The Paladin

[Sarah Tintagyl]

[i]Dresden, North Germany[/i]

There was something charming about Saxony, the medieval architecture was definitely one, perhaps it was mildly cooler here than in Pau or Bordeaux as well. Though for as beautiful as the city was, clear blue skies and the soft chiming of church bells, she wished that her parents would have some sense to come back with her to Aquitaine, she could treat them better there, watch over them in their old age and if the chance ever came that the German States would war again, they would be safe in France. One could say the same thing about the cold war going one between Burgundy and Aquitaine, but with the recent conference in Versailles that was all clearing up, Aquitaine was now in prime position to own the whole of France or at least most of it, the independence of the successor Burgundian states and Brittany of course were more than welcomed, so why wouldn't they come back with her?

Adelaide Josselyne stared off out into the morning sunrise illuminating the city and tied her robe tight around her waist, whilst the smell of fresh brewed coffee and tea came from downstairs in the Josselyne's small house within the city. "A match made in heaven." Adelaide chuckled. "A French man married to a German woman and their beloved daughter that stands between the two nations. The least Therese and Dierik could do for me is give me Alsace-Lorraine for myself, I'm the damned region personified after all."

"Adele!" She heard her father scream up from the kitchen downstairs, it brought her back to her youth. "Breakfast is ready, your mother made a feast."

Pushing herself out of her bed, she ran her fingers through her hair. It was excessively long if it wasn't in its braid, she got her hair from her mother, long and fair, she had gotten her mother's skin as well, though she had inherited her father's eyes, brown and dark like the Ardennes, along with her father's temper, which made her a hell of a commander. Going through her morning ritual, prior to breakfast, brushing her teeth, showering, everything to maintain a semblance of daintiness was something that Adealide took with her even as Paladin. Though the thought of Pau made her almost regret taking the week off of work to visit her family in Dresden. There was work to be done in Aquitaine, but Therese had essentially relieved her for the week. "You're working too much." Adelaide said mockingly to the mirror, the toothbrush still in her mouth. "You work too much and there won't be anything for you to do later. Go, go to Saxony, take some time off." She spit into the sink. "I'm perfectly fine Therese, I do not need your advice to tell me how to live."

"Adelheid!" That was her mother's voice. The German and French pronunciation of her very name even made her chuckle.

"I'm coming mother, please, I think I can take care of myself."

"I'm telling you Laurent." She could hear her mother whisper. "How old is she now? Twenty-eight? A military girl and she can't even come downstairs to breakfast on time."

"And to think I used to think she got my morning grouchiness."

Adelaide shook her head as she walked down the staircase into the living room and into the kitchen, not a thing had changed.

As they sat down to eat, the Paladin of Aquitaine continued to go over the thoughts in her head, what she wanted to ask her parents so desperately..."So you thought about coming back to Bordeaux with me right?"

Laurent took a deep breath and put down his tea cup. "Adele." He looked at his daughter and then his wife. "Mina..."

"Adelheid, your father and I, we're...we're just too old for that kind of move right now. We need people to take care of us, our neighbors do that, Dresden has always been kind to your father and I ever since he moved to North Germany after the collapse of the Reich. We just couldn't get used to France this late in our lives."

"Father?"

Laurent sighed. "I've fell in love with the city Adele...we both feel terrible, but even then, we're getting old and you're far too busy to care for us in our age."

"I can make time for both of you. I promise."

"And forsake your duty to Aquitaine? Adelheid? I think not. You're the best daughter a mother could ever ask for, you've done enough for both of us." The Paladin looked down at her plate. "We didn't want to tell you the day you left town, but your father and I didn't want to ruin your time here with knowing that we weren't going to leave."

"No...its okay." She scrapped the plate with her fork. "I'm meeting a friend...acquaintance in the city later, before I leave."

Her father smiled. "Ah see! You're falling in love with the city too. I knew you would."

"Well, if you'll both excuse me and mother, if you could braid my hair for me before I go out."

"It would be a pleasure as always Adelheid."

---

Adelaide left her house quarter after noon, dressed in the regalia of the Paladin of Aquitaine, though it was a light frock coat, she had no problem in advertising her rank. Not as a demand for respect, but as a symbol of her own pride. She represented her country everywhere she went and it was something she was never afraid of doing. Though she hope that she wasn't overdressed for her guest either. Before landing in Dresden, Adelaide had sent a short letter to the North German Chancellor, the possibility to meet again and exchange a few words at least maybe to see the city a bit. She had grown up in Bordeaux with her father, just a small child when the European Invasions were taking place, safe in the Welsh Empire from Nords and Coalition members both. Finally thought, she had reached the small cafe that she had specified in her letter to the Chancellor. It was the only cafe she knew of in Dresden, so it would have to work. Small, but small was better. So the Paladin took a she outside, bathing in her sun, her hair tightly braided and her brown eyes staring up for light as much as a tree would do. As she waited for the Chancellor to arrive. The biting feeling of her parents refusing to leave and the amount of time she demanded out of herself, still biting her in the neck.

[Kaiser Martens]

His secret services hadn't failed him. As soon as Adele had entered Germany, he had been notified. He looked at a small picture of her, still carrying some of her luggage, taken right when she had been stepping onto German soil. The older Martens grinned as he saw that from afar and spoke,

"Reminds me of your Grandmother a bit. She was in the military too, you know?"

Dierik replies, a bit surprised, "Really? You MUST tell me more about that sometime, when I come back. You have too many secrets."

"That is right. If she truly is like her, you won't be able to forget 'er, anyway. You are going to be late."

Dierik answers again while adjusting the neck of his uniform carefully. It was black, it looked elegant, but it did now show rank: The only thing it showed is that it was a German Uniform, with its flag patch and odal insignia on the chest. This kind of clothing was commonplace, even among those considered civilians. He looks down to make sure that he can see his own face on his boots and nods. "Bis später, opa."

The Chancellor is on his way and leaves the building, entering an armed APC and sitting by the driver. The engine starts and the armored vehicle gets on its way, moving through the clean streets of Dresden to its destination, passing several other armored vehicles and tankettes. Being in Germany was weird, all of the vehicles seemed to be military issue, the only difference was that most civilian vehicles didn't actually have guns on them. Similarily, lots of people wore clothing which had a militaristic style, while another popular style was old-germanic means of clothing, but with modern materials and accessories. It didn't feel like a "western" nation at all. Everything being written in runes didn't help bring about any familiar feeling. That, and most people had guns or otherwise blades with them. The Chancellor had with him the Zamoyski Family Blade, given to him by his father. It looked both beautiful and effective. Minutes before reaching the cafe, he was notified by cellphone that she had arrived already. He dismissed the guards and spies, wishing to be alone. The vehicle parks by the cafe as silently as possible for something with threads on it, and the Chancellor steps out.

He finds her almost right away just by letting his eyes scan the area, and he proceeds closer, not daring to walk too loudly, as if to afraid of disrupting her. After watching her for a few seconds. She looked pretty much like one of the women from the Valkyrie corps. If she had been raised in Germany, that's surely what she'd have ended up as. He smiles and says, "I am hardly worthy. It is nice to see you again." - Then he nods slowly, respectfully, even with a hint of veneration.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Ah, Chancellor, or if I may, Dierik. Its a pleasure. Therese wanted me to say bonjour from her as well. But not to make it so political and stuff. Especially now that France and North Germany are neighbors. Please, I know its not my country, but I think I can offer you a seat at my table." She beckoned him to a chair and then sat down herself. She smiled and then looked out to the streets where her smiled seemed to fade. "It really is like stepping into an entirely different world. I've read books on both your country and your brothers to the south, technology and tradition, its truly remarkable honestly. Though I must say Dierik, the amount of...oh...what's the word...military aspirations here its almost too much for someone like me." Adelaide chuckled and reached down to the cup of coffee she had ordered. "I don't know, I guess I came here to try and forget about what I have to do back in France and I'm reminded when I walk the streets of how war-torn this world is. Its a shame, I think, that we have to prepare ourselves for a battle almost constantly. Such is a strange life we lead....anyways." Adelaide shook her head, she felt like she was going into a reminiscence and didn't want to bother the young man with tales of her past. Finishing the last of the coffee, she tapped the cup back on the saucer and took a relaxing breath.

"Now, what I would be interested in Monsieur Chancellor, is getting to see this lovely city from the perspective of a native who doesn't have to walk with a cane, nor one telling me that I'm not walking the way a lady should walk...though." Adelaide's eyes narrowed in curiosity as a woman passed on the street, nearly the same militarized uniform as she had seen the men wearing. "Though I must say Dierik, you must get your people to begin wearing dresses and skirts. It is so much more relaxing I can tell you that from experience." Standing up she beckoned him forward. "But please, I have the rest of the day before France requires me back home. I say lets make the most of the day, a little adventure to be sure." Glancing down at the sword she chuckled. "Because it most definitely seems you're prepared for one."

[Kaiser Martens]

That was right. It seemed on a sense that the people of Germany were constantly ready for war. Their clothing, their vehicles, and their weapons. Owning a weapon was mandatory, but a lot of people ended up carrying their weapon with them instead, overachieving what the law once wanted to achieve. But then it was unusual to notice that in spite of it all, the air seemed to be very peaceful and relaxed, while most associated anything military with tension and strictness, here, seemed to have an air of freedom, resembling the romanticized tales of noble, warrior barbarians. Anywhere else it'd seem to be completely unnatural and out of place, but here, it seemed to be just another aspect of everyday life. And then there were also the Mjöllnirs and the Rune collars, and more. Unlike in many cities, people did not appear to be in a hurry...for the most part.

Dierik smiles and sits down. "Ah, but it is your country too. European Father, German Mother...you're both French *and* German, even legally as far as we're concerned. Do send Therese please my regards, when you go back." Then, he beckoned a Waiter closer and asked to get a pint of Beer for himself, before allowing the Lady to ask for whatever she'd see fit assumingly she'd want anything after the coffee. He goes on talking, "Oh I do see what you mean. But I suppose that, after such a long time, people don't even take into consideration the division between civilian and military anymore. I cannot decide if this is a good or a bad thing..."

He grins. "Here you won't find many that'll try and tell you how to walk. Again, for better or worse, that's how liberal the society seems to be...dresses or skirts, huh? I don't know about those. I haven't tried either so far." He laughs, and the beer arrives. He takes the large glass and drinks thirstily from the dark liquid before putting it down. He moves forwards when beckoned, curiously. "Mh? Just one day? I expected you for maybe a week..." He grins once more and drinks another third off of the beer glass. He wondered what her reaction would be like if eventually she'd see the North German nightlife, when compared to the current militaristic airs of the day...

"Well then. I'll show you around. But I'll have you know that while the city is quite beautiful, the best things are outside of it."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Well I mean, whatever works really. Trust me, I would never expect something that works perfectly in Scotland to then work perfectly in Aquitaine, or something here to work perfectly in Russia. Everyone has their own cultures that they should be entitled too." Though she couldn't help but laugh at the skirts comment. "Well they make it work perfectly in the British Isles, but I suppose that is one of those cultural divides, I can assure you, I would be quite put off by a man walking the streets of Bordeaux in a dress."

Though she couldn't help but sigh at his utter disappointment that she could only stay for a day. "Well..." Adelaide leaned back. "Therese did say that she sent me here to enjoy myself....well, sent is kind of the wrong word too. But I mean if there was something that would need more time to see, I could always let her know. I'm sure she'd understand. The Prime Minister and I go way back, we dated the same guy in college, so while our first meeting was awkward, everything worked out from then." She winked. "The gentleman in question, well, the past is past." She chuckled. "But please, if the beauty of Saxony lays out in the countryside, I would love to see it. The rural areas of Aquitaine are the most breathtaking in all of the country, I would imagine the same to be found in other nations, I always had a love for the country, rather than the city."

"And perhaps I'll work on staying a bit longer." She smiled waiting for Dierik to lead on.

[Kaiser Martens]

"Yeah, I agree. The world would be outright boring if everyone had just one or two possible cultures." He laughs too at the same comment, and shakes his head, "It is funny that you should mention that. It's not that rare to find a guy in that kind of clothing around here, but not during the day, because such clothing is considered even for women unappropiate for the working day. That always surprises the tourists..."

He finishes the beer and signals for the Waiter to get closer. He hands him a few Nordmarks and thanks him politely, almost with reverence. He was always extremly respectful towards workers of any kind. Then he listens to what she has to say, watching her gestures and studying her words. He nods.

"Yeah. There's plenty of city to see as we head out, too. I guess that you can get the best of both worlds today. And I am glad that you will look into maybe staying longer. Don't be a workaholic like my family is and has been, heh, I can tell you it's no good in the long run."

He rises and looks towards the west. That is the direction he has picked.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Oh it's my life Dierik, ever since the academy its been nothing but work...well...not constant work, I just take what I do seriously that's all. Also, considering how famous or perhaps infamous as well." She chuckled as they walked down the streets of Dresden. "Its what I want to do with Aquitaine, Therese and I have been both working out butts off the past few months, but I mean look at what's been accomplished so far as well, most of France has been unified, now is the time to relax. I just have to learn how to relax that's all. Let go of a few things. Honestly Dierik, I've been doing this kind of !@#$ since I was eighteen and I'm only twenty-eight now. Twenty-eight and Paladin of France, I don't think it is even possible, you know. But here we are..." She looked up at him and frowned. "You know I apologize for rambling like this Dierik, but I guess I should just tell you that I do ramble a lot." Adelaide chuckled. "Family trait I guess."

They continued to walk through the city, her eyes glued to the architecture. "So where exactly are we heading?"

[Kaiser Martens]

He listens patiently, carefully, not seeming to mind the little rant at all. It seemed like she was venting out after years and years of stress. In the end, he thought, all the better for him. He didn't say much regarding the contents of the rant once that it was over, but instead as they still walked moved an arm around one of her shoulders and left it remain there after a few pats.

"The only means of apologizing that you have got, as far as I am concerned, is by having fun the rest of your stay."

They keep going. There were all kinds of buildings, some seemed to be old, even medieval looking, then other buildings seemed to be much newer, built only recently, but the height was limited as to retain some harmony, due to the fact that many were houses. The tall buildings belonged in the center, and the smaller ones, like these, in the near-outskirts areas. A very peculiar building was a temple, which had on it a Norns Cross, Odal runes, and many other pagan symbols, but it could be easily distinguished that in fact the building had been a Church long ago, and had been for decades now "converted" to Paganism, so the Crosses and the such were not there. Another unusual thing which was seen were a few horsemen moving by, it seemed that some form of cavalry still existed among the civilian population.

"We're probably, by foot, twenty minutes away from the town's end."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Oh he was sly...Adelaide thought as the Chancellor patted her shoulder, apparently the romanticism that Voltaire had instilled in Fredrick the Great was still in full bloom and she even allowed herself to nestle in a wee bit closer. Nothing taken, after all while she did enjoy his company, they had only just met, only twice in fact, but even in Aquitaine, any girl could tell when a boy was smitten with her just casually. As they passed the church...er...temple, Adelaide looked up curiously. But he was right and her guide never lied to her, North Germany, was indeed very religious, but their religion was not Lutheranism or any such Catholicism, this was the land of pagans and such. The diversity in Europe never ceased to amaze Adelaide, you could go from France, the first daughter of the Roman Catholic Church, a Communist South Germany, and a Pagan North Germany. "The buildings are breathtaking, that's the beauty of religion though. No matter what you worship, its about the beauty of faith."It was another thing she wasn't afraid to wear on her uniform, a small golden cross. "But the architecture, nothing speaks louder than a beautiful building. By any chance for your religious gatherings, do they use the organs still? Its such a lovely instrument."

The horsemen trotting by gave her a surprise as well, though she admired them, horsemen, cavalry, was still strong in Adelaide's heart, she loved traditional warfare more than anything and something she could boast, she was a strong duelist, even with a broad sword. "You know it would be marvelous to see fighting done like it was done in the old days, brutal perhaps, but there's such a thrill then. Nothing gets the adrenaline pumping more than a good sword fight." She glanced back down at Dierik's saber and smiled. "I would imagine you agree."

About twenty minutes later, they finally began to near the edge of Dresden, the rolling hills of the countryside finally coming into view. "As beautiful as the city itself. I'm impressed Dierik, but is this just a hike in the woods or is there something out in the wild that requires a lot of attention?"

[Kaiser Martens]

Sly indeed...he had it in his blood. Blood of war and politics. He had noticed her cross for a while, but did not think much of it. He viewed it as simply part of her national identity in the same manner that he himself had a concealed mjöllnir, and unlike his Grandfather, he did not seem to have anything against Christians. But it was different: Old Martens had had to war against them several times.

"Organs are even more beautiful than the architecture. Music is commonplace in most meetings, and if organs are available they are used in certain cases. Their sound combined with the acoustics of the temples are beautiful enough that even a Nord-Hater would love to step inside to be able to hear it better."

He smiles and pats his sword with his free hand. "This is the Zamoyski Family Sword, belonging to my Father originally. One of the requisites to owning it was to become proficient with swords. Most countries call us outdated and out of fashion, but we in fact issue our soldiers with either swords or axes as they prefer, and also spears, and are trained to use them accordingly. When it comes to close-ranged combat, most other countries are lacking. So I guess that a bit of the old battles lives on. Lead and TNT are too impersonal, flesh and steel is true battle."

"Oh I am not sure yet" - He says, in an innocent tone. "We'll just have to see where our feet takes us, ja?"

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Oui." She chuckled as they walked out of the city onto the trails that began to lead into the German countryside. It was quite a sight to be seen for any passing civilian or military, since as the Chancellor had stated, they were nearly one in the same. Adelaide only hoped that the North German press didn't keep tabs on Dierik, the last thing she wanted for either of them and even worse her parents was that the esteemed Chancellor was gallivanting through the countryside with the Commander in Chief of the French armies. That would make the headlines for sure. The countryside was as beautiful as Adelaide imagined it to be and further in the distance sprawling before them, the forests of Saxony. It was the last thing that Adelaide expected to come from her walk with the Chancellor to be heading towards the massive pine trees coming from the ground, even more beautiful was that there was still a light mist falling from the needles and covering the grass. Though it was strange, neither Dierik or Adelaide really knew how far they were traveling off the beaten path, they were laughing like school children, thoughts of politics, warfare, and government the furthest from their minds. Instead they discussed favorite movies, books, and childhood experiences, while Dierik would have to brace himself for a few other sets of Adelaide's rants of her romantic life when she was younger.

Then suddenly she stopped and looked around, in their dismay of laughter and giggles, the two had journeyed so far into the forest that neither one of them had noticed how the sun had begun to vanish from the sky, replaced by the green darkness of the pines. The sounds of the rolling plains had vanished as well, where one could hear the distant sounds of Dresden, all Adelaide and Dierik could here was the sounds of their own nervous footsteps on the dirt path. If you could call it a path at all, it was more as some frequent animal tracks through this glade of forest. They had wandered so far, talking so jovially, Adelaide could barely remember the way they had entered the forest. Definitely not the way she wanted to spend her afternoon.

Taking out her cell phone, she flicked it open and sighed again. "No service, of course. Why on earth would I have service." She turned to Dierik and clasped her hands behind her back. "Well. It would appear that we've overdone ourselves Monsieur Martens." Sighing, she shook her head. "Do you have any idea of where we possibly could be? Cause I have no clu-" There was the sound of a branch breaking, though it was most definitely not just a branch, it was much larger than a branch, that was wood splitting and beyond the sparse illumination of the glade, the forest was dark. Whatever was beyond the light was able to break a large piece of wood and she hoped that is was just an abnormal fluke. "Did you hear that Dierik? I think we might want to retrace our steps...I don't like it here."

[Kaiser Martens]

He had a good time, possibly one of the best times of his life. Eventually his slyness did not pay off, as he had to remove his hand from her shoulder when the forest had become thicker, and then once in the path he had not found a valid excuse to bring the arm back there. Later on that would prove to be the least of his concerns. But now, right now, even in the darkness, he did not seem to be concerned. He smiles.

"Do not worry about that. It sounds like an old tree that finally collapsed. I know the way back..."

He looks to the side and sighs calmly, moving over to sit down at a mostly flat rock. There was still enough room for her at his side, in this improvised stool. "Come here first though, as it'll take me a little bit to figure it out. You have never been in a forest in the night, haven't you? But I, or we, have..."

He pats the spot by him as everything seems to get quieter.
"For us, the Forests are a shelter. Some trees have even been considered deities or associated to certain deities in the past. They have an important symbollic meaning, but also practic. When the Romans conquered new territory, the first thing that they would do would be to get rid of areas like these. Much like modern industrialist western societies, no? The reason why they did that, aside from usage of wood for pratical reasons, was because these were the places where their troops would be ineffective. We used the forests as our shelters to fight in close range against their legions just like modern urban warriors choose cities to fight unsuitable tanks. Because of this, forests in the night transmit an uncanny sense of peace. Even more so than a Bunker or Fortress. We are protected by nature. Just relax and we will be alright. I will figure out our way back..."

With that, he pulls out his personal comms device, which actually had GPS support. It did seem to work...for now.

"We're not that far. But for a few minutes let's just enjoy the moment and think of the ancient times. We should be in time for some dinner then..."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"The forest at night?" Adelaide gulped quietly, she was braver than this, she had been in tons of forests before in her life, there was just something about this one. Something that didn't seem right. But she was a Paladin, a Knight of the Prime Minister of France and she would not allow herself to show even the slightest sense of fear. Walking over she sat next to Dierik and watched as he began to fiddle with his GPS system to get them back to Dresden and listen to his story of how scared the forests were to the German people, well in this context, the Northern Germans, but that was all technicalities anyways. But if he was confident and it was the German and for that matter the French lifeblood that flowed through these forests then she was just as home as Dierik felt. "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks for asking." She smiled and tossed her braid back behind her shoulder.

Finally he stood up and at the mention of dinner, her heart jumped for joy. "Awesome. We then Chancellor, since yours is the technology that actually works. Please, after you." She allowed him forward through the darkened forest. Her hand finally reaching the hilt of her blade and for the first time since she had arrived in Saxony, she was happy that the North Germans were so gung-ho with military arms and the such, or she would have left her saber back in Aquitaine. Now her hand gripped it tightly, there was no reason why she couldn't be prepared for the worst. Though her nervousness immediately began to subside when the edge of the forest began to come into view. He was right, they'd be back in Dresden in no time. "Well I got to hand it to you Dierik, you're quite impressive with that little machine there. I assume you're either a military man yourself, or you're quite the technician. Either way, Merci Beaucoup. You're quite the gentleman. Helping a lady out of the woods. Maybe we should start thinking of what to talk about over glasses of beer then?"

[Kaiser Martens]

He smiled innerly. It was fun to watch her, for once, seem like a normal human being, a normal girl, sometimes scared by the dark. Being so confident, he didn't even take into consideration that anything may be truly wrong, nor did he listen to the femenine instinct, an eye that could see what many men could not. He felt happy once more. But he did not answer her question. His eyes narrowed as if he had spotted something that should not be there, as they head for the city and leave the forest. He does not say anything, because he's still not completely certain about it...and he watches, walking closer. Yes, they were out of the forest, and they could see the city far away, but he noticed that there was no wind whatsoever in an open area, and that the city seemed to have only one light here, one light there...nothing more.

"Maybe the power has gone out?"

He checks his GPS again...or would have - it does not even turn on. "No battery. Hm. This is rather weird. Well, let's keep going I guess." He shrugs and his smile returns, as they go towards the city. As they approach more, a few more lights would go on as if reacting to them, but something would be painfully noticed. It did not seem to be the same city. The buildings seemed to be all similar to one another, only a few variety of buildings seemed to exist - as if a prefabricated city - yet with very little detail and no distinction from one another. The buildings all seemed to be placed with milimetric precision in a perfectly regular pattern, and everything seemed to lack curves: Only angles of 45 or 90 degrees. Colors were missing, people were missing...and the cars that existed looked more like metallic boxes...there were no sounds anywhere, no engines, no walking...

He stops, still a few blocks away from entering the city proper, and suddenly feels unsafe there in the open.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Uh...Dierik." Adelaide said as they neared what was presumed to be Dresden, but this was most definitely not Dresden, where were the spires, the cathedrals, the churches? Where were the narrow streets and Gothic curves? Where were the people? Where were the differences? And by differences Adelaide thought she was staring at a math book she used to own in the military academy as they approached the outside of the city limits. In Geometry, one would made the most perfect structures and shapes with precise mathematical calculation, for people as famous of Newton, Copernicus, Einstein, this was how the world could work, how the world should work that there was an inherit beauty in perfect order and that was definitely what Adelaide and Dierik seemed to be looking at. Their footsteps echoed...or...they were supposed to be echoing, but there was nothing, all sound was void. "Dierik..." She looked over at him. "I really don't think this is Dresden. Not that I doubt your...okay, yeah, I doubt your GPS, we are most definitely not in Dresden. Unless this is part of some little joke to freak me out or something." The Paladin tried to feign a smile, try to play it cool, but the look in Dierik's eyes, she knew he was as lost as she was.

"Listen." She ran up beside him. "I don't like it here. Not one bit, so if this is a joke, I want you to tell me right now and if its not." Adelaide's hand returned to her saber's hilt. "We should go because that means wherever we are, isn't supposed to be here and I don't want to know who's dream we just walked into. Dierik?" She turned and grabbed his shoulder, the first time she allowed a more masculine strength to take hold of her. "We need to go if this is wrong." Looking up the Knight nodded. "And something is most definitely wrong here, ghost towns of this size just don't appear and they don't look like if they were made by a perfect calculation either. C'mon, lets go, I felt safer in the forest."

[Kaiser Martens]

From the look on his eyes, he didn't seem to be kidding or joking or anything other than being serious. He was starting to get scared himself, at least unnerved by this. "...Well maybe it is a joke on both of us as I do not know what this is. I have nothing like this anywhere..." And by having, he means having set up anything anywhere even for testing purposes. It did not make sense. He frowned, trying to reason this out. She grabs his shoulder and he blushes for a split second, a bit surprised. In the end, he could tell that she was both German and French. As a French, he thought, she had felt uneasy in the forest, but now, when confronted to a potentially dangerous situation, she seemed to feel safer in it?

"I...I agree with you. Let's go back. I don't know what this is, I just...this makes no sense."

He looks over at the "perfect" city again. Perfect, but so wrong...then he turns back towards the forest and starts to walk there, although at a hastened pace. One of his hands moves to subtly rest at his sword's hilt, which he does not grab. His eyes remain wide open and scan everything around them, and no matter how hard his ears try, there's nothing to be heard other than themselves. When they come back to the forest, having easily retraced their steps, they notice something even more disturbing. The forest too had been affected by the same type of geometry that was on the city. It was not a natural forest, no, it was a perfect grid of rectangular columns with a small cone on top of each, so that when under it, it was almost as if being in a roof - and it was completely dark. A minute after this realization, some...bad noise would be heard, not in the forest, not in the city, but from where they knew was open space, just the open fields. It seemed as if paper would break down, but unlimitedly, as if slowly breaking one endless sheet of paper, forever. He grips his blade tighter and tries to keep calm, but there is no way for his brain to rationalize out of this.

"I don't understand, I don't understand...this is not a dream, I can tell...this is impossible...Herregud...Woden gib mir Kraft..." He swallows and looks around in a paranoid manner, as if trying to find the source of the noise.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

The comfort that Adelaide hoped to have from the forest outside of the metallic city, to return to something unordered, something wild, something natural was completely cut short as they ran. It was like chrome, metal, marble, paper, finally cut, perfect, the wildness completely sacrificed for making this world of perfection and as they look around frantically for what was going on, the noise began. The sound was like nothing Adelaide had ever heard in her life, like the world shredding apart, like steel bending in on itself and breaking apart, not helping that it was completely dark by being in the forest, and its transformation into the ordered nature of the city. She kept her hand on her hilt, though now she was ready, something was unnatural about this entire place, how they had ended up here she didn't know and to be honest, Adelaide hoped that it was a dream and that any second she would wake up on the rock that Dierik had told her to sit on with him. Maybe she would even be back at her parents house, just waking up for breakfast, anything so that she wouldn't be here.

"Make it stop! Make it stop!" She screamed into the air at the noise. "I can't take it anymore! Please! I'm beginning you! Dierik! Are you there?!" In the dark, she had let go of his shoulder to cover her ears and began to walk around frantically in circles. "Dierik! C'mon don't do this! Make the noise stop! Please! What's going on? God Dammit! What the $%&@ is going on!" And as suddenly as the noise had started. It ceased.

Though now it was an eerie silence that permeated through the dark. "Dierik? You there?" Adelaide's hand went back down to her hilt. It was dim, she could see maybe a few inches in front of her, maybe a few feet if she really tried. But she couldn't see Dierik. "Dierik! Please! Answer me! I know you have to be around here somewhere! Please!" And courageously, Adelaide began pushing through the dark. She had to find her friend.

[Kaiser Martens]

He hears her, and hurries towards where he thinks she is. "Wait! I am over here!" Yet it felt like speaking over a bad radio signal, with that horrible, synthetic noise far away or even around them - he could not tell. In reality, they had been closer than it seemed...so they nearly end up crashing. They were both scared, yes, and in spite of the darkness they could distinguish that on each other's faces clearly. He moved one of his hands instantly to take one of hers firmly, rather than [i]slyly[/i] and looked around while the other hand would remain on the sword hilt at all times. Even though there was nothing to fight against, it made him feel a bit safer.

"Goddamn...don't go away! You're the only thing here that isn't square and metallic...$%&@, heheheheehhe!" For some reason, his own comment seemed to have made him laugh. He tries to calm down.... "We cannot separate...there has got to be a way back...I...I do not like that noise. We're going to have to pick city or...eh, forest, if you can call it that...but I'm not staying outside here while that noise is there....or here..."

The land under their feet - the only thing which had been until then unaffected seemed to breath, or to be more accurate, made slow motions similar to that of a person breathing while asleep. It suddenly felt bad to stand out there, like one was stepping onto something that was alive. He had the urge to get away. "Maybe there was a drug in the stuff we drank...either that or I have gone crazy and nothing exists...but this can be no dream..."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Shhhh. Shhhhh. I'm here. I'm here." Adelaide took his face and held it. "Its okay, we'll be fine. I promise you that. Just stay by my side Dierik, we'll get through this." Finally Adelaide unsheathed her saber holding it firm in her right hand with Dierik's hand in her left. Then the ground began to pulse and there was no where else to go but straight. Whatever was happening to this artificial world they were in, it was most definitely alive. Pulling him forward, Adelaide began to storm through the forest of paper and metal, her saber in front of her as the ground groaned and gave way to her feet. But she wouldn't stop running, no not until something either got in her way, or she was struck down and if something did get in her way, she would be the one to strike it down first.

"I swear I'll protect you to my last breath. Dream or not, drug or not, we're getting out of this horror house."

[Kaiser Martens]

He had tried to calm her down, but in the end he had been the one with the upset mood. Disturbed, very disturbed by the situation. When she took his face and spoke to bring him peace, he felt rather touched and his eyes watered slightly, just for a moment...but it would not be seen in the dark, and no tears would come to form, although just barely. They begin to move, and after her statement he just sighs and hugs her arm for a moment, as if clinging onto her to regain strength. He closes his eyes for a moment and then his face begins to shift from a weaker, scared gesture back to the normal determination that it was expected to show, as a leader. He opens his eyes and slowly takes out his own blade, with runic inscript on it.

He breathes in and nods, speaking very calmly, "Thank you. We will get through."

Now within the forest, things seemed to be completely disorienting. Everything was exactly the same everywhere, if they would turn around all they would see would be the endless columns and the slowly moving ground below them. Above only limited light went through, limited moonlight, most blocked by the cones. It seemed to be endless, although it couldn't be. He stands upright and is ready to walk once more. Now, the place almost reminded one of the greek-style temples with their columns, only that open spaces are nowhere to be seen, and that as mentioned, these were square-shaped. They would advance...nothing would change for some time.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

As they continued to advance through the forest, nothing around them finally changing for once, but nothing changing back either, Adelaide's feeling stayed about the same. A constant state of worry and the hope that she was still sleeping on the rock back in the forced or she had been drugged. She really hoped she had been drugged because what was actually going on around her was far too strange to be anything but a bad trip. She and Dierik continued to walk for a long time through the white columns, they never seemed to end, just going on forever and ever before Adelaide stopped and pulled Dierik back to her.

"Okay look, we can't just keep walking through this without a plan. I swear that tree...er...column right there hasn't changed for thirty minutes. I think we're going in circles Dierik. Honestly, we need to think of something different." She dropped his hand and began to pace. "What's your GPS say or something, hell we haven't even heard a noise besides that horrible ripping sound for a half hour. I'd rather hear that than silence." Sighing Adelaide walked over and sat against a tree. "I think this is a dream, it has to be, stuff like this isn't real. I just want to know, how do we wake up?" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "What's your GPS say anyways?"

[Kaiser Martens]

He sighs, equally frustrated and disturbed by the situation.

"How could we possibly be going in circles? This is a grid. If we keep going on forwards, eventually we'll reach it's end. Assumingly that anything here can make sense. Hm." He cannot argue with the checking of his GPS. He leans back against a tree opposite of her and takes it out, powering it up. It didn't seem to behave as it should, and instead of showing a location on the map proper, a neat, female AI voice was soon heard: Your location is: Nowhere. Then a position on the map was shown, however, the pointer signalled that they were outside of the map proper, as if a weird glitch had taken over. After that, the screen goes completely red and the device becomes inoperable, frozen in that state while the device casted the screen's red light accross them and the trees around. It was pretty disturbing.

"We cannot just stay here...this thing is freaking me out." He tosses the GPS away from them, where the red glow is still seen in the distance along with some static now.

Something began to approach them. They could hear several crude, mechanical noises as if they were perhaps mechanized steps, but then sometimes moans of pain, and even a growl of anger sometimes. Would they run away or would they be confronted with their monstrosities?

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Running her hands through her hair Adelaide cursed silently and punched the ground, his description of 'where' they were, that being nowhere, just didn't compute for someone like herself. She dealt with facts, movements, numbers all day, the real world, she barely liked reading fiction and yet here she was drugged beyond belief and finding herself thinking that she was in an alternate dimension. As he tossed the GPS to his side, Adelaide jumped off the ground and picked it up in her hands staring down at the red screen and squeezing hard trying to release the rest of her anger onto the little tool. There was no use, they were lost, in addition they were lost in a place that had no semblance or real life at all. If the thought of being trapped in a painting had ever occurred to the French Paladin, it came in full force here.

"No we can't stay here. But we have to think of where we're going to go. We can't just wander around over and ove-" The silence of the columns were immediately interrupted by the sound of a horrible growl through the stone slabs. Adelaide stopped and turned around, immediately drawing her saber. She held it with both hands in front of her as she walked in front of Dierik, facing the columns where the growl had originated from. "Dierik, get up and either draw your weapon or stay back." The growl came again and Adelaide began to run the sounds through her head what the animal, or creature was a better word, and what it could be. Her eyes narrowed as she faced the columns and taking a deep breath she readied herself for whatever came through the darkness. Finally they would be able to see just what was native to this world and perhaps it would allow a way out for them as well.

"Come out where I can see you! Come out into the light!"

[Kaiser Martens]

Dierik straightens up very slowly. He begins to unsheath his sword. He could swear for moments that she seemed to be acting more "manly" than himself...though, for some reason, even in the terrifying place, that seemed oddly suitable and becoming of her. He narrows his eyes and his heart beats faster when the enemy starts to be seen...

It was hard to describe at a first glance, it took them a moment to distinguish the organic and mechanical aspects. The feet...it did not have feet. Instead it seemed to have two legs which, below the knee, became needle-like portrussions. That means that as the creature moved, the gears chirring on every movement, each of the legs "stabbed" itself into the ground, which, being soft, gave in at first and eventually actually bled, leaving said blood behind as a series of small pools and a trail of drops from the ever-bloodied legs. The world seemed to ache with its every movement, and above the mechanical legs one could see connections not to the biological legs of the creature but to its shoulders: Then there was a torso and a head, the person who had been placed in there had actually been upside down, and although its back was facing forwards, the head was twisted in a very unnatural angle to stare forwards at them. A head which seemed to reflect only eternal anger and eternal pain, with several wires sticking out of it. Above towards the legs, they actually mechanically had been implanted onto the arms, and several gears portruded...from one of these arms, if one were to call them so, one could find an engine and an aircraft propeller, and from the other one something which could only be described to resemble a mine flail, as if one had connected an oldschool medieval mace to a power drill to spin automatically as fast as possible. Finally, the lower back of the creature had welded directly onto the skin, which was severely burnt, different plates of metal, together with one to protect the vertebral column.

...The propeller begins to move slowly, and the mace-flail starts to move faster instead. It lets out a horrible screech which sounds like an animal and a machine at once, and one can oversee a few sparks being emmited from the throat for a moment. It moves closer to attack.

"Herregud!" - says Dierik, who grips his sword tighter and gulps, standing his ground foolishly.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Adelaide's widened as the monster came out of the columns towards where the two stood. Its horrible engines and propeller whirling and humming towards them. Almost immediately, she began to sweat and shake as it came closer and closer. There were barely any places where she could see that the monster was weak, besides perhaps the spinal chord, but the monster was a grotesque creature, looking as though it had been pieced together from the dying remains of various tortured human beings. Whoever could possibly create something of this horror had to be a true genius in the necromantic arts. She shook her head again. "Things like this can't exist, it...can't exist." The Paladin continued to hold her sword as the monster continued to advance, but slowly began the shake as the flail came closer. There were two options, stand and fight, or run and try and escape. Though they had no idea where they were going to run to, was there anyways to really escape the creature?

"Dierik..." Adelaide stood back to him. "What do you think? You think we can fight him? If you're up for it, we'll take this !@#$%^& down." She smiled and a the last moment, he would see a twinkle in her eye.