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It been two days since we've left the outpost behind and we are making good progress towards the mountain... almost too good as a matter a fact, before we had clashed with the undead numerous times on the battle field, now it's like they just vanished and aside from a few destroyed villages and towns we've seen no evidence of the hordes, I've even sent Meave out to scout a few times and even she can't see any of them. Something isn't right...

Mavra eyes me "Did we deplete them?" with a raised eyebrow.

I shake my head "Unlikely, maybe we made quite a dent on end to where reinforcements from the other fronts are on their way... or maybe something else is going on when it comes to this front, I don't know."

Danica looks at the trees coming into play "I don't like the feeling I'm getting, it smells like a trap."

I nod in agreement and I give the signal for everyone to hold and I begin to take the landscape in consideration as well as compile all the details, one we enter the forest the Normandy will be unable to aid us with her guns and while it is a possibility that the enemy may very well be devastated on this end and still occupying the other forces and what they are doing, there is no way they would leave a front undefended void... something else is going on here.

I decide to make a quick plan "The Normandy will fire a barrage into the woods before we enter, based on our messengers we are the only ones who made it this far so we don't have to worry about friendly fire hitting the other crusade forces, after the barrage I want the mortars to do a follow up volley in a wide pattern, once that is down we'll assume defensive formation and head on in, Mavra and I will focus on clearing the debris with fire and air, if anyone thinks anything is amiss no matter how small report it to me at once."

On that the Normandy fires it's mighty cannons, iron balls smash through the forest, toppling trees as loud bangs sound with even some balls containing powder explode and spread devastation, the mortars kick in next and within minutes the forest ahead is reduced to smoke, broken wood and exploded stone, other then some trees finally giving way we don't hear anything as we approach, Mavra and I begin to clear the way as we press on, the paladins walking within arms reach... we effectively hit nothing that even resembles the enemy, I send Meave out and when she reports back she claims she may have seen movement in some spots but it could just be the local wild life, I don't take any chances and I give the order for everyone to prepare for battle.

Tamel looks over to me "Quite a display of force, if our enemy knew fear or how to grasp it then it would have sent them running or into a surrender."

I look to the mare but just before I say anything, a loud roar sounds from far away, we halt as we look around, it sounded kind of like a screeching whale, the echo of the wail finally dies down after a few seconds.

Serilda comes over "What in Helloise's name was that?" her eyes never leaving the direction of the roar.

Amston looks around "I've never heard such a boast from a beast in all my encounters."

Tamel scans the trees "I don't see anything, but that doesn't mean it can't see us."

I finally make up what we're going to do "Could be anything in here, we maintain defensive stance, formation and lookouts."

I can feel a wave of unease sweep through the ranks as I have Wovka send a message to the Normandy to hold fire fore now... and if they don't hear from us for a week to consider the worst and to head back to Triskellian and to notify the Don and Donna. Our march continues for a couple hours, the carriages constantly maneuvering to keep pace with us as we watch for anything, eventually the trees slowly give way to what once was a town of some kind in mid-construction, broken structures, tools scattered about and patches of dried blood, plumes of smoke of long dead fires are dotted around. Trekking through the center of town shows a dark aftermath, walls having been busted through and smashed wagons, but I feel like we are being watched, out of the corner of my eye I see something dart around. I silently hold up the signal to have everyone stop, I look around as I have Fireweaver ignite, earning the sounds of my comrades getting ready to fight, I see in what looks a tavern something big move across from us, I motion towards the structure, I launch a fire ball at it's, the structure explodes in a tide of flame. Suddenly this hulking monster bursts out, the stench of decay is strong with it, the creatures head is that of a bear with some fure and skin missing, it's body made up of stitched muscles and sinew with bony petrutions, massive claws of what looks like sharpen bone, the creatures roars into the sky as it raises it's arms, matching the one we heard earlier. The sound of rushing hooves comes from the sides, to the left and right two figures arrive, the figures a twisted reflection of centaurs, their quad-legs of stitched groups of muscle as their upper-half looks to have once been an equine knight as they all wield warscythes.

Tamel blinks "By the light..." in shock.

Danica braces herself "Adam...?"

I yell "ATTACK!!!" as I charge the larger creature "VALOR AGAINST THE ODDS!!!"

The paladins join me in my attack as the others divide to attack the centaurs, out of the corner of my eyes I can see the horde coming our way...

Amston calls out "We'll send you all back to the darkness from which you came!"

The creature gives him hungry eyes as it swings at him with it's claws, the calendar sword cuts into the creatures right claw between it's digits, it swings it's other claw at him which Amston dodges well as he retrieves his blade but then to our horror the damage done to the sword becomes healed within a few moments.

I cry out "That's not good!"

Tamel charges "Die you blasphemous wretch!"

Tamel cuts into the creatures hand as it tries to strike her, the two attacks meet in a clash but the other claw comes and slashes her across her torso and send her flying into a nearby structure, the beat locks eyes with me and charges like a gorilla, I try to launch a fire ball to distract it but I fail and I dodge to get out of the way and it barely misses me.

I look to Amston "Go check on Tamel, we got this!", the stallion nods and runs over to the mare, I glare to the monster before me as I ready a pistol and a few paladins charge it from the sides, I pull the trigger and scattershot is released, dotting the beasts flesh and distracts it long enough for the paladins to really cut into it and get away but the creature recovers from it's wounds. I put my pistol away and I charge it as my sword blazes with flame, it swings it's arm as I swing my blade, my shield takes the brunt of the attack but my sword strikes home and it's right arm comes falling off, I quickly get up as I give it a smirk. I hear what sounds like a twisted laugh coming from it, blood and fluid spurts from the wound and soon the sinew and tissue form a new arm for the creature as it gives a roar, I brace myself and so do the paladins.

A knight from behind charges at the thing with a mace, but the creature quickly cuts him him as the boned claws go through his armor like parchment, a paladin cuts into it's chest only to be crushed to death by the creature slamming it's digits on her multiple times before ripping her apart... no matter what we do this thing just keeps regenerating itself, I doubt even the mortars will no anything to it, at glace I see those centaurs are going to work but the others are keeping them at bay, I look back towards the creature and I yell as I charge, my sword blaze and I impale into it's chest, searing it's flesh as it catches, I quickly get away from it as it swings. The monster looks to it's blackened wound as it tries to heal itself, it yanks that part out of itself and it seals itself back up...

I smirk 'Thanks for the tip you fool!', I look to the others "Keep it occupied and stay away from it, we gotta cook this thing to a crisp!"

Mavra nods to me "You heard him!", she launches a fireball which smashes into the monster and it simply roars at her in defiance.

I quickly form my wings and get airborne, earning gazes from the knights and paladins but they charge the creature before breaking away to avoid it's strikes, I the creature eventually stops to stare, I yell "PHOENIX FIRESTORM!!!" and with a warcry I unleash the flame, The beast tries to leap towards me but it's already too late, the flame consumes it as it roars in pain, the great flame is causing even those not near ir to sweat, the flame stops and gives way to the monsters charred remains, I come crashing and slice my sword through it and moment later it breaks apart like coal.

The centaurs look to me, the wounds they received haven't healed themselves and now they look to be trembling, my blade ignites once more as I ready my heater shield, one of them leaps over the knights it was fighting and charges, our blades meet but my sword goes through it's warscythe and cleaves the being in two. The knights and paladins close to me are just in awe, no doubt they want me to perform such an act again on the closing horde but the issue is that I can't, I would simply pass out at best as it takes a lot of effort and a lot of magic to perform such an attack. But it's a good thing I did teach myself it, otherwise we would likely have no choice but to retreat.

But now we have some breathing room...

........................................

The necromancer is eying the battle with a spyglass, their lips are quivering after witnessing the destruction of their most powerful creature, the necromancer removes her hood, her features being that of a hyena, with no bodies to reanimate and her fiercest monsters already on the field of battle, she decides to gamble, the hyena raises her hands and begins to chant as they are consumed in purple flame, she looks down to those below "My monsters, embrace your power!"

............................................

The centaurs are moving around us, having claimed four paladins and knights with a handful of regular troops with their warscythes, they suddenly stop as they become consumed with purple flame, the flames give way as they twist into new forms, one gains a tail like a scorpion, another has it's hand twisted into a claw and the last gains a new set of arms, all of which become bristling with new muscle as bony armor now covers them with their digits gaining claws similar to the creature before.

Tamel stumbles to my side as she raises her calendar sword "The necromancers work... no doubt about it!"

I brace myself "Upgrades or not we can still put them down!", I ready my sword "Paladins and knights go after the one with the tail, Mavra, Serilda and Danica you're with me against four-arms here, everyone else go after the one with the claw, we gotta take these things out before the horde gets here!"

Everyone goes to fight their target, but with the horde closing in I give the order for the mortar teams to open fire as I have Meave call out targets form them to try to slow the zombies down as she aids us in firing arrows at the centaur the three of us are dealing with. Danica and I charge into the monster, it's claws blocking our attacks and sending us realing as Mavra and Serilda launch fire balls and ice shards at it, most of our attacks aren't doing much of anything but it isn't regenerating, from behind I hear chanting, I look and I see Queco stretching her arms out, her eyes open in a near burning ember and she collides her hands together in a single clap, the lights for a movement and flames begin to cascade on top of our opponent, Mavra and launch fire balls as Meave let's loose some arrows... it gives me this stare of death charges at me, I brace as I get ready to absorb the impact with my shield, a shard of ice hits it in the torso which forces it tumble, Danica runs over and cleaves one of it's arms off, I quickly decide to try to finish it off so I prepare my other pistol but it doesn't go off with the trigger pull, the centaur hits me with one of it's claws and shreds through my plate armor as I crash onto the ground and lose my grip on my shield, but I quickly get back up as it roars. I decide to put my strength into a swing with Fireweaver and I charge as I give a battlecry and ignite my blade in fire, it's attack misses and my swing cuts from it's left shoulder to the right of it's abdomen in a cleaving cut and so it crashes to the ground as flame cooks it.

The knights and paladins through a combination of magic and force bring down their opponent and the other soldiers through spear and arrow defeat theirs, but the horde is closing in, I have Meave go skyward and report back how many we face of the undead... 86 in all and they are closing from all sides.

Danica looks to me "The buildings will give them the advantage!"

I nod "Mavra and I will begin razing them, everyone else engage!", I look to Meave "Keep calling for where to fire for the mortar crews, they still have some ammunition left."

The bat smirks "Aye mi lord!" and begins to fly around.

The red fox and I launch fire ball after fire ball, move flame to flammable, the mortars fire in a thunderous chorus as steel meets flesh and groans of the dead meet the warcry of the living, fire from the druid rains from the sky in a hymn of light, within the hour nothing remains of the village and the horde, only ash and tainted bone, soot floats in the air as we take account of our losses, very few dead thankfully but we've received a lot of wounded and it'll take time for us to recover... but that necromancer must be close, they had to be if they powered up their beasts. I decide to focus as I close my eyes as my tuned senses from all my mage practice tries to pick up where they are... from the mountain I can feel dark presence, we had thought they were using it as a relay, now I know it is their base.

I look to Danica "Can the Mortars perform another volley?"

.........................

The hyena is panicking as she paces around, trying to use a spell to contact Amalsand, the grey vixen answers her call and the hyena states "Mistress, my creatures have fallen and all the zombies are recalled are reduced to ash! I need help, please I beg you!"

The vixen gives a sigh "There is nothing I can do and Vaslov is dealing with problems of his own accord. You must find a way to escape on your own." her fixed gaze resisting to glare.

The hyena whimpers "That's just it, I didn't plan one and if this Phoenix or the paladins catch me they'll..."

Amalsand raises a hand which forces her to stop "Then you better hope they kill your fast or you work up the guts to fight against them and either come out on top or to get away. I tried to worn you not to over extend yourself and to keep focusing on creating creatures rather then trying perfect them... I am sorry Helena, but there is effectively nothing I can do, what happens next I will hear from either you or from the news the knights send back, I will know the outcome no matter what."

With that Amalsand's projection fades into oblivion and Helena begins to panic, she had the enemy on the ropes and she got careless, she severely underestimated the paladins, the human... just her enemies overall and now the jaws of defeats are closing in on her neck. Before she can try to think of anything, a couple fire balls hit where she had been observing the battle below and second later heavy shot smashes through the rock, destroying the area altogether and causing her to scream and she jumps back and falls to the ground. Helena whimpers as she slowly gets up, there was no one they could have seen her... the magic users must have picked up on her pressence, that was the only explanation for it. She wasn't completely defenseless as her powers could still do something and their is some undead protecting her position, but the enemy will go through them no problem, it didn't matter if she liked it or not... this is her final stand.

Helena readies a short sword "Come and get me, I'll go down swinging." eyeing the door to her location, knowing she can't escape her fate now as her body starts to shake.

....................................

Smoke is coming off where the shots from the guns landed, with the message having been sent we decide to break our forces into two groups, I have the paladins and Phelan come with me while the others stay put and guard the rear in case another horde shows up with Danica in charge of the group as Meave and Mavra join us. There is a wave of unease amongst both the Phelan and the Avoirdupois, both groups aren't exactly fans of each other, if anything they are neutral for the most part, but the individual paladins have voiced their concerns over the matter, butting head with Amston over it had given me the impression that it was an alliance of convenience from the onset, but maybe if I can show them the spirit the Phelan have it could leave a better impression.

Amston eyes me "How are your wounds Phoenix?" with a raised eyebrow.

I don't break my outward gaze as I try to keep an eye out for the enemy along the path "It's not as bad as it looks, I'll seek proper aid when this is over."

Wovka gives an affirmed nod "Aye, he's harder then iron, steel is more like it."

Queco says something in her tongue which earns some looks from the paladins but her brother staes that she is looking forward to seeing this put to rest and that this nightmare will be over.

Zekeyal looks around "Strange, other then those creatures there are no defenses."

As if on cue three zombies come at us, I look to Amston and Zekeyal and we charge them, we each deliver a swing and cut them down with ease and we press on, as a group we smash through them with only three undead here, five there with the occasional one or six, nowhere near the numbers we had been fighting before, the enemy must be out of it's 'manpower' for such a thing to happen. We eventually come to an iron door and it's recent too, Mavra and I use the air to force it open, I have my heater shield hang off me and I ready my pistol as I take point and I use my sword to light the way as Mavra and Meave walk alongside me, Mavra have an orb of fire light the path further as Meave has her sword ready, I can see their eyes scanning the darkness, there is no anxiousness in their eyes and no fear for what lurks here, after what we've been through and what we've encountered on this mountain it is likely all that is left is our target. Suddenly these lanterns light up and a figure is revealed near a reinforced door, it's an undead stallion adorned in plate and chainmail, a zweihander in it's hands as it looks in our direction.

Amston braces himself "A revenant?"

The being looks to be examining us as it tilts it's head, it's plate armor baring some symbols similar to those used by those of S'Allumer... a former paladin perhaps. Either way, it now stands in our path and if this thing has the skill sets that once served it in life then we are in trouble.

The revenant points a finger at me "I challenge you to a fight unto the end, do you accept?"

Zekeyal whispers to me "They often issue challenges freely, if we knew it's name one of us could make it fight another."

I sigh as I whisper back "It's either him or us we've got no other option.", I look to the fallen knight "I accept your challenge!", I raise fireweaver "Valor against the odds!" and I exchange my pistol for my shield.

The two of us begin to circle around, the undead knight analyzing me as we do so, we both stop and charge, our blades striking as my blade reaches against him and delivers a vicious thrust, he forces me back and I quickly parry his swing and force him back. our blades meet once more in a clash with neither of our bales reaching the other.

The undead knight voices "I have never seen anything ike you before, yet the fire in your features burn of zeal and valor. It is an honor to fight a new foe such as you!"

Now it's my turn "That necromancer made you it's pet, are you willing to be their plaything if it means dueling?"

The knight lets a laugh go "She simply offered that if I guard her, then she'll ensure that I would duel as I did so. I have stopped many would be assassins over the past few months, a few you have seen in the ranks no doubt. Dueling is what I missed, as I perused it both as a paladin and a duke, your willpower and skill against mine and no other, battle in it's purest adequate form!"

A smirk claims my features "Then the honor is all mine mi lord, don't hold back and give me everything you have."

We force each other back, our blades meet once more and they glance off, they meet once more, my armor absorbing the bite if his blade as we press into each other, my blade finding it's mark and delivers a cleaving blow, opening up the cursed plate and tearing through chainmail, we force each other back, our blades exchanging further sparks numerous times as neither of us say a word, I can feel pride in every swing of his and I can picture the smirk on his features. I deliver an impaling strike which glances off as his similar attack ends in the same result, we spin around and we both stare at one another, we charge as I ditch my shield so I can put my full strength into my swing, he delivers a cleaving strike which barely glances off my shoulder but my impaling attacking breeches through close to his heart.

The creatures eyes it's wound before looking to me "T-Thank you, I can return to the grave with a worthy defeat."

I bow my head "It was an honor mi lord, please rest, for your struggle is at an end."

The stallion falls off my blade and it crashes onto the floor, but it keeps staring at me "What is your name?"

I raise my sword in attention "I am Adam, a knight of the Rinaldi, the people refer to me as the Phoenix."

The creatures gives me what I guess could pass for a smile "I was Duke Arciolk, a former paladin of the hyperdulia of the Light.", a laugh escapes him "It's good to see that those foxes still have their bite."

He continues to laugh he finally goes limp and with it his essence leaves his body, I look to the paladins as I reclaim my shield "We'll bring him back with us so he can be properly buried, it's the least we can do for him." earning nods not just from them but the Phelan as well.

The smash through the doors, I switch my shield for my pistol like before and we see a hyena with her arms raised in surrender, the paladins quickly close the distance as they aim their calendar swords at her.

The hyena looks at all of us, her eyes rest on me "My, so your the Phoenix... I heard the rumors and my superior told me you had taken charge of the coast. You don't look as scary as I thought you would be."

Amston's eyes blaze in zeal-filled fury, I can see he wants to just claim her head with a sure strike, I raise I hand to tell him to hold back, I closely eye her "This ends now!"

The canine quickly speaks up "Wait, I can help you! I know where Amalsand is, you can finally catch her!"

This catches everyone's attention with Mavra and Meave looking straight at me, she could be lying but she could be telling the truth, if she is then we can catch her and lure Vaslov into a trap, we can reclaim the first artifact and seek out the last after that with no worries...

Amston snorts "We don't negotiate with your kind!" and he quickly goes towards her.

I try to stop him "Amston! NO!!!"

The stallions calendar sword cuts her down with ease, his swing having bisected her, I stare at the fallen woman in horror, I look to him with a glare earning wave of unease from all save the stallion himself.

"You fool! You blind fool!" as a shocked look gets placed on his face "We could have ended her reign of terror and Vaslov! I am curious, do you have any sense of strategy, or does that religious fervor of yours cloud you too much?!"

Amston puts on a sneer "How dare you! We don't deal with heretics, it's shame we had to in order to make it this far, but I draw the line at necromancers. You deal with druids alongside those of the light along with the savages..."

Zekeyal steps in "Amston! That's enough brother! It's thanks to them and his way of thinking we are still standing... let's just keep calm and claim our victory."

Amston snorts "I am tired of you and sister Tamel defending him and his ways!" those eyes lock with mine as he braces his sword.

I sharpen my glare as I tighten my grip on my sidearm and ready Fireweaver, if he wants to fight I'll give him one "If you want it... come and get it!" earning horrified looks all around.

Zekeyal gives a hard sigh "Amston... if you attack him I will not support you... none of us will... it will strictly be the both of you exchanging blows."

I cut in "And if I win, that sword of yours will make an excellent trophy... but it doesn't have to be like that, I don't wish to fight you, but if I have to I will."

Amston shoves Zekeyal out of the way and he comes at me, I fire the pistol, the buckshot dealing some damage as I quickly holster it and ready my shield just in time to block his attack, our blades go past each other and we don't land a strike on one another as our armors counter all of the carnage, our attacks hit each other again, my armor stopping his attack but my blade strikes home, crimson flows from him with ease but I don't even see him wince... unbelievable. He forces me back and our blades meet once more, my Fireweaver and his calendar sword locked in a power struggle, I ignite my sword in flame which catches his attention instantly, I force him back and I ready my sword, he goes to my left and quickly launch a fire ball which hits him and burns his flesh as he's set aflame, he gives a hearty cry and he lunges towards me, I parry his attack and lock him in a clash, the burning stallion just looks lost to his zeal, I need to end this, I need to do it now! I quickly yank the air around his legs and he falls to the ground he looks to me and I knock him out with a decent punch, I hope I have some magic left in my reserves as I try to create water to douse the flames... and I'm all out of magic, I can't even conjure air. Mavra runs over and she uses hers to disperse the embers, every one stares at the scene before them, I had beaten the one of their own and one of their best. But for me that didn't matter, we needed to get him back down for medical treatment as soon as possible as he won't last long in his current condition.

We make a quick stretcher and lay him on it and we head on down, everyone looks to us at first with victorious smirks but fall as they see us come back down, Lalaine and the other medics examine Amston but he's lost a lot of blood and they aren't sure if they can save him from dying... then I get an idea.

Lalaine blinks "A blood transfusion?"

I sigh "Yeah, it could buy some time at least."

Meave shrugs "But we don't even know if yer blood will work."

"Then who has his blood type?" as I look all round, everyone puts on confused looks as they talk to each other "We don't have time to test everybody Lalaine."

Danica looks to the crowd "Are any of you horses willing to try this, it would be best if he receives blood from one of you!"

Looks from the Avoirdupois and the Phelan are mixed and suspicious... we don't have time for this! I quickly start to remove my armor and gear to where I expose my right wrist, the medics take my arm and rig up a medieval blood transfusion system and soon Amston is receiving my blood. As I stand there giving the paladin my blood, the same one who just tried to kill me... to be fair I could have handled the situation better... Amston is a great paladin and a strong warrior and he does have my respect, but it won't matter if he dies from his injuries. Everyone watches us on occasion with Wovka and Queco taking position near me, it'll take hours at the very least before we can begin our return voyage, we would have to meet up with the Normandy to make the trip go by faster and to better tend the wounded. Tamel and Zekeyal join us, Tamel having a look that she had just been informed of what happened... I know it'll take a lot to explain, but I had nothing to hide. Tamel asked for my side of the story and it take me a little while but I explained what had happened and she seemed to have taken it pretty well as she gave me a simple nod and it didn't change that we still had to talk to the Archduke about our original mission. We take a few hours to heal and rest and we begin to make our way to the ship with Wovka howling after we get clear of the ruined forest, I did leave a letter behind so that everyone knows the mission is accomplished on our end, now we had to hope the horde was destroyed with the death of the necromancer though we wouldn't know for sure until we return.

We eventually rendezvous with the Normandy and we get everything and everyone loaded, including the spent mortars and the few wagons that survived the offensive and any equipment we could salvage from the dead, including the duke I had defeated in a quickly made up coffin. Everyone has been made aware of what transpired, the Phelan and my crew putting on weary looks but thankfully nothing escalates, I try to occupy my time by looking over my gear and packing my sidearms with regular shot instead of scatter and working on repairs for the leather and plate, it won't be fixed fully until we make it to port and I find a smith, but it'll work in a pinch.

I hear "How are you feeling?" it's Relocca and earning my gaze.

I sigh "Amston is hard headed and unfortunately I lost my temper, thankfully from what I hear he'll make it to port at least."

The mature wolf crosses her arms "If ah may ask, why did you want to find Vaslov and Amasland so quickly? Based on what ya and the others have told us, I doubt it's just fer that thing you are looking for."

"And you are correct." as I face her "It isn't just that I was hoping to take them out, to end their plots and...", I earn a shake of the head from the wolfess, I give a hard sigh "And I was hoping to get some payback for nearly cutting me in half."

A satisfied smirk crosses Relocca's features "Ah, that sounds about right.", she puts a hand on my shoulder "Revenge es quite ah harsh force, it's en our culture too... though it isn't as bloody as many would think. No one will get in the way as far as ah can tell as they both are wanted, but for what has come to pass they'll want answers."

"They shall get them, all we do is see how this pans out." trying to figure out how this is going to work out.

Wovka and Queco enter my quarters with the latter holding the book I gave her to hold onto, with Wovka confirming that they were ready to begin decoding the book with me. Hopefully we can uncover something before we make port, because of their lands do have an artifact we'll need to grab it before things take a turn for the worst if they do so.

It takes about a week to return to port, but we arrive and begin to unload the wagons with the injured, we've made progress on translating the book and me learning the language of the Phelan, so far we haven't found anything concrete but it may only be a matter of timing. But what has my interest now is the warriors that Queco told me about when she had her vision... she did say many were horses. Crowds cheer as we pass, saying 'Phoenix' over and over again as we walk along the streets, given how fast the messengers are it isn't all that surprising and from what we also hear the undead simply fell after the necromancer was killed. Corpses are being identified, wounded and dead are being accounted for and the loss of material, the three pronged crusade was finally over and with it came a cost, but the people needed their heroes to defeat the villains. They didn't care about some of the smaller details, all they cared about was that a terrible enemy had been beaten back to it's lair and was destroyed, truth be told I haven't seen Amston since we left to return here and chances are I won't really be seen well one our fight becomes known.

Up ahead is a group of heavily armed and armored knights, halberds, maces, heavy crossbows and massive axes are their weapons, horses of both stallion and mare who look like veterans of a hundred battles, just behind them is another stallion, his armor adorned in the iconography of the kingdom as it shines of brilliant steel, he looks old and far more battle-worn then the knights around them as his greying mane looks very distinguishing. The stallion walks towards us with a pair of the knights taking post on either side, his commanding gaze never leaving me, even as he stops a few feet away from me.

The stallion speaks up "I am Archduke VIrlo, I trust you are the knight they call Phoenix?"

I bow my head "Yes mi lord, though my proper name is Adam."

Vilro states "It's thanks to you based on the wings I sent ahead that the army of the undead has ended, a crusade worthy of song for generations to come. I had heard from the King that it's possible that you may come our way, but... it was for something else... if you need my help then I will see what I can do."

The sound of armored hooves come from behind us, I look to see Amston coming straight at me with Tamel and Zekeyal close behind looking like they are trying to stop him... perfect bloody timing...

Amston stops close to me, his body bandaged but his wounds are somewhat visible and earning some looks from the Archduke and the knights before us with whispers occurring around us, I can see the heat in those eyes of his.

Amston takes a breath "Why? Why did you save me? After the trouble I had caused you, I expected for you to kill me after I made the first swing."

I can feel everyone focusing on me now "It was the right thing to do, I even did a blood transfusion to see if you could make it. It could have leaded us to Amalsand and Vaslov, we'll never know now, but I guess that's another venture for another time. I also apologize for what I said and what transpired, hopefully we can put it behind us."

Amston begins to remove his bandages, showing stitches from where my sword had hit and the burns from my fire ball that smashed into him, second and third degree burns mark his flesh as his attention looks to the gathering crowd "I am of the haimorrous faith, the Phoenix because of my folly ignited me in glorious light and flame... when I was at deaths door, even for my actions, like the bird of legend he granted me the opportunity to be reborn, to continue to live, the marks bestowed on me will remind me of such a thing.", those eyes of his rest onto me "I too apologize for my actions, we have a reputation for giving blindly to our zeal... and it does cost us. I will try to grasp the concept of foresight better as I study the ways of the sword and knighthood.", he gets onto one knee and presents me with his...

Zekeyal states "Your calendar sword brother?" in shock.

The kneeling stallion lowers his head "I have been taught a lesson from an unlikely source, I thought of him merely as someone who flashes his title around and I was wrong. Please accept my sword Phoenix, it is me extending my hand in friendship and of honor."

I carefully receive his sword, as those of S'Allumer put on looks of awe and wonder, the sword is a true work of art and craft, I think for a moment, I give a nod "I am honored paladin Amston."

Amston rises once more "I must return to the monastery, to learn such a virtue."

"After you do, I wish for us to duel again... minus the carnage of course."

The stallion bows "It shall be so." and I give a bow in return to him.

The Archduke looks to be pondering something, he breaks his silence "When the crusade launched without me, I was gravely disappointed and when I was told you gave the go ahead I was suspicious. Taking in that you and those under you dealt the killing blow and that you have earned the respect from such a... dug in paladin, I will confirm with the king that you have a high standing with us, even if the company you keep is a little strange."

...........................................

Amalsand is communicating with her son, with the undead horde having been vanquished, the Avoirdupois are trying to get in touch with the Doloreaux with the Rinaldi and the Bisclavret moving to strike from the south or at the very least block her sons army from retreating. With no ships at Vaslov's command and the grip of four kingdoms coming his way, the only way out is the path to the lands of the Phelan... not exactly favorable.

Vaslov gives a hard sigh "We are making progress to the estimated point, but the Doloreaux have reinforced, no doubt the blessed are behind such a feat."

The vixen eyes him with a half glare "This human will more then likely head to the Doloreaux, given what you have did to him and his friend, he may very well be on his way there right now."

Vaslov begins to laugh "Let him come, I want a rematch anyway." his canine teeth giving a sheen.

Amalsand rolls her eyes, she can say the same old thing for him to never underestimate a foe but given his skill set and that he defeated Adam before, she may not have to worry about such a situation. It is true that she can only guess course of action the human will take, but given the history between both him and her son it's the only logical conclusion, she finally says a farewell to her son to leave him to his duties, but she can't shake that human from her mind, under his leadership and skill set he had defeated Helena and the horde she had created, even by eyewitness claims he had defeated a revenant in single combat after suffering some wounds... that being said unlike the revenant, Vaslov had learned a few tricks since their last encounter and time will tell if Adam could defeat him or not as such a scenario was still very much in the air rather then solid. The only real way to know first hand was to try to board the Normandy and mingle with the crew and heroes, but with Danica aboard she would sniff her out in no time, she was lucky to have gotten away during the undead attack as the focus on the horde rather then her and any servant she sent aboard would more then likely suffer the same fate. She needed to find another way to deal with both the artifact and this new rival or risk losing the prize both she and Vaslov are after.

.........................................................

It's been a few days since we've returned to Fermerouge, after negotiations and a hand in the treasury we learn that there are no ruins here that would contain such an artifact and the outpost we discovered the book in was erected by an old yet powerful city state that existed before the current Avoirdupois, called the Merre Sigue, a city state that was destroyed by the more feudal lords that eventually lead to what exists now and has since fallen to whisper and legend, with the tomb we found being probably the only surviving thing that's actually intact.

Between Wovka, Queco and myself we have made it through about a tenth of the old book and translating it into another, more current bind. Based on what we have so far, the city state was one a marvel of engineering with powerful warrior mages that while few in number wielded powerful weapons and armor that combined both the natural and spirit with designs of great complex workings. We haven't seen mention of the artifacts we are hunting down yet, but from what we can tell the civilization went on the decline as it tried to maintain itself against the numerous foes that surrounded it.

Wovka eyes me "So if these three make up ah weapon that once was theirs and ef it is as strong as this says, you'll be practically unbeatable." with a smirk.

I sigh "Given the age of this book and the lost city state, the weapon could be centuries even millennia old, for all we know the parts look pristine but could actually be rusted on the inside to being useless... only one way to know for sure though." as I look over what we have so far.

Queco looks over the text, she points to a specific spot "There is mention of the outposts they have, but most would be gone by now, lost to time. I must commune with the spirits to learn more." in her native tongue.

I replay as Wovka puts on a look of curiosity "It is likely some of these outposts still exist, where else would these parts be placed, the fact that one was in the lands of the Cell adds to the fact they did have a partnership with the tribes back then." in Berla Feini.

Wovka blinks before putting on a smile "You really grasped our language well.", he steps over to us "But if there wasn't one in their lands, where would the others be for such a weapon?"

I pull out my map of the island that has the locations of where we found two of the three parts "If they wanted to hide something from their enemies, they would want the parts as far away from them as possible." in their foreign language.

The druid gives me a nod "That leaves the lands to the north of us and to the far west, if distance is of concern, then that means the Bisclavret would be the more likely choice. Given how xenophobic the boars are also points to that direction." as she examines it.

We line up the map with the one provided by Eleo, the logic is sound and we should head to those ports that the Bisclavret have and secure the last artifact, but then again Vaslov has one part and if we are wrong he could both crush the Doloreaux and claim the last artifact before seeking me out, both scenarios are likely. I call my group to my quarters to get their opinions with Elie stating we have supplies for the trip either way to where we don't have to stop back in Triskellian though it would be a bit of a stretch... it made more and more sense to reinforce the Doloreaux and go from there, at least there we can try to reclaim the first part and defeat Vaslov plus resupply for the voyage to the Bisclavret. We make our choice and head above deck where Tamel and Zekeyal are asking permission to come aboard, I grant them access though I don't know why they would be here of all places.

The mare speaks up "We were wondering if you could use a couple paladins on this venture, hearing that you are chasing Vaslov and his witch of a mother is one most of the right hand would jump for."

I look to both of the paladins, an extra couple of swords would be more then welcomed, I remember seeing how conflicted they both were after the incident with Amston, I guess his display the other day spoke to their core, I am no paladin and I doubt I ever will be, but we do have some common goals and ideal to an extent... and if what I hear about the Doloreaux is true then a couple powerful horses would prove useful in the muscle department, I smile "Welcome aboard paladins Tamel and Zekeyal, quarters will be found for you as soon as possible."

To the lands of Doloreaux it is...

To be continued...