Luthien, of course, followed all etiquette and protocols as if he'd done this before. Because he has. Even though Kree was off doing his 'proud' thing, Luthien was more intent on being reasonably respectful. This was a man of power and prestige, after all.

And while it was true that he, as a Knight, owed allegiance to Tra, most of all, it was possible for mortals to earn respect, and one called an Emperor must have earned respect of some sort.

He did not speak until spoken too, for that too was protocol.

The instruction to be presentable struck reflexes ingrained into Foril.  His back straightened and his shoulders moved back with near military precision.  His robes and bearing would now likely make him relatively easy to hide behind.  "Me too..." he offered to Laithia, "I've known a few who would leap at a chance to improve their standing, but only a very few to make evil on others for it back home.  Then again formal unions were rare among my people.  It usually took two or three children and living together for some twenty years before unions were formed." Of course he was barely whispering, but imagined she could pick it out next to him.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:03, Mon 13 May 2013.

Rolf follows along, striving for patience.  On the hunt, he could sit still in the bush for hours until his prey came into sight, but he had found this did not translate well to the trappings of noble society.  Not that he walked with concern for he had done nothing to cause concern.  If a man didn't stand up for the rightness of his actions, then he wasn't much of a man.

Rolf does find the endless posturing by their esteemed leader tiresome though.  Why he seemed to feel the need to bluster about was beyond Rolf.  Still, he was glad that the captain had taken his stance on the weapons.  Rolf would not have liked walking into this den of hyena's without his trusty blade near at hand.

Looking at those about, even the warriors, Rolf saw little to impress him.  Armor that looks more a costume than something a man would wear into battle; outfits that reflected those who wore them, soft, supple and lacking in decency; the house itself was a monument to those looking to shore up their own flailing egos...

Allowing himself only a faint look of disapproval, Rolf crosses his arms about his chest and waits to hear what this lordling had to say.

Laithia breathes a sigh of relief as Foril as well as a few others seem to take on a more regal air to them. Like Kree and Ivy, Laithia remains completely unimpressed and merely nods at the emperor when it is time to greet him. The normally carefree elf is tense though as she stands next to Foril, her hair falling to cover her face as she stands so close to the other elf that her body is pressed against his.

"Here people enter into unions far too quickly. There must be a happy inbetween, not taking too long but long enough to make sure the union is stable," she says softly her voice lie Foril's so soft that only he could hear her.

  Emporer Lod stood as those who Bowed...bowed. And Noted with a smile  that Kree and Ivy did not. He  rose  from his Throne, Nelk Lod was the ..."student" Emperor...his Granfather was a well known warrior, that helped tame the lands , and entered into the alliance with the  Dwarves and Elves.....Nelk's Father was the 'Merchant' Emperor..his  way with deals and building the NAvies, spread  Ironmound's influence up and down the River Storm, and even to the Seas around Laynak....Nelk..was a Mageling, and  a Sage...he spent almost as much time in book, as he did in parties....

  CAptain Kree?  You do not deem me worth a Bow? his smile  was humorous  and  titters from around the  room made him look about  and  smile. His  Blonde hair  , hug in long curls as he then Nodded to Kree to speak.

 ..Your Highness.... I am  Captain Quickshadow of the  Crimson Arrows. A company whose sword are free, but..in time of Battle, would aid  Ironmound  and her allies...I...am Also..Clan Razorhawk, of the Black Timber....we are your allies...not your subjects....Black Timber Elves  Bow...to no one...

 His eyes  darted over to some elves  dressed in Light armor, Horseman by Trade, and their  shoulder patches  MArked them as Elves from Ironwood. The Youngest amoung them Briistled at Kree's look, but one of the older elves put a HAnd on his shoulder, and shook his  head...the Older elf, did not once, to Kree.

  Nelk smiled, seemingly entertained  By Kree's words...Well Spoken...and...are you not? The Kree Quickshadow, who was once a LT, in the Royal Guard?


  ..Aye...Your highness...but i left, when it became more Important to move up the ranks, and garner your favor, then rid the lands of the darkness that threatens it....

  There was Grumbles  from around the room, a few women's voices muttering  'how DARE he!'...One Lone  clap was heard, from near the Throne. A Dwarven  General, is armor shined, and his metals in place, but the armor had seen , many a battle, the arms that clapped, were  well muscled...the iron gray beard and hair of the Dwarf showed his age, But his Voice  was loud  and sharpe, but  rumbled  like  a cave in....and this...is why the Dwarves of  The Iron Mound...will fight  side by side  with the Elves of the Black Timer...Their bows shoot straight...and true...as do their  words...


  Nelk Grinned and Nodded as he  turned back to the Dwarf, then back to the Arrows,well said, General Axehammer..Indeed...My family has  had very good relations, with the Black Timber Elves... he waves his hand before him as he smiles and says, Please?  Captain Quickshadow?...will you introduce me to your people?

  Kree nodded his ehad, he began with Ivy and went   his way through, saving the  three Holy Warriors  for last, since  ( in his mind) they were more  Courtly-people.

  When his hand Motioned to Laithia..there was a Gasp, from  the side..as the woman heard her name...a look of anger, and shock on her face.

Laithia stood tall and proud as her name was announced. She was not about to appear humble or docile though she really wanted to avoid any commotion. When she heard the gasp, Laithia's eyes did not waver from the Emperor's as she once more nodded to him in greeting. The only one who was privy to her discomfort was Foril, whose arm was being squeeze by rather strong fingers. When she realized what she was doing, her hand immediately relaxed but there was still a tension the elf could feel due to their close proximity.

Foril smiled softly... he would have been glad had he known he was not considered courtly.  He would have been upset that the rather antisocial elf had considered any of them courtly.  It was after all almost an insult if Kree considered people fit for polite society given his interactions so far with others.  As it was he was content to be in the middle of the pack of names, easily overlooked, especially with the little outburst from... whatever the poor wreck of a woman's name was that Laithia had offended such time ago.

He would neglect to mention that sparkling clothes was generally a simple glamor that did little other than make you a target for enemy arrows.  Part of the reason Foril took to knives.  People tended to want to keep knives out of their backs, but other than that didn't give such a priority when it came to defeating them in combat.  Then came the explosions of light, fire, and frost that made enemies particularly more vulnerable to those knives later.

This was promising to shape into an interesting event non-the-less.

Luthien only nodded again when introduced.

"Your Imperial Majesty."

And having done the formal terms of address, he simply fell silent again, as befits a Knight of the Order.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:44, Tue 14 May 2013.

When presented to the Emperor Justin nodded respectfully addressing him appropriatley Your Imperial Majesty

When Diana was introduced, she gave a polite nod, and nothing else.  She certainly felt somehat uncomfortable in the current surroundings.  She wasn't fond of politics, or the pomp and circumstance that went with it.
silently, she just hoped this thing would move along, and they could get to the point of them being summoned quickly.

  The Emperor  motioned with a Hand  for Kree to step  up on the step he was standing. The Elf Looked at Ivy who shrugged and nodded  quickly. Kree took a step  up. more then a few guards stepped forward , with  an armed 'outlander' stepping so near their leader.

 Axe Hammer   waved them back as he stood near  Nelk , his hand rested on the  half of a Glittering  hammer.

 how many here...know of the Arrows..Hmmm? Nelk looked around the   large room his head inclined  so it looked as if he was staring down his nose.

   afew  people..some half-dozen raised their hands...5 men and One woman who wiggled her fingers at Ivy...who wiggle his back.

 ..Ahh..so...some education then.... he put his  arm around Kree's shoulder, which made more folks gasp and  mutter...the  sound of the mumbles rippling through the  room...Captain Kree..is the Leader  of one of the sevreral Units Of Crimson Arrows...they have a ...home..in Ironmound, and are Based, as a whole, in the Blacktimber forest...this....group..is made up  of Elves, for the most part, but many a freed slave, retired  warrior, or...adventurers down on thier  luck, have joined up.


..They have Often done bidding, that  Ironmound forces  could not do...for sack of politics..and...always seem to get the job down...no matter the cost.

  Kree's Father... he looks over at Kree,..I  may call you Kree..Aye?... without waiting for an answer....is Now the Lead Elder of the  Razorhawk Clan, the largest of the elven villages in the Black Timber..which...makes   Krell the leader of the largest group of Elves in Laynak...thus....Kree is now Consider the Third  Elder of his tribe....

 he waves his  hands  at some of the perplexed looks,..lets us  say...Prince? Hmmm?

 Kree, was..for once..at a Loss for words, Nelk  gave him a slight  Hug,..seems the High Elder was killed ..yestereve...some Cat folk were stalking the Blacktimber looking for  some stray Elfmaids...instead ,t he found the First elder and a band of archers...from what we have been told the Cat folk lost have their  company, but two of the Archers survived, and kept the  elven bodies from being taken...


  ..I bring this to your attention..because you now have some...authority...went it comes to your actions  against the  foes of the state....and..in that vien? We have  needs of your group...

 Ivy whispers aloud,annnnddd..there it is....

 Nelk smiled and bowed his head slightly to Ivy,Indeed..Master  Nightblade..indeed....two days  ago..a ship from Mouri was sailing towards  Ironmound with the Priincess Dala and her escorts...they were bringing  some Tax monies, as well as goods to sell...the ship was hit by pirates, somewhere between   the Orre River and Ironmound...it was taken and sailed back to the fork...and up the Widow River...troops on foot who had seen the battle passed word through mages and sages... and hit the Pirate ship escort  as well as the  Vessel from Mouri....it went  aground near the Top of the Furman's chain...word has it, that  some sailors  and the Princess are trying to go down the furman's chain and reach Olant...so they may sail back to here..and we  might provide them passage back home.  We need your Group...to head to Olant...and see if you might find them, befoe the Forces  of Hargen do?

   I...well...We shall take a ship to Olant, and se what we might be able to do....we have some small busniess in the city..with luck? we will leave no later, the mid-of-day

 splended!...now? I wish for you all to enjoy some of the foods here, and stay..perhaps an Hour?..it  will do the people good?..and... he smiles at the people around him as he says...the stern voice looking  out nover the gather courtly people....please try not to kill too many of them, should they...be...insulting? Hmmmm?

 He motions the  Arrows to the sideboards, saying,Come, good People, Meet the Arrows...and? If  any of the arrows  have any questions, Please..do not be shy, in approaching me...

 Kree frowned as he stepped down, Ivy was already half-way to the wine table, He looked at the waterclock  in the northeast corner...'one hour'..gods..it would be a long one...

In reply to Nelk Lod (msg # 42):

Justin took the earliset oppourtunity to express his condolances to Kree for his recent loss after which he sought out the High Priest of Thall greeting him respectfully If One may Devout of Thall he paused then continued One hath pledged to deliver word from Devout Gren Jord, to the temple of Thall, ast Thee be here wouldst Thee be willing to hear such.Justin asked

  The High Priest of Thrall  bows slightly to Justin . He listens to the Message and  nods...Thank You, Brother of Eta..it is good to know that the Temple still thrives, out there in the wilds...

In reply to Justin (msg # 44):

Justin nods once more if the high priest has nothing to add or ask he thanks the HP and returns to the Arrows

  Ivy is drinking  wine and nibbling on some sort of bird meat, while a few of the Ladies talk to him, touching his bow  , or blade, asking him for  stories and if he thought Human women were as good looking as Elven women.

 Some of them  men approached  Rolf, and asked him where he was from and what types of  enemies  his people had there.

 Luthien is  Greeted  by a pair of  sages, a young  man and woman, who ask him questions, on how he got tangled up with the Arrows. Diana and  Liathia  have  men and women coming to them asking them about their adventures  and what its like  fighting  for a living.

 Kash has a 'well fed' Mage motion for him to come over and talk with him.

 Foril is studied by some of the Men, as if gauging his path in life.

 Riku is approached  by  many of the younger people, asking her about her people, and what part she plays in the Arrows.

  Antok hands  Kree a glass of wine,..I would guess, You are extremely full of yourself  at this Moment...  his smile  fails to hide the affront he feels.

  Kree takes a sip of  wine, he  holds it up in the Direction of the Colonel. The  Colonel's eyes  narrow as he bows slightly to Kree, then turns and heads out of the room....for once..Antok?..You have the right of it....i saw looks of Distain, on most of the folks here..for me and my people....now? they are fawning all over them...why?...not because of the slaves  we freed, or foes we killed...but because the Emperor gave us his favor.... he nods once more , his eyes  watching the people as they move  from Arrow to Arrow, shaking hands, Talking to them with wide smiles, or...just listening with wide eyes,i wager to say..the biggest battle  most folks in here saw? was a fight with thier tailor, on the cost of goods...


 Before Antok  could answer.. Axehammer  comes up behind  Kree wedging himself between the two, ye got a damn good eye, Elf...most of thee folks have coin to give the crown...or have thier hands in some kind of business , that can aid  our army or navy...so  they come here..bow and scrape..they ain't anybetter then the slaves you free..in fact..they be worse...'cause they be makin' themselves slaves....Slaves to power..or to fame..even if its just second hand...

When the emperor was done, Diana went to get something to eat.  She was partially intrigued by what he had to say, and the "job" at hand.  Yet, she suspected there was more to the story.  There always seemed to be.

But, for the moment, she put those thoughts out of her mind.  She took the house to eat and drink.  She didn't really socialize, unless someone came up to her.  Then  she was polite, yet, distant.

When it was time to go, she was the second one out the door, happy the whole thing was done.  Although, truth be told, she had slipped some meat into her pockets.  Some habits, it seemed died the hart way.

She was glad to get away from the presence of the Emperor, and all that pomp and circumstance.  She walked her horse out of the castle, and once free, mounted, and got ready to leave.

Riku was a bit taken aback by the abundance of attention she was getting.  Not that she didn't mind it, just surprised her that so many would be so curious about her nature and upbringing.  It never took her surprise though about her part in the Arrows.

Well, she said, working her way around the room to sit on a perch high enough she could see everyone and everyone could easily see her.  It just so happens I came upon them and helped them fight some big bad guy.  Just seemed appropriate to get pulled in by these folks.  I don't, nor my people, don't live much differently than elves or humans.  Though on a much more smaller capacity and housing.  We probably don't each much either, but when we do, we could give a halfling a run for their money during one of our feasts.

Luthien was quite respectful with the sages, and answered their questions as befits a Knight, with honesty and dignity.

His reasons for joining the Arrows weren't by any means standard, after all, but they suited him and his deity well, so he remained.

Foril's smile hadn't left as he could sense the men trying to decide what to make of him.  That was how he liked it.  If they weren't friends, they were to be as confused as possible, because it would take them longer to react.  This confusion was relatively useless against dumb animals, but that was fair enough in Foril's mind.  He had nothing against dumb animals.  They rarely crossed eachother.  It was sentient peoples that were far more dangerous.

"Laithia... I do believe a number of these men are plotting various ways they hope to get you off my arm, I suppose that at least for the moment you are a free woman.  I'd fight to keep you that way.  I've no interest in any diversions this place is displaying, but I'll not keep you from your diversions if you like.  Should you think of leaving me altogether, I do suggest that I can make better drinks than anyone else here save perhaps the good dwarf, but I bet he wouldn't spit my drinks out.  Given a proper establishment to serve from at least."

Then he looked out among the others and offered, "I hail from a land where we keep demons in cushions to rest our feet on -and keep them warm thusly.  There's always a cool breeze but never frost, even when there is snow in its season.  We have magic as you seem to have trouble... and I am a specialist at removing trouble because of it."  None of it was a lie, though some of it might perhaps be a slight exaggeration.  These kinds rarely wanted truth more than entertainment anyhow.

  Kree talked a bit  with Axehammer, then   walked away from Antok, thinking of refilling his wine. Several men tried to enagage him in conversation. he  just smiled, slightly, and kept  walking. He did  stop to chat with a woman or two. They left...slightly embarrassed, as he talked to them, as if they were mere children.

  An olderman, wearing the  uniform of a Naval Officer, finally cornered him at sideboard, where Ivy was holding court with  various women who seemed to hang on the Hansome  elf's words..

 ..Captain Kree? Do you have a ship...to use for this undertaking?

 Kree looked at the fellow, an eyebrow raised...not yet? Why do you ask...um....Commander?

  Commander Jol Lusk..Retired, Ironmound Navy....if  have a few ships...still love to sail..sometimes  go hunting pirates with  Mercs....But...in the docks, near your Inn?..is the  Savage Queen..she's a schooner. fast..a crew you can trust..its yuours  for this Mission..if you want it?

 ..and why is that?..You know there is a good  chance..you will never see the  ship again?

 Aye....but..the schooner is known, for being a slaver's vessel, and  with the  word passed on to the River Navy?...It may aid you in reaching Olant, and getting word on the whereabouts , of  a certain missing princess...

Laithia smiled at those trying to garner attention from her. She passed a word here or there but seemed to not care much as her and Foril navigated to where there was food and drink. Helping herself, she turned giving him a strange look for a moment or two. When he talked about demons, Laithia let out a sigh as she took a drink of the wine she had procured herself.

"You company is much more fun then any of these people. Ten minutes ago we meant nothing to them now that the emperor loves us they love us too. I would gladly follow you out and drink quietly with you than be stuck in some boring conversation with a silly fop," Laithia says as she stares down a rather colorful yet silly looking young man who was about to come up to her. The man right interprets the stare and turns walking away from the two elves.

"Sadly, I am sure there is nothing in my place and it appears that I will not have a chance to go there. Why can't they just leave us to our own business?" she says a bit bitterly as she stands with Foril waiting to see who comes up to try and talk to her next.

Rolf, never one to seek out attention, was uncomfortable by the attention he started receiving.  But he felt it was something of a challenge, an effort to find him weak and he would not give them the satisfaction.  As such, he turned to his questioners directly, looked them in the eye and stood proudly.

"I come from the lands of the Northern Clans, the lands of Ulfric and Vignar.  The lands themselves are challenging and rugged and many of the weak and foolhardy die, the wolves hunt, the bears feed and the snow wyrms feast, but that is as it should be.  Our enemies are the cat people and the orcs, the goblins and the baser humans, though villages of the Northern Clans often contend one with another."

 Kree's eyes   would shift to the waterclock, every so often, their hour  was almost up...he watched his people to see how many would be ready when the  hour point came.

............

 Rolf's  vistors nodded, some in acknowledgement , others in wonder...do teh Villages  support  either...Hargen, or Ironmound? How did you come to Join up with the Arrows?

...................................

 Laithia's friend  came by...stooped in front of Laithia, her face showed the strain she had, that kept her  from LAshing out...two Men with her  an Older Colonel of the Regulars, and a Young Captain ( too young for captain?) of River Navy stood by her..both, it was easy to see, were vying for her attentions....You...Dare..show yourself in MY  city?

............................................................

Luthien and Justin...Luthien had a younger robed  fellow...looked strong and Bright  come up to him,..good  sir? I am in trainign to be a Cleric...but my blood yearns to spread the word of the Alpower, with  my sword arm....can you offer me advice?

 As Justin made his  way towards the Arrows, a woman, in a slight gown and...perhaps..too much make up, stops him,..Warrior of the gods?Do you have time...after this party...to escort a Lady home?

.....................

  Kash has  2 younger males, pale of skin and slim armed gather around him. They talk and giggle  abit as they ask him about the ways of spell casting.

.............

 Riku has the  largest  amount of folks with her. One woman asked...( it appears she may have one too many, cups of wine).....so..at your size?..how do you make love to humans...as the tales say you do? a few of the other  women gasped  , a couple younger ones giggled, the  tippsy woman shrugs,..you all thought about it..i was just the first to ask!

.................................

  Kree caught Foril's eye, by moving an arm a bit more then he needed to , to summon a waiter to bring him another  drink...when Foril looked  Kree caught his eye and shifted his Gaze to the right of Him and Laithia...there was a fellow...dressed in darker  robes, who appeared to be watching Liathia and the group that now confronted her.

....................

 Diana had  two men follow her to the table one was  smitten, to be sure, the older one seemed to have something to say, but hung back as the Younger fellow tried to chat her up.

Foril nodded slightly to no one in particular and smiled to Laithia and her opposition, "Laithia you didn't tell me you knew the Governess of Ironmound.  Should I get her a drink too?  That would be polite of us at least."  He glanced around in some large arcs but merely as an excuse to be a little mroe covert in keeping an eye on the dark robed figure.  "It is a very nice township."

Diana had  two men follow her to the table one was  smitten, to be sure, the older one seemed to have something to say, but hung back as the Younger fellow tried to chat her up.

Diana rolled her eyes at the younger one.  She was very polite, chatted him up, but was sure not to show any romantic interest.  She got some food, and went to a table across the room.  When she sat down, she pretended forgetting something to drink, and had the younger man to go and get her one.

She had noticed both men when she went to get something to drink, and was hoping that the older man would make a move with the opening.