Prompt 8/9- With the King's Retinue

[DM CiCi]

"You have not heard the last of us," the drow warrior gasped. "We will slay you all, each and every one of you. While we suffer in the depths of the earth, forced to grub like worms for food and live shoulder to shoulder with the filthy fish-folk, mind flayers, and countless other threats, you cavort in the warm sun, free of worries, free of fear. I say, no more! The fire of our hate will never be quenched as long as at least one elf breaths the clean air of the world above!"

With that last breath his head rolled limp to the side.

"When he puts it like that I almost pity them," Daesi stated kicking the man's twin blades away from his outstretched hand as a precautionary measure.

The party quickly took stock of the defeated groups possessions, for they were well aware that they had quite the audience of nobles setting upon them in a congratulatory manor.

Terrwyn after her latest experience with drow poison is just beginning to return to consciousness.

[sue]

"Lady, are you well enough?" Castus asked, crouching near Terrwyn once he noticed her beginning to stir. "I would suggest not attempting to rise too quickly."

At a distance from them, with a quick gesture, Merrik removed his cloak and bundled it over their gathered spoils. The paladin shot him a rather bemused look before inclining his head sharply towards the approaching nobility.

"Have some patience, bard," he chided, his tone disapproving.

"No harm in taking precautions against our prizes walking away, good sir," Merrik answered curtly, "Now watch your scolding or I'll have you carry the lot."

Castus fell silent at that, turning his attention back to the other paladin. Once their goods were secured, Merrik joined the rest. He glanced appraisingly at the caravan, frowned, then also knelt.

[Katherine]

Terrwyn followed Daesi, Merrik, and Nia on their mission to the king. They intercepted many of the people sent to ambush the king. They fought the would be ambushers, but as Terrwyn turned her attention to fight off an enemy, she felt a fiery shaft rip through her injured shoulder. Not again! Terrwyn looked down and saw the deadly barb sticking through her torn shoulder. It had something on it.... something Terrwyn's shoulder had already been aqquainted with. A poisonous Drow Arrow had taken her out of action again.

Terrwyn whirled around, using her staff to support her. She saw the drow archer lower his bow laughing at her. She saw Daesi running towards him his silver hair flying behind. Then she saw blackness.... she had fainted from the poison and pain. She slid to the ground still holding her staff, her shoulder wound spreading blood down her front. Terrwyn opened her eyes as she felt someone hold her carefully.... something was forced between her lips and Terrwyn swallowed the bitter liquid obediently. She slipped once again into unconsciousness.

[Katherine]

Terrwyn opened her eyes and started in fright... a stranger was looking at her asking if she was alright....

she pulled her lips into a painful grimace and said in bare whisper " i Will be soon. Is the Drow.... dead?", Terrwyn asked trying to sit up and utterly failing.

[sue]

"They are dead, yes - with the exception of the two that fled," the paladin answered, frowning as he reached out to steady Terrwyn. "Take it easy for now. Unfortunately, I have no ability to heal you at the moment - the battle was rather hard on all of us."

[Katherine]

"Who are you", Terrwyn whispered grimacing s she looked down at her now useless arm and bloody tunic.

[sue]

"Castus," he answered patiently, "paladin of Strength - I rode with your group from Therfis, remember?"

[Katherine]

"Oh i don't remember. I would like to get back too. I am going to get up now, the arrow is out right?", she asked as she pulled herself up one arm gripped tightly to her staff the other hanging useless t her side. She winced in pain but finally managed to stand. Nia came over soon to help her and Terrwyn leaned against her heavily.

"what liquid was given to me when i went?", Terrwyn asked Castus as she slowly stumbled over towards the others. She sat down gratefully beside Nia wrapping her good arm around the woman.

[sue]

"Only a healing potion," he answered, watching the female paladin. "Some were initially unsure as to what had felled you."

He rose from his crouched position with a creak of plate armor and a wince. "If you're able to care for yourself now, I believe I'll go see about the others."

Turning abruptly, Castus strode off to join Merrik.

[DM CiCi]

Noticing the approach Daesi quickly drew up the hood on his cloak and dropped down to one knee even further than the others. He did not need to draw anymore attention to himself- or for that matter what he was. As much as the King supported his people, he knew there were those around him who would sooner enslave an elf than congratulate one for saving their life.

Especially when the bodies of several drow now lay behind them. Most humans didn't know the difference- even if it was ever so slight and had more to do with religion and territory than appearance.

[Kitsu]

Shaking her head at Daesi's comment Lyrania moved toward the half-elf. She doesn't understand how he could even think like that. When he kicked the blades away she looked around at the bodies.

"You know, if a necromancer came around here they would have a field day with these," she muttered to Daesi as she passed him.

Noticing Castus by Terrwyn she relaxed a bit. The girl was in fairly good hands. Still she went over to the two.

"Any way I can be of assistance," she asked. She was answered by the female paladin using her as a leaning post. Pulling her hood over her own head when Daesi did, she simply watched the proceedings, sitting close to the paladin's side.

[DM CiCi]

"I said almost," Daesi sneered in reply to Nia's demeanor. He knew all to well the crimes that drow had perpetrated through out history. "And as soon as the fair crowd disperses I was going to burn those. You don't have to remind me of the unholy arts."

Oh, how little she knew about him. But of course that was mostly a good thing. The less she knew the better. He wasn't about to blurt out his secrets to someone he barely knew. Experience had shown him just how much people these days valued others personal going-ons.

The nobles were approaching fast, as he could hear their cheering growing louder. The king was out in front dressed in hunting garb followed closely by a few personal guards, as well as a retinue of high ranking soldiers, various wealthy Therfians, and an other figure in a long hooded teal cloak holding a rod and slender cane out in front of him. He instantly recognized the holy symbol holding the man's cloak closed as that of the clerics of his own god Lunniea, and his heart skipped in his chest slightly.

The king approached Merrik first- as the merchant looked most like the leader of the party.

"Well done indeed," the King announced. "And who do we have to thank for your service here?"

[sue]

Of course, Merrik thought bitterly, darting his eyes surreptitiously around the scene from his bent posture, rapidly evaluating the situation. It would be proper, of course, to credit Daesi, but that particular elf looked like he was making a serious attempt to vanish into his cloak. Of course.

The merchant straightened his posture as best as he could on bent knee, and carefully adopted as humble a tone as he could without sounding fawning, "Your grace," he began, "this is no more than the duty of any loyal subject, and your gratitude honors us greatly. However - I pray that you may forgive my boldness in this matter - the details of our arrival are perhaps better discussed more privately." The merchant lifted his eyes with a look of convincing meekness, then cast them briefly off to the side to indicate that his mistrust was in 'others' rather than to imply any suspicion of the king's party. "I fear I know not for certain that all of your grace's enemies have been slain, and the forest may yet have ears."

[DM CiCi]

"Yes, well I quite understand," the King replied. "I of course have other matters to attend to, which I can't help but feel are related. We are currently riding to the outskirts of the kingdom where some rather unfortunate matters are occurring with regards to the dead appearing to walk again. I'd be more than willing to compensate your party if you wish to follow us and act as protection. And then we can talk later."

[sue]

Inwardly, the bard cringed, knowing that he was in no position to commit the others to something of this nature.

But then again, when is a request from a king not just a thinly-veiled order? he mused.

In response, he nodded gravely. "We would be most honored to serve your grace's retinue, truly. The concerns of the kingdom of Therfis and its liege are ever our own."

The bard bowed lower, somewhat awkwardly given his position. Let it not be said that I don't see my commitments through, he thought, sighing inwardly.