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 Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:47 pm
The king bowed in return for the address, "Good Aftertide (Since there was no other way to tell time). How are you faring this day?" A polite man when dealing with delicate people, the king had to await a response before delving into any subject.
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:52 pm
Usha, like her brother, was terribly honest. "Bored and growing restless, My Lord." She was obliged at this point to open her door and allow the king into her quarters. One side of the room was furnished as a beddroom, with a large four poster drapped bed, was basin and pitcher, and vanity. Two large statues of lizards with their feet on spheres were used to seperate the middle of the room visually, allowing the other half to be furnished with several talbes, chairs, a desk, cnadles and other such things that may or may not be need.
She gestured to one of the more comfortable chairs. "Do you care for some spiced wine, King?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:09 pm
Malik was still where Piper left him. He was going over his own plans in his head. The Purians...he woudl need to entice them. give them something to keep thier attention and bind thier leaders. After all, if Jiscal landed full control, that gave the human a small inset into his domain. or a port of launch. The death of the Displacer beast would work for that. provided it wasn't already dead from something else.
Then who to send to post as guards, the support promised. food was easy enough with an established route, save that the displacer beast had made that route..unsavory. another things solved with it's death.
But that surface born...escort him back..and seal the Purian Penninsula under his banner how. threat of destruction? No...they'd run to Jiscal for protection. Bribery with food and drink? that might work. but would only work as long as he coudl supply it when others couldn't. there was no way to use arranged marriage, he didn't have an hier, and quite frankly didn't like the idea of a halfbreed in the bloodline anyway.
Blackmail..that was always a good staple. but he'd have to find something to hold over them.
Protection may still work, and it was his best bet. hmm. perhaps he coudl even see if the orc legions or other unsavories coudl be bribed into assaults at convient times if they refused.
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:10 pm
Jiscal smiled, "I am sorry, but I must decline." He raised a hand gently. "I thought I would wonder by to see if you have properly prepared for the Ball, it is coming upon us rather quickly, I would not wish for your royal kin to think that I am treating you poorly."
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:14 pm
Usha bowed again, her hair falling in front of her face. "Yes, My Lord. I am prepared and looked after." She could see this visit drying up fast, but was unsure how to make the king stay longer and fend off her boredom. "My brother will be comming then? Who else has been invited to grace your halls?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:22 pm
"We should sit down, if I am to tell you of that long and dreadful list. " He began, indicating to the small sitting area in the corner of the room. "Perhaps though, we should leave the door open. Though pleasent as your room may smell, the air sometimes grows stagnite with age if we do not allow the corridors to blow. If you are unfortunate, you may even get a pool of methane traped in your room, and that would be most unfortunate." Smooth, real smooth. Loser. "So,," Jiscal began, "Would you really like to hear who is coming, or are you fighting away the boredom that can creep up upon us here in the castle. I know that Zaranda," When trying to suduce a woman, never talk about your wife. "Fights off boredom my sewing, and brew potions in her secret lair... If you can call the North East Tower a secret lair." The king chuckled. "Yes, it can be very dreary here for you women folk, locked out of the politics by a dominering social class of self-centred burocrates. Please though, do not tell them I said that on the eve of the Ball, they may think you a liar, or merely create another democracy to oust me as supreme govenor."
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:26 pm
Tarathiel appeared infront of the guards in much his normal manner, simply appearing infront of the guards. He looked at the creatures and sighed. "I hope to god a person comes out here before I have to kill you non-persons. Killing you always brings someone. But, you could always run in to get someone, before I grow weary of waiting." THe drow exhaled. Holding up his two fists, the drow lifted one fingure at a time. He would wait to his usual ten before beheading the worthless guards.
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:28 pm
Bored again...and right now chewing on the end of a spear butt. a new distraction, taking the guards weapons away and chewing on them before handing them back. they were not pleased...but what did he care. rather be entertained then go nuts from boredom.
Malik was informed through thought this time. and glanced twoards the doors, before getting himself up and shadow stepping to the front door, which took two times, and opened it up.
"Look what the tides bring in. What's the latest news that you've been asked to deliver or are coming to deliver to try nad make me overly paranoid?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:30 pm
She blinked, cleared her throat. "Yes, my lord." And left the door open. She sat in one the chairs, back straight and hands in her lap. King Jiscale seemed more talkative of late, especially since the drow came less and less frequently. "I am fighting the boredome, Sire." Always so honest. "Does your wife spend a lot of time in the tower? Unfortuantly I do not share her interest or natural talent in such arts." And sewing? Uh...she'd rather be mucking out the lizard stables before she took up sewing. "I have taken to reading, and studying the maps you hold in the libraries."
She smiled. "No such word shall escape my lips, King. But please, what word of my brother? Does Honoursfeild prosper under him?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:43 pm
Tarathiel smiled, "The Paranoia in your voice says I already caused it, without speaking. Actually, I came to see who was coming to the Ball. I assume the only three valuable people in this Keep are coming." People equalled drow, valuable meant important.
"You can bring as many non-people as you like, as long as you adhear to the dress code."
King Jiscal nodded, "I am not much of a patron of magical arts, but without wizards and mages, our kingdoms have no chance of survival." A honest and damning truth.
"I am afraid to say, that we have had troubling reports from Honoursfield. Your brother fairs well, as well as any young man can, at ruling. But, a series of natural dissasters was comprimised by a murderous fiend. Some felinic creature, possible the one that attacked me, terrorized the county during the aftermath of an earthquake. ONe thought to be responsible has been detained, a feathered cat. It is not certain if he is guilty or not. Your brother has him detained until his innocence or guilt can be adiquiately proven. That is a fair move, as often kings are pushed to exicute anyone whom might seem to be the source of trouble. The former king was set to do so at every oppertunity, but I am glade I have been able to avoid that motive... A certain someone," Always used to describ a rather chrismatic and threatening drow captain, "Keeps me in power to do his bidding. That has elivated much of the stress of passing judgement on criminals. He and Sir Gil-hadriel. (Knighted by King Jiscal)."
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:54 pm
A slight grin.
"Three people and one non. and I'm not paranoid about your presence. I have other reasons for paranoia. One being is that these guys are expensive to keep replacing. they aren't bright, I'll grant you. But they can keep most the riffraff out.
"Dress code is the usual human formality standards, correct?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 5:54 pm
"Then those with the interest and will can look after such matters. Magic is not the only requiremnt for a strong kingdom." Afraid she had over stepped her bounds, "My Lord."
She looked trouble upon hearing this news, and looked down at her hands in her lap. "Natural disasters are a long part of my city's history. I had hoped that the earth would settle for a time." She lifted her eyes twoard Jiscal without raising her head. "Unless it is not the earth."
"This certain someone has not visited us as frequently of late, Sire." Trying hide how disturbed she was on the continued hardships of her homecity. "Can we expect trouble?"
"Hey, it's me. I have permission, look." She showed the barracks gards a letter signed by the Oracle. They din't look confvinced at first, but let her through after a moment of debate. She was warned to be careful, then left to herself. Bode followed behind at her heals.
She approached the cell, leaning on her staff and shaking her head. "What did you get into now, Onyx?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:03 pm
Tarathiel smirked rather dangerously at the comment about Malik's guards. But didn't say anything.
"Correct. Jiscal is human after all, as is most of the guest list, save your party, the one from the Dwarves, and hopefully the one from the Purian. Then again, Stoneshaper is Purian, and one would not think it to look at him."
The king shrugged, "I do not know much about the details. My minister of Honoursfieldian affairs would know more on the subject, should you wish to know more-" The king took off a ring, and placed it in Usha's hands. The ring was probably worth more than either person care to think about, "Show him this, and tell him you have my exquisit permission to be informed of all the important details." The king smiled softly, looking 25 for the first time since he put on the crown, "If he tries to take it from you, go and talk to Sir Gil-Hadriel."
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:14 pm
"I will do that, Sire. Thank you." She blushed at the gift. Usha could blush on cue, a rather effective and cute ability. Her pale face seemed more alive with the red tint to her cheeks. She held the large ring delicatly in both of hers, like it was a birds egg and she was afraid to drop it.
"What is His Magesty wearing to the ball? I have heard rumers that they staff and other memebers of the castle have been dressed to compliment you."
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:17 pm
"Stoneshaper is the druid that created that first home you store Meilikki in, correct? and dwarven company, and Purian. good. Anything else you want, Kimmuriel?"
A slight smirk.
Onyx let go off the spear that hand be completely mauled by now, handing it back to a guard.
"Accused of murder, innocent, though the town doesn't believe it. So here I sit, waiting for someone to either try nad get to me, or for them to try adn kill me officially."
A shrug.
"And trying to fend off teh madness that comes with becoming increasingly more bored. How about you? Have you been well? I haven't seen you in some time."
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