The Bleeding Forest (IC/Fantasy Medieval RP/Open)

[The Central Fascist Empires]

Nestled between the borders of the Bleeding Forest, and the deep river Enz sits the city of Qyrys. An ancient, decaying, and lewd city teetering on the edge of destruction. It's ruler King Edryk Blackstead borders madness as he combats visions of the doom of the city. Many men call him mad, but some call him a God. In the city there is fierce factional fighting as the various knights orders attempt to maintain control. The city is split into twelve districts each ruled by a knight's order, and each order owned by a merchant family. All viciously fighting on the streets for control of the crown. In the center rests two guilds in a fierce struggle, but not for control of the throne instead for balance. The Order of the Forest, an ancient guild of warriors and hunters trained in combat. These are the men that venture into the Bleeding Forest to hunt the ancient beasts within, and the men most trusted by the Count. However, a new order has arisen within the city, The Black Order. An order of priests devoted to the worship of the prophet Count. It is within this city that you will decide your fate, onward to claim the city of Enz, and onward to glory.

Characters:

Royal Family:

- King Edryk Blackstead
-Prince Brandon Blackstead
-Princess Anastasia Blackstead

House of Astwood:

- Validus Astwood

House of Turin:

- Elanna Turin

House of Dread

- Dredge Morbid

House of Alder

- Atten Alder

Order of the Forest:

- Prince Brandon Blackstead Head of the Order

-Julius Blackfire

-Edward Ironsmith

Commoners:

- Kai Zivan

OOC

[The Central Fascist Empires]

Brandon stood by the bed of his father. He looked at his father with sadness. He looked at each wrinkle in his skin, each worn by worry and delusion. A man so young should never have looked so old as his father. King Edryk was two and forty, but barely able to get out of bed on most days. When his madness gripped him the most he would stumble into the court making a fool of himself. The matters of court were headed by a council, as Brandon refused the right to take his father's place so long as he lived.

"My son," Edryk awoke slowly rising. Brandon slowly lowered him back into his bed.

"Rest father," Brandon said.

"Bring me breakfast," Edryk said.

"You just ate an hour past father," Brandon responded. His father often forgot of recent events, and it hurt Brandon to see him like this. Today was one of the rare days that he ever came to see his father. His father turned away from Brandon.

"What day is it today?" Edryk asked.

"We-" Brandon was cut off.

"Fetch me my breakfast boy," Edryk said.

"You just ate father," Brandon said.

"Aye, I did, I did," Edryk muttered.

"Go rest father," Brandon said. "I must leave to meet with a merchant. He has a contract for me,"

Brandon left as soon as his father had fallen asleep. He slowly walked towards the exit of his fathers chambers. His chambers smelled of decay and death, Brandon knew his father wouldn't live long, but he kept on outliving his expectations. Brandon wiped away the cold tears that rolled down his face. He could never show weakness, even if it was pity for his father. He pushed the door open, and greeted the guards before leaving the castle. The castle was situated on a hill in the center of the city. High above the slums, narrow streets, and suffering of Qyrys. There were no great walls around the castle, but bridges separating it from all else in the city. No one could enter, nor exit the Castle District without proper documents. The people that lived there rarely ventured beyond, as even the commoners of the Castle District knew there life there was better than most. Brandon rode to the main bridge which linked the keep to the central districts. The guards hailed him and allowed him to cross the bridge. He was known throughout the city by all men as the prince. More men could identify him as the prince than his father as king, but that was because he traveled the city more often. The stench of rotting corpses and salt rose from below the bridge. Corpses strung up from the wooden beams supporting the bridge. Traitors most likely, or mercenaries from a merchant family causing trouble in the Castle District. The Castle District was the only district where the merchants didn't get there way. It annoyed them to an extent, as shops were free to work as the pleased, of course they had to pay greater taxes for the King's protection, but it was well worth it. Brandon neared the main square. High above the various churches, temples, and the Grand Market stood the Order's Keep. It's ancient walls and grounds reclaimed by nature and in need of repairs. He neared the gate and was let through by the guards. Only those who have been given permission by the Order were allowed in, or those who were under the protection of the Order. In times of trade war, the commoners would be allowed into the Order's Keep as it was a neutral faction. Occasionally a merchant would try to seize it, but they would mostly fail. Countless arrowslit, manholes, and other fortifications saw to that. Brandon drew into the packed courtyard as the men trained. He dismounted and a servant took his horse off to the stables. At the far end of the courtyard the smiths pounded away at metal and forged blades for the warriors. In the keep the scholars would study, of course it was mandatory for all members to learn. To learn of the Forest and it's monsters, to learn of alchemy, magic, combat, and other arts. All to secure the Order and those it is sworn to protect. Brandon entered his quarters atop the keep. His room was by far the largest of the quarters. Although it was no larger than the mess halls, libraries, and garden it was still large. He walked to his desk and waited for the merchant to arrive.

[House of Astwood]

Esmerelda Astwood the thirty two year old mother of the sixteen year old patriarch Validus Astwood made her way to the Order of the Forest's main base in the Centeral District of the city. She was carried in a carriage encrusted with diamond and gold pulled by four white stallions. Her father was the wealthiest man in the Astwood family the fifty seven year old Edmund Astwood and her late husband the father of Validus who was her third cousin, he married her to secure unity within the house and to create an advantageous alliance between the two branches of the family.

The carriage stopped in front of one of the homes of the Astwood family, coming out and making sure the coast of familiar people was clear was Esmeralda in brown rags and a headscarf. Behind her, her first cousin Elizabeth who looks quite like her and would make a public spectacle in entering the house as a distraction. Once she entered Esmerelda continued on with her assignment.

She made her way to the Order's base knocking on a side door before a guard pulled it open. She immediately removed her headscarf. "Where is the Prince I request an audience with him."

[The Central Fascist Empires]

The guard bowed. "My Lady, I will escort you inside to the Prince. Open the gates!" He shouted. The gates opened from inside and he led the lady in. All the guards of the Order dressed in black plate with the sigil of the Red Tree painted upon their chest. The Red Tree was an ancient tree that the keep had been built around. It had been lost in a siege nearly a century ago, but the mages of the Order drew their strength from it. With it's destruction their position as the greatest mages in the kingdom has fallen. The guard led her up the stairs to the Prince's quarters and banged on the door.

"Commander, Lady Esmerela is here to meet you," He said. Brandon walked towards the door and opened it.

"Welcome my Lady. Please take a seat, is there anything I could offer you? Food or drink," He asked directing her to a seat opposite his desk.

[Tundrastan]

"Wake up, you useless bag of meat! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and guess what, Your parents are STILL DEAD!"
Cynric slowly opens his eyes. He is lying against a tree. His clothes are still wet from yesterday's rain, but he stopped caring.
He has been awakened the same way every morning since he left his village.
"Shut up, go haunt someone else and leave me be, demon"
"Now I am a demon huh? Can't remember all the good I did you?"
Cynric stood up and wrung out his clothes. He was thinking about his parents
"ok,ok. Killing your parents was a little rash. But I saw your father hit you in the face and your mother scold you
when we came home without venison and I could hear you think, you know....I read your mind like a book"
"So you thought it was okay to kill them?" Cynric can bearly contain his tears now.
"No kid, YOU thought so"
Then the dam burst. Cynric let himself fall on the ground crying with his hands in his hair.
"Come on, manchild, how much crying can one do in a few days time. If you make haste we can be in Qyrys today. I'll even treat you on a hooker when were there to make it up to you!"

After a while, Cynric stood up with red eyes and he travelled onwarts to Qyrys, following the road in silence, trying to ignore whatever his "demon" was saying.

[House of Astwood]

"Thank you Your Highness but that would not be necessary", Esmerelda said as she took her seat. She cleared her throat before going on. "My son and his chancellor, my father send their regards and well wishes to you Your Highness and His Majesty the King." She said with a smile. "They pray the trinity will grant him a speedy recovery." She then looked to the ground and back at the prince before continuing.

"I come fearing for the future of our house. As you may know House Astwood is known for its generosity towards the poor and needy. Nobody goes to sleep in our district with an empty stomach and free bread distributed to all who needs it delivered house to house at dawn. Indeed even the village adjacent to our district ten miles across the moat are wealthy and their harvest makes its way to all districts regardless of affiliation for reasonable and affordable prices." She then gets to her point. "I must protect my son from his vile uncle, his father's brother. He seeks to usurp his seat and take it for his own with the help of other merchant families of whom I do not know. We seek the support of the King's order."

[The Central Fascist Empires]

"The Order is no longer under direct command of the King. Therefore we can only take contracts with direct pay from the customers, and for that I must apologize. You must understand it is a circumstance of these times. Also you need not refer to me as royalty, here I am equal to my brothers," Brandon paused. "Ok, so we can come to the pay later. Now you need to explain this contract in greater detail. Why hire us? Why not a mercenary, and what do want done. I assume you do not want your son sent here, but here he would have indefinite protection, and the only way your uncle could get to him is over the walls. Instead you would want us to guard him in his own estate, correct?" Brandon asked.

[House of Astwood]

Esmerelda threw three pouches of one thousand marks on the table. "Money is not a problem it flows from our district like water out of a fountain." Esmerelda responded. She then stood and paced, "My son has the protection of his loyal men, my father's men. I need his uncle Stuart to go on a long trip...as a diplomat of the King accompanied by the order and if some accident were to occur well... Sad loss for the House."

[The Central Fascist Empires]

Brandon sighed and looked at the gold. "Our Order doesn't deal in accidents, but I could challenge him directly to a duel, and then no one is in the wrong. By law if a contract is given on a human's life then it can only be taken by duel," Brandon took the gold. "I will stand to duel him, or I shall find someone here better to fight the man. We never break our oaths, and I promise your son safety,"

[House of Astwood]

"No one must know I was here, no one must know my hand on this contract. Do not reveal the identity of the duelist as a man of the order. Also when my uncle dies there may still be other actors on the move. I want this plot against my son discovered and all who have a hand meet their fate", Esmerelda hissed obviously protective of her only surviving son. Validus had an elder son Leonidas who died at the age of two when Validus was only a year old and a younger sister who died at the age of five when she was mangled by a stray dog, she would not lose her child.

[The Central Fascist Empires]

"I must apologize my lady, but if you want a contract done without question you must go to the Black Order. However, they would reveal your involvement for gain. I will not reveal your involvement, but the duelists identity will be known. When a human contract is carried out by the Order, then all men know it is justified, or it wouldn't have happened at all. No one would dare attack the Order, nor would they risk taking vengeance on the person who asked for the contract. I'll send a few men to your village to make it seem like a lesser contract, for men saw you enter the Keep, but no one outside knows your intentions." Brandon rose. "These are the ways of our Order. We never speak of a contract unless necessary. Once your uncle is dead I want access to search his property for evidence of conspirators assisting him. When I find proof I can hand it over the crown who will in turn arrest and hang them for treason, and your involvement and the plot itself will never be known outside this room," He finished.

[House of Astwood]

"Then it is settled, I will take my leave." Esmerelda put on her headscarf and made her way to the door. Before she turned the knob she turned to the prince. "And for the record Your Highness our noble house does not conspire with the Black Order it would be a stain on our honour. The House of Astwood have been proud comrades of the Order of the Forest and by the grace of the three it will remain as such, good day Your Highness".

She left sneaking out the door she came in from. She made her way back into the Astwood district and into the carriage from whence she came.

[The Central Fascist Empires]

"I meant no offense my Lady I was simply stating the truth. May you and yours life long and may whatever God's there are protect you. The Order shall always be good friends with your family, and remember if anything happens come to us. If any monster attacks your village or anyone threatens your house, you will find strength and protection here," He said as she left.

[Tundrastan]

The sun was setting as Cynric neared the walls of Qyrys. He heared tales of the great city from the few people from his village that have been there, The great wealth, the splendor. All children of his village dreamed of going there, but few got the chance. Cynric hardly felt lucky as the reason of his travel isn't a joyous one.
He came before a huge gatehouse, with 2 guards standing outside. The gates where open, but Cynric appearance made one of the guards suspicious.
"You there, come over here"
Cynric did so.
"What's your business in Qyrys, if I might ask?"
Cynric weighed his words
"I am looking for someone in the city."
"You're travelling alone or are your parents here too?"
"No, I'm alone"
"Alright. I'll check your knapsack and you can go"
Cynric opened his knapsack. The guard looked inside and pulled out a soaked piece of bread. He looked at the meager figure of Cynric with pity. Cynric looked at the ground.
"It seems everything is in order. You can enter. But take this."
The guard pulled an orange from under his coat and put it in the knapsack.
Cynric pulled a strange look.
"Of you go,now"
"Thank you sir!" Cynric said while entering Qyrys.


"I somethimes think I'm the only one in the world not pitying you" The voice said
"If he had seen the 100 marks you stole from your parents he'd be more inclined to ask for an extra taxation"
"You really try your best making me feel bad, but I will find a way to get rid of you here."
"By following those tales that have proven to be false most of the time? Good luck with that".

They where now walking through a market alley with shops full of strange things Cynric had never seen before, some looked and smelled edible, like the orange ball he got from the guard, some other things not so much.
Cynric was looking for an inn to eat and rest under a roof for a change.
"There is one, Cynric". He looked to the left and saw scarecly dressed girls, some even younger then him, some could be his grandmother. He heared about this from boy's that returned to the village after visiting the city.
"No, Demon. I don't want to"
"Well ,Your reptilian brain is telling me quite the opposite. But it's your loss, really. Doesn't the one on the left look like the girl in the village you couldn't stop dreaming about?"
"Stop!" Cynric said a little too loudly while starting to blush.
Some people on the street turned their heads, a few girls got startled.
Cynric walked on in a faster pace while looking down.

[Skegness-on-Pirn]

Elanna Turin sat in an ornately decorated wooden chair, before her a table of equal quality. She bore an expression of relative boredom as several members of House Turin quarreled at the great table. After the death of her father, Jirek, Elanna Turin had become the Matriarch of House Turin, which had angered most, if not all, of her many relatives. None were more upset by this than Elanna's Uncle Marek. Marek Turin had risen to fame within House Turin as a loyal knight willing to do anything to advance the cause of the House. He, as the only brother of the late Jirek Turin, felt that he had an exclusive right to the fortunes and status of House Turin. Jirek, however, had made Elanna the matriarch, despite her young age. It was Marek Turin and one of the ranked knights of the House, Jacek Alanach, who were the main aggressors in the argument occurring at the great table. Elanna looked over at her beloved cousin, Raenor, who nodded to her before slamming his fist down onto the table with great force. Raenor was a strong young knight with hair so blonde one might consider it white. He shared with Elanna the luminous green eyes that House Turin had once been known for. The violent act by Raenor silenced the rest of the enraged members of the House and their loyal Knights. They all looked angrily at Raenor, but their rage was quickly put off by Elanna, who nodded her clear support of Raenor's action.

"Please, beloved family and honourable knights, stop your quarreling. We have more pressing matters at hand." She looked at Marek, who still seemed upset. "Dear Uncle Marek, you know that my father was renowned throughout all known lands. His word is law within this House, and his word declared me to be the head of this House. You will not disrespect my father's wishes in his hall, with the Divine Matriarch looking upon our actions." She was clearly frustrated with Marek, but her voice was calm and melodic. "I have made my first decision as the head of House Turin, and that decision is that our knights must be paid more kindly. We will allow each knight two marks raise onto the allowance for each. I have a reason for granting this raise, and that reason is that we must step up patrols throughout our owned lands. I expect any criminal activity to be punished not with death, but not with kindness. We are Turins, and we will be respected by all other houses. Now please, let us eat." With that, Elanna sat down, which prompted the others to sit as well. Then, a magnificent feast dedicated to the memory of Jirek Turin was brought out by several young apprentice-knights.

[The Central Fascist Empires]

Brandon held the door open as the Lady left. "Guard fetch me Orc's Leaf from the alchemists." Brandon said.

"What should I say it's for?" The guard asked.

"They'll know," Brandon said. The guard ran down the stairs to the alchemist chambers.

"Commander Blackstead asks for some Orc's Leaf, but he does not say what for," The guard said to an alchemist.

"Ah, Orc's Leaf," The alchemist shuffled over to a chest. "Common in the Forest, and dangerous if consumed, but creates a high for a well-versed mage if burned, and it strengthens their magic. That is what it is for," He said lifting a small bundle out of the chest and handing it to the guard.

"Though it is a tempting delight it is banned anywhere beyond these walls," The alchemist said. "Go,"

The guard returned to Brandon's quarter who sat studying books at his desk.

"I have the Orc's Leaf, but the alchemist said it's banned beyond the wall, why?" The guard asked.

"We mages use it to regenerate our power. Before we lost the Red Tree we used the tree's power to regenerate our power, but now we are forced to use this. In large quantities it can kill a human. Outside the keep it is popular with the elves, their magical nature allow them to circumvent most common poisons, but sometimes it gets into the hands of a human who will use it themselves and die, or kill another," Brandon explained taking the Orc's Leaf. He walked to a brazier and threw in the package, before casting a spell to light it afire.

"Why do you need your magic restored?" The guard asked.

"A contract, and an expensive one," Brandon smiled as the thick smoke rose from the brazier.

"Ah, I must leave before I inhale that smoke," The guard said turning.

"That is best," Brandon said taking a deep breath. "Send for the smith,"

"Ay," The guard said leaving the room.

[Tundrastan]

Soon Cynric had found an Inn to his likings. He rented the cheapest room the inn had to offer, but also a big meal with fresh meat. While he was eating at a table close to the fireplace he looked and listened around. There was the typical group of drunkards telling their fishing stories, the labourers enjoying their free time in a corner and the dicers on another table. He decided to go and ask the innkeeper for information on the elven mage that should still live within the city walls.
"What shall it be, young lad?"
"I have a question. I'm looking for a very old elven mage about which I heard a lot in my village."
"Mmm, well I don't know if you mean him, but the only mage that could fit the bill around here is Ninnor...but I wouldn't get close to him if I where you, he's a strange fellow."
"Well, I'll keep that in mind"
After asking the directions to Ninnor's home, he walked back to his table.
When passing the gamblerstable, one of the dicers suddenly tumbled off his chair that suddenly had 2 broken legs, spilling his beer all over the participants.
"AYY WOT ARE YOU DOING YOU BASTARD!" one of them yelled as he stood up. This was a very familiar situation for Cynric
"I didn't do anything!! I swear!"
"Allright, shitstain, come here!" 4 of the men picked up the boy after slapping his face a few times, and threw him out the door, face first on the cobblestones of the street.
After lying there for a while with painfull face, the voice could be heard.
".......The fat one was cheating..."

[The Greater Crusade]

Edward whistled as he forged his swords. Tunes he picked up in the taverns of Qyrys, and sometimes he sang drinking songs. He hammered at the sword as the door swung open. "Edward, the commander summons you," The guard said standing at the entrance. Edward handed the hammer to an apprentice smith, and told him to finish in the smith.

"I'll go up myself, get back to your post guard," Edward said shuffling out the door. He was dying by the time he reached the commander's office. Out of breath and red-faced he knocked on the door. Brandon was seated by his desk, and Edward entered.

[The Central Fascist Empires]

"Edward, I have been given a contract to duel an Astwood. I will kill the man, but I need you to forge me a new sword." He unsheathed his old one. "I've used this for years, and though I do not doubt you could repair the damage, I'd rather have a new one," Brandon said.

[The Greater Crusade]

"Smells of burnt Orc Leaf. Smells like grass, shit, and mud. Aye, I'll forge you a fine sword, and I'll make it m'best. I'll need specific details such as the materials you want it forged from. I know a man who deals in rare ores from the Forest, but it comes at a price. If this truly is an expensive contract, which I assume it is, then it shouldn't be trouble, but I'll need the funds." Edward finished.

[Skegness-on-Pirn]

As the various hierarchical officials of House Turin left the great Hall of Turin, Elanna stayed behind. Next to her, as always, was Raenor Turin, her beloved cousin. Raenor betrayed his distrust of the others on his face, as his scowl was apparent. Elanna knew it, but she said nothing. Together from birth, Elanna and Raenor had always been very close, as if brother and sister. They were both aware of the whispers throughout the Kingdom about a supposed romance between the cousins, but it was very untrue. The way that even some of the apprentice-knights regarded them was enough to frustrate Raenor.
"Cousin," said Raenor, his voice low enough for only Elanna to hear, "You know the way they speak about us in private. They view us as romantically inclined, cousin, and I fear it." He was clearly upset, throwing an angry glance towards one apprentice-knight, who had been lurking around as though looking to speak with the matriarch of the House. The young boy, frightened by the mighty Raenor, quickly made away. "Elanna, we must not delude ourselves. I must marry soon, and by your father's word, so must you. This will perhaps improve our renown. What say you to this thought?"
Elanna scoffed at Raenor, the idea of marriage disturbing to her. She never planned to marry, and with her father gone, she would likely maintain that plan. "Cousin, I know of the rumours. They fly around this territory like creatures of the sky. Remember, dear Raenor, that some sky-creatures we shoot down to eat, and others we allow to fly until they are seen no more." She figured that Raenor would understand what she meant, so she left the great hall.

As Elanna had hoped, one of the veteran knights was waiting in the corridor. Ser Telenor typically waited after each gathering of the House, hoping to bow to Elanna's father, and in recent days, Elanna. He was a large man, and very powerfully built. He had hair the colour of honey, and eyes as blue as the sky. In truth, Ser Telenor was a very attractive man. As was to be expected, he bowed to Elanna, saluting her with a fist over his heart. Elanna smiled, nodding her head in a slight bow of response. She then put her arm into his and began to walk, surprising the giant knight.
"Ser Telenor, it was before I was even born that my father found you scavenging in our territory, hoping to spot some morsel by which you might survive another night. He took you in, son of Baladun the Wild, and made you his knight. It is I, now, the daughter of Jirek, who must ask a grand favour of you." She stopped walking, looking in both directions down the corridor, seeing that nobody was listening.
"My Uncle Marek is a good man, although he is distraught with feelings of grief for his brother, and jealousy for my position. I fear that these feelings will have him behaving irrationally. This is why I must ask something very serious of you, Ser Telenor, loyal knight of Turin." She produced from a small pouch she wore around her shoulder a medallion which could be fastened to a robe. The medallion bore the ancestral crest of House Turin, as well as carved words in the ancient language. Ser Telenor quickly recognised the medallion, dropping to one knee and bowing his head in reverence.
"Ser Telenor," said Elanna in a calm, yet serious voice, "I ask you to be my right hand, and act as my protector and closest knight. Marek is too much of a threat to wield this honour, and Raenor is too dear to me. I must thereby present you this medallion of Turin, as you are the greatest of our sworn knights, as well as the one I trust most to keep my deepest secrets and maintain my hold over my inherited position. Do you accept this honour, or do you cast it aside?"
Telenor stood then, placing his hands on the sides of Elanna's head, bending down to place his forehead against hers. "By the Divine Matriarch, and all of my honour as the son of Baladun the Wild, I accept this honour. Milady, I do swear to keep your deepest secrets and maintain your hold over your inherited position. It is my honour to do so, and it will be done until my death." The last part of his acceptance he spoke in the ancient language brought by House Turin from their ancestral lands. All men of House Turin knew the words, and only dreamed of speaking them to the patriarch or matriarch, sealing their position as the most honoured knight. "Dominam haltn pahel, Elanna Turin, disiatu."

[Tundrastan]

The next day Cynric went on to look for the elven mage called Ninnor, who according to the description might be the mage that could help him.
By following the directions, he ended up in a shifty alley. Nobody could be seen on the streets, but the houses often let out a cough or a whisper. Cynric had a real challenge in not stepping on the thrown out feces. Then he arrived at the house with the purple door.
He knocked. No one answered. He carefully opened the door.
"Hello?"
He entered the room. The walls where painted purple too,but that must have been a century ago. There where a lot of books strewn across the place along with alchemical ingrediënts and strange stones. The fire place was still charring. There also hung a strange smell Cynric couldn't identify.
"This smell....I like it" The voice said
"Because it makes me nauseous?"
A high pitched laugh could be heard from under the floor. Cynric looked around to find stairs. He found a hatch behind a pile of books. He pulled the handle to open the heavy hatch and a waft of smoke came to meet him from below. His eyes started to tear.
"WHo's there?" A voice called from within the smoke.
"Cynric. I'm looking for a mage"
"Climb down then, you found one"
The cellar was a small round hole in the ground, dug by hand from the look of it. In the middle was a fireplace and behind it sat an old looking elf, which must mean he was multiple centuries old. His hair was long and grey, but it hasn't thinned. His cloak alsmost looks fossilized.
"Are you Ninnor?"
"Yes I am. Welcome."
"Well I have a problem. You see there is this voice that I hear and it has been around me my whole life, but I need to lose it fast. It's growing out of control."
"Well, everyone hears voices, my fizzle. I even hear them all the time. What are you saying exactly?"
"But my voice is real! He has power!" Cynric yelled.
His voice appeared
"Ask him what this smell is"
"Mmm, I see. something of magical origin. Let's go upstairs. I need to look this up."
The man stood up, waited a while getting his bairings while holding the wall, then proceeded to climb the ladder, two steps upwards one step back.

[The Central Fascist Empires]

Brandon walked around the desk and handed Edward the old sword. "Funds are not a problem here. I require a sword of steel infused with Elven ores. I know these are not rare ores, but I don't need any better. You can gather the Marks for the supplies down in the Vault, but do not let anyone of your friends beyond this wall know why you are forging this sword. Send a messenger to Stuart Astwood, and summon him here on the order of the King," Brandon said. "He will learn of his charges upon arrival, and tell the guard outside to wake me before letting him or anyone else in. I must rest for today will be a long day," Brandon muttered before turning to his bed.

[The Greater Crusade]

"Hm, I'll forge you a fine sword with the finest metals," Edward was shocked when Brandon mentioned a contract on Stuart. "Didn't expect it to be Stuart, the man's pathetic, but what's his charge. Must be something serious to warrant a contract on his life? Come from an Astwood or an opposing family?" Edward asked.

[The Central Fascist Empires]

"Can't say who called for it, but he is charged of plotting against the person who asked for it. I'll need some men to help me after I kill him. I've been told that there are more plotters, and I'll have to search his property for evidence. Oh, and before I forget, I want you to send a few men into the sewers below the Astwood estate," Brandon said.