The Glasic Fields, Far Away from the Hearthfire Gala
A howl echoed across the fields that sparkled like the night sky. Blood splayed into the air as men were tossed like ragdolls, succumbing to claws made of darkness.
Other soldiers raised their blades, knees shaking as they looked up at this fearsome beast. A nightmare of a monster with rows of serrated teeth.
As it struck, it howled and cried.
“Where is she? Where is the beat of my heart? The breath in my lungs? The pulse in my veins?”It's voice was warped and cracked, deep and reverberated, whining with pain and melancholy.
“Where is she? The betrayer, the bloodied, and stealer of glory?”Soldiers struggled to hold the front line, trying to keep the creature back from crossing the border of the Fields and escaping.
That was, until a hand reached out, gripping the shoulder of one of the soldiers. The group of soldiers parted, allowing none other than Violetta Aliz take the front line. She stood there, a narrowed look on her face, black and gold armour heavy on her fearsome person.
She slowly spoke as she unleashed her greatsword,
“Stay back, men. Leave this one to me.”The Shadow gave a frustrated response as the men shrunk back.
“Where is she? Where is she?!”Violetta's hand began to glow green as she onehanded her greatsword, looking up at the monster.
“Not sure what you mean. But I'll make this quick.”In the next instance, a phantasmic net expanded over the monster, encumbering it, while Violetta leapt up and raised her sword, bringing it down with crushing force.
Inhuman shrieks broke the stillness of the Glasic Fields, before once again, everything melted into echoing silence.
Hathforth Castle, Throne Room, The Hearthfire Gala
@LunarParadox
"Thank you, your Majesty. I will be sure to guide her well and keep you informed of our progress."
The Wizard Queen matched his smile, pleased with his response. Eirwen had never failed to please. Not in his little under two years of service. She watched him a little more closely, her precious court mage, the one she gave an exception to.
“I have no doubt you two will work wonders.” She said, her head inclining forward.
“I have your first joint project ready, but I will go into more details later. I would bid you to come find my study at the conclusion of the gala, and I can discuss further with you.”She sipped a bit of her wine, allowing it to aerate before swallowing. There was a delicate smile on her smooth features.
“Who knows. We may be fortunate enough to meet your new apprentice before the evening is through.”"We've an unexpected guest today, hm?"
The Wizard Queen's white eyes drifted from Eirwen to Duke Rhinecliff, who was being led away by Lady Haliel.
Hopefully she'll unearth something good.The pleasant joy in her face gave way to disdain and suspicion, eyes never straying from Duke Rheincliff's back.
“Unexpected guest, indeed.” She said in a low voice back to Eirwen, her dear advisor.
“Don't let his grace and charm fool you, Lord Blackthorne. He's up to something.”Her face darkened, her grip on her goblet tightening ever so slightly.
“Now more than ever, I depend and rely on my closest associates to weather the storm of Odonfield.”The Wizard Queen's eyes glanced to Eirwen, holding his gaze unflinchingly.
“I hope I can continue to rely on you, as I always have, Lord Blackthorne. Remember I raised you up and preferred you over many others.”
The Hands of Iron Hideout
@twannyman
The princess froze with her hand on the door, only now noticing the crossbows leveled at her and her company. Reflexively, her six guards had their hands on their swords, prepared to unsheath them at a moment's notice.
"And how can we be so sure you are who you say you are?!"
Azalea stepped back a bit, hands raising in surrender as her face blanched.
“I… I have a letter from my mother addressed to the captain. It mentions I would be delivering the message. Please, we mean you no harm!”"Well princess you are fearless just to open this gate with only a handful of guards aren't you?"
Relaxing a bit at the sight of the captain, Azalea turned her face away, crossing her arms in a huff.
“We'd be fine. My guards are very capable.”"So what brings you to my cosy little camp Princess?"
She pursed her lips, feeling a little flustered under the gaze of the captain. Slowly, aware that crossbows were still aimed at her and her company, she reached into the folds of her robes and pulled out a rolled bit of parchment. It had the seal of the Wizard Queen upon it. With caution, the little princess held it up to the captain to inspect.
“This is from my mother. She requests your help for a job requiring a… personal touch. It's of the utmost importance, and you would be handsomely compensated.”Within the letter were the contents of a mission outlined by the Wizard Queen, how she needed to “turn Tarin back to the light of the All-Force,” and needed their help to accomplish this.
The actual details of what was being requested, however, were omitted, left to be spoken by mouth by the princess. Less evidence that way, her mother said.
Princess Keove smiled sweetly up at the captain, her sheepish discomfort over the crossbows evident on her face.
“Would you welcome us into your home, good captain, so we can discuss the details?”
Hathforth Castle, Throne Room, The Hearthfire Gala
@Click This
After finishing her poignant whispers with her court mage, her head tilted up to the newcomer at the gala. Immediately, the Wizard Queen's eyes fluttered.
“She's a necessary piece to my puzzle, to my grand design. Necessary, if not of the utmost importance.” She thought, gazing at the Duchess of Caelin and her plus one as they approached the throne.
As Vulluin accepted the gift and presented it to the Queen, her mind continued to machinate.
“My dear Safina has singled out Duchess Agustria for a reason. We have sacrificed to keep them happy. As long as trade between us flourishes, and they are unimpeded, all should go according to plan…”Her gaze lowered to the Caelin whiskey in her hands, and she held it up to the light, appreciating the deep color of the liquor. A well-practiced smile spread across the Wizard Queen's face.
“Duchess of Caelin, you spoil me. These gifts are truly a delight.” She placed the whisky back into its velveted section, and gave a nod to Vulluin. Vulluin nodded back, and placed the gift on a nearby table, right beside the cigars.
“I may have to put an order in for more of these, if you'd be willing to part with such fine products.” She said, gesturing to the table.
The Wizard Queen sipped on her wine, staring at the duchess over the rim, before she leaned forward a bit.
“The night is ours to enjoy, Duchess Agustria. But perhaps you'd humour me.” A glance at Vulluin, before she continued.
“You see, I plan on making an expedition in the very near future. I would like your blessing to cross by Caelin, maybe stop with our boats in Grand Bank to stock up on supplies, before we continue to Athius.”Her smile was light, head tilting slightly,
“We can discuss it further in the next coming weeks, yes?”
Odonfield, Duke of Rhinecliff's Estate
@Click This
“Oh, Viscount Skybound. What brings you to this part of the province, on this day?”
Adrenaline spiked in Mene's tiny body as he spied the Duchess of Caelin herself inside one of the rooms. Inside, he internally screamed. The Duchess? Here? Now?!
He considered playing it dumb, playing it cool, and talking with her. Maybe she could help him find the treasury.
Before he hurriedly shook his head. No, she was a close, close friend to the Duke of Rhinecliff. There was no way she'd compromise his security, even if Mene was just a child.
And he'd been spotted, and
recognized, no less. The Queen was going to kill him! What was the point of wearing an obscuring cloak if he was going to be this easily identified?
Mene gritted his teeth as he stood there at the doorway, seconds ticking by agonizing slow. His hand gripped the handle of the door, hovering in between entering and cutting his losses.
But he had to remember that she was also a duchess, and he was a viscount. She could have him beheaded if she found enough fault with him. And running? Now? That would only make him look like more of a criminal.
Sweating a bit, Mene took painful movements to open the door a little more, and bow low to the duchess.
“Y-your Grace, I wasn't expecting you there. Please forgive my intrusion.”He stood, trying to smile despite his flushed face.
“I appear to have lost my way, I am trying to make my way back to His Grace's treasury room, I'm helping with his books.”His ring glinted, activating once again to give him a better chance the duchess would act more favourably towards him.
Tarin, Duke of Corrin’s Estate
@Theyra
"Hello, Advisor Urimyar. If you are looking for my brother, then he is preoccupied at the moment. I am here if this matter does not concern him."
Vulluin's eyes narrowed slightly at the knights entrance. No bow, and addressed him as his title instead of a more formal and succinct ‘my lord’. After all, Roland was a knight, and not the Duke like his brother was. Vulluin chalked it up to the vapors, feeling ill, and perhaps still in grief, as his sources said. So, Vulluin ignored the minor infraction, and instead gestured to his servants.
The servants nodded with a slight bow and passed over their gifts to Roland's servant, before taking their leave and waiting outside.
Vulluin watched the exchange with guarded eyes, before he sipped some of the tea brought before them. Light, floral, and reminded him of home - did they know he would like this type of tea?
”So, advisor, what brings you to Tarin at this hour?”
“I first wanted to offer my condolences on the Queen's behalf. I understand things are still hard for your family, despite the passage of time. The Queen wanted me to let you know her doors are always open to you and your family.” Vulluin started, eyes cool and level as she stared at Roland across the table.
“I also wanted to make mention that the Queen is, unfortunately, running out of options with His Grace, your brother. His Grace failed to show up to the previous gala, and is late on his taxes. We were holding put, hoping he would attend the Hearthfire Gala today, but alas, my Queen's heart is crushed.” Vulluin said, watching Roland very closely.
Another sip of tea, letting his words hang in the space before he spoke up again.
“However, there is a lifeline the Queen is offering to House Corrin. It involved you, Sir Roland.” Vulluin said, a seriousness in his eyes.
“Her Majesty is willing to forgive the late taxes and lack of fealty if His Grace the duke promises to resume attending galas and keeping his account straight from today and forward. And…” He leaned forward.
“If you, Sir Roland, submit yourself to being a royal guard once more. Her Majesty has heard of your skills, and wants you in service to her. You would start in four days, the amount of time it takes to travel by carriage starting tomorrow from Tarin to Hathforth.”
Hathforth, The College of Hathforth, Headmaster's Office
@Izurich
"Understood, take care, professor."
”Take care, my dear.” Caveus said, watching his student leave out the door.
In the quiet Mèlisande left behind, the headmaster could only sit and ponder in thought, if the path he had set upon his young pupil was the right thing to do, or simply something unavoidable from a coward's perspective.
The headmaster sighed, and wrote a short correspondence to be sent to the castle. He had to let them know they'd have one more mage in attendance there.
It was soon that there was a gentle knock at Mèlisande's dorm. A carriage driver dressed in a uniform to denote his service to the crown stood there, stiff and upright.
“Ma'am, I received word you wish to travel to the castle. I've been sent here to escort you and make your-” His gaze wandered down, catching her gaze, before he became flustered and resumed to look straight ahead.
“-t-travel easy.”He huffed a bit under his collar, tugging it slightly, before he gestured to the street. A gilded carriage with two white horses awaited Mèlisande.
“I can carry any bags you may have, and we can be on our way. You will be staying for a few days to get yourself acquainted with the castle, but I've been made aware you'll be free to come and go as you please. During daylight hours, of course.”
Odonfield, Duke of Rhinecliff's Estate
@ERode
“...Might I invite you to the courtyard for a meal and an opportunity to stretch your legs before then?”
“Your Grace is very kind; I wouldn't want to impose on your good graces. But if you would entertain me, it would be a pleasure to rest before my travel back.” Asteria smiled, starting to relax. The good duke was making it too easy to stall for time. Now her brother would have enough time to locate the treasury room.
"Ah, and has your brother come along? I've thought the two of you as inseparable, but perhaps even twins have sibling spats on occasion."
The momentary sense of peace Asteria felt was shattered in an instant, and she kept the worst of the shock off her face, furiously sipping on her tea instead. He was asking about her brother! What was she suppose to say?
Draining her cup to allow herself precious seconds to think, Asteria pulled the china away and smiled sweetly.
“Sibling spats, of course. Yes. My brother and I got into a terrible, terrible fight. That's why I came to you by myself today. Just the thought of spending two days in a carriage with him makes my head spin, Your Grace.”
Hathforth Castle, Throne Room, The Hearthfire Gala
@Irradiant
Vulluin stared for a moment as Duchess Bastille approached the throne, before he stiffened, eyes flaring up in cool rage.
“You will bow before addressing Her Majesty the Quee-”The Wizard Queen raised a hand, causing Vulluin to fall silent, silently seething. The Queen herself, however, had an amused look to her face. She smiled as she regarded the duchess in all her raiment and glory.
“A gift is most generous of you, Duchess Bastille. Let us see it.”Thr Wizard Queen watched as the art piece glinted in the duchess’ hands.
"Though I suppose I cannot assume full credit. I also have Rockhold to thank for providing us with the requisite metals. You can consider this blade a gift from them as well.”
The Wizard Queen saw that ‘different’ smile right away. She wished desperately Safina were here, instead of ‘interrogating’ Duke Rhineclliff. Safina would have an angle on this that would help the Wizard Queen get deeper in the duchess’ head.
Alas, she only had her advisor and her court mage to rely on in this instant. However, Vulluin didn't need to whisper in the Wizard Queen's ear for her to know what to say next, to stick a small knife in between the ribs of the duchess.
“Did you know, dear duchess…” Her tone was soft, almost melodic,
“That dwarves are more susceptible to magic and darkness?”More susceptible to me. The Wizard Queen pretended to shrug this off, her own smile matching the duchess’ exactly.
“Alas, their physical strength leaves their defenses leaving something to be desired.”Vulluin, his face a stony mask, held his hands out for the art piece in the duchess’ hands,
“I would be happy to accept this wondrous gift. Her Grace the Duchess has surpassed herself.”
The Otter
Chronic
Days
Izurich
Stiles2
Abstract Proxy
Squirrel98
AtomicEmperor
NegroSlayer
