When Peace Overcomes

[Black Knight of Keno]

"Excuse me, but it's getting rather too crowded" Elwood said before bowing to Kateri and walking off. Not soon after his departure did a waiter come to the three with a tray. He handed over three envelopes to them and then left to find others who he was supposed to give an envelope to.

 

Sir Elwood watched as the adventurers rushed towards the Lord and Lady when he was suddenly surprised by a silent waiter handing him a sealed envelope. The Knight opened the envelope and took the letter out, reading it silently to himself.

"Sir Elwood the Horselord, you are honored to be invited to join the quest after the Ball. Please go and retrieve your belongings and return to the palace before midnight"

 

He looked at the letter once more before nodding at the waiter, giving him the letter and starting to walk to the door of the Ballroom. He presumed everyone who got the envelope would get a similiar letter and by the looks of the tray there were still adventurers who hadn't gotten their letters. The Knight left the Palace and mounted his horse waiting ready by the main door before heading off to the INN to fetch his stuff and turn in the key.

[Grace]

"Kateri, Wanderer of the Western World," the woman introduced herself to Drake. At that moment, the waiter arrived and delivered the envelopes, one to Drake, one to Kateri, and one to Valkyr. With a frown, Kateri accepted the envelope and opened it.

 

"Lady Kateri," the note read, "with your past forgotten by the world at large, you have only the present to concern you." At this, Kateri rolled her eyes and muttered a few choice words in a Western language. Then, she continued reading, "You are invited to join the quest after the ball. Retrieve your belongings and return to the palace before midnight."

 

"Wonderful," Kateri muttered to herself. Then, she looked over at Drake and Valkyr. "If you'll excuse me, gentlemen, I have business to attend to." With a graceful curtsy, she departed, going back to the inn for her things.

[Curt-Man]

At the thoguht of a show and tell competition, Tanin shook his head in disgust and was about to leave when he was approached by a waiter who gave him an envelope. Tanin took it and read it. It read:

'Tanin Bearclaw, Cheif beastmaster of the Mok'Nathal, and once a loyal friend and ally to us, we invite you join the quest after the ball, gather what you have and return to the palace by midnight.' Tanin nodded to the waiter. After thinking about it, he decided to acquiesce with the invitation. Tanin left the palace and walked back to the INN. Once there he gathered his belongings, packed up and left the key and payment with the Innkeeper.

[Sigundr]

Valkyr opened his envelope. It read:

 

'Lord Valkyr Alrekr, you are invited to join the quest after the ball. Retrieve your belongings and return to the palace before midnight.'

 

Valkyr grunted. Well, at least they spelled my name right, he thought to himself. He headed out of the ballroom and went for the INN. He took off his formal wear and donned his matte black armor. He found the key and left the payment for his room at the front desk. With that, he went out into the cool night air.

[Master_Archon]

Ilius remained alone during the ball, not many approaching him during so, which he nderstood, because of his nature. The few that did approach him were the few daring people to make conversation, which often ended quickly, or the waiters that had no choice but to approach him.

 

He was clad in the most formal wear he had, his ceramonial tribal garb. He wore a strange beaded headdress, decorated with pearls and rare feathers. Strapped on his chest was a woven chestpiece made of polished, cylindrical, small bones, from that of animals. He wore brass cuffs on his wrists, and hordes of golden leg rings that piled ontop of eachother to hi knees, while he wore simple Geta's for footwear.

 

He looked around at the frantic adventurers trying to impress the Lord and Lady, while some stood nonchalantly back, some even socialising. He noticed a few leaving before he wirled around at the approach of a waiter.

 

The waiter gave him a letter without a word and departed.

 

He opened it, staring at it a moment he scowled, 'curse you Lord and Lady of elves, even now you taunt me by sending me a message in the common tongue, even when you know I can only read western tongue and the hyroglyphs of my people.'

 

He stormed off towards the same waiter, snatching the waiter by the shoulder and twisting him around he asked menacingly, "what does this say?"

 

The waiter took the message shakily reading it aloud nervously, "Dear Bolgrub....you are honored to be invited to join the quest after the Ball. Please go and retrieve your belongings and return to the palace before midnight"

 

Ilius cocked a thick skinned eyebrow at the name on the message, he spoke in a more calm tone, "my name's not Bolgrub....perhaps you mistook the wrong message."

 

"You're right, I know who Bolgrub is, and he was slain a short while ago on mount Verden....let me go see if there's a message for you," the waiter said, turning to leave.

 

"Yes, but I think I killed Bolgrub, because I remember killing that orc on mount Verden...look on the back, maybe there's more," Ilius drawled, annoyed at the whole ordeal.

 

"Sir, I can't read this, there's some strange symbols on here," the waiter said confused, as he handed Ilius the message.

 

"Dear Ilius 'Amber' Graham, we had a spot open for Bolgrub, but you slew him, even before our messenger could find him, therefore, you are honored with a position on this quest, do as the message on the front says, and sorry for any inconvenience with the letter," Ilius read quietly to himself.

 

Ilius scowled, chosen only out of the need to replace Bolgrub with his better, which would obviously be the one who slew him. He balled the letter up and placed it on the waiters tray.

 

He stalked out of the palace and back to the inn, where he replaced all his armor and gathered all his belongings. He left the inn, no need to pay as he had already payed for the room upfront.

[Grace]

It didn't take long for Kateri to finish her business at the inn. She removed her dress and tucked it away safely in a small pocket in her bag, a pocket easily sealed from any prying eyes or damaging elements. Then, she redressed in her standard black leather armor and donned the black cloak. Finally, she strapped her weapons belt on and lifted her unstrung bow and quiver strapping them to her back.

 

With almost an hour to return to the castle, Kateri paid for the room, though she'd barely used it and bought a drink. After finishing the drink, she headed toward the castle, still half an hour earlier than the note requested.

[Curt-Man]

Tanin was now back in his travelling gear, which was light leather wrist guards, sandals, leather kilt, light leather pauldrons, and all of which was covered by a heavy cloak. He arrived back at the palace, it was still a little bit before midnight, but was allowed in the main foyer.

[Sigundr]

Valkyr leaned against a wall in the foyer, his black helmet hiding his eyes. The doors opened and Tanin walked in, his sandals slapping against his feet.

 

"Hello, Tanin. Get caught in your cloak?" Valkyr jested.

[Flamehart]

The noble swordsman from earlier also arrived in the evening, after paying for his Inn and redressing in his armor. He wore black and gold-lined armor, suited for the night setting, his sword sheathed at his side.

 

"Evening, fellow adventurers," he said softly, looking amongst the group. "I miss anything?"

[Curt-Man]

"Watch your mouth Valkyr." Tanin said slowly but firmly to Valkyr. Then turning to Drake. "You haven't missed anything, the Lord and Lady have yet to present themselves to us, though I doubt they'd do it here. Knowing elves, they will take us through thier halls and show off their history subtly before taking us to the grand hall." Tanin said. "But it's been a while since I've interacted with them, or anyone for that matter, so I could be mistaken."

[Sigundr]

'Touche my little friend," said Valkyr, giving a booming laugh. "Aye, those elves, always ready to show off."

[Black Knight of Keno]

The Horselord entered in all the glory his light leather armor with metal shoulder pads and some other small pieces of metal around to enforce the armor without limiting his movements. Still a horse shone on his chest as well as on the dark, thick cape. As he walked inside, the guards finally closed the doors, counting that everyone was inside. Indeed, a swordsman, a knight, a scout, a lady, a brute, a mage((Who has no RPer at the moment)) and a beastmaster were there. The Horselord looked at everyone before letting out a grunt and finding himself waiting alone for the Lord and Lady to see them.

 

However, the elves surprised them as suddenly without any notice or fancy stuff, the elven Lord and Lady entered the room and walked to the center of the room.

"We are sorry of all this mystery, but we had to make sure you were the right people. We are also sorry to have to do this, but we must hasten your departure. We recieved terrible news of your quest. Your quest at first was to go to the Misty Island located South of Hidalgo's Archipelago and simply collect a magical artifact stolen from us by the islanders, but now we have heard the Island has been pillaged. We fear our artifact, our heritage is gone forever. You must help us find it once more. If you have any questions, ask them but hurry. The further we drag your departure, the further distance the pillagers get from the Island. We will offer our armories for your use if you wish to improve your weaponry as well as our stables where horses wait for those of you who have not one"

[Grace]

"There's nothing wrong with a little pride in a history as rich as the Elves'," Kateri said sharply. "Allow them their... rituals without complaint."

 

With that, she fell silent, observing the others gathering and chattering. It seemed that the two who called each other Tanin and Valkyr knew one another, which struck Kateri as a little odd, for at least in appearance they were very different.

 

Then, her eyes fell on Drake and she recognized him as the man who'd approached and introduced himself at the ball, just before Elwood departed. He had an air of honor about him that reminded Kateri of the Western royal courts... for the moment, not a pleasant memory.

 

But for now, she dismissed all her thoughts of the past. She was beginning to grow impatient with the Elves... but she wouldn't say so, even if asked.

[Curt-Man]

"Thank you for your offer, but I need neither your weapons nor your horses." Tanin said to the lord and lady with the utmost respect. "I shall await the rest of the group at the gates I presume." Tanin said, then turned and headed for the door. Before he reached the door he turned around and said. "Please, excuse my behaviour. I have not interacted with any civil creature in many years."

[Black Knight of Keno]

((Dude, it's in the middle of a frigging forest... No lakes, no rivers, nothing but trees and a stream going further downstream into a lake and then into an ocean. How come a huge urge of skipping a vital journey to the nearest docks that would bring the whole group closer?))

[Grace]

((Uh... my previous post goes above BKK's ))

 

Kateri remained silent at the mention of weapon improvements and looked decidedly uncomfortable at the mention of horses. Nevertheless, she knew that if she declined a horse, she would slow her companions. Unwilling to do that, she headed for the stables. Just as she was about to inform the stable master of her need for a horse, he spoke.

 

"You need a horse," he said. "I know. I am also familiar with your unfamiliarity with them. Therefore, you need one that knows what to do with a rider who doesn't know what do do with it!"

 

"Something like that," Kateri grumbled. With a smile, the stable master led her to a horse that had already been prepared.

 

"She is called Katerina," he said. "Not entirely unlike your name."

 

"A variant of it," Kateri agreed, nervously approaching the horse. As she came closer, the horse turned its head to look at her.

 

"She won't hurt you," the stable master encouraged.

 

"Are you speaking to me or the horse?" Kateri grumbled. The stable master laughed.

 

"To you," he answered. It took a few minutes, but Kateri was finally seated on Katerina... and looking decidedly uncomfortable up there. The horse moved slowly at first, allowing Kateri to adjust to the movement. Finally, the made it back to the rest of the group.

 

Kateri muttered something in her own language under her breath.

[Curt-Man]

((my bad, I'll edit that on the double.))

[Master_Archon]

Ilius was quiet the whole time all these occurances happened, the arrival of others, the conversations, the quips, and the quick and hasty appearence of the Lord and Lady of elves.

 

He grumbled to himself when he heard that they were heading off to retrieve some artifact or another that was stolen by pillagers. He shoved off the wall that he had been leaning on, sulkily walking off towards the armory, seeing as he couldn't pass up an opportunity to recieve free weapons, or ammunition for his crossbow.

 

He entered the armory looking about he found some imported weapons from other places: broadswords, buckler shields, and the like, but nothing he hadn't seen or used before. The rest was the light and well forged weapons of the elves: composite bows, long bows, glaives, and other such weapons, but nothing he wished to use. He looked around until he found some crossbow bolts, taking them he left the armory post-haste, heading back to where the group was waiting.

[Flamehart]

"Thank you, but no thanks. My weapon shall be fine," he said, patting his curved katana. "It sounds like a terrible incident, but I hope this adventure has its quirks, because some simple pillagers sounds like a simple task anyone could handle," he remarked.