Kings and Queens|Contrasta

[Kender Bard]

After a few days of traveling, Joff finally reigns in his horse and points off in the distance, where a walled city can be seen. "That's Kalina. It's our destination." That said, he snaps his reigns and lets the horse go off at a nice gallop. Lya, eager to be in the city, is hot on his heels, though the boy has a good head start.

At the gates, he's already explaining to the guards about the situation. The guards frown and size up the group. One says, "You may dismount. We will escort you to the palace; the King has open audience today." Five armed guards approach; their 'escort'.

[Northen Light36]

Shadow and Damien exchange looks as they and Flash dismount. "Escort or arresting party?" Shadow mutters too softly for anyone but his wife to hear. "Stay close dear." Damien lifts Ann off the horse, but doesn't set her down while Flash subtly looks over the guards, looking for signs as well as anywhere an extra weapon might be concealled.

[Kender Bard]

The group is a mixture of elements: water, fire, storm, wind, and earth. They walk along, escorting the group towards the palace. The palace is absolutely beautiful. White marble and golden trimmings adorn the place and capture the sun, making it gleam.

Lya can't help but give a sigh of awe. "It's so gorgeous." The guards smile at that, flattered and amused. They bring the group right inside the palace, which is no less fine as the outside was, and into a great chamber hall filled with people. They make way for the guards, though, and soon enough the group is standing behind a couple of peasants, next in line to speak with the royal family.

Seated on a plush gold and blue velvet throne was a surprisingly young man - he could not have been any older than twenty five. Swathed in fine, soft clothing, he bears a fine gold and white crown with the emblem of the sun upon it. Seated to his left in a throne smaller, but still fancily adorned, was a much older woman wearing a queen's crown. A step down from the dais they both were on, on a secondary seat, was a pretty young priestess in robes unfamiliar to the Narutians: gold and white, which seems to be the motif of the family. At her throat was a choker of gold with a sun emblem. Standing behind the King's throne was a warrior woman, shifting foot to foot and looking quite bored. She wasn't clad in the house colors; hers were gold and green.

And finally, forced to kneel next to the chair, was a dark man, chained to the throne by his ankle. He was dressed all in black in the most plain of clothing. He looked at the newcomers with interest before going back to his bored appearance.

Once the peasants had said their peace, the King beckoned the group. "And who do we have here?"

[Northen Light36]

Shadow steps forward, taking the role of spokesman this time, and annouces, "My name, sir, is Shadow Brightmore, King of Maelstorm. This is my wife, Lya, and the man beside me is Hounded Leader Damien, ruler of the deserts of Naurorod, and his niece and Heir, Ann. We've come from the lands of Naruta in the hopes of establishing peaceful realtions with your people."

Flash, who Shadow had deliberately not named to enchance the illusion that the young man is of no importance, takes the time while the King is speaking to subtly examine the royals and their court, looking for clues in body language that might reveal a weakness or a threat.

[Kender Bard]

The nobles and peasants alike all around them are tense with anxiety or just plain curious looking. The royal family themselves all seem very weary, save for the man chained to the throne, who was as relaxed and carefree appearing as could be.

The King smiled. "Then it is true that there is land over the seas. I thought as much." He rose from his throne, and the rest of his family followed the cue, rising as well. "Welcome to Contrasta, then. I am King Sunray of House Elwood. The sweet woman beside me is Queen Salacia. Behind is my sister Lady Emerald, Captain of the Royal Guard. Seated below me is Lady Snowflake, High Priestess of Love. It is an honor to meet you all. I hope you will be willing to share knowledge of your land; perhaps we might come to some agreeable alliances." He looked about his court and declared, "For now, though, I am weary. Court is dismissed."

The people began to file out, mumbling and excitedly chattering. Sunray carefully held up a hand to motion that the others not leave. Once all of the audience had cleared out, he sits back down with a heavy sigh and a 'whumph'. "Sweet sister, be a dear and fetch some seats for these poor travelers."

Snowflake smiled and nodded, hastening to the sides of the room to fetch chairs for all to sit in. Sunray went on, "My apologies. I would rather not discuss such important matters of state in front of half the city."

"Can I take this chain off now?" the black haired man next to the throne sighed. Sunray nodded and the man unclasped himself, tossing the chain away with a snort. "Lords and ladies." He bowed to them, then snatched the king's crown off and put it on his own head, grinning. Sunray growled and pushed him.

"This is my brother," Sunray introduced, smiling despite their playful fighting. "King Twilight. Though, I beg of you, never call him that outside our private company."

[Northen Light36]

"Why were you chained up?" asks Ann curiously.

"My niece asks a good question," Damien agrees, then glances at Ann and adds, "Although she should remember that it isn't her place to speak before the adults." Ann flinches slightly at the scolding and, murmuring a soft apology, slinks back a bit to her proper place as Heir in formal gatherings - one step behind and left of Damien.

Flash is trying to keep his mind on his work, but his eyes keep being drawn to the Queen. "She's lovely," he thinks. Then sharply reminds himself, "And far, far out of your league and probably married."

[Kender Bard]

Queen Salacia catches Flash's eyes, once, and shares a slight, secretive looking smile with him.

"That is a long story," Twilight remarked, sitting down on a step of the dais, right in front of Sunray. "Very long, since you know very little of this land."

"Should we start with our land's history or would you like an abbreviated answer?" Sunray inquired.

[Northen Light36]

Flash blushes just slightly at Salacia's smile and returned it with a slight one of his own. Shadow and Damien exchange looks and partake in a swift and silent battle of wills before Damien rolls his eyes and nods.

"I think it is always best to know as much about a situation as possible," Shadow says. "I think your history would be a fine place to start."

"Says the man who just about lives in a library," mutters Damien.

"We weren't all brought up to begin a formal meeting with an exchange of raw meat Damien," Shadow replies, responding to Damien's friendly taunting in kind.

[Kender Bard]

Twilight gives a sigh and just leans back. Sunray sits up a little straighter. Emerald rolls her eyes and plops down next to her brother and Snowflake just smiles and listens.

"We were, I believe, once people of your nation as well, from long, long ago when the those with Love in their hearts would battle with those with Evil. Before the Forces thought to mix the two forces in humanity, some of those people fled to Contrasta. It was thought originally we were only those with Love in our hearts, and we worshipped our Force ferverently in thanks of delivering us to somewhere the wars that ravaged our original homeland could no longer reach us. However, some people of Evil had snuck in, and thought to murder us all in our sleep. It is fortunate that the current people who led us were wise, on both sides. They knew another war would serve no one; and so we agreed to split the land, with us taking half and Evil followers taking the other half. So, Contrasta came to be."

"There are those who would like to think we are still separate people; that those of Arilina can do no wrong, and those of Morilanta can know no kindness, but do not be deceived. We could not keep ourselves separate indefinitely, and we are as mixed as anyone else... Perhaps a bit less than yourselves, but only just slightly. Still, we continue to worship Love as a real Force, despite her being embodied in all of Man. Morilanta continues to worship Evil. Occasionally we have fights and wars break out, but they're usually quickly resolved, so long as everyone honors the terms of that original treaty so long ago. However, if a citizen of Anarlina were to go over to Morilanta and embrace evil, they are... not allowed to come back usually. They are considered enemies of the nation."

Here, Twilight spoke up. "When I was younger and stupider, I went over to Morilanta to embrace the Darkness of the Eclipse." He shifted uneasily. "I might still be there, were it not for my sweet sister Snowflake, who hunted me down and opened my eyes and heart to Love once again, bringing me home. But I had disgraced my family. Nobody in the lands would bow to an 'evil tainted' prince, or King when that day came. The throne was passed to my younger brother... in name."

"I absolved Twilight of all his crimes in a holy rite," Snowflake remarked. "He is one of Love's children once again, and no amount of Evil will ever cling to him. But the people would most likely not accept that. Our family recognized Twilight as the true king, and young Sunny oft takes his council. But to the public, Sunray is the ruling king."

"Would that my brother could take up the mantle," Sunray muttered. "I had my sights set on being the Head Wizard of the lands. Oh well. We keep Twilight shackled to the throne, calling it penance, but in truth it is so that he can sit in on all the audiences. Far less tedious than relating everything to him later."

"Besides," Twilight remarks, looking straight at Flash now. He smiled slightly. "People always underestimate what's right in front of their eyes but ignored, isn't that right?"

[Northen Light36]

Flash grins and steps forward to take his proper place at Shadow's right, giving Twilight a look of approval and respect. Shadow chuckles, "Indeed, usually they do. Allow me introduce my friend and advisor, Lord Flash Calder." Flash bows, then straightens up.

"And it seems I'm getting sloppy if I was seen through so easily," he mutters under his breath, to Shadow and Damien's amusement.

[Kender Bard]

"Twilight's business is to have a sharp eye," Sunray chuckled. "Don't feel bad. He could spot a flea in a lady's wig across the court."

"Much to her chagrin," Twilight said with a wink.

Finally, the Queen spoke up, softly and gently, "As to my part in all this; I am just a tired widowed mother, who serves to keep the queen's crown warm until my son finally picks a bride." Sunray grimaced at that, and his mother laughed merrily. "Now, have you any questions for us or may we hear about your lands as well?"

[Northen Light36]

"No, I think you've answered our questions, for now," Damien replies. "We will answer any questions you have about our homelands."

"What would you like to know?" Shadow adds. Softly, Ann sighs and fidgets restlessly in her seat. This is so boring.

[Kender Bard]

"How many kingdoms are there?" Emerald asks. "You say that you are the King and Queen, and yet you call this man Lord of Nar-rod. Does he pay homage to you or is he his own lord?"

[Northen Light36]

Damien and Shadow can't keep from laughing slightly at that. "Naurorod," Damien corrects lightly, once the two rulers have composed theirselves again. "And to answer your question, in Naruta, the people are divided mostly by elements. I am the ruler of the Naurorod, home to most of the Fire element people in Naruta. Shadow was once Lord of Maelstorm, home to the Storms, and Lya the Lady of Winds and ruler of Talen'sul, but since their marriage, Talen'sul and Maelstorm are united under the banner of Kingdom Caelium." With a slight nod from Shadow, Flash steps forward to take up the lecture.

"In the middle of the Great River lies Ronduin, home to the Water elementals and ruled by Lady Cascata. On the River's upper west shore is Sensatia, home to the Minds and ruled by Lord Thelon while below it is Ilyamen, the mixed City of elements ruled by Lord Aslan. To the east of the River lies Kelek, home to the Ice types and ruled by Lord Haukea. Mount Humontis is the home of the earths, ruled by Lord River currently, and is surrounded by the Beastlands where the Beast types are ruled by Faolan. Then there's Reave, home of the Clears and ruled by..." Flash has to pause and think here. "A young man named Jhaal, I believe."

[Kender Bard]

"What's a Clear?" Emerald asks.

Lya stares in shock at her. "You... don't have Clears here?"

Emerald shakes her head. "A new element? How exciting!"

Lya explains to them about Clears, their abilities, and a little of their turbulent history. Twilight frowns deeply at that.

"We wouldn't want any Clears to come to Anarlina," he replies. "I hope you understand that."

"How is it that your people get anything accomplished, so divided as you are," Salacia asks in wonderment.