The Seven Keys.

Tana smiled at Trianna she was really happy that Growls was going to stay with her. She followed the pretty woman down the ramp and into the place towards the capital.
 
Tana kept a hand on Growls head as Trianna explained things about her land. It was so beautiful she had never seen anything like it in all her eighteen summers. As her vision took in everything she saw that the Captain Ramos had cought up to them and was just behind them. She waved and tugged on Trianna's sleeve to let her know that there was someone behind them.


**********


Ellen waited until Cali and Yrismir caught up with her and smiled then said, "You DO know I live there right... we can walk right in on my brother during court and there would be nothing anyone could do about it .. although I plan to take a more subtle approach.. So I can explain the guards that you all are my friends and you came to have an audience with the King.. "


She led the way towards the castle stopping everyonce in a while to make sure everyone had caught up with them.. just so they wouldnt have to explain every pair that straggled in.

When they reached the castle, it was just as Ellen had said they let them into the castle without so much as a murmer. Just as she was entering the great hall she heard someone call her name "Ellie my dear sister .. where have you been .. we expected you days ago??."

"Ellie blushed and then replied, "I was detained and had to come later.. I would have sent a missive Lily but I hadnt a chance at all.. Im sorry are we later for the ball? I so wanted to see our brother flounder.. " she started to smirk as Lily knew what she was talking about.

"Tildiir, is holed up with that friend of his.. so I dunno quite what to say.. really Sabaka should know better than to keep tildiir up in this state."

Ellie smiled she couldnt wait to see Sabaka again.. it must have been at least a hundred years or so.. when she was still training under her master.. The last time he was here she had gotten into so much mischief that her father had not been very happy with her behavior. "A Young lady should not behave in such a manner" Ellie had to admit though it was worth getting into trouble just to see all those pompous nobles flounder around because their trains had all been tied together.

"Well I hope brother is doing fine this morn .. I have a message to pass on to him .. its quite of import.. so I had hoped we would be able to get an audience with him."

Lily looked at the entourage that Ellie brought with her and immidiately realized something wasnt right..

"Well I believe he is still in his solar with Sabaka so..I suppose you can bother him there... Perhaps it would be better if I came with you.. we shall see what state our brother is in." Lily cousciously led the way to the solar...
 
Yrismir

Yrismir cleared his throat, and lapsed into an odd dialect of Elvish used mainly by scholars and priests for interpretation of the older of records. "Why, Liliana, so good to hear your voice again. Tell me, have you been keeping yourself out of trouble?"

Yrismir moved carefully, keeping his movements with the grace that all elves possessed, and trying to remain unobserved. His eyes were busy watching the floor in front of his feet.
 
Trianna

Trianna let Tana set the pace and they waited up several times for others to catch up while she pointed out things that she thought would interest the small girl.

The library of magics, stores with elvin crafted items, men and woman bargaining together or chatting ambicably. She also told her stories of the land and the people and, before you knew it, they were in the castle itself.

Trianna's face registered only slight surprise that they had been traveling with such a distinguished elvin citizen. So much had happened that none had taken the time to really look past appearances.

Leaning down, she spoke to Growls. "We are going to see the king, My Friend. I expect you to be on the best of behavior!"

Growls gave a snort and Trianna added,"Or no scraps for you for a week!"

Turning to Tana, she gave the girl a wink. "Keep your hand on the scruff of his neck and if he does anything naughty, let me know."

Trianna was smiling as she followed the others into the solar, adjusting her bow as she went. It wasn't proper attire considering what she was wearing but it made her feel better in case they ment any of the heroes of darkness on the way."
 
Last edited:
Liliana turned and looked for the person that asked about her.. " WHy .. If I didnt know any better I would assume.. that You were Yrismir .. but your are talking enitrely too refined for him.. " She smiled, "How are you my friend well? " She asked as then entered into the solar to see Tidiir in what looked like yesterdays attire. Slouched on the chair.

"GO away Im pouting.. " Tildiir groaned.

"To think I waited SOOOOOOOO long just to see my brother only for him to tell me to go away.."

"MY Ellie whatever are you doing here?! Were you not on some mission?! I was told that you were going to be unable to make my execut..... I mean the ball.. "

Ellie laughed and went over to hug her elder brother. Whom had taken good care of her.. when she was swadling around.. ".. Well dear brother.. my mission brings me here.. so .. if your done pouting I'd like to introduce you to a few friends of mine.."

Tildiir looked at the group that entered his private solar.. and immidiately decided that now was not the time to start going throw a pouting session.. "Well SAbaka my, friend .. I guess we have some serious business to attend to.. What say you .. we listen to what my sister's friends say.. " His eyes roamed about the group .. then skidded to a halt in front of Cali. "You look familiar to me.. who are you...?" The entire group seemed vaguely familiar to him.. made him feel as though he had seen these people before somewhere..

A few moments later.. his face drained of what color he had remembered where he had seen them. Liliana came up, "What is wrong?.. Are you alright.."

"BY the GOddess Lorena.. there all standing in front of me.." He whispered underneath his breath...


Ellie cleared her throat and decided to help things along, "Tildiir we have a serious problem and well, first things first .. I suppose we should introduce ourselves here..."
 
Trianna

Trianna was puzzled about the king's reaction to the group but, like all elves, she figured time would show them what it all ment.

Bending down, she said to Tana. "Now, watch and do what I do. Go up to the king, curtsey and say your name, then step back. If you need, Growls will go with you so that you are not so nervous."

Stepping forward, Trianna bent as low as her bow would allow her, her head forward in a reverant bow.

"My liege," She said in elvin,"I am Trianna, a wood elf and ranger from the house of Eylara. It is an honor to be in your presence."

Stepping back, she gave Tana a wink. "See, nothing to it! Just tell him your name in common. He understands many languages."
 
I hung near the back of the group, silently enjoying Trianna showing off elven wonders to Tana. A small smile hung on my face, it was truly good to be back in the land I called home. I had been following the entire party ever since we stepped off of the ship. I caught Tana waving and I waved back. Poor girl. She had no idea how important she was. Truth be told, neither did I. All I knew was that Lan had told me to find her and protect her from the forces of evil. And I would lay my life down to do so.

We entered the castle and spoke with Lily. She and Ellie spoke to each other and we were admitted to see the King. Lily recognized Yrismir, but that didn't surprise me. I knew well that they had traveled together many years ago and Lily was very sharp. She was also one of my favorite people. I spent much time within the walls of this castle and Lily was very much responsible for my mastery of the elven language. It was good to see her, as she was always a warm presence in the castle.

We were led into the solar where King Tildiir sat. Ellie suggested we introduced ourselves. Trianna approached first and courtesied, spoke her name, and returned to Tana's side. I stepped up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. I smiled to her and nodded. I waited to let the rest of the party introduce themselves. Tildiir knew me. I would address him at the end and give him the scroll Lan had asked me to deliver. I would wait for our other business to wrap up before giving him the scroll.
 
Tana awkwardly step forward, and growls went with her. She mimicked what Trianna did though not as gracefully. She spoke in a soft voice in common, " I am called Gaetana but most everyone calls me Tana. I am most honored to meet you. I come from no where and these people that stand before you.. they rescued me from some really bad people. "

Tildiir watched with slightly more interest than he normally would during introductions.. it was important for him to know who these people were. THe Wood elf .. interesting he thought they dont normally become friends with humans. As he watched the little young human child introduce herself, he couldnt help but smile they were so used things moving so fast. Poor child.

He waited for the others to intrduce themselves. One thing was for sure he knew that Ramos was with them .. as well as an old rescuer of his.. This odd band of people was making him more and more sure of his reaction to them.
 
Baddies

Baddies

Nexus listened to Goven as he explained their plans. IT seemed he had been doing a lot of investigating while she was resting from her evening. " I think the more subtle we are the better off we'll be no sense in alerting everyone that we are here." She explained as she roamed her hands down his body. Just as her thoughts were turning else where she heard soemone turning the knob of the door.

Snider slipped through the door only to freeze at the sight in front of him. The woman .. he had been lusting after was in someone elses arms. Taking a few moments to adjust himself .. he would deal with that later.. now he was here to explain their plans.. " It has come to my attention that this Ball will be a great time to make our move.. no doubt you've heard.. our adversaries have arrived .. so we should be extra careful not to draw any attention. ... "

Snider listened to the explaination of what they had found and decided that they should coraborate on their plans. " If Goven can get into the treasury that evening then Im sure Our Nexus can get us out of there with her connections... "

Nexus smiled .. "I will work on that for now.. you need to disappear before my maid arrives."

Snider clenched his teeth ...someone needed to give that woman some lessons in who has more authority.. someone needed to control her.. and he was itching for the chance. Snider sarcastically bowed to The coulple in the bed and made his way out of the room.

As soon as Snider left, Nexus wrapped herself around Goven and whispered in his ear to caress it with her breath , " Now where were we..."
 
Sabaka

The dwarf stayed back, in the corner of the private room, watching these new guests be welcomed. He didn't have much care for them or their matters, although it did seem important. Too many of them were elves, and it unnerved him. Nothing good could be done with so much around.
And a wood elf! If there were one thing worse than an elf, it would be a wood elf. All those trees, and out in the open. In the open!! How could one live like that? Without walls surrounding you, without good solid rocuk under your feet.
He didn't understand it at all.
It was important, even Tildiir thought so, and Sabaka kindly kept his mouth shut, stroking his beard, and drinking from what was left of the king's private stash, which throughout the course of the night had dwindled to a now meager few bottles left.
 
Goven

When Snider came in, Goven wrapped his arm tightly around Nexus, not to cover his shame, but rather in jealousy. This was his girl, his, and this man had no right to even stare at her. He was cold to the man until he left, only relaxing after he had left.
"At the ball? Well, if that is your wish," He was disappointed his own ideas were not used. It seemed a shame not to disrupt the country at least somewhat. He almost considered it a duty.
Yet, there were too many users of magic, too powerful sorcerers that could stop them if they so wished. And, now, word of the others coming.
"We aren't in trouble for waiting, are we? The ball isn't for another couple of days, Iif they speak with the king, if they have any ties to him at all, couldn't they just ask for the object? Our attempts might be futile."
His worry washed over with her gentle touch, but still it lingered in his mind.
"My pet, we are damned," He already felt those ties within him loosening, his will receding, his very force taken out by her. Goven didn't care though, so long as he stayed here with her, so long as he could touch her, feel her, fuck her.
 
Yrismir

Yrismir glanced up and down the hall before entering after the others. He Waited a bit while the others introduced themselves, and then pulled back his hood, looking at the Elvish King. He bowed.

"Tildiir. You're looking much better."

He followed his eyes to Cali. He glanced over at the King, and then back at Cali. He cleared his throat, and moved closer to the King. "Listen, I don't suppose we could, umm, 'borrow' the family heirloom, as it were?"
 
Lucia and Cecilia

The two sisters had emerged dfrom tehir exploration of the castle when they suddenly bumped into a man leaving one of the stately rooms,grumbling and scowling(snider)

The man pushes roughly into Cecilia,who pushes back,both of them stopping in teh middle of the hallway to glare.

Lucia slipepd herself calmly between the two,noting with a disgusted thought his eyes being drawn down across her form."Excuse me Lord"SHe said meekly,eyes downcast,biting down her own anger."My sister was rude,we will be on our way now"She says simply and grabs her protesting sister,dragging her off.
 
Cali

My attention had been on Yris and the architecture of the castle, not on the rather rumpled elf before me.
But from the way everyone was treating him, I figured he was pretty important, even if his clothing people needed a good kick in the bum.
He asked who I was before Yris interupted. "Tildiir. You're looking much better."
He followed his eyes to me. He glanced over at the King, and then back at me. He cleared his throat, and moved closer to the King. "Listen, I don't suppose we could, umm, 'borrow' the family heirloom, as it were?"

I smiled and shook my head. "You know, Yris, a little more tact might help. And I didn't even get to introduce myself. Rather rude, don't you think?"
He shot me glare and motioned me for me to do as I would. I smiled happily at him before taking a step forward.
Bowing I said grandly, "I am Calixte Mercer, a Countess with the Guild of the Rouge Queen."
My earing flickered into sight, the real one not the guild-association one I usually wore, but the one that marked me as my rank, one of the Rouge Queen's Court.
"I bid you greetings and wishes for your good health from my Queen Amalthia,"I said, rising from my bow. I stepped back to Yris' side, placing an arm rather possesively on his. I didn't like the look in the king's eyes and something told me Yris didn't either.
 
Tildiir nodded his head towards Cali after the intro.. something .. it was familiar.. something about her.. had he seen this person before.. he simply couldnt remember.. maybe it was the moonshine last evening he just couldnt remember. He looked at Yris.. "Your joking right .. You want me to give you the family heirloom... you do realize .. we have more than one.. I am curious.. why would you need it and which one is it? "

*********

Ellie got bored. She didnt like the fact that Yris had to come straight out with the business if they ended up getting it before the ball she was going to be upset.. she had a few scores to settle.

She slipped behind everyone to stand next to Sabaka.. "hey ..I missed you.. I thought you went back to the Dwarvern kingdom? Although I am quite happy to see you.. I figured during the ball .. this time we could keep score on how many debuatants we can make squeal. "

Uncontiously, Ellie started to tug on Sabaka's tunic .. when she was younger it had been his beard , but one time she pulled to hard.. after that .. well .. she never touched his beard again.



*******

Tana watched the goings on .. with wide eyes. She had no idea what they were asking for, but if it was important to these people than she would stay quiet and lend support. Without knowing Tana rubbed Growls's neck out of fear. She was getting very scared.
 
Sabaka gave a warm smile at the young elf. She didn't seem much like an elf, but she had grown more, taller, thinner, elvish ears and everything. without that wicked smile he didn't imagine she'd be the old Ellie at all.
"Ah, royal ball," He cursed, taking another chug. He had hoped to be out of here as soon as he could, hopefully sometime today, but now they wanted him to stay for longer. More time with elves, more stupid parties, with stupid dancing and stupid elves. All of it, just fucking ridiculous.
"If I must..." He snarled, "You elves do not know how to party though. You want a party, come down to the dwarves halls. When a new mineral mine is discovered. A week's worth of the best ale, the best women, and the best games a dwarf could ask for. Ha ha. You haven't seen anything here. Where have you been, out gallavanting? You never could keep still..."
 
Yrismir

Yrismir rolled his eyes and put his face in his hand. Well, the one whose arm wasn't in Cali's rather possessive grasp. He looked up at the Elf King, and shrugged.

"I don't know. Mother said we needed one for the whole 'Race For the World' thing. I'm guessing, you know, the one. The heirloom. The mighty magcial heirloom of the Race, if you'd happen to know which one that is. If not, then,...I guess you'd have to truck them all out before us and we'd randomly choose? Maybe?"

He turned to Ramas. "You had some business here, right? Maybe that deals with which Heirloom we need? Would you know?"
 
"I'm not sure if my business is connected at all," I said before realizing I had spoken without paying my respects to the king. "Forgive me my liege," I said as I stepped from Trianna's side to the front of the party and knelt. "Your warrior, Ramas Vae, returns."

I retrieved the scroll I had tucked into my boot and presented it before Tildiir. "This is from your friend, ally, and comrade in arms Lan Hawker. He said to give it to you upon his......leaving this plane."

I held the scroll out in front of me in both hand, presenting it up to the king.
 
Cali

I glanced at our party- they were all taking this so seriously I emulated it, acting serious though I didn't really think it was called for. I mean, if one is going to be king one should act, dress and smell the part.
And he kept looking at me oddly, as if he recognized me or something, which really wasn't possible as I'd never been to an elven kingdom before. Perhaps... no, I doubt he'd'a known my mother... but then again....
I toyed with my whip, hand running over its coils on my belt. It was in part a nervous gesture but also one of boredom. This courtly prissyness were not my type of fun.
I felt a flare run through my earing, a signal of something coming. Something I wasn't going to like probably.
I sighed happily- 'bout time something happened.
 
Tildiir's eyes widened when he heard Yris talking about the Legendary Race.. it was said that his father's, father’s father had been one of the chosen .. His father had been named after him.. Sighing he knew the legend well, but he never read anything about a key or and heirloom.. that was a part of the ... sighing .. wait .. there was something they had .. in the treasury... but it was said that .. only ...

Interrupting His thoughts Ramas gave Tildiir the scroll from his gallivanting friend Lan.. So he too had left. It seemed everyone of great value was leaving this realm.. it was with great hopes that The Great one .. at the sacred temple hadn’t left yet.. He was still teaching..

Tidiir picked up the scroll and read its contents. Sighing.. it had but a few words on it..

The Key to one's greatest defense is only as strong as his weapon.."


He now knew what they were after.. it was odd how everything seemed to make sense only after. Tildiir knew that Lan's message was meant for this moment..

He stood and asked them “I will allow to look at our kingdom's heirlooms, however.. I am still unsure of how will be able to use such a weapon.. .. whomever can wield this weapon .. can take it from its place... "

With that he took them through the halls and down the stairs.. towards where he kept his family’s secrets.. Contrary to what most believed.. the best way to hide one most prized possessions .. was to hide it in plain site..

He took them to the great catacomb of where all the old Kings of the Kingdom were buried. “This is where all the heirlooms of my family are kept.. there aren’t many but what there is … well .. they are extremely valuable.. “

All around them around each tomb was a set of armor, some weapons, a few scrolls, crowns, rings on chains, there were five tombs in all. Each older than the last.. the first one.. it was empty.. save for a necklace.. with a locket, crescent moon on it. NO one was buried in the tomb.

The next one after actually had a glass cover over its tomb.. You could see that Peloor’s body rested there. In fact the odd thing is .. it looked as though he were about Tildiir’s age. In the Tomb he was dressed in some very old looking armor and holding a sword between his hands the tip rested by his feet. (ANYONE THAT SAW PELOOR BEFORE DEATH WOULD KNOW HE DIED LOOKING VERY OLD)

The Tomb at the very end was in a separate room. In that room was where the great king that served in the race was resting. There you could see the room was filled with all sorts of treasure and antiques, armor, weapons, jewelry. Around the cement tomb there is an inscription in elvin
“From my blood yields the wielder of the key”
 
Last edited:
Baddies

As Snider slipped through the shadows from where he watched those pathetic enemies of his.. he almost lost his grip from where he was hiding.. there in front of him was his brother whom had died years ago .. It was simply impossible without some sort of deal with an immortal that you would be able to live that long. Fighting those pathetic losers just made things more personal for him. Now he was doing it for pleasure and power.

He watched the group head for the tombs. Odd he had expected them to go to the treasury... perhaps they were looking in the wrong place.. He sent a missive and casted his spell a letter would appear to the proper poeple.. they should meet at the tavern, where he stayed for at dusk. Its time for a new plan. (ooC: you baddies shoudl recieve letters in your rooms, sent to you by servants)

They needed to regroup. He slipped from his position and followed silently, then slid back into on of the many hiding places he had found there he could hear everything they spoke.
 
Cali

We marched through the crypt- a rather eerie thing. Weren't people supposed to be torched and given back to the land upon death? This enshrinement of the dead was just plain odd. Elves, I thought with a roll of my eyes, no figuring them.
I looked in as we passed some of the crypts, curiosity getting the better of me.
A necklace caught my eye- it bore the same symbol as the "birthmark" on my back. My fingers went to the necklace I wore round my throat, the locket it bore tucked into my shirt.
I hesitated near the empty slot for a moment before asking, "Who was this?"
 
Tildiir heard the girl ask "who is this?" and sees that the girl had entered the tomb that was empty ..

"That is the resting place.. of a future King."
 
Cali

"And I thought the 'past king' slots were creepy."
I leaned in closer to study the necklace and pulled out my own. There was a wamth to mine the crypt one lacked but other then that they were quite similar, almost male and female versions of the same thing, mine being the feminine one of course.
"How do you know to put this here? Is this where you're going to go after dying?" I asked of the king.
I motioned for the rest of the group to go on- far be it from me to stop them from searching amoungst the big king's things.
Besides- there was something about that necklace and mine that pulled at me, though I didn't show mine to the king yet. Come to think of it, the only other person who'd see the similarities would be the one who sent me my locket and Yris, who'd surely seen it while we... got aquainted better, I thought with a wicked smile to myself.
 
Tildiir watched the girl study the necklace and then pull something very familiar out of her shirt.. his face drained of color... in a rather tight and forced voice.. He asked, "where did you get that? " Now he completely ignored everyone else in the tomb.. something was gnawing at his memory... he just couldnt remember .. why couldnt he remember?!?!
 
Back
Top