“Sir Frederick Leftwing, Eagleknight!” the slightly tanned man decred. He was quite a beautiful man, with shoulder length red hair swept back, a shaven face. He had bright green eyes, like a pair of circur jade.

  He wore a breastpte, made of bronze, with the intricate details of an eagle leaping upwards, and draped over his shoulders was a long, bright yellow cloak, eagerly dispying himself before the group.

  In one arm he held a helmet the same colour as his breastpte, and a spear in his other hand, gripped tight. The spear was long, with wood painted bright yellow, and a broip, intricately carved.

  “It’s a bunch of bull shit that everyone is so pretty,” Adam whispered to Jurot.

  Jurot nodded his head slowly, though kept his words to himself. ‘You keep fetting you are a beautiful Half Elf.’

  The Eagleknight, who was quite young, the you Knight in the group, took point eagerly.

  “He still has the light in his eyes,” Adam said. “He must be new.”

  Jurot nodded his head. “An eager eagle.”

  Adam chuckled softly.

  They made their way towards West Wood, the own. They followed the road up the hills, though as Adam looked ahead, he realised just how far the roads stretched over the hills. His thighs were burning, and he couldn’t help but feel envious of the Iyrmen, all save for Aizaban, who suffered like him.

  Then he realised his puthral armour was lighter, and he felt as though he had betrayed the woman. ‘Sorry, but you have to suffer alone.’

  “I have to admit, these roads are quite nice,” Adam said as they walked on the main road.

  “This is the tral Aldnd King’s Road,” Paul said. “The safest road in all the nd, patrolled quite frequently. It’s maintained mostly by the taxes we pay at the gate.”

  “It’s only a copper or so,” Adam said, gng at the Vice Master.

  “For you, perhaps. I have to pay a silver piece each time, and do not fet how many Iyrmen beithril and Gold Rank,” Paul said, careful not to give specifics. “There were a number of Mithril Rank Iyrmen who went south, so each town on the way received at least a hundred gold from them.”

  Adam wasn’t sure if Paul should be saying this, but the others heir heads, and Adam realised that a hundred Iyrmen on the move probably was the talk of the nd.

  “There is mueweeowns, and Merts are taxed differently depending on their wares, but easily a gold for each time they pass through the towns.”

  “They aren’t taxed as much as the Kingdom would like, but the Mert’s Guild has mao provide many great services in the past,” Sir Harvey said.

  They mao reach the top of a hill, where they made camp for the evening in an area made up of small half walls.

  “How e there are so many of these camps?” Adam asked as the fire was lit.

  “That’s the Guild,” Paul said, smiling. “We make sure that the most used camps are well maintained. It’s part of an Adventurer’s responsibilities to mention if a camp isn’t clear, or something has overrun it. If you deal with it, you should, but if it’s too much for you, you retreat and we’ll set out a request to deal with it. Luckily, most of the camps nearby are well maintained.”

  “I notice that most of them look the same,” Adam said. “Is that by design?”

  Paul nodded. “They are to allow three full sized parties to sleep well enough, if a little cramped.”

  As they finished making camp, and the Iyrmen brought back a boar to roast and stew. It was evening by the time they noticed anure in the distance, who stepped towards them. It was a figure with something on their head, like a rge hat, but as they approached, the group could see it wasn’t a hat, but a rge bird.

  “Crowseer,” Aizaban growled to Lanban, who nodded his head.

  Jurot and the other Iyrmen perked up, staring over at the stranger, which was sloroag them. It appeared as though they were moving slowly, ahey arrived quicker than the group expected.

  The man, with the rge, dark bird resting on his shoulders, over his head, stopped he camp. He looked as though he was going to ast the group, but he turo face the rge party.

  He was tall, with pale skin, and encil thin. He was adorned in long cloths all about him, with a rapier at his side, and a e in hand. His eyes were dark, and though his face was hard to see uhe thin cloth across his fabsp;

  Their eyes moved in tandem, looking across the same people at the same time. He stopped when he saw the Half Elf, who was settled beside an Iyrman.

  “Son of Fate,” the stranger said. “You should be careful.”

  Adam blinked, having not expected to hear his self procimed title. “You know me?”

  “Mauriows you,” the man said, motioning to his giant bird, which was roosting happily against the man. “You may be half an Elf, but your mouth is wholly too big for your own good.”

  Adam g the bird, which seemed almost like a giant, fat crow on his head, it’s talons gripping the man’s shoulders.

  He o the bird. “Maurice,” Adam greeted, before his eyes fell ba the stranger. “I’ll take your warnings to heart, stranger, but who are you?”

  The man reached up and brushed the bird gently, brushing the bird’s side with two fingers, before he returned his hand to his side. “The Iyrmen call me Crowseer,” he said. “The Aldmen, well, their name for me is known to those who read their histories.” He nodded his head to Sir Harvey and the rest. “Best of luck to you all.” He tapped his e onto the floor, about to leave. “You should be careful tinuing, the various beasts lust for blood.”

  As quickly as he had e, he left.

  Sir Harvey and the Knights were on edge, unsure of the stranger, whereas the Iyrmen seemed more rexed, though excited to meet them.

  “Who the hell was that?” Adam asked.

  “They mentioheir name already,” Aizaban said.

  “Crowseer,” Jurot added.

  “I know his name, but who is he?” Adam asked.

  Jurot noted Aizaban’s look and fell silent.

  “He is only for the most unlucky to meet,” Aizaban said, but she did not give any more.

  Adam narrowed his eyes. “So, I’ll be dying soon, huh?”

  “You may not die yet, Adam,” Aizaban said. “You may be unlucky in another way.”

  Adam rolled his eyes. “No, no. I’m fairly certain I’ll die soon.”

  “How you be so sure?”

  “It’s me, that’s why.”

  They tinued along the few days, over the hills, and then north east, following the well paved road.

  Omen: 1, 19

  The Crowseer’s warning proved true, as they noticed a group of a half dozen Aurochs charged forward towards the rge group.

  “To battle!” Sir Merrick shouted, drawing his bde, and the Knights nearby took their position around Sir Harvey.

  The pair of Iyrmen grabbed their ons, eager for a fight, with Fate’s Golden arming themselves too. The pins had given them clear vision across each side, so they could see the Aurochs ing from many miles away.

  “It had to be Aurochs,” Paul said, bde in hand. “This is going to hurt.”

  Battle OrderD20 + 1 = 7 (6)

  Though they were still some ways away, Adam and Aizaban each possessed ratacks through their tricks.

  Mana 8 -> 7Chaos BoltD20 + 5 = 22 (17)Hit!3D6 = 12 (4, 4, 4)12 damage!

  Chaos BoltD20 + 5 = 22 (17)Hit!3D6 = 9 (2, 3, 4)9 damage!

  Adam felt his Mana course through him, the violent magic quickly throwing forward, spraying the magic out towards the same Auroch which Aizaban and Duruck with their own diviacks, keeping their Mana freater spells.

  Lightning shot forth from Adam’s hand, striking an Auroch.

  “Unlimited power,” Adam whispered, before feeling his face flush tomato red from the shame of it.

  The lightning bounced off the Auroo longer white hot, but white cool as it covered the Auro frost. The chaotiature of the magic ged its damage, from lightning to frost.

  “Well done!” Aizaban shouted, a wide grin on her face. “That’s the kind of magic I like to see!”

  Paul sighed, realising how excited she was. She and Lanban alone would be more than enough for these Aurochs, but there was o deny the youth their fuher.

  The group pulled back after the ranged blows of the Priests and Battlemage, who tio pepper the Aurochs with their magics.

  Fme BoltD20 + 5 = 21 (16)Hit!1D6 = 2 (2)2 damage!

  Fme BoltD20 + 5 = 14 (9)Hit!1D6 = 1 (1)1 damage!

  With two more Fme Bolts shooting out, striking the same Auroch as before, which was still charging forward, the others loosed their javelins and spears. Jurot and Dunes dowhe Auroch which Adam and Aizaban had been aiming for, as the others tossed their ons towards the frosted Auroch, which fell uhe ons whistling in the air.

  Jurot cshed against an Auroch, full e as it struck his shield, causing him to slide back. He swung his axe wildly, managing a deep blow into the creature as it snorted and roared at him.

  Another almost struck Kitool, but Jaygak intercepted it with her shield, though her arms throbbed wildly, and she almost tumbled backwards.

  Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2

  Attack (Fnking)D20 + 8 = 12 (4)D20 + 8 = 26 (18)Hit!1D6 + 2D6 + 5 = (2)(3, 6)11 damage!

  Onward Soar: 1 -> 0

  Attack (Fnking)D20 + 8 = 21 (13)D20 + 8 = 24 (16)Hit!1D6 + 2D6 + 5 = (1)(2, 4)9 damage!

  Adam dashed around Jurot, swiping with two heavy blows against the rge creature, almost a Bull, though its horns were wider and deadlier, and its fur was thicker, providing some prote against the bde, but not enough.

  Each blow struck true, threatening to slice the creature in half. It shook under his harsh blows, but did not give in. Its eyes were full e, and it was eager to skewer anyone in front of it.

  “You should settle down,” Adam said.

  Dunes mao heal Jaygak, who missed her first blow, before inhaling deeply and swingingly wildly, striking the Auroch with her powerful bde. The Auroch mao strike Kitool with its hooves, though she mao soften the blow, swingiaff agaisnt it.

  Jurot mao cut the Auro front of him in half, before he circled around the other, assisting Kitool and Jaygak.

  Fighting Spirit: 2 -> 1

  Attack (Fnking)D20 + 8 = 16 (8)D20 + 8 = 25 (17)Hit!1D6 + 2D6 + 5 = (1)(1, 1)8 damage!

  Adam’s bde cut through its neck, causing blood to sptter, a struggled against Fate’s Golden. Jaygak pierced into it with her bde, and Kitool struck it across its skull, though the creature skewered her on its horns.

  The woman gasped, letting out a soft breath, before falling.

  Dunes, who was certain it was going to fall after his blow, had thrust with his bde, though watched as Kitool fell.

  “Kitool!” Dunes shouted, trying to pull his bde out of the creature.

  Victory!Aurochs+200XPXP: 420 -> 620

  Quest plete: Embrace the ChaosXP: 620 -> 720

  Mana: 7 -> 6Healing Word1D3 + 3 = 6 (3)

  “Get up, Kitool,” Adam called, healing the Iyrman. He had more than enough Mana to heal her several times.

  “Thank you,” Kitool said, feeling the holes in her robes, and the soft flesh which had knitted over. She was half delirious, barely able to get onto her feet.

  “Any time.” Adam nodded. “Are you alright?”

  “Yes, thank you,” she said, staring down at her stomach. “You’ve saved me many times now, Adam.”

  “Like I said, any time.” Adam smiled, squatting down to pat her back. “What are friend for, eh? Don’t go dying on me before we fight the dragon.” He winked.

  “Aurochs,” Jurot said. “We will feast tonight!”

  “How’s the fur?” Adam asked.

  Jurot nodded. “It will be good to send back.”

  “So, how are we splitting the loot?” Adam asked, gng at Sir Harvey.

  “Half for myself, half for your party,” Sir Harvey said.

  “See that? We dealt with what, four of them, and he wants one of ours.” Adam smirked. “Alright, you’re the boss here.” Adam shook his head slowly.

  “If you wish to carry the furs a yourself, you are free to do so,” Sir Harvey said. “I thought, perhaps, you would have liked for me to use my various magical ste avaible to me.”

  “You know what, Sir Harvey,” Adam said, gng up at the Sir. “You ain’t half bad.”

  Sir Harvey narrowed his eyes.

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  Sir Harvey is slowly winning Adam over.