Andre Valias

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

Works for me! I've got loads to do this week. @-@

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

Outskirts of Odenfield

@Estylwen @ERode

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It had been a few days since their meeting in town. With grace, the day of the meeting with the Duke's emissary had good weather. The meeting place in the outskirts wasn't too far, but Anton had donned armour and helmet and brought Bristelle II out of the stables. Though she normally wore horse barding with the heraldic wolf and royal blue of Marceilles, their sojourn in Arrowfell called for Bristelle to wear half-plate with plain blue trappings. The saddlebags she bore as well carried light provisions and the chest of Seeds they were bringing.

Sylrael and Melodia accompanied Anton on foot, needing no horse as they preferred lighter armour. Sylrael had strapped his leather armour-pads over his outfit and strung his bow, while Melodia had simply opted for a warm dull-red cloak.

'Do you think His Grace received your letter, captain?' Sylrael suddenly wondered aloud.
Anton snickered in his helmet. 'A little late to be worrying about that,' he replied, 'Even if he hasn't, look on the bright side: it's a nice day, Bristelle II gets some fresh air, and we'll have a box of Seeds that I honestly won't know what to do with.'
Melodia chuckled and then shared her thought. 'Share it with the boys and we'll storm Hathforth on our own.'
'You're insane, Melodia,' Sylrael commented snarkily, but after a pause he then turned to Anton, '... Do you think that would actually work?'
Anton laughed. 'Most unlikely, but I think it would be monumentally funny and a cruel irony if we succeeded.'

Imagine: the queen who used mercenaries to usurp the throne, overthrown by a rag-tag band of some other mercenaries. Anton wore a stupid grin thinking about it.

A little while later, they approached the plantation where the meeting was to take place. Anton found strange comfort in seeing the living doll and her darkly companion standing by the road in the tobacco fields. It was almost picturesque in a way, with the tobacco leaves whispering in the light breeze.

'Miss Evoek,' Anton called through his helmet as they neared, 'It wounds my pride somewhat that you are both more punctual than I!'

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

This is going to be lit as hell.

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

*vibrating with excitement*

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

@Click This Sending hugs your way. 🫂 🫂 🫂

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

Dremora's Shade

@Estylwen

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"Dremora's Shade. The Otherworld. Where shades of all types and designs live and reside."

Ryllae

'Dremora's Shade?' Anton looked around them, 'It's a little less shady than I imagined.'

“The birds you saw are called Feathered Nightmares. They like to stick in groups, and have a close connection with certain humans. Most would consider them a curse - they eat human years, after all.”

Ryllae

Anton perked up at that last point she made on them, his eyes a little wider. 'Well,' Anton began afterward, relaxing a little, 'All things considered, they were rather cordial.' It hadn't been the first time Anton had wandered into a situation of the supernatural so ignorantly and emerged unscathed, though he wish it weren't such an occurrence.

He continued to follow Ryllae, glancing about the Shade with a newfound curiosity. He had heard tales, of course, but the only people who spoke of the Shade were god-fearing men of the All-Force. And very oft, they told their tales very VERY loudly. Something something demons. Something something root of all evil.

But perhaps it was good to have one such perspective in mind. Anton watched as glimmering petals skittered past his eye line, and his inherent expectations of the Shade washed away. It was beautiful, in truth. But then Anton wondered if this was but one aspect of the Shade.

Ryllae's footsteps slowed to a stop. They were in the center of the glimmering field now, just near the portal of the Fairy Gate. Tiny shades peeped out from the grasses, eyeing them. Ryllae paid them no mind, though, and so Anton paid them no mind either. Ryllae turned to him, and with that small smile on her face, she presented the box and its key to Anton, bowing her head respectfully.

”Your Seeds, my Lord. You'll be able to do your transaction with Duke Rhinecliff and his representative effectively now.”

Ryllae

Anton bowed his head respectfully in turn, as he lifted the burden of the key and chest from Ryllae.
'My sincere thanks, Miss Evoek,' Anton thanked, 'for this, and the experience. It has been quite illuminating.' He cast a look to the lavender horizon one more time, eyes passing over the white thicket in the distance.

He then wondered something- a flicker of vain hope- but kept it to himself.

Anton turned back to Ryllae, beckoning for her to lead on once more as they went back through the Fairy Gate.

---

The Smiling Monkey, Odenfield, Later that Evening

---

Anton sat, cross-legged, in his room quietly. Syl and Melodia had taken to their own rooms on either side of his. The chest was tucked safely away, and the key in his pocket. Anton had then stripped himself of his armour and changed back into his plainclothes, before taking the moments of respite he had to collect himself and compose what he was going to say.

Only one candle was lit in the darkness of his room, sitting on the dresser in front of him. Anton needed only to focus on the flicker of the candlelight and tune out the faint din of the tavern bellow. He took a deep breath, and watched as the flame curled and danced in the slight draft sighing beneath the crack of his closed door. As he focused, he cast his mind through the fire like it were a window.

It took him back to Marceilles, his anchor. From it, two days ride to the west was the Rosen City of Kings: Athroyeaux. Up the steps and into the White Palace, he could see in its vast and empty hall the Throne of Ravenfell at the end. The red-and-gold of the throne was draped with black-and-white, the colours of House DuFairre. In its nestle, King Lamont sat. Not in his shaded ruin, but in the glory of his prime when they were younger.

For the purposes of this spell, it mattered not. All that mattered was that it was the same person. And Anton always imagined it like this- it brought him small comfort.

Lamont, I have found new allies. Rhinecliff is my next point of call.

Anton held onto the vision for a few moments longer, but knew better than to expect a response. Lamont and the White Palace melted away into oblivion. Left in it's place was the Ghost King and his forlorn court, just before it all faded away.

Anton was back in his room once more. The candle had been snuffed by the draft, leaving him in darkness save for the light creeping beneath his closed door. His hand clutched the White Flower as his heart sagged with sorrow, and he could not tell which of the two was heaviest. He resigned himself and retired to his rest for the night.

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

A Little Chat, even

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

Okayyyy, so if it's alright with everyone, after Aubri and Amerigo say their piece to the Countess, I'm moving us ahead by a week. That means Otter can have his interrogation with Raiden at the castle, and Andre can have his meeting with the representative of the Duke. And it brings Lady Safina back into the limelight.

@Estylwen

Want me to wrap up on Anton in the next post?

EDIT: Meeting is in 5 days, lest we forgetti

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

Ryllae's Abode, Odenfield

@Estylwen

---

---

An Otherworld Calls

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---

Though the air felt thick and strained with unease, Ryllae played the calm in the storm and bade Sylrael to relax. She then turned to Gervese, telling him to keep watch on the cellar, and he obeyed. She was quiet for a moment, then a butterfly flew from her form and perched on the gate.

”The Seeds are through this gate. I will go and retrieve them. You are welcome to remain here, My Lord. However, I assure you, it's quite the view.”

Ryllae

With that said, Ryllae gently stooped and stepped into the fairy gate. There was a shimmering flash of light, and she disappeared.

After a moment, Anton stepped forward to follow but halted when Sylrael gently tugged on his arm. '... Be wary, captain,' he whispered.

Anton stared at Sylrael's expression, marred with worry, before patting Syl's grasp and offering his leader's smile. 'Keep Gervese company until we return.'

Syl's anxiety was only somewhat abated, but it was enough to let his friend go. Anton stepped forward and mimicked Ryllae moments earlier, stooping as low as she had, and stepping through. The light that shimmered was much brighter up close, and Anton winced-- blinded for a few seconds.

He could feel a breeze that faintly licked between the seams in his armour. Anton opened his eyes slowly at first, then his eyes widened as he found himself in an otherworld of lavender. A seemingly endless field of grass and poppies that danced in the wind and shimmered white. Glimmering petals gracefully floated into the air. Anton stepped forward, seeing Ryllae moving at a steady pace a little ahead of him, but noticed little shadows and yellow eyes watching from the grass. They did nothing, otherwise, so Anton ignored them to catch up to Ryllae.

They approached a small thicket of glowing white trees, where great birds of this otherworld roosted. They stirred ever-so-slightly as they approached, perhaps bristled even at the clanking of Anton's armour, but otherwise stood by. Anton continued to follow Ryllae quietly as she made her way into their midst, until she stopped before the largest of these birds whose tail was coloured blue.

”Valokein.” The bird rumbled, its voice- like air hissing against metal- spoke.

”Zu'u lost bo fah nii.” Ryllae said in response.

Anton could only watch as the two conversed, looking like old friends who've not seen one another in a long while. The great bird then inclined its head, and stood back. Where it had been roosting was a nest with a small wooden chest. Ryllae took a moment before picking up the chest, and with a key retrieved from her dress she unlocked it. As she lifted the lid of the chest, Ryllae's face was illuminated by the prismatic array of Seeds glimmering within. Anton's own Seed seemed to grow warm beneath his chestplate. After a moment, Ryllae looked back up to the bird.

”Nox hi.” She said.

The bird gave a low nod of its head. Anton continued to remain quiet, following Ryllae's lead through this strange otherworld that he was entirely a stranger in.

As soon as they were outside of the thicket, Anton took the moment to ask his newest questions. 'Ryllae: what is this place, and who were they?'

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

i'm beginning to think this queen has a soft spot for lost-seeming children

@The Otter

You know what they say, 'Mother is mothering'