The Kingdom of the Emerald Hills

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To accomplish great things, first surround yourself with great company.

Many days had passed since the Traitor had taken to the Winds.
The Guild was beset by turmoil as the Accolades and Appendices had all
been sent out to scour the lands for words of his whereabouts.

Rage had nearly torn down the walls of the Shadow Keep in his anger. It
was all The Grandmaster could do, just to keep him from destroying an
entire wing of the underground structure. Demon had faced Half Demon and
fortunately Hell itself had intervened, saving the Keep from being
completely demolished. If not for his bond with Kofka and the calming
effect he could exert upon his Brother... no telling what may have become
of the young Squire.

As he sat in deep thought, the Grandmaster had begun to understand the
deep ties between the two and though Kofka was still an Accolade within
the Guild, Delphos knew he had reached the pinnacle of his learning and
should be elevated to the Rank of Master Assassin. Yet such ceremonies
would have to wait until the Traitor was caught and his motives
understood by all.

The entire situation was quite perplexing to even the Grandmaster
himself, whose years within the Realm had shown him much.
Why the deception? Surely Master Sutra, his Loyal Squire, would come to
him with any thoughts of leaving the Guild.

Already, hints and rumors abounded in all parts of the Kingdom. News
from all corners of the Realm had begun to filter in from covert agents,
planted within the Baronies and small villages throughout the Hills. A
dead body found in the River Midnight. Another Golem in place of the
Kingdom's Champion. Yet no word of the Queen's whereabouts or condition,
only a lone voice overheard in the woods along the roads to the Midnight
Sun.

Even now, the Caravan made its way to the Barony, where it would be met
by the Prime Minister, his Guards... and perhaps Lord Sutra himself. For
he had been seen riding in the company of Sir Morgan, along the high
roads to the Barony. Sir Morgan, astride his monstrous steed, dwarfing
the smaller quarter horse which carried Sutra, accompanied by several
well armed Guards, had been spotted by a member of the Guild. But the
Grandmaster had given the spy specific orders not to engage such a large
party. The Guild would have to wait until their numbers were large
enough to fight such a Battle.

The time for Death would come soon enough, for the Rebel Forces of
Finder's Keep, having proclaimed themselves a Freehold, would also be
Marching upon the Lands of the Midnight Sun.

When the two great armies clashed... that would be the time to
strike...!!!

Having met with his dear friend, the Druid of the Dark Horned Owl, the
thoughts of the Grandmaster had been somewhat calmed. His "Merlin" had
given him great insight into the hearts of Mankind on may occasions and
this time was no exception.

The days grew shorter and the time would soon come when both armies would
meet on the shore of the River Midnight.

The Grandmaster Assassin readied himself for this conflict.

His Guild would stand together and fight alongside the Rebels, as they
had done in the previous battle. Not for Gold, nor Riches, nor Fame, but
for freedom.
For the Guild felt the connection with the Rebels of Finder's Keep, much
the same as the Grandmaster had felt the ties to his own past and that of
the Hills, in the centuries before the great changes had swept through
the Realm.

The young outlying Barony was much like his Hills of Old and he would
gladly die to uphold their rights of Freedom.

This, however was only second on his troubled mind...
His heart had been wounded by the actions of his trusted Squire.
Lord Master Sutra must answer for his actions, for they were those of a
Traitor.
The Guild would never accept such Actions... and neither would Sir
Delphos.


To be continued...

The moon was rising high above the mighty ash tree. In the grotto of darkness, Nexus sat on the ground of pineneedles, awaiting him...he could sense his closeness. Out of the shadows a set of ebony wings revealed themselves, furling around an assassin dressed in black.
"welcome rage, i've been expecting you" said nexus, looking straight forward in contemplation.
Rage looked down at him "I knew that you would be....I have come to ask.." Nexus cut him off.
"I know why....and i am afraid i cannot let you have the upper hand.......i would not grant any more help to sutra either. I will tell you this much, seek him on the high road to midnight Sun. And here," Nexus stopped and threw him a piece of black fabric. "this will help you, Master sutra has its sister piece."
Rage furrowed his brow and frowned at the dark one. "Very well then Nexus, I thank you for your help"
Nexus looked up, his eyes as white and pale as moonlight "As always, brother....as always" and with a flash he was gone, leaving the assassin in the dark grotto alone.
Rage grasped the black piece of cloth in his hand and looked off into the West
"Sutra......"

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Please don't let your amtgard titles be the only thing that's going for you....it's sad.