[ - Author's Note - ]

Well, computer troubles almost de-railed this chapter but in the end it did not. lucky me!

No, really, I had to go back to my laptop for now... long story, let's not get into it. For now this chapter.

The basis of this chapter is an idea I've had for sometime; it was just a case of working out the exact details... More over Klaus gets a couple little moments that leads to... something...

So, let's get back into it!

And hey, about 19.8k words... yeah...

[ - Act IV - Chapter XIV: The Catalan's Out Of The Bag - ]

[-]

Nothing is more inspiring then a man who holds fast to his ideals.
Nothing is more frustrating then to show him the faults of his ideals.

~Dominic James Pencraft, overheard while speaking to a friend in the Silver & Steel Tavern

[-]

"Looks like our thief has hit once more..." I let off as I frowned and moved my pencil to the map once more, scribbling an 'X' onto it in Greenmarch of Sual. Once I had heard about the guy I started to record what he was hitting, when and trying to work out where he'd strike next. It was frustrating... The targets were usually military in nature but as I dug I learned some were governmental; regardless the story was the same with various sheets being gone through. There was some idea of what he went through but no one knew the full depths of what he was digging up.

If he was part of the Black Storm (And I was sure he was) then safe bet was they knew that his presence wasn't unnoticed (Well, after the fact...) and either didn't care or thought the intel was worth the lack of subtlety. I wanted to catch this guy (Or failing that help/get someone else to do so) for two reason; the intel leak was unacceptable but if he could be caught alive the interrogation could reveal much and more of who we were dealing with. Once we had a name we'd have a better picture... if we could get the name of one of the masterminds then we could deal with them fast and hard. With Enterprise I could move swiftly and decapitate the Black Storm's leadership (And bring a lot of help to do it with)... although there was something else to note; there was no telling, as of yet, who was behind it all.

Obviously the Zenith of Primus was a name we had but he wasn't the mastermind, just the patron holding the purse strings. Those Mortadella brothers were his main pawns and, based on what I've heard directly from Celestine, they had something of a conversation with Lorcan, aka Grave's man. Akane Lee said that they didn't have anything on Grave directly but were investigating further to the point they didn't want to touch the pigs or the underling until they could net the big fish; they kept an eye on them all, however.

The Cloaked Crowns were expected to have a hand in it and, possibly, elements of the Church but neither could be proven and given their usual opposition to one another it was feasible that only one or the other would sign on... However there was still a question of how they meant to conquer Eostia and I doubted anything short of military means would pull it off.

Safe bet? Someone was gonna hire the Black Dogs and make them sub-contract to as many mercenary groups as they could to raise a standing force to take on Eostia. Post-Garan War they had grown to some thirteen thousand strong, if not more; maybe as high as sixteen thousand. Not enough to take Eostia head-on... but with the Crowns undermining things and former Legion likely willing to join in...

That wasn't even mentioning that the Traditionalists, aligned with the Crowns or not, Local Lords or not, might join in. The possible battle of Eostia versus the Black Dogs was a no contest. Eostia versus rebellious elements and the Black Dogs? That was a fight that would be more concerning... Of course that was assuming that A) the Black Storm would hire them (Likely) and B) that Vult would accept (Less likely given he seemed to like working for Eostia... but I wouldn't put it past him either...)

Even then that still begged the question; who was the Mastermind?

That was the question... that was the question...

[-]

Musing on thieves and spies wasn't all I had to occupy myself with; teaching Dawn was on that list, spending time with family, calling up my three fiancees and so on. Also keeping my skills sharp and sparring with opponents; speaking of which I split my XP gained; using more to get more Regular Trait Points but using enough to hit level forty-one. I had enough to dip back into my wish list of traits and finally decided to get Blast and Blade; it would boost all of my offensive abilities so it made sense.

On that note I had to spend stat points; starting with nine regular and three universal into Constitution; putting it up to an even hundred. The leftover two points I had went to Endurance, bringing it up to ninety-three. I dropped all the Sexual Stat Points I had into Pleasure, bringing it up to sixty-five. As for what I was doing after all of that... well...

Everyone needs a moment for the simple joys in life... "He he he he!"

"Someone's enjoying themselves." I quipped; I was on the back of White Peach but my hands weren't on her reins; they were on Miika's hips as she sat on the saddle before me. While I wouldn't call her my sister I did lump her and her father into a category best called 'extended family'; so she was more like a cute, younger cousin. She sat before me as we rode through the forests of Mungale; after Qatil's failure no one expected another assassin but I still had four regulars as guards riding around us. That was fine; with luck it would be a nice, relaxing ride for all of us with nothing exciting happening.

Is that my luck? Not really. To my credit my passive awareness seemed to have gotten sharper as I picked up a soft shift in the bushes well ahead of me. I noted nothing out of place there but the birds were silent and a longer look had me not noticing any signs of any animals. I reached back with my left and and gave a brief signal; be alert. My escort was smart enough to not show a reaction but it was clear they were paying more attention around them. I casted Ring of Alarm but kept the smile up. "We'll have to take Peach out more, huh?"

Peach gave a soft snort and a low, long whiny as if to call attention to something as I moved my hand to brush her neck, letting her know I was alert as well. Really, Miika was the only one unaware...

My spell picked up a brief shift; someone moving between trees... then a second; poking a head out then back. So, at least two, maybe more. These weren't amateurs; these guys knew how to track and hunt... To what end I could only guess but targeting myself was likely... and I was at a disadvantage; Miika was seated directly in front of me and I that would limit my responses, doubly so with any physical attacks. I was magically powerful enough to have options, of course, but still... That assumed they attacked (And I had reasons to assume that was both likely and probable) but regardless of that I had to be ready.

Another motion; this time ahead and on the other side... So, three at minimum... "Bah-Bah! Bah-bah-bah! Ba-ba-ba-bah!" Miika let off, unaware in a blissful manner as to what might be coming... I gave her an idle scratch behind the ear, ready to keep her calm once it all started and-

-there... Above on a branch; someone stood above us... no, two someones... I almost missed the sound of straining wood as bows were drawn... aimed at my escort...

Well can't have that! As soon as I noticed I was drawing mana to cast and a used a Vortex Tunnel upwards at the archers; not at full power but more then enough to knock loose our would be assailants from their perches; complete with loud cries of surprise... followed by barking in another language and while I didn't know the words I knew the tongue being spoken...

Tra'gul... The Catalanian language...

Indeed as Catalans rushed from around the trees to surround us, weapons drawn (Mix of spears, bows and clubs) two hit the ground from above hard as I used Observe; levels twenty three to twenty nine, each name preceded with Mir...

All of a sudden I had to guess that I wasn't the target...

Miika's face turned to one of fear as a man with a spear rushed me and leapt, spear aimed at me as a club wielding wingman flanked on my other side; hand reaching for her as I cast Storm Wave, minding my steed and Miika, and sending arcs of lightning around me in a tight sphere and making both attackers cry out before collapsing. I turned Peach about to see my guard's efforts...

One was tackled off his horse and unable to draw his weapon but knocked his foe's away and had his opponent locked in an arm bar; in fact I caught him arching his back, legs trapping the arm and pressing against a shoulder as the sound of a bone cracking coupled with a pained howl reached my ears. Another Catalan moved to thrust a spear at his face but yours truly had a Hammer of Smite to knock him away and out cold.

Kelly Conners was in my escort and had turned her steed about and lanced a Catalan's shoulder; his cries joining the others as Miika finally screamed in fear as the redhead drew her speared foe in and then used a foot to kick his face and knocked him back off her weapon. He drew a dagger to make another go of it but Kelly turned her steed and with a squeeze of her legs made it buck back with it's hind legs, catching his chest with two hooves with a harsh crack. Another moved to attack her while she was distracted but my third escort leapt from his steed and clobbered him with the pommel of his blade to knock him down. The Mir man tried to rise but met the point of the blade to his chest. The fourth man had killed one but was off his steed and blocking a club with his shield before drawing a dagger and turning to slam it into a calf. The Mir hopped back while taking another swing that was blocked before the guard got his feet under him and rushed him; stumbling his foe before driving the dagger into his ribs.

I felt Peach shift then move away and carry us from where she stood as a scream came from above me as I glanced... and saw a pair of Mir holding a net fall (Likely having leapt) from above and slam face first into the ground. That had to hurt... I guess they expected the net grabbing me to break their fall... Given the groaning, they just broke...

I glanced about; the Mir with the broken arm being rolled to his back and knocked out. "Kelly, keep an eye out. Rest of you; tie up the survivors..."

"They... They..." Miika let off as I patted her hip.

"You okay there, kiddo?" I asked softly as she looked up at me. She gulped and nodded slowly, turning on Peach to hug me as I wrapped an arm around her. "It's okay... We're gonna work out what's going on but right now you're safe; that's what matters."

"They said they would kill you all and take me..." She let off as she gave a small sob as I rubbed her back softly.

"That's not going to happen." I said, giving the top of her head a kiss. "Stay on Peach." I said as I slowly dismounted and, once on my feet, patted her shoulder before walking to one of the downed Mir, spitting something in his tongue; he was the one with a broken arm and his good arm was pinned back and tied with a length that wrapped between his arm pit and neck. He was still squirming on his front before my man got off him; he rose to his feet only for me to grab him by his leather vest and hauled him up with one hand. "You want to explain yourself; because I get testy when someone attacks me."

"I have no reason to explain myself to you, Assa'enn." He let off as I rolled my eyes; if Miika wasn't here I'd start to apply more then questions.

"We'll see. Call Gregory; let's get these idiots collected up; quick." I let off as I shoved him to the regular as he was led away. Kelly moved over to me and gave a crisp salute.

"Sire, we've got them secure but some will need healing. At least one's past that." She said as I nodded as I drew my own voxlux out and called my sister quickly; it only took a moment.

"James, how's the ride?" She let off.

"Interrupted." I let off as she blinked. "We were ambushed by Catalans." She blinked at that as I kept speaking. "I'm fairly sure they're Mir; so make sure you and Mokria stay in the manor for now. Once Gregory comes to collect these idiots we'll be on the way back."

Now I had to wonder what this was all about...

[Defeated List]

4 Mir'Hunters x 650xp=2600xp
6 Mir'Warriors x 700xp=4200xp
2 Mir'Trappers x 720xp=1440xp
+20% Hero of Eostia Bonus
Gain 9888XP Total

[-]

Primus City, Nobility District
Levantine-Curtis Manor
Office of Klaus Curtis

"Hmmm..." The map he found in his friend's home rested on his desk but despite his best efforts he failed to identify the pattern represented on the parchment. On that note he opted to chase other leads for the moment; in this case he followed an old, tried and true means of uncovering secrets of others, doubly so of an organization like this...

Follow the money...

The previous issues was one had to find the money to follow it and until the Mortadellas were exposed to them that was impossible... and even now they only had one path at that to follow... The failure of He Who Once Knew No Failure and it's aftermath exposed another source of money, however, the Primus of the Plutocracy of Zenith, Achelous Chryso... And with that came more information... some of it wasn't useful; Zenith was a mercantile nation and, as such, had coin flowing like water through Eostia in various investments and enterprises with the Primus and those around him being no different.

That said all that meant was one had to sort out oddities between past and present behavior and, more over, he had a point of comparison in that matter; Razon Beardsley, Agent of the Black Storm and a master of economics in his own right. That led him to digging about and finding the flow of money and goods... and much of those goods included arms and armor...

Knowing of reports from Maia that a weapon's cache was stored in the seemingly middle of nowhere that suggested that the Storm wasn't worried about armed men, just talented and trained ones. They could arm them themselves; moreover they could do so in the heart and fringes of Eostia; possibly leading to a hundred small armies causing a thousand smaller problems as one, larger one tried to capture major holdings.

Soon he was scribbling on his own map; finding paths of these goods, who they were going to and, with luck, who could be interrogated to discover these caches. The more of these caches that were found the more they could deprive the enemy of the means to wage war and, perhaps, enhance their own... Through the use of the voxlux finding the information needed wasn't difficult; just time consuming... but time well spent...

Behind a desk he could do much to wage the coming war...

[-]

A dozen... A dozen Mir attacked us... That was concerning. According to Mokria the Mir was one of the larger tribes out there; some two hundred and a half strong. Even so a dozen guys was no small expense, even for a tribe that size. Miria was now with her sister, helping soothe her while I stood with her birth father as we glared at someone seated at a table with his arms bound behind him. "Mir'Okka; you and yours have come a long way to this place. Is my sister's head so valuable to warrant such a response?"

Mir'Okka barked off something his own language; something that made Mokria frown in thought.

(-)

Name: Mir'Okka
Title: Hunter of the Wild
Class: Warlord
Level: 26
Alignment: Hostile
Reputation: 36
Status: Healthy, Wounded, Frustrated

Known Traits
[?]

[Wildhood] You can survive in the wild with ease; building fires, setting traps for food, foraging for berries and more. -15% hunger and thirst in the wild
[Gone Clubbin'] You are an effective user of any and all clubs and maces. +2% to all damage when using any club or mace. +3 to Str.

A hunter of the Mir tribe and grand nephew of their Zon'ka he is a practiced hunter and survivor. He has learned to throw clubs, carved in a particular way, to bludgeon targets from a distance but he is often able to get close enough to clobber his targets first. His name Okka, 'quiet', was well chosen.

(-)

"He is very upset and claiming I should have taken my own life." Mokria said as I sighed and walked to the side of the table.

"I'm not interested in name calling; why are you here?" I said as he glared harder and barked once more, something about Assa'pi (Translated as 'Outsider Rat') and how I disgraced the spirits before spitting at me which was the only thing that needed no translation. Okay then...

Time to speak another language. I walked around him and grabbed his tail, yanking it to the table, ignoring his attempts to spit words at me before pinning it down with one hand and hammer fisting it with my other with enough force something in his tail broke.

The howl of pain showcased how much harm I'd done. Then I drew the Dragon's Claw and pulled his tail taut before setting the blade to his tail fur as his eyes went wide. "You know what I'm saying so I presume you can speak the language. I will put it simply. Co-operate and you keep your tail. Keep acting up and you'll have half then no tail." Mokria seemed to shiver at the idea; Catalans used their tails to help with balance and took pride in them so this was a major threat.

"Kulli! Kulli! I will talk!" I moved my blade away from the table but kept his tail held tight and taut. "Yes, yes, we are to kill Mokria if we can and take the child home if we can... but it is the Zili'ria we have come to slay." I gave a glance to Mokria for the translation.

"Tainted reflection." He let off... and as I recall Miria's name was a fusion of 'mir' (Star) and ria (Reflection)... I needed no more to understand their aim as my eyes narrowed.

"So, how many did you bring along; just you lot or more?" I asked as glared to him. He shivered and glared but finally looked to the side and relented.

"More... The Zon'ka consulted with his elders and performed a Mir'aka'kaa (Star Vision Truth was the direct translation but not an accurate one; it was a ritual to seek guidance for the spirits in the stars) to plan this." He said, glaring up at us. "Mir'Honka, I know, leads the other but our numbers was hidden from one another as were our plans, as were our means of arrival. He's maybe stalking the Zili'ria now. He's maybe a day's travel away or a weeks." He looked straight ahead. "I do not know."

"There are tales of a dangerous target having two separate hunting parties sent out to face them." Mokria let off as he frowned. "I do not doubt, given Honka's reputation within the tribe he will bear the larger number; by half or double no doubt." I hummed a bit; that wasn't a real threat to us... but two odd dozen troublemakers could do some damage to Mungale's people so we couldn't exactly ignore them either; not that I had any intention to do so.

We pressed on with the interrogation; his plan was to use Miika as a hostage to draw Miria out and kill her. Survival was preferable but death was considered acceptable...

This could be a headache...

[-]

Needless to say we held a family meeting about this (Plus Mokria, Gregory and Sora while Riri minded Miika) and started to get our shit together. We called out to Houses Galeraven, Caesarea, Calloway and Hawkeye as well as Geofu about details of Catalan tribesmen passing through their territories. We got information of the group we just dealt with but a report came from the Geofu/Ferra border gave us the direction of travel of the other and I zoomed in on the most likely paths with my projection map. It took sometime but I finally managed to locate them; walking towards Mungale and currently in central Ferra. "Right. Let's go kill them." My mother said in a tone that was near bored but you could feel the hate in her voice; these people came to hunt down and kill her daughter like a dog. One couldn't blame her for being unhappy.

I wasn't happy about it either... but... "Sadly until they do something we cannot." My father said and you could hear the regret in his voice. "That's not how Eostia works; and while conspiracy to commit murder is a reason to do so there's a sad bit of politics to consider. If we are suggested to be applying laws in a questionable manner our rivals may use it to pick at our cracks. Had it been myself or James they likely would not bother... but it's Miria..."

"My popularity knows no bounds, huh?" My sister drawled out. Yeah, go figure. In fairness the leverage could be ignored to a point but that would mean more problems down the line; slippery slopes and all. Never mind that it was Catalans trying to kill a Catalan, leverage was leverage.

"We know where they are. We can keep an eye on them for now." I suggested as I crossed my arms. "I think our best bet is to release one of the prisoners and have him carry a message to Mir'Honka. We will give him a warning and let the man pass on what happened to him and his buddies. We dealt with his ambushes with relative ease despite their numbers." I looked to my father firmly as my eyes narrowed. "We'll make it clear that if they keep it up this isn't an attempted murder; they will have declared war on House Noxdecus and I'll be more then happy to take it to the Mir." That made the room go silent; I had the means to do so and if I wanted I didn't need to step foot on the Savannah to make the Mir' pronouns into was/were.

The only point that would stay my hand in that matter was there would be innocent lives that I didn't want caught up this time. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Merlin said as he addressed the room. "That said I think this is the best idea we have. If they do not alter their course then we know they intend to carry on their mission and we will need to deal with them. As such we should start to plan out a trap in the event they press on."

"I should be able to bait them out then, right?" Miria let off as I frowned and felt my brow tighten. Confident as I was about this... that was putting her at risk.

"I don't like that." Saxon said sternly as I sighed.

"Neither do I but I don't have a better idea if it comes to it." I replied and tapped my hands to my arms. "...Whatever we do we need to be careful; I am certain we outclass these guys and we far outnumber them-" I began as I moved my hands to my hips. "-but these guys are, more then likely, sure about the idea that Miria needs to die for their spirits. If they're that determined then we need to consider they'll get creative."

"That is the issue. A real one..." Merlin mused as Mokria frowned deeper.

"There is more worth considering." The Catalan man injected. "It is more the likely a shaman had come with one of the groups. If he was with Okka's group then it is like he is seeking Honka. He can ask the spirits for guidance and some may answer and offer a path towards their goal. Other spirits may attempt to forestall this guidance or offer us assistance but that such can be called upon must be noted." That was... a concern.

"Do you see one in the group?" I asked as me looked to the projected map; Honka's forces moving along the road on a grassy field.

"There." He let off, pointing to one, elderly man in the batch; even so he moved with the same vigor as the rest.

"Right. Best be ready for shenanigans then." I replied with a frown; I didn't know enough about the spirits to know what, if any, part they would play in the coming issues but there would be a part. In a world of magic and gods that wasn't exactly out of the question. "That begs the question then; we're cutting loose one to send a message. What do we do with the rest?" Given the circumstances a trial wasn't needed and if it was any judge in the realm would start clobbering Okka and his lot with the book. Execution was on the table.

"I imagine exiling them would be pointless so it's prison with hard labor or death for them." Merlin said as he glanced to his wife/my mother; no doubt what her vote on the subject was.

"I'll vote for labor." Miria pipped up. Mokria was... notable in his silence. "We can send them to the camps in Ansur." For the record; yes, hard labor as punishment was an option in Eostia and was usually but not always in the form of mining or quarrying. This was used mainly for those who committed serious crimes; your average pickpocket or thief wouldn't end up there but hardened thugs, rapists, murderers and such would end up there. It was akin to slave labor save the people who ended up in it earned their broken backs.

"Seconded; followed by shipping them back across the lake when the sentence is over." I added before looking to Mokria. "Thoughts?"

"...I will defend my daughter, to the death if needs come." He began as he shut his eyes. "But I have no wish to do battle with the Mir; in exile or not they are my people."

"...I don't hold that against you, Dridra." Miria let off before looking to my mother. "We should make an attempt to spare those we can if the situation permits. If it doesn't or they go too far-"

"All bets are off." Gregory chimed in at last, and in a dark tone. He'd also been silent for most of the meeting but his grimace told his thoughts louder then if we had asked. "Clemency has it's limits."

"I'm forced to agree with that as well." I said with a snort. "Let's all hope whatever happens I don't need to pay the Savannah a visit."

[-]

Unknown Location
Somewhere in the Barony of U'ra

"I hate meeting in places like this..."

"Stop your whining." Vult barked back quickly, his ever present grin faltering for a moment as he looked to the man who looked back to him impassively. Not in a haughty manner, not in a glare, not even with a hint of fear. The nonchalance kind of annoyed him in truth.

Not that he didn't understand the man; an abandoned room in an abandoned building in an abandoned town wasn't a great place to meet either but it served as a good, small base to operate from in the moment. The bulk of the Black Dogs were moving back into Dominius and a good chunk were already there getting to work and 'getting to work'. That was something of note; there were ways to use the Dominious Civil War to his advantage when the time came to attack Eostia. Indeed; a bitter, war torn, angry population that was upset at it's rulers tended to have ears to bend...

But that was neither here nor now. The man with him now was an older man but at six-one and wide in the shoulders he was still clearly strong and not to be trifled with. He wore a great coat that was a rich brown with matching boots and black pants between them. A cane was in one hand (A sword cane, most likely) with a spell stone at it's cap. Long, shoulder length, silver hair was tied in a braid and matched the mustache he bore. A black, tricorn hat sat on his head coupled with a monocole over one of his green eyes gave him a distinguished look. "It is not whining, Mister Vult. If you want whining you shall needs listen to my daughter someday." The man replied curtly. "Ignoring the dilapidated state of this town it is far too out of the way of any city to conduct business which, I may remind you, Primus Chryso has tasked me to handle."

"You're here because I can secure this place and not risk the Black Watch getting an ear in." Vult replied as he crossed his arms; both men ignoring the mouse running through a hole in the wall of what was once a home. "Listen; my ear inside Celestine's circle picked up a little tidbit; the Mortadellas are compromised." The man in question, Razo Calloway, narrowed his eyes at him. "Right now I'm letting my people know but I don't know how much the Black Watch knows. Because of that I need to keep those two in play but I need to move them where I can afford attention to go to. Of course the issue with that is-"

"You need someone to replace them as your sutlers and keep your men and army stocked and supplied." Razo summed up as Vult nodded.

"More or less. Once we get back fully into Dominious I can drag them there with me." The King of Mercenaries replied. "For now they're a liability... and if they know it then they're more of a liability." On top of that for all of their economic talents he sometimes wondered about their competency; they didn't get Celestine's attention by sitting on their hands at the least. Worst was he was sure she hadn't acted against them directly because she was trying to follow them to a bigger fish...

...

Maybe he should have them sent to Dominious sooner rather then later. "I need to know whatever the fuck Celestine knows; in the meantime I have to get ready if it's 'too much'. Once things are ready I can bring the hammer down but until then she can stuff things up."

"Yes, yes, the Primus will provide so long as you can perform as needed." In said in that annoyingly neutral tone and a wave of his open hand. "I'll see it done; don't fret your flat face." He said, ignoring the vicious glare Vult sent him. "You worry about raising your little damned empire; I'll handle the little damned details."

"Tsk. See that you do." Vult let off... He decided to think happy thoughts instead...

Like Celestine's bleeding hymen on his cock as he raped her before an audience... oh yes... he looked forwards to that...

[-]

Northwest Ferra
Between the Towns of Oxlo & Kilter
Mid-Afternoon

Mir'Honka gripped his axes in their hip holsters tightly as he strode; two and a half dozen Mir behind him in likewise purpose. Much had happened in the last few months since the Ungla'pul and discovering that the... Frak'ka'gul was still alive... His blasted cousin lived yet... Worse the one who dared spare her was one of the men he came to trust the most... Half of what he knew of hunting and combat came from his uncle's teachings...

A man who defied their Zon'ka over a misunderstanding of the spirits will and took his youngest child with her... His cousin, Mir'Tiika, remained with his mother and begged Honka to bring his younger sister back to him with tearful eyes... The Zonk'ka did not say that Mir'Miika needed to be brought home but he considered it as important as the... death of the Zili'ria and the Zu'putm with in her, that Demon of the Void...

While they did not know all of the details of the lay of this land they knew enough; she would be found in Mungale... there she had fled... there she would die...

"[Honka... ahead of us.]" Mir'Ako let off; the best sniper his tribe could spare for this endeavor. His eyes were better then his and while Honka had spotted the figure ambling to them clearly Ako noticed something important. It wasn't long until he realized what it was; the person was Mir'Sogga, arm in a sling and walking to them with shoulders slumped. He clicked his tongue; he must have been in the other party led by Okka then.

"[I see him. Let us see what is amiss.]" Honka said as he strode on; a bit faster now. Once in range he gave a wave. "[Sogga. Good to see you but that I do in this manner with none of your comrades suggests something ill is afoot.]"

"[Indeed... We found the child out with a man and escort; we assume one of those the Zili'ria took shelter with...]" Sogga began with a frown. "[He only had four guards and we aimed to use the girl to draw our prey out but... we were bested... We attacked with the element of surprise and outnumbered them two to one but we were taken down with little trouble. The man who held Miika, one with the clear and strong eyes... he was aware of us before we struck and summoned upon the wind itself.]"

"[...How many dead?]" Honka asked as Sogga groaned.

"[Just Terka and Olgun... The rest were captured but based on what I overheard they will not be let free for maybe a dozen summers at best...]" Honka frowned deeper.

"[And you got away?]" He let off... and surprised as Sogga shook his head.

"[No, Mir'Honka, no. I was freed under the condition I bear a message to you.]" Honka blinked at that as Sogga spoke on. "[They... flew me here on a wagon that rode the winds... how I do not know, but they have such a thing... more over they knew where you were.]" Both of those were cause of concern; that these... Eostians found a way to claim the skies was a surprise but that they knew where Honka was at that moment was... distressing.

"[What message do you bear?]" He asked as Sogga nodded once.

"[That the Zili'ria is of the House of Noxdecus now.]" The wounded Catalan said. "[And that should we carry on as we are they shall consider themselves to be at war with the Mir... And given the ship on the land outside of their home... I do not know how empty that threat is...]"

"[We should consider it no idle threat.]" Honka turned to see the speaker, Mir'Uwanna, walk closer to them with his gnarled staff in hand. The elder of the lot, clad in a cloak of direwolf fur he hunted alone as a teen, he was the one who helped consult with the spirits and offered to come along. Once brown now mostly gray hair was on his head in a brain that reached his waist as wise, green eyes looked over them from his five-eight frame. "[If that ship flies as Sogga suggests then it may ride as fast as the winds. We must consider that he is able of carrying out the threat if he so wishes.]"

"[...What do we do, then?]" Ako asked as he and the other Mir gathered in a half circle around Honka as he paused to consider. He knew what he had to do; slay the Zili'ria and Zu'putm both... but now there was a new fact to consider; the possibility of reprisal. Before the Great Savannah would ensure any attempts to amass a force would be of little effect, let alone nations unwilling to host foreign forces or grant them passage to reach their home... but if it was true that the sky itself was the domain of their foe, that the Mir was not unreachable to them...

"[... I cannot yet say...]" He replied softly. "[We must consider things and ask Uwanna to consult the spirits for guidance. I can see a creek in the distance; let us make camp and consider our options.]"

"[Agreed.]" Uwanna said, tapping his staff twice to the ground under him. "[It is no good to act in haste. We needs take a moment and consider if the goal is worth the risk.]"

For Honka he knew his duty... but the question was simply what was the cost he could pay to see it done?

[-]

"They're camping?" I asked as I looked over our man's shoulder.

"Aye sir, by a creek. A few ran off; likely to gather wood and maybe hunt." We were in the security room and I was looking over the shoulder of Alex Naihoe; he was a more recent hire and even graduated from my father's magical academy. His class was Spell Blade but bore a Trait called 'Iron Shell' that allowed him to wear Chain Mail, Scale Mail and Splint Mail. He still needed a rapier as a main weapon, through.

"Hmm... We should keep an eye on them then; if they're putting up a full camp then they're not planning to carry forwards today but that doesn't mean they're going to leave." I summarized. Alex's natural magical talent made him the best to oversee the security cameras and the spy viewer. Likely Honka knew of some of what I had and that I had some means to know where he is, even if he didn't know how. I played part of my hand as a means to intimidate him and make him think better of his current course. I patted Alex's shoulder before turning to leave. "Make sure the next guy knows to keep watch on them."

"Yes sire!" He let off as I walked out of the room and moved to the training room; I had spells in need of mastering and they weren't going to master themselves! It also allowed me to enter a bit of a zen state where I could just focus on magic and myself for a bit. Indeed, once in the training room I got to work; my focus was on Radiant Wave, Blessed Guard, Frost Bolt, Blessed Water and the strongest spell in my arsenal, Chain Lightning. Of them I focused most on Blessed Waters for... obvious reasons... I was also considering another spell adaptation to make an S Rank level spell like Chain Lightning as a hybrid but I wasn't sure if I should or where to start.

On the should I question; I would be making a spell of devastating power and unless I chose a Holy/Fire one it would be indiscriminate about what it did or didn't kill. On top of that it would be a lot of time and effort to make it; time and effort I could spend on other things. And... well... after what happened in Roxford I wasn't excited about deciding to make a spell of mass slaughter...

On the other hand, Roxford showcased by I needed such a spell and as powerful as Chain Lightning was there was counters to such powerful lightning spells in the form of a lightning rod sort of spell that would mitigate the damage and even negate it if enough magic was applied; although nearly as much as Chain Lightning itself...

On the where to start question I wasn't sure; should I work on scaling up Holy Flare to a torrent of holy flames and fire that could avoid allies? Holy/Lightning or Cold/Lightning based on Chain Lightning was something that would be easier. Lightning/Fire, based on what I knew, would be destructive as hell but if I wanted to lean away from lightning then I'd need to consider other combinations. Ice/Darkness could spread a glacier across the field as it would drain mana from their targets to spread further if my texts were correct. Darkness/Water could coat targets in a liquid that would weaken targets, but that would have it's benefits and limitations. Holy/Ice, if said texts were right, would suppress magical effects and enchantments while Wind/Fire would just be an effective whirlwind hellfire if made...

I had options and if I went that route what I choose and how I made it would be important... and maybe have impacts that outlasted me; spells trended to be passed down, after all...

"There you are." I heard, finishing a cast of Frost Bolt as I then stopped to look to my sister as she walked in. Given the lack of gear she wasn't here to train.

"Hey." I said as I nodded and deactivated the shielding I trained inside of, moving to a water skin to swig a drink of water. "What brings you over?" I asked her as I looked over to her. She moved a hand to her hip, the other moving to rub the back of her head, face uneasy for a moment before she spoke.

"Kinda... wanted to ask... how did you handle being the target of an assassin?" She asked me as I blinked. "Not just Qatil; I mean we know you've been a target for a while by more then one guy..."

"True; although I haven't always been afforded a heads-up first..." I replied with a sigh. "...If I had to put it in words I'd say remember what you can and can't control. You can't control what Honka does or tries to do but you can choose how you prepare, bait him or ready for him. You can train or plan, try and scout his attentions or even go about as usual. Right now we have eyes on him; he's not doing anything without us knowing and even if he and his slip out of view we know where he's going."

"Fair, fair... I guess it's..." She frowned and moved around me to the wall, leaning her back into it as she crossed her arms under her bust. "...It's just I figured I'd never need to deal with... that again. I mean sure, I'm sometimes judged for being a Catalan but at least I wasn't judged for... a birth condition." She said as her mismatched eyes narrowed; the condition in question.

"Their problem."

"Well they're making it my problem aren't they?" She snapped back as I waved my hands in a gesture of peace. She sighed and shook her head. "...I guess I'm just... I have Dridra in my life again and Miika as well... I guess... with that and the war over I just got used to... everything on the upswing, ya know?"

"I get ya..." I said, smiling and reaching out to pat her on the shoulder. "Just think about what you'll do with Miika once things settle down once more."

"Now there's an idea!"

[-]

Northwest Ferra
Mir Camp
That Evening

Mir'Honka sat cross legged as he looked up to the darkening sky; hoping to find answers within the stars and their spirits. Each shine in the sky held an answer but he wasn't as practiced at understanding what it all meant... If there was something spoken by them he could only hope Uwanna could hear it. Those were what he fought for; his tribe and the spirits who guided and protected them... That a Zu'putm existed in the world at all, let alone one connected to the Mir was an affront to all of the spirits... that she still lived bearing it was a worse one...

And yet he was set into a position where carrying on his mission to kill the demon of the void could cause damage to the Mir directly... Was the mission now worth the risk? The Zon'ka wasn't there to ask for guidance; Honka was his word and will in this strange land. It was up to him to make the call; press on or back down? Those were the two options he had. Those were the two options he would need to sleep on... until he saw Mir'Uwanna walk towards his tent. "[Elder.]" He greeted, the man nodding but walking into Honka's tent with a gesturing nod of the head. Curious he turned and crawled into his tent and sat upon a log he had pulled inside. "[Did the spirits reveal much to you?]"

Uwanna lifted a hand before using the Kin'tuu (Spell Stone) hidden in the fist sized wooden knob at his staff's end to cast some for of magic he didn't know before finally speaking. "[More then a little, less then a lot.]" The elder said as he moved to sit across from him in the small fire set inside of a pit. "[I took the time to open my eyes beyond the veil to the stars and learn as I could. I saw two butterflies of gold and blue; an emblem of our target no doubt. Over it in the sky was a winged Wyr'murr (Lizard) with bright blue eyes looking over them but it's form was... ethereal, not truly physical. I think the spirits tell us that our foe has a means to view us from the sky.]"

"[So... that is how he knew where we were...]" Honka mused with a frown... that explained much...

"[More over there's another butterfly following the two and a larger one hovering over them... Miika and Mokria, I assume.]" The elder said as Honka frowned more. "[But it also showed me something; the butterflies flew to a place from a tree they circled about, southwards... Moreover... the spirits showed me a means to escape the eye above us... but the end showcased the grass coming to flames... a warning I assume to our fate should we fail.]"

"[Mmmm... What was to the south?]" Honka asked. "[Hunting grounds? The place of a lover?]"

"[Could be... or something else of value.]" Uwanna said before looking to him. "[Listen to me, Mir'Honka... Listen to me and listen well... I fear the spirits do not share the full tale. Some may favor the Zili'ria for reasons we do not understand. Some may be using the Zu'putm to their own ends. In the end we can only guess to their wants and whims... They will understand a misinterpretation... We made no vow in their name... We need not pursue this further then we needs to.]"

"[However...]"

"[However we needs recall what a Zu'putm is; a demon of the void.]" The elder said sternly. "[Enemy of the spirits... doubly so the spirits of the stars... our spirits...]" He set his hands on his thighs, leaning in softly with a stern look. "[A thing that will feed upon the mortal coil when we die instead of our souls being sent to be reborn as new life... To abandon our quest is to allow this Zu'putm to fester and feed. In this matter you must make the choice as you see fit. The Zon'ka cannot make this choice for us; to request his wisdom requires we leave and return once more... A long and arduous journey through a land that may become more hostile upon such a return.]"

"[...Then we are damned if we do and we are damned if we do not...]" Honka said as he shut his eyes, taking a calming breath before he started to think. He adored the Zon'ka, ever since he was young. He recalled a day where they could find no water for days and he simply smiled and directed them to dig at a strange point in the ground.

After six feet of earth being moved water trickled out before spurting and filling, then overflowing the hole they had dug. 'The Savannah provides the wise and active... it will not reward the idle nor the foolish'. He freely showed his wisdom to all and shared it; teaching the young what they needed to know to survive, bit of what he knew of magic and more. Indeed, what Mir'Honka knew of magic manipulation came from him. Uwanna was, objectively, a better caster but the Zon'ka was more willing to part with what he knew.

When the Tribe of Zon attacked he was the first to fight them off.

When conflict came with the Kull he set his body on the line and took a life long injury from it.

When food was scarce he lessened his own take.

When his tribe was frightened he soothed their fears.

When the tribe needed wisdom he told tales of the spirits and great heroes of the past.

The Zon'ka would not betray the spirits by backing down...

...and neither would Mir'Honka... "[... How do we escape the eye that watches us?]"

[-]

The Mir detachment would camp there for three more days; watched by the Noxdecus clan and their soldiers. The following night Mir'Uwanna would use an Illusion to assist in their movements. On Mir'Honka's orders Mir'Sogga would find his way home; given all the smoked meat he could carry to help feed himself until his arm mended.

Uwanna would lead them down the stream and where the spirits directed them to go; a small cave from where a trickle fed the stream. They had to crawl into it on hands and knees, at one point on their bellies before they could stand up to any degree. Soon they would travel north within the cave; spending two night and a day within before emerging the following morning.

They would camp within the cave for a day to refresh their supplies having left tents and tools behind to be collected later.

Come nightfall they would move through a thick forest to the north...

[-]

Sooooo... we had a problem.

Alex Naihoe spent a day confused at the movements at what the Mir was doing at their camp as it seemed they were repeating things and not hunting for food which... was off from them. On his next shift he took the initiative and grabbed a Sky Eye and sent it out to their location and moved it down to watch one Mir move into a tent... and stand around like he was an NPC; doing nothing at all.

Then he flew it through a Mir and hit nothing realizing what had happened; one of them knew enough magic to cast an Illusion spell with enough power and skill to maintain it for who knows how long; most of a day anyway... I didn't know any of them had the education to pull that off. I underestimated them and started having Sky Eyes and viewers looking for them to no avail.

This was bad; there was a likely hostile threat and we lost track of it... which begged another question how the fuck did we lose track of them in the first place!?

(Mokria suspected that their elder contacted the spirits and was given a clue as to how we watched them... Great...)

Safe bet; they were in or near Mungale and made their intent known. As of now, optics be damned, they had to be put down; into a grave if needs be.

Which... leads to another problem; Miria took Miika (With escort) from the manor and had a trip south for a bit... after all, we had eyes on Honka and his crew and thus things were relatively safe for her to go on as normal... and in that time Miika... kinda... did a thing...

We had a town there called Nielson's Road and it decided to host a small contest in Mungale for children; a chess competition... and included in the games Miika played chess was one of them; and my AI boards meant she always had an opponent. And yes, Miika wanted to sign up for the little competition. Honestly I think it was a bad move knowing what we know now (The losing track of the Mir) but Miika used kitty-cat eyes and it was super-effective on us... I was fine with it before as we knew where the Mir were but now we needed to up security and patrols in and around the town with my mother taking command directly of one and Gregory another. I'd be with my sister, her birth-father and her sister along with Riri and Sora. Tiffany, Aeris, Makoto and Cress (Who of course was on deck with this threat) would also be in town in the building the competition was in or nearby on patrol.

Sadly my father had to remain the manor for a remote meeting via voxlux but said he had confidence we'd handle it. As for why we didn't pull Miika from the contest (Aside from she was determined to go anyway) there was two reasons; the Mir likely had enough honor to not put the kids at risk so they'd likely attack before or after the matches and Miria was adamant she use herself as bait to draw them out. I was less then thrilled about all of this but I was willing to tolerate the idea for two reasons; one was I wanted this wrapped up as quick as possible and two, I was sure they were coming to Nielson's Road. If these spirits told them how to evade our watch then safe bet was they had an idea of where to go.

Kelly Conners would be aboard Enterprise in a tight patrol in the sky over the town. It was a decently sized town that was built along the road to Ferra; in fact the town was seven times longer then it was wide. The town was, like most of Mungale, growing under the current boom and was building new homes and businesses; in fact the competition was arranged as a means of ingratiating the newcomers, and doubly so the arriving children, to the town and county. All in all we had thirty guards in the town plus conscripting the local militia to add another fourteen along with sixty men led by my mother and Gregory patrolling around the town.

Mir'Honka was going to have a hell of a time reaching the town, let alone Miria... and all of that said I was operating under the idea that he would get past all of that...

"You're overestimating these barbarians..." I was standing in the town hall in that moment as the competition began (I coughed up some chess boards; most were loaned but I donated one to the hall and offered one as a first prize. Aeris looked over at me, head tilted to one side with her staff held in hand.

"Don't be cocky, Aeris. These guys worked out how to avoid our sight." I replied simply. "Moreover we need to consider that these 'spirits' of theirs might be pitching in. I'm betting they have a plan."

"A plan to do what exactly?" She huffed out.

"Good question."

[-]

That Moment
Town of Nielson's Road

"[We have done well, to come this far.]" Honka said softly as he frowned deeply. Night had guarded them well on their approach and they found their way into the town. They had discovered a place called a 'cellar' under the house of... someone; they heard no one above them and assumed they were either not present or the house was abandoned or empty. Honka didn't know nor care. The space was congested with all of them there but they were on a mission and managed to tolerate it. They had taken as much food as they could afford to carry and before the morning came they moved out to locate their quarry...

Finding a place to hide silently was difficult but they once more managed it in thanks to Mir'Uwanna; a shadowed alley coupled with an Illusion spell hid them across from a large building...

A building they saw their quarry enter with Miika and Mokria... and the man he fought at the Ungla'pul "[But the last stretch will be the hardest... I fought the man in blue before...]" He said turning to his men. "[He was formidable to begin with. But what he wears now suggests his equipment has improved by a bound... possibly his strength and magic as well. I fear I may not be enough to handle him alone.]"

"[If he is a powerful opponent then it may behoove us to remove him before we make our attack. Attack and thin the herd before going for our target.]" Uwanna said with a frown. "[Hmmm... Perhaps I can do such a thing and open your path... If you think I can be spared from the direct assault.]"

"[... I cannot help but think he would be the greatest of the threats... Are you sure you can do so?]" Honka asked, looking to him.

"[Aye... Wait until he has left and is beyond sight before you make your move...]" Uwanna said with a frown as he stood and moved down the other way. "[With luck you will not wait long.]"

[-]

Round one went very well for Miika; she faced someone two years older and beat him... not soundly but still well. As I said she had the board's AI to play against anytime she wanted so she was likely more seasoned then many of her opponents. Round two was a lot harder on her despite her foe being a child a year younger; still she managed a checkmate.

She had a break before round three as I kept an eye out; Miria was giving her encouragement as I looked over the room. It was large; gymnasium sized I'd say. Ten tables with boards were set up with children from both Nielson's Road and other, nearby towns (Including Argon City) and having fun; doubly so with the boards. There was food laid out and guards watching from the corners and sides of the room as I had Riri where I needed her; at my side. "You're tense." She said softly.

"I remember how much vitriol Honka let off back then." I said; Riri was unconscious for that fight and I recalled the worry I had then as well. "I'm worried he's not only serious about going after Miria; he might be zealous about it. If that's the case then there will be no reasoning with him and his; we can only fight to win and make sure we keep everyone alive. ... I'm afraid someone gonna get hurt; our men mainly..."

"...That's always it, isn't it..." She said with a sad sigh and a glance told me she bore a sad look to go with it. "They think they're doing what's right, at least according to their upbringing and religion... but... it involves killing someone who's done them no wrong..." That was it, wasn't it?

They ordered her dead over a quirk of birth; something out of her control. They never saw the girl and even if given the chance I doubt they'd see the woman standing there today... just what they thought was in her...

...

This is why I couldn't be really religious; it was no offense to those who prayed and even I didn't know if god existed or not (As in the god of the world I came from... that was a question complicated by ending up in this world where gods existed, had some impact on the world and I had sex with one's avatar and another's reincarnation) but there was too many people who would bang on a book hundreds or thousands of years old as a reason to hate. I mean just look at the Middle East; even when you discount Israel everyone seems pissed at everyone else and... was another topic to not speak around the dinner table for good reason.

"Ahh... s-sire." I blinked as myself and Riri looked to the side to a peasant woman clearly seeking my attention. Nothing special about her; Observe called her Paula Caller, mother of one. Plain brown hair in a bun tied under a red bandanna, brown dress under a tan tunic, brown boots, brown eyes, five-four. Soft wrinkles on her face showed her to be in middle age and while not lovely or beautiful she was far from ugly; motherly I'd say.

"Yes, can I help you?" I asked her; she seemed nervous and at first I thought it was due to my status. After all for a common approaching the CHAMPION OF EOSTIA! must feel a bit daunting... yet her eyes darted about in worry... no, fear... I tried not to show it but I came alert quickly.

"Ahhh, I-I apologize for the i-interruption my lord... I am t-told you are skilled in the healing m-magics." I shared a look with Riri before looking back to the woman.

"To a point; I am not an expert in them but I well used to using them." I said looking to her eyes. "Is someone in need of help?" I looked about quickly as she shuffled on the spot softly.

No Catalans; aside from the ones meant to be here... but they are known for their ears...

"O-Oh yes, my young son, bless his heart... f-found himself in a bit of a t-tussel..." She said as I nodded and smiled... and held my hands up hoping she could read as I used Illusion to cast something; a small message while I spoke.

"I'm sure I can be of help."

[Two Blinks No-Three Blinks Yes]
[Is He In Danger?]

"Ahh, y-your reputation for succor is well founded." She said, still nervous but seemingly more composed... and gave three, long, deliberate blinks...

Mother fucker...

They were screwing with a kid... I gave a look to Riri who nodded to me once. "I'll come along and take care of it. Trust me ma'am, it'll all be just fine." I told her with a smile. I gave Riri a look and a nod; she'd know what to do...

And then I left with the woman to her home... Hopeful the boy's life wasn't under threat... if it was... well-

-there will be hell to pay.

[-]

At That Moment
Nielson's Road Town Hall

Another of the guards fell; the attack was a simple one; darts poisoned to knock out prey swiftly and silently. They took down the patrols quickly and silently, pulling them to shadows and behind whatever was about. The town's main street was busy but it's back ones less so and allowed them to approach their target, or at least the building she was in. A balcony allowed them to look inside once the three guards that were struck with darts and thrown the three stories to the ground. Injured or dead, it didn't matter; they were between them and their target.

Silently Honka gave his orders. Six men would attack with him from above. A dozen would circle about and attack from the front. The rest would enter through the back. The only means to bring their foes down could have been overwhelming force... but the chance to deal a fatal blow to their real target, silently, was still there. A nod and Mir'Ako drew an arrow and took a moment to open a small, clay jar at his side and dipped the arrow within it. The poison of the Wyr'zeern K'onn (Great Horned Cobra) was within; a drop was potent enough to kill seven men and make their blood burn from within as they spent minutes dying screaming.

The window was opened with as much silence and ease as possible. The window moved slowly to allow his aim; a minute to move it two inches. Aka would nod once it was four inches wide as he moved to draw his bow with equal slowness. One of their number, ready to circle around to attack the front of the building gave him a motion with a hand. The man in blue was gone and he given a couple of minutes to get out of earshot thanks to the lesser hearing of most Assa'enn.

The time was now...

The target was there, watching over his cousin sitting before an odd game. Most of the other children were in tables at the back of the room; Miika was at the furthest to the back. Aka's shot was clear. His aim was true. His eyes were clear. His purpose was before him.

He fired.

The arrow sailed through air... and hit nothing as the form of the target vanished. "[What is th-]"

Before Aka's words were finished an arrow sailed back from a figure that seemed to melt into reality from nothing and struck Mir'Aka in and through the eye; slaying him in a moment.

Their target had drawn first blood!

"Go!" Miria called out, Arcane Arrow with a wind element attached ready right after she had fired; letting it loose and through the wall of the hall as a scream answered her. James had a plan in case of this as he planned for the event Honka and his gang could get around everyone patrolling; at first sight evacuate the children to the backroom and hold them in the hall. If they had the chance to prepare they would set up illusions of the children playing to further lure them in.

It was Miria who opted to change it and needed more then some time to convince her brother; Catalan ears would pick up the lack of noise and thus she proposed ensuring the children could be shuffled to the front of the room nearest to the backrooms quickly and protected as they fled. "[Damn you, Zili'ria!]" Honka cried out as he leapt through the window,axes drawn and before his face to block the glass as he readied to attack, the four men with him jumping along to avenge their fallen tribesman-

-and were blown into a wall by an odd gust of wind. "Alright, these barbarians are more able then I had thought." Aeris mused as she appeared from under her own Illusion along with Cress who fired off his own wind charged arrow; nailing a Mir through the center of his chest. Three guards minded the children and onlooking parents as they escorted them away but were taken off guard as the back door was kicked in. "[Kill the Zili'ria! All who stand in the way are fodder to the spirits!]" Someone cried out, one of the attacking Mir screaming out and charging a guard with a spear. Said guard titled his shield to let the spear deflect to the side and used a basic short sword to stab him in the abs; forced to step back and block an axe as another Mir attacked.

His brothers-in-arms were likewise outnumbered but others were moving to aid and support them; one barking out as the moving civilians parted to let him and two others pass. The first of these guards bore a maul and swung hard; allowing a trade against the steel axe of his foe, trusting his splint armor won from Mandeville's guards, to protect him. The pauldron dented from the overhead impact as he was struck with but his maul met his foe's ribs with a sickening crunch, dropping him. In a moment the attack seemed blunted...

...then the front doors were kicked in. A patrol of four militia would intercept the attackers before they entered but two Mir hung back to hold them off as the other ten rushed in. The first Mungale regular would fall to a spear into his back, powered and reinforced by a Combat Art into his right side before being clubbed. Some of the men turned about to face the new comers. Others turned in confusion before facing the ones already before them. Honka, by contrast, charged Miria as he lifted himself up, axes in hand-

-and was forced to deflect a javlin as another figure emerged from seemingly nowhere. "[Uncle...]" Honka hissed out in Tra'gul, looking at the odd spear-axe the man now held.

"[You've made a mistake of a level you cannot understand...]" Mokria let off with his eyes narrowing. "[These people will respond and the Mir will suffer if any here are harmed.]"

"[The Mir will stand no matter what.]" Honka said, crossing his axes before him. "[Unlike you!]" He let off before charging. "[Kusri! Unleash it!]"

[-]

I followed Paula, un-escorted but with Ring of Alarm up. I wasn't the target, after all, I was at most an obstacle. Finally we reached a single story house some ten minutes walk away. "Here?" I said softly; I knew enough about Catalan hearing to know what volume I could use. She nodded and bit back a sob. "Everything will be fine. Your house may be a little damaged but I'll pay for the repairs. Just stand well back. I've no intent to let him die." I said as she nodded and moved across the street as I walked to the door; I opened the door and walked in boldly, expecting a possible attack but I anticipated whoever it was to hold the lad hostage.

I was right; I walked in and there was an older Catalan in a fur cloak and graying hair seated on a chair with a young boy, eleven years old, was standing in front of his lap with an arm around the kid's arms, hooking into them and behind his back. His other hand held a bone dagger to the kid's neck; he was a sweet looking blonde in a brown tunic and pants; face speckled with freckles and twisted in fear. He whimpered as I walked closer, expecting-"No further."

There it is. I stopped some twelve feet short of him and looked to the boy. "Jeremy, right?" I asked as he nodded. "Don't worry. You'll be fine." I said before looking to the Catalan holding you. "Let the boy go. If you wanted a fight I'm here."

(-)

Name: Mir'Uwanna
Title: Elder Caster of the Mir
Class: Sorcerer
Level: 33
Alignment: Hostile
Reputation: 31
Status: Healthy, Calm, Determined

Known Traits
[?]
[Shaman Speaker] You speak with the spirits... or they to you... Regardless you know of some of their wisdom. +4 to Mag. +2% to Mag when acting in the Spirits interests

[Wildhood] You can survive in the wild with ease; building fires, setting traps for food, foraging for berries and more. -15% hunger and thirst in the wild
[Staff Fighter] You are able to fight in melee with staves and staff like weapons. +5% to Str, End, Dex and Agi when using such a weapon

Considered by some to be the strongest spellcaster of the Mir and one of the strongest on the Savannah, Mir'Uwanna was born between his Mir father and a wooed Ur woman. Despite early hardships and losing his mother in the birth of his youngest sibling he did not lose faith with the spirits; dedicating his all to him.

(-)

"I am not here to fight." The old man let off, looking to me with a calm, almost disdainful look. "I am here to hold you in place. Should you leave the boy's life shall as well." My eyes narrowed at him as I frowned.

"I wasn't aware the Mir were such cowards as to hide behind children as shields." I spat out, making my disgust clear... and drawing mana to my eyes making them come alight with golden power. He flinched at me as I stared him down. "I know what I'm being drawn away from so I don't want to waste time. You can let the child go now or the last thing on earth you'll see is the wrath of a dragonborne washing over you."

"So... that is why..." He mused, frowning hard. "...but my path is set." He said as he glared to me. "The spirits will shall be done." Idiot.

"Hey, Jeremy." I said, forcing a warm smile out, even with glowing eyes. "I want you to take a deep breath and close your eyes, okay?" The kid nodded and took a long breath as he shut his eyes... while I slowly drew in breath...

"I understand the coddling, but nothing you can do will change the... what are you doing..?" Uwanna let off as I watched him... and his shock loosed his dagger arm a hint as he was surprised I seemed to be readying to do anything... likely unaware of how deep my bag of tricks went... such as being able to use a holy/fire Dragon's Breath!

He was horrified, likely shocked that I would use such an attack when I was supposed to have my hand stayed by his human shield... unaware that the flames would ignore the boy, storm into him and scald and burn his limbs and face making his scream out as the force knocked him back. That pulled the boy back atop of him, sure, but he was so burned he could do no more then squirm on the floor as I used a Dragon Boosted Reflex Boost to rush in and, with a Gemini half, cut off Uwanna's arm to pull Jeremy free. As I left the house, boy in arm I threw the Gemini half into his body with a blade active to ensure he was done, pulled his arm free of Jeremy and recalled the half to my hand.

The left over flames died down quickly as exited into the street where-"JEREMY!"-Paula was waiting, rushing over to take her son into his arms.

"MOM!" The boy left off as I passed him off... and I drew out two platinum.

"Ma'am." I said as she looked to me... and I set the coins to her hand quickly. "I need to head back now, there's likely an attack there. Sorry about the... mess..."

"Mess? What mes... ohh..." Her face paled a bit as I dashed off back to the hall...

Who knows what was going on over there...

[-]

Unknown Location
Northeastern Ferra, Near the Border With Enddale

Cave

"This is... huh... There was supposed to be something here but..."

"There's a lot of wheel tracks..." Axelia Blodsjungfru, acting on information provided by one Klaus Curtis went to investigate a cave; by all accounts he expected a heavy cache of weapons to be found with it. The dwarven captain of the Dawn Templars took a pair of squads of Eostian Regulars to go and investigate and found... a cave with a lot of fresh wheel tracks, boot prints and no weapons. Not a blade to be seen; not even a butter knife... and yet the tracks suggested something, or rather a lot of somethings, had been moved... and recently; either they arrived before the tracks could be covered or whoever was here acted in haste, to hell with subtlety.

"What do you think, Ma'am." She let off; turning to the man in full plate armor as he looked about. "It's clear something was here but it's not anymore. Was it moved because it's owners wanted to employ them... or..."

"-or someone was given a heads up we'd be paying them a visit and whatever was here was too valuable to lose..." She let off with a frown as she crossed her arms. "...we have a leak... Between Klaus's report and me getting the orders to move out there was a leak..."

"Damn... That's over my pay grade..." He said as he looked around. "Maybe we can at least find a clue; track them down. Ya'Shok! Put that Catalan nose of yours to good use, will ya!?" He called out as he marched out as Axelia kept her arms crossed...

So...

...where was the leak..?

[-]

When I arrived back at the hall it was chaos... While I respected (And later... acquiescenced to, reluctantly) Miria's choice in regarding the children that was before meeting Uwanna. I don't think he was bluffing about risking that kid's life; hell, he had to know he wasn't leaving Mungale after that no matter what happened... and I suspect he'd have no qualms about killing the boy as one last rub of salt into the wound.

I hoped the Mir were better on that front...

Walking in and seeing three children on the ground (One harmed when a guard was tripped onto him, another kicked aside by a Mir and a third thrown at a guard's face to make an opening!) my agitation grew...

More so as I saw Riri kicked out of a growing cloud of black smoke that filled half of the room. "Riri!" I let off as I rushed over to kneel by her.

"I'm okay-" She let off, coughing once. "-but Miria's in there..." I frowned and realized why the smoke cloud; when one's eyes were useless one's hearing could get you through... and with the guards and some civilians stumbling out still that seemed to be the Mir's plan. Aeris tried to use wind magic to blast it away but the smoke refused to move; much like Vasilisa Chaoxis' spell save one point, I could feel my Ring of Alarm spell worked in this smoke.

"Wait here." I let off as I stood, drew the Radiant Gemini, split it and activated two blades as I waded into the smoke, ignoring Riri's cries. I deliberately avoided hiding my steps; I knew the sound would draw the Mir to me and I was proven right as I felt, with my spell, some move to me; a trio with two flanking to my right and one to my left. Left attacked first so I waited for him to commit before stepping in and blocking a swing with one blade and ran him through with the other, hearing him cry out. I turned and threw both blades into the others; hearing pained cries that indicated I hit my target and recalled them.

I had to be mindful; Miria and, if he was in this mess, Mokria would know I wasn't a foe but I didn't have the same advantage of their hearing. Ring of Alarm didn't tell me who was moving around me, just that someone was; as such counter-attacking was my best option and as another two charged in I would deflect and counter attack on both foes.

Hopefully I was helping Miria out...

[-]

Miria was forced to sheathe her bow in favor for her blade; the Oto'Dalul (Smoke of Black Wind) wasn't used much against other tribes as fighting within it meant it was a contest of hearing versus hearing in a race that had excellent hearing as a feature. There was some use to shut out archers but it was mostly used in hunting game that relied on sight or when fighting outsiders. It was hard to make and the plants and animals to create it could be hard to find, doubly so in this season.

She could hear Mokria fighting Honka while the Mungale guards fled the smoke as it filled the air; she could taste and smell the smoke but in the end it didn't hinder breathing. Even so the guards leaving the smoke was for the best; they would be fighting blind and just get in the way. She had already drawn the sword her brother got her for Blessmas and used it's built in Tailwind spell to heighten her speed. It didn't take long for someone to rush in and attack as she heard him bark out a tribal warcry. ."Ahhska!" It was a word with no meaning; like screaming yaah or the like. She heard the planted feet; one before the other; spear thrust. She slid to the side and stepped in with a hard thrust of her arming sword; catching him through the ribs. She withdrew quickly as he cried out and was clipped on her skullcap by a knuckle but the pained breathing and collapse to the man reaching her ears told the story; he was out of the fight.

Another warcry followed as she hopped back; a heavy strike with a Bo'kahh (A wooden club that had a stone wedged into the end and tied tightly) swinging through the air before her; she would counter attack with another thrust before she found it deflected by the same weapon's shaft as she readied her Charged Blow Combat Art. Once ready she would swing it down hard, the crack of wood followed by a cry sounding out right after; he had likely thrust the shaft of his weapon at her and she had cut through it and him.

In the distance a cried out 'Riri' sounded out, signaling her brother's return; with his own Ring of Alarm he could wade it with little worry and just readied to defend herself.

Soon she heard two more come at her from her flanks. She resisted the urge to click her tongue in annoyance; instead she stepped back and kept her ears open, waiting as she reached to her pouch with her off hand. She would pull something out and set it into her mouth; maybe she wasn't ready for the Oto'Dalul but she wasn't unprepared for the chance she could use sound against her foes. She waited until they had flanked her, poised to attack... before flattening her ears as hard as she could and blew on the whistle in her mouth as hard as she could.

"[Gah!]"

"[My ears!]" Her own ears rang lightly but unlike them she was ready as she stepped in and slammed her blade hilt deep into one and spun around him. He gargled around her blade before she gave a hard push; he would crash into the other, tripping him and sending the second sprawling to her feet. A downwards stab would handle him, once and for all.

There was a long lull; excellent hearing or not chairs and tables didn't make noise so her opponents needed to navigate to her. More over her birth father and Honka were doing battle, making noise that hid her position in turn. She was worried about him, it was natural to be, but she also knew she was the real target and the real focus as she slow, gently and as silently as possible moved back towards one of the walls. It was the deadliest game of 'Hide and Go Seek' she had ever suffered... but even so, she'd been through worse...

Much worse; the Mir saw fit to that... Her father gave her a fighting chance, slim as it was and she came too far to let the Mir have the final say in how her life ended!

She knew how she'd die; in bed of old fuckin' age!

scrape

shift

Behind her...

She ducked the swing and thrust her blade back behind her right side as she pressed back and heard a yelp before her foe backed up as she turned to face her as she started to see his figure through the thinning smoke. Likewise he could do the same with her and after a few seconds could see more then an outline...

Mir'Joska... She had a crush on him once... then he kicked her into the mud and that was that. He bore a sword made of some form of bone; given that it was four feet long it likely came from a jacqui's thigh; it was shaven to an edge and point with a wooden handle wrapped in leather and overall curved slightly like a saber.

Obviously being made of bone it wouldn't be as sharp or dangerous as a blade of sharpened metal but it was still blunt force concentrated on an edge and while it might not cut skin it could break bone. She spun her weapon twice in her hand before holding it just off of horizontal before her as she circled about him to try and avoid an ambush from one of his buddies. His weapon had much greater reach then her arming sword... but hers was enchanted by her brother; the best enchanter on the west side of Eostia!

As the smoke cleared she could see her opponent even more clearly; there was a gash on his right side across two ribs that looked painful and would need stitches but aside from the pain she doubted it would hinder him much. She kept calm and waited for him to act first. She didn't need to wait long as he let off a war cry, spun his weapon over his head to confuse her about what angle he would swung his weapon at; the answer would be a near twenty degree angle at her head from her left side to which she set her off hand to her blades flat and turned on it's shield...

It was meant to be cover when she was using her bow but it could still be used like a tower shield as well; braced she angled it to make it glance off and moved with the attack to shove the bone sword away and turn the shield off... and placed herself in an ideal spot to get inside his range and drive her blade the full length into his gut. He cried out, howling before she saw stars as he headbutted her but she still was able to twist the blade and slash it out. She could see the life ebb from him as his blade fell from his fingers but he was still fighting and clocked her in the face with a left hook; breaking her nose. She was rocked but was able to stumble back and out range of his following right hook which carried him face first to the floor where he would stay. She took a moment to reach up and reset her nose, wincing before looking up-

-and saw her (Birth) father doubled over, Honka with his axes held in one hand as a javelin, likely stolen from her father, was sailing at her through the air...

[-]

Finally the smoke started to clear up... With better sight I was able to make out my foes a lot better as I slashed and hacked with the Radiant Gemini's halves. I didn't bother dodging many attacks and let my armor handle it; the exception was someone with some kind of heavy club with a stone end who I just dodged then gutted. I was calmly making my way in...

Then my sister screamed and I saw her drop down from a javelin striking her leg. That made me less calm; doubly so as I tried to rush to her now I could see her... and was blocked by some idiot with a grin and twin stone ended clubs and unlike his peers he wore armor; leather gauntlets, pauldrons, boots, belt, chest strap and head strap that was, somehow, Armor Weave. He blocked my initial attack, took the second on his armor well and clubbed the side of my head hard enough to hurt. "Out of my way." I almost growled as I stabbed at him; the blow was glancing but broke a layer of his armor's shielding. Observe told me he was level thirty one, Mir'Tenonka, Barbarian.

"Not until the job is done, Assa'e-gah!" The gah was because I set Shadowblaze Weapon to my Gemini halves and stabbed him in the thigh with one before aiming for his heart with the other; he blocked it and hobbled back, blocking my next strike... Indeed, it was clear by the fear on his face he was in trouble.

I could see Honka rush my sister, but even hobbled she defended herself; using the shield I enchanted into her sword to block his axes as she hobbled back... and then I saw another bit of movement. "Don-ugh!" My distracted cry was rewarded with a club to the side of the head with enough force to turn me around...

And then Honka cried out as he was stabbed in the leg by someone who shouldn't have been there... Miika.

She wanted to bring her weapon and buckler to the competition once she heard that the Mir were gunning for her sister; I allowed it but told her strictly she was to stay with the other children and defend them. I didn't expect her to need to; it was meant to make her feel better and keep her in line... I even kindly took off the small stone from it's point...

I was regretting it... One good thing was as Honka flinched back he looked down wide eyed and spoke in the Catalan language at her (I'd be later told he was pleading with her to both let him end the 'demon' and save her) and blocked her next strikes. Miria moved to attack Honka as I resumed the attack on Tenonka; pulling the javelin free before throwing it at her foe's feet, tripping him up slightly as she moved to stab him; he blocked with an axe and kicked her wounded thigh, making her scream out and hobble back. He was about to swing for her neck but was forced to hop well back as Miika stabbed at his groin while screaming in Catalan!

(Something along the lines of 'don't hurt my sister', if you wanted to know.)

Finally I had enough of my opponent (Well I had enough at the start of this nonsense) and used a quick Pocket Sand spell to blind him before running him through the heart with a blade. Tossing him aside I charged, the remaining Mir trying to block the guards as best able (And I winced as I saw Aeris hit the ground, hard, landing atop of Cress)... as Honka snarled, kicked Miika into the wall and threw an axe at my sister...

She only had enough time to block with her sword (No shield spell) but not fully; screaming as the head dug through gambeson and flesh to bone in her arm.

If I was mad before now...

I was seeing red as I used Heroic Leap as he tried to charge but I just shoulder checked him away and moved to my sister. She was down and clutching her heavily bleeding arm as I turned off my Gemini; using one to cast an Arcane Shield spell around us and the other Blessed Waters on her. "M-miika..."

"She'll be fine, she's a tough kid." I said, anger tinting my voice as I focused. The spell wouldn't heal her to full but it would let her fight if it came to it. Miria looked up to me and gasped before nodding.

She would later say I looked stone faced and angry; reminding her of a time when myself and her got into some trouble while messing with one of the locals... Not a proud moment and he had good reason to be pissed. Once my spell was over she crawled to Miika and I'd cast Regenerate Wounds on the sisters before standing up and looking at Honka.

Mokria, wounded himself pulled himself to a wall as I stared down Honka. I moved to his thrown axe now on the floor, hooked my foot into it and tossed it to him. He caught it, confused as I reconnected the Radiant Gemini, set one end to the floor and ended my Arcane Shield before casting one with my staff. It stood up and would keep the spell up around my sister and her sister as I walked to him, exiting the shield and drawing the Dragon's Claw. "GUARDS! Step back!" I bellowed out as everyone stopped fighting and looked to me. "Leave. Them. To. Me."

"Are you brave or foolish?" Honka snarled out as what was left of his task force (Six guys) moved to their leader. "I'm surprised you dealt with whatever Uwanna had planned but do you think you can-"

"Fuck you." I snarled to his surprise. "You have, on the behalf of the Mir, declared war on House Noxdecus. I formally accept this declaration... and unlike your friends, you will live to regret this."

And then the red fully coated my vision as I casted an over charged Physical Burst.

[-]

"Fool..." Mir'Honka let off as his old, blue clad foe stalked forwards. "You will die fir-"

The man blurred... and Mir'Toko screamed; as Honka turned he saw his arm and spear falling off him before a follow up swing to an attack he didn't see lobbed off his head as Mir'Eskan moved to attack the bastard's flank.

His friend's weapon was cut in two and a punch was grabbed by the man's off-hand... and Eskan screamed as his fist was squeezed, using what was left of his club on his foe who ignored it with some shield coming over his head. He moved to attack himself swinging an axe for his head.. only to have his opponent swing Eskan around between them! He wasn't able to pull the strike as Eskan was shoved; Honka's axe finding the back of his friend who gasped out and died there and then...

Honka was struck in place for a moment in horror before Eskan's corpse was kicked into him, knocking them over. Mir'Pina and Mir'Pani, twins he grew up with, rushed him with spears. Pina was beheaded in a single strike as Pani's spear broke on the man's shoulder's armor. The man slashed out... and Pani's right arm came off as the twin screamed. A second slash took off his other arm before one more slash cut his legs off; one at the knee and the other at the thigh.

Mir'Saur tackled him from behind, aiming to lock an arm around the man's neck... who in turn grabbed the arm in question as lightning coursed though him and made Saur scream in pain as the smell of cooking flesh came to his nose. Mir'Quann screamed and casted Earthen Weapon on his bone sword one to have it batted aside and be stabbed through the heart with the lightning rushing down the metal sword into him...

It was a long moment before he let them both drop with charred skin and made his blade came alight with orange flames...

And all that left was Honka...

"How... How... You... bastard!" He let off, swinging and axe to his opponents head with a war cry. "[Die like the dog you are!]"

One blade swing and he saw his axe fly away behind his foe... it took a moment to see his hand went with it. He didn't feel the pain it was so fast, the wound cauterized already, and in the moment he just swung the other axe.. and had his wrist caught, twisted about and pulled behind him.

He finally screamed as the arm was pulled up and broke at the forearm then twisted before his thigh exploded in pain as the blade was driven through it from behind and through his bone...

And then his foe did something that made the inside of his leg explode with flames, blowing his leg into two as he was released, letting him fall to his side then rolling to his back.

The follow up stomp to his remaining knee crippled his final, uninjured limb as his hair was pulled up and-

-his foes eyes came alight with what was the power of the Wyr'kuul'ta... the dragons of eld... Finally he understood the how... and whimpered in pain and impotence... "...very well... I accept defeat... ...finish me..."

"No." The man said to his surprise. "No, no, no... ...no... You get to live... You get to see the Mir as I go to them and ensure one way or the other this war you started ends..." His eyes widened as he shook his head as the man drove the point of his blade to the floor, making it stand as he held Honka's head in both hands. "Although first I'm going to take one last thing from you..." He could see the man's thumbs come into his vision... as they lit on fire.

"No! Not that!" He squirmed and kicked and slapped with stumped hand. "You don't know-"

"That eyes are the windows and reflections of your soul?" He said as Honka whimpered. "That they reflect the clarity of your soul and character, it's strength and destiny? I know." Honka felt the blood drain from his face.

"I beg you... Mercy... Grant me that much mercy..."

"I'll give you all the mercy you planned to show her." He replied... before burning thumbs pressed to his eyes.

Blazing anger would blind him...

The only mercy given would be one, spell stone eye he was given later to let him see...

It was a cruel mercy...

[-]

Two Days Later
The Great Savannah
Mir Camp
Zonk'ka's Tent

"[We need to be wary; we've seen the Kull sniffing about our territory more often.]" Mir'Viira frowned softly as his best warrior not sent to hunt the Zili'ria reported to him; Mir'Ozza. "[Needless to say, Yetta is complaining of this.]"

"[Yeeta's words are but air; Honka and his men will end that Frak'ka'gul Demon.]" Viira wore a woven, woolen cloak colored red and blue in a diamond pattern, wearing a likewise poncho over his body and brown, leather pants. His one blonde hair turned fully gray as green eyes set to a wrinkled face looked to Ozza; a tall, six-one man with deep red hair and yellow eyes who wore a fur loincloth, leather vest and boots. Both men knelt on opposite sides of a small fire in a dug pit "[Honka will be two weeks out at worst. We can handle the Kull's patrols until then.]"

"[Perhaps... but with how many men left?]" Viira hummed as he shut his eyes softly. "[I do not say this to question you; I do this so you know we will be weakened until then. By some of our number or much; we invested much.]"

"[I know... I know... But it needs be done, and not just for the spirits.]" Viira replied. "[Know this; we needs make an example of Mokria too. He ignored my order regardless of the dangers. He let her live and despite the odds she was allowed to live, likely by the Zu'putm's intervention. He fled his punishment and stole a daughter of the Mir as he abandoned us. The Savannah is not a kind place; only together, united and resolute can the Mir survive and thrive.]" He let off, raising a fist and shaking it lightly to further his point. "[As such the tribe must unite behind their Zon'ka, a title that strains me as I try to benefit all while I sacrifice as few as possible. I must do what is best for the tribe as I obey the spirits... The Zu'putm represents a danger to us... Those eyes... Nothing good can come of them...]"

"[If I may speak plainly?]" Ozza asked, getting a soft nod. "[What if Mokria is right? What if it is not the Zu'putm who saved her life but the spirits? We all only know so much of the spirits' aim. Even you, our wisest, can only claim so much insight... What if you are wrong and worse... what if the spirits still protect her?]"

For a long moment Viira frowned as he thought. That was... something he had considered in truth... He was as ignorant as many in regards to the spirits; it was often those who declared the most knowledge and intimacy with the spirits who often had the least and faked the connection to their own ends... or were merely delusional. He was forced to admit there was a chance, small as it was, that he was wrong... ...but...

"[Mayhaps I'm wrong, I will not lie but I am sure she is tainted by the Zu'putm... On her birth I had a vision of her in the form of a Xex'nra (Horse) with a horn cradled by a grand winged Wyr'kuul'ta... if that is not a sign of her damnation then what is?]" The Zon'ka said as he looked back to Ozza who frowned in thought.

"[That... is significant... But Wyr'kuul'ta are as much ally as foe to the spirits depending on what is-]"

Anything left to say was ended as the sound of thunder and lightning roared outside of the tent without warning of any change of the weather; the pair sharing a look and the Zon'ka picking up his staff to hobble out of the tent, stepping out to see...

A strange flying ship with the head of a... horned horse unleashed lightning unto the ground around them. For a moment he was worried but calmed as he noted the lightning fell around their camp... flames started here and there but it was clear that if the ship's owner wanted them dead they would be dead; it gave him more of a chance to admire the craftsmanship and power of the flying ship before them as he never knew such a thing would be possible. Soon the ship moved to the ground and he hobbled out to see what made it's master terrorize them so, his warriors moving to gather with him... as did the women and children if behind them. Soon the ship landed and a stairway of magic appeared to let two dozen men in metal walk off with weapons in hand. That made him frown until he saw a man in blue leap from the ship to land before them something in hand before he threw it forwards; the bundle landing and rolling twice as he gasped with many others...

It was a maimed and broken Honka... and with one glass eye... "[Desecration...]" He hissed out as the man walked forwards as Honka turned to his front, using one leg and his arms (One missing a hand) to crawl forwards before the man slammed a foot to his back.

Then he spoke. "I demand to speak to the Zon'ka of the Mir!"

[-]

Two and a half days and once I arrived my anger still felt fresh and raw... Fuck, I hate it.

For those wondering; Miria was fine. She was limping a bit after the healing and her arm was still tender but she'd be fine and by the time I was home she would be as good as new. Miika bore a minor concussion and a couple cracked ribs but once she woke up she smiled as soon as she saw Miria... tough kid; likewise she'd be fine as well by the time I got home.

That said I was still mad as fuck about this. I was pissed they came and hurt my sister, hurt her sister and hurt my people, some of whom were children... And I'd be lying if I said some of that wasn't aimed inwards.

I should have pulled Miika from the event... I should have considered the Mir wouldn't have cared about letting civilians get caught in the crossfire, let alone children... None of my men died but it was a near thing and one came close to being paralyzed after a drop off a balcony... I overestimated their honor and people suffered for my mistake...

I don't know if it's for the better or worse no one else seemed to blame me...

Needless to say I was done with this and as I stood there with my boot on Honka's back I looked the Mir over; this was going to end one way or the other and the only question was how many graves will they need...

"I am Mir'Viira, Zon'ka of my tribe!" A man let off; an older one who hobbled forwards (According to Observe he was level thirty nine minus six due to age) with a staff in hand. "You have much to answer for maiming him! He was on a-"

"SHUT UP!" I bellowed at him as I glared as he glared back. "I am James Noxdecus of Mungale! Brother to a former daughter of the Savannah adopted to my House, Miria Noxdecus!" He sneered and glared harder at me as I said that. "Your people attacked me, my people and my sister! In doing so Mir'Honka, on your behalf, has declared war on House Noxdecus! And I am here to end it!" I barked out at him as I drew the Horned Colt into my left hand. "As of now I am happy enough to make the Mir a memory... but Mokria pleaded I give you a chance for mercy!"

"We have no quarrel with you, Assa'enn!" Viira let off as he stepped forwards slightly. "Nor have we declared such war upon you or yo-"

Bang!

He flinched hard as I fired a bullet off as he felt his staff shift as I shot the bottom of his staff off. "WERE YOU *FUCKING* LISTENING OLD MAN!?" I bellowed out as a trio of men gathered before the elderly chief to guard him as I bellowed out. "She is now a PART of House Noxdecus! You tried to kill MY SISTER! So yes, you have a GODS DAMNED *QUARREL* WITH ME!" The warriors around him chatted in their language... and soon three charged... and a moment later three turned to fifteen.

"No!" Honka, for his part, knew what they were up against as men with clubs, spears and axes charged me. "Do not!" I rolled my eyes... and drew holy/fire power to them as they came alight just as these morons got into range. The men's anger turned to horror before I breathed out with a Dragon's Breath. Screaming of the men followed. Screaming of women and children looking on followed as well, even if they weren't harmed. As the attack ended fifteen charred corpses were made.

(Despite what I said I hadn't come to burn the Mir to the ground, although I didn't lie about Mokria's pleas, but I came understanding I very much might do so... I would rather avoid that...)

"Wyr'puur'ta..." Viira let off... I would later know it was their word for Dragonborne, although it translated closer to 'Dragon's Gift'. "By the spirits."

"So here's the deal, old man!" I called out. "You swear to leave Miria be, on the name of the spirits, and I leave in peace! Otherwise-"

"Never!" He barked back as my eyes narrowed. "I will not stain the spirits honor by forsaking the hunt of the demo-"

Bang!

"ZON'KA!" Honka let off as Viira dropped to his back; a hole in his forehead and a chunk of the back of his skull blown out with his brain. Gasps were made as people backed from the body, looking to it in shock.

"Right then!" I let off, letting my revolver's spells remove the spent cartridges for fresh ones, just in case. "Who's Zon'ka now?"

"I'll kill you!" A man, Mir'Ozza according to observe, let off as he took a spear off his back. "I, Mir'Ozza, hereby challenge you to a d-"

Bang!

He dropped next. "Not interested!" I let off as the two corpses leaked blood to soil. "I didn't come here to settle honor or engage in duels, I came to end a war! And frankly you can't afford it! Because the rest of your war party? They're not coming back!" Half true; the first ambushers were imprisoned and would be let go one day but they didn't know that. On top of that Honka was the only survivor of his pack. "More over I just killed about twelve of your warriors right now! What happens when I reduce your warriors numbers to zero!?"

Chattering came about as they looked around, warriors stepping forwards with weapons drawn but none moved to attack; just standing at the ready. Women were ushered back by the younger men along with their children as I stood ready to fire my weapon at the next idiot that challenged me. My finger was itching to pull the trigger even as my gut tightened at the thought of doing it...

"Enough!" A man stepped from their ranks, spear in hand but he turned to face the Mir, walking to me with his back turned. "Enough! Enough..."

"Yetta! Do not presume you know best!" A woman barked out stepping forwards as a boy followed her, despite one man trying to block her, Mir'Wernana... Miria's birth mother according to Observe...

My finger itched more...

"If the spirits wished her dead then she would be dead!" This 'Yetta' let off. "If the spirits wished her dead now Honka and his would be here, alive in victory! Have you considered the spirits sent this man here to punish us?!" That made some of the warriors look to him and a couple even lower their weapons. "We lost many warriors now... Both now and those we sent! What happens to us now if we carry on this fight?"

It wasn't the spirits that sent me but I can say they weren't holding me back.

And then the boy with Wernana broke loose and rushed me, drawing a small dagger. Mir'Tiika, it seemed by Observe... Miika's older brother, if by a year? He said something in Catalan as he rushed me as everyone looked on with horror. I let him rush me as he stabbed at my thigh to... no effect. I was, after all, in my dragon scale armor so there was no damage he'd do to it. He kept stabbing at my leg as my eyes came to glow green softly before I gave a soft, wind bolstered huff at him; not enough force to harm the lad but enough to knock him on his ass... and that made him drop his weapon, cry out and run back to his mother.

"I am not beyond mercy." I said simply, my voice carrying without needing to yell. "And I am not beyond leaving you and yours be... so long as I have assurances the same will be returned." As Tiika gripped his mother's waist and moved behind her, the woman moving to shield the boy with his own body Yetta nodded once and turned to face his people once more.

"I, Mir'Yetta, declare my right to rule the Mir as Zon'ka! Does any man here offer challenge to my claim?" He called out... and some looked to the dead Ozza on the ground. None challenged the point. "Then as Zon'ka I will offer this promise." He said turning to me. "On the name and honor of the spirits we will not go forth to your lands with intent to kill those of House Noxdecus or those under their protection. We do, of course, reserve the right to ignore this promise in the case we are attacked by such, but only then."

"I find that reasonable." I said as I nodded once and finally moved off of Honka and holstered my weapon. "See you hold to your promise... because if you don't I intend to be the one you answer to."

Chattering in Catalan picked up as I turned to leave to the Enterprise, the men I brought with me shuffling aboard. Once we were all on Gregory, who was at the controls, guided the ship up. What they did with Honka I didn't care, he was no longer a threat to us. As we flew off I went to the back of the ship and watched their camp as they moved to deal with the fires my Chain Lightning started.

I managed to wait some ten minutes, well after we lost sight of the Mir, before I threw up over the back of the ship. "Are you okay, lad?"

It took a moment to spit up the bile and finally reply. "No. I let my anger get the better of me, even with the deed so far behind us now." I said as I took out a water-skin to wash out my mouth. "I think I acted too harshly."

"If I may give a counter argument, lad, you didn't." I looked to Gregory as he half turned to look back at me in turn. "The Savannah tribes are... I know it sounds offensive, but they are barbarians." He said as I raised my eye at him. "They live outside the common civilization and it's conventions and are more to the whims of the wilds, chaos and nature then most. Moreover their culture, with it's own high points, is more then fine with total brutality. Tribes conquering another tribe will set all men and boys to the blade or even burn the alive and conquer the flesh of the women and girls through force and rape. Many of the tribes see might as the only decider of what is or is not allowed; by imposing your might you have spoken in a manner they cannot misunderstand. By making them swear by the one thing they hold sacred over all else you will protect Miria as much as rendering them dead in full."

"Doesn't make it feel any better." I huffed softly as I looked back at the retreating landscape. "Say what you will; imposing my will in this manner is not something I will be proud of."

"I never said you should feel proud of it... Just not ashamed." Gregory said as he turned back to the wheel. "If the shoe was on the other foot, if it was Honka coming to make demands to guard his own from us, a threat to him well proven... do you think he would stop where you had?"

Gregory was right... I knew it...

Didn't make it any easier to swallow.

(In case you're wondering I asked about the Mir months later through various contacts to make sure they weren't planning to do anything dumb. In doing so I learned about their state at that time; diminished. The Kull (Members of whom, including the guy I gave new eyes to, happily directed us towards the Mir's location), as it turns out, was seeking them out for conquest and between the attacking parties being captured, dead or maimed and me roasting over a baker's dozen of their warriors they were in a more fragile state. Mir'Yetta's term as Zon'ka would be short; he sent the bulk of his people to run off with what they could carry as he and a small amount of men hung back and fought the Kull to the last. Being... well, dead weight Honka was left behind and died with Yetta. They did save the Mir though... and his mate would give birth... to a boy with heterochromia... yeah...

The new Zon'ka, Mir'Attoia, said he would be a father to the boy; this event began because of a girl with two souls, perhaps the boy with the same affliction was the spirits testing them and decided they must not do the same thing they did with Miria. In other words they can learn! I'd have to look into things later but while tough times had hit the Mir they survived and pulled together and, by all accounts, would regrow given time.

As long as they left Miria and Mungale alone I didn't care.)

[Defeated List]
5 Mir'Battlers x 615xp=3075xp
5 Mir'Guards x 650xp=3250xp
5 Mir'Warriors x 700xp=3500xp
+20% Hero of Eostia Bonus
Gain 11790XP in Total

[-]

I would arrive home two days later; as I had thought both Miria and Miika were up and bouncing once more. As far as Miika knew everything that happened in the Savannah involved sunshine, ice cream and rainbows.

Miria and Mokria were told the truth. I was annoyed at how fast they accepted it without complaint. Then again I wasn't the one Honka was trying to kill.

Opting to distract myself I moved back to my room and looked up what news I had... including the thief hitting Iron Soul City in Tyn... fuck. I was pulling out my map to mark that down as I got a call on my voxlux; Klaus. I answered the call as I had the voxlux hover before me. "Klaus, how are you?"

"Well, more or less... I heard of that mess with the Mir..." He said as I nodded; it turned out he called me while I was gone and when he missed me (Because I was out of booster range) he called around to find out what was going on. "I assume it's resolved?"

"More or less." I said as I found my map and grabbed my pencil as I set a mark over Iron Soul. "Still a little annoyed at what happ-"

"Wait..." He let off as he moved the voxlux in his hand. "...What are you doing there?" He asked as I blinked and held up the map.

"I've been marking down that thief's movements; seeing what military and government buildings have been hit but I've found no... pattern..?" To my confusion he dashed off somewhere... and came back with his own map and held it up for me to see, his own map with red 'X's in black circles and other black circles... and every mark on my map matched one on his. "Klaus... how did you-"

"I found this in a puzzle box of Terson's; the thief missed it..." Klaus said as he looked to me. "He was tracking the thief's targets... He saw the pattern no one else could... and this means..."

"We can finally get ahead of the bastard." I let off a grin as I smirked. Finally...

I had something I could act on...

[ - Author's Note - ]

Oh no, Honka! I'm sure he was... someone's favorite character!

Joking aside; it was a case of I knew the Mir would be in the back of someone's mind so I figured it would be a good idea to give that plot line a resolution of sorts... And to showcase exactly what can happen when James manages to lose his temper.

Yeah...

As a side note; he did get XP from the Uwanna/Honka/Mir fight in Nielson's Road but it wasn't shown as it wasn't his POV at the time.

Vult is also trying to mitigate problems on his end; he knows who the Black Watch is tracking... and he's adapting as well...

Klaus is on the hunt for the Black Storm and is targeting their supplies... but one of those caches was moved, and clearly so... So, where's the leak? The White Wolf, or someone else?

More over now that James and Klaus have had a chance to compare notes... well, the hunt is on...

As always leave a comment saying what you liked, didn't like and would like to see down the line! With luck I'll have more soon!

Until then everyone!

~Eostian Scribe