Elandra followed Kree and Ivy, she kept her weapons as well. She stayed with the group and didnt say a word, she smiled and looked the innocent Priestess of Amot.

Riven shuddered slightly at the sound of Tou music. "I have heard this shit for too many years," she muttered, a lip curling though it was unseen. Listening idly to the conversation between Kree and the Captain, Riven looked around, making note of guard placement, potential escape routes and anything else that would aid in escape if needed. Regardless of whether this ended in battle or what, it was a practice that had kept her alive for years and she didn't intend on stopping. Of course, she was also unaware of the capabilities of her newfound teammates so it would be interesting.

Tyri skipped along, looking at everything like a child would in a toy shop. Her eyes were wide with wonder and she gave Antok that shy smile though her eyes showed pure mischief. “I’ve never been in a place so…grand,” she said softly and looked around.

 Ivy  shrugged,it is the only one  i have  ever seen..i do not  count Tou as having  palace.. they just have  fancy houses...

"Well my people are nomadic so...there is that. And, it was never like we were invited to just go visit a palace anyway. It didn't matter though...we had fun wherever we went." She gave him a side-eyed grin.

Seeing the guards and the ones lining the walkway, and the way they saluted or gave signs of respect to Kree, Vilmund began to realize just how much sway his leader and the group has. he walked in behind the rest, with his shied strapped to his back with the quick release ready and set to bring to bare. and the wrist strap on his hammer at the ready.

After  the   long and ( as Ivy says )  whiny  Tou   march.. the Footman  pouned the Floor  and Antok waved the   group  forward.

 There  was laughter  as the Mixed   types of  clothing...  Kree's eyes  narrow s at this, before he took another  Step..Reecrick  puled him  back, as the troopers  marched into the   Ball room  and  circled  the 'guests..leavign the Tou  folk on the east end of  the massive room.. and   Kree's  Group  standing at the west entrance..

  The Emperor  smiled,  His  Lady sitting on the arm of his throne... Gen Axehandle seemed pleased  with Kree and   Reedrick's   chocies of    uniform.

 The herald    listens to the Emperor  and  calls out,Captain  Qucikshadow.... why do you wait to enter?

 Reedrick pushed  Kree back a step  which caused  more LAughter... Kree's  Unit it  under me..... so's  i want our song played too..ifin ye  can listen to that  dying  cat  sounds..ye can listen to me own folks tune!

 THe High Officer started to Complain Axe Handle  and the   woman both said  something to the  Emperor.

 The Emperor  stands, You are right, Good ..LT Reedrick.. we play the   Hymn of the High peaks..for our  grand  allies... every one stand?

  the  musicians began  the Horn blast... with the  drums  and  the strings   picked up..Axehandle stood  and sang alone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytWz0qVvBZ0

   Reedrick took off his  one horned Helmet  and Put his arms  around Kree and Ivy , and the three   Joined in to sing the song..


 " Skin made of  Iron , Steel in our Bones.."

 " Faces us on the battle filed you will meet your doom.. "

  At least half the   troops    beat the floor  with thier  pikes.. the Dwarfs sang along.

...........

 The High Officer  with  12   other officers..spit and Polished   looked across  at the Arrows  as they  entered  the place they were to stand.

 Emperor...not that that...song ..is done.. I wish  to move, to have  these   raggamuffins  removed, they clearly  have  to respect for the  Court!

 yer  turn laddie.. give the   the 9 hells...

  Kree took off his   'captain's Helm:  and Put it under his   arm.  Unlike  those  who hump thier horses... My people    work for  a living... they wear what they have, as none of us has   coin thrust  upon us my  parents who a..aren't quite sure..if they are the  children or nay?

 The Emperor  looked giddy...as he smiled  and his lady handed him a goblet.

 ..You dare!!!..You murdering  humanized Chipmonk!.... I have the mind to...

 Kree Turned   and titled his ehad at the High officer.....Mind to what?.. Hire more  idiots  to die, trying to kill us?.... you should be short 6  Troopers.. only 6 because i sent the others  back to tell the tale... I will assume, from this point on, the  tale was told, so there  will ...nay..be any more returning, shoudl they  dare to insult there betters, by  trying to kill us...

 Betters!!!  how DAre  You.. I should strike you down here and  Now...

 Kree    Grinned,we are Both armed, High Officer.. but when the battle is   done, your  sword  will be  at The Plank... we will use  it to push  sweage down the pipes  when its clogged.

 The Emperor  sent   wine out to each Group.....first..let us hear the grievances  Brought  to us  from Tou?

 Kree looked at the Emperor,make  certain your maids have thier  mops ready..there will certainly  be tears..

 The High Officer  stepped up to the front of his square..The Timber has  built  a small  town near the Lather   River.. and  secured a dock.. they have  burnt  Mok.. and now  run  commerce on the lather River.. this will take  merchandise  and coin we would normally get from the Timber, and the Plains Elves.....no caravans  will come through Tou to reach those places, and cost us more Coin..This  is  an act of war....

 Kree laughed  a real laughed as he truned to the throne...in a search  for missing   Arrows, we ventured into  the LAnds  of the Sandfolk.. we had a disagreement  with treatment of  thier lesser folk.. slaves..or worst then Slaves... so?... as Captain..i decided it was  time to make changes..... The  Merchant Lords quarter   was burned..and the beast of the LAther  River is now dead..burnt to  the  water line  with. most of  it s  crew, killed, burned , or eaten.. in the course of this.. the Arrows  made   allies  with a small fleet of ships...  The Black  Timber  Now patrols the Lather  river,  protects other vessels  and the trade ways  are open.. The Timber..The grotto   and the rtace wood.. with any of the  goods   we once had to pay taxes  to Tou to go through thier  cit... we not pass  for free through thr trace wood.. Trok stands  to  gain riches, and Iron Mound Merchants can  now   sent  god  to our   areas  with , next to no, chances of  Bandits  and such..

 He turns to  the High Officer..You charged  my people more  for goods  then others.. and sold us  what leavings  you did not take from Caravans...now?..you'll have to rely  on Ironmound  for your trade..or send your  ships   Down The Strom , to the coast.....meanwhile we  have  access to the Coast from the Lather River, and  we
  will have, but a short boat ride  for the highpeaks  and  Furman's trail for them to send things...duty free...and safely...Merchants way  will grow   biger then  Tou  over the eyars... and your  people  will know what the rest of us have suffered  of  the decades,,,

 ..your  Majesty..would you see  my people starve because these rabbit catches
 sacked a  town and burned a ship?


Axehandle  stepped up..... the  fall of Mok and  the death of  the  River Beast, has opened    The lather River... it is somethign we could not do on our  own , and start  an open war with teh sandfolk... The Arrows  have served a  great purpose here..

 reedrick grinned.

 ..but mu people..... what will we do , funds   will be drastically cut!

 ..you could stop paying Bandits  to attack your   rivals caravans... you could  keep your lave trade going..that is until we stop that too?... maybe, instead of humping your  horses.. you can eat them?

 there was Gasps   as the High officer    drew his Blade...you pointed ear , whoreson!

 The Emperor  shouted...Enough!   We will neither support  Tou  Nor The Timber in a war..you'll hve to sort that out  yourselves..

 from the  gallery a  Vocie  was heard...  'The Tracw  will support  The Timber....."... another    Vocie " Trok will support The Timber..."

  Reedrick says,..me own folk will support the Timber.. who dos that leave you with?

 The High officer  looked aroundyou would see  my people starve?

 kree said Coldly,..it appears to be your turn.....get those mages of yours  to work on food and cut the prices of your god  so people who make coopers can afford them..this was a long time  coming.. and I am very...very happy i have had  a Hand in it..

 ..but...getting our goods  to  Ironmound...

 Ivy chuckled,all those Bandits and slavers you hire?.. they will be a might upset you cannot pay them anylonger.. i wonder what they will do..to make up for that last  Coin?

 The Emperor   walks to the edge of His  Dias, swishing his Mage's cloak...I repeat..Ironmound will not side or aid, with either Tou or The Timber, if they go to war.....so? i suggest  cooler ehads prevail, which means , Captain Qucikshadow might  want to have his Elder  deal with that... but here..and Now.. the war is  of no bother to us...

 As for the death of Tou troopers  and  one missing?...  we rule that it was in self defense..we have witnesses from The Plank and  The Docks... as well as  two of my own offcicrs  witnessing the High Officer   paying archers to Kill the CAptain?... it appears..  the  captain had some one to kill them?.. Sicne. Tou was in unifrom. And hired  Mercs...and..had a duel of sorts... they cannot be punished.... The captain  is a member  of a Company and..in fact..fought on his Company's property ?  this  is self  defense.. as well as defense of   his   'stronghold'... do not  pick  fights in my city..if you do not expect loss of life...

 The Tou people looked shocked... The High  Officer pointed his Blade  at Kree..I demand satisfaction!

 Dying   is not much satisfaction.... but then again?  no one i killed ever  complained?

 I demand.. an  honor  fight.. to first blood!

 Kree shook his head,..I do not fight for fun.... if we fight,,its here..now.. and to the death...

 ..I am  one for the best Bladesman in tou...

 That is like saying  you are the best weed in a garden?.. I am not  the best blade from the Timber..there are dozens better then I.....but i would be the best Blade in Tou..

 Axe handle  clears his throat.....you will die  if you cross blades  with the captain...if your  people try to exact revenge..  my troopers will have to kill , which ever   of you the Arrows  leave standing.. though i do not think that will be a problem

 the  scribes who wrote out the   ruling  came over, handing Reedrick and the High  Officer each a Copy... The  Tou People  bowed to the Emperor and walked out of the hall...

 The Emperor  clapped his hands... Captain Quickshadow.... you are entertaining  as always.. let us not waste the wonderful day.. and food.. Please Strike up the band.. have at the  side  board!

  He came down, and aske d  Reedrick to introduce  all the new  faces.. meanwhile a Princess  looked over the  Arrow group,

Tyri watched the Tou, head slightly tilted to the side as they went back and forth with Kree and then the Emperor. She understood the animosity displayed by Ivy and Kree since Ivy told her their story. But at least it seemed that the Emperor was on their side. When offered food and the band beginning to play, Tyri went to do what she did best...dance.

Impressed by the respect shown by the troopers to Kree, Krwyn walks up to the palace. During the exchange with the colonel a slight grin can be seen on his face, that broadens during the confrontation with the high Tou emissianary. To Ivy he whispers: "I wonder why the Tou did not bring some strong mages from their guild to bring us down? We can tackle a lot, but strong magery would perhaps be beyond our capabilities."

  Ivy shakes his  head,..the MAges who run the Guid  are more  worried  about research  and Obtaining  magic items... they cannot get famous, if they are dead....Mages  who enter Ironmound, are  watched  by Ironmound MAge Guild  members.. it is like a wolf goign into another  wolf's domain... and?  there is  the Witch who lives in the far corner of Ironmound, she is to be reckoned  with, and she does lot like the Guild... we have  done a few fetch and carry jobs for her.

 The Emperor  Greeted  each Member of the Group, spending a tad more time on greeting the ladies , Then we  went abck to His  Throne  as people  spilled out onto the the Floor   for DAncing.

  several dozen men rushed  Tri and Elandra to take them up on the dances.   Kree waved  Ladies  away as he pointed to the sideboards, they   would make  pouty faces   then turn to the others...

 Ivy followe Kree ,getign some sweetmeats and a Glass of  wine., Kree got   some  Bird meat slices  and fruit, to go with His  Wine...

 Reedrick talked  with Axehammer, and they laughed  and whacked  each other's backs.

 ..That was not so bad? we did not have to kill any one to get in?.. and we did not have to Kill anyone  when we had our little talk....

 Eating the   chicken slices, kree nodded   slowly,.. a might too easy..would  you not  think?

  Ivy chewed the sweetmeats but the 2s and threes...well?..you sent  one  rider home  witht eh ehads of his  unit... You  dropped  a Lord into the river while he screamed for mercy... and they lost two more? before you let the one go?...one should think, That even a High Officer, cannot have too many Lordlings  die and not pay some price.

 Elandra smiled and seemed happy, she was nervous but when everything ended and there wasn't a fight Elandra was happy even more.

 When the Emperor cane over to meet her she bowed introduced herself and of course she said ,may peace be with you.

 When the Emperor went back and the dancing started Elandra was mobbed for dances, she smiled and went to dance with the first gentleman who asked her.

 After the greet and meet, Vilmund hung with some of the others around the food table, and listened to others talk. He looked around for any of his own type, men or women from the North.
 Talking to those who approach him, but not starting conversations on his own, not at first anyways. Being an unknown face among so many, makes for a nervous fellow.

  The Arrows   saw the   Fogs, lords  and ladies..lordlings  and  ladies  lookign to  'mount' thier way up the social ladder.

   Even enemy   folk who were there on   'business' walked about..Sand folk in silk finery... Dawves in  clocks of sable and such from the High Peaks  taled  with Dwarves  from The Mound itself.


  Elevs from the Trace  Wood  and Ironwood... people from Trok.. and of course, Tou. thought, those  Reos did not seem to get much notcie right now

  two Plains  elves  dressed  in   Foxfur  coats strutted   around   as  they felt  empowered by the change in merchant  power...

 Northmen and woman representing tribes and Nations, wore  heavy cloak of   White Near, or  Godlen bear

 Two Red Isle HAlflings  talked  with merchants.. though no Military folk bothered with them..Only the Black Timber did not have  representatives. other then Kree and Ivy

  Some people  came up  to Talk with Kree... dependingon whjo they were, kree gripped thier  wrists..or  simple  talked to them..boarder lined Civilly .

 Ivy seemed more then will to talk with anyone, which made a few Ladies  Happy, as  they would   touch his arm and Giggle  at his  jests.

 The Ladies  seemed to  see now end to the   Men who swarmed them,  dancing with one during slower  sounds, and  two or  three with Jigs  and reels...

Tyri gave the Emperor a deep curtsy and made small talk with him, not trying to flirt too much but it was just in her nature. She danced with anyone who wanted, clearly having fun. At some point, she stopped to grab something to eat. Seeing Ivy engaged in some conversation with some others, she skipped up to Kree. "Kree, will you dance with me, please?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:28, Mon 29 June 2020.

 Ivy looked at  Kree and took   his plate,..go Cousin?..I am almost certain she will not  harm you?

 Kree    Looks  for  a servant and hands  the  Fellow if  Bow and Quiver...Care for that with your Life...because i will take your life, if  it goes missing...

  Moving to  the floor with the shift of  bodies  about,..You  picked the wrong  cousin for  frolic?... I tend to  do very little of it..exspecially in confines such as this..It is to my Saddness, i know some of the foramly dance  as  it was part of mypostion to
 have  overlyround  Highborn wonab feek  as thoough they danced  with a dashing Captain

Tyri grinned. "Then we can formally dance." She took the appropriate stance for a formal dance, her smile unending. It didn't matter the style of dance, she just loved to give herself to the music...to escape reality for a brief period of time.

 as the   two step began kree Bowed  as did  other Memmebers of the Court, they were  all fluid  and  at ease, where  kree.. a bit stiff.

 As they  spun around,  an irounmound   merchant..or? maybe his older Son swung by with a delighted  woman, saying,..fear not,  pointy ear..no once  expects you to Know  civilized Dances...

 kree     gave the  fellow a d ark  stare  and Purposely  pulled Tyri into the Fellow's Next spin wher e he   stuck oucj his leg to  send the  Man sprawling Face  first, causing a  Raor  of LAughter  aroudn the Floor...

 Kree  Put his hand  upon his chest , Forgiv eme, how clumsy of me... he  held out a hand to Help him up and Pulled it away causing the  Fellow  to fall face  first again...even More laughter  arose  as Kree  looked 'helplessly' around... as if he did not know how to react to the  Fellow's  falling,  he says aloud,

 ..Good Sir!.. are you deep in your cups?  more  peopel laughed  , the  fellow   reached for his  sword,   , Kree's hand was like a viper  and  grabbed the wrist.....no one expects you  to  survive a sword  fight, with an Uncivilized  Pointy ear..he  whispered...

 The woman  looked angry...

  Kree let go looking calmly into the  rage filled  eyes , of the red faced human..., they Fellow stood  by himself  and the crowd  clapped  i sarcastic approval.

   wavign to the Band  to strike up an elven  two step.. Kree looked a bit more at ease...but not like his cousin... several  folks  tried to match the steps laughing along as they struggled..more then a few dozen , watching  Tyri.. The trace elves  and Ironwood  elevs did well..

  Mean while TThe Emperor  dragged his Lady down, and they slipped into the dance..surprisingly good  at it.

Elandra was a fairly good dancer, her Mother taught her to dance at Temple functions, it since her parents where high members of the Temple of Amot she grew up in, she was taught all manner of dance so she could dance with everyone and show that Amt loves all dance and finds Peace within dancing.

 Elandra would have a few dances bow to her partners and then go over for a drink, she felt very out of place, she was a Priestess and a Cleric not a Royal, even though her mother made sure she had the etiquette of a Royal. Elandra was having fun but she was always watching, she knew now the Kree and her group where not liked by all and being on your toes keep you alive.

 Elandra finished her drink and looked around to see if there was anyone who stuck out to her to go meet or too dance with.

She giggled a bit. "Why does trouble always seem to follow you, Kree?" She asked as she switched into the elven two step.

Krwyn looks at the dancers. He is not very good at dancing, although the elfen dances are more to his like. When Elandra looks around for someone to dance with, Krwyn stands, gives her a slight bow and steps up to dance with her. It has been a long time and at first his movements are somewhat out of step, but soon he enjoys to dance with the peaceloving priestess. He whispers in her ear: "Who could have expected yesterday during the fight that we would dance at the emperors' court today?"

 Elandra smiled at Krwyn and took his hand and led him onto the dance floor. " Well that is very true, well go even farther back two days ago my guide was attacked by Cat People and eaten I escaped and now I am dancing at the Emperor's Palace and I am a member of Captain Quickshadow's Arrow group. Thank you for the dance, so Krwyn where are you from we haven't had a lot of time to talk. Peace be with you."

  once the faster  song was  done, they went into a  softer, slower  Dance.. Kree  stayed  with Tyri  for the dance...

 First came Here.. My father was the  High Warden for The Timber..he brought  me and my mother here... we say the city... it good and its bad...but i saw  how  we were treated by the Humans..Mostly , Tou folk.... decades later i come back to serve  4  years as  a ship's archer... but my Balde  put me into the  City Guard... then? The Palce Guard..

..one thing, that was always steady?  The way Elevs  are treated. Oldly enough, the normal folk treated us well enough..no better  or  worse then anyone else... It was the  fat folk with Fat purses...  I made it my mission , to cause  as much problems for them as i am able...

 he winks at her,..I am rather Good at it...

"I have to say...our approaches are very different," she smiled warmly. "My family has faced similar prejudices as well because we are gypsies... It's easy to judge when people don't understand. You are a good man Kree and your cause is honorable. Thank you for allowing me to join up with your group and I apologize now for any mischief I might cause." She giggled as she moved slightly closer to him while they danced.

She watched the dancing with a look of indifference, holding a glass of wine. The meeting had gone very well...too well and it didn't sit well with her. She had lived among the Tou for a number of years and knew they could be very vindictive. There had to be a plot afoot. Eyes darted around the room before setting on Kree and Tyri. She looked to Ivy. "Not the jealous type?"

 Ivy   chuckled, have you seen the high class  ladies who been   tying to get me to dance?

 he sips  from a ornage  winer, and Looks at the   Tender, shakes his eha d and Points  to a deep red  wine. Tasting that one he nods his thanks.

 ..besides?.. Kree's  my Cousin.. he would not  take  a Lady from me?.. if he did....

 his face  took a  sad  demeanor,..he could have saved us  Both alot of pain, a decade or so ago...

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

 Kree  chuckles again,My father   tried  the  'try to understand'...I have my ownway to deal with them now..treat them worse then they treat others... works rather  well.

.........

 everyone there cam  see folks of interest..some   dancing, some eating..some talking