A Princess Among Powerhouses

[TheDarkDM]

Attend, if you will, to the western coast of Phoenicia, on the outskirts of the city of Deltania. There, atop windswept cliffs, sits a lavish manor house, its seaward windows glowing in the fires of the setting sun. Below, the waves crash against unyielding stone, spraying salt and sea and the smell of adventure up towards a group of people in the manor's solar. Among them are hard men, learned men, and one exceptionally bored royal.

Princess Kora Delvinian, first of her name, holy protector of the river Ankh and future mother of the nation, leans over a chessboard. It is the same chessboard she has played at a hundred times in the past month, a month where neither she nor her entourage have been permitted to leave the manor. While the Marquis and Marquise Fael'Durath produced all manner of entertainment on her initial arrival, they have since grown dull, the books read, the songs sung, the instruments played. And so, she sits, alone with her protectors, watching the sun set yet again. It is hours yet until their dinner will be brought up to the private rooms on the manor's top floor, for the Marquis is hosting a party tonight, and it would be disastrous for the princess to be seen.

[Grim ranger]

Vigilant as always, Delarn is leaning against the wall just next to the door, his arms folded as he watches the princess and rest of her entourage trying to amuse themselves all in their own ways to avoid crushing boredom. Chess seems to be pasttime princess engages in quite regularly, though one the monster slayer has never himself learnt to play at all. Then again, he is not one of the types that really need amusement, per se: he is there to see to it that the princess will be safe and sound, not spend quality time.

"Not sad that we will miss the party, highness?" he asks rather drolly, already knowing the answer before even opening his mouth. Thanks to the time he has spent with the woman thus far her mindset has become more or less clear to him. Although he has been more or less on edge at any given time, it was true that little of importance had happened during the entire time they had been escorting the princess. He never let his guard down mostly thanks to force of habit, though it is propably good to sleep with crossbow and sword close at hand when threats to the royal line emerge.

[Lix Lorn]

She scowls massively.
"I should totally go. If I were allowed. It's not fair."

[Dhrall]

Laxus smirks at her expression while idly twirling his handaxe. He is lazily sprawled out on a chair he has come to favor during the time here and watches the surroundings with an expression of only vague interest.

"Funny how that works, yeah?"

Considering suggesting they just take off somewhere, he drops the idea as the others would probably tell him off for being a bad influence.

[Elfstone]

The White Clad stands over to the left of the princess, in the shadows created by the flickering lamps. He says nothing, content to observe, to see and not be seen. He observes the others, noticing their habitual movements, in case some one were to attempt to impersonate one of them. He shifts ever so slightly, thinking back to the day he had gotten the assignment. When he realised he was to be trusted above all, and yet removed from his clan. His biggest fear was that he would fail, and some one would get to the princess before he could get to them.

[Gorgondantess]

The long, gaunt elf clicks his tongue.
"Oh, tosh. If m'lady wants to go up to the party...
Well, I don't see why that couldn't be arranged.
You see, my dear, with the help of your loyal vizier- and a little bit of magic- why, anything is possible."
He speaks in a sonorous baritone, a sturdy voice for a frail creature.
Nikkolo totally looks just like this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/29/ClaudeFrollo.PNG/200px-ClaudeFrollo.PNG
But an elf, and with better clothes.
Oh, sounds like him too, if you've seen the movie. And if you haven't, you should. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRO-M4XyAbM)

[Lix Lorn]

"Really? Oh, I always said you were the best!" she says, suddenly paying attention to him.

As long as he doesn't fall in love with a gypsy.
...
Or the princess.

[Grim ranger]

"And who shoulders the blame if the guests in said party find out who she is?" the monster hunter asks dryly, his face clearly indicating that he thinks the idea is just a disaster waiting to happen. "As interesting as it might sound, I have to say that the safety of royal heir and future of the kingdom just might come before attending to one party...no?"

[TheDarkDM]

A knock comes at the door, and as the entourage snaps instantly out of its supposed stupor a servant slips into the solar. She is a slight thing, barely a woman, and she hides her terror at addressing the princess poorly. The pitiable girl curtsies towards the Princess.

"Excuse me, milady, but would you care to dine now? The kitchens have finished preparations for the banquet, and can accommodate you at any time."

The sounds of revelry float through the cracked door, a painful reminder of the sacrifices of royalty. Beneath it all though, there is the hint of something else.


Listen checks please. Also, if you'd be kind enough to link your character sheets in the OOC I can handle such things in the future.

[Elfstone]

Andre remains calm and watches the scene unfold.


Listen [roll0]

[Grim ranger]

His head snapping towards the new arrival the second knock on the door is heard, Delarn draws a handspan of his sword out of it's sheath before it becomes clear that the one arriving is merely servant girl. Studying the woman for split second with his cold eyes before snapping the sword fully back into it's holster, he furrows his brow and listens attentively to the sounds beyond the room.

Even in the midst of apparent safety, he never lets his guard down.

Rolling that Listen check now.

[roll0]

[Lix Lorn]

"Finally!" says Kara obnoxiously. "Some food would be wonderful. I was beginning to grow weary from boredom."