuel on the fire. ​

"Apologies for the disrespect but I don't really have time for pleasantries." Corvo retorted, stepping neatly aside from her daggers. Throwing knives, how quaint. He saw her moving towards him with her Katana, and quickly planted his blade in the ground. He swiftly reloaded the weapon and fired off another shot from the Contender before holstering it and picking up the blade. He just about managed to parry her attack and jumped to the side to get some distance, positioning himself between her and the window. Now that he had some distance, the length of the weapon could really become useful. He planted himself firmly and waited for her to come in range. First, he made an overhead feint for the left shoulder, then at the last moment span the blade downwards across her stomach. He wasted no time in capitalising on the strike, striking diagonally upwards from there and getting back again. "So, I imagine you're working with Aetherick. What for? Do you have any idea what that man has done girl? You made a mistake coming here, although I admire your boldness." He smiled tauntingly, twirling his blade to show off and holding his blade in both hands again.
"But all you'll find here is pain. Such is the fate of those that help traitors." His features darkened and all sense of lightness was lost from his face, replaced with a dark glare. He was going to make her spill all of her secrets, reveal the plots of this traitor and then perhaps he would let her live in Alicante, serving as a sacrifice. Now that he got a good look at her, he realised that she was one of his targets. That was just perfect. The grin of a wolf crossed the Inquisitor's blades as he crossed blades with Clarity the Ifrit. ​

"Indeed, we could argue this back and forth forever as much as we like, and I see you've come to your own conclusions about what we intend to use the people for." Corvo replied. "However, I don't believe that it's really important. Truthfully, all I'm asking you to do is try to have trust in the Clave and I, that we know what is best. Truthfully, I firmly believe that any other course of action is selfish. When faced with the potential to do so much good in the future, what is the present if not a sacrifice to pave the way?" Perhaps she would notice the passion with which he spoke. Corvo believed in his cause .
"Nobody is more dedicated to our duty than I, Brianne. That is why I do this. For the sake of the times to come." He explained. "Remember, even the Angels made sacr-" Then the explosions went off and he stood up. He flipped out his Stele and a bullet and carved a Rune of Acceleration into it in preparation. He put away the Stele and broke the Contender open, fitted the bullet in and closed it, then cocked it ready to fire.
"Not at all! Get outside, Aethelrick's probably coming after Hendrick! I never thought that he would be so bold!" The Inquisitor shouted over the noise. He raced upstairs and through the Institute, trying to find the room. Eventually, he came up to a locked one. Was he in on this too? He repeatedly kicked the door by the lock, and managed to snap the mechanism. By the time he got the door open, there was an open window, and Hendrick was gone. But there was other quarry. That's not either of them? There's more to this? He didn't hesitate in raising the Contender and firing at the person standing in the window. He opened out his left hand. "Zahariel!" The shimmering Seraph Blade appeared, burning with its heavenly fire. He would bring this Downworlder down, for this was no Shadow Hunter. Then, he would torture her until she divulged her secrets. But for now, she needed to be rendered incapable of resistance. ​

"It seems that Jayce is getting bold. Allowing his soldiers to initiate violence during a parley is a dangerous move, and one that hasn't paid off." Jaden mused. What does that mean? Is he that confident of the Order's position? Is it possible that they're preparing for a larger offensive? But where would the resources have come from? "In any case, I'm glad that you survived the breach of peace." From the sounds of it, they were all present at the battle of Sky Tower not long ago. A fateful battle it would seem. He wasn't one to believe in destiny, but he did think it odd that such a range of characters would appear there.
"I should thank you for what you did during the battle. Any support we receive is appreciated, even if it was not your express intention. You still distracted and eliminated hostiles that could have strengthened the assault faced by my soldiers." He said graciously. "And you allowed two who would ultimately join us to escape unscathed." Varraki didn't seem to be prepared to join him just yet, despite the offer he put on the table. Unfortunately, there was not much else that he could afford to do other than that, so he couldn't sweeten the deal any more than he already had. That was the problem with putting all of your cards on the table too soon, but it was worth a try. He'd be more conservative in the future. Ultimately, his co-operation wasn't necessary, so it was a safe test for coercion techniques.
"I can't say that I know the ritual that you wish to perform, but please do so by all means. My offer still stands." Even though it seemed that he was going to lose out, he would do so as gracefully as he could. There was no reason to cause strife or bitterness over it, especially given that he may yet change his mind if the tides of war changed.

"That's a bold claim you're making, but I'm inclined to believe you. Very well, we'll buy. You're free to join the Shards of Hope, but if you want to receive payment for the crystal then you'll have to wait until we've certified the validity of your claim in a controlled environment. Despite my optimism, it could be a ruse. However, what do you want for it?" The Captain asked. "And say... What if we offered you a job in the Shards of Hope? You're good enough to have stolen valuable artifacts from them, would you be willing to steal for us?"

The captain was not at all fazed by the woman getting up in his face, trying to intimidate him. In fact, he thought it rather amusing that she thought that she could really get away with doing anything in their own base. She really didn't understand authority, did she? He waved her off, and she left with Timothy and Reitan to do as she was told. From what he heard from the much beleaguered staff, she hadn't been easy to work with, but the job got done eventually.
"What a pain in the ass, I feel sorry for Carissa." He muttered.



"I'm a Demi-God killer, I know plenty about people that don't die like they're meant to, but your sister sounds like a special case. It's a shame you're on our side, she could be fun to get rid of." Carissa replied, considering how one could kill what he called 'The Remnant'. "But I don't think that's why you're that way. I think you just want blood. I think it's just how you justify it to yourself, but that's fine by me. I don't care, so long as you kill when you're meant to." It never occurred to her how cold hearted many of them were. Aster, nor his sister showed any remorse at killing. Onamakritos was all too willing, and so was she. They were all heartless killers. Around then, a trio showed up. And the woman who introduced herself was weird.
"I see, Kala, Timothy. Welcome back Reitan. For those of you who haven't been briefed, we're transferring a captive, Rose to a prison facility." She explained. As she explained, a soldier came and spoke to them.
"Yeah, and we're meant to expect company. I was told to brief you guys when you were all here. We're expecting them to come, probably with a Demi-God. The six of you are here for a reason. When they come to pick Rose up, you're going to help us, the transport guard, see them off."




"Probably. I doubt she cares to be honest. Not that I particularly care either. I'm more interested in what it took to wind her up that badly." Sometimes it was good to have something up one's sleeve if it became necessary to irritate someone. He certainly wasn't worried about her. It was Ashleigh, there was nothing to worry about. ​

"So they've been making incursions against you? What have they been doing?" Jaden inquired, raising an eyebrow. "I apologise for my men making assumptions. In any case, I realise that you are neutral but I still offer you the option of joining us." He set his hands down on the table and looked at the Prince. He could tell a lot about a man by his appearance, and he made use of his ability to judge.
"I see that you are not only a prince, but a soldier. If you so wish, then you may join the Shards of Hope. Not as a country, but as a single man. It would be an honour to have you within our ranks. Naturally, if you're interested we'll discuss the final terms, but I'd like to make one thing clear to you." Jaden explained. "If you join us, then it is not your whole country. It is an opportunity for one man. And if you join us, then I am willing to do whatever is possible to ensure that your sovereignty is protected from the Order of the Hammer. If you don't feel like joining us, that is fine as well. The offer of protection for your country still stands. However, I think it would be a shame to allow this opportunity to go to waste, Prince Varraki. I can see that you're a warrior, and I imagine you're a good one. We need men like you. I have a special taskforce of particular individuals that stand out among the rest. You look to me like a perfect fit for it. The two you mentioned earlier have been assigned to that."
"The possibilities here are limited only by you. If you're willing to talk with me on this, I'm sure that we can come to an arrangement, if you're interested of course."




"I see, so your family has a spirit being passed down the generations. It's a shame that Aidan's spirit didn't receive the same treatment. Otherwise this war would be won already." She mused, partly to herself. It seemed to her that there was no particular love for the Samarost family in Onamakritos' part of the world. She could understand that, given their rulers' history. She also highly doubted his claims of purity. That was not how human reproduction worked. "In any, bloodline or not you aren't part of the Shards of Hope, not really. And not you, nor her, will unseat Jaden." This could be dangerous. But then she smirked.
"You're one bloodthirsty son of a b*tch aren't you?" She leaned against one of the transport vehicles nearby. "You'll have your fill of glory. You can return home covered in blood." ​

"Calxiyn? Huh, interesting." She knew the name. It dated back to the days of her practically sainted several times great grandfather. "That's a pretty useful ability. Assuming of course, that someone isn't writing for you and puts down a lot of useless or misleading information." If that happens, his last words may never be truly recorded. A good forger would be able to dupe his style of writing and tell Calxiyn whatever she wanted. Wait, that raised another question. How was anything to do with Calxiyn possible? She was supposed to be dead. There was no way that she could have survived this long.
"Not sure how Calxiyn could have lived this long though. She was active at the time of Aidan, she must be dead." Only a Demi-God could have survived that long, or some other immortal creature. We know from Aidan's writing that she was none of these things. Other than wielding some strange weaponry that harnessed the power of the light, there was nothing overly unusual about her. "Either way, if you don't get to, I'll make sure to write in that book to your sister. It saves us the budget telling her that you're dead."

"Okie dokie...?" The sergeant muttered as he watched her go. That was not the normal sort of response to be expected from a Princess. He thought that they'd all be haughty and up their own backsides, but she was talking like a 12 year old. She must have been over 18 at least. "Damn foreign girls, don't make any sense. Princess or not." He leaned against the wall and watched the gate. He wished something interested happen. He drew out his sword and swung it a couple of times. Swish, swish stab! Yeah! Come on, bring it Hammers! They'd have no idea what they were up against, facing him. He could probably even take that Black Rose chick. He heard that she'd been captured. Couldn't have been much of an assassin if the silly bint had been caught. ​

"Ah yes, very good Christina." Kellan replied, completely ignoring the fact that she said her name was Anthea. It didn't matter in the slightest to him. He probably wouldn't even hang around with these guys (Apart from Baldy, who always seemed to fall into his life no matter how hard he tried to run) ever again, so it didn't matter. Besides, Christina was a much nicer name than Anthea. "Thank you Russell, conveniently useful scout that you are! We shall be going! Phillius awaits!" He started walking away and stopped. He didn't actually know which side of the forest they had come from. He was lost. He sighed. Damn this enthusiasm getting in the way of my thinking.
"Anthea," Aston began, clearly emphasising her name. "Which is the way back to the path?" He noticed that Russell waved at them and sprinted off into the woods in a direction. He wasn't sure where the scout was going, and he didn't know if the scout was sure where he was going either.

Elsewhere...

"Come along now, be nice. It'll be easier if you don't struggle." Grunted a Burning Blade Thug as he and his partner pulled a man between them. The man had a quiver of arrows and a longbow over his shoulder, and for some reason he was hanging around this part of the Hinterlands. That just wouldn't do. For all they knew, he could be with Kellan. That meant the boss would want to see him.
"Yeah, we'll only kick you around a bit if you just stay still!" They were a little distance away from Fogwarden Keep, but they could afford to take their time. Besides, they might be able to shake down this little squishy fella for his money. Although, neither of them had the inspiration to actually do that.
"You know, I haven't seen Russell for ages." One of them realised.
"That idiot? Who cares? Pissed himself and ran away at the sight of a few little doggies." The two of them chuckled. "Oi you, you seen our Russell around?" They looked at Roric with their little piggy eyes and a brutish grin on their faces. ​