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[Praefectus Screptum]

"Hmm.. well, lets just say we had our own problems and we ended up being tossed on a prison, but as you can see, they failed on holding us. I do not really know what exactly happened at all..I am just as confused as you and the rest of the other group."

[Zako]

"Well, I suppose there's little point in staying here. At least back at your castle we can plan in comfort. Just give me a few minutes to have a look through this place. There may be something useful lying around."

Search the place for anything useful. Keep an eye out for those research notes!

[Sirus]

After a few minutes, Gregor stood up and got ready to go. Charlotte was right; he couldn't give up hope just yet, and if it turned out his family really was...gone, he'd have to grieve later. Right now it sounded like the rest were preparing to leave.

[Haspen]

@Edwin:

After thorough search, Edwin found nothing useful, as if some higher power denied him loot.

@rest:

"It seems that there's nothing else for us here. Anja, please prepare the wagon. We will be leaving for Tunhausen in a minute."

With that, Mannan walked after the gypsy outside, giving the rest a moment to talk, maybe.

[Zako]

Edwin sighed as he walked down the stairs to regroup with the others in the hall, before leaning up against the wall near the newly promoted druid.

"So... I don't believe we've met. What's your part in all this exactly?"

[freeformschooler]

Charlotte, still in the room, watched Gregor walk away from her. She sat for another moment then got up and walked over to the spot where they had slain Bores. Glassy fragments still littered the ground.

: "It's funny. You talk to a simple-minded Berebian soldier and they seem like heartless, disgusting thugs who delight in the sound of blade against bone. Never once would I imagine their leaders to be any different, but...."

Charlotte kneeled down.

: "What separates a charismatic leader from another heartless thug is a goal. A long-term project beyond kill, kill, kill. All the cruelest men and women we have conquered have had goals. Protect the Lapis Lazuli. Get revenge for a midnight pleasure chain scam. Perfect a method of draining life force from a foe."

She stood back up and walked out of the room toward Mannan and the others, still monologuing.

: "The frightening thing is these people could have been good men and women with a cause. Not a lot different than us and our goals. Nothing is more dangerous than a good man whose cause keeps him alive."

[Praefectus Screptum]

"Me? I did not even know I would be getting into this mess at all. I was hired to look for that dragonestone with them and was using that as a opportunity to get stronger before claiming the throne of the Forsakens. And as I do not think you know my name yet, it is Tantallos, from the Forsaken family."

[Zako]

"The forsaken family... Hmmm... Ah! That's the one with all the ancient magic users in it, isn't it? I think I may have read some of your family history here and there. Your family does seem to get around a bit. How did you end up so far from home? Just wandering, looking for knowledge like myself? Oh, and my name is Edwin. It's nice to see a fellow wandering scholar."

[Haspen]

"Hey, people!" Anja yelled through one of the slit-shaped openings in the walls that served as a window for the corridor, the gypsy's head on level with the bottom part.

"Mannan says we're going back, so unless you want to run after my wagon, I would hurry if I were you!" Then she moved away.

[Sirus]

Gregor shrugged and went outside.

[Xanmyral]

Salvatore watched the bishop leave, a little confused. He felt like he should know him but... He couldn't quite put his finger on it. Tip of his tongue... Ah well, it seems the group is leaving now.

The rider headed outside himself, leaning his spear lazily against his shoulder as Ormm followed, still watching everything warily. Noticing it himself, the man scratched the wyvern behind one of its horns with a smile to calm the beast, and it succeeded for the most part.

"Nothin' 's gonna jump out at us now, we're good." The man spoke softly to the wyvern.

[Haspen]

The entire group gathered near the wagon, and those who were without horses boarded the sturdy vehicle of Anja, or mounted the horses belonging to Ami and other riders. And then they have set off, leaving the dark, blood-soaked abbey behind.

Back to Tunhausen.

~~&~~

The journey back to the Tunhausen Castle took two days. Mannan spent several hours at nearby outpost, directing the soldiers and describing what will be found in Blackmoore. Then, the road to Tunhausen was clear and safe, local militia provided escort on the way there.

Mannan hosted a small meal with all of the mercenaries and other guests that came along to Tunhausen, and everyone went to sleep in rather merry mood, expect those who were troubled by problems personal or trivial.

Next morning, a disaster struck.

The first people to notice how horrible the weather became, were Mannan's soldiers. They've made quite a ruckus because the magnitude of the problem was, like every year, very severe.

Powerful blizzard brought layers upon layers of snow, and the sky was continuously dark with the clouds, the high winds making the life of flying creatures and their riders terrible. Tunhausen Keep and the village underneath was cut off the world, pretty much like any other village and fort in local neighbourhood, or maybe further north.

Then, even worse news came - Menelea made a surprising move and attacked Berebia, using the snowy paralysis cast over the country to the advantage of the army. Whilst the borders were now nigh-impassable for normal travelers, the Meneleans haven't got far, the snow and natural sturdiness of the Berebians didn't allow their southern enemies to gain more than ten kilometers of soil.

Nine days have passed.

And for the first time in a while, the blizzard lessened it's anger. It was no longer blizzard - it was merely snowing.

~~Intermission B: The White Towers of Tunhausen~~

Mannan looked at the snowy morning, eyeing the bleakly lit horizon to the east - somewhere there, the sun was rising over the clouds. Lord Tunhausen took a sip of the drink from his silver mug, and let out a loud sigh, before footsteps directed his attention to his left.

"Gregor, on feet already, I see?" He spoke with a smile, and took a sip of his drink again.

"I haven't asked you how you like our Berebian weather this time of year. Cozy enough?" Mannan tried to smile, but it turned into some terrible hybrid between a frown and a smirk.

[Sirus]

Gregor had been going through some ups and downs in the past week, but today the knowledge that the blizzard may be passing definitely was a plus. He poured himself a glass of tea in a far more simple cup.

"I had read about it, but I didn't think it would be so...brisk."

[Haspen]

"Ha. I guess down in the Menelea you rarely get anything remotely close to this? I was in Arco one winter, when I was on a pilgrimage. It was winter, I recall. All I saw was grey soil and only one night I caught a glimpse of some snowflakes." Mannan paused for a moment, remembering the better and simpler times of his life. There was a neigh under the window, and the young bishop looked outside.

"Isn't that Olison and Chris returning from the patrol... they don't look wounded, and they don't seem to be in hurry... I bet all they saw is snow. Kinda strange, the Menelean army is an hour of horse riding to the south, beyond the Cagarian forests... I'm sorry that I can't provide any particular help with the Prixima and everything. The war broke my communications with the south, so I can't even get my spies' reports."

[Sirus]

"I bet the weather isn't helping in that regard."

Gregor hesitated for a moment, but decided to speak his mind.

"I have to ask: what do you think Prixima is hoping to gain by this invasion? I'm no expert in warfare, but attacking in the dead of winter like this seems almost suicidal. She must be aware that your troops are more used to the cold than hers are, and every moment the invasion stalls just gives her enemies time to rally. She must have a goal in mind, and I bet you have a good idea what it is."