Midpoint Entrance (Town entrance, no gates)

[8ball]

At the heart of the Allerian Empire, in the Adminstrate of Centripax, lay the Midpoint Fortress, it's grey walls towering high above the surrounding area. It was the home of the Alyssan Guard, Alleria's finest military outfit ever known. This was their home, their area of responsibility and they would defend it to their last breath.

Maybe it was because of this that a small group of farmers had settled themselves near the great fortress complex. The frequent patrols of the Alyssan Guard protected them from harm and they had an easy time selling their crops to the always needy army. Over the patterns more people had come to the fortress and the small settlement had grown to a small town. Different people had come and brought different trades to Midpoint. Woodcutters, tailors, blacksmiths and horsemasters now resided just outside the fortress walls. Most profit was made on the market, which was located just off the main road just outside the great fortress gates. Soldiers on leave and travelers passing through spent their money on this market or at the local tavern.

It was a peaceful township. The guards patrolled on a regular basis, keeping an eye out for trouble, or anyone not abiding by the 'no weapons law' ever since the Dark Fae attack on Midpoint. Their weapons gleamed in the suns of Telath as their boots kicked up the dust covering the roads. Around the town laborers were working an a pallisade, hammering wooden poles into the ground and tying them together. The farmers brought home decent food, enough to survive anyway. The soldiers made sure the merchants and craftsmen were paid well and provided them with protection. Women went about their daily work and children played on the broad dirt road which ran through the town straight to the gates of the fortress. It was a quiet place, uncomplicated and easy compared to the living inside the fortress. Yet that was what most travelers seemed to come for.

If a traveller walked into the town a guard would approach them, holding a large pike in his hands. "Serale traveller. Your visa please." As he waited for the papers he carefully studied the person in front of him. If any weapons, be they bows, slings or even darts, were visible on the person he would speak up again. "I must ask you to put your weapons away or turn around. Unless you're a soldier on duty you cannot have your weapons in a place where you can draw them. I advise you to store them away as soon as you can." The guard was short in his explaination, but if the visa checked out, and the weapons were stored away as requested, he would motion the person in question to walk on into the town.

[Serion D'Rinishad]

It had been long in coming, but the two had finally arrived at Midpoint. Serion had saved no expense at his arrival at Stephan's trial, realizing that it would better suit him to see the man out of the way than anything else. Looking across the coach at his companion for the event, Rilith Thamion, Serion chuckles. To think that the beautiful woman across from him had been dressed in rags but weeks before. She had once had leathery bat wings, something that could do nothing but degrade the beauty that was Rilith. Serion had removed those, though at an exhausting cost. The wounds left small scars at her shoulderblades, but nothing too bad.

Gazing out of the window, Serion notices the approach to the entrance to Midpoint. It was odd for Serion to see a city without gates protecting the twon itself, but the Fortress was perhaps more important than anything else to these people. The large white carraige, something Serion decided to rent as opposed to buy, brought them into the city, to a group of guards. Opening the door, Serion steps out, his white cloak floating behind him, falling gracefully down his back. Reaching out, he grasps the delicate hand of the Udran, Rilith, her fabrics a match for the Dark paladin's, and just as pristine white. Once both were on solid ground, Serion approaches the guards, bowing slightly. "Greetings. I am Lord Serion D'Rinishad, and this is the lovely Lady Rilith Thamion. We are here to speak against Stephan Woulofen at the trial." Handing over his visa, he takes Rilith's and shows the guards as well. Should there be no trouble, he will take the visas and help RIlith back into the carraige. A simple, "To the fortress," is heard by the driver as Serion closes the door, and they make their way to the fortress gates.

[Dukka Anatta]

Wandering. That is all he could remember. Nothing more, nothing less. He enjoyed it, but still, he wanted more. More than scratching an existance out of wandering. Pulling his hood off, he exposes his shoulder length hair. Almost half asleep, he hands his visa to the gaurd, "Serale," he says, mumbling most of it. Upon reciving his visa back, he pulls his hood up, and walks slowly into the city, leaving what was in the wilderness behind him.

[Zhou Throake]

Timestamp: The Second Cycle of Ponutis, Era XI, in the Age of the Darkening.
Fluid Timestamp: Before Zhou arrives in Acumin, he is only here to buy some supplies.

Zhou Throake had finally started out on his own road. He did not have to help his father with the unfulfilling job to haul things from one place to another. He could now continue the path his grandfather had followed before his death; Zhou would become a master of the spear. He had started off on a search for the appropriate teacher to start him on his way to master the spear. But first he needed some supplies.

Now he approached the town of Midpoint, his first stop. Having lived in a small time his whole life, he appreciated the rest found only a few minutes walking away. Zhou had decided he would not search for lessons here, but would find a smaller place. Zhou Throake was quite tall and his black hair fell almost on his shoulders. Though his face showed only small stubbles, his hair showed signs of neglect, as if he had not combed it in the past few days, which was true.
Zhou wore wide clothes, which had once been white, but now were more of a grey colour, also due to the dust on the road. Underneath his simple and wide shirt, tunic and trousers, Zhou was muscled. Not overly so, but enough to make him a strong man. On his back, at an angle, tied with a piece of old, frayed rope, was the spear he inherited from his grandfather.
He held a small and dirty pouch, which contained the banknotes he got from his father and his Imperial Visa. He showed his Visa to one of the guards on duty, greeting him with a curt “Solare, and a good day,” and walked towards the market.


OOC: This is my first post, of what I hope to be a long series. If anyone spots anything that is not good, please PM me or something. I think the spear is good when tied (tied, yes) on his back.

[Milo L'Evienne]

Middle of the second cycle of Spring, Immanis, Era IX

The journey from Taralon had been a rushed and tiresome one for the small group of riders, and it showed in the lines on Milo’s face, even under the shadow cast by the beaten leather hat he wore. If his mount, the temperamental black mare he sat astride, seemed to be just getting started judging by her animated gait and pricked ears, Milo was relieved to see the familiar fortress slip into view as they’d topped the last rise.

Escorted by Lieutenant Jin’da, the messenger who’d been sent to Taralon to fetch and accompany him and whoever else might attend the journey, he rode nearly side by side with the man, battling always to keep Lu from initiating a race with the other man’s mount with an occasional hard tug on the reins.

Shifting in his saddle for comfort and anticipation of the journey’s end, he readied the visa he’d slipped into an inside pocket of a leather duster he wore over a cream linen shirt, brown riding breeches and tall polished boots. A large duffel was slung over the rump of his mount, and an ornate falchion resided in it’s sheath, attached to the rear skirt of his saddle.

No doubt the next few brightenings would be equally as tiresome, with little time to prepare for what lay ahead. Added to that, the fact that short notice had made for a hurried departure…The young defender’s mood was rather somber, if not downright foul.

Finally arrived at the gate, Milo pulled Lu to a stop and when greeted by the guard, handed down his visa. ”Milo du’Galle L’Evienne. Visiting the fortress on official business,” he said, sure that the Lieutenant would add any additional and necessary information. But when his weapon was mentioned, Milo nodded, remembering the requirement from before, though he’d been unwilling to travel unarmed. ”Of course. I’ll secure it further.” So saying, he fished a leather strand out of one of his saddlebags and turning in the saddle, secured his falchion further in it’s leather sheath.

Once the guards were satisfied, he offered his thanks with a tilt of his hat and followed the fellow ahead of him through the gates.

[Sedhith Angornst]

Timestamp: Late in the evening of Carmelyana in the first cycle of the month of Cryxatum in the season of Summer, of Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XI PF in the Age of the Darkening. Paradigm Shift: Schism in the Church of the Faith!

Sedhith Angornst pulled off his dirty green cloak and wiped a mud-caked hand across his brow, gathering a puddle of sweat and grease in his palm. "The summer is much warmer in the low country than it is in our village," though Sedh. The thought brought an image of his small home nestled in the high peaks of the Khardran Mountains to his mind's eye.

The image of his former home brought with it a mixture of emotions, but the most prevalent was a sense of relief. In the last few eras, Sedh had become increasingly uncomfortable in the building that he had always known as home. "It was always my father's home... His shop and his home, but not really mine and only minimally my mother's." The thought interrupted his trip back into his memories and brought a sad twitch to his lips.

Sedhith Angornst had watched the imposing stone walls of the Midpoint fortress rise above the horizon for some time. They had risen higher as he walked slowly toward what he hoped would be his new home. His first sight of the town of Midpoint, however, was a bit disappointing, especially compared to the majesty of the towering Midpoint fortress above it. As a country-dweller, Sedhith had inflated ideas of what the cities of Alleria would look like. From a distance, the town looked like it had grown up around the fortress with little regard for order and civility. He thought that it looked like an unkempt garden badly in need of some cultivation.

Sedhith had spent the early morning and late afternoon of this Carmelyana traveling from the countryside near Diana to Midpoint. Sedhith had been tempted to stop at the fabled religious city of Diana, especially since in his village only the most prestigious members were able to make a pilgrimage to the glorious city. He had been dismayed by rumors from travelers who had mentioned the trouble brewing in the Allerian Church. He had decided to avoid the trouble that surrounds the city and continue on to his ultimate destination: Midpoint.

Sedh had continued his journey, not concerned with the extra effort and the difficulty Allerian roads always presented travelers. Though he had planned to stop and rest in Diana, he was accustomed to long hours in his family's fields and the extra effort did not bother him. Filled with tall tales of murder and theft on the open roads of the decaying Allerian Empire, Sedh had heeded the words of his fellow villagers and he had traveled carefully through the countryside with a small group of merchants who regularly traveled between the two cities. He had taken the opportunity to ask some of the seasoned travelers about the rumors of trouble and one had even shown him a copy of the Herald article where the rumors had come from. Sedh had also taken the opportunity to explore some of the "common" knowledge his friends in the village took for granted. To his surprise, Sedh had been laughed at by the friendly merchants who were obviously more acquainted with the nuances of travel in the Allerian Empire.

Arriving at the edge of the town of Midpoint with the sunlight slowly fading around him, Sedh walked into this new city as he would his own village with no duplicity and no malice in his mind. He was startled by the appearance of the guard who now stood imposing his presence in front of young dwarf. Sedhith stammered a moment trying to give his thoughts more time. Met with a guard from the Midpoint fortress, Sedh almost admitted his desire to enter into the service of the Allerian army, but after a considerable pause the cautious dwarf decided against his impulse. Sedhith nodded once and reached into a concealed pocket in his belt and pulled out a piece of paper that was his imperial visa.

When unfolded, the imperial visa read:

NAME: Sedhith Angornst
RACE: Dwarven
DOMICILE [Too faded to read]
BIRTH DATE: [Too faded to read]
VISA: 9865-076.115-782-342

The visa had obviously seen better cycles, but it was still intact.

Sedhith extended his hand and offered the visa to the guard. Though the guard could clearly see his name, as a dwarf from the country, Sedh introduced himself to the stoic guard. "The name's Sedhith. Sedh to my friends, though" said Sedh. He flashed a toothy smile to the guard through his ragged beard.

With the guards satisfaction, Sedh took back his imperial visa and wished the guard a good evening, "Serale to you". Sedh turned and walked down the nearest street, looking for some information and his new home.

[Sedhith Angornst]

OOC: Sorry. Repeat message.

[Sheng Kaldres]

Timestamp: A Brightening is the first Cycle of tThe Month of Cryxatum in the Season of Summer, of Era II of the Celestine Mandate (Current Pattern) Era XI Post Fractum in the Age of the Darkening, the Mageocracy of Julos the Mad. Paradigm Shift: Schism in the Church of the Faith!


A wedding had taken Sheng all the way to Silrosia and it was fruitful one. After some time there, Sheng had to make his way back to Abestat. More importantly, Sheng had to come to Midpoint. A clarification and a confirmation was in order.

Dressed in a plain blue tunic, black pants and coat, Sheng stopped before the guards and dismounted from Bill Cliny, his horse. As requested by the guards, Sheng took out his visa. Since Sheng was dressed in civilain clothes, the guards did not know that Sheng was a soldier and that was the way Sheng wanted it to be.

Sheng arched his eyebrows with surprise, but accept the instructions by taking off his axe and tied it behind him on Bill Cliny. The restrictions on the weapons was strange but each city had its own rules and Sheng would respect them.

After taking his visa back, Sheng tipped his head in acknowledgement and entered the city.

[Sedhith Angornst]

Time Stamp: Late in the evening on Srennia, the 7th brightening of Cryxatum, in the season of Summer, of Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XI PF in the Age of the Darkening. Paradigm Shift: Schism in the Church of the Faith!

Sedhith Angornst had spent much of his brightening training in the training pits with Corporeal. Koell, but a soldier’s duty included more then training, so the dwarf found himself wandering the streets of Midpoint with his squad during the evening. The dwarf had slowly been introduced to the other members of his squad and he now felt more comfortable in the fortress. Sedh, however, was still not familiar with the city of Midpoint. In his home village, there were only two streets that met and crossed in the center of the small group of homes that made up the village, so Sedh had never had any trouble finding his way even on the darkest of evenings.

Sedh had tried to keep track of the various turns and shops that they had passed in their vigorous march through the city, but his mind was soon overwhelmed with the twists and turns that he had lost track and now he simply followed those in front of him. The squad paused and the buildings seemed to open up around them. The streets had gone from crowded and well traveled to quiet and empty. The squad began to spread out and one of the others came up to Sedh and began to explain, “Hey, rook. Patrol is easy, even you can’t mess it up. We spread out over a few street ends and check any of the merchants and travelers comin’ in. Ask ‘em for their visas… make sure it’s all filled out… and don’t be wanderin’ off. Got it?”

Sedhith nodded and tried to appear calm and relaxed like the other soldiers in his squad, though he was still uncomfortable because he had no idea where in Midpoint he was. The dwarf simply agreed, “Sure. I got it.” He couldn’t let the other’s think he wasn’t smart enough to do some simple task like patrol. The squad slowly began to spread out, moving in and out of the border between the countryside and fields outside the city and the buildings and streets inside the city.

Sedh was not sure, however, if he should follow another soldier or take a risk and embark on his own. He never was one struck by wanderlust, so while the other members of the squad slowly wandered away, Sedh stayed in the same spot and now stood alone. The squad leader knew he had a new rookie on the team, so he had assigned one of his better soldiers to shadow the dwarf, so there was no danger to him, but Sedh had no idea that he was well protected and his heart began to beat harder and faster in his chest. Sedhith took a deep breath and tried to still his charging heart.

The dwarf looked down and up the street, turning his head in wide circles and looking for any small bit of movement in the streets. Sedh pulled on his military issued armor and already he felt the studded leather vest chafing the skin under his neck. His chain mail shirt hung over his vest and seemed to fold and bend with his arms and legs. It made soft rustling sounds in the stuffy evening air, but it did not draw any more attention to him. Sedhith lifted his axe on to his shoulder and rested the weapon’s weight. Sedh turned and walked out to the edge of the street looking out beyond at the darkness that in the light would be rolling fields. The dwarf was surprised how abruptly the cobble-stoned street seemed to end into a grassy pasture land.

A faint light gave him enough illumination to see beyond the edge of the street. A figure slowly emerged from the darkness and a boot stomp rung clear in the still night air. The figure was a traveler, Sedh realized upon noticing the dirt and mud that clung to his or her boots. The dwarf gently eased his axe off of his shoulder and stepped in front of the path of the traveler. He began, “Serale traveler. Your visa please.” Sedh held his left hand expectantly with his right hand still around his axe. He offered the traveler a brief smile before remembering his duty and then hiding his face behind a cold stare with his silver-grey eyes.

The traveler’s eyes showed he had little life left after a hard brightening of travel. His hand slowly entered his small sack of possessions and the traveler pulled out a parchment sheet much like his own. Sedh lifted the visa up and the light from behind him let him see that the visa was all filled out. The dwarf nodded and offered the visa back to him. Sedhith thought about warning the traveler of the cities policy on weapons, but he doubted that the traveler could stand up to a stiff wind, much less wield a weapon. He nodded and watched as the traveler slowly entered the city. Sedh thought, “I hope the rest of the evening is as easy as that.”

[Sedhith Angornst]

Time Stamp: Late in the evening on Srennia, the 7th brightening of Cryxatum, in the season of Summer, of Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XI PF in the Age of the Darkening. Paradigm Shift: Schism in the Church of the Faith!

The evening had seemed endless, but Sedh had hardly notice the passing of time because his thoughts had been focused solely on his task to greet and inspect those entering the limits of the city of Midpoint. Earlier, Sedhith Angornst had enjoyed the brisk air of the summer evening, but now he had found himself unconsciously rubbing his arms partially out of a lack of activity and partially out of concern for the cold which only seemed to affect him. Sedhith’s thoughts had just begun to drift away from his duty when a hand clasped his shoulder and nearly caused his heart to leap out of his throat. A voice remarked, “Hey rookie.”

Sedhith turned to find he was staring at his squad leader, Sergeant (Johanas) Saunder. The dwarf’s eyes widened with surprise and confusion. He had not heard the Sergeant approach and this caused his stomach to bunch in knots at the possibility that others had casually avoided his detection and slipped into the city. Sgt. Saunder addressed the new recruit, “Sedhith, right? Have any citizens entered through this street?” Sedh nodded, momentarily forgetting his ability to speak. Sgt. Saunder was the leader of squad ‘Liya,’ but he was also a human, in fact, the only human among the various squad leaders. Sedhith, however, was not disturbed by Sgt. Saunder’s race; so much as he was still shaken by the sergeant’s greeting. Sergeant Saunder took the dwarf’s simple nod to mean that Sedh had seen some citizens enter the city and wondered what this new recruit had said and asked of the citizens.

Sgt. Saunder returned Sedh’s nod and considered the quiet dwarf under a scrutinizing gaze. Sedhith felt an invisible weight and so he crossed his arms and bowed, offering his customary greeting of respect to his leader. Sgt. Saunder did not know what the gesture signified and was curious. He asked, “What’s that for?” Sedh had accepted his first surprise, only to be confronted by a second, more complex, one. The dwarf took his time gathering his thoughts and words. He considered his explanation and began, “It’s… I do it as a sign of respect. In my village, we greet all important people with such a greeting.” Sergeant Saunder replied, “Alright then.”

Sgt. Saunder had other soldiers to attend to, but he paused before leaving and instructed the dwarf, “If any more citizens enter, then wave them through. Don’t forget to tell them of the no weapons law in effect. We don’t need ignorant citizens being arrested by the Guard. If ya need anything, holler for help. The squads spread out, but someone will answer. Patrol’s almost over, so stay right here. When I return, we’ll take ya out ta get a frothy mug o’ ale.” Sgt. Saunder clasped the dwarf on the shoulder once more and then walked away, leaving Sedhith to man the street alone. Sedh still had the soldier shadowing him, but the dwarf only knew what he could see. An image of a frothy mug of ale, however, was enough to keep his thoughts occupied as the evening seemed to drag on more slowly.

Sedhith’s evening, however, was not over with yet. Looking at the blurred edge between luminous sight and the darkness beyond, Sedh witnessed a large figure emerge from the black surrounding fields followed by a horse drawn carriage. Sedhith had not even heard the click-clack of the horse’s hooves until they struck the cobble-stone streets. Sedhith stepped in front of the path of the imposing, cloaked figure as well as the carriage. The dwarf picked up his axe and set it casually on his shoulder. The dwarf made eye contact with the imposing figure and recognized the same exhausted expression that had been on the previous travelers face. The traveler kindly lowered his hood, though Sedh had not even thought to ask the traveler to do so. The traveler was a merchant and he knew that the guards would stop him and his carriage, asking for an imperial visa and reminding his of the ‘no weapons law’ in Midpoint.

Sedhith reached out his hand and with a firm, more confident voice, asked, “Serale Citizen. Your visa please.” While Sedhith finished his question, the merchant had already dug deep into the folds of his simple brown traveling cloak and pulled out a papyrus sheet that was his imperial visa. The dwarf looked the visa over, nodded to the man, and then returned the precious document. Sedhith, following his leader’s advice, reminded the merchant, “I must ask you to put your weapons away or turn around. Unless you're a soldier on duty you cannot have your weapons in a place where you can draw them. I advise you to store them away as soon as you can.”

[Sedhith Angornst]

Time Stamp: Just before dawn on Orodisia, the 8th brightening of Cryxatum, in the season of Summer, of Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XI PF in the Age of the Darkening. Paradigm Shift: Schism in the Church of the Faith!

The evening had advanced with a steady, monotonous pace, but Sedhith’s duty did not allow him the luxury of complaining or even yawning. Sedh had only seen one other traveler since the merchant with his cart, but the lone traveler had been stopped by another soldier in his squad. Now, just as before, the dwarf stood at the end of the cobble-stoned road staring into the empty darkness. The night had remained solid and imposing through the moon-less darkness, and if there had been any clouds in the sky they were well concealed by the dark vale that surrounded the city of Midpoint. Sedh had long since begun to lean against the nearest building in a desperate attempt to stave off an almost-overwhelming need to close his eyes and go to sleep.

The dwarf felt his eyes begin to droop and for a moment he seemed powerless to keep them open against the incoming exhaustion. Sedh, however, was not weak-willed and would not give into the demands of his body. The newly assigned soldier of the Liya squad rubbed his eyes and felt the weight of his heavy double-bladed axe lean against his leg. He thought about lifting it up, wondering if such an action would give him a much needed boost of energy. Sedhith didn’t get a chance to test his theory. Instead, Sedhith and his thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance and voice of the soldier who had been shadowing him noiselessly through the night. The soldier stepped up to the dwarf and placed a hand on the exhausted dwarf’s shoulder. The soldier said, “Alright rookie. Time ta meet up with the others. Our patrol time is up. Time ta hit the tavern for a well earned mug of ale.”

At the mere mention of an activity other than patrol, Sedhith felt a jolt of energy fill his weary muscles and bones. His smile returned to his face, hiding the lines of exhaustion which had begun to appear above his eyes. The dwarf reached down and lifted his metal axe up on to his shoulder. The squad slowly began to gather in the cobble-stoned street and Sergeant Saunder was leading a group of the soldiers back toward the Midpoint fortress. In a rare moment, Sedh let his thoughts wander and he wondered, “How do they know what time it is? The night is mostly gone, but how far off is dawn… I couldn’t guess. Will another patrol come to replace us? Yes, that had to be it. Sgt. Saunder was met by another squad and they will replace us.”

The Liya squad slowly began to march down the cobble-stoned street and work their way through the multitude of street corners and sparsely light city squares. The city of Midpoint had finally quieted down, but even without the crowds of people filling the streets, the city did not sound like Sedhith’s familiar village. The emptiness which surrounded the squad was not the peace of an isolate hamlet nestled deep in the Khardran Mountains, but it was a stale void that hung just above the buildings of the city. Occasionally the squad would pass near a well-lit building stoop that offered enough of a glow to give Sedh the chance to see the surrounding buildings, but in the shadows, Sedhith was as lost in the city as he was in the bright light of the suns of Telath.

The march had not lasted long and once the squad had reached the Grand Portcullis, they dispersed into many, smaller groups. Half of the groups wandered through the imposing entrance of the Midpoint fortress, while the other half had already begun their journey to the local taverns. For a moment, Sedhith could not decide which of the two options to choose, but this moment came and passed quickly. The dwarf was, after all, a dwarf. No matter how late in the evening, Sedh would not pass up the possibility of visiting a tavern for a mug of ale. He thought, “Besides, I have a few crowns with me. I can always sleep later.” With that thought, the dwarf began to follow one of the numerous groups that was heading toward the Tired Griffin Inn and Tavern.

[Eri'Lariel Gil'dae]

Timestamp: shall be forthcoming. Stay tuned *cue cheesy muzac*

"I should have taken the time to grab my shoes," Eri muttered to herself, not for the first time since walking through the portal from Motito's office within the Cheb and out into the province of Centripax. From there, it had been a matter of walking, or in the barefoot juive'lea's case, a matter of flying, hovering slightly above the ground and to the side of her husband, as they determinedly made their way to Midpoint.

The fortress loomed larger and larger above them as they approached, a forboding sentinel, if not for the number of uniformed soldiers Eri' saw marching to and fro, their uniforms easily recognizable, since her husband wore one matching as he moved along beside her. Her spirits were lifted even as she lowered herself again to the ground to slip her hand into his. If this was a military town, then they would easily be able to find what they sought. Or rather, who they sought, for the Gil'dae couple were on a mission, here to recover that which was lost to them, namely, Eri's closest friend and the mother-to-be of their kin.

In the era and some since she and Motito had been together, Eri' had all but forgotten the ritual of showing one's visa upon entry into a city. Indeed, it was rare that Eri' even used the front gates to a city anymore, with Motito's ability to port her instantly to wherever she usually needed to be. Being an immigrant from a foreign land where visas weren't used, it was a habit easily forgotten. It wasn't until the guard at the town's entrance made the request that she belatedly thought to extract her visa from the pouch at her waist, her eyes glancing up at her husband questioningly for having failed to remind her. She completely ignored his admonishment regarding the practice of carrying weapons, since she had none with her. Her husband was at her side, what need had she of weapons? Passing her visa over to the man, Eri' leaned in anxiously, her lips pursing together as if wishing to give voice to the question that they had come to have answered.

"Vedu... err... serale. Could you please direct us to the Steward's offices? We're looking for Steward Gil... Tamaral." Eri's query was pleasant, but as she stood by her husband's side, it was obvious that she was anything but patient.

[Motito Gil'dae]

Tito too had chosen against weapons, save for the longknife he kept well hidden against the small of his back as he extricated his own visa from its pouch.

"Serale," he commented, obviously a bit more used to this setting then her. He included with his visa his military ID that proclaimed him as a General of the Imperial Guard, hoping it would help smooth over any rough edges.

Truth be told, he felt a bit naked with naught but his longknife on his person, but he was still adjusting to his new level of power, this archmagery he now wielded. He had taken some time to do so by himself, but around others he was still unsure.

He knew before too long he would challenge Archsorcerer and Baron Luviel, the traitor Tito knew in his heart the man to be. He said nothing to support nor deny Eri's claims, simply stood stoicly by her side, knowing that for most gate guards, his military ID was comment enough.

[Sedhith Angornst]

Time Stamp: A brightening in early Cryxatum, in the season of Summer, of Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XI PF in the Age of the Darkening. Paradigm Shift: Schism in the Church of the Faith!

The dwarven soldier’s division and squad had once more been given the duty of patrolling the outskirts of the city of Midpoint, so once more Sedhith Angornst found himself at the edges of the outskirts of the city of Midpoint. He thought back to his first evening of patrol duty and realized that even though it had only been a few brightening ago, Sedh had grown accustomed to his new position as a private in the Alyssa Imperial Guard. Sedhith had marched with his fellow soldiers and comrades to the edges of the city, follow no particular street until the cobble-stoned street had simply disappeared, almost consumed by the grassy fields around them. The summer air around him was comforting because the noise of the city had slowly faded as the squad had put more distance between it and the heart of the city.

Sedhith stopped with his squad and listened as Sgt. Saunder dismissed them to various side streets. The dwarf followed a smaller group of soldiers, tracking an older dwarven soldier, whom he had enjoyed a hearty mug of ale with. Sedhith, however, lost the group and stood at the edge of a street, looking out into the fields around the city of Midpoint. The dwarven soldier was about to turn and continue his search for the other soldier’s when an unexpected and quite shocking sight before him. Two elven folk had wandered up to the outskirts of the city of Midpoint and they appeared ready to enter into the city surrounding the fortress. Sedhith stared with his jaw unhinged because the female elf was a shimmering beauty with wings. The dwarf had never heard of elves with wings and the sight left the slow dwarf speechless.

The dwarf took a deep breath to calm his nerves and shifted his gaze away from the female to the male elf, because the sight was less unnerving, though Sedh was still not completely comfortable in the presence of these two elves. Sedhith nodded his head as the two elves offered their greetings, but Sedh focused his attention on the male elf, only to suddenly realize that this elf was also in the military. Sedhith knew that he was only a private and so he immediately saluted to the elven soldier, believing that this elf would have to be of a higher rank than he. The dwarf stood as tall as he could, though his height barely reached Motto’s chest. Sedhith carefully took a hold of the offered documents. He only briefly glanced at the Imperial Visas, because both elven names seemed an impossible collection of syllables and letters. Sedhith, as a newly recruited soldier, had taken some time to look at his own military visa and so it looked a little more familiar to him. The dwarf looked up to the elven soldier and greeted the two elves.

Sedhith greeted General Motito Gil'dae with another salute and said, “Serale and welcome to Midpoint, General.” Sedhith was intimidated being in the presence of a superior officer, especially since the highest person of rank that he had met was his commander, Lieutenant Ettienn. The dwarf turned to the female elf and tried not to show a look of shock in his face. Sedhith was a simple, village elf and the sight of an elven woman with large flaming red wings was enough for him to gawk in awe. But Sedh was on duty, so he could not disappoint his squad and his division. Having already informed both of them of Midpoint’s policy on equipped weapons and returned their visas to them, Sedhith could now answer the female elf’s question. Sedhith turned back to the elven woman and answered, “Mi’lady. I can direct you to the Steward’s Office, but Steward Tamaral is not in the city of Midpoint or the Fortress of Midpoint. I went to visit her in the Aedile’s Office, only to find it run by her assistant. I am sure that there is someone who can help you, though.” Sedhith took a breath and swallowed hard, not knowing if this information would upset the two elven folk. Sedhith then, actually, gave the two the required directions, “To get to the Steward’s Office, all you need to do is follow this road till you get to the Grand Protcullis. Don’t wander into the Market Square, though it will still be quite busy. Then once you’re both in the Fortress, you will find the Steward’s Office just on the inside of the gateway. The Steward’s Office is opposite the Recruitment Office and the main street runs between both of the offices.” Sedhith once more saluted the General and then the dwarven soldier let the two pass, though he waited should they need anymore information from him.