The doors leading deeper into the castle had finally opened and there, stood the strange masked man. His black and white mask with only a hint of color was quite a strange thing to look at. Upon seeing him the two sisters nodded to each other and took their places on either side of the masked messenger. As they still had their helmets on all three of them were somewhat 'masked' which did not give off the most welcoming atmosphere.

"Welcome to his Lordship's humble estate. I have been given the task of telling you all that Lord Grimm is ready to start negotiations." The man gave an over dramatic bow, like a jester or even a butler, and then stood back up. "I will be happy to show you the way to his lordship's throne room." The man clasped his hands together as he waited for the two groups to get ready.

There were quite a few mutterings on both sides saying 'about time' and other sentiments as the White Rock Confederacy got together while the Onyx Empire formed ranks. Tensions started to get high as both sides realized the negotiations were about to begin. Also, unlike the first time when they had passed through the outer gate separately they would have to go the rest of the way together, needless to say having to just walk essentially side by side was enough make a few a little paranoid.

"Come then, and I expect you all to behave in front of his lordship." The masked man never turned around to lead them, which confused a few at first but then the man started taking steps backward without the slightest notion of worry. The red and green knights however, did turn around to walk as going backward in full armor would no doubt be quite the chore. The ones in the front quickly realized they were to follow and the two groups cautiously entered into a long hallway.

The hallway was decked out in granite, marble, and was thankfully quite wide so each side was able to give the other some space. There were some stands and chairs every so often made of dark wood, the occasional hallway splitting off leading to other areas of the castle, and quite a few large paintings with silver frames. The paintings had a very recognizable theme, monsters and mythical creatures of various forms and persuasions. Most were ones the average man would never have had the chance to see in real life, though a few were still around in some areas.

The pictures also had somewhat of a pattern to them. At first the paintings were of humanoid species, ranging from elves to fairies. As they made their way down the creatures kept getting less and less humanoid and more animal; by the end of the hallway the paintings were now filled with the deadly and fantastical of heroes' legends and nightmares. They certainly added on to the eerie atmosphere the place was giving.

Eventually they made it to another set of doors, these were quite magnificent in design and were chiseled with ivory pictures of dragons, angels, and demons. The sister knights each took a handle of the large doors and pushed them open as the masked man bowed, saying, "Welcome to Castle Grimm, his lordship awaits." A few people held their breaths as the doors opened, revealing the large throne room with all its tapestries, and people.

"How could such splendor exist at the top of the mountains?" An Onyxian could not help but mutter, especially after noticing the chandelier and what looked like gold veins in the floor. It was not a very bright room but one could not help but feel it was 'rich'.

At the far end was Lord Grimm, seated on an ivory throne in full, dark armor. To his left were his twin daughters who gazed out at the visitors as they poured in, trying to gauge their worth. To his right was a slightly smaller seat for his wife, but at the moment it was empty and Lady Grimm was no where to be seen. At the sides of the room were of course the throne room guards with their long halbards, as well as various people ranging from those of station to servants caring for the needs of those present.

The masked man and two knights led them to the middle of the room in front of the throne, by this point the masked man was no longer walking backwards as he was in the presence of his lord. The three stopped a good ways from their master and all fell on one knee in front of him.

"My Lord." They responded in unison and stayed that way until they motioned up by a hand from Lord Grimm. After rising the they parted so that no one was between Lord Grimm and the visitors from below. While the two knights too respective positions at the end of the throne guard, the masked man made his way over to the Lord's daughters and stood a respectful distance from them.

Lord Grimm stood up from his throne and spread his arms wide as if to embrace them. "Welcome to my domain representatives of the Onyx Empire and the White Rock Confederation. I have been anticipating this moment for quite some time. No doubt you are eager to begin however; I wish to show you something first. Nefiris, Irelis, show them your faces."

The Green and Red knights nodded and removed their helmets from their heads. Complete surprise and shock rippled through both camps as they gazed upon somethings they never thought they would ever see. The two sisters had darkened skin, silver hair and eyes which was no doubt quite unusual but what got every's attention were their pointed ears.

"By the great Forest, I thought they were just myths." Someone said on the White Rock side, perhaps a little too loudly, there were various others words of bewilderment from both sides, though a few managed to keep their heads as they realized what Lord Grimm was doing. No doubt he was showing something so rare in order to wet the appetites of both sides before beginning negotiations. Unfortunately the majority of both camps, already in wonderment from the castle itself were now so taken aback that it would be hard to remain calm.

The dark elf twins' mouths curled up ever so slightly at the startled reactions.

Craggard could not put what he saw into words. Grimm Castle was everything he had dreamed of and more. The hallways twisted this way and that like an expertly crafted labyrinth, and yet their backwards-walking guide turned corners effortlessly- never once looking behind him. The spacious floors- composed of marble and granite, he assumed, were dark but glistening. Intricate paintings lined the walls, their subjects all strange creatures, some Craggard had heard tales about as a child. As the two groups progressed down the halls, the paintings began to twist and mutate into creatures more and more beast-like. Craggard felt a strong desire to trace his fingers along the intricate silver framing, but resisted the urge.

For once in his life, Craggard didn't utter a word as he strode through the halls. The gloomy exterior of the castle meant nothing to Craggard- it was rather unsettling for sure, but he knew that once the Onxyians had the castle, they would fix the eerie atmosphere- preferably by replacing the gargoyles with statues of fair maidens, but he could settle with a few motivational tapestries, too.

Just as the nobleman was considering offering his guides some advice on interior design, he was cut short as the two groups skidded to a halt in front of two huge doors. Craggard took a deep breath as the doors were slowly pushed open. He straightened his back and his usual crooked smile disappeared, replaced by an unusually neutral, calm expression. Almost compulsively, Craggard bowed deeply and emphatically as Lord Grimm himself turned to the two factions. He rose at the Lord's insistence on showing them something.

More out of curiosity than obedience, he raised his head to see the two knights remove their helmets to reveal silver hair and eyes of the same glistening color, dark skin, and pointed ears. Craggard's eyebrows raised in surprise. This was a trick. It had to be- dark elves weren't real- they were mere folktales, myths, silly little children's stories. He had no idea how they managed to look like a dark elf, but whether it was a trick of the light or cosmetics, he wasn't fooled. The portly man looked around to see if everyone else was falling for the silver-haired fakes, and was shocked to see most were. A surge of annoyance worked its way to his brain. Dear God, they were so so obviously imposters. His poor fellow Onxyites- were they really this dim-witted?
Bah. To think the great Lord Grimm actually thought he was stupid enough to fal for such a trick.

"That is enough." Lord Grimm said curtly, causing the two elves to nod and put their helmets back on. Everyone was trying to sort out what they just saw in their own way. Even after seeing, some were still questioning the validity of the elves identities, not that it matter to Grimm if they believed or not.

"To think such rare specimens still existed, marvelous! I commend you Lord Grimm on a job well done. Please, let us quickly get into negotiations, I am anxious to reach a beneficial arrangement." A very wealthy looking individual from the Onyx Empire spoke up, eagar to begin.

"Indeed Lord Grimm, I am sure we can come to a better arrangement than the empire." A merchant from the White Rock Confederacy countered.

"I will be happy to go into deeper negotiations with you both but before that let me make myself quite clear." Lord Grimm settled back down on his throne and gazed at the people assembled before him. "I allowed you here for a very specific reason. Both sides came here in order to gain access to my domain so that they could launch a campaign against the other. Your hatred for each other has caught my estate in the crossfire which is not a threat to take lightly."

Both sides shut up at this rather fitting assessment of the situation, there also seemed to be a bit of menace in Lord Grimm's voice and considering where they were, neither side wanted to anger him.

"Thankfully for you both, I'll give you a chance to prove that you can be an asset rather than an annoyance. As I hinted at in my invitations, there is something you can do for me and I intend to use this opportunity. Daughters, introduce yourselves to our guests." Lord Grimm beckoned to his daughters, who gracefully strode up in front and next to their father. They glanced at each other and Esmerelda gave a slight nod, signifying that she would happily go second in introductions. With a brilliant smile, Primrosa stepped forward for all to see, her bright golden hair and graceful figure was quite easy on the eyes and from her straight posture it was simple to see she was like a warrior princess.

"Greetings members from afar, my name is Primrosa, first born of Lord Grimm and rightful heir to his estate. I hope that you will choose to help me take my rightful place as the next Lord Grimm. Thank you for your cooperation." With a curtsy to end her short speech, she stepped back to allow Esmerelda to step forward next.

Esmerelda gave off quite a different impression from her sister and even appeared a little flustered to be up front, but with a deep breath she was able to start. "Welcome members of the Confederacy and the Empire. My name is Esmerelda, twin sister to Primrosa. I know that these negotiations will be difficult and I apologize for the trouble we cause you. I know we appear selfish but I pray you will find it in your hearts to forgive us. Whichever side decides to back me I will be most grateful for you support." She gave a curtsy as well, which showed off her well-endowed figure a bit, and then stepped back to join her sister.

"As you can see these are my two lovely daughters and I need to decide an heir. Support between the two is roughly split in my court so, to decide which of you is worthy to enter a pact with, you will decide which shall be my heir. You will fight a proxy war between your two nations on these very grounds and the victor will be allowed negotiations with me, as well as decide the next Lord Grimm." Before anyone could ask any questions, Lord Grimm raised his hand for silence. "Before you ask, if either side refuses or gives up, I will automatically expel you from my land and enter negotiations with the other side. I am sure neither side wishes for that."

Both sides thought about what was being proposed. Essentially they were being asked to risk their lives to settle an internal dispute in Castle Grimm. While few liked the idea of being used in such a fashion, the chance to finally have the first meaningful battle with the other side was getting their blood boiling. "If you agree to side with one of my daughters and start this proxy war I will explain the terms and rules of this engagement.

The young tactician took note of the castle's features as they strode through the halls - the masked figure that led them, though an enigma, didn't particularly unsettle Geoffrey. The way he gracefully walked backwards toward their destination was a bit fascinating, of course, but Geoffrey shook it off of his shoulder like it was simple theatrics, probably meant to intimidate the two parties. He occasionally glanced back, being one of the figures that was toward the front, and noticed the tension among his men as they had to walk close to the Onyxians. Finally, the great throne room was presented to them, and Geoffrey stood in awe of the scene before them.

Even some of the finest halls the boy had the privilege of entering while stationed in the larger cities of White Rock could not compare to the beauty and intricate details of the throne room. Geoffrey stood in awe as the Lord greeted them all, trying his best to maintain his composure despite the incredible intricacies and dark beauty of the massive room. Then, the sister knights revealed their faces.

So it's true, he thought. Geoffrey had been told stories as a child about the dark elves, and how over an era ago, a sect of the wood spirits had become corrupted and cast from the forests, never allowed to return to their homes. Supposedly they had wandered for ages, thieving and killing to ensure their survival, their black souls tainted with mortality. They had all but disappeared just centuries ago, leaving only tales and legends of their magical power.

After the elves had hidden their faces and his host had given his assessment, Geoffrey watched as the twin daughters of Lord Grimm came forward to introduce themselves. Intriguing... They appear as well-mannered as they are beautiful. Maybe my suspicions were misplaced? As the Lord continued his speech after his daughters had finished, Geoffrey looked around at his superior officers, observing their discomfort and a few of them glancing about furiously, frustration and worry filling their eyes. As Lord Grimm finished, Geoffrey peeked over to the Onyxians, who were just as distraught as his own side. Eagerness would probably go a long way...

He felt his foot placed in front of him before he realized what he was doing. In only a few short steps, Geoffrey was in front of both parties, his mouth already open and his words echoing against the stone walls. "Lord Grimm, it is an honor to have entered your great castle. As representative of the White Rock Confederacy, I humbly accept your proposition and look forward to seeing which of your daughters is more deserving of your throne." By the spirits, he just did that. He felt his head and chest fall forward in a bow, and kept his eyes fixed upon the Lord's helm as he rose, wondering what the man's expression was behind the plating. Geoffrey couldn't help but feel several cold gazes fix upon him, well aware that he was now the center of attention in the great room. Well, that wasn't exactly the role I had hoped for in this, he thought to himself, wondering how long of a scolding he would be getting from some of his superiors after the initial meeting was over. Geoffrey placed his right hand upon his sword's pommel, trying to keep it from shaking so as to keep his demeanor as steadfast as he could muster.

@IceHeart

Kehah's heart seemed to stop as two pairs of silver eyes, so much like her own, stared out at the room. 'By the spirits...' She had to force herself not to draw another blade and risk drawing the attention and ire of the two Dark Elves. The whispers that broke out from both convoys did little to draw her focus away from the corrupted creatures, and she felt no shame in admitting that the knot in her stomach only unwound slightly once they'd returned the helmets to their heads.

As the Lord Grimm made his announcement, and the daughters introduced themselves, Kehah had to force herself not to cross her arms and roll her eyes. True to the attitude of a group with little to no outside social interaction, these people wanted them to play at war, despite the fact that the two groups had already been at war for years. She doubted anyone in the court saw the two convoys as actual people.

There was a refusal at the tip of her tongue, but a few things stopped her; one was that she didn't want to risk drawing the attention of the Dark Elves, her time with the Elves of her forest having solidified the wariness that years of stories had already built up. Another was that, if she played this game right, she'd be doing what she came here to do; killing Onyxians. The third thing that stopped her was Maar'von's flesh and blood stepping forward and accepting the offer.

She let go of her stoicism and let her head fall into her hand, the resounding smack of flesh against leather echoing in the now silent room,

Craggard grinded his teeth as he watched the young man from the Confederacy rise and speak in front of Lord Grimm. He took such an outburst as a personal offense. His time at the castle had barely started and he was already at risk at being out of favor with the Grimm family. Craggard didn't know what he expected- of course the White Rock Confederates wanted all the attention, they were the other side, after all. He needed to act first from now on, make sure he got the best cut first on every occasion. Craggard didn't have time for politeness of subtley of any kind, what was important right now was to get right to the point.

A familiar, desperate, hunger gathered in the nobleman as he too, stepped forward with a flourish in his step. He turned his head towards the tattooed lad for a brief second, shooting him a nasty look that fell just short of sticking out one's tongue on a scale of childishness. Like a flicking a switch on, his expression turned to a pleasant, if not off-putting expression in front of Lord Grimm and his daughters as he bowed theatrically, raising his head to speak to the royal three.

"Truly an honor, your Lordship, t' be welcomed into your home like a guest! It'll be even more of an honor accepting your little proposition here, and I believe I speak for all my fellow Onxyites in saying so. And... if all goes well, I look forward to negotiating with you later." A bead of sweat trickled down the man's face, although one couldn't be sure if the room was too stuffy or if he was merely nervous.

He bowed again to the two twin sisters with a coy smile, muttering a brief thanks to the two before stepping back in his place. He paid no mind to his fellow Onxyians muttering, instead taking to picking small pieces of lint of his jacket. He frowned slightly, noticing how easily it pilled. He supposed that was what he got for getting a cheap coat.

The spirits of competition, envy, anger, regret, eagerness, and greed were already working their magic in the ranks. A young man from the Confederacy was the first to speak up and accept the proposal, which was amusing considering he did not appear to be the selected speaker for them, there was even a facepalm in their ranks. Desperate to not fall behind, a short, but richly dressed, or at least tacky, man stepped forward to express how the Onyxites were ready more than happy to accept. No one dared to speak contrary to ether as they did not want to appear weak and divided to their enemies or lose their change to finally strike a blow at their foes.

Already everything had fallen into place and so, Lord Grimm moved forward with his plans. "Excellent, then the deal is struck. Each side will align with one of my daughters to decide the next heir. My daughters will decide shortly on whom will be their champions. Now as for the slight rules to this engagement." Lord Grimm put an open palm to his side, to which the masked man quickly responded by placing in his open hand a rolled up parchment. Lord Grimm opened up the parchment and started to read.

"Each side will continue to fight until the other is annihilated for surrenders. The entire castle grounds may be used for battle except for the dining hall and my throne room. You are welcome to seek outside help from mercenaries or my subjects through negotiation and bribery. If any resident of my castle attacks either side you are free to kill them and will be considered collateral damage. Bribe, steal, ambush, fight, and die to secure your place in my domain. And of course-" Lord Grimm rolled up the parchment and gazed down at the warriors, servants, nobles, and mercenaries. "If either of my daughters are killed I will personally destroy every last one of you and send your skulls to your governments as a warning."

"Oh Papa, you shouldn't scare them like that. They are, after all, our most honored guests and the answer to our little situation." Esmerelda spoke up as if to smooth out the situation and quiet down nerves on all sides. More then a few had felt a chill run up their spines when Lord Grimm had threatened them, but the young woman had diffused the situation.

Lord Grimm gave out a haughty huff but did not press any further and instead talked about what would happen for the rest of the day. "For the rest of today there will be a temporary truce between the two sides. You are all welcome to join my family in the dining hall for supper. There, my daughters will decide who will become their supporters and you will have a chance to meet my Lady. I suggest you use this calm before the storm wisely." Lord Grimm handed off the parchment back to the masked man and then stood up.

"May the dragons smile upon your coming battle. After supper some servants will show you your quarters on opposite sides of the castle grounds where you may rest and prepare for you upcoming war."

A short walk later everyone found themselves in the dining hall, which was located just down the hall from whence they came in, and a doorway on the east side, led everyone into the location where they would be fed. The dining hall was decently sized and easily accommodated everyone, though it seemed Lord Grimm had a bit of a sense of humor, since at the moment there was only one long table to sit at.

The table was appeared to be one because of the white tablecloth put over it but on closer inspection was actually a lot of shorter tables put together, so that a variety of table positions could be fashioned on a whim. While there were a few silver candlesticks and some fairly fashionable silverware, it was actually a rather plain looking spread. The food that was already on the table was of the hearty variety with a little extra flair here and there. Breads, soups, ales, fruits, meats, and vegetable based dishes were the main courses with only the occasional sweet here and there. While not banquet material it was certainly a lot better than travel rations and quite tasty though lacking a bit in variety.

As everyone found a seat and servants milled about to help with drinks and serving food, the groups were treated to their first glimpse at the Lady of the Castle, Lady Zecorra Grimm. She was wearing a remarkable blue evening gown that made her look like royalty. Standing at one head of the table, her keen eyes surveyed all before her and missed little while she waited for everyone to be served first.

"Representatives, it is my honor to welcome you here this day. I am delighted you have decided to take on our request. While our fare is perhaps humbler than most, I hope you enjoy your meal this evening. May the great dragons watch over you all in the coming days ahead." After her welcoming speech, she sat down in her seat to start the meal.

At the moment Lord Grimm and his daughters were no where to be seen, as they had stayed behind for a bit to discuss who would choose which side to represent them. In the middle of the table were two special seats that faced each other, where the daughters would sit shortly to show which side would represent them. The only other thing of note was that the two dark elf knights were seated on either side of Lady Grimm, perhaps as her bodyguards.

'They play us like fools,' Kehah thought, scowling as she saw the dining arrangements. 'Mounting tension between the sides by forcing us into such close proximity.'

Despite her thoughts, many of the merchants- such as Tagar and his group- quickly took their seats with little regard to safety or vantage points. She found her lips forming a thin line at the realization that they hadn't taken her warning on their hike up to the castle seriously.

She chose one of the seats closest to the head of the table, where the royals were most likely to sit; The closer in proximity she was to the ruling party, the less chance there was of a surprise attack from any Onyxian. Despite this knowledge, she watched others eat before grabbing the food she now knew to be safe for herself. She quickly slid some bread and fruits into her hip bag with the rest of her rations.

The mistake in her seating choice made itself evident when the Lady Grimm came out and announced herself, sitting at the head seat a mere few feet from Kehah herself. The Dark Elves next to the woman already had the silver-eyed mercenary breaking out in a cold sweat.

The Elves had warned her about this, of course; Their life-saving treatment of her used energies unavailable to humans. The Elves were light and their healing energy pure, meaning any exposure to the corrupted energies of Dark Elves and other creatures could leave her with ill effects. She never thought it would be a problem; never thought she'd be within arm's reach of not one, but two of the corrupted beings.

She eyed them in her peripheral vision and set the apple down, appetite lost in their presence. She did, however, have the strength of mind to remember to tilt her head to the Lady Grimm in a shallow form of a bow, acknowledging the woman's presence and status with the proper amount of respect from someone who wasn't actually her subject.

In any normal occasion, Craggard would have happily accepted any meal the Lady Zecorra had to offer. The threat of death had thwarted his appetite. As he pulled up a chair, he waved away a hovering servant with a small cart of food. The usual excitement that came with a good meal had vanished, and he saw no reason to eat when he felt so sick. It wasn't the idea of killing the confederates that disturbed him- Craggard had watched plenty of his men march into the mines dutifully, only for a handful of them to crawl back out, soot in their eyes and ears and nose, with no ore at all. And this had never bothered Craggard, because death was part of the job, and his workers and their families knew that. But coming to the Grimm Castle wasn't supposed to be an affair of death. And there was no backing out now- he had already agreed to Lord Grimm's little game. As angry as he was, he was grudgingly impressed by how easily he had enticed Craggard and others like him to fall bait for the promise of glory.

The only way to survive, really, was to be a willing player of this game. Alright, you masked bastard. I'll play your game without question now, but after I win, I'm going to go back to being pissed.

The nobleman pulled up a seat among his fellow Onxyites, sitting just across from a rather tall, spindly man, scars decorating the left side side of his face. He recognized the fellow- although the name escaped him. It didn't matter anyway- the man across from him, hunched over and staring straight down at a hunk of bread, looked quite intimidating. Craggard cleared his throat.

" Lost your appetite?" He commented towards the warrior. The man grunted in response. Deciding he wasn't worth striking up a conversation with, Craggard turned his attention elsewhere. The table was long, thin, and a tight fit for both the Empire and the Confederacy to squeeze into. He wondered if this was done on purpose, to further stir the uneasiness between the two parties. His eyes settled on Lazy Grimm, seated at the head of the table with the two knights at her side. He stared intently at the two knights, trying to decide if their elven features were really genuine. Craggard didn't actually know much about dark elves- they were supposed to be bad luck, or at least that was what he had heard. He also noticed two empty chairs- perhaps belonging to the Grimm daughters? He hoped so- the nobleman was itching to speak with at least one of the Grimms directly, more out of morbid curiosity than anything else.

The meal itself wasn't as incredibly intricate as he had imagined, but Geoffrey felt no need to complain about a satisfying meal. He situated himself a few chairs down from where Lady Grimm herself sat, but kept his vantage pointed across the table, all the way to the other end where a pile of merchants and brutish soldiers sat and gorged themselves, somehow adjusting to the air in the room enough to come across as rather boisterous and comfortable, some even drinking enough mead and booze to begin fumbling over their words. If the evening had been without thrill or tension, then the scene may have even been comical. Geoffrey picked a bit at the remaining scraps on his plate, thinking to himself about the battle that lay ahead of him. Thankfully there were a few locations where he had no need to worry of being attacked, but he still felt that he should keep his guard up no matter where he went from now on.

He glanced back up toward the head of the table, and took note of the unease that seemed to sting at the air. He leaned forward a bit to see everyone who had sat in front of him, and beside several of his commanding officers and a few notable nobility, Kehah had placed herself practically next to one of the dark elf knights. I suppose I can commend her bravery, but she doesn't look too excited about it herself, Geoffrey noted, thinking he could ask her about it later tonight after they spar.

"Lieutenant," the officer next to him spoke bluntly. Here came the flogging. "Your actions earlier, despite your good-intent, will not go unnoticed. We will discuss a proper infliction after our meal and when we are shown our quarters. I expect that you won't forget." Well, it gave him something to look forward to before he began his exercise. Geoffrey nodded, keeping silent lest his words be used against him. Suppressing his nerves, he once again looked down the table, noting how a few of the servants had begun cleaning up the plates of men who had finished with their food and were now in the midst of staring down the other side of the table, trying their best to intimidate each other with subtle movements. How Lord Grimm planned to keep each meal peaceful was beyond Geoffrey's knowledge, especially with the possibility that a number of these men may very well have just had their last dinner. The thought sent a shiver down Geoffrey's spine, causing a nervous grin to spread across his lips. He never figured he'd want to get started with something like this so badly. Just where were the Lord's daughters?

Lady Zecorra Grimm gazed down upon the many men and women arrayed before her. Many were capable warriors, some were rich cowards, there was certainly a lot of variety, especially among the Confederacy. A few different individuals caught her eye: There was a young man with fascinating tribal tattoos on his arms, a rather short and richly dressed individual who seemed to be eyeing her daughters seats, but most interesting was a young woman sitting next to her knights. The young woman had remarkable eyes, she also had the presence of mind to pay her respects to the lady of the house but what was interesting was her subtle reactions. As soon as her two dark elf knights had sat down the woman seemed disturbed and the faintest bits of sweat could be seen forming on her skin.

"Nefiris, Irelis." Zecorra Grimm turned to her knights who turned to face her immediately to await her instructions. "Do you two sense anything?" The two nodded immediately.

"Indeed your grace." They said together and then the one in green continued. "The woman next to me has been touched by the forest elves at one point. I can feel the residue of their magics in her blood. If you are concerned your grace, you need not worry. While traditional elfen magic is incompatible with our own there is hardly any presence left so no permanent effects should occur." The elf's voice seemed a little annoyed about the effects but did her best not to show it.

"That is good to hear." Lady Zecorra then turned to Kehah, "Forgive me for prying, but I find it most fascinating to meet someone from the outside who has actually encountered one of the older races. While I want to inquire how you managed to meet such beings I suppose first, I should ask for your name young lady." Lady Grimm smiled and the elf in red seemed slightly curious as well since she leaned forward a bit. Before she could think to answer something happened.

---

Finally the doors opened once more and in strode Lord Grimm and his two daughters. Lord Grimm nodded to his daughters who strode to the empty seats near the middle of the table. Lady Primrosa took the chair on the Empire's side while Lady Esmerelda took the Confederacy side. Lord Grimm strode to the end of the table opposite of Lady Grimm so that now, the heirs to the castle were essentially seated at all major points on the table. Once Lord Grimm took his seat he started to speak.

"As you can see my daughters have decided on who will represent them in the upcoming war. The Onyx Empire will support my first born, Primrosa, while the White Rock Confederacy shall support Esmerelda. Support my daughters well and you will reap great rewards for your efforts." Lord Grimm raised a glass of wine to the air and his daughters and wife followed suit. Quickly everyone else realized something like a toast was going to begin and follow suit with whatever beverage they had. "May the ancient dragons bless the battles ahead and the warriors who fight in it!"

There were cheers all around and more than a few people were starting to realize a certain trend in who the Grimm Family talked. Quite a few times they mentioned the Dragons as a blessing. It appeared that dragons were rather important to Grimm Castle tradition and while it seemed logical considering they were located at the top of the Dragon Fang Mountain range, aside from a few myths and legends few visitors had any idea of their significance.

Lady Esmerelda and Lady Primrosa smiled at each other. "No hard feelings to whoever wins sister." Primrosa said confidently as she sat with the Onyx Empire and their wealthy lords and hardened soldiers.

"Yes, no hard feelings at all." Esmerelda smiled back and the two clinked their glasses together and each took a drink. "Now then, it is time I got to know my supports. Representatives of the White Rock Confederacy, I am honored to have you represent me in the coming battles. I looks forward to knowing you better so we may develop an growing relationship between our people."

Craggard sprung from his seat with such force he caused the table to shake a little, as Lady Primrosa took her seat with all the grace expected from someone of her status. If the missy looked pretty from a distance, she looked jaw-dropping up close. He could only describe her appearance as dream-like, with wispy blonde hair, a slender figure, and deep blue eyes like the finest gemstones. She was so unlike the women he had seen where he was from, her skin was porcelain and soft, lacking the roughness and grime that coated their skin. Her eyes shone with a healthy glow, so unlike the hard, cold look he was so used to seeing. The nobleman was reminded of the dolls an old friend used to admire behind shop windows. Once, he even dragged her in the shop to" borrow" one for her, only to be chased out and scolded by the same girl he was trying to do something nice for. Bah, honestly... even then, she was such a nag.

Realizing he had been staring at the Lady Primrosa for longer than he meant to, Craggard cleared his throat and raised his glass as well, his face spreading into a wide grin.
" Lady Primrosa, you've made the right choice with us Onxyites! I think you'll find the lot of us are worthy allies," Craggard boasted. Despite his best efforts at trying to sound professional, his voice still dripped with sleaze.

Kehah felt her eye twitch as the Dark Elves' attentions focused on her, doing her best not to react as they answered their Lady's question. She knew her discomfort would be obvious, but she was a little irritated that the woman picked her out so quickly. Then again, between Kehah's appearance and the fact that she acknowledged the royal, she should have expected to be drawn into her conversation one way or the other. Still, it's better to acknowledge and show respect than to ignore and draw the woman's ire.

Just as the Lady Grimm asked her name and the Red Elf leaned forward, the doors to the room opened once more to permit Lord Grimm and the daughters. She tilted her head as the Lady Esmerelda chose their side. Curious that the perceived underdog in this divide would choose the side with the lesser military presence. Though, perhaps she knew that guerrilla warfare with mercenaries and an irregular military would be a better tactic. She shook her head and turned back to the Lady Grimm and her Elves.

"Your daughter will be under good protection, Lady Grimm," She assured, knowing it wouldn't do much to quell any worries the woman may have considering she had a daughter on both sides. "My name is Kehah Lahav, of the West village of Yaar Tovah." Kehah can't remember the last time she'd said her village name out loud, and she tensed immeasurably. She hadn't intended to give out that information, especially not to the Dark Elves. She cleared her throat in irritation, but kept eye contact, refusing to show her weakness.

The presence of Lord Grimm caused the air in the great hall to shift yet again, this time giving off a mysterious awe and terror that no man from below these mountains could possibly fathom. Geoffrey leaned back in his chair as the two daughters sat, Esmeralda having given her faith to the White Rock Confederacy to secure her place upon the throne of the great castle. He raised his drink, as did his companions and opponents, as the lord spoke, and drank deeply of the sour wine that had filled it, chuckling to himself as he heard the large Onyxian noble he had spotted earlier boasting his words in such a profane manner.

Geoffrey set his goblet in front of him and twisted his head around, looking down the long dining hall toward Lord Grimm and began puzzling - he should have opposed the formality earlier to see if the lord had lifted his visor to take a drink, though it seemed rather obvious to him now that it probably hadn't occurred. The giant of a man in such thickly clad armor seemed so foreign to everything else in the room, a bulwark of strength to even the largest of the Onyxian knights present. Geoffrey leaned forward again, placing his forearms against the edge of the table to balance himself, looked down to the obtuse noble who was standing and had blubbered out his niceties, and called down to him.

"Good sir, it humbles me to be sat alongside one of such stature as yourself! Aye, even the belly of a pig could oink a courtesy if it would do the swine favor!" With this, a few of Geoffrey's men laughed and jeered, one even spat his food onto his plate with the excitement that had possessed him. It's true, the farming folk of White Rock were not a neat and orderly bunch, but one could always expect a great deal of effort on their part when one was to be made a fool of.

@Emu

Craggard’s head snapped towards the Confederate, a smile frozen on his face. His lips parted slightly, surprised at the outburst, especially coming from a young man who evaded Craggard’s interests so effortlessly before. The nobleman seethed with rage as he briefly pondered on how to react- the bastard was playing dirty, whether or not it was intentional. If Craggard chose to bite back with equal vigor, the Grimms might think him uncouth. If he didn’t, he was letting the little bastard make a fool of him, in front of his comrades no less. The latter was just too enraging a thought to ignore, and Craggard found himself barking in laughter at the very idea, the loud noise echoing the chortles of the representative’s own men. Finding himself increasingly irritated by all the noise, his face darkened. The nobleman slammed his fist on the table to get the confederates attention, rattling the dinnerware on the table in the process. Craggard's voice was mocking and full of barely-disguised anger as he lifted an accusatory finger at the tattooed representative.

“ Ah, don't we have ourselves a model confederate here! All seein’ double and bootless! Truly the epitome of everything White Rock stands for, eh? Here us silly Onxyites were, plucking the best of the best from our ranks when we could have done it classic confederate style- grabbing a few hobos, peasants, and people like this drunk runt off the streets n’ calling it good!”

He sneered at the confederates and their ring-leader, his annoyance at the young man quickly souring into hatred of the pettiest sort. In any ordinary setting, Craggard would have shoved his fork down that prick’s throat as soon as he spoke, all while cussing him out enough to make the toughest sailor blush. But Craggard was going to the bigger man today. (And no, not just literally, dammit!) He would get his sweet revenge later, one way or another.

And besides, he wasn’t about to fight with women in the room.

@Vashonn

Geoffrey tried his best to hold back the laughter rising from his stomach, but let out a slight snicker as the nobleman cast his rage onto the table, the force shaking the wood all the way to where Geoffrey sat, enough to cause a ripple in the little wine remaining in his goblet. He reached forward to finish his drink, pondering another remark, just as the Onyxian sent forth his rebuttal, finger pointed straight at him.

The attack sent more than a few Confederates to their feet, blood boiling on either side now. Geoffrey's smirk turned to a scowl, though he tried his best to keep his composure - then again, regardless of his actions henceforth, he was bound to be in for quite the licking from his superiors after this had ceased. The young lieutenant shot back his drink, raising his cup to call forth a servant for more booze - by the spirits, if he was in for a rumble, he had better be in the right mind for one!

"Aye, the life of a Confederate calls for some deal of effort, opposed to the lounging of a bejeweled bulging beast! Tell me, good sir, how many poor sods were left squashed while they heaved you up the mountain pass? Bah, no matter, I'm sure you sent letters home to their wives with your deepest sympathy, after rummaging through their pockets!" Geoffrey's cup was again filled, and he drank deeply of it before staring down the nobleman, his lips curling to a maniacal grin. He heard shouting coming from the far end of the table, the few merchants and businessmen who had previously been merrily singing with one another now in the midst of a great fight themselves. He just hoped that the presence of Lord Grimm and his two daughters kept the physical brawling at bay. Geoffrey set his focus back toward his opponent, waiting for a response.

@Emu

The nobleman's face grew more and more enraged at the other man's prodding. His typically sleepy eyes were now practically bugging out of his skull, and his scowl seemed so deep it threatened to slide off his face. His expression would have been comical if not for the shared tension between the two factions, who now were also throwing insults. Craggard couldn't help but seethe at the young man's remarks. Honestly, him lounging? Someone from White Rock was calling Craggard lazy? His wealth was the product of tedious favors and years of hard work! He hadn't come so far to be made a fool of by a prodigy who knew nothing of his line of work. What place did this squirt have accusing him of laziness?

Craggard's previous vow of chivalry had all but disappeared as the thought of a brawl became more and more tempting. If the boy wanted a fight, then Craggard would happily deliver. Without a second thought, Craggard lunged for a kitchen knife jutting out of a cut of pork. The juices from the meat splattered onto his coat, but for once he seemed unconcerned about it.

"I'LL GIVE YA A GOOD SQUASHING, RUNT!" Craggard roared. With the knife tight in his grasp, he lunged across the table, snarling curses without his usual pretense of civilized speech.

@Vashonn

The flying noble was all the two sides needed - in an instant, soldiers were on their feet, also lunging across the table to tear at each others' throats, booze and meat flying through the air. The group of merchants at the far end of the table were busily beating the snot out of one another, and all up the table the fighting had commenced, up until right where Geoffrey sat, where all of the officers and nobles on either side of Lady Grimm had sat either scoffing or had leapt up to grab at their comrades to cease the brawl.

But it was no use. Either side continued the fight, luckily very few brandishing any weapon, only smashing their fists into one another. Geoffrey jeered at the noble as he came soaring toward him and jumped up onto the table, goblet still in hand, dodging just enough to avoid the swinging blade. Geoffrey laughed merrily, slamming back what was left of his drink, and brought his leg down hard upon the noble's hand, kicking the knife away.

"Kehah!" Geoffrey called out, "Let us spar tomorrow - I think I've found my partner for the evening!" Geoffrey let out a great cry of laughter before falling on top of the noble, who was now sprawled out across the table.

@AnaSilan Sunja @Emu

The young woman certainly had a strong spirit, that was certain to Lady Grimm as she dissected the information given to her. While the name Yaar Tovah meant little to her, the dark elves' ears perked up at the name. "An absolute delight to make your acquaintance. I expect you to do your best in the upcoming battles." Lady Grimm smiled demurely and acted as if it was all just small talk rather than a life or death situation.

"Yaar Tovah...well that explains a bit." The green knight leaned back in her seat with a scowl. "Elves do still have some ties there as I recall, though if you recall sister a certain 'incident' destroyed most of those connections."

The red armored dark elf frowned and placed her hands on the table. "Quite the debaucle indeed, though its been so many years it is still fresh in my memory. Still, I am sure a few of those idiots still keep an eye on that village from time to time."

Lady Grimm interrupted them at this point. "Now, now, mind your manners you two before our guests. Also you should be on your guard for it looks like things are about to be heated." Before either could ask a scuffle had broken out further down the table and chaos had started to ensue. The two dark elves were instantly on their guard and ready to take action at a moment's notice.

---

As being the closest to the initial hubbub, the two potential heiresses had front row seats to the sudden chaos as Confederates and Imperials started to brawl with each other. Primrosa made sure to keep an eye around her, ready to fight at a moment's notice if need be, but not daring to get involved while her father was present. Esmerelda lifted her plate as a stray piece of bread sailed and would have taken out her dinner if she had not moved in time.

"If I am not mistaken sister, I believe it was your Empire who made the first aggressive move. Brandishing a knife at the banquet table, how disgraceful." Esmerelda daintily took a napkin and dabbed at her mouth as the battles around them grew in intensity.

"Well, it was your uncivilized crew that goaded him in the first place!" Primrosa countered and grudgingly got up from the table to back away from the mess.

Officers tried to calm down their troops but to no avail. Servants were keeping their distance from the brawl, except for a certain masked individual who seemed to be trying to get as close as possible though staying out of any fists or plate's way.

---

Lord Grimm surveyed the chaos with a determined glare. The lack of strong authority over either group allowed the others to do what they wanted. Everyone had wanted to take a swing at the other party and this was their first chance to do so. Hate, anger, frustration, feelings of revenge and justice were spewing over into a bubbling concoction that was palatable. It was a good start to this war but if things got out of hand, his family could be in danger and it was way too soon for this contest to end.

Lord Grimm stood up to his full height put back an armored gauntlet to allow a servant to hand him a large, battleaxe. The weapon was large, and made of blackened metal, a weapon with quite a bit of weight and girth that would have been cumbersome in the hands of the untrained. With one hand he smashed the axe onto the head of the table, wood cracked and splinted as a fissure made its way down the center. Because a few idiots were on top of the table, their weight increased the strain and the table collapsed, split in half as men and women tumbled to the ground in a daze. Thankfully it was only one of several tables placed together so only the ones nearest to Lord Grimm had any minor injuries.

The unexpected move though made everyone turn to look at Lord Grimm who heaved the battleaxe onto his armored shoulder. The fighting was effectively brought to a halt as they gazed unsure at the towering Lord. "I do believe it was stated that this dining hall would be neutral ground." His voice was like a sheet of ice crashing down upon all their heads.

"Forgive us Lord Grimm, we tried to stop them but their passions got the better of them." One of the nobles from the Empire quickly explained in a panic.

One of the more wealthy merchants from the Confederacy was also quick to apologize. "Yes, my Lord, forgive us, we meant to disrespect." Under his breath the merchant cursed the more crude members of his party who had engaged in fisticuffs and potentially got in the way of a good trade deal down the line.

Lord Grimm stepped on part of the remains of the table in front of him, smashing it even more. "You are lucky we had put are best furniture away for safe keeping. While I have all your attention there is one more thing I want to aid to this war. I am putting a limit on how much wealth you can use to sway my servants to your advantage. Every day they will report without fail to me, how much you bribed them. As wealth is not the best measure of strength you are limited to 1000 gold pieces throughout this campaign. Now," Lord Grimm stepped back from the rubble while people righted themselves and looked sheepishly at him. "I expect you to behave yourselves as my servants escort you to your accommodations."