Vae Victis

Given to the winter snow of the mountains, A girl, ill protected by the winds that cut through to the bone, snapped her eyes open. The blotted sky, an unfamiliar sight to her, as was the cold. She forced herself to sit upright, leaving her indention in the snow. A print that, thanks to the ongoing storm, would fill in and fade from existence. Taking a gander at her surroundings, the girl, of dark complexion that hinted at extended exposure to the sun, could only gleam stone, snow, and lifelessness. She placed her palms to both of her ears, and eyes frantically shot about the immediate area around her. Now on knees, she tore into the white piles around her, searching for a precious item that had apparently been lost...

@ @@Hazard Time Lorec had not shifted from his position at all, still wishing to play the role of vanguard for his child and the others. With little concern over the insults that had been hurled towards him, the Minotaur kept his eyes trained upon Raze, bequeathing no quarter to the renegade. As far as he was concerned, They could either stand here, twiddling their thumbs and hooves while awaiting the long arm of the law, or Raze could decide to settle things with a skirmish. To Lorec, waiting for the perfect opportunity to ensnare his desired prey was commonplace, and he could sit frozen for hours on end, a mark of the patient huntsman. Though, as another had forced her way into the altercation, things had now become quite vexing. Hearing Raze curse the name of one Carnelian, and said name bringing the attention of another, Lorec cursed under his breath. This situation was becoming nearly insufferable with how many threads that entangled others, And all of it spawning from a foalnapping case that had been derailed. Taking Raze's distraction concerning the mare into consideration, he kept sword trained upon the mercenary, though he would turn his head to face her, and speak... And she was armed. "... Equestrian, fall back. This one tried to take a child against her will. I am a reasonable minotaur, and I'll let you two have your conversation once I'm sure that the children are safe. But for now, I am content to stall. "

Lorec nodded in his usual solemn manner, though he was cracking a satisfied grin in appreciation of Tyra's company. The minotaur was now ready to venture forth with Tyra towards the destination, ever ready for the challenge that awaited them both once they would arrive. ​ Beckoning the Trotsheim representative, Lorec made a silent gesture with his hand, wishing her to walk beside him upon the path. the both of them had a long trek ahead of them. In the meantime, now would be the time for catching up. " So, Tyra... What brings you to this mountain? "

@ @@Unicorncob @@J.R. @ The scent of blood had hit Lorec's nostrils almost as soon as Rosalia had undergone her metamorphosis. However, he was unable to ascertain who it was that had been injured, if that were indeed the case. Bearing witness to the carnage that Raze's little pet had wrought and having been far too preoccupied to notice the blood that parted around his thick, unfeeling hooves, Lorec kept his blade trained on Raze, though his free hand snaked towards the alley's wall, with palm pressed flat against it. Though every instinct told him to flee for the sake of finding Sifana and assuring himself that she was unharmed, he knew that she was adept at fending for herself, and would find a way to keep herself from injury. That, and Rosalia or one of the others were wounded... He would have to supply the role of vanguard for their escape, while trying to get past Raze, assuming Rosalia had not found a way to escape. Though strangely, the scent of blood did not stay in the air for long... they were in a public domain, and this series of events was already causing a loud uproar, sure to earn the attention of local law enforcement and other civilians. If Raze was the least bit intelligent, which Lorec was at the end of his own wits in trying to determine the sheer stupidity of the merc, then he wouldn't dare harm the children and dig a bigger hole for himself. And if required by the Bangcolt Guard to give his testimony, Lorec would do so gladly, knowing that his input would only strengthen other eyewitness accounts, effectively burying Raze. ... That is, if he didn't do it himself, first. With eyes trained on Raze, Lorec allowed the power of his otherworldly benefactor to shine. Pushing into the very wall itself, cracks in its infrastructure began to snake out in Raze's general direction. From his left, Raze would witness the stonework part in the wall until it reached a point adjacent to where he was standing... And after a split second delay, several, thin earthen spikes shot out in his general direction, attempting to run him through with no hesitation. Lorec was looking to incapacitate him with little effort... ___________________________________________________ All the while, Sifana had played witness to the children almost being reduced to ashes by Thanatos. This eldritch abomination that had been brought into this world by an untrustworthy stranger... How it frightened her so. The urge to flee was strong within her, but what would her father think if she did so? While the fear that welled up in her was great, the wish to obtain Lorec's praise was greater still. And if she wanted to follow in the hoofsteps of Tyra and her father, then retreat was not an option. Taking a deep breath, the taurette, no older than six, pulled her boar tusk dagger close. With as much strength as she could muster, she began running towards the other children on all fours, imitating her father's gore--run. Catching up to the others with little difficulty, as afforded by her already impressive physiological build, she ran with Jack and Double Play, keeping her eyes frontward and pace steady. " That monster is gone, and papa is keeping the freak busy! If that... thing comes back, I'll try to keep its eyes on me! Until then, scream and make loud noises! Get the guards involved! "

" I'm sorry if that came off as aggressive, Tyra. Believe me when I say that Sifana has made me proud these past few months... " Lorec turned from Tyra, and began to assemble his equipment, mounting his bow and quiver over his shoulders and allowing them to rest upon his backside. " But try to see things from my point of view. I've already had to bury one child because of this lifestyle, and the gods surely know that I would do anything to avoid doing it again. " Now almost fully prepped to depart, Lorec Took a final gander at the claymore. Even though its mass wasn't even equatable to one-third of his favored zweihander's, the weapon was still quite hefty in terms of weight and height. Reaching for it, hoisted the sword unto his back, and was beginning to take the visage of a small, mobile armory. " ... With that said, I won't stop her. All I can do is prepare her for the worst. I trust that when she finds herself in your domain, that she'll be welcomed with open hooves?"

@@Unicorncob Lorec's smile faded as his lips creased back into their usual stoicism. Reaching towards the Zweihander, Lorec hoisted the colossal armament back into its rightful place, which was upon his backside with sheathe protecting the restored blade from the elements. Whoever had reforged the sword certainly was of superior talent, considering that the blade looked sharp enough to cut a leaf that was dropped onto its surface. With Tyra now barely standing as tall as his knee, Lorec crossed his arms, staring down at the mare who aspired to be a legend. "... Well then, looks like we are here for the same reason. I'm also looking to scale the mountain. And as for my daughter, I can't exactly say I'm thrilled. You already know what I had to put behind me, Tyra. Do you really think I wish that same possibility on her? "

Lorec, now looking into her eyes as well, smiled warmly. Deciding that a friendly competition between two of the world's most stubborn beings could wait for another time, the beastly Minotaur lowered her to the ground, and broke off the encirclement around her small frame. " I've been doing well, Tyra. In fact, I feel as though I'm still in my early twenties these days. " He rested his elbows on his bent knee, and continued onward, though there was some hesitation within his voice when it came to speaking of his daughter. " ... Sifana is as healthy and hardy as ever. Due to our fight, she's decided to follow in the steps of her old man, it seems... " He shook his head, grin turning to a visage of bittersweet pride. "... Not exactly the road I wished for her to take, but if that's what she wants, I've got no right to hold her back. Due to her training, along with my own, we've temporarily moved back home, to Sadauris. She's been left in capable hands, while I'm here to complete a sacred pilgrimage. " For a moment, Lorec turned his head towards the elk skull, which was still resting upon his rucksack. His brows rose a tad, remembering how difficult it was to talk down a Great Saduarian Ash Elk with bare minimal equipment and while solo. His actions indicated that this skull must have been an integral part of his journey... Snapping his head back to Tyra, he spoke out one last time. " So Tyra, what brings you here? "

@@Unicorncob Not given enough time to respond to Tyra's erratic embrace properly, the great bull was dumbfounded to find her presence here at first, but that was soon replaced by a proper emotional response: the sheer joy of jubilant reunion. With the small Viking pony dangling from his neck, Lorec returned the hug with an envelopment of his own, with all lingering worries ceasing to bother him. Squeezing her tight, Lorec chuckled out loud, an action that not many could get him to perform. Allowing the Zweihander to tip over in favor of having more room to maneuver, he stood with her still in tow, allowing her hooves to dangle in the air. The size comparison was almost humorous, with his own fist being comparable to that thick skull she was so famous for having. Indeed, she was like a goddaughter to him. If it hadn't been for the grand battle that had taken place in Bangcolt months prior between them, then Lorec would not be in the elevated state that he occupied today, both spiritually, and mentally as well. " Tyra.... It's been months since our last meeting! How have you been? " Lorec took a knee, though being as stubborn as he was, he wouldn't allow his grip to falter until she decided to let go... Some habits, such as his stubborn competitiveness amongst close friends and kin, never truly ceased to exist as a personality quirk of his.

Ignoring all that entered and exited the tavern, a grizzled, middle aged minotaur sat upon a wooden bench that nearly faltered under his own weight, immediately to the left of the doorway. With a hide that was as blackened as the remnants of a burnt forest, his contrast against the snow could catch the eye of any whom ventured near. Of course, this was not the only cause of curiosity from among the passerby's. Perhaps it was the fact that he was armed to the teeth with a plethora of weapons to choose from. Maybe it was the shrill cry of grindstone as it struck against the blade of a zweihander, honing a great hunk of steel that, when swung full force by him, often found that those on the receiving end were akin to a stick of butter in terms of durability. And if even this was not enough to shoulder the burden of proof that he was indeed here in an attempt to scale the grand mountain, then surely, the quiver full of arrows that was coupled alongside a hunting bow with enough draw force to potentially ground a chimera in one fell shot spoke for him in a way that he was unable to express. But whilst the imposing zweihander and the bow seemed to occupy the forefront of his display, nothing caught the eye quite like the claymore that was lying adjacent to him upon the bench. Though it was sheathed within its leather brown scabbard, one could ascertain that this blade carried far more significance than any other armament that this minotaur owned. Its pommel, encircled by a glimmering silver, played host to an emerald gemstone that had been painstakingly crafted into a perfect sphere and mounted below the hilt of the sword. The crossguard, if one was bold enough to get close to, or was keen of sight, could be observed as having intricate engravings, depicting a great ursa at odds with a wyrm of the skies, snarling and sneering at each other as though they were bitter enemies cursed to contend with each other until the world's end. These engravings told stories, much like the countless sinews of scar tissue that pervaded the giant's right arm, though it was a safe guess that there were many more upon his body, shrouded from sight by his various adornments. Upon his left arm, an iron manica, finely layered with multiple metal sheets that endeavored to defend his dominant hand while trading blows with an enemy. The harness of which fit snugly around around his torso and opposite shoulder. At his hooves, sitting upon a pack of various supplies needed for survival in the wilderness, was the skull of a great elk. The skull, with antlers still intact, had been fashioned into a ceremonial mask of some sorts, with a line of red warpaint beginning at where the right tear duct would have been, and ending with a steady stream down the cheek. From the sheer size of the skull, one could tell that the creature it had been poached from was of even greater stature than the lone minotaur was, though, it was equally obvious whom the stronger was between the both of them. the minotaur sighed as he finished sharpening the zweihander. Looking over towards the claymore that lay beside him, the journey that he was soon to take did not come to mind. The only thing that did at this point was a small Taurette, of whom's own emerald eyes outshone even the jewel that was worked into the sword's frame. He shook his head subconsciously, burdened by the fact that the reason her eyes glimmered with such youthful hope was because she wanted to be just like her father. Just like him. And as much as he wished to dissuade her from such a path, he would rise to the occasion in an effort to ready her for anything the future held in store for his very own daughter. If she truly wanted to be recognized as a worthy warrior in her father's eyes, then she would eventually come to this hallowed mountain, as he had now. The only question was this; would even he be a match for such a perilous ascent?

@ @ @@J.R. @@Unicorncob Even if Lorec would no doubt enjoy such an event had the conditions been more favorable, The colossal bull had no intention of allowing himself to cut loose for multiple reasons. First, the objective here was not to partake in the addictive pleasures that a high brought on by battle could provide. Rather, this was all for the sake of the child that Raze had decidedly abducted for his own selfish, and perchance morally abhorrent reasons. Secondly, his own child was involved, and if he could do anything to keep her out of harm's way, he would. Thirdly... Lorec held absolutely little to no respect for this mercenary. From the onset, Lorec did not even consider Raze as worthy to be excrement wiped away from his hooves. And why should he? A gun for hire, assaulting children and trying to buy them off, using some macabre creature as a cover due to a lack of confidence, training, or both, along with his aforementioned barbarisms? In his mind, the pony that stood before him was akin to a mosquito; A pestilent burden upon the world that only leeched away from all others and offered disease as its only repayment. For these reasons, Lorec dared not to exploit the full extent of chaos that he knew he could cause. With his decision ringing final, Lorec would set his battle plan into motion. Relying on his native tongue of Tauric, he hoped that Raze was not a well-learned fellow when it came to foreign languages. Keeping eyes and broken sword trained on Raze, Lorec had positioned himself in such a way that Sifana was completely obscured from his vision. Even though they were orders in another dialect, Lorec spoke in a tone that indicated both condescension and spite, as he allowed a slow grin to creep along his face. It was his hope that Raze would interpret this as being insulted in Tauric, wanting to divert his attention towards himself. " Sifana, Verschiebst Du der anderen Seite auf der Gasse. Retten Sie das Mädchen. " Sifana, clever enough to know when she should stay quiet and go along with orders as per hunting trips with her beloved father, acted accordingly. She was careful enough to keep her steps slow and deliberate while keeping herself blocked from Raze's view by way of her father's immensity. All the while, Lorec's expression had begun its metamorphosis. What was a scowl of disapproval had turned into a devious glare of excitement, as though he were looking at his next meal, and not someone that he was about to fight. This was the opening act to his grand scheme. Seeing as how negatively Raze had reacted to his remarks and how prone he was to offer a verbal rebuttal against the Sadaurian, Lorec had guessed that the mercenary was easily antagonized with merely words alone. This, in turn, meant that Lorec could stall him with a potential mind game, long enough for Sifana to get the filly, and escape with the others. Dropping his sword temporarily, he chuckled at the wayward stallion. " So, boy... Though I'm not quite sure you even have the stones to be called that... From the looks of you, you're a merc. So tell me this; Have you ever even cut another soul down with that pig iron of yours? Or is it all for show, much like that creature you hide behind? Seriously kid, give me a death toll. " ____________________________________________ @@J.R. Kazas did not gorge himself during his meal, but had consumed enough to keep himself upon his legs and take some leftovers home with himself. Needless to say, the dinner had been extravagant, and worth ever bit that paid for it, though costly it had been. Eager to proceed with tonight, Kazas left the restaurant, staying at her side. Kazas said nothing as they would be leaving, content to with silence between them, unless Vera wished to spark a conversation.

@ @ @@Unicorncob Lorec, ever silent until words took precedence of actions, found his scolding gaze concentrated purely upon the the neighsian mercenary before him. From all of the information that he had gathered due to the banter between the children and Raze, not only had he taken Rosalia against her will, but he had also turned his hooves against these children as well, using brute force to cause destruction of property. From what the rough and grizzled minotaur could gather, this led him to one conclusion. And even if he was incorrect in piecing together all of the evidence that had been spewed forth, there was no excuse for forcing a child who was unable to defend herself into cooperating against her own will. The two that had followed along were obviously those who meant Rosalia well. And within the confines of his mind, Lorec had nothing but praise for them. There were not many who would stand up to an armed kidnapper at their respective ages. This in turn either meant that Rosalia was a companion of both Double Play's and Jack's, or that the mercenary meant ill will towards her. However, judging from Double's exposition, they were only recently acquainted. For Lorec, this meant only one thing, when coupled with the fact that Raze was now desperately trying to pay off a debt brought on by destruction of property. He wanted to intimidate both of them, so neither would follow. And not only that, Rosalia admitted to having been foalnapped against her will, but was trying to convince Lorec that Raze was not indulging this action with criminal intent. Perhaps, he had threatened her to ensure that she would keep somewhat silent upon the matter. Lorec had judged Raze according to all of these factors. And now, it was time to play the role of potential executioner, if his own demands were not met. Reaching over his shoulder, Lorec gripped the pommel of his zweihander, and drew it out of the sheathe. The ringing of blade sliding against tanned leather playing prelude to the potential battle to come. The blade itself had seen better days, with the sword having been shattered at about two-fifths of the steel's length. This would not prove a hindrance, much to Raze's dismay, as what remained of the grand armament was still much larger than any normal pony could hope to wield effectively. Lorec pointed the sword towards the mercenary, and scoffed at him. " Normally, I wouldn't waste my time with the likes of a filly fooler. But seeing as I most likely just caught you in the act, I'll make an exception." He took a step closer, not blinking at the mercenary, not giving him an inch. " You're going to let all three of those fledglings go, and my daughter is going along with them, because there is no way in hell I'm leaving you with an underage soul. And then... We're going to have a nice little chat about your preferences. " ___________________________________________ @@P-Jay Naga, still sweating profusely from his hurried attempt to find Caliber, took a moment to regain his composure. after a short breather, he raised his head, and the monk's eyes finally met Caliber's. These were not the sparkling orbs of a wayward holy pony who cherished all life. No, these were the eyes of a pony wrought with sickness and worry. Placing both of his forehooves upon Caliber's shoulders, Naga would attempt to speak plainly. Keeping his voice barely above a whisper, he leaned in close, as if he were about to tell his dear freind a secret that could potentially ruin him from this point on. " The Stormbringer, Galtos... He's comin', and yer the reason, I tell ye! Remember what we spoke about, many moons ago in the bosom o' the sweet Everfree? "

@ @@Unicorncob @@J.R. @@Unicorncob @ Having been forced to make a split second decision based upon the surrounding factors, Lorec was reconciling with his own instinct to pursue and dominate. Firstly, he had his daughter upon his backside, and with everything that he had just gone through to see her smiling face again, he was not going to risk her safety for any reason whatsoever. Secondly, this was Equestria, not Sadauris. As much as Lorec despised the overt sensitivity of the population within this country, coupled with the fact that Bangcolt was seemingly more lenient on acts of great disturbances, this was still no place for him to act out on his own lust for battle and supremacy. And thirdly, this creature before him... Certainly, not of mortal coil. He had witnessed it just moments before, carrying off both his quarry and what seemed to be a small filly, draped in hospital attire. And then there was the children who had been chasing him as well... All of this evidence was enough for Lorec to conclude that Raze, of all ponies... Was a filly fooler. Or at the very least, a kidnapper that wished to demand ransom in return for the child's safety. Despite his target escaping into an alleyway perpendicular to the one he was crashing down, Lorec refused to give up on this hunt. Taking note that he might have an accomplice due to the unnatural, magical means that had been used to pull him away from the charging Minotaur, Lorec's eyes narrowed, and what happened next, was nothing short of a spectacle. When Lorec's fists pounded into the ground as he was nearing Raze's persona, small fissures formed from the cobblestone, as they had when the Ursa King's champion smashed into the ground with his fists. Traversing the earth even faster than he could charge, the snaking fissures stopped about five feet short of Thanatos. Immediately afterwards, an earthen barrier was made between Lorec and the supernatural creature, again, cutting off any path of attack that it may have, save for from above. Immediately shifting to an upward, bipedal stance once more by pushing off of the ground with his fists, Lorec used the wall to stop his momentum, throwing both hands out at the same time to grind to a complete halt. Immediately afterwards, he spoke out to his daughter, not batting her an eye as he felt her cling over his shoulders for dear life. " Sifana, back on the ground, Dagger drawn, and behind me. Keep your back to mine and watch the skies. " Sifana, ever the obedient daughter, performed all of these actions to the letter, dropping down and following her father. Lorec, with hands upon the pommel of his zweihander, turned the corner to face Raze, ready to draw the sword from his backside. Looking directly into the stripped pony's eyes with his own bored expression, the Minotaur shook his head, and then spoke out, letting his gruff voice echo throughout the alleyway... " So... Two underage children chasing you while a strange lapdog of yours carries you off with a filly in a hospital gown. On top of that, you wake up my peacefully sleeping daughter by almost plowing into us... " Lorec looked over to Rosalia, his face softening, though considering his build, it was difficult enough already for him to pass off as friendly. " You there. What's your relation to this pony? Speak honestly. Are you with him by choice, or by force? "

@@J.R. @ @@Unicorncob @ Having witnessed the eldritch creature that aided Raze in gliding over the wall that Lorec had formed, the great minotaur's eyes narrowed as he caught a glimpse of a pony within a medical gown within its grasp. Deciding that this warranted an investigation, Lorec placed his hand upon the wall. For a brief moment, his hand pulsated with a wavering aura of amber light. Not a second afterwards, the wall that jutted out in the alleyway was retreating back into the earth itself, leaving no proof that it had ever been erected. With all things in proper order, Lorec retracted his hand, and turned towards his daughter, whom had not shifted an inch from her defensive position. " We're giving chase, Sifana." After uttering such, Lorec lowered his body to the ground, opting to take up a push-up position. with both fists clenched and eyes looking over his Sifana's shoulder, he prepared himself for what Saduarians liked to call a "gore run". The fastest way for a minotaur to travel without the aid of a mount, it made use of all four limbs, similar to how a pony would trot. Eyeing down Sifana, who cocked his head over towards his left shoulder, a nonverbal message that told her to climb on. Obeying her father's wishes, Sifana would use his horns as leverage to climb aboard, and to keep herself situated during the run. After all, this was her father. It would be all too easy for her to get thrown from his backside if she did not cling on to something. After Sifana had prepared herself, and being sure that she would not suffer a tumble down onto the cobblestone road, Lorec took off with all of the raw power that he could muster, aiming to chase down Raze in order to learn of what was happening. Lorec prayed to the gods that no one would get in his way, as once he started the run, it would be nigh impossible to stop within a split second, as his sheer velocity would not allow for such as a hairpin turn, or an immediate stop. ________________________________________________________________________________ Dropping his sword claw back down to the ground, Kazas allowed himself to relax, sighing deeply to himself. Looking over to Vera, the griffon took back his proper seating, hoping that he did not draw too much attention to the two of them. Looking at Vera, he gave her an apologetic smile, and lowered his stare towards his food. "... Forgive me for that, Vera. I don't even know why such a reaction was provoked. Should we go to investigate, or finish our meal? "

@ @@J.R. @@Unicorncob Turning around the bend with his sleeping daughter in tow, Lorec's eyes widened when he witnessed Raze charging at him with all haste. Looking downward towards Sifana, whom had nestled quite comfortably into his arm, Lorec's paternal instinct became his prime directive. Not knowing who this was and what their purpose was for being in such a rush, Lorec's hand squeezed the harness of his broken zweihander's scabbard tightly. This Minotaur, beastly even among his own kin, brought up his left hoof, and then firmly planted it within the ground. The impact had been delivered with such force, that the resounding crack of cobblestone beneath him was akin to a gunshot. Immediately afterwards, a great stone wall, at least ten feet in height, served to bar Raze from his intended path. Jagged and thick enough to ward off even cannon fire, Lorec felt confident that this wall would cause the katana wielding pony to falter. Though, he also gave a sigh of an exasperated parent, considering that Sifana's eyes were now open, and looking at him in shock and confusion. Jumping out from Lorec's arm, she studied the wall thoroughly, all indications of surprise now gone from her face. Turning to her father, Sifana inquired as to why Lorec had done such a thing. " Papa, why did you wall off the alley? Is something wrong? " Of course, her eyes widened as she was now realizing that she was viewing her father in perfect health. And not only that, he was no longer making any effort to hide the heavy scar tissue that pervaded his body with bandages. Running on sheer emotion, she ran up to her giant of a father, and attempted to hug his leg, only to be denied the luxury of a warm reunion by Lorec's icy glare, aimed directly towards the wall he had created. " Sifana. Get behind me, and pull out your dagger. " Heeding His whim out of respect and fear of what lay beyond the barrier, Sifana ran around him, and reached towards the dagger that was strapped to her waist. Pulling out the blade made of boar tusk, she held it closely to her chest with both hands, her own eyes narrowed, and all manner of shivering having ceased. Even if not by blood, Sifana was truly her father's daughter. Slinging the harness over his body, Lorec reached over his left shoulder, keeping his hand upon the pommel. Even if the sword were broken in two, it was still a force to be reckoned with as far as the average pony was concerned. Raising his voice, Lorec called out to the pony on the other side, allowing his voice to bellow sternly throughout the alleyway. " You there! Stranger! What is your business charging through the alleyway like a damn fool? " __________ @@P-Jay Naga fluttered his wings weakly as he panted, tongue hanging out as the sweat dropped from his brow. Turning his gaze towards Caliber, the peculiar monk did not grace his friend with his usual, goofy smile and cheery demeanor. How could he, with what he had to relay to his dear companion? " Finally! Been Lookin' fer you over an hour, this monk has! " Naga closed the space between them at a rather sluggish pace. With the amount of energy that Naga had exuded in the past, one would have found it impossible for him to appear as dogged as this. Clearly, Naga had expended all of his energy into locating the swordspony. Worse yet, whatever Naga had searched him out for must've carried a great burden upon the monk's mind, for he always carried a grin that was nearly indelible, currently nowhere to be seen. Now as close to Caliber as he had needed to be, Naga hung his head downward, his braided mane claking the golden rings that had been woven into it loudly. Still panting, he placed a hoof on Caliber's shoulder, and spoke with the tiredness of an overworked farmer. " Caliber... A storm be upon the high winds blowin' from the East... " ____________ @@J.R. Kazas's smile widened, though he was shaking his head, much too humble to accept such implications of Vera's bold statement. " Vera, even if I played a part in bringing about the change, it was in you all along to do so.... I know that it is difficult for a heart to soften after having been in a predicament such as yours, but it can happen. And praise be unto Avae, that I was able to witness such a miracle." Sweet. Naive. Innocent. Even if these three factors were the pillars of a foolish optimist, there was no denying the charm that such a personality brought along with it. Kazas was all of these, and yet, there was still a layer to him that Vera had not touched upon yet. A side that, for the sake of all of Avae's beloved creations, Kazas prayed that he would not have to show her. The Kazas from the Leovian civil contention. Lowering his eye to the hoof which he now held from across the table, Kazas, being the hopeless romantic that he was, brought it towards him with soothing gentleness, and placed a kiss upon it. Upon realizing what he had just done, Kazas chuckled at himself, shaking his head once again as he closed his eyes in embarrassment. " Forgive me. I know that this is what many Equestrians may refer to as, 'cheesy'. But I'm honestly at a loss on how to express affection otherwise. If I ever become too overbearing, would you inform me, Vera- " A loud roar, that had to reverberate throughout the entirety of the city, pierced through the walls of the building. As every other head turned towards the direction it had come from, Kazas's reaction took a step further; he had released Vera's hoof in a flash, and had kicked the chair out from under him as to stand. His left claw shot towards the sword at his hip, and his good eye widened as he faced towards the direction that he had perceived the roar from. But what was most unpleasant about this new state was the small shiver that accompanied the griffon's reaction. It suggested a tinge of fear. A fear of loss that one had experienced before, but could never quite adjust to. He waited with baited breath, unaware of the eyes that peered at him from the other customers.

....... I am the happiest man right now.

Hey Tyra, what's your favorite drink?

Some time after Tyra had left, Lorec awakened within his own infirmary bed. Still quite sore from his battle with the pride of the Shatterhoofs, Lorec found difficulty in moving around, even though he had become accustomed to such conditions after a lifetime of war. Perhaps his age truly was beginning to catch up with him. Had Lorec felt this way before his fight, he would have cursed himself for his own weakness. But that was simply not the case. Lorec had gotten the closure he had needed. No longer was he a survivor of an ill-fated battle that constantly sought to atone for his failings. He had come to terms with what had transpired two years ago. All the mattered now was what he had woke up to; his daughter sleeping peacefully within his arms, her head resting upon his abdomen. Lorec frowned as he gently twirled her hair with his finger. He must have worried her terribly. As of slow a pace he could muster, Lorec started to climb out of bed. Picking Sifana up and allowing her body to rest within one arm, the gargantuan minotaur walked towards his great zweihander and its sheathe, which had been sat upon a table at the end of his bed, as per regulations for the belongings of contestants. The blade was broken in half, and in heavy need of repairs. Collecting the harness and mounting it upon his backside, Lorec grabbed the hilt of the sword. As he did so, it gave off an amber aura, as the soul within called out joyously to its master. Grinning as he sheathed the pommeled half, he grabbed the other half of the blade with his free hand. He would take Sifana home first, and then he would seek to have his sword repaired... And after that... It would be time to gather his fellows, and prepare for the ritual that he had been called to perform. It was the least he could do to honor his patron god, who had blessed him with his fallen kin's presence one more time.... _______________________________________________________________________ Galtos, revived into the waking world himself, viewed the Sadaurians who had taken the surreal journey along with him. They had all stood there in a trance together, having joined hands in order to visit their sworn in Equestria metaphysically. Shooting a look towards Lorec's wife, he released her hand and spoke. " Are you sure that you do not wish to stay in this world as Draugr? You will be among kindred souls here. You can fight, drink, and fornicate whenever the hell you want! You are Golden Horn, and you do have a place in this world." Venna refused flatly, shaking her head as soon as he had begun to make such a suggestion. " We have all come to terms. We knew what could happen when we chose to give ourselves to the glory of the Golden Horns. We wished to see our successors, our beloved one more time to see them off. We are all in agreement that we should leave this world to the living, as per our discussion... Now that we know that Lorec and Sifana will be alright without us..." Galtos raised his left hand and lowered his head, signaling for her to stop her speech. " Alright, you've said all that you need to. All of you will gather in the area that we have discussed, and then he will take care of the rest." The pale rider then brought his head back up, and extended his right hand towards the minotaur in front of him. Smiling, she clasped his forearm with her hand, and he reciprocated the action. ".... You sure you don't want to- " Her smile faded as she pulled in closer towards him, attempting to crush his hand with all of the force that she could muster. " I already told you that it isn't going to happen, god of conflict or not. " No effect, as he simply laughed it off and retorted with a causality that eerily hinted that this particular conversation has happened before, albeit with others. " Can you really blame me for trying? After all, my spear is always polished and ready to thrust towards my enemies." " A spear and a dead, limping snake are not one and the same." " Oh-ho! I can see why the Beast of Sadauris was tamed by your hand then. But enough with the crude humor. " Letting her hand return to her, Galtos banged his cuirass with his fist, and dipped his head as a show of respect to his soon departing brethren. The Saduarians facing him did so in turn, including Venna. Finishing the motion, he returned to his usual stance of having his arms crossed. Stepping back a few paces, he decided that this all needed to end on a short, sweet note. " My brothers and sisters... There is little I can say now that has not been said during the past two years. When I found you all in the state that you were in... I felt the burden of regret as your souls swarmed around your bodies, tethered to the battlefield by regret, loss, humiliation, and rage... Truth be told, your souls should not have been clinging to this world, but our blood, forced to bear the weight of a curse that has afflicted us for generations, does not allow a peaceful transition to the afterlife. You were denied the spoils of the eternal conflict, out of an old grudge of an enemy, who's head I failed to take before this fate was thrust upon us...." Galtos paused, and took off his helm, so that he could properly look his kin in the eye as any honor-bound warrior would do. The pale rider, who thrived in oceans of combat and cries of war, had sunken into a sullen state, though he refused to physically show it. After all, when viewing those who were bound by the same chains that he suffered was enough to grind one's spirit against jagged rock, and into dust. But what hurt him so was not his empathy, but the fact that he could not go with them. He, who had been labelled a god by those in his homeland... He, who swore to answer the call of Sadauris when they cried out for salvation against their enemies... He, who had to fight time and time again to preserve infamy within all corners of the world, grew bitter, not towards others, but towards himself. After all, he could stop at any time. He could simply give up, and leave the physical shell in favor of a better eternity. But Galtos knew the moment he did so, that he would be turning away from his responsibility. Galtos would not dare to forsake his own people, his own descendants. Who would save them if a grand threat from a foreign land conspired to destroy their way of life? It had happened before. Certainly, it will someday happen again. And even if this were not a factor, there was something Galtos sought that would not allow him to embrace eternal sleep. Perhaps that was the true curse of the Stormbringer. The choice between personal satisfaction, and abandoning those you made a promise to. Galtos considered the latter to be retreating. And the Stormbringer. Does. Not. Retreat. Recovering his will to speak after these personal thoughts rushed through his head, Galtos began pacing back and forth, eyeing down every last member of his band that had been brought back as undead to complete their transitory phase to the other side. " But even then, you all stayed strong, keeping a watchful eye on the two who would carry on our legacy! And now, they have been freed from the past, as you all are now! Our legend remains intact, and its future secured! The only way open to you all now is forward! So you all are going to march with heads held high, onward towards the center of our city. And then, you shall be set upon the path that rightfully belongs to each and every one of you! You all are going to march upon Yulver's great plain, and you are going ​to damn well annihilate that battlefield, and show the gods why you DESERVE to be there! Woe to any who face down the charge of our band, because the last thing that'll be going through their heads will be our swords, our axes, and our spears! NOW MARCH, MARCH TO WAR WITH MY BLESSING! " Galtos had worked himself into a frenzy, as was the case when he wanted to inspire those under his command. He thrust his right fist towards the sky, a the hundred or so warriors in front of him imitated, throwing hooves and hands towards the high heavens, where they would soon be journeying towards. At his beckoning, they all turned and began to march towards the center of the hidden city. And Galtos, as he had done so many times before, stayed behind to serve as their vanguard in the realm of the living. Venna, who had been Lorec's wife during her years among the living, had fallen behind the others as they marched onward. As soon as the last had passed her by, she turned to see Galtos there, watching intently. Smiling at him from a distance, she bowed her head, and mouthed two simple words. Words powerful enough to cause the faintest of smiles to creep along Galtos's face. " Thank you.... " Watching on as Venna then turned to rejoin the rest of her ilk, Galtos would be greeted by a cloaked stallion that wandered from behind. His drab, tattered hood obscuring most of his features, save for a few locks of his grayed mane hanging down, and his horn slightly protruding from underneath. While many would think this to be nothing more than an unassuming beggar, the object upon his backside screamed otherwise. Completely wrapped within ancient white linens that were fading into a yellowish hue, a staff-like object was tied to his back with the same material, wrapping multiple times around his underside in order to secure it. Wasting no time with formalities, the stallion spoke to him as if he had known him for years. " So then, Stormbringer. I assume you still plan on going to Equestria to indulge in your need for entertainment? " Galtos refused to bat an eye towards the pony who had arrived at his side. Gripping at the sword at his side and resting his hand upon it, the Stormbringer kept his gaze upon the departing force that he had sent off, satisfied with the results of his actions thus far. " Yes. Equestria has finally produced something that I want. And I will have it. " The stallion in question showed no physical signs of objection, merely resigning himself with a stoicism that would make one think that he had all the time in the world. " Very well. While I normally wouldn't dabble within your affairs, I would like to extend my hoof in assisting you towards your goal. After all... The implications are more than beneficial to us as well. " Galtos, scoffing at his acquaintance's remarks, turned away from the crowd and started along the opposite direction, towards his arena's other exit. Not bothering to stop for a meaningful conversation, Galtos said his piece to conclude the exchange, refusing to show common courtesy to this mysterious figure. " Normally, I wouldn't even want your help. But I think I've waited long enough for this. My ship leaves in two hours. Getting me to the strait south of Griffonstone is enough. " At this, the cloaked figure couldn't help but muster a knowing smile from underneath his hood. Following the crowd out of the gates of the Colosseum, he stayed silent. Thoughts and plans swirling within his head. This was but the first step to break a chain of monotony that had engulfed the hidden city for far too long. It was time to accelerate a grand design that was gaining little momentum with the way events had been transpiring for the last few centuries... The greatest question, however, had yet to be answered; was the world ready for the revelations and changes that such a design would bring about? ' I'm coming for you, boy. ' __________________________________________________________________________________________ @@J.R. Kazas leaned inwards as his face contorted into one of empathy and understanding. Their food had arrived, and yet, Kazas had found himself not quite willing to eat just yet. Ever the one to produce a soft smile that was able to ease the hearts of his compatriots, Kazas did just that, as the reflection of candlelight danced in the reflection of his one good eye. " But you made it out of that hell, did you not, Vera? And now, we are here. Surely, a blessing from creator Avae himself, yes? " Kazas extended a claw towards her, laying it upon the table with his talons open. His intention was clear. He wanted Vera to rest one of her hooves within it, so that he may consul her from the heart. _________________________________________________________ @@P-Jay Taking to a low flight path just above Bangcolt's skyline, the ring-haired monk searched tirelessly for Caliber. Alleyway after Alleyway yielded no favorable results. Soon enough, Naga began yelling for the swordspony, hoping that such an action would garner some reaction. If not from his friend, then perhaps from someone who knew him? After all, Caliber was known throughout the city as a popular contestant. " Caliber! Caliber, be you close to me, friend?!?!? "

I like staying optimistic. So optimistic in fact, that someday, I want my friends to know me as Optimist Prime. ( The only reason I posted here was to make that really terrible pun. But hey, I told the truth. )

@@Unicorncob Satisfied with Tyra's answer, Galtos nodded in prideful approval. The pale Saduarian deity lifted his left hand towards her head, and placed his palm directly upon her feathered helm. As performed the act, Tyra would notice that her body was becoming translucent, as her avatar within the unconscious realm was being forced out. Within a calm whisper, Galtos would assure her that no foul play was being incorporated. " When this is done, Shatterhoof... You will find yourself devoid of any injury, and you'll see that Lorec and his daughter are in good health as well. Now remember what I said. Because if you show reverence for battle and continue to prove your worth.... Then I will come to have my fill. " A challenge issued. Had that really been what the Stormbringer was offering Tyra? sure, he had already made it clear that he was coming to Equestria, but the original reason was for Caliber only. But his parting words had indicated that there was a keen interest in her abilities as well. This would be his parting speech to the mare from Trotsteim, for soon, she would find herself opening her eyes as Galtos returned her to her rightful place within the waking realm. And if she were to peer to the right, Tyra would still see Lorec in his hospital bed, fully recovered and sleeping peacefully. His daughter was resting her head upon his beastly frame, as the giant had his arm pressed against her as well, never wanting to let her go. Both were still within the dream world, and both wore a wide, jubilant smile within their rest. Clearly still enjoying the reunion of family and compatriots, the ever triumphant Tyra could witness the true prize of her battle from a mere eight feet away. Even if they were not kin by blood. They were as close as family now.

@@Unicorncob Seeing that Tyra had bowed her head to him as she had trotted in closer, the pale, thick-veined minotaur would narrow his eyes, though his helm would not make such a contortion of expression obvious to the small mare before him. Reaching towards the sword mounted upon his right hip, Galtos pulled the steel from his scabbard, the sound of metal scraping across leather resounding between he and Tyra. The weapon itself was a classic straight sword, not the most exotic of blades, but its simplicity and effectiveness upon the fields of war yielded more than ample results. And even if it were customized to fit the needs of a normal sword, it was still gargantuan by pony standards; enough to dwarf even an Equestrian claymore. With the flat of the blade reflecting the violet luminescence of the dream world's sky, Galtos would slowly press the sword's finely hammered broad side against Tyra's chin. Careful as to not allow the sword to pierce her neck, the Stormbringer slowly angled his armament upwards as he forced Tyra out of the unrequited bow, and met her gaze with his own. " Come now, Shatterhoof. I'm not so damn conceited as to ask for tribute and glory when it's someone else's story. This is Your moment. Your legend, that is being written. And you know how this legend should end? With you, holding your head high as you exit the dream! It should end with you waking up, enjoying a feast, getting drunk, and then making love to whomever the hell you want! And then, I want your ass back in that arena, and I want you to give every single opponent that challenges you a taste of what it's like to do battle with a real warrior! DO YOU UNDERSTAND, TYRA SHATTERHOOF?!?!?!? " At his point, Galtos had withdrawn his sword back into its rightful home at his side, and was standing with both fists clenched, veins bulging from the roar that he had loosed to ring throughout the realm. He brought his fist upwards towards the sky as he looked down at her with unblinking eyes. Behind them, all Golden Horns would follow suit as they allowed one final war cry to resound with Galtos's. Truly, a grand sendoff for one so deserving. _______________ @@J.R. Kazas, with a softened gaze, managed to finally give Vera proper eye contact. Keeping both elbows off the table and being fearfully careful of his proper etiquette, Kazas's nervous smile would once again give way to a concerned gait. " Vera... " He whispered so that others around may not hear his conversation with her, " Is this the first time you've actually gotten to enjoy your surroundings? '

@@Unicorncob While Tyra would traverse the grassy knoll that Galtos had called into existence within the realm of dreams, Lorec and those with whom he had been reunited with fell silent, and faced towards the child of Trotsteim with left fists and hooves over their beating hearts. Their heads hung downward in solemn humility, save for all but one minotaur who would bear witness until the very end. The child whom Lorec so lovingly had taken into his own hands would smile with serene bliss as she waved her newly found hero farewell. Whether Tyra truly felt the weight of her accomplishments upon her shoulders was the subject of Sifana's curiosity. At the very least, Sifana realized something about herself. She wanted, desperately so, to be as great a hero as mare trotting away was. And with that realization, came burning ambition. A wish to manifest herself as a mighty warrior, just as her father had done, and just as Tyra had done. Galtos, content with how this turn of events had concluded itself, relaxed his dignified stance, and allowed his arms to fall to both sides. " Tyra Shatterhoof..... Are you ready to return to the waking world?" __________________________________________________________________________ @@J.R. Kazas would take no time informing the waiter of his desired cuisine. Fried snake. A simple, yet rarely afforded delicacy in his homeland. After concluding his own order, the griffon would see that the menu was returned, and twiddled his claws as he waited patiently. Although, Kazas did seem rather nervous as he waited for his food. Perhaps... This was indeed his first real 'date'? Finally mustering up the courage to begin a dialogue, Kazas lifted his head to Vera, and with his signature tone of innocence, spoke his mind to the mare across from him. "So, Vera... Does your profession tend to allow you to enjoy events such as these? "