A New Beginning

[Anastasia]

"This one's fucking easy. The motherfucking roof of the Castle, right in front of Preake Tower," Dana says, "That'll make an entrance."

[Yuthirin]

'Go in loud?' Tryll glances at Ebony. 'As long as we stay away from Raziel's kid, we should be good. Right?'

[Anastasia]

Ebony closes her eyes and slowly sighs, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Well, there's no helping Dana." she finally says, pulling her hood up, "Simply address me by Ebony, do not advertise who I am and who I serve. That will have to suffice."

[Yuthirin]

"Well what else would we call you?" Calleigh asks.

[Anastasia]

"...just Ebony." Ebony exhales again, "Shall we, then?"

Who is portaling?

[Yuthirin]

i suppose that I am. Unless we can portal to Aurora and take a gate from there after an hour? Rather not be debilitated if we're going in hot

[Anastasia]

That's fine.

Snow.

Snow is falling. Dana strides through the portal, a castle wall overlooking a vast, snowy courtyard. The skies are gray and purple, a snowstorm falling steadily. Dana scowls at it, then looks down at the people in the courtyard. She clears her voice and screams, "YO ALL YOU MOTHER BITCHES AND FATHER FUCKERS, I'M BACK!"

Her voice carries long and far, causing all the courtyard to freeze. Guards and soldiers, servants and maids, commoners and nobles alike look up at Dana, in full armor and gear, sword and shield ready. You're about 30ft up, Dana leaping down and landing in a bone rattling crouch, uncaring.

Fast healing and not in a combat situation, so the damage here isn't terribly important.

[Yuthirin]

Calleigh flutters after her, trailing Tryll's misty form. "Hi everybody!"

Tryll is in mist form. No horrifying squidfish for now.

[Anastasia]

Ebony descends gently, landing as well.

A guard comes up in red and purple, "Y-Your Highness!"

"Yeah, yeah. Where's Daddy?" Dana asks.

"T-the throne room, seeing to petitioners stuck in the castle due to the storm."

Without another word Dana strides off, heading for the gates inside.

[Yuthirin]

"Thanks mister guard man!" Calleigh says, fluttering after Dana.

[Anastasia]

Dana leads you inside - to a hall with tapestries depicting a red rising sun cascading down a white background. Guards are there, all of them staring and getting out of Dana's way.

As Ebony follows, she murmurs to you, "Well, at least this will be direct."

[Yuthirin]

"Yep! Maybe they'll all get along and we can have cake!" Calleigh is ever-optimistic.

[Anastasia]

It's a castle. A nice one, a well kept one that Dana strides through. No one tries to stop her, even when she throws open the grand gates of the throne room. It's a big, white floored and walled place, well lit and with huge windows to show the storm outside. Motes of light dance in the upper reaches of the high ceiling, shedding light equal to noon's daylight. Here petitioners and the court all are, before a throne where a man sits.

He is perhaps 50 years of age and yet has an odd look to him - eyes sharp and young, wrinkles that don't really quite go as far as they should. He's tall, muscular and well built, short blonde hair and wearing robes and a golden grown decorated with sunstones. Dana opens her mouth, but the King holds his hand up and rises after.

"Welcome home, daughter," he says, "For this momentous occasion, I fear I must end the petitions and meet with the daughter. Clear the court."

His words are strong, confident. Guards immediately begin to usher people out, a few shoves to start clearing the galleries.

[Yuthirin]

Calleigh whistles as people are escorted out, "This a nice place!"

[Anastasia]

Dana and her father lock gazes as the throne room empties. Once done he begins, "It's good to see you again, Dana."

"Yeah, yeah," Dana rolls her eyes, "I didn't forget those bounty hunters you sent to drag me back. Look, here's how shit is and is going to be. I'm not going to be your pretty princess, and in fact have zero interest in ruling anything. My mind is all I fucking need, and anyone who gets in my way is fucked."

"The life you're living is pointless," Dana's Father replies coolly, a soft sigh coming from him. "You're still acting like a battle drunk barbarian, fighting and killing for your own perverse pleasure. You have such a better life here, Dana! The only way you make any difference is when it happens to be a side effect of sating your own desires."

"Yeah, so fucking what? I'm not some prissy ass paladin or a moralizing cleric. I'm myself and that's all I've ever needed," Dana's eyes narrow at that, "Besides, I've done better than a few bushels of them here, just by helping Aurora. Don't see them going and kicking Hell in the teeth, like I've spent doing for quite awhile. So fuck that up the ass."

"You have a responsibility to the people here," Dana's Father doesn't miss a beat, "You're a Langersun, our blood is meant to rule this kingdom. Bearing children and seeing to the bloodline will ensure generations of prosperity throughout your reign."

Meanwhile Ebony watches, face impassive and inexpressive.