New Grounds

(Astrid drew her rapier as she casted a spell and advanced on them.)
Astrid: "Allow my feet to be faster and more agile: STUTTER STEP!" (Reya drew her short sword as she silent casted a spell and vanished with an invisibility spell and suddenly appeared behind them as her and Astrid both clashed with the men as Nyxia used her magic to support them from afar as Lucan looked out through the front of the wagon and noticed two more blocking something from their view as he stepped off the wagon causing it to bounce up and down from the weight difference as the sun glinted off his armor as he advanced towards them.)

Thug: "Stay back you stupid giant! I'll cut you down!" (Lucan examined the surroundings as he finally realized there was an abandoned carriage and his eyes widened as he saw bodies strewn across the ground including men women and horses as he got a little angry and his steps increased in speed before he was upon the thug in front of him as he grabbed him by the shirt and picked him up.)
Lucan: "What kind of man kills women? Oh I guess I am wrong, you're no man you are but a demon and I shall rid this world of the stain you bring to it."
Thug: "You think I'm going to be scared that easily you bastard?" (The Thug swung his sword at Lucan as he caught it with his gauntleted hand and snapped it in two tossing the piece of the blade to the ground as the girls were now done with their fight as they were watching Lucan holding his man by his shirt as he started to chant something.)
Lucan: "By the Divine Judgement of Ignis the Sun god, I cast upon you eternal damnation for your crimes of this world and with the power given to me I cast ETERNAL FLAME!" (After the chant was complete the thug burst into flames as he screamed and struggled as Lucan looked at him and he eventually stopped screaming and squirming as his body went limp and Lucan tossed him to the side as Astrid and Reya threw up from the smell and Nyxia was slightly surprised at the brutality he displayed before Lucan began marching towards the last guy as he drew his axe.)
Thug: "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO HIM? WHAT KIND OF MONTER ARE YO-" (Lucan swung his long axe as he sliced the man in two and the mans upper body slowly slid off the lower half of his body and plopped on the ground into a pool of blood as the horror and fear was still displayed on his face as Lucan noticed what they had been blocking and guarding from his view was a younger girl with torn clothes and badly injured as Lucan kneeled beside her and could sense life he quickly opened his grimoire and flipped to a page.)

Lucan: "Blessed by the sun, touched by its rays and given warmth to your body and life to your eyes come forth blessing of Ignis and heal my target: SUN'S KISS!" (Lucan placed his hand on the stomach of the girl as he shot a pulse of sunshine through her body and it began to slowly heal her serious exterior wounds as he picked her up and began to walk towards the wagon.)
Astrid: "What do you plan to do with her?"
Lucan: "I am not sure, we are quite far from a town or village and it seems her parents were killed in this ambush. We shall keep her with us and protect her until we can get to the next town and find her family."
Nyxia: "I didn't know you could heal with your sunshine ability Lucan, how did you find that out?"
Lucan: "It's all detailed in the grimoire, although its some odd language I can read it; I guess a result of my blessing of Ignis." (Lucan placed the girl on one of the benches of the wagon as he covered her with a blanket and allowed her to rest as he gestured for the girls to get in as he climbed into the drivers seat and set on their way.)
Lucan: "We must get away from here and then we will set up camp and hopefully she shall awaken by then, I don't know why but I feel like this is my duty."
Nyxia: "It's probably because as a champion of a god you are automatically given the title of Paladin, a champion of the people and protector of the beliefs."
Lucan: "Interesting, so I am an unofficial Paladin of Ignis the Sun god. Hopefully we don't run into anyone who worships him, I'm not sure I'll be able to explain."

(They traveled a while away as they found a clearing and they stopped and began to set up camp as they set up their tents and quickly ran into a problem.)
Lucan: "Well, I think we forgot to buy a fourth tent when we brought Reya on board."
Reya: "That's alright, I'll sleep outside."
Lucan: "No, unnegotiable it is going to be quite cold tonight. As leader and the only man here I will sleep outside and that is not up for debate."
Astrid: "I feel like you just enjoy sleeping outside, Reya can come stay in my tent for the time being and we can all sleep in tents you idiot."
Lucan: "I never did claim to be smart." (They all laughed as they finished setting up camp and as Astrid struggled to start a fire, Lucan walked up and flicked a bit of his magic at it causing a roaring fire. They were all sitting around the fire as the Girl that they had placed inside of Nyxia's tent had woken and they heard crying and confusion coming from it as they all rushed to it before Lucan gestured for them to stop as he took off his axe and placed it down and slowly entered the tent as the girl backed away in fear.)

Lucan: "There is no need to feel scared little one, I am Lucan Vance and I'm an adventurer and here to help you. Please do not be scared."
???: "Where is my Mother and Father! I don't know you and I want them!" (The girl cowered as Lucan reached out with his hand as she flinched before he grabbed her hand and a sudden feeling of warmth and safety washed over her and she calmed down and stopped crying as she dried her eyes and sniffled.)
Lucan: "What is your name?"
???: "I am Isabella Lothaire of the Lothaire family of nobles; I am the daughter of Duke Conrad and Duchess Ophelia."
Lucan: "It's nice to meet you Isabella, as I already told you I am Lucan and I'm here to help you."
Isabella: "Where are my parents? We were traveling and then we were ambushed by a group of bandits and the last thing I remember is my father jumping in front of me to protect me!"
Lucan: "I am terribly sorry Isabella, your parents have been killed by those bandits."
Isabella: "No..... No that can't be true, you're lying to me! I won't believe that my parents are dead!"
Lucan: "I am so sorry about what has happened, I truly am Isabella." (Isabella began to cry again as she realized that Lucan was telling the truth and Lucan put his hand on her shoulder as she hugged him due to the comfort that he brings as an hour passed before she finally calmed.)

Lucan: "I'm glad you could get it out Isabella, you must be very hungry how about we leave the tent and you can meet my wonderful party and I'll cook something up for you."
Isabella: ".....Ok." (Lucan grabbed her hand as they stepped out of the tent and as she stepped out Astrid Reya and Nyxia were sitting as She was kind of scared but Lucan gave her a warm smile as she came out and sat across from them.)
Isabella: "Hello everyone, I am Isabella."
Astrid: "It's fantastic to meet you Isabella! I hope we don't frighten you."
Reya: "Yeah, especially the big idiot in armor."
Lucan: "Hey, this big idiot in armor is right here."
Nyxia: "She's not wrong he is an idiot, but I'm Nyxia and that's Astrid and Reya." (Isabella sat with her head down and hands in her lap as she was still full of grief and sadness as Lucan began to prepare a simple meal of Venison and potatoes before he quickly finished it and served it to them all as Isabella quickly ate it all like she hadn't eaten in days.)

Lucan: "So Isabella, do you have any family we could take you too?"
Isabella: "Not that I know...... I do have a guard but She took a leave of absence and this is why all of this happened."
Lucan: "What do you mean?"
Isabella: "The man who was hired to take her place temporarily left us randomly without word and then we were attacked." (Lucan balled his fist as he got angry then calmed down and realized it was not the time.)
Astrid: "What do we do?"
Lucan: "We'll have to contact the guard and try to find out if we can deliver her somewhere, until then we will watch over her and make sure she's fed and safe."
Nyxia: "Alright I don't think about of us object to that."
Lucan: "She's going to have to sleep in one of your tents when we travel." (Isabella flinched a little when she heard this as if she was a little worried about it.)
Astrid: "Don't worry Isabella, you can come sleep with me and Reya we won't hurt you and we can have lots of fun!"
Reya: "Yeah kid, we will have lots of fun together." (Lucan stood up as he began to undo his armor and placing it in the wagon as he fully undid it all and was only in his clothes as he looked at all of them and yawned.)

Lucan: "I am going to take my leave, don't stay up too late everyone we start early tomorrow."
Astrid: "Alright."
Nyxia: "Rest up, we can take care of Isabella from here." (Lucan nodded as he disappeared into his tent and sat on his fur lined bedroll as he opened a new book and began to read it as he slowly drifted off and eventually fell asleep while reading it as the candle in his tent went out from a slight gust of wind as he laid sprawled out on the flood of his tent on top the fur and lightly snored.)

(Lucan awoke suddenly and sat up as he didn't understand what had awoken him until he heard something and he quickly focused and was no longer sleepy as he rose to his knees and slowly opened his tent as he peered out slightly and could see multiple figures moving as he quickly stopped looking as he thought what to do as his Axe was far away.)
Xylos: "Over here you idiot." (Lucan looked back and remembered his father's sword.)
Lucan: "Alright Xylos, lets get to work." (Lucan whispered as he unsheathed Xylos and rolled out of the tent in silence and disappeared into the darkness as he counted 6 men lurking in the camp towards the other tents as he knew they were there for Isabella as he silently charged the first one grabbing him by the face as he covered his mouth snapping his neck as he flung his body into the woods as it thudded and caught the attention of the others ash e dropped down slashing one of their ankles as the man tried not to scream to alert the other party members before Lucan plunged his sword into their back and dragging their body into the woods.)

Xylos: "Watch out on your left!" (Lucan snapped his head left as a fire spell came hurling at him as he quickly parried it with Xylos and rolled out into the darkness as he slashed dirt up into the mans eyes as he stumbled back and Lucan stabbed him in the chest as he picked him up and flung him at two more of the men as they fell and Lucan leaped into the air and simultaneously crushed both of their heads as he landed before he noticed the last man starting to flee before he put Xylos down on the wagon grabbing his axe as he spun and took a step launching it through the air and plunging it into the back of the man before releasing a breath.)
Xylos: "Good work, maybe you aren't so useless; for such a large man you're sneaky."
Lucan: "I guess I'll have to stay guard for the rest of the night." (Lucan walked over and took his axe from the mans back as he cleaned off it and Xylos and rested a sheathed Xylos on the log next to his axe as he sat down and started the fire once again.)

Lucan: "Didn't expect more to come, there must be some big bounty on this kids head for some reason."
Xylos: "Who knows, all these people always thirst over nobles daughters no matter their age." (Lucan's back tensed at this statement as he had not thought about that until Xylos brought it up.)
Lucan: "I hadn't thought of that before you said something, Thanks Xylos."
Xylos: "Anytime buddy." (As Lucan sat on the log and kept his eye peeled he heard rustling coming from one of the tents as he saw a head pop out and realized that it was Reya as she was confused to see a fire before her eyes landed on Lucan as she stumbled out of the tent and sat across from him.)
Reya: "What are you doing up so early? Couldn't sleep?"
Lucan: "You could say that, got disturbed about an hour ago." (Reya rubbed her eyes as she quickly looked around and saw the bodies of the men piled up as he eyes widened and she looked back to Lucan.)
Reya: "Why didn't you wake us? You could of gotten hurt!"
Lucan: "Quiet down the others are still asleep, your worry for me flatters me Reya but I was able to handle them all." (Lucan flashed a smile at her as she got red out of embarrassment and crossed her arms.)
Reya: "Who's going to pay me if my idiotic party leader goes and gets himself killed." (Lucan kept looking at her with a warm smile as she started to avoid his gaze as she got even more red.)
Lucan: "I really do appreciate it even if you haven't been with us long you are a good person and a even better party member-" (Lucan was on the ground as his leg twitched and his arms were sprawled out next to him after Reya punched him causing him to fall off the log.)
Reya: "Shut up you idiot! I liked you better before you got all this damn confidence!" (Reya marched off back to her tent and disappeared into it as Lucan rubbed his face in pain and sat back up as Xylos was cackling in his head at this interaction.)

Xylos: "I know I have been asleep for a while, but when did you become a womanizer? What happened to my timid and confidence lacking master?"
Lucan: "Shut up Xylos, I'm not a womanizer I just speak the truth and they can't handle it sometimes."
Xylos: "That's what they all say big guy."
(In the Morning Lucan was packing the wagon as his companions stirred awake, him now wearing his armor once again as Astrid and Nyxia looked around at the bodies littering the ground as they blinked in confusion.)
Astrid: "What the hell happened!"
Nyxia: "Why are there so many dead men around our campsite?" (Reya emerged from the tent shaking her head.)
Reya: "We were attacked in the night and instead of waking us, our fearless leader decided to take them on single handedly."
Lucan: "It's not that big of a deal, I just didn't want to put you ladies into harms way. I don't know what I would do if any of you die." (The three tensed up as they heard this and decided to completely ignore him as he turned and noticed them acting like nothing happened as they finish packing and help Isabella into the seating area of the wagon as Lucan takes the reigns and sets off down the road.)

(After some time of traveling Lucan began to notice a change in scenery as the surrounding areas began to shift and he quickly realized that they were entering a different Kingdom of the Empire as he turned to Astrid to ask.)
Lucan: "What region is this Astrid?"
Astrid: "I Believe we just passed into the Kingdom of Sanguis Oros Known for their Beautiful scenery and lively people."
Lucan: "It is quite nice here and the weather is much more warm, a nice change of scenery."
Reya: "I've passed through here quite a few times with my previous.... parties when doing certain quests and it truly is such a nice place-" (Reya appeared from behind as she began to say this before screams tore through the air as Lucan pulled the wagon to a stop and stepped off.)

Lucan: "I have no clue what that was, you guys stay here and guard the wagon and Isabella I am going to go investigate." (Lucan ran off without grabbing Xylos or his axe and when he bounded over the small hill he came on a scene of a small battalion of soldiers cladded in red cloth and silver armor with banners bearing a Phoenix sigil as they were clashing with masked men cladded in black with many already dead surrounding them as they protected a lone carriage.)
Lucan: "An ambush?" (Lucan dove into the bushes as he awaited to see what would come of the battle as the soldiers in red were wittled down and over a dozen of the black cladded men remain they finally cut down the last guard as the banner fell and they closed in on the wagon as Lucan's eyes narrowed and he rolled out of the bush toward them as he grabbed one by the leg swinging him head first into the ground as he punched him in the head before grabbing a nearby fallen soldiers sword stabbing him through the heart.)
Assassin: "ITS A PALADIN, THE KING MUST OF SENT HIM AS REINFORCEMENT! THE FOOLS UNARMED WE CAN GET HIM." (The remaining Assassins charged Lucan as he tossed the worn out sword aside and engaged them with his hands as he blocked daggers and swords alike before he grabbed two of them and smashed their heads together before being slashed between his armor on his back as he winced in pain before swinging one of the men around throwing it at the assassin that stabbed him before leaping into the air and landing on two of the assassins heads with his feet and taking them to the ground before he spotted an axe adorned by a larger assassin and picked it up before swinging it in a circle cutting down 4 more as the 3 remaining assassins attempted to flee before a dagger pierced one of their throats as Reya pounced on a second before snapping his neck with her legs and flipping over to the final and slitting his throat.)

Lucan: "Thanks for the save."
Reya: "Of course, what's in the carriage?"
Lucan: "I'm not sure-" (Lucan opened the door as a girl in a fancy red dress dove out and grabbed him around the waist in a tight hug as he winced at the pain from the wound on his back as he attempted to push her off but she refused.)
???: "THANK YOU SIR KNIGHT, I WOULD OFF BEEN IN GRAVE DANGER IF NOT FOR YOU!"
Lucan: "Just doing what anyone would do Miss, do you mind letting go of me?"
???: "......Can I just hold on for a little longer that was Quite scary?" (Lucan reluctantly let her before she finally let go after another minute and she sat on the steps of the carriage as he kneeled down to her level.)
Lucan: "So what were you doing out here?"
???: "I was going to a meeting of the Union of Kingdoms."
Lucan: "Wait.... Who exactly are you?"
???: "I am Amelia Vane, Princess of the Sanguis Oros Kingdom and Daughter of King Cassian Vane and Queen Elowen Vane." (Lucan quickly tensed as he stood up fully and became more professional.)
Lucan: "Forgive me Your Highness for I did not know of your royal status as I'm not of this kingdom."
Amelia: "Do not worry about it for you have saved my life and for that you can act in anyway you see fit."
Lucan: "No Madam for a woman of your stature I should respect you and for my mistake please accept my forgiveness." (Lucan Bowed as he said this and she was surprised as she looked him up and down.)
Amelia: "Of which King do you serve Paladin....?"
Lucan: "Lucan Vance, as for a King I do not serve one; I am simply a wandering Paladin."

Amelia: "If that is the case, allow me to invite you to meet my father and be an official guest at the Castle. It is the least I can do for my savior."
Lucan: "I am grateful for the offer but would it be alright if my companions came along with me. I also have a favor to ask."
Amelia: "Of course they are allowed, and as for the favor?"
Lucan: "I have a young girl that I found in grave danger a while back and I believe she's from this kingdom, can you see that she is returned to her family if she has one?"
Amelia: "But of course! Now I have one last request if you could."
Lucan: "Yes Ma'am I am at your service."
Amelia: "Could you possibly pull my carriage back to town? If its not so much trouble." (Lucan looked at the dead horses as he walked over and undid the reins as he grabbed them and flipped the carriage around with brute strength before telling Amelia to get inside as he readied himself and took off towards the Capitol at fast pace with his party following close behind.)

(As Lucan arrived and pulled in front of the Castle after some time, Amelia was greeted by a slew of servants as they rushed out in panic at her hasty return with no guards in sight as a Man with similar colored hair and armor on walked out in haste to meet her as he spotted Lucan and his pace quickened as he met Amelia.)
???: "Amelia! Are you alright dear sister?"
Amelia: "Yes Alaric I am of good health thanks to Sir Lucan, this brave Paladin slayed over a dozen men on his own to save ,me." (The man strolled over as he grabbed Lucan's hand and began to shake it quickly.)
Alaric: "Thank you dear boy for saving my little sister, I Sir Alaric Vane are in your debt."
Lucan: "No need sir, I am simply just doing the job of a Paladin."
Alaric: "No need to call me Sir, for you are my superior." (Lucan's eyes widened as he didn't know that he was indeed the highest rank a Knight can achieve before he played it off cool.)
Lucan: "Despite that, I prefer to respect my Elders even over rank."
Alaric: "I already like you."

Amelia: "Stop pestering him brother, allow him to come in and rest; Myra when his guests arrive have them taken care of and see to that they are taken to the guest quarters. Prepare the Main quest quarters for Sir Lucan."
Myra: "As you wish Your Highness." (The Maid curtsied as she took off to follow through with the order as Amelia ran over and looped her arm through Lucan's and started to guide him into the Castle.)
Amelia: "Come meet Father and Mother!"
Lucan: "The King and Queen?!"
Amelia: "Of Course, they'd obviously like to meet the man that saved their eldest daughter!" (She dragged Lucan off as Alaric followed close behind them at a brisk march as Lucan began to sweat.)
Amelia: "Father and Mother will love you, trust me they are just as friendly as me and Alaric." (Alaric chuckled as Amelia shot him a death glare as they arrived at the doors to the throne room as the Guards reluctantly opened the doors since he was accompanied by Amelia and Alaric as they went to join their parents and Lucan stepped forward and dropped to his knee in a bow.)
Lucan: "Their Majesties I am honored you welcome me into your castle with warm arms on such short notice, please forgive me for my intrusion." (Lucan kept his eyes on the floor as he could feel their eyes on him as he waited for a response.)