Taking a look into his armoire Adrian sighs quietly but closes it without taking any pieces of his armor with him. No, not now. I'm just heading for a walk. Taking a quick look around the house filled with papers, maps with markings and reports on every table, counter and courser he heads out into chily morning in Haven. It's quiet for once in a town tormented and tortured by war but still somewhere a dog is barking and some of the Red wing troops stand lazily in guard shaping up when they see him approach.

"Highlord", one of them greeds Adrian and bows head in respect - or maybe just for an opportunity of a promotion? - as he passes the guard, offering him but a slight nod.

The road to south is empty and silent, almost as the world itself would have fallen asleep. No one passes Adrian after haven and he enjoys it fully walking to a farmhouse near the road and leaning on a fence, looking quickly at the sky and then down to the cows inside the fence. In his thoughts he eyes the animals, falling into depths of his mind.

"Atleast I have animals to talk to. You don't judge nor get angry at me for how I feel, say or think", he mumbles quietly to the cows with a sigh.

Suddenly hearing movement behind him he looks over his shoulder, eyes widening at the crowd that has formed behind him, some wielding a sword while other have sort of a spears or even pitchforks in their hands, most of them obviously nervous and scared to stand there. A man who seems to be some sort of a leader of the group takes a step towards Adrian and points his sword at him.

"Well, well, what do we have here", he says without slightest grin or emotion on his face.

"A murderer!", someone yells from the groud.

Adrian frowns, reaching his hand slowly towards the handle of his scimitar on his belt, looking at the man in front of him.

"What is this? Do you dare to raise your weapons against a highlord of Dragonarmies? Commander of Queens armies?" he replies with a tone of irritation in his voice and yelling out, "DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"

"Yes, we know you, murderer. You are behind slaughter of mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, the old... and young. Everyone who has suffered in our loved town of Haven is nothing but a victim of your hunger for power!", the man replies calmly, "Now you can drop that sword of yours and come with us or we can beat it from you and take you by force. How is it going to be?"

"Child killer!" someone yells from the crowd again, this time making Adrian's mind flicker. Hand around the handle of scimitar he lowers his gaze, pain going through his mind and face, thinking of every innocent being killed by him or for his commands.

"Coward!" yells a mercenary-looking man near him, making Adrian shape up and throw a sharp gaze towards the man. With a quick move Adrian pulls out his scimitar as he hears surprised yells and yelps from the back of the crowd. Without giving it a moment of this thought he charges the man who just called him coward, cutting his throat open with a quick, clean swing, chopping through arms and legs reached towards him by unexperienced townsfolk and farmers. But nothing is to be done, with no armor or helmet to cover him, he can only dodge few hits before someone smacks him in the hed from behind with a stick, making him wobble and wulnerable to other hits. scimitar drops from his hand as he falls to the ground, seeing an unknown woman drop near him, beaten by the same mob, before he falls into the darkness.

------------------------------------

Not sure how long he's been unconscious Adrian pulls himself to sit, seeing the same man that pointed him with his sword, few guards and the woman from the road in a small cave. Head still spinning from the hit to the head he listens quietly as the woman standing next to him almost yells at the man, demanding him to be released and justice to happen. Adrian smirks quietly while sitting on the ground and looks up to the woman.

"Seems you don't know who I am or why they are doing this", he says with almost chuckle following the words.

"No and I don't care, because there should be justice for everyone", the woman replies.

"No, not the kinds of me. There is no justice for us and there never will be. In their eyes we are murderers, child killers, evil, villains and every other word for bad person that you can come up with. I'm the highlord of Dragonarmy, we don't get justice", he replies while pushing himself to stand.

"Well, then I'm standing right here, making sure that they don't get to you", the woman says with a dry tone to her voice and folds her arms, looking at the man who seems to be in charge of the whole operation.

"No. This is not your battle and if you stay, you will only get yourself killed. i'm sure that they will forgive you and let you go. After all, it's me they want."

Adrian looks at the woman again as she looks back to him, both staying quiet for a moment. The woman nods gently as if barely accepting his demand for her to leave.

"Any message you want to sent to guards or soldiers?" she asks.

"NO. No messages for any soldiers!", the man hisses out, making it clear he wont let her go if it would bring danger on his troops.

"Just... Just go to Haven and look for Lily Derinus. Find her and.... and tell her that... I'll love my sister forever...", he says with obvious sadness now in his voice and begging look in his eyes.

The woman has barely time to nod before a thug behind her knocks her unconscious and drags her off. Adrian follows her with his gaze as long as possible and turns to the man.

"She wont be harmed I assume"

"Yes, we are only after you", the man nods.

Adrian quietly moves to a rock nearby, sits on it and looks at the guards and their leader in the cavern and looks at a red ring glowing on his figner.

"If you wish to execute me, do it now. You don't have much time for you will all be dead or captured, very, very soon", he looks up to the leader who now seems to be pondering something.

"Tie him up. We'll take him to the solamnics" he says with almost grin on his face.

"SOLAMNICS?", Adrian lets out in surprise as his eyes widen slightly.

A man steps in front of him with a robe and notices his ring, reching slightly out for it, almost touching it before the man in charge yells out sharply;

"No! Don't touch it. You never know what he has that has been given by the queen. Touch it and death will follow", he warns, looking at Adrian with a now gaze full of anger and hate, "Let the knights handle it".

Suddenly sounds of a battle echo through the cavern and a voice familiar to Adrian yelling out his name. The guards look terrified for a moment before running to the direction of the battle and even the leader of the group seems surprised for a moment. Adrian looks to the way the shout came from and yells out "Lily!"

"Quickly, take him out from back and to Goodbay! We have no time to waste. They are after as quicker than I thought!", he quickly explains to a guard still in front of Adrian after pulling the robes tight around his wrists. The man takes a small club, knocking him unconscious again before dragging him to the back of the cave and jumpping into a small pond there, bringing him out through an underwater cave and continuing towards the Goodbay as quickly as he can with a horde waiting there. but what the man didn't notice is that the ring which Adrian had in his finger had dropped.

Coming back to conscious, Adrian smells the seawater and when lifting his head from the deck of a small ship he sees the Goodbay behind them, prow headed towards north....






((Alright, this storyline was started by QM_Deus_Ex_Machina a week ago but it took me some time to write the post. Anyway, the text is a bit simplified from everything that happened but if I'd write it all it would take ages and I don't even remember every detail. I'd like to thank and give a big thumbs up to Tiny_Gnomie, Numbbie, MyOwnDesitny and of course Drake who were there for the RP and made the start of this storyline possible. I wish this will activate peeps in both KoS and DA, because it has a pretty lot to do with both organizations. I hope this will be continued because otherwise my toon will just be locked away for a long long long long time and there IS a potential for stuff to happen now.

I know there is a QM cleaning going on right now, but if you are considering of taking some of the QM's back, this is my two cents for Drake. First time I saw him in as a QM and something started to happen right away. If players wishes are heard here as they used to be then count me in as backing up Drake. He's doing great job. Thank you.))

Lily Derinus, Highmaster of the Red Dragonarmy, stood quietly in front of the meeting room’s fireplace, staring into the fire and thinking. Pax Tharkas, her new home, was quiet. Few soldiers stood on their positions, each following the highmaster from behind their visors.

Coyle Eirnin, Highlord of the Green wing, entered the room, and immediately she dismissed the soldiers. As they left she finally got to embrace her loved one in peace, not knowing that it would be the last restful moment for a while.

"What's on your mind?" Coyle asked while keeping his arms around Lily.
"Adrian", Lily whispered, looking worried like always.
"I'm sure he’s fine, he can take care of himself...", Coyle said, trying to comfort her, but as he realized there was no way to make her feel better, he suggested that they could go and try to find Adrian from Haven.

Coyle went beforehand while Lily changed her armor and gave some orders to her officers. They were used to it, because Adrian, their highlord, hardly ever visited the keep those days. Being sure that Coyle would be waiting for her on the way, she walked without a hurry. But just before Haven Coyle rushed back, took her hand and pulled her with him.
”Come, quickly! It’s about Adrian!”

Not knowing what was happening around her, Lily followed Coyle rather unwillingly. She tried to ask where they were going and why, but Coyle had no time to answer. She was getting frustrated and mad, but then she saw the blood trail and ran to the nearest officer to ask what was going on. The soldiers didn’t seem to know anything so they continued searching for more blood trails through Haven to the closest field. The only thing they found was a muddy woman who told them that a highlord was taken by some unknown group and that they held him in some cave. Adrian was captured.

Lily made a local farmer tell them about nearby caves. She didn’t want to waste any more time so she took the woman, Shylana, with them as they started to look for the cave. They found the right one rather quickly and raided it. Following Lily’s orders they spared none, even though there were slaves, women and children fighting with their bare hands. Their own stupidity, Lily thought while thrusting her blade through anyone who crossed her way.

Despite the rush Lily came too late. The last survived, local militia guard, told that the resistance movement he had been leading had already given Adrian to Solamnics, and that he was being transported from Goodbay to Palanthas. Lily had no mercy at that point, and she would more than gladly have tortured the guard. She never got the chance, as the man ran into her sword and fell down before her.
When Lily stared down at the dead man, she felt only wrath and agony.
They are so foolish…, she thought. People should just... surrender before the Queen....
As they left the cave Lily remained expressionless as always, until Coyle gave her the red glowing ring.
“Until we find him, you’re the highlord.”

They returned Pax Tharkas and Lily told the soldiers what had happened. There was nobody to deny her position as the highlord when she showed the ring of the Red Dragon. After sending spies to Palanthas, hiring Shylana and requesting counselors Lily went to her private room and tried to rest. Hours she stared up at the ceiling, pondering what she is going to do. Then she pushed herself up, sat in front of her desk and started planning. She studied maps, tried to scribble something up and stayed awake the whole night.

------------------------------------

In the morning Highlord Lily Derinus entered the hall. She was wearing her armor and she stood up straight, looking calm and imperious.
One of the high in rank officers came to her and saluted her.
“Your commands, Highlord Derinus?”
She looked at the officer expressionlessly.
“The solamnics took our highlord, my brother. Now is time for vengeance…

The Red wing will attack and take over Goodbay.”

Ramses sits in front of his desk going over a few miscellaneous reports with a glass of wine in one hand and a quill in the other, making notes on a separate sheet of parchment as he sips from his glass. His ears perk up when he hears the front door to his keep open and close and heavy footsteps moving in his direction. Hmm...must be important...I haven't heard footfalls at this pace since the uprising in North Keep... Setting down his glass of wine and his pen, he waited patiently to see who it was that was coming to disturb his peaceful office work.

Bursting through to his office, his lead scout for the area gave a quick salute and a bow before speaking breathlessly. "Lord Fenix, Lady Derinus is making preparations to move the Red Dragonarmy. As per your orders, I came back as fast as I could to report any movement by the Dragonarmies." Ramses nodded and locked his fingers together, leaning back into his chair. "Hmmm....No doubt she is still upset over the capture of her brother Adrian...I wonder what it is she thinks she is doing without the approval of the Dragon Emperor...." Ramses stood from his chair and finished his wine, the scout quickly moving back to attention before Ramses gestured for him to go back to the "At Ease" position. "Your orders, Lord Fenix?" The scout said as he tucked his arms behind him, setting his feet back shoulder width apart. "Go to Pax Tharkas Keep and inform Lady Derinus that I will be providing her with Counsel before she marches her army....I'm certain the Dragon Emperor would like to know why this shaky "peace" is about to be broken by a marching army. "Yes, Lord Fenix, it will be done." The scout bowed to him and began to depart. "Wait...give me a moment to draft a missive for you to give to her." Ramses said quickly, reaching for his ink and quill. Taking a few moments to scribble down a few words, he sprinkled a pinch of sand over the ink to dry it and then folded it into itself. Reaching for a stick of wax, he brought it over the candle to heat it before letting it drip onto the parchment. As it began to cool, he quickly pressed his signet ring into the wax, marking the missive as his own before handing it to the scout. "Now go, quickly, before she leaves the keep." Ramses said harshly. The scout simply nodded, bowed and departed from the keep.

Reaching for his cloak, he wrapped it around his shoulders and fixed them to his armor. Now....lets go see what this is all about.



//I'll be sending a PM to you, Tiny, as soon as I get back from Transformers 2! woot!

The preparations are made. Red Dragonarmy is moving, slowly but unstoppably.
Red dragons are rumored to fly towards Goodbay and the new Highlord has been seen riding on one of the most vicious one.
People are getting nervous as they see these incidents.

(OOC: If somebody wants to come defend your precious Goodbay, you have 3 days to sign in.
Otherwise you can just stand and watch how the dragons reach the city.)

*Word through magical means reaches the throne in Neraka. A robed figure slowly approaches Talash as he sits in court. Talash notices the shadowed figure, and gently raises a hand to hold him off; as he turns his attention back to the man in front of him.*

"My Lord, please; I beg of you. Spare me. I am but a humble servant of the Dark Queen. I was tricked into taking the steel pieces by my brother. He told me that he was cheated in the tavern. I simply went there to get what was owed my family. I took the steel from the man, but he was a swindler. He had more than enough."

*Talash listened, seeming bored to the ramblings of the accused. Normally, he would not have bothered, but the "swindler" was the nephew of a captain in the Neraka guard. After the melee broke out in the tavern, the captain demanded justice be done. So Talash was here for just that. Justice, although the people would not find his justice too appealing.

"Do not worry Eral. I understand your reasoning in this matter. I shall spare your life in this matter."

The uncle of the victim stood up from his place and voiced his displeasure "My Lord, this is not justice. A wrong was committed against my family, and I demand satisfaction for this most grievous infraction"

Talash, sitting on his throne, was close to rage at this point. "Silence captain. I was not finished. I have handed down my judgement. Eral is to be set free. However, his brother, and his brothers immediate family, shall be executed. All children, and his wife, as well as him... and come to think of it. I shall take all lands and property owned by you Eral. This is my judgement."

Eral swooned upon hearing the words. He was unsure what was happening. He seemed as if he was on another continent. He didnt realize his actions. After a moment, he realized his mistake. He lunged forward in grief and anguish at Talash. The guards in the throne room, moved to intercept, but Talash held them off. Eral came into range, and attempted to lunge at Talash. Talash just stood there, and firmed his stance. The Farmer bounced off Talash, and feel to the ground. Eral started to look up, just in time to see the fine edge of Talash's sword gleaming in the unholy aura of the queen. The sword connected on Erals left shoulder, about an inch from where his neck met the shoulder; and exited just under his breast bone on the right side. A few inches below the armpit. A few seconds passed, as Eral blinked, thinking nothing to have happened, then his body just fell apart. Talash, wiped his sword on what was left of the mans tunic, and placed his word back in it's scabbard. Talash motioned to the guards, and they rushed to remove the remains, and a cleaner came with a bucket of hot water, to clean the blood from the floor. Talash looked back to the gathering. Some queazy at what they just witnessed, and spoke.

"Captain Dreal, I am certain justice has been served to your satisfaction?"

The officer, an arroagant thing, felt supremely confident in himself that he had left his mark. He made a demand, and it was seen to. "Yes my lord. I am suitably happy with your decision."

"I am so pleased to have your approval." Talash said with a smile on his face. After a mere second though, the smile dissappeared, and talash, being quickened, leaped from his throne, and covered the distance of ten feet to the captain in the blink of an eye. He slammed his gauntleted fist into the face of the officer that wore the arrogant smirk, crumbling him to the floor. The officer tried to gain his bearings, but Talash ordered the guards to seize him.

"Now captain. You might have thought your family leniage here in this city is something of importance. But I am not the Idiot Stormblade. I do not deal kindly to those whom think they have a voice because their father was once an officer in high standing. You have made a demand of me, and that shall be your final mistake. You are hereby sentenced; to be taken to the sewer breeding grounds, where you shall be stripped to your skin, and fed to her Majesties children. Let the hactchlings feast upon your flesh. Your nephew, shall be thrown into the dungeons. Where he shall be visited by the inquisitor daily for his misdealings. Your wife, shall be led to my bed chambers, where she shall please me ocer and over, before her head is placed on the outer wall. Your children, shall be sent to the slave markets where they shall catch a fine price, I am certain. Your lands, are now the property of the city. They shall be sold off to feed the war effort. So I thank you for your service until now, as well as the services you and yours shall bring after your demise. Now get him out."

Talash waved his hand, and watched a moment as the officer was dragged away screaming. He then turned to the robed figure, and waved him over. The robed figure shuffled forward, and handed Talash a rolled, and sealed scroll. Talash, unsealed, and unrolled the scroll, reading over the contents slowly.

"So, she marches without the blessing of the Emporer, or the Queen does she? Very well. We shall see....."

He rolls the scroll back, and moves to his desk and grabs his quill. He takes a moment to write something down, and then rolls it, and seals it. He hands it back to the robed figure.

"Use your powers magi. Get this to Lord Ramses immediately." The robed figure bows, and gurgles something in a strange language that few can understand; then turns and leaves.

Talash closes court, and retires to the Temple of takhisis. He kneels in front of the alter, and becomes lost in his prayers.

//OOC: A pm has been sent to Fenix, and to Drake(DM) concerning the sealed note.

A cloaked and hooded figure approaches the Black DragonArmy keep outside of Tantalon.... moving cautiously over to a guard there a piece of parchment is handed over.. it tingles with electricty in the new bearers hands.

A voice from beneath the cowl comes forth... It would be unwise to spy on the correspondents of your Highlord... trust me... a slight smirking tone can be heard.. Do my bidding and you shall be spared... bring this to Highlord Fenix... now.

OOC//: pm sent

Ramses returns to the Red Dragonarmy Keep at Pax Tharkas just before the sun sets upon the back of a great horned black dragon. Striding into the Keep, he quickly spots his guards keeping Lily from leaving the keep and finds her still seated inside her office. Removing his hood, he speaks calmly and with a regal tone.

"Word from the Dragon Emperor is this: You have permission to strike Goodbay Highmaster Derinus, therefore my mandated house arrest is revoked. Also, I regret that I cannot participate in this battle due to orders received from the Emperor that require me to be in Neraka assisting the Dragon Emperor. If Coyle wishes to assist you in your attack on Goodbay, the Dragon Emperor permits this as well. Carry on with your attack plan Highmaster."

With that being said, Ramses drew his hood back up and departed from Pax Tharkas and back to the Fenix Estate with nothing more to be said. Duty calls....time for me to carry out my duty... (But no time to laugh about it now )

After waiting some time and getting no response from the letter.... the figure sits in a cave...concentrating. Bringing out a scroll and reading it over.. the figure begins to recite an old chant... the design being that of a translation to that of a raven...

Your commanding officers act without your consent... they have been warned... a more efficient resolve is in sight... loyalty to the Queen is being questioned.. I seek a meeting with you personally Emporer... battle draws near... though they may conquer the land... the will ultimately fail in their task.. only one ... can accomplish what is needed... then he may be punished properly.. at the hands of the one that is capable of "rescuing"... *a mocking snarky laughter is also captured in the message*

With a wave of a hand the wings of the black bearer flap and are off to deliver the missive.

//Sorry, I got a little busy yesterday and didn't get around to checking the forums MoD >.<. I sent a message back to you though.

Lily Derinus closed the door, leaving Coyle to sleep. She glanced around the hallway and sighed.
A new day was dawning. The day. The city was quiet, peaceful. No signs of war.
Lily walked silently towards her destination, determinedly and without a hesitation. The red ring glowed on her finger, she was completely expressionless as always. Knights of Solamnia turned to look at her when she walked to them.
They should already know my face...

She drew her blade before they could do anything but as quickly she threw it on their feet.
"My name is Lily Derinus. I am.... I used to be a highmaster of Dragonarmies. I am the younger sister of Adrian Derinus who you already have captured. I’ve had enough. I surrender. "
She kneeled in front of them and bowed her head down.
"Torture me, execute me, do what ever you need. I am not going back."

Immediately she was dragged inside. There were no witnesses. The battle of the Derinus was over.