The Amberhills

Durgash continued on his travels, occasionally watching the horizon carefully for animals, for his food supplies were running rather low. As he walked, he stumbled upon this vast, golden plain. Eyeing through the few trees that grew here, in the fading daylight he was easily able to spot Riley Fletcher and his companion. His pace quickened, and he shouted: "Hey! Who there!?" Readying his battleaxe, he rushed towards the unidentified figures.

"Durgash not attacking human!" Durgash shouted, seeing Riley's drastic reaction.
He paused for a moment, then answered the question directed to him. "Me Durgash. Durgash need hunt! You see animal? Durgash like hard, tasty boar meat roasted on fire!!!" Durgash shouted.
"Durgash not have much food. Durgash exile from clan!!!"
"Human help hunt with Durgash? Durgash very good hunter! Durgash also STRONG! BIG ORC!!!"

Then, his attention was directed to the Cheesecake, Riley's fairy companion.
"Human! Watch out! You have bug!" Durgash said, honestly thinking the fairy a threat to Riley.

Durgash thanked him. "Ah! You very good human! Much thanking you." He said as he took the beef jerky.
He then put it in his mouth and started to chew on it. "Yes, good food..."
"If no animals here, then where? Human know?" He asked and started to think about something.
"We can make fire, so big and strong like Durgash! Then, Durgash can tell story." Durgash offered, thinking it would be as good a reward as any for the good gesture showed by Riley.
"Yes, Durgash will gather wood. Durgash strong, trees fall like... flies!" Durgash shouted once again, looking at Cheesecake when he said the final word.

Perhaps a battleaxe wasn't the best tool to cut wood, but regardless, Durgash started swinging his battleaxe against the trees. With a mighty thud, they all fell. Soon, there were only trunks as far as the eye can see.
"Durgash bring big wood! Wood log!!!" Durgash said as he brought the logs to Riley to cut into small pieces.
Soon, they both sat in front of the fire.
"Yes, yes. Hello Raaylee! And hello Cheeeese.. cake." Durgash greeted them as he begun to tell his story.
"In the far lands, so far that Durgash not remember how far... There was village, so full of orcs! Everywhere! That's where Durgash was born. Durgash parent knew that Durgash will be strong and big orc! One day, Durgash joined orc clan! Bloody Hands clan. Much fighting, much looting! Against elvins! Stupid elvins. And goblins. Puny creatures. But then, Bloody Hands clan Warchief died! It was Burguk Warchief. Killed by stupid elvins!" For a moment, Durgash looks as if he was about to explode with rage. "Was very sad moment. Soon, new Warchief was here, but... Warchief was bad! Weak, not good leader of orcs! He was: Wurrzag. Such stupid! I was Bloody Hands Grunt, but I no want stupid Warchief! I go to Wurrzag, I say he is weak! In normal, orcs would say like this: 'No! You weak! Me kill you!' But no! Wurrzag said: 'You aretraitor, Durgash! Kill Durgash!' Then, orcs attacked me! And Azhog, friend Wurrzag hit me with strong club! There were many orcs, Durgash had to run! Now Durgash must kill Wurrzag and save Bloody Hands orcs!" He says nothing more, ending his story and waiting for Riley's reaction.

Durgash seemed happier. "Yes, human says truth! Durgash will find greatest warriors, not weaklings like Wurrzag! Durgash heard of Herro Clan in southlands. Durgash going there, humans say Durgash can join clan. Training with human weapons! Make Durgash strong, Durgash kill Wurrzag!" Durgash shouted merrily.

"Yes! Riley come with Durgash. Will be fun! Can hunt monsters! Come, human! We must go south, very, very far." Durgash said, standing up. He packed some firewood to his bag, just in case and prepared for the journey to Aozora.

[Enter from The Black Tower]

The moon is nowhere to be found as Empress Naoki rides Haru over the Amberhills, but its light is not missed. Instead, the gross luminescence of an enormous beam of light stretches infinitely skyward, casting light across the hills for miles around. The beam is a product of a ritual conducted at The Black Tower, and its location marks the position of the fourth Gem of Croeria, that which is said to have power over Air.

In one hand Empress Naoki holds a golden scepter, long and straight. On its length can be found the other three Gems of Croeria, those related to Fire, Water, and Earth.

Uncharacteristically, Lady Naoki is clad in a suit of armor, ears to toes. For the first time perhaps ever, none of her skin is exposed, not even so much as an ankle. Despite this, the armor does little to conceal her identity. Aside from the fact that the helmet has allowances for soft little ears and there’s a scale-armored tail, the armor is every bit as shapely and elegant as its wearer, featuring the Isran crest prominently on the front and “Naoki” beautifully inscribed on each shoulder pad. Glowing yellow gemstones embedded throughout do well to lend favorable lighting and hint toward additional features.

On this fateful evening, Naoki is feeling nothing if not apprehensive. This is the first time since moving to The Free City that she’s gone beyond the borders of Isra into unclaimed, uncharted territory. There is some comfort to be found in that Grandma is somewhere close, as well as in the absurdly powerful weapon she carries, but not enough to keep her from fidgeting.

“_{Circle around it,}” she whispers to Haru.

Peering down past one leg, Naoki sees… Grass. Hills. A tree. That is to say, nothing. 'Nothing' is simultaneously precisely what she’d like to see and entirely unsatisfying. It feels as if there should be something, but she doesn't want there to be because that would become an Issue.

Shifting, she turns to look in the other direction, outward, into the darkness. Figuring it best to waste no time, she begins to reach out over the separating miles to those individuals who sit idle, awaiting her instructions.

Megan Zachurr was wandering the area on her ever-diligent quest to locate the Unholy Grail, with her staff Eulux in hand. Eulux had been starting to pull Megan toward the Amberhills when she was walking around Land-Tiller's Expanse. As part of her mission as a hero, she must always follow there here staff lead her to discover the magical wonders of the world and hopefully one day that Evil Cup. She had no idea what she was being pulled toward, but it must be something great as she notices the beacon lighting up the sky.

"Blimey! This will be a good story!" She said allowed, she couldn't stop to considering continuing as Eulux aggressively pulled her along like an energetic dog. Unless she encountered resistence, she would be able to find whatever it was the divine staff detected. With the big light show Megan was prepared for a gathering, luckily she would have a head start. She'd very likely cross paths with the Empress and Grandma

(Raulio Fletcher may or may not be with her, up to him. Either way Megan will tell him about it so he can write a poem about it or something)

The Dawn Riders 1st Company appeared mere moments after the Sentinels, led by their gallant and inspiring Commodore. The veterans took off into the air almost immediately upon appearing, quickly gaining height to enable a commanding view of the area. The Riders maintained a holding pattern as they awaited further instructions as to their mission here.