Sebastian -- Road from Reinhurst to Conevico -- 2 Frostdawn, 1792 GSE

Some journey, I think to myself. At first, I was under the impression that there would be more to see from what confines I was and still kept in. Mostly all there was, was hills of snow, forests as far as I could see, roads and the occasional pilgrim face I've yet to see poking their face in to pay their respects and greetings to me. Mostly what Cassius calls women. Feminine faces who range from ogling, funny faces and outright annoyingly doting. Out of all the pilgrims, it's the women folk who seem most drawn to babies like me, at least the Lady Vesna was there for my naming along with what she calls Niall, my brother. I wasn't sure what a brother was, he was just ... someone who was and is with me since the beginning. He is almost always crying and sometimes a bit bone-headed, but am I really one to judge? I figured not. There had to be a reason for him; and for me to have been grouped together. 

Whatever the reason might be, it felt like ages since I'm able to see something that wasn't conceptually boring to me. But I have to concede, the vastness of the lands, this world was not only incredible, it remains a frightening place to me. Without proper guides, no, proper caretakers, we wouldn't have survived our first day. From what I could glean listening in to the travelers, we were in a country named Lothar. A human realm that borders the Elven Forests of Elentárië, The Embershard League, Iberia and Romagnia.

From what I gathered in my form of eavesdropping, what I could piece together, Elves were a pointy-eared people that look like humans but were of a lithe build, are of a rather sage disposition than that of humans, naturally pre-dispositioned to the arts of magic and come in a greater variety of forms than that of the differing humans I've seen so far in my life. Elves of the forest who mingle and live amongst trees that shroud the earth in shadow by its mere roots! Sea elves who build great dwellings or marble and volcanic glass within the bottom of a sea. Elves who take form to compliment the animals they live amongst as if they were one of their own. A curious description indeed!

To hear tell from the pilgrims around me that 'believing was far more than just seeing' seems to do little to satisfy my desire to see such a concept. Alas as we pass through a village amongst the road, the pilgrims seem to have little interest in the goings on of the community save a few interactions that I note as worthy. One of the templar levies was warning one of the peasants of the fate of Reinhurst village and seemed to spur action to the informed man but to what extension I could not know. We were to move on and stubbornly so.

Nights by the fire were filled with stories from people all over the world, speaking in different languages and with so many backgrounds. From village to village these pilgrims would buy their food, perform small jobs for needing villagers, trading possessions amongst one another and for those who are downtrodden, there were always alms to give. These pilgrimages seem like a parade of all walks of life, wherever they go they would always help and leave places all the brighter. The fact that Niall is finally at calm and at peace with our turmoil is a sign I take that the worst is behind us. Not that life on the road was a particularly pleasant experience, least of all in winter where pickings were slim aside from burrowed roots that harbor and hide within the grounded depths of the forest.

The night ascends upon the world once more with a fire roasting upon the foundation of firewood as Cassius prepares yet another mixture of porridge and wettened bread for us with the Lady Vesna returning from her foraging. Their talks were friendly and though their companionship seems tied to the caravan, they didn't seem much closer than that. Mostly silence. Yet silence was preferable than to the wailings and shrills of the night Reinhurst burned. Perhaps it was in moments like these where nothing should, or even can be said. Contemplation with pensiveness seemed a better dedication.

It was when we finally set off from the third wintry night and into the early dawn would we finally see Conevico.

Cassius -- Tavern in the Forest's Green -- 3 Frostdawn, 1792 GSE

The night was young, and Cassius had managed (with a little luck on my side) to secure a room for the children, Sebastian and Niall. 'What dreadful fates the gods must have handed to them.' he had thought to myself after tucking them into bed with a hand smoothing their temples with a caressing thumb. With the basket cleaned out with fresh new blankets and the children tended with a bath and proper clothing for their naked bodies, Cassius felt he had done all that I could to ensure they were healthy and happy. The room was meager, but it had all the amenities he was hoping for. A bed, a desk, a window and a hearth. Even solace from the world outside. 

As the prior sat down Infront of the desk lecture and chronicle my travels, he had begun to wonder what was going on in the lands of Lothar, these lands of mountains, hills and otherwise stoic peoples. And so now with feather quill in hand, he begins to scribe his thoughts ...

The Principality of Lothar was a predominantly human realm, as is many in the lands of Balandaria, the continent which we reside in. Yet one could only describe Lothar as it's people. Rough, like tattered lumber through an unsharpened saw. Theirs is a land set far to the west of the Romagnian heartlands and borders the western-ward Elven Kingdoms of Elentárië, to the north, the dwavern mountains of Embershard. To the south from whence we arrived was the Kingdom of Iberia. But my travels were from a land south of Iberia, within the sands of Sehlaria whereby accounts of the Temple historians humanity had first emerged and settled Balandaria.

My pilgrimage however began from Lycaron, the Capital of the Kingdom of Neustra, a large eastern kingdom, far from across the Romagnian Heartlands and across the expansive mountains that emerge from its center. My home country, known for its chivalric history in its mission to vanguard human interests.

Upon contemplating his scribblings, Cassius looks up to the ceiling with a bit of a smile.

I've made great friends along this road of mine, in service to AVO. To my God. The Lady Vesna was a kind compatriot, a noblewoman of a lesser Romagnian family. More than likely such a journey would build upon her merits and contributions for a suitable marriage, but all luck to her for she is an invaluable financier of this caravan but a most active participant in it. If only I were a proper noble and not called in service to the clergy, I thought to myself. Yet it was only a matter of time until my travels end, and I am able to rest peacefully back into the service of leading my priory and away from the cares of this world. ...

His expression seemed strained with the concern of the recent local events. These deserters looting and pillaging the serfs of their liege lords. Dabbing his feather quill into its inkwell, Cassius continues the accounts of the journey he'd made.

Lothar was always a nation of considerable troubles. For these lands were not always a land of humans. In ancient times, during the Age of Strife when the world as well as the Gods were sundered, elves had ruled these lands. Primarily the wood elves and dawn elves, one who revered the forests and communed with its trees, while the other built great monuments to foster a gentle sun for harvests and to ward away winter. Now since the War of Banners, the dawn elves had been radicalized and ascended to the sun where they would often descend to enact their ages old grudge upon humanity. And many wood elves have been displaced, retreating west back to Elentárië.

Once humans and elves lived in harmony within the First Age ... the very first human, king of the First Kingdom, Ardeth, was husband to an elf, the first woman the gods presented to Ardeth. To us humans, she was Zoe, but to the elves they named her Náriel. After the Sundering ... the Age of Strife, our blessed tranquility was shattered by the lack of blessings in our spiritual godliness. Hunger, envy, pride, fear. All of it culminated into bitter resentment that still carries on to this day. Even now in Lothar when the elves ... even if perhaps deep counseled with reservations, ally themselves with humans against the threats that seek to threaten Balandaria as a whole -- the resentments still continue.

During the Age of Banners, the humans of Lothar were treated as slaves to elven-kind, and by some accounts lived lives as detestable as 'fitting blood sport' for the more macabre souls. Generations of Lotharings have instilled this hatred of elves, to the dawn elves specifically, for whom they built monuments for their masters, only for them to serve next as sacrifices to Solariel, the Elven Goddess of the sun and purity. For political or pragmatic reasons, the other elves all but averted their gazes from it until the decisive human victory of the War of Banners. And all concessions from that point had felt hollow ... despite our alliances, Lothar blames elves for all their troubles, in more dire cases, even hold pogroms for when devilry or unexplained troubles occur.

... A look out the window to a growing night sky with a greater half-full moon amidst the trees, a frustrated look filled upon Cassius's expression, feather quill still betwixt his thumb and pointer digits.

'What has changed exactly?' Cassius contemplated. 'Even if the histories are or are not true, we yet never learn from them. It is almost as if hatred is not borne from mere action or words alone ... but as though it were flower seedlings floating upon the winds, looking for hearts to plant root within and grow.'

With a sigh, he dabs the quill into the inkwell and rubs his eyes before glancing towards the children laying comfortably within the single bed.

Perhaps Reinhurst was just such a village. An isolated elven conclave, targeted by opportunistic soldiers as a 'safe target' by those who share similar resentments. Yet looking upon the children's ears they bear no resemblance to a common elven ancestor. Even today the half-breed known as half-elves maintain their pointed ears. I can only speculate for whom these two children were brought into the world, at least for now until we reach the city, we must trek ever onward with great difficulty until the snows have melted. North, to Conevico, we must travel where it will 'ere ever colder the more encroach.

Setting down his pen in the inkwell he would leave his scribe open to allow the ink to dry before walking towards the bed to see to the children who were all but asleep, shrouded in the bed warming blanket whose weight and comfort lulled them to sleep.

"

Sebastian -- Conevico -- 4th Wehnsdas, Frostdawn, 1792 GSE

"There it is!" Shouted one of the pilgrims which roused me from my slumber to peek from the opening of the basket I've grown so accustomed to. Today myself, Niall, Cassius and the Lady Vesna would be seated -- or in my own case and that of Niall's, lain on the bench inside the wagon amidst the caravan. "The city walls of Conevico, we've finally arrived to Romagnia!" Another pilgrim declared.

The caravan roams closer and closer from whence I could finally see the towering tree-height sized walls, perhaps even bigger than even that for what my mind could describe. They were perhaps more like the mountains of white with the stone that founded its height with wooden palisade walls from which guards could gaze down upon the comings and goings of distant travelers. The sounds of voices were getting louder and louder but that was not what perturbed my being, it was more of the smell. An awful wrench of the city was striking my senses that repulsed my curiosities. Wasn't long before Niall was fussing, but yet not crying over the sensations that struck the caravan.

"Oh, you two must never been in a city before." Cassius observes aloud yet with an utterly helpless look upon his face. It would appear that this monk, the man who would take care of us has business in the city. "Well at the very least were not walking in the muck of the streets." Lady Vensa jokes as the wagon rolled on with the caravan pushes past the city gates. "Did you already make arrangements with a tavern?" Vesna asks Cassius. 

"Not with a tavern no. I imagine my stay will be at the cathedral, provided they aren't full to bursting this time of year." Cassius admits, it seems his trip was perhaps far less planned than what is normally typical for a pilgrim. Then again, even for people in his circumstances, he has a lot more to consider now with me and Niall now in his care.

"You could stay with me in the castle if all else fails. It might still be Lothar in territory, but Romagnia is but on the other side of these walls. My family name still commands respect." Vesna offers.

"I might just have to take you up on that offer." Cassius conceded with a bit of a chuckle, placing a hand inside the basket to tickle his digits upon the bindings that shrouded us, eliciting laughter and mirth from the both of us. "I still have to provide the news to the Temple and see what comes of it. If the parents for these children are alive. ...I might even have to stay behind to make sure they are returned, safe and sound."

"Of course, provided that does occur, at least be there if you intend to depart from my company. I detest meek goodbyes." Vesna demanded with Cassius laughing with acknowledgement but also concession to the request.

"I promise I will keep you up to date, good wo." Cassius promises with a hand elevated to his chest, across his heart before dipping his head to a bow.

The sounds of the city were plentiful and almost drowning, even from my perceptional limiting view from the basket I could gaze upon dwellings of stone and wood from where the caravan wagon roamed along its bumpy noisy street. Lines were drawn across the divine between the dwellings with articles of clothes hung and blown in the slight morning breeze like leaves from their branches across a clear blue sky.

An argument over a lost shipment, a hired hand told once again to repeat his list of chores, the gossiping of the townsfolk, the clattering of tools from the craftsmen. It was a vast sea of information, emotion, activity. The smells, and what even can be construed as the 'sights' from my basket was enough to for me to stick close to what was familiar than in that hotbed of chaos.

The templar commander Reickart returns upon his horse alongside the wagon, keeping pace with the caravan as it makes its way further into the walled town. "The caravan will resume its path to Theleto in about two days' time from now." The holy knight confers. "From there we'll most likely have a much smoother sailing than we did in Iberia."

"I would hope so being the cradle of civilization." Vesna spat with rapier wit causing some distant pilgrims to chuckle.

"You've been very kind in these times, Lady Vesna. On behalf of the men, the Templar Order thanks you." Reickart professes with a bow of his head. Vesna however stands up despite the motioning wagon.

"We've still a week before Theleto. Let's just make sure we survive the day." Vesna reassures the commander that their time isn't quite done yet.

The caravan disperses for the day once the wagons and horses were properly stabled, with Cassius taking basket in arm and leading us around in hand, he departs from the Lady Vesna with me and Niall making our way through the streets, an alleyway or two before happening upon a peculiar building with colorful windows depicting shapes of human figures in varying poses. Still images that portray an uncanny form of devotion to an unforeseen figure I could not yet discern. The building itself had a tower not too dissimilar from the elevations of the city walls, with its own bell resting in it's heights. There was in fact a wall surrounding the rear of the building, not so tall as the city walls, perhaps half the height of the building's nave, yet it's grand doors at the fore were massive and open to everyone, even the space left open with grandiose fountains of flowing water pour from basin beneath basin.

"Here we are little ones, the cathedral of AVO." Cassius voices aloud. "Let's hope we can find your parents before we have to leave, maybe even find ourselves a good place to stay."

The inside of the building felt clearer, and there was a sense of comfort within its walls. The sound of a choir singing in the distance of the stone corridors could be heard, a benediction of prayer. Cassius moves from the door down the hall in silent and considerate steps than he did in the town square. Perhaps this was a place where such causality was frowned upon?

"Ah, brother." Cassius calls out to a hooded man who emerged from a conjoining corridor yet stopped from Cassius's hushed yet firm expression. The monk slowly quickened his step. "I am Prior Cassius, of St. Avalor's Priory in Lycaron. There's been an emergency, Reinhurst village was burned to the ground."

"Oh goodness gracious." The hooded man recoiled. "Reinhurst? Was it the Elves?" To which Cassius shook his head.

"Lothar deserters, to my awareness they haven't been caught. But I do need access to the faith's assets ... our pilgrim's caravan found these two little ones. They're the only survivors we found." Cassius explains as he slowly lifts the basket.

"How terrible. ... Please, a moment if you can, we will soon be done with the Terce prayer, and I will send father Nikodemus for you. I'll also need to confirm your identity before our Ordo Luminary permits you amongst his archives." He insists before bowing his head. "Please, if you like we have an herbal garden you can await within." The hooded man professes before walking down the hall to open a door into an open courtyard that was built inside of this dwelling's perimeter.

"Thank you again." Cassius says with a bowed head and emerges into the door while staying within the open corridor that surrounded the gardens. A roof over the head with torch scones along the wall with a pretty view of the open space. "...See that, little ones? We have a garden like this at home too. But it's much more open, big enough to hold a tree." Cassius says to us in order to pass the time.

A tree, even if the garden was open to the sky -- surrounded by walls? Might as well have a house in a tree of itself. The world seemed full of possibilities, but I was still quite new into this world for me to think so widely of what and what was not considered 'possible.'

We didn't wait that long either for the choir to fall silent and before I could even fall asleep, the sound of a door opening followed by two figures, a black robed monk, dressed almost as similarly as Cassius and another in peculiar armor that wasn't nearly as imposing as the templars but a bit more subtle.

"Brother ... Cassius, was it?" The black-robed man asked, causing Cassius to face him fully with both hands upon the basket handle.

"Ah you must be brother Nikodemus." Cassius deduces aloud. "Thank you for taking your time to see me."

"Yes yes, quite. Brother Tybur gave me the details about Reinhurst. Something about needing Temple assets, of the Luminary's domain?" Nikodemus asked.

"That would be correct. I'm trying to ascertain the whereabouts and ... perhaps fate of these two children's parents. They were the only survivors and our caravan had no luxury of searching for them with deserters prowling the wilds." Cassius explains. "I was wondering if there was an inquiry or possibly even a survivor that made it here."

Nikodemus looked upcast before looking towards the armored man. "Brother Algier?" He asked.

This Algier was holding his chin in deep contemplation, shifting his eyes from the floor to out the side into the garden before his name was uttered, forcing it to lock eyes with Nikodemus. "This is honestly the first I've heard Reinhurst having been burnt down. Usually if there are people who survived it, we would have received word about it by now, if not from the town garrison, then from a local settlement. Your caravan seems to have been the first acknowledgment of it entirely by the sounds of it, Cassius."

"...No." Cassius says looking a bit taken aback by this information. Almost as if he was given the worst possible news.

Algier quickly smoothed his hand up. "That does not mean everything we know is concrete. We have riders learning new things daily, just as we have learned about this now and the Ordo Luminous never sleeps, as they say. Though my archives won't be able to help you, that does not mean the information network the faith has worked so hard to maintain won't fish something up. I presume these children have names?"

"No. At least. Not ones I didn't name for them myself. They were found in a hollowed-out signpost in the dead silence of dawn." Cassius admits. "No note, just the basket and blankets to keep them warm."

Algier sighs at this, hands on his belt, twiddling his thumb upon the leather. "...I cannot promise anything. The most I can do is make inquiries about missing children, or survivors of Reinhurst." He speaks. "Naturally we'll do everything we can to make light of this, no doubt the Grand Prince Ulrich will want to make sure these deserters are subdued before there's chaos in the region. If these bandits took prisoners, they'll help us ascertain their identities or at the very least witness accounts."

Nikodemus nods at this. "Have faith Cassius. You did well, for the faith, and for your new charges." He says with a smile as he held one hand over the other at the fore of his abdomen.

"Of course." Cassius says with a bowed head. "I'm afraid to impose on you as, I'm already doing so much already but would there be a place for me and the little ones to stay here in the cathedral? It won't be for too long, just until Fehrdas morning, or once I receive news of their parents."

"Ah, you're still enroute to Theleto." Nikodemus observes aloud with a hum. "Hm. I suppose this is a bit of a time constraint. Sadly, our monastery is already filled to bursting with pilgrims, the poor and the infirm." The prior laments. "But, under the presumption nothing new has turned up during your time here, we'll forward any new information to your lodgings in Theleto." Nikodemus reassures. 

Algier makes a motion to turn to the side as if to depart from the conversation. "Which means there needs to a mobilization effort. We'll have to skirt through the forest, the village. Lord Frikkeo Arco, needs to be alerted and other villages to be on high alert. If you will excuse me." He says with a bow before making a quick step down the garden corridor.

"A moment, Brother Algier." Cassius says stepping forward causing the Luminary to stop. "If you're headed to the castle, to Lord Frikkeo. Might I join you? I have a friend amidst nobility who can provide me living quarters, it might help if I had someone who can vouch for me at the gates."

"I don't see why not." Algiers concedes. "Come, we must away." He insists, making a much hastier step then what Cassius initially started with upon entering the cathedral.

Cassius -- Conevico -- 4th Wehnsdas, Frostdawn, 1792 GSE

It was quite a steady walk, but unlike from the view on the wagon bench, the concrete hardness of cobblestone and slick from the muck on the streets fills Cassius's foosteps. From out of the cathedral  it was onwards towards the castle, through the marketplace. The houses faced inward towards the center of the market along the faces of the townsfolk with the occasional stall with peddlers praising their goods above the others it competed against.

"So, from what I've gathered on your caravan." Algiers began. "You were on pilgrimage to Sehlaris. ... From Lycaron? You've come a long way prior." He says as he walks around a crowd of gawkers who seem fixated on an ongoing auction. The muck of the streets sticking to the footwear of Cassius and this strange figure by the name of Algiers.

"I would say so, these bones are years older. But it was a most awe-inspiring pleasure." Cassius professes. "The Sacred Sepulcher was everything I thought it would be and more. I only wish I could have afforded to stay the month, but the Sehalarians kept raising the jizyah for me."

"Hm." Algiers grunted in thoughtful consideration. "Would that I were given the time for meaningful travel as you are, I would be tempted to go there as well." 

The group departed from the market stalls towards the walled parition containing the castle of the Arco Family, Conevico's castle. Across a moat that was built in with the riverflow that surrounded the castle before flowing out from the city and towards the sea, in order to get across, one must traverse over a stone bridge across the deep moat. A fearful whimper escapes from the basket holding Sebastian and Niall. "Ah, a moment, Ser Algiers." Cassius implored as he sets down the basket to check on his charges.

"Oh heavens, tell me you aren't hungry again?" Cassius hypothesizes with a slight 'hum' to his disposition. "Or is it you're scared of the heights?" He puzzled aloud before picking up the basket again and continuing his way across the bridge. Towards the monument of stone walls erected within the city, across the moat was a form of portcullis with jagged metal teeth, along with bars to prevent entry-way, one wrong motion could cause those bars to drop down to the demise of anyone trying to get in, or escape.

The scenery changed from an obscuring wall to a courtyard of withered gardens and trees without leaves, the snow having been freshly shoveled from the pathways and earth where it was left trodden by footsteps. Above the walls were soldiers who patrolled and marched along the top of its heights, as from behind the walls were built in steps along the wall with its ascent starting from the earth to the battlements where the guardsmen traversed its horizon.

"This is a castle, little ones." Cassius explains, slowly turning the basket around for the children to view the courtyard entire, revolving the basket around until Cassius fixated upon a pair of grand doors almost half the size of the gate we traversed, it's ebony wooden shape with iron handles signifying a vain construction to appeal to the superficial. "The ruler of these lands and all the nobles come here." Cassius lectures to the children, knowing full well that they were too little to know better what any of this should mean to them, but all the same -- their bright curious eyes looked on in marvel at the erected castle fortifications and architecture.

"Ah, wait here Prior Cassius." Algiers suddenly instructed before Cassius could reach the grand doors of the castle, walking on ahead of the monk. "Clergyman or not, my business is more official, let me do you a favor and test the waters before you go asking for Lord Arco's hospitality."

"Ah, that would actually be very appreciated, thank you." Cassius professes with a bowed head.

A castle like this was almost the size of a village given it's scale and perimeter of the walls. Given it's position upon the Lothar-Romagnian border, it seemed less of a vain design for noble tastes and more of a militaristic intention.

The War of Banners, Cassius concludes, for Conevico used to be a Romagnian Imperial City and a front for their passage into Lothar when the Elves would war for their chance of dominance over Balandaria ... back before the Empire disbanded and the city eventually fell to Lotharing hands, a retreat of their waning influence but monuments of their history still remain in the day.

It was only a quarter to a half of the hour before the grand doors of Conevico Castle opens with Algiers emerging from it's "Lord Frikkeo Arco will receive you, although I'd brace myself -- he's with a bit of an unwanted guest." Algiers heralds in a bit of concern.

"Guest?" Cassius asks with a face of growing concern. "It's not the Lady Vesna, is it?!" 

"Yes ... and no." Algiers says looking somewhat concerned for the atmospheric state of the castle interior. "Lord Arco is receiving a ... complication but he will receive you once the matter is resolved."

A complication? Just what was I about to step into? "I suppose we'll see when we get inside." He says with a sigh of resignation.

The one thing I was not here to do was to play the games of these secular leaders of power and influence. While the details of what lay ahead troubled me, for it was one thing for a Lord to be in a foul mood, it was quite another to make a request of his generosity by the same brush.

The grand doors of the castle part with the assistance of the guards who stand vigilant upon it's enclosure. Welcoming Algiers and Cassius as they entered inside the entrance hall of the castle, taking half a dozen steps down to a flattened seating room with golden embraided indigo blue banners. The furniture made of well carved oak wood from tables to armchairs and benches, a variety of artifacts on display for those who intend to wait their turn to petition the noble family.

Traversing a dozen steps from across the entrance up from the seating arrangement led to a corridor, carved from the sharp shape of the arched top doorway to a much more expansive hall leading onward to a well lit room that no doubt housed the throne room.

Cassius need not have been tot too far away from the throne room to hear the tension that transpired within. The sounds of bellowing and argument that was heard -- caused the poor children in the basket to shiver and hide their faces within the blankets that cloaked them. From the opposite end of the door we emerge from was a wooden throne elevated upon five steps of stairs, shrouded in a carpet of jasmine indigo that reached from the bottoms of the steps to the foot of the throne. The throne itself was of an engraved craft with armrests depicting extended orbs shrouded in vines and grapes, a leather seated cushion built into the seat and upon the backrest of the illustrious chair with depictions of a bountiful vineyard trellises.

The area where the throne was erected was carved inside of the stone wall which accommodated additional stairs along the sides of the stone where it was carved, leading to another level of the castle, most likely where the lord resides -- great banners hung below these encasing stairs from the sides of the throne room, depicting a blade encircled in a grape vine like a serpent would be, with a background of a similar indigo of the carpet.

The man seated upon the throne was a portly sort, a circlet of jade and jeweled amethyst adorned upon his brow, a bushy goateed beard with a balding spot atop of his head with a few strands atop of his head, likely combed over from the shoulder-length flowing locks that circumvented the of the barren dome upon his head. Dressed in furs and vanities of a humbling brown color with an overflowing white wolf pelt scarfing around his neck.

Three figures stood before this noble figure, the lady Vesna whom Cassius recognized immediately, yet to the left, for whom she was flanking two other green haired individuals, the one to the right far smaller than the more adult figure standing betwixt the former. The green-haired individuals were quite bizarre as they wore clothes that were foreign to the aesthetics of Lothar ... or any human culture, the country-side full of dark colors, grey, brown and murk. But the reasons for that became abundantly clear when Cassius caught glimpse of the green haired pair's ears. Rapier pointed and given their assembly ... most likely wood elves of noble stock.

From the backs of the elven adult woman's shoulders was adorned a twin-divided velvety green cape attached to a travel tunic adorned upon her person, the elven woman's hair was tied in a ponytail, yet lengthy enough to resemble that of a horse's tail from its depiction. Beside her, the elven child with flowing hair that looked as though she were attempting to grow it out similar to her mother but not quite there yet. She was dressed in a brown ragged tagged winter top and pants, quite different than her guardian.

"You expect me to offer you hospitality elf?!" Bellowed the human noble. "Hospitality! While your kin stalk the western lands, take my people into slavery and leave behind nothing but burning shambles and broken families!?"

"Herr Arco, this is--" Vesna began to speak before the noble human raised his hand.

Nothing but silence fills the room before the elven woman breaches it. "Lord Arco, the dawn elves are not the wood elves. I, Eirina Gladeleaf, am ambassador of the wood elves to the Kingdom of Neustria. Our own caravan was destroyed along our way through Lothar on our way to the Romagnian border. I wish only to stay the night under your protection so as to leave immediately for Neustria." The elf spoke with a softness that befitted her kind, even more-so with her position as an Ambassador.

"You simply, 'had' to go through Lothar, to go to Neustria? No ships would take you around our borders? For an ambassador you don't seem well aware of the Lotharing opinion of your kind. Or if you were aware, you show complete and utter disregard for it." The Lord Arco states standing up from his throne. "It is not mere dawn elves that debase these lands, but the high elves you swear subservience to! The incidents past this very last year exceed the digits of my hands and feet whereas the dawn elves are considered. Do you think if this were to happen to my people by any other human nation, I would tolerate it? Why is this not the case for you elves!?"

"Herr Arco." The elven woman stated firmly, grasping her hand into a fist as the elven child beside her clung to her tunic. "The Sehlarians of the south are an established enemy of my people. Not only would we risk slavery within their waters, but the northern waters also far beyond the Embershard mountains might as well be seas of ice amidst this time of winter. My appointment is not with yourself, but of Neustria. I do not condone the attacks amidst humanity. The crown I serve, Queen Marvhen Sylvian has done much to try and bridge and account for human concerns amidst the Council of Queens. But I cannot, do not speak for the other elves."

"And that, right there. Is my entire problem with your kind. You speak the words, but it is the ones you represent who make a liar out of you." The human noble professes with a sneer, jabbing an accusatory finger in direction of the ambassador, turning away from her with his hands behind his back, staring into a brazier bowl of pitch and fire that illuminated the space around the throne. "Pureblooded elves like you bend knee to the same ilk that bring disorder and despair upon my people. Oh, you might disagree when it's viewed as distasteful, oh you might protest ... when it is safe. But throughout history, upon these very lands when you could exercise it true, you did not stop them, you still carried out their will, enslaved our ancestors, had them killed on whim! Child and parent alike! And it still happens now!" He shouted. Loud enough that his voice echoed the halls of the castle, leaving the room in reverberating silence before he walked back to his throne yet remained in his standing position.

"The high elves still raid our western borders, the dawn elves still descend from the sky to carry off our people, what little they do carry off as we are too accustomed to bury the dead they leave behind ... The way that I see it, even if your words are ... were true. Until someone holds one accountable for the whole, your kind will ever be liars. And I will not be hospitable to a people so disingenuous with mine. It is because I am willing to believe your words, I do not have you imprisoned and ransomed back to the Queens. Find your hospitality in a tavern like everyone else."

The human noble spoke with such a coldness and reserved fury. Cassius could see the hatred within Lord Arco's eyes were an accumulation of hatreds, both ancient and recent over the transgressions of Lothar and Elentárië.

"Herr Arco! There are no taverns left in open reservation. They have nowhere to go." Vesna declares in protest with the ambassador clutching onto her child. "... And that's not even to say what the populace might do--"

"Then they can sleep in the gutter, my decision is--" Arco declares before Cassius clears his throat. "...And who are you? Only the brave or an outright foolish idiot interrupts my court." Arco snides. "Monk, Pilgrim or otherwise."

"Actually, good Herr Arco. I am Prior Cassius of St. Avalor's Priory in Lycaron. I only caught the tail end of this conversation but. Might I ask you extend the hospitality to myself as well as your elven guests?"

The nobleman looked outright annoyed at Cassius, which frightened the monk, Vesna, as well as the elven pair and the two children in the basket. Leaning his arm against his armrest he began to stroke his hand idly across his beard.

"You must not have paid attention to the conversation, history, or any of your books." Arco observed aloud, sitting back in his throne. "Lothar is no place for elves who are not subservient to the realm and by extension, to Grand Prince Ulrich. This woman represents my country's enemy in a time of barely concealed hostility, a heretic to your clergy, and all likeliness a spy for the Council of Queens. Under what delusion do you presume I labor under to tolerate her presence in my home?"

Cassius bows as Vesna and the Elves look in his direction, looking somewhat exasperated at his approach. "Forgive my layman's approach of politics. I would not wish to presume to speak or even presume intentions that you do not hold." He professes. "I merely wish to point out that she is technically already a guest of another household. Just not quite your own." Cassius explains. "While Lothar might not cherish their relations with the elves, Neustria however does. She is ambassador by their pleasure, and it would not make for happy bedfellows if something were to happen to their representatives. Even elves."

Lord Arco was taken aback for a moment, almost as if the words when laid out salved the immediate need for retribution. ... Yet not quite so easily as hoped.

"The King of Neustria is far away from this place, and hardly has to put up with elvish antics our tithes are paid to keep at bay. Unless you presume to tell me the King will compensate me for this ... " Arco inclined as if trying to resolve to keep his integrity on the matter. Cassius however decides to widen the perspective he laid out. 

"Actually, it is more in a way to maintain your good graces with Grand Prince Ulrich." Cassius proposes with the nobleman leaning his back into his throne with a frown.

"Why would Ulrich care if these two lived or died? Be it in his lands or anywhere else in the world?" asked Lord Arco with his fingers touching the opposites upon his other hand.

Cassius inhales and re-establishes his confidence. "Because it is as you say. If one acts in a way that goes against the wishes of another, that will reflect poorly upon the Grand Prince, should the topic arise in his dealings with Neustria." Cassius points out. "It might seem like an elven-Lothar matter on the surface but if Neustria were missing their ambassador and it were discovered that you held up her appointment ..."

Lord Arco began to rub his chin along with a change of emotion that seemed to equate into realization. "You're suggesting that I might place Ulrich in an uncomfortable position with Neustria." He summarized.

Algier's voice then spoke next as he stands beside Cassius. "Actually my Lord, it may already be too late for that to be a consideration." The church official stood beside Cassius in support of his direction of the conversation.

"Father Algiers, I am dealing with enough on my plate without the entirety of the Temple crashing down on my authority." Lord Arco huffs. "I have stated I would see to your emergency after--"

"This might be related, Herr Arco, Lady Eirina." Algiers stated looking to the Elven Ambassador who looked stiff and a bit startled. "You stated that your caravan was destroyed and disbanded -- do you know from what?"

"... Lothar Soldiers, they wore their colors and banners." Eirina describes. "But they also extorted us and had more of a roguish air about them. Even after we paid their 'tolls' they set about to kidnapping us ... and ... "

Algiers seemed to think this conversation was going down a dark path and reverted it back to Herr Arco who looked a bit confused. "Herr Arco. I am willing to suspect that the people who attacked the elven caravan might have also razed Reinhurst to the ground. Deserters and criminals under the auspices of your garrison, or that of Lothar."

The portly lord was gripping his beard and showing a bit of irritation for this situation. He seemed stressed but not so much as when he heard the news of Reinhurst burning down. Most likely Algiers was quick in his announcement and was hoping to resolve this quickly.

""My caravan's Templar Commander can vouch for the presence of these deserters." Cassius proclaims stepping forward.

"That will not be necessary." Lord Arco professes with a long exhale. "Regardless an investigation is called for and I shall see to it my marshal cracks down on this banditry. ... Meanwhile." His eyes traced back towards Eirina and the child.

"The damage has been done by bad actors, but it can still be attributed to Lothar if the wrong understanding comes across." Cassius sagely advises keeping in line with Arco's accusations upon elven kind. "... As the Temple scripture says." Cassius proclaims with a risen extended hand. "Do not seek to domineer over your charge but be an example amidst the flock."

The human noble hums with a sigh and closed pair of eyes. "..."

"As well as 'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.' In a city that reflects the piety of pilgrims that come and go through such places, surely you might--" Cassius continues only for the Lord Arco to raise his hand as if hearing enough. Cassius immediately stops not wanting to further annoy the lord.

"... Verily well." The portly man states as he leans forward in his throne. "Eirina Gladeleaf." He states looking directly within the elven woman's eyes, who had straightened up with her daughter clung tightly to her. "By the grace, perhaps even serendipity of the Temple your people have mocked for generations, you have been secured in my hospitality. ... But if I discover one trace of malevolent intrigue to your person. I will have your dominant hand for a trophy." He warns "Of course which naturally, monk, you will share the same responsibility. So, I suggest if as virtuous as your advice is ... you be sure to impart it to the good ambassador." Lord Acro curtly explains to Eirina and Cassius.

"Of course, Herr Acro." Cassius professes with a bow of his head to which the elven girls and Vesna do the same.

As Lord Acro rises, he descends the steps from his throne towards a door built into the left section of the wall where we entered the throne room. "For now, your accommodations await you in the guest wing. I bid you await here for the chamberlain who shall show you to your quarters." Arco then looks in direction of Cassius and Algiers. "Father Algiers. I require your full account of these deserters and this incident with Reinhurst."

"Yes, your grace." Algiers stated before patting a sturdy hand upon Cassius's shoulder before stepping forth to join the nobleman within the recesses of the private sections of the castle.

"Thank you! Lord Arco!" spouted the little elven child for which the only response to her gratitude was the door closing behind the Lord and Algiers with a defusing hostility in the air.

"That ... could have gone better." Eirina the elf professes before turning to Cassius with a suspicious and inquisitive glance. "And to what end would you go out of your way for someone like me?"

Before Cassius could explain himself Vesna interjects. "Oh no, this one is with me. He was part of my pilgrimage caravan." She introduces. "He's a bit of a wet mop where common sense is concerned but a good soul." She then turns to Cassius before glaring at him! "You miserable lout! I had it under control. You already have enough to consider without sticking your neck ... well now your hand out for others." Vesna points out as she gestures to the children in Cassius's hold.

"I just felt as though I could leverage my piety where it could be aptly used in terms of his conscience." Cassius explains to Vesna before looking to Eirina and her child, clearing his throat. "However our faiths may differ on the matter of the same Godhead we share. We are still part of this world, and cruelty is too cheaply and thoughtlessly handed out in its time."

Eirina sighs as she loosened her hold on her child and smiles to Cassius. "Well, I know how to act amidst humans. Truthfully our coming here was a last resort with the coming snowstorm. We were almost on the Romagnian border, but we were traveling for five days non-stop to avoid it's coming."

"Snowstorm? Today?" Vesna asks. "And you said something Lothar soldiers ... extorting and trying to kidnap you. What caused that?"

"Tomorrow actually. I can see the channeling of the air, the frost. It's building in the west and crawling eastward, given how the wind is pointing; it's going to ravage across the Lothar-Romagnian border." Eirina explains. "As for my caravan ... I want to attribute it to bandits, but ... they wore the banners of Lothar. That would have been bad enough, but we managed to escape only for our hiding to be discovered by one of Herr Arco's patrol. We were escorted here ... and the rest you saw. Me and my little Mahelverhen here have been--"

"I hate that name!" Shouted the little elf spouted! Looking annoyed with puffed up chipmunked cheeks that elicited a childish giggle from the basket Cassius held. Which earned a curious glance from the elves and then to the monk. "Oh! I didn't know human monks could have children." She says skittering over to the basket. Kneeling down she peered within to look at the two residents within it.
"Awh-hahaha~! They're adorable!"

She was a bright faced little one whose joy caused Niall to giggle and wave his hands to her with Sebastian's a wide smile with hands outstretched to her.

"Oh no child, priory monks cannot have children." Elrina corrects her child. "They ... aren't yours, are they?" She inquires looking to Cassius.

"No. But that's yet to be decided. Perhaps over dinner I can explain their situation in full." The prior professes as he sets the basket down, leaving this Mahelverhen girl with the children. The name itself was rather long and its structure was alien to the human's I've traveled with.

From down the steps behind the throne, emerged a jacketed man with flowing hair, trailing his fingers along a ring of keys and accounting for their purpose. "Madam Vesna, the Lady Gladeleaf ... and you are ..."

Cassius introduces himself with his hands behind his back. "Prior Cassius of Lycaron."

"Yes yes, quite." repeated the jacketed man. "Your living quarters have been arranged. I am Liebehrt, Chamberlain of Conevico Castle. The Lord Arco will be arranging dinner within the next hour or so. It is advised on a courteous brush-up on dining etiquette before being seated at his table."

Well, these people certainly seem to have a high and mighty opinion of themselves, Cassius thinks to myself, Niall and Sebastian were too busy giggling and laughing at the elven child's playful tickling of her fingers. For now it seems we get to enjoy the luxuries of the castle.

"If you would not mind, we have maidservants to take care of the children." Leibehrt the Chamberlain attests. "Proper food and care will be given to them of course."

The elven child looked poised as if to protest with Vesna chuckling as she arrived beside her. "Come now. The grown-ups have to discuss grown-up things. You'll be stuck to your chair and bored out of your mind otherwise. Can we trust you to look after little Sebastian and Niall?

"... I ... guess." the elf child concedes. "Which one is who again?" she inquires kneeling down with Vesna who pointed to Niall. "This...is Niall." She explains. 

"But he's a human. Why does he have an elven name?" asked Mahelverhen. 

"Who knows for sure if these are human or half-elves? They were found in a basket by the road, we don't know who their parents are." Vesna explains.

"They can't be half-elves, they don't even remotely have pointed ears." Mahelverhen points out.

"Sometimes little leaf, half-elves develop their ears later in life. Some can look outright human in appearance until their teenage years. And some can look like pure blooded elves until their mortality kicks in and reveal that they age faster." Eirina lectures to her child. "Oh." The little one says in acknowledgement.

"And this one is Sebastian." Vesna introduces, pointing directly to the other child.

"Niall annnnnd Sebastian! Got it." exclaimed the excitable elf child.

"You said you disliked your name. Mahelverhen, was it? Emerald Elven Legacy, it's almost fitting for a princess." Vesna translates and observes aloud. "What did you want your name to be?"

"Mmm, my friends call me Magirou for short." She says with a grin.

"Mah...ge...roh. That's ... not elven. That's almost nonsense even." Vesna giggles with the elven child hoisting her hands to her hips.

"It's easier on the tongue and easier to remember. I don't care for soph-...sophesim..." she fumbles with her words. "For...sophistry~!" She barked with a grin that she realized she got the words right.

Magirou. That was the name she chooses for herself. Cassius could only smile as Eirina looked a bit helpless given that her choice in name was all but rejected by her own child. Just then the door of the western corridor opened with Liebehrt flanked by maid servants.

"The ladies of the house will see to the children, Count Rubehrt Arco has invited the rest to his dinner table."

"Well then, Magirou. Can I count on you?" Vesna asks while Cassius and Eirina looked to have concluded a form of off-handed discussion.

"Alright, you can! Promise." Magirou attests with a friendly smile, walking over to heft up the basket and carry it along as she was escorted by the maid servants, with every-one else following Liebehrt into the castle.

Sebastian -- Castle Conevico -- Night of 4th Wehnsdas, Frostdawn, 1792 GSE

The evening is spent within the warmth and secure cradle of Castle Conevico, the rooms that were given to us were spacious yet humble. The room accommodated two single beds on opposite sides of the wall with a desk closer by the door and a small dining table opposite the desk. The beds were cotton-weaved mattresses adorned with a layer of linen. Magirou was our guardian for the evening, me and Niall. It was the first time I've been permitted freedom from the basket without Cassius fussing and worrying about us, as I course my hands and knees across the blankets of the bed. What fine feeling this is, a bit course but a beloving if not comfortable feeling. My head soon collapses to comfort of the bed sheets with a mirthful comfort running across my body. Niall on the other hand was rolling around and giggling once he was freed from his confines. A spur of energy which I could not bring myself to share given my exhaustion.

Magirou was a delightful soul who kept our company for the evening while Cassius, Vesna and Eirina were away for their feasting and 'adult' conversations. Whatever that would entail. Magirou was otherwise busy trying to get the both of us to be able to utter so much a word from either of us.

"My name is Magirou!" She speaks. "Mah-ge-roh! Try and say it, either of you. Maaaaaah?" She emphasized much to our inability to comprehend what she was trying to accomplish. To our poor under-developed minds, we could only sense a form of playfulness and nurturing nature, not that of a instructive tutoring.

My attention was more divided towards the window outside and the brewing oncoming snowstorm for which I sat under the window to watch as the dark night sky become dotted and scattered with flows of falling crystals of white.

"Ohhh, you like the snow huh?" She asks while holding Niall's feet up while he was laying on his back, eventually laying him down while he wobbles around to play. Smoothing herself over to where I was sitting. "It is very pretty but it can be cold and dangerous if we let it in you know."

Dangerous? ... Sure, it was cold, but it was warm in here. Least that's the way I logically pieced it.

"It's going to get even more cold as the night goes on, so ..." Magirou continued on, rising from her knees to clasp the wooden window panels shut. Well, if it was dangerous, it was dangerous, I reason as much could be described as reason in my mind only to see Magirou's face turn from cool friendliness to stark coldness as she shouted and leapt from her spot in the bed.

My heart raced so fast, following her motions to see Niall leaning down over from the foot of the bed and slowly but surely descending down before disappearing from my eyes entirely, an auditable thump heard soon afterwards with Magirou quickly leaping off the side of the bed and rushing over to where Niall fell. Horror struck me still as I had no idea what to do. The sound of Niall's crying was soon heard with Magirou slowly raising him up back onto the bed and looking him over with a bit of relief on her face however not entirely without concern departing from her expression.

"Oh gods, oh ... okay." She manages with a huff of relief. "Just fell on your back with a little bump on the head." She clarifies with a look of an adopted of confidence. 

Quickly crawling over towards Niall and Magirou but minding the edge of the bed ... a good thing to note, keep to the ground, one would fall otherwise. But upon arriving by his side, Niall's crying only continued with tears streaming down his face.

"Well, there's always a good way to fix this." Magirou proclaims as if speaking to me. Or maybe perhaps to herself.

Closing her eyes and raising her hands upcast with her palms flat yet directed in direction towards Niall ... the room began to feel charged with energy that I could feel along the hair's end of my skin. Something that felt like a subtle wind yet the influence was not so much as physical, but something more ... intuitive. Magirou's eyes opened with a look of clenching determination. 

"Laivë." She stated, almost in the form of a command.

From the ends of her digits to the center of her palm, a cyan form of energy flowed and encircled itself into a sphere of dimly glowing energy that slowly wisps like fog around Niall whose pained expression went from sadness to confusion ... to outright curiosity. I thought it was so strange this light. This anomaly, where did it come from? What was it doing? Was it calming Niall? Or was it helping him? Could someone like myself do such a thing?

The door opens with a maid servant investigating the cries of the crying child Niall. "Is everything alright!?" The maid inquired to which Magirou nodded and hummed in her affirmation.

"Poor Niall fell over, nothing a salve cantrip couldn't fix." She reported to the maid giving a sigh of relief.

"Did you want us to handle things from here? You don't have to handle two children alone by yourself at your age." The maid servant offered but the elven child shook her head.

"Oh no, it's a pleasure. I used to do this sort of things a lot of times with my cousins. Humans sure are energetic though." Magirou explained and observed causing the Maid and one other servant in the hall to chuckle at such words.

What I was most curious was the energy at her fingertips and how it affected Niall for which besides his tears staining his cheeks being evidence to the contrary, looked wholly unaffected by his fall. Even went back to giggling along with the others. I simply had to find out if what Magirou could do was something I could do as well. Raising my hands though perhaps not as defined as the elf emulated, my digits were more pointed towards Niall as I babbled noises from my mouth with little to no result causing Magirou to giggle at my attempts to mirror her.

"Ah! Hahaha! Are you trying to cast magic? Oh you precious thing." She purrs. "Even for an elven child, magic at your age is impossible to cast. And you're a human." 

Wait, what does that mean? Someone like me couldn't do such a thing? Ever!? The prospect made me feel frustrated, angst. Enough to make me want to cry as tears began to well under the pools of my eyes. All of it halted by a motion upon the top of my head. 

"You have to learn the words, like everyone else. But you can't speak yet. Not yet anyway." She says with hope in her eyes. "But I can teach you if you want, is that what you want?" She asks. What I wanted was to be able to use that form of magic, but it was so alien to me. Things like words didn't matter to me, I didn't need words I couldn't use! But the ability to calm and to heal I did. So sure was my underdeveloped mind that I fostered for myself a desire and goal to be able to use magic as fast as I could! 

A grumble tore through my moment of dedication, the kind of which forewarns of hunger in the belly, but it did not originate from me but from my elven guardian who looked down at herself and sighed. "Alright, I think that's enough excitement for one night." Magirou concluded standing right up. "It's time for bed and for myself to get some supper." She says before looking to the maid servant. "I think I'll take you up on that offer."

"Of course. We'll tuck them in while you see to your supper." The maidservant promises as Magirou gave us a tickle under our chins before a smooth palmed stroke atop of our heads before skipping out of the room and leaving us to the maid who collected us from the top of the bed and snugged us within the bed sheets.

Sleep again. Confined within the weight of the blankets next to my comforted and tuckered out brother. Well ... so long as tomorrow provides me more opportunity to practice skills outside of my limitations. I would settle for whatever training would come my way.

Cassius -- Castle Conevico -- Night of 4th Wehnsdas, Frostdawn, 1792 GSE

The dining hall a largely spaced box shaped room with many trophies and artifacts on display in regards of the achievements of the Arco family. Some were the heads of great elks, wolves, bears and boars. Some were banners from wars waged in it's name from histories long ago, with cases of fine carved glass containing weapons from the old times of Lothar and Romagnia. From one end of the room stood 3 long tables in the shape of an unfinished square with the head of the table facing across the other side of the room with a wide hearth-fire rumbling and roaring. Suspended above were chandeliers of candle-lights in varying colors of red, indigo and tannish color of regular wax. The accessory upon the table includes packages of seasoned breads with the scent of garlic upon them, bowls of olives and grapes. Pots of carved stone with wooden handles were carried in to be rested on squares of cloth containing soups of lentil, mutton, basil, carrots, potatoes and celery.

The Lord Arco emerges eventually, dressed in less formal attire and merely a green tunic with black sleeves from a shirt he wore under it. Flanked by a young adult man, adorned in chainmail, leather gloves with similarly crafted riding boots, and a waffenrock bearing the colors of the Conevico military. This particular knight shares the characteristics of the castle's host ... except perhaps the portly body figure and perhaps instead of a balding head, this young man had flowing brown curly hair and the beginings of a beard. Algiers makes his way around the table and towards Cassius. Eirina and Vesna stood beside me gazing at the foods on display and more that was emerging out from the kitchens, from roasted duck, chicken and lamb.

"Jovial!" The Lord Arco declares. "You've all taken me up on my offer, even you ... Lady Ambassador." He acknowledges with a hand upon his chest.

This almost took Cassius aback; it felt not a moment ago he was threatening to hack off his hand should something amiss occur between himself or that of his appointed charge. Once Algiers returns to Cassius side, he rests his hand upon Cassius as if to pull the distance between them, while Eirina graciously reciprocates the gesture from their host. "Thank you, Lord Arco."

A laugh could be heard from the Lord. "Please, call me Ruberht. Have you met my nephew, marshal and heir to my estate--?" The conversation went on in increasing distance as Algiers spoke.

"Because of the snowstorm that's on the horizon, we can't quite send detachments out to find these deserters ... or look for the Reinhurst villagers." Algiers declared in whisper, causing Cassius to look horrified. Yet it was an undeniable fact if forced to brave the snows, only more would be in danger. "Take heart brother Cassius. If you could get to civilization, by now they would to. Once the snow clears -- our couriers will resume their information network, and we'll have something more concrete."

Cassius could only inhaled before exhaling with sharpness with a nod. It only strained the monk that he would eat well while warm while the ones he aimed to have found could be starving or freezing in the cold.

"Come friar! You are under my hospitality are you not?" The Lord-- ... No, Ruberht declared beside his nephew along with Vesna and Eirina who all looked at me as if to join in with their conversation.

"Unfortunately, I am needed back at the Temple to ensure our sick and infirm have much needed provisions. Father Nikodemus extends his regards to you, Lord Arco." Algiers placed his hand upon chest with a bow.

"Of course! We shall send our own food to the poor after our feast is concluded. Tell that old grouch of a hermit he's my cleric and has more than enough reasons to join us. You as well goodman." Ruberht declares with his disposition bright. This creates an almost genuine smile upon a usually calloused face on Algiers.

Upon Algiers departure Cassius steps forward with his arms behind his back "Forgive me, clergy matters. I did not catch your name young master." Cassius inquires to Ruberht's nephew.

"It's quite alright, father. Ser Heinrik. Marshal of Conevico's levies and soldiery. As well as it's heir." He introduces as he removes his leather gloves, still dressed in chain mail but now with an exposed scarred hand that has seen its fair share of hardships. Cassius gladfully took his hand into his with quite a strength behind its grip in a shake of his hand.

"This is rather unusual -- have you taken no wife for your own Lord Ruberht?" Vesna asks with the question's recipient turning to the table to pour himself a goblet of wine.

"Once, I had ... yet my previous wife whom I tried for many years, gods rest her soul, never came to such fruition. I fear the matter of my seed will never prosper into a child, or so my physicians tell me. Thus, I remain a consequence-free bachelor." He optimistically puts it which holds a shadow of sadness over the state of his affairs. Rubehrt then plants an affirming hand upon the shoulder of his ward with a playfully shoving motion. "Still, Heinrik is a man I've prided as the son I never had. He is quite capable of ruling by the time I am infirm and long for this world. Such talks of marriage should be reserved for men of his age." He quipped with a joking laugh much to a growing crimson upon the knight's cheeks.

"A most happy day should that come." Vesna declares with Eirina nodding in agreement. Cassius himself could only smile seeing that from behind the veil of business in the throne room, perhaps Ruberht was simply someone who acted in cold-heartedness to protect the things he loves and cherishes.

"Speaking of which, father. I pray those rugrats of yours are not wild-oats of your own gallivanting." Rubehrt points out, speaking of Sebastian and Niall.

"Oh no. They were babes we found amidst Reinhurst's ashes." Cassius attests. "I remain true to my vows of celibacy."

"Oh a pox on such creeds!" Rubehrt declares as he turns and walks to the head of the table and adorns his seat before gesturing with his hand for the others to do the same. Vesna would take the seat beside Rubehrt as well as Heinrik. Eirina would sit furthest away and propped me to sit beside Vesna to ensure she had her distance. Perhaps some wounds haven't quite fully healed. "The Gods created the world, mortals and then granted us the spirit and drive to do as we like, why you would throw away life's greatest pleasures for better claim of their ear I'll never understand." Rubehrt continued.

"With, all respect to the women around me. I don't think I could quite maintain who I was if my mind drifted to such topics, even to those considered most desirable." Cassius explains.

"Pah!" Rubehrt scoffs with good humor. "Many a fishwife would go kissing frogs in hopes for princes that look like you friar. I don't believe for one second you've not been tempted."

"Uncle!" Heinrik protested. "Nikodemus would be clouting our ears with sermons if he heard you speak like this. Tempting a man of the cloth."

Rubehrt planted his goblet down looking to his ward as he spoke. "It's worldly truth my boy. Since the founding of the First Kingdom, between the First Man and Woman, who were as fresh as divine in their creation, their eloping would be as sinful as the friar's." He declares with a grand gestured wave of his hand towards Cassius.

Eirina looked rather intrigued with the conversation. "A scandalous idea in the world of today. The First Human man and The First Elven woman. you mean. Most would come to blow on either side for suggesting such a thing, especially here in Lothar."

"Hmm, I don't think I would mind an elven husband. My father however ..." Vesna commented. "Romagnia culture is rather singular and most would rather keep to the heartlands. He'd want me to marry a Romagnian before anyone else."

"Our High Elves are like that too." Eirina compares their experiences with Vesna with a return of a look to Cassius who was hoping to avoid a comment ... "Of course, High Elves as we know it are far too vain to flaunt their chastity, despite their beauty. Perhaps a mix of beauty and confidence is his type?"

... The First Kingdom was the origination of mortal kind. Pureblooded elves might be immune to the sharp knives of time, but they perished by steel as any mortal might. When AVO and the Ancient Gods formed the world, it's vegetations, filled its sieves with waters of the seas and gems in the earth, a man was created in AVO's own image. However, flawed and lonely without companion, another was created for the sake of man -- this time with the vestiges of a more divine and noble bearing who would bring about life. Their children would become the inheritors of the First Kingdom until their tragic collapse from grace. ... Eventually with time, humans developed their own women over the years, and for elves their own men. And with the differences concrete, the societies drifted apart due to their differences. To this day there is a great deal of debate who can say for certain who has the right to inherit the First Kingdom, decreed sacrosanct by the Gods. For it is a fight that many of the human kingdoms continue to engage it, but for the elves ... it is the high elves who maintain their solemn and strict claim of the First Kingdom above any other mortal, elven or human.

Just now however the room became quiet, as if the differences of the two species was almost to be discussed which has often come to historical and theological disputes. Especially given Cassius represented the Temple.

"This is all theoretical of course." Cassius declares with a professed smile. "My vows all the same remain sincere." Concluded as he pours himself a goblet of wine amidst the others taking his lead and filling their plates.

"Hm, that's rather dissappointing." Vesna chides with a sip of her wine goblet.

Heinrik is next to speak upon taking a loaf of garlic bread between his teeth. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Father Cassius." He implored before swallowing the contents of his puffed-out cheek. "But don't holy knights also profess a vow of chastity as well as discard their nobility? Or is it some?"

Cassius muses as he leans back in his chair. "Depends on what you mean by 'holy knights.' By what order and by what function they serve humanity. As so far as I know, it's the Knight's Templars amongst the Holy Knights who relinquish their chastity."

Rubehrt looks to Heinrik almost as if he disapproves of the direction of the conversation, nevertheless Heinrik continues on. "I've always just been confused between the differences between Holy Knights, Crusaders who work closely with the Temple and folk who train to become paladins. I was interested ... was interested ... " He states as if to correct his uncle's misconceptions. "In service to AVO and the good gods to achieve my military training."

Cassius brightens up at this. "Well for one thing, holy knights by technicality aren't an official arm of the church. They're more ... religious mercenaries." Cassius interprets. "They serve the Temple in their own way and unlike the Crusaders of the Ordo Praesidium, aren't always answerable to the Arch-Cleric of the Temple. It is the Ordo Praesidium that demands full dedication and allegiance to the Temple, to be denied inheritances and spouses."

Eirina looked almost like she pitied the descriptions of the members of the Ordo Praesidium whilst fiddling with her spoon amidst her lentil soup. "Such rigid restrictions ... the clerics of our Chantry never enforce such vows of chastity or even to take away inheritances. Elentárië is far too small in territory."

"I suppose the Temple doesn't want to set unfair precedents in human lands, especially when there is a lot land and" He explains to Eirina. "Ah, but to finish your question. Paladins are a discipline of knights that fight with martial prowess alongside the power of vows. Not all paladins serve a religious function, some can be secular and serve vows of justice, loyalty to one's lord. As a result, most who undergo such training tend to keep true to their word to a fanatical degree, but they must in order to maintain their augmented powers. Be it to lord or deity."

"So there are paladins that can work on the side of evil as well." Henrik deduces. "Vows merely imply a promise, that can include any manner of thing from larceny to outright vengeance."

"Well, training to be a paladin assuredly is not so easy as focusing on vows. Although I'm not entirely familiar with how they train them. I'm a cleric in my training, not a paladin." Cassius establishes.

"Ahhh, is THAT where your vows come in?" Rubehrt theorizes with a raise of his goblet of wine to the conversation.

"Yes." Cassius chuckles. "My abilities with divine magic are not my own but AVO's. In exchange for such powers, I must keep true to his teachings."

"I suppose it's just as well." The portly lord smirks. "Would have to be quite some woman to stand between you and the creator of the world."

Eirina muses at this. "Considering AVO is a woman, I most imagine her to be a much more appealing alternative."

"...No, AVO is verily much a man. For man he made in HIS own image." Rubehrt objected with a furrowed brow that was reciprocated with Eirina.

For yet another difference between the human and elven faiths is the matter of how the head of the pantheons of the human Temple and elven Chantry are perceived. The debate could not be blacker and whiter. For the human Temple expresses a masculine dominant culture with AVO as a male in that he created life from the clay of stars. For the elven Chantry, a feminine dominant culture is eschewed with AVO as an elven woman where she brings about life from the womb.

Human. Elf. Man. Woman. These are the canticle debates known as "The Four Corners" in the foundational aspects of society and life are debated amidst religions pertaining to AVO's faith. Should humans be dominant? Elves? Should a man rule his household and lands? Or that of a woman?

"In any case." Vesna interjects as an ice breaker ... or fire stopper in this case, raising her goblet to comment. "This wine is rather spectacular. Although I've noticed your banner is shrouded in grapes and vines."

The portly lord looks to Vesna with an eager look to change the subject before it gets heated with his elven guest. "In vino veritas." Rubehrt decries. "The Arco Family words, In wine there is truth." He bemuses. "Back during the War of Banners this used to be a Romagnian city. Back when the Romagnian Empire was still around and could maintain their influence in Lothar."

Looking chilled by Vesna's interjection Eirina sighed and moved on from her previous subject. "How did the city find itself in Lotharing hands?"

Henrik sets down his goblet after a draught. "That's a ... tale of some complexity." He states with a shared look with Rubehrt of a growing shadow of ... guilt? Sadness?

Vesna shrugs at this with her digits idling the direction of her fork amidst the roast poultry on her plate. "I'm not one to judge, and we won't get bored at the very least."

"Very well." Rubehrt acquiesces. "My ancestor, Rudolf Arco was among the recruits of the famous Romagnian Imperial Black Legions that headed the vanguard of the western campaigns against the elves, but it was around the time that Sehlaria began their jihad and claims for the First Kingdom did they have to redirect to hold back a southern invasion."

"While also dealing with the elven forces in the west." Henrik adds on to the point for which Eirina nods.

"Given that Conevico was a vital port town amidst the border between Lothar and Romagnia with sea lanes reaching to Sehlaria, there was a lot of traffic that came through, but a lot of Romagnian soldiers that were leaving for the front lines. The Black Legions made Conevico their base of operations at one point when they were fighting the elves, but that was before Iberia became the main theater of war once the Sehlarians entered the mix, given Iberia is in-between Lothar, the elves and Sehlaria. Thats when Rudolf received quite a promotion out of necessity. Despite the change of events, Conevico remained an important centralized position of resources and strategical traffic flow. So, from quartermaster to Military Governor of Conevico ... the Arco Family became vassal-direct to the Emperor of Kings

Sebastian -- Castle Conevico -- 6th Fehrdas, Frostdawn, 1792 GSE

The early morning came and the tight knit group that surrounded us was packing to leave the castle, before I knew it, I was returned back to the prison confines of the blanketed basket I found myself within upon coming into the world. Of course our departure has conjured the portly balding Lord of Conevico out of his seclusion ... long enough to bid his farewells and good wishes upon us. Although I've perhaps never had a good first opinion of the Lord, perhaps I was too quick to establish him to be a wrathful figure in nature. A hand upon his crest a look of closed eye'd sincerity and a voice of reverence sent us away with the blessings of AVO.

Magirou, once out of ear of Lord Arco, jests that it was her smile and good manner that changed his heart, eliciting a half-hearted scoff and chuckle from Eirina as she smoothed her hand upon her hair to smooth it. back over and behind her pointed ears.

Whatever the reasons, the city was blanketed in a new layer of snow with many of the burghers shoveling, pitching and hauling the snow out by the wagon from the urban walls. Yet no matter the snow that plied itself in its layers, the retch of the city was repulsive as ever. 

"Well, no sense waiting. Let us away." Cassius declares as Vesna smiles with reassurance as she takes her side beside Cassius, next to the basket, Niall and I nestle within.

It was an easy traverse from the castle towards the city gates. The sun was beginning to shine across the horizon and the caravan was beginning to assemble with the Templar Guard saddling and packing their equipment into the carts along with the pilgrims. Commander Reickart, Templar Commander of our caravan was surveying the troupe on foot with his visored bascinet helmet under his arm. Directing free hand to assist those who were tagging along before coming across Vesna and Cassius. 

"AVO be praised, glad you've not been snowed in." The Templar commander professes with a half joke. His hair was a shaven yet what little was growing exposed a dirty blonde influence of color pallet. "I take it the children will be coming along with us then?" He inquires.

"To Theleto? Yes." Cassius professes. "From there ... Well, I will wait for a month before moving on to take ship to Lycaron." A professed sad look grew upon the knight's expression with Vesna thumbing her jawline in utter wordlessness. 

"It is in the hands of the Gods." Reickart assures with his gauntleted hand clasped onto Cassius's shoulder. "And yours." The last words on the subject that left it with a weighted sense 

"We'll have some new tag-alongs." Vesna professes to clear the subject as she turns her body to Cassius but looks opposite of Reickart where Eirina and Magirou step forth to present themselves to the Templar Commander.

"Elves ... amidst a human pilgrimage?" Reickart inquires looking a bit taken aback.

"...Is our presence a problem, Knight Commander?" Eirina asks, keeping an arm close around her daughter.

"Merely two extra mouths to feed and that's about the extent of it in my perspective. Elves and Humans might have a rocky history and Theleto is the sacred city of the Human Clergy." He explains. "I can get you there but..."

"We have an embassy there regardless of our Chantry's ... disagreements with the Temple." She reassures. "Once I am given quarter there, I will not be a factor to you in the least." Eirina assures.

"... True." Reickart concedes. "Nevertheless, you'll be protected on the road as if you were an ordained faithful yourself." He promises with a fist clamped across his breastplate with a lowered head.

"Eirina can help us trek through the snow using her magic, hopefully that might dispel issues of dissent with her presence if it makes the caravan go a bit faster." Vesna explains.

"I'll feign deny any help to see us through this blasted snow." Reickart chuckles fitting his helmet upon his head. "We'll be moving out within the half an hour. Until then." He explains marching to the head of the traveling procession.

"He was rather amenable." Eirina observed aloud with Magirou looking curious if a bit star-eyed towards the human knights of yore.

Cassius snickers with one hand to the basket "Vesna's influence no doubt." The prior jokes with the noblewoman's sigh.

"Laugh it up all you want. It'll be most likely a month, maybe a month and a half before we reach Theleto. With only three cities in-between our travels." Vesna states. "First up is Roccia." She recalls with her fingers to her forehead, raising and descending them across her brow.

"Better in Romagnia then in Lothar. Supposedly the more eloquent and sophisticated side of human cultures." Magirou boasts looking forward to the trip with two clenched fists against her chest as she rubs them together to combat the cold.

"Wait until you see Neustria." Cassius motions to impress Magirou. "Our Knights, the tourneys and our beautiful countryside is a treasured pride of my country." He boasts while hefting the basket and walking ahead towards one of the wagons to place the basket within before stepping up onto the benches before tucking the basket containing myself and Niall upon his lap.

"For now!" Vesna declares. "You'll be in my home country, enjoying my cooking for a change." She boasts as she clambers up into the wagon with a helping hand from Cassius as Vesna gives a helping hand to Magirou. 'Vesna was a native Romagnian?' Well, at least we'll have someone comfortable to refer to in their natural homeland.

"I'm moving to the head of the caravan to melt away the snow. You stay with Vesna and Cassius now you hear?" Eirina asks Magirou who nodded with affirmative intention. "Good, I'll be back later in the day, so you behave yourself."

"Sure thing mother!" Magirou called out as Eirina marches her boots through the mucked snowy ground towards the gates of the city, and before long the wagons and the people began to move, ushering out of the city and began into the wilderness.

More to see, more to explore. A city named Roccia was next. It's more of a shame I explored so little of Conevico aside from the brief visit of the chapel, a few streets of the city and all but three rooms of a castle. Would that I could wander aimlessly as this caravan does. Maybe one day I'll get my chance.

One day.