Stormbringer Galtos

By Vae Victis

• May 12, 2015

Age: Seemingly about 45... But the stories of him say otherwise.

Gender: Male

Species: Non-Pony

Appearance: Galtos is a Minotaur, standing about half a head taller than most of his species. Galtos's hide is an unusual coloration for a Minotaur; A pale white. His hair is long, unkempt, Sterling silver, and ends around his upper back. Galtos's eyes are an icy blue coloration. Galtos has multiple scars on his body, but are not so noticeable that they instantly draw the eyes of others to them, save for a rather large scar that travels from the back of his left hand all the way up to the left tricep. It looks as though a blade had left its kiss on that arm. The other, lighter scars are somewhat visible on his thighs, arms, and even some around the collarbone, but are usually covered by his armor, clothing, and personal adornments. Galtos's veins are very eerily visible, more so than they should be,seemingly bulging from his arms, neck, and many other areas. They are as blue as his eyes, and perhaps... Are an ode to the loss of his mortality.<br /><br />Galtos is very rarely seen without his armor. his armor is painted jet-black, a stark contrast to the color of his hide. The armor does have a bit of wear-and-tear, such as light denting from years of use, but is not too apparent, owing to the paint job. The armor itself consists of multiple pieces. Finger-less gauntlets that protect him from the knuckles to his forearms. His greaves provide protection from his hooves to his knees, protecting both front and back of his legs. The chestpiece, strong and thick, yet giving Galtos great protection without sacrificing much mobility. His shoulder pauldrons are adorned with a few spikes, meant for increasing the damage done by a shoulder charge, and a clear sign that Galtos likes to fight on the front lines. Galtos's helm is more like a mask, being made of the same steel as his armor, but is actually two pieces that snap together, front and back. This is due to the fact that since Minotaur horns prevent the use of standardized helms, special measurements and smithing is required to forge a helm for a Minotaur, thus, making it the most valuable piece of armor for Galtos. Save for the openings for the horns, it covers most of Galtos's face, having only an opening for his eyes, and below the jaw, so that he may speak with it on. The helm also features a silver, vertical paint line that travels downward from the bottom left of the slit that allows Galtos sight from his helmet, and travels downward to the bottom of the helm. Interestingly enough, Galtos has a long, thick cord of chains wrapped around his right arm. These chains extend and snake up the arm and extend over his shoulder, wrapping around his torso a few times diagonally. This further secures the chestpiece, but is loose enough that with a mighty yank, could come unfurled. On the tips of Galtos's horns, it can be observed that metal fillings have been molded around them. Could this be for show, or something more....<br /><br />Galtos's clothing, which his armor covers most of, consists simply of a gray, sleeveless tunic. He also wears dark blue trousers. It is very rare to see him in only these, because as mentioned before, it is rare to see him without his armor.<br /><br />Galtos has many adornments on his person, mostly weapons. To his right side, a straightsword hangs by its scabbard. The blade itself is well kept and polished, and the pommel has bandage-like wrappings around it, allowing for a better grip for Galtos. Wrapped around the waist of his chest piece is a dark blue sash, matching his trousers and his eyes. Kept tucked to his left side by the sash is a shotel, a blade that curves inward like a sickle, but is shorter than most blades wielded by Minotaurs. However, to a regular pony, it is still a sizable blade. As it is a Saddle Arabian weapon, many who face Galtos are surprised that he uses one. However, seeing as it has no scabbard and Galtos keeps it close to his person, along with the blade being exceptionally well kept, it could be implied that it was a gift from another. Around his thigh, wrapped over his trousers, is what appears to be some sort of headband. It is white, with a faded image of a shield with golden horns protruding from it. A polearm-type weapon, more specifically, a bardiche, can be seen on Galtos's backside. This weapon has no sheathe, and is instead kept in place by the chains that wrap around Galtos's torso. It is somewhat diagonal, sticking up over his left shoulder so that he may easily draw it. The both pieces of the bardiche, blade and handle, are also well kept, like Galtos's other blades. <br /><br />Galtos is almost always seen on an excessively tall, muscular, and heavily armored Saddle Arabian. A peculiar sight in foreign lands, but not uncommon from the country that he is from. It is very clear that Galtos and this saddle Arabian are very close. In fact, the shotel itself may indicate the friendship that he shares with the Saddle Arabian. <br /><br />What seems to draw the eye, however, is a necklace that Galtos wears. It is a small, white, glowing stone attached to a silver chain. The part of the chain that holds the stone is shaped like a dragon's claw. Could it be a just a charm? Or... Is there more to it than that?

Cutie Mark: None.

Personality: Galtos is the true definition of a warrior. He carries himself with pride and exudes a radiance of confidence from his very being. Needless to say, Galtos can seem somewhat arrogant to those that he views as lesser than himself. Of course, this is not to be totally unexpected, considering that he comes from a culture where war is glorified, along with his past and his power. Galtos is almost always doing something that in some way has something to do with conflict. He can often be found sharpening his blades, polishing his armor, muttering strategems to himself, or even daydreaming about battles. Galtos seems as though he is consumed by the want of skirmish. There are three reasons why, which also help to shape the way that he thinks.<br /><br />The first reason of why Galtos is so enthralled with war is due to religion. Galtos worships a pantheon of gods that are also revered in his homeland. More specifically, Galtos worships a god by the name of Yülver, whom in his culture, is the god of war. In Galtos's religion, Yülver resides over the realm of " the never-ceasing conflict ", a realm within the heavenly spheres of Tauric religion that is said to be a paradise for warriors like himself. Within this heavenly sphere, legends say that the greatest warriors assemble and battle against each other eternally, competing for bragging rights and dominance. The eternal war is without consequence of loss, as any who are slain there rise again without any pain. After they are done fighting, all the warriors in this holy realm drink the finest of wines, partake in the consumption of the most delicious food, rejoice with loved ones and friends, make peace with their enemies in life, and many other hobbies if they so choose. There is no hatred or malice to be had there, only the eternal thrill of battle, companionship, honor. Everything one who devotes their life to battle shall ever need. To be allowed into the Never-ceasing conflict, means to be a warrior through and through. This is where Galtos wants to be when he finally has what he desires; a clean death in fair combat on the battlefield.<br /><br />The second reason why Galtos has a love for battle, is the fact that he himself died an unclean, dishonorable death. At least, that is how he views it. Galtos, while still mortal, was taken not by blade, but by sickness, cursed by a bitter enemy who wielded powerful magics and assaulted his homeland years before. Having suffered what he felt was a personal affront to his name in life, memories of his body being ravaged by disease left him somewhat embittered. To him, he should have died of either old age, or should've been taken by a blade in combat. Galtos wants to rectify this mistake eventually, ever seeking the ultimate opponent, in the right situation, to help him put it right. To send him to be judged by his gods.<br /><br />The third reason is blatantly the most obvious; he enjoys fighting. To him, that pure rush of adrenaline while his life is on the line makes things fun for him. It gives him a chance to prove himself, a chance to break the boredom of peaceful times. He doesn't fight out of hatred. Only for the enjoyment and rush it brings.<br /><br />Despite seemingly coming off as a warmonger, Galtos does enjoy peace, even if it can be boring to him at times. Galtos can even show an artistic side, often making wood-carvings in his spare time. Galtos also tends to enjoy fishing and other simple things in life, like drinking. However, to him, almost nothing beats sailing on the high seas, enjoying the openness of the ocean and fishing. That, and potential pirate attacks.<br /><br />Galtos does have a sense of humor, though it is crass, vulger, and can be somewhat inappropriate at times. This can also be tied to... Romantic deviancy in Galtos's past life. And... Some in this life as well.<br /><br />Despite his shortcomings and nature, Galtos is very honorable and charismatic. He believes in a fair fight and respect for those who have earned it. Galtos is known for bringing out the best in both his allies and his opponents, using his silver tongue to inspire those he duels to fight their best. Galtos has a firm distaste for those without at least an inkling of honor. He holds back when necessary and lets loose when it isn't. Toward his allies, Galtos is actually considerate and even shows signs of emotional attachment if they have earned his respect. If Galtos is put in a position of leadership, he will have high expectations of others, but will never burden those he leads with more than they can bear. He is fiercely loyal, and looks down upon betrayal with absolute disgust. He is also a very straightforward and direct Minotaur, and loathes treachery and guile. Needless to say, he prefers opponents who would stand and fight with all of their power to those who try to be clever and defeat him in an unconventional way. Even so, Galtos himself is a good tactician when it comes down to it, evolving and adapting as he fights.<br /><br />One would not expect Galtos to know kindness, but he in fact does, though there are very few ways that he knows how to show it. For instance, if he comes across a land that has been ravaged by drought, he will use his power to call forth rain from the heavens and ride throughout that land on his companion and ever loyal Saddle Arabian friend, Ciratha, who is his harbinger, quenching a devastated area of its thirst and making sure it stays lush. This underlies a respect for nature, as well as a sympathy for those who have been struck by poor water conditions. Galtos also does not believe in pillaging or senseless slaughter. If Galtos sees a warrior's blade turned on someone who has no chance of defending themselves during his travels, then Galtos will more than happily deal with the dishonorable cur himself. Galtos sees worth in all professions, and believes that personal honor is achieved when the profession is done correctly and dutifully.

Backstory: Galtos is an undead. More specifically, he is a draugr, a creature feared in mythology for their monstrous strength and terrifying powers. Galtos is a member of the Unbound, a group of extremely powerful and diverse reanimated beings that are sworn to protect a kingdom known as the Necrosanctum. Necrosanctum is a safe haven for all undead, of all types, and of all cultures. Galtos answers only to the will of the Unbound King, the being who leads this kingdom of undeath. Galtos is a general of Necrosanctum, specializing at raid tactics on land, along with naval tactics as well, when and if Necrosanctum ever needs defending from attack. Galtos is rarely ever sent out by the king on a mission, but when he is sent forth, the situation may very well be serious enough to warrant major concern. However, when not on an important errand for the Unbound King, he roams the world in search of a worthy challenge to keep his skills sharp and enjoy himself, seeking out the most hardened opponents to keep the legend of the Stormbringer in infamy, so if any force invades Necrosanctum, they will know that they have disturbed the domain of a supposed Tauric war deity.<br />------------------------<br /><br />To understand Galtos's past, one must first understand the past of his homeland, for it shaped who he is. Galtos's homeland is known as Sadauris. It is located over the Eastern sea, and is Southeast of the Griffon lands. Countless centuries before, Galtos's ancestors, a group of nomadic Minotaurs who staked their lives on hunting and farming wandered into the lands that would become Sadauris. They had fled a war from the Northwest, in which they were the survivors of a contention for living space with Griffons. Having lost the conflict due to being outnumbered along with the Griffons' superior military tactics, the seemingly undesirable land to the Southeast of what was the Leovian empire was the only choice left for the nomads, as the Griffons would grant them quarter if they agreed to leave. It was a harsh place to live, as the plains would barely provide any fruit of labor in attempts to cultivate it. Along with that, the game was plentiful, but fierce, with creatures like great elks that were so sizable and strong, that they could kill Minotaurs, despite the Minotaurs being mighty themselves. While living was a struggle for the Minotaurs, they did indeed survive, and their numbers would eventually multiply to the point of where groups would splinter off from the main Nomadic family in attempts to further explore the lands for resources, game, and living space. Villages soon rose up, and natural selection, while tragic, had blessed The Minotaurs, as only the strongest survived in these lands. They would spread and eventually establish permanent settlements. These settlements would eventually develope their own tribal identities, evolving their culture to a primitive, yet profound system of self-governing bodies within each tribe. There was occasionally conflict between tribes for land disputes, but nothing that threatened the entirety of the culture. That is, until a threat from further east would make itself present two hundred years later....<br /><br />From the east, came something that the Minotaurs had never seen before. A large-scale force of Saddle Arabians sailed over the Massive lake that bordered the land to the East in an attempt at colonizing new lands to expand their empire. First contact was not established until the Saddle Arabians had already occupied a fair bit of land, Due to a massive colonization force, along with their own stubborn hardiness from surviving in harsh climates. When first contact was made almost right in the middle of what would become Sadauris, it was quite violent. The Minotaurs of that area had never even seen a pony before, and in the massive droves that they had come in, the Minotaurs feared the Saddle Arabians, as history had taught them to be weary of others. Fearing being pushed out of their homes for the second time in their history, the Minotaur clans that had formed united under one flag, and gave the Saddle Arabians an ultimatum; either leave in peace since the Minotaurs had settled the land first, and had laid claims to the rest of it, or suffer the flames of war. the Saddle Arabians, in their pride, refused to fall back, as they had their own reasons for occupying the land. While peaceful solutions were sought out by certain inner factions from both sides, one could not be found, as the Minotaurs were adamant about the Saddle Arabians leaving, while the Saddle Arabians demanded to stay, even going as far to demand rights to even more land, seeing the Minotaurs as nothing but savages and uncultured brutes. And so, the massive plains and woodlands would serve of the unnamed land would be stained with the blood of Minotaurs, and Saddle Arabians.<br /><br />The war itself was surprisingly short, to say the least. Initially, the Saddle Arabians had the upperhand due to sheer numbers and tactics, an ironic repetition of history, given that the Minotaurs lost due to the very same reasons to the Griffons hundreds of years before they were forced to migrate. Battlefield after battlefield was littered with the corpses of the bullmen, while Saddle Arabian casualties were nowhere near the intervals of the minotaurs. However, The Minotaurs refused to back down, as they would dare not allow themselves to chased away from their homes twice. When it seemed that the saddle Arabians were closing in on victory, an unexpected variable came into play; winter. The minotaurs had survived it for countless generations, while the Saddle Arabians had only gotten a small taste, as the weather only grew more severe, the further into the land one ventured. the Saddle Arabians had taken 3/4 of the entirety of the disputed area, including the central plains. As they advanced, the Saddle Arabians had left behind their initial farms on the bank of the great lake they had crossed and moved most of them with their forces to keep their soldiers strong. Along with that, the Saddle Arabians had not mastered preserving their harvests in intense conditions. When winter struck, the Saddle Arabian crop was nearly all but decimated in nature's furious display of power. Snowstorms battered farmland and frost obliterated crops. Not only that, but since Saddle Arabians were naturally herbivores, they did not hunt and thus did not skin animals for fur to use as winter clothing, or as an alternate food source. All the while, the Minotaurs had maintained in these conditions for two centuries, surviving and prospering. Taking advantage of the Saddle Arabians' ignorance of the land's harshness, the Minotaurs would develope tactics to counteract the Saddle Arabians while licking their wounds. As winter grew worse, so did the Saddle Arabians' starvation. Taking advantage of this, the Minotaurs would push them back in an almost effortless slaughter after slaughter of Saddle Arabians, taking back lost land. The tables had indeed turned, but only for a small while. The Minotaur population had suffered greatly in the initial stages of the war, and while they were indeed winning battles at this point they still suffered casualties, and soon enough, there would not be enough left in the population of Minotaurs to maintain a military force. The same could be said for the Saddle Arabians, as even a massive fraction of their civillains would suffer starvation and eventually death. <br /><br />The two sides realized that if they were to keep warring, then both would be wiped away from this world like excrement from a boot. Both sides sent delagations to meet on neutral ground after the winter had ended. Truths were discovered about both sides; these particular Saddle Arabians were pushed out of their own land as exiles, as they were remnants of a kingdom that was defeated by another, just like the Minotaurs were. Upon hearing news of this, many Minotaurs began to sympthasize with the Saddle Arabians, and likewise, the Saddle Arabians, finding their rivals to be cultured and having suffered the same as they had centuries earlier, found respect for the Minotaurs. Realizing that due to the massive population cutdowns on both sides, both races would have to work together to survive. And so, it was decided. They would live together in the same land, in peace. They would teach each other various things, such as Survival from the Minotaurs and better steel forging from the Saddle Arabians. They would respect each other's customs, and divided land bounderies fairly, among other things. But above all else, if ever needed, they pledged to aid each other in times of great duress. To honor this promise, a name for their land, no, their country, was thought of. Saduaris, a combination of the words 'saddle' and 'Tauris', to honor both species that had come together to survive this harsh place. It was then that the foundation for a powerful nation had been seeded. And from this nation that would grow, a legendary warrior and his Sworn would become icons for the nation to rally behind 300 years later, when a threat unseen would assail their land. That hero was Galtos, and his Sworn Saddle Arabian brother, Ciratha.<br />-----------------<br />[About 300 years later, enter; Galtos.]<br /><br />Approximately three centuries had passed since the birth of Saduaris as a nation. In that time, great progress had been made. Not only did the Saddle Arabians and the Minotaurs survive Saduaris, they practically tamed it. All aspects of both societies evolved uniquely with each other. Minotaurs lived in Saddle Arabian settlements, and vice versa. Technology and innovation ensured the survival of both groups, and the alliance was in pristine condition. Peace was well-preserved. One would think that this nation would not even need to spawn one such as Galtos, let alone need him, but fate has a funny way of working.<br /><br />Galtos was born on the fringes of the Minotaur territories, in the lower Southwestern quadrant in a quaint little fishing village that stood near the Tauric gulf, which served as a harbor for trade and commerce, as well as fishing. Galtos's childhood was overall normal for residents of that area; a life on water and fish as the lifeblood. Galtos was part of clan Fyüln, a small, somewhat poor family that had to practice subsidized fishing just to get by. Like his parents and the rest of his predecessors, he would most likely be stuck fishing for most of, if not the rest of his life. This greatly irritated Galtos as a child, as he was easily bored and craved adventure. Galtos was particularly thrilled by the stories that his father told him as a child about great warriors and tales of the gods, wishing that he could say that his life could mean as much as the ones of whom the stories were about. Being stuck fishing disgruntled him through much of his adolescent years. Was this all that he would be? A simple fisherman that no one would remember later on down the road? No... he couldn't let that happen. He wanted to be great in name and deed, but he couldn't just abandon his family. They would need his help, for as time went by, he did grow in maturity, strength, and size, as they grew old and tired from working the nets and hauling in loads of fish. Begrudgingly, Galtos accepted his fate as another chain in the link, hoping, and praying, that someday an opportunity would present itself to change his life. After all, the stories that his father told him, the stories of honor, dedication, fierceness in battle, and the heavenly spheres called to him. He wanted to be like the heroes of the stories. More over, he wanted to BE a hero in one of those stories. After all, if he was a great warrior, then maybe he could get his clan out of the rut they were in. But there was no need for warriors. Not in that day. Not in that age. No threats were coming. There were no wars to join in. It was peaceful... but it was also boring, as well. Even though he knew it was selfish, Galtos prayed to his gods everyday for something... anything, to happen that would give him a chance to prove himself. Of course, years later, the gods would answer his prayers... but Galtos should have heeded the proverb of being careful of what you wish for, as he would soon find out in his twenty third year in this world.<br /><br />Years would pass as Galtos grew into his own, standing at half a head taller than his fellow minotaurs and with plenty of muscle to boot. at age 23, he was the pride of clan Fyüln. Galtos often spent his days fishing and drinking. However, this life of dull peace would soon be challenged. One day, as Galtos was drinking with his companions, strange tales were being spoke of in the tavern of which he considered a second home. Peculiar stories, coming in from the north, were told in hushed whispers. Apparently, the vengeful dead who had perished in the great contention over 300 years ago were coming back to life to terrorize and feast on the flesh of the living as reanimated corpses. Moreover, it was also said that it was the work of some sort of stranger, a unicorn from unknown lands. Rumor had it that he was excessively powerful and skilled in both unholy and forbidden spells, aided by some sort of staff that held an immense power within it that was being used as a catalyst. Of course, most in the tavern, including Galtos, would dismiss these tales as nothing but a fool's gossip. Heading home, Galtos would drunkenly reflect on these stories... could they be true? And if so, had his gods answered his prayers after so long? No, that was impossible. The dead do not walk again, and strangers seldom had anything to gain in Saduaris, let alone strangers wielding unbelievable powers that could call back souls from the heavenly cluster...<br /><br />A few moons later after Galtos had heard the tales from from his contemporaries in the tavern, it happened... Marching toward his village under the cover of night, a large force of what seemed to be both Saddle Arabian and Minotaur could be seen in the moonlight. From a distance, one could spot a hooded unicorn, with what seemed to be a walking stick wrapped in bandages, at the helm. Commotion raged throughout the village, as the town lookout guard had spotted this force and had began going door to door, waking everyone up to alert them. Galtos, being one of the first to answer the call, came out of his abode with his father, bearing swords, as in Tauric law, you were always required to be armed, even if you had no training. Galtos was taught the basics by his father, and with his size and strength, was a formidable force, but a whelp is still a whelp, and Galtos had no experience in battle. When all had gathered at the the front of the village, an envoy had been sent out from among them to serve as a representative. However, the envoy would be slaughtered as soon as contact would be made. And after the slaughter, the seemingly normal Minotaurs and Saddle Arabians started to devour the corpse of the one who was sent out. In shock and confusion, all others still at the front gate drew their weapons. The hooded unicorn, at the helm of the entire seemingly cannabalistic force, simply pointed his staff at the village, and spoke one word.<br /><br />" consume. "<br /><br />It was then that the large force charged at the village, looking to overwhelm the populace. Galtos, along with his fellow villagers, rose to defend themselves. However, it would be a wasted effort. The rumors were true. The massive force that was attacking the village was actually a large group of reanimated undead, confirmed by their rotting flesh, dead eyes, and hunger for flesh. As they fought and slaughtered the villagers, they consumed their flesh and burned their domain to the ground, with those left alive, including Galtos, being slowly pushed back towards the lake. Galtos, while mighty in strength, was inexperienced, and suffered many wounds from the conflict. While the undead seemed unskilled, their sheer numbers are what overwhelmed. Having no choice, the villagers fled to the ships, including Galtos's parents. Boarding the boats in an attempt to escape, many of the elders of the village had come to the conclusion that protecting the young was the most important course of action they could take. Knowing that their village would be completely taken by this scourge of the undead, the elders, along with Galtos's own parents, would stand their ground as those who were younger and possessed greater vitality escaped on their fishing boats. Galtos was one of those to be put on these make-shift lifeboats. Even though heavily wounded, he demanded that he be left behind to fight alongside his mother and father, going as far to even try to force his way through the other minotuars who were trying to restrain him for his own safety on orders from the elders. Even with as mighty as he already was, the heavily wounded Galtos could not break through his brethren to fight beside his family. As the other minotaurs hoisted the anchor to set sail and escape, Galtos watched helplessly as his mother and father fell to the undead along with the village elders, their entire village set ablaze. He screamed violently in great rage, finding the strength to break the hold of the other minotaurs on him, albeit too late. The fishing ship had already set sail with the survivors, and was quite a distance away from the docks. It was then that Galtos spotted the odd, cloaked unicorn, standing on the pier from which they had departed, along with with his army of undead behind him. This necromancer was laughing as they escaped... As if it wouldn't make a difference in the long run. Angered and fueled by adrenaline, Galtos yelled at that unicorn with the odd staff with all of his might.<br /><br />" SOMEDAY, I WILL TAKE YOUR HEAD.... DEFILER!"<br /><br />Galtos would then fall unconscious, unable to stand any longer due to his wounds and blood loss. As things slowly faded into dark, Galtos pondered with all of his soul. He did feel the rage of losing his kin. He felt intense pangs of regret as he was not able to help them or the others. He hated his own weakness and inexperience with an absolute burning passion. And yet, in all of that agony, there was a small glimmer of hope. If he survived the night, then he would devote all of his time and energy to becoming a great warrior to defend his homeland, and honor the blood code by which Saduarian minotaurs lived by. While he knew that it was excessively selfish, he was even somewhat excited by what had happened. Finally, like those who came before him, Galtos would have a chance to become a true warrior. He would no longer be a whelp who merely swung a sword without fluidity. He would take up arms, and defend his homeland. He would become a legend, or die honorably in the process.<br /><br />Waking up days later, with his wounds tended to, he was able to weakly walk among his fellow minotaurs on board. Speaking to each of them, he was able to gather that they were sailing along the coast, eastward. They would seek help from the Saddle Arabians who lived in that quadrant of Sadauris. Still recovering from his last encounter with the necromancer and his forces, Galtos spent the remainder of the trip thinking. How bad was the scourge that had suddenly come upon them? Had any other settlements in Sadauris been attacked? Of course, he wouldn't know until they reached their destination. <br /><br />Eventually, the lone ship, by traveling near the coastline, made its way to the great Saddle Arabian port city of Rostak, which was built upon the original landing ground of the Saduarian Equines. What they came to witness, was a tragedy, resounding and absolute. The city itself was in dire straits. Everywhere, wounded Saddle Arabian and Tauric warriors were being sheltered inside of civilian homes, as there was no space left in the medical wards of Rostak. Makeshift wooden ramparts, approximately 30 feet high and of excessively poor quality had been erected in order to defend the port city. And the worst of it? The worst ailment of the city was the smell. Or more so perhaps, of what was causing the pestilence. As if the Gods were not already showing their ornery wrath, the city had been stricken by an illness most foul; a plague, of which ate away at the innards of the victim, was also taking its toll on the civilian population. Many sections of Rostak had been subject to a rudimentary quarantine, with many of the infected crammed into the ruins of a once thriving residential area of the city, and forced to keep inside said area with shoddily crafted walls and guards of whom had a great deal of animosity for this method. As the medical wards were already full of wounded fighters, all attempts to study and cure the plague were effectively nonexistent. The city, rife with woe, also found itself surrounded by, and almost constantly battered against by hordes of the deceased. <br /><br />With Rostak in the terrible position that it was, any news from the outside would be well received. Galtos's party would find itself as the sole proprietors of a seafaring vessel. All others had been sent away with civilians who were unable to aid the combative measurements in any way. With news of their arrival spread like wildfire throughout the city by the broken population, Galtos and those that had fled with him were subject to an immediate summons by the ruling family of the lands occupied by their Equine neighbors. <br /><br />Brought before the ruling family within their grand abode of a palace situated within the center of the city, Galtos and his fellows gave their account of the fishing village's massacre and their forced flight from danger. At the time, the original sovereign of the land had been bedridden and confined to his chamber