[center][h1][b]Xenelith[/b][/h1][/center]
[b]Time:[/b] Morning
[b]Location:[/b] Roshimi City
[b]Interaction with:[/b] Azriel[sub][@Tae][/sub], Umber[sub][@FunnyGuy][/sub], O'Ner[sub][@Eviledd1984][/sub], Jack[sub][@Alivefalling][/sub]
[hr][hr]
Xenelith’s eyes threw daggers at Azriel for her comment. What could the dark-winged demi-human know about the enemy? She had never met them. Though he quickly realized that this was just how Azriel was. She had taunted everyone except for Umber so far. Perhaps a more laid back ally wouldn’t be so bad. For the moment at least. The Dark Elf commander swallowed his petty anger with the next gulp of wine and listened to O’Ner. The undead general had a strange confidence to him. Then again, it wasn’t misplaced. [b]“You shouldn’t worry about the little princess.”[/b] He said. [b]“I’ve laid out a lure they cannot ignore, in a trap they cannot escape. If she is truly in Roshimi, and I am almost certain she is, then she will be captured within two weeks.”[/b]
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The mansion offering Xenelith and his troops residence was a true marvel of construction and architecture. On Daka such a grand edifice of plenty could never be built. Water flowed in small rivers and canals through the green gardens to eventually join together in a stream that cascaded over a cliff and into the sea beyond. Like all noble houses, it wasn’t just a singular building but a complex made up of wings and central hallways. Grand domes adorned the spires jutting out from the ground. Offering beautiful views of Roshimi or the azure sea beyond. The walled complex’s main gate led to a white-stone plaza with at the center a gentle fountain carved in the likeness of an owl demi-human. On the right side of the plaza were the stables and the menagerie. Beyond those, there was a relatively sizeable, well-tended field for the creatures to run around in from time to time. On the left side of the plaza were the somber servants quarters. A low building with but a few windows. Beyond the plaza were the stairs and eventually the entrance to the grand doors of the main hall. Within you’d find the entrance hall. On the right side, there was a large door leading to the ballroom for festive occasions. A beautiful mirrored wall allowed one to observe all of their own moves. On the left side, the door led to the grand dining hall. Straight on would lead you to the main parlor and eventually the main study. Upstairs were various more private libraries, studies, and rooms. It was in the left wing’s upper story where the Sycamores were housed, and down in the servants quarters the dark elves resided. From the small towers flanking the main gate onto the plaza, Aklenroth’s banners flew for everyone to see. Gossips had already spread about the presence of Dark Elves in the mansion.

“We should be doing something.” A Dark Elf soldier said as he paced around the room. Hopelessly anxious. As if an army would be knocking down the gates at any moment. “We should be out there. Patrolling the walls. Guarding the prisoners. Not sit in here waiting for the inevitable.” His fellow soldiers looked equally unnerved. Some tried to occupy their minds with chess or dice. In the other room, you could hear the soft clangs of steel hitting steel.

“Calm yourself.” Leandron said as he was leaning back in his chair, with feet on the table, as he kept his eyes on the book he was so engrossed in. “When the time comes we move. Not before. Sit down and play some games.”

The soldier didn’t take Leandron’s advice. He kept strolling back and forth. “What is the commander thinking? Just let a patrol of three guard the whole house!? If they barge through the front gate none of us will be ready to take them.”

“The guards are to let them through without a fight.” Leandron said absentmindedly.

“They what?” the soldier turned towards his superior. “We’re not even going to give them a fight? They could just walk in here and take the prisoners?”

“Exactly. Now you know there is nothing you can do to stop them from entering. So sit down and contain yourself.” Leandron said. Annoyance was rising in his voice.

The dark elf didn’t sit down. Instead, he slammed his first down on the table Leandron was resting his feet on. “We should be doing everything to keep them away from the prisoners!”

Leandron peered from beyond his book for a moment, before putting it down. “No.” He said. “We let them reach the prisoners without drawing blood. Are you that thick-skulled that you never noticed it?”

The soldier looked confused and a little angry. But said nothing.

“The prisoners. They’re only the women. The ones that can heal us when this damned city finally explodes.” Leandron said.

“Then where are the men?” the soldier asked.

“On Daka.”

Both men paused for a second. Slowly it dawned to the soldier. “They’re bait.”

Leandron picked up his soldier’s trail of thoughts: “Yes. And the prisoners know, if they run, a message gets send to Daka to kill their brothers. You see now? We don’t need chains, bars or locks. You hold an axe over the head of those they love and they’ll do exactly as you tell them.”

“Then why are we sitting here and not with the lure? To capture the princess.” The soldier asked.

“Because my friend, we are the trap. The ambush. Once they’ve reached the prisoners that will never leave their rooms, we jump them. We seal the gate and capture them all. Now sit down and relax. When the time comes, we’ll have the princess and her group in chains.”
[hr]
[b]“A far more dangerous person has entered the city today. Terneus.”[/b] His eyes went over every person sitting at the table. Could he trust them? He only just met them but then again, they were probably far more loyal than most other company. O’Ner was undead and Umber was a demon. Azriel seemed far too cruel to be a spy. And while Xenelith did not yet fully trust the human, his obvious bloodlust made him at least somewhat respectable. [b]“It would’ve been a coincidence if he had marched into Roshimi from his own lands. But he didn’t. He came from the River Fairy Kingdom. Right after Risa rose up in defiance.”[/b] His eyes darted once more over his company. Even the girl Azriel had just kissed. Words that fell into the wrong hands could be used against him. Could he truly trust everyone here? [b]"He's a menace who should've died a century ago. I don't trust him and I dislike him being here."[/b] He kept his words relatively civil. Though a demon like Umber would no doubt pick up on the intense hatred he felt for the Light Elf governor. It wasn't like the fresh, fury he felt for Kyran. This rage was deep and seethed.

He took the skaula and observed it. Should he take it? At any moment he could be summoned to the mansion. [b]"This could be the last bit of fun I get for a few years."[/b] With a single bite, he downed the drug. His mind made up, he shifted his attention to one of the girls send to O'Ner. She was tall for a demi-human. Her long black hair cascaded down her back. With just whisps of cloth leaving just enough to the imagination. The cat ears and tail made her deviate from his desire but the skaula would take care of that. [b]"I think you won't mind that I take one of your girls, O'Ner."[/b] He said, though he didn't wait before he beckoned the girl to him. As she approached he took the ubara, gave a quick wink to Umber, pulled the girl on his lap and softly whispered in her ear as he offered her the drug: [b]"Take it."[/b] She took it with a playful but practiced giggle.