Tobin Aven

Tobin Aven is the son of Gregor, and Liza Aven making him a member of and the long time heir of House Aven.

Tobin Aven would be sent to assist with the growth of the Knights of Aerene and Tobin would be responsible for turning the forces of House Floren and then led them in improsing all the non rebel members of the house and taking control of House Floren. Following his work with House Floren it was Tobin Aven who was sent west to assist with the Badger Rebellion and taking part in the conflict he would survive the fall of Tollsen and retreated alongside Harry Schwartz to a hidden hideout where he hid himself waiting for the heat to clear. Tobin Aven would be taken prisoner during the assault on the hideout and taken back by Franklin Brent to Hillsbrad in order to testify as to what the actions of James Lovie had been. During the meeting at Hillsbrad it was Tobin Aven that would testify as to what he had been ordered to do and this greatly changed the mood of many of the houses causing them to join with House Greymane, but despite this he would be deemed to have done to much to be granted forgiveness and was executed before the army left for Forks.

History

Early History

War in France

Main Article : War in France

“Everyone watched the fall of Hispania with little interest at first which as the Orcs took more and more of the land it became an almost fanatical rush to try and come together to save France before the whole continent fell apart.”
— Bill Lovie

The Orcs breaking out of Hispania caused a massive amount of chaos to spread throughout Europe. At first like many of the members of the Kingdom of Lucerne he looked at it with little importance as he was dealing with a lot of the leadership issues that were going alongside with him taking over from his father. He was pushed in different directions by his council of which some wanted him to stay completely out of the talk of assistance as they didn't want to waste energy protecting their rival in the Roman Empire. While this happened though it was Draco Highmore that would romanticize the protection of the land from the rampaging forces of the Orcs, and thus it was without anyone realizing it that Bill Lovie was becoming very interested in saving the land from the Orcs. A council was held in the French City of Lyon. As king of one of the mighty kingdoms of Europe he attended the council.

Council of Lyons

Main Article : Council of Lyons

“Hope was the main emotion I felt leaving the Council at Lyons. I saw the forces of Europe aligned together to fight the common enemy, and honestly hearing about the forces that would be brought to bear it didn't even pop into my mind that it might not be enough.”
— Bill Lovie

Bill Lovie traveled to the Bretonian city of Lyons where he met with the leadership of the European human Kingdoms where they would decide the direction they were all going to take. Bill was strongly on the side of the Bretonians and was fully on board with a completely all in mentality on the part of the humans of Europe. The meeting would go especially well, and would lead to a massive combined human and Dwarf force that would head towards the Lyons area, and take part in the Battle of Lyons.

Battle of Lyons

Main Article : Battle of Lyons

“I had been to Lyons before the Orcs arrived so I knew what the city looked like in peacetime. Arriving there this time it was almost beyond looking at this time. Unimagineable numbers of Orcs sprawled out like bugs around the city now left this horrifying small circle of space in the middle of the horde.”
— Bill Lovie

The opening to the battle would begin with the Human armies moving into position around the besieged city. The commanders in charge had placed a strategy of encirclement with the largest army in the Romans facing what was the strongest section of the Orcs, and the second strongest in The Empire facing the east side. With this strategy the element of surprise was the most important aspect, and this was mainly due to the fact that the Orc besieging army had well over a million orcs in it. The human alliance was almost six hundred thousand but no where near big enough to compete without an ambush. There is much speculation as to what happened in the Roman lines, and the fact that very few survived, and those that did do not speak of it doesn't help things. It is believed by most that the Romans believed they could take the army without the Bretonian, Lucernian, and Alcase assistance and because of this they begin bombarding the Orc lines. This attack did heavy damage to the closest Orc forces, but it also alerted the whole sieging force that they were surrounded. With the Orcs now at full alert they ignored the city of Lyons and simply charged the nearest human they could find, which meant that the million plus orcs were now charging as one massive pack, and the entire ambush was a failure.

Return to Lucerne

“It all just feels so fake, ya know? This idea that good things happen to good people. That there's magic in the world, and that the meek and the righteous will inherit it. Too many good people suffer for that to be true. Too many prayers go unanswered. And every day it just gets worse. Every day we ignore how truly broken this world is, and we tell ourselves it's all going to be okay. But it's not going to be okay. And once you know that, there's no going back. There's no magic in the world...at least today there isn't.”
— Pablius Reeter

Following the violence and hopelessness that he felt and saw during the War in France, Bill began to lose his grasp on his humanity. The ride back from the battle was perhaps the true nail in the coffin as he was riding with a broken hear-ted Roman soldier by the name of Pablius Reeter. It was on the escape from France when the true moment of Bill Lovie's life would come. This was the moment where the fork in the road for Bill appeared, and fate decided to involve Pablius Reeter. Pablius Reeter was a Roman soldier that survived the battle but watched as three of his children, and his father did not. In this kind of emotional state it wasn't shocking when he was beyond pessimistic. After two weeks of walking with Pablius Reeter Bill and the survivors of the Lucerne army arrived at the edges of the Lucerne Kingdom. When the group arrived in Lucerne, there was sadness, but also happiness that at least some had survived. Bill went to his family, and attempted to find peace again, but he was quite dramatically changed by the things he'd seen as well as the words spoken by Pablius. Each night as Kathy fell deeper into depression, Bill would sneak to the Lovie family library and searched their books for some sort of answer to how to escape his growing madness.

Mystism

Main Article : Mystism

“There was nothing good in that book from a morality sense of the word. But in that book I found the anwsers to every question I'd ever asked, and as I read more and more I came to understand the world in a way that both shocked, and amazed me.”
— Bill Lovie

It was during one of these searches of the House Lovie library that he found a book that would change his mind for good, and set the Kingdom of Lucerne in a tailspin. He would begin searching in the locked section of the House Lovie library, and discovered Mystism which was a book hidden by William Lovie due to its historical connection with darkness and evil. Not knowing the true depths of the book's evil Bill Lovie became obsessed with the book and for months he would spend every night reading the book over and over again. Each time he read the book his mind became more wrapped up in the things he learned about Magi.

“I didn't know Magi before that day. It was as if the power just flowed into me as I read the book. What manner of power flowed into that book to make it possible I'll never know.”
— Bill Lovie

While before reading the book he had no connection to the Fade and was of level 0 in terms of Magi, following the reading of the book he would begin to have an increasingly powerful connection to the Fade as the book opened his connection simply through the words on the page. He saw less and less hope in victory in the conventional way, and believed that only through his growth in Magi power would the Kingdom ever survive, It was during this time that he founded the Circle of Magi, and went about its expansion into a organization that would be the hand in all of his endeavors.

Attempted Suicide

Main Article : Bill Lovie's Suicide Attempt

Esme Portmane would return to Lucerne during the peak of Bill Lovie's road to madness after he wrote her a letter begging her to save him from the prison his mind was trapped in and returning to Lucerne she attempted to destroy Mycstism but its Magi protected it and she then nearly killed Bill at his urging but as she was going to do it his corruption took over and he nearly killed her and after a brief scuffle he used his Magi to teleport her back to Lorderon.

The Badger Rebellion

Main Article : The Badger Rebellion

The Badger Rebellion
You ever wonder how Tree Hill fell Franklin. You ever question how so many Orcs could just walk blindly across this kingdom and not a soul saw them. Maybe its time to start asking questions.

“After Tree Hill Sophia, nothing made sence. Why had the Orcs failed to complete the task? The orcs were meant to destroy Tree Hill, and then from there ransack southern Lucerne and hopefully damaging if not destroying Forks. When that went to hell I was forced to destabilize the region in other ways.”
— Bill Lovie to Sophia Lovie

Following the destruction of Tree Hill, it was the continued attempt by Bill Lovie to further destabilize the region and unable to understand why the Orcs hadn't destroyed Tree Hill completely and unable to meet with them he begin going back to his old trickery of creating bandits and using them to attack his own people. The Badgers of Lucerne were one of the many banditry groups he created, and they were especially dangerous as Bill Lovie sent Kieth Schwartz specifically to lead them, and he was a truly dangerous man and this was only made more dangerous by Kieth bringing his nephew Harry Schwartz, and fellow Circle of Magi member and demented psychopath Tobin Aven to act as commanders for him. Outside of this main leadership James Lovie also sent Luthor Clune who would be commanded to move against the principality of Limca using his family connections to have them support bandit movement against House Brent at Marburg. The Badgers were able to quickly gather forces through bribery, and intimidation of the small villages south of Castle Garfield, and from there begin raiding merchants and noblemen all across the province of Northern Hillsbrad. During this initial time the Badgers were able to turn Edmund Frotenhood to their side with the promise that he would gain the lands of House Tollsen following his siding with them, and desperate to remove his hated brother he would agree to assist them placing a powerful noble on the side of the Badgers. At first it fell under the responsibility of House Garfeild to deal with this problem and they went about this by calling in nearly all of their personal forces, and vassal forces and moving into the smaller villages searching for the Badgers. This would have great effect as they were able to find their way to the Badgers main hideout in the hills where they would attack it and kill many members of the Badgers, but unknown to them was the fact that the Badgers had been tipped off about the attack and most had fled including Kieth Schwartz westward where they were finding the work of Luthor Clune was going very well with the forces of House Haushka standing behind the Badgers.

“We all had heard how the Garfield's were dealing with a bandit problem, and we were all overjoyed that we heard they had destroyed the bandits after sieging their camp. Then to hear that Jedyon, and his mother were dead and a castle taken by the bandits led to a massive counter assault by the vengeful Hillsbrad forces.”
— Liam Greymane

Now realizing that House Garfield was an immediate threat to their movements the Badgers under the command of Kieth Schwartz would prepare to capture Castle Tollsen that was the seat of the small House Tollsen. Supported by his protection at Limca by the forces of House Haushka it was Kieth would use deception, and bribery once again to to bring about the capture of Rosomund Garfield, of whom he believed that once he captured her he could cause a chain reaction which would lead to all out war in the region. Sending a new arrival to his forces in the form of Fredrik Gurse to capture her from her home, he would march his forces to the site of Castle Tollsen where they would wait for Fredrik Gurse to capture Rosomund Garfield. Fredik Gurse was able to get within the walls of Castle Garfield and during the night kidnapped Rosomund of whom he quickly took during the night riding his horse ragged to Castle Tollsen hours away, and when he arrived he would be shocked by the reaction of the Badger leadership. With his prize in hand Kieth Schwartz would execute her without much consideration and quickly after and left her broken body at the edge of the road into Castle Tollsen where he knew the Garfield loyalists of House Tollsen would be quick to report this murder. Lord Gregor Tollsen's men would discover her body the next day and the loyal Gregor Tollsen would do what was believed he would do when he sent his eldest son Rymen Tollsen, and his wife Esla Tollsen to Castle Garfield where he would tell the Garfields about the murder of Rosomund Garfield.

This led to Jeydon Garfield the heir to the house, and the leader of their forces to travel to Castle Tollsen with a small force of men to retrieve his mother and find out what had happened to her at the same time. On the march to Castle Tollsen Jeydon would be ambushed on the road into the castle by Tobin Aven and killed. All of the men with Jeydon were killed outside of his wife Anrea of whom had accompanied her husband but her fate was worse as she would be raped by several of the bandits following the ambush, and then in this emotionally destroyed state she was forced to watch as the bandits took on the identity of the Garfield men as their clothes were taken, and the Badgers preparaed to use them to infiltrate Castle Tollsen. The group now dressed as House Garfield would come to the front gate and using Anrea as a vocal member of the group the Tollsens would allow them inside, and once the portcullis were raised to let them in the group would kill the guards within their reach before taking control of the gatehouse, and making signals for the main force Inside the castle they allowed in the rest of the bandits and took control of the castle, with little to no resistance. Once in control of Castle Tollsen they would strap Gregor Tollsen to a pole in the center of the main courtyard and he would be forced to watch as the bandits put much of the castle to the sword including one of Lord Gregor's sons. As if this was not enough they would burn down the ancient Tollsen Tree which spread smoke high into the air, and would bring about the attention of Rymen, and Elsa Tollsen of whom had went to the estate of House Frotenhood following their telling of House Garfield of the death of Rosomund Garfield. Seeing the smoke Rymen and Elsa would lead their small detachment of Tollsen forces alongside the forces of House Frotenhood led by Galbert Frotenhood, and his two sons Edmund Frotenhood, and Franzal Frotenhood of whom as a force would move towards Castle Tollsen.

Counter Attack

“I'm not sure what their endgame was. Did they not know that the moment they attacked that castle the entire state would be moving against them? Did they not know that several hundred bandits was going to be no match for thousands of loyal Lucernian soldiers? I guess what do I care why they acted like idiots.”
— Liam Greymane

With the fall of Castle Tollsen the entire forces of House Greymane were aware of the attack, and Liam Greymane would lead the charge to eradicate the Badgers. Calling for all the vassals of which were many tens thousands of men at arms and thousands of knights was not needed so he called on House Crowley, and several other houses to travel with him and deal with the bandits. As the army was growing Frank Brent would send his son Franklin Brent to join the army as Frank was best friends with Gregor Tollsen, and Franklin Brent would immediately answer this call with his force of Unwashed of whom Frank hoped that due to his involvement in the conflict Franklin would come to better understand the rigors of combat. The army camped south of Tollsen a month after the castle had fallen, and by this time the area around it and the southern section of Northern Hillsbrad was in flames from the work of the Bandits. House Garfield had made attempts to stop them now under the command of Andrew Garfield, but the Badgers had begun force-ably recruiting men from the villages, and had armed most of Castle Tollsen into their forces, and were using hostages to maintain their loyalty if needed. Finding themselves up against a little more then a thousand troops the forces of Liam Greymane spent another two weeks waiting for reinforcements from House Lerman of whom unexpectaly were sent northward to assist with the action. Dexter Hill, and Franklin Brent led their personal forces first in the vanguard and would be used as a lure for a large group of bandits that was burning across the province. The lure worked and they were brought into battle where they were overwhelmed by the entire army of Greymane of which now moved into a siege of Castle Tollsen.

“The Battle of Castle Tollsen was quick due to the fact that there was no actual battle. The Badgers didn't actually want to fight, they simply were cowards playing at the edges of society. There first taste of real fighting had been a bitter one.”
— Franklin Brent

As the Badgers were sieged in Castle Tollsen, they were damaged as a single man stood on the tallest tower and used Magi to torment the siegers with whispering in their minds causing many to be unable to sleep, and others to be forced to leave the battle completely. When this did not end the siege though Kieth Schwartz understood clearly he couldn't hold, and talks were starting amongst the forced men fighting for him that they should storm the dungeons and regain their hostages of which would allow them to turn on the Badgers. With this happening, Kieth Schartz would send some two hundred men of his forces (mainly the forced members of his forces) outside of the castle and he begin planning a full scale retreat. As this happened the two hundred men sent out of the castle would begin infighting as the Bandits were bullied by the forced members, and this led to some sixty of the two hundred (all of the true bandits) heading westward trying to retreat away from the siege. Seeing this Franklin Brent, and Dexter Hill would lead a charge of their forces into the sixty, while Liam moved the main army to attempt to stop a full retreat. Franklin Brent's Unwashed would wipe out the sixty bandits, while Dexter Hill killed many of the outriders that were retreating from the broken force. Liam reached the castle to late to stop the retreat, and Kieth Schwarts was able to pull out of Castle Tollsen with some two hundred men, while the remainder of the loyal Bandits were dead during the revolt that had taken place within the castle.

“I told you the truth back in Hillsbrad Lord Brent. I told you the truth and it is up to you whether you choose to believe me and the facts I bring to the table. I'm not forcing anything. Believe what you will.”
— Dexter Hill

With the Badgers at Tollsen defeated with their number mainly dead, and a small amount retreating westward with Kieth Schwartz, the threat was seen as all but gone. Liam would send the Lerman's after the retreating forces, while he led the main army into Castle Tollsen where he planned to spend several weeks rebuilding what was lost, and adding what he could to the area. Dexter Hill, and Franklin Brent would meet on the battlefield, and Dexter learned that Kieth Schwartz was leading the Badgers, and told this information to Franklin Brent of whom didn't fully believe him yet, but begin to seriously suspect Bill Lovie of nefarious actions, and also begin to further trust Dexter Hill. Logan Lerman, his two brothers, and his father would lead the Lerman forces into a fake chase of the Badgers, and Logan and his younger brother were shocked when they stopped their forces to camp, and were met while camped by the remaining Badgers. Logan, and Krandell Lerman attempted to fight them, but they were laughed at by both their older brother Faedra Lerman, and their father and after they started the Badgers also started laughing. Seeing this turn of events the brothers came to understand that they were working together with the badgers and that all the violence that had been done they had basically supported. Several dead bodies were passed across, and a mass grave was shown to Logan of which would be identified in case they needed to as the place they buried the remaining Badgers. One of the badgers a younger looking man introduced himself to Logan as James Nighting II. and had been sent by his family and revealed to Logan that despite his families prominent position they had become dire hard supporters of the Bill Lovie led regime.

Look at the world father. You were born into this land, and you have told me hundreds upon hundreds of times how much you used to love it. Look at everything you have done to it. You destroyed a city for no reason, killed hundreds of good men out of fear. Is this how you want to be remembered father. Is this the world you want to leave behind? I know you were a good person once. I have all the evidence laid out in front of me as to why you are the villain of this world, but I don't fully believe it. Don't end it all here, and be remembered as a monster..

I pulled my sword out of the poor man infront of me and collected myself around the rest of my men. A quick look told me we had lost very few if anyone in the charge, but looking to Edric Maul I knew my anwser would come quicker. "Edric what were our losses?"

"Simon took an arrow to the face, and Tohmen was slashed on the neck." Only two casualties wasn't terrible considering how many of them we had just overrun, but as I looked out onto the field and saw how many were in retreat I knew this was just the beggining."Probably more injuries, but we won't know that until after the battle Milord." As he spoke I spotted the personal banner of Dexter on the hill before us, and knew I wanted to have a chat with Dexter about what was the next plan for the complete defeat of the Badgers.

"Thank you Edric."He bowed his bloodied face at me and I turned towards the rest of my men. "Follow me men." As quickly as I said it I could hear the men trotting behind me as I made my way towards Dexter Hill of whom was stopped on a hill nearbye watching the retreat of the Badgers. Nearing him several of his men rode up the hill ahead of us, and spoke to him, of which the conversation was still going as I finally reached Dexter.

"A cousin of the man identified him."

"That will make for an interesting story. Where is this cousin now?"

"He was struck down by an arrow, but with his dying words he told me Milord."

"Then I suppose this information shall remain with us."

"What information shall remain with you Dexter?" I wanted to trust Dexter. He had never given me reason to think he was a liar, but the simple fact was that everyone I met made a special point to tell me not to trust him, and that had unfortunatly seeped into my thinking.

"Look out at the retreating Badgers Frank. Do you see the man carrying the banner? "

"Yes. I see him."

"Beside him is the man leading the Badgers."

"It seems obvious that the commander would be near the banner. What sort of..."

"Yes this would be obvious Franklin, but its the identity of the man that is interesting. I have learned from a dying man that the man leading the Badgers was none other then Kieth Schwartz."

"I do not know that name."

"Kieth Schwarts is the best friend of our glorious king my friend."

"How could that be." There had never been any real truth to Dexter's story that our King had been the cause of the destruction of Tree Hill, but if his best friend was truly here then that would be damning.

"I have a feeling that the anwser to that question is further truth to what I told you of Tree Hill."

"But it just doesn't make any sense. Why would the King of Lucerne go to such lengths to destroy his own land." I saw briefly a look of disapointment across Dexter's face as I once again resisted what he was telling me.

"I told you the truth back in Hillsbrad Lord Brent. I told you the truth and it is up to you whether you choose to believe me and the facts I bring to the table. I'm not forcing anything. Believe what you will." With that he waved at his men, and they went riding down the hill towards the main force now entering the castle. I didn't know what to think right now, but I know that my father would have a better understanding of what was going on in the world.

After speaking with Krandell for some time he believed that he had also convinsed his brother that despite it being morally wrong they had no choice due to the oaths they had sworn to always serve and honor their lord and their king. Spending weeks riding around basically pretending to fight against the badgers Logan and his brother Krendall would stay very close keeping eachother company and this continues until the end of the Badger Rebellion when his father leads the Lerman forces back to Castle Tollsen which shows major signs of improvement under Liam Greymane and it is here that the Lucernian forces meet to discuss next steps.

Siege of Limca

“You think you had anything to do with the support you got here Franklin? It was all Karyl.”
— Coyle Ordos

Following the discoveries it was Franklin Brent IV. that travels to Marburg with Karyl Reyne where he meets with the leadership of the city in the form of his father and his fathers vassals and attempts to convince them that the bandits are funded by the king James Lovie and to give him more forces so that he might attack. Franklin stays several days in Marberg waiting for the arrival of House Ordos of whom is sending delegates there at the request of his father so that House Ordos can hear of what is happening, and while waiting he continues attempting to convinse them further about his designs. Franklin's cousin Kyle Darkwood arrives in the town by chance and Franklin attempts to convinse him to come with him to Limca but Kyle is cold to the idea telling Franklin how little there is to gain by going against the king in whatever violent attept he is making. After Kyle Darkwood leaves Franklin is disapointed in his continues failures and returns to his room where he finds Karyl waiting for him and not wanting her to see him down he barks orders at her which in his head he is disgusted at himself for the way he speaks to her but he feels a growing desire to touch her which scares him.

“My father said I was brilliant. My father always said I could talk the most charismatic man into giving me the coat off his back. Had my father lied about who I was? Was I notas great as he had said I was?”
— Franklin Brent IV.

Sleeping for several hours he leaves the room to go and find his father but is stopped by lord Deitrik Greentail of whom tells him that he has had a change of heart from his earlier refusal to assist Franklin and will send his son Estmar Greentail with a force of one thousand to support Franklin's movement and at this news Franklin feels better and goes to see Kyle but before he can its his sister Fiona who tells him that House Ordos has arrived at the city. Meeting with Coyle the day after Coyle agreed to allow House Brent to intervene its Coyle that lets slip to him that Karyl Reyne has been also moving in behind him and furthering his points to those he speaks, and Kyle Darkwood insults Franklin over the fact that he hasn't actually been convinsing anyone but actually it was Karyl. Furious at Karyl he storms to find her but she remains calm and tells him that she is his wife and she will do anything to help him, and she attempts to be physically intimate with him, but we discover that he is unable to touch her due to severe distress she touches him.

Karyl attempts to console him as he breaks down as he was shown to be so weak, but he won't let her and he leaves her alone, and gathers his men. Following this Franklin Brent marches at the head of the force from Marburg he has been able to gather northwards towards the town of Limca where Dexter Hill has told him the remaining forces of the Badgers have gathered under the command of Kieth Schwartz. Meeting with the force of Dexter Hill outside of Limca he discovers the army of Limca having gathered outside the walls and sends out a scout with a white flag which leads to a meeting between the forces of Franklin and the forces of House Haushka. Meeting with Lord Swen Haushka and his brother Ottkar Haushka he and Dexter are finally vindicated when they discover that Kieth Schwartz stands with them openly revealing his presence among the army of House Haushka. Following the discussion the forces of Franklin Brent place the town under siege while the forces of House Haushka launch attempts to break the siege but are repulsed through the work of Dexter Hill whose cavalry push back any attempt to break the siege. Karyl Reyne arrives at the siege camp several weeks into the siege and Franklin is suprised when he is quite excited to see her, and for a moment he wants to reach out and touch her but before he can he is overcome by his fears and pulls back. Karyl and Franklin spend time in his tent where they discuss what has happened during the weeks of the siege and Karyl gives him advise of what he should do advising him to turn Swen Haushka against Kieth Schwartz through trickery and trusting her advise Franklin raises a white flag bringing the two sides to discussion. Meeting with the leaders of the Limca rebels including Kieth Schwartz its Franklin who is prepared to use the advise given to him by Karyl but as they speak Franklin mentions in passing that William Lovie III. is at Forks and Kieth stops the entire debate immediately. Demanding more information on this Franklin says that once the Siege of Limca is over he has been asked to travel to Hillsbrad to join the meeting with House Greymane and the Grand State of the Westerlands where their decision on whether to support William will be made. Kieth without warning orders Lord Swent Haushka to stand down and surrender, but forces favorable terms for House Haushka and the Principality of Limca stating that in return for this favorable term then House Haushka will support the prince at Forks. As the terms are agreed over its Kieth who asks to speak to Franklin separately and unable to get Elsa Tollsen to not go with him she joins them for this final talk, and going far enough into the field that no one can hear them Kieth tells them the truth of the Badger Rebellion. Elsa is held back by Franklin as she tries to kill Kieth for clearly being responsible for the death of most of her family, and then without apology or any attempt at gaining forgiveness Kieth wishes them good luck and to tell the prince what he has told them, and then he pulls out a rock and disappears into nothing. Returning to the remaining rebels they accept the surrender of House Haushka on the terms agreed upon and following this Swen gives Franklin information on the location of a Badger hideout and then has his son Ottkar join with Franklin alongside several hundred Haushka troops.

Badger Hideout

Main Article : Assault on the Badger Hideout outside Limca

“You are coming with me Tobin. You tell the truth and I'll let you go. I promise.”
— Franklin Brent IV.

Following this information the forces of Franklin Brent move towards the location given to them by Swen and traveling the road he talks things over with Ottkar who does a good job at explaining why they did what they did in supporting the King. Arriving at the hideout they would surround the entire camp with their forces while Franklin, and Ottkar moved in on the hideout with an elite force of a hundred knights. Entering the camp the Badgers led by Harry Schwartz would attempt to surrender, and a discussion opened up about accepting their surrender, but when it seemed like they were going to allow them to live it was Ser Poliver of Brent that discovered the imprisoned Edmund Frotenhood and removed the coverings from his mouth. Allowed to speak Edmund would reveal the depths of violence committed on the orders of Harry Schwartz and the other badgers in the camp and unable to talk his way out of it Franklin would execute Harry on the spot. The remainder of the badgers in the camp were also executed with only Edmund being taken prisoner back to Hillsbrad where he would be tried and decided what his fate would be. Among the rescued prisoners was Esla Tollsen of whom would be offered assistance in returning to Castle Tollsen and her family but instead rejected this and took a horse alone heading to her childhood home of Highgarden. Tobin Aven would be taken prisoner during the assault on the hideout and taken back by Franklin Brent to Hillsbrad in order to testify as to what the actions of James Lovie had been.

Final Meeting

“My brother what our father says is wrong. We are wrong. I will let Lord Greymane the truth of this and I shall accept whatever punishment I must. I cannot. I will not accept to be on the wrong side of what is right. I cannot.”
— Krandell Lerman

During this meeting Logan is once again impressed by Liam Greymane and after the meeting ends he is approached in private by his brother who reveals that he will be telling Liam about what actually happened and concerned that this action will lead to the imprisonment of his entire family he goes to his father and tells him what is going to happen and at his words his father quickly has his brother imprisoned and sent back to the Lerman seat of Lehaven. The chapter ends with Logan having betrayed his brother now in an extremely emotionally devastated state but returns with his father to Lehaven where he is overjoyed to see his uncle Wren again of whom is the man that Logan sees as his true father and the man he knows will tell him the truth of everything.

The Journey

Main Article : The Journey

The Meeting of the Western Lords
My father made sure I knew three things going into that meeting. Firstly I was to be as rude to the Greymane`s as I could. Secondly I was to try and talk to the Brents and get a diologue going between our two houses. Finally I was to make it extremely clear that we would under no curcumstances assist William. Well atleast I talked to Franklin Brent.

Hillsbrad Meeting

“My father made sure I knew three things going into that meeting. Firstly I was to be as rude to the Greymane`s as I could. Secondly I was to try and talk to the Brents and get a diologue going between our two houses. Finally I was to make it extremely clear that we would under no curcumstances assist William. Well atleast I talked to Franklin Brent.”
— Demi Snow

With William Lovie III. leaving Lucerne for the event that would become later known as The Journey the rest of the Kingdom became increasingly positive about his actions, but also throughout the Valley of Lucerne there was significant discussion on what to do as the previous time someone had moved against Bill Lovie it had resulted in The Plague. In the city of Hillsbrad the Arch Lord in House Greymane would call an assembly of all of his vassals of which included every major house in western Hillsbrad without exception and without ability for the houses to decline invitation. Arriving in Hillsbrad the meetings began with Genn Greymane talking of the continued consequences of them allowing the current King to wield unending power, and that their only chance of survival was to find this William Lovie III. and help him achieve victory. Vincent Godfrey would openly support King Bill Lovie and said as a warning to all those around that the last time anyone tried to resist him they were destroyed in The Plague. Franklin Brent would stand on the other side openly speaking of supporting William , and these two would continue to argue for minutes as other lords stepped in siding with their respective lords, and this continued for some time. As the argueing continued it was Franklin Brent III. that would arrive and brought his prison Tobin Aven into the meeting and with the support tilting against William at this time his testimony would be of great importance. Tobin Aven that would testify as to what he had been ordered to do and this greatly changed the mood of the meeting, and allowed Demi Snow to stand up and state that her family was one hundred percent behind William and was going to send forces to assist him immediately, and this information shocked the other houses as everyone had assumed that they were not going to do anything like they always did. Still without her Lord father`s support she would during the meeting commit to sending one hundred men immediately with the larger force being sent by the Greymane`s and after this promise there was little that her father could do to turn against it.

Look at the world father. You were born into this land, and you have told me hundreds upon hundreds of times how much you used to love it. Look at everything you have done to it. You destroyed a city for no reason, killed hundreds of good men out of fear. Is this how you want to be remembered father. Is this the world you want to leave behind? I know you were a good person once. I have all the evidence laid out in front of me as to why you are the villain of this world, but I don't fully believe it. Don't end it all here, and be remembered as a monster..

Entering the hall early allowed me time to think about what I planned to do. I had come to the understanding sometime during the trip here that there was no way I could ever return to the Crowley Estates, or Crowley Hold or else I was dead. My brother would eventually get his wish and be left alone without my father, and when that happened his madness would be unleashed. Andrew entered shortly after I did, and I felt terrible as he smiled at me so enthusiastically. I loved him, surely I did, but today my main purpose for him was manipulation, and that made me feel lower then ever.

Slowly the other lords entered the hall. The lithe Gregor Voner entered flanked by several of his vassals including his son Duncan of whom always had the same emotioneless look of his father, and as they entered they squatted on the seat to my right. Gregor Voner had always been friendly with our house, and my father always told me to be as nice to him as possible as he hated the Godfreys. Apparently when Gregor was young his little sister had been raped and murdered, and the only person that appeared to be guilty was Groevin Godfrey and he too escaped justice after winning and killing Gregor`s older brother Aron in a duel. The Godfrey`s had after this exiled Groevin, but this was followed by insults from the Godfrey`s which basically have created a distinct hatred between the two houses.

"Lady Hill how is your father?"

"My father is well Lord Voner. He sends you his regards, and apologizes that his sickness leaves him unable to come to the meeting."

"Your father is one of few men I can count on my hands who stood beside me when I demanded the damn Godfey's pay for what they did." His hand clenched into a fist and I saw him exchange glances with his son before continuing. "I apologize Lady Hill for my outburst."

"Nothing to apoligize for Lord Godfrey." Seeing the hate was still strong I knew I would just need to spark the flames a little bit to keep him on my side. "What Groevin Godfrey did to your family was a crime of the greatest magnitude. My family remains behind you in that feeling."

"Thank you for the words Lady Hill." He moved closer to me whispering in my ear. "Just know Demi that your position will be our position." He pulled back a bit looking at me in the eyes. "I assume that your father sent you with the authority to negotiate for the family?" It was said as if it wasn't a question but I knew that it was. Either way the question was in the open and I could see that Lord Brennard Fladen, and Cayle Benden were listening in now wanting to hear the response. The two men were my fathers closest banner man and I felt stupid for not noticing their arrival, as they must have sat down to my left while I was talking to Gregor. "My father has given me permission to negotiate for House Crowley today Lord Voner" A smile crossed his face, and I looked towards Brennard, and Cayle and watched them bow their heads at me as well realizing that I was for all intensive purposes their Lord at the table.

"Well then, as I said we stand beside your family and whatever decision you have come here with we will join you."

"House Fladen stands with you as well Milady."

"House Bended as well Demi." I heard Duncan huff at Cayle not calling me a more proper name, but all this did was elisit a smile from Cayle. I wouldn't blame Duncan for being annoyed with the language, but he couldn't know how close Cayle and I had gotten over the years. It wasn't often that you found a lord of similar age to myself, and for this reason above many of the others he was someone I had always gravitated towards.

When Leyton Mountain entered being escorted by his heir Baelor and his frightening looking daughter Malora. I had heard that she and Leyton spent nearly all of their days locked away in their hightower, and from the looks of her she hadn`t seen the outside world very much of late.

Franklin Brent entered flanked by his little wife Karyl Reyne of whom held onto him as if he was the last thing in ths world. Franklin brought in tow with him Benjemin, and Dennis Ordos of which I along with everyone else in the room found beyond hilarious. Dennis had long been the Lord of House Ordos, but the wealth possessed by House Brent always meant that the kind of diplomatic insults that might doom another vassal were simply ignored for fear of what House Brent might do.

The final Lords to enter were Laehera Rholler, Vincent Godfrey, and Kieth Darkwood of whom waited at the door and when the four Greymane gaurds walked in holding the door I knew we were in for Genn Greymane. Held to his feet by Liam Greymane the Elderly Lord of Hillsbrad was seated at the Arch Lord table and when he raised his hand to speak the meeting would begin. ``My Lords...``Liam whispered to him briefly, and he continued.``My Lords, and Ladies I thank you all for arriving so promptly.`` The ever present grovelling begin with Kieth Darkwood of whom bowed his head from the table and thanked Genn for his hospitality of which when Genn did not anwser or look it was clear he hadn`t heard and so Liam said the your welcomes necessary.

Genn appeared to enter some kind of trance, and when this happened Liam moved himself away from his father as if to avert people`s eyes and begin speaking`` My honored Lords and Ladies we are here today to speak of the direction that the lands of Hillsbrad shall move in when it comes to the issue of William Lovie III. I, alongside my family have come to the conclusion that we shall support the young prince in his endeavors. I do not come here commanding the support of our vassals, instead I ask that we all make a decision and let it be known that all were heard.`` Liam sat back down beside his father of whom he put his hand onto the top of his fathers hand before raising his other hand to direct others to speak.

Vincent Godfrey spoke first. ``I may offer but one small issue. While I do not disagree that what we have heard of this young prince is at least more promising then his father, I do wish to point out that others have attempted to move against Bill and they now sit in shallow graves.``

``That is no reason not to support William. We all must die at some point, so why not die supporting the rightful king.`` Franklin spoke with a conviction and a admiration that was promising when it came to my hope that the Greymane`s would get much support.

``The fanaticism of youth is something that brings about its own host of dangers young Brent.`` Osbert Konie the vassal of Godfrey spoke in support of his liege. It was interesting to see the Kronies sitting with Vincent Godfrey while the Godfrey`s other vassal in the Voner`s was on the other side of the table. Clearly the long history of conflict between the two houses was alive and well.

Franklin made the right choice when he ignored the attempted goading by Osbert. ``I come with the words of my father and thus all of House Brent behind me that we shall support the crown prince William Lovie III. Any who do not also follow the prince I beg to ask you one question. How can you accept a king that murders your family? Just a few short years ago he murdered hundreds in targeted assassinations. Our Liege Lord lost many members of his family for doing nothing more then what everyone at this table should be jumping at doing.`` Franklin`s words were met by smacks on the table of support by many of the Lords at the table.

``You speak as if you understand the world so greatly child. You have been alive for less summers then anyone at this table and yet you speak for all of us now.``

``I speak for my liege Lord Genn Greymane, who has led us wisely and justly for years and was forced to endure the deaths of so much of his family for just asking questions.`` He looked around the table at each person before continuing. ``Lord Godfrey I think you forget to much that you are the vassal of House Greymane.``

"I do not forget my oaths at all. It is the fact that I do not forget my oaths that gives me pause disobeying the commands of the King of the Valley. You say the King is insane, and perhaps you are right, but does that give you the right to turn away from him?"

Support for The Journey
William Lovie III.	Bill Lovie	Only Verbal Support
Genn Greymane Demi Hill Franklin Brent Andrew Garfield Benjamin Ordos Gregor Voner Kieth Darkwood Wolf Braxton	Vincent Godfrey Leyton Mountain	Darius Crowley Dennis Ordos Laehera Rholler

With the support of House Crowley the movement of some of the houses would change as all the Crowley loyalists quickly jumped on board with this plan as most had wanted to do this but didn't due to their belief that Vincent Godfrey would never have supported this.

“I realized that I wasn`t going to be able to return home to my father after what I had done, so I had to make another choice. As the meeting broke up I went immediatly to Andrew Garfield and stayed near him. He would protect me from all the dangerous things.”
— Demi Snow

Demi Snow following the ending of the meeting would take to staying near Andrew Garfield of whom accompanied her back to her families estate. Spending some time there getting the one hundred men she had promiced she would leave shortly after and return with Andrew to the assembling party outside of the eastern gate. By this point hours later her father learned of what she had done, and left the Crowley castle hours west of Hillsbrad and attempted to return to Hillsbrad. Demi realizing that her father was going to do something like that left with the hundred men of House Crowley ahead of the main Hillsbrad force heading for Forks.

Demi Hill Marries

“I love my father. He was a brilliant, and just man. He was a man that would suport, and love me when it came to almost anything that I did. So did I feel bad when I betrayed him. Of course I did. But I had to live in this world. If I stayed in Hillsbrad with my brother and my father, I was going to die. There wasn`t anything he could do to stop that.”
— Demi Snow

Following the arrival of the Hillsbrad force in Forks Demi Snow would continue with the next step of her plan when she handed a letter of forged consent of marriage to Andrew`s father Harron Garfield of whom knew that his son desperately wanted to marry Demi, and knew that the match was perfect for his house so he jumped at the opportunity. Realizing that she couldn`t return unmarried or else her father would put an end to her scheming she persuaded Andrew and his father to have the ceremony in Forks so that she could truly be a part of their family during The Journey. Following her persuasion the marriage happened with the large Dragon Temple of Forks and Demi Snow became Demi Garfield and was now protected so she believed from the actions of her brother Dexter.

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