As Eclipse came to know the group more he came to spend more time around them. Perhaps because of Emily, perhaps because he felt they would help him achieve his goal, maybe it was that they had met on such strange circumstances. This was all secondary to what he had been hearing the past week. Rumors of a army of overwhelming size. An unquenchable thirst for destruction and fire. Creatures and beings he had never heard of in all of his travels. Things that he may not be able to beat alone. One special rumor had piqued his interest. That "man" would be among the army heading towards the Core, because of this he spent more time training as much as he could, with every possible chance he could get.

He would sit in on the councils he was allowed to. Gathering information on enemy tactics, creatures, types of combat, divisions, seige gear, leadership, and anything that would be useful in even the slightest way.

Emily would sometimes join him in his training.

She woud always say the same thing when she joinded him training, "How can one man be that strong, you must be stronger than him by now... I know you are."

He would respond, "Strength is not the only thing I need to beat that man, I need to be better, not just stronger."

Emily responds, "Too bad you can just put an arrow in his eye and call it done, no need to get close enough..."

Her comment would remind him of a rumor he had heard, a never emptying quiver of arrows, it was a magical item. He had spaced on there existance, and now that he thinks about it, would be rather useful against an army that has such an overwhelming size. He would then spend time search the city, armorers, stores, shops, anywhere he could think there might be atleast one in the Core, especially with the defensive nature of this fortress.

As the days passed on, he would still train, getting faster, stronger, more accurate, but mainly... Deadlier. The Seige would not be merciful or easy, it was going to be rough, and with the size of the army coming, he had to be able to survive.

As the Army began to arrive, he would spend large amounts of time on the outer defensive wall, watching the enemies. He had joined a many scout teams that kept their distance to gather intel and track the progress of the enemy. He never encountered any enemies, the team always fleeing before they got into a skirmish. He was not about to go into a battle without gathering as much info as possible, it was how he was taugh. His family motto would echo in his head.

"Teneo Vistri Hostilis. (Know Your Enemy.)

Cor was greatful for a few days of rest. His body no longer aches and most of the pains were gone. He knew such was not to last. There was always another enemy, another battle and the inevitible ramifications of such. Cor spent several hours each day in prayer and stood on the battlements as the vast army approached.

"Such a vast array of evil." he thought. A familiar combination of emotions washed over him. Dispair, not for himself but for the waste of life soon to come. Sadness for the wives and children who would never again see their fathers and husbands. Although he had lived through too many battles to remember, he felt the same trepidations as always. He prayed to Odin that he would have the strength to defeat the servants of evil and hold fast to the ideals of good. He spent time sharpening his axes until the edge was fine as a razor, his armor was polished and adjusted until it fit like a second skin and his gear was packed and repacked. With nothign else to do, Cor took to walking the battlements at random hours talking with the common soldiers on duty. To some he gave encouragement, to others he listened as they unburdeneded their souls and with some he simply stood a silent vigil.

Evil was coming intent on destroying everything good and fair that stood against it. As long as he drew breath, Cor would be a thorn in its side.

Fortunately night had fallen and there were not many townfolk around to watch him being dragged through the streets tethered to a horse, who at one point decided to excrete the contents of a meal upon the street below, forcing Lothor to try and dodge the foul smelling waste. Eventually a very out of breath and exhausted Lothor was bought to a halt outside a large building of grey stone with fewer windows than the rest of the street and two burly men stood abreast of two doors.

The Captain hastily explained the situation and one of the brutes manhandled him into the building and threw him roughly into a cell then closed the door, locking it behind him. Clearly there was no escape and he could only hope his companions would realise him being missing, quiet as he was, and send a search party to find him.

He had a fitful sleep upon the straw that was provided and it was fraught with worry at what the morning may bring, if they truly thought him a spy of the evil forces, the sentence was almost certainly death, and a torturous one at the least. His dreams were filled with the chopping off of limbs and the poking out of eyes. Each time he would awake with a jerk, a cold sweat formed upon his brow. He moved all of his extremities just to check they were still there.

When morning did finally come it greeted him with good news. He was awoken by a Dwarf surrounded by four guards, and Lothor was sure he was to be taken to a cell far beneath the city. As his eyes cleared however it was Cor. The jailer who had been so rough with him just the night before opened the door and patted him down.

“Hope you enjoyed your stay!” exclaimed the jailer.

Lothor chuckled nervously at the joke but hurried on hoping to be out of the jail, not to mention the whole damned city, for good. He thanked Cor for finding him and on their way back Cor told him of the party's latest quest and Lothor agreed to join them. After all he had no real choice it was either that or another sleepless night in her majesty's jail.

Once they had reached the sanctuary of their manor house Lothor decided he would stay there and not leave the safety of its walls until something truly dangerous was called for.

The following week went by far more smoothly than the first day and he was beginning to feel refreshed from the hard six months he had just had. He couldn't help thinking, like many warriors, that all this pampering and laziness was making him soft, but nevertheless he felt he had earned a rest. On the ninth day though all this changed.

Trumpets blared and the footsteps of an army could be heard like an earthquake. The Dark lord was here.

The first day of the siege only the vanguard came forward and the defenders vastly outnumbered them, he heard that many called for a charge out the gates to take the fight to these few enemy soldiers. Lothor agreed with the early show of force. It would boost their soldiers morale and lessen their enemies, but the wise king and his generals declined that proposal. Lothor did not mind it was not his place to question his betters, after all what did he know of tactics.

Day after day the opposing army filed in more troops whether it was raising the dead or travelling by river more and more came until what appeared to be an impossible amount of beings were laid out upon the plains south of Craggian Core. Lothor could not believe his eyes he had never dreamt there to be this many creatures in all the world yet here they were bunched in together like crops in a field.

Day five and the siege began proper and no fewer than fifty towers, pulled by Giants, much larger to their kin who had captured Lothor, began to amble forward at slow and foreboding pace. In the middle of these vast structures was a tent larger than any he had seen before laid on a gargantuan slab of wood and as the flaps opened a huge, red Dragon appeared upon the platform.

Lothor was frozen with fear. A Dragon! Lothor had heard tales of such creatures, and like almost everything that he had seen since joining with Cor's merry group, he had dismissed it for children's tales and myth. This however was no fairytale, this was real!

Valene takes great delight in the time spent with Ulthok and Periwinkle. The warmth of his arms grows more dear each time he holds her. It is strange to her the comfort she has when he is near. Before them, her existence had been very lonely.

She also takes advantage of Ulthok's study time to get to know the rest of the party. If her life is going to depend on them and theirs on her, it is wise to get to know them. Valene enjoys the comraderie, even as a newcomer, they have extended to her and she is grateful to be accepted. She will defend each of them with everything she has.

During the rest of the free time, she goes with Ulthok in the stores, getting treats for Periwinkle every now and then. Once, she found two matched amethyst within her price range and gifted them to the fairy dragon. Valene also bought potions, components and better lock picking tools. Who knows when her skills would come in handy? Practicing opening locks was also done and with each lock opened, her skills sharpened and her confidence in her abilites was strengthened.

Valene is disturbed to hear the rumors of the army that was approaching. As she sees the first of them arrive, she readies herself, having kept her prayers and worship up, for the mission she knows will be coming soon. A grim smile crosses her face and her eyes show determination. The fight will be bitter and she may lose her life in this. But in her heart she is glad of the friends and companions she has made. Especially a certain halfling mage...

A gust of air rattled through the brittle branches of the tree. It was a pitiful, withered thing. Its few leaves hung limply upon its higher branches, the lower leaves long since sacrificed for firewood. Even the moss that had grown upon the tree’s bark was now an unearthly, ghostly colour, unable to thrive amidst the filth and towering buildings of the fortress-city of Craggon Core.

And yet it was a slice of home.

Sirène sighed. The soft exhalation of her breath merged with the sounds of soft singing, the gentle plucking of the lyre, the rattle of cooking utensils, muted conversations and laughter. All around her sat and stood soldiers of E’Loth’Lorian drinking and carousing before the battle ahead.

In the dark she could see couples sneaking away for hidden trysts; a brief moment of comfort before…

“Not going to join them?”

“No …” she breathed, a little too loudly. Sirène turned to see another elf grinning broadly beside her. It was, for Sirène, like looking into a mirror of herself in another life. The other elf had the same black hair, the same blue eyes, but her face did not betray the same deep sadness that haunted Sirène’s.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to cause offence,” the other elf added in a conciliatory tone, although her lips still curled mischievously. “But maybe you should? On the morning, or the morning after that – whenever the hordes of Cirith Ungol reach us – we will die. I know it. We all know it. So we get what pleasure while we can … however we can ….”

“And yet still you smile?”

The elf smiled as she pulled in close; so close that Sirène could taste her fewywine-sweetened breath. “How best to spit in the eyes of Death and Destiny, than to die with a smile upon your lips?”

…

Sirène no longer felt like smiling.

The world had been stained black. Dark clouds had rolled in, blotting out the sun, threatening rain. And the clouds had a darker reflection upon the earth. Every inch of the mountain passes and valleys before the walls of Craggon Core was covered by a carpet of goblins, orcs and shambling corpses – as if every child’s nightmare had been stitched together and had come to life. It was a nightmare that promised to obliterate everything.

The men and women of the elven unit Sirène stood alongside did their best to mask their true feelings. Jokes were exchanged, bets made, advice given. But everyone knew that their numbers were too few and the enemy too many.

Sirène’s thoughts turned to her companions of previous weeks. She had fought with them and they had together overcome seemingly impossible odds to recover the Steel Maiden. But after entering the city she had avoided them all, unable to make any pretence of forced hilarity when she felt such unrelenting despair. Cor was overly domineering, Ulthok drunk on his love for Valene, Rayne distant, and the others that had either remained in the group or had recently joined it were strangers to her.

Sirène realised that she needed to find them. It was not because hope still remained simmering in her heart. That feeling had ling since died.

‘But I can still die with that smile…’

The siege of Craggian Core had begin and for the next week it was a series of siege engine vs. siege engine as the two sides tried to hammer through the others defenses.
Though both sides had magical shields in place, the good alliance upon the fortress walls and above it, the forces of Karza protecting the five siege engine groups. However as the week went on it was slowly becoming clear as one or two boulders hit the walls or landing within the fortress every few volleys, that Karza’s artillery was slowly winning this war of bombardment.

However things were about to change and the time for the party to act was quietly approaching.

Now during the course of this week members of the party had not been ideal from roaming the fortress walls, to shopping, and to indulging in other things they each had their own thoughts on what was needed.

For Ulthok the week consisted of roaming the battlement walls gazing up the huge mass of evil seemingly content to camp before the gates of Craggian Core as the siege did their work. During some of these times the stocky Halfling also found himself once again spending time with Peri with Valene at most times included. The two females had seemed to have created a bond between them over their love of Ulthok and he watched as they laughed and came to know one another better.

On one of this outings, at the behest of Valene they embarked on a shopping spree. Ulthok knowing what was needed by him as a Wizard quickly resupplied himself yet again of the materials needed to cast his spells. While Valene had specific items that she wished gained. As this day past the young Halfling Cleric/Thief was able to find a new pair of thieves tools. Though not magical as she had hoped they were well made and would surely grant her a bonus to her skill (+2) if ever the skill of picking a lock or opening a door was asked of her. However the price quoted was three times normal, the question for Valene at the price stated would they be worth it. As for potions she found a few and purchased as needed however the rate of sale was such that there was the possibility that though the potions radiated magic they could very well be fakes. With no real way to tell other then to consume them it was buyers risk to say the least.

For Eclipse the weeks time was spent in training, training and yet more training. Sometimes he trained with Emily but mostly on his own. Though he attended all the meetings he could, he always returned to the party compound to start another cycle of training. During one such trip he decided to look in the many shops and new tent merchants for a rumor of a quiver of never ending arrows. Though presented fake’s by some of the merchants he did not find what he was looking for instead finding two others. The choice to buy or not to do so up to him.
No matter what was to happen the Elf Ranger planned to be ready for it.

For Cor having watched as had most of the defenders of Craggian Core the arrival of the Dark Kings army the week of the siege engines was a week of going from the party compound to walk the battlements healing those hit by the errant boulder. With nothing to do, other then sharpen his tools of war, till called to the service of his own King at least in this way he yet gave of himself and his gift of healing. The dwarvin party leader felt in his gut the parties time of rest was nearing it’s end soon it would be their turn once more.

For Lothor having been jailed and though a possible spy Cor’s arrival had been a welcome sight. However the sight of the dwarf was soon to be forgotten as on the fifth day after the Dark armies arrival he saw a sight he had only seen once in passing on a bridge in Weavers pocket…A Dragon this time instead of a blue, a red and a big one at that. Having learned from the more knowing of the party that only Shadow Wraiths and the Dark himself rode dragons this to the human fighter was bad very, very bad. Yet the fear at first sight quickly faded and the young Lothor stood ready to face even it to keep the land of Trilogy free.

For Sirene the last month had not been so much a month of anticipation of the parties pending arrival at the massive human built fortress but one of sorrow. Having been lost in the sadness of her father’s death and the brief visit of her brother telling her of it she had not been one of much talking almost hiding in her room at times. Even the cat Niamedris had taken to watching the Elvin Druid/Mage closely. But with the Dark armies arrival and the falling of boulders her stupor and pain were pushed aside. Her only real goal right now was to reconnect with the rest of the party and Niamedris and get back to the job of defeating the evil now laying siege before them all.

So it was on the eve of the seventh day of the bombardment that Cor was called along with the rest of the party to the main hall of the fortress once more. Once within they found roughly fifty other men and women gathered waiting as they for the cause of the summons. Within only ten minutes the commander of the fortress, General Martin St Albans and Emily’s father, came to stand behind the podium at the front of the room.

“Men and women of Trilogy you who stand within this hall are the best of the best. You are the personal guards of your Kings. You are the best of elite units and you are the best within these fortress walls. And because of that you have been given a very straight forward mission.”
Reaching behind him the General removed a large cloth revealing a large map of the area in front of the fortress with five area’s darkened and circled in red each with a number from 1-5.

“These are your targets the five frontal enemy ballista now firing upon the fortress walls and city itself. Because of the ineffectiveness of counter-battery fire and magic to destroy them it has been decided to do it the old fashioned way by infiltration and destruction.

"You gentlemen and ladies will be divided into five groups of ten each with a separate target. To better effectively reach and take out your target you have been grouped together by the unit you came from all but yours Knight Cleric Cor. As you only have at this time seven effectives we have added one from his elite household guard and two volunteers. One, a female, highly recommended by your King, the other, a dwarf, that said he knew you when we picked him up for drunk and disorderly My adjunct Colonel Diamound is moving among you handing out your target briefing folders”
The General paused as a Colonel moved through the crowd handing a folder to each of ten people one of which was Cor.

“Ok you have your targets, you have your personal, go over them and memorize the routes to and from your targets and be at your egress points by 0030 hours where you will be met by a wizard. At 0100 hours the mission will be a go and before you move out the wizard will cast a spell of Non-Detection on all in the group.“ A last look over the groups and the General finished “Good luck and the blessing of the Gods”
With that General St Albans moved past the various grouped units and out the door. As Cor and the rest turned to follow they were met by a very familiar face, one Barreel Axehand

“Well nae if it be good I finally found ye Cor me friend these folks be saying ya need a volunteer to help you reach yonder enemy, an I was glad to join ya once more”
After a brief round of greetings Cor moved to the next, the Kings elite guardsmen a young but hard looking human.

“Knight Cleric Cor I am Sorin Malakir of his Kings household guard he has commanded me to join you in undertaking this mission, as such I am yours to command” Then before Cor could stop him the Guardsmen was on one knee before the Dwarf, head bowed.

However it was the last, a female half-elf standing at 5’10 with blue hair and purple rimmed blue eyes that stood out the most. Armed with a pair of matching short swords, numerous daggers, and an strangely crafted long bow she was dressed in dark chain mail again crafted in a style the dwarf had never seen. Though looking young, in her middle to early 20’s she carried her self confidently and unafraid as if someone much older.

“Greetings Cor, Knight Cleric, I am Lexson Heart, a friend let us say of your King. At his request I too volunteered as did the Dwarf, however I believe more willingly. I am yours to command and follow.”
A normal low curtsie delivered quite playfully with a hint of flirtation she moved to stand to the side of the group, introducing herself to each. With all introductions over Cor led the party outdoors and quickly back to the party compound to ready themselves for the night ahead.............


(DM OOC: Ok we are officially restarted this is your last chance to change spells gather any equipment and get ready any gear you’ll be taking with you on this operation. On equipment be detailed if you don’t list your taking it in the Q/A or in your post you don’t have it. Ok though I have added the new character of Lexson Heart, to be played by Lexson-of-hearts, I’m not sure she will be able to post this week but please welcome her to the game. I will have the character posted within the next few days.

OK below are the potions quivers and thieves picks and the prices asked for them.)
POTIONS 1 Giant Strength: 2000gps
1 Vitality: 1000gps
3 Extra-Healing: 1000gps each

THIEVES TOOLS: 5,000gps

QUIVERS Of Returning (Any missile fired from quiver will return and be ready to be fired again the next round unless missile is destroyed) 10,000gps
Of Arrow Storing ( Can store up to 200 arrows of all types. Quiver even when full weighs nothing.) 5,000gps

"Bah, both of ye get up and nay do that agin. Ye wanna tip off the archers who ta target?" Once the new members rose he continued. "Seems we have a mission finally. A wee little thing of sneaking in and knocking out teh seige engines. A course those be right smack in the middle of the enemy army. We will need ta move quick, specially on the way back. I'll nay tell ya how ta pack but tis nay a long trip but a quick raid. Speed is important. Think over yer spells and get with each other ta make sure we have a good assortment. ye all know what is expected so no flowery speach. Just try not ta die, unless ya really want ta test my favor status with Odin." Cor laughed. As for a plan, well now Ithink I'll skip it this time and just go with: destroy the ballista and any evil creatures near it and then hightail it out. Any questions?"

Cor waited and then before leaving made sure to let the others know his chosen spells. (OOC: they are in the Q&A thread)

The room stank of burnished armour and boot-polish. Half of those who had been invited to the meeting jangled under the weight of the medals they wore, and the other half gazed longingly at the lumps of metal that had been pinned to their chests.

Sirène’s ears picked up the mutterings of disapproval from the few elves in attendance. It was hard to disagree. Some questioned their bravery, others their sanity at thinking they would be able to slip by enemy pickets in suits of plate. But Sirène, found it hard to condemn the strutting knights.

‘Why not take pleasure where you can find it?’
::That’s what I’ve been doing!:: Niamedris craned his head accusingly from his perch on Sirène’s shoulder. She had earlier caught him trying to repopulate Craggon Core’s dwindling population of alley cats.

A blustering speech from Cor saved Sirène the need to respond. The tactlessness of Dwarves, Sirène had learnt, was useful on occasion.

She responded quickly to the Dwarves orders, pausing only to nod her head politely at the two newcomers to the group. “Ulthok and I will be able to teleport us back to this room after we succeed in our mission. That shouldn’t be a problem. I may be able to find out what kind of opposition we will face before we leave, and I have a spell that will help to disguise us all as we near our target. It should work even if the ballista itself is protected by magic of some sort.”


OOC: Sirène will cast Commune with Nature as soon as the party has embarked on the mission and is beyond the city walls. She’s going to search for the location of any powerful unnatural creatures within a 6 mile radius (with the intention of going around them).

With theoffe items from the King, Rayne sat down and looked at her own equipement as well as groups needs as she was one hwho often took the role of healer. She will looke for a wand of healing the highest leverl possible, if it is not available then she would try for the next highest. Scrolls of raise dead and heal would also be useful, where she had to buy them or have then made. She wooud include Sure disease, blindness/deafness, and neutralizw poison scools or wand as well as healing pointions. She approached Cor with her suggestions son behalf of the group for such items of healing sthat thye might be able to purchase, including estra points, She explaines her list of items and asks for such funds as the group has available for extras. She had remembered that they had nearly run out while on the Test in Drow Mountain,


Rayne organized her equipment taking out all uncecessary items to save weght now extra clothes or items not strictly necessary.. She would take a quiver of returning and find as many arrows as possible to fill the new one and her old one. She sought out others asking them to make sure to buy enought healing potions for when speells had run out or they were cut off form healers. that too had happened several times in Frow Mountain. Food of couse, high energy light weight, That was a litttle harder in a city the was overrun with an massive army as well as refugees.

During the days she made sure to meet and greet all the new members of their group as well as all those she had been with on Drow Mountain. They needed to rebond with each other. She took time to spend with Sirene as well. As elves they had much in common but rayne knew the the pressures of their journey in Drow Mountain they had little time to just get to know each other.

During tone of he days of preperation Rayne goes to find Sirene. "Sirene, I am so clad you are coming with us. We have not had much time to just talk since you first joined us. I wanted to, before we set off again." Rayne share an abbriviated story with her as well as encouraging a similar sharing form Sirene, but with not real pressure for Sirene to do so." Rayne told her simple story of her childhoof her owh life path of Ranger then later as cleric as well. She jou in being selescted as a Pegausu rider and her service to the king in that respect.


6 potion of extra healing for myself
6 potions ofextra Healing for the group.
2 poitions each of cure blinnes/deafness, neutralized poison, disease.


Wand of healing, highest we can get or two pf hext highest available.
Grom king's valut High level Ring of Protection that I can get.

The team was finally called to the great hall. There they joined other groups and were finally told of the assignment.

“These are your targets the five frontal enemy ballista now firing upon the fortress walls and city itself. Because of the ineffectiveness of counter-battery fire and magic to destroy them it has been decided to do it the old fashioned way by infiltration and destruction.”
Ulthok listened and grimly pondered the words of the General. At least their journey to disaster would not be as long as the last. Their targets were in sight of the wall along with a sea of things ready and willing to kill them and enjoy every bloody blow.

“Ok you have your targets, you have your personal, go over them and memorize the routes to and from your targets and be at your egress points by 0030 hours where you will be met by a wizard. At 0100 hours the mission will be a go and before you move out the wizard will cast a spell of Non-Detection on all in the group.…………………..Good luck and the blessing of the Gods”
Quietly the mage followed Cor as they left the great hall. Peri looked quizzically at the Halfling as he seemed to pace slowly and stare at each and every detail of the hall. The mage bent to touch the floor ad felt the aura of the room. “What are you doing… we need to catch up with the others.” The little dragon chirped in his ear. “Peri… I need to know this room in every detail in case we must make a sudden escape and teleport back here to report. If I miss something we could end up in the floor instead of on the floor.” Ulthok saw Sirene doing much the same as he. “See our friend with the cat is doing the same, she may save others.”

Leaving the hall three more members join the group, the Dwarf from road, a Sorin Malakir and a Lexson Heart.
When they were all gather Cor addressed them.

"Seems we have a mission finally. A wee little thing of sneaking in and knocking out teh seige engines. A course those be right smack in the middle of the enemy army. We will need ta move quick, specially on the way back. I'll nay tell ya how ta pack but tis nay a long trip but a quick raid. Speed is important. Think over yer spells and get with each other ta make sure we have a good assortment. ye all know what is expected so no flowery speach. Just try not ta die, unless ya really want ta test my favor status with Odin………………As for a plan, well now Ithink I'll skip it this time and just go with: destroy the ballista and any evil creatures near it and then hightail it out. Any questions?"
There were no questions, so Ulthok headed back to his room to pack. Cor had said this should be just a quick raid, but things never seemed to go that straight forward. They were popping into the middle of evil and anything could happen. Peri watched as the mage reviewed his weapons, his tools and supplies. “We may not come back, but great Googlie Mooglie we are going to do this big!”

Valene listened carefully to the assignment, taking a deep breath, she did a quick inventory and decided she was ready.

The halfing watched Ulthok with interest as she waited for him to finish whatever he was doing. Smiling softly she anticipates what they will face.

One of the items she seeks is some lamp oil. If necessary, a brightly burning ballista could be just the distraction needed for a quick exit. The flint and steel are encased and ready should they be needed.
She also makes sure she has any item that might make noise well wrapped and in her back pack.
This should be interesting, if nothing else.

When Ulthok finishes what he is doing, she takes his hand and kisses him gently. "So are we ready, dear one? I believe this should prove...a bit of a surprise to the enemy...

Cor approached Rayne, "Las, I heard ya were asking about a ring of protection from the king's vault. I dunna know if he has such but I have one I can spare. Take it and put it ta good use." Cor gives Rayne his +3 ring of protection.

Gathering everyone together once more, Cor lays out the plan. "I been thinking that perhaps the best way is ta blow up or set fire to the ballistas. Each of us has a way we can do it, from spells to oil and fire arrows. I dunna expect it will be easy as they are bound ta be protected by meat shields and spells. So, we try everything until something works then we get out before they hack us ta pieces."

Lexon sighs as she looks at the team she would be joining. She plamed the handels of her blades at her hips out of nervious habbit she was slightly insecure about meting new people but her mission was her mission. She gave a smile as Cor described what needed to be done.

"simple enough I think. I'm an asuna worrior i'm much more suited for one on one combat then groups but I do look forward to joining you in combat" she says her voice soft and sweet hardly one would assasiate with a warrior. she pulled her braid to rest on her shoulder as she played with the thick dark blue mass. she was going to try her best at this mission and do her report hopefull with good results.

ooc: hello its nice metting everyone please forgive me if i'm a little rough this is my first time playing 2.0 and over a form at that. -bows-

Eclipse would continue his normal regiment of training, however in his spare down time, he tracked down the quiver of returning and made sure to add it to his inventory.

He would find Kor during the week and tell him one sentence and leave to return to his training.

"I will follow you into the heat of battle, I believe my place is among your group in the battle to come and as such, you have my blade at your disposal."

He would say this before bowing and taking his leave. He did not want to miss as much training as possible. The time he spent on the wall, he used it to study the enemies tactics and movements, trying to find any way to help defeat the foes they may face in the coming times ahead.

He kept his gear light as he packed for the mission, only taking what was necessary and a few extra items.

Every table in the Kings Hall had, sat around them, odd groups of Humans, Dwarves, Elves and Halflings who, judging by their disposition, clearly possessed varying skills. At one table were Cor's and his companions, made up of unique individuals with no real fighting experience of note and Lothor expected that they were not alone. All of the groups of around seven or eight in number seemed to be much the same and Lothor was not confident in all their ability, let alone credibility. Some had patches over one eye and a mean smile, golden teeth glinting off candlelight, others looked the part in fine armour much like his and shining scabbards with polished hilts, yet they did not sit comfortably and seemed to cringe as the Kings brief continued, its danger ever increasing.

Lothor joined them in the cringe-worthy speech full of valour and honour, not to mention the almost certainty of death. Lothor had been thinking recently, whilst he sat holed up in the St.Albans vast city estate.

Since he had been captured by the mountain Giants his whole aspect on life had changed, before that capture he had been a simple man earning only enough coin to feed himself and maintain his weapons and armour, anything extra he would give to the poor. He had helped people rebuild their homes and fought off monsters and bandits, but would accept no reward, bar a bed and meals. Now though, he had seen a god take a humanoid form, a dragon in full flight and a million creatures besieging the capital of a whole realm. Before, he had thought everyone lived in small communities struggling to make enough harvest to feed them all year round. Now he knew this not to be true.

He wished he had never joined Cor and the Giants had eaten him when he was a captive there. For now he knew their was a whole world to be explored full of new experiences, full of wonder and adventure. It seemed a sick joke, told by fate, that it was about to be taken away from him, perhaps this very night.

The King finished his speech and everyone was beginning to filter out and leave the gigantic hall, where even a Giant could question the need for such a high ceiling. Just before leaving however, Cor rounded them all up and told them of his plan, or lack of.

 As for a plan, well now Ithink I'll skip it this time and just go with: destroy the ballista and any evil creatures near it and then hightail it out. Any questions?"

No questions were asked and they all ventured back to the estate and once there Lothor headed straight to his room. Allowing dark thoughts to harbour in his mind.

There he waited for midnight, the time crawling agonisingly slow. He felt that he should be enjoying the hours that may be his last, but all that filled his head were regrets and bad memories.