JOSHUA

Joshua stood in the entrance of the audience hall of the castle and looked around in wonder, the opulence displayed was astounding to say the least and showed nothing of the once rudimentary furnishings that was the castles beginnings in the days following the Tribal wars that eventually United all the nomadic Tribes under one banner. One item of particular interest was that of a Dragon cast in pure gold with emerald jewels for eyes, as he stepped closer to examine the detailed craft work of scales, he noticed the guards that had been at the entrance looking his way with puzzled expression, neither of two could recall granting the man standing too close to one of the Castles treasures admittance. Joshua made it a point to hold each of the guards gaze then turned his attention back to the halls gathered guests of the King as the guards shook their heads in unison, coming to the conclusion that someone else must of granted entrance to the well dressed gentleman as they turned back to their post.

Joshua's gaze scanned the room, the Hunters were easy to spot, not only for the fact they were brandishing weapons within the Kings castle, but there was also the defiant look in their eyes, swagger in their stride and a confidence that bordered on the edge of arrogance, or in one case for exceeding it. He watched as one Hunter wearing a mask as if this was a masquerade ball verbally accosted a young female servant, he turned and faced the young servant, smiled reassuringly and placed his hand upon the small of her back and spoke softly in a tone reminiscent of a Grandfather consoling a child,

" Your pardon m'lady, but might I trouble with a request for a mug of hot water if you please, it would be much appreciated". he could see the young servant girl was taken aback by his manner, and he bowed slighty.

"Y-yes... of course M'Lord", he heard her reply after a brief moment, then he watched as she hurried off to the to the cooking rooms, even ignoring request by other guests for drinks from her tray as she hustled passed them. Something alerted his senses and he turned to see a red haired woman walk across the audience hall, he got the sense that she was a person to be wary of, yet he had no explanation for the reason why. His thoughts were interrupted by the return of the servant girl with a steaming mug in hand which he took graciously and produced a glimmering red ruby gemstone and placed it in her hand, she started to speak but he placed the index finger of his right hand across her full lips,

" This gem will fetch you a Kings ransom, leave this place, collect your family and go to the southern most part of the region, go and hesitant not....GO", the last word came with such a commanding tone of voice that the young servant girl spun on her heels and fled the hall. He sat the mug on anearby table, took a pouch from a pocket and poured some of the contents into the mug, then picked up the mug and swirled it around in a circle in order to mix the contents.

"King Jermolt of Capernaum bids you all well and offers gratitude and hospitality to each of you. As you well know, darkness has slipped into the Carpathian mountains just beyond us and has riddled our land with their witchcraft which brings nothing but desolation and death. As such, we have employed each of you to assist us in a mission that is two-fold. First, something was stolen from our sacred chambers last night - the cup of Eden, which is said to hold the key to eternal life......Whether you believe the tales or not, we do and obviously the Shade, who is darkness incarnate does as well. We need the cup back and we need an end put to this madness,We will have a large feast and wine set before you in the other room. Please come and as you are settled in feel free to ask questions. The King himself with join us shortly and entertain your thoughts and preponderances. Rooms have been prepared for each of you and tomorrow morning is when the journey will began. Please come."

Joshua nearly lost his hold on the mug, not because of the suddenness of the announcement, but because of the subject of the announcement, the Cup of Eden. The lore of the Cup and been lost to the ages and would of remained so had not the person making the announcement blurted out the potential of the Cup, now every fortune hunter and relic thief would get word of the cup missing and seek the cup for a gain of a large sum of gold coins. As the gathered guest's began to make their way to the Dining hall a cloaked feminine figure entered the hall then stopped to wait as the guard that escorted her in ran off, though the intent may of been one of concealment, the finery and embroidery of the cloak and the elegance of unhumanly grace, even in the simplest of movements, revealed to him whom and what the cloaked figure was, if any race understood the significance of the Cup of Eden, it would be the Elven.

Joshua was contemplating a way of introduction when suddenly the hairs on the back of his neck raised, a sense of dark magic being conjured tickled his Dragon nature causing him to frown, though he could pick up on the sensations, in human form he was unable to gauge its intent, forgetting for a moment the presence of the Tel'Quessir woman, he turned and went to a nearby window and stared out in the direction of the Carpathian Mountains intensely.