[Post Here First] Itami Castle Gate

"Hello, it has been a while since we last spoke," Asthor would say in an inquisitive tone. He remembered the man from when he was first here."I am here to see the warlord and seek out a task." Aozora

"Thanks"

<exits>

Sibrand led his loyal band of Brothers past the bazaar and towards the castle gate, Lady Audrey situated safely in the midst of them all. It might have been a routine checkpoint, just like they had gone through earlier, but this time would be very different.

A small crowd of Ao citizens had began to follow behind the party. They grew in size with each step. Expressions of curiosity and surprise turned to anger. Some of those in consort had even brought weapons with them...

These were Wickans, or at least a very small portion of what was left of them. They were the target of the Wickan Crusade - the sole reason the Brotherhood had been created in the first place. Their men were massacred, their women and children displaced or enslaved, and their homeland occupied by the foreign order. Their entire way of life, culture, lineage, and history had been uprooted and nearly purged by the Knights of the Black Cross. In every sense of the phrase they were mortal enemies.

As the Knights drew upon the gates to Itami Castle, so to did their dark history.

"Murderers! Demons! Slavers! "
"My son is dead because of you! Dead!"
"You will pay with your lives for what you did to my family!"
"Killers! Murderers!"

Insults erupted from the gathering crowd, which now outnumbered the small escort. Lady Audrey became curious and attempted to peek outside, but Sibrand - drawing his blade - looked at her and shook his head. The Knight-Brothers gathered around the carriage. Now armed and in line to charge... the Brothers looked to the Ao castle guards... waiting to see what their action and reaction would be...