Classic Castle Roleplay: October 2005

[Lord_Of_The_LEGO]

After a moment, Adrian said a little regretfully, "Too bad it didn't have much more on the One Brick To Rule Them All. Just said it was really valuable and powerful."

“Wait,” said Cate suddenly, reaching forward, "We missed a page."

Grid: J-10
Location: Orion

Hans and Adrian clustered closer to Cate as she delicately pulled free a loose sheet of parchment. Upon it was embossed a beautiful image.

"It’s a coat of arms.” Said Cate in a quiet voice.

Both Hans and Adrian said at once, at the same time, “No it’s not.”

Cate looked up.

“It’s not?”

“No, it’s not.” said Adrian.

“This is called an achievement of arms.” Explained Hans, “A coat of arms is only that shield in the middle. An achievement of arms has the coat of arms, but also elements, such as supporters and mottos.”

“Whatever.” Sighed Cate, “It’s a beautiful achievement of arms.”

And indeed it was. In the background was a flowing crimson cloth. Set upon this was the coat of arms. Hans and Adrian were devouring it. You could almost here the cogs clicking away in there skulls. They murmured over the parchment eagerly. Finally Cate got fed up.

"Will you please explain to me what the tyco you two are oogling about?” she snapped.

Hans and Adrian looked up.

“Er…okay,” said Adrian, “Weíre examining the heraldry.”

“The design of the shield,” explained Hans.

“I know that,” snapped Cate.

“Anyway,” Adrian continued, “First off, there’s the tincture, or color, of the shield: ‘Or’ which is gold. Then there’s the ordinary, that big black cross. Now, all coats of arms have tinctures and ordinaries -- or other things like ordinaries like patterns and divisions of fields -- but not all coats of arms have what is called a cadency. This coat of arms does.”

Hans took up the lecture.

“A cadency is a special symbol. Each son entitled to bear arms was allowed to make a distinction on his coat by use of a cadency, such as a cresent or fluer-de-lis. This coat of arms has a sun.”

“And what’s that?” asked Cate, pointing at a fantastical lion image located in the upper left of the shield.”

“That’s a charge. A charge can be any type of beast, placed anywhere on the coat of arms,” said Adrian.

“Nice.” Said Cate, “So this must be Nathaniel’s coat of arms?”

“Yeah.” Said Hans, “Must be. Whoa.”

Hans flipped over the sheet of parchment.

“What?” said Cate and Adrian together.

Hans spread the parchment out upon his legs. It was a map. At the top were inscribed the lines:

“Good luck to those who seek it.”

Hans and Adrian sucked in their breath.

“What?” demanded Cate.

“Look at the watermark.” Gasped Adrian, “This map was made by the famed cartography, Fry Slayer.”

“Fry Slayer?” Cate said incredulously.

“Aye.” Nodded Hans, “That’s the name he went by…”

“But what is a map made by Fry Slayer doing on the back of the Wells family coat of arms?” asked Cate.

Hans and Adrian looked at one another.

“Good luck to those who seek it.” Adrian said quietly.

“No…way…” said Hans, “it’s a map to the One Brick To Rule Them All!”

Cate snorted.

“How could it be?”

“What else would it be?” snapped Adrian, “Why else would Nathaniel put a map on the back of his coat of arms?”

“The One Brick To Rule Them All was the most valuable thing in his life!” cried Hans, “And who else besides the Emperor could have hired the legendary Fry Slayer?”

“But this map isn’t even accurate.” Said Cate, “Look, half the factions aren’t even there! Most of the isles and islands and islets aren’t even recorded!”

“Cate,” Adrian explained patiently, “This map was made nine hundred years ago. Of course it won’t be like modern maps. Why aren’t Dark Foresters, or Westerners, Wolfpack, or Easterners or Royals there? Because they hadn’t invented themselves yet!”

“Okay…” said Cate, leaning back, “If this IS the map to the One Brick To Rule Them All, where does it lead?”

They all bent forward.

“There!” cried Hans, “There’s a red X.”

“It looks like it’s in the Forestman realm.” Said Adrian.

They fell silent. Then Cate giggled.

“I think it’s prime time we paid our friend Lord Bjarn a visit…”

[Formendacil]

Grid: J-10
Location: Orion

“There!” cried Hans, “There’s a red X.”

“It looks like it’s in the Forestman realm.” Said Adrian.

They fell silent. Then Cate giggled.

“I think it’s prime time we paid our friend Lord Bjarn a visit…”

"How would we do that?" said Adrian, "we've kind of got jobs right now."

"Not for long," said Hans. "We're really ploughing through your Dad's stuff, Cate. Maybe a week, tops, and then we'll be out of work. And I'd just as soon be a bum heading up to Drullen Bell than looking for another job around here."

"True," said Adrian. "Could we afford it though?"

"Come on!" said Cate, "you KNOW I'll bankroll it. Just drop your flat, grab your gold, and we're out of here."

"That's another thing," said Hans. "Would your parents let you go on a crazy trip like this? I mean, leaving LEGOland, and just taking off across Dametreos? I don't exactly see them being in favour of it."

"Oh come on!" said Cate. "I'm a grown woman! I can do what I want."

"Not if you want to keep receiving that stipend with which you were planning to bankroll us with," said Adrian wryly.

"Besides, it's only up to Drullen Bell," said Cate. "Right through LEGOland, the Crusaders, and up to Drullen Bell. You couldn't find a more peaceful road."

"I dunno," said Hans. "Two hundred Cavaliers marched out yesterday."

"They went in the opposite direction, and they were Cadets anyway," said Cate. "It's only to Drullen Bell, it won't be a problem."

"If you say so," said Hans doubtfully.

"Just watch me," said Cate.

"You brought up another interesting thing there," said Adrian, diverting the conversation slightly. "Drullen Bell. Why on earth would Nathaniel have hidden the One Brick in Drullen Bell? Why not here in the Empire? Why not in some remote mountain hold?"

"Well..." said Hans slowly. "Maybe its the fact that the Forestmen have such a, I don't know, goody-goody, reputation. Maybe they did as far back as the 1000s..."

"It's possible," said Adrian, "but it still seems unlikely."

"True," said Hans. "But it's probably hidden pretty well there. After all, it hasn't been heard from in 900 years."

"That we know of," said Adrian. "For all we know it was stolen two years later and taken to Dragonar!"

"Well, there's nothing for it but to go there and find out!" said Cate. "When do you want to leave."

"Erm... whenever you get your parents' permission?" said Hans. "In a week or so, I guess."

[Maedhros]

Then he turned and went back into Masaryu´s house. The three Einhärjar glanced at Björn who furiously clutched his fists. He knows that I can´t. The men wouldn´t accept me as long as Vidkjal is still alive. Why did that coward back down from my challenge? He is dishonoured, but, aren´t we all?

Grid: B-15
Location: Nobumura village

Masaryu awoke with a start, something had disturbed him in his sleep. His room was pitch-black and silent. He carefully got up and glided silently out of the bed and down on the floor. There was someone, or something else in the room. He could sense it. He had been blessed with divine powers given to him by the Sun and for the first time in a very long time he was afraid. Whatever was in this room had a foul intent. He carefully crawled towards the door.

He reached it and stopped to think. He would stand up, open it and just run for it. It wasn´t far too Toratsugu´s house and there he would find some help. He nodded quietly to himself and took a deep breath. But then it struck him: Toratsugu had left with Katateru and a shinobi of the Gyokushin clan. His heart sank and it felt like a cold and had grasped his throat.

But he couldn´t just lie and wait for his doom. He had to try. He offered a silent prayer for the Sun and then he stood up and opened the door.

But before he could run the cold blade of an axe was buried deeply in his back and gasping he fell forward. The last thing he thought before he passed out was about Vidkjal who lay sleeping in the next room. Vidkjal-dono... wake up...

-------

Vidkjal awoke with a start with Masaryu´s voice ringing in his head. Wake up.

He quickly got up and fumbled for a lamp. But before he could reach it he heard running steps coming towards him from Masaryu´s room. He bent his knees and prepared himself for the strike. He could see a faint shape coming and lunged out at it with his whole body. He hit the shape and it was thrown back several yards by his mighty tackle. But Vidkjal fell as well. He quickly stood up and ran towards the shape who sat leaned against the wall and shrugged off his dizziness. Vidkjal didn´t stop to think, he kicked with all his force and hit the unknown minifig right in the face. He heard the crack of a breaking jaw but didn´t stop. He kicked again and heard more cracks. Must have been the skull, he thought and bent down. Now he could make out the features of the minifig.

It was Björn. His face was crushed and bloody and he was unconscious and would probably die within a minute. Vidkjal frowned and shook Björn.

"What were you doing, you filthy megabloks?"

But Björn didn´t answer. Vidkjal let go of him and the lifeless body fell down on the floor. Then another thought struck Vidkjal as a thunderbolt: Masaryu.

He ran to Masaryu´s room and stumbled and fell over something wet and soft on the floor. He didn´t need to look. He already knew.

The whole village was awakened by a thunderous roar from Masaryu´s house.

[Lord_Of_The_LEGO]

Grid: J-10
Location: Orion

"How would we do that?" said Adrian, "we've kind of got jobs right now."

"Not for long," said Hans. "We're really ploughing through your Dad's stuff, Cate. Maybe a week, tops, and then we'll be out of work. And I'd just as soon be a bum heading up to Drullen Bell than looking for another job around here."

"True," said Adrian. "Could we afford it though?"

"Come on!" said Cate, "you KNOW I'll bankroll it. Just drop your flat, grab your gold, and we're out of here."

"That's another thing," said Hans. "Would your parents let you go on a crazy trip like this? I mean, leaving LEGOland, and just taking off across Dametreos? I don't exactly see them being in favour of it."

"Oh come on!" said Cate. "I'm a grown woman! I can do what I want."

"Not if you want to keep receiving that stipend with which you were planning to bankroll us with," said Adrian wryly.

"Besides, it's only up to Drullen Bell," said Cate. "Right through LEGOland, the Crusaders, and up to Drullen Bell. You couldn't find a more peaceful road."

"I dunno," said Hans. "Two hundred Cavaliers marched out yesterday."

"They went in the opposite direction, and they were Cadets anyway," said Cate. "It's only to Drullen Bell, it won't be a problem."

"If you say so," said Hans doubtfully.

“But what about me?” he continued, “I may be ‘out on my own’, and all that, but my parents will bat an eye or more when I announce I’m leaving for the Forestmen.”

“That’s not a problem,” said Adrian, “It’s not like you’re tied down here anymore. No school, and as you said, Lord Slacs’ job isn’t going to last much longer.”

“I have an idea.” Cackled Cate, an evil glint in her eye, “Just tell them that you deer friend Cate has invited you on a tour of Dametreos. I’m sure your dad at least won’t object then.”

Hans went red and Adrian guffawed.

“I can’t say that!” said Hans.

“Then I’ll tell them myself.” Said Cate, grinning wide.

“Really?” said Hans.

"Just watch me," said Cate.

"You brought up another interesting thing there," said Adrian, diverting the conversation slightly. "Drullen Bell. Why on earth would Nathaniel have hidden the One Brick in Drullen Bell? Why not here in the Empire? Why not in some remote mountain hold?"

"Well..." said Hans slowly. "Maybe its the fact that the Forestmen have such a, I don't know, goody-goody, reputation. Maybe they did as far back as the 1000s..."

"It's possible," said Adrian, "but it still seems unlikely."

"True," said Hans. "But it's probably hidden pretty well there. After all, it hasn't been heard from in 900 years."

"That we know of," said Adrian. "For all we know it was stolen two years later and taken to Dragonar!"

"Well, there's nothing for it but to go there and find out!" said Cate.

“That’s what’s so great about my idea. A tour of Dametreos could take a long time. They wouldn’t worry if we were…delayed.”

Cate raised her brows suggestively. Again Hans went red and Adrian rolled over on his side, his guffaws long and loud.

“Oh shut up.” Snapped Hans irritably, “So…when do you want to leave?”

“In a week or so, I guess,” said Cate, “Whenever I get my parents’ permission…and your’s.”

Adrian continued to snicker.

[jamitjames]

G-7 An inn on the outskirts of town

After a moment of silence Jainess' curiosity got the better of her, besides, this Bull had awken something inside of her that had been sleeping since she was a kid.

"What is, Barbod," she spat the word out, "doing since he took back the crown?"

"In short, nothing." answered Kale with a small trace of bitterness.

Jainess gave a highly exaggerated laught. "I'm sure every one is enjoying sitting around getting fat?" sneered Jainess.

To wich Kale retorted, "Of course, and your having a party were you are?"

"What am I doing here?" muttered Jainess, but she did not try and answer her question. Mainly because she feared what the answer was.

[TheOrk]

G-7 An inn on the outskirts of town

"What am I doing here?" muttered Jainess, but she did not try and answer her question. Mainly because she feared what the answer was.

Kale nodded, he had lived a rough life and have mixed with every type of people. One look at Jainess told him something happened between her and Barbod. “Hey you! More ale!” He barked at the passing bartender.

“Had a row with Barbod didn’t you?” He asked smoothly.

Jainess, he expected to turn red and suddenly be all over him with some acidic remark. Instead she fidgeted. “Maybe…”

“Why don’t you come back then? Sure Barbod maybe rougher then most of the blue blood leaders around here, but I’m sure he isn’t the type to hold a grudge against someone forever. Excluding the Black Falcons.”

Jainess shrugged “What does it matter? After spending tyco know’s how long living in the woods, I’m not about to come crawling back to him because I got alittle cold.”

“If you wanted a roof over your head, you should have become a mercenary. I don’t think any of us would have lasted long in this world without using steel.”

Jainess nodded “Yeah, I know how to use a sword pretty well and I learned acouple things in the wild.”

“Still, I sure Barbod will not object to you coming back. The entire kingdom as well as the Bull Isle is large enough for the two of you to never meet anyway.”

Jainess didn’t reply.

“It looks you know how to use a sword. Barbod could always use another, we haven’t had our land back for a whole year yet. Sure with the Classics having their foot in everything we still aren’t safe. Nobody saw BloodVaine coming did they? Nobody saw the ikrosians coming did they? They weren’t that far from our lands. Half the kingdom could have been burned to the ground. There’s even talk of savage barbarians attacking from the west.”

“What are you getting at!?” She snapped.

“Nothing.” Replied Kale bluntly. “You just don’t have to spend your life sleeping on a rock, in the woods behind a pub.” Jainess was ready to slug him for that one, or take him up on his suggestion. She didn’t know which.

[Lord_Of_The_LEGO]

It was the next day. The Dragonsbane camp as Ttrank was being disassembled. Japheth and Opal were still in the surrounding woods. And there quarry, Morgue, was far away, supping in a Royal Knight town located on the Royal Knight panhandle. He was sipping the last of his soup when a broad person clad in black armor approached his table. The knight sat uninvited in a chair and lifted up his pointed black visor.

“Morgue of the Wolfpack?” queried the knight.

Morgue nodded.

“I am Sir Fredric de Kére of the Black Knights.”

Morgue nodded.

de Kére twirled a black walrus moustache with his mailled hand.

“You specialize in…the removal of persons…am I correct?”

Morgue nodded.

de Kére raised his hand. Two black-cloaked squires approached, struggling to haul forward a wooden chest. They shoved it onto the table, which creaked in complaint, and one of them pulled open the lid. Golden Black Knight dublairs gleamed.

“That will be you payment,” said de Kére carefully, “to assassinate King Sirion.”

Morgue nodded.

“Do you accept?” asked de Kére.

Morgue nodded.

“Then I bid you good day.”

de Kére rose and strode out, his squires scampering after him. Morgue rose and shut the lid of the chest, pushed it to the floor, and began to drag it. Once it was stowed he would go to work immediately on de Kére’s request. de Kére had paid Morgue almost twice as much to killed King Sirion as Lord Void had paid to kill Ajaxx Dragonsbane. Highest bidder always one. Lord Void’s request would have to wait.

Admin’s Note: The follow post in accordance with the new MNPC rules.

Grid: I-13
Location: Castle Rathoan

The Black Knight capital city of Rathborg was a-bustle with activity. Today, on the seventh of October in the year 2005 of the era of Classic-Castle, King Sirion, Lord Monarch of the Kingdom of the Black Knights was holding a grand banquet and fair in celebration of his ten years as ruler. The gates of the mighty fortified city had been throw open, and all who wish were allowed to enter to enjoy themselves and sup the famous Black Knight beer and ale for free. Sirion had pulled out all the stoppers. Money-pinching accountants were already bemoaning the depleted treasury, but Sirion ignored them. He felt elated. He had repaired the Black Knight empire in the wake of the BloodVaine War. Little did he know that though he had won the war, he was just about to loose his life.

Morgue sat atop a rafter, perched fifty feet above the floor of the great hall. The blowgun was in his hand. The dart was loaded. The assassin squinted. He brought the blowgun to his lips…

Sir Fredric de Kére was there, at the banquet table, as an honored guest, when Sirion suddenly went rigid and violently coughed wine across the table. de Kére at once leapt up and rushed over to King Sirion.

“Milord has been poisoned!” cried de Kére, swiftly yanking out the dart unnoticed and slipping it into his shirt, “He has been poisoned by drink!”

At once everyone distanced themselves from their goblets. Already Sirion was still. de Kére moaned in charade of sorrow.

“Milord Sirion is dead!”

[Maedhros]

Grid: B-15
Location: Nobumura village

It was early morning and the whole village had gathered around Masaryu´s house. Even the vikings were there and everyone murmured about what would happen. Vidkjal had summoned them and now he stood on the roof of the house in full view of everyone. He cleared his throat and then talked with a strong and loud voice:

"People of Nobumura, tonight one of my kin slayed your beloved healer Masaryu. He was a great man, and we Einhärjar are obliged to pay for his death. His death shall be repayed thousandfold with our blood. And if any Einhärjar dislike my words I welcome him to challenge me."

The silence was interrupted only by the song of a nightingale far away.

[Formendacil]

Grid: J-10
Location: The Imperial City, Orion

At once everyone distanced themselves from their goblets. Already Sirion was still. de Kére moaned in charade of sorrow.

“Milord Sirion is dead!”

News travels fast.

The more important the news, the faster it travels. And there is little news more important than the assassination of a King. Before forty-eight hours were out, Emperor Constantius knew of King Sirion's passing.

"Four monarchs in one year!" he said, shaking his head, and pacing in front of his desk. Marshal-General Theodosius stood watching. "Radjar Kath, Falconis XXIX, Lord Void, and now Sirion. That's a horredous turnover rate!"

"Five," said Theodosius. "You forgot Kjeld."

"Right!" said Constantius. "And out of that five, not ONE was a natural succession. Kath had no relatives, Falconis wasn't properly succeeded until Martin's death. Void was ousted in a blatant rebellion. Kjeld was assassinated. And now Sirion is assassinated. What's more, he's exactly the same as Radjar Kath in leaving no kin."

"He was an only child, and was single," nodded Theodosius. "Did he have any cousins?"

"None close enough with a clear claim," said the Emperor. "Thank goodness we didn't recall the troops of the 9th Legion who are stationed in Rathoan! The situation there could get bloody."

"You expect a civil war?"

"Unless I step in and pick their new king for them, there WILL be a civil war," said Constantius. "Sirion had a bevy of second cousins on his father's side, none of whom stands out as the most clear claimant. What's more, pretty much every one of them is a lord in his own right."

"Who do you propose to pick, then?" asked Theodosius.

"Not one of Sirion's relatives, I assure you," said the Emperor. "Sirion's great-grandfather came to the throne without Imperial consent, so I can use that as a pretext. I'm thinking of looking into the Wyrmsbane family. They held the throne prior to Sirion's line. What's more, none of the major lords in the Black Knight realm have Wyrmsbane blood, so I don't think we'll be seeing an attempt by any of them to regain the throne- another point in their favour."

The Emperor rang for one of his servants.

"Go down to the Archives and have one of the Archivists find you the family tree of the House of Wyrmbane. The 20th century generations, if there are several. Also bring the current Who's Who? from Rathoan."

"Yes, Sire."

[jamitjames]

“Nothing.” Replied Kale bluntly. “You just don’t have to spend your life sleeping on a rock, in the woods behind a pub.” Jainess was ready to slug him for that one, or take him up on his suggestion. She didn’t know which.

But she did neither. Instead she looked him right in the eye with an honest look and said, "I'm not a Bull anymore. That's something from past, I can't go back to it, never. It's beyond me now. I can't go back..." she repreated and a far-away look came into her eyes.

"If your not going to go back, when will go forward?" asked Kale.

To that Jainess had no answer. "Listen, come back with me for a little bit. You don't need to let anyone know who you are. There's tons of stuff you can do over there. I for one could use your help. You can stay in my house in a bed with a pillow and a bath."

And it was that joke that made Jainess laugh for the first time in years. "Sure, why not? When do we leave?"

[Maedhros]

Grid: B-15
Location: Outside Nobumura

Kyiokatsu would never become a great warrior but he was an incredible climber. He liked to be alone and before all to be in the wilds. Today he sat in a treetop with a clear view of the sea. The sun was setting and the sky was blazing red. Suddenly he caught sight of something on the horizon. He gazed at it for a long time. It must be a ship, he thought. He contemplated it for a long time and finally he recognized the shape of it. Kofukuryu, he thought. Hidemitsu´s back. He let out a loud cry of joy and then jumped down from the tree and ran towards the village.

--------

Hidemitsu stood in the bow of Kofukuryu and gazed at the land he now saw. At last, he thought. It had been a long and eventful voyage. But it had been a good voyage. He had gained two new companions, and they were both reliable and strong. The first one of them, Kor was a fellow Ninjarian and it hadn´t been to hard to convince him. The other one though was a strange man. He was a wolfpack, and his motives were not really clear. But he had saved Hidemitsu´s life once and seemed to have a true heart. He thought about their first encounter.

He awoke with an overwhelming pain in his stomach. Takemasa and Kor sat on opposite sides of him. Both looked worried sick and their faces lit up when they saw him open his eyes. He lay in a wood somewhere in LEGOland. Takemasa embraced him but he pushed him away and grinned in pain.

"It´s good to see you, Takemasa-chan, but please let me be", he said with a grin of pain. Kor didn´t seem to find words and Takemasa just weeped. Hidemitsu was actually quite surprised that he was still alive, the wound was grievous and deep and he knew that neither Kor nor Takemasa knew much about medicine.

Then he saw the minifig who had saved his life. A man in a black cloak and wolfpack clothes leaned against a tree a few yards away. His enigmatic burning eyes gazed at Hidemitsu.

"So, you are awake", he said in a low and hoarse voice. Hidemitsu sat up and made a grimace in pain.

"Indeed, and who are you if I may ask?"

"Swift."

"I´m honoured, my name´s Hidem..."

"I know, they told me."

Hidemitsu frowned and caught Swift´s gaze. Swift shrugged his shoulders.

"You´d better get some more sleep. That was no simple scratch."

Hidemitsu nodded. "Of course, I assume you saved me? Thank you."

Swift shrugged again and turned his gaze to the sky.

Hidemitsu wasn´t entirely sure about Swift, sometimes he acted strangely. His eyes sometimes shone in a bloody red colour and got e feral streak. But so far he had been honest and nice, if a bit brusque.

Hidemitsu glanced at him and found that he met his gaze.

"We are soon in my home now, Swift."

Swift nodded. A heavy silence came over them but now Hidemitsu decided to ask the question he had been thinking of for so long.

"Why did you follow me?"

Swift´s piercing eyes locked Hidemitsu´s gaze.

"If you succeed in your quest, your nation will be a good and noble land. Then, I could get some much needed help in my quest."

He turned his eyes from Hidemitsu and gazed at the shore. Hidemitsu nodded slightly and looked at the shore too.

There was no sound but the splashing of the sea and creaking of the ship. But suddenly Swift broke the silence:

"Your people live in tents?"

Hidemitsu glanced at him and then gazed at the shore. It was almost dark by now but after a few moments he could distinguish the shapes of tents.

"Strange..."

He turned to his first mate Katamori who climbed up from below deck.

"Katamori-san, tell the crew to prepare for battle."

[Robin Hood]

"About two days journey. It's actually not that far, but these hills lengthen the journey considerably. Kash-Lid the most isolated of all the Daimyos. That’s probably one of the reasons the assassin went there."

"Crud." muttered Aiden to himself, looking up at the hills. "Well, we'd better get going. There's still plenty of daylight left."

Grid: B-16
Location: Village near Daimyo Kash-Lid's fortress, Ninjarin side of Boranis Dracis Island.

Three days later the companions arrived in the small village a half-an-hour walk from Daimyo Kash-Lid's fortress. It had been a rather uneventful journey up the hills. Save for when Aiden had fallen into a mini-ravine and had nearly broken his ankle. That had set them back a day, but other than that it had been nothing more than a brisk hike.

These Ninjarins were not shinobi and would not hesitate to be less than hospitable to Kae-Os. In order to attract as little attention as possible Kae-Os put hit helmet in his pack and wore a cloak with its hood up to help disguise any features that might betray him as an elf. While his ears, unlike common belief, were not pointed, his face had an unnatural look and shape to it, and as the Ninjarins had shown themselves to very attentive it was a good chance that if a ninjarin had a chance to have a good look at Kae-Os, his identity would be known. There was also a good chance that Cloak had forewarned the people about Aiden and Kae-Os. If the shapeshifter had the Daimyo's help, it might be dangerous to go into the village as they were. So, with Kae-Os cloaked and dehelmeted, Shika with them, and Aiden having changed his clothes to look more like a peasant than a middle-class man, they had a much higher chance of going unnoticed.

It was agreed that Shika would do all the talking. If they had to split, Shika would go on her own and Kae-Os, who could do a passable ninjarin accent, and Aiden would go together.

They entered the village unnoticed. There were no soldiers of any type. Indeed, the village was little more than a place for Kash-Lid's people to live near the fortress. Shika immediately headed toward a pottery, were an old man sat under an awning, making a bowl. Shika told Aiden and Kae-Os that the man was the shinobi's contact in the village.

While Shika engaged the man in conversation, asking about Cloak, Kae-Os closed his eyes and tried to find the shifter. He was close, that was for sure, but whether he was in the forest at the edge of the village, or was the man in front of them, it was impossible to tell.

Shika bowed to the old man and turned to her companions. "He said that a man clothed entirely in black passed through toward the Daimyo's fortress a week ago. Since then rumors have passed through the village about the same man living in the fortress. That is all."

Keeping his voice low so as not to be heard by others, Aiden said, "So we have to go into the palace? Great."

"I can't see any other alternative."

The three started to leave the village, but had not gone four houses before they overheard two boys talking. They spoke in the ninjarin language, but it was obvious that one of them was excited.

Pretending to adjust her pack, Shika stopped and listened to the boys. After a few moments the boys, having finished discussing what it was they were talking about, entered one of the houses. Shika caught up with her companions.

"That was interesting." Said Shika. "Apparently one of the boys saw a black clothed man in the forest. He claimed it was a burakku shinobi, but I suspect that it was Cloak."

"Did he happen to mention what area of the forest?" inquired Kae-Os.

"He didn't say directly, but judging from the direction the boys kept looking and point at, I would say it’s to the south."

The three turned and headed out of the village toward the forest. As they walked, Aiden asked. "So whats a burakku shinobi? They must be something interesting because those boys seemed really excited."

Shika replied. "Burakku shinobi, or black ninja's as you foreigner would call them, are nothing more than a legend now. They were a group of shinobi who were banished from the empire nearly eight hundred years ago for a terrible crime. Over the centuries they were occasionally seen, usually robbing or killing. It was assumed that they did for revenge against their banishers. Though they were unhonorable dogs, they were some of the most deadly fighters in the land. Only the Emperor's shinobi were better. Two hundred years ago they tried to assassinate the shogun of the time. They failed and were all killed, and any that had escaped were hunted down by the Emperor's shinobi and completely eradicated. It is said that the Emperor would have been their next target. Now though, they are nothing more than a bedtime story. Though many a child would love to see one."

"Mmm," replied Aiden.

Reaching the eaves of the forest, they took off their packs, cloaks and anything else that would get in their way. They then entered the forest, all three completely silent. They had not gone far before they entered a small clearing. In front of them were two ninja's, their faces masked and clothed entirely in black. Before they could say or think anything, two more black ninjas stepped out of the trees behind them.

"I think," said Aiden, drawing his rapiers, "that we have been set up."

[Formendacil]

Grid: J-10
Location: The Imperial City, Orion

The Emperor rang for one of his servants.

"Go down to the Archives and have one of the Archivists find you the family tree of the House of Wyrmbane. The 20th century generations, if there are several. Also bring the current Who's Who? from Rathoan."

"Yes, Sire."

Two days later, the Emperor has made his decision.

"Just in time, too," noted Marshal-General Theodosius, when the Emperor told him. "Reports from Rathoan say that the nobles have already begun to quarrel."

"Make sure that Edwin Wyrmsbane is crowned quickly," said the Emperor, "and have the information disseminated very visibly that the Emperor is in favour of his ascension- and other nations. She-of-the-Barrow owes me a favour for sending men into the Dracul situation, and the Westerners want a quick settlement on their border as well. That's half of the Black Knights' neighbours, and they don't have stellar relationships with either the Ninjarians or the Dragon Masters. I think they'll smarten up fast."

"As you command," said the Marshal-General. "I shall have all your orders on their way to Rathoan ere another hour passes."

[Formendacil]

Grid: K-12
Location: The LEGOland/Fright Knight border, on the edge of Dracul province...

"The Sergeants can handle matters for now," he said. "You will rejoin your companies when I give the order. In the meanwhile, I want to go over plans."

Arthur glanced at Jayko. Did they feel important now. Almost grown-up.

For the most part, the Cadet-Lieutenants rode in the vanguard with E'terriole, and only joined their companies at dusk and dawn, when arriving at camp and when striking camp. This changed after they reached the border after a few days of march.

"You're going in there?" said Captain-Major Battista looked curiously at E'terriole, when they arrived. The Captain-Major was a younger man, and not as familiar with the Fright Knights as E'terriole.

"We have orders to," nodded E'terriole. "And it's not as bad as superstition makes out. They're as human as we are."

"Maybe..." said the Captain-Major, a bit doubtfully. Jayko noted that most of the men around him seemed to share the Captain-Major's feelings. He knew how they felt. The Eastern Kingdomers were just as superstitious where the Fright Knights were concerned. However, he did his best to look unconcerned. After all, E'terriole didn't look worried, and he was the one who knew the Fright Knights the best. What's more, there was his honour as knight and a Cavalier to uphold.

"Good luck!" said Battista whole-heartedly as they marched on, past the border. "I hope it's as simple as you say."

~~~~~~~~~~

Eight leagues away, over the Fright Knight border, Captain Drazzuil and his regiment of three hundred Fright Knights were holed up in a large cavern. As he conversed with the Illusionist Vækadær had sent, he felt the stirrings of a telaharm.

"Report," he told the sentry, ignoring his "guest".

"E'terriole and his men have passed the border. Two hundred Cavaliers with Cadet insignia, as we were informed by Lord Vækadær."

"Good," said Drazzuil. "Keep following them, and report if anything developes."

He terminated the telaharm, and turned to the Illusionist.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said, "but our quarry draws near. I'll be rousing the men."

[Formendacil]

Grid: B-18
Location: Boranis Dracis coastline

"The Daimyo's words, though hard," he said, "have some wisdom. This is not your day for facing Captain Del Grakken. A better day will come, when you will have a chance to win. Come, let us leave ere Po Lee can find them a way in."

Four days later, Elbadar and his men were on the coast, waiting for a ship to arrive in the port. They were preparing to take the first ship out, wherever it was heading.

Behind them, Captain Del Grakken was surely mopping up after the conquest of Shindar fortress. He would be preparing his men to find another bloody job, while the Fright Knights prepared to return to Sorgodh, their mission accomplished.

"Neither of them will take Shindar Fortress, you think?" Elbadar asked Mask.

"No," said Mask. "His vengeance accomplished, Sorgodh will permit Houshii to repair itself. I do not think that the new Daimyo that the Shogun sends will be so resistant to his setting up a base of operations, if he still wants one. And Captain Del Grakken has a livelihood to earn. He will not be satisfied sitting in Shindar if he truly wants to rebuild the fortures of the House of Grakken."

"Wise words," nodded Elbadar. "And what of yourself?"

"My shinobi and I will no longer be welcome here when the new Daimyo comes," said Mask. "We will leave Boranis Dracis with you. Where do you plan to go?"

"Dragonar," said Elbadar. "I have a regiment to rebuild."

"Then we will go there with you. You will have need of allies in that land."