The Chaos Wars have begun. No one knew quite how or why it came to beasts against humans. they only knew what their rulers told them that the others were scum.
Among these, a powerful and virtious knight by the name of Sir Benedict Aratose. he was highly decorated as was particularly respected for his wisdom and insight into the workings of the world.
he served under the 23rd Ruler of Grada, King Thearos Aredar whom himself was a most powerful warrior, worthy of the throne. he had a son, Siegfred, whom he brought up by the law of the battlefield. Benedict fought every battle in the name of Aredar and showed mercy to whomever he could.
Once, after defending a small village from invasion, he came across a young 10 year old boy. the boy had no name and seemed to appear mute in fear. Benedict took him under his wing and named him Nazareth Dragonheart, after a most powerful warrior from yore. It was this boy who would shape and destroy the destinies of men.
This tale begins at what has been labelled by many as "the beginning of the end", where Benedict, accompanied by his young squire, summoned warriors from all over the land of Grada to participate in an infiltration mission into enemy territory, with a large monetary reward from the king at stake.
they wait in a clearing inside a forested area next to the Threash/Grada border.

Through the gathered crowd of warriors, a dark, slender figure slipped, taking little notice of what was going on. Considerably smaller than the select, most hardened warriors of the land, the figure, despite its staure, stuck out noticably.

Benedict quietly nudged his young squire and said, "look there. that person is one of the most feared in the land. neither on the side of justice or injustice, they are particularly vicious, uncontrollable even. keep an eye on that one, could prove invaluable for your future quests. now, on to things then, no point dragging this on much longer. time to provoke something."
Benedict annoced loudly to the crowd, "so, which of those out there have experience in dealing with powerful, mighty mages?"

The slender figure stopped its pacing and a gutteral growl issued from under its hood. "Benedict...did you call me here for mind games? Or maybe pillow talk? Unless you have forgotten I am here, as requested?" during it's speech, the person did not remove it's hood and kept their voice a low growl, but this could not disguise the fact that the voice was very much a feminine voice...

"well, Lady Tysher, look around at what a rabble you see. all sorts, mercs, theives, bards, mages. sure, they all have there own unique abilities and useful abilities but they look like they have still got their mothers milk around their lips."

"Bards?" the smirk was audible. "Are you wasting my time with theives, bards and mages?" the voice was getting angry now. "And as for their apparent youth...I don't look oldenough to be a mother myself, do I?" Nemrith puled her hood from her head, a cascade of dark brown hair falling all the way down her back. A large pair of mismatched eyes, one blue, one grey and a jagged silver scar that marred her left cheek were her most noticable features, but as she had said, she looked as though she was still in early youth, no more than 17.

"yes, well, i believe in many a rumour that fly around these parts and, should the stories be true, you''ve seen more battle than i've had warm dinners. i'm asking you to come with me, i require someone of your experience and lore. none of these people have travelled much and i'm not willing to risk young lives thus so."

"I will consider it, as long as I know where I am to be going and for what cause, and also why is there a little boy practically hanging off your belt?" Nemrith asked, approaching Benedict, pushing through the crowds of hardened men as if she were merely in a field of long grass. A few discontanted grumbles met her ears but she ignored them.

"this is my squire, Dragonheart. he doesn't talk, fear and trauma engulf his mind but i sense this boy's importance in the future."

"Then what use as a squire is he?" Nemrith said mockingly, folding her arms. The gathered mercs were getting more and more restless at the sight of this cocky girl child talking to the famous knight who had summoned them for a promised great sum of money, as if he was something the girl had scraped off her shoe in the stables.

"it drives him, he has high potential. he must thing in the ways of right and wrong, else he will be the destruction of us all."
Benedict drew his eyes away from the 2 and annouced once more, "any others, willing to accept my offer must first porve themselves of sound mind and of wise lore. hence forth, those who can tell me where i could find the greatest combat monks known will follow upon my quest."

Nemrith laughed. "You'll let them come if they know where the monks live? Forgotten yourself? Please, I knew the stories when I was still in the nursery in my family's manor!"

"you'ld be surprised about the amount of information that gets through to these people..."

"Really? I hope I am not too dissapointed. So, anyone come forward yet? Or are they all too shy of what they know? And knowledge, while it can be lifesaving is not always everything..." Nemrith said with some meaning as if she were hinting something. She was now stood quite near to Benedict, but was watching him warily all the same.

they waited for agonisingly long minutes. nervous and desperate faces shot glances at each other. "no one knows? so be it then."
he spoke to Nemrith softly, "now is the time to leave. we'll let them jump us later..."

"How delightful," Nemrith replied, observing him carefully. "So you gathered all of these people together, just to get me? You could have just made it a bit easier and simply summoned me alone, or didn't you think we would trust you?"

"well, i was hoping to spot anything else."

"Anything or any one?" Nemrith said in a dark tone. "Were you hoping for someone else to appear?"

(tumbleweed.....)

The tumble-weed was suddenly caught by a cloaked figure in a victorian era hat, he crushed it and let the dust fall to the ground before stepping forward slowly -and in a manner that seemed like he was floating.

He wordlessly took place beside them, now in plain view, it was obvious who it was.

((If you're Dorian....no one knows who he is in this one!!))

((Of course, but Dorian is supposed to be a reasonably infamaous assasin.))

((Nemith doesn't, this girl is more backwater than anyone))

"And who are you supposed to be?"

(hey, if he gets the ball rolling, i'm game)
"Hmmm, that attire suggests he is an assasin but..."

"No shit..." Nemrith rolled her eyes. "And assassins are meant to be subtle too..."

He simply shook his head in amusement, "I am Dorian, and that is all anyone ever needs to know. The fact that you didn't is highly amusing."

"Little wonder....I dont exactly...interact with people very much."

"enough. so, assasin, what brings u out from under you're rock?"

"I was simply amused by this gathering of misfits" He paused, "No offense meant.

"Well they are rarther amusing...but take heed; I am not a person you want to annoy very much, so refrain from talking to me if at all possible."

He turned and looked her in the eyes for a moment, seeming to look at exactly what she was thinking "Just as I thought, fascinating. I'll definitely have to talk to you often." He turned back to Naz.

"So what are we doing? I arrived little late."

(my main character is Benedict. Naz is but a boy at the moment)

"waiting for a message to arrive. ah, here comes him now." a man mounted upon a white stallion rode at great pace towards them. the stallion skidded to a halt. Benedict took a piece of parchment from him, read it and dismissed the messenger.
"right then, follow me and i will explain things in due course."

"You expect me to be your little lap dog and follow you everywhere? No Benedict, explain first, then I shall go with you." Nemrith glowered at him, folding her arms.

Dorian looked at the crowd, he then turned to benedict

"I assume you simply do not wish to explain in front of this crowd?"

"That would make sense, but then again we are stood in front of a bunch of drivelling idiots..."

"Never underestimate stupid people in large numbers..."

"Why not? I have done before and it has been most accurate."

"Well, I've also jumped off a building before. I managed to live that time, but does that mean jumping off a building wont kill you? Things are never the same and similar situations are still differrent, it's better to not pressume so much...."

"Jumping off a building wouldn't kill me. Not much would. I don't really give a damn, so please, be silent." Nemrith made a face at him, turning to face Benedict.

This conversation was overheard by the crowd and their blades were drawn, ready to attack.
"this is exactly the kind of situation i wished to avoid."
he raised his hand to the crowd. "enough, go now back to you're homes before i have you all killed for treason against the king.
the crowd dispursed quickly. "come now. once we get over the border, i will be able to explain things. not here, not now."