RP:A Royal Sighting

From HollowWiki

Part of the Liberation of Rynvale Arc


LOCATION: Rynvale, Outside the Governor's Home

You are standing outside a very long set of stone stairs that lead up into the governors residence but currently well armed guards armed with iron spears and formidable looking armour bar entry. The house is very large and grand with stone pillars on either side of a huge red double door giving the impression of royalty. The home is at least four stories high - much larger than any of the other homes - and has a thick green ivy growing up its ancient and grand looking walls. To the east appears to be a large building, though the governor's mansion naturally dwarfs even the most stately of structures. The entrance seems a mystery, however, to which only a select few have the answer.


Rhocielle gave no cheerful notion of accepting to accompany the High Elf on another reconnaiscance. Truth be told though, his tail eagerly betrayed him, beating against the fabric of his cape from their departure in Cenril until they would arrive in Rynvale. The light of the sun only expressing a myriad of dark orange hues in a corner along the horizon, it was well into dusk by the time the cloaked pair had the governor's mansion in their sights. Regardless of what Arien would say, she would agree with the warder's advice that they keep close to one another. Should they be spotted, more than likely they would be ignored as merely wandering lovers off for a twilight kiss. His larger frame leaning to her smaller one more than gave this ruse. "...Seems just as I had last saw it, Arien..." he spoke softly to her while keeping them in the shadows of a nearby building. Grey eyes glistened faintly in the dimming light before the moons would bring their own luster to bear on the occupied island. "It is very tall, four levels... Probably several beneath the ground as well. Are you sure you and the.. dragon, are enough?" he asked, with significant reluctance to speak Helich's name aloud, or even acknowledge the fact that the High Elf was going to be paired with the illusionist on this particular objective.

Arien was leaning against the wall of one of those shadowed buildings, emerald gaze fixed upon the great structure of the mansion before her. Pale face was shadowed by the dark hood drawn over her fiery hair, and slender frame was likewise cloaked from view-though the hulking mass of the wolf at her side did more than anything else to make recognition of her person almost impossible. As sometimes occurred when she was deep in thought, a concentrated ball of her mana had been made manifest at her fingertips and seemed to roll without resistance over and under her knuckles and fingers in mindless exercise. It was soothing, and helped her think when she might otherwise be distracted..and Rho was definitely a distraction as he stood at her shoulder, ever vigilant and close enough to provoke the memory of a recent protective embrace that had lasted moments longer than necessary. His voice penetrated her reverie and her fist snapped closed over the light as she replied. “ It is precisely the strength of the location that forces my hand to accepting Helich’s involvement Rho. At this point I am wishing heartily I could just damn him to Hades.. But I need his illusions..specifically, illuions fortified by the power of Solaris. I need an army Rho..or the appearance of one of sufficient force to cause what patrols are present to give up without a fight.” She frowned in the direction of said wandering officers. “ The black will provide the most power with the least physical presence to actually alert the locals of what is afoot.” She adjusted herself against the wall. “ If only I could know for sure that the Royal family was here.could find some way to get them word that we are coming..perhaps, they could be of aid from the inside to assist our uprising.” She lifted her gaze to the lantern lit windows. “ It seems so futile..there is no way in unobserved..”

Rhocielle uttered not a sound as Arien restated the reality of their situation regarding the liberation of the island from the Imperials. He was begrudging of accepting Helich's aid, as much as the elf herself, maybe even more. No, his own disdain was certainly greater, due to a recent encounter with the black dragon, one that prompted a somewhat frantic and protective embrace of the female before him. He snorted softly, his bemused agreement to her words. When she directed their conversation slightly eslewhere, his muzzle turned to look over his shoulder to the building. Grey eyes looking up and down the stone structure from base to roof, he suddenly remarked quietly, "...there." He could hardly turn around and point it out for her; much too obvious they were scouting. Instead the wolf leaned further into her. Any guard would just see a taller individual hugging the smaller shadow. With his body pressing faintly against hers and his shoulder away from her line of sight, she could have a more unobscured view of the mansion. "The right edge, along the windows... Its darker there than the rest. There's something growing up the stone." Pausing a moment for her to establish her focus, as per his direction, he muttered to her ear, "I could probably climb that... and see inside each window. Maybe there are more guards within..." The ivy growth did provide a way to scale the building, but he would still need to get close enough to the building to grasp at the thick vines.

If there was one thing to be commended about the elf, it was her ability to remain focused upon a mission, especially one as critical as the one at hand. Thus, when the quiet murmur and enfolding presence of the wolf threatened to suck her into a reality of alternate priorities, steel will had her gaze seeking in the gloom, elven sight penetrating the now velvet thickness of encroached darkness to find where vines wove themselves up the great stone walls. Her eyes narrowed, sweeping the perimeter to seek out sign of the wandering patrol. Her voice when she responded was a quiet whisper. “ It would be invaluable intelligence, if we could prove beyond a doubt that they are here, the Royals…” There was an undertone of yearning in her voice. They were so close, so very close to their prize. She glanced up at the wolf, worried. “ But there is significant risk..if you are caught..seen..we may blow the element of surprise, the only true advantage we hold. Is it worth it?” Silently she added.. can you do it?..

Rhocielle scrunched his muzzle a bit in thought. He could do it, but there would be significant risk. As unperceptive as they believe the guards to be, even an approaching pair was bound to round up suspicions immediately. Carefully, he lead them a bit further into the shadows and stepped away from her, pressing his back into a stony alcove of a door that led into the building they used for cover. A soft click of armor being laid on the floor was heard from the darkness, followed by a series of sounds that were undoubtly the rustling of clothes. In the darkness that enveloped him, his frame looked more contrasted; arms, legs and torso were clear silhouettes with sharp and penetrating silver eyes above. Slowly those eyes lowered, matching her eye level, but still they continued down. Her chest, her waist, and finally at a halfway point along her thighs did the grey slated orbs finally cease their decent. A paw suddenly emerged from the shadows, followed by another, and an accompanying wolf's head and body. Silently, the black timber wolf looked up to the High Elf. An animal stood before her, but the eyes retained an ever present thoughtfulness and care that could only belong to her Round Guard. Trotting out into the streets away from her, the wolf kept to the walls and idly sniffed around. The night dimmed vision and focus of most. A wolf wandering the streets looked like any other mongrel. Slowly, but surely, the four legged canine meandered his way into the immediate property of the mansion. All that could be seen of him was a partial shadow, which suddenly seemed to slowly grow to an upright and two-legged height. The guards would not be worried about what was behind them if any bipedded intruder would have easily been seen crossing the street. Pausing only a moment to assure himself that the patrolling sentries were none the wise, the black Lycan began his perilous climb upward.

Arien had followed her guard into the alcove that seemed made to further secrete them from any possible probing eyes, and her keen intelligence noted immediately the sense of shedding any gear that might identify him in the event that he was caught- though she was not entirely prepared for what happened next. Emerald gaze had locked curiously upon his silver own as he had begun that silent observation of her person..and with the ticking seconds she had begun to shift uncomfortably under it. What was he about? Was something wrong..was he not wanting to take the chance? Pale lips parted to ask the question, but before word could spill forth it seemed, in the blink of an eye that Rho was gone..and in his stead her gaze was resting upon his animal form. She blinked again..a soft “Oh..” escaping as she took in his truest of natures. He was a beautiful creature..alert intelligence and sentience still shimmering in his gaze. She nodded her understanding, words no longer necessary, and held her breath as he made his way past the mounted guard and by means unseen in the shadows, into the gardens beyond. Only by keeping her eyes fixed on him was she able to determine the moment his transformation was reversed and dark shadow seen to move like a stealthy tendril of smoke, up the building’s side to the nearest accessible window.

Rhocielle ascended paw over paw along the thick vegetation that coated the building as a thick matting of fur. Halting only to peer into the windows, his own dark colorings blended almost indiscriminately with the rich tones of the ivy's hunter green shades. A lobby, a parlor room, offices... these were the first glimpses of the interior the Lycan had. Each room seen thus far had an inescapable layer of dust and some cob webbing. With the governor being the sole voice of authority under the presence of the empire, there was little need for the delegations and offices of the High Elf royals that once served as the governing body of the island. Reaching the final tier of stony ridges that adorned each level of the building, he found himself amidst a family of gargoyles. Frozen in sculptured silence, the inanimate creatures only provided further disguise for the very much alive creature skulking about. However, rather than risk any casual observation upward to his person, he kept to a consistent and slow pace. The final windows seen however, struck him as odd. They appeared to be boarded up haphazardly from the outside. Not enough to prevent any determined effort to remove the barriers, but enough to deter most hasty plans of escape. Escape to where though, he mused as he pressed his muzzle slightly against the barricades to peer through the few slits. The interior was large, and clearly adorned, much like the rest of the mansion. Lining the walls, however, were a significant number of bodies, both sitting up against the wall, or merely laying on bed rolls and cots. They were prisoners. More to it than that, they were almost undoubtedly Arien's royals. Though first thoughts were to aid in their immediate escape, he snorted softly and carefully began his descent into the garden once more. It was not yet time, and noble as it would be to rescue them immediately, it would jeopardize everything in an instant. Soon thereafter, the black timber wolf padded quietly towards the dark recesses of the shadows where the High Elf would await a report. His lush fur brushed against her leg with care before he retreated into the alcove once more, to change again, and to redress.

Within the ornate room that was their gilded prison, and away from the desolate picture framed by the slatted window through which Rho peeped, the king and queen of Rynvale sat in what now served for their thrones, and had done so, upon the insistence of the heads of the noble houses entombed with them, for so many months. The padded and delicately carved chairs, filched from the governor’s formal dining room with the aid of a few well greased imperial palms were but a pale imitation of the gold gilded bastions of power that had been their seats of power in time of liberty. Sad eyes graced the strained but beautiful face of the seemingly pre-maturely aged queen as she contemplated the young nobles at their evening’s idle activities. Beyond the daily walks permitted within the walls of the unoccupied floors, her people had yet to feel the sun on their skin it seemed for many moons, and she had begun to despair that it would ever be different. Sometimes it felt as if they had been forgotten. Vuryal had not come to see them..not to taunt, threaten nor promise; an unusual turn of events that none would explain. Were it not for the daily meals provided, she was almost convinced that they were to be left alone here, to simply..fade away. A shadow momentarily blocked what light was streaming through the little window that remained accessible and the blonde head turned, cerulean gaze locking upon the symbol of their captivity for a brief moment. Moonlight streamed unhindered once more..a cloud then, perhaps. A soft sigh escaped as pale, too thin hand came to rest upon the wrist of her husband. It was time they retired for the night. Those gathered would not permit themselves to rest until the monarchs had themselves gone to their rest. The king turned his own dark head towards his frail wife, offering a kind, if dispirited smile and a gentle nod of acquiescence. Together the pair arose, a quietly murmured decree marking their intent to depart for the part of the room that had been made their own. Their movement would signal the beginning of the general bedding down of those present for the eve. Floors below, at ground level and in the shadows, Arien was awaiting the return of her warder, the brush of fur against her body, more than anything she was able to see, indicating his final return. She allowed a few moments of silence, and for the soft ‘click’ of the re attachment of armor before a single word was uttered with baited breath in the direction from whence wolfen form might emerge. “Well?...”

Rhocielle could only be partially made out in the black void of the alcove, arms moving like tendrils of dark ink while he refastened his armor over his clothing. Though he had not yet completed his immediate task, he spoke out to relieve her anxiety. "The fourth floor, where the gargoyles are..." his eyes alone seemed to say as they flitted towards the risen moons, the shadows hiding his moving jaws. "The windows are boarded up. There is a group held prisoner up there." There was no need to state that they were the High Elf royals that Arien sought. A sick twisted game the Time Lord had set up. The barrier alone wouldn't be much for the captives to break through, perhaps it was even so flimsily constructed as to taunt them with its relative ease. But, where would they escape to? Only death awaited them outside, either from a mistaken footing upon the ivy if any were so emboldened to try it, or by the guards awaiting them below if they survived the descent. His leg crept into her view, followed by the rest of his armored and bestial form. "The other floors look abandoned.." he added, "Have been, for some time, by the look of things." It was a bit of good news to add to the fortuitous, if grim discovery, that the only guards were those posted outside, and perhaps attendants inside to provide for the captives. In the little light provided the Round Guard offered a brief smile to the High Elf to silently reassure her. No sooner had he attempted to pat her arm comfortingly that a faint pair of footfalls was heard behind the door they stood before. A click of a lock and a creak of wood were the final warnings provided before a portly woman, dressed in a flowery nightgown, appeared in the stone rimmed portal. A blink of the wolf's grey eyes was met with an equally brisk blink of the homeowner's own azure gaze. A sharp intake of breath, and the silence of the night was broken. "Thieves!" was the shrill shriek that brought the surrounding houses into an immediate, if oddly beautiful, cascading display of rooms being lit by candlelight. Guards soon to be hastily stomping towards their position, his paw suddenly gripped at Arien's lithe hand to almost drag her out of the shadows and into the streets.

Arien registered his quiet report with a leaping heart. They -were- here..and it would only be a matter of time before they would taste of liberty. Already the elf felt the spike of impatience, the thirst for action stir her blood. All was in place; she had but to make the clarion call that would move all of the players into position for one co-ordinated effort. This time, she would not fail. Soon..soon. Or..not. The unexpected eruption of activity at the doorway in which they stood, tore a groan from the elven female even before her warder had dragged her out into the street. Their options were limited. To stay..to scuffle with any of the aroused neighbors or guards would be to risk discovery, and that would be catastrophic to their planning. The wolf at her side, Arien had already broken into a brisk walk away from their current position in the rapidly awakening street, which seemed to grow only brighter and more alive with each passing second. “I know..” She muttered. “ As soon as we reach Resident’s Square, split up..I’ll meet you at the ferry.” Tugging her hood closer over her face, she issued the directive that would over ride what she knew would be his instinctive reaction to her suggestion. “ And that’s an order soldier..Now... Run.” Without offering him time for a response she darted off, a fleet footed sprite, dark cloak aflutter in the night wind, melting into the shadows with the wolf almost certainly on her heels.

Rhocielle gave only a passing glance over his shoulder, canine ears alerting him as to how much time they had before the sentries posted at the governor's house would reach them. Making quick strides beside the elven female, his gaze darted in a sweeping path in front of them; they could not risk running into an ambush in their swift retreat. Her suggestion prompted an immediate halt to his person and lips faintly curled up as he was close to barking to her in refusal to abandon her. This was not the time for him to leave her side, with possibly the entire Rynvalian garrison catching wind of thieves running loose in the streets of the city. His maws were caught in an open gape as she added an irrevocable statement. Snapping his jaws shut, he snorted heavily and nodded. Drawing his own hood up, lest the guards catch sight of anthropomorphic wolf, he took off in an eerily rapid sprint into the adjacent alleys once he and Arien were to be separated at the small plaza. Loathe to leave her to begin with, the black furred male made the race towards the rendezvous point seem a shorter distance by musing over the way he would verbally reprimand her on the first ship back to the port city of Cenril.