Warm welcome didn't describe what happened when Brutus and the now fully awake group, sand men and logipriest include, entered the capital.mothers, sons, daughters,brothers,wives,fathers,cousins essentially entire families came out of their homes when the group was spotted on a nearby dune. Brutus' armor shined as bright as sun, which nearly blinded some of his new companions, whom he had grown quite fond of. They made him wear the tarp like a cloak, but he didn't mind, everything was finally going his way. His new found allies were reunited with their families, he had found one of the logipriest and finally had a way to get back to Venezzia. Brutus felt alive and happy until he realized that he'd been walking for days, only resting when the sand men needed to. His strength was nearly gone, he'll his strength was completely gone by nowhere could barley take a step forward. But just as he thought he was finally clear to rest a large group of armed sand men, and the collective converged upon him. Brutus protectively stood inform of the young logipriest. Brutus braced himself for conflict, hee knew he couldn't do much but he'd die for the logipriest child. And just as he thought his time had finally come one of the sand men, the one named, Sandromin, stepped forward and began to talk, and at that moment Brutus fell unconscious.

OOC: Good news everyone, I've invented a device that forces you to read this in my voice. On another note, this thread has reached 300 posts. That is all.

So, as Sandromin found his way to Venezzia, it seemed everyone had been going there to join in on the summit. From merchants aiming for the extra cash, to the noblemen who wanted to see what would occur, to even the collectives, it seemed everyone was there.

And, as expected during contingency plans, Sandromin's caravan of diplomats had arrived beforehand. It seemed there were a few extras though...

At first, Sandromin thought he saw a large sack in the back of a wagon, but then realized it was the giant he had heard of at the collective's base. Then, he saw a green logipriest next to them, accompanied by a few diplomats. It seemed things were going to be interesting at the summit... Sandromin was going to look forward to it...

---

Meanwhile, the boats finally reached the Ivory Coast and a new people emerged from the fleet...

From the boat stepped off the Men of the South, or the Dawnfir. These men were on an expedition, and it seemed they had tier 3 technology... and to boot it off, it seemed Bojo was their leader.

Things are about to get interesting in Dustia.

Where were the sand men he had traveled with? Where was the logipriest? While he was pondering this both his questions were answered, in walked the logipriest and the sandman who had first helped at the same time. Brutus was elated. But he had to ask something for both of them." What your name's"

Conyr looked up at the giant, craning his neck far back. He saw in the rough face eyes that expressed emotion. True emotion.
Very rarely does someone express themself so freely, Conyr though with remarkable wisdom at such a young age. I think it will be safe to stay with this big one, Brutus.

"Hi, Brutus. My name is Conyr. I think... I think we'll be good friends."

OOC: By the way Brutus, Sandromin added after your post that you were already part of his caravan, and therefore you're at or near Venezzia.

,

Conyr looked up at the giant, craning his neck far back. He saw in the rough face eyes that expressed emotion. True emotion.
Very rarely does someone express themself so freely, Conyr though with remarkable wisdom at such a young age. I think it will be safe to stay with this big one, Brutus.

"Hi, Brutus. My name is Conyr. I think... I think we'll be good friends."

[

Brutus nodded at the young logipriest, " Conyr. Good name" Brutus closed his fist and hit his chest with it " strong,name." The young logipriest smiled at that, which made Brutus happy In turn. Brutus was content to until he realized it wasn't scolding hot out side or inside. "Where we at?" He looked to Conyr In befuddlement. Conyr simply said" uh...the leader of the sand men, Sandromin brought us In a caravan. I....thought you knew." Brutus felt embarrassed at his lack of knowledge. But was glad that Conyr hadn't scoffed at him. This boy would be something great one day. Brutus then looked at the sand man who had opened a window to show Brutus where they were, and where they were, was Venezzia. Brutus' day was getting better and better. He looked at Conyr then back at the sand man, who he would from now on call sandy, weather he knew his name or not. Brutus hurried around the room looking for his armor which he found under his bed. He quickly put it on and hurried his companions out the door to see the the great city. The giant the logipriest, and the sand man all stood astounded. The city was magnificent. "We find Alixenus. Then" Brutus looked over to Conyr, " we find your family." Conyr smiled gregariously, and asked Brutus if he promised.to which Brutus swore he'd protect Conyr with his life. And with that the strange company set off toward where " sandy" said a meeting was about to take place

"She struck you? My Lord this is intolerable! She must be hanged at once!"
"No! The Priestess is not to be harmed."
"But she is a mere refugee, one that lead an army of Zombies against us at that! Honour demands-"
"I do not care what honour demands, Chamberlain! She will remain unharmed. Surely it is more chivalrous to not exact revenge like a child? Is that not enough to convince you?"

The Chamberlain took the hint. He bowed and scurried out. Alixenus rubbed his now brusing face as he stood looking out of the window over the Palazzo de Venezzia. The Priestess had earned a modicum of respect with that kick. But was it just a kick? He could still smell that, scent, on his face where she had connected. Had she enchanted him somehow? Some form of non-magic trickery? That would have to wait until later. The delegates were arriving for Thanatos' conference, though Alixenus was suprised when the Diyadian envoy arrived without Thanatos and he felt no small measure of sadness when he learnt of the King's passing.

"Sergeant of the Pipes?"
"Yes my Lord?
"Sound the Horns of Venezzia, it is time to summon the diplomats"
"Very good sir."
"And have the magical prisoner brought into one of the Private rooms downstairs. I want her close at hand in case the diplomats demand to see her"

A few minutes later a mighty boom echoed across the city signalling all men of import to the Council complex.

Darilys was oblivious to anything else. As he turned each page, wonder poured through his body. The runes... The runes were so familiar... He looked on his body.

They were one and the same.

He flipped, saw more runes, saw runes on his body that matched those runes. But Darilys did not care. He was absorbed by the book, all he wanted to do was keep reading... Reading... A noise disturbed him, he ignored it. A man, shouting to search a ship... Darilys did not care about ships... He just wanted to read... Be quiet, he thought. Everything went silent. Darilys smiled; the book agreed. The book wanted to be read. It would do anything to keep being read. Darilys heard footsteps behind him and a cry: "Intruder in the hull!". He heard the metallic zing of a sword being unsheathed, still he kept reading. Go away, he thought. Nothing hit him.

Xavier was thrown with the force of a charging elephant backwards and slammed against the other side of the hull, smashed through inches of thick wood, and splashed into the water. He arose, gasping and furious, to watch the rest of his dwarves sailing from the boat in similar trajectories, shock on their faces. He swam back to the dock and stood there, watching the boat warily, pondering his next move.

-

Natyli glared at the two men as they unshackled her hands and reshackled them into other bindings, also inscribed by runes. She struggled as they hauled her out of the dungeon into daylight. Curious people watched as she was hauled to the palace.

The men were strong, but they could not resist the perfume. She had bathed in it for years; all female logipriests did. The effect had dulled on people of their own race, but prolonged exposure to it by others caused infatuation, especially to the opposite sex. Only the strongest resisted it.The men now glared back at her, hungrily, and Natyli felt fear. She was bound, unable to escape... They started salivating. Instead of continuing towards the palace, they turned down a dark alleyway.

-

Conyr watched Brutus lope away. He felt wrong; the giant's company was extremely comfortable. When he was sitting on Brutus' shoulder he had felt like a giant himself, the land was open to him. He had seen over rooftops, and using this knowledge of the city's layout, he knew Brutus was heading for the port. Scrabbling up a nearby building with incredible agility, Conyr decided to follow his giant friend.

Soaring over rooftops, he felt like he had wings. Conyr laughed as he chased Brutus' upper torso, the only part visible to him from his position. He could see the masts of ships ahead. Suddenly, a scream rent the air. Conyr slowed and looked down. He couldn't believe his eyes: Natyli was being assaulted by two men, intent on tearing off her rough clothes. Conyr was unaffected by the perfume and still too young to understand what was happening, so he watched, confused, for a while. Of course, he had seen the older logipriests mate, but never so roughly. One of the men actually punched her to her knees, throwing her head up. Then she saw him.

"Conyr, help!"

Galvanised into action, he acted without thinking and launched himself straight from the roof onto the shoulders of one of the men. He heard a crack as he leapt off, and turned to see the man on the ground clutching his knee. The problem was, thr man with the broken knee had fallen on Natyli, and he had a sabre pressed against her throat. They were no mercenaries, these were experts in their field, and they had just turned a surprise to their advantage. The other man turned towards Conyr menacingly, drawing two sabres. Uh oh.

-

I was standing on top of a roof, staring at the ship with a dwarf shaped hole in its hull. The dwarf responsible for the hole, Xavier, was silently watching the ship, dripping wet. Entry into Venezzia had been easy enough. The crowds swarming in, all conversing about delegations, representatives, kings, lord lieutenants, and a great meeting, a great conference. He blended in, and sought the source of his discomforting feeling. This is where he found himself.

It must be Darilys. The old man was always too smart for his own good. I remembered when he used to host riddle competitions for the children, tell tall tales of great heroes and villains. I loved his stories. Behind his elderly guise, though, he held a yearning to be younger. His powers used to be great before the inevitable progress of time weakened him.
I knew I'd find Darilys in that ship.
I knew he would have to die.

"What on earth is going on in my City?"

The bells signifying general quarters were sounding near the Western dock. Civilians seemed to be fleeing in a blind panic from that area. He heard no fire, no swords. This wasn't a raid, it was something else. Alixenus rushed to the armoury and grabbed a suit of 'musterfield' armour (A nickname for light armour desgined to be pulled on quickly) and a broadsword.
Rushing to the docks, he found Marines from various ships began to congregate around him as they made their way to their respective ships. City guards were scrambling onto rooftops to get a better view of what was going on. But a few streets from the Port, Alixenus saw the strangest scene being acted out in a back alley. Freezing to the spot to see what was going on, most of the marines passed by him, a few staying to check he was alright.

When the street had cleared , he saw two city guards running from Brutus, past a sandman and an elderly looking Logipriest. Next to Brutus was a pair of Logipriests. One young and male and the other... was the Prisoner.

"Oh seven hells, this going to go bad very fast" Alixenus subtly made the hand signal for "Be ready. Use spears" before approaching Brutus with genuine friendship, hoping he could diffuse this before Brutus turned him into paste.

"Brutus! My friend! It is so good to see you! Where have been all this time?"
Brutus slapped his chest in greeting and said "Brutus...has been all over" He let out a mighty laugh and moved to pick Alixenus up.

But Conyr, being perceptive, had seen the emotions etched on Natyli's face when she saw Alixenus.
"Wait!" He yelled at Brutus. The giant stopped, perplexed.
"Why stop?"
"Ask him why Natyli is in chains and was attacked in his city"
Brutus almost looked hurt at Conyr's near-accusation. He turned to Alixenus and said "Why?"

"There is no point in lying to you." Alixenus said as he slowly loosed his sword in its Scabbard. "Natyli is a prisoner of the Republic of Venezzia for crimes perpetrated by the Logipriest nation, which include a raid by Golems and a full scale Zombie siege"
"You chain her?" Hostility was evident in Brutu's voice.
"Yes, to prevent escape and prevent her use of Magic. I was having her brought from a secure Dungeon to the South to the Council complex for the Talks"
"Where guard? Why was she attacked"
"Those idiots that ran off were her guard. Wait! WAIT BRUTUS! They were under strict orders to bring her to the talks, they weren't supposed to be in this alley. Now, granted Natyli is young and Men have their evils, but those men were too disciplined to risk throwing their careers away by defying my order not to harm her."

The tension in that alley was Palpable. Brutus, conflicted over his loyalty to the Logipriests and Alixenus. Conyr inspecting every inch of the chains to try to free Natyli. The old Logipriest, looking highly suspicious and the Sandman keeping a careful eye on everyone.

"So Brutus, what happens now?"

Xavier, after he recovers from the dock and follows the Giant,




"There's the brute!"

Xavier sprints toward Alixenus and the logipriests. And toward the crying, pitiful giant. His men followed him.

Xavier, dripping wet, speaks:

"Alixenus! Please do not tell me this pitiful worm is your ally. He insulted me by ramming me off my own ship, sinking it, and assisting these thieves," he looks at the logipriests, "in stealing my book!"

He points his shining blade toward the woman.

"You wicked harlot! Where is your friend, hmmm? Your friend stole my book! But I bet you already knew that. If you were in my lands, I would have your head."

Xavier lowers his sword from the shaken women, and looks to Alixenus.

"But these are your lands, comrade. Or should I say Supreme Leader?"

He chuckles to himself. The burning in his heart is still present, but albeit dimmed.

"I hope you didn't decline the job? It 'tis a simple one. My people are doing well anyway. But on to the subject at hand.

He then scowls at the giant and logipriests

"These people have stolen an important artifact to the Lucia, destroyed my ship so I cannot return home, and attempted to murder the Grand Liberator. Now, what do you say about that?"