The Kindom in Chaos....

[Lan]

Lan

Lan smiled at the man, and lightly laughed. He liked people who weren't so uptight, and who knew when to give leeway. He turned, and after watching the princess a moment more, turned back to Dalbaeth.

"My name is Lan... Lan Hawker. I know a lot about this place, I've been here once or twice," Lan knew that his knowledge of this place warranted more than just 'once or twice', but didn't like giving out too much information, especially when the man he was speaking to was said to be able to match most men in battle. "I left almost two decade ago, and came back to find some strange news. I have heard that Peloor is sick. The last time I saw him, the man had been ambushed in the street by bandits. He fended off four men by himself. That man is stronger than iron, and his thinking quick. If he truly is in such a sad state, I wonder what will become of this country."

Lan leaned back, and waved away a serving maid as she approached. He didn't drink.

"I'm sorry if I offended you. Obviously the princess is planning something. Mind if you let me in on this little secret?..."

 

[DarkThoughts01]

"yes of course you can Miss"He smiled a bit,then as she saught he sighed and said."I'd like to apologize to you for what i said before Ma'am"he starts respectivly,not knowing he is talking to the princess herself,thinking her jsut an aritocrat or noble close to the royal family."if i had known what you tolf me i would never have spoken so,ou see,my vilalge has been having a rough time,and i was sent here to plead with teh king for help,but i was turned down by the officials at the castle gate without explanation,because i was a "commoner".

 

[LadyRozes]

Liliana sat down and looked at the man sitting before her, "Where is you village located?" if it was near the border of their Kingdom then she knew the reasons for the problems..

"Look right now, the kingdom is in a great deal of stress, I am currently on a mission for the King.. I am " she moved her head back and forth .. "like a visor in a way.. so just let me know the problem and I will see that it gets taken care on my to to the mission "

 

[DarkThoughts01]

He studied her,then pulled out a map."its right here"he stated,pointing to a Very Small dot ont eh map,labeled only as "village' on the royal map.He nods."if you do not mind Ma'am,id liek to accompany you,i wont be able to rest well unless i am sure tha ti have finished what i wanted to do."he looked down afor a moment,embarresed,then continued."im not saying i dont trust you,not at all Ma'am,id jsut liek to know its done..."

 

[lycanthropedude]

GAVIN

The young elf smiled with mischief in her eyes. A drinking game might be fun...

....

By the end of the princesses third tune, Gavin and Anya had downed 9 tankerds of honey mead, 4 mugs of ale, and 3 tins of chilled wine...The serving maid was making a killing. The drink was good, but Gavin needed to have his wits about him and so he decided to stop drinking after another hour or so. The elven rogue seemed only slighty buzzed so he should be able to take her in a few minutes more.

Gavin decided to up the ante. He pulled out a deck of cards.

"Yyooeu pley 'Jack o'knifes'?," he stammered, bluffing.

 

[Third Magus]

Delbaeth shook his head slightly, frowning darkly at the distant figure of the princess.

"Who knows what she plans? A sonnet, a plot to steal the sun from the sky or a new colour from the eye of a god...", Delbaeth let his voice trail off, "She is care-free, and weaves plans like gossamer"

There was faint bitterness in his tone, the voice of one who was not permitted to be care-free or make his own plans, but there was also a certain disingenuousness to his reply. These were troubled times. Perhaps best not to let friendly strangers, who seemed to know altogether too much of the elven realm's affairs, discover even more.

 

[Lan]

Lan

Lan nodded, also watching the Princess. He smiled slightly, it barely touching his lips. He could understand the undercurrents in the mans tone. Lan knew that whatever the woman was thinking, she was probably going to get in over her head, but then again , he thought, that's what this man is there for. Lan stood finally.

"Sorry for interrupting you... I... have some business to attend to. Farewell Dalbaeth, and be sure to keep an eye on that girl at all times, she has a firey spirit." He started for the door, pulling up the hood of his cloak as he did, and entered the cool night air.

There weren't very many lights at this time of night, and the few that slid through slitted windows did little to illuminate the darkness. Lan didn't need light though, he knew these streets well, and quickly moved down them.

 

[LadyRozes]

Liliana and Anya

Liliana :

Lilana looked at the village on the map that the young man had pointed out... it was jsut as she had suspected it was a village near the border of their kingdom.. and it was on the way to the central tribe of the nuetral territory.. where the Wise one was residing... she stood." Well I will take my leave.. if you really mean to come with me.. mett me at this plave at the next rising of the tide.. she tore a piece from the paper that she had recieved the note on and wrote an address on the back..

She handed it to him and then said," if you dont mind I will take my leave." she stood then walked over to the booth where Anya and Gavin were sitting. Apparently Anya was up to her old tricks again.

Anya

Anya watched as Lily approached the booth that she was sitting in... Drinking with a dwarf was a lot harder than she thought it would be.
"Hey anya would you mind if we use your place to hang before we go?" Liliana had said it in the same code language that they were talking in before.

"Yeah no prob I'll see if its okay with Diablo .. you know how he gets when he doesnt know guests are comming.. but seeing that its you im sure he wont mind at all.. " Anya replied. She looked at Gavin and said,"Well its been fun so I guess I will see you later.." she stood to go and walked out with Liliana.

"Yes it was good meeting with you again Gavin, we will meet at the palace." Liliana said as she walked out of the tavern with anya.

As soon as the shut the door Liliy pulled anya aside and said, "I need you to switch cloaks with me .. I think Im being followed. I have to go some where if You dont hear from me in an hour take this to my guard okay?"

"Lily are you sure you know what you are getting in to?"

"Yes"

"Fine one hour... I will give your followers a good chase." She smiled and skipped down the streets she knew better than the room in her home.

Liliana

Liliana walked through a few alleyways zigzagging accross town and walked out of the city to the clearing the man was speaking of.. she nervously wiped her palms against the tunic she was wearing.. and walked into the clearing when she didnt see anybody she sat in the center of it... thinking to herself
okay relax.. if this is a trap.. then Delbeath will get me out of this .. I just need to stall for about half an hour she closed her eyes and began to meditate.. she felt herself join with the earth once more.. listening to the natural sounds around her...

 

[Jeremy Davis]

Thay

::Thay leaned against a tree waiting for the Princess. He was unsure if she would come or not, but seeing as though she was in dire need of help and wanting to go find her brother and mother, he had a feeling she would. The sound of footsteps, though light, alerted him that someone or something was approaching. Quckly, Thay sought shelter within the limbs, branches,and leafs of the willow.

Soon the figure made its way to the willow, and after allowing her to sttle herself, Thay lowered himself from the willow, setting down behind her::

"Greetings Princess. Thank you for meeting me here and alone."

 

[LadyRozes]

Liliana

Liliana jumped as the man behind her spoke from behind her.

"Greetings Princess. Thank you for meeting me here and alone."

She turned around to look at the man. Her dark green gaze looked up and down... "Have I meet you before..is that how you know who I am ?"

 

[Jeremy Davis]

Thay

"We have not been properly entroduced, M'lady, but Ive known you since you were a mere elfling. I know your ailing faher quiet well as I helped him gain his throne over fifty years ago."

::He was almost positive that she would not know who he was or how he knew her, but he had hoped his explinations would help::

"After that I 'dissappeared'. In truth I became a diplomate of sorts for your father."

::He pausd a moment to allow her time to think and knew she would ask him questions.::

 

[LadyRozes]

Liliana

Liliana looked at the man before her... after hearing the explanation she relaxed just slightly. He did seem to look vaguely familiar... "Have you any proof that you are whom you say you are ?"

"...And what is it that has brought you to me... my father fought to protect his throne fifty years ago true.. but how is it that you are so close to him.. and how would know know if I need assistance..?"

She waited for her answers.. not realizing how much time was passing...



ANYA


Running around for about ten minutes she rounds back around towards the tavern.. she rested at the end of the alleyway accross from it.. she had noticed her friends guard there in the back while Lily had played on the stage.. she was glad that the guard took his job seriously.. sometimes Lily went a little too far.. and as Anya shifted her feet back and fortth now would be a good example of that... she didnt like the idea of her being alone.. not waiting any longer she rushed back into the tavern and looked for the guard .. spotting him in the back drinking ale.. she sauntered over him him and said

"hey big fella you missing somebody." she stood in a poise with one hip cocked to one side her hand rested on it.. her head tilted to one side..she waited to see his reaction...and wondered if he even recognized her or the cloak that she was wearing that was Lily's ..

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir of the Blade

The few out at night watched him as he walked down the street. It was late, but he had spared no time in arriving, the Wise One having said it was urgent he speak to the King quickly to determine his thoughts on the missive she sent.

But he would not trouble the King at this hour. Especially with news about his ailing health. He glanced at the elves around, acutely aware of his appearance. While among the orks he was considered fair, he here he felt the great difference between the delicate features of his mother's people and his own.

He looked around, and spotted a tavern. He watched it for a moment, wondering if it would carry any of the dwarven ales, the elven wine being to fine for him to take. He entered, and looked about the establishment.

The Lovely Lavender. He glanced around, and noticed a few glances his direction. He frowned, and went to the bar, ordering himself a tankard of ale before moving to a far booth.

 

[Third Magus]

Delbaeth frowned, and rose immedietely, with eerie speed.

"That is not your cloak", he snapped, twitching aside the cloak's hood to stare into the girl's face. Mischievous golden-brown eyes looked back at him.

"Who are you? Where is she?"

 

[LadyRozes]

Anya

Anya looked back at the man demanding answers..

"Who are you? Where is she?"

Anya said,If you want to know.. just join me outside. I'll tell you where Lily is..

The large man followed her out of the tavern.. she turn and faced him.. "look you might as well know... I dotn know how much she's told you.. but Lily's going to lookfor her brother.. she's leaving when the next tide comes in.. she follow the trail to the Wise One.. she's not going to go alone either.. Im going with her.. and the dwarf too ... Gavin , i dont know who else she's recruited.. but they are going to meet up at my place..... anyway...
... she's gone off recruiting I think again.. this time I have no idea where and who she's meeting with... this is totally creeped me out..

so I figured I would let you in on what her plans were.. I figure that if your with us.. she wont get into too much trouble... anyway she told me to give you this after an hour.. but I figured I would give it to you now.. Im comming with you ... dont give me that look Im comming.. you might need me" she said that with a completely serious look on her face..

The look of disbelief on the man's face told her he wasnt planning on taking her... "Look I may be small but Im good at what I do... besides I dont think its completely harmful ... she's not completely loony...anyway she gave me this letter ..." she handed him the piece of paper.."said if she didnt show to give it to you.. I figure she could use some back up.. you never know there could be spies everywhere... she needs protecting even if she doesnt believe she does.. and thanks... she's my best friend...like a big sis ... so I'm glad your around to protect her.. " she smiled kind of shyly and blushed a little it wasnt like her to reveal her feelings to anybody..
"Lets go .. "

"I followed her for a bit .. and read the note.... what!?! I figure I gotta know where she is.. anyway I know a short cut.. who knows she may be on her way back anyhow.."
she turned and flew down the alleyway... intent on "saving" her friend...

 

[LadyRozes]

Narration

Meanwhile back in the palace.. the betrayer paces back and forth in his grand chambers..

"this is not good.. the king is resisting me.. soon .. it will be over soon I will make sure of it.. the line will die with the king... " the old man looked in his mirror.. only the reflection wasnt his own.. it was like a crystal ball and showed a place where he kept his prisoners..

he looked and watched as the ogres teased the woman in the cell he grinned evilly .. "perhaps I will let her live a while longer.. to tell her of her love's death.. yes that will loosen her tongue...perhaps then she will tell me where to find the key.. "

He motioned with his bony pale hand and another picture appeared.. "ahh good he's still uncontious.. so long as he stays that way .. we'll keep him alive. maybe we'll let his lover fight for his life.. that will make good entertainment for my men "

just another season .. and it would all become his.. ..

 

[Jeremy Davis]

Thay

::He nodded as she asked him questions, then pulled a ring from within his cloak, the royal embelum on the shield used for sealing letters.::

I hope this will prove that I know your Father and help you believe I am who I claim to be. Since the battle fifty years ago, your father and I became very close. He confides in me much and he has confided in me what he thinks is causing his ailment. I have been in the castle trying to investigate what happened to him when he called me into his chambers and told me that he thought you would go and try to find your brother and mother.

I fear the worst for your Father M'lady, and seeing it as his dying request I told him I would go with you and protect you as well as I can. Thus I pledge my sword and my life to the daughter of the King.

::Just as he finished he caught the sound of people approaching. Quickly he covered the princess' mouth, slipped his arm around her waist and lept back up into the tree he was in when she approached the clearing.::

-vqw- shhh, someone is coming.....

 

[Lan]

Lan

Lan enterd the palace, not stopping for the guards who told him to halt, or the servants that ran through the halls, trying to look like they were doing something. The Guards that were supposed to protect everyone seemed afraid, much to afraid to protect anyone. Lan didn't care, it was easier that way, at least he could get in without a fight, anyway.

He strode down another passage, until he finally came to the door of the throne room. The Guards outside marched up to him quickly, and held out their hands. Lan stopped a few feet away.

"We're sorry, but the king will have no more visitors today," spoke the older looking one, his hand already resting on his sword hilt. "You'll have to make an appointment with the Advisors."

Lan glared at the man. "When last I was here, anyone could freely see the king, and only he had the right to refuse an audience. Who are you to stop anyone...?"

The guard visibly swallowed. "Umm... well.... their from the Advisors themselves, sir."

"Get out of my way, fool!" The guard backed away, eyes wide. He wasn't used to anyone adressing him as such, or anyone with a weapon. Lan pushed the double doors of the throne room open, and walked in.

Double rows of guards stood between him and the king, swords already drawn. A man in a black cloak that Lan couldn't get a look at stood in front of them, seemingly unconcerned with anyone else in the room. His spoke, his voice like gravel on steel.

"You are not permitted here! Who are you, you... that would dare disturb the king as he sleeps!"

"I am Lan Hawker! Guardian of the Seven Towers, Lord of Saldea, and friend of the king. I demand my right to speak with him!"

"Fool! Guards, throw him in the dungeon!"

Lan didn't know if he could beat all of the guards, and didn't know anything of the dark cloaked man, and so let them take his sword, and allowed them to him out of the throne room, wondering how the king could have stayed asleep through the mans yelling.

Something was going on, but Lan hadn't put his finger on what just yet.....

 

[Third Magus]

The alleyways they ran down seemed somehow unreal to Delbaeth, like sets on a stage or the illusions of a conjurer. The night bled reality out of everything. He felt if he touched the walls, he would simply see them melt away.

He realised he was retreating into himself, trying to make the situation more abstract as a way of coping. Pathetic.

His eye focused on the small, cloaked running figure ahead of him. The princess' friend - Delbaeth hoped she could defend herself. If the princess was in danger, he might not be able to look out for them both. He hadn't wanted her to come with him, but didn't have time for a prolonged argument.

They emerged from the alleyway into an open place. Delbaeth looked questioningly at his guide, one hand already stealing towards his sword-hilt.

 

[LadyRozes]

Liliana

Liliana let out a muffled yelp.. and looked around frantically... no one in their right mind would have handled her in that way... sure her old guard did ... but he had been like a father to her... so i guess it was his right... but that was neither here nor there... right before she was about to bite hand that covered her mouth she heard the noise ... and it didnt sound like anyone she had heard...


as she patted for her "rescuer" let go of her mouth she looked and her eyes grew big a what she saw....

"No" she whispered frantically "it couldnt be... they were out lawed....the Kingdom was protected...how were they able to enter...?!?!"

 

[LadyRozes]

Narration

(OOC: sorry double post)

 

[LadyRozes]

Narration

The betrayer... watched as the Lord of Saldea was sent to the dungeon ... he smiled evilly ... yes he thought how amusing... the only other person that could have prevented him from continuing in his plans was now in his dungeons

Now on to getting rid of that little nuisance.. where was she ... of course not where she was supposed to me.. and that made it oh so much easier on him to get rid of her....

he walked back to the mirror and thought of the pesky brat... oh look she's all alone in the clearing... well it will be so easy to get rid of her... whom shall he use... he sat back in his throne... his fingers drumming... ah yes ... he knew ... even if they were defeated... no matter highly doubtful that they would be ... they wouldnt be traced to him... that little chit wasnt going to know what hit her... or rather what took her... He laughed evilly ... stupid girl always hiding from her guard... this time though ... it will the last her guard will have to deal with the likes of her...


He got up from his throne and went to his pouch at his side.. sprinkled some dust among the fire and POOF about a half a dozen hugely muscular drow appeared ... they were not typical drow.. as those appeared to stay below the kingdom and the above Kingdom had no quams with the nether one...they unfortunately had an alliance ... no these were outlawed on both kingdoms.. they had been mutated by the followers of the great Wyrm... yes ... they were hybrids... they were being created for the great war .. that was destined to happen fifty years from now... some had escaped though... and that was when the kingdoms learned of them....

"You know what I want you to do ... make sure you take her this time... im sure she will make a good sacrifice to the Wyrm....she's still pure.."

The creatures turned and dissappeared... they reappeared a little away from where the clearing was ... these creatures were large .. almost six and half feet tall. each carried scimitars in each hand.. one however.. was weaponles... they creeped towards the unsuspecting girl... then they say that she jumped into the tree... they headed towards the tree..... intent on getting their prize this time....

 

[Lan]

Lan

Even as the Guards marched Lan toward the cell, he could feel his body start to tingle. It was as if something were poking him with needles, just light enough not to draw blood. His head whipped back, as if staring straight through the brick roof of the dungeon. Magic.

Lan had always been able to feel magic, it was something he had been born with, and he knew that whatever magic was being weaved now, wouldn't be for the good of the kingdom. Even though his hands were tied behind his back, Lan knew that five guards couldn't stop him.

He spun, lashing out with his foot, clipping one of the guards in the temple, then continuing around, crushed anothers nose. Lan dropped to the ground, a guards fist barely clipping the top of his head, and slammed the heel of his boot up, into the third guards groin. He fell, writhing in the dust on the stone floor. The fourth and fifth dove at him.

One ended up with a heel in his left eyes, the other with a crushed windpipe. Lan jumped up, flicked out the knife that he always held in his sleeve, and cut his bonds. One of the guards, having finally recovered from his broken nose leapt at Lan. Lan dodged him, grabbed his head, and broke his neck.

Lan ran. He only knew of two targets someone would be trying to hit, the King, and the Princess. Lan went for the king. He had picked up hsi sword from one of the guards, and bolted back into the palace, drawing it as he did so. The guards tried stopping him, but they had little training, and fought disorganized, like a rabble rather than a force. Lan dropped them all, doing his best not to kill any of them. Although they were trying to kill him, they were only doing their job, and Lan didn't like senseless killing.

As he finally entered the throne room once again, he walked forward cautiously. He didn't see the dark cloaked man, and so hurried to the king.

The kings face was pale, like snow, and was even cold to the touch. He breathed roughly, as if trying to suck in all the air in the room at once. Lan felt his anger start taking over. He had battled alongside Peloor for so many years, and this was the same man? He looked like only the husk of the once great warrior. Lan cursed in every language he knew, and realized the truth.

Something was wrong with the king. And that probably had something to do with the Princess leaving the palace. The Princess was the target. Lan started running again. The princess had her bodyguard, he knew, and hoped that Dalbaeth would be enough....

 

[Jeremy Davis]

Thay

::He loosened his hand on her mouth then recovered it as she started speaking once more. His eyes beheld the creatures as they walked upto the tree, fearing that there was too many of them to fight himself he started thinking.

I hope the Princess knows how to handle herself, I will enter battle and allow her to make up her mind as what she is going to do

Without much warning, Thay withdrew his hand from the Princess' mouth and lept down from the tree, his mace being drawn from his back as he did so. Landing in a defencive stance, Thay readied for a battle, his eyes seeing the first of the Drow coming at him.

A quick feign of a high kick Directed at the Drow's head made the Drow duck instinctivly and with a quick spin and lowering of Thay's body, Thay's mace connected fully against the DRow's head falling him::

"I suppose any Diplomatic solution is out of the question at this point in time aye?"

 

[Lan]

Selene

Selene had watched the creatures skulk through the darkness, trying to hide themselves, though anything that carried two swords was hard miss. The only reason, she figured, that the creatures had made it anywhere without an alarm going up was because of the blackness of night. Them attempting to sneak through the streets was what had peeked her interest at first, and now that they arrived in the clearing, she understood why.

Upon arriving she had seen a man crush one of the Drow's heads with his mace, and watch as the others prepared themselves for battle. What kind of man would face off against six Drow, Selene didn't know, but she had never liked anything in life to be unfair.

Reaching her right hand up above her head, she began chanting, and waving out an incantation. Within seconds a ball of flame sparked into life in her palm, and she threw it. It screamed toward one of the Drow, and exploded on it's back. It stumbled forward, and then turned around, evil eyes glinting in the moonlight.

What? Selene involuntarily stepped back, they are resistant to my magic! Selene began again, praying that the Drow wouldn't have enough time to reach her before her next spell.