Vlad straightened slowly as the maiden sauntered away. He tilted his head, studying her. It was undeniable that he was confused by her behavior. He was not exactly perturbed, but fought a flash of instinct to hunt her as she walked away from her. In the presence of that strong urge to chase her down and literally devour her, he used his better judgment to keep his feet planted firmly in place. He waited for the surging energy to leak from his body. It wasn't that Tenele was in actual danger; Vlad had years of experience controlling these instincts, but it didn't change the fact that they were there, and certain protocol had to be followed. If he allowed himself to chase her, he'd be tempting fate.
He chose to vent his energy by levitating the sack off the ground where Tenele had thrown it and sending it flying after her, grinning to himself as he aimed to land the thing over her head, garbage and all.
LORE: End Game (MATURE)
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OnlineSoran Nightblade
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OnlineEmora Deen
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Re: End Game
Tenele stood stark still as the garbage littered down on her, bouncing off her pretty pale green dress, and scattering around her feet. She didn't even budge after it all had stopped falling and after am moment she casually reached up and pulled a peice of garbage off her hair, tossing it carelessly to the ground. She felt a bit revolted to have such messy things dropped on her, and suddenly called the image of a hot shower to her mind. She glanced to her shoulder and dusted a few crums and small peices of food. Disgusting. Whirling on her elegant feet she faced him and placed a hand on her gracefully curved him. "You might think this is funny now, but remember you're the one that has to re-pick all of this up!"
The wind stirred across the ground, sifting over the grass and tossing her hair. It caught the pale green ribbon that was tied over so gently around her slender neck and it floated up into the air, almost like a beacon directing attenion to that area of her body.
"Have fun picking up after us lowly humans," she said, curtsying to him with that smile she knew would hopefully always test his resevation and ability to hold back. As if to antagonise him further, in her curtsy with her head tilted down she flashed her bright green eyes up at him, peircing towards him with unyeilding efficiency.
Then she was standing staight and graceful again, slowly turning she reached behind her and lifted to hood over her head, the one that was attached to the lovely green dress she wore. It was the uniform of a Queen's Maiden. It concealed her silver hair, a traight that no other Maiden had. She reached inside the hood and grabbed a lose peice of fabric, pulling it around in front of her face and fastening it to the other side of the satine hood . The only thing left to be seen was the soft tan flesh of her brow, the arch of her nose, and the bright green of her sharp eyes.
She wonder if he would follow her to further antagonise their cute little war, or if he would actually go back to the mundane duty of cleaning up after the very thing he seemed above. She also wondered if she'd ever make it to that meeting on time if he did decide to forget the task at hand.
The wind stirred across the ground, sifting over the grass and tossing her hair. It caught the pale green ribbon that was tied over so gently around her slender neck and it floated up into the air, almost like a beacon directing attenion to that area of her body.
"Have fun picking up after us lowly humans," she said, curtsying to him with that smile she knew would hopefully always test his resevation and ability to hold back. As if to antagonise him further, in her curtsy with her head tilted down she flashed her bright green eyes up at him, peircing towards him with unyeilding efficiency.
Then she was standing staight and graceful again, slowly turning she reached behind her and lifted to hood over her head, the one that was attached to the lovely green dress she wore. It was the uniform of a Queen's Maiden. It concealed her silver hair, a traight that no other Maiden had. She reached inside the hood and grabbed a lose peice of fabric, pulling it around in front of her face and fastening it to the other side of the satine hood . The only thing left to be seen was the soft tan flesh of her brow, the arch of her nose, and the bright green of her sharp eyes.
She wonder if he would follow her to further antagonise their cute little war, or if he would actually go back to the mundane duty of cleaning up after the very thing he seemed above. She also wondered if she'd ever make it to that meeting on time if he did decide to forget the task at hand.
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OnlineSoran Nightblade
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Re: End Game
Vlad just smiled widely as Tenele shook herself off and reminded him that he'd have to re-gather the garbage. There was some truth to that statement. Fortunately, at about that time, one of the royal gardeners had the misfortune to walk by. A few moments, later, a very frazzled gardener was left sullenly stabbing at the trash with a stick while Vlad appeared beside Tenele and fell into step with her toward the castle. From the look on his face, it seemed obvious that he'd done nothing inappropriate in the least, at least by his reckoning.
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OnlineEmora Deen
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Re: End Game
She smirked, the smirk hidden behind the soft satin veil. "Ooo, your going to get into even more trouble, if you don't watch it," she told him, reaching out with a slender fingere and poking his side playfully. "The advisors will be up in arms about castle vampire not taking his punishment like a good follow." She turned her head in his direction as she stepped up the steps and through the door back into the palace. "Not that you care, huh?"
"This meeting should be interesting, it might not bore you. First, I need to meet with the abassador before he is brought to the Queen. Just to make sure everything is fine and he's not a assassin in disguise. Care to come along, or do you have anything more interesting to do?"
"This meeting should be interesting, it might not bore you. First, I need to meet with the abassador before he is brought to the Queen. Just to make sure everything is fine and he's not a assassin in disguise. Care to come along, or do you have anything more interesting to do?"
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OnlineSoran Nightblade
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Re: End Game
Vlad gave an unimpressed grin that made rolling his eyes completely unnecessary. Meetings were not his cup of tea, but disgruntling the anal twits that enjoyed holding them usually provided at least mild entertainment. "Sounds riveting," he snorted, mentally flicking away a piece of paper that was still stuck in her hair.
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OnlineEmora Deen
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Re: End Game
Tenele smirked, adjusting the hood over her head and turning down a corridor. There were several people coming in through the main door. A procession of Ighten soldiers around a procession of different guards. These guards were dressed in chestnut brown tunic and pants. They wore a deep crimson sash around there waists and hooked into that sash was a large curved sword. Each one wore a red turban around there head. There were six going down either side, three in the front, and three in the back. In the middle walked an unusally tall man. He had to be close to seven feet.
His arms were long and gangly, his skin a very dark brown. He was dressed in all white with a shimering metallic gold cloth turban wrapped upon the top of his head.
Suddenly Tenele found herself flanked by five guards, that had been waiting for her return. They followed behind her, knowing that if there were any trouble she and the vampire could very well take care of themselves. It was just for show, of course.
The procession stopped and Tenele glanced behind him, noting that walking in the distance and coming up the steps were people carrying bowls and chests upon there heads and in there arms. Gifts to the Quene, she assumed.
The Outerland soldiers parted in a graceful bow and the talk man proceeded forward. "Prince Hassef," she greeted, bowing her head.
He put one arm behind his back and one before him, tilting forward in a low bow. "I have come, bearing gifts for her magesty, and I request and audience with her."
"Your request has been granted," Tenele said, green eyes roaming over all that was standing in the great hall. "Please do not take this the wrong way, but we must have your gifts searched before they can be brought to the queen. The war that is coming, and the recent attacks on her life have led us to take every possible procaution."
"I understand," he replied, his deep black eyes training on Vladimir curiously.
"You will also only be allowed to take two guards with you into the chamber. I know that your men would not let you go alone, but this is as many as we may allow."
He nodded his head again, still a little transfixed by Vladimir. Possibly because vampires were uncommon in his land.
"Very well, since you agree to the terms, I ask you to follow me..."
She turned, and the guards that had been flanking them folded in around side and behind the prince as they headed towards the thrown room.
His arms were long and gangly, his skin a very dark brown. He was dressed in all white with a shimering metallic gold cloth turban wrapped upon the top of his head.
Suddenly Tenele found herself flanked by five guards, that had been waiting for her return. They followed behind her, knowing that if there were any trouble she and the vampire could very well take care of themselves. It was just for show, of course.
The procession stopped and Tenele glanced behind him, noting that walking in the distance and coming up the steps were people carrying bowls and chests upon there heads and in there arms. Gifts to the Quene, she assumed.
The Outerland soldiers parted in a graceful bow and the talk man proceeded forward. "Prince Hassef," she greeted, bowing her head.
He put one arm behind his back and one before him, tilting forward in a low bow. "I have come, bearing gifts for her magesty, and I request and audience with her."
"Your request has been granted," Tenele said, green eyes roaming over all that was standing in the great hall. "Please do not take this the wrong way, but we must have your gifts searched before they can be brought to the queen. The war that is coming, and the recent attacks on her life have led us to take every possible procaution."
"I understand," he replied, his deep black eyes training on Vladimir curiously.
"You will also only be allowed to take two guards with you into the chamber. I know that your men would not let you go alone, but this is as many as we may allow."
He nodded his head again, still a little transfixed by Vladimir. Possibly because vampires were uncommon in his land.
"Very well, since you agree to the terms, I ask you to follow me..."
She turned, and the guards that had been flanking them folded in around side and behind the prince as they headed towards the thrown room.
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OnlineSoran Nightblade
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Re: End Game
Vlad raised his eyebrows slightly and appraised the unfamiliar dark-skinned men, particularly the one that was staring at him. He had to admit that his interest was piqued. He'd heard nothing of foreign visitors, and these didn't look like Ongorethan men. They certainly weren't ambassadors from Arken, and that left only one real option; they were from the "Outerland" tribes. How he could be unaware they were coming was a mystery, except that he had been rather deeply distracted by Tenele's situation over the past several weeks. He took the liberty of continuing to study the visitors as if they were very odd pieces of art. It was very rare that he encountered things he hadn't seen before. His evaluative gaze moved to the red cloth that was wrapped around the man's head. He thought that it couldn't possibly be within anyone's fashion sense to wear such a thing, so he leaned toward the conclusion that men from the Outerlands simply had very large, unsightly heads that had to be covered with cloth.
Had he been more certain of the proper way to insult the garment, he would probably have proceeded with a mocking comment, but he had an itching suspicion that their culture would not grasp his sense of humor. Heck, Ighten's culture didn't appear to get it either. Picking up garbage.... He scoffed at no one in particular as he proceeded with the men into the throne room. He immediately sought and located Sinead sitting in her throne across the room. He made note of where every body in the room stood in relation to hers, and clicked without effort into bodyguard mode.
"Welcome. It is very good to meet you. I am Sinead, Queen of these lands." Sinead said, a bit more slowly than she would normally speak. Her wizards had cast a light enchantment on the room that would give a shadow of meaning behind spoken words that could transcend the difference between their countries' languages, but it was still a far cry from fluent conversation. She fought back the urge to stare at them; she had not met with representatives from the Outerlands for many, many years, and certainly not in such a formal setting. "We are pleased by your visit. You must have had a long journey. Please sit," she said, gesturing toward the long table that stood in the room. Her throne sat at the head, but the table was designed to give a semblance of equality, rather than the old tradition of perched ruler to kneeling guest.
Had he been more certain of the proper way to insult the garment, he would probably have proceeded with a mocking comment, but he had an itching suspicion that their culture would not grasp his sense of humor. Heck, Ighten's culture didn't appear to get it either. Picking up garbage.... He scoffed at no one in particular as he proceeded with the men into the throne room. He immediately sought and located Sinead sitting in her throne across the room. He made note of where every body in the room stood in relation to hers, and clicked without effort into bodyguard mode.
"Welcome. It is very good to meet you. I am Sinead, Queen of these lands." Sinead said, a bit more slowly than she would normally speak. Her wizards had cast a light enchantment on the room that would give a shadow of meaning behind spoken words that could transcend the difference between their countries' languages, but it was still a far cry from fluent conversation. She fought back the urge to stare at them; she had not met with representatives from the Outerlands for many, many years, and certainly not in such a formal setting. "We are pleased by your visit. You must have had a long journey. Please sit," she said, gesturing toward the long table that stood in the room. Her throne sat at the head, but the table was designed to give a semblance of equality, rather than the old tradition of perched ruler to kneeling guest.
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OnlineEmora Deen
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Re: End Game
Tenele went up and took her seat next to the Queen, and another Maiden took the seat to her left.
"I find your city very beautiful," he said, though he seemed to be struggling to think of the right words. It surprised Tenele that he could speak there language so well, given the fact there two cultures had remained relatively unmixed. Long ago when the Outerlands had sided with Shea, most of the contact with them had been cut off.
Which made Tenele very suspicious of why these people would suddenly want to bring themselves back into the Ighten loop. She didn't like it, but then again she could be wrong. Maybe they finally saw the dark abyss that was Shea. Though, no matter how much her thoughts tried to justify the meeting, her logical side was in overdrive.
The God of Darkness's original patrionage was the Outerlands. It wasn't until he found the need to bring his black heart and deeds to Heirot that it completely fell appart. It made her wary of anything having to do with them, since they seemed so imbeded with that dark God. Not just this tribe, but all the other tribes.
Its not to say that all of the tribes were bad. For all she knew this one was very good. She should stop jumping to conclusions, she told herself.
"I come bringing a message from the High King of my land," he said. "The Queen of Arken has made trips to his court in attempt to sway him into joining her cause. But, he has yet to make a decision. As it has been for many years, the Outerland has sided with Arken. However, the High King is new, and wishes to make changes to his kingdom... He has not made a decision as of yet, because he wishes for your highness to come and state you case before him. Before he chooses which side, he would like to understand the facts of the situation, and here out both opponents."
That floored Tenele, for it was the first time she had ever heard of anyone opening refusing Shea... and to be brave enough to suggest to the Witch Queen that she would have to fight for his allegiance... That made this even more unbelievable.
"The High King requests the honor of your presence in his court, or someone fitting and with the power to speak for you." He finished his speach, bowing his head respectfully. He was so tall that he had to lean over the table and clasp his hands together to remain comfortable in his chair.
"I find your city very beautiful," he said, though he seemed to be struggling to think of the right words. It surprised Tenele that he could speak there language so well, given the fact there two cultures had remained relatively unmixed. Long ago when the Outerlands had sided with Shea, most of the contact with them had been cut off.
Which made Tenele very suspicious of why these people would suddenly want to bring themselves back into the Ighten loop. She didn't like it, but then again she could be wrong. Maybe they finally saw the dark abyss that was Shea. Though, no matter how much her thoughts tried to justify the meeting, her logical side was in overdrive.
The God of Darkness's original patrionage was the Outerlands. It wasn't until he found the need to bring his black heart and deeds to Heirot that it completely fell appart. It made her wary of anything having to do with them, since they seemed so imbeded with that dark God. Not just this tribe, but all the other tribes.
Its not to say that all of the tribes were bad. For all she knew this one was very good. She should stop jumping to conclusions, she told herself.
"I come bringing a message from the High King of my land," he said. "The Queen of Arken has made trips to his court in attempt to sway him into joining her cause. But, he has yet to make a decision. As it has been for many years, the Outerland has sided with Arken. However, the High King is new, and wishes to make changes to his kingdom... He has not made a decision as of yet, because he wishes for your highness to come and state you case before him. Before he chooses which side, he would like to understand the facts of the situation, and here out both opponents."
That floored Tenele, for it was the first time she had ever heard of anyone opening refusing Shea... and to be brave enough to suggest to the Witch Queen that she would have to fight for his allegiance... That made this even more unbelievable.
"The High King requests the honor of your presence in his court, or someone fitting and with the power to speak for you." He finished his speach, bowing his head respectfully. He was so tall that he had to lean over the table and clasp his hands together to remain comfortable in his chair.
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Re: End Game
Sinead looked at the foreigner with the polite mask she wore at most political negotiations. "I mean you no offense, Prince Hassef, but how is it that your King could expect me to submit an ambassador to the country that was once my enemy, on undisclosed business, during this time of war?" she asked him, folding her hands lightly on the polished surface of the table.
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OnlineEmora Deen
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Re: End Game
Hassef smiled a broad smile, revealing the several gold rimmed teeth. "I would think that your highness would see it fit to brave such possible dangerous for the chance at winning the favor of a kingdom long since deemed an enemy?" He said it in the most polite way he could possibly manage, but it still didn't make it any less condesending to Tenele.
"Yes, it would be a risk, I assume, given you do not trust us... But, wouldn't the risk be worth it because of the possibilty of such great reward?" He bowed his head each time he finished speaking, glancing up with his black eyes. His long nails tapped once across the table top.
Tenele's green eyes flashed towards Sinead, wondering what the Queen was thinking about the situation.
"Yes, it would be a risk, I assume, given you do not trust us... But, wouldn't the risk be worth it because of the possibilty of such great reward?" He bowed his head each time he finished speaking, glancing up with his black eyes. His long nails tapped once across the table top.
Tenele's green eyes flashed towards Sinead, wondering what the Queen was thinking about the situation.
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Re: End Game
Sinead's neutral expression showed the first trace of a frown. When she spoke, it was with the same polite calmness, but slower. The speed somehow carried in it the weight of her displeasure. "This war is born of a feud older than any your king or his grandfather, or his grandfather can remember. It is a war between immortal powers who each hold reign over such wholly different forces that the moral ambiguity carried by war no longer exists. To express it in somewhat cliche'd terms, it is a battle between good and evil. The force that wins is to be the destiny of this world. Loyalty in this war is a choice of values, not something to be achieved with gifts. And you still wish me to court your honor?"
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OnlineEmora Deen
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Re: End Game
Hassef frowned as well. "His exellency the High King has only had the influence of the Kingdom of Arken and mighty Verin, the Dark God... He knows full and well what both fight for. He only wishes to see what Ighten is fighting for. He wishes to see what Ighten is about. He needs no gifts, just the honor of your presence in his court..."
Tenele leaned forward, finding it a little hard to keep her tongue silent at the moment. She tried her best, and actually managed to hold back the retort.
"I'm sure his excellency will understand your wishes," Hassef replied, rising to his feet. "As I see there is no swaying you to the diplomacy in this matter. We shall let things be as they always have, then? Arken and the whole Outerland's against Ighten and the small isle of Ongoreth."
'And we still manage to kick your ass every time,' Tenele thought, but bit her tongue hard to keep from saying it.
She sighed, knowing as much as she liked they shouldn't let him walk out and leave. There was too much of a chance that they could possibly resolve matters with the High King of the Outerlands... And, then again, there was a possibilty that they were just yanking their chains...
"My Queen," Tenele said, glancing to Sinead. "Might it be wise to discuss this matter with the advisers before giving him our final answer?" The sparkle and narrowed action in her eyes meant that she wanted to speak with her in a more private room.
Tenele leaned forward, finding it a little hard to keep her tongue silent at the moment. She tried her best, and actually managed to hold back the retort.
"I'm sure his excellency will understand your wishes," Hassef replied, rising to his feet. "As I see there is no swaying you to the diplomacy in this matter. We shall let things be as they always have, then? Arken and the whole Outerland's against Ighten and the small isle of Ongoreth."
'And we still manage to kick your ass every time,' Tenele thought, but bit her tongue hard to keep from saying it.
She sighed, knowing as much as she liked they shouldn't let him walk out and leave. There was too much of a chance that they could possibly resolve matters with the High King of the Outerlands... And, then again, there was a possibilty that they were just yanking their chains...
"My Queen," Tenele said, glancing to Sinead. "Might it be wise to discuss this matter with the advisers before giving him our final answer?" The sparkle and narrowed action in her eyes meant that she wanted to speak with her in a more private room.
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Re: End Game
Sinead glanced at Tenele, their eyes connecting for a moment. "Remain a moment longer, Prince Hassef," she said to her strange guest. "I would like a moment to speak to my maiden and advisors, in private. She saw him turn around, and she showed him no hint of desperation. She knew that the foreigners would wait. They had not come all this way to return emptyhanded, whatever their motive.
When that was settled, she gestured toward Tenele. Vlad remained standing near their guests and watched the maiden with a curious stare as she and the queen made their way from the room. What was that girl up to now?
When the queen, Tenele, and her four advisors had assembled in a small adjoining chamber, Sinead turned to Tenele. "Speak to me your thoughts, my maiden?"
When that was settled, she gestured toward Tenele. Vlad remained standing near their guests and watched the maiden with a curious stare as she and the queen made their way from the room. What was that girl up to now?
When the queen, Tenele, and her four advisors had assembled in a small adjoining chamber, Sinead turned to Tenele. "Speak to me your thoughts, my maiden?"
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OnlineEmora Deen
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Re: End Game
"Well, obviously something is up, we can smell that..." Tenele glance to the door, lowering her voice. "Something isn't sitting well... If you sent an abassador to unstable territory it would be logical that you would send an armada with them... and we cannot afford to let our ships far from the port at this time. I think that they are hoping for us to lower our fleet in the capital harbor.Its the only thing I can even think of. Then, again I could be over reacting and their could be a chance of peace."
Tenele glanced to the door yet again, as if she expected someone to walk through. "But, I don't think this chance of peace would just suddenly come up. I feel it in my gut. There is something that their expecting us to do... we can't do it."
Tenele glanced to the door yet again, as if she expected someone to walk through. "But, I don't think this chance of peace would just suddenly come up. I feel it in my gut. There is something that their expecting us to do... we can't do it."
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Re: End Game
Sinead nodded thoughtfully. "This is, of course, true."
"But what if there's a chance?" spoke one of the advisors. "Their words make sense; it is only natural to understand both sides before selecting one. We have had no interaction with the Outerlands. If they know nothing of Good, how can they comprehend that their behavior is evil?"
"That's just absurd, though. They've got to know that much. They must think us gullible twits to use such an argument," spoke a second advisor.
"Gullible is one word for it. But if we were circuitous and calculating, we wouldn't be what we are," spoke the first again.
"You are saying that the fate of the good is to be naive," Sinead said, pondering their words. "That if there is even a chance to introduce good to an entire realm, we must take it despite our suspicions?"
"
"But what if there's a chance?" spoke one of the advisors. "Their words make sense; it is only natural to understand both sides before selecting one. We have had no interaction with the Outerlands. If they know nothing of Good, how can they comprehend that their behavior is evil?"
"That's just absurd, though. They've got to know that much. They must think us gullible twits to use such an argument," spoke a second advisor.
"Gullible is one word for it. But if we were circuitous and calculating, we wouldn't be what we are," spoke the first again.
"You are saying that the fate of the good is to be naive," Sinead said, pondering their words. "That if there is even a chance to introduce good to an entire realm, we must take it despite our suspicions?"
"