Rikkou's Wreckers encampment, Southern Torrs, Night.

Rikkou and his band of champions would celebrate a hard day's work of patrolling and training by partying and feasting on what they can harvest on their farmland. Rikkou, Pattou, Liger and Sayfuro would be seated at the center table while the champions were out and about their own festivities. The cousins reconnected after years of separation. Rikkou was related to Patriarch Blade through the side of Queen Cortana as Rikkou's father was a trusted royal doctor in the palace. On the night of the overthrow by Corrvin, the doctor had been lucky to have come from a commoner who needed aid with their health and saw that Torrs castle was already littered with bodies of the dead. Luckily his children were with him aiding their father in that same visit and they all fled to Southern Torrs. Rikkou would then mention that the doctor served well until he had passed and his siblings soon followed as Rikkou was left on his own. 

Rikkou: So, that made me decide to try my hand at being a farmer given Southern Torrs has an abundance to farmlands. Also I learned early on as well to fight with my fists and these gloves come in handy. Kind of made me decide to be a champion and convince these other champions to ensure we all have food and can protect ourselves.

Pattou: No worries my cousin. At least I understood what was with the rather cold welcome earlier. 

Rikkou: Nonesense! These guys, myself included have had enough of Corrvin's chicanery. It's not enough that the Governor of this region cares little for us who have less. He only cares in preserving nobility, which if he has not been aware for his time as Governor, does not exist. This area is merely vast ranges of farmlands, marshes and grasslands. We have heard of your great exploit in the West. Will you be recreating that here in the South?

Pattou: As much as I want to recreate the liberation of the West down here, we know little of the terrain and how things work here in the South. I only began wandering after leaving the orphanage after some time. Being a noble has yet to sink in to me just yet, but I have been getting adjusted for it.

As if their blood had already predicted what the other had thought

Rikkou: Say no more! My champions and I are more than ready to assist you, cousin. But I may know of other allies within the bounds of Southern Torrs who can be of assistance to the cause.

Sayfuro: Might you know one of them by chance Master Rikkou?

Rikkou: Here's the thing, one of them believe it or not, owns the trading post here in the South, given that this place is the agricultural and supply hub of the empire. The other I believe has been around the area singing his heart out, but per one of my champions, the man is somehow more than a bard with a guitar.

Pattou: Cousin, we must find them. I do not exactly know why but deep down I feel those two will be valuable to our side down the road.

Rikkou then takes the cup with root beer and raises his glass. The champions follow suit and so did the 3 visitors. 

Rikkou: Alright, I have to cut the boisterous festivities here because I would like us to raise our cups for our guests here. I am proud to say that we are all in the presence of not only the Great Liberators of the Western Torrs, but one of them is actually my long lost cousin, Lord Patriarch Blade. Now we are one step closer to being able to aid Lord Patriarch in his cause to rid this world of Corrvin's evil ways. Long live the Blade! 

The champions with cups in their hands too toast and chant along with their leader. Liger would then tell Rikkou, 

Liger: Just like my band of rogues and snipers back in the West ha ha.

The festivities wound down hours later and the only ones awake are Rikkou, Pattou and Liger. Liger's uneasiness was becoming more than obvious. Rikkou would then speak to Liger, 

Rikkou: Hey, are you alright there? Brew too strong than what you're used to in the West?

Liger: The brew is good here. It's the situation. You merely discover that your cousin, my childhood friend is actually of nobility. You're of nobility by that aspect and yet you're all fine with it. I mean, where do I fit in in all this? A mere pawn? A cog in the...

Pattou: Liger, come on. Calm yourself. I mean as a sniper, should you not have some calm mind, especially when you aim your arrows? 

Liger looks surprised at his friend. 

Pattou: Look here, Liger, nobility or not, it does not change the fact that you are an asset to our cause. This goes beyond status as either one with the common folk or one of nobility. We are all fighting and aiming for the same thing. The end of Corrvin's terror. Our friendship has never changed nor will it ever be just because Sayfuro has pointed me to my long lost heritage. As I have said again, by name I may be of nobility, but deep down I still am that same young kid who you grew up alongside with in the orphanage those years ago. I always said that I am a noble in training but never did that change how I deal and treat you and the rest of our allies.

Liger and Rikkou were amazed by those words and under the spirits, they both laughed. Rikkou spoke, 

Rikkou: It seems you truly speak like a noble but at the very least you know where you stand in all this, cousin. I believe we still have to find our valuable assets in the coming days before we face that oblivious noble to free the South. I am turning in. 

Liger before leaving tells Pattou, 

Liger: Hey, apologies for me airing those worries earlier. This is all new to me and I was really unsure of it all.

Pattou: Liger, what I said earlier is of the truth and not because of the spirits in that brew. We go way back from the orphanage and never will our friendship change despite everything that has happened thus far and will happen from here on out. You with me?

Liger: Yes. I am with you. You know you take yourself too seriously at times, my friend. Leave that fiery passion when you rouse us to fight. Ha ha.

As they leave and begin to turn in, Sayfuro was actually in the nearby area in hiding. He says to himself, 

Sayfuro: It will take more time for the reality of his lineage to sink in. But I do hope that Lord Patriarch can act accordingly. Corrvin's reign must end.

Not much action here but some build up for things to come. That is Chapter 8, Chapters 9 and 10 are coming tomorrow. 

Keep safe and stay awesome!