Dianne
[HARRONHEART TIMESKIP]

**Kiervan Czerich - (Harronheart)**

Harronheart was an ancient lant. It's lush forests and gloomy skies all gave it an air of timelesness that was hard to find to find elsewhere.
The place smelled of history, and forgotten kings, even though it was no more than a small county.
It was also a cleaner version of the Melsoh at times, having many shallow ponds that nested the herons who gave the region it's name.

The group had been marching all morning under a cold drizzle, but they all were in high spirits.
Hubert in particular, seemed to be eager to go back home for the first time in a while.

It was then then that Kiervan toticed something. Something they had missed due to the dark clouds.

"Smoke! There is smoke in the distance!"

Pat, Hubert's retainer, said that it was a sign that they were near the village, but stopped his talk mid sentence.

The smoke was long and vast...
This was not a forge, or a fireplace... This was a fire.
Ralph
And so, the group heads out. The journey was pretty much a usual trip as always. The young knight had never went to this land before. And he was curious about it. About how does it looks like. As they entered the land, it gave Bryan a familiar feeling as the land was similar as the Melsoh. Filled with Lush forest, and foggy everywhere. 

Soon, the group soon came upon something unexpected. A smoke in the distance before them. One of elderly knight retainer called out, saying that there was the direction of the village. The young knight quickly brought up the veins of his horse as a means to stop its movement. 

Looking at the smoke in the distance, Bryan felt something was wrong. The trail of the smoke was long as it can be seen in the air, and vast as well. There was nothing that Bryan could think of except for one. That the village been pillaged, or preferably, raided by raiders, looters, or maybe even a small warband. 

" We split out." The young knight suggested. " I'll take that two of your retainer with me to scout ahead. You two stay behind us from a distance. We'll give you a signal if the place is clear. " He stated, looking at the two. Especially Kiervan, who he probably thought had no experience in combat. The elderly knight can take a fight, but he was old. Bryan didn't want to risk that unless he had too.
Dianne
Kiervan Czerich, Harronheart County

Bryan rode ahead, followed closely by Patsy, Sir Hubert's retainer. Kiervan and the old knight were not far behind. With each step, the distance between them got greater: Sir Bryan wanted to reach the village as soon as possible, whereas Sir Hubert seemed to be subconciously stalling for time. His mind was set on the task at hand, but his heart was not.

They rode into the village at full gallop. It was a small settlement, but each building was lovingly built by it's inhabitants to the highest standart. Between a third and a half of the place was built atop a series of small islands who shattered into the rapids running next tho the settlement. The rapids themselves came from a waterfall upstream, where Kiervan managed to peek at the shape of an old castle with the corner of his eye.

This proximity to the water made the ever-closer sound of flames all the weirder. Why weren't the villagers putting off the fire? There were screams in the distance, but it wasn't the blind panic that characterizes a raid.

It wasn't until they reached the fire that they could properly take in the scene...
_
_

The Town Hall was on fire. Flames rose from it's base to it's belltower with a deafening fury that eclipsed the wind and the rain.
A group of young men and women in black attires of great quality were rounding up several peasants for what seemed to be an improvised execution. The brats were barely older than Kiervan or Bryan, and a couple of them even seemed to be younger. Some were shouting at the villagers, others threatening them with their blades, a few of them were tying up a man to a wooden stump for decapitation.

Only one was standing quiet.

Dressed in an extravagant mix of sturdy black clothes and fine red silks, he appeared to be the leader of the gang. His pose was relaxed but threatening, like a snake's, and his eyes betrayed a concealed intelligence that seemed to absent in most of the other ones. He was handsome, far more than Kiervan, and even more than Bryan, but his face wore the marks of a long sorrow.
The black hair of his half-shaved head was messy, as if cut with a knife or a sword instead of scissors, and the cruel rictus of his face was a forced smile. The face itslef wasn't spared the gloom, with a couple of weak scars tracing a path across his lips and around one of his eyes.

Seeing the group arrive, he seemed happy... Relieved even. But his sight wasn't set on Verandus and Patsy, or even Kiervan. It was meant for Horace.

"So you did return after all... Father."
Stacey
Hubert pulled on his horse's reins halting it, about ten meters from the man in black.
He looked the man in the face, a glare of hatred with no mercy.
Hubert spat on the ground.

"You are not of my family, thug. Now get off that horse, and fight me you mangy cur!"

Hubert drew his Longsword, his hands trembling slightly, he got off his horse and gestured for his companions to stay back.
Dianne
The young brigand did as Sir Hubert commanded. He got off his horse and stood proud in front of the four travellers.

"You still despise me father. I guess some things never change."

In the background, the man being tied by the brigands began to scream and stuggle as he fought desperately to free himself from the stump. A girl of the gang silenced him by kicking the air out of his belly, then began to hit his ribs with her boot. Her blonde mane had many braids, and like her leader, she had parts of her head shaved to reveal tribalistic tatoos. Her eyes were also obscured by warpaint, giving her a predatory appearance.

Much to the distress of the group, the man began to cough blood. It didn't stop the girl. Only when he cowered, reeling from the pain, did she dare to pick him up and place him on the wooden stump again.
Ralph
Seeing what had happen at here, Immediately Bryan gets off his horses. He was filled with frustration, angered by this man's action. His red cape that bears the symbol of the knights of the Ibethielian order was swinging. As always, his attire was fully consisted of chain mails around him, or preferably, Hauberk. He did wear some plated armor around him, such as the shoulders ranging around his neck.

A hissing whispers was made as the young knight drawn his longsword from its scabbard. " I demand you to release the peasants! " He said, as he trained his sword upon the leader, pointing at him as a means of threatening him. He stood along Sir Hubert at his side, but he stood forward before him. If a fight was inevitable, Bryan make sure he was the one to engaged first before the elderly knight could.

On the other side, the young knight was concerned over the safety of the peasants. They has nothing to do with this, so why drag them into this mess? " They do not has anything to involve with this at all! " He pointed out to the group before him. He was surprised that the leader was Hubert son, but he didn't care about it. After seeing what the man has done, that is.
Dianne
"Release this rat?"

The girl looked insulted at Sir Bryan's order.

"He tried to burn us alive!" She shouted, and pointed to the town hall behind her. "In Hexrakes he would've hanged for this! But since we are in this backwater hole, we'll have to settle for something quicker. Decapitation should suffice to answer for this crime!"

The man spat on the girl's boots.
"Shut the fuck up! Bitch! You bastard whoresons raped my daughter! I don't care if I burned that kid, and I'd die a hundred times if it meant having him suffer just one minute more! My only regret is not getting to burn you too!"

Upon hearing this, the leader of the gang turned his head towards the girl.
"Wait, is mousey dead?" He asked.

"Yes he is," Said the girl. "We could not get him out on time."

"Kill this fucker then."

Kiervan, who until now had only been a spectator, dared to ask the young man his name.

"My name is Lancel Horace, although my father would tell you otherwise."
His gaze returned to the old knight.
Stacey
Hubert spat on the ground once more.
Hubert now stood only two meters from his foe.

"Lancel, you turd, FIGHT ME, or I will have your entire gang burnt at the stake for pillaging and treachery!"

Hubert walked closer to Lancel, seemingly growing taller, he was a sight to behold, even at his old age.
Dianne
Lancel backed down a couple steps, and put his hand on the hilt of his blade. He was afraid, but something stopped him from fleeing. Pride? Spite? Or maybe...

"Pillaging? Treachery? You old fool! To you, everything is always my fault! These shit-smeared peasants tried to burn ME and my friends ALIVE!"
_
_
Meanwhile, Kiervan tried to calm thigs down, but no one would listen.
Stacey
"Good, and yet, you seek to enact "Justice" On a worker of MY land, without MY permission? Who do you think this land belongs to boy?
I will gut you from cock to throat you little shit."

Hubert put his sword hand on his weapon.
Ralph
" Wait! " He shouted, to the elderly knight who call for a duel of honor. Turning his attention back on the girls, the young knight settles down his hostilitiy as he drawn back his sword. " No life needs to be shed today! " He shouted, looking at both groups from both sides. " We can settle our differences aside and has a talk about it. No one needs to *Die* Today. " He stated, he held both of his hand a means to calm them down as he stood in the middle between the father and the son.
Dianne
"Oh, but somebody needs to die," Said the girl. "This dung-burner killed one of our brothers! We are only making things even! After this, we will get his accomplices, and Viktor will flay them alive to the last."
Stacey
Hubert looked at the girl making demands.

"Hold your tongue girl! Or I will take it"

Hubert looked at Lancel once more.

"You going to shit yourself? I'm only saying this once, draw your sword and fight me, or I will strike you down where you stand boy."
Dianne
Lancel swallowed his own saliva.

"I'm not afraid of you," He said. Almost as much to himself as to Hubert. "If what you want is a duel, then I'll be eager to honour you... Father."

He turned towards the burning building and raised his arms in exaltation:

"My brothers, my sisters! My Sable Brotherhood! Today, my father has returned to these lands!
As is custom, he readies himself to enact justice. And what is this justice?
To pardon the squealing rat who killed mousey, one of our own, and attempted to murder Syanna and I!
Why does he do that? I think you already know..."―a string of insults could be heard from the punks towards Sir Hubert. Kiervan even got hit by a pebble on his head.―"So I ask of you, by sworn siblings, to stand by my side as I challenge the old coot and his new lapdogs to single combat! Who will fight with me?"

All the reavers raised their weapons in the air with a roar.

Syanna, the blonde girl, asked to fight against Sir Bryan.

"I want to fight too! I'm the best fighter we have." A guy with black hair and imposing musculature stepped forward. He was a giant for his age.

"Not you Marius, I need you with the others." Said Lancel. "And this isn't a challenge to the Sable Brotherhood, it's a personal affront."
Ralph
Seeing there was nothing could be done about it, Bryan only let out a deeply sigh. He pity them, for sure. *Poor kids... Y'all didn't need to get dragged into this lunatic mess.* He thought and in his heart, was deeply saddened about it. He draws his longsword again as he stood at the elderly knight once more.

Then, he was called out by someone. The girl that threatens to kill the peasant man. " I'd recommend you should forfeit then." That's what he said first. " It's an dishonorable act to fight a woman. " He stated, he held a serious expression on his face.
Stacey
Hubert noted his companion beside him, and gave him a respectful nod.

"I'm not warning you again Lancel, fight me, now.
These are MY lands, and I want you off them or dead, preferably dead actually."

Hubert's sword was still tightly clutched in his sword hand.
Dianne
Lancel was still hesitant to draw his blade, even if he remained defiant in the face of the old knight.
Not Regina, she slowly made her way to Sir Bryan and drew ann ornate axe from behind her back, which she then moved elegantly from side to side.

"You remind me of my father," She said to Verandus. "He ended up regretting those words."

"Regina no!" From among the ranks of the botherhood, a tomboyish raven-haired girl shouted to stop her. "I'll fight in your stead. My style is better suited against that brute. Let me deal with the new lapdog of Lancel's father."

"I'm not letting you fight Syanna." The giant behind her blocked her path with his arm.

"Listen to your brother Syanna," Said Lancel. "This fight is ours."

And upon saying this, he finally drew his blade.
Stacey
Hubert laughed.

"You are a dead man walking Lancel!"

Hubert yelled a battlecry, and swung a mighty blow from above aiming to cleft Lancel's pretty little head in half, the blow had power behind it.
Ralph
Sir Bryan Verandus

The young knight took his stance, he held his blade tightly in his grips. He was felt with relieved that he didn't need to fight the woman, instead a man who took in her stead for her. Bryan held a deep respect for this man, but knowing what will happen soon. Bryan was disappointed from it. " Very well. " He said, nodding dimly. 

The young knight kept his stance steadily, patience as he kept his mouth tight. Waiting for the man to make his moves first while they walked in a circle pattern.
Dianne
Kiervan Czerich, Harronheart County

Blades were drawn, cries were shouted: the fight began. The first fight combat started with a brutal blow of Hubert descending upon Lancel, which the young man counted with a mix of a dodge and a parry: he stepped aside as he deflected the blow with a long scimitar of his own. He didn't escape unscathed though, for the power behind the blow made him lose his footing, allowing the old knight to follow his offensive with a series of rapid strikes.
Lancel's combat style was interesting: it was fast and fluid, but also bitter and poisonous, like a serpent lashing a boar, seeking to wear him down. He constantly moved away of Hubert's reach, and returned to bite with lighting strikes of his own.
At first it seemed like Lancel had the upper hand. His stategy allowed to exploit openings left by the old knight, but the longer the fight drew on, the more it was apparent that those strikes always ended up hitting Hubert's light armor or the thick leather of his travel attire.
Hubert wasn't making mistakes: he simply wouldn't bother to parry blows that he knew were going to fail.
_
_

The combat with Sir Bryan was another story. The champion of the Sable Brotherhood surprised both Kiervan and his opponent by unleashing a flurry of attacks that was as fast as it was potent. Verandus managed to block the initial assault, but every parry sent sparks flying from the clash of the blades. And his opponent was relentless: unlike Lancel and Hubert, whose duel consisted of feints and piercing strikes, Bryan's fight was against a machine. The champion of the brotherhood kept attacking the young knight, not allowing him to rest or go on the offensive. His strategy seemed based around outlasting Verandus trough sheer stamina, and Kiervan wondered if he could do something to help without the Brotherhood noticing.

Come to think of it, Kiervan had been in a duel before, back in his Academy days. It seemed like so long ago. He rembered how everyone told him he had no chance. How had he won again? Ah yes, of course...
Ralph
Bryan held a deep breath before the first blow came apart. The young knight drawn his sword apart to block the blow came at him. Bryan parried it steadily, before being followed by a wave of slashes at him. This lonely man he fought with seems to be the champion of this group, or preferably, what they called a brotherhood or sort.

Moving backwards as he kept on parrying and block the lethal blows that came at him. Those that weren't lethal at all, Bryan swiftly dodges them at ease. These kinds of attack pattern, it felt like training again for him. Slowly, he grasps the image of his opponents in his mind. On how he moves, how he attacks as each blow was exchange from both of them. However, his stamina began gradually decreased as time went pass. Sweats began pouring down bit by bits from his head. 

A slash came from above, Bryan narrowly dodges it as he step aside to the left. The blade of the longsword the man held struck itself onto the dirt before them. This gave Bryan a chance to finish him off, but... He didn't at all. He felt pity. Instead, the young knight utilized the pommel of his sword, or the back of the hilt preferably. He uses it as he bash it at the man's head, knocking him off from his place.