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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Broccli_Head" data-source="post: 479348" data-attributes="member: 105">at long last...20 Ches, Year of Rogue Dragons : The Masked Ball, pt. IJenner Stormwolf took a deep breath as their carriage approached Castle Cormaeril. Ahead, a swan-necked, four-horse drawn carriage emptied its occupants."Elven embassy," whispered Kith, tonight in the disguise of a beatuiful female human. The doppleganger was being escorted by Kyros. Nosr accompanied Sandrine, the priestess of Tymora, while Jenner and Valeria (in a resplendent evening gown) rounded out the party. Manta, along with his students rode on the outside of the carriage as an honor guard.The movers and shakers of Westgate milled in the courtyard and grand entryway of the castle as music, together with warm-inviting light, spilled out from foyer and ballroom.Too much is happening and I must remain calm, Jenner thought as he exhaled taking the grandeur in. Valeria smirked at his apparent discomfort. To her the 'ball' was already looking a bit rustic. Quaint...I must think it quaint.Jenner's thoughts, however were elsewhere. The previous night, an attempt had been made to abduct Nosr. Some invisible creature, more silent than he remembered even Grim being, crept past the wards and began to fly away with the sorcerer before anyone knew what was happening. Had it not been for the quick-thinking of Kyros, and Nosr's explosion of spellfire Jenner's young ward would have been whisked away. They still had no idea what the entity had been. Then he said a quick prayer to Miliekki to grant Jhovan and Varen success on their part of the mission. ***Only Manta, recognized as a gladiator from the arena, was allowed to keep his greatsword, and even then it was peace-bonded. The rest only retained daggers for eating. Manta's students stayed with the carriage. The memebers of the Stormwolf Legion rubbed elbows with Westgate's elite. Servants and pages ran back and forth between the masked guests with trays of wine and spirits and appetizers. Manta, Kyros and Nosr were not shy. For some time the ball-goers mingled throughout several rooms that lay adjacent to the banquet hall. Some space was made for dancing and the many of the nobility twirled to the lastest Waterdhavian and Berduskan tunes.The Stormwolves remained cautious and aloof, and spoke only to the elven embassy, receiving snorts and haughty looks from the natives. Some time later, all heads turned to view the arrival of the most controversial guests at the affair. Even informed that They would be here, Jenner instinctively, reached for a non-existent weapon and Valeria gritted her teeth. Four red-robed wizards from Thay flanked by three Thayan knights cut a path through the crowd. Hushed whispers--which made the Red Wizard ambassador smile smugly all the more--followed them as the crowed parted.  Manta and Kyros, bristling with bravado and purposely walking into the path of the Thayan embassy,  were saved from a confrontation with the spikey-armor ladden knights by the dinner gong, and flitting servants, along with a relieved seneshal, ushered the guests in.  Dinner was pleasant and uneventful, the near-encounter with the Thayans forgotten. Sandrine, Valeria, and Jenner struck up conversation with the nearby table of the elven embassy.  As luck would have it, the Stormwolves seating had been arranged near the high tables. The Elven Embassy and Thayans sat at opposite ends of the long elevated table that commanded a view of the banquet hall. Between them sat Lord Cormaeril and his most-trusted advisors. Shortly, there were latecomers to the ball and they sauntered in as if they owned the place. Nosr clutched Manta's arm as he recognized one as the racist gold elf who had insulted him, Grim and the others here in Westgate. He involuntarily arched his back remembering the assassin's bolt that had pierced him. Somehow, Nosr held his composure, but he watched the elf's every move. Kith involuntarily turned away as he recognized several of the entourage as former co-workers. Night Masks! he mouthed urgently to Jenner. The gold elf went straight for the elven ambassador and began insulting her. His companions numbered around ten, but the ones that stood out as the rest blended in with the crowd, were three. Their leader, A handsome man with raven-black hair, escorted two pale, masked  beauties. They spilled their thick, red wine and laughed racuously being just as disruptive to the other nobles and guests as their elven companion. The Stormwolves eyed  them with caution and made ready to back up the elves if it were neccessary. Valeria smelled the evil that pervaded from these late arrivals. It outdarkened even that of her hated enemy and host Lord Cormaeril, leader of the Fire Knives. She wanted to attack or flee. Then the leader approached their place at the table and removed his mask:<img src="http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/pc_portraits/288_10Vampire.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /> "Draegan Guldar, at your service, Milady" he said as he bowed and reached for Valeria's hand as if to kiss it.Valeria, drew it back quickly with a warning glare. Guldar smiled revealing un-naturally white teeth. The others, save Jenner whose hair was on edge, were already flirting and captivated by the  nobleman's women.Before he could act however, Jenner's attention caught the sudden motion of an inconspicuous servant across the room. The servant dropped his wine-ladden tray, and took two steps towards the Thayans."Revenge is mine! Revenge for Celestia!" he cried waving his arms.And an explosion detonated amidst the surprised Thayan ambassador, Lord Bordulin.</blockquote>

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