(AU) The Empire's Tactician [OPEN]

[Timmir]

Within the confines of Galbotorix's castle lied a dark and damp room. The room was completely windowless with the only sources of light being from candles that lied along with stacks of books upon some of tables and drawers that rested against the wall. There were several maps that lined the wall, each showing a detailed description of several key points within Alagaesia. In the center of this room lied a large oaken table with a giant map of Alagaesia resting upon it. Several figurines and flags, colored red and blue, stood proudly on this map, each representing either the Empire or the Varden respectively.

A lone hooded figure stood in this room, studying the map with great care. While the cloak this figure wore had begun to wore with age, the defiant symbol on it revealed who it's owner is. Farore eyes carefully considering each and every move that each figurine could possibly make before finally deciding on it's best course of action. Then, with nothing more then a slight whisper, that figurine would move on it's ploted course before another figurine would intercept it, knocking the first figurine over.

She backed away from the map as she slumped down onto a chair, grabbing a book behimd her as she did so. She then turned to a specific page as she absorbed the information the book had held for the umpteenth time. She then stood up, still reading the book in her hand. She whispered another line from the ancient language, as the figures returned to their original starting places as she started the whole process again.

((So for those who can not tell, this is an AU about if Robin took her back to Galbotorix after defeating in Hadaroc Desert.))

[Timmir]

((So, since there has been some confusion about this thread, and I'm bored and have nothing better to do, I thought I would try to better explain the Alternate Universe this takes place in. Basically for those who remember Farore's back history, when Robin had defeated Farore, instead of trying to wipe her memory, he decided to take her back to Galbatorix. There she was forced into his servitude as his Tactician/Strategist, a position she still holds even now. Also, since this was asked earlier, this does take place during the current time in the RP, so you can use any of your characters to join in this thread. So yeah... I hope this better explains the situation I was going for in this AU thread. ))

[Emiryal ♕]

(thanks for the explanation, that helps. And sorry I didn't post till now. I was planning on doing it after that PM but kinda forgot and got busy. xP )

The door to the room unceremoniously was shoved open. A blonde haired boy walked into the room, not bothering to close the door behind him. His right arm was wrapped from wrist to elbow in white material. He'd been careless in a practice fight with his father and had nearly lost his arm from it. While he could've used magic to heal it, his father had insisted he let it heal naturally. He wasn't sure of the logic behind this but he wasn't going to defy Galbatorix.

He walked over to the map and looked at it for a moment then seemed to notice Farore for the first time. "Galbatorix wants a report on any progress you've made. The Varden took a few minor cities north of Dras Leona. We need a plan they are probably going to act again soon. We need your input now!" he said. He was dressed in fine silk and a thin golden crown rested on his head. He wasn't just a rider, but he was Galbatorix's son, which made him a prince.

"Don't be so brisk Reru, I'm sure she's trying her hardest, she knows the situation as well as we do," Avendel said her voice like honey. Reru smiled. "Yes, I'm sorry I'll try," he assured her. His dragon meant everything to him. He'd nearly lost her fighting Brom but as fate would have it she had lived and the blow hadn't been as fatal as it had looked. As long as he had Avendel he didn't really care what happened. Actually that was how he'd been injured, Galbatorix had taken a low blow attacking Avendel who was watching from a perch on the wall. The attack had caused Reru to lower his guard to help her and Galbatorix had taken the opportunity and nearly taken his arm off.

He subconsciously rubbed the injured arm gingerly thinking about it, he gasped though as that sent pain shooting through his arm. It took a while for it to subside. "Uh sorry Farore. I should've have been so rude... I guess my father has just kinda gotten to me lately. He nearly amputated my arm this morning during training. Any luck yet?" he said his tone more friendly and kind.

[Quetzal]

((Empire Farore and non-crazy Reru? Count me in! The only change here is that Ri'Shei was more successful at Dras Leona so didn't get captured by the Varden, making her reputation in better standing in the Empire))

Ri'Shei knew the Empire were in trouble with the Varden. Their numbers had grown and the Empire was losing more and more of its land and people by the day. They did, however, have some very skilled people on their side. Hopefully talent could win them this war.

The spartan was pacing outside, waiting for scouts from a group she had sent out nearly two weeks past. Some she could only presume to be dead, but others had sent letters forward to inform her they were returning. One had already returned empty-handed. Finally she saw a thin and short man racing up to her, silent as any good scout should be. She stopped and waited for him to catch his breath, then listened to what he had to say. "I found a small group of the Varden... they've captured a village, taken the horses... now they're riding away from the others, they weren't deserters, they had orders from Nasuada or Sir William or someone... I followed them for a while, and a few other groups joined them. I don't know what they plan to do," He panted. She dismissed him with a wave of her hand.

The Varden were up to something, if groups were joining to ride away from all the action. She could fight and lead, but figuring out what this meant was beyond her. She would have to tell someone with a different skillset to her, and Farore seemed ideal out of the people she knew of. The tactician had been with the Empire for an awfully long time so was well trusted, and was quick to see patterns in actions. It was incredible seeing her mind at work.

Ri'Shei stepped inside and climbed the stairs, toga-like dress flowing behind her. Regular soldiers and servants stepped out the tall woman's way, something which always amused her. Finally she reached the room where the tactician did most of her work, to find it already open. She glanced in to check that Farore was indeed there before entering, seeing Rerukusu inside as well. She wasn't really fond of Riders and their often obnoxious and arrogant attitudes, but Ragdar was nice enough and she had never really spoken much to Reru. Perhaps he was all right too.

Clearing her throat, she walked towards Farore. "One of my scouts has just returned. He says a few smaller Varden groups have been joining forces after taking small towns and villages, and are marching away from the main Varden force on orders. Most of my other scouts can be presumed killed. I was hoping you might be able to make sense of this, Farore." she informed the other woman, glancing at Reru but mostly focusing on the tactician.

[Brenton]

((Confined to 3DS and cell phone for at least another week while my laptop is being worked on. So these will be short posts.))

The dark shadow slipped through the halls and passages like the wind through a barren landscape. Unseen and unheard, the former elven prince drew two daggers with lightning shaped blades and crept up to the lone guard. For being a capital city, Uru'baen was really weak in defenses. Brenton shrugged and in a blinding motion the guard was dead with nothing but a small gasp of released air as the blade ripped his throat.

Brenton had spent years training with the best assassins and spies after it happened. That night so long ago when Islanzadi had discovered his hidden fortress in Eastern Du Weldenvarden. She had disowned him as well as banished him but now he heard of her death and Arya going missing.

So now he was sneaking through Uru'baen unseen while looking for a person to kill. The tactician, Farore, would be the best choice. Yet he doubted he would hit her when the time came.

[Timmir]

Farore didn't look up from the table when Reru had entered the room. While she may of look liked she was to absorbed in her work that she was completely unaware of the heir's presence, quite the opposite was true. She listened as the young rider snapped at her, before shortly apologizing, mentioning that his father was getting to him again. She had to admit that, even though Reru was Galbatorix's son, she did enjoy the boy's company from time to time. So it did annoy her abit whenever Galbotorix did something like this.

Another person then entered the room, a spartan named Ri'shei, informing her of the scouts recent news. A sly smile appeared on her face upon hearing that the Varden were doing what exactly she expected them to do. She whispered a few lines in the ancient language, causing a few figures to group up with each other. She then looked up at the other two for the first since the pair had entered before closing the door with a word of magic to ensure what she was about to say didn't leave this room.

"Well, I guess the Varden are preparing to make their move. We are finally approaching the end of this war afterall." She then went on to explain what she believed the Varden were planning to do and what they could do to try to stop them, her voice sounding cold and calculating as she did. During her explanation, she moved the figures on the table to better visualize what she was saying.

"So what do you think?" She asked as she eyed the pair carefully, seeing if their were any signs of confusion on either of their faces.

[Emiryal ♕]

Reru didn't say anything when Ri'Shei entered the room. He knew of her but had never spoken to her directly. Besides he was waiting to hear what Farore would say. He was holding his injured arm close to himself to minimize the change of irritating it. He listened carefully as Farore explained the situation, and he smiled as he got what she was getting at. "I think the Varden are in for a beating," he commented.

While Farore had been explaining he'd gone a bit pale. Not from what she said but the pain of his arm, he looked like he might faint. Instead he pulled out a chair at sat down. He wasn't in very good condition right now but he couldn't stop to rest, if he did his father really would take off his arm.

"Sorry, I just need a moment," he said. "Your plan looks sound to me. When does our first offense need to be to go through with this plan?"

[Quetzal]

Ri'Shei had been puzzled by the Varden's actions and concerned about the deaths of some of her scouts, but Farore seemed pleased by the news. The other woman clearly knew what she was doing. Ri'Shei listened intently to her explanation, just about managing to follow. The moving figures were a big visual help for her. Tactics on a large scale were not her strong point, but she knew how to fight and she knew how to lead. The plan was a clever one and she knew it was better than anything she could come up with.

It was odd to her that Reru had his arm in bandages. He was a Rider, couldn't he just heal it himself? She could use magic to do that much and her abilities were not as strong as those of a Rider. Seeing him so tired he had to sit down was a very strange thing. Right now was a poor time to ask questions as they had more important things to talk about, but she made a mental note to ask later.

"Our first offense should not be before long. At the rate my scouts have been seeing the small Varden groups joining, we shouldn't waste much time," she suggested, looking to Farore for the final decision on this. Then they could get down to the nitty gritty specifics; working through rough parts of the plan, running it through, briefing and assigning people to jobs, that sort of thing.

[Brenton]

Brenton flicked the cowl of his dark blue, almost black, cloak over his head and soon he was fading into the shadows. Silent movement and unseen attacks were necessary for something of this size. Swiftly he dashed down the hall and sprung upward, grabbing a ledge, before he crawled forward. Three guards circulating the halls with a clear shot so Brenton pulled his bow from his back.

He nocked an arrow at the string and pulled back while aiming. With a deep breath he shot and the arrow killed two guards. Unfortunately the arrow hit a wall and missed the third guard who immediately raised the alarm.

In a split second he slung the bow over his shoulder and ran. The ledge moved to the left and right so Brenton chose the right and ran before skidding to a stop and retracing five paces. In the stone was a hidden entrance that Brenton barely felt with his mind.

Quickly he muttered a spell and Brenton walked through the stone and into the passage. He ran further before he walked through the wall and onto another ledge. Brenton ended the spell and crouched down, blending into the stone.

[Timmir]

Farore looked at Reru with a worried expression as the rider seemed to have gone pale and needed to sit down. However, the expression disappeared as soon as it appeared when Reru asked when they would need to mount their offensive. Ri'shei then chimed in, suggesting that they should start soon, which Farore nodded in agreement.

"Exactly, we'll need to send messengers to our soldiers immediately telling them to start moving out. If all goes to plan, they should be able to reach the Varden quickly and put a stop to their plans." Farore's attention then shifted to Reru, "And I hope your father doesn't expect you to fight like that. Especially seeing how we're soon going to need every able body rider we have, and the last thing I need to hear is that you died because you weren't able to protect yourself properly."

It was around this time she heard the alarm being a raised. She looked up for a second with a knowing glint in her eye, before looking back down to the two other people in the room.

"I suggest you both go and figure out what's going on. If I had to guess, someone has probably been spotted within the castle perimeter, and they haven't been friendly, so be careful." She told them before pulling a book from her collection. She then grabbed a seat and sat down as she began fingering through the book. "Now then, I have work to attend to. So if you two don't mind, can you make sure to close the door on your way out. This is a sensitive room after all, and we don't want just anyone getting in here." She mentioned politely, if somewhat absentminded as she read the book.

[Emiryal ♕]

Reru glanced towards the door as the alarm sounded. "Galbatorix doesn't want me dead. He won't leave me injured before an important battle," he said. "As much as he seems cruel in some way he cares for me. I am his only son and for that he has never made me swear oaths to him." He seemed to realize just then Farore was busy with a book and maybe hadn't heard him. He had never said anything but he liked Farore, he thought she was very pretty and he enjoyed being around her. He had considered not coming to find out about what she'd planned and send someone else to report it to him later, but he had wanted to come himself.

He stood up, still looking pale but the alarm demanded it. He needed to see what was going on. But instead of headed right out he went over to Farore and with his good arm pushed the book down into her lap then put his hand under to chin and guided her gaze to his. "I'll be careful," he promised. "I'll make sure no one gets in here or gets to you." Then he leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the cheek. He'd never openly shown his feeling for her until now and he wasn't sure how she'd respond. He hesitated a moment before turning and walking out of the door drawing his sword with his right hand. He usually fought left handed but he didn't dare heal his arm unless he had to. So he'd fight with his off hand should he run onto the trouble. Chances were it was a spy that got found out and was trying to flee, but then again you never knew. He took up a position outside the door to guard the room. He didn't know where the commotion was but this room held valuable information and it needed to be watched.

[Quetzal]

The sound of the alarm made Ri'Shei jump. It had to be one person or a small group, since they would have noticed a large number of people heading for them. They would either be fleeing for their lives, or trying to find something. Unless they were a fool there would be something specific in mind, since no-one would face the near certain death of entering Galbatorix's home without being in desperate need of something. Her mind turned to dragon's eggs, then to the Riders and other powerful threats to the Varden. This could be an assassination attempt. The king was too strong to be in danger. Other important people, books containing forgotten knowledge rescued from dangerous ruins, these were all at risk. She supposed that made the three of them in this room as well as all the maps and plans were in danger too.

Her hands rested on the hilts of her twin swords while she walked to the door. Turning back she saw Reru kiss Farore on the cheek. Her eyes widened. He... what? She had never suspected him of having feelings like that towards anyone. He must have guarded them well.

Stepping outside, she tried to ignore what she had just seen. "If we find out what they're after, we can predict their movements and stop them reaching their goal," she paused, remembering the value of the room they stood outside, "This room's a potential target, so we should guard it. Everyone will be after this intruder... I'm going to have a look to see if they're around here, but I won't go far," she left Reru to do as he pleased. Looking both ways down the corridor, she strode down to the right and began reaching out with her mind into the walls, floor, and ceiling, searching in all directions for any sign of life. There were bugs and mice, but the only people she felt were guards hurrying to find the intruder.

[Brenton]

Shadows and brief flashes of light were his only companions as the elven prince dashed through the area and stopped. There were Empire soldiers all around but below him was a single person. Rerukusu Galbatorixsson crouched in waiting but Brenton waited himself. Quickly he shielded his mind and muttered a spell to prevent anyone from detecting his mind as the Spartan walked by.

Brenton pulled out three smoke bombs as well as a knock out agent bomb. In rapid succession he threw all of the bombs and jumped down. As his feet hit the ground softly, Brenton held his breath and slipped through the door. Right in front of him was Farore.

[Timmir]

While she didn't look like it, she was listening intently on what Reru was saying. She found what he said about Galbatorix hard to believe, thinking that it was most likely just Reru blinded by his adoration to his father. Though, she guessed, it was possible that a man as insane and power hungry as Galbatorix could possess some fatherly instincts.

She was then caught by surprise as she found her book being lowered onto her lap. A hand then gently pushed her chin up to find that it was Reru who was doing it. Her mind went into overdrive as she tried to figure what Reru was doing. That was when she felt him kiss her cheek.

Her mind just stopped as she was completely stunned by what Reru had just done. Out of all the things she thought could of happen in that moment, Reru kissing her never came to her mind. Of course, in hindsight, she guessed it was a bit obvious. All the signs were there, but still.

She remained completely silent until Reru had left the room, unsure what she should say. Once he did, her hand raised to touch the cheek he had just kissed. Did he honestly have feelings for her? If so, how much about her did he really? Did he know about...

She shook her head, knowing right now that the last thing she needed right now were any distractions. She had to focus as she knew the intruder could arrive here at any moment. After all, it was her, the head tactician of the Empire's army, that they were coming after. Once she was dead, it would be one less obstacle between the Varden and Galbatorix.

Her eyes looked at the door intently as she heard small explosions on the otherside. Soon the door opened to reveal the intruder, who looked to be an elf, or of elvish decent.

"Well, you proved to be alot louder then what I expected." She told him as she remained in her seat, her eyes quickly studying up the elvish assassin.

[Emiryal ♕]

The smoke bombs caught Reru by surprise. Brenton was proving very capable and resourceful. He coughed on the smoke but the knock out agent caught him and he collapsed. He should've been more on guard and prepared for anything, but a combo of his injured arm and his feelings for Farore blinded him. It was a few moments or seemed like a few before Avendell's voice managed to rouse Reru. As he opened his eyes he found a man kneeling near him, one of the empire's mages. "Avendell sent me," he explained helping Reru up, after having countered the knock out gas. The half elf cried out as his injured arm was bothered, he'd landed on it when he'd collapsed making it worse. "Thanks Avendell," he said to his dragon. "You need to be more careful," she partially scolded him. "Let me heal that for your my lord," the man offered reaching out to his arm. Reru backed away his mind racing. "No don't, I'm fine," he insisted. As much as it hurt it would be worse if he let it get healed, his father wouldn't be pleased if he did.

Then it came rushing back, the smoke from the bombs was still lingering so he couldn't have been out long. Farore! Was she okay. He picked up his sword which he'd dropped when he'd been knocked out. Then rushed into the room headless of his injured arm. "Farore?!" he called out worriedly as he entered looking for her. She wasn't...dead was she? How long had he been out?

[Quetzal]

Ri'Shei turned around immediately upon hearing the crash of the bombs dropping. Smoke billowed down from the corridor she had left. Holding her sleeve over her mouth and nose, she ran back towards Farore, cursing herself for letting someone get past her despite her looking out for their mind. Clearly they possessed some skill in blocking their minds if they were able to render it invisible. She didn't see Reru through all the smoke. He blocked her path, tripping her and making her stumble. That didn't make him so much as stir. Must have been knocked out. There was no time to stop and rouse him; Farore was in danger. Time could not be wasted.

Stepping inside the room, the spartan found herself looking at the back of a man. His ears were pointed but he still had some of the more clumsy shape of humans, so he could not be a full elf. She stayed where she was to block the intruder's exit.

Drawing herself up to her full height, twin swords slid out their sheaths at Ri'Shei's side. She held them angled towards one another in a defensive stance that could quickly turn offensive. "There's no escape, intruder. You made a mistake in revealing yourself," she said cooly.

Reru entered then, calling out for Farore. Before he could run right into Brenton, Ri'Shei grabbed him roughly by the shoulder, avoiding the injured arm. "She's fine." she reassured him as the smoke began to dissipate and thin, making everything in the room easier to see.

[Brenton]

Brenton looked around and discreetly withdrew three poisoned sawyers, hiding them against his arm. Quickly he sized up the situation and grinned. Maybe I wasn't trying to hide my actions. The Empire is really weak in defenses by the way. In rapid movements he he threw the daggers at Farore and ran through the wall. As he exited his mind grew fuzzy but the half elf ran faster toward the outside world.

((Brenton is using a lot of strength here and has gone through two walls. He's close to passing out))

[Timmir]

A careful eye studied every detail on Brenton's body, every minute movement. She saw him withdraw some type of hidden weapon. Something small, easily concealable, and could easily be used to kill her in a single movement. A poisoned dagger was her conclusion. Though she could not guess how many he had.

After suggesting that it wasn't his intention to remain hidden and taunting her that the Empire was weak in it's defenses, he threw the daggers at her. She could now see that there were three of them flying towards her, quickly. She quickly reached her mind towards the daggers and whispered a word for them to stop just before they hit her in order to convince the half-elf that his attack was successful. Her timing was off, however, and one of the daggers drove itself into her left shoulder as the other two froze in midair.

She felt a wave a pain come from her wounded shoulder, causing to drop the book in her hand as she swore under her breath. The other two daggers fell harmlessly to the ground as she took notice that her assailant had disappeared.

She then took notice of Ri'shei's and Reru's presense within the room. "I guess I've gotten a little rusty in the past hundred years." She said to the pair as her hand went to dagger. She inhaled sharply as she quickly pulled the dagger out, immediately throwing the bloody blade onto the table in disgust. Her right hand then went to cover her wounded shoulder as she returned her attention to the others in the room.

"Let him go." She told them, knowing full well that they would elect to give chase after her would-be assassin, "He took the bait and will hopefully share the information he's been fed back to whoever his leader is." A knowing smile appeared on her face as she said this.

[Emiryal ♕]

Reru was surprised when Ri'Shei grabbed his shoulder roughly but said nothing about it. "Fine? what do you call that?" he asked pointing at the dagger as Farore pulled it out. He had no way of knowing it was poisoned. But it admittedly upset him seeing Farore hurt at all. He glanced around the room by saw no sign of Brenton. Having been a moment to late he hadn't seen Brenton escape through the wall. The half-elf prince pulled away from Ri'Shei's grip on his shoulder and went over to Farore.

He'd failed her, he'd been too careless and unwatchful and been knocked out. In those few moment he lost before Avendel could get him help he might have made a difference and Farore wouldn't have been hurt. "Let him go? Bait? What are you talking about Farore?" he asked. This wasn't something he had heard about, and he didn't know where Brenton had gone so he couldn't lay chase. Ignoring the pain in his arm, he gently pulled apart the material of Farore's clothes where the dagger had struck to look at her injury. It looked like it would hurt, but it seemed minor. But their attacker had used a knockout agent on him, would he have settle for simply throwing a dagger at Farore? "I'm not a tactician like you but...seems odd he'd knock me out and only throw daggers at you," he said. He wanted to heal her, but their opponent had proved resourceful, maybe that wasn't the best thing to do right now.

[Quetzal]

Ri'Shei watched as Brenton threw the daggers, having not realised he had them before he moved his hand to throw them. She had a word of the Ancient Language on her lips to knock them aside, but she was slightly too late and Farore looked like she knew what she was doing anyway. She saw two fall to the ground. Three had left Brenton's hand.

The wound was to the shoulder, so there was no imminent risk of death. Ri'Shei ran to look at the half-elf running, looking weaker for the escape through the wall. She murmured a few words angrily and wind hurled itself at him in random directions, forcing his feet one way and his body the other, then changing to batter him from the side, the changing again. He would not get away with this. She was about to run after him when Farore demanded they left him go. She ended the spell and turned. "Shouldn't we kill him? Tell them that you can't expect to venture into Galbatorix's owns stronghold and leave with your life?" she added to Reru's complaints.

She had thought nothing of the daggers until Reru pointed out it was odd to just throw daggers. "Yes, you'd think he'd go for something a bit more certain to kill in a mission as risky as this. He knew he'd only have a moment to throw them," she frowned. She didn't like this. Moving over to where the dagger lay on the table, she paused for a moment to knit some words together. Once content with them, she spoke a verse in the Ancient Language commanding the blade to give up its secrets. Her eyes were closed in concentration as she spoke for a good while, finally reaching a conclusion. "It's poisoned," she said in alarm.