War Fair.

Unruled Lands. 

In the unruled lands in the far east of The Southlands, nearly a thousand miles to the east of the city-state of Andelka, the furthest east nation in the central region of The Southlands. 

War has broken out between a Robber Baron wanting to set up his own nation. And those opposing it. 

The group who travels with Lord Farque heard rumours about an impending war out in the east, back in the city of Vexil in the springtime. 

Well Helbe the elven thief heard the rumours, and told Lord Farque, who decided to head this way upon hearing those rumours. 

For the simple fact to see if either side was willing to hire one of his Armies during the upcoming conflict. 

Though when the group got to the disputed lands in the very east of The Southlands, and were about to go into negotiations with either side. They suddenly found themselves in the middle of a war that broke out as one side attacked the other. 

Though normally the undead warlord wouldn't pick sides if one side or the other hasn't decided to hire one of his Armies. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque along with the rest of the group found themselves in the very heart of the war for the simple reason they arrived into a town where the negotiations were going to begin with one side of the conflict, when the other side suddenly attacked it from both the land and air. 

The town of Fairfield, one of the towns in support of those wishing to remain as unruled, and the nearby villages. 

Were first attacked by air just before dawn, then by land a little bit later in the morning. With the Robber Baron's forces coming in from the northwest. 

And now in and around the town of Fairfield, and some of the nearby villages, as well in the skies above them, and surrounding areas. 

The members of the group find themselves in the thick of a battle that's kicked off a war between those who want to set up a new nation, and those who want to continue to remain unruled . . .

. . . "Fuck" mutters Lord Farque in disgust as the twin masted airship is hit by a couple more magetube shots from an enemy warship.

Behind the faceplate of his full helm, the undead warlord sourly smiles as he watches the chaos taking place on the deck of the airship he finds himself on. 

"Er?" says Dorc da Orc who is standing beside the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque "That not good" adds the large ork as there's a loud creak come from below deck, quickly followed by what sounds like a loud crack. 

The ork warleader looks at the deathlord of Farque beside him, who he hears sigh, followed by what he assumes is a swear word in a language Dorc doesn't understand. 

As the airship, which is a converted transporter, starts to slowly drop in altitude, Lord Farque or Draugodrottin to give him his name that the people of his lands also know him by. 

Looks back towards the wheelhouse, and sees through the open windows, the captain of the ship and others struggling at the wheel. 

"Well, this ship is fucked" says the large heavily armoured deathlord in orkish, which gets a grunt from Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle to give him his full name. 

"Assholes" mutters the undead warlord when he looks forward towards the bow, and sees that the ship's boat, has been cut loose, with just a few crew members on it as they attempt to escape the doomed airship. 

"Come on cunt" says the lord of the death realm to the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, who is a general in his Armies. 

As the top third of the forward mast breaks off and falls to the deck, crushing a couple of the crew who were too slow to get out of the way. 

The two large figures of Lord Farque and Dorc da Orc make their way forward as the airship, which was well over ten thousand feet above the ground when it was first attacked, is now slowly dropping. 

Another loud crack comes from below deck, which is the magical keel of the converted transporter continuing to break apart. 

Draugodrottin and Dorkindle were originally onboard the vessel that took off well before dawn. 

To get a good look at some of the disputed lands in around the town of Fairfield, to see how things were unfolding as both sides of the impending conflict were building up their forces. 

And when Lord Farque informed the ship's captain, that warships belonging to the Robber Baron's fleet, were coming in from the northwest in what looked like a predawn strike. 

And the ship's captain, one of the leaders of those who want to remain unruled, ignored the warning from the undead warlord. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque realized he might of made a mistake in going to negotiate first with those who want to remain unruled, here in the very east of The Southlands. 

"Get the fuck out of the way" mutters the lord of the death realm who grabs a panicked crewman, who runs into him. 

Dorc da Orc chuckles as the large heavily armoured deathlord grabs that crewman and flings him overboard. 

Then as part of the stern is blasted away by an enemy magetube shot from one of the nearby warships belonging to the Robber Baron. 

The warleader of the ork race says "Er what we gonna fucken do?". For even the large ork who isn't the quickest and smartest mentally. Knows that the poor excuse of a warship that they're on, is doomed. 

As less and less magetube return fire comes from below deck, Lord Farque who is at the starboard rail. 

Looks at the ship's boat that's getting further and further away, even though those crew onboard it, have yet to get it's sails fully up. 

Then he looks at the big burly ork with a scowl upon his broad green brutish looking face, who is standing beside him. 

"You remember how to fly an air boat cunt?" asks the lord of the death realm who has the elven name of Des'tier, which means The Destroyer. 

"Er?" says Dorkindle, who then grunts when Draugodrottin stares at him "Me 'member" continues the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks. 

"Pull back on the fucken stick thing to go up" says the ork who is a general in the Armies of Farque, who then adds "Fucken push down to go down". 

"Good enough" dryly says the undead warlord, who then tells the large ork "Catch it" followed by the order of "Don't die" before he grabs him. 

Knowing that he can't save the both of them, not that the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque actually needs saving from anything, ever. 

Des'tier lifts up the seven and a half foot tall, more than seven hundred and fifty pound ork warleader, and throws him with a fair bit of force. 

Dorc da Orc gasps as he's thrown from the doomed airship, and he goes flying through the air. 

A large smile appears on the feral looking face of the ork weaponsmith who has always enjoyed the sensation of flying. 

As he goes hurtling through the air, Dorkindle who was wondering what Lord Farque meant by "Catch it" sees what he's been thrown at. 

"Krom" mutters the son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks, just before he slams into the ship's boat. 

Which has drifted well over a hundred feet from the doomed airship, and probably half that distance down from it too. 

The large ork didn't exactly catch it, he basically crashed into it. Breaking apart a couple of spars, crushing one crewman, and sending another screaming, as he tumbles overboard to his death. 

Dorkindle who is sprawled across the stern of the air boat, shakes his head, and mutters "Fucknuts" before rolling off the crewman he's crushed to death when he unceremoniously landed upon the ship's boat. 

The ork warleader groans as he sits up, then he reaches out and grabs one of the two remaining crewman onboard, and throws him overboard. 

"Fuck that screaming ya cunt" mutters Dorkindle as he hears the air sailor he just threw overboard, screaming like hell as he falls to his death thousands of feet below. 

The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, looks forward and sees the remaining crewman onboard, cowering up in the bow of the small air boat. 

The large ork grabs the dead air sailor he crushed to death, and flings the body overboard, before he sits on the bench, which surprisingly is still in one piece, and even more surprisingly, supports his weight. 

The ork weaponsmith takes a hold of the tiller, behind and to the right of him, and slightly pushes down on it. 

And the ship's boat, which has one sail flapping about, starts to drop in altitude, though still flying fairly straight. 

"Fuck" mutters Dorc da Orc, who adds "By Krom" after flinching as a magetube shot barely misses the small air boat. 

Ignoring the remaining air sailor in the bow who screamed in fright as the magetube shot went flying over them, barely twenty feet from the top of the mast. 

The ork who was named warleader of his race a number of years ago by Lord Farque, looks back and up, when he hears a serious of explosions further up in the air. 

"Hmmmm" murmurs Dorkindle when he sees the airship he was just on, breaking apart in a burning wreck. 

The large ork looks carefully amongst the wreckage, then he grunts when he spots someone standing on a fairly good sized chunk of the destroyed airship. 

"He fine" Dorc da Orc murmurs to himself, then nods as he sees the hand signals given to him by that particular individual. 

The ork weaponsmith then looks forward again as he continues to fly the small air boat that he finds himself on. 

After signaling to the ork general in the distance, to land and find any of the others who are close by. 

Lord Farque who is keeping on top of the large chunk of wreckage, about a fifth of the airship, torn from amidships, from the deck all the way down to where the magical keel would normally be. 

Looks around, specifically down, ignoring the screams of the surviving crew who are inside the large piece of wreckage. 

"Fuck" mutters the undead warlord, who continues on with "Too fucking far" as he sees an airship further down in the sky. Which is moving quickly to avoid the falling debris. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque just sighs as he keeps to the top of the now burning wreckage which is now slowly spinning, as it tumbles towards the ground, and the town of Fairfield below. 

As he waits for the inevitable, the large heavily armoured deathlord looks in the distance, at the small air boat that's flying away from the battle in the skies above the unruled lands in the very far east of The Southlands. 

After a few moments, Draugodrottin sourly smiles behind the faceplate of his full helm, and sighs then dryly says "Fucking idiot". 

"The fuck?" says Dorc da Orc as he sits there with the half of the tiller he's accidentally broken off after pushing down on it too hard, after another enemy magetube shot narrowly missed the small air boat. 

You're right fucked now, you fat fuck, the large ork thinks to himself "Shut up ya fucken whore" mutters the ork warleader to the voice of his 'Mother' in his head. 

"And you fucken shut up too ya cunt" says the ork weaponsmith to the remaining crewman in the bow, who has resumed screaming in fright after seeing that the air boats tiller is now broken. 

Dorkindle not wanting to listen to that screaming anymore, throws the broken tiller forward, which smacks into the last crewman, hitting him in the head and shoulders, sending him toppling overboard. 

The ork general in the Armies chuckles, then he quickly grabs the gunnels to either side of him, and holds on as the small air boat which was already dropping in altitude, starts dropping out of the sky even quicker. 

"Krom" mutters Dorc da Orc as he sits there on the bench in the stern of the ship's boat as he waits for what happens next, on this warm and breezy summer morning in the very far east of The Southlands . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 95.

The City Of Vexil. 

After packing his bag, Zam the ex mercenary looks out of the window of his room, here on the second floor of the Merchant's Rest, the inn the group has been staying in while here in the city of Vexil. 

The youngest member of the group who is originally from The City Of Ruins likes it here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

And wonders if they'll return sometime in the future. He suspects so, as Lord Farque uses the city as the main hub for things he sends back to his lands. 

Those things mainly being gold, and other loot that, as Mira Reinholt the mage dryly puts it, they acquire. 

The ex mercenary looks up, out the window, and sees that there's a light smattering of clouds in the skies above the city. And it's another fine spring morning by the looks of things. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins where the group found him, scratching together a meager living as a mercenary. 

After one last look around his room, and seeing that he's packed up all of his possessions. He, carrying his pack, makes his way from the second floor room. And heads down to the common room of the small secluded inn the group has been staying at, whilst here in the city of Vexil. 

There, most of the others in the group are waiting. The only ones not here are Helbe the elven thief. Who left the inn just after dawn. 

And Lord Farque himself, who is still upstairs in his room, along with Mira Reinholt the mage and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. 

"I am" says Zam the ex mercenary in response to Tamric Drubine the field commander who walks by, asking him "You ready?". 

The young man originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, nods his head then continues on his way over to where Saanea the witch is waiting. 

While the youngest member of the group goes and stands with Lisell Maera the scout and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy. 

"Any idea where we're going?" quietly asks the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins when he stands next to the elven spy, and the scout leader. 

While Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well remains silent. 

Lisell Maera the scout shrugs her shoulders, and quietly says "No idea" followed by "Still nothing since they told us last night we'd be leaving". 

The teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins nods his head, then he along with the attractive young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury, glance sideways at the elven spy standing beside them. 

Who they're fairly certain knows something about where they're going. But has been ordered not to tell anyone else who hasn't been told already. 

Zam is fairly certain that field commander Drubine has yet to be told. And that only Mira Reinholt, Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson, and Helbe the elven thief along with Dalinvardèl Tanith have been told where they're going after they leave the city of Vexil a little later this morning. 

The ex mercenary looks over at sir Percavelle Lé Dic who still looks annoyed, after he was told yesterday evening, to sell the war horse he got before The Spring Tourney of Vexil. 

Though the former paladin was more than a little displeased to do so last night. He was more than a little pleased to see how much gold coin he got from the sale of the war horse. 

Zam then looks over at Dorc da Orc, the other person annoyed that the white war horse was sold off. 

Considering the large ork has been after that war horse ever since his bitter rival sir Percavelle Lé Dic purchased the animal earlier in the spring. 

The youngest member of the group looks away from the ork warleader, who is sitting on the floor, drinking from an open barrel of strong ale by the smell of things. 

And looks over at the others here in the common room of The Merchant's Rest inn. Along with Tamric Drubine the field commander and Saanea the witch. 

There's also Beldane the cleric, Tovis the war engineer, as well Shur Kee the monk, who sits at a nearby table. 

As they all wait for those still upstairs, to make their way down to the common room of the small secluded inn, that the group have been staying in while here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

They don't have wait too much longer, as Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, followed by Mira Reinholt the mage make their way down to the common room. 

A few moments later, and Lord Farque himself makes his way down to the common room from upstairs. 

The undead warlord goes over and has a quiet word with the innkeeper, who is standing by the counter of the bar. 

After the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque speaks to the innkeeper, the large heavily armoured deathlord hands the man a fairly substantial sized coin bag. Which Zam is pretty certain contains just gold coins and nothing else. 

After glancing into the coin bag, the innkeeper bows to the lord of the death realm, who nods his full helmed head in reply. 

"Dalin lead the way" says Lord Farque to the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae, the officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque nods, then moves off, leading the way from the common room, through the reception chamber, and after that, outside. 

The others in the group follow after the spy Tanith, with Shur Kee the monk the last one to leave the small secluded inn. 

The group are soon out on the streets of northern quarter of the city of Vexil, with Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well, leading the way. 

As they walk through the streets of the neighbourhoods in the north of the city, Zam who is walking alongside Lisell Maera, nods when the junior officer in the Armies of Farque quietly says to him "Looks like we're heading to one of gates in the north wall". 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins replies with "Looks like it". And he wonders if they're heading to the woods, about ten or so miles north of the city, where the krean scoutship has been dropping off shipments of gold, from the mines in the northern border region of the city-state. Mines that Lord Farque has taken over during the aftermath of the border incursion by a mercenary army that was hoping to start a war between Vexil and the kingdom of Girdane. 

The group are fairly quiet as they head towards one of the gates on this side of the city, even the usually boisterous sir Percavelle Lé Dic is quieter than usual. 

Though it helps the noble born knight from the kingdom of Druvic, is walking towards the front of the line of march. 

While the former paladin's bitter rival, Dorc da Orc. Is towards the rear of the line, behind Zam and Lis, just in front of Shur Kee the monk who is last in line. 

The two rivals are well behaved, that's to say, well behaved for the two of them. As the group heads to one of the set of gates in the north wall of the city of Vexil. 

And it's not that long before the group gets to the open gates, which Dalinvardèl Tanith leads them through. 

Zam glances at the city guardsmen on gate duty, who pay them no mind. And sees that though they all glance at Lord Farque and especially Dorc da Orc, due to how large the two of them are. 

The guardsmen don't even bother to stop them as they head out of the city, which they occasionally do to groups, just to see it they'll be returning to the city in the future. 

Out on the road, the group keeps to the left, as do the other travellers heading north. While those coming into the city of Vexil this spring morning, are on the other side of the road. 

The youngest member of the group looks behind them, and takes a long look at the massive walls of the city. 

And slightly nods to himself, as he figures he'll see them again sometime in the future, when exactly he's not too sure. But he's certain he'll eventually see them again one day. 

Zam looks ahead again as he walks beside the scout Maera, who quietly voices what the ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins has already thought. 

"Guess we're going to those woodlands to the north of here" quietly says Lisell Maera who is a junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

In front of them, Mira Reinholt the mage glances back at them, and nods his hooded head. Though both Lis and Zam see him give the hand signal to be silent about that. 

The attractive young woman who hails from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury changes the subject, and quietly says to the teenager who's the youngest in the group "Quite liked staying at that inn". 

The ex mercenary nods in agreement with that, then grins when Lis dryly adds "Hell of a lot better than the dumps we usually stay in". 

Zam has learnt that the group only occasionally stays in such nice and luxurious accommodations like the Merchant's Rest inn. 

And that they usually stay in places that are most convenient, and advantageous to whatever they're up to at the time. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins wonders where they'll stay next. Wherever that may be. 

A short while later, and the group turns off the cobblestone road, and onto a dirt packed road that goes through some of the farmland to the northeast of the city of Vexil. 

And about a half a mile down that road, between two rises, Lord Farque says "Here will do". And Dalinvardèl Tanith leads them off the road. 

Looking at Beldane the cleric, the undead warlord tells him "The rendezvous point in the woodlands further north". 

Knowing exactly where, Beldane the cleric nods, then he starts casting. And quickly, because it's not all that far away, a gateway starts to form. 

And once it's fully formed, Dalinvardèl Tanith is quickly the first one through, followed by sir Percavelle Lé Dic. 

The rest of the group goes through one at a time, with the powerful cleric in the church of Glaine the last to go through the magical doorway. 

Zam looks to the right, and finds near a tree, within some woods, stands Helbe the elven thief, who is clearly waiting for them. 

Further through the trees, in an open clearing, the ex mercenary sees the familiar sight of the krean scoutship. 

"Get aboard" says the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque to everyone, who start making their way to the small, lean, dark, mastless airship in the nearby clearing. 

Once onboard, and on the deck after stowing away his pack, Zam finds the undead wardog Axe lying on the deck. 

Seems the massive animal left the city early this morning with Helbe the elven thief, who went ahead of the rest of the group. 

"Er?" says the ex mercenary, who continues with "Don't we have to be strapped in or something?" followed by "That's what I've heard anyway". 

As the krean scoutship lifts off, and smoothly gains altitude, up into the skies above this region of the city-state of Vexil. 

"No need, we're flying straight to where we're going" explains Helbe the elven thief who is standing nearby, here on the mastless deck of the dark, sleek krean airship. 

"And where exactly are we going?" asks Lisell Maera who has walked over to stand by the youngest member of the group. 

"You'll find out" replies the highly talented elven magic user, who then laughs as the scout leader looks at him with a sour look upon her face. 

The young elven noble is still laughing when he turns and walks away, and heads to the wheelhouse. 

Where Lord Farque is with the senior officers of the krean scoutship, along with Mira Reinholt the mage and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman. 

Zam looks at Lisell Maera and just shrugs as the small, sleek mastless airship turns to port, and starts heading to the east. 

"We'll eventually find out where we're going" says the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins, next to him, the attractive young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury, just grunts in reply. 

The ex mercenary then looks away to the south, and in the distance, getting further away, he sees the city of Vexil. 

Zam faintly smiles at what's happened to him and the others in the group, here in the city-state of Vexil this spring. 

Author's Note: Here ends "Springtime In The City". The main storyline will continue in "War Fair". 

Springtime In The City 94.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

It's been a while since Zam the ex mercenary was tasked to watch out for one of the shipments of gold entering the city of Vexil. 

But on this fine spring morning, not long after dawn. He finds himself on a rooftop in the very north of the city. 

Watching one of the set of gates that can be found along the north wall of the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

The youngest member of the group who is originally from The City Of Ruins, yawns as he watches those entering and exiting the city this morning. 

To the ex mercenary it feels like it's going to be a fairly warm day today. Though he appreciates the fine weather, he'd rather prefer it to be cooler, especially during the middle of the day. 

Zam just shakes his head as he can imagine it would get quite hot in the large city during the summertime. 

Though he's been told by others in the group, that the city of Vexil doesn't get particularly hot during summer, except during the very hottest time of the year, just after midsummer. 

The ex mercenary looks away to his right, and he spots Lisell Maera the scout upon a rooftop a few buildings away in that direction. 

She looks his way, and nods before going back to looking at the nearby city gates, one of the busier set to be found in the north wall of Vexil. 

"Beats the chaos of yesterday morning I guess" Zam the ex mercenary murmurs to himself as he reflects on what happened yesterday. 

When he along with the scout Maera, and Dorc da Orc, as well Lord Farque himself. Found themselves in the middle of a mage battle between Mira Reinholt, and Garmen the elder, a member of the Mage Council of Vexil. 

The youngest member of the group is of the opinion that he doesn't want to be in the middle of one of those again. 

He was briefly in the midst of one back in the wintertime up in the hill country of northern Vexil. When Mira Reinholt fought the mage, Garmen the younger. Who was killed by Helbe the elven thief. 

Being in the middle of another one just a couple of months later, wasn't exactly one of the things Zam wanted to experience again in his relatively short life so far. 

Especially considering that the city guard was also involved, who attempted to arrest Dorc da Orc. Which was a huge mistake on their part. 

As the large ork was having none of that. With predictable results, as the ork warleader killed a few of the city guard who tried to arrest him on the streets in the northern neighbourhoods of the city yesterday morning. 

The ex mercenary who has got a pretty good view out through the open gates from the rooftop he's on. 

Looks out onto the road leading into the city, and the gates he's observing. And amongst the wagons, carts, and travellers in general approaching the city. 

He spots a familiar wagon, it's driver, and private guard. Along with two others who are walking alongside it. 

Zam slightly nods to himself as he recognizes Beldane the cleric and Tovis the war engineer walking alongside the wagon. 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins, looks over to where Lisell Maera is watching the nearby gates. 

After a few moments, the attractive young woman originally from the city-state of Brattonbury looks his way. 

And the youngest member of the group gives her a hand signal, the junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque nods in reply to him, before she goes back to watching the busy gates in this section of the north wall of the city of Vexil. 

Zam waits a little bit, and when he sees the wagon with the shipment of gold in it, stop about forty yards from the gate, as the line to enter the city is about that long. 

The ex mercenary turns and hurries to the other end of the roof he's on. The youngest member of the group looks down, then he crouches down and takes a hold of the edge of the roof, and slides over the side. 

He hangs there for a moment, then he lets go, dropping half a dozen feet to the narrow landing at the top of the set of steps that go up the back of the two storey building he's been watching the nearby city gates from. 

Zam quickly and carefully makes his way down the narrow set of steps. Then once he's down in the alleyway that runs behind the building. 

He turns to the right, and starts walking. Out of the alley, he turns to the left. And makes his way along the street, before coming to a stop at the northeast corner of the building he was just on top of. 

There the teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins stands and waits as he looks to the nearby city gates, which across the street and to the right of the building he's standing at the corner of. 

He doesn't have to wait too long, as those entering and leaving the city are moving fairly freely through the gates, as the city guards are only stopping those they deem suspicious in any way. 

And Zam soon sees the familiar wagon, and those with it, entering the city through the open set of gates. 

The ex mercenary who is the youngest member of the group crosses the street to his right, and walks that way as the horse drawn wagon has turned that way. 

He follows it at a distance, as he knows Lisell Maera is somewhere in front of it. As it heads to one of the counting houses that's located here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

The streets quickly get quieter the further they get away from the busy gates, and Zam soon finds himself with hardly anyone between him and the wagon he's following. 

And even though it's fairly uneventful to the counting house, the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins is ever vigilant as he watches the wagon that's about thirty yards in front of him. 

A wagon which from the outside, you wouldn't know has a stack of gold bars in the bed, beneath the canvas covering that's over them. 

Once the wagon gets to the counting house, and Tovis and Beldane watch over the unloading of the gold by the workers in the counting house. 

The teenager who is the youngest member of the group goes over and stands beside Lisell Maera who is watching things from a corner of the cobblestone yard to this side of the counting house, the side away from the street it's on. 

"This is probably one of the last ones we'll watch over" quietly says Lisell Maera the scout to the ex mercenary. 

"Word is we'll be leaving the city soon" adds the attractive young woman who is originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury. 

"Any idea to where?" asks Zam the ex mercenary, who when he first joined the group, when they found him in The City Of Ruins. He had no idea they would be traveling so much. 

Even though it's one of the more mundane things he's encountered since joining the group compared to some of the more crazy adventures he's found himself in the middle of. 

Traveling to places he never thought he'd ever visit, let alone know they actually existed. Is one of the surprising perks of being a member of the group that travels with Lord Farque. 

"No idea" is the reply of Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by the others in the group. 

"You know how things are" dryly adds the lead scout who is a junior officer in the Armies of Farque. 

"We're the last to be told" says the scout Maera as she continues in the same dry tone as the two of them watch the unloading of the gold from the back of the wagon. 

Gold that's come from one of the mines up in the hill country in the border region of northern Vexil, mines that the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque has taken over. 

"Hopefully somewhere less chaotic" quietly says the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

Next to him, the scout Maera snorts in laughter, then she says "Chaotic?" followed by "Here?". The junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, with a grin upon her face, adds "It's basically been a relaxing holiday here this spring, compared to some of the shit we usually get up to". 

Looking at the teenager next to her, Lisell Maera or Lis as more often than not, she's called by those who know her well, says "Being in that mercenary army in and around the northern border is more of what usually happens with us". 

The scout leader who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury, where her mother was a street prostitute, and her father a sailor who plied his trade on The Great Western Ocean, then adds "Even that was pretty tame compared to what we usually get up to". 

Slightly wincing at hearing that, Zam the ex mercenary grunts, then says "Well, where ever we end up, I'm sure it's bound to be interesting". 

The scout Maera just shakes her head, and faintly smiles, then she gestures over to where Beldane the cleric and Tovis the war engineer are standing. 

"Come on, that lot has finished unloading the wagon" says the attractive young woman who is a junior officer in the Armies of Farque. 

The youngest member of the group nods as he sees this, then he along with Lis make their way over to where the powerful fighting cleric, and the war engineer are standing. 

As the now empty wagon, along with the driver and the private guard move off. The ex mercenary and the lead scout, along with cleric in the church of Glaine, and the war engineer who is a commander in the Armies of Farque. 

Head off as well, and make their way back to the Merchant's Rest, the small secluded inn the group have been staying at whilst here in the city of Vexil. 

As they walk, Lis and Zam who are following behind Beldane and Tovis, glance at one another after they round a corner. 

As approaching them on this side of the street they've turned onto, are a patrol of four city guardsmen. 

The two of them are both thinking the same thing. That they hope Helbe the elven thief has done what he said he was going to do. And have the city guards in this part of Vexil. 

Ignore both Dorc da Orc and Lord Farque. Along with the ex mercenary and the lead scout. Who were with the large ork yesterday morning, when a number of city guards attempted to arrest him on more than one occasion. 

Both Zam and Lis take a breath in relief when the city guardsmen go by, and the only thing they did, was wish them a good morning, after Beldane the cleric said it to them first. 

The youngest member of the group slightly nods his head after the junior officer in the Armies of Farque quietly says to him "Guess the royal thief did his thing" followed by "Those four were not in the least bit interested in us". 

"Let's hope it stays that way" quietly says the teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins, who doesn't fancy what little time they have left here in the city of Vexil, dodging the city guard. 

The scout Maera nods her head in agreement with him, as the two of them continue to follow behind Beldane the cleric, and Tovis the war engineer. 

As the four of them head back through the streets in the northern neighbourhoods of the city of Vexil, back to the Merchant's Rest inn, where they along with the rest of the group, have been staying at while here in the capital city of the city-state, during the springtime . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 93.

Vexil. 

As he stands in an alcove just back from the entrance of a lane. Zam the ex mercenary tries not to yawn as dusk takes full effect on what's been a fine spring day here in the city of Vexil. 

The youngest member of the group who is originally from The City Of Ruins can tell that the days are getting longer compared to when they first arrived in the city at the beginning of last month. 

The ex mercenary who has been tasked to watch a nearby alley on the street that the lane leads out onto. 

Wonders how much longer they'll spend here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil. He suspects they'll be moving on soon considering the shipments of gold coming down from the hill country of northern Vexil haven't run into any trouble in quite some time. 

"That him?" Zam the ex mercenary murmurs to himself, who then shakes his head when the person he spots in the fading light coming out of the nearby alleyway, isn't the person he's been tasked to look out for. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins continues to wait, as do a couple of others in the group. In various spots in this area of a neighbourhood, here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

Garmen the elder groans as he starts to wake up, the powerful Vexillian mage slowly opens his eyes, and wonders where he is. 

As he lies there on the ground in a narrow alleyway, between two buildings, the member of the Mage Council of Vexil wonders what's happened. Then the mage Garmen blinks in surprise as he suddenly remembers what happened. 

"Got him" murmurs Garmen the elder with a faint smile upon his face as he recalls battling Mira Reinholt the mage, and that he was finally able to defeat and kill the mage who was responsible for his son's death back during the winter, up in the border region of northern Vexil. 

The powerful practitioner of magic goes to sit up, and though it takes him a few moments, and a gasping groan, he's eventually able to sit up. 

He must of got me good, Garmen the senior thinks to himself as he vaguely recalls being caught in an explosion created by one of Mira Reinholt's mageglobes. 

The prominent member of Vexil's Mage Council looks around and sees that the buildings he's between are slightly damaged, with scorch marks along them. 

Garmen who notices it's near dark, on what he assumes is the same day he battled the traitor Mira Reinholt. 

Grunts with the effort to get to his feet. He has to lean against the building to his left, to keep himself steady. 

"He definitely got me good" the mage Garmen mutters himself after he takes a few deep breaths and wonders if he's been injured in anyway after the confrontation with Mira Reinholt this morning. 

The mage known as Garmen the elder or Garmen the senior, shakes his head to clear it. He feels better after doing so, and figures he isn't too injured. Apart from some bruising here and there. 

The member of Mage Council of Vexil sees that the narrow alleyway he's in only has one entrance and exit. 

After a few more deep breaths he heads that way, using the wall to his left to slightly lean against as he walks. 

Garmen stretches when he gets to the mouth of the alley, and sees it comes out into another alleyway. 

The powerful local spellcaster nods his head as he looks to the right, and sees in the fading light at the end of the day. The small square that leads into that end of the alleyway where he finally located Mira Reinholt thanks to one of his mageglobes he tasked to find the exiled Vexillian mage. 

The prominent member of Vexil's Mage Council looks to the left, and sees that way the alleyway goes out onto a street. 

After a few moments as he deems himself steady enough to do so, the mage Garmen turns to the left, and starts walking that way. 

A smile slowly forms again as he thinks about how he's finally killed Mira Reinholt the mage, a fellow Vexillian practitioner of magic who he has despised for a quarter of a century. 

And who over the last few months he's actually hated, because of him killing Garmen the younger in the border incursion up in the hill country of northern Vexil, during the winter. 

"Good riddance Mira Reinholt" murmurs Garmen the elder with the smile upon his face "No one's going to miss you" adds the member of the Mage Council of Vexil. 

The powerful practitioner of magic briefly stops at the end of alleyway, then after taking a deep breath as dusk continues to turn to night, he steps out of the alleyway, and after getting his bearings, he turns to the left and starts walking as he doesn't feel up to traveling by magic at the moment. 

Zam the ex mercenary steps back further into the alcove he's been waiting in, here in one of the northern neighbourhoods of the city. 

The youngest member of the group watches the figure that's just walked from an alleyway on the street. 

Turn east, and start walking that way. Going by the lane that the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins has been watching things from. 

Zam quickly looks across to the other side of the street, and up on the rooftop of one of the buildings there. 

He sees in the near dark as dusk has turned to early evening. A familiar hooded figure appear, and look directly at him. 

I will, replies Zam the ex mercenary to Helbe the elven thief who by way of a mind speech spell from the highly talented elven magic user telling him. Head back and tell them he's on the move, and that he's going home. 

The youngest member of the group sees in the near dark the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel disappear. 

But he knows the elven masterthief will continue to follow the mage Garmen who is heading home, thinking that he defeated and killed Mira Reinholt in a mage battle earlier in the day. 

Zam makes his way from the deep alcove he's been watching things from. And he turns right, and starts walking that way down the lane. 

And starts making his way back to the Merchant's Rest inn which is further to the west here in the northern neighbourhoods of the city of Vexil. 

Blurred and shielded, Helbe the elven thief follows Garmen the elder through the streets here in this part of the city. 

The grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel, who has planted into the mind of Garmen the elder that he successfully battled, and killed Mira Reinholt, amongst other things. 

Watches the member of the Mage Council of Vexil on the street below, as a lamp lighter goes along the other side of the street, lighting the lamps for the night that's just fallen. 

"He's going to go through the rest of his life thinking he's killed Mira" quietly says Narladene the ground pixie who sits upon the right shoulder of the elven princeling she's attached to. 

"Not knowing that Mira is alive and well" adds the tiny winged creature who is from The Sunreach Mountains. 

As he floats across to the next rooftop, Helbe the elven thief quietly says "Could be worse" followed by "He could of found out that I actually killed his son". 

Prince Helbenthril Raendril to give him his name and title, couldn't care less that he killed Garmen the younger. After all the son of the prominent member of Vexil's Mage Council, deserved it in the opinion of the highly talented elven magic user. 

As the blurred and shielded elven spellcaster continues to follow the mage Garmen. He wonders what the outcome will be with what else Lord Farque told him to plant into the mind of Garmen the elder. 

He suspects it'll end up being both a windfall of riches for the undead warlord, and havoc that it will create. 

The elven master assassin shrugs his shoulders, and slightly grins at the prospect of it. As he continues to follow Garmen the elder this evening, here in the northern neighbourhoods of the city of Vexil. 

Looking up from his empty plate after finishing his dinner. Mira Reinholt the mage watches as Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, Lisell Maera the scout and eventually Zam the ex mercenary enter the common room of the Merchant's Rest. 

With each of them coming over to the table where the once powerful mage is sitting with Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, along with Lord Farque himself. 

After each of the new arrivals quietly speak with the undead warlord, then head to the other tables to have their dinner. 

The exiled Vexillian mage looks at the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, who is sitting opposite the exiled Vexillian mage, and the slightly overweight woman who is not who she appears to be. 

"That's finally sorted then" quietly says Mira Reinholt the mage as he looks at the lord of the death realm. 

With a nod of his full helmed head, Lord Farque quietly says "It is" followed by "I look forward to the benefits in the future". 

I'm just looking forward to that bat shit crazy Garmen no longer chasing me, the once powerful mage thinks to himself, silently followed by, and trying to kill me all the fucking time. 

The local practitioner of magic grunts, then glances over to where Dorc da Orc is sitting nearby on the floor, chewing on a particularly large leg bone of some kind. 

"And the issue of Dorc and you?" asks the mage Reinholt, who is speaking elvish as is the deathlord of Farque. 

"The city guard is no longer interested" says the undead warlord who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by. 

"Well they're not concerned about us, when it comes into anything dealing with you" continues the large heavily armoured deathlord who has the elven name of Des'tier, which means The Destroyer in the common language. 

Both the mage Reinholt and Malisse aka Zubutai Timaginson nod at hearing that, then both wryly smile when Lord Farque dryly tells them "Though who knows how long that will fucking last for". 

"Thinking about leaving the city then?" says Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, asking the question that they've all been thinking lately. 

"Just a little bit longer here" is the reply from the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, who follows on from that with "Until a few more shipments of gold come in from up north". 

Mira and Malisse, both members of Draugodrottin's personal council, nod at hearing that. 

Then the rotund woman who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra, asks the undead warlord "And then?". 

Draugodrottin is quiet for a few moments, then he tells the two of them "We'll go where the gold leads us". 

Malisse aka Zubutai the son of Timagin raises an eyebrow in surprise at hearing that, while the mage Reinholt slightly nods in understanding at that the from the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque. 

"For now, another week I fucking guess" states Des'tier, who after that, says "Just as long we spend the rest of the time here without incident, then it'll be fine". 

"That's not likely to happen" dryly murmurs the exiled Vexillian mage with a sideways look directed at Dorc da Orc who is sitting nearby. 

Behind the faceplate of his full helm, the large heavily armoured deathlord rolls his eyes, after which he says "To the best of our fucking ability". 

Both the exiled Vexillian mage and the rotund woman who is not who she appears to be, nod in agreement with that from the lord of the death realm. 

The local spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands. Until he lost most of his powers when he went offworld through a rift, void spell that he accidentally cast a number of years ago. 

Says to Draugodrottin "All things considered, our stay here in Vexil has been productive" he briefly pauses before continuing with "Well, apart from that whole Garmen trying to kill me all spring, shit". 

Malisse aka Zubutai the son of Timagin snorts in amusement at that, while the undead warlord just nods. 

Then the lord of the death realm says to the two members of his personal council sitting with him this evening, here in the common room of the Merchant's Rest inn "More than productive". 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque continues with "We've already made a fucking fortune from those gold mines up in the hill country, close to the border". 

Des'tier briefly pauses, before looking around at the others here in the common room of the inn they've been staying at whilst in the city of Vexil, then quietly saying to Mira Reinholt the mage and Malisse aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman "After we finish up here in the city, let's go and see what else is out there for the fucking taking" . . . . . . 

Springtime In The City 92.

The City Of Vexil. 

Entering the common room of The Merchant's Rest inn, Zam the ex mercenary murmurs "Something's going on" to Lisell Maera the scout when he sees Tamric Drubine the field commander pacing back and forth. 

The youngest member of the group comes to a stop behind Mira Reinholt the mage, and Tamric Drubine the field commander says to the once powerful mage "Upstairs" followed by "Lord Farque's rooms". 

When Zam, Lisell Maera and Dorc da Orc go to follow the exiled Vexillian mage, field commander Drubine tells them "Just Mira". 

Both the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins and the scout leader who is originally from the city-state of Brattonbury nod, and make their way to where Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy is sitting. 

While Dorc da Orc calls out to the serving woman for food and drink, and plenty of it. As the large ork is starving and thirsty after spending a lot of the morning running around the northern neighbourhoods of the city. 

The mage Reinholt heads upstairs, and in the hallway he turns left and makes his way down to the end where the undead warlord has his suite of rooms. 

The Vexillian mage in exile knocks on the door, and after a moment he hears the command to enter. 

The once powerful spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, opens the door and enters the suite. 

After turning around to close the door behind him, Mira Reinholt the mage looks to his right, then blinks in surprise, and says "What the fuck?". 

The local practitioner of magic who at seventeen years old, was the youngest ever member of the Mage Council of Vexil, adds "What's he fucking doing here?". 

The mage Reinholt pauses for a moment, before looking closely and saying "Er is he dead?" followed by "Or not?". 

"He's alive" replies Lord Farque who continues on with "Barely" the undead warlord pauses for a bit, before adding in a slightly dry tone of voice "I might of slapped him a bit too hard". 

The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands, grunts when he hears that. 

As he looks at the unconscious figure of the mage Garmen lying on the floor here in the central room of the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque's suite. 

Mira who is a member of the undead warlord's personal council clears his throat, then says "Ah I thought you were going to kill him?". 

"Change of plans" says the large heavily armoured deathlord, who follows on from that with "He's more useful to us, and to you, alive". 

The exiled Vexillian mage is silent for a few moments, before saying "He is?" he pauses before adding "Personally I think it would be better if he was fucking dead". 

Annoying prick will just keep trying to kill me if we keep him alive, Mira Reinholt thinks to himself as he looks down at Garmen the elder. The man who was most responsible for having him exiled from Vexil a quarter of a century ago. 

"What with him thinking I killed his asshole of a son" says the once powerful mage, who continues on with "He'll just keep trying to find me and kill me". 

"He won't" says the undead being who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by. 

"In fact, he's going to think he's killed you" says the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, who then adds "Among other things". 

"How the fuck are you going to do" says the mage Reinholt who falls silent when the large heavily armoured deathlord just looks at him. 

The highly skilled swordmaster who is still in the guise of the short, stocky and youngish looking fellow by the name of Covar, nods his head, then after a moment says "Helbe". 

The lord of the death realm nods his full helmed head, then says "The one and only" adding "He's on his way back here". 

In response to the mage Reinholt asking him "By the way where is the royal thief?" followed by "Haven't seen him since we left the inn early this morning". 

The Vexillian practitioner of magic grunts then takes a seat in one of the chairs in the center room of the plush main suite of the small, secluded inn located in the north of the city of Vexil. 

As they wait for the elven masterthief to arrive, Mira tells the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque "Might still have a bit of a problem". 

"Oh?" says the undead warlord who has the elven name of Des'tier which in the common language means, The Destroyer. 

"The city guards tried to arrest Dorc while I was battling Garmen" says the mage who lost most of his powers when he miscast a rift/void spell that sent him offworld. 

"So that's who he fucking killed" sourly mutters Draugodrottin who sensed the large ork randomly killing earlier this morning, while Mira Reinholt was in the middle of a mage battle with Garmen the elder. 

The exiled Vexillian swordmaster grunts, then says "He killed them while they're were trying to arrest him" followed by "They also attacked Zam and Lis too". 

"Oh?" says the lord of the death realm in a slight tone of surprise, the mage Reinholt nods then tells him "Both Lis and Zam said Dorc didn't actually do anything wrong". 

The youngest ever member of the Mage Council of Vexil continues with "I know, I know, it doesn't sound plausible" followed by "But those two youngsters were pretty adamant that the city guards just attacked them all out of nowhere as they tried to arrest the big green idiot". 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque slowly nods his full helmed head, then Des'tier looks down at the unconscious mage lying on the floor, and says "Probably has something to do with him". 

The once powerful mage grunts at hearing that, then he nods when the large heavily armoured deathlord adds "We'll find out soon enough" followed by "The annoying thief is almost back". 

The short stocky fellow by the name of Covar, who is really Mira Reinholt under a Greater Illusion spell cast by Helbe the elven thief, says "What exactly are you going to have him do?". 

The once powerful mage gestures at unconscious local spellcaster as he continues with "And do with Garmen here?". 

"I'll explain it all when he gets here" says Draugodrottin, who follows on from that in a slightly dry tone with "Can't be fucked saying it twice". 

The Vexillian mage in exile just grunts, then the two of them fall silent as they wait for Helbe the elven thief to show up. 

It doesn't take too much longer for the young elven noble to show up, for he soon pops out of thin air next to the chair that the mage Reinholt is sitting on. 

After slightly jumping up at the sudden appearance of the elven master assassin, the once powerful mage says to his fellow spellcaster "Get this damn illusion off me". 

Faintly smiling at making his fellow practitioner of magic jumping at him suddenly showing up, Helbe the elven thief says "Of course". And he dispells the Greater Illusion he cast upon the mage Reinholt earlier this morning. 

The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster grunts in appreciation, while the elven masterthief looks at the unconscious mage lying on the floor, and asks Lord Farque "What's he doing here?". 

The young elven noble who is from the island principality of Laerel, who was told by Narladene the ground pixie that Mira fought a mage battle against Garmen the elder a bit earlier, then says "Don't think it's particularly wise to have him here". He follows on from that "After all he's hell bent on killing Mira here". 

"Hell, I wonder why?" sourly says the exiled Vexillian mage, who continues in that tone with "It's probably something to do with you killing his son, and thinking I fucking did it". 

Helbe the elven thief who just happens to be the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel, can't help but softly chuckle at that. 

The highly talented elven magic user just shrugs his shoulders when his fellow spellcaster looks at him in disgust. 

Then the elven master archer looks at the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, who says "There's a few things we'll do concerning him" as he gestures at the unconscious figure lying on the floor. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord continues with "Including him thinking that he's finally killed Mira". 

The elven masterthief who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council, infact he's the undead warlord's envoy. Lifts an arched eyebrow at hearing that from the lord of the death realm. 

He does so again when, this time with the other eyebrow when Des'tier says "As well as finding out why the city guard are suddenly so interested in Dorc". 

"Oh?" says Helbe the elven thief, or prince Helbenthril Raendril to give him his full name and title. 

Who looks at the unconscious member of the Mage Council of Vexil, and reads the powerful mage's mind. 

"By the forest gods" murmurs the young elven noble, who continues on with "You almost scrambled his brains with how hard you hit him". 

The highly talented elven practitioner of magic then informs Lord Farque and Mira Reinholt why the city guard is suddenly so interested in Dorc, as well as the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque himself. 

Draugodrottin grunts at hearing that, then he says "You'll have to put a stop to that" followed by "Got enough fucking shit to deal with, don't need anymore". 

The Vexillian mage in exile grunts in agreement with that, whilst the young elven noble who is a member of the royal family that rules the principality of Laerel, nods his hooded head in agreement with the undead warlord. 

"What else do you want done?" asks the elven masterthief who is pretty certain the deathlord of Farque wants more than just that, when it comes to the mage Garmen, who the lord of the death realm has captured, and rendered unconscious here in the north of the city of Vexil on what's turned out to be quite a fine spring day. 

Des'tier is silent for a few moments, then the undead warlord explains to the highly talented elven magic user and the once powerful mage what he wants done. 

The two practitioners of magic, both of whom are members of the lord of Farque's personal council, listen on in silence as he explains to them what what's done, and how to do it. 

Much of which consists of Garmen the elder thinking that he's finally found Mira Reinholt, and that he's actually killed him during a mage battle that took place earlier today, here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

As both of the practitioners of magic listen to the large heavily armoured deathlord, they can't but help wonder how this will turn out. 

Both suspects that more than what Lord Farque has planned will eventuate. Which is exactly what the undead warlord wants. 

As he has plans he's still to divulge to the members of his personal council, who are here with him this springtime, here in the capital of the city-state of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 91.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

They slow to a walk, and Zam the ex mercenary looks back and sees that Dorc da Orc is relieved to not be rushing around at the moment. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins, looks ahead again and sees that Axe the undead wardog is still on the same rooftop he stopped on, and the massive canine has now sat down. 

"Must be near where we're supposed to be I guess" says Zam the ex mercenary in response to Lisell Maera the scout saying "Looks like he wants us to stop up there". 

Behind the two young humans, Dorc da Orc grunts, then tells them "Fucken Killer walking this way". 

Both the ex mercenary and the lead scout in the Armies of Farque look at the large ork, then Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well, asks the ork warleader "And Lord Farque?". 

"That fucken way" answers the ork weaponsmith with a wave of a hand to the right of them, the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, then adds "Smells like he waiting for that other magicky cunt". 

"That Garmen's dead, and doesn't even know it yet" dryly says the scout Maera, which causes the son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks to chuckle. 

The three of them start moving again, they only walk another twenty five yards or so, then stop at the corner of the building that Axe is sitting on top of, and an alleyway that runs along the north side of it. 

Gesturing down the alley, Lis who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury, asks the large ork "Mira coming from that direction?". 

With a positive sounding grunt, Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle which is his given name, replies with "Yep". 

The scout Maera nods, as they look down the alleyway to the street beyond, where after a moment, the ex mercenary says "You see that in the distance?". 

Zam points beyond the buildings on the far street at the other end of the alleyway, and he adds "Like a beam of light, going up into the sky" he briefly pauses before continuing with "Looks like it's moving around a bit". 

The scout Maera who is a junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque nods her head, then she says "I do". 

The two humans, one from The City Of Ruins and the other from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury look at the warleader of the ork race. 

Dorkindle grunts, then after shrugging his shoulders, says "Farque" followed by "How the fuck would me know?". In response to Lisell Maera asking him "What's he doing?". 

"Probably something to do with that mage Garmen I guess" says Zam, which gets a nod of the head from the attractive young woman who is a lead scout in the Armies of Farque..

Looking back in the direction he's come from, Mira Reinholt the mage catches sight of the beam of light emitting from the mageglobe of Garmen the elder that Lord Farque has got a hold of. 

The once powerful mage wryly smiles in amusement as he sees the beam of light behind some buildings, moving around as if it's following someone without them able to get away from it. 

"That prick Garmen is in for one hell of a surprise" Mira Reinholt the mage murmurs to himself as he crosses the street he's on. 

The once powerful mage who is still invisible, keeps clear of the handful of people on this street as he heads back west through the streets in this neighbourhood, here in the north of the city of Vexil, on what's turned out to be quite a nice spring day. 

The spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, hurries down the street he's on. And with one last look in the direction he's come from. And he sees the beam of light still going up into the air above the buildings in that direction, while still moving around. 

The Vexillian practitioner of magic who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands. 

Until he lost most of his powers when he went offworld through a rift/void that he accidentally cast a number of years ago. 

Turns into an alleyway, dropping his invisibility spell when he spots who's standing at the other end of the alley. 

Zam the ex mercenary, Lisell Maera the scout and Dorc da Orc see the short, stocky and youngish looking fellow by the name of Covar appear out of thin air at the other end of the alleyway, and walk towards the three of them. 

"Still alive I see" says Lisell Maera as Covar walks towards them, and comes to a stop "Of course" says Mira Reinholt the mage, who then adds "We should probably get out of here". 

The lead scout nods then says "That mage you were battling?" which gets the answer of "He'll be dead fairly soon" from the Vexillian mage in exile, who continues with "He doesn't know it, but he's heading directly towards Farque". 

"That cunt dead" says Dorkindle who follows that with "And he don't even know it" the large ork chuckles before adding "Dumb magicky fuck". 

The mage Reinholt nods in agreement, then says "We'll head back to the inn" followed by "It's probably the safest place to be". 

Lis gestures above them, and the exiled Vexillian mage looks up and sees the undead wardog Axe looking down at them. 

"Axe will lead us" says the scout Maera, Mira who is under a Greater Illusion spell cast by Helbe the elven thief nods at that. 

Then Zam tells him "We best be cautious" followed by "The city guard is after us" he briefly pauses before adding "Well after Dorc". 

Looking at the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, the swordmaster Reinholt sourly smiles. 

Then he winces when the ex mercenary tells him "Dorc killed a bunch of them". The ork warleader grunts and says "Fucken cuntbums wanna arrests me" followed by "For fucken whats?" he then adds "Dorc did nothin' fucken wrongs". 

"I find that hard to believe" dryly says the exiled Vexillian spellcaster who at the age of seventeen was the youngest ever member of the Mage Council of Vexil. 

"I know it is hard to believe, but he's right" says Lisell Maera, who continues on with "They did try to arrest him for no apparent reason" followed by "And they tried to take down me and Zam too". 

"Shit" mutters the once powerful mage, who then looks up again, and sees that Axe has stood up, and the massive undead animal jumps from the building he's on, to the one on the opposite side of the alleyway. 

"That's the signal for us to go" says the scout Maera who is a junior officer in the Armies of Farque. 

The four of them, Lis, Zam, Dorc and the short stocky and youngish looking fellow by the name of Covar, who is really Mira Reinholt the mage, step out of the alleyway, and turn right. 

And head off as they follow after the undead wardog Axe on this fine spring morning here in the northern neighbourhoods of the city of Vexil. 

With the mage Garmen's tracking mageglobe in hand, Lord Farque makes his way down a lane. Holding the living piece of magic in his right gauntleted hand. 

With the mageglobe none the wiser, emitting a beam of light into the morning sky to alert it's creator that it's found it's target. 

The undead warlord senses that particular spellcaster approaching fairly quickly from the south of him, just a few streets away. 

Behind the faceplate of his full helm, the large heavily armoured deathlord wryly smiles to himself as the mage Garmen gets closer and closer. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque who has another name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands know him by. 

Turns into a small square, hurrying across as if he's trying to elude the beam of white light that's going up into the air. 

The lord of the death realm makes his way into an empty alleyway, there Des'tier to give him his elven name, comes to a stop as he senses that Garmen the elder, member of the Mage Council of Vexil is now fairly close. 

"Got you now Mira" mutters Garmen the elder as he floats above some rooftops, here in the north of the city of Vexil on what's a fine spring morning. 

The powerful practitioner of magic who was born and raised here in the city of Vexil, watches as the beam of light emitting from one of his tracking mageglobes. Which admittedly he'd forgotten about in his pursuit of the traitor Mira Reinholt. 

Moves quickly between some buildings just to the north of him, as if the mage Reinholt, who Garmen the senior knows is in disguise thanks to a clever illusion spell. Is trying to evade the mageglobe that is following him around. 

"Not getting away this time you traitorous bastard" says the Vexillian spellcaster with a tight grin upon his face as he quickly floats through the air thanks to a levitation spell he's cast. 

And you're going to pay for what you did to my boy, the mage Garmen thinks to himself in anger as he sees the beam of light come to a stop just up ahead. 

The member of the Mage Council of Vexil slightly nods to himself as he recognizes this area of this particular neighbourhood, here in the north of the city of Vexil. And that there's a small square where the mage Reinholt is. Who is most likely in one of the alleyways off it. 

Garmen the elder floats above a rooftop, on the other side of which, his mageglobe is emitting it's beam of light to indicate it's target. 

The powerful practitioner of magic could easily send in a series of mageglobes to kill Mira Reinholt. 

But he wants to see the man who he exiled a quarter of a century ago during The Battle of Vexil. And the man who killed his son Garmen the younger in the winter just gone by. Up in the hill country of northern Vexil, during a border incursion by a mercenary army. He wants to kill the mage Reinholt face to face. 

Garmen the elder as he makes way above the rooftop, and is about to drop down into the alleyway. When the beam of white light being emitted from his mageglobe disappears. 

And as he levitates down into the alleyway he can no longer sense his mageglobe which was tasked to locate Mira Reinholt, and mark where he is. 

"What?" says Garmen the elder in surprise when he steps back down onto the ground in the alleyway, and he sees no sign of the mage Reinholt anywhere. 

Then a figure steps around from the corner at the other end of the alleyway. A tall figure, a large figure to be exact. Well over six and a half foot tall, in a suit of full heavy plate armour, dark blue and black in colour. 

A figure that the mage Garmen recognizes, as they're one of the companions of the mage Reinholt. 

Garmen the elder sneers, and goes to create a mageglobe to finally eliminate this particular individual who was with the traitor Mira Reinholt during The Battle of Vexil. 

Then the powerful practitioner of magic blinks in surprise as the large heavily armoured figure moves. They're a blur, practically invisible and Garmen the elder has no idea what's happening, and what's about to happen. 

As Lord Farque uses his Words Of Power. And the world around him completely slows down. He makes a decision. 

The undead warlord who was just going to kill the mage Garmen. For being annoying more than anything else. Let alone interfering with Draugodrottin's plans while here in the city of Vexil this spring. 

The lord of the death realm as he runs up and grabs Garmen the elder by the throat and lifts him up off the ground. 

Who was going to snap the powerful Vexillian mage's neck, decides to instead slap him across the face with his free hand. 

Instantly knocking out the member of the Mage Council of Vexil. Which the mage Garmen has no idea it even happened because of the speed in which the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque moved. 

As he comes out of his power, Lord Farque slings the unconscious mage over his right shoulder. Then before the undead warlord leaps to the roof to the left of him, he murmurs "You're going to become very fucking useful, and you're not even going to know it". 

As he looks at the unconscious Garmen the elder on what's turned out to be a fine spring day here in the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 90.

Vexil. 

The three of them stop, and look at one another. With Zam the ex mercenary eventually saying "Er?" quickly followed by "What was that?". 

"Pretty fucking obvious that was an explosion" says Lisell Maera the scout, Dorc da Orc grunts in agreement with the attractive young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury. 

The scout leader who is a junior officer in the Armies of Farque, is just about to say something else. 

When they hear another explosion, this one far louder than the first one they just heard a few moments ago. 

The three of them look at one another again, then the scout Maera dryly says "Mira". Nodding his head in agreement, Zam the ex mercenary dryly says "Definitely Mira". 

Dorc da Orc with a sour looking expression on his broad green brutish looking face, just grunts in agreement with the two humans. 

"That one was fairly close too" says the youngest member of the group, who then looks at the large ork as he adds "I think?". 

"Nah, still a bit away" replies Dorc da Orc, who continues on from that with "Some magicky cunts tryin' to fucken kill each other". 

"Definitely Mira then" says Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well. 

"And that Garmen most likely" adds the attractive young woman who is in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

Just then, Zam looks up to the buildings on the right of the narrow street they're on, and spotting something, or to be exact, someone, he says "There's Axe". 

Both the scout Maera and the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world look up and see the massive undead wardog on a nearby rooftop, looking down at the three of them as they stand in front of a shop, that's boarded up after going out of business recently. 

"Come on" says Lisell Maera, who then adds "We better follow him" as the undead wardog leaps to another rooftop, then stops and looks back down at them on this fairly fine spring morning here in the city of Vexil. 

Lord Farque who was just about to leap up onto the roof of the tall building at the southern end of the long street, and kill the mage Garmen. 

Sourly smiles behind the faceplate of his full helm, when Mira Reinholt's mageglobe explodes just after Garmen the elder quickly levitates into the air. 

The undead warlord can jump up high into the air, but he can't leap over three hundred feet straight up into the sky. 

Which is where the member of the Mage Council of Vexil ends up, and part of the upwards expanding magical explosion catches the mage Garmen. 

"Fuckheads" mutters Lord Farque referring to both mages who are in the midst of a mage battle, here in the northern neighbourhoods of the city of Vexil. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord who senses that Garmen the senior is going to survive that large explosion, thanks to the hastily erected wards he's put up around himself. 

Quickly looks northwards, and starts heading that way along what's definitely the longest street in this part of the city. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque ignores the people running in fear, trying to get away from what's happening. 

As he crosses the street at speed, heading towards the building that Mira Reinholt is on top of at the moment. 

The lord of the death realm who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by. 

Also ignores another explosion, at the northern end of the long street, where another of Garmen the elder's mageglobes has just exploded right next to the illusion of the short stocky fellow named Covar, that's been created by one of Mira Reinholt's mageglobes. 

Taking a deep breath as he floats a few hundred feet above the city streets, with fire and red magical energy swirling up and around him. 

Garmen the elder who is more than a little pleased that his wards have kept him alive. Senses another of his mageglobes somewhere towards the northern end of the long street, explode. 

The powerful Vexillian spellcaster who can't see that way at the moment, in fact he can't see much of anything apart from fire and magical energy. 

Hopes that piece of living magic was successful, and took out Mira Reinholt, who he's in the middle of a mage battle at this moment. 

Then the member of the Mage Council of Vexil grunts in disappointment, as he realizes that the effects of this mageglobe explosion he finds himself in the middle of. Would instantly disappear if Mira Reinholt was dead. 

"Maybe he's incapacitated instead" murmurs Garmen the elder, who follows on from that with "Hopefully". 

As the swirling flames and red energy start to dissipate from around him, and then quickly disappear as the explosion finally dies down. 

As he levitates up in the morning sky, Garmen the senior looks down, and grunts as he sees the rooftop of the tall building he was on, is still in one piece, and doesn't look to be damaged in anyway. 

The powerful practitioner of magic who is a born and raised Vexillian, slightly nods to himself in appreciation at that from Mira Reinholt. 

As Garmen himself would be hard pressed to create a mageglobe that directed all of its explosive energy upwards like the one that Mira Reinholt created that almost caught the mage Garmen unawares. 

The member of the Mage Council of Vexil then looks quickly to the north, looking to see what his second mageglobe did. 

He doesn't see anything of the explosion, but he does spot the third of the trio of mageglobes he sent in pursuit of the disguised Mira Reinholt. 

Drop down out of sight behind a building, Garmen senses that it must still be pursuing that short stocky, youngish looking fellow who he knows, or to be precise, he thinks is the traitor, the mage Reinholt. 

Not wanting to get caught unawares again by a mageglobe from Mira Reinholt. The mage Garmen floats northwards, keeping a close eye. Well, to be exact. His magical senses are keeping a close watch for any other mageglobe that the exiled Vexillian mage might send his way as they continue their mage battle. 

Here in the neighbourhoods to be found in the north of the city of Vexil, on what's turned out to be a fairly fine spring mooring. 

Slightly popping his head up to look over the low wall that goes around the edge of the rooftop he's on at the moment. 

Mira Reinholt the mage looks to the opposite side of the street, then to the south. And he spots the mage Garmen in the morning sky, towards the southern end of what's the longest street in this part of the city of Vexil. Seemingly unharmed from the explosion that just engulfed him. 

"Shit" sourly mutters Mira Reinholt the mage, who as Garmen the elder was in the middle of that explosion from his mageglobe coming to the end of it's existence. 

Cast an invisibility spell upon himself, just in case the member of the Mage Council of Vexil survived that explosion. 

And whilst up in the sky a few hundred feet above the ground, looked this way, and spotted the once powerful mage. 

Mira who just hopes to hell that he's actually invisible, as he can't really tell because all he sees is the Greater Illusion spell that Helbe the elven thief put on him. 

He watches as the powerful Vexillian spellcaster he's in the middle of a mage battle with, floats northwards, above the buildings on the opposite side of the street from where Mira is at the moment. 

The mage Reinholt who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, slightly nods as he watches Garmen the senior, and figures the member of the Mage Council of Vexil is making his way to where his remaining mageglobe is after the illusion of the short stocky fellow named Covar, which was created by one Mira Reinholt's own mageglobes. 

The Vexillian mage in exile watches as the mage Garmen goes by the building directly opposite to the one the mage Reinholt is on top of this morning. 

Completely unaware that his opponent in the mage battle here in the north of the city of Vexil is fairly close. 

The once powerful spellcaster, who was more powerful than any other mage of his generation, not just here in his homeland of Vexil, but right across The Southlands. 

Until he lost the bulk of his powers when he miscast a rift spell, which created a void, that sent him offworld a number of years ago. 

Decides against quickly creating another mageglobe to send after Garmen the elder. Instead he continues to closely watch the member of the Mage Council of Vexil. Waiting for a more opportune time to attack the powerful local spellcaster. 

Who thinks he killed his son, Garmen the younger. Back in the winter, up in the hill country of the north of the city-state. During a border incursion by a mercenary army. 

"Damn elf getting me in the shit" the exiled Vexillian mage mutters to himself referring to Helbe the elven thief, who was one who actually killed Garmen the younger. 

The practitioner of magic who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, with his head just above the low wall that goes around the edge of the roof he's on. 

Continues to watch the mage Garmen who is making his way northwards above the buildings on the other side of the long street. 

The mage Reinholt who sees Garmen the elder about to reach the building where Mira's mageglobe created the Illusion spell of Covar. 

Suddenly hears something behind him, like a metal thump. He goes to turn his head, when he's suddenly grabbed and hauled to his feet. 

"Time to go mage" says the familiar voice of Lord Farque, who much to the relief of Mira Reinholt, is the one holding him by the right arm. 

And before the once powerful mage, who indeed is invisible, but not to the undead warlord, can say anything to the large heavily armoured deathlord. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque who has the elven name of Des'tier, which translates as, The Destroyer in the common language. 

Leaps off the rooftop they're on, holding firm to b the right arm of the Vexillian born spellcaster, who also happens to be a highly skilled swordmaster. 

Standing in the alleyway behind the building he was just on top of, the mage Reinholt after rubbing his arm where Draugodrottin held it, says to the lord of the death realm "That Garmen is after me". 

After a slight pause, the once powerful mage who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council continues with "He won't be satisfied until he kills me". 

"I know," dryly says the large heavily armoured deathlord, who continues on from that with "Lucky for you, he's got a hard on for that stupid illusion that fucking mageglobe of yours created". 

The undead warlord follows that with "He's too busy with that at the moment, to actually fucking hunt you down and kill you". 

Good to fucking know, the mage Reinholt thinks to himself, who then grunts when Des'tier tells him "But there's still one little problem". 

"Oh?" says the practitioner of magic who was once more powerful than any other mage of his generation to be found in The Southlands. 

"What's that?" asks the spellcaster who is a member of the family that owns one of, if not, the largest trading company in not just Vexil, but in all The Southlands. 

"Sense that way" says the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, who gestures away to their left, here in the alleyway. 

The mage Reinholt does so, and grunts when the lord of the death realm tells him in a slightly dry tone of voice "Downwards too". 

The exiled Vexillian practitioner of magic does so, and after a few moments, he frowns then says "Is that a". 

"It is" interrupts the large heavily armoured deathlord, who then dryly adds "It fucking studied you, and saw what you were doing with yours". 

The undead warlord continues on from that with "Now it's trying to sneak up on you" followed by "Then target you for that fucking cunt, Garmen". 

Mira Reinholt grunts, then he says "We should probably get out of here" which Draugodrottin ignores for the moment. 

Then the lord of the death realm says "Not quite yet" Des'tier pauses for a moment or two, before adding "We actually want it to target you". 

"We do?" asks the once powerful mage, who hurriedly adds "No we don't". The only reply to that from the undead warlord is a grunt. 

The mage Reinholt sourly smiles when he goes to move, and the deathlord of Farque takes a hold of him so that he can't go anywhere. 

"I hope you know what you're doing?" sourly says the Vexillian mage in exile, which gets him a sideways glance down at him from the large heavily armoured deathlord. 

The swordmaster Reinholt just sighs, as he just stands there and waits. He doesn't have to wait long. 

As a few moments later, a small ball of bright white light comes up from the ground just in front of the two of them. 

It's a mageglobe, a slow moving one. It's the second of the mage Garmen's living pieces of magic tasked to locate, and target Mira Reinholt the mage. 

The small mageglobe almost does a slight jump of delight, and is raises up above the two of them, and when it's above the level of the rooftop the mage Reinholt was previously on. 

The white beam of light emits from it, beaming down upon the two of them, well to be exact, upon the practitioner of magic who is in the middle of a mage battle with Garmen the elder. 

Lord Farque lets go of Mira Reinholt, then leaps up thirty feet, and grabs the floating mageglobe out of the air. Which is more than a little startled to be in the right gauntleted hand of the undead warlord, who drops back to the ground. 

"Beats running around for that fucking mage" sourly says Draugodrottin, who holds the mageglobe up, letting it emit it's bright beam of white light up into the air. 

"You can piss off now" says lord of the death realm, who continues with "He won't find you, now that I've got this". 

The once powerful mage nods to that, then after the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque gives him directions to where the undead wardog Axe is leading Zam the ex mercenary, Lisell Maera the scout and Dorc da Orc. 

Mira Reinholt heads off, walking out of the alleyway. While behind him, Lord Farque with the mageglobe in his hand, emitting a beam of white light into the air. Waits for Garmen the elder to show up on this relatively fine spring morning here in the city of Vexil . . . . . .