Further into the Khardan(x/GM plz)...

[Fidelis Meridius]

Timestamp: Brightening of the 4th Cycle of the Month of Melora in the Season of Winter, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV PF.

IC: Slowly the binary system of Telath broke the horizon as morning had come to the Province of Prime. The distant rays of light stretched across the countryside, warming the bitterly cold landscape as fog and mist drifted about the planes and forest. The east face of the Khardan range and peaks felt the suns arrival as is warmed the jagged surfaces of granite and ice.

Cut out of the landscape, the Temple of Thorns lay hidden amongst the safety of the crags and chasms of the range. It was a place seemingly lost in time as the external appearence appeared to be nothing more than ancient ruins fallen to inevitability of eternity, but beneath the surface was a thriving sanctuary for the fiercely devoted Thorns of Jorel. But no longer was it just a place of worship for the women of Jorel; now it had become the stronghold the newest Wolf of Jorel: Fidelis Meridius.

As the sky above the horizon began to lighten from darker blues and violets to a burning orange, a loan figure stood, pressed against the rails of a small balcony upon the mountainside. Wrapped in a navy robe bearing the crest of the Fanged Wolf, the Jorelite welcomed the brightening. His emerald eyes regarded the coming of the day with little emotion as lifted a small cup of juice to his lips.

It was here, that Fidelis spent his mornings in meditation, introspection, and even prayer to his lord. He preferred the sun and the scenery over the dimly lit alters and statues on most days, although he still found himself following the rituals of antiquity as well. For what was a priest without his traditional rites?

Setting the cup upon the balcony's edge, the warrior reached up and adjusted one of the remaining bandages upon his face. The scars from the acid burns he suffered in Sheria was a fresh reminder that he still needed to rethink his approach to crushing his enemies... He needed more. As he stared out over the province before him, he couldn't help but feel like his enemies were closing in on him, and in such times his allies were further away than ever.

Many questions swam through the swordsman's mind as he remained in his solitude for some time. How was he to face his enemies when he was no longer the hunter, but the hunted? Certainly, his new home would not remained undiscovered forever. He needed something more... but what?

Turning to rest his posterior against the railing of his mountainside deck, the human glanced up to the snow capped peaks behind him. "Hmmm..." The Wolf rubbed his chin with his index finger and thumb as he studied the desolate mountains that stretched further than he could see.

The great ranges of the empire had always been the last remaining places of hiding for remnants of the Ancient world; the very temple was an example of such. But to his back, there were certainly things out there not wanting to be dscovered, power that remained lost and unclaimed, and potential that was unseen by the modern eye. But was there anything there for the warrior to make use of?

Standing up from the railing, the warrior proceeded back inside, into his private chambers. Making his way acros the large room to his bed side, the warrior dropped his robe and slid on a pair of onyx trousers, and a white undershirt. Afterwards, he sat on the edge of his bed and placed his riding boots on each foot. Then he donned various pieces of black leather armor as well as his elven steel breastplate and bracers. He then picked up the belt that held te twin ardentium blades and wrapped them about his waist. Once fully armed and armored, the warrior grabbed his overcoat and cloak and wrapped them around his figure.

Lastly as he exited the room he grabbed an elven steel mask and helm he had just had made recently. Carrying it at his side, the warrior stepped through the various hallways and corridors as several young priestesses were going about their early-brightening activities. Eventually, the warrior made his way to the stables where Blackwind was held.

Approaching the winged horse, the warrior greeted his companion, "How we feeling this morning?" The pegasus then snorted and and shook its head in excitement as his master addressed him. Reaching up with an open hand the warrior ran his fingers down the mane of the beast. "I have a little adventure for you... But first..." The Dark Knight gave the beast a full look over, checking to see that his wounds were fully healed.

Satisfied that the creature was healthy once more, Fidelis took to the saddle and guided him out into a small clearing. Producing a pair of gloves, the warrior slipped them over each hand and grapsed the reigns. Giving Blackwind a moment to stretch his wings, the rider ordered the winged beast to the skies. Turning hard towards the west, the pair ascended above the Khardan as peaked stretched out below them. And once more Fidelis had embarked on a journey in search of the weapon or resources that he had yet to find, an anciet power hidden from the eyes of the empire, a darker evil which resided far beyond were mere mortals would ever tread. But it was into the unknown that Jorel's champion travelled.

[Masamune]

~*OOC*~Accepting this thread at Fidelis' request, assuming the same 'open moderation' rules as Prime. If any of Prime Province's mods have an issue with this, please PM me.

Though it was still winter, it was reaching the end of said season. The brightenings were beginning to warm, but there was s till a slight chill in the air, the last vestiages of the cold season beginning to fade with its final, desperate attempts to bring the cold to the citizens of Telath, if only to not be forgotten so soon. Though the Wolf of Jorel was likely willing to brave any weather to better serve his lord and God, that didn't mean he didn't recieve a shiver down his spine. Not due to any such thing as 'fear', most all of which he'd probably overcome, but merely a physical reaction to the cold environment and season, not helped in the slightest by his altitude. The Khardrans were not a forgiving place, especially in winter. Luckily he did not have to brave them on foot as most would, but from the back of his mighty and trusted steed, the winged pegasus Blackwind.

Talented though winged equine and rider were, they were still at the mercy of the elements. Currents, updrafts, downdrafts, and headwinds made for a bumpy ride, and though mount and mounted survived well enough, there would likely be a few sore muscles afterwards. Despite the rather troublesome ride, however, part of the reason some of the best laid evils rested still concealed by darkness was because they were not so clearly marked as one might see by simply riding by overhead.

No...if Fidelis, Servant of Jorel wished to find that which he saught--be it weapon, armor, item, or minion--he would need to look closer, and on his own. He did, however, see a few things of note. One was a tiny lake nestled in a small valley, another was what appeared th be the broken and shattered remains of some temple or another, now merely clumps of shaped stone overgrown by nature. Lastly was probably something he didn't expect to see: A small train of three wagons, moving slowly through a pass with some measure of difficulty. They appeared to be moderately guarded, traders by the look of them, too poor to afford a boat to ship by sea, and yet rich enough to not sell locally...wherever 'local' was for these folk.

So the question became would he investigate one of these three points of curiosity, or would he continue on, looking for more above, or would he take yet another option and descend, exploring on foot and hoping that Jorel randomly guided his footsteps to something of worth? The decision, clearly, belonged to that of the Wolf.

[Fidelis Meridius]

OOCHey Masa, thanks for taking this thread. Sorry about the delay. Uni has been kicking my arse. Might be a short post, but it will get us moving

IC: The winter may have not have been as harsh across the plains of Prime Province, but in the Khardan, Fidelis was coming to the realization that they were still quite treacherous. Reminding himself of his journey into the Great Mountains, and the dangers that flying about the snowy peaks often presented.

As the turbulence tossed beast and rider about, the warrior second guessed his timing on such an adventure, but only for a second. Not even the weather would stop a man so determined, but it was very obvious that his approach would have to be reconsidered. Steering his faithful steed downward, the Jorelite could feel the sting of the cold air pierce his gloves as it chilled his hands to the bone.

But it was in his descent for a bit of a smoother ride, that Fidelis emerald gaze noted the few places of interest as Blackwin thrusted his onyx wings through the air, propelling them further over the ancient mountains. Shivering in the saddle, the Jorelite had already decided what he would do...

Ruined temples? He had his share of them, most never uncovered anything but items meant to curse those who dared to tread on holy or unholy grounds. People? That went without saying... For now they were of little interest. That only left one destination: The oddly situated lake.

Even though he doubted that he was actually on the trail of what he sought, he was determined to scour the entire range if he needed. Descending to Telath, the Jorelite circled the area as he leaned over the flank of the onyx pegasus to observe the ground below. Once he had a decent peak at things, the pair glided towards rugged landscape beneath them. In a less than graceful plodder of hooves, Blackwind had landed, and Fidelis was allowed to exit the saddle. As the heels of his boots struck dirt, the Dark knight straightened his figure as he stood to his full gait; hands never drifting too far from the ardentium blades about his waist.

"Now what do we have here?" The warrior squinted as he surveyed the water and its surroundings.

[Masamune]

~*OOC*~Don't worry about it, this is your thread, take your time if you need. ^.^ Don't worry too much about post length either...most of my posts will prolly be a bit shorter then I usually try and crank out these days given how busy I've been lately.


As Fidelis descended to observe the lake, he'd see that it's placement in the valley made it so that it wasn't frozen over in the winter months though it'd still be rightly chilly as it was now, and during the summer it would remain a cool and refreshing pit-stop among the mountain passes. Interestingly enough, however, it was positioned in such a fashion that few could actually find it through roads. Odds are unless one was looking from overhead, they wouldn't spot it unless they knew where they were going from having been there previous.

What was quickly the most noticable thing about the lake, however, was that it seemed to be teaming with life. several shadows darted about under the water, undefinable by the naked eye from the surface. Meanwhile a larger boulder stood at the eastern side of the lake, near where Fidelis had set down. From behind this boulder came a single figure. He held a trident and he frowned in confusion as he saw Fidelis. He had crystal blue skin the color of the lake, and scales covered most of his body. a double-dorsal fin on his head fell to each side of his skull and looked almost like hair, holding an aquamarine hue. He was completely naked, and tilted his head to the side as he looked at Fidelis.

"Why," he began pondorously slowly, "has a box-builder come?" He took a slow breath, gazing intently at the Wolf of Jorel, before speaking again. "You are not...one of the box-builders we know...so why...have you come?"

[Fidelis Meridius]

It took very little time for the Jorelite to realize he was not alone on the shore's of the mountainside lake. With a quick survey from side to side, Fidelis noted the shadows below the surface, and couldn't help but wonder what exactly lay beneath the calm waters.

Turning his attention immediately to the fish-like man, the Wolf of Jorel nearly drew his blades upon the trident wielding being. [i]"Box-builder?"[/b] The warrior questioned himself under his breath with a light shrug. What was he going to tell him? The truth? That he was just out gallavanting around the neighborhood seeking more power; more tools to fight his neverending battle? Maybe, but not just yet.

"My name is Fidelis Meridius..." The warrior offered an introduction as he stepped forward. "I live just beyond the peaks, towards the edge of the Khardan, and I just wished to better know my surroundings. I mean you no harm." Although at first sight, the Dark Knight's appearence seemed to contradict his statement. The dark colors, accented by the mark of Jorel, and he carried purhaps the most blood stained blades that history had known. But given the conflicts of ancient times, it was unlikely.

"What is this place?" The Jorelite tried to offer a simple conversation to the being that had approached him.

[Masamune]

"Fidelis Meridius," he began, tilting his head to the side as if processing to determine if it was an acceptable name. "We know most of those that live nearby, Fidelis Meridius...we investigate, to keep ourselves safe. We have seen no change nearby, and we do not know you." If it was a bluff or not was up to the Wolf to decide, but it seemed he didn't end there.

"I am Nahwae Llyendrin, Fidelis Meridius. You have trespassed into our land without permission, and you come bearing weapons and armor, so understand that we have good reason not to have trust in you. We trusted in you box-builders once, Fidelis Meridius...three generations ago. We lived in harmony at the mouth of the river a long ways downstream from here where it met the ocean. You box-builders turned on us when it served you best, and our remainder were forced to flee upstream. The oceans call to us but we remain trapped in this lake, making lives for ourselves. We have finally overcome our hardships and prosper once more despite our constraints...and now an unknown box-builder has come. Yourself, Fidelis Meridius. Are you a herald of darkness, come to extinguish what little we have left?"

It seemed that this oddly flesh-toned stranger was very cynical and suspicious, though from the sound of it, it was with good reason. But perhaps they had something to hide... Also, he seemed to have a proclivity for using Fidelis' name over and over...and over.

"The only box-builders we deal with we met two generations ago, and their caravan brings us goods that help us survive. Our caravan is overdue. I was to wait for them here. You are not part of that caravan, Fidelis Meridius, as we know everyone in them. Do you bring news of the caravan, Fidelis Meridius, or do you serve a different purpose here?" He hadn't lowered his weapon an inch, despite the Servant of Jorel's proclaimation of non-aggression.

[Fidelis Meridius]

Nahwae had much to say, but the underlying message was loud and clear: He feared Fidelis. And with good reason. If he had only knew the kind of salt the man was made of, he would have never approached in the first place.

"Let us just say, I tend to keep to myself." The Jorelite spoke in as friendly a manner as he ever had, but not necessarily enough to relieve the tension that must have existed in the moment. "I'm sorry to hear of your troubles, but I assure you I am not the same as the people whom betrayed your trust. In fact, I too know what it feels like to be forsaken by those which you trust the most..." Fidelis smirked a bit as he hinted to the one thing that motivated every aspect of his life.

"But sadly, my new friend, I am not here to help you... I am here to help myself. You see, I desire is to make my enemies pay for their trangressions..." The Wolf of Jorel paced a bit as he spoke, almost in a patronizing manner... as if he were talking down to someone who was inferior. For now it served only to portray the Champion of Chaos' confidence clearly. Nahwae needed to know he was serious.

"The question is, how can you help me? For I know the location of the caravan and the supplies you are in need of, but..." The swordsman raised a gloved hand, palm facing up acting as if it was squeezing something. "But how do I best use my hands, should they aid your kind in find prosperity, should they help you crush those who hurt you most... Or should they wipe your caravan off the mountside?" The warrior's emerald gaze burned a hole in the being as his countenance took on a much more sinister shape.

"Does your kind rise up to take back what is rightfully theirs, or do they perish?" The Jorelite finished presenting his 'deal with the devil', leaving Nahwae a moment to think.

[Masamune]

Nahwae's eyes widened slowly as Fid spoke, until a look of absolute bewilderment covered his expression.

"...Why? Why would you do such to us, Fidelis Meridius? Would you really wish to end what livelihood we've managed here after others of your kind wiped away all that we had?" There was something about Fidelis that kept Nahwae on edge, that much was apparent. Perhaps it was the undertones of danger that the Wolf of Jorel intentionally left in his tone, or perhaps it was his outright threat. Either way the humanoid that stood before him looked at him with eyes of loathing and despair mixed. They were eyes that spoke of someone who had lost everything, and who had nothing left to lose. They were the eyes of someone who had been kept penned up for too long and needed release, needed an escape, needed a way out.

And lo and behold, here stood a stranger who dangled in front of them a choice that had many answers. Find someway to help him and perhaps be rewarded or perhaps destroyed for the effort, rebel against his strength and hope to not perish and to keep their presence secret from the traitors by closing the mouth of a man who might say too much permanently, do they simply leave him be and dare to hope he do the same for them and their precarious situation, or do they grovel at his feet, tossing aside what honor and dignity they have left in hopes that he would spare them and perhaps aid them?

Yet the being before the Wolf had not seen the man's prowess, and did not know the capability he held within his frame. All he knew were the threats growled by a creature who's bark could indeed be worse than their bite. The mer tilted his head to the side, his trident still held out offensively, and a diminutive smile curled at the corner of his lips as he spoke, his words coming slightly faster now.

"The elders might hate me for the worlds I speak...they might wish to grovel before you and hope to be spared or receive a boon from you...but they are naive and weak. They cower and refuse to fight for what we have lost. They have grown complacent in the limited comforts they established, and do not struggle for more; for greater things.

"I do not fear box-builders...only that they might hurt those that I call my family, and that my family will be to weak and complacent to protect themselves from slaughter. Come and do as you will, box-builder, I will die to protect my people if I must, though I'd much rather if this come to blows it be your innards spilled than mine, Fidelis Meridius...and I have no compunction gutting you if you threaten me or my people. I am one of the better trident-wielders of my people, after all. All you speak on is maybes. You do not speak on hows, only on whats. Speak plainly, or leave mine and our caravan alone." It seemed that Nahwae was fed up with Fidelis' word games and vague hintings, and wished for him to speak outright what he wished.

[Fidelis Meridius]

Fidelis watched the Mer's reaction as he spoke, and he could slowly see the situation decay in what would ultimately end in the destruction of Nahwae and his people if he spoke hastily. But the Jorelite gave him a bit of slack, for he did not know that Fidelis was truly a wolf with hellish bark and a sharper bite.

A smirk crept through the creased lips of the warrior's countenance as he could see the true despair in the eyes of the Mer. But then it faded as he offered the tip of his trident to the the swordsman; a move that easily could have been his last, but still the warrior stayed his hand.

"If you value the live's of your family as you say you do, then I recommend you rethink what you have said..." The warrior shrugged as he paced about casually. If it wasn't clear that the Wolf of Jorel held no fear for Nahwae, then the trident-weilding humanoid was as thick-headed as a dwarf. "I do not question whether or not you fear my kind, but I can sense your anger. I can feel the despair you have for your people. You wish for nothing more than to see your family prosper, and live full happy lives... Now listen reason and see that you have an opportunity to give them the future you desire... Or..."

Within a fraction of a hearbeat, the dual-weilder dropped his arms and whipped the ardentium gladii from their sheaths. The Wolf's form had nearly completely transformed as he flashed his blades. His tone took on an even more deadily tone, and his eyes reflected the true hell he was capable of as they pierced the form of Nahwae. "...Or I can trim your body of it's limbs and leave you on the edge of death just long enough that you can watch as I kill every member of the caravan... Then you can die knowing that your people won't live to see another season... Including your dearest family." The warrior then dropped his weapons to his side for but another moment.

"All I ask, is that your people help me destroy the 'box-builder's' Church of Faith by any means they can, and Myself and my patron will see to it that your kind will prosper always... Now what is it going to be!?! Prosper in live, or regret in death?" The warrior barked his final ultimatum to the Mer. And regardless of his answer, Fidelis would prove to be a man of his word.