Estraexir Bloodworth sat in the cell he was guided to. Still playing the role of the eccentric, bumbling genius, Cornelius Pendergrass. He had been quietly planning his next big step. Aware of the ever present gaze of the guards. The king truely was a cautious fellow.
He drew a circle on the floor of his cell. It was time for these kingdoms to know they were at war.
Slamming his staff into the ground the door slammed open. Two guards snapped around to look at what made the noise. Cornelius stepped out and turned to face them. Slipping a ring off his finger, the visage of the old scholar flickered away, revealing Estraexir. “Tell your King, I’ve come to talk.” He voice was deep, and laced with intent. He was not messing around. It was time for business.

@Heavy Metal



Bella could still only sit there in the sand, watching the two men fight. Her eyes watching every move they made. She couldn’t help but gasp and wince when Peren was struck with Ironwolf’s axe. Her eyes went wide when she saw Ironwolf going in for the kill shot, her breath caught. She then released it when she saw Peren disappear and reappear behind Ironwolf, relieved he was okay and had gotten the upper hand. Though she winced from Ironwolf’s scream that echoed around them and pierced her ears. Peren then grabbed her and helped her escape into the forest.

Bella ran for as long and as far as she could before collapsing to her knees and bound hands and panting. “Peren…… Wait.” she breathed. She rocked back into a sitting position. “I can’t…… go any…… further.” she panted. She tilted her head down and closed her eyes as she focused on catching her breath. She knew they couldn’t linger here long, but she also knew she couldn’t go any further without catching her breath. She needed to rest for a moment unless he wanted to carry her for a while so they could get further away from Ironwolf and to a safer place.

@Wolvena

Peren looked at her with puzzlement, did she not see the blood oozing from the gap in his shoulder.
"You have been among the humans too long, it has blinded your common sense."
"Fear not, for i have a friend that will take us to the king." Peren said.
The elf removed a magical flute and played a beautiful but short tune.
Moments later, a Pegasus burst from the clouds above, neighing.
"Galelondel, my steed, come Bella." Peren says offering his hand to help you mount Galelondel.
Peren climbed up in front of you, "Place your arms around my waist, and don't let go."
"Away Galelondel!"
The pegasus flew up into the sky with his passengers aboard his back, they flew among the clouds.

@Sanity43217
The king was in a foul mood. When the truth was revealed to him, when he got that message, that definitely set him off. He narrowed his eyes.
"Let him rot down there! The best of my best shall have her returned! He dares to trespass here after all he has done?! He will be made to suffer!"

People would be worried. The king rarely ever got this angry. And so, for him to be like this, well....it was bad....very bad.

Ironwolf awoke minutes later, and tied a rag around his head, and over his eye.
Slowly he stood, and limped his way back to the invading camp.
Some of his fellow brethern rushed to his side, helping him to a tent.
"Easy lad, you've been to hades and back." Ulfgar said, as he tended to his wounds.
"I will be alright, have they sounded the horn?"
"Nay lad, we have not heard a word."replied the old veteran warrior.
"Who attacked you?" asked Bjorn.
"Some strange creature with pointed ears."
"Elves, so..the king has elves with him to, damn magical nuisances." grumbled Ulfgar.
"We should attack now with the seige machines." Bjorn suggested.
"I agree, hand me my axe and shield." Ironwolf said.
"Lad, you are in no condition to be fighting, rest first."
"Rest Ironwolf, we will attack at dawn, signal or no signal." Bjorn said.

Estraexir smirked as the guards tried to block his path. “Now is a time for talking. I’m sure the king doesn’t want a full blown war in these trying times.” He motioned for them to step aside, but they did not. “ Evicendo Demonucto,” The wizard king said as he waved his hand in front of the two guards. A thin white line of energy encircled each of their heads. The guards looked at each other puzzled. “Good night,” Bloodworth said as he snapped his fingers. The circles of energy snapped shit and we’re seemingly absorbed into forehead of each of the two guards. Each guards went tense, as their brains were hit with this strange energy. They convulsed for a little bit before going limp.
It was a simple spell. Non-lethal. Just a simple stun spell to put people to sleep. Rather easy to dodge if you knew what was coming. Just move your head out of the circle. As long as the energy didn’t hit your brain, you would be fine. It was an old spell. One he learned in his youth. Turns out it is one of the reasons crowns were made of gold, since the metal could reflect that spell, so royalty would use it as a defense. At least in his home country.
Stepping over the sleeping guards, he made his way up. Estraexir was intent on having a diplomatic meeting with the local king.

@Sanity43217
The king would refuse to meet with him, at least at first. The other king had already started a war, in a sense, and so there was no sense in talking. That was what he was thinking anyway.

Anyway, he awaited news of his missing daughter, while he attended to his guests and tried to keep things calm. He tried to reassure everyone that everything would be alright.

@Vampiretwilight

Annalise looked to the Prince she was speaking to. About to respond but noticed her father looking even more tense than before. She decided to excuse herself. “I apologize but I really must find out what is going on.” She told the Prince in his language while giving him a curtsy. She did not wait for his response however. If he followed she wouldn’t notice going straight toward her father, catching the tail end of the conversation with the guard.

“Father, you must speak with this king, there is too much at stake here. The visiting Princes could withdrawal. Technically they owe us no allegiance yet. They only just arrived. If you will not speak with them perhaps you would permit me to. You do not want a war correct?” She questioned, almost pleaded with her father to take action. She was aware her sister was missing, there were other problems besides that.

@LostDestiny
The king turned to his daughter. He frowned.
"Absolutely not! I do not desire for ANY of my daughters to be near that monster! Not even you Annalise. You must stay away from him. Do I make myself clear?"

He sighed and turned towards the guards.
"If it is war he desires, it shall take more than a conversation....."
He knew that king would show his ugly mug there regardless of having permission or not.

Jin was tense. She missed her bow. All it would take was one clean shot through the eye and this horrible person trying to start up a war would be dealt with. Of course, she had never killed anyone before. She had killed animals before, much to the distaste of Bella. But she was certain in her heart that she could kill in defense of her beloved family.

"What should we do, Father? I mean, Anna and I. We can't just stand here." At least Jin couldn't just stand there.

Almost as if on cue, the doors to the ballroom swung open. “Forgive the intrusion, your highness.” He said as he waded into the room. “I assure you, none of your men are dead, merely…” he paused, as if thinking for the best word. Sure he had rendered some unconscious, but had also used illusions to distract and trap others. “Incapacitated.” Estraexir finished. He glanced around the room. “My humblest apologies, Lords and Ladies, or whatever your preferred titles may be. I simply request an audience with the king. I assume the message has not yet reached your ears, as I’m sure you did not mean to offend. Speaking king to king of course.”

@Mistress Dizzy@Sanity43217
"YOU shall do nothing young lady."
The king sighed.
"I can not risk any of you. It is terrible enough that your sister has been taken. I do not wish for the rest of you to be taken as well."

He gasped when a certain someone barged into the throne room.
"How dare you show your ugly hide in MY castle?! You have already declared war on us all! You are not welcome here!!!"
He was in a fury.

@Vampiretwilight “I will forgive your outburst, as it seems to be based on a misunderstanding.” Estraexir said with a bow. “War is costly. To both sides. My lands are corrupted.” He said as took a step back. His manner calm. “I wish merely for my people to be welcome here. I have had a wife, who was lost to this blight, and now have no heir.” He arms were open, showing he was not a threat. “By my lands law, my line will end with me, unless drastic action is taken.” He gestured to himself. “As you can see, I am growing Grey in hair and long of tooth. My people’s laws allow a Royal to take a Wife AND a Husband. Only one of each. With my wife gone, I seek a husband, who will be able to guarantee me a heir. As a noble king, with several daughters, I seek to ally myself with you.”

@Sanity43217
King Thomas Nicolin could not believe what he was hearing. His eyes grew wide for a moment. But, they soon quickly narrowed as his stare turned into a glare. He was speechless at first, but that passed quickly enough.

"You....you....how dare you?! You honestly dare to ask such an ignorant....immoral...."
He was very much upset.
"My own forbids such a thing!"
It was an excuse, as his own word was law, but he was not looking to remarry, let alone remarry to another king. However, his royal adviser(currently an npc) quickly ran up to him and whispered something, looking as if trying to talk him out of his decision.

"He is the enemy!"
He whispered back. More whispers from the royal adviser followed. The king sighed.
"Yes I know however...."
He was cut off by the mentioning of the war ending, his daughter needing help, and many other things. By the way the kings' eyes looked at that moment, he was calming down but still angry, and yet thinking....

He turned towards the other king, but rather slowly.
"What would such an 'alliance' truly offer?"

“You would have access to my kingdom’s reliquary and my kingdom has made some very interesting advances in magical studies.” Estraexir said rather matter of factly. “Not to mention the influx of citizens who would pay taxes.” He paused his shoulders slumped. “But alas, I cannot ask you to break your own laws when I refuse to break my own.” Bloodworth’s kingdom had old laws, written long before his family became the ruling family. His family ruled through faith, and there were rules he couldn’t break. He expected the same from this king, and now would respect that this king had said his laws forbid such an arrangement, even if he saw it as an outdated and strange rule to prevent people from marrying.

@Sanity43217
The king narrowed his eyes. The royal advisor whispered something else to him, and more quickly, as if urging him to do something. Then, the king sighed.
"There may be....exceptions....I suppose."
The royal advisor, he noted, was suddenly smiling. He cleared his throat.
"With the...um...chaos....currently happening, I can not afford to have any more trouble within my lands. I must ensure the safety and such of my people."

It sounded as if the king was accepting his 'offer'.

Vyarin could only look on, in shock, as the intruder blasted open the doors, immobilizing the house guards of his host with but a flick of his wrist. Vyarin's hand went to his belt, pulling the shashka from his belt with a whisper-sound of steel. Within the second, Brudzkon was at his side, blade also in hand.

"Prince of Princes, your command," said Brudzkon, quietly. Vyarin considered it, but alas, all he could imagine was despair. He was in no condition to fight. Perhaps he never will be. Unless he squints very hard, he can't tell exactly if the interloper king was within lunging distance or not. The courtiers surrounding the two of them backed away, creating a small clearing for the two men of Prozdy. An unlucky few looked frozen as statues, caught between Vyarin and the shaman king.

"If any fighting should begin . . ." Vyarin began.

"Of course," Brudzkon said, nodding and stepping forward to put his admittedly smaller body in the way of any potential spells.

The sound of hoofs echoed off the cobblestone road leading up to the castle as Ysaac squeezed his heels together, speeding the horse along. He was running late. He had expected to get there the day before and catch up with his old friend, but a border skirmish had delayed his departure from Lower South Splaxok. So he had risen ahead of his envoy which was weighted down by his luggage, and pushed his horse to make up for the lost time.
Leaning back, the reigns slowed the horse as it came up to the castle gate. He was cautious as he had expected to be met by the usual guards, but there were none here. They must have been preoccupied with something else. This worried Ysaac. With this much royalty he expected much more security. Something must be happening. Dismounting, he rubbed the Buckskin Destrier between its eyes. “Stay, Butternut.” The horse whinnied in response. He was late to the party, but he had finally showed up.

@Sanity43217
The king sighed.
"If I accept this....'offer'....can I trust that you will keep your word?"
The king narrowed his eyes for a moment. It suddenly felt as if the room had gone deadly silent. The royal advisor glanced between the two kings, looking anxious. The king cleared his throat and continued.
"If so.....and it would be with a heavy heart that I do this....then....I shall accept."

In a nutshell, he said 'yes' to the offer.

He had no idea that Ysaac had arrived, at least not yet. Of course, either way, the kings' decision would not be changed.

Ironwolf and his brothers in arms, left the field of battle.
The stench of the place sickened their stomachs.
"Bad omens my brother." Bjorn said.
"Aye, let's be done of this place."
Ironwolf led the men back to the shores, "That damned elf burned one of our ships."
"Well, we will sack a village along the way, so we dont leave empty handed.