King Philus of Palamir sat anxiously on his lavishly gold plated and crimson jewel embedded throne awaiting the warriors that he sent out for. He personally chose the fighters that he would send on the treacherous journey to Mortair and the evil tower that the Wizard Deuce Baaj resided in. He was getting anxious, and his nerves were wavering and his nation hadn't much time before Mortair overwhelmed Palamir.

When will they arrive? We haven't much time!

King Philus yelled out at his servant. He stared him down before ordering him again.

Be sure that any of my hand chosen warriors that arrive are treated well and sent immediately into this chamber so that I can address them myself!

As the servant rushed out to fulfill his orders, King Philus slowly stroked his beard as he anxiously paced back and forth. His greatest fear was that none would answer the call, and he wouldn't be able to blame them if they so chose to stay home and be safe.

she walked around the town and hummed

"well this is a depressing town," she said looking around "why is everyone so glum?" she said mostly to herself

she turned and saw the palace and walked in "wow fancy" she said and looked around walking backwards staring at the paintings on the ceiling and she ran into a table and fell over

"ow" she said rubbing her head

"Oh where am I going now?" Talia grumbled turning her map upside down and to the side trying to find out where she was. She was slouching against the castel wall. "Some one asks me to come out of the blue and boom I end up lost!" She said crumpling up the map and tossed it over her shoulder. "Well might aswell look around." She walked up to the gate checking for guards before she went in. "Oooh, this looks promising." She smiled mischeviously and flicked one of the gold vases which rang with a hallow ring. "Yep, I think I've found what I was summond to." She saw a girl lying on the ground and peered at her from over the table. "Hi, uh, I don't think the floor is a very comfortable place to be!"

Shinu strode in to the royal territory of Palamir for the first time in his life, the final step in his search for greatness and a legacy that wouldn't soon be forgotten. He removed his helmet and arched his neck back to get a good look at the magnificent castle that he traveled a pretty good distance to get to. He was already proud to be called on by King Philus from the poorest region of the nation that his mother made their home in. His mother was long gone, but the dream that she left her son with was not.

With a deep breath and a bit of a sigh, Shinu walked in with his helmet in his left hand and his sword Nuraki tightly stored away in its sheath. He gave a nod to the guard as he outstretched his hand guiding Shinu towards a room where two girls were and a rushing man entered at the same time that he did. One of the two women was on the ground and Shinu rushed over to help her up with his right hand.

Are you alright Miss? Let me help you up.

He lifted her gently off the ground as he smiled to her, and then to the other girl. Once the girl was safely on her feet, Shinu let go of her hand gave a slight bow.

Hello ladies, my name is Shinu, it's a pleasure to meet you both.

Before they could reply and introduce themselves, the servant began to nudge them towards the King's personal court. Shinu would have liked to converse, something he didn't get a chance to do often, but duty called, and he was a professional at heart. The servant managed to get the three into the King's court and was relieved to see a smile come across his face as the King saw that the mission wasn't totally a loss. Still there were more to come, and a very key figure he needed to show up, but at this point, anything was better than nothing for this trip.

*a young girl stares down the local bartender* "Listen buddy, I only have ONE request! And that is to have a simple beer!" *the bartedner chuckles* "Heh, sorry, lil' lady, we can't sell any alcohol to young'uns."

*the girl slumps in a nearby chair* "Sigh, dammit...can I at least have a room?" *the bartender plucks his mustache* "Hmm...how much ya got on ya?" *the girl searches her pockets and then whimpers* "Eep."

*the girl walks out of the bar and bumps into a stranger* "Ouch! Hey, watch where you--" *she looks up and notices that it is a royal soldier she had clumsily interrupted* "Uh..I'm in trouble.." *the soldier gleams with surprise* "OH! Are you Yumiiko Suzumi?" *Yumiiko stands up and nods* "I am, how do you know my name?" *the soldier hands her a letter and Yumiiko opens it hesitatingly*

"Dear Yumiiko Suzumi, you are hereby selected to undergo a Pilgrimage of great importance, you must accept, the fate of many lives depends on you and a group of warriors. The meeting place is at the palace in Palamir.

By order of the King,

Philus of Palamir"

*Yumiiko dropped the letter, looked up at the soldier with a serious expression and said two words*

"...I accept." *the soldier then escorted Yumiiko to the palace*

*Yumiiko was impressed by the size and stature of the gates alone, but she kept herself from falling over* "Nice gate." *then Yumiiko nearly had a heart attack from the size of the castle, she opened the castle door and was overwhelmed by the ceiling* "It's so high above us. O.O"

*Yumiiko was them halted by a man dressed like a royal servant who seemed a bit flustered as he rushed Yumiiko to a room that was bigger than the hallway* "What's going on?" *the servant barked at Yumiiko* "YOU WILL SPEAK ACCORDINGLY TO HIS MAJESTY!" *Yumiiko whimpered*

*Yumiiko noticed two more females and a rather large man clustered in armor on the other side of the room, she then turned her head to the King, but her attention was quickly stolen by his shiny throne* "Nice to meet you, your....oooooohhh.."

"please dont tell the king! i dont think im sappous to be here." she whispered and started to inch away when a servent walked up with the vase she had broken in his hands

she gulped and smiled weakly "um...sorry?" she said and he rolled his eyes

"you have to pay for this" he siad and she double gulped

"if i said i had no money.... what would happen?" she said and he sighed

"oh i dont know jail! you did break into the palace and broke this antic vase" he said and she hung her head low

"o" she said and sighed

"well then....bye!" she said and started running away but he was standing infront of the door she she ran all the way around the room to the window and was trying to open it but it wouldnt budge

"come on stupid window!!" she said and turned around to see the man running at her

he reached out for her and she slapped him

"watch the hands pal!" she said and the man rubbed his face

she turned around to see the king staring at her and she smiled

"sorry for breaking your vase....and slapping your servent....and not addressing you as king....and trying to run away out your window...." she kept going

*Yumiiko is amazed by the tenacity* O.O "Wowee"

Shinu stood at attention with his helmet still in his hand, and thought for a bit about what the girl told him. She didn't think she was supposed to be here. Well he just couldn't quite understand that. He watched her slap the servant whom he was still holding himself back from knocking him out for his disrespect towards a lady, albeit a strange one. If she was going to come with them, she was going to be in danger, and he was going to have to help her. The other two girls that walked in seemed like they could compose themselves a bit better, and a dual swordsman seemed more than capable.

In the meantime, the King was having similar thoughts of his own. He liked what he saw from a fully armor clad knight with Shinu's size and the young man with two swords seemed capable. The young ladies however, he was starting to get angry at Queen Mylacia for suggesting he send women on the journey. She vowed it would bring more harmony to the group and make a path seem less devastating. Philus rolled his eyes at the thought, he just needed the job done. There were a few that hadn't arrived yet, and one in particular that he was especially waiting to see.

In Shinu's thoughts was the inclination that this girl who didn't seem to know what she was doing with herself could be a hindrance. Someone needed to calm her down, but no one knew her. The servant still hadn't stopped pestering her and the King was obviously lost in his own thoughts. One of the ladies seemed to be in awe of her surroundings, the other indifferent, and the man with the two blades was doing his own thing, so it looked like there would be no other choice. Shinu walked over to the girl and the servant and clipped his helmet on to the back of his chest guard.

I'm sure our services to King Phylus and our duties in honor of Palamir will be more than enough to compensate for the vase that she's broken. It's not wise to pester one of your potential saviors should this young lady succeed.

Shinu smiled at the girl as the servant backed away and he reached back to detach a ribbon from his helmet. He stretched it out to check it first and then looked back at the girl.

Give me your hand. This way you can stick with me until the meeting is over, and no one will bother you.

He lifted her left arm up and slid down the retractable armor plates on his forearm and placed his arm side by side with the girl's. He tied the ribbon gently around his right arm and her left, keeping them together to hopefully keep her calm for the time being. The guard wouldn't be bothering her with Shinu there any time soon.

I don't believe I've caught your name yet ma'am, but it seems like we have some time now to find out. I do believe King Phylus is waiting on something still.

"oh? thanks but im just an acrobat..." she said and looked at the tie

"well thanks" she said looking at her arm and smiling

"i would like to know what is going on.... oh and im kairi but my friends call me kai...that is if i had any... but that really isnt important" she said and smiled

"so what do you mean by IM going with you?" she said looking at him "i dont know if you have figured it out but im kind of clumsy..." she said and looked at her arm and then him

"but it would be fun..." she said her eyes shinning "wow another adventure" she said and sighed

"im so lucky" she said and her smile filled her face