Shadows in the Kingdom of Ash [Private]

[TheDarkDM]

To future historians of Telluris, that it took so long for diplomats from Tzalteclan to travel to Maur would seem an oddity. The two nations, similar in so many ways, seemed natural allies. And perhaps they would have been, if not for the black gulf of unexplored territory separating the two from easy travel. But now, that gulf was but a memory, and for the first time a scaled member of the family of the Teotlkan walked the ashen road towards Maurshael. He was a formidable man, standing more than six feet tall and wrapped in decadent crimson silks adored with gold, aligning disturbingly well with the Unmarked that escorted him. He was Djau, one of Senusret's last sons, denied the position of Tlapepentli simply for his youth and the terrible experience now expected of the Scales of the Dragon. With him he carried gifts of gold, of livefire, and of ngath philungf, secured in iron chests drawn by teams of roaring turtles. As the city gates came into sight, the procession slowed, and Djau rode forwards upon a horse of fine Ashenian stock to address the guards.

"Greetings! I am Djau, prince of Tzalteclan! I come seeking an audience with your mighty queen."

[Mynxae]

The guards looked the prince up and down, assessing him and his troupe. "You and your people may enter. The palace is, well, you can probably see it from here. The large ominous looking building up the road" the guard said as he pointed the way for them.

The palace itself was, as the guard said, quite ominous and dark. Shadowed by the ashen skies of Maur, the grand palace of the Dragon-Queen was crafted from stone permanently stained with the ash that fell upon ground frequently, as well as being decorated with twisted spires made of deathiron that struck up abruptly here and there, almost as if to pierce the sky itself.

Dragon-Queen Kara Volshevrin was tiredly looking out upon the city from the balcony attached to the royal bed chambers that jutted out from the highest point of the palace. "Sometimes I wish I could've had a pair of quiet boys instead of girls who eternally squabble, eh Jowan?" she muttered to her husband who approached her silently from behind. Jowan looked startled for a moment before putting his arms around his wife's stomach with a smile. "One day they'll settle down, my queen. One day..." he murmured, lifting an arm up to stroke her hair softly while she relaxed in his arms.

[TheDarkDM]

Djau bowed to the guards in thanks before striding confidently through the gates and towards the dark palace of the Dragon Queen. Behind him, his retinue unfurled banners bearing the leering golden dragon of Tzalteclan, taking up position behind their prince in a procession worthy of his heritage. However, they came to a halt at the threshold of the palace, standing at attention as Djau made his way inside.

In the throneroom of the Dragon Queen, Djau waited for the royal presence to make itself known. The clinking of the golden bangles adorning his belt echoed in the silent air, but they were the only sound to escape the Tzaltec prince.

[Mynxae]

Jowan looked out at the city and saw a slight disturbance at the gates. "My queen, I believe we have some visitors... And they're coming to the palace" he said with a slightly surprised look on his face. Kara looked up and saw the golden dragon of Tzalteclan. As she saw it, a broad grin spread across her face as she shrugged herself from Jowan's embrace, straightened her back and strode back into the palace.
"I must prepare myself for the delegates who no doubt shall soon be waiting for an audience, Jowan. As much as I would like to have you there, I need you to keep the twins out of trouble and make sure they do not disrupt us" Kara said with all traces of tiredness gone from her voice.
Jowan looked slightly disgruntled but bowed to her. "Yes, my queen" he said stiffly, and strode off to entertain their daughters and make sure they wouldn't cause any trouble.

Several minutes later...

Kara strode into the throneroom, adorned with a tunic sewn of crimson and shadow, the royal colours of Maur, as well as pants that were lengthy enough to go all the way down to her ankles, at just such a tightness as to retain full movement. Upon her feet were light leather boots, with twin dagger hilts peeking out of the top of them. The Dragon-Queen was no fool after all, and rarely trusted anyone, even one who came for diplomatic talks.

She noticed the prince as she walked in, and surveyed him with golden eyes. "An interesting creature..." she thought with a hint of curiosity. She walked silently up to the prince and bowed deeply.
"It is an honour to receive one from the Tzaltec Empire" she murmured with a light smile playing upon her lips. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

[TheDarkDM]

As Queen Kara entered the throne room, Djau's lips parted in a wide smile, revealing his white, predatory teeth. Spreading his arms in a bow to match any royal courtier, he listened to the queen's greeting before replying in a proud basso.

"The pleasure is mine, oh Ashen Queen. The terrible beauty of your land is only matched by your own majestic visage."

The prince's smile did not waver as he gave his scandalous compliments, but as his voice trailed off his expression grew troubled.

"I judge it all the more tragic, then, that you have been treated with such disrespect. I come at the will of my father the Teotlkan, to bring you the recognition you have so sorely lacked. Tzalteclan wishes to gain Maur's friendship, and should you desire it, to vouchesafe the vengeance you are so cruelly denied."

[Mynxae]

Kara settled upon the throne behind her as she listened to the words of the prince. The throne itself was large and imposing, forged completely out of deathiron itself with jagged shapes protruding from its top. As uncomfortable as it looked, Kara sat upon it as if it were the most warm and comfortable chair in the world.

"Vengeance, you say? There is only one I seek vengeance against, and they have powerful allies, as well as power of their own... As my mother found out" Kara said with a slight underlying anger in her tone, an intrigued look upon her face.
"Also... Why would Tzalteclan seek to gain our friendship? We are a small queendom, even with our recent expansions into the regions north of Pomequi. What could we offer to a mighty Empire?" she said with a slightly confused look upon her face.

[TheDarkDM]

Djau straightened as Kara sat, clasping his arms behind his back.

"It is true that Alzeroth has the might of Hurosha at their backs, good queen. But Hurosha has long been an enemy of Tzalteclan, and their madness in allowing the Watcher to continue its rampage has done nothing but seal their doom. But you are correct, taking our shared vengeance is not reason enough."

He stepped forward, lowering his voice to a whisper.

"But I am sure you know, good queen, of the doom that lurks in the deep desert? The Kazul are coming, and Tzalteclan would hold fast what areas it can against their storm. You and your people are faithful of the Dragon, though you know him by a different name, and neither the Teotlkan nor the Xiuhtlatec would see Maur devoured while the west bickers and stagnates."

[Mynxae]

Kara clasps her hands together, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I have heard of these Kazul creatures before, but rarely. I have also heard of the destruction they will wreak when they emerge from the desert" she murmured softly, a worried expression on her face.

She straightened up slightly, a piercing expression in her gaze as she looked directly into Djau's eyes. "But what of Niskovia? I am sure you know of my alliance with them. I've only kept it so long because I need the resources and support, as well as the fact that if they were to so wish, they could crush my people underneath them like so many bugs..." she said with a voice full of frustration.

[TheDarkDM]

Djau's head tilted at the queen's response.

"But could they really, good queen? If Maur stood alone, perhaps. But Niskovia is a land long untroubled by war, a land whose only major campaign was to hold an uncontested region in the Sunset War. They may be mighty in the West, but when compared to the might of Tzalteclan? To the might of the Concordat? Niskovia is but a paper tiger before a storm. You say they offer you the support of their resources, their empire. But Tzalteclan is an empire as well, one far larger and with far more powerful friends. Friends who lack the squeamishness of House Niskovich."

[Mynxae]

Kara looked thoughtful as she linked her hands and laid back in her throne. "So I would become a vassal of the Tzaltec Empire? And one day, once we've sealed off the desert and protected ourselves against the Kazul, I could seek vengeance upon Alzeroth for what they've done?" she said with narrowed eyes. You could almost hear the gears ticking throughout her mind as she thought over the proposal.

[TheDarkDM]

Djau smiled, not the friendly smile with which he'd greeted the queen, but a predator's smile. A razored smile.

"Good queen, pledge yourself to Tzalteclan and we shall bring such a reckoning upon Alzeroth as to wipe its name from the annals of history and sanctify the honor of Maur in Alzerite blood."

[Mynxae]

Kara nodded, replying with an almost evil grin alighting on her face, "Let it be known that Maur no longer bows their heads to Elven lords. The Dragon beckons, and we will not disappoint him".