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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BenBrown" data-source="post: 5491191" data-attributes="member: 1642">Mallaby smiles at the girl.   "You find my words amusing, little one?" he says.  "Perhaps soon you will find someone who will say such words to you, for you too have a beauty that I can see within.""My lord Goldenhorn, I apologize if I have taken undue liberties with your servant.  To the matter at hand, then.  As I have said, I must arrive at my destination before the first moon of summer has reached its fullness, for on that day. . ." Mallaby pauses, and a broad smile come over his face.  "On that day, I am to be married."There lives within the walls of Daunton, a beauteous creature who has captured my heart.  Her name is Elena of Terconis, daughter of the Count of Terconis.  She is such a beauty as the poets sing of, and a marked wit, too, learned in all the arts and letters.  Her speech is clearest water, bubbling from a spring upon a hillside.  Her hair a cataract of gold, falling in roiling rapids upon her shoulders.  Her smile--ah, her smile.  I am too poor a poet to have words to present it properly.   And she--this glorious lady--has consented to become my wife."Terconis is an ancient house, but one with few branches living.  She is the counts only child and only heir.   There is a tradition, she tells me, in her family--a pact with the gods, of sorts--that when a sole heir of the family is to be married, in order to maintain the favor of the gods and the fortunes of the family, the wedding must take place at the ancient chapel of the Terconis family."Why, then, must I have armed escort, if I go only to a chapel?  House Terconis is, like mine, a house in exile.  The ancient Terconis estates, and the chapel in Count's Crovale, lies in the high hills of old Allaria."It is there that I shall be wed, and it is there that I must travel.  The lady Elena and her father have departed already, with armed escort, and will take the longer but wider path.  It is not meet that bride and groom travel together before the ceremony, but I have been given a map with the path to Count's  Crovale and the chapel, and a book of the ritual, so that I may rehearse my part on my journey."This, then, is my goal.   The journey across the seas is unpredictable, and so I must leave as soon as I have a worthy escort assembled.  I of course will provide compensation.  I have no doubt of your willingness to help the cause of love, as all of you stepped forward so eagerly, but I do realize some of you are not men of means, and you must eat."Mallaby turns to each person at the table in turn."Master Graval, Master Zardi will you join me?   I hope our journey is peaceful, but it is rough country, and I suspect there will be employment for your axes.""Master Sarak, your experience with the Allarian continent may prove invaluable, and your sword is welcome.  Will you join me?""Sir Eraden, if your shield and sword are as eager as your heart for this, we can not but be safe.  Will you join me?""Master Perinthius, will you join me?  You wear no armor, and I suspect you of a connection to things mystical.  This will be a boon to our company.""Lord Goldenhorn, your people are little-known to me, but you are of princely blood.  Will you join me in this?"Mallaby motions to his manservant to fill the cups again."My friends, time grows short," he says.  "The captain of my ship tells me that high tide is half an hour before sunset tonight, and that is when we must depart.  Judkin will remain here to answer your questions, if you have any, but I must depart.  The brig Starlight's Veil waits at anchor.  If you will join me, meet me there.  Farewell until then."Blowing a kiss to the barmaid, Lord Adelin Mallaby saunters towards the door, and out into the streets of Daunton.[sblock=ooc]<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/living-4th-edition/302660-adventure-get-me-church-time-dm-benbrown-judge-tbd.html" target="_blank">Adventure Thread</a>  Feel free to post arrivals at the ship.[/sblock]</blockquote>

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