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The Throne Room

It was about that time, shortly after Rienthas' last statement, that a small pair of doors over to the side of the throne room opened, and four figures walked out. A female shift, A male demon and a warrior who looked completely human entered first and then, hesitantly behind the three a cloaked figure, shorter than the previous three followed behind them. Apart from a pale pair of hands, no other features were distinguishable. The fabric had a fine sheen and the boots he wore were of obvious quality, whoever it was, they were wealthy.

"Ah, speaking of which." Rienthas said casting his hand over the crowd. "These four will be your companions, the best of the best. Each is a master in their own field, and each will protect you with their lives." Rienthas said as the group grew by four.

"I see. I'm Paz, yous are?" said Paz introducing himself by his nickname. He was curious were and he'd need to know their names if he wanted to address them.

Mizu was highly confused at the presence of the warrior. Weren't humans extinct?

"Is that... a... human?" she asked no one in particular, fluttering higher in the air to get a better look without having to zoom at the warrior himself.

The Voluptuously dressed Shift female spoke first, cutting off the warrior who was clearly about to speak. "I am Talira, the tall creepy looking one is Tsaokaru, just call him Karu or something demeaning, and the one with the sword on his back is Cliff." Talira said, spitting and wiping her mouth. "Nice to meet'cha." She said unceremoniously. She turned her head at the emperor, looking at him with at best mild disdain. "This all you want from me Sparklefingers?" She asked with a tone of familiarity that one, even one as rude as the Dzarg, would not dream of addressing a monarch with.

"Yes, protect them and I will give you what you asked of me." Rienthas said with a chuckle, obviously used to the woman.

There was no answer about the nature of Cliff's race.

The cloaked figure reminded Malek of the monk he knew as a youth. He considered for a second if it might be him, but then dismissed the silly notion. This person looked wealthy and Rienthas had already referred to him as a scholar anyway.

He studied each of the new members of the group in turn. Another demon, which he was pleased about and another Shift which he was less than elated by.
"Three Shifts in the group. I should have brought a nose peg." he thought, wishing that his snake senses didn't find their scent so odious.

The third warrior looked strange. Malek stared at him for a while, but couldn't make out what race he was.

He heard Mizu say something about a human, as she fluttered about. To be honest, Malek did not actually know what one looked like, but he did know that they had been extinct for millennia, as was common knowledge. Whatever this male was, there was no way he could be a human.

Keler looked at all of them, oh that was interesting. Excitedly he Changed fully, a flurry of feathers to go around the new comers, especially the human. Perhaps Muunrai? Mhm? Cliff. That's the name. Hm Interesting. Slowly he gathered once more, fully normal, now leaning on Cliff's shoulder should he even be allowing one so close to him. "You are.. intriguing.." He said simply, invading his personal space, his eyes taking in every detail.

The Throne Room

Cliff did not flinch as the Muurae lighted on his shoulder. At this close distance Keler could smell him, when he did he felt himself being reminded of something he had not ever seen himself. A warmth, a scent in the breeze.... But that was only for a moment before the long-lost memory faded and the pair were left back where they started.

"You are all certainly an..... interesting group. Valadrir, take off the cloak and greet your companions properly." Cliff said petting the Muurae on the head.

The figure in white robes nodded, and shakily lowered his hood. Underneath, no longer obscured by enchantment, the group could clearly see a young celestial with dazzling silver hair, eyes of liquid amber and a small dragon sleeping on his shoulder. Judging from the bright radiance emanating from him he was quite young. It was the crown Prince Valadrir Sun-Blooded, who by all accounts should not have even been anywhere near the throne room due to the protective nature of his father.

"Now you see that I am sending you on no fools errand." Rienthas said seriously, looking quite imposing from his position. "I am sending that which I hold closest to my heart with you on this mission, my only heir. He is the scholar that will be traveling with you, I suggest you keep him safe. If not you should surely hope to die in battle." Rienthas said resolutely.

"Enough with the theatrics I think they get the point Sparkle-Fingers." Talira said boldly, she had no fear of the emperor and was not about to pretend that she did. "Look I will make it plain to you, our job really is not to protect all of you, but to protect him. That said we will do everything in our power to stop you from falling on your own weapons. Any questions?" She asked.

The sight of Rienthas' son as the mysterious scholar was rather a shock. It did, however, serve as some comfort. If the Emperor is willing to send his heir out on this quest, than perhaps it won't be too treacherous.
He bowed at Valadrir and smiled warmly. "A pleasure to meet you."

Malek took an immediate dislike to the Shift woman. He didn't care for her tone and knew that her cocky remarks were not going to make their trip any easier.

He took a step closer to her. "I, for one, shall not be falling, poking or otherwise maiming myself on my own weapons, thank you very much. I happen to be very skilled with these," he gestured with both hands to the sais holstered on either leg, "And I don't much appreciate being mocked by someone who has only just walked into the room."

His red eyes flashed brighter, a result of his usually pleasant demeanour being riled.

Kúter looked at Paz and said "i have not taken charge but i will not follow anyone who is a coward." He viewed the others as potential cowards and did not want to be stuck with a leader that would flee the battle. He looked at the four figures as they entered the room and was unaware that one of them looked like a human. He wasn't impressed by them. "I had expected a more impressive entourage. Disappointing." He said before Mizu mentioned a human. "That's not possible. They are extinct." He said in disbelief that the ancient enemy of his people, well one of the ancient enemies of his people was in this room.

Mizu shrugged at Kuter. "We're talking about an emperor with godlike powers here, I'm not putting anything past him."

Keler was petted on the head, he couldn't deny, just a small part of him liked it. Kúter's words caused him to scoff. "The best way to eliminate threats it not to look like a threat. Then you brutally attack when they don't expect it. Sadly you scream 'attack me' and evidently they aren't extinct.." His wary sniff was trying to get that breeze feeling back. That caused him to be beyond curious on this man. The prince coming was another curiosity. "I have that problem of falling onto my blades." He added as a light joke.

Paz smiled, Talira made a good first impression, speaking her mind and not treating the emperor like he is better than everyone else due to circumstance of birth, Paz liked that. "Rather not kill myself if it's all the same to you." said Paz. He didn't comment on the humanlike member of their group. He extremely doubted that it actually was a human.

The Throne Room

The Prince was the one who spoke up next, he looked stiff and uncomfortable as if he was unaccustomed to the task of addressing so many at once. "It is a pleasure to meet you all I work forward to working with you. As my father said, we are seeking the Mirror of Twisted Reflections, which if course means we must pass to the island of souls to the east. Once meeting with the contact and retrieving said artifact we will then return here, where you will be compensated. Our journey will be long, and difficult so my father has agreed to outfit you properly, and if you have any loose ends I would suggest you tie them up within the morrow. Any questions?" The Prince asked expectantly.

Malek shook his head in response to the prince's question. He thought he should have lots of questions to ask, but nothing was springing to mind at all in the current moment.

He looked around at the others in the room, waiting to see if they would ask anything. He was filled with a restless feeling of both excitement and apprehension, and was absent-mindedly shifting around on the spot.

"The best way to eliminate a threat is to kill it." Kúter replied without looking at Keler. "If i scream attack me, it is because i am a warrior that will give my enemy a glorious death. From what i've seen, no-one is worth of an honourable death." he told Keler before the prince spoke.

"I am ready but if that human betrays us, i will seperate it's head from it's body." He told the prince. He knew he couldn't tie up his quest with the traitor and a part of him hoped that they would encounter Lúo soon so that he could rip him from limb to limb or chop him into many pieces. Or kick him into a pit full of giant 3 headed snakes to be torn apart by them.

Much of this time he was in daz, cast into his own thoughts like nothing had occurred around him. Then suddenly as if somebody snuffed out a light of a flame, his eyes reflected that of an endless shade, and his attention finally was caught. "Separate a head from their torso? Glorious death?" The lowly Shift stood up with a bent spine and hanging arms, his eyes cast upon the tiles and his voice cast upon the air. "You speak of it so easily and without remorse, like a brute without a whim.."

From the same sleeve that Alma disappeared through, a strange black ooze slowly seeped out and started to take shape, almost akin to that of a scythe. By it's end, the strange substance returned to it's origin, leaving behind a weapon wrapped in bloody bandages. It's head bluntly on the tiles, it's covered blade arced up to it's master, and grasped in his palm the pole followed his arm only to extend beyond his shoulder due to it's length. "You say it so? But have you ever felt such an end? To know the agony to see your flesh on the verge of death?"

Without warning he twisted his hand and sent the weapon in spin, only for it to come to halt with the blade across the back of his neck. "Keep such idle threats at bay, mind you, because nothing is more grim than sharing such demise..." No hesitation nor fear, even to when he looked up to speak his face failed to explain reason, but while speed and not force was in action the slight sound of metal being struck could of been heard when it came to a halt.

As if completely lost in focus, his mood changed from sinister to casual, not to say his words didn't reflect this notion. He looked back upon the prince and gave small gesture with his free hand "Ah yes.. tie up some loose ends.. Would any mind being so charitable to grant me some rope.. I have a few acquaintances that I wish to hang by the hour, and I am after all.. one to keep his word.." His mere statement came off as little more than a joke, a poor one at that, but he shrugged it off without a care as he gave his signature grin. He really wasn't much for making first impressions

Paz didn't say anything, he didn't have any questions for the moment.

Zhao ignored his arguing soon-to-be companions and instead turned to the prince with a bow. It was not as deep nor as formal as the one he had given to the Emperor, but it was still, perhaps, more ceremonious than what was demanded by custom.

"If there is anything, anything at all, that you require assistance with, sire," he announced, still bowing and being cautious not to make unwarranted eye contact, "do not hesitate to call upon me. I would be most honored to aid you, my lord."

So it was that the Sun rose the next day the moon was full in the sky the next night. The mercenaries, scholars, warriors and otherwise adventurers found themselves on a road outside the easternmost road outside of the city on what was officially known as the "Dragons Tail Road" but was affectionately called the "Eastern Way".

This night was cool and windy, and there were clouds in the sky. White puffs of vapor could be seen in the moonlight from passersby.
The Eastern Way

Traditionally the Prince would have been carried in either a carriage or a palanquin(?), but that was not the case in this venture. Stealth, it seemed, was preferable to comfort at least that's what Valadrir insisted when asked. The Prince rode beside Cliff aboard a cart, which held weapons and supplies, looking much like any merchant caravan.

The rest of the party was on foot, save for Mizu who could ride upon any she wished for her small size. The road was hard but relatively flat and free of stones for the most part. It was neither crowded not empty. Trade goods from the east were relatively few, except the obvious exception of imported goods which was seasonal. They passed many other groups, largely composed of demons though they did come across a collection of Sidhe, their luminescence brightening an otherwise dreary night.

They walked for a few hours, most feeling little in the way of conversation. At what looked to be some kind of marker, two stone pillars on each side of the road, they were stopped by what looked like a single man, or more accurately a single demon, he was obviously of the serpen variety. His lower half was a snake's tail and he was covered in green scales, either he was half way between transformations or he was very unfortunate. He was wearing leather armor and had twin blades strapped to his back.

"Halt! What business do you have here?" The snake demon asked, a globule of venom running down his chin. He obviously was looking for some kind of fight, because he glared openly at the caravan.

"We are just travelers, nothing more." Talira spoke up first above the others, attempting to avoid conflict.

"Travelers eh? Well I suppose you wouldn't mind if my boys and I looked for any contriband? Jus' doing our civic duty." The snake demon said, as a mix of various other demons stepped out of the trees. There were around ten of them in all.

"I don't think that would be wise." Cliff said in warning. "Back down." He said sternly.

The snake demon laughed, it was an awful hissing sound. "We will just help ourselves after you're dead then. Get 'em and take the women, you know the drill!" The bandit leader said with a great deal of malice.

Talira smiled, serenely. She evaporated into a plume of living shadows, daggers gleaming in an unholy aura.

"I'll take the big one." She said pointing to a massive demon wielding a halberd.


Apart from that, Tsaokaru who had been silent up to this point, snapped his fingers with a resounding *crack*, a white barrier appearing around the cart. "I'd suggest any who don't want to get showered in entrails or get their hands dirty step inside the barrier. The rest, feel free to exit and fight or do as you wish." Kari said sounding utterly bored.

Cliff did nothing, he sat next to Valadrir, who looked about ready to soil his trousers.

As they approached the serpent figure in the darkness, Malek did not like the fact that the figure seemed to be partially transformed - a sure sign of someone up to no good.

As the meeting between him and the group quickly became heated, Malek's heart began to beat faster as the bandit on the road became hostile and was joined by a host of other demons. He was unsure what to do - he wanted to fight these ruthless characters but he also doubted his abilities. He'd only ever fought in training and had never been in a real fight before.

He watched as Talira turned into shadows, on her way to attack a large sized demon. He stayed within the barrier - nervously trying to quickly decide what to do.

Kúter remained silent for a majority of the journey untill the group encountered a lone snake demon. He remained silent as Talira spoke to the demon and took note of it's armour. He believed it would favour speed over strength and would not be able to take much punishment.

When the leader summoned the rest of his gang, the dzarg went into a defensive stance and slowly advanced on the bandits. "Don't allow them to flank us!" he told the others whilst moving outside of the barrier.

A wild Bandit Leader appears

Apart from the leader himself there was ten bandits in all. They ranged In size but all were relatively armored the same, save the hulking Ox demon that Talira claimed who was in heavy armor. Likely this was all to allow them to transform with ease.

Regardless, it appeared that the majority, six to be exact were armed with clubs or maces, two wielded spears and the last one, was unarmed. In short there were six wolf demons wielding clubs, two lizard demons with spears and a crow demon who was unarmed. The Ox wielded a mighty halberd, and the leader had two twin hook swords.


The bandit leader shrugged and grew in size to a multiple headed, multi armed hydra of around twenty feet in height. The rest however, for the time being opted for their human guises.

Talira shot forth, cloaked in the night like an arrow aimed right for Ox demon's chest, suddenly vanishing into thin air when she would have made impact. The beast laughed and thumped his chest before stumbling over, coughing up blood generously.

A pair of wolf demons rushed to meet Kutér, eagerly waiving their clubs about. One of them tossed a blue fireball at the Dzarg, which bounced harmlessly off the powerfully forged armor of the dragon folk.

Kúter continued to remain in his defensive stance and would thrust his spear towards the chest of one of the wolf demons whilst trying to use his shield to block the attack of the other wolf.

The battle

The Ox demon fell, and convulsed, making the most awful moans sounding like a cow led to slaughter. After the convulsions he lay very still, clearly dead. Then suddenly and most violently a Gore covered shift erupted from his chest, the entrails mentioned previously spewing out into the night, hitting the barrier with a resounding squishing sound. "I have bile, in my hair." Talira muttered.

Kuter and the wolf twins
The spear entered the wolf, his red blood landing on his brother. Rather than react with despair or rage, the remaining wolf licked his lips savagely, the caster held his fist in the air, a thick red mist spewing from the wound of his brother. The life and power of his brother flowed from the wound, leaving the skeleton all of the flesh and strength taken through their bond.

The white wolf now grew in height and weight, becoming larger and a crimson red color. "My thanks for the feast..." he said grinning. His large clawed fist came at the Dzarg, now at equal height with Kuter, it would be a frightful blow if it landed.

Though Zhao's first instinct was to sit in the barrier and let the grunts do the fighting, his nature, however, demanded that he not lose face. That he refuse to sit back and let others believe him useless. Had he not sworn that he would assist the Prince in anyway possible? Had he really done that? He felt a lifetime away from the Palace, where he had stood secure, far away from the troubles and brutality of the world. He longed for his canvas, which he had forsworn for the journey in the interest of convenience. He pined for the quiet river in the Mist District, always shrouded in fog, hiding him from prying eyes. But enough of that. He had to focus on the here-and-now, not the then-and-before.

Zhao reached a foot forward anxiously, but drew it hastily back again as it neared the inner wall of the barrier. He gulped, and this time plunged through the shining barricade. As he faced his possible soon-to-be murderers, he was filled with a anger of some kind. It swelled inside him, until he finally let go: he began to transform into a giant, white bat.