[IC] The Faraway Land

[rush99999]

The moment Sadron mentioned that Tiberius took on armed challengers while he himself was unarmed, The Storyteller snapped his fingers. In a puff of smoke, his famous storybook appeared before him. With a wave of his hand, The Storyteller opened his book to an unfilled page. A split second later, an inked quill was in The Storyteller's hand and with it he began to write. Whether it was popular exaggeration or not didn't matter to The Storyteller, what mattered was that it was a story that wasn't in his book but soon would be.

[Hawlin]

Feeling already out of place, the properly clad knight's turned helmet in her direction made Kaite feel that much more awkward before they spoke up in regards to the letter. The reminder of business sobered her disposition, composing herself to step forward and brandish the letter from her pack which was adorned with the stamped wax. "Right! Pardon..." She spoke up, setting the jug on a nearby table and taking the letter from her helmet-toting hand. "...such grand invitations don't come often" Kaite explained, doing her best to curb a skeptically begrudging tone that etched a vague picture of mutual feelings of distaste for being in the company of the high elves. Still, on her best behavior, the sardonic emphasis of her wording was dismissed with a small chuckle to insist that the implication was made as a show of humor.
Setting the letter on the table to show that there was no mistake that Kaite had business being there, she gestured to a seat and looked up to the patrons before asking, "May I?" Unfamiliar with customs, she resorted to assertion since, after all, she was 'required'.

[Lord Zee]

Taken aback slightly at the Elf knowing about that story, Tiberius slowly made his way over to the table and sat across from them. "Well... I wouldn't say with my bare hands, I did have a shield and it was more of a mob if anything." He noticed the storyteller with his book out, and realized he was going to have to recount this story to its fullest. He looked at the girl once more, now at the table also, but standing and waiting for an invitation to sit which was also strange to him.

Pushing that from his mind, Tiberius took off his helmet and placed it upon the stone table revealing a very boyish appearance to him. His slightly tan face was quite thin, with high cheekbones sitting below sharp amber colored eyes, flaked with gold. His long wavy hair went past his neck and was almond brown, curling slightly at the tips. He was clean shaven, with a small scar below his right eye, from a tale he would always be happy to share.

"Ahh, where to start really? I was in Fontas, my hometown, the witch trials were in full swing at the time but I knew it was all really from acute paranoia and misinformation. The real witches? There the kind that live out in the wilds of the world, kidnapping unsuspecting travelers and doing horrible things to them. I don't know how it started but by the time I got back, a lot of innocents had... died." he paused letting the information sink in before continuing.

"I knew Anna since, well, forever really and I always knew she liked to dabble around in magic but never the bad kind. Luckily I arrived just in time before she would walk the gallows. The crowd was hyped up with falsities and malice that I didn't understand but I couldn't hurt them, least not fatally. So, I left my sword with Lancel, my horse and nicked a tower shield from a guard that wouldn't be needing it. I'll save you the small details but I finally managed to break through the hysterical crowd and save Miss Evergleam from the noose. The crowd went silent as I took her from there, for who were they to fight against me? I'd like to think I was quite intimidating but that didn't stop them from throwing rotten food at us." He sighed sadly as if remembering was a little painful.

"However, my presence didn't stop a handful of men from trying to take her. So, I taught them a lesson on how to treat a lady. Needless to say, the crowd died down after that and angry people finally came back to reason. I took her home that night and eventually I sorted out the 'witch' problem in Fontas, but that's an even longer tale. Anna eventually moved away from Fontas, I think the whole thing left a bad taste in her mouth and I don't blame her."

Finally finished, Tiberius relaxed a little bit. Telling stories was fun and all but he was a bit fidgety, almost anxious about the meeting to get under way.

[Thinslayer]

@Hawlin
"Right! Pardon..." said another voice.
Everyone looked up to see who it was.
A blonde knight set a jug on the table and procured a letter. "Such grand invitations don't come often," she said, allowing herself a light chuckle at the end. Then she placed the letter on the table and gestured to a seat. "May I?"
Sadron nodded. "You must be that 'Jericho Kaite' who keeps popping up in my status reports. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Please, have a seat. We are just warming up. I'm sure Arandur would happily entertain you."
The corner of Arandur's mouth twitched down a bit.
Sadron chuckled, followed by a frown. Arandur is quiet today. He bopped the elf on the knee with his staff, yielding a surprised squeak. Arandur slapped his hands on his legs and glared at Sadron. "Don't do that!" Then, turning to Kaite, he added, "My apologies. There's tea in the pot, brewed from the finest Sagian herbs. It's positively rejuvenating." He poured a cup and offered it to her.

"Have some?"

[Thinslayer]

@ineffable
The Recruitment of Laina Silverstide

The day Dionaea Sycamore received her letter, the same messenger delivered a letter to a certain healer named Laina.
"For you, Miss Silverstide."

The Letter

Greetings Lady Laina Silverstide
Your presence is required at High Council Hill by eight in the morning tomorrow. We need your prowess in the healing arts to halt the advance of evil. As a Free Elf, you have the right to decline, but know that the fate of the world may depend on your decision.
~Sadron Aphaderuiondur

[MissCapnCrunch]

A walking stick had became her companion whilst on her journey, digging it into the ground a bit deeper and deeper with each step she took. Dia was NOT used to this type of exercise. She kept very active within the limits of her village, but never had ventured out this far or for this long in her entire life. Within the last mile she took the stick and tossed it onto the side of the road, a breath escaping heavy from her lips as took a break. Her hands placed on her hips as she looked up towards the change of scenery.

The Domain of the High Elves had never been seen by Dionaea only heard about and seen drawn in books and imaginations. She was still surprised and a bit in awe as she began approaching more steadily, her woven backpack low on her back filled heavily with her supplies of a days worth of travel. She approached closer, spotting several people already gathered. Was she late? "Damn." she muttered, hoping she wasn't late to the meeting. She picked up her step, getting up there quickly. "Pardon me, I'm sorry for being late." she excused herself, her petite body quickly finding a seat for herself. Was that rude? She stood up again quickly. "Sorry again, I'm not sure if we're supposed to sit." she admitted, a laugh escaping her lips.

[ineffable]

Laina frowns, she's still contemplating the letter the following morning and finally decides on what she wants to do. She hurries into a decent white dress with some shimmery leggings under and rushes to High Council Hill. She meets the gard there, brushes some strands of glimmering silver hair from her face and shows him the letter.

[Thinslayer]

@XenoCyanide
The Recruitment of Xen'Desh Idlindra

Sadron was wise to seek him first, for it took the messenger many days just to reach him. The poor boy was utterly exhausted by the time he found someone resembling the great wizard Xen'Desh.
"For you...sir..." the boy huffed as he handed him a letter.

The Letter

Greetings, Lord Xen'Desh Idlindra,
Your guidance and council are requested at High Council Hill by eight in the morning tomorrow. Enclosed is a teleportation crystal to facilitate travel. A great evil has risen up in the north, and we have hand-picked a number of Champions to fight it. Please, for the sake of all that is right and good in the world, lend us your aid and lead our Champions to victory. We need you now more than ever.
~Sadron Aphaderuiondur

[Thinslayer]

Laina frowns, she's still contemplating the letter the following morning and finally decides on what she wants to do. She hurries into a decent white dress with some shimmery leggings under and rushes to High Council Hill. She meets the gard there, brushes some strands of glimmering silver hair from her face and shows him the letter.

@ineffable

The guard nodded and let her through.

Upon entry, Lord Arandur rose to greet her. "Lady Laina! I am glad you could make it!"

[XenoCyanide]

The boy's exhausted puffing softly echoed throughout the cavern. This place was man-made, easily told from the smooth polish of the stone walls. The boy was high in the cliffsides of the southern mountain range, but from a distance, it just seemed like a normal recess within the natural geometry of the walls. It is a surprise he found his mark to begin with. Xen met the boy at the entrance, walking slowly and methodically toward him. His cowl was raised but was pulled back slightly above his browline. He used a rather inconspicuous staff to aid him in movement, the rhythmic tapping against the stone ground bouncing off the chamber walls.

As the boy handed him the letter, Xen looked at the boy curiously, eyeing him up and down. Many questions entered his mind, foremost being as to how he found the old man to begin with, but such a question, he thought, a messenger would not know. Information is the currency of the high lords and ladies, and manipulation the blind knife in the dark. Pursing his lips, he took the letter. "Eat something before you leave." His tone was dry, but not harsh. He gestured toward a table around the corner with a loaf of bread and a small cut of meat on a plate. Xen moved with purpose toward a table, breaking the wax seal of the letter. He spread the letter out onto the table and read each word carefully. His nose wrinkled in disgust and he pushed the paper away, settling down into the chair near him.

After all of these years, they dare seek me out. He cursed in his mind, seeing the boy pocket the bread and chew on the meat as he slipped out of the cavern as quickly as he could. Xen knew he rubbed people the wrong way. Never having been a social person, Xen didn't pick up on the nuances of courtship and kissing asses. He resigned himself away to live in solitude for that reason. He hated politics. He hated the game. Unfortunately for all of us, sometimes politics invades our lives in inconceivable ways. Sadron... What is it you seek? He mused after a moment of silence. He eyed the letter than lay on the floor, the crystal sitting on the table. It sparkled in the incandescent light of the room and pale blue. The color seemed almost hollow.

Xen swooped up the crystal in his hand and held it between his pointer and thumb, examining it curiously. [color=red]"Hmm..."[/red] he murmered, looking again at the letter. Picking it up, he reread it again, and sighed. He stood from his chair and went to his chambers, where he grabbed a dagger and belt, several pouches and a satchel. He examined his robes, the dark blue pigment highlighted by archaic runes running the length of the seems. Pulling back the several braids, he lifted the cowl over his head. Taking stock of himself, he raised his head and closed his eyes. Lifting the crystal above him, he murmured some words.

"u'Lthir Dyn."

Xen's form collapsed upon itself and he was gone.

Xen'Desh Idlindra stood suddenly in the hall, having slowly and silently materialized from the wall in the back corner. It had been several decades since he has last been within The Center and it looked eerily the same as it did then. Moving closer to where the other "champions" had gathered, he positioned himself to have full view of the entire area. He eyed the men and women gathered there curiously, making mental notes here and there of what they are wearing and what armaments they brought with them. Just as he was positioning himself, he noticed a woman enter and Lord Arandur greet her.

This was going to get interesting.

[ineffable]

@Thinslayer
Laina dropped into a pretty curtsy, lifting up her flowy skirts and sinking down low. "You too, Lord Arandur." She says. "Thank you for your invitation." She thanks him and gives a gentle smile that lights up her young and beautiful features. "I greatly appreciate it." She shifts the heavy books of healing in her hands and bites her lip a bit nervously.

[rush99999]

It was at this point that The Storyteller had finished writing in his book. After giving the ink a moment to dry, he closed the book and sent it back to where it came from along with the quill with a snap of his fingers. The Storyteller looked around to see that more people had arrived at while he wasn't paying attention. The Storyteller nodded his greetings to all who had arrived before taking another sip from his tea.

[Darkmoon Angel]

"Welp, here we are. I gotta drop off from here, or Sarge will have me bee-hind. I'll see you around, man."

"Heh, alright. I'll see you later my friend." Ivan waved a goodbye to his fellow knight before turning to the guard at the gate. "Sir Ivan Stormwall, I believe I have been invited to this little meeting?"

Upon being let in by the guard, Ivan had gotten himself a jug of water. Can't go into a meeting with the high elves with a dry throat, for any meeting for that matter. As he approached the apparent meeting area, Ivan took one last drink from his jug and looked around the table, he might've been a little late to the party seeing as how a good few people were already sitting around chatting. "Good day my friends, sorry if I have kept you all waiting, and if I haven't, well then don't mind me. Ivan Stormwall, it's a pleasure to meet all of you. He said with a smile before sitting down.

[Hawlin]

@Thinslayer
@MissCapnCrunch

Kaite's eyebrows perked as she was offered the cup, having not anticipated the warmth in the welcome. "Ah, with grace, my high lords~" she chirped, offering Saxton a teasing wink over the edge of the cup as she took a sip before continuing. "Try not to take it personally" she commented on her appearances in status reports, her tone dismissive of the implied inconvenience of criminal acquisitions turning into bloodbaths. It was quickly turning into one big game for her, as the reservation in the high-elf's expressions hinted to forced civility. On the topic of the situation being contrast to her expectations, other faces began to emerge seemingly from the woodwork in some cases.

What appeared to be a young wood elf held the same reservation Kaite had, though genuinely lack of spite as she stood up soon after taking a seat. "Oh, have a seat! Ya got their letter, too, ah?" She laughed, gesturing to the seat Dioana had essentially claimed, clicking a plated knuckle on the stone table.
While most of the occupants seemed combat-ready, the small woman uniquely caught Kaite's attention with how out of place they seemed, easing her own nerves. The half-elf would have had the nerve to put her feet up on the table as a small power play if it weren't for her suspicion that she'd be thrown out by Sadron for such disrespect.
The gathering of names couldn't be overlooked, and among them, the small elf stood out in their league of champions. Kaite dismissed her skepticism since it wasn't her call who the high-elves invited to their garden party.
"Refreshments?" Kaite offered, already in the process of pouring a cup of tea for noons in particular, though watching Dioana.

[Thinslayer]

@Rekaigan
The Recruitment of Zenovia Almire

Of all the Champions recruited by Sadron, this one was one of the more...unique. She almost didn't make the cut, but Sadron conceded once Arandur explained just how powerful she could be. And so it wasn't long before another runner came up to her and handed her a letter.
"For you, Miss Almire."

The Letter

Greetings, Zenovia Almire,
Your presence is required at High Council Hill by eight in the morning tomorrow. As a Free Elf, you have the right to decline. Your unique skills are legendary and would be most useful in restoring peace to our world.
~Sadron Aphaderuiondur

[ineffable]

Laina slowly takes a seat at the table. She barely looks at who sits beside her for fear of their powerful gazes, so she flips open her healing book and takes in the words. She does hope that someone would talk to her but is afraid of what they would think. She flips through another page of her book before she glances up at the people seated at the table, she drifts her gaze from one person to another. "Greetings, my name is Laina. How were your days, may I inquire?" She inwardly cringed at how weird the greeting sounded but she couldn't take it back. She looked back down at her book, pale cheeks lighting up with a blossom pink.

[Rekaigan]

@Thinslayer

The moment she had woken up this morning, the energies around her rustled with activity. It was uncommon for such a thing to happen, since the spirits that surrounded her were generally quite calm throughout the day. This was one of those days that Zenovia had decided that she'd meditate for the whole day without so much as a peep from anyone around her. She just needed to find a secluded part of the forest and... Be greeted by a courier first thing in the morning.

She had barely started walking away from her home before almost walking right into a runner. "For me..?" She asked rhetorically as she was handed the letter. Wax sealed. It must be important. She carefully opened it, reading the contents.

"Greetings, Zenovia Almire,
Your presence is required at High Council Hill by eight in the morning tomorrow. As a Free Elf, you have the right to decline. Your unique skills are legendary and would be most useful in restoring peace to our world.
~Sadron Aphaderuiondur" it read.

Despite the fact that it stated that she was a 'free elf', the young shaman thought that it would be in everyone's best interest if she attended meeting. Zenovia had felt unrest in the spirits for quite some time; a factor that helped her decide that she'd go. 'I'm sure they won't mind if I attend this.. thing.' She thought, her mind going through a few scenarios in which she discusses such a thing with her family. But she was a grown woman after all! She should be able to make her own decisions by now.

"My skills are legendary? Hmm interesting.." She mused as she continued on her way into the forest.

---

Upon arriving at High Council Hill, Zenovia couldn't help but notice that others had gathered here too, seems like this event was quite important. The wood elf approached the person whom she assumed to be a guard.. He looked imposing enough. "I'm here to.. uh.. be present at the High Council..?" She said in an unsure tone as she handed the letter to the guard. She wasn't sure how she was meant to word that, but hopefully the guard knew what she was on about.

[Thinslayer]

@Lord Zee
@Hawlin
@MissCapnCrunch
@Darkmoon Angel
@rush99999
@Cuccoruler
@Rekaigan
@ineffable
@XenoCyanide

Sadron rapped his staff on the floor. "Seeing how everyone is here, how about we get started?"

[Lord Zee]

As more people showed up and he faded from the topic of conversation, Tiberius watched the others with interest. The next person to come in was a young wood elf, probably even younger then he was and she just looked fairly normal. To Tiberius, she looked incredibly vulnerable, and almost hapless at least among the others that were here and arriving. Perhaps he was wrong, but he didn't know.

The next to arrive was also a female wood elf. This one carried books and seemed to know Lord Arandur to some extent. He was curious about what books she carried with her but said nothing yet.

Then an Ivan Stormall arrived. He had the looks of a knight but Tiberius had never seen or heard of him before. As a matter of fact, the only person he was vaguely familiar with was the Storyteller but only well, from stories. Obviously he was chosen for a reason, just like him and all the others.

Then the second wood elf sat next to him and opened her book instantly. She did not move her head in his direction and a smile crept on his lips. Was this elf afraid or nervous? Eventually she looked up and spoke a greeting. So, her name was Laina? That seemed about right to Tiberius.

He cleared his throat, turned to look at her and spoke, "Hello Laina, nice to meet you. My name is Tiberius and I have to say, my morning is lovely so far, I just wish this meeting would start already. How about you? I trust the journey here was pleasant?" (@ineffable)

Then Sadron rapped his staff on the floor asking if the meeting should start. "Here here." Tiberius spoke aloud. He was quite ready for this meeting to be underway so he could actually find out why he was here. He doubted it was just for a social gathering or a party. There just had to be something more going on.

[MissCapnCrunch]

@Hawlin
@Lord Zee

"Oh, have a seat! Ya got their letter, too, ah?" the much taller woman than Dia said, a shared laugh between them. A sigh of relief escaped the young girl's lips. It seems that she wasn't too late nor was she too far fetched for being invited. She took a seat next to the woman and gave a grin, but not before taking off her bag and setting it on the floor by her bare feet. Dionaea quickly noticed how under dressed she was in comparison to the people gathered at the table. Perhaps it was something to say about the group of elves she was apart of, how close they were to nature and how blinded they were by their own thoughts of what was right and what was wrong.

"Refreshments?" the woman offered, and Dia nodded in return. "Yes, please!" she exclaimed, wrapping her fingers around a cup and pushing it towards Kaite quickly. Dia never turned down a drink, even if it was just simply tea. "To be honest with you, I didn't quite catch your name on the way in. Or to be more honest with you, I wasn't paying attention. I'm Dionaea Sycamore, 15th born of the Sycamore lineage. You can call me Dia though, all my family does, and friends I suppose." she smiled, watching her cup be filled. She took a sip, swallowing as Sadron tapped his staff on the floor.

"Seeing how everyone is here, how about we get started?"

"Here here." a man spoke up as Dia's eyes darted towards him. He was excited about what was happening whatever it may be.