<b>Castle Valor, Dimhaven</b><br/><br/>The echoes of a conversation filtered through the stone corridors of an old castle. To those nearby, it would seem like one of many that day, one filled with anger, disappointment, and disgust. This conversation was more of the same, only it was coming from a well-decorated room in the main part of the castle. Surrounded by gold and red velvet curtains, the throne room was where his lordship resided, and where he debated with his subjects.<br/><br/><b>"How long can we depend on the strength of our walls?"</b><br/><br/><b>"If we're not bombarded with another demon horde or peppered with black powder bombs from those pirates, we should be fit to repair the northern wall completely within the week."</b><br/><br/><b>"You didn't answer my question."</b><br/><br/><b>"Forgive me, my lord, but I don't understand the question. Dimhaven's walls, while weathered and wanting of their heroic stark white color, are still very sturdy."<br/>
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"Are they? And what of our people? Are they sturdy as well?"</b><br/><br/>The advisor looked up at his lord seated high in his throne and scratched his head, flabbergasted.<br/><br/><b>"They are... They have seen better days, my lord. All of Alia has seen better days, yet it seems that Dimhaven especially is taking the brunt of it. Mercenaries, ghosts, the undead, even the Order of Yami has shown their face these past few years."</b><br/><br/><b>"And what can we do about it?"</b>the ruler asked as he leaned forward. He placed his chin above his hands and answered,<b>"We keep fighting. We keep living. Dimhaven is a bastion for this realm's hope. You are familiar with its history, yes?"</b><br/><br/><b>"I am."<br/>
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"Then we as Dimhaven's residents owe it to ourselves to reflect that undeniable hope. If Dimhaven falls to corruption, greed, sin and demons, the greatest light to combat darkness will be extinguished."</b>The ruler got up from his throne and paced about.<b>"If mercenaries are the problem, recruit them to our side. If the Order is to blame, exterminate them. If it's my own shortcomings, I will gladly step down and give the reins to he or she who believes they can do better. But for now, the only hope we have for this bastion rests within the individual."</b><br/><br/><b>"The... The individual, my lord?"</b><br/><br/><b>"Yes. The individual can do so many things..."</b>The ruler, Duke Boyle, grunted and coughed into his hand.<b> "Next time I go into a monologue, please, please stop me. By the gods, I need a strong drink..."</b><br/><br/><br/><br/><b>The Hammerloch Weapons Emporium, Commercial District, Dimhaven</b><br/><br/><b>"Get your stinkin' 'ands off me you bitch! I'll report ya for guard brutality!"</b><br/><br/>A black-armored knight gripped the back of the unruly thug's head and slammed it down onto the counter of the weapons shop. Gold and other trinkets rattled in response while shelved weapons like swords and axes threatened to fall from their restraints. The thug let loose a cry of pain and fell to the floor only to be grabbed once again by his attacker, the black-armored knight. With her gauntlet-covered hand clenched in a fist around his tunic, the knight leaned in and growled.<br/><br/><b>"I'm no guard you little pissant."</b><br/><br/>Claire von Mises picked the man up with one hand and opened the door out of the shop with her other. Next, she tossed the thug out where he collapsed in a broken heap on the cobblestone street. A few passerby stopped to stare for a moment before tending to their grocery lists in the comercial district. Just another thug, they thought to themselves. Just another routine patrol by that bitch of a knight, they wished they could say.<br/><br/>A couple of actual city guards were standing nearby and reached down to pick up what was left of the man. They grabbed his arms and tied his wrists together before looking at his injuries and hissing in sympathy. Bruises and cuts littered his face like a roadmap to Pain Town. The guards looked over at Claire and started to ask her questions about the man, but they chose to shake their heads and cart him away instead. While the knight overstepped her bounds multiple times, she didn't go after the wrong type of people. She always had a good reason for getting into a fight.<br/><br/><br/>Please remember to post using this format:<br/><br/>Location - ((@PlayerName))<br/><br/>Body<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>