Kari
Vex Gresham
Outside of Vallen, Taemar

Vex stopped dead in his tracks as his arm snapped back with force. The shifter wasn't impressing him, a normal man would've been sent to his back at the sheer strength he felt, but Ceci was dealing with a Clergy of the Thorn. The chain grew exceptionally taught, the metal links in the middle almost creaking at the two opposing forces. Vex kept the tug of war going, his icy stare catching the creature, before sighing and letting the chain fall from his grasp.

He turned slowly, drawing his silvered blade, before stabbing the point in the ground. His hand went to his belt and he pulled free the key.

"Do it yourself." He scowled, tossing the small piece of metal towards the woman. "Do not run. You will not get any second chances with me."
Heather
Cecilia Lyanah 
Outside of Vallen, Taemar

Cecilia being aggravated by the man when he hadn't fallen or even stumbled backwards was an understatement. She reached out in time to catch the key he tossed and began to use it to unlock the chains from her wrists. Cecilia fumbled with the key while attempting to insert the metal into the lock from an awkward angle. It took a minute or two until an audible click was heard when it finally entered and turned. Once her hands were freed, the shifter let out a sigh of relief as she could feel the blood rush back into her hands. When the guards placed the chains on her back in the dungeons, they were cautious to bound her as tightly as possible. It was a great relief when the chains were no longer wrapped around her wrist. 

"Let me guess." She began as her gaze moved towards the dagger by his feet. "If I run, you're going to throw that thing right at me." Seeing his strength, she didn't doubt his aim and figured it would be a lot more simple to throw a dagger than it was to chase after her if she was to make a run for it. "So tell me, who shoved that pole that is lodged so far up your ass?" She knew it would probably be smarter if she was to keep her trap shut, yet couldn't help the snarky remarks that escaped. She blamed Heath for that.
Kari
Vex Gresham
Outside of Vallen, Taemar

Vex tilted his head to the side, slowly squatting down to the dagger he just dropped into the dirt.

"This? Oh no, no, no, no, no. I won't use this to take you down, I only use this particular beauty after the hunt. If you're to run, I'd follow, and just that. Have you ever seen what happens to a creature after they don't sleep for weeks? When every time they go to close their eyes I'm right there waiting. They become crazed, and hungry. It would be a shame if one of those crazed beasts were then let into a city, all that food just waiting to be plucked up. I'm not going to kill you, shifter, but if you run I will make it known what vile and disgusting creatures your kind really are. I gave you the key, so now the choice is yours, will I be hunting witches today, or shifters?" He smiled, flicking his tongue across the points of his teeth.

"As for the stick, I suppose I put it there myself. But my stick belongs in this world. As for you? You may yet have purpose, despite the oddity your existence presents."
Heather
Cecilia Lyanah
Outside of Vallen

"How fun." She responded sarcastically after listening to his little speech on what would happen if she was to run. She had doubts, but she wasn't planning on testing the Paladin any time soon. 

"Fine, let's just stick to witches. Speaking of which, why are we hunting them exactly?" She questioned, unsure if she had missed out on some important information during the council. Then again, she was forced from the room before the man who claimed to have information began his little speech.
Kari
Vex Gresham
Outside of Vallen, Taemar

Vex picked up his dagger and resheathed it.

"They caused the plague. That's the only reason anyone needs to put an end to a coven." Vex straightened and folded his arms over his chest.

"We humans have this thing called 'Decency,' when a group of people are responsible for the deaths of thousands, they should be held responsible." Of course the Order had ulterior motives, but a magical creature certainly wouldn't sympathize with that side of the story.
Heather
Cecilia Lyanah
Outside of Vallen, Taemar

"That makes sense. Witches being the cause of the plague that is." She didn't bother responding towards his talk of decency, knowing she could care less about the death of others as long as it wasn't her own. Some would call it selfish, Cecilia called it the food chain. 

"So, you aren't worried about catching this sickness?" She assumed all humans would fear going near anything that could kill them, unless they had a death wish themselves. Hopefully Vex here and all the other Paladins would catch the disease that riddled Marin. Then she would be free of them.
Kari
Vex Gresham
Outside of Vallen, Taemar

Vex couldn't help but laugh.

"Do you know how many plague cases have popped up in Taemar? Wouldn't it be a little weird if these witches created a plague that they could so easily catch themselves? They're coven is a sanctuary against the disease, I have no fear of contracting it. And if I do then that is simply yet another step in my path of Devotion."

Vex stopped laughing once he was done talking. He knelt down once again and began rummaging through a burlap sack marked with the white Rose. The bag was just on the small of his back, underneath his actual pack. From it he pulled a flank of dried lamb.

"Eat. You'll need the strength." Another toss, at this rate he would be an expert at throwing things at the creature.
Heather
Cecilia Lyanah 
Outside of Vallen, Taemar

His statement and rhetorical questions made sense to Cecilia. She wouldn't have come to that conclusion herself if she was to find out the whereabouts of the witches. Then again, she wasn't particularly smart enough to do so herself. His comment about devotion however, had the shifter rolling her eyes. She didn't understand a thing when it came to religions, it seemed to be something only humans believed in. 

The moment he pulled the Flank from a bag, Cecilia's mouth instantly began to flood with saliva. She caught it easily when it was thrown to her, keeping note to do the same to him if she was to ever hold something he needed. It was annoying the way he tossed everything towards her like a game of catch and didn't bother with thanking him when she began devouring the meat. It was a lot nicer compared to the rats in the castle and the rat prince's leg as it didn't hold that sour or bitterness flavour. 

"So you think this Coven is in Taemar?"
Charles
Belladonna of Taemar
Vallen, Taemar

The Lady of the Wine wouldn't wake up even if a whale jumped on her. Belladonna gave up and decided to try and go to the council herself, in behalf of the lady she wad posing as a maid of.

With a simple yet elegant gown she *Borrowed* From the Lady, the witch picked up one of the horses from the carriage and set off to the castle once again.

"Hopefully I've only missed some mindless chatter, we really need some clue on this plague... Our remedies are only palliative right now" She spoke to the horse as they approached the castle.

Suddenly, Belladonna halted the horse, as she saw someone exit the building.

One of them was chained, being harshly dragged along. She exuded magic, a special kind of magic no human possessed. *A shifter? I thought they went extinct... Poor thing*

Belladonna's blood run cold when her attention shifted to the man dragging the creature behind him.
The mannerisms, his beastly looks... He didn't exude magic, but if he had been human once then it had been long ago.

*It can't be... They were legends, they were supposed to- oh for fuck's sake!* She thought to herself, as her fists clenched and scorched the reins she was holding.

...

The horse ran through Taemar like soul guided by the devil, sorting through swamps, bogs and forests. The tiny cabin was reached and the horse could finally stop as the woman jumped off of him and ran inside.

Belladonna rushedly opened the door.

"Paladins!" She surprised everyone as the door slammed against the wall "They're in Taemar, I saw one of them"

Everyone was left speechless, color draining from their faces.

"Bel" The High Sorceress broke the silence "Are you sure that it was a paladin? It has been centuries since they-"

"I swear on my mother's ashes that it was a paladin. If you only had seen him... He was an exact replica of the tales and legends, and he was dragging a shifter with him"

"Let's remain calm, maybe they just were here to fetch the shifter. We just need to stay here until they're gone and everything will be okay"

Despite this statement, nobody, including the High Sorceress herself, was able to rest easy from that moment on. Belladonna set off again that night, in search of information on the paladin.

Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

Anna crossed her arms as she listened to the offer.

"I said I offer my hand, not that I will accept the first person claiming to be able to help" She set her eyes on Lucrezia "What can Ibethiel offer as help? How much can Lord Pinewood really help my cause?"
Kari
Francis Hecate, Lord of Rikolto
Council Room

Demetri sent a sharp jab into the overflowing jelly rolls that Francis called a waist.

"S-sir?" Francis glance towards his companion who had been the antagonistic voice of the council.

"Stand and offer the Barrmount girl the hand of your Ward."

"But sir... I don't have a ward?"

"He will provide, Francis, have faith in our Lord." Demetri placed a hand on the man's shoulder.

Lord Hecate slowly rose for the first time and cleared his throat.

"For the sake of offering the Barrmount family multiple options before we take the next step, perhaps The city of Rikolto may up the ante with the promise of my ward's hand in marriage." Francis rang his hands together, nervous but not because of the council. "My own religious counsel is more than ready to perform a wedding more acceptable to the Northern Gods."

Demetri chuckled, steepling his hands over the top of his cane.
John
**Queen Lucrezia Scheer
Throne Room**

"I can offer you the mercenaries you need to help turn the tide in your troubles. Considering your current situation, I have little hope for an up-front payment. However, a marriage to such an esteemed man of the Ibethiel kingdom and a man I also consider a dear friend would help assure me that payment would come from the Iron Plaines later once this mess is dealt with. There are a few other ways as well in which this arrangement might be mutually beneficial. Though I need not go through the exhaustive list on council time. My offer of military support bound by the marital rites of Auryn stands." Lucrezia elaborated. 

"You can try your luck with other suitors if you wish, but the results achieved by the Ibethiel military would be difficult to match." She said, glancing at the others that made their own offer.
Michael
Wisdom Serafina
Castle Grunewald, Vallen

Serafina stood up and smiled at Lady Anna gently before speaking. "The Ibethiel army is indeed a force to be reckoned with and would serve the Barrmount family well in the Witherlands. Furthermore, such a marriage would have the Southern Pantheons support under Auryn, which would only strengthen the military as the Red Guard could be at their disposal." She turned to look at Lord Hecate before gesturing towards Kirk. 

"My lady, you have proof that Kirk Pinewood exists and is in good standing with House Scheer with access to the military that you desire. The same cannot be said of the ward House Hecate, who they failed to name. Furthermore, they have yet to offer you the assistance you desire. If you were to accept their proposal, it would be good standing to ask for proof of this wards existance, but that may take precious time you do not have. Your people need you and you have traveled to us for help. We have offered you a viable solution with some of the souths best soldiers that could be dispatched after the vows are made."
Lawrence
Bennard Wrencrest
The Council Room, Vallen

Bennard dabbed his glistening forehead with a handkerchief. He was not sure if the gods could hear his mind's prayers this far south, but he pleaded nevertheless that this travesty would somehow be averted. He was starting to think that they should never have come down here. Bennard sighed quietly and looked aside to his unexpected seating companion. He decided to try and take his mind away from all this horrifying wish-wash.

"How does your archipelago, Your Majesty? We hear little of the Southern Isles in the Plaines. The visitors from the eastern kingdoms are rarely wont to discuss your people's affairs." He looked at the table and shrugged. "I suppose they are not inclined to keep abreast in the first place, much the pity. They seem like such a fascinating place to me."
Kari
Demetri Troiarus
Council Room

"Perhaps you should let someone who knows of Rikolto state their case before insulting them with lies." Demetri whispered under his breath.