carabadgermum
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Post by carabadgermum on Jul 28, 2010 20:52:51 GMT -5
Even in her rush Larka took a moment to raise an eyebrow at the stoat and comment, "You'd like that wouldn't you." She threw a quick look at the servant girl but didn't feel any cause to worry about her saying anything about the exchange and then hurried on to the doors of the throne room. The Shadow Guard was recognized by the wardens and allowed into the chamber. "Your Majesties," she stood at attention and addressed the couple. "I am sorry to intrude but a ship has been sighted coming into the harbor." She paused. That in itself was nothing new. Ships went in and out all the time. It was her next piece of information that deserved all the bother. "It's your brother's, my Liege."
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Vrelt
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Post by Vrelt on Jul 28, 2010 23:00:38 GMT -5
The smile that was on the king's face left as soon as the words were out of Larka's mouth. His brother was coming here, to disrupt the peace yet again. Drask acknowledged what Larka said, not wasting any time, as he pulled his seaboots back on, his face set in a stony grimace. "Larka, if you would, please fetch Jayne up here, quickly." The king would normally put on his armor without the help of his servants, but in this case, time was of the essence. Vrelt would waste no time in getting to the throne room, and Drask wanted his armor on when his half-brother arrived. He wanted to make sure that Vrelt knew his place, and saw exactly how prosperous the king was, the crimson armor made Drask so much more imposing than the training clothes he was wearing.
Drask grabbed for the sheath beside him, putting it back on his belt, this was the blade that helped him best his half-brother, a constant reminder of their duel, and of Drask's victory. The sight of his saber, even its sheath, was enough to remind Vrelt of the fight. He guessed his brother was coming here for one reason; to meet Callista. Vrelt would want to measure up his brother's wife, to see exactly what she was like. Drask wanted to be on top of the situation when Vrelt arrived, instead of being taken by surprise as his brother obviously wanted.
The king had told his wife much about his family, including his rival, Vrelt. Drask had often discussed the way his half-brother acted, so that Callista would be ready for his foolishness and rather big ego whenever he returned to Riftgard. He could think of many things Vrelt could try to do, once he made it to the throne room. At this moment, Drask was glad he trained the elite guard to lead him throughout the fortress, just to waste time so that Drask and Callista could get ready for his arrival.
Vrelt was growing irritated as they walked along, the guards were deliberately leading him the long route to the throne room. These guards were no fools, they realized that their king would want some extra time to get ready for his brother's arrival, or the guards had been trained to handle such a situation. The second guess was probably right, knowing Drask, and how the ferret took such an active role in the training of his soldiers. Vrelt estimated, at least in according to his current route, he would arrive in the throne room late enough that Drask would be ready for him, much to his disappointment. The ferret's plan of surprise looked as if it wouldn't work.
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Post by Hans Vermeer (Cole) on Jul 29, 2010 13:14:38 GMT -5
Callista heard of Vrelt. If what her husband said about him was true, this was sure going to be a interesting day. She did always wondered about the ferret, and mostly. It made her both paranoid and interested. It's possible Vrelt only came to meet her eyed-to-eye no doubt. Being a somewhat recent addition to Riftgard.
In short, she was not the biggest fan on having to meet this other ferret, so he could personally identify her face-to-face and possibly have her killed. That was how a certain queen in her family tree went, due to having a professional assassin kill her in her sleep.
Of course though, there was a good difference between them, one never knew about her future death, while the other learned from her history. In a single jerk. She shed and discarded the shirt she had worn for painting and..... That was it. She had been wearing her other shirt plus chainmail right under it! You know? Just in case. All she had to do now was simply take her belt and scabbard (sabre already in it's sheath) and put it on. She didn't really need to get rid of the beret, in her homeland. It was also causal clothing.
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carabadgermum
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Post by carabadgermum on Jul 29, 2010 13:26:53 GMT -5
"Yes, Your Majesty." Larka gave a quick bow and exited the chamber. In the hall she found the ferretmaid and the stoat still waiting. She inclined her head towards Jayne. "They want you in there." She didn't stand on ceremony with common servants.
Jayne stammered, "M-me?"
"Of course you," Larka shot back. "That is your job isn't it?"
She waited until the ferretmaid was on her way before she turned to Krauser with a smirk. "I don't know why anybeast would but I assume they'll want you in there too before the King's brat of a little brother shows up."
Jayne entered the throneroom with her head lowered. "You requested my presence, Sire, M'lady?" She threw in a polite curtsy.
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Vrelt
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Post by Vrelt on Jul 29, 2010 13:43:26 GMT -5
Drask didn't even look back to acknowledge Jayne as she came in, as he started to piece on his light armor over the training clothes. "Yes, I'll need your help getting this armor in place before my brother is up here." He could put on most of the crimson armor himself, but certain pieces would need the paws of other beasts to ensure everything was on correctly and in place. Normally, Drask would have one of his servants, one that knew his armor like the back of his paw, help him, but Jayne was the only one around. The ferretmaid had been trained to help with his armor in the past, however, and it shouldn't be to much of a challenge for her to aid the king in his preparation.
Drask looked over at Callista, she was ready in a flash, prepared for something like this. He cursed himself for not doing the same, the ferret should have realized that Vrelt would be coming back sooner or later. He motioned for the other ferretmaid in the room to come to his side and help him finish with putting on his classic crimson armor. The king was determined not to give his brother the satisfaction of catching him unprepared this time, he would have time enough to be ready before his guards brought Vrelt directly up to the throne room.
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Post by Hans Vermeer (Cole) on Jul 29, 2010 14:32:22 GMT -5
Krauser smiled at her. " Sure. I may as well be by Callista's side in case something goes wrong, though of course i would not be sent off there without something to give me luck hm?" Giving her a look with his grin turning into a full fanged smile.
Callista suddenly thought about something, than grinned at her husband. "You know...... We could always give Vrelt a drink that could make this meeting so much more better for the both of us, i was thinking...... Artist's Delight?"
Don't let the name fool you. Although so long as the consumer had a sober friend and watched his/her limits, Artists Delight is well known for killing it's consumers who did not follow such rules. Artist's Delight is a very great tasting yet acidy green colour drink which is rare (in ability) compared to other alcoholic beverages due to the fact it can cause hallucinogenic effects on the drinker should he/her consume too much of it. Which is something few other drinks were capable of. Because of this. It caused beast drunk on it to do weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeird things. Some that are DEADLY!
This has lead to a lot of both nonlethal and very LETHAL stories.
And example of both the Callista had told her husband was when a artist who was painting from the top of a tall building roof, while under it's influence, painting himself falling off the roof of the building trying to reach out to a VERY good looking vixen (The kind of sex partner you are not likely to find outside of Artist's Delight influence) floating out of his reach(Complete with painting not too far from the main event, completed), after he was finally done painting a picture of his death, he proceeded to walk drunkenly to the edge of the roof and plunged to his death.
This was not the first time this vixen was pictured. Plenty of artists of both genders, many species and different minds have either survived or more likely DIED seeing this "Fairy Artist Wife" in their drunk/hallucinogenic state.
And example of a nonlethal story was one of a fox artist who was drunk on Artist's Delight painting. He had ran out of red paint and due to being dark outside. Was unable to get more because shops closed at night. So........ He walked into his kitchen, got a knife, walked back to his work and CUT HIS OWN EAR OFF and painted with that instead!
Despite the threats, Callista sometimes drinks it in small dose an keeps Krauser and Drask very close to her when doing so, just incase she forgot and accidentally drinks too much.... Which has never happened..... Yet.
In short. Callista thought it would be the perfect drink to give to Vrelt, just mainly for the humor, or if Drask wanted to, to easily kill him.
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carabadgermum
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Post by carabadgermum on Jul 29, 2010 14:43:19 GMT -5
Jayne hurried forward to obey and prayed her paws wouldn't fumble although it was at times like these ,when she knew she was doing her job and not sitting around waiting as she had been earlier in the hall, that she felt most at ease. She finished quickly and bobbed another curtsy as she stepped back and addressed Callista, "Anything I can do for you m'Lady?"
Larka almost purred a chuckle and then looking back and forth down the hall pulled Krauser into the shadows and kissed him roughly.
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Vrelt
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Post by Vrelt on Jul 30, 2010 1:04:13 GMT -5
The king glanced over his armor, everything looked in order as Jayne stepped away, all except for his cape. As Callista mentioned the extremely dangerous drink, Artist's Delight, for use on his brother, he pulled the black cape over his shoulders, clasping it on his shoulder armor. Drask frowned as he looked at Callista. "You think that's wise? If Vrelt was to die from drinking to much it would bring dishonor on my name. Haven't I spoken of this with you before?"
He had discussed his brother many times, late into the night, with his wife. If Drask was to kill him, he would lose the respect of the Royal Families, and possibly the respect of the army. The Royal Families would view Vrelt's death as a cowardly move by Drask to secure the throne fully, as Vrelt was the only competition for the crown. The army, at least many of the officers, would see the death of Vrelt the same way. It was a long standing tradition on Riftgard for the king to have at least one beast in opposition to him, for it often showed the current ruler's strength of mind, as it would be hard not to have the competition killed. Drask held onto these military traditions, firmly believing in the strategy, as keeping Vrelt around kept him on his toes, ready to defend his rightful place as king. The old saying, "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer," applied in this case. Though Drask would like nothing more than to run his half-brother through with his saber.
"If you must give him some of the drink, only give him a little. I don't won't him dead." Until Vrelt openly fought Drask for the throne, the current ruler would not kill him. Callista didn't understand the reasoning behind the tradition, just as Drask didn't understand why his wife would even take a drink of the Artist's Delight. He stayed away from it, fearing that he would lose his mind and start seeing things..... Yes, he definitely wanted to avoid that drink, and whenever Callista wanted some, he tried to keep her away as well, though on most occasions, what she wants, she gets. Drask was prepared for the arrival of his half-brother now, his armor in position, and his mind was set for whatever Vrelt would throw at him, perhaps Drask would have some more to throw at his brother this time. Callista's idea to give Vrelt the drink was interesting, if not a bit evil, on his wife's part; and that could be another thing to play against their visitor without killing him.
Vrelt was lead on through the fortress, taking far too long, his annoyance growing with every passing second. He had to give it to his brother, however, Drask was cunning. This plan to waste Vrelt's time and get in his head worked quite well, and it while it drove him to near anger, it gave Drask plenty of time to get ready for his supposed surprise visit.
Finally, the aimless walk was coming to a close, he neared the throne room, the guards figuring that their king had enough time to prepare for his brother's arrival. Vrelt thought he heard somebeast in the darkness as they walked along the hallway to the throne room, but made nothing of it. They arrived at the large doors, and the guards stopped, waiting there for a moment longer, building suspense, until one of the beasts opened the door to the room and walked in.
The guard marched into the throne room, and bowed to Callista, then saluted smartly to Drask. "Milady, My Liege, Vrelt Darkfang is waiting outside. Shall I send him in?"
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Post by Hans Vermeer (Cole) on Jul 30, 2010 2:19:19 GMT -5
Callista sighed, Sometimes Drask just didn't get her intentions. Artist's Delight is like a box of sweets, It's very sweet tasting and you eat one and you feel very good! Than you eat another...... Than another..... Than another. Than all the sudden your left there with an empty box and that's when the sadness closes in because you don't have any for later or the next day. Artist's Delight is very sweet tasting, but also addictive to the weak or cocky minded. You think you can handle the dangers at first and so they drink a glass, ........ Than another, than another, than yet another, until suddenly the effects come in. The drink starts to suddenly turn bitter tasting, it starts exploiting your worst memories and emotions and eventually. You suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts. Another risk of Artist's Delight addiction and drunkeness. The problem with artist's Delight is mainly the fact most beasts claim they can handle it and only are find out later to not have any self-control over it and that's how a lot of them die. Either by depression and suicide.... Or the Fairy Artist Wife.....
Callista's idea would be simple. Offer Vrelt the drink and also warn him of the dangers, let him have a drink, he'll like the taste and when he leaves will likely try to find it, will find it, keep drinking it until he gets addicted and drunk for it, it starts to control him emotionally and he likely dies eventually by killing himself on his own ship. Or maybe the Fairy Artist Wife will lead him into a watery grave.... Drask and Callista lose nothing, Vrelt loses his life and the Royals can't complain about it because Vrelt died nowhere near Riftgard and chances are, the guards and everybeast present would have likely forgotten the meeting months ago. Simple as that. Best dirty trick in the book.....
Callista turned to Jayne and merely spoke shortly. "No Jayne. I don't need anything as of now. I'll call you when i require you." When the guard came in, bowed and saluted. Her spoke of Vrelt's position, Callista simply sighed and looked to her husband. " I guess it's time huh?"
Despite the fact a few beasts just passed them. Krauser didn't break from his liplock with Larka, in fact. He even went the next step up from a simple touch of lips. (Frenchies anyone? xD )
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carabadgermum
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Post by carabadgermum on Jul 30, 2010 9:22:54 GMT -5
Jayne nodded and stepped back but as she looked around she noticed that Krauser had not followed her into the throne room. Surely it was important for the Queen's most trusted bodyguard to be here at a time like this. It was for this reason that the ferretmaid decided to stay where she was at the Queen's side. It wasn't as if there was anything that she could do if Callista was attacked, but it made her feel better that somebeast was there to support her mistress when she must face this charlatan, Vrelt.
Larka also heard the footsteps but she did not attempt to break the embrace, instead she pressed herself closer.
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Vrelt
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Post by Vrelt on Jul 30, 2010 9:50:11 GMT -5
("Frenchies anyone?" *Dies laughing.* LOL)
Drask drew his saber, looking over the blade to ensure it was clean, without anybeast's blood on it, and swiftly sheathed the blade once he was sure it was presentable. He nodded to the guard, "Send him in." With the stony look still on his face, he glanced back at Callista, meeting her eyes. "Please restrain yourself from tearing his heart out, I'm sure after only a few minutes of meeting you, he'll find a way to get under your skin."
The guard quickly walked over to the large doors of the throne room and gestured for the beasts on the other side to enter. A slight smile appeared on the guard's face as soon as Vrelt was in the room, for right behind him, slinking into the throne room, was Cad Bane. The guard knew this was all part of the plan, Cad would be there if anything went wrong, as the guards were to leave, they were not permitted to hear these private talks. They left the room, heading out the door with order as they were trained, leaving Vrelt alone with Callista, Drask, Jayne, and unknown to him, Cad Bane.
Vrelt was taken in by the way the throne room looked; it was so different than the way his father had kept it. And the corsair was even more taken in by the beauty of Callista, which left him to wonder how his brother managed to get a catch like her. His eyes met his brother's for a moment, a smile on his face as he addressed the king. "Well, seems like you've been living a good life, brother." Vrelt looked at the other ferretmaid in the room, she was clearly a servant, but she was also good looking, not as much as Callista, but still up there in the list of females he had seen in his travels. An idea came to his head; he knew that Callista was the Pure Ferret standing next to his brother, but what would she do if he said Jayne was the queen?
He looked over to Jayne, a smile still pulling at his lips as he bowed to her, "You must be Callista. It's good to meet you, milady." This left Vrelt to wonder what Drask got into with both of these good looking ferretmaids in his chambers, he certainly knew he would get little sleep.
Drask clenched his teeth together, keeping him from speaking up, this was Callista's turn. He looked forward to seeing how his wife handled Vrelt and his deliberate attempt to annoy her. The king felt a stronger feeling than annoyance, however, he saw how Vrelt looked at Callista, it made him feel protective of her. Subconsciously, his paw rested on his saber's hilt, dark thoughts of tearing into his half-brother over his stare at Callista came to his mind. Oh, how he would love to charge at the other ferret and drive this sword through him!
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Post by Hans Vermeer (Cole) on Jul 30, 2010 10:25:32 GMT -5
'.......... No.' The pure ferret queen thought in her head angry, that was not going to be let off just like that! Not at all. If Drask was too much into tail kissing those nobody royal members to do anything about Vrelt. She sure will! Hell, in her homeland. It was common for brothers and sisters of the throne to KILL each other for the power of the throne! You could even pay to see them do it! No, she was gonna get him. No doubt about it.
Despite her surging anger, she managed to hold it down and keep a straight face and a slight grin. "Your mistaken. She is my servant, Jayne. Speaking of which.. Jayne? why don't you go get some drinks hm?" Before the ferret servant went off though, Callista quickly added in a few more words into the sentence. "Oh and Jayne..... Don't forget MY drink either." Referring to the Delight.
If her idea works. All Vrelt would need to do was finish a glass or two of it. Than he would likely end up looking for more once he left....
Krauser continued with her for a few moments. Than finally broke off. "I think i better get going now. I'm pretty sure Callista will be wanting me standing at her side right now." Though just before he passed her, he added "Though try not to stray too far? I'm not finished if you yet. Okay?" He finished with a grin, than suddenly gave her 'big ass' and smack and took a quick dodge in case of retaliation, satisfied at getting his point across. He quickly walked down the hall. Hoping he was not too late. ( Yeah you are late..... You horndog you..... HEY! That makes him a hybrid right!?. XP xD )
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carabadgermum
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Post by carabadgermum on Jul 30, 2010 11:00:49 GMT -5
Jayne was completely taken in by the roughish ferret. She blushed crimson under her fur and almost didn't hear Callista's orders. It wasn't until the queen made her asside, "don't forget MY drink," that Jayne drew her eyes away from Vrelt and mentally shook herself so she could go and preform her duties.
"Yes, m'Lady," the ferretmaid curtsied and hurried to the wine cabinet. She had been instructed on which drink each member of the party should receive but for a moment she hesitated. She looked back over her shoulder at the king's half brother. It seemed a shame to give the creature something that would put him in danger. But if she did not follow Callista's instructions to the letter she would be severely punished. Biting her lip Jayne put her attention again to pouring and mixing the drinks. But she found herself hoping that Vrelt would be able to stand up to this test.
Larka leaned back against the wall panting for a moment to recover from the surge of passion. When she was able to see straight again, she huffed. Yeah like I'm going to stay here and cater to his whims, she thought, straightening her uniform and smoothing her fur back into some kind of order. The shadow guard also had duties to attend to and she wasn't going to be caught slagging on the job. So rather than waiting there she took herself back off to the guard position she had been assigned to before she had been charged with delivering the message of Vrelt's arrival. But there would be a later, she smirked. Oh yes she wasn't finished with him either.
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Vrelt
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Post by Vrelt on Jul 30, 2010 13:35:00 GMT -5
Vrelt Darkfang was no fool. He wasn't about to drink anything that somebeast got for him, despite the fact that he knew his brother would not kill him. Drask was far to interested in his honor to kill off Vrelt, while Vrelt figured if he was the king, he wouldn't waste time with stupid traditions; he would have his brother killed. But this Callista, she was a different beast entirely, she was the kind of maid that would just as soon kill you than do anything else. He had heard many rumors of how different she was compared to her husband, how she was far more cruel. But of course, those were rumors, he didn't put much faith in them. Even so, he wasn't sure if Callista would want him dead or not. If she did, she certainly had the power and influence to do so.
The corsair captain glanced at Jayne while she prepared drinks for them, then looked back to Drask and his wife, finally acknowledging what Callista had said to him. "Oh, my apologies, Lady Callista. How has life here been for you? Drask has treated you well, I presume." He spoke in his "royal" voice, with all the words pronounced correctly and spoken clearly, instead of the way he spoke on his ship. Vrelt looked over to his brother, and realized just how far his limits were being stressed by his brother's arrival. It was clear to corsair that his brother was trying to hold back an outburst of anger, perhaps even violence, judging by the way he grasped the hilt of his saber. Vrelt knew he had to tread carefully now, Callista and Drask may have decided to rewrite tradition and kill him, if he didn't act better around those two.
Drask had no doubts now; he wanted to give his brother Artist's Delight, in fact, he felt like holding him down and pouring the drink down his throat! The king's self control was being tested by his half-brother, the same as Callista's was. Both of them were doing their best to cover over their true feelings about Vrelt, and Callista was doing a better job than her husband. Drask glanced to his wife, seeing her forced smile and giving Jayne the order to get the drinks; that calmed down his feelings of anger a bit, Vrelt was going to get what he deserved in moments. He took his paw away from the hilt of his saber, then when Vrelt spoke again, he barely had the strength not to bring his paw back to his sword. This was going to be a very long day.
Cad Bane was surprised at the insolence of this corsair captain, and even more surprised by the self control demonstrated by Drask and his wife. He was in the shadows, near the door, and stood there, his paws crossed over his chest and his hat-brim pulled down over his eyes, making it look like he was sleeping. The mongoose was fully awake however, ready to launch into action if Vrelt started something, and listening to the conversation of the other beasts in the throne room.
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Post by Hans Vermeer (Cole) on Jul 30, 2010 17:13:28 GMT -5
When Krauser finally reached his destination, he didn't outright shove the doors open and just march right in there. Instead, he merely rested his head against the door to hear for inside activity.. than CURSED quietly, late. Damn, of COURSE he just HAD to be late! Although Callista never called for him didn't mean she didn't need him now. Krauser had this 'thing' where he knew when Callista or other beasts needed him or not without them even asking for him, it was a good gut feeling. Despite this though, he didn't try entering. Instead, he kept trying to listen in without making a sound.
Callista managed to pull off a fake, yet innocent sounding giggle. "Yes, never had met a beast like him in my entire life. Living here in Riftgard has also been a interesting experience, it's always nice to see the view of the sea from it. It's almost as if you own and rule the seas so long as you live here...." A little stiletto stab at Vrelt, yet another thought and dream for Vrelt to run through his head while he drinks.....
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