Welcome to Gaia! ::

Dakon snored.

~

Helenne raised an eyebrow. Felicks. She had seen him before. Ingus, the Falcon. Luneth, the Eagle. Arc, the Hawk. And Ari, the Raptor.

The Falcon's armor was ornate with iron wrought falcon wings, as the breastplate, the cheek guard on either side of the helmet, and as other various pieces of plate armor. His huge blade, which resembled a predator bird, was too large to carry in a scabbard. It rested across his back.

The Eagle wore heavy armor, plate mail, chain mail, gauntlets, and a helmet that sunk down over the eyes, ending in a beak over the nose. A Mohawk of red straw, resembling a majestic plume of feathers, rested atop the helmet. The double-bladed lance was so encumbering that it could not even be worn across the back. This weapon was always carried and ready.

The Hawk's helmet and armor could only be described as... erratic. Spiked and designed with the ruffled plume of a hawk, along with a billowing cape, gave this Knight an appearance of wild, uncontrollable ferocity. The Hawk fought with any of the many blades found on his body, and with the clawed gauntlets worn on his hands.

Ari, the Raptor, was perhaps the most peculiar of the Birds of Prey. Half of his entire face, his jaw and forehead, were covered by metal serving similarly as a mask would. His helmet bore the most dangerous spikes, and he wielded two unique weapons. On the right hand, a single gauntlet on which the index finger and thumb extended into huge spikes, along with a plate guard that covered the entire arm. A massive greatbow--a bow that must rest its tip on the ground in order to fire properly--existed in his left hand, and this Knight must have mastered the art of archery while still wielding his strange right-handed gauntlet simultaneously. The arrow--bolt, to be more accurate--that the bow was capable of firing--was simply massive. One long, powerful shot could punch a hole through the thickest of plate armor; through five men at once. This bow truly was a juggernaut of ballistic weaponry.

Helenne glanced around.

((Where are they exactly?))

"What exactly is your plan, Your Grace? How are we to go about seeking out the Grand Bishop?"

Helenne nodded in understanding. However, there was a problem....

"And we're to go there? Us... and how many soldiers?" To bring any amount of armed force to Korubin would be a critical mistake. Between the chancy sea voyage, the murderous natives, the swashbuckling pirates, the disease- and predator-ridden jungles, and the potential disaster of a volcano, it was best to traverse the Korubiinos in small, well-equipped number.

((The Ether is now accepting!))

Helenne turned back to face her Knights. "Ingus, Ari. You two are to stay here. Luneth and Arc will come with us to the Korubin Isles. Is that acceptable?" No complaints were heard. The Falcon and the Raptor nodded, then turned and left. Luneth, the Eagle, and Arc, the Hawk, remained. Neither one wished to speak to Helenne in front of Ralendine... Arc held a vengeful grudge and Luneth was a stalwart and chivalrous warrior... not one to waste energy on small talk.

Helenne turned to gaze at Duke Elmire. "We are ready, then."

The spy made a sweeping bow, "The forces there appear to be the bare minimum required to man defenses. Many were taken to head towards the main force for a counter-offensive at Baelta's front lines. The citizenry have been moving away for some time to other cities. apparently the city is going to be made to appear fully equipped and ready for attack, and will await more soldiers from Elmire and the Resistance forces after the second attack is made. They intend to fortify their cities after Malik moves, so they don't risk losing more forces..."

---

Hashmal shrugged and began to scale the sheer sides of the hole as if they had handholds in them, her load of children upon her shoulders.

---

Clem nervously trailed after, while the Nesk remained emotionless.

Bael unfolded his arms as the spy arrived, then turned after the report was over to gaze back into the hidden safety of the trees. Behind them, a substantial, though not all-encompassing military force resided. It was small, in other words. But not necessarily weak.

"If we take control of the few Magi there, will this meager raiding force be enough to take the city?"

If not, then Telgove, and possibly Bael himself, would have to join the physical fight. Their power was indeed great in combat, but nothing compared to the usefulness of their minds.

((Yesh. We should have Bael and Telgove kick some soldier arse. :3 ))

"Actually, there is a powerful mage sealed within a barrier of some sort... A white noise sanctum or something crazy like that. However, the wizard is old, and hasn't left for several years. I assumed he was harmless." the spy said.

"Now, calm yourself," Bael interjected, his hand raised between the two. To the spy, he said, "Tell us more about this wizard, before we decide anything. Is there any other information you can tell us about him?"

Bael could attempt to wrestle minds with the wizard, while Telgove led the attack. Bael was sure he could do so, if needed. If unhindered. But asking a spy to do a Mindbreaker's job was--unwise. Unless the spy was completely sure he could handle such a task, Bael would not appoint it to him.

(Sure. It's the one and only Harrison Jones. his profile still isn't up though... sweatdrop lost power here for a while.

bought Crystal Chronicles...)

The spy cleared his throat, "His name is Yin Meryl. he was a great and powerful wizard long ago. He stopped bragging about his powers and showing off roughly twenty years ago, and has been seen in the city only four times since then, three of which involve him being drunk, and the last being two months ago, where he caused a ruckus with an old turnip farmer about some cats. He's apparently senile."