NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BenBrown" data-source="post: 5697597" data-attributes="member: 1642">Mallaby awakens at first light.  From is pack he produces a set of clothes, not much finer than what he has been wearing, but clean.  He dresses in this new finery, cleaning himself with water from a rivulet nearby.  When all the  others are awake, he greets them."We have made good time, my friends," he says.  "Barring further hindrances, we will arrive before noon.  My beloved's party should be waiting for this, and from what she has told me, the ceremony will begin immediately."The book we found in the tower has some fascinating facts about the history of the ceremony.  The ritual only takes place when the ruling house of Crovale changes, and is intended to signify the transfer of the blessings of the gods upon the rulers of this land.  The house of Terconis has maintained its fortune in exile, while other noble houses of Allaria have fallen.  The house of Mallaby is one of the lucky ones.  While we have not kept the great riches of the Counts of Terconis, neither have we fallen into poverty ruin, as have so many, poor unhappy creatures."When there is no male heir to Crovale, as there is not now in the house of Terconis, then a ceremony must take place to mark the change of dynasty.  The lord of the new ruling house--which, apparently, I am--is married in this ceremony.  Traditionally, to the heiress of the previous house, if there is one.  The blessings of the gods pass to the new family, and the fortunes of that family are secure as long as its house lasts as lords of Crovale."I have been given the inestimable honor of participating in this ceremony, and it will be the house of Mallaby that henceforward shall claim the blessing of the gods.  It is not this blessing, though, that brings me to this place.  It is love."When I first met the beautiful Elena, I was smitten, for such a paragon of loveliness is not seen twice in a hundred years.  We talked that night in the garden of Lady Kesmir's house, and by morning, we were in love.  At balls, at dinners, at the theater, I saw her again and again throughout the next three months.  At last, I could wait no more, and asked her to give me the honor of taking her as my bride.  To my eternal joy, she accepted, and again we were inseperable for two months.  Then, one day, I came to her house, but she was not there.  Her father, the noble count, said she had gone into seclusion, which is traditional for her family prior to the wedding.  He then told me of their traditions and the ceremony.  I was only allowed to see her once after that, when she presented me with a book of the wedding ritual, and her father gave me instructions as to how to reach Crovale."Now, here we are, upon this momentous day."He looks at each of his companions in turn."Lord Goldenhorn, Master Sarak, Master Zardi, and Master Tyris, who has joined us so recently," he says, "to you, as well as to our other honorable companions that we were forced to leave behind, I give my thanks, and you will forever be able to count Lord Adelin Mallaby as a friend.  Now, let us proceed to the chapel.  My bride awaits, and surely, no man is ever happier than when a beautiful and loving woman pledges to spend her life with him."He turns towards the path to Crovale."Come, friends, let us go."</blockquote>

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