[center][b]Cantaware, Royal Seat of Eodaland[/b]
[img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/535c63a0-1628-437d-b04d-989a05fa3d57.jpg[/img]

[hr]

[b]Inside Red-Wyvern Castle[/b][/center]

[i]‘’Hello? King Badastan? It’s me, o King. …Aelfgar. You were asking for me, my lord?’’[/i]
Having knocked, Aelfgar cautiously pushes against the great willow-door, and it creaks open to the quarters of the Eodaen King.
Catching a glimpse through the narrow opening, he spots the grotesque posture of King Badastan turned to the wall, where he looks through a wooden window-frame, wherefrom he analyzes the docks and the brilliant ocean beyond, with the setting sun shining on his mustached face. There is a live squirrel sitting on his left shoulder – her name is Lamble and it’s the Eodaen King’s best friend and spiritual advisor.
 
Aelfgar himself is a skinny man in a long weathered wooly overcoat. He has proportionally long legs, a pointy nose, long curly red-brown hair and a groomed stubble beard. Because of his legs he is nicknamed ‘longshanks’. Looks however can be deceiving, for Aelfgar is much stronger than he appears, and it is his inconspicuousness why he’s so frequently employed as Badastan’s ‘armed muscle’.
 
[i]‘’Ah, Aelfgar.’’[/i] The King speaks with a low hushed voice, his back turned to him, continuing peering at the pier. [i]‘’I trust you invited my beloved nephew over for his 16th birthday? ‘’[/i]
 
[i]‘’Oh yes, I was going to strangle hi---‘’[/i]
 
Badastan abruptly turns around, pressing a finger against his thick lips.
[i]‘’SSHHHHHHH!
You were going to deliver unto him his beloved uncle’s birthday gift.’’[/i]
 
[i]‘’Uh, of.. of-course my lord…’’[/i]
 
Badastan continues, turning his back to him once again and back to the window,
[i]‘’And am I to assume you did not see your delivery through?’’[/i]
 
[i]‘’Not.. Not exactly my lord. The bed was empty. But I could tell he had slept on it that night. The window was open.. And a horse was missing when I went to see the stabl-‘’[/i]
 
[i]‘’Aelfgar Aelfgar… Take a seat Aelfgar!’’[/i]
 
[i]‘’Uh. Yes my King.’’[/i]
 
Aelfgar stumbles about a bit, looking around, half-tripping over the carpet as he made for the chair placed behind him.
 
[i]‘’How’s the seat cushion, Aelfgar?’’
‘’My lord, this chair is mighty fine my lord!’’
‘’Good.
And how’s the wife?’’
‘’She’s also mighty fine.’’
‘’Good, good.’’[/i]
An uncomfortable silence ensues, before the Eodaen King resumes.
[i]‘’Now listen Aelfgar, serious talk.
It seems you’ve let the little rodent miss out on his own birthday celebration. Have you any idea how sad his dear mother – my stunning wife – is?’’[/i]
[i]‘’Probably mighty sad my lord.’[/i]
[i]‘’Yes. Mighty sad. You could say that.
And how do you think I feel about not having seen my dear nephew for a year?’’[/i]
 
Aelfgar doesn’t really understand what he has to reply with.
[i]‘’…Sad? I think?’’[/i] He chuckles nervously.
 
Then the King turns about, threateningly approaching Aelfgar who is pinned down the chair from anxiety. The King’s massive frame covers the henchman in his tremendous shadow. Badastan looks down, and his brooding frown suddenly turns to a kindly smile as he gives the man a hearty pat on the back.
[i]‘’There there, Aelfgar! I am not angry that you’ve failed me! Not least when there’s a tremendous crisis at foot that only [b]you[/b] can resolve!’’[/i]
[i]‘’Me, my lord?’’[/i]
[i]‘’Yes you, Aelfgar. You see, some of my beloved subjects have gone rogue. And for the life of me I couldn’t understand why! Can you?’’[/i]
 
[i]‘’Not at all, my lord. Your rule with great wisdom, and you’ve rid this Kingdom of religious superstition. And who doesn’t love squirrels?’’[/i]
 
Badastan nods. And so does the squirrel on his shoulder.
[i]‘’Now see, I have reason to believe these subjects are now in league with the Celeseans of Syrome. Merchant vessels, but more importantly, peaceful squirrel clergy are under great duress at their unprovoked aggression…’’[/i]
 
Badastan places both hands on Aelfgar’s shoulders, gripping them and pulling him up with force.
[i]‘’They. Must. Be. Stopped!’’[/i]
 
Aelfgar rubs the droplets of saliva off his face from Badastan’s indignant proclamation as he is faintly being held up by the King.
 
[i]‘’And that’s where I come in?’’[/i]
[i]‘’And that’s where you come in.
You’re a fine naval captain, Aelfgar. Mighty fine even. I trust you can handle yourself on the high seas, swashbuckling some squirrelphobic corsairs.
In the name of the one true Squirrel Demon – Xaexeanot – you will take the helm of the flagship, the Herald of the Golden Acorn, prepared for you at the Cantaware pier, and sail the fleet to Syrome. I’ve already sent a pigeon to Belisar of your arrival. We shall see if the old-fox will honor his alliance with Eodaland, hm? From there on, scour the Sea of Tears to bring these criminals to justice. Finding them won’t be hard once you’ve got access to their suppliers.

Nothing you can’t handle, I am sure?’’[/i]
 
….Aelfgar turns quiet from the huge assignment he has just been saddled up with. From an assassin to an admiral? After a moment of contemplation, the man gives slow be it hesitant response.
[i]‘’…You are most generous, my lord.’’[/i]
He would never question King Badastan, of course, for such is Badastan’s divine power -- he could convince animals of the rightness of his religion. And Aelfgar is a reverent squirrel-follower.

[i]‘’That’s not all: [b]succeed[/b], and I shall make you my new Earl... [b]AND[/b] you’ll get a castle of your choosing! The world has great things in store for you, Aelfgar!’’[/i] Badastan laughs and lets go of Aelfgar’s shoulders.
 
[i]‘’Yes my King.’’[/i] Being set free, he takes a few steps back towards the willow door, preparing to leave. Not least to get away from Badastan’s sweaty odour. [i]‘’I shall see it done, my King. With the Squirrel-demon as my witness, this unruly pack of traitors shall rue the day they raised swords against the Eodaen Kingdom!’’[/i]

[i]‘’Oh, and if you happen to come across Prince Alric, send him my regards.’’[/i]

[i]‘’Yes I will kill-- ‘’[/i]
Badastan frowns sternly, about to interrupt, and Aelfgar immediately revises:
[i]‘’--deliver him his delayed birthday gift.’’[/i]