“Indeed, that is exactly what we are about to do,” Captain Maletar replies even though the statement wasn’t directed at him."Hopefully to whatever meeting we are waiting for," Aesa replies outloud but to no one in particular. She too, is getting weary of this day with each passing moment.
"A meeting with the basilisk is looking better all the time...." Sir Rovach mutters to himself.
The innkeeper looks quite mournful but manages, “I do apologize, but yes all of us here are part of the meeting, and others besides. Please, please my good and noble people, bear with this day a little longer still and things will be revealed to you. I am sorry that it has taken this long but preparations had to be made.”"Or the banshee," Erizhi adds,overhearing Rovach's words. She turns to the innkeeper Torvin, but also looks questioningly at Tamberlaine. "It has been a long night and getting longer. This friend of yours," she says with a drip of sarcasm to the words, "is part of this meeting? Can we just get to it then?" she adds impatiently. "I am loathe to be a part of anything that this 'man' might be involved in." Erizhi will refuse to sit, crossing her arms in front of her and striking a rather irritated pose.
“Those are ready now though,” he adds, motioning that everyone should follow him, “so let us proceed.”
The innkeeper grabs Rollester who starts to protest, but is interrupted with, “I think they’ve had enough of you for one night. We’re all weary, let’s just go.” Any further antagonizing is forgotten as the two of them leave the room and descent the stairs to the first floor.
Captain Maletar motions that everyone should follow and Dareos looks to Erizhi to make sure she is coming since he seems to have picked up on her defiance. The captain will not leave until everyone else has, and the look from the Makkee farm has returned to his face indicating he is quite short on patience once more.
The first floor of the inn has quieted down tremendously, making everyone wonder just how late it is truly getting. The few patrons left are deep in their cups and look like they will be requiring help to wherever they will be sleeping. Even the minstrels from earlier have departed and only a few serving staff remain, cleaning up for what will probably be quite the day tomorrow.
The innkeeper leads everyone out into the central open-aired courtyard where many of the rooms look out into. The area has lush grass and several large trees that dwarf the three-story inn. The starry sky is quite beautiful and the light breeze is refreshing but not too cool. While this is a huge improvement in setting, one can only wonder if everyone is supposed to take this meeting on the grass.
The innkeeper reaches almost the middle of the courtyard and turns to address the group, “I apologize for this, it will all be over very shortly.” He then gives a nod to Rollester.
The man smiles and says, “This will only hurt for a moment.”
The entire group is plunged into darkness, but before anyone can truly react, they hear the innkeeper let out an exasperated sigh and say, “No it wont, why do you do that?”
Rollester’s voice cuts through the darkness in reply, “As a powerful mage, I have a flair for the dramatic.”
“For the ridiculous you mean,” the innkeeper retorts.
“Hurry it up!” Captain Maletar’s voice nearly booms from behind everyone.
“It’s done, come on,” the innkeeper says. “Step carefully now.”
Not knowing quite what to expect, everyone takes tentative steps forward. Those towards the front step out of the darkness as if merely opening your eyes to a new day. As the rest follow and emerge, everyone looks around and they are in the courtyard still. Nothing has changed, or has it? It’s the courtyard, but the edges of it are instead more grass and large trees. The trees themselves are much more majestic, and the grass more vibrant. Even the stars in the sky above seem brighter. The inn doesn’t seem exist anymore and at the far edges of everyone’s night vision the landscape blurs a bit. Those who have any sort of magical knowledge or exposure can feel a different sensation now, but can’t put their finger on it. Those who are mages can sense a powerful magic at work so beautiful it threatens to break your heart just by being within it.
Almost lost in all of this is a large area where the innkeeper had originally seemed to be heading before this drastic change. Where it was just a clearing within the inn’s courtyard, it is now home to a massive, intricately carved wooden table with twenty high-backed chairs. The craftsmanship is apparent even from this distance. Several tall posts that are lit like torches frame the area. There are also a few small side tables and benches back from this main seating arrangement. Best guess is an additional two dozen could sit along the benches given their size.
There are a number of additional people present, some sitting on the benches and three sitting at the main table. The ones along the benches, which counting them puts the number at four, seem to be just outside the torchlight and their features remain hidden. The other three are quite striking anyway and command your attention.
The three are seated together, the one on the right as you look at them is a male. Clearly he is elven, the long pointed ears and angular features give that away immediately. His long blonde hair flows down his back, held off his face by a silver circlet and his piercing blue eyes look at each one of the group in turn, seemingly looking for something. His long fingers are unadorned and steepled on the table in front of him. He wears robes of the richest azure and a blue crescent moon upon a delicate-looking silver chain hangs around his neck.
The person to the left appears to be human and is definitely female. Her face betrays that she is older than she might otherwise be judged to be. She wears a suit of scale armor that looks custom crafted to fit her which is of a rich green in color. The scales are larger than one typically sees such armor made from. She wears no helm, so her short-cut platinum blonde hair sits wildly upon her head, with long braids falling to her bosom, one on each side of her face in front of her ears. A short hooded cape, also a rich, but darker, green rests on her shoulders, the hood pulled back to let nothing obstruct her eyes the color of sapphires from scrutinizing each person. Several small gold hoops adorn her ears. Her armored gloves rest on the table and a large sheathed sword leans against it as well. An unstrung composite bow also leans on the table nearby. At her feet a big black bear stirs and looks at the group lazily before letting out a massive yawn that shows off all of his wicked teeth within that powerful jaw.
Lastly, the person in the middle is almost impossible to look at for as beautiful as she is. She appears much shorter than the female seated to her right but her features appear elven. Her golden-brown hair is only slightly longer than the other woman’s but is just as unruly and playful. Her eyes are a deep, rich brown and are much more friendly than the other two. She wears a custom-cut top with a high collar that stops at her mid-drift and shows off much of her tanned skin, held together across her chest by buckles and has long, billowy sleeves that almost reach her elbows. Underneath the sleeves is another set of tight sleeves that end at the wrist and are studded with pearls. From what can be seen, it looks as though her legs are adorned in wide-fitting pantaloons held up by an ornate broad belt in a shape of a V that hugs her hips. A billowing cape completes the ensemble and all of the clothing is richly embroidered and in the kingdom colors of light and darker blues. A staff rests at her side that is very ornate and topped with an elaborate metal cap that ends in a point much like a spear would. Within the center of this cap before it begins to narrow to its long point is embedded a large shard of crystal that glows with a pale light.
“Please, please, come forward,” the innkeeper beckons. “We are quite safe here from most everything. Please feel free to sit wherever. Let me make some introductions,” he hastily adds.
“The elf to our right is Maldos Goldenmane, high priest of Corellon Larethian, spiritual advisor and diplomat to the Kingdom of Maletar,” the innkeeper explains. Maldos nods his head slightly to the group following the introduction.
“The woman to the far left is Thyra, Ranger-General of Maletar,” Torvin continues. She doesn’t offer any indication of giving pleasantries and instead continues to examine each person. The bear at her feet lets out a low growl and the innkeeper adds, “Oh, and that’s Fury! My apologies.” The bear seems to understand and accept, putting its head back upon its paws.
“Before us sits Queen Aerowyn Maletar, Magocrat of the Kingdom of Maletar,” the innkeeper says indicating the woman in the middle, who he then bows deeply before.
With the introduction, she stands and smiles, opening her arms to indicate that seats should be taken if no one has moved to them yet. “Welcome all, thank you for your patience. I have been most eager to meet you,” she says in a voice both soft and yet full of power. It carries without her needing to expend an effort to do so. It is quite near enchanting.
Dareos had also bowed low, where Captain Maletar merely nodded his head in greeting to the queen. Rollester even bowed as much as his girth would allow for before he took a seat close to the trio. The captain sits next to Thyra while Dareos sits closer towards the group. The innkeeper sits next to Rollester, but only after he delivers goblets of the finest silver inlaid with small garnets and offers two pitchers, one of water somehow quite chilled while the other is a light elven wine of the palest golden color.
“Before I begin, I wish to introduce our other esteemed guests this night,” Queen Aerowyn says. She turns to the four seated behind all of them along the benches and motions them to approach. “First from our neighboring kingdom of Daeyshir, I introduce Lord Mythnar and Lady Myrenia Morthauris. Hailing from the distant Greyson Isles, I also want to introduce Sir Redjak Fallowen and Lady Zarya Greyson.”
GM Notes: Welcome to the new players! Their descriptions will be posted along with the rest of the characters’ shortly if they aren’t already. They can also be posted here should the players wish to.
The Queen will give pause awaiting for the group to make any introductions they wish to. While this is going on, regardless of if anyone partakes in drink or not, they will begin to feel quite refreshed. While the ambiance is quite relaxing and invigorating in its own way, this is seemingly something more. However, even the mages aren’t quite sure what is at work here, but the fatigue of the day seems to be dissipating.
“You already know my half-brother Tamberlain, Knight-Captain of the Maletar Royal Guard,” Queen Aerowyn will continue after a bit. “Rollester is the Guildmaster of the Mage Guild in the city of Taeltell and one of my chief advisors. You also know Torvin, innkeeper of this fine establishment and chief Spymaster of the realm.”
Letting all of that sink in for a moment, Thyra actually speaks up, her voice much more common and rougher around the edges than the Queen’s, “I don’t see why we need any of them. We should be handling all of this internally.”
“It’s precisely that we can’t do just that as to why we are here now,” Queen Aerowyn replies. If she is at all irritated by the disruption, it doesn’t reflect in her voice or demeanor. Instead she gently lays her hand over Thyra’s arm. “So we need to seek alternatives and I believe we have that among these heroes, lords and ladies.”
Turning back to her guests, the Queen continues, “What I wish to discuss here is quite delicate, but wholly important. I do not expect anyone to change allegiances to kingdoms they already have sworn themselves to,” she begins to look at each individual directly at this point, “but I can offer lands, titles,” her eyes fall to Erizhi for the next word, “favors, gold, treasures, whatever your desires should you wish to help.”
Both Thyra and Captain Maletar look quite displeased, Rollester looks disinterested, while Torvin is quite opposite with a more hopeful look upon his face. Maldos looks intrigued as to what the group’s response will be and Dareos is just listening to all of it with great interest.
Queen Maletar sits down and says, “Please feel free to talk amongst yourselves for as long as you wish. I will answer any questions you may have and will reveal what I propose once I am satisfied you believe my intentions are genuine.”
GM Notes: Whew!
I apologize for running with this post but it was extremely important all of this was delivered at once. Please feel free to add character interactions at any point of this lengthy post and I will address each in kind. There is no doubt a lot to discuss and think over here, so again please role play to your hearts’ content.
As far as me wimping out, you're right, but I knew I couldn't capture what Stephanie was feeling properly, so thank you for the final post.