Eddie
Amaryllis, Josephine, Tagus
The Gallant Pheasant, Iron Gate

The shepherdess' friends listened intently to her words, her questions and the tale of her visions muddled by the notion that it was all a dream. However, her faith was placed in the idea that those dreams withheld the knowledge to fight against the wolfman infection that spread through the people of Midde.

"Even if you *Were* A witch," Josephine said with a decisive tone. "We wouldn't leave your side, Amaryllis. You're our friend!"

Tagus nodded in the same righteous manner that Josephine spoke with. They were with Amaryllis through thick and thin in the short time they were together, events that served to deepen the knots of their bonds. They didn't know much about each other, that was likely true. Sure, they shared stories and attitudes that made them closer to each other, but there was still a long road to walk together.

"A flower, you say?" Josephine always supported the belief of magic and the tales of the mystical. She harbored a liking to all things fantastical, thus it wasn't hard to believe her friend, who had suffered greatly from the illness. "In the mountains around Iron Gate? Surely there is someone that knows about these plants. Tagus?" She called, turning her round green gaze at her knight and friend. "Please go with the other knights in search of a herbalist or lore master. Amaryllis, describe us the flower so Tagus can know what to look for." Josephine was ready to sacrifice the time to resume her travel in hope of a cure for the people that were suffering in Iron Gate. The refugees that flooded the outer walls were growing without them knowing, originated from other villages and towns the wolfmen attacked. There was a crisis brewing in Northwind, as bad as the fact that the realm was kingless.

Would the knights be able to save the people stricken with the wolfman disease?
Frankie
Amaryllis Sweetford, Tagus, and Josephine

Amaryllis took comfort in Josephine's assurance that she wouldn't leave her, even if she were a witch. Had she been a witch,she would have been even more comforted. Few people would have such a sentiment, especially in this day and age. People that had been friends for decades would often turn on each other when one was accused of witchcraft. Or really an magic, for that matter. Amaryllis had seen it happen before, and she was relieved and comforted by the knowledge that she had been accused of witchcraft, and yet her friends still protected her. Without their protection... Amaryllis would have drawn her last breaths, with or without the illness claiming her. 

She was even more touched by Josephine's faith in her. It sounded crazy, even to her, but Josephine didn't discount what she recounted from her dream. Granted, the people of Middle needed a miracle, and perhaps that was coming to them in the form of this dream. Tagus didn't argue with Josephine either, so whether he believed her or not, he was willing to chance it and didn't argue.

She began to describe the flower once more, saying, "It's a flower that's sort of bell-shaped, with flowers that burst outwards... It's bright yellow or orange, with brown flecks dotting the petals, and the flowers only bloom for a brief time... It grows from a white bulb, and I know the mountain dwellers use it frequently..." Her explanation was rather labored, and her voice was halting. It took her a great deal of effort, but she wanted this to be known. If it could save anyone at all... "I don't know if anyone here would know it, but in the mountains we call it Winter's Fire. It blooms with the first freeze." 

When she had finished explaining, she smiled at her friends and murmured, "Thank you," Before leaning back against the pillows and closing her eyes once more. She heard Tagus leave and relaxed even further. He would try to find someone that had it, and she knew that he would. She believed in him.
Eddie
Amaryllis, Josephine
The Gallant Pheasant
Rolf, Tagus
Streets of Iron Gate

Josephine reassured her friend that the knights would do their best to bring Winter's Fire and help the people afflicted by the disease. She sat on a wooden chair next to the bed and ushered Amaryllis to relax and continue to recover without any effort, even if it meant silence in the warm bedroom. Her mind was riddled with prayers to Camira, the one deity she truly leaned onto when her confidence was tested. Faith was a strong pillar in the foundations of the Middlelands, not to be neglected by the most logical beings.

While Josephine tended to the needs of her friend, Tagus was already out on the order of his friend and charge, the noble heiress to the Merovingian family. He drafted Rolf from the ground floor of the Gallant Pheasant and into the afternoon illuminated streets. To find someone that knew of the specific flower, they had to run around the apothecaries ridden by infected in the outer rims of Iron Gate. The toll of diseased people increased and they heard the news of the first wall being swarmed by refugees from southeast Northwind. Caravans were running towards the capital filled with injured and humans corrupted by the wolfman illness.

"How did Amaryllis know about this flower?" Rolf asked, his tone and expressions riddled in skepticism. "Don't tell me she had a *Vision*."

"What if she has?"

"Then she could be a *Witch*." Rolf grimaced.

"What if it was Camira herself that granted Ryllis with this vision?"

"The gods do not care about mortal affairs, Tagus."

"You protected her back at the apothecary. Why are you doubtful of her now? She's our friend!"

"Friends come and go, pup. I was speaking in behalf of our lady's wishes. But it could be we did arrive in time to treat the infection. And now we should look for a flower that is supposed to cure it? Strange."

"Whatever you say, Rolf. But Josephine herself told us to look for the flower. She believes Amaryllis and so do I."

"I can see that, but you two are young and naive. Give someone too much trust and they will abuse it."

"Lets just focus on finding the damn flower!" Tagus replied, a bit annoyed by the lack of trust Rolf had in the shepherdess. He broke away from Rolf, if only for a moment, before the ebony man followed his hurried pace.

For all they searched, they couldn't find a single person that knew of Winter's Fire, until a boy approached them in the middle of the streets carrying a message. Two hours had gone by since their search began.

"Are you the knights looking for the big yellow flower?" The beggar boy asked, his clothes mere rags smeared in dirt and shit.

"Huh?" Tagus looked down at the boy and blinked, then knelt before him and nodded. "That's right! Do you know anything about it?"

"Here, mister. I was told to give you this. One coin, please!"

"One coin?"

"Yeah! The old lady said you'd pay me for being a messenger!"

Tagus paused and pat his pockets. There was a light jingle coming from one and he sighed in relief. He didn't lose his pocket currency. Instead of one coin, the young knight gave the boy two. That was enough for him to grin after biting on each and finding they were the real deal.

"Thank you, mister! Hope you save the infected people!!"

Tagus would like to question the boy on how he knew about their quest, but the beggar ran off before he could say anything. He opened the message, crude paper written on by fine calligraphy, although a bit shook. It was a set of directions into the nearby mountains, to meet someone by the name of Barmayaa.

"Weird. We should go back to the inn and tell the Knight Commander." Rolf suggested. 

But Tagus had other plans. Time wasted going back was time wasted with people dying. "No. We have to go now. If we do, we'll return at sundown. Hopefully."

Rolf wanted to retort, but knowing Tagus and how focused he was on the mission, he'd see the boy run off on his own. Better just go with him so both protected each other's back.

They were on their way towards a mystery meeting with only one name. Barmayaa.
Frankie
Amaryllis Sweetford and Josephine 
The Grand Pheasant, Iron Gate

It wasn't long before Amaryllis drifted into a deep sleep once more. No more visions or dreams of any sort came to her. Just pure darkness, though it wasn't unwelcome. It was peaceful for her, really, and she was glad to get a break from it all. It provided her with the rest she needed to get better, and indeed, she did seem to be getting better. Some color was returning to her cheeks, and within a few hours of Tagus' departure, her fever had broken. 

When her eyes finally fluttered open again, she gave Josephine a little smile and reached out to grasp her hand. She gave it a gentle, yet firm squeeze before murmuring, "Is Tagus back?" When Josephine informed her that he had not, she grimaced a bit and her brow furrowed with worry. Why wasn't back? Surely someone here in Iron Gate would know of the flower! Granted... The mountain dwellers led very different lives from the city dwellers, so perhaps they didn't know of it. She bit her lower lip hard and whispered a few words of desperate prayer to the gods. Unlike Josephine, she prayed to no specific god, but rather to a conglomeration of gods. Anyone that might possibly actually exist. "Please let Tagus be okay... Please let him find it..."
Bobby
John De Burgh
The Center, Iron Gate

 A pestilence faces Northwind, almost as if death himself galloped across the countryside marking entire villages for death. There was no tolerance in the inner sanctum for the suffering of Northwind's peoples. It simply is not allowed, and to John, it represents failure in duty. Seated at his study, he would read grizzly reports of the state of affairs on the outer layers of the city. Refugees lined the wall by the thousands wishing for entry following the razing of their homes and the infection of their people. They spoke of this revolting illness which caused the infected to break into pus filled boils encompassing their entire body.
 Decisiveness was a trait that John embodied thoroughly. He would be especially quick in dispatching this disaster, and would not sleep until complete victory over death had been assured. He simply would not allow for his people to be inconvenienced by the abominable actions committed by hill tribes, which he had full intent to dispose of. He arose from his seat and walked to the sanctum, in which some of his most esteemed commanders awaited. The imagery of the inner citadel was in direct opposition to the outside world. The marble walls were fraught with decorative paintings which tembled on the walls as the mezzo-forte of John's footsteps crept their way throughout the echoing halls. 
 Once he reached his destination, the commander of the city watch stood erect in his presence, awaiting command.

"There is no time for deliberation." John said hastily. "Inform the watch that I have ordered all the refugees to be accepted inside the protection the first two layers of the city. In those two layers, forts will be repurposed into care centers for the ill until the situation is solved. Also, ensure that the city is informed that I have authorized a reward for any who present any information on how to fight this illness. I have already given a written order for medical troops to report immediately to the outer layers of the city in anticipation, and will greet the refugees and begin care immediately."

The commander was put to ease, then spoke with concern. "Yes, regent, but where do I direct those with information? Shall I tell them to come into contact with their nearest watch leader? Iron gate is a massive city, how can we ensure that the information is centralized and maintained in a way that can be organized?"

John nodded, appreciating the concern and input of the watch commander. "You are wise, wiser than most. Have them not direct their information anywhere else but directly to my doorstep. I will personally allow anybody with information to meet with me personally. This threat must be eliminated as quickly as possible. You are dismissed, see to it that the information is delivered with haste." 

The commander quickly nodded and departed from the inner sanctum, and the other knights that were listening to John's orders departed as well to deliver the information all over Iron Gate. In a matter of seconds, the inner sanctum was empty except for John, who stood there in appreciation of the sense of duty and honor that his subordinates have in the face of peril. The only people who can hold a candle to John's care of the people are his soldiers.

Departing from the sanctum, John marched through the halls of the inner citadel once more, ascending the center spiral staircase that gave him oversight over the the throne room, which remained empty. John refused to let that be a symbol for Northwind's lack of leadership, however. He rose eventually to the upper balcony of the citadel, stepping into the outside world. Immediately he was consumed by the cold wind, a sign of the coming winter as the sun set between the crests of the prevailing mountains that lined the Northern borderlands. A hue of orange pastels painted the northern facing wall of the citadel, giving light to John De Burgh as he rose triumphantly over the people of Northwind, who were now beginning to gather collectively beneath him as he spoke.

"My beloved citizens of Northwind..." He said, trailing off as he looked upon the masses who were flocking to listen to the regent. "A daunting peril has come to our gates. A peril who wishes to do you and our country harm. I have already called upon those in our borders with any information to present it to me personally. I am committed to the preservation of comfortable living, especially in my own city. Through these perturbing times, I am confident I will see the people of Northwind prevail through their superior willpower and their ambition to see their community thrive. As I have a duty to fulfill to the people, the people also have duty to make sure that your neighbors and kin are taken care of. I simply refuse to allow my people to suffer, and I refuse to rest until this situation is under control. Now, what so you? What say the people of Northwind in times of strife? Will we succumb to our enemy and allow ourselves to be defeated?"

A collective "No!" Was returned by the crowd, some of them beginning to form into individual congregations to make room for more as they grew more numerous.

John continued, briefly. "Then let us show to all of Marin how powerful our people are! No force on force in heaven or on land can bring us to our knees. Now, people of Northwind, go fulfill your duty. Let us together bring this crysis to an end before it can begin!"

As John finished, he peered into the audience. Their faces gleamed with hope of the coming times. He of all people understands that a strong leader must identify as one with his people, and that he did. As he returned into the citadel, the people gathered applauded and cheered, with most being positive and some with distaste or concern. John, of course, could not blame those who were skeptical. Trying times will inevitably cause many to question the strength of their leaders and their countrymen. As John returned to his study, he navigated his collection of books to see if he had any sort of information on the disease that was quickly making its way across the country.
Jeremy
Kharlyle Whylder 
Undisclosed Location: Fargone

Kharlyle stepped back to his horse and mounted its reigns, quite possibly giving the impression he was going to leave, in reality he just wanted to mount it backwards as to recline on the horse neck. He groaned loudly with great dissatisfaction.

"I'm glad you *Two* Could come to an agreement. But every god damn rich fuck in Northwind wants control of it, you and your connections are nothing special. You could argue to me that you have different connections, friends in high places who you are confident won't fuck you just for one conversation with John de Burgh or Darin the Kind, but you don't, there isn't a god damn man in Northwind who's loyal" Kharlyle stared up at the constellations, soon the smoke and air of war would make the stars invisible for thousands of years. "But you have something they don't, I can guarantee it." Kharlyle was almost visually surprised at the compliment he gave to Rhoderick.

"Come closer kid" He waved Rhoderick near. "I do believe I have a proposition for you"
Betty
Vidū Ka'elo
Traveling along one of many paths within Northwind,

It has only been a little while since Vidu has stepped foot out of her comfort zone. She's never really been out till now so hey, progress has been made. The skies are blue and the grass is green, plus there were many flowers that she hasn't even seen before within the woody areas she's been hiding in for so long. It was honestly a little strange. A couple of times she would stop to examine life, especially when a giant box on round circles pass her which were guided by horses and lead by a being she hasn't seen. A human of course. He eyes would follow out of curiosity while she fights herself in her own mind to not follow. They walk on two feet like her, so that means they were... Like her? The clothing were different, so she assumed that things were made looking a little better than what she has now... Not that she cared or anything.

A couple of hours later, she was lost. Where was she? No clue. Where did she come from? Lacks sense of direction. She was in unfamiliar territory. She just stands there looking dumb because she didn't know where to even go. Sooner or later, something will catch her eye with interest, and that thing will be a village which was apparently close by. It was a strange village. Alit bigger than she thought it should be. To her, it would've been like her home, concealed. But, this was just out there. Surprise! She was gonna go to Azarya.😩 👌
Jeremy
Northwind

For the past months, Northwind's skies grew a dark charcoal grey. The smoke and fire of war hid the stars from the vision of men, and it was prophesied that it would not fade for thousands of years. Warlords ravaged the coast, every village , every house, every man woman and child within it. Forest hermits without any previous human contact were dragged from their shacks and killed for sport. Gangs and marauders of every ethnic and socioeconomic background razed every standing building until they were literal cinders and piles of dust upon the ground. They were diverse, some killed and raped for fun, for the sake of their gods, for revenge, mental illness. But they had one thing in common, a central and overwhelming theme of disregard for life, any life. It was something interestingly particular to Northwind, the collective indifference on the value of human life. Slaves were becoming completely common. Men of all statuses would hold slaves publically just to be enslaved themselves the next day. Slave rebellions would erupt just for the perpetrator of such rebellion to enslave his fellow rebels under him the next week. Women would kill their children in their sleep to ensure they wouldn't die at the hands of a Torture Lord. These people didn't want a savior, a man to lead them, they were grateful no leader was able to stop them, to end their reign of total anarchy.

But these atrocities weren't even isolated, they happened over the entirety of this massive stretch of land. Warlords would have sex countless times a day with as many women as possibly to ensure longevity of their reign, to produce farmers, soldiers, slaves for their future empires. The group mentality of Northwind became doing anything in your power to hurt someone, whether it negatively affected you or not at the end became irrelevant. Common culture of the other kingdoms quickly became a thing of the past, towns were destroyed before they founded, trade collapsed; no more would other Kingdoms see Northwind tungsten or their industrial diamonds. The most basic aspects of life disintegrated, trees and grass were looked at as things not yet tainted, and thusly were set ablaze. Fields became cinders, looking no different to villages. 

 Northwind became the Blackened North, a country with no name, the frozen civil war above them became to look inviting, and there was no end of chaos in sight.
Frankie
Lord Albert Rhoderick
Undisclosed location: Fargone

Rhoderick glanced back at Kharlyle during his theatrics. He was such a child... For which cause he was even more irked when Kharlyle called him "Kid." He was far from a kid, and with the way Kharlyle was acting, Rhoderick certainly seemed more mature! Already, Rhoderick had determined that he wished to work more closely with Mercurio than with Kharlyle, that was for certain. And Kharlyle would not receive a position at court, unless Rhoderick absolutely had to give him such a position. 

That being said, Rhoderick didn't allow his feelings to show. Feelings and such were simply things that others could use against you, and after years of putting up with his father's tyrannical rule, Rhoderick had learned to expertly hide his emotions. He could appear absolutely stoic, certainly, but more often than not, he showed an emotion that was completely different from the one that bubbled within. 

For now, he showed a maturity and serene demeanor to Kharlyle as he approached the man, though given Kharlyle's previous threats toward him, he was fully prepared to defend himself. "I'm listening," Rhoderick replied, cocking his head in an exaggerated form of curiosity. The two o fthem both were acting right now, it seemed.
Jeremy
Undisclosed Location: Fargone 

Kharlyle Whylder 

Kharlyle gritted his teeth and clenched his eyes with contempt. "Did I foking ask you to listen boy, or did I *Tell* You to come closer". Kharlyle looked forward into nothing, his face didn't grow red, his fists didn't clench, but his frustration was tangible. "Step over that fucking bridge and walk next to me boy. I *Know* You aren't afraid of me" His voice nearly trembled.
Frankie
Lord Albert Rhoderick 
Undisclosed location: Fargone

Rhoderick glanced at Mercurio for a moment. They had had more to discuss... But he couldn't refuse Kharlyle. It might prove useful. He nearly blurted out a retort when Kharlyle scolded him, but he managed to keep his demeanor calm and proud as he approached him, crossing the bridge and going closer.
Jeremy
Undisclosed Location: Fargone 

Kharlyle Whylder 

Kharlyle signaled to his men with one hand. "Men, I know for a godsdamn fact that he can't take orders by himself, so you do it for him" Kharlyle swept his leg over the horse and faced Rhoderick as his men surrounded him from the back. "Don't look to my brother now, he won't be able to destroy the fear I've built into these men for a lifetime in mear minutes"