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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PieAndDragon" data-source="post: 3822774" data-attributes="member: 18108">Sorcerer’s GuardThe salamander was uncomfortable here, surrounded by deep water as far as the eye could see, with only a few miles worth of land to trust in. Whenever he saw the Sea of Ghanis, his mind was flooded with visions of mighty waves sweeping everything away in their path, torrents of water flooding all beneath the sea. He kept to the palace when possible, avoiding any sight or sound of the sea.Far from his desert home, among foreigners of one land, on an island claimed by second, little was familiar to Krengsak. Serving as a personal guard to a salamander of the Kwengjai Great Family, he kept alert for threats from everyone and everything, seeing dangers all around.His charge, Kwengjai Praxian, was a skilled sorcerer and member of the Embassy, serving as an advisor to the Ambassador. Although the desert warrior was proud to serve such as Praxian, his charge’s duties so far consisted of consuming fine foods alongside other high-ranking salamanders of the Embassy, enjoying the Summer Palace the Lord of Southguard had provided.This morning, a salamander servant of the Ambassador had approached Praxian, bearing a message a leader among the Embassy. Krengsak’s charge and a second high-ranking salamander, Changon Kwanjai, had left their food and companions to accompany the servant. And where Praxian went, Krengsak followed.Others awaited them when they reached the reception chambers, more staff and servants of the Embassy, several whom the desert warrior had noticed in his time here. Three humans of Mejan were present, two tense and alert while the third, handsome in the eyes of humans, was at ease conversing with a goblin bedecked in charms and totems.A siv garbed in dark clothes, face cowled by a hood, tried to sink into the darkest corner of the room, avoiding attention from the others. Kwengjai had heard several rumours concerning that one, who hid in the lowest parts of the palace, working on private projects for the Ambassador and his closest advisors.The last of them stood away from the rest, proud and tall, clearly a warrior by his bearing. Kwengjai knew this of this one too, a translator named Zahrul only recently joined to the Embassy, speaking tongues of the pech, night fey and forest creatures.The salamanders took seats which were evidently for them, upright cylinders, with angled grooves on which tails could rest. Krengsak noted several of those gathered glancing at the colours marking his two companions, black and deep orange for the Kwengjai, and dark orange with bright yellow for the Changon.After a few minutes waiting, a side door opened and a naiad entered the room, greenish-blue skin slick and smooth under rich robes of grey, lined with light blue. Long green hair marked her as a female of the race, water-kin as salamanders were fire-kin. After casting her eyes over those gathered, she motioned for human servants to drag in a metal tub, soon filled with water and from where she addressed those gathered, still fully dressed.Krengsak kept alert for danger as the naiad spoke, watching the siv and goblin in particular. Trying to converse in Mejannish at first, she soon switched to the tongue of the Sohalian Kingdoms when neither the tain nor the goblin could follow what was said. She was Hochtli Yaotl, in charge of issues of intelligence for the Ambassador and among his inner circle of advisors.The room was quiet, but for the lisping voice of the naiad, accompanied by the occasionally splash from her bath. All of those gathered had been recommended to her, and chosen for special duties. They were being placed under the command of Kumiko Sadaharu, chief aide of the Ambassador, who would give them more instructions as needed.Few questions were asked, but Krengsak did scrutinise those around him closely once more, sure that the future would bring them together again, and for a longer time.</blockquote>

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