Seliinian Desert — Outside Countess Raleena's castle
Anabella flew high above the vast desert on her flying broom. As one might imagine... it was extremely hot up there! Anabella was thankful for her wide-brimmed hat, but poor Merlin meowed in discomfort.
"Don't worry, Merlin," Anabella cooed, petting the cat along its back, as it gave a gentle purr. "We're almost there, I promise...." The two swooped over the vast sands, finally noticing a castle in the far distance. "This must be the place. Now, we were instructed to enter the courtyard and wait for further instructions. They lowered their altitude, heading towards the courtyard... and promptly bumped into a nearly-invisible force field protecting the courtyard. Merlin snarled in fear, and Anabella gasped. "Okay, fine!" she exclaimed. "We'll head in through the front! Calm down, Merlin!" Pulling the broom up again, she made a wide circle heading back towards the front of the castle complex. Finally, she set the broom down outside the castle gates. Dismounting the broom (and letting Merlin clamber off), she pitched it upright, carried it in one hand, and walked with Merlin through the gates into the courtyard.
When they were inside, Anabella glanced around in amazement at the sudden change the scenery made. The haunting but desolate desert was replaced by a lush tropical paradise. She was so awestruck by her surroundings that she nearly bumped into the knight keeping watch over the grounds. Before she ran into him, she stopped suddenly, smiling at him and curtseying. "How do you do?" she asked. "I am Anabella Cynthia Medea Meriwether Valentine, of the noble house of Valentine, apprentice to the court alchemist of Dorothan," she introduced.
edited 27th Jun '15 8:04:31 PM by AllHailThrall
I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.Count Escom's
"You're going to take good care of my horse now, right?" Dart asked the drow servant cheekily.
"It'd be a shame to have to shoot you on such a fine day as today!" he joked, playfully patting his twin pistols.
"Name's Dart by the way. Am I to understand that you fine folks have also adopted the luxurious and glamorous lifestyles of bounty hunters as well?" Dart asked the assembled beings.
The plate armor clad figure angled his head down to look at Anabella directly. It was difficult to see much of his face besides his eyes through his helmet; simple brown eyes and pale skin, so he was probably human. (He was, though it would be nearly impossible to know for sure as long as he still had the helmet on.) There was the distinct sense of him raising an eyebrow in intrigue as Anabella introduced herself.
After a short pause, he gave a small bow of his head, "Sir Orson Raleena, knight of the court of Seliin and spouse of Countess Raleena." After introducing himself, Orson motioned towards the fountain. "You must be here to see my wife; she should be here soon. Feel free to take a seat or wander the courtyard at your leisure" he told the young witch, "just please, do not tamper with any of the plants. Cindy put a lot of effort into this garden and gets temperamental when they get damaged."
The butler did not seem amused or annoyed by Dart's comment, and just stared at him with a rather apathetic expression. "It would be best if you had a last will and testament written before taking such an action sir; you would not be leaving the estate alive. The ranch hands will take good care of your horse in either case" the butler answered in a dry tone. "Do let me know if you will require a drink, or pen and paper" he added, his apparent sense of humor not matching his demeanor.
You are reading this.Count Escrom's
Walking through the desert... walking through the desert... Frederick could have thought of more jovial ways to arrive, like a horse and carriage or a horse, or be put in a coma and just wake up there, but alas, walking. Through the desert.
Although it was not a far walk, at the very least. Clockwork mechanisms and various powerplants and turbines meant Mr. Escrom's estate was a welcome oasis to the blight of the desert, loud and proud with the givings of Exla's revolution. And thank the stars it wasn't a mirage.
As he entered the hall, throngs of various creatures surrounded him. He felt a slight smile as he fingered his holstered pistol nervously. He did not like this, too many people and it was hard to keep tabs on them all. Who was a servant, and who was a guest? You could assume those with the matching attire were servants... unless it was a group gathering, as if someones entire family showed to support Exla... in matching attire? It was unlikely... but it could still be.
"Do let me know if you require a drink, or pen and paper" A voice pricked his ear as he spotted the drow, and the pumpkin-headed fellow playing with his guns. One was a servant, at least. "I'll gladly take a pen and paper!" He quipped as he approached, his nervous grin growing on his face. "And as for a drink... perhaps later, as we toast Sir Escrom?"
Pokedy Poke-pokeRefran was lost, hard. He'd been wandering around for the last 30 minutes trying to find this damned castle and was about to blow a gasket. "Aaaah! Goddamnit! Where is this place, es... I've followed the instructions to get there, so why-!" Then, as if on que, a figure appeared in the distance. A dot of stone. "...Neeeeeeevermind, es." It was probably the sand. Yeah, blame the problems on the sand. Best course of action. With those thoughts, the young warf set off in the direction of what he now KNEW the castle was.
When he arrived Ref was... Pretty amazed. The hue of green around the castle, the golems patrolling it and all those pretty decorations... He'd actually not seen things of this sort yet. "So here's where I need to report for that job, es?" It seemed someone had arrived before him, talking with some form of knightly figure... A witch of sorts? She also looked... Really young. At least by Warf standards, but also with humans. Glad we all share a common language... Refran thought to himself, walking up to both the figures. "Uh, hello, I'm sorry to interrupt, es... This is the place for the job offer right, es? I kinda got lost on the way here, es..." His tail was moving side to side unknowingly, barely managing to avoid touching the lady next to him whom he could now get a closer look at. Yep... Definatily younger than him... But they also seem to be a witch, something he didn't notice before. A full-on spellcaster, huh? Makes him look like smallfry...
edited 27th Jun '15 10:46:20 PM by Nickpws
Seliinian Desert — Countess Raleena's castle
Nathan was calmly sitting on the ground, busy enjoying the beautiful contrast between the desert outside and the lush vegetation surrounding the castle.
"Such a stark pairing of opposites, and yet so fitting and inspiring...Like war and peace, healing and hurting. One would not exist without the other, and yet exist within each other, just as the magic of war should use the very same magic of peace, and vice versa. My path to sagehood is just begun."
As soon as he heard the countess would be arriving shortly, he picked himself up and dusted the dirt off his already worn clothes.
A little ways before Castle Raleena
Hot... It's too hot. Ahreia was almost half-dead on her horse, the sun having absorbed all of her enthusiasm. Her throat was parched and her eyes kept blinking from the occassional gusts of winds that blew.
"Never the desert. Never the desert." She cursed under her breath, muttering the words absent-mindedly. Her voice was hoarse and barely a whisper.
She closed her eyes against the desert's harsh treatment and when she opened them again, she spied a large hulking figure in the distance. Finally.
Ahreia gave her horse one final spur. Both were reluctant to move but neither wanted to suffer the desert's heat. Her horse moved swiftly towards the silhouette, leaving clouds of sand in its wake. At last, the castle loomed high above them, its shadow a welcome refuge. The gates were already open and Ahreia more than gratefully passed through the inviting doors.
As she reached the courtyard, Ahreia dismounted, almost unbalancing herself. Exhaustion was evident in both her and her steed but Ahreia tried to look as strong as she could possibly look. Standing there, she actually felt a lot more at ease which was pretty surprising. It was cooler inside and the lush green of the courtyard more lively; calmer. It reminded her of her own home far away.
She then noticed the other people there with her, giving each a searching look. A wolf, a witch, a knight, and a seemingly educated man. She felt deflated at the sight of them, thinking to have drawn the short straw.
Ahreia would have wanted to ask for a drink at that moment but thought the better of it. She didn't want to show any weakness in front of these soon-to-be-acquaintances. None of them looked like a countess, at the very least... unless the knight was, now that would be a surprise. So instead she crossed her arms and rested her weight on one foot.
"Well?" she said to no one in particular, noticing that her voice was still rasping which may have made her sound annoyed.
edited 28th Jun '15 2:01:26 AM by DemKimochis
Actually, call me Dem or Dem Kimos I hope they add a name change soon...Escoms
Mart looks around, offhanedly inspecting the things in the room: "65, 98, 40, 60, 29..." His eyes swivel o the grandfather clock "391.. Gah, the guy is rich, it seems"
Words resound in his mind "Your mission is not fighting, per se. Try to measure the worth of the land and scout for business partners. If we can hamper the supply lines to Dorothan by sweettalking their merchants, we can win this war. But do not think that you cannot kill them if they do not cooperate." The mines were so cool compared to this... Mart is obviously sweating.
"Would you be in need of writing a last will as well, sir?" the drow asked in that same dry tone, reaching into his suit and pulling out a small bronze cylinder. As he offered it to Frederick, he clicked a button on its side, making a small strip of paper extend out of a slit along the side while a pen popped out of the top.
"Of course Count Escom is rich. He is a count of the court of Seliin" the drow added towards Mart, his tone still unchanging.
"And a damn good business man, if I do say so myself" another man said as he entered the room. A pale skinned and average height human man, currently wearing a black vest over a white shirt and a pair of pants that seemed to be a very dark shade of red. Though he was not fully dressed up, his short, black hair was neatly parted, and he glanced up from the book in his hands at the men in the room through his round glasses. The appearance would be familiar to those who had looked at some of the paintings: Count Escom. "You must be gentlemen from Exla, yes? I apologize for keeping you waiting; I had to update some ledgers" Count Escom said, then glanced at the drow, "everything all right in here, Roger?"
"The patchwalker has threatened to shoot me if his horse is not properly cared for; other than that it has been uneventful sir" the drow, apparently Roger, answered.
"Really? Well, slightly understandable. How do they seem?" Count Escom asked.
"So far, a bounty hunter, a physician, and a merchant" Roger said, just as humorlessly as always. How he had come about the conclusion of Dart's, Frederick's, and Mart's professions was not immediately clear. (Besides Dart's, since he had stated it out loud already.)
Count Escom frowned ever so slightly and looked back at the Exlans. "I do hope you gentlemen will be of more worth than your professions would imply then. It would be very unbecoming if Exla didn't hold up their end of the deal" Count Escom told them, his tone certainly a bit challenging, as if asking them to prove they were up to the task.
Orson turned his head to regard Refran as he spoke, and let out a light chuckle as he finished. "I wouldn't exactly call it a mere 'job offer', boy. Are you sure you've come to the right place?" Orson asked, but then looked over a bit more at Ahreia, whose overall posture and tone made her seem the epitome of a frustrated woman. "... Well, what? Do you always barge onto other people's property and expect them to understand what you want from one word?" he asked her, a bit rhetorically.
Just then, the main doors of the castle proper opened with an audible groan. A guard in what seemed like a lighter version of Orson's armor stepped through, getting the door swung open all the way to let a woman through. The woman was a tall, slender, and pale skinned human with blonde hair currently done up in a bun. She was wearing an orange colored dress with white trimmings, which while clearly expensive, did not seem overly extravagant; it looked almost practical. Almost. She walked down the cobblestone path towards the group, measuring each intently with her gaze as she approached.
"It pleases me to see that Dorothan is prompt to respond. I am Countess Cynthia Raleena of the court of Seliin; I assume that my husband has already introduced himself?" Countess Raleena said, stopping next to the fountain and looking at the animated dragon statue atop it, which was looking back at her. "Orange today" she stated simply, waving a hand at the statue; it turned from its plain marble white to the same shade of orange as the Countesses' dress. The statue looked down at itself, seemed satisfied with this, and went back to shooting streams of water into the fountain.
"Now, you all know why you've been summoned, yes?" Countess Raleena asked the four Dorothans.
edited 28th Jun '15 7:31:09 AM by FirockFinion
You are reading this.Escom Manor, parlor
"If you think that merchants are not needed in a war you may be wrong, Sir." Mart stands up. "And I may not look like like it, but I was a bandit before I was recruited. Mart Steamfather, at your service." He bows deeper than most people could.
edited 28th Jun '15 9:21:57 AM by Blackie
Castle Raleena, Courtyard
Ahreia felt abashed at the knight. He does have a point. But he was just one of the many knights she had met - some of which were rather too proud, mind you. And that was what exactly Ahreia judged him to be: a boastful knight of little importance.
She opened her mouth to protest but as the doors of the castle opened, the air around her changed and she found herself paralyzed as she watched the newcomer walk down the cobblestone path. This... this must be the countess.
The countess began to introduce herself and Ahreia took off her hat in respect. But what she said next took Ahreia by surprise. The knight was the countess' husband! Ahreia stole a glance at the knight, failing to hide her alarm. Her cheeks were flushed in embarassment and she looked away.
Ahreia was jolted back to the present by the countess' voice. "Now, you all know why you've been summoned, yes?" she asked them.
This time, Ahreia stilled her tongue and looked at the others, cautious to not make another mistake.
edited 28th Jun '15 9:03:13 AM by DemKimochis
Actually, call me Dem or Dem Kimos I hope they add a name change soon...The knight's response confused Ref. 'Cor he knew what he was getting into, and he didn't really like it all THAT much, but it'd go a long way towards spreading his name throughout his home country... He thinks. "Well, yeah. Of course I know, es." Well, at least he was in the right place. The knight's focus suddenly shifted from the warf to... Something behind him. Refran turned around, seeing a new person having appeared out of thin air... With a horse. Huh. Seemed to be an elf, one of the more common races in Dorothan... And a slightly annoyed one, at that! Ref didn't have time to study her more, though. He jumped up from the doors starting to open nearby. The countess stepped out, causing Refran to instinctively take a few steps back in caution.
What a graceful lady... was the first thought that came to mind in the Warf's head. She then complimented all four of them for coming to help... Before changing the fountain's goddamn paintjob with a handwave. Well then, Don't mess with the countess! She seems to have a high magic potential, that's for sure...
"Now you all know why you have been summoned, yes?"
The countess asked everyone. Not seeing a response, Ref decides to take a chance. "Uh, I don't know about everyone else, but, it's because of a regional conflict right, es? You and a rival count are trying to gain control of Seliin, and you asked Dorothan for help, right es?" ...Though the Warf was here of his own volition and not some order. He picked up the news randomly, hoping to merge in...
edited 28th Jun '15 8:38:50 AM by Nickpws
Nathan bowed his head in respect to the Countess, smiling reverently.
"Greetings, Milady. I take it that you have need of us in your rise for power? It's what I've gathered from the small rumors floating around the towns I travel through."
He brought his staff in front of him, planting it in the ground as a sign of loyalty.
"Please, it would honor a sage-in-training such as myself to assist you in your endeavor, one which would be mutually beneficial to the both of us."
He again bowed his head, for much longer this time.
"Last will? What in blazes..." Fred thought, his nervous smile straining as he lightly withdrew the pen and paper. Before he could ask why however, it seems the drow had been caught up with a rather bulky looking dwarf, asking about money. A nobleman, or at least a landowner... possibly a mine in this land, since this god-forsaken desert has little else.
"...and a damn good business man, if I do say so myself" Came the voice of yet another nobleman in the room. Either the master of ceremony himself, or some lookalike cousin, twice removed (never three times, never once). As he and the drow chatted, he felt a slight pinge of anger at the drow labeling him as a mere physician. Physician? Like he helped little old ladies walk down the street or told young men how to properly sport themselves. He was a doctor, dammit, he had the bespoiled parchment claiming so! ...at home...far away from this place... well shit
A voice rang through his thoughts as he turned to the dwarven noble-businessman who claims to be a merchant (Named Mart, unless it was a guise). "A merchant... definitely someone I need to know" Fred thought as he turned to the Escrom or Escrom-lookalike. "And I am a doctor by Fred Foley." He added, moving beside Mart and extending his non - pen and papered hand.
"You have boys who fall, I pick em up, help em live to fight another day. Helps with morale. You have the girls at Dorothan who fall? I subdue em, you out them and release them to show as a kind and just count, or execute them as a warning to those who cross you. Helps with morale." He added, lightly brushing his other hand against his cheek to calm himself somewhat.
Pokedy Poke-pokeEnscrom Ranch
"so this is how the estate of a Seliinian noble looks like" said Valetto to himself as he handed some notes to the wheelhouse driver, paying the second payment of his trip, as a man of his standing should travel in style and confort. "Do deliver the lady that's inside to the train station." he said adding a bonus to the pile of exlan notes "I'd hate for something foul to happen to her". With that he tipped his hat and bid farewell and strolled up to the manor. After confirming his invitation to such luxurious place he was led on to the parlor, merely asking a glass of water as his beverage. "Grettings, I apologize for my tardiness" said the Exlan gentleman, addressing the group and Count Escrom "My name is Valetto of house Kantos, pleased to meet all of you fine gents" before sitting on a sofa with his cane resting on his lap.
The graceless warrior, wielder of the edgeless blade, prophet of the old religions, writer of fluent nonsense, saviour of soul and song.Castle Raleena Courtyard
Anabella turned towards the door as it opened, and she looked at the countess as she entered the courtyard. She was gorgeous! If only she could be that gorgeous some day... it didn't matter now. Instead, she simply curtsied to the countess, then nodded. "Yes, your husband did introduce himself. And I am aware why I am here, we're to help Dorothan become the most influential power in Seliin!" she exclaimed, getting excited. "And stop the machinist Exlans from getting too influential," she stated simply, crossing her arms and feeling pretty proud of herself for keeping that straight in her head.
To be honest, she never really took the conflict between Dorothan and Exla too seriously, and didn't have much of a grudge against Exla. She often wondered if the reason she wasn't all too great at magic was that her mind was too scientific. Indeed, the art of alchemy is often considered to be the most "scientific" of the magical arts, though even mixing potions required latent magical talent.
I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither."I am a merchant by trade myself, Mr. Steamfather; and as one I can safely say that I do not need the assistance of any more. If I could earn the throne through purely economic means, I would already be king. What I need is men willing and able to get their hands dirty for a good cause" Count Escom replied to Mart, then glanced at Frederick and added, "and men who can keep them going."
As Veletto entered and took a seat, Count Escom looked at the butler Roger expectantly. Roger regarded Valetto for a few moments, then looked to the Count. "A spy, sir" Roger stated simply.
"Hopefully here to assist me rather than just keep an eye on me, but it is no matter" Count Escom muttered, moving to the coffee table and opening one of the glass panels. "Please be so kind as to bring some of the cactus flower wine, Roger. Forty year vintage should suffice" he instructed the drow as took a tool much like a spanner wrench from one of his vest pockets and used it to turn one of the many gears in the table. Several gears sprung to life across various points of it, and the table slowly rose as the legs extended under it; Escom let it rise until the top was just over two feet off the floor, then stopped it, removing his tool and setting the panel back in place. Roger had taken the time to quietly vacate the room.
"In case you gentlemen are not fully aware of the nuances of Seliinian politics, my opposition for the throne is the Countess Raleena. She is a full supporter of Dorothan, having attended their prominent magical university for a number of years. Though my own informants have yet to confirm it, I have every reason to suspect she will have called upon Dorothan's aid to take the throne much like I have called upon Exla's aid" Count Escom started to explain, sitting down in one of the chairs and pausing to look over the four Exlans, "if Countess Raleena becomes queen, she will most certainly enact the same outlaws on industrial technology that Dorothan has; Seliin's technological and scientific progress would grind to a halt overnight... And of course the political favor of the region would shift towards Dorothan, which I'm sure is of concern to at least some of you."
"Now the good news is that Countess Raleena cannot afford to have me assassinated; but the bad news is that I cannot do likewise for the exact same reason. We are both of the court of Seliin; we are supposed to be on the same side. Such an act would not get us on the throne, but rather, get us in a jail cell or on an execution block. No, the ultimate control of the throne will come down to who controls the country regardless; to secure the crown I must make it absolutely paramount to the majority of the Seliinian court that they support me. Thus what I need from Exla is assistance in securing that support where mere economic means have failed; securing assets by force" Count Escom paused again as Roger reentered the room with a tray in hand that he set upon the table; on it a bottle of wine in a bucket of ice and a few wineglasses. As the butler began to pour out a glass for the Count, Escom continued, "under more favorable circumstances I would just have my own men take upon this task, but I must anticipate that if I leave my own assets vulnerable, Raleena may send in forces of her own to secure them from me. Hence why I have taken the course of action to call Exla for help; hence, why you gentlemen are here."
"So, is that all understood then?" Count Escom asked them.
"That is correct" Countess Raleena said, seemingly in response to Refran, Nathan, and Anabella. "Though merely calling it a 'regional conflict' does not quite explain the situation in full accuracy. Count Escom and myself are not at war, nor can we simply have the other killed... Suffice to say, that would not be earning either of us the monarchy. Now, I require what forces are under my command to hold my district secure, lest Escom attempt to force me to stand down by direct means. The local militias of each district are not likely to answer any call of action against their own countrymen, so I cannot use them. So I have called upon Dorothan's aid in order to help me do what I currently cannot: Secure the favor of the people and most of the Seliinian court for me. It will not be the most glamorous of tasks, and will probably be dangerous, but I trust that you all understand the benefits of this course in the long term" she explained at length.
"The most important thing you should know is that Count Escom is firmly in favor of Exla" Orson added in, speaking up. "When you encounter resistance, and Escom will most certainly be trying to stop you, they will probably fight you using Exlan ways. Escom may even recruit Exlans directly to face you" he concluded.
"Is that going to be a problem?" Countess Raleena asked, eying the four of them.
edited 29th Jun '15 6:15:57 AM by FirockFinion
You are reading this."So I guess we have to demonstrate that we can fight? Do you have anything that I could break?" Mart taps on his gauntlets. "These two would like some entertainment, you know."
Then he moves slightly closer. "I plan to try to ruin your Dorothan' rivals reputation and business if I can. You do not know me if you agree."
Fredrick chuckled lightly as he watched the count, taking out the paper and pen and lightly making notes. Count Escrom - Plutocrat, straightforward and blunt. Rodger - Escrom's servant. Seems to have a thing for last wills and testaments. Mart Steamfeather - Merchant, more plutocrat like Escrom. Has a pair of interesting gauntlets... hmm. Dart (???) Pumpkinhead... really enjoys playing with his pistols. Hasn't (accidentally) pulled the trigger, so he must have some skill. Turning his head at the newest arrival, he felt a slight frown as he poked the paper with his pen. Valetto Kantos - speaks nobly of his house. An aristocrat. Most likely the best diplomat here... he paused, re-reading his notes before folding the slip of paper in half and tearing it apart in his hands, shredding it up.
"I understand, Count Escrom. Tonight, we celebrate the begining of a new Seliin dynasty to take the reins, an ally of Exla..." Fredrick paused as he watched the drow fill the wineglasses, making sure he didnt add anything to the drink. "Tomorrow we set off, whether to win Seliin favor or to discredit Dorothan corruption." He looked over to Dart with his hand extended to Valetto, with Mart wanting to show the count his gauntlets. "Sir Mart, I would be most interested in a demonstration of your tools... after the toast to our host, perchance?" He added as he tucked the scraps of his paper in his pocket.
Pokedy Poke-pokeAnabella shook her head at the countess. "Nope, not a problem at all!" she exclaimed. She thought for a moment. Perhaps there would be ways to gain the support of the Seliinian people without necessarily resorting to violence. She didn't consider herself very good at combat, though her potions might be of some use in that endeavor. Then she looked back at the countess.
"Your majesty? I am an apprentice alchemist. Do you have an alchemist here at this castle? And if so, would it be at all possible for me to speak with them and work with them in brewing some potions today?" she asked.
I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither."Not a problem at all Countess. I'm well versed in magic of both healing and destruction, so I will defend myself if possible."
He folded his hands over the top of his staff, standing straight. Standing in front of him was a Countess, after all, and he was trying to compensate for the road weary state of his clothes.
Exlan resistance...Well, he had little experience with their ways, apart from the rumors and rare traveler that he met on the road. Still, they would prove interesting adversaries against his magic. An opportunity for him to learn the application of magic in war. Another step on his path to becoming a full fledged sage.
"My Lady, would you perhaps have a sage or similar instructor of the magical arts in your estate? If so, may I ask for the privilege to speak and learn from them, if only for a little while? For, you see, I am but only a sage in training, newly begun on my path. I would be honored to study under those in your employ."
All those years at the academy with it's discipline had payed off. At least, he hoped so, saying a silent prayer.
Here's to hoping that all those years of speaking formally to the teachers have paid off...
Countess Raleena finished her little explanation in detail of the situation, Refran having quietly listened along. Ref was about to comment, but two people already beat him to the punch... One was the watch he was still standing next to, and the other was that... Mage that seemed to have been relaxing. Turned out to be an alchemist and a sage, respectively... Wow, Ref really WAS smallfry...
Both of them finished their explanation, which gave Ref time to get a word in. "Thanks for the explanation, Lady Raleena es. I guess there'd be no problem with us being opposed to Exla, everyone here seems pretty confident, es!" The warf walked to the side for a bit and then turned around so he was facing the two who'd already spoke. "Seems like we'll all be working with eachother, huh es? Can't wait! You all seem a lot more capable than some no-good spellblade like me, ehehe..."

Signups.
Discussion.
Seliin, a harsh desert of a country, where lack of water goes hand in hand with the danger of the occasional creature, both small like the scorpions and rattlesnakes, and large like the griffons. The Seliinian people are a tough and practical bunch, seeing little value in clinging to old traditions or blindlessly pursuing the future; only caring about what works to survive. While most of the world is split between the choice of magic or technology, the Seliinians have dabbled in both as they see fit.
Though hot, the desert usually holds a certain peaceful silence to it; the large expanse of open badlands under the blazing sun bringing its own sort of serenity. But now, there's a tension among the towns and settlements. The king is dead with no heir, which means a power struggle is all but certain. Everybody knows it'll be Count Escom or Countess Raleena who takes the crown. Though neither can dare risk the blacklash of having the other assassinated, or holding open war, blood is still sure to be spilled. Both will be making moves to earn the support of the poeple and the other counts and countesses, and that will mean controlling key assets around the country. To this end, Escom and Raleena have both called in help: agents of the much more powerful countries of Exla and Dorothan, enlisting them to assist in claiming the throne, in return for Seliin's allegiance to their home country.
The fight for the throne is coming, taking away the peace from the desert until its conclusion...
The large complex built around a ranch that was Count Escom's seat of power over his district was very much a product of the neighboring Exlan industrial revolution. The noise of various clockwork machines and the boilers and windmills that powered them was a constant element through the whole complex, though was not so loud as to be overpoweringly obnoxious. Especially not inside Escom's manor house, which had a light amount of soundproofing in all the outer walls and roof.
As they arrived, each of the Exlan agents were invited into the manor's parlor by the staff, offered their choice of drink, and told to wait for the Count's arrival. The parlor was a nicely furnished room with a theme that was modern by Exlan standards; mahogany chairs and sofas with crimson upholstery arranged around a 'coffee table' that was more accurately a block of clockwork gears with clear glass panels covering it. The panels could be opened on hinges and certain gears could be used by hand or with tools to make the table do certain things, such as change height or unfold more parts to use; it was a common kind of item among rich Exlan houses. There were paintings of various figures on the walls, likely Escom and some of his relatives and ancestry based on their attire and posture. A grandfather clock clicked away on one side of the room as well.
While the Count had not arrived yet, the Drow butler would assure each agent that the Count was on his way as he let them in.
Countess Raleena's seat of power was a large, white, extravagent castle; the grounds immediately around it and the courtyard inside housed lush, green grass and healthy fruit trees of various species. The benefits of magic in what was otherwise a harsh desert were obvious from this beautiful vegitation; a less visible benefit was that the castle was actually much more secure and fortified than it probably seemed at first glance. Walls with protection enchantments patrolled by golem constructs practically dared any opposing force to go ahead and underestimate the castle's defenses.
But today, that didn't matter; it was not a beseiging army the castle was greeting, but welcome agents of Dorothan. Each would be brought to the courtyard to await the arrival of the Countess. Exotic and magical plants were set in asethetic arrangements to the sides of the cobblestone paths; the paths led to an intersection at the center of the courtyard where smooth marble benches were arranged around a matching marble fountain. An animated statue of a small dragon was perched on the center of the fountain, occasionally shooting a stream of water from its mouth into the fountain below.
Like their counterparts, the Dorothan agents would have to wait for the Countess to show up, though were informed by the knightly figure keeping watch on the courtyard that she should be arriving in the near future.
edited 27th Jun '15 8:45:17 PM by FirockFinion
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