Warday, Ashalon 16, 546 Palatis Necromium
The Tower of Searo DeCorwyn
City of Duncan, Devlinsgrimm
Temperature: -25 F, windchill -47 F, moderate wind (16 mph)
Partly Cloudy, roughly 6:00 PM



At long last, after two weeks of river travel through the King's River from Charndale, you arrive in the fabled city of Duncan. Its once proud walls are now half stone and half wood. Enormous sections of the ancient legendary walls are gone now. After the siege by Nixmir City, it is a ghost town. The population is a fraction of what it once was.

The letter that was given to you by your guildmaster is writen on very expensive paper with gold embroidery. The writing within says little more than you are bid to meet with the wizard DeCorwyn on behalf of the King of the Western Kingdom and the Lord Protector of Devlinsgrimm, King Solomon. The odds that you would ever be asked to meet with a king are so remote that you thought it was a trick until your guildmaster summoned you and spoke to you personally about the importance of the mission. Something about your family history.

Passing through the streets you hear watchmen making their calls and replying. From time to time, in the distant bowels of the city, the sounds of combat can be heard. Not everywhere in Duncan is safe yet. Much is left to do.

Arriving at the Tower of Searo DeCorwyn, you are met by a friendly servant.

"Anyroth Swiftblade, please enter. We have been waiting for you. Master Searo is upstairs." He offers you a warm blanket and some hot tea.

From the very beginning this trip had seemed very odd to Doogan. "Only he could do it?" Huh? Only he could be a goodwill ambassador? Ambassador? Him? He had always thought of himself as an explorer. In fact, that is how he was known in the neighborhood. You know, the guy who snuck into the old ruins and dug around in them. The guy that wandered around out in the woods just to see what was out there. He liked investigating things – finding out what sort of things were out there in the world and what made them tick. It was a fun life, if occasionally a bit dangerous. But nothing in that description matched the word “ambassador.” Ambassadors were chatty people. Formal. Diplomatic. It just didn’t make sense to Doogan.

But so be it. He had always enjoyed travelling. This trip certainly offered the gnome a great chance to see what was in one of the biggest cities around. He didn’t have any idea why he had been picked, but the council had asked and it would have been unwise to say, “no.” So he had accepted the task and might as well make the best of it. Let's see what the world has to offer.

The trip itself was almost disappointingly uneventful. It wasn’t that he wanted adventure every step of the way, it was just that nothing had happened. He guessed that meant his guides were good at their job. And at any rate he had managed to see parts of Pellios that had so far escaped his vision. That was worth something. And now the real game was about to begin.

"Doogan Ferndrum Perrybuck Bobcat Otto Creespire Wilikaloontatakochtitlanroopatototootloon, I hope I got that right... you are welcome here in the Eastern Kingdom. The king bids you to join him on his flagship, the Illumorous. Please, let us take your bags."

Well, now this was a surprise. Gnomes? He hadn’t expected the monarch of the Eastern Kingdom to be using gnomes as royal messengers. But then, perhaps this was just being done for him? Unlikely, but maybe an ambassador from Sanctuary would have some status? Now that was a nice idea. He hadn’t had a real meal in awhile and he suspected an honored dignitary would warrant a decent meal. Trail rations would keep a gnome alive, which to be honest was quite a valuable thing, but did little to really satisfy his hunger. He could use a good meal.

“Indeed, I would be very pleased to join his highness,” Doogan stated in what he believed to be an appropriately ambassadorial voice. He handed over his bags and gestured to his guides that they should lead the way.

But he just couldn’t maintain the formality, especially with fellow gnomes. “The names Doogan, you can forget trying to remember the whole thing. Does the King always use gnomes as his messengers? And the Illumorous, the ship, is it near here along the river?”

Anna eyed the wizard with suppision. He looked so very frail leaning on his quarterstaff like that. At first Anna was like great just another person that is going to need my assistance with my healing spell. Anna didn't realize she was looking at Siannodel when she thought this and nearly jumped when she heard his thoughts about it.


Don't think to quickly Anastianna Nailo. For as you have noticed both in yourself and in the elders that the weaker and more frail the person the stronger their magic.


Anastianna could deal with that. She turned to Siannodel again and asked him if he could behave himself while she did a formal greeting. She could have sworn that the owl scowled but he conceeded.

Anna turns to the young mage and says. " Hi I'm Anastianna Nailo but you can call me Anna for short and this Owl on my shoulder is Siannodel."

Anna was sure that she looked like a barbarian in her wolf skin clothes and with the elk antlers hanging out of her long silver hair.

When the wizard introduces himself Anastianna hears a little voice and looks down as she notices the biggest arms that she has ever seen on a gnome much less a man standing proud as he introduces his ship. Anastianna whistles at the pure beauty of it. then turns in confusion.


"I thought we were supposed to meet with his royal highness?" Again there was bitterness as Anastianna said the last words to Bill.

The wind whipped the cold around the looming shape of the Northman as he approached the gates of Duncan. It did not bother Ansgar much, his body long ago learning to thrive in the bitter sting of the northern wind chill. The air however…

The barbarian found the oxygen-rich air to be, in the same moment, both invigorating and oppressive. For all the days that he had been on this journey, Ansgar had not yet been able to shake the sensation. It served as a constant reminder for him that he really was a stranger in a foreign land.

Though, the Old Man has become strangely foreign too… Ansgar thought bitterly. He remembered well that, though he was being sent as an ally to this foreign king and his witch, he was also being sent away.

The dark thoughts caused Ansgar to gather his heavy animal skin cloak around himself as he took in the sad sight of the once proud city – the hodgepodge mix of stonework and woodwork walls a testimony to the ongoing work to restore her to her former glory.

Though he had never been to Duncan before, he had heard stories of the whirlwind devastation that had visited its people. And the barbarian could feel it in his bones – the lingering taint of dark magic and the humiliation of the populous still living so close to the shadow.

As the warrior entered into the city and made his way to the noble witch’s tower, he heard watchmen making their calls and replying. The sound of steel clashing against steel also reverberated from within the bowels of the city. The Northman walked boldly onward though, and few looked the imposing man’s way, fewer still were able to stand his intimidating gaze.

Having arrived at the tower, Ansgar was quickly escorted in out of the chilled wind. The witch’s servant offered the tall man a blanket and a hot drink. "Ansgar, is it? Here. The tower gets kind of chilly sometimes. Master Searo is waiting for us."

“Hmmm,” Ansgar nodded to nervous servant. The barbarian did not take the offered hospitality, not out of rudeness, but pride perhaps. Besides, the blanket shall barely cover my knees! he laughed to himself.

“Let us not keep your master waiting,” came Ansgar’s reply, his Northern accent thick as his spoke.

Kilton Oprium follows the gnome dodging and weaving by people of multiple varieties. The gnome he’s following isn’t the only gnome wandering the docks, which makes weaving through the crowd a little harder. If Kilton wasn’t following a gnome chances are he’d trip over one. Gnomes weren’t the only creature walking the docks either. There were different men of different sorts. The other thing Kilton noticed about the dock was the noise. There were people calling from the dock to leaving ships and people calling from leaving ships to the dock. There were people waving at least day old fish yelling “Fresh Fish” and others standing over a booth covered stones calling “Pearls!” There were people jumping off the dock and people yelling at them. Over all it was like walking through Chaos and yet it all made enough sense that if Kilton were not a visitor he wouldn’t notice the majority of it but instead as many of the people on the dock would only see what he wanted and where he was going, oblivious to the wonder that is the human dock. Kilton himself only noticed the basics as he raced through the throng of sailors and dock workers chasing after the little gnome who thought he was going slow. The gnome brought Kilton to a guarded section. The navy docks. Kilton thought as he peered behind the guards blocking his path. The greatest fleets in the known world! “We understand that you have orders to bring these people to the King, yet we also have orders to check everyone’s clearance.” The guard told the gnomes demanding to be let through. At the mention of people as opposed to person made Kilton look from the fleet to his general surroundings were he noted an intriguing site; standing before him was a lithe creature wearing animal skins and antler horns. Kilton watched in wonder as the elf (as deduced by the ears) presented a letter bearing the same royal seal as his own. An Elf! Kilton thought in amazement. They really are as barbaric as rumors said, and yet I find that there is a magical look of connection to Pellius in the look. It’s as if she’s expressing the wild in her dressing. Noting the letter Kilton wasn’t surprised an Elven Ambassador would be seeing royalty but he was surprised the Ambassador would be seeing the King. After all affairs of state were the Queen’s concern.
“Identification please.” The guards voice broke Kilton’s reverie. Kilton pulled from his own pocket his letter and gave it to the guard. “Go ahead,” the guard stepped aside. The gnome led Kilton and the elf to the most wondrous ship Kilton had ever seen.
“An airship!” Kilton breathed. The ship floated above the water moored into a tower. It looked Illithic in design, and seemed to Kilton as though it was a Planes ship he once read of. The first mate with huge arms named Squiggy bows gallantly. 
"I invite you aboard the Illumorous, finest ship in all Pellios."
“Thank you” Kilton says recovering from his shock at the beauty of such a ship. It is well named. He thought as he prepared to board the gangplank. Before crossing he gingerly looked at it. So high up. Should it give the fall would surely hurt. Kilton thought gingerly. On the other hand Squiggy must weigh at least twice what I do with arms like that and it didn’t give for him so It probably won’t give under me. Kilton prepared to cross but before he could the elf looked at him and introduced herself." “Hi I'm Anastianna Nailo but you can call me Anna for short and this Owl on my shoulder is Siannodel." The elf greeted Kilton. Kilton carefully put in place the wizarding mask he had been taught at the Blue Tower. It’s not that every wizard is mysterious, calm, quick to anger, and devastatingly powerful; it’s just that it works in the favor of the general wizarding society if they encouraged the belief that every wizard is. Wizards had learned a long time ago that fearful respect afforded them much needed resources and peace, and they had learned that if the public were to think that they could overcome any one wizard the public would attempt to overcome all wizards out of fear. So to keep the public respecting them wizards decided to be aloof and vague so the fearful mind would insert the necessary information to keep wizards just one step below gods. Of course it helped that every once in a while a wizard came along that really was just below gods. With the trained air of a powerful wizard Kilton peered around his staff.
“I am Kilton Oprium of the Blue Tower.” Kilton said in a low voice barely above a whisper that cut through the din straight into the ears of those around him. It wasn’t a spell but one more of the many stage tricks taught to budding wizards in order to keep the mysterious air of wizardry. Having introduced himself Kilton proceeds onto the ship eager to finally see what has brought him from his comforts in he Blue Tower.

Tightly wrapped in his hooded cloak, Anyroth made his way through Duncan's labyrinths. Ever since that letter landed in his hands, a feeling of suspicion about anything and everything became his companion with ever step he took. He could not help wonder what made men in King Solomon's court to mention his name, Anyroth Swiftblade, to the king.

Anyroth fancied himself as one who tries to keep his name safe from certain circles but in this particular case something hand transpired and it was too late now to do anything but follow the letter wherever it may lead.

Right now it lead at the doorstep of this DeCorwyn tower where, apparently, he was expected. As the servant welcomed him in, Anyroth lowered his hood and started performing his habit of looking around the room where the servant leads him to. Surely he was expected and since he was still alive, that meant nothing except that the powers that be had a mission for him, one he expected to start soon.

In the meantime, he decided to politely refuse both the tea and the blanket, at least until he had a chance to meet the lord.

Eastern Kingdom
Rougly 6:15 PM

The river flows from east to west. Your entire trip has been upriver along the more or less straight path of the Myrdell River. The river is so wide that whent he boat is in the center of the river, you cannot see either bank. In the mornings the fog is so thick that you can only see about five feet and the boat stays near the shore, watching for the intermittent signal fires lit for vessels to avoid the coastal rocks. During the day, the sun burns the fog away and the general feeling is like being on a still ocean with a slight westward current. Standing at the front of the boat, you get the sensation that you are not moving and the world slips by beneath the deck, smoothly, silently.

The trip from the Western Kingdom (which the people on the ship call the Welkerlands) to Brocitania took about three weeks. Fifteen days on a boat, and you get the strange feeling that it was a fast trip. Finally, the deck Bos'n calls out to the crew something in that strange "pirate frain", the language of the folk who live on boats.

"High Zai, ta boot rezain! Scam der wiggins and plunk der gargar!" The crew hastily moves to their chores and it seems that everyone is moving a bit faster. The Bos'n steps to you lively and speaks to you in a very thick accent.

"Check yer east pointer, lad. Thar's a sight yer won't see in the ol' Welkerlands. In aboot a hangnail o' yer lamp cord, yer eyes'll report the River Towers. Wonder of Pellios, that."

Sure enough, you start to make out enormous pillars in the horizon's blur. After about an hour, you can see clear as day the two largest towers you've ever seen. These massive obelisks dwarf any construction in the Western Kingdom. They are squarishly built, perhaps a hundred feet on a side, and easily two thousand feet tall. ((Thats about four times as high as the Washington Monument))

As you get closer, you realize that the towers are positioned in the river towards the shores and they are connected to either side of the river by massive curved walls that fade out of view like the shore does. Upon closing even more, you notice that the towers are still under construction.

Passing under the towers, you note that the gates are held open by the river's current. The gates are also built upon massive barges that allow them to float. Each gate is easily two miles long, making the distance between the towers something like four miles. Even so, passing between these structures gives the feeling of passing directly under them.

After another two hours, the city's islands can be seen, red topped towers standing high on the clifftops. Another hour of sailing and you arrive at the Royal Isle, the crew tying off the tiny boat and beginning the offloading of their cargo. You step off the boat and are immediately greeted by a gnome in a royal navy uniform of the Eastern Kingdom. His face looks like its been cut open on his left cheek with something like a broken bottle, leaving a scar that looks like a second smile.

"Sonny Lightheart? I've heard your music. I'm a big fan. Markle Clarklewaterjobinsonnirtomorroweaver. Call me Two Grins. I'm here to escort you to his majesty's flagship, the Illumorous."

The servant is somewhat surprised about the refusal of the hot tea, but does not appear to be taken aback. He merely shrugs and says "as you wish, masters. Follow me."

The two of you follow the servant up a flight of stairs that seems to go on forever. Right about the time you begin to think to yourself that there is no way that this tower looked this tall from the outside, you are taken to a large wooden door with a strange mark upon it. The mark looks like a circle with curved marks within it, creating an odd infinite loop within an infinite loop. Gazing at it gives one the impression that you are looking into two mirrors facing each other. The servant knocks softly and then opens the door.

The room is far larger than you expected. The first thing you notice is the rush of warm air from the inviting fire crackling away in the fireplace. The next thing you notice is the smell of freshly cooked food. There is a table int he center of the room, a very large rectangle cut from very expensive wood and carved by elves. The table is set for three and there is food of every kind... roast chickens, a half pig that seems to have been spit barbecued, two large sides of ribs from a creature that may not be a cow, but smells absolutely delicious. Large slabs of flaky meats that you know is some kind of seafood, but from such large fish you've never seen before, including some kind of tentacled delicacy that resembles squid. Fresh strawberries (almost prohibitively expensive in Charndale, Anyroth, and only a myth in the Old Man, Ansgar), mountain yams, potatoes, greens, jellies, and four different kinds of pies. Mead, wine, orange juice (you've never seen this, Ansgar) and water stand in condensation covered pitchers. There is another set of pitchers with hot coffee, hot tea and some other undescribed hot beverages.

On the other side of the table, a rather expensively dressed halfling stands in the chair. He smiles with a fifty gold piece award winning smile. His tousled hair is well groomed and he is extremely clean. Perhaps surprisingly for a halfling, he is fit and trim. His robes are dark bronze with gold trim. Everything in this room speaks of his personal wealth and nobility.

"Welcome, friends. I am Searo DeCorwyn, of the DeCorwyn family of Duncan. You have no idea how pleased I am to finally meet you. Please! This wonderful meal was prepared with painstaking effort on the part of my servant here, Tseng. He almost worked himself to death laboring over this banquet. We want you both to feel welcome here as if you were home. Oh yes! I almost forgot, you two do not know each other. I hope that while we eat, we may be able to fix that."

He gestures with a flourish at Anyroth. "Anyroth Swiftblade of Charndale. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Ansgar, of the Northland Kingdoms. Ansgar, it gives me honor to introduce Anyroth. The two of you have more in common than you know, but soon... soon. First we eat."

Sonny was still in awe of the great wonders that he had just seen, so it took him a second to react to the gnome standing before him. “Yes..Yes, thanks very much good sir, a song on the way? Pick your favourite master gnome.” Quickly Sonny casts summon instrument and a ukulele is into his hands, this was all for show of course that was what Sonny was about.

On they went humming along to the tune (5 Years time, Noah and the Whale). The song made him think, this meeting with king firmly meant good news or bad news very bad news. But Sonny was always optimistic, so carried on strumming amusing the gnome by his side, Sonny vanished the Ukulele, and started telling jokes, such as “have you heard the latest crisis – Dwarf shortage.” The gnome didn’t take to kindly to that being not of the tallest himself.

After a good ten minutes of singing and joking Sonny saw it the Illustrious. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, even the water around the boat seemed to glisten more than normal, then he saw the king now what does one say to royalty this awkwardness could not be surpassed by the usual music or jokes routine, it was time to be serious, Sonny didn’t like that thought much.

the one called Squiggy chuckles at Anna.

"Absolutely, my Lady Nailo. This is where his royal majesty is." The other gnomes look at each other and giggle as if sharing an inside joke.

"Please, this way. Feel free to come aboard."
They lead you through the tower and onto the gangplank.
((Anyone afraid of heights? Its about twenty feet to the icy water below.)) as you step up to the side of the strange airship, you note that the skin of the craft appears to be covered in thick blue and red scaled plating, stretched over the hull of the ship, which appears to be made of nothing more than bundles of copper and brass pipes. The deck of the ship is brass tubing and the conch-shaped top curve seems to be retractable, and is half-open. The gnomes each in turn salute the flag of Eastern Kingdom and then Sarrius' personal standard below it.

They lead you inside the ship, which appears again to be made of nothing but bundles of pipes. Gnomes with various tattoos and in various stages of uniform violation hurry about their business. Some are obviously performing maintenance, and some apear to be doing nothing important. Presently you come to a round door made for someone about five feet high. Some of you may have to duck. They bang on the door and you hear a sharp voice shout "enter."

The room appears to be some kind of war room, with a larg brass table and several matching chairs. The table is set for four, and is covered in all manner of food. Seafood brought directly from the river (upriver, anna you recognize the great majority of the riverfish), hot potato and rice cakes, sausages, spare ribs and necessary ribs, lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, and tubers. Of special interest are the oranges and pineapples, broccoli and spinach. Squashes the size of your head. Peanuts and pecans just picked and shelled. Succulent cuts of veal and pork along with creams and sauces and spices. Wine, mead, beer, water and some other cold and hot beverages. At the side of the table stands a Grey Elf dressed in the finest embroidered wool. His features are fair, but his skin betrays a lifetime of hard work in the sun. His tricorn hat is cocked to one side, his double breasted captain's coat is unbuttoned and his silken ruffled shirt spills out. He carries a scimitar at his hip and wears tiny wireframed blue colored glasses. His hair is woven into fantastic dreadlocks and are perfectly manicured. All in all, if you took a deck hand and made him a king, this is what you would get.

Squiggy blows a strange high pitched whistle and announces you in a loud voice.

"I present his royal majesty, King of Brocitania, Guardian of the Eastern Kingdom, Conquerer of Devlinsgrimm, Grand Admiral of the Mighty Myrdell and High Lord of the Very Sky We Sit Under in Awe Before the Very Gods, Sarrius Brocitas. Your Majesty, I present to you Anastianna Nailo of our allies the Wood Elves of Sylestria. I present to you Doogan Ferndrum Perrybuck Bobcat Otto Creespire Wilikaloontatakochtitlanroopatototootloon of the Sanctuary of Agoria, he says you can call him Doogan. I present to you Kilton Oprium, Wizard of the Blue Tower and personal reccomendation of Archmage Irtrill, Administrator of the Tower of Transmuters. Your majesty, Lightheart is running a little late, but my watchers tell me they have spotted his boat approaching the island, so I expect him to be here soon."

The king listens patiently to the gnome rattle off the formalities, showing special interest when he mentions wood elves, Sanctuary and the blue tower.
"Yes yes yes, Squiggy. thank you very much. That is all, make preparations." He turns and addresses the three of you.
"Please, sit. Eat with me. I trust you are famished from your long journeys. You are in good hands here. Take a load off." He smiles warmly and slides a chair out for Anna. "My lady, I am as always in awe of the presence of the elves of the wood. I hazard that the beauty of the wood elves far outstrips that of the children of Sylvus."

((His charm is impossible to deny, no matter how bad I am at reproducing it.))

On his way upward, Anyroth made every effort to pace himself, taking advantage of seconds passing to commit to his memory various relevant details about the tower, especially regarding the strange crest on the door. It was an odd selection indeed, but perhaps not to odd for someone acquainted with magic, he mused as he decided to memorize this model not before trying to think if he had seen or heard of this before ((GM?)).

Anyroth made no attempt to disguise his surprise at the sight of this veritable banquet although he did held some reserves about some of the food on the table.

The strawberries spoke of a refined nobleman with rich coffers, as if the gold were not enough for that. [i]Some good might still come off this[/i] Anyroth thought. Moments ago he had been cursing his guildmaster for heeding the envoy with the letter, but now plans were building up in his mind how to turn all these events to his advantage. Surely, there were worse things than dealing with someone who would waste a fortune on such a generous feast ... yet he knew that a sufficient amount of gold in his pouch would make these thoughts go away.

Instead of voicing his doubts (especially some regarding said foods on display) he opted for a polite bow accompanied by a greeting:
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance sir DeCorwyn, I see you are a man of fine tastes" he paused to turn to Ansgar to whom he offered similar words "As it is a pleasure to meet you, Ansgar of the Northern Kingdoms." he measured both men, while hoping for a good moment to voice some questions.

“Thank you for your very gracious hospitality, your highness. Indeed I am famished after a long journey on naught but trail rations. The bounty of your table is impressive, worthy of being served in this most impressive of ships.”

There, thought Doogan, certainly that has to be worthy of an ambassador. I’m on a first-name basis with a king? Huh, I never would have expected that!

Doogan had been looking around constantly since arriving in the city, and examining the ship with fanatical attention since his arrival there – at least as much as he could while Squiggy led the way. He would dearly love to see what kept this thing afloat. Based on all of the piping running through the place he was guessing that they hadn’t even cheated and used magic. What a crazy ship he thought as he moved to his seat! I must ask the King all about it when I get the chance!

Doogan looked hungrily at the food, but paused at his chair and waited for the King to sit first. He figured that was how a real diplomat would do things. But a growl in his stomach betrayed him as he looked at the food. He grinned at the King and noted that “his stomach appeared to agree that the meal was worthy.” But he waited to sit.

Kilton followed behind Squiggly as he lead the way through the Illumourus glancing at everything in the hopes of seeing whatever spell kept this ship afloat. I would guess a rune of some sort as they are better at holding spells indefinitely, and the king wouldn’t want it touching ground. I hope it‘s a rune I didn‘t prepare read magic. Though he saw no runes he was intrigued at what he did see; The ship seemed to be made of pipes. There was little in the way of wood as a sea ship is made. Instead the ship was made of brass tubing and had pipes and valves everywhere with gnomes racing around to adjust as needed. Kilton wondered if all of the mechanics were necessary to operate the spell or if the wizard was simply being overdramatic. If indeed there was a wizard behind this wondrous ship. The further into the ship the more Kilton wondered. He still had not seen a rune to denote a self renewing spell, and he had not seen a wizard aboard to monitor either the runes or the spell. It was likely that the wizard was at the helm and keeping this behemoth asky with a single spell point but the dynamics of enchanting such a large vessel with a single focal point was difficult and not very wise. It would be better if the spell was shaped like a web tying the energies to multiple points so if a point went out the spell could compensate and remain up. Now I really wish I had prepared read magic. Kilton thought. Squiggy lead the party to a seeming war room. Kilton had to duck to enter but once in he was immediately distracted by the smells of a feast set before him. He couldn’t readily identify most of what was before him. Having spent most of his life in the Blue Tower he hadn’t exactly gotten the opportunity to eat like royalty. He could identify the veal, wine, and necessary ribs.
"I present his royal majesty, King of Brocitania, Guardian of the Eastern Kingdom, Conquerer of Devlinsgrimm, Grand Admiral of the Mighty Myrdell and High Lord of the Very Sky We Sit Under in Awe Before the Very Gods, Sarrius Brocitas.” Squiggy began by introducing the Grey Elf who stood patiently before the party. Kilton looked up at the introductions expecting to see someone grand. He was a bit surprised to see the king was an Elf, somehow that fact hadn’t been mentioned in conversation, but overall the King was an average seeming individual. “Your Majesty, I present to you Anastianna Nailo of our allies the Wood Elves of Sylestria. I present to you Doogan Ferndrum Perrybuck Bobcat Otto Creespire Wilikaloontatakochtitlanroopatototootloon of the Sanctuary of Agoria, he says you can call him Doogan. I present to you Kilton Oprium, Wizard of the Blue Tower and personal reccomendation of Archmage Irtrill, Administrator of the Tower of Transmuters. Your majesty, Lightheart is running a little late, but my watchers tell me they have spotted his boat approaching the island, so I expect him to be here soon."
So the other gnome isn’t a part of the ship’s compliment. Kilton thought as he took a full measure of the new member of the party. He didn’t introduce himself as that had already been done in the formal speeches and introducing himself would possibly shatter he air of mystery Kilton was striving to hold onto. And it seems we will have one more. Kilton glanced back up to the king expectantly. It’s a shame I expect we will have to wait for the last one before we know why we are here. "Yes yes yes, Squiggy. thank you very much. That is all, make preparations." Sarrius turns and addresses the party.
"Please, sit. Eat with me. I trust you are famished from your long journeys. You are in good hands here. Take a load off." He smiles warmly and slides a chair out for Anna. "My lady, I am as always in awe of the presence of the elves of the wood. I hazard that the beauty of the wood elves far outstrips that of the children of Sylvus."
Kilton smiles as he observes the king’s actions. Attempting to lure us into a sense of comfort. Perhaps his king is more kingly and political than first glance. Kilton sat himself at he able not really bothering to wait for the king to sit himself. He did notice the gnome waiting but he figured he had been invited to the table there was no reason to wait for the host to sit. Kilton did however wait for all to be seated before he helped himself to a serving of veal, a potato, a couple of slices of some sort of orange fruit, and a glass of wine.

Anna just nodded to the king as he did a poor excuse of trying to compliment her. She was not expecting the king to be one of her own kindred and wondered if the real reason she was here was to represent her people or if the king had other means on his mind. Judging by the introduction that Squiggly had done she was just being parniod. But she really wanted to be in her grove and not on some stupid adventure. But she also knew that her elders had wanted her to go on this mission. She took the chair next to the king and allowed the gnome servent to pour her some elven wine. She noticed that the gnome and the wizard were taking food and so she got some of the finest salmon from the elven lands cooked just the way she liked it not to cooked but not entirely raw ether. She handed Siannodel a piece of ham which he inhaled in one swift bite.
"So your royal highness why have you summond four adventurers?" Anna asks. She hoped she wasn't being rude but she really wasn't one for formal gatherings

“As you wish, masters. Follow me.”

Ansgar chooses the rear position, following behind both the servant and the half-breed as they made their way up the stairs. It allowed the big man to better pace his steps so as not to trip over the other two. It also gave him a better view of his surroundings.

The climb seemed to go on and on. The very structure itself be tainted by the magic at work in here! Just as the barbarian was thinking that he has descended from the Old Man only to ascend its height here again, did the three of them arrive at a large wooden door. The strange and distorting marking on the door only made the barbarian a bit more edgy. Knocking softly first, the servant opens the door.

The warmth of a fire immediately washes over Ansgar, chasing after the lingering cold. The room is “roomy” and the barbarian’s eyes immediately notice the banquet feast laid out.

Look for the trap, lad! Look for it! the cunning barbarian told himself. Ansgar himself had laid out similar traps for the wild beasts of the Northlands. The choicest of meats… how can I resist! he smiled inwardly at his internal dialogue, while his eyes continued to scan the room, and his body began to tense slightly, preparing itself for potential danger.

His eyes floated over the halfling in the room quickly, looking for more dangerous threats… and really, looking for his host, this ‘Searo DeCorwyn’. But no other living creature presented itself in the room, so his eyes came back to the halfling, this time noticing the very, very rich attire of the god-less half-man. Nah! It couldn’t be…
"Welcome, friends,” began the halfling. “I am Searo DeCorwyn, of the DeCorwyn family of Duncan.”

…I guess it could… Hmmm. Not what I expected… thought Ansgar, trying to keep a smirk from creeping up his face.

“You have no idea how pleased I am to finally meet you,” continued Searo. “Please! This wonderful meal was prepared with painstaking effort on the part of my servant here, Tseng. He almost worked himself to death laboring over this banquet. We want you both to feel welcome here as if you were home. Oh yes! I almost forgot, you two do not know each other. I hope that while we eat, we may be able to fix that."

He gestures with a flourish at Anyroth. "Anyroth Swiftblade of Charndale. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Ansgar, of the Northland Kingdoms. Ansgar, it gives me honor to introduce Anyroth. The two of you have more in common than you know, but soon... soon. First we eat."


The half-breed replied first. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance sir DeCorwyn, I see you are a man of fine tastes." Pausing, the half-breed regarded Ansgar before offering similar words. "As it is a pleasure to meet you, Ansgar of the Northern Kingdoms."

The barbarian of the Northlands merely gave the half-breed a nod. “Hmmm,” he grunted simply, returning the half-breed’s measured stare. “Anyroth.”

Having sized up the man from Charndale, he again brought his noble gaze to bear on the god-less halfling. “Searo,” he nodded once more at the wizard. “It would be a pity to let the food grow cold,” he continued with a wide smile.