JA's - The Prince's Own

[ghostcat]

While small talk is not Yevas' favourite activity, he is actually quite good at it. That said it took all of his self-control to stop himself from telling an off-colour joke to the king. Instead he keeps up a stream of inconsequential chatter, while trying to find out as much about his companions as possible.

One of the things that Yevas has been taught is how to make a report. So having paused a few minutes to arrange his thoughts and determine what is significant and what can be safely left out he says "OK. I'll start. The evening seemed normal up to the time I went to bed. I was careful what I drank as I wanted to on my top form in the morning. Although I must admit, I was a bit merry when I turned in. Once in bead, I went out like a light. The drink I had consumed shouldn't have effected me like that, so its possible I was drugged. If so, I didn't detect it.

Things started to go wrong when I woke up. I don't know what woke me but I was still in the same bunk that I had lay down in the previous night. As for the time, I don't know but it was early. Looking round there was blood and dead bodies everywhere. Leaving the tent, I spotted a number of other people; I believe that they are all in the room. Someone, I don't recall who, spotted what looked like a silver book which was chained to the stage. I managed to stop anyone touching it while I checked for traps. Where the chains joined the stage was trapped. Looking under the stage, the area where the chains joined was what I can only describe as a black mirror of swirling darkness.

At this stage I realised that I was out of my depth and went to check the tents. But apart from the dead bodies there was nothing significant. I got back to the stage just as we observed a heavily armed, mounted party approaching. At this point someone opened the book and things just got weird."

At this point Yevas stop talking to take a gulp from his glass before continuing "A piercing wail deafened me and the world began to go black. I saw a figure struggling against the darkness which appeared to be pouring out of the box and tried to make my way towards the shelter the silver light that surrounded him.

At this stage things got even weirder as it seemed as if a great red dragon appeared from nowhere and breathed fire over me and the figure. It felt like I was been squeezed and roasted at the same time but somehow I managed to reach the light This seemed to offer some protection but the pressure and heat where still unbearable.

At this point I was as close to death as I ever want to be and I had the impression of several golden figures and an old woman. The woman leaned on her cane stretched forth a hand and said "I seal the doors of time and space let none enter that does not have my grace" I don't know why but while all the rest is a jumble of impressions and somehow unreal, this part stands out clear and distinct. Again a jumble of hazy impressions before a bright sunlight filled song, speaking of courage and honor and above all duty; seemed to resonate with something in my very soul. More jumbled impressions then a voice, not the old lady or the singer, said "Blood of my Blood, I call you to me, Come to me and heed my call" Then I think I died but was brought back by a voice,it may or may have been the same as the last voice, "Love for Love, bonded in blood, answer my hearts call and you shall stand against all." Then I woke up in the hospital.

So that's my impressions. I hope that makes more sense to you then it does to me."

 

[J. Alexander]

Brendan and Caleb view is very similiar to each others. They each enjoyed the festivaties and admit to drinking more than their fair share of wine. They both relate a similar dragon and fire and the sense of safety in the light.

Walsh however has a different story ...while his activities are the same as the party the night before he relates.."I did see an image of a dragon but i sensed more of a time perhaps even planar shift tied to it as well as the summoning and necromatic tinge. "I do not know if this matters but I sense there was somthing else wishing to come thru...that there was a lingering presence waiting for an opportuinity to pounce"

 

[Thanee]

Kyra

Kyra hasn't anything new to add to Yevas very thorough explanation (except maybe, that she was the one who found the book, but that detail doesn't really seem important or noteworthy), so she keeps listening to what the others have to say.

 

[Axel]

Declan

Declan had waited until another had gone first. That way the level of detail required was established, along with any cross-examination from the King himself. He spent the time fingering the silvered holy symbol around his neck, thinking and listening. Forgive me Mirandia for what I am about to say, but justice demands nothing but the whole truth today. Sensing an opening, Declan took a deep breath and leaped in.

"Your majesty, ladies, gents. I think we may be missing some details. Likely there are hints to be found in the whom, which is undetermined as yet, by comparing the people and events of the afternoon prior."

"My own time was comparatively uninteresting. The morning was spent arguing with my so-called host over what constitutes hot water for washing and shaving, and the quality of lodging provided for the price. I had intended to call at the grand temple of Abadar prior to the festivitie but found myself short of time, and did not. Would that I had... Declan pauses briefly, wishing he had the power to rewind time and take the day over.

"On passing through the entrance barrier I began watching an entertaining interpretation of Dryzith's work, and struck up an acquaintance with an agreeably pleasant girl who gave her name as Mirandia. Things quickly moved on to more...ahem....private activities." The young man blushed almost as red as his hair, and quickly moved on.

"On emerging from a tent that we used, it was almost time for the toasts to begin. I only managed a place towards the back, and sadly drank too much too quickly to remember a great deal afterwards. I do not recall, however, seeing Mirandia joining the toast.

"I heard nothing and saw nothing during the night, likely because of the drink. On waking I left a tent to relieve myself - though I cannot recall entering the tent. The first I knew of what had occurred was when I stepped in a large pool of congealing blood. Declan gulps at the memory, and presses on.

"As others have mentioned, someone, I can't recall who, discovered a chained silver box on the stage. It was examined physically by Yevas and magically by Henry and assisted by myself and one of the ladies. Ladies, I am sorry but I don't recall which of you it was. I recall him mentioning the artefact possessed Summoning, Necromantic, Demonic and Illusory properties. There was some heraldic device on the artefact that I did not recognise. Some artefact, I must say! Even though he had been the victim of the magical artefact, Declan could still appreciate the artistry that went into its construction.

"What happened after the box was opened has been well described by Yevas. My experience was similar, if not identical."

 

[Scotley]

Henry's mouth is dry and he finds it hard to focus. It has occurred to him that the reason he doesn't remember seeing the 5 new men is that they could have been hiding evidence of their deeds when he and the others were examining the box. He is very wary of the placement of the king and the newcomers and keeps his eyes open for a weapon of some sort should this turn out to be nothing but a complex plot to reach the king.

"I can add but little to what the others said. I enjoyed the music, drinking and theatrical performances last night very much. I had already had a good bit to drink when the toasting started. For this reason I slept very soundly. I awoke to a scene out of nightmare. Blood and bodies everywhere. Those who were not dead were completely unmarked and had no blood upon them. We began to work together looking for any left alive or any clues. Finding but a few of us alive and no obvious threats we turned our attention to the box." Henry takes a sip of brandy before continuing.

"I have some very minor knowledge of magic and began to examine it finding a complex weave of spells well beyond my understanding. The symbol on the box was identified as belonging to an older dynasty the Deloran family by one of our number. That seemed to bring as many questions as answers. Perhaps you will have some sense of what that might mean." Henry watches the king closely for some reaction to this.

"Curse me for a fool, but as the troops began to approach and we reached our limits in terms of understanding from studying the outside of the box, I flipped it open. My thought was that we had no explanation for the events of the morning and no reason why would should be spared. I thought that perhaps our dreams of service to the crown and a bright future were coming to an end. I foolishly hoped the answers would be within the box. But alas all I found were more questions."

He looks down for a moment before continuing. "I do not know if what I saw after that might be real or dream. Indeed now I cannot help but wonder if anything that has happened in the last 24 hours was real of if I have slipped over into madness. I will tell you what I saw, but I cannot say for certain any of it was real."

"A figure surrounded in silver light was struggling to hold back the darkness and I sensed hope or safety in that light and tried to move toward it, but it began to fail with the arrival of the dragon. That is when new figures now in golden light and the old woman with the cane joined the struggle."

"The darkness seemed to continue on for an eternity when I began to hear s song. One that spoke of duty, honor and potential. I tried to join in to reach out to it, but there was a chill on my heart and I felt death was upon me. It was at this point when all seemed lost that I awoke in the embrace of a young man, who I presume I owe my life."

 

[J. Alexander]

Kiron then adds

I was enjoying the carnival atmosphere well and oddly enough I also meet a charming girl named Miranda. At which point he turns a dark crimison red. All i can recall is the dreams, when I was I was still in bed I am told and was breathing very shallow at which point I was taken to the healers" That is all i can remember.

The King then interejects "Interesting, so were down to perhaps poision or at least a heavy sedative and then skillful assasians"

 

[Rhun]

Vanessa adds what she can, but that is very little...being only the differences in perspective as seen through he eyes.

 

[Axel]

Declan

Declan squirms as Kiron mentions meeting his girl. From his facial expressions, meeting was certainly a metaphor.

"Your majesty, with all respect, poison doesn't open throats. There was a blade involved somewhere.

 

[Thanee]

Kyra

“Well, that is what the skilled assassins were for, then...” Kyra remarks with a slight smirk.

“This girl... Miranda? Hearing your tales about her, it really seems likely that she had a part in this,” she then says.

“Was the book we found on the stage actually there? Or was that part some kind of dream?”

 

[J. Alexander]

"The two i belive are linked" the king says.."poison to dull the senses and attributes and a blade to finish the job" then pausing.."The toasting was an ideal setting to slip a variety of drugs/posions into your system in such amouts that would be very hard to detect.


Peter then interjects "if I may my lord"..He then tells his story which is very similar to the others in addition to also having meet a charming lass name Miranda. His story then diverges slightly..."Somewhere along the 6 or 7 toast, i got a metallic taste in my mouth, at first I thought it was just bad wine or a combination of wines but by the 9 or 10 toast I got very very sleepy and went to find a bed. Instead of the dreams though that the others experienced, I felt as if i was afloat in a great fog bank that just seemed without end. It did not end until i was awakened by your majesty"

Then for the first time addressing a question directly, the king gestures to the table and you see the book that was upon the stage...you would swear it was not on the table second before.."No the book and threat are real"

Reactions please