Jill
The Paladins

Somewhere outside of Burgh, Northwind


A quiet whisper came from the brush to the right, Voxdei, as usual.


"Coast is clear."  The pale, disfigured man arose, wincing with every move, but he refused to admit pain.  The apprentice beside him quickly regained his footing and handed the man his telescope.  With a grunt, the cripple wrenched it from the other's hand, stuffing it inside the fold of his dark leather and buckles.


"Over there, milord." The apprentice pointed at the unmarked grave the other man just left.


"You're sure?"  The face of the other Paladin couldn't be called a face by even a mother.  It resembled bread that had been left out too long, bubbling and folding over itself.  Truly any burn victim would feel grateful after looking at this man's face, it was hideous, and it didn't stop at the neck.  The man's entire body was infected with growths and boils, he only had three fingers on his left hand, after his pinky and ring finger fused to the middle one, and although he had never shown his feet, he limped as if they were similarly affected.  This was Grönd.


The Order of the White Rose was separated into three major factions: The Clergy of the Roots, The Clergy of the Stem, and the Clergy of the Bud.  Both Grönd and his apprentice were in the Clergy of the Stem, the faction in charge of supporting the entire Order.  However they differed slightly, where the apprentice was in the Cabal of the Thorn, the main military branch of the Order, Grönd took his home in the Cabal of the Venom.  This elite order used potions and dark magics to enhance their abilities beyond any human, but the side effect left them horribly disfigured both mentally and physically.  Grönd was the epitome of this disaster, so disfigured was his body that he couldn't function normally without the assistance of potions.  It made everyone outside of the Thorn uncomfortable.

The apprentice nodded, and to show how sure he was, produced a shovel.  After a brief moment the sound of dirt being moved could be heard.


Grönd kept watch as the boy digged his way to their prize.


"Elders, bless us for this task, as it is done to further your cause." The pale imp muttered continuously, a prayer that forgave the Paladins for their tasks since it was done for the sake of the Gods.


An hour or two passed, and the apprentice sighed at his handiwork.


"Hand me that rag."  He muttered, and Grönd kicked the roll of fabric into the boy's arms.


"Wrap it tightly, the body must be perfect."  The boy nodded sarcastically at what he'd heard a hundred times before.


Another 20 minutes passed before the bundled body flopped over the edge of the grave.  Grönd grabbed the collarbone and pulled it back far enough to get the feet out, then the apprentice hoisted himself out after.


"Back home, milord?"  The young man asked.


"Yes."  Came the grunted reply.  "A new age of the Paladin is here."
John
Cornelius
The Sun Gate

Cornelius was just about to begin his line of dialogue when he heard the gentle footsteps of the Lady Elaine behind him as she entered the doorway. As if by reflex, he pivoted on his heel, straightened his back like a plank, and bowed his head to the woman in the door before making way for her entry.

"You have my apologies, Lord Cyril. I would have made an effort to make myself more presentable if I'd known a lady would be present. I am called Cornelius, Lady Elaine, but considering you found no trouble finding me, you more than likely had ascertained my name."

After that line, he finally raised his head.

"Am I to understand that *You* Sent me this summons, my lady?"
Bobby
Elaine de Lysse
The Sun Gate

Elaine turned towards the strange to her man ready to greet him with a smile. It was her father's last words that made her froze in her place and the smile was wiped off her lips. She fixed her posture and took a step back.

Her eyes squinted in confusion as she looked for any possible hidden meaning in his words.
*Requested his services?*
Elaine crossed her arms and clenched her forearm, she could feel her nails digging in through her sleeves and at once she snapped out of her state.

''Father, this man, whoever he claims to be, this man is someone I have never met before.'' Elaine looked into Cyril's eyes as strongly and concentrated as she could. If he was trying to trap her into something she wasn't aware, this should have been enough to convince him to drop such attempt. If on the other hand their family was a target of something greater than their meeting in his study, it would have been enough to make him understand.
Ronald
**Cyril de Lysse**
**The Sun Gate**

"This is indeed, not my signature," Said Cyril. And he handed him the letter. "That being said, since you are already here, House de Lysse can still make use of your services. I will offer you a new contract, and send you alongside my daughter to the Keep Sempiternal. There you will meet my brother, lord Cyprien de Lysse, if he hasn't left for the Southern Isles yet."

He made a pause, and pressed his fingetips.

"I hope this won't be a problem for any of you. My brother requested I take his position as governor in his absence, but I believe my daughter to be far better at that role than I am. I will remain in the Sun Gate, and Elaine will assume contol of the Keep in my stead."
Bobby
Elaine de Lysse
The Sun Gate

She stood firmly in her place as her father finished his sentence. She loosened her hands and put her fingers on her lips softly. Little made sense to her of what she just had witnessed. But little was said and done. She turned her sight towards the man once more, carefully scanning him from head to toe. *No I definitely haven't seen him before. Neither North nor anywhere else I have been in my latest years. Yet he seems to try and appear as friendly as he can, but little do I wish to trust such... Such entity.*

Elaine waited for his reaction, as if he decided to take his leave right away, she could at least get a word out of her father before heading out herself.