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 Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:51 pm
((Lord Jiscal is a Pawn. He knows this, and he doesn't care for it much. The last comment also points out how much of the aristocracy was actually destroyed in the coup.))
The young king looked at the gathered assembly before him and merely smiled with a slight irritation to their demands. "Why on earth would I agree to hold a parlement when you all know full well that the reason why my power is supreme because I have a secret ally who will stalk into your homes and get passed all of your body guards and force you to pass the laws that he wants emplaced merely to annoy me?"
"What kind of ally would do such a thing?" A young and upcoming lord asked, rather irritably.
"A Drow." Jiscal replied, anticipating that the single word would explain everything, but he would regret it in a moment.
"Divinn is a drow and is of no concern to this court. He might act tough and push us arround but has he ever done anything that really threatens our way of life?" That same young lord said with a rather arrogant tone, much like a youth who did not appreachiate the exact depth of his claim and how truly stupid it really was.
"D'vinn is not my concern, his heritage has been called into question by my other dark skinned ally." Jiscal replied, using a rather mocking tone.
"D'vinn and Piper are the only real threat to your rule within a day's travel. Only the Oracle could provide an alternative to these two in usurping your leadership, but she would never do such a thing." An older and more experienced lord added, trying to appear more important than he truly was.
"They show no real interest in ruling anything beyond their castle walls, which is fine with me." Jiscal replied. "Provide me with proof that they are attempting to coup my government, and I shall act against them." Jiscal stared the older man in the eyes, "The Oracle simply wishes to live a peaceful life, she would never rise in rank even if she is forced to."
"That lordly cattle hearder from the south might make an interesting claim on your seat if you are not more careful with us." Another old noble exclaim, talking about rumours of Diamond's counterpart in Lostagrace.
"Lord Diamond has noted his lack of desire for power beyond his house, and has noted how on every occassion Diamond presents him with the crown, he refuses it."
"Diamond might be a culprit in a coup, if you do not watch him closely." Dagger said with a rather lude smile.
"Only you, my sweet wife, could ever make him rise to such a claim or feat." Jiscal replied, rather spiritedly.
"Because you feel that you have no rival to the thrown, you will not open a parliament to the people?" The youth spoke out again.
"Your squaballing would only wither our limited resources and make a mockery of our societies ability to function on any decernable level. As of this moment, we have enough food to feed our people for a week. One Week of food. This means that if our crops are hit any harder than they are currently being forced down to, we will have a massive famine. Your parliament will not be able to change this fact. Currently, my foriegn advisor suggests building more ships and sails south to the cattle lands and north to the fields of some Hobbits he is aware of. We might be able to trade some of our seaweed for wheat or barely, or perhaps by some mericle we find some elfish colony to offer our alliagence too-"
"You would have us bow to elfish dogs?" The youth interrupted, which in the days of Dimitri, would have gotten him killed, on a bad day. "I cannot believe that our monarch is so willing to bow down to foreign advice and even go as far as to betray our heratiage-"
"Your haste makes a fool out of you. We have no food. What we are cultivating is disappearing faster than we are gathering it. We will be hungery this time next week. I do not want to die. I don't think my subjects want to die. Thus, I will conceed to a power able to feed us."
"How much are you willing to concede?" The first old noble asked.
"Military service."
"Arms for food."
"Yes. Unless, you can conjour enough food for the one hundred and fifty thousand people living in our territory, and perhaps the freeloaders from Lostagrace and the failing farms there, and the penisula. We are all in dire straits now, and we shall be crushed by our own need to eat if we do nothing."
"What about your assassin. Can he help us get food." The second old noble asked.
"Only if you wish a short and brutal life when his mother comes knocking."
"Then, we are doomed."
"No, we are hungry. We have hope as long as we keep searching for alternatives. Perhaps if we settle more of the mainland, we would be able to graze some Roaches on the glowing weeds."
"King Jiscal..."
"I have no time for flatery, Only time for searching for food. If you are done bothering me with your worries of political standing, please go away until I have succured the future of the people." With that final statement, the nobles left the room, leaving only Jiscal and his wife.
"Well, you have certainly changed." Dagger said with a rather sly lure.
"Times of need create men of ability." Jiscal responded.
"Not everyone is capable of being a man of ability."
"Then, Zeranda, I have you to thank." Jiscal picked up Dagger's hand and kissed it softly.
"Sometimes, I actually like being married to you." The queen replied.
"A marriage of convience can become more than that if one tries, but I am sorry Zeranda, I must go to work on feeding our people."
"If you are killed, the Oracle is the next person in line for the thrown."
"Imagine that..."
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Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:14 pm
((Arrogance. Perspective. How it thinks.))
The smell of necromancy was thick in the air to this perticular creature. Trying to hide magical auras from him was fruitless as growing plants without food or water. His mind was so attuned to the atmosphere that he could pick up the fait traces of magical concealment, as well as spot things hidden by elvish cloaks and other concealment spells. Non-detection could mislead him, but with enough time or focus, he would eventually find what was concealed. He placed his pride on it.
Nothing in all the underworld could compete with his glory, nothing could match his wit, nothing could master his strength. He was truly a god amongst weaker creatures.
Even amongst his proud race, this Mind Flayer was held in high reguard. His personal power matched the greatest heroes of lore, or so he believed.
Soon, this small lake would discover that he is a force to reckoned with, he would eat their best brains and leave them in ruins, as he had done for his entire life. THough, in the last few years, he had gained a following. He and the six others were ready to take on this tiny spec in the universe, this insignificant little dwelling of a kingdom of man, and those man conquered. Where to begin... The necromancy was thick about the penisula, as though spirits were continually brough back and forth between planes. This always marked the etheral realm with blemishes, marks that most creatures would not think to look for, or even know about. Extra-planar creatures always did taste better than native, didn't they? Exotic, new, delicious.
Yes, he would strick there. Not now... But soon. He could wait for the right moment, or the wrong moment. Perhaps he wouldn't even strick at all.
Yes... Maybe he would only threaten them with a strick, and leave them be... No.
Too delicious an oppertunity to give up on, and perhaps one of his followers would strick against this aura if he did not.
The others would not appriciate this oppertunity with the same savouring flavour as he would. They would waste it. They would ruin it. They would not understand. They were inferior.
Then again, what could you expect from other species?
They were dirty and primitive after all.
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Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:20 pm
So hungry... So very hungry. The float mass of flesh though as it floated and waited. Food was so very near, yet not delicous. Delicious food was so very far away, yet almost within sight.
Oh, how marvelous it would feel to have living flesh within his maw, the sound of bones breaking within his jaws, the slimy taste of muscle torn straight off the uncooked flesh. Oh, how hungry this wait made him feel.
The tall one would try to keep him away from the most delicious foods, oh yes. That tall one was crafty and clever, but a very good servent. Yes, he was a wonderful servent. One of the best. One that always brought him near delicious foods...
So very hungry...
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:21 pm
Of course Raziel being uneasy, was leading to Kieran being uneasy. For a moment he touched a hand to his left shoulder, gripping a moment. Tense old habits. And now Kieran was staring out the window jsut as intensly as the familiar was. "Feelings should never be ignored though..." Practicaly oblivious to the rest of what was going on around them.
"Indeed you do." Piper smiled lightly to Zarhara and took her fork back from the drow. Poor fork. Wiping it once on a napkin she took to poking at her food again, turning her attention over to Malik a moment. "I am too eating...just not very fast. That's all..." And she took a bite of said food just to prove it to him. She was trying...
Well that was an interesting moment now wasn't it. Fianna was chewing on a carrot stick once more, analysing those that sat with her almost. Yet she wasn't as well. Perhaps that's just how she always was. "Right...warm dinners such as these should not be made cold with talk of things better left unsaid."
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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:28 pm
As the rest of the room seemed to take on a different attitude, Raziel tried to convince himself that nothing was wrong, and hse was just acting silly. But the more he tried to convince hismelf, the mroe he tried to hide underneath Keiran's hair. Okay, maybe Kieran was right then, it's not sometihng he should ignore...He swallowed, pointing out the window. "Um..Kieran, there's someone outside." Standing just outside the reach of Malik's most recent security instalments.
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:41 pm
"I know you Piper. you'll pick at it if no one watches you until we all get up to leave. So get soem food in your stomach, as I don't think you'll be getting up in teh middle of the night tonight."
Though he did look to Raziel, narrowing his eyes a bit on the familiar.
"well, don't worry about it until after it tries to get through. the fear and the heat shields should keep most things far from us."
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Picking Up Stars Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:44 pm
Zahara smiled at Piper and watched her take the fork. A nod to Fianna, "I agree. We should turn the discussion to more pleasant things." She had just agreed with Malik. She didn't want to think abou that right now so she turned to Piper's mother and asked, "Are you enjoying your stay Fianna, if I may call you that. I'm sure it's very different for you." A glance over at Kieran, she was going to include him in the conversation but he seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. She knew what it was like to want to be left alone so she said nothing to him and concentrated on Fianna instead.
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 4:00 pm
Starting, staring...eyes focusing out the window and adjusting accordingly to the light difference naturally. Indeed, the little familar was right. "Seems so." And dinner wasn't intersting anymore to him, his attention was stuck on what Raziel was focusing on. Though he did sideglance Malik at his mentionings. "That's only what you've been told...have you tested any of this?" And he was antsy now.
Piper merely raised an eyebrow at Malik. Oh really now? Well she knew what that was implying. But for a moment she weighed the pros and cons of it all...hm...she'd gone three days without food before. Though she didn't relish the thought og having Malik fuss at her. So with a sigh, she actually took to her food. "Fine...I'm eating..." Though she did sideglance her father. What were they going on about now? She wasn't payign attention.
Fianna let her attention turn to Zahara as the young elf took about questioning her. "First names are fine, all...friends and family. No need to formalities...that is of course when I randomly slip into them." A little chuckle at that and she set down her fork, pushign her plate away some, seeing as she had cleaned it. "Yes, actually I am. But I think 'different' is an understatment to it all, Zahara." THough she lightly looked to Kieran as well...where was his head now?
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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 4:05 pm
"I trust the human that supplied them. as of yet, they are untested. but I do know that the Yuan-ti and scorpion stautes will do thier duties if needed to, and the Breaker guards as well. these defenses are what the archmage uses for his own protection, I would expect them to perform flawlessly. or if they don't, then I'll be paying him a visit. and it won't be a pleasent one this time. I paid a large amount of money for these defensive additions."
Though a moment passed, though he id give Piper and approving nod.
"But, the undead are not affected by fear. they have no minds. but heat, that works wonders on them. so unless it is somethign that is heat resistant and cannot feel fear, one of them should work. and if not..."
motionign one of the cooks over.
"Have someone bring me Ebony and Malvolence. just in case."
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 4:10 pm
Malik just made a sexual innuendo. Joy. Zahara chose to entirely ignore him and focus on Fianna. "Well yes I suppose you're right. But tell me, has our Underdark made a somewhat favorable impression on you or are you goign to leave her and decide to never again grace us with your presence?" Making conversation. Dinner was coming to a close, that much was fairly obvious seeing as Fianna's plate as well as hers was completely clean. Malik seemed to be getting towards the end of his as well. She tapped her nails idly on the table and briefly wondered about the imps. She missed their rambunctious little antics and it was true they were on her side when it came to annoying Malik. Yes she did miss the little buggers.
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Picking Up Stars Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 4:11 pm
Raziel grew pale, as far as his skin could go anyway. Perhaps he was supposed to know this visitor. "He's just...standing there." He was waiting for somthing, or maybe someone. "Looks like he knows about the defenses, cause he's not moving." Wait,w as it even a he? Raziel couldn't tell from this distance. All the same, he pulled his wings closer to himself and burrowed as deep as he could in Kieran's hair. He gave no mind to anyone else in the room.
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 4:24 pm
"Well let's just hope that things go that way, huh?" Though his attention turned to Raziel who was using Kieran as a shield. Reaching back intohis hair he pulled out the little creature, cupping him in both hands like one might a firefly. Raziel wasn't happy at all and seemed to be taking this badly...he'd never see Raziel upset like this before. Pushing away from the table he stood and walked to the window, looking out it while still sheilding Raziel. "You know...a little birdy is making me think that...this is not something so simple..." Ineed...whatever it was, it was just standing there...waiting...watching them as they watched it.
Men were all but ignored at this point really. Though not totally...elves were always aware of thier surroundings. She just didn't pick to focus on the men. "Well...I can't say it's the most wonderful place I've been...makes me lethargic to a point. Though...I'm sure I could grow to at least stand it to a point. I've been here a good while now and I'm still surviving." Well for a female dorw, Zahara had the most polite and pleasant attitude.
Approving nod...him and his want for her to eat...she didn't need to eat this much...she never had. Well if she got sick or sleepy or something from too much food then it was his fault not hers. So while her mother and Zahara converesed, father and Malik became tactical and she merely kept on with her food, working on clearing her plate. But she was always watching things too. "So what then...we just wait?"
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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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Picking Up Stars Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 4:29 pm
She did wonder what the gentleman were discussing. Tuning into the conversation she kind of got the impression that something was about to happen and most likely something bad. That's really the only reason Malik would call for his swords. She rolled her eyes, Malik and those blades though she knew a bit of how it felt to need to have your weapons. She had hers at her side at all times. Another tap of nails on the table. "Well that's good to hear. I'm glad everything is working out well. It's understandable that this is a big adjustment for you though, you're used to the surface." she paused, "What's it's like?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 4:39 pm
Raziel was not keen on elaving the protection of Keiran's hands, nor did he want to look out of that window and see what he thought he feered. The figure meanwhile, lifted a hand, making a gesturing motion. They weren't being sinister aobut it, but to those watching it felt rude, if self centured. Raziel shivered a bit, but didn't otherwise move. His curiosity for once, was not making him to rash or irrisponsible things. he simply did not want to look out...
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 4:45 pm
A servant brought malik both blades, and he got up, strapping them to his person. Malvolence at his side, Ebony on his back, and walked to teh window, for the moment the other food forgotten. danger to his home and those in it, though he wouldnn't shed any tears about Zahara...were the immediate concern.
"what, or whom, his it gesturing for. me? you? or just anyone. and if it know about the defense..hmm. perhaps it's someone I requested to see. if so..I don't see why he's waiting out there. his power should be enough to get to teh doors..or maybe the heritage of the present archmage gives these defenses a particularly nasty bite."
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