[center]Of Crownless Kings: Chapter One of Act One
67th of Zieliah, Year 698
[/center]

[i]“Ye ol city of Splendors, gleaming towers of white gold,
kissed by the sun as it similes upon ye from skies above,
sit here the prodigy of the phoenix, adorned in silks of silver,
look now beyond your walls and know, all that you see you rule,
from east to west, south and north united are the children of the skies.
Gathered under wings on high, shall they and all their kin prosper.”[/i]
-Verse 123 of 'The Book of Holies'

The sun gleamed down upon the marble white walls and buildings, washing them in its forgiving light. The rays of light seemed to glisten upon the city of the Phoenix in such a way as to cause it to appear as if molded from white gold. High spires of snow white were casting long shadows under the risen sun, though none were so majestic as the Great High Tower of the Phoenix, built from the Palace of the same name. That great structure of stunning beauty could be seen clearly even from miles beyond the city. Banners of all colors with the most spectacular designs adorned these great and lofty structures, rising high into the heavens as if to touch the gods who the people of this great city worshipped reverently. The mighty battlements and guard towers were as much a work of art as the rest of the city, revealing the tilrinics love for architecture given a poets touch. They stood sentinel against the world, as if in open challenge to all, daring them to assault its formidable defences. Three such rings of fortifications did circle inward toward the seat of power. 

Still the houses within surely did not disappoint, as much sculptures of artwork as they were structures of necessity. Statues lined every other street, the rare fountain strategically placed with gardens of roses and other sweet smelling flowers. Banners lined the streets as long steamers, the streets themselves meticulously clean cobblestones, continuously tended to by dung farmers. Today however was a day like few others in the city of Skyhaven, for the recent call for the Summit had been given, and it must be answered. 

Already the first of the great High Houses were arriving at the city gates, proudly displaying the sigils of their mighty holds. There was erudite House Sovanid of Noctua, keepers of knowledge and masters of coin, few were the houses that could match them in either regard. As protectors of The Passage, the only true way past the mountain range known by all and called the 'Wall of Elyden,' they had used their position shrewdly. Gathering riches and everything worth knowing, and even many things possibly less worthy of remembrance. They held Laiskas Medjan, easily Elydens largest library, and some might boast greatest in all the world, for what great works and poetry had the people of the savage Black Continent of the far east to contemplate?

In the wake of House Sovanid there was ever famed House Benedikt, most pious followers of the Sacred flame in all of Elyden. Indeed, no one else could esteem to hold as much favour with the Sun God. Boasted widely as the most favoured children of Valarien, they easily held the greatest of relations with the ruling House Paragon. However, while the sight of their banners sparked many a peasant to bow in respect, it was the strange robed men who caught the attention of many onlookers as they entered the city. Their desert robes swaying with the wind in tandem with the banners on high, House Ashtokens guard cut a most imposing visage with their alien ash coloured flesh. At the head of the small party was undoubtedly the Spear of the Ashtoken, and no guard dared to ask him to surrender the weapon, even as their entourage eventually entered the inner city. After all, many commonly believed the weapons of the High Houses, the Makitherin forged tools, were cursed in some fashion or another. 

The Odeshians that followed were the only ones given an even wider berth, for while many of their people were accustomed to being seen in the capital, their elephants were not. The ground shook with small tremors when the Whiteshorns arrived with their mighty elephants, the pride and joy of their province. Many were the onlookers who gasped and pointed at the strange sight of such great beast. Burdened with all manner of gear and gifts, or so the common folk whispered in delight as they guessed the contents. 

Then there was the horselords of the great and Endless Plains, High House Khyriin, and while the great elephants had inspired wonder and fear, the majestic horses of the Khyriin inspired only awe, for no other steed in all of Aglil could compare to even the weakest of horses of the Endless Plains. Indeed they were unmatched by any of the other High Houses. Still more Houses followed, each a new wonder in and of itself, there was House Whitemane and their impressive war hounds, the swordmasters of House Ashwill, and still more. 

Their entrance into the city was not unmarked of course, the moment the first of the High House delegates had been spotted, Dawnbringer Shamgar was made aware. The preparations were well underway of course, all that remained was the coming of the Head of each House or their respective representatives. They had all come as Shamgar had hoped they would. But of course they did, they had to, the well-being of the realm had very well depended on it. Quick action was needed if disaster was to be diverted. There was the loss of the crown for one, it's retrieval had to remain the Greater Realms top priority. Then of course there was his upstart of a son, the fool boy had decided the worst time to play king. With a sigh he watched from his high story window from the Phoenix Tower as the Houses streamed in one after the next. Shamgar of course could scarcely see much of anything from so far away even given his near birds eye view. 

 He turned from the window and fixed the hem of his robe before retrieving his staff of office. A beautifully crafted peace of oak wood topped off by a sizable ruby. Scholars and mages alike believed that the precious stones of the earth held some fragments of power unique to each, and thus they often contributed to the power of spells both divine and arcane. Shamgar was not sure if he agreed or not, but the rod alone was a powerful symbol of his office, which was power enough for his needs. Making his way down the winding passages of the spiral like tower staircase gave Shamgar time to think. In the foreground of such thoughts was of course the disappearance of the Crown of Fire. Well more to the point its theft, but who could be responsible for such a crime? Surely someone who stood to gain, thus the primary suspect would be Ealstain of course. Yet, Shamgar had doubts about that, he knew Ealstain well, and he was not the short to resort to thievery. One of the other Houses perhaps? But what would they gain from an extended midwinter? Perhaps they might use it as a bargaining chip, but they would have to know that would not end well for anyone. 

By the time he reached the main floor leading to the Phoenix Palace, he had come no closer to unravelling the mystery. He dismissed it for now, he had a delegation of High Houses to address. The main chamber that marked the entry into the Phoenix Palace was a majestic and quite large almost circular room that exited directly into the main hall. The great double doors of hard wood that lead into the chamber were adorned in bronze, trimmed with gold and silver in such a fashion as to enhance the image of a Phoenix with its wings spread in flight that was well sculpted into the gateway. The audience chamber itself held its own ornamentation in the form of motifs of birds, majestic unicorns, with wall paintings of dragons being cast down by the great heroes of yore. The Phoenix kings and queens of old had gone through great pains to remind the other houses of their wealth and power, but just as much, to reveal the great heroism of their patron for forefathers. A method of revealing the gratitude of these ancient heroes and the loyalty of their scions. 

This chamber lead into small corridors of reasonable beauty, but the main hall leading directly from the portal entryway was the larger of them all, and truly the most decorated. Wall murals leading down the entire hall told story after story of the great events and heroics during the time of the Wyrm Wars. Each Houses hero depicted with stunning clarity in battle with the hated beast of sky, fire, and frost. Shamgar had chosen the main audience chamber purposely as the place to first address the esteemed guest of the capital. For some this would be their first time in the city of Skyhaven, or at least within the walls of the Royal Palace of the Phoenix. There dressed in his long silver white robes, with tongues of flames fashioned intricately through the fabric, Shamgar waited as each of the first houses to arrive filed in. Grey eyes of startling focus observed each new entry. Hands resting on his ruby scepter, he waited until the last arrived before clearing his throat. 

“I am Shamgar Paragon, First Dawnbringer of the Temple of FlameKeep, Viceisien newly named by Kammeth our beloved lord. I welcome you warmly to the Throne of the Phoenix and the City of Skyhaven. I thank you all for your timely arrival in these uncertain times. As you well know, the day after tomorrow will be the naming coronation of our new High King and Protector of the Greater Realm. Thus this summit has been called to name the New Regent Lord and to select who among you or your house shall serve in the inner Council of the Realm. As you are no doubt wary from your long journey and yet others have yet to arrive, you will be shown to your rooms as our honoured guest, and your needs seen to however small. You maybe even walk the palace grounds if you wish, though we ask you not wander to far into the city.” He then gave a slight bow. “With that I now leave you to the care of our servants, you may surrender any mortal weapons to our guard, for you will have no need of them here. The summit will officially begin tomorrow two full turns of the glass and a candlemark more after dawn.”