Grand Castle of Tian Shui

[Lu Bu]

Lu Bu grinned at the fact on how much power he and Pang De were receiving.Lu Bu washed his face,looked to Zhao Ping,and grinned at Hua Xiong once again.A civil servant ran in,handing Lu Bu a letter,from the Qiang chieftain,Kai Khan.Lu Bu laughed aloud at the disguist this mere wanna be ruler and his demands.Lu Bu gripped his sword and looked once again at Hua Xiong.

"Kai Khan is the leader of the Qiang.He has terrorized our lands for awhile now and with Pang De,Ma Teng,and Duosi attacking some mere bandits,you shall command the fore front.I want you to capture 500 Qiang Horsemen,that way you and I could split the troops as we are in dire need of some troops.Also capture Kai Khan,alive.I want him to serve us also.Now,I wish you all the luck.Zhao Ping shall reinforce you shortly."

[Hua Xiong]

"Okay, I shall go to Zhao Ping's aid. I will try my best."

Hua Xiong grinned at Lu Bu, it was great to see his old comrade after a couple of years. He mounted Aphrodyt bid farewell to Lu Bu and kicked the sides of Aphrodyt and houted a loud "HAA!" as Aphrodyt sped off into the day.

[arktivilist]

The grey mists closed in around him as Arktivilist stepped through the veil of water that separated the vibrant earth-like realm from the blank passivity of the Aether. The warmth of the pseudo-world quickly left him, and his waterlogged clothes became a sudden burden of encompassing chill. As uncomfortable as moving now was, he hurried his steps, hoping to make the beacon of the inner circle before the cold aether stiffened the wet garments. Too he understood the dangers of tarrying in this place, and he had no desire for another battle that might possibly turn out to be as unwinnable as the last one. Silently he wished Tyrgar and the Helgor luck, but part of him knew their cause was hopeless. Flight was the only recourse.

The woman that they had rescued now held his arm with a trembling hand, but Arktivilist realized that unlike him and his two companions she walked free of the encumbering moisture. It was fear that made her quiver. Her grip tightened, and her breathing betrayed her emotion. She did not seek to match his stride.

“Delia, are you okay?” he asked her softly.

She whimpered a reply. “I do not belong here. Please, let me go back. I do not belong in this place.” She was the little girl again, and her protest prompted such an abrupt stream of tears it was as though her ice blue pupils simply melted down her cheeks.

“We cannot go back,” Arktivilist told her sympathetically. His heart flushed with sudden emotion. “Your captors lurk there, and if we are to defeat the power of the wicked crown you must escape them.” The warden could appreciate though that she desired for the security of that beautiful place. He looked at her closely, growing just a little amused at her child-like appearance, despite that he felt genuine concern for her desperation, and that he entirely preferred her more mature manifestation. He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile, and reached down a hand to brush the wetness from her cheek.

“I know this place is frightful, but we will soon be through it and I will keep you safe, I promise.” She appeared apprehensive, but nodded her trust to him nonetheless.

Arktivilist continued to walk, and Cor Delia proceeded at his side, never letting go of her tight squeeze on his hand. He too wished they could return to that wondrous land left behind them, and felt a dreadful heartache that he might never see it again. He had never doubted that Aevon must exist, and although he supposed that that place could not possibly have been it, he figured he would never find any land so peaceful until he did enter the far distant realm.

The pain that had been nagging his thigh grew numb now with the cold. He had strained the muscle again, during the battle with Legion. The inconsistent surface of the Aether meant taking his weight was not so taxing an ordeal upon it. He suspected that when they did cross the veil back to the Earth the ache would be as much as he could manage to withstand. For as long as he could bear it though he was determined to do so without complaint.

The ghostly nature of the Aether served to subdue any further conversation between the travelers, as they sought the path back to Tian Shui. Arktivilist suspected that thoughts of longing for the crystalline river winding between high hills of splendidly exotic plant life occupied the minds of the others as much as it did his own. In the Aether prudence called for attention, yet it was the distraction of reminiscence that provided their silence. He hoped that the product of one did not cancel the benefit of the other, so he decided to let go of his want for what lay behind in order to guard their way through the mist to what lay beyond.

Anxious moments lingered as they made their way through, Arktivilist could do nothing but sigh in relief as Tian Shui's gates breached his vision.

Their entrance to Tian Shui was not impeded. Although it had been more than a year since their last visit, Arktivilist's past services to the Zenian state had not been forgotten, if never appreciated to his liking. The guards greeted them with a quick salute, which Arktivilist ignored. Delia nodded in acknowledgement to them, but said nothing. They were here on business, and when it came to enterprise she always let her master do the talking.

The inside of the keep was a study in contrast to the out. Banners representing the house of Teng decorated the walls, framed by avalu velvet red and blue curtains, cut in the Solisean fashion, held up by silken yellow cord. Ornate armours and weapons, some of which were so outdated in their design that Arktivilist guessed them to be from as far back as the Nerullean age, held honoured places in hallways and on pedestals. One whole wall was dedicated to a pattern of pharrahna ivy, its layout depicting in accurate detail the Solisean national crest. The procurator of this place had gone to great lengths to preserve as much of evimite culture as could be managed indoors.

Within moments they were standing before the Commander of the Southren Guard, Ma Teng, Lord of Tian Shui, and governor of the Yong province. Ma Teng was a stoic character, vigilant in his duty, reserved in his politics. Despite the turmoil that often plagued the Solisean parliament, and that the lightness of his tan hinted at something other than evimite in his heritage, Lord Ma Teng remained an ardent defender of evimite society. Neither eager in his reach nor timid in his standing, he made for the perfect governor of an out of the way territory that kept enemies of the state at bay. He was also one of the few persons of authority that Arktivilist knew his master had at least a little respect for.

Lord Ma Teng stood from a table burdened with a multitude of scrolls and heavy tomes, and welcomed them with a curt nod. He offered them both a warm goblet of wine, and a place to sit. The wine they accepted gladly, the chairs they declined. Their host remained standing as well, as Arktivilist said, “Lord Ma Teng, I am Arktivilist, I was originated from the southern plains, and have come to offer what service I can, whether it be through intelligence or brute strength, the sword of my late father and I, shall give our lives to destroy your enemies.” His voice was calm and level, with just the hint of a harder edge.

His appearance was as usual, coiled neatly by a black heavy robe that somehow sucked away the human appearance of his structure, he was a gloomy complexion, the only little part of his body you could see was the metal gauntlets that rattled beside the holes of his robe, his face still consumed within an inner darkness.

[Ma Teng]

A official looks to the men, his voice is loud, he must be the speaker of the court.

"Lord Ma Teng is not here, but on a grand campeign.."

[Shang Xi]

*Shang Xi nervously walked through the palace's many halls. He had wanted to speak with Ma Teng, but he had yet to return from his campaign. It had been quite a shock. Xi had not even known about it. He hoped this didn't reflect Lord Ma's opinion of him. He had not yet been able to prove his skill, so he hoped he could recieve an order soon. He would have to wait, though. He sighed and left the palace.*

[Jorge]

teng said:

"Grand mind of far away, I enroll you in my forces, do it or perish.."

"Lord Ma Teng of liang, I will server your army to the Death."

*Lock gets up from his bow turns his back to Lord Ma Teng and leaves the palace in a solemn sly way unoticed by any other.

[Ma Chao]

Ma Chao walks in and bows to lord Ma Teng . Lord i have come to serve you .

[Diao Chan]

Diao Chan was mesmerized by the beauty of the castle and smiled at the sight. She walked to a guard. "May I please speak to Lord Ma Teng?" she asked.