The Guardians of London: Fourth Echelon (Chapter Two)

[Yokillernick]

It was a beautiful summer's day. The sun was shining and Kishima was back with his Daggerspell friends relaxing after a hard day's work. People were drinking and feasting, celebrating after a successful mission. But something seemed wrong to Kishima, this world, it seemed too good to be true. He tried to remember something, anything. Then it came to him. A grenade rolling at his feet, he sees it too late. Explosion throws him against the wall, bones broken and shattered, losing a lot of blood, fading out. Kishima realised what had happened.

Damn it, must have slipped into a coma. Or maybe I'm in some sort of Limbo, dead. Ferous what do you think?

<font color=green> You are not dead, or else we wouldn't be able to talk. However you did take a pretty bad hit, not sure you'll pull through it.

If I don't pull through it then neither do you. So can you do something to get us out of this situation?

<font color=green> I could release so of my power to make you regain some conciousness for a few minutes but it will be painful.

Do it.

Ferous released his energy into Kishima's body and for the first few seconds he felt fresh, awakened. His eyes shot wide open and he could see that it was night around him. He saw Ryan was sleeping nearby but then the pain came.

"Arrghhhh!!" Kishima screamed in an unimaginable pain as Ferous' power flowed through him leaving his hole body apart from his head in a paralysis like state. But it had worked Kishima had regained conciousness for however long until the pain knocked him out.

 

[Darth Caelum]

I'm gonna go with Kiritsugu Emiya from Fate Zero for 500 dollars please

Sinclair hummed.

"Yes well, that is one acceptable manner of thought. Kill one to save others is an acceptable route. There are others though of the, 'destroy their weapons before they could use it' route. Or 'kill them both' or other ways I could muck up your metaphor."

"Still, last question from me, and this is important. Can we kill everyone that is really 'Bad'. If so, should we do it? And if not, what's the point of fighting them?" Sinclair smiled at that, before frowning.

"As for Phaedra herself? Why the hell not. I'm pretty sure Baltreth wants to talk to him to."

No I do not want to talk to that psychotic *****.

'Yes you do.'

 

[Anti-American Eagle]

He's awake... WAKE UP!

Ryan scrambled to his feet as Zariel screamed at him, and Kishima began screaming in pain.
He looked over at Kishima "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit"
He sprinted over and injected more morphine into him.
"Don't try to move, it might do more damage."

 

[Yokillernick]

Kishima stabilised for a minute. That's the last time I let you take control Ferous. He looked at Ryan with a puzzled face. He had many questions and he knew that he did not have long before the power that revived him will knock him out again.

"Where are we? Did we make? Are they safe?" he quick-fired his most important questions with a deep anxiety waiting for the worst. He remembered that he gave the order to retreat and possibly abandon his comrades. Now he did not know how many had paid with their lives for his mistake.

 

[Anti-American Eagle]

"Still in Russia, we made it out, and everyone's fine."

 

[Daft Sikes]

And you are correct, and 500$ is added to your score! I also would have accepted Archer or EMIYA from Fate/stay Night

Hadrian snorted.

"It's simply an example, and you already get my point. In regards to 'killing everyone that's bad', that would be an act of futility. It's impossible to completely eradicate such things from this world, but I still have to do what I can. Letting the world get overrun with 'bad' people wouldn't exactly be favorable. It has to be balanced out."

He sighed. "Now, enough of my yammering. I'll let Phaedra take over."

Hadrian receded into his mind, and Phaedra once more took over, a maniacal smile growing on his face.

"So, the rat wishes to speak with me?" Phaedra chuckled, before narrowing his eyes. "Or is it that coward, Baltreth?

 

[Hussmann54]

Location: -REDACTED-
Date: -REDACTED-
Time: -REDACTED-

Internal investigations. Interrogation of Rhyle Knight 1263426, Jonathan Richter. Former member of STG54-DISAVOWED-

Use of unethical methods: AUTHORIZED

Interrogator: What was so important about the mask?

JR: I dont know!-inaudible screaming-

IN: We know Kin stole the second mask, we know he was last sighted on a ship bound for New Zealand. Why there?

JR: He never told me...

IN: Thats funny, because I have it on good authority you do know.

JR: -inaudible screaming- okay. okay -inaudible groan- Ill tell you... he was going to New Zealand to bang that pretty little wife of yours but he just couldnt look at her ugly mug so he put the mask on her t- inaudible screaming and laughing from subject-... fine... fuck just dont touch me with that goddamn thing again. He and Cyrus were working on something, some kind of camouflage. He said he needed the mask, something about his brother, Nigel, from when he was still alive. They had been developing all sorts of new techmaturgical shit, you know how imperiomancers are..

IN: Quite... what was this system?

JR: Something that could turn their armor into like, chameleon skin of some shit. They hardly involved me, just asked if I knew any good geomancers who wanted to help

IN: Why not just use Nathan Lockheed? They seem close enough.

JR: Thats what I said, but they told me he wasnt available. So I pointed them to a guy in Auschwitz. The guy I hear your boys just brought in.

IN: He never met with them, our imperiomancers all checked his dead body.

JR: -laughs- whoops, maybe you missed something -screams in pain- okay okay, sorry... maybe your boys missed something.. that is assuming they are YOUR people and not in line with Kin.. lets be honest, most of them would side with Kin in a heartbeat..

IN: you really think so.

JR: I do, Praetor. With all due respect, Kin is a hero... you are a politician....

IN: WHY? -inaudible screams from subject-

JR: -coughing- because..... because he gives them something to believe in... -inaudible screaming-

IN: so why New Zealand?

JR: probably... because.... because he knew you would follow whatever rabbit hole you were led to.... so if he tells us Auschwitz, and you find out he told us... well.. then that means he could go anywhere else in the world and be cozy as imaginable. You know how many Rhyle would harbor him, regardless of what you say... and they aint gonna tell you shit... For all we know he could be on a goddamn beach on one of those Micronesian islands nobody ever heard of, right now, sipping pina coolada and watching Anastasia strut around in a two piece, and the last thing on either of their minds would be you, cause you wont find them if they dont want to be found....... oh yeah.. I forgot... you were almost as obsessed with her as with -inaudible screaming-

IN:enough bullshit Jonathan, what are they doing?

JR: I dont know goddammit! I have no idea whats going on in their heads, its not like im in their shoes. I have never had the privileged of waking up in the morning knowing im a fucking apex predator.

IN: is that what you think they are? Apex Predators?

JR: Yeah.

IN: But tests indicate they are advanced, however not exeptionally above peers in terms of the levels of control they posses.

JR: -laughs- When will you learn? IT has nothing to do with power we can see. have you ever even seen them on a battle field?

IN: yes

JR: The strength, the speed, the ferocity, they are always ten steps ahead of the guy who thinks he is ten steps ahead of them. Kin doesnt even need imperiomancy anymore, he just knows how to dial people in. Ive seen him fight inhibited, and its scary. That doesnt come from ethereal powers. That comes from two people who have been around the block since before their was a goddamn block and made up their minds about what they want.

IN: they are not unstoppable. They can be broken, they can be killed.

JR: That may be, but you better make sure you get them both at the same time, because I can guarantee you will be dead in twenty four hours if you dont.

IN: Is that a threat

JR: No, its common sense applied to the situation. There is only one man on this planet they can possibly feel threatened by, you know exactly who that is, and he likes them both too damned much.

IN: you have far too much faith in your friends


JR: For fucks sake praetor.... our knights are pound for pound better than those of almost any organization out there, we just dont have the numbers to stand on the global stage like they do, but do you really think that the best of the best are gonna just let you drag them around like dogs? Dont you get it? -Laughs- they cannot be beaten, they cannot be outdone, this order has trained two of their best, perhaps the best in the world, given them over three hundred years of life between them to figure out their own lives, and then told them to go save the world. you really think you can stop them? Christ almighty.. if they do decide to take you down, why the fuck are you dealing with me. YOU should be trying to figure out what to do when they get here and start doing what they do best. If you are in their sights, then they are either on their way, or their already here.. -laughs- you poor deluded old man... -inaudible screaming- -gunshot-


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Present day.

Anastasia began to pack small bags for the trip back. "We should head out. Two days to get to Verkovansk. hopefully Rena will have arrived before us."

 

[Darth Caelum]

Huzzah!

?Hmm. Intersting. I think he would be of use.

?I?m sure.

?Alright. Now go! Talk to your brother why won?t you??

Sinclair?s eyes grew a bloody red, ethereal horns forming on his head. Baltreth looked down at his hands, studying them intently before turning to Phaedra. The body?s stance was noticeably different now. Where Sinclair?s was tense and almost constantly ready for battle, glancing around his environment for the best advantage possible, Baltreth?s was the complete opposite.

?Well how nice to meet you too Phaedra. Long time no see. How have you been? etc. etc.

The Illrian then proceeded to carry Sinclair?s stuff, the body?s physical ability increased exponentially as Sinclair rested within their minds. Baltreth carried them easily, putting them behind his back and turning to Phaedra almost, but not quite, insultingly.

Also, as Lady Anastasia has said, we must move. Let us talk on the way while we gather our companions Brother Phaedra.

 

[Daft Sikes]

Also, as Lady Anastasia has said, we must move. Let us talk on the way while we gather our companions Brother Phaedra.

Phaedra sneered at his brother, while changing Hadrian's body to it's Illrian form, his eyes glowing a brilliant gold, and his horns, the same. Compared to Baltreth's stance, he stood almost regally; carrying himself with an air of authority, looking down at everyone around him with arrogant eyes.

He grabbed Hadrian's pack and carried it under his arm, though he didn't seem pleased that he had to cart his "garbage" around.

"... Very well, Baltreth."

 

[Darth Caelum]

-Let' just say that our conversation happens sometime during the two day trip yeah?-

Baltreth moved lazily, almost like he thought it was a short trek to the woods.

"So Phaedra." Baltreth began as he casually picked the dirt out from under his host?s fingernails ?What do you think of your Host hmm? My host seems to be highly sociopathic, caring for little beyond his goals and the few he considers his friends, ruthless and unblinking in his pursuit of power, manipulative in almost all circumstances, under no illusions of ?greater good? in his actions and seems to follow a loose code of rules, not morals because I can?t seem to find a time when he believed in those. In terms of combat, well, you?ve seen how he fights. Dirty, unfair with a considerable advantage and prefers to be a long way from retaliation. At this point, the only reason I can find why Grey hasn?t tried to kill him or leave him to die or even not make him an Illrian at all was because he?s an important piece or because he hasn?t tried killing him yet.?

?......really??

Baltreth smiled silently to himself but said no more.

 

[Hussmann54]

Seven years ago. London.

Kin burst into the embassy visitors room, immediately grabbing a bag. He frantically began to pack it.
"Did you find him?" Ana stood up from her chair.
"No... it was a set up." He hardly acknowledged her existence except to answer her question. His mind consumed with grabbing papers and a few basic supplies.
"What do you mean?" She said, following suit and opening up a wall safe behind a painting.
"They got to him right before us. They killed him."
"What!?!?" She stopped in her tracks for a moment. Her old mentor.
"Atias... Christ..."
Manuel Atias was one of the three men Grey had asked to mentor her and help her gain control of both her powers and her temper (a lethal and volatile combination back then.)
She shook herself out of it.
"How much time do we have?"
"sixty seconds" Kin said running into the bedroom and pulling a sawed off shotgun out from the mattress.
"Well never let it be said they arent punctual. Did you catch who they are sending?"
"Some two bit investigator leading Fire Team 17. Malcom"

Kin grabbed his mask and strapped it to his head. He looked at her for a moment with the metal face covering in the up position. She grabbed him and kissed him before pulling the mask over his face. She backed up, standing behind the door. Under the steel facade Kin starred into space for a moment. His hands tightening their grip on the shotgun.

In his mind he was already fighting.

Insurgence: tight formation. expect twelve, pray for less. Non-lethal force if possible.

Door opens, first two men have guns raised. Aim for leg, disrupt their immediate reaction. Use tight formation against them. Draw them in one at a time. Control intake. Single take downs,incoming assault: Experienced, tactically sounds fighters. Over power rather than outsmart. Using heavy close combat tactical gear. Flashbangs?...

"Hah..."

Suddenly he snapped back to reality and the door in front of him was kicked open. He reflexively fired the first shell towards the ground, as the kick hit the two men on point he rushed and delivered a heel kick to ones collarbone. He stumbled backwards into the other. and they fell into the hallway. He grabbed the next man and pulled him roughly into the room behind him. Ana delivered a series of blows to him, finally knocking him unconscious. Kin meanwhile sent the next shot into the wall, and the shot penetrated and ripped into the men on the other side. Shortly on his feet, the next man rushed into the room, knife ready. He took a swing at Kin, who used and elbow block at the mans forearm and followed with an open palm to push the knife away. Immediately he turned to the mans inevitable counter. A jab with the other hand which was deflected downward.

"Drunken Boxing?" Kin thought to himself, recalling the knife the man used. He wasnt able to see past the gas mask, but he could figure it out nonetheless. "Malcom Idle. Low ranking Knight. Proficient at close range, prefers handguns, southern London bare knuckle boxing contender. Weakness, bad knee. exploit..."
This happened faster than Kin could even think about it happening. It was natural instinct of experienced imperiomancers.

He stepped back to allow Malcom to over swing with the knife and blocked it so it crossed to his far side, then Kin ducked and aimed a hard blow to the knee. A sickening crunch was heard as the man fell, dropping the knife, he pulled a 45.

"Thats more like it.."

Kin pushed the mans arm around and aimed the gun at the door, unloading into the next mans bullet proof vest. The sheer impact however, still hurt and the man was soon limp against the far wall of the tight hallway. Kin aimed a chop at the mans neck, knocking him out.

As another ran into the room, Kin grabbed him. For a moment, the two met face to face.
"Sorry Jacob..." Kin said through the mask. He had actually trained this one personally.
"You're the mark?" The man said in confusion before Kin pulled the pin on the flash bang on Jacobs tactical vest and pushed him back into the hall.

When the chaos settled one of the men who had taken the shot through the wall slowly limped up and walked into the room. Bags and everything gone. He shook his head. Five men seriously injured besides him. Jacob was left with a bloody eye and was deaf for a week.
"alright, clean it up. Get injuries checked. Praetor Cashern is gonna be pissed..."

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

Spoiler: OOC

I was away for 4 days. Sorry for not warning everyone I'm back but only for tonight then I'm swamped until I finish moving back to college. Plan accordingly, Hussmann's word is law until I return.

Silas Grey stood before a massive dais of silver wherein it was kept, a sacrosanct artifact from before the aeons of strife tore humanity from Thassaria. What it was before few remembered, but Silas knew. It was the hearthstone of Thassaria, the last piece of that dead world long since annihilated rather than let the Destroy squat upon it. It was a simple stone inlaid with golden swirls and symbols that seemed to play across its surface. It hummed to him and showed his Illrian mark, Pain, and then began to speak. It was a low whisper, but it would have shaken a normal man apart. It was the Light itself.
"Betrayal." it said, and Silas's blind eye was filled with visions. The Praetor of the Rhyle, he knew every life and every thing they would ever do. But something had stuck its finger into the pool of fate, skewing it and changing it as it came together. What was to be changed, and the Praetor became an enemy. Silas frowned, he liked him...but to see his soul fallen to the dark paths made him sick. Silas then felt the stone's power lift him to face the Light, to behold its face as it spoke "The second Omen comes to pass. Oaths betrayed. You know what must be done."

Silas was lifted to reality again and he replaced the stone with the others, signifying the Illrians who had given of themselves to make the Knighthood. His own stone returned to its shape, and became like any normal stone. Their lifeblood, their connection to the Light, was so fragile and yet so strong. Silas looked at the mirror being held by the dragon statue behind him, and he knew what must be done.

~~~

Silas appeared suddenly before Anastasia, seeming to snap into existence as a blue-tinged apparition. "We are betrayed. The first Omen, the disquiet earth. The second Omen, the oath betrayed. Great wurms writhe beneath the surface of the earth, driven up by a corruption within. A betrayer has emerged among your people, the Rhyle, who deigns to smite Nicloaus and take of his knowledge and power. I have little time to talk, but know this...where we stamp out out one fire two more spring up. We must be swift and have no mercy. Kin must recover, and you must quiet the earth's denizens and you must strike down this betrayer in your midst. You are my hammer, the mail about my fist, the tip of my spear. Go and be blessed, for you do the Light's work...I shall appraise you as the Omens come to pass. Go, Anastasia, he is counting on you." and with that Silas's apparition suddenly vanished as it appeared, taking no questions.

 

[Hussmann54]

Ana fell to the ground. It was as if time had frozen for a moment around her. She came out of it, starting to sweat profusely. He heart beat out of her chest. Lying there in the snow, she took a few deep breaths and came back to reality. Ulrich offered her a hand up. "Come on girl, we keep moving."

He was right there in front of her. Not just a memory anymore. Flesh and blood. Suddenly two days seemed small. Four years after all, she had been waiting.

She stood up and shook the powdery snow from herself. He stride seemed bigger after that. She wasnt going to quit now. She couldnt.

Spoiler: Letter to the director of project talisman

I suppose some congratulations are in order, I just received word that an attack on Drakona Zhivot was launched with unexpected success. It is only unfortunate that not more prisoners could be freed in the process,but I understand, priorities are priorities.

Although I will say, your actions are still under great scrutiny. We dont like seeing an entire department and three divisions disappear over night. And yes, I know your organization was involved. The fact is, Kin is still a war criminal, and by Rhyle Code, must be handed to Internal investigations before this is all over. The council hasnt forgotten what he and STG 54 did seven years ago. Dont think time has washed away his trespasses. Your personal allegiance to Kin wont save him forever, and neither will it save you. If I find that you were in fact involved in the events London, you will be tried. Your status as a high praetor will not save you from your transgressions. So I suggest that, until this is all over, you keep yourself out of this affair and focus on whatever it is Project Talisman was meant to do in the first place. Or perhaps you have spent so much time talking to that old man up in his tower about insane old prophecies dug up from caves that you have forgotten your true job and your duty to the rest of us.

I trust you will make the right choices in these following weeks.

Praetor Julian Cashern, head of Internal Investigations.

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

Spoiler: OOC

fluff post is fluffy

With one final pen-stroke it was finished, all the letters would be sent with haste by raven to the rulers of organizations, and the desks of prime ministers and presidents. Allies were being made, compacts signed, deals drawn up...it was time to assemble the Conclave for the worst meeting they had yet faced.

~~~

The hubbub in the room died down as Silas stepped up from his throne and descended the 34 steps to the podium. He cleared his throat, echoing the sound throughout the room before beginning.
"Friends, I gather you here in times most dire. I was not fully truthful when we met to discuss the opening of the fissures across the earth. I was wrong to lie, but to say what I wished then would have damned us. Now I am sure of what is coming, and it is a juggernaut of undeniable power and unstoppable force.

Long ago, in the annals of time, Humanity called the world of Arath home. At first we were ignorant of the Light, our guardian and live-giver, we did not worship it and did not know it. When the prophet Archemorus brought us our faith, be became strong, and under one banner we joined together. But deep within Red Mountain slumbered the Darkness, the brother of the Light . What the Light creates, the Darkness is compelled to destroy. When the augurs of Red Mountain, beloved for their wisdom, awakened the Darkness they were corrupted. The heavenly host of the Light descended upon Red Mountain to cleanse the evil which had been awakened but in a great cataclysm the Darkness rose up and broke free of its restraints. The angels who had been blackened by the rise of the Darkness at Red Mountain became the Illrians, and theirs is a story I shall not tell now. Soon Arath was consumed, and Humanity fled. We made our home on Thassaria, but soon the Darkness's shadow was over us. It had only one want, to destroy all the Light created. Forever at odds they began to fight endlessly. Thassaria was destroyed rather than let it fall into the Darkness's hands to corrupt and use against us. What we built, what the Light helped us achieve, it wished to tear down and replace with its ugliness. We came to Earth last, and it is here we shall draw the line. For it is coming, the Darkness is on its way and even now emerges from its prison in the Primal Nether into the Far Veil. It shall emerge and fall upon our world like a great storm. It's harbinger are thirteen Omens, signs of the Darkness and its approach. A repeated pattern held through millennia.

The Darkness is coming, the Omens are emerging, and soon we shall fight with all our might and faith to save ourselves from the onslaught. I call you here in desperation, for we must fight as one or fall separately. I am also here to recognize and give thanks to the Red Knights for joining us, their strength shall keep order in South America and we thank them greatly for joining our union. Look to your people, and see that we all say with one voice we shall not fall before the Darkness. We shall give it no victory here, and should it try to take Earth and twist it to its own ugly designs, to squat upon it and make it another unhallow bastion, then we will agree to destroy the Earth and deny it its prize. This I put to you to debate, shall we unite to face what rises in the shadows? Shall we stand idly by while the Darkness moves to destroy all we have built? The Light is strong, the Light shall fight back. The question I put to you is shall we join the Light in the coming battle?"

Here Silas stepped down, and a flurry of noise rose from the balcony and soon it was a cacophony of questions, accusations and gestures thrown about. Silas sat back in his throne and lifted his staff to point at one who was shouting down from the balcony. "The Throne recognizes Erwin Heimskar of the Third German Empire."

 

[Daft Sikes]

CATCHING UP! WORK WORK WORK! SNIP

Phaedra looked at Baltreth, not at all amused. He gave him an empty smile.

"He is a human. Worse, he's a were creature. Half mongrel. He is nothing more than a mangy, slobbering mutt who tries to act like a human." He looked back ahead, his smile turning into a bored expression. "Now, do not waste my time, brother. I know that you wanted to ask something else, and I know that was not it. Something about my motivations, I believe?"

 

[Darth Caelum]

"The Throne recognizes Erwin Heimskar of the Third German Empire."

Shit just got real!

Perfectly alright. I have four projects due this week I think D:

Baltreth sighed.

"You always were a direct one. Fine. I come for two reasons, one between my Host and myself, and the other simply from me. The one between my Host and I is a relatively simple one. He fears that the problem regarding the Destroyer is massive in size and scale. As such, a question has arisen from him, and being the arrogant sociopath that he is, he decided not to phrase the question in a straightforward way.

He said that 'If given the choice between destroying an enemy's body ro subverting their mind, which would you choose?'



Baltreth stopped for a moment, almost hesitantly, before he continued.

"My own words on the other hand is simply that of concern. Are you alright Phaedra? You seem....unwell these past few days. Do you need assistance? Do you need help? I am here to assist you if ever need be."

 

[Hussmann54]

Spoiler: ooc

feel free to finish any convos before jumping your character, just make sure it is known.

As the group reached Verkohvansk, they settled into the tavern, which promptly closed its doors to grant them privacy. Ana walked to the back room. A cot had been set up and Kin was fast asleep on it. He had been cleaned of the grim and filth, and looked a little more like the man she remembered and he was wearing fresh clothes, the first in years probably. An oxygen mask fed him fresh air, and an IV was in his arm, pumping much lacked nutrition into him.

His chest gently rose and fell with each breath. Bandages were on his arms and head, probably elsewhere covered by the fresh linen sheets as well. She sat there for a few minutes just looking, thinking.

Something was different about him. A tattoo, barely uncovered by wrapped gauze. This was strange. She looked at it, puzzled. Gently taking his hand, she unwrapped the bandages enough to make out what it said. She spoke it out loud in curiosity.

"Follow the past."

She hadnt seen this on him, he had few tattoos to begin with. One on the side of his neck, the logo shared by all STG's, a fist full of arrows, with a banner with "54" written on it. Another, a tribal looking face of a bear, was a gift from Baron Saimed of the Dreamers, was on his hand. If one looked closely, they could see that the eye of the bear was actually three spades. A few others including his Stewards mark on his right forearm.

But this was different. Crudely done.

An old needle and crude ink, slowly driven into the skin over and over, somewhere in one of the many pits of Drakona Zhivot? There wasn't a lot of scarring around the writing, he received it willingly.

 

[Anti-American Eagle]

Ryan placed Kishima on the floor near the entrace and got to work finishing healing his wounds.

 

[Trasch17]

Sam sat near the back room.
"Follow the past." He listened up. Ana was in Kin's room.

[font color="grey"]Those two are close, aren't they?

Seems like it.

His mind began to wander again.
What exactly happened in Reykjavik? Who is this Gordon Gregory? And what's this?
He put out the syringe. It contained a clear reddish liquid.

[font color="grey"]Why don't you ask her?

An image of Ana popped up in his mind.

[font color="grey"]She seems to have connections. By the way we could try to seduce her and....

Sam wasn't listening anymore, but she was right. Ana has connections.
He stood up and entered the back room.
"How is he?"

 

[Daft Sikes]

Snip

"Do not patronize me, Baltreth," Phaedra snapped, the golden light in his eyes flaring up. "I am perfectly fine. Aside from me being forced to put up with you fools, I'm just peachy." An arrogant smirk, showed up on his face. "As for the rat's little question, is it not obvious? Vae victis. Woe to the conquered! My enemies will either bow down to me, or they will burn."

Phaedra returned his gaze to the path ahead, not saying anymore.