The Delightful Duties of the Warrior Prince (for RavenSaint)

[MajorMimosa]

The Kingdom of Depalmus was one of many wonders. Its forests were vast and filled with all manner of striking creatures, the people were diverse and cultured, and its royal lineage was truly aweinspiring. The King and Queen of Depalmus were fair and just, having lead their people into an era of prosperity and peace hereto undreampt of. Unfortunately, the long-lasting peace of one often builds strife in another, and many a fiend has spotted the great joys of Depalmus and wished to dash them to the rocks.

Enter, Prince Brioc Remus II! Ever since the young man was born, he excelled in everything there was to excel in. From swordplay, to horseback riding, to even learning a few spells! The people were enamored with the young prince, and that admiration grew with his age. As Brioc grew older, he developed a keen spirit of adventure from the many books and legends he was exposed to, and was prone to serving as a mercenary of sorts to the people. Throughout the years he had dismantled the bandit gang known as the White Skull Raiders, brokered peace with the hostile dryads of Whipwood Forest, and slain too many beasts to count. For twelve years he had been the staunch defender of Depalmus, his many quests and pursuit of glory granting a life he found wholeheartedly, unequivocally,-

"BORING!" the young prince stated harshly to himself, swinging a leg over to mount his steed. "I've saved this same bloody princess from this same bloody wicked queen more times than I can remember! At this point, she must want to get kidnapped!"

Yet again, a courier had arrived at the royal castle with a desperate, if not irritated, disposition. They had informed the prince that the beloved princess of a neighboring kingdom had been taken yet again by a mistress of dark magics, and only the great warrior prince could save her. At least the courier had the thought of going to the most experienced person, since Brioc saving her majesty and cutting down the evil queen was practically a yearly occurrence nowadays. The prince rode like the wind towards the crooked, ebony tower that plagued his land like a scar. Hopefully this would be over and done with quickly, and he could find something far more entertaining to do.

[RavenSaint]

Such an awe-inspiring kingdom with such an awe-inspiring lineage...no one could blame anybody for imagining, or even desiring, to do something diabolical to Depalmus. Be it causing hayhem or even trying to invade and takeover said kingdom. Fortunately there seems to a hero of herculean qualities available to keep said kingdom safe...though with many success can lead to the dreaded enemy known as boredom. For boredom can dull one's blade, weaken one's skills and eventually make the indestructible destructible. And with how much of a Princess Peach complex Princess Cordelia Lelaborn appears to have...that potential destruction could end up coming sooner than later if the man who have been excelling in many things excel in finding something to conquer the boredom caused by this form of normality.

Though a nicer kind of normality may be something Faeryl Balor may treasure as life hasn't been kind to the dark elf since she was exiled from her own tribe for her refusal to hurt another. Sure she managed to find a church that accepted her, in which - during the years she has lived there - she has learned how to use White Magic to heal others while making an oath to herself to never even strike - let alone harm - anyone, but Faeryl was eventually forced to leave by growing members who'd distrust all drow. Such an unfortunate fate for a race of almost universal dislike. And thus, for years, Miss Balor has been travelling on a personal adventure to show that not all dark elves are bad people...though part of this journey does involve finding somewhere to belong.

So maybe this bizarre, half twisted half bent, tower could be this somewhere in question?

Hence why the girl, who's appearance - if not for the pointy ears, white hair and dark skin - could be mistaken for a twenty three year old human, is on this not so friendly looking road in these not so pleasant looking woods...and almost trampled upon by the stallion that charged by. Only barely being missed because the girl barely jumped out the way in time. "Ca-Careful!" Faeryl called out as she steadily gets back up to her feet.

(Basing Faeryl's appearance (though without a weapon) on: https://www.deviantart.com/raitvisua...cept-828794040)

[MajorMimosa]

Prince Brioc couldn't help but sport a scowl as his beautiful mount flew through the winding path towards his destination. After years of repetitive rescues, his dealings with the Evil Queen had gone from heart-poundingly intense clashes of might and magic to predictable dances. He had learned all of her tricks, carried charms and learned minor encantations to dispell the activation of her stone constructs, and even carried a pouch of magical dust that would ignite his blade to quickly deal with her fondness for ice-based magics. Having learned so much, with the Queen learning so little, he truly felt like an adult going into combat against an unruly child. The metaphor made the prince chuckle dryly. "Perhaps I'll skip the swordplay and simply take her over my knee this time!" The young warrior joked to no one in particular, save for his hazel steed Brontes who snorted in response.

The journey quickly became a blur; trees and plains becoming an almost constant stretch of terrain as Brioc and Brontes entered a more dense portion of the forest before the clearing that housed the accursed tower. Brontes was the fasted steed in all the land; so fast in fact that after turning a particularly sharp corner, the steed hardly had time to register the young woman directly in his path! With a curse, Brioc wrenched the reigns backwards, nearly flinging himself from the back of his mount in a desperate attempt to spare the pedestrian the fate of being trampled.

"Oi, woman!" The Prince shouted, easing his startled stallion into a pivot in order to face the stranger. "Bring a hound or carry a torch or bells with you next time! We almost stamped you into the bloody earth!" Fuming, Brioc took a moment to look over the woman. He immediately was able to recognize that she was beautiful, but further investigation lead him down a familiar path. Her umbra skin, pointed ears, even down to her attire...

"I see. A Daughter of the Greywood, aye? I had believed you and your cult driven out of my realm, but I suppose I was wrong. Very well!" Prince Brioc Remus II slid off of his mount with practiced elegance, placing a hand on the jeweled hilt of his longsword. "I am a tad busy this morning, but I suppose I can fell one witch on my way to my quest." There was a shift in the prince's demeanor as he strode closer; his shoulders seemed to broaden and his stormy eyes ignited with a strange intensity. Even Brontes seemed to sense it, neighing and facing the dark elf with the eyes of a predator.

"Have at you then, witch! Cast your wards and speak your last spells, for the Warrior Prince has come to smite thee!"