Chapter Text
S - At last, the day was here. They had been preparing for the arrival of Chilchuck and his daughters for the better part of the week in anticipation of a dinner party, and now the castle was finally ready to receive them. Chilchuck had stressed very clearly in his letter that he only intended to visit the castle once he was confident the Canaries had sailed away from the region, citing a problem with how Otta (the one with the boyish cut of hair, Falin could recall) was giving Meijack 'extremely suggestive' looks. Maybe he was overreacting. (Maybe he wasn't.)
It was still early now. Sunlight had started to creep over the treetops that overhung the corners of the castle garden, and the shade they provided was started to crawl back towards the roots. There were only a few trees but the gardens had appeared just as naturally as the rest of the keep when it had emerged from the sea, and thanks to efforts from the arborist Laios had hired, rows of pink and red and purple and white flowers had sprung from the bushes lining the sides of the neatly-paved walkway leading down to the little garden's center fountain. The water that flowed here was fresh, unlike the sea water it had rose from, and would often attract a few birds of chirping song. That is, if it wasn't for the big black cat that sat along the stone edge of the fountain. Falin had seen it before - a beautiful thing with a brilliant, thick black coat and bright, intelligent blue eyes, who was friendly in demeanor as well as when it saw that anyone had food. It had already come to a hissing contest between the cat and Izutsumi at least once, with the two giving each other a wide berth since then. But Izutsumi wasn't exactly an early riser most of the time, so now the cat lingered freely, peacefully looking towards Falin as she entered the garden grounds.
L - "Pss pss pss~ Meow-!" Falin was almost on all fours, which wasn't great for her more formal outfit, a rather avant-garde peacock styled outfit that had been designed by Yaad's clothiers - it was difficult to tell where the outfit ended and Falin began. (Perhaps that was the point.) Nevertheless, with a long feather (scavenged from the outfit - surely that could be reattached fairly easily!) she approached the cat slowly, waving the dark long feather about like a toy.
S - The cat slowly rose up to all fours, haunches still rested, its big bushy tail swaying back and forth like a curled, furred cobra. It stared at the red feather dancing before its eyes, and then, started to lash out with its paw, slapping the feather as if testing new prey. But before Falin could get in too deep with her play and drop to her knees to get dust on a dress that attracted dirt like gold attracted adventurers, a voice rose behind her. "Oi! Miss Falin!"
A young man with a ragged bowl cut of shocking red hair stood under the archway entrance to the castle gardens. He grinned - the large gap of a missing tooth in his smile - and he waved with vigor, before jogging down the stone steps into the garden proper. It was Johann, one of the laborers Laios had assigned to handle needed repair work to help restore the castle that had been under water for so long. Falin had seen him a few times, here and there - it was like he was always running around handling whatever odd responsibility someone thrust into his lap. Sometimes, these were other workers, but Johann handled it all with no complaints, and was always willing to pause and chew the fat, if you let him.
"Good mornin' to ya!" A small package bundled in cloth dangled from the fingers of Johann's free hand. "What're you up to, miss Falin? Gettin' dirty already? Thought that was my job!" Indeed, there was already a bit of dirt on his cheeks and hands. Must have been working to repair one of the foundational walls.
L - "Hello Johann!" Falin stood up a bit quickly, trying to look a bit dignified. While she didn't mind too much how people saw her, it did reflect on Laios a bit, and while he didn't like having to keep up appearances either, she certainly didn't want to make it too difficult. Besides, she looked fairly ridiculous in the outfit anyway, so it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to be doing something ridiculous as well. "I was just trying to lure the cat here... She gestured to where it had just been.
S - "Oh, you met Alister, eh?" Johann shaded his eyes with a dirty hand, squinting towards one of the trees - the black cat had scampered off, effortlessly scuttling up the tree bark to rest on the bough of one of its branches. "Aye, you just know he's beggin'. But all the servants are throwin' him scraps, that's why he keeps comin' back." That wide grin again and a laugh. "Sure sets Miss Issu off though, don't he?" He had kept stumbling over Izutsumi's full name and had resorted to only calling her half of it, much to the beastkin's chargin. But he always treated her with respect, even calling her 'Miss' and 'Lady Issu' at times (which probably annoyed Izutsumi even more). "You already all dressed up for th' dinner party? Won't be for a bit I reckon."
L - "The folk wanted to make sure it fitted right! Honestly, I snuck out, before they stuck even more feathers on me! Still, I think it could be some sort of fashion trend, what do you think?" There was a touch of self-concern in her voice as the homely girl twirled before the boy. She'd had her hair lengthened somewhat, and it was braided in a tail that snaked down through the feathers flouncing up behind her, and in truth she certainly would catch people's attention, though whether one would say it was pretty was perhaps pushing it. Stunning, perhaps.
S - Johann whistled, fists on hips as he watched Falin spin about. "Miss Falin, you look right pretty in that. I don't think even Miss Marcille is wearin' anything with feathers on it today. How much did that set y'all back? I think I'd like to surprise me girl with that when I finally bring her over." Johann had told Falin in the past how he was betrothed to a half-foot over seas - Delfay, her name was? - and he was trying to earn as much coin as possible to bring her over to the region to start a new life together. "Course, it's gotta be a lot smaller, you know. Delfay's such a tiny little thing."
L - "A fair bit!" Falin omitted that it had been a gift from the burgeoning village industries from those who had been stuck in the dungeon for centuries, and who hoped to get their styles popularised with 'free' publicity. She resisted the urge to say how all half-foots were such small things, surprisingly easily. "It's very enterprising of you! I'm sure she's happy she's got such a dutiful fiance!"
S - "Well, it's not like both of us ain't workin'. Delfay, she's smart as a dagger, she is." Johann pinched two fingers together. "Both of us are workin' our fingers to th' floor to start a new life together, but I bet you she's probably made twice what I got already. Probably sold everyone their own shirts back t' them for double." He laughed again, tipping his body backwards, hand to his belly. "Money makes th' ship go round, you know! She's right about that too. Oh!" He snapped his fingers and stepped close to Falin, fingering a chain about his neck. It was a simple silver locket Falin hadn't seen him wear before. "Now don't tell her if ya end up seein' her, but..." With a conspiring smirk, he clicked the small button on the locket, and the lid opened up, revealing a small etching of a half-foot woman's round face, large round ears poking out of her head of hair that dropped past her shoulders, wearing a pleasant smile. Was this Delfay?
"Had to spend some of me savings on this, but it was worth it." Johann smiled fondly at the picture. "Had the jeweller get an artist t' copy it off of an etchin' I've been keepin' at my room for a while now. Now I got her everywhere I go. She'll talk me ear off if she found out, but...I'll tell her after I get her here."
L - Falin had squatted down besides Johann so he didn't need to frame his neck upwards all the time, and reached over to take a look at the little portrait. "She certainly looks like a healthy girl! -Do you plan on getting married immediately when you meet up with her next?"
S - "That's th' plan. We're earnin' gold for everything. All th' travel fare to bring her over, a cottage of our own, and a full-blown wedding. I don't really have any friends here that'd want to come, but it's all right. I'm sure Delfay can whip some people up to see us get wed. She told me she wanted a honest-to-stars white wedding and by the hells, I'm gonna give her one." Suddenly, Johann slapped his forehead. "Oh, I've done gone and forgot the whole reason I came to find ya!" Closing the locket lid, he turned towards Falin, extending the cloth-wrapped package. "Mister Clure asked me t' give this to ya. Said he was busy talkin' somethin' out with Mister Alain and also makin' something for when th' guests arrive. Said it was pretty important, so I made sure not to break it!"
L - Falin took up the package, tilting it in her hands with a frown on her face, trying to work out what it was by the weight. "-Why, thank you, Johann! I'll go and open it up, shall I?" After a moments thought, she took it over to a nearby bench to open the package up so as not to spill its contents if it's delicate.
S - Inside the small bundle were two more bundles, wrapped in spare parchment. One was, delightfully, one of Clure's fruit pastries, cool to the touch now, but no doubt it would be just as delicious as when it was warm. The other - a small dull green bottle with cork tightly packed through the tip. It came with a short, folded letter in Clure's handwriting.
Falin -
This bottle is all we have left in stock of blood. Please ration it carefully throughout the day. I am speaking with Kabru - he believes the second-highest floor to a dungeon is the soonest we can locate a monster with acceptable blood.
However, apparently a few issues have developed. I may not be able to speak with him until after the dinner party.
Only drink this blood if you are truly thirsty. It must last for some time.
I'm including one of the pastries I baked this morning, and I hope you enjoy it.
Clure
"Oh, lucky!" Johann said, his eyes only on the pastry. "I gotta sneak me one of them pastries the chef makes usually, but last time I did he smacked me wit' his spoon. Shows me up, don' it?"
L - "They are quite the treat, aren't they?" Falin laughs as she slices the pastry unevenly, cutting a moderate corner off and flicking it to the boy. "Your tip, good sir! And please, do keep the garden as lovely as they are now!" Idly she sucks the fingernail clean of the fruit sauce, wiping it on the package a moment. She deals with the vial next. Holding it up, she manages to get the faintest smell of the stuff, a drip from round the neck of the container. Her hand trembles slightly, and then she firmly puts it down next to the remainder of the pastry, holding it down as if it might jump up, then wiped away the edge. Only then does she carefully fasten the cork even more, and then puts it away into a little pocket in the dress. "Mm. It is pretty nice, isn't it? Worth a smack or two, sometimes!" She had taken the cloth up to eat the pastry. It didn't hurt just to lap up the little bit of blood soaked into the cloth, either...
S - Johann caught the pastry corner and quickly jammed it into his mouth, beaming. "Aye, sure thing, Miss Falin! I'll do that as soon as th' arborist lets me near a pair of shears!" He waved again as Falin secretively dabbed her tongue at the bit of blood on the cloth. If he had noticed it, perhaps he would have thought of it as merely a spot of jam. "Well, I best be gettin' back to it. South wall won't fix itself, now. You take care, Miss Falin - oh!" Slapped his forehead again. "And by the way, you're lookin' much better. You were lookin' a little green for a while, but these days you're lookin' a lot healthier! Did Mister Clure whip you up some kinda magic medicine?"
L - "Oh, nothing that complicated! He just made me change my diet a bit!" The healer laughs it off as she brushes the dust off her dress and stands again to go. "If you can, enjoy the party!"
*****
S - "Good evening, mister Wystan." The attendant at the door smiled with a small bow. She wore a simple blue dress with white visible from her collar, but it was clean and took to her frame well. "Are you ready?"
Clure held up a finger, before roaming his hands over his person. Pockets tucked in. Red hankerchief at breast pocket, one corner neatly folded over the lip. Buttons tightened, and though dull in color and metal, they had been polished. Shoes crisp - again, polished as best as he could, given his lack of time to have new ones acquired. Cufflinks also present. He put a hand to his white ruff, adjusting. Can't show too much skin, or too little. This was a formal dinner party, after all. He had to look his best. Blindsided as he was by Falin's friendly invitation to the event - he had anticipated Marcille would only keep the invitations to herself, the king, and their closest friends - he had little time to whip together an outfit. So a portion of his monthly allowance had gone towards picking up a more appropriate set of clothing from the tailors in town. This was a formal affair. He had to make a good impression. Falin and the others would be there in the narrow reception area leading to the dining hall - Marcille, Senshi, Izutsumi. Chilchuck and his daughters had arrived before he could spot them, of course. Not to mention Kabru and...Falin's brother, Laios. The king.
That did little to settle the nervous clawing in his chest. "...right." He put a hand to his hair, to make sure it had been flattened. "Yes." He smiled to the attendant. "I am ready."
She returned the smile and opened the door for him, and Clure walked past the two men-at-arms guarding the doorway, letting the attendant step inside first, before he followed her. "Introducing honored guest Clure Wystan," said the attendant to those gathered.
L - There's some polite applause from the crowd! Though it looks that most of the folks here don't know who this fellow is. Admittedly, some folks stood out - Falin, for one, standing a ways over by Marcille, and Izutsumi over by the food table, wearing a surprisingly stunning dress. It was a little harder to spot the others - Senshi? The halflings? Where were they-
Wait, was it wrong to say one couldn't spot them easily?
S - Clure smiled politely, with a bigger bow at his waist than he normally did. He turned his head, but the attendant had already vanished, door closing behind her. Alone to face the brunt himself. The serving table was laid out with a commendable variety of brightly colored appetizers, from little meats and cheeses to warm-looking pastries and breads, with attractive flowers from the gardens set in a vase in the center. It was a warm night so the window was gently propped open to allow a light breeze inside and the sheer curtain flickered, revealing hints of darkness outside.
He decided to start with the safest looking gathering, and walked towards the food table, where the familiar girls were conversing. "Good evening to you, ladies." He repeated the bow. "I must thank you again, Falin, for inviting me to this affair. This is, ah, the first time I've attended a royal dinner party, so I wanted to make sure I looked the part." Then he noticed Izutsumi more closely, dressed in a short-sleeved, red formal gown, a bow tied about her neck. "Oh, Izutsumi, that's a lovely dress. But color me surprised that they managed to get you into one." Just a tease, but who knew how angry the beastkin really was about the whole situation.
L - "It's a pleasure to see you could make it!" Falin gave a curtsey in response, her own outfit creaking slightly in its fashion. "I shouldn't really put down the court, but this ramshackle place really is only the start of nobility. Anything you were may or may not hit a trend! Though with your taste... Well, maybe." Marcille nevertheless nods in approval of the more orthodox outfit that the rest of them were outmatching.
Izutsumi, on the other hand, snorts. "This is actually fairly comfortable. I'd have mauled the dressmakers if they actually tried to get me into a corset." She turned, and it's clear the back is almost entirely exposed, with straps crisscrossing it. Her tails waved gently out a flap in the back, anchoring it in position. "'Sides, being the centreof attention once in a while is worth it!"
S - "Oh, absolutely. This is high society, Izutsumi. You might as well enjoy it." Clure turned towards Falin. "Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this fantastic dress that Falin's chosen to wear tonight." It was overworked a little, in his opinion. The feathers were a bit too much - she already had feathers of her own, after all. He had heard of the courtiers of the castle, how supposedly they had been working on their clothing designs all of their life. Clure wasn't sure if his taste matched theirs. But with Falin wearing it, how it flowed along her body, how the crest of the feathers highlighted the roundness of her face...somehow, it was better than expected. He smiled to her. "You look stunning." And - a gentleman to his core, always - he took Falin's hand and bent forward, leaning on one leg as he politely kissed the back, close to her bent wrist.
And then:
"Announcing the arrival of His Royal Highness, King Laios Touden the First, accompanied by Royal Advisor Kabru!"
Clure froze in place.
L - Clure certainly wouldn't have seen Laios enter in a finely fitted frilled ermine outfit, nor would he have seen the smile on his face transition into a rather horrid scowl, and then back towards a plastered on smile once more! Though he would have heard Falin's little giggle as she wiggled her fingers, and let her hand be kissed. "You can get up, he's not coming this way...Yet." The feather draped friend has amusement in her voice, and no worries. He shouldnt need to be worried! Right?
S - Clure leapt back up into a standing position, ramrod straight with arms at his side. "Y-Yes, of course." He cleared his throat with a fist towards his mouth, before readjusting his ruff, touching his hair again. "I apologize, but I just want to make a good first impression. This is my first royal party, as I said. And with the extended work I've done on your behalf, not to mention a recently re-negotiated monthly commission-" here he shot a glance to Marcille, whom he imagined was pleased about the reduced fee - "I just want to ensure our first meeting is friendly and -"
"Good evening, everyone," came the pleasant voice of His Royal Highness Laios Touden, from directly behind Clure.
The alchemist spun about and audibly yelped. The dark-skinned man in a crisp white outfit, standing next to Laios's shoulder, raised an eyebrow.
L - "Laios, this is Clure Wystan, the alchemist who I've been talking about. Clure, this is my brother, King Laios Touden, and Kabru, his advisor. Be nice, ok?" To whom Falin was directing that towards was unclear, but her half-closed eyes was hiding both amusement and a little bit of an edge!
S - "Ah!" The king's eyes brightened, and he extended his hand towards Clure to shake. "Falin's told me a lot about you! It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Clure's eyes bulged, and he dropped down to one knee, folding his arm over his chest and bowing his head, obscuring his flushing face. "My liege - forgive my rudeness, I wasn't aware you would show up so soon! I've been extraordinarily blessed to be invited to this royal party!"
Laios laughed nervously, raising both of his hands. "H-Hey, it's okay. You don't have to bow like that in front of me. Come on." He reached down, putting a hand on Clure's shoulder, strongly pulling the alchemist back up to his feet (and earning another small yelp). "We're all friends here."
Kabru relaxed his brow, smiling. "Laios came from humble beginnings, so he likes to keep things humble. At least with people he knows. It's too bad he can't act this way around the rest of the delegation."
The king visibly slumped with a sigh. "Don't remind me...we had to sit through so many meetings yesterday just to get some free time tonight for the party..."
"Well, there's a lot to do, as of late." Kabru looked towards Clure and Falin - saying nothing, but Falin could tell that the advisor's mind was churning as always in the background, and perhaps now, considering their next move to handle what had been going on with Falin as of late.
L - "You didn't get all stumbling over your words when you found out I was the king's sister!" Falin pouted, misrepresenting what actually happened back then to an extent. "But yes, no need to be on edge! This party's mostly for friends, and there aren't exactly a huge number of nobles around yet in this land, so it's not like we have any traditions or etiquette other places might have. Though speaking about nobles...." Falin glanced over to where a halfling looked to berating his relative about something and trying to be quiet about it.
S - Laios stepped to Falin's side and looked in the same direction as she was, stooping his body a little so their heads perfectly aligned, trying to mimic how focused her eyes were. Brother trying to match sister - an endearing gesture. "What is it, Falin?" the king asked. "Are you looking for Chilchuck?" Oh, that's right. Chilchuck and his daughters. Clure had been so distracted so far that he hadn't the chance to seek them out - especially since if he had wondered if Chilchuck knew any further information about Falin's time as a chimera that he could use for his research.
L - "It looks like his children are getting out of hand... We should probably do something before it gets too embarrassing .. right?" There was a touch of doubt in Falin's voice, as though whether needing to be helped out by the king really would help to defuse the situation. Even as Chilchuck talked to his daughter in a low but stern voice. "Well, you did mention you wanted to speak with them as well... Shall we go over to greet them anyway?" Falin held out her hand, leading the small group over to the two.
"-And no, that does not mean you are in his 'strike zone', all- Oh! Laios! Your majesty!" True to his rogueish alert, Chilchuck noticed the approach and he had spun really quite abruptly to greet the oncoming hosts - holding his daughter behind him.
"Oh! Is this the king?" Said daughter tried to scurry forwards to curtsey, only to be held back firmly.
"Now, Patti, we had just talked about this..."
S - "Oh! So this is Puckpatti?" Laios bent over a little, extending his hand towards the long-haired half-foot girl, smiling broadly. No doubt, he looked elegant in his regalia. "Chilchuck's talked a lot about you in his letters! I'm glad you could make it."
Clure noticed Chilchuck's eyes on him, and the nerves returned, as the older half-foot scrutinized. Absolutely sizing him up. Falin had told him about how cautious Chilchuck was, but words couldn't exactly illustrate how it felt to have a seasoned dungeon explorer eye him up and down for any obvious tricks, even with just a flicker of his black pupils. Best if he took the first step, then. "Mister Tims." He moved about Laios and extended his hand to Chilchuck. "Clure Wystan. It's a pleasure to meet you." He also smiled. "Falin's told me about you quite a bit."
L - "Oh? All good, I hope!" There's a tired, almost haunted look in the small man's eyes, but his smile and firm grip told Clure he was quite awake and aware. "May I ask what you do for a living? I would have said a scholar, but that doesn't seem quite right..."
On the other side of him, Puckpatti had giggled at the hand reaching out to her, bringing it down to her cheek. "Oh, your majesty! You're too kind to say such a thing! I've heard all sorts of valiant tales about you from my father!" Chilchuck's gaze snapped to one side a moment, and perhaps Clure could understand his exhaustion. It wasn't even this child's wedding.
S - "I'm an alchemist. I mostly provide my services for those seeking the dungeon, but since that well's dried up lately, I've been commissioned by Falin to help with her on a personal project." Of course, considering how well they knew each other, Clure wouldn't have been surprised if Falin already filled Chilchuck up to speed about her health. He turned to her now, with a gesture. "This party was to celebrate, ah...Meijack's upcoming wedding, was it not?" Back to Chilchuck. "Congratulations. You must be very proud."
L - "Ah, well! It's been quite fulfilling to see my daughters grow up, yes, haha!" While Chilchuck didn't back away, he certainly didn't seem to relax on finding out what Clure did for a living. Then again, that sort of behaviour was nothing new. "Yes, the dungeon's somewhat old hat now, but still, the knowledge is worth a fair bit! Though at the moment I'm sure you've heard efforts being taken to make the land more arable and to start crops growing, haven't you? That'll take quite the knowledge and manpower. Do you think the skills of an alchemist could work with that sort of task?" A gauging question, for sure. Chilchuck certainly seemed to care about the land!
S - "Oh, absolutely. I've studied quite a bit of flora and fauna, both from within the dungeon and here on the surface above." He rubbed his chin. "I'd say that with the right stimulus, you could encourage the land to be more productive. Have plants that encourage nutrient growth and sharing among each other. Really, I think there's even a few species of monster that could contribute. Maybe something like -"
" - like the Barasella!" Clure looked towards his right at Laios, who for the moment seemed to have forgetten Puckpatti, his eyes bright and alert, his hands clenched together in excitement. "Did you know they make their own compost that other man-eating plants can use?"
Clure smiled. "Oh, like the Betan? They can be more docile in the right circumstances."
"Exactly! I was thinking that if there was a way to use them without risking injury, you could use man-eaters to protect crops of barometz from other carnivores!"
"Oh, that's an interesting idea. What's your plan for making sure the Barasella don't eat the barometz fruit?"
And, to Falin's horror, Clure and Laios began delightfully brainstorming.
L - "Excuse me! This is supposed to be a wedding!" Falin cuts in - or attempts to. The look in her eyes said she wanted to join in at the same time, even though she knew situation wasn't quite the right time for it.
"No, no, it's fine." The halfling father had held one hand up to his head as if to shield himself from the monster babble that had started spewing forth, a wry smile on his face. "You sure know how to pick them, Falin... No wonder you're, ah..." The smile looked almost apologetic, even as he turned to his daughter. "See, folks like that don't make good husbands unless you're in sync with them, all right? You need to share some interests with them to make it work."
"But papa, I could always learn!"
"Not unless you were after going into the dungeon you aren't! And I'm not allowing anyone to take you in there!"
S - "-listen, I would adore the opportunity to cultivate dryad," Clure was saying, fanning his fingers over his chest, "but it's just too dangerous."
Laios sighed. "That's true, but the buds sautee well...and they smell so good. Maybe if you just- " He made a motion with his hand towards his other, like an axe. "You know, chop their heads off and let them hang, maybe it could -"
A tinkling bell cut through the conversation, and all the guests fell silent, looking towards the double doors leading to the main dining room. A more sharply-dressed servant in black had rung it, and lowered his arm when all the eyes fell on him. "Ladies and gentlemen. Dinner is served. Right this way."
"Oh, good," Kabru said. "I'm famished." He clapped a hand on Laios's shoulder as he stepped past the king and Clure, the other guests beginning to shuffle forward to the dining hall.
But Laios pouted, clasping his hands together wistfully. "Now I want dyrad buds with cheese...it's too bad the men haven't found any in the dungeons nearby. Normal onions just aren't the same..."
L - Marcille can be seen looking to the food quite wistfully over at the other table; and Falin is -not quite - visibly drooling. Her hunger seems to have weakened to see such food again, though not to an extent that she's lost any control.
"Is everything ok? Falin?" Chilchuck asks, eyes carefully blank.
"Oh! I was just thinking what Laios was mentioning would taste like! I didn't really get to sample many of the things from the dungeon, you know! But it's good to see the farms have been able to grow this much already, don't you think?" The response from Falin is slightly too fast as the group flows towards the food in a hubbub.
"I see..." It's quite interesting to see how the halfling keeps a hand on his daughter as they move together to the food!
S - The colorful throng of guests flowed into the main dining hall. At once Clure noticed the large banner hanging on the northern wall, close to the most elaborately-carved, dark-wooden chair at the head of the table where he presumed Laios was going to sit. The banner carried the image of a great winged lion - with horns? - and a three-headed beast - ah, a chimera, how cheeky of them - squaring off, underneath a great crest of elaborate wild flowers. The table itself was stuffed to the brim with plates of delicious food, from dark roasted birds to golden pumpkin pies and pies layered with crushed pecans, to platters of vibrant multi-colored greens and steamed potatoes so plump that he imagined a single knife cut would vent their delicious smelling steam in an instant. The smells of all of the foods wafted over the warm aura of the candles, reminding him of little cozy fireplace lights. Stars, it looked tremendous. He was proud to have contributed his own pastries to the affair but he knew some of Senshi's expertise blessed the meal.
They all sat, Laios taking the largest chair as expected, with Falin to his left side. Clure wanted to sit close to her - but no, Marcille took the seat next to Falin quickly, and he definitely wasn't going to be rude enough to sit near Laios when Chilchuck and Senshi deserved to be closer to their long-time friend even more. So he ended up picking a seat closer to the middle side, finding himself opposite of Kabru, and next to a half-foot girl with brown braided hair who Falin had told him was Meijack. It seemed like she preferred to keep to herself, and though this dinner was to celebrate her upcoming wedding, she seemed to treat it like any other day, her eyes hooded and her expression flat and her formal dress subdued.
S - "Congratulations on your upcoming wedding," Clure said to her with a smile when they had gotten into the meal. Meijack nodded, but didn't seem to take the bait. Conversation with her swiftly became awkward.
But the food was delicious, and soon enough he found himself enjoying the food and overhearing the chatter, when there was a heavy thud outside of the closed double doors of the dining room.
Briefly the talking paused. Maybe something had fallen over. When no noise immediately followed it, the conversations started to pick back up.
Then a shout. Another shout. And then - yells and the metal clash of weapons. Sounds of things slamming against hard surfaces. Cries of defeat - presumably the cries of the guards outside.
Kabru set down his fork and stood straight up, looking towards the double doors. Clure looked in that direction as well. There had been four guards on duty, in total - two at the door to the reception room, two guarding the doors to the dining room. Were they...?
One final impact like someone bashing against something - battering against the double doors themselves, which quaked.
L - "I don't think that we'd have such unruly guests...?" Falin glanced towards her brother a moment as her eyes opened, reaching out to grab Marcille's hand a moment. The situation seemed bad - none of the party had their weapons on hand for a feast, and to go so unarmed against something that could take down armed guards was a dangerous task. There were other exits, but not knowing what was outside was another issue. Ah, if only the Canaries were here-! Though normally unwanted, their presence could make all the difference.
A scream that was quickly cut off came from one of Chilchuck's daughters, and it was quickly cut off as he clapped a hand over her mouth, grasping at a steak knife with his other hand.
The sound of wood splintering; as Falin proceeded to toss thick wooden chair legs onto the table in front of Kabru and Laios, keeping one for herself.
And a momentary pause as people stood, readying for what might burst through those doors...
S - The doors flung open with a huge slam.
And in walked the warrior.
He wore thick scaled breastplate and mail, the metal rusted in places, bent and damaged over his pauldrons. The belts about his person and his boots looked ragged and worn. Blood stained the knuckles of one gauntlet, dripping from recent contact with one of the guards lying sprawled on the floor behind him. His face, hooded and obscured by cracked mask, two rows of dark holes bored into the metal for sight. And as he shambled forward like a walking corpse, his form slumped with fatigue, the heavy metal end of his weapon - a large battleaxe, the end opposite of the blade formed into a square hammerhead - dragged along the floor.
The warrior took a few tense steps forward, his gait strained, and behind him, the pummelled guards writhed in pain, moaning, grasping at their broken bodies. Then, the warrior stopped, and looked up slowly towards the gathered guests. Kabru and Laios brought their makeshift clubs forward defensively. Clure grabbed at whatever broad knife he could, cursing his lack of volatiles on hand.
"I found you," the warrior said, voice scratched, deep. Looking towards the head of the table. Was he looking towards Laios?
Then a terrible yell rose up from his throat - low and rolling, before growing stronger. A battle cry. His fatigue suddenly gone - he rushed forward, hefting his weapon. Screams from some of the others. Warrior leaping onto the table, dashing - smashing through the plates of food, towards the end of the table, past Kabru. The attacker drew back his weapon with both hands, the end now flipped around, to brandish its terrible blade.
Clure's eyes widened. No - not Laios, but-!
And the warrior swung in a frenzied arc, axe blade first - towards Falin. "Dragon-!"