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...

Human's name: Yesinia

Age: 11

Appearance: Yesiania is of average height for her age, standing at around five feet and two inches. Of Hispanic descent, she bears the crisp, bronze skin of one who toils as the sun bears down upon them. Her hair, reminiscent of scorched earth and kept out of her eyes by the silver ribbon that serves as the crux for a wavy ponytail. Freckles mark the bridge of her nose, stains left over time by exposure to copious amounts of daylight that Yesinia has been exposed to. She sports a sleeveless white shirt, and khaki shorts that cut off towards the end of her calves. She evidently owns no shoes, but the bottoms of her feet bear the canyons of callouse that prevail against discomfort, allowing her to move about mostly unhindered by unfavorable terrain. Her physique is considerable, for one so young. Smooth skin will occasionally shift about and give way to faint sinews of muscle, hinting at her blue collar background. Her eyes, relaxed and reminiscent of emeralds tend to remain relaxed, nary showing a hint of concern for her surroundings. In her ears, if one walks beside her, they may see peculiar devices used to aid those with impairment of auditory reception.....

OKAY.... hopefully that is the absolute last hiatus I have to take. Now that I'm out of school, I should be able to RP freely without any further interruptions. XD

@ @@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. "

And here we have the Guts in his natural habitat. Assaulted on all fronts by responsibilities, the Guts makes up for his lack of energy with physics-breaking ingenuity, dragging himself back onto the forums to resume some much-needed creative fulfillment.  

Tyra nodded solemnly, biting her lip as she felt a bit bad for Lorec. She knew the story all too well, from their first encounter in the field of battle.

"I understand, old friend. Though, believe me when I say I would gladly put my life on the line for her. She is just as good a friend to me as you are, yes?" She smiled.

 

 

 

"Oh, without hesitation!" She grinned once again, ear to ear. "She is welcome into Trotstheim whenever she wishes, as are you! In fact, my father would really love to meet with you some day. He was speaking of creating relations with our people."

 

With that, she turned on her hooves and looked to the path leading to the mountain, towering in the distance. "Shall we depart? We still have plenty of daylight!"

     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? "

Okay... I have dragged myself from the ashes to post yet again 

@ @@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...

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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! "

"Ah, this is good fortune!" Tyra grinned, at hearing Lorec was also there to climb the mountain. "Perhaps we may work together to reach the summit, yes?"

 

Her grin faded as he went on about Sifana, and she swiftly shook her head. "That is not what I meant! I simply thought she might pursue a path I followed, by travelling and meeting new challenges on her own terms. I meant no offense, old friend."

" 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? "

Tyra was elated to share a hug with Lorec, after becoming close friends with the enormous minotaur following the toughest fight she had ever been in. She still found it hard to believe that, technically, she had won.

 

She grinned from the tight squeeze, and gave it back slightly, making sure not to hurt his neck.

 

"I have been quite well, old friend!" She chirped, looking right at his face. "How have you been? Oh, Sifana too! Is she here with you also?"

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? 

Well if there's still room, how could I not want to participate? Initiate phase one; power up the B.A.S.S. Cannon!

https://mlpforums.com/page/roleplay-characters/_/lorec-krin-r6942

@ @ @@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. "

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@@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. "

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@@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? "

OKAY..... After dragging myself through the perilous pits of life, I can safely say that I can resume a regular posting schedule. I will try to shoot out a post at least every other day. An apology is owed because I know I held people up. So Yeah... I'll try to not let college stomp me in the face to the point where I can't do anything

Work and more work. XD I'm terribly sorry about that. The ironic part is that I probably won't be as busy when the semester starts

@ @@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? "

Okay... A week long vacation and an 8 say work week later, and I'm back. Sorry about that, guys ;-;

@@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.

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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? "

Won't go any further than that with Lorec yet, because I know a few have to be asleep. Didn't think I'd get lolnope'd though. XD

@ @@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... "

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@@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.