Demoran glistens in the morning sun. G

Grimmock Pulutra stands at the expanse of windows before his throne, eyes darting about the southern lands. His belly rests against the ornate carved stone, occuluding the mixture of gemstones nestled inside.

Ahead of him, dawn casts its fingers wide over the plains and distant mountains. Faint shadows of caravans and groups traversing the lands point west as the sun creeps over the edge of the world. Grimmock chuckles with a rumbling from his belly as a crow and cardinal dance in the windows outside.

“A bad omen.” The voice echos in the air, sounding of stones hard pressed and drawn across one another. Grimmocks eyes dart to the right, but he does not give away the trembling in his eyes.

“How so, Shadow?” Grimmocks eyes return for the aerial display. The smaller and agile cardinal flits and dives impacting three crow, but the midnight black feathers seem unruffled.

“A cardinal and a single crow. The battle beteeen hope and death.” Shadow leans his thick arms toward and rests the full length of his beard outside the window, and his chin into the palms of his hands. “The eternal struggle l, not one too many don’t think to see as the inevitability of death.” The course was of his voice halts as a smirk appears beneath the salt and paper beard in his face. He leans further forward to watch as the cardinal begins its descent, having lost in its daring battle against the crow.

“ I see. Though to some a single crow is an omen of change. Or good luck. “. Grimmock steps are labored, size battling against his very movement. His waddle carries him back to the thone where he hoists his ample rump back o to the seat. “Perhaps this is a sign of good things to come.”

“Irony that you’d look to the south and see hope. Greater dancers loom in the north, Steward. “. Shadows voice is raspy, ominous tones leading his turn toward the throne.

“Some would argue that there is greater dangers alredy in Demoran, Theif. “. Grimmocks tone stops the Shadows approach. He raises a heavy brow, a moment lost before resuming his steps. Arriving at the throne, hr rest and elbow on the stone arm rest and pat’s the belly of the steward like a dog welcoming his master home.

“And might you be amongst these “some” of which you speak, steward? I feel as though after all this time, and all the rewards you’ve consumed from our endeavors, that you’d be wise to avoid such … accusations. “. Grommock winces as a small blade slides through the silk fineries and bites into the tender skin of his stomach. Blood begins to pool in the silk and darken the deep green robes.

“Of course not friend. But to what do I owe this pleasurable visit?” Grimmocks done rattles out of his throat, his hands reach to apply pressure to the wound.

“The threat to the north. And a favor to the south. There is much work to be done. “ the shadows voice flattens, uncommonly cold like the air that suddenly ripples in through the southernmost windows.