RP:Ishataulak's Revenge, Amid a Banquet

From HollowWiki

Part of the Grey Blight Arc



Frostmaw Fort Main Room

The room in which you stand is massive in size, and upon the walls lay various trophies of battle. You see a wide variety of creatures heads from dragons,to even human ones, as the leader of this area shows his victories big and small. The floor beneath you is simple stone while the rest of the structure seems to be made of the same. You may head north to another large room, south out of the fort, or east and west, which seem more like halls.




Satoshi paces among the lines of tables and benches, checking and rechecking that all is in its proper place, and there's enough food present for even a King of Giants to feast upon. That fact, there is no doubt, as is evident by the faint protesting of wood from the sturdy Frostmawian pine tables as they bear the weight of the north's finest edibles and drinks. A single slab of granite rests in the center of the room decorated with sprigs of evergreen and winter berry, and for all the looking like a giant platter awaiting the world's largest turkey. Content everything is as it should be, the magus adjusts her coat and nods to the pair of Frost Giant guards stationed at the door to allow in waiting guests by drawing back the double blue-iron-wrought doors.


Satoshi will never understand how her Frost Giant queensguard are so skilled at remaining unobtrusive despite their massive size, elaborate plate armor, and heavily numbered presence. However they do it, they're managing to keep out of the way while overseeing that things don't get -too- out of hand or threatening.


Gorzhageigk is, not surprisingly, the first to walk through the threshold and into the Snow Maiden's extravagant feast, regardless of how fast the fingers of other narrators may be. The old brown dragon has, surprisingly, cleaned up for the occasion. Black slacks and finely crafted fur coat both commonly stained with matted sand are both pristine and pressed if a bit stretched over his rather obtuse form. Short fat fingers reach up to attend to the gentleman's cigar perched precariously between his lips. He lowers it and exhales a generous puff of cherry-scented smoke. Sandy brown eyes light at the sight of both the exquisitely dressed tables of food and delicious looking Queen of Frostmaw and, perhaps to his own dissapointment, it is towards the latter he heads first.


Tiphareth slowly paces into the capacious hall, iniquitous eyes peering over the various guests, contestants and dignitaries present here. Little regard is offered toward the bulk of them, or to plentiful refreshments offered for all, instead the Patron makes his way toward the Queen herself, a nod of acknowledgment given toward her as he makes the approach. The Lichdrow was not generally one for parties and the like, generally avoiding such gatherings in favor of more intimate and arcane companions; none-the-less, he was here in support of his ally's tournament.


Kasyr meanders in at about this point, looking a peculiar cross between well groomed and..not. On one hand, the Kensais hair is combed, and he's sporting a rather dapper bit of formal wear in the form of black pants, a black shirt, and a dark navy vest sporting the symbol of Frostmaw upon it- all lovingly pressed, and displaying none of the wear and tear that most of Kasyrs clothing shows. On the other hand, the Kensais wearing his trenchcoat on top of that, and its looking even -more- battered than usual. With a careful glance about the room, the Revenant simply begins to wander about, left hand stuffed into his pocket, whilst his right lingers near the cigarette at his lips.


Satoshi's gaze flickers between the various people filtering in, trying and failing to memorize every face while returning the nods and greetings sent her way. Gorzhageigk is given a lingering look, the dapper looking fellow a stranger to the kit and seeming determined to approach, before Satoshi's attention finds the lichdrow. Tiphareth's given a return nod and a lopsided grin--although that might be a result of seeing her husband enter, and more groomed than usual. "I wasn't sure I'd see you here, Eldermage. These usually aren't your sort of thing~."


Quinmyutiotu couldn't quite get the hang of walking while wearing a dress. It's honestly a miracle that she even figured out how to get the brightly colored thing on. Somehow, she managed to look like an awkward crossbreed between a quetzal and a woman with a mass of flowers, vines and hair done in a very precarious looking up-do. The quetzal colored dress and carefully painted bird skull on her head could be blamed for that. She stumbled over her feet not once or twice, but at least a good six times before she even made it through the doors of the hall. Once inside, the dryad couldn't help flitting past tables, excitedly whispering various comments here and there in a not so whispery voice.


Gorzhageigk makes it to Lady Frostmaw about the time she turned to speak to Tiphareth. In fact, words were nearly about to pour from his mouth when she, herself, had struck up a conversation. He stops, eavesdrops but for a second, and is promptly distracted by the table full of delicacies not an arms length to his left. He opts against procuring a platter and, instead, simply reaches out to grab a boar leg in one grubby palm. Less work for the dishwasher, more for... Whoever has to mop in here. Gorzhageigk likes to shake things up, he does. He reaches for the cigar in his mouth with his other hand and looks about for some place to put it out. Punch bowl. Perfect. The red hot cigar fizzles after landing in the frigid liquid.


Tiphareth bows slightly toward the Queen, as is customary at these kind of engagements, especially toward the noble host, "Indeed these things are not, though I wished to express my solidarity with the people of Frostmaw and your majesty the Queen for this celebratory occasion. Unfortunately, I will not be able to stay, and merely wished to make an earnest showing and express my wishes of good luck for the impending festivities."


Gorzhageigk returns to the political pair and hovers, waiting for a chance to address the Queen.


Quinmyutiotu is fairly certain that her drawing of the Queen was accurate in her letter to enter the tournament, so she's on the lookout for a gorgeous giant woman with a fancy looking crown. Silly Quin.


Satoshi's ears flick toward a young human server that's protesting the sudden violation of the punch, but for the moment she keeps her attention trained on Tiphareth, nodding along to his words. "I understand. The gesture's still appreciated and heartening, really. Especially since the trip -to- Frostmaw isn't the easiest in the world." Although, if she thinks about it, the drow patron likely put to use a teleportation spell or two to solve that walking issue. "I'll admit your arena events in Trist'oth were an inspiration for this tournament. It seems to do the city good, while venting frustrations and likewise getting an idea of current talents in the land~."


Satoshi is mildly distracted by Quin pacing--and tripping--around. Who can blame her, though? With colors that bright against a backdrop of blues, silvers, and browns, it's hard -not- to notice the dryad.


Kasyr passes by those various platters of food, an ired look creeping over his features at the feast that's lain out across the room. "Why did I have to fill up -before- now? Quand meme..." With an exasperated sigh, the Revenant simply begins to make his way towards the wines would be, so that he can do his 'host' justice, and partake of her hospitality. The punch bowl is, obviously enough, utterly neglected- whether or not it's alcoholic.


Tiphareth grins slightly at Satoshi's comment regarding the Underdark battles he'd sponsored in the past, "I am glad the games in Trist'oth were of inspiration, perhaps I will be able to make a battle or two within your new arena, I hear it is most spectacular... but for now I shall leave you to your guests. I'm sure they are dying to talk to you." With that, the Eldermage makes his way toward the exit.


Satoshi, with the Eldermage's departure, allows her focus to shift, firstly to the punch now sporting a soggy cigar, to the fancily dressed dryad--who seems oh so familiar, her husband browsing wines, and finally the large fellow still lingering nearby. A nod is given to the man, the foxkin resisting the urge to toss one of her usual, and casual, salutes to the stranger. "Enjoying the boar?"


Quinmyutiotu can't help frowning. Where is this Queen of the Frosty Maw? She didn't see a pretty giant woman anywhere. Shouldn't she say hello? What about those curtsy sorts of greetings that you're supposed to do in a dress? Would Quin have to do one of those? She didn't know how. Inked fingers nervously drum against the beak of the cockatrice skull. Why didn't she practice that?! This isn't good, it won't do! Perhaps she should've brought a gift. Gifts are always nice, but what do you give a Queen? Quin's hands flew to her hair and yanked out a stubborn quetzal tail feather from the mass of other things on her head. Queens liked feathery feathers, didn't they? She turned it in her fingers. It seemed pretty enough.


Satoshi told Kasyr, "*a faint, curious mental nudge* You got into a lot of mischief yesterday, didn't you? It certainly felt like it..."


Kasyr invariably finds the bottle of bloodwine that's nestled amongst the other vintages. A discovery that has the kensai wasting -very- little time to uncork it, and promptly pour himself out a glass. That being said, the Revenant scoops up the bottle alongside his glass, as he bustles off towards a spot to sit down. He's effectively stocked for the evening~


Kasyr told Satoshi, "*The equivalent of a mental grimace is sent to her* I got sloppy, et paid for it. Spent a chunk of today recovering from it."


Satoshi glances toward Kasyr with an anxious look, although she says nothing.


Hanan poked her head into the room. She was late. Damn it but she hated being late. Rudeness she was quite fond of, but late ships didn't get paid as much. At least she'd dressed up--well, frankly a dressier version of the usual outfit, silk shirt and a freshly pressed coat. She peeked in from between two of those great big guard-things that flanked the entrance. She didn't see Dami. Where the hell was...? She straightened up, tugged a bit on her collar, and walked in as if invited properly. "Sorry I'm late."


Gorzhageigk munches on the leg of boar like it might be going out of style and, indeed, it just well might! In the short time it had taken for Satoshi to converse with the Eldermage, the brown had downed not one but three large legs. Currently, he's working on his forth. He lowers the drumstick as Satoshi addresses him and, returning the nod, says, "Ah am, Miss. You mus' be the Queen, judgin' by yer fancy attire and regal demeanor. Also, yer covered in those... Tacky signet things. Simply covered." He trades the remainder of his boar leg to his left hand, after all it's always polite to shake with your right, and wipes his greasy palm on his previously pristine pants leg before shoving it towards the Queen. "It's a pleasure to be 'ere eatin' yer food," he says, gruffly, "I greatly appreciate it, though... I don't see anything particularly exotic."


Satoshi glances down at herself to do a quick count of the number of Frostmaw crests she's wearing and, coming up with only three, decides the greasy stranger is just jealous she has more than he does. When she looks back up, she finds a hand being offered, something that leaves her in a predicament, as her right arm rests tucked into the front of her coat like a makeshift sling. Hastily, to avoid leaving the man hanging impolitely, Satoshi reaches out with her left hand to rest it daintily atop his outstretched one and give it a polite squeeze before withdrawing. "I'm glad you're enjoying it..." she trails off, leaving an opening for his name to be inserted, "although exotic isn't quite the fare of Frostmaw. Hearty is what we specialize in. Still, I think the centerpiece soon to come will be exotic enough for most tastes."


Dami had been here this whole time, she's just good at hiding in the back of the crowd. Arms crossed, and a foot propped against the flat of the wall, she simply watched from afar. This is how Dami partied.


Satoshi would have pegged Dami for a dancer at parties.


Dami thinks Satoshi would peg Dami.


Quinmyutiotu decides that standing as still as possible is the best thing to do. She doesn't feel like tripping and nearly falling flat on her face again.


Hanan say Dami--finally--as she awkwardly approached the table and snagged one of the fungus beers for herself. She grinned and raised her bottle to the woman . The grin promptly left her once she discovered that fungus beer tasted like... fungus beer. Her nose was now crinkled.


Satoshi is going to have to thank Sophie for providing.... fungus beer.


Gorzhageigk inputs the proper, "Gorzhageigk," in the midst of Satoshi's pause and aptly follows it, talking directly over the foxkin, with, "Buh you can call me Greg. I find tha' most humanoids lack the capacity ta' pronounce my name correctly."


Gorzhageigk promptly notes the pirate's negative reaction towards the beer. He calls after her, "Oi! If yer not gonna drink that..."


Satoshi grins at Gorzhageigk with something of a delightfully feral smirk. "It's a pleasure, Gorzhageigk." The name is said with a distinct lilt but no obvious mispronunciation, followed quickly be a feigned whisper of, "You'll find I'm not like most humanoids~."


Hanan called out to the dragon--Greg?--quite rudely across the room. "Go ahead. It'll clear out your pipes." She sniffed the tequila for signs of fungus. Nope. Down her gullet. It took her until then to notice Kasyr. She gave him an even, suspicious look, glanced once at Dami, and decided to make her way to the terramancer's corner, grabbing two more glasses of the better stuff as she went. "No dress?" That was her hello.


Dami just shook her head, and wiggled a bottle of black rum at Hanan. Naturally, she'd have been in the dead center of the crowd, but with last nights ordeal, she was wanting something a little more quiet. A wall worked fine. If Hanan wasn't going to come over, she was just going to have to drink this whole thing by herself. (like that was anything new..)


Kasyr swirls the wine in his cup, as he glances over those currently present. Every so often he'd lean forward to peer at areas he might have missed, the Kensai attempting to Discern whether or not any other members of His coterie were going to arrive. It's by virtue of these mannerisms that he takes note of Dami, a casual wave directed her way before the Revenants attention returns to his cup. Somewhere along the way, the contents are both downed and refilled again.


Gorzhageigk returns the smirk with a rather sleazy grin while wondering, hopefully not so obviously, if that means she doesn't -taste- like most humanoids. He turns back towards the mountain of food. Oh! Soups! And off he goes.


Satoshi interrupts her conversation with Gorzhageigk as the room's westward doors open to reveal a quartet of youthful giants shuffling in. A behemoth black-ice platter is suspended between them, serving as the resting place of a mammoth carcass, defurred with skin crackling and glistening with the juices it's been roasted in for the better part of the day. The cooked beast's trunk rears skyward as if locked in a permanent trumpet, a gargantuan white apple stuffed into its mouth and framed by its great curving tusks, the ivory having been polished back to its pristine color after cooking. Gathered around the mammoth are thick branches of evergreen that sport a spicy, refreshing scent, alongside the sweet undertone Winter berries provide in their scattered presence. "Exotic enough, 'Greg'?" Although a requirement of Frostmaw feasts and thus not exotic to natives of the land, Satoshi hasn't encountered any soul outside of the north who have eaten the arctic elephant.


Gorzhageigk reaches for the spoon (ladle, really) nestled on the side of a bowl of wild boar stew and scoops out a hearty amount. In due fashion, he once more neglects a bowl and, instead, slurps the stew rather loudly. Two ladlefuls later, he drops the utensil back in its place and moves on down the line.


Hanan snickered, setting her shoulder into the wall by Dami's seat, facing her. "I wouldn't knock a night with Slintora. He's probably a freak in the sack. Granted he's probably into peggin' and ladies' underwear, but he's a freak." She sipped her glass of tequila while handing Dami the other. "What an interestin' wall and all that."


Ranok arrives, fashionably late.


Ranok brought Meek with him too.


Satoshi thinks Ranok planned to arrive right when the roast mammoth was brought in. It's just like him.


Dami snorted, knocking back a swig- no two.. four swigs of rum, before shaking her head. "What's sad, is I bet there's some woman freaky enough to take it from a horse." In the land of Hollow, and it's populace of woman, this -had- to be true. "So you really made it up here for a party, eh?" She watched the giants deliver the mammoth, thinking to herself, 'I wonder if any of them wants to arm wrestle..'.


Hanan snickered. "I paid good money for the horse show, thank you very much. Left somethin' to be desired. Chartsend, Dami. I could write the ruttin' travel guide to Chartsend." She took another sip of tequila, eyes skirting over the assembled partiers. Was that a mammoth? How big a fire did you need to roast a mammoth? "And yeah, I wouldn't miss it. But I figured there'd be dancin'. Nobody's dancing."


Satoshi refrains from explaining to Hanan how avalanches take place when giants start dancing. She'd probably try to get some of them drunk just to cause that~.


Ranok arrives proper, via a no-nonsense flight. Airship was out, but he was allowed other methods of air travel into Frostmaw by Sato's permission. No way in hell was he walking through the town dressed as he was. This suit was the best suit. So he arrived via griffon instead, neatly bypassing everything but the hellish cold. Shoes click on the stone of the fort, hands straighten his lapel. Bandages were over visible, poking from his neck. Consequences for being bathed in acidic saliva. Two things, on his neck. The scarf, and Meek, who was beside itself, looking at all the shiny things around the room. It was, quite literally, shaking with excitement. Ranok was accompanied by the lights, too, albeit they weren't as bright as they normally were. One piece of armor, the vambrace, plus whatever he was sneaking under the vest. Knowing Ranok, yes, he was probably wearing plate underneath the jacket. Or something equally ridiculous. "Sato. Hy see Hy'm...iz dat an entire mammoth?" Eyebrow lifts. Seems he did arrive just in time.


Kasyr finishes off his second glass, and starts into his third. Beside him, a small row of cigarette butts is starting to accrue.


Satoshi said to Ranok, "An entire mammoth, Sir Clink, and a snowflake apple to top it all off~."


Ranok squints, trying to see the apple. "...Hy'll teke hyu vord for it." A lazy salute to Kas. The smith looked entirely too cheerful for a man who was, functionally, eaten by a dragon the other day. A combination of stoicism, weird biology, and hefty amounts of painkillers. Meek, for his part, was making noises. The blob was getting impatient, and bored. Never a good combination.


Hanan snapped her head when Ranok made his entrance, a single dark brow raised. "Hell. I thought I dressed up. Look at that." She nudged Dami with her elbow, lowering her voice. "And your sire's all mum. Trouble in paradise?"


Ranok didn't get to wear his suit often. In a world where people demanded blood for looking at them cockeyed, wearing armor seemed to be a Good Idea.


Quinmyutiotu stops being a bird statue once she overhears Ranok. With a bit more effort at trying to be careful this time, she tries walking without stumbling over that damned skirt again toward him. "Giant O-~" The dryad calls, mid stumble. Dammit. "Uh..Gianty One~!" Quin manages to regain some small amount of composure before making it to the man's side. "Hi. I seem to have gotten the confused legs in this swirly twirly skirt. They aren't good for the walkings, you know."


Dami shrugged. "Could be interesting." Another shot was taken back, eyes busy watching the crowd. She was still sore as hell, and her jaw, barely mended; it was a shocker that her bones were still able to break at this point. Then again.. Kasyr -did- rail gun her straight at a deep dragon, something broken was expected. "Quite the crowd, yeah?"


Gorzhageigk turns around just in time to see an enormous creature on a massive platter enter the room. It's glorious, simply glorious. The brown dragon rushes back to the Queen's side, nearly slipping in a puddle of grease left by himself as a byproduct of the mass boar leg consumption from earlier. He regards Ranok with a nod, a wicked grin, and something of a knowing glint in his eye then, turning to Satoshi, remarks, "Wha' in the gods' names is -that-, M'lady?" and, without pause, tacks on that, "You may want to 'ave someone get that up," while pointing towards the slippery spot.


Dulcinea slips through the doors, using Ranok's rather flashy entrance (that suit was rather magnificent) to remain inconspicuous. She pauses after finally arriving, taking several moments to just look around and take everything in. Happily, it looked about the same way it did in her head and she recognized more than one person at the banquet. Goody for her. Feeling slightly out of place, the healer makes her way towards the table intending to find something to nibble on while she was about.


Hanan nodded. She knew nothing of what had happened the previous night, knew nothing of Dami's condition. Just that she was sitting. "It's a hell of a crowd. Could be better. Maybe a little more interesting..." She lowered her voice again, looking back at Dami with a jaunty little smirk. "You could go and change into that dress... maybe." Yeah, that wasn't happening. "If you felt like dancin' or something."


Satoshi answers Gorzhageigk with a smile, "A mammoth. Have at it~." With that, she leaves his company and winds her way to Kasyr, where she can claim a spot beside him--opposite the spent cigarettes--and offer him a shoulder-to-shoulder nudge. She opens her mouth to say something, only to be cut off by a sudden roar from outside. While the sound seems to come from a distance outside or near the city borders, it is still loud enough to shake the fort's walls with a voice of bestial triumph. The kit frowns and nods to one of the guards, silently ordering them to investigate the disturbance--if Cryothain hasn't already seen to the draconic intruder herself. "Hrm."


Kasyr offers a brief wave to Ranok and Dulcinea, a lazy trail of smoke following in the wake of his hands motions. From there, the Kensai simply leans back- silently thankful for the fact that he has a left arm to lean back on now, even if it had cost him his appetite. ..Relatively, anyways, since he's now pretty much worked his way through his third glass of wine.


Hanan naturally looked up at the roar, blinking, then gulping. "or you could loan me some rum. I'd like some rum."


Ranok was going to bring Deep Dragon steaks, but thought it might have been too much.


Kasyr purses his lips a bit at the sudden roar, his ears perking up at the 'appearance' of the intrusive noise. Nonetheless, he allows his attention to dwindle towards the Cryomancer whose cozied up to him, "Having fun playing the hostess, Cherie?"


Dami 's left eye twitched. Hanan was grabbed by an ear lobe, and oh-so-gently pulled close. "Talk about that dress again, and I'll burn it in a fire." The last thing she needed, was for anyone to overhear talk of the elf in a red dress. Hell, she just might take up cliff diving lessons soon, if word got out. "Hey- what's with that one?" Dami pointed to Quin with her chin. "She's standing there like a statue. Oh no, wait- she's stumbling now." People watching was the best.


Satoshi shakes herself, and the forboding feeling creeping up her spine, before looking to Kasyr with a half-forced smile. "I am. It's been a while since we've had a chance to celebrate. Seems good for everyone."


Ignatius thinks that's the ugliest damn dragon he's ever seen.


Dulcinea returns Kasyr's wave, content to wander about the foodstuffs for now. There was quite a selection and she figured it was easier to eat then to try and make conversation. Was that a mammoth? Blinking, she takes off down the table intent on investigating before making her selections.


Hanan was tugged, and it didn't feel too great. She jabbed Dami with her elbow for that but didn't seem particularly pissed. "Fine, fine. I'll quiet down. Doesn't change my opinion, though." At Dami's prompt she glanced Quin's way, watched her a moment, then pronounced: "High. The idiot came to the party high."


Ranok reaches his hands out reflexively to catch Quin when she stumbled. He really couldn't help it. He'd deny any gentlemanly tendencies, most likely. "Uh. Hello, Qvin. Hall dressed up. Yah, formal vear does dat. Dis suit kost me a goot bit to not schlow me down." Eyes felt upon him. Gor's smirk caught. A questioning look and a thinning of the eyes shot back. He didn't like the look of that oily fatman, not one bit. His hands lower. Meek was able to take no more, it had to look at *something*. Quin was close; she would do. The black blob regards the dryad with eyes made of rubies, which twinkle in the light of the room. It stretches out, from its perch. Like Quin, it liked to touch to find things out. Ranok was distracted by a beastial roar. His expression instantly goes sour. Oh, yes. There was the trouble. Never failed. He briefly wondered if this suit was *cursed*, because, hell, five times is not a coincidence.


Gorzhageigk throws down the proverbial gauntlet now. He grabs a chair from a nearby table and drops it right next to the enormous beast roasted, as he sees it, just for him. The Queen said 'have at it' and he plans to oblige her. He then returned to the buffet, carefully scouting, selecting, and subsequently liberating entire plates of the finest delicacies which he would then bring to the chair he had previously placed. In a matter of minutes, he has surrounded the chair with the finest selections and created for himself a veritable oasis of food.


Redovian makes his way into the banquet, Frostmaw's Justice having just returned from patrol, and having some news his Queen may like to hear.


Kasyr settles the half-empty bottle next to himself, having somehow made a -fourth- glass dissapear within the span of those sparse words they had exchanged, "Given the numerous disasters we seem to fall into, Cherie, it's sort of needed, en fait." The revenant tries to give an offhanded looking shrug, but he can't quite wipe the uneasy look from his face, or stop his ears from twitching. He felt like wandering, for some reason.


Gorzhageigk hopes the newly arrived knight is here to announce the timely demise of whatever-the-hell was making all that racket. He'll be damned if something's going to disturb -this- glorious feast.


Dami whispered something to Hanan.


Dami tips the bottle back, and shrugs. "Yeah, I can do that."


Redovian makes his way over to Satoshi, passing through the crowd with subtle haste. Once before his queen, a humble bow is offered as he says. " A moment of your time, if you can spare it."


Satoshi is doing her best not to appear uneasy when Redovian appears, his own face seeming to tell her there's news and she's not likely to enjoy it. "Cyrisling."


Quinmyutiotu , once upright thanks to Ranok's help, grinned sheepishly. "Thank you, Gianty One. I'm not very sure that I like these types of the clothings. In fact.." With a brief pause, Quin shoved her hand into the mess of hair and vines on her head and pulled out a sharpened bone hairpin. With it, she cuts through the brocade gown around her legs until it's shortened up to past her knees. Much better, but probably not particularly formal looking now. Grinning, the dryad hopped out from the ring of cut fabric and tucked the bone into a few of the vines tangled around her tattooed leg. "That's better. The legs can move much more freely now, I'd thin- Eehaay~" that peculiar blob captured the dryad's attention now. Imitating the creature, Quin inches her face closer to it in order to get a better look. The roar is heard, but not given much attention. There was a ruby eyed critter to examine first.


Redovian whispered to Satoshi, "The patrols spotted a large grey dragon near the colosseum. The Champion engaged it, but the beast retreated."


Dulcinea blinks at the strange and seemingly -very- hungry man who surrounded himself with various plates of food. Could he possibly eat that much? Fascinated and slightly intrigues despite herself, she watches him covertly while trying to figure out what had gotten everyone else's attention.


Hanan pushed off the wall, took another glance at the remains of the feast, and said: "If that's the case, we can go right now. Provided that roarin's not in the way."


Gorzhageigk takes a seat in his chair and reaches down to collect a cookie of some sort from one of the many plates surrounding him only to find that his protruding pudge prevented him from reaching it. The brown dragon frowns. After all, chairs are supposed to be the correct instrument for sitting and such, but if he can't reach his food... He weighs the pros and cons. Eh. What the hell. He stands, carefully turns towards the chair so as not to disturb any of his food, and promptly picks it up and kinda... place-tosses it outside the ring of platters. The move itself was nowhere as smooth as the intention behind it and, thusly, the chair clatters against the floor, falls over, and tumbles into a nearby table. He then sits down. Time to feast.


Satoshi's mask of regal dignity falters at Redovian's words and anxious eyes are turned to Kasyr, certain her mate has heard the information with his close proximity. "It's her again..." By this point, the kit looks torn, duty requiring her to remain for the duration of the feast, while inexplicable uncertainty drives her to leave as quickly as possible. She looks beseechingly to the revenant, silently begging him to make the call.


Kasyr s' ears wiggle, and a wary glance is shot in Satoshis direction.


Kasyr whispered to Satoshi, "I do believe an interloping beast could be considered a matter of state, Madamoiselle. We can simply state that we need to momentarily address an issue, and that we shall return shortly."


Dami yanked her by her arm, and sat her right back down. "Nah, not yet. It's a party, enjoy~" Dami was sure Satoshi went through a lot to get this arranged, so she was going to do her best to stick around, and enjoy. Even if she had to do so with a second bottle of rum. Or tequila. The roar was caught, and mostly ignored; she didn't want there to be another dragon out there. Two deep dragons in one night was enough.


Satoshi nods at Kasyr's whispered words, thanks Redovian for his information, and straightens up, once more adopting the demeanor of a queen. "If you could take charge here, Redovian, I'd appreciate it. My king and I have to tend to this... little matter." With that, the kit makes for the doors as quickly as dignity allows, turning away questions from guests and offers of accompaniment from guards with shakes of her head.


Redovian shouted, "** A powerful and commanding voice bellows out from near the colosseum. " Come you damn beast! Taste the wrath of Frostmaw's Champion!" The deep and resounding boom of a thunderous explosion can be heard, followed by a deep and powerful roar that echoes down the mountain-side."


Redovian said to Satoshi, "I shall, My Queen."


Dami watched the trio converse with worried looks on their face. "On second thought.." She grabbed Hanan by the shoulder, rubber-banding her off the wall she'd just slapped her against. "Maybe now would be a good time. Would hate to get lost in the dark on the way back." A bull shish excuse to cover up her lazy antics. She wasn't in the mood to be roped into fighting anything else with Kasyr.


Ranok || Meek could not be beaten at a stare off. It was simply the best there is. Mostly due to it not needing to blink, but there it was. The blob was in the process of stretching out to touch Quin on her colorful mask. Using its own body to do so, it was stretching out to wrap itself around the first thing it could come in contact with. Mask, hand, nose, you named it. Meek was a curious little fellow. Ranok, for his part, looked dryly amused at Quin's casual destruction of her dress, "Not much vun for modesty, are hyu?"


Kasyr is swift to follow on Satoshis' heels, the bottle of wine left spinning in his wake as he moves to exit the building. The only deviation from that particular act is the brief pause he makes, a fixed glance directed towards Dami, before he stuffs his hands into his pockets and makes good of his departure.


The Banquet Continues for Some...

Hanan was always surprised by how strong Dami actually was. The damn good fighter was being manhandled again, and casuallly. She managed to disentangle herself, rearrange her long blue coat, and glance suspicously at Satoshi and Kasyr. "Alright. After you."


Gorzhageigk notices, practically, none of the going ons around him, instead opting to devour every last morsel of food on the plates surrounding him and much of the mammoth's hindquarter directly behind him.


Dami was about to put a fist through the wall, literally. "Oh come on!" Yelling perhaps a little too loud, the elf simply plopped herself right back against the wall, and crossed her arms. With eye brows inverted, and an angry hiss, it was clear she was mad. "Nevermind, just hang here for a bit." Hanan was going to ditch her, before long." Damn Kasyr. Damn him and that ridiculous bond between sire and fledgling, silent orders were issued, and expected to be carried out.


Hanan was confused. The pirate was rarely confused. She wasn't even confused when she had no idea what was going on> But Dami was literally jerking her around the place, and now giving her mixed signals, and Hanan was left wheeling around on one boot and giving her a pointed look. "Hey. You. Hell's goin' on?" She suspected Kasyr.


Dulcinea frowns at the abrupt exodus of several people, fidgeting from the sudden start of negative emotions. "Uh..." Glancing around, she suddenly closes her eyes in concentration, clearly lost in her own head for the moment.


Dami grinned with sharp teeth. "Nothing. Just enjoying a party." Her left eye twitched too.


Hanan glanced back over her shoulder, then stepped closer to Dami, planting a hand on her shoulder and leaning close enough to whisper.


Hanan whispered something to Dami.


Dami whispered something to Hanan.


Hanan growled audibly, turning back to glance at the surrounding partygoers, who seemed... mostly uncaring about the din outside. "Kasyr." Dami sure as hell didn't have to elaborate on that. "Wants you to stay? Fine. We'll party. Dance with me. Someone oughta dance."


Dami dusted her hands. "Heh, looks like there's no one to guard." Dami didn't see Dulci, or Gorz, who was probably off eating more food. "Guess that means my job here is done~" And with that, she'd stand up, and 'gently' grab Hanan by the hand, leading her out. "Let's go. Before they show up."


Gorzhageigk belches rather loudly. In the time it had taken everyone else to run about all willy nilly in an attempt to... Protect villages and whatnot, Gorz was, thankfully, able to handle the real challenge all by himself. Left standing in the middle of the feast was naught more than the skeletal structure of the once mighty mammoth. The surrounding tables, equally bare, were filthy with grease and spilled sauces though even some of that has been obviously salvaged, somehow, likely the dragon's -favorite- sauces he hadn't wanted to go to waste. Gorzhageigk lay to the side of the mammoth, flat on his back with not a single clean spot on his jacket and another lit cherry cigar in his mouth. Should the King and Queen return in the next twenty-four hours, that very well may be where he is found perhaps asleep, perhaps not.


...While at the Frostmaw Colosseum

Satoshi hurries into the colosseum with eyes searching the skies for any sign of the grey dragon, a position that causes her to miss the presence of the Frost Giants at first.


Gunnar Stormbeard, The Champion of Frostmaw and Aramoth's Chosen Paladin, stands in the middle of the colosseum, evidence of battle all about the tremendous warrior's muscular and heavily armoured frame. His own eyes were upon the skies above the cavern, before the sudden arrival of his Queen takes his attention from his scanning. The giant exhales deeply as he lifts the fabled warhammer of western storms, his favored weapon, from the crater that was left in the wake of its power. Gunnar calls out to his Queen. " I see your Justice has relayed my message as swiftly as I had hoped."


Kasyr is close behind, a sheathed ebon Katana clutched in his hand. He's quite through with being caught unaware.


Satoshi skids to a halt, all thoughts about playing the part of dignified royalty forgotten in her haste. She nods at Gunnar's remark, and frowns at the burnt portion of ground left by his hammer. "Did she leave so quickly? It's not like her to bolt without a fight."


Gunnar eyes his Queen as if she had just insulted him deeply. " Without a fight? By Aramoth woman, you for get who I am?" The giant exhales a moment, before saying. " She flew above the cavern after we clashed." He pauses, saying to the Queen of Frostmaw. " It was as if she wanted me to know where she was going... but rest assured, I'll kill this damn beast by the end of the night."


Satoshi half-stumbles, despite having been standing still, with Gunnar's words. "Above the cavern..." Again that alarmed look finds Kasyr as she thoughtlessly steps toward the arena's exit, eager to see if Ishataulak had figured out a way around her home's protections. Half-way there, she remembers the giant and pauses to look back at him. "Destroy that cowardly lizard, Champion. This is the last time she'll come sniffing around me and mine."


Kasyr s' head cants off to the side at that, ears and tail both going rigid, "Flew? Not burrowed?" ..Dragons were clever- a fact that could not be disputed, despite the peculiar personalities and/or nuanced neurosises which seemed to crop up in the beasts- likely because they were so long lived. "It was a challenge, j'pense." It's that thought which precipitates the Kensai into shedding his trenchcoat, the ragged item left on the colosseum floor. "So, lets' meet it."


Satoshi said to Gunnar, "Stay here, in case she comes back. She has a nasty habit of disappearing, then burrowing out from under your feet. She may be lurking now."


Satoshi, with that, is hurrying off once more with her husband.


Kasyr has a horrible epiphany. "..Burrowing..above..the cavern."


Glistening Azure Fluorite Bridge

With a pebble of fluorite in hand and a foot in the icy waters, the spell is awakened and the pathway between cavern and manor is revealed: a delicate bridge leaping from shore to shore in the blink of an eye, filling the expansive gap perfectly. This is no simple bridge of rock or wood, either, but is instead as unusual as every other feature found in this strange location. Seemingly crafted from a solid piece of fluorite--the main crystalline theme, it appears--this bridge is clear and blue as flawless ice, and as treacherously smooth. Light footwork is required to cross, as the bridge provides little room for error within its meager width, and no handrails exist to catch oneself before plunging into the waiting arctic waters below. Tread carefully and you'll be able to reach your destination in short order, be it the cavern's black sand shoreline or its glorious centerpiece: a behemoth ice floe eternally anchored to the bottom of the lake, and the foundation to an icy manor luxuriously sprawled atop it like a dozing dragon. Although the glistening structure shows no signs of wear it still exudes an air of a truly ancient building, seemingly constructed almost entirely of ice and fluorspar-crystal. Just who built this? And is it still occupied now? Large double doors, again crafted of a pale blue fluorite, await to answer such questions, and there seems little else to explore upon the trapped glacier aside from this unusual manor.




Satoshi glances around, at a loss. "Everything seems fine. The Spirit isn't even disturbed by anything." Looking up toward the oculus in the roof of the cave, Satoshi frowns. "What was she doing up -there-? ...we need to find out."


Kasyr s' back has been deforming during their hastened little journey- twin mounds of flesh grotesquely growing, his skin splitting as something grew within. Flesh and cloth alike are quick to part beneath the sudden protrusion of bone, muscle and flesh that emerges- the Revenants wings rapidly taking shape, "Let's make haste." With Gospel ever clutched in his right hand, the Kensai extends his left over towards Satoshi.


Satoshi is quick to tuck herself into the kensai's hold, anxiety gnawing at her insides in a way she's not accustomed to and driving her to haste. While she's not carrying a weapon like her husband, the kit's everpresent hazy aura has taken on a writhing, frosty quality with her mood, eager to violently vent built up nerves at a moment's notice.


Kasyr s' not exactly use to carrying passengers, but he makes do nonetheless- those gorestained appendages he'd 'grown' for the occasion now beating furiously so as to draw them up into the air. Gospel, sheathed as it is, is adjusted so that its nestled alongside his wife, effectively bracing her against him as they take to the air in pursuit of the dragon thats' so dedicated to harassing them.

Atop the Cavern

A frozen sea of blood and stone awaits the vampire pair atop the cavern. Strewn about in every direction are the signs of a short-lived but violent fight, snow churned to slush and rocky ground scrapped by large claws to create a mess of destruction. Sprawled near the gaping hole is the small body of the dog Sawyer, his once plush red fur stained with a darker hue from the mortal wound that rends him from neck to hips, spilling his innards across the snow. Nearby rests the mutilated remains of the dragonling Dansur, looking to have suffered a similar mauling to the dog, along with the removal of a wing and most of his tail. Beside the dragon rests a second dog, the heavy, battle-scarred form of Griddlebone recognizable lying half-curled in the snow. Parts of the old dog lay nearby in pools of blood, and deep gouges cover him from ears to tail to dye him a deep crimson. At first shielded from sight by the mastiff's broad shoulders, approach will reveal the fourth victim of this massacre, with Aurelia's tiny body half-hidden beneath the shape of the dog that had attempted to defend her from the dragon's wrath. After being bitten clean through by immense fangs only the upper half of the little feline remains now, most of which is sealed in red stone from the dragon's breath, eternally freezing a look of terror on her young face from when she'd been interrupted at play from Ishataulak's arrival.


Kasyr nearly drops Satoshi upon witnessing that lurid carnival of carnage; the offkilter manner in which his wings start to beat only -further- complicating the matter. Instinctively, his arms clutch the magus tightly to his chest, even as the Revenant angles his wings so that he can stumble to a land atop the cavern. Surrounded as he is by the gore stained 'wasteland', Kasyr is at a loss for what to say or feel- a vile sickness climbing at the back of his throat, even as his emotions wrestle between emptiness and rage. Really, the only thing that comes from the Kensais mouth, is the soft noise of enamel grinding and cracking, as Kasyrs jaw clenchs and slowly churns to one side.


Satoshi is an agonizing mixture of violent tremors and glacial rigidity, half of her instinct screaming at her to bury herself in the security of the kensai's presence to escape the scene while the other half demands she tear herself away from him and go to the mangled little body of the feline they'd taken in as their own. To protect her, comfort her, save her, what Satoshi doesn't know, only that part of her needs it to be done. The additional sight of once loyal companions decimated for their steadfast determination is enough to drive the strength from the kit's limbs then so that she lurches forward, clutching feebly at Kasyr. All words escape the usually vocal mage save for one, a faintly whispered, "No" repeated incessantly and progressively louder even as she shakes her head, as if enough defiance will alter and rewrite events.


Kasyr sags beneath the weight of his thoughts; those bitter regrets borne from not slaying the Grey vying against desperate thoughts for a 'solution' ...both tempered by a simple yet sad grain of knowledge: That brief glimpse of time Satoshi had stolen for their adopted daughter had finally run out; those years of peaceful tranquility having come to a final and abrupt end. The only thing the Revenant could hope is that his Deity would provide her some solace; from both the seperation from her would-be parents, and the event which had parted Aurelia from them. "..I'm sorry."


Satoshi twists suddenly in Kasyr's hold until she's facing him, from where she shakes her head again before burying it in his chest, determined to blot out the image against that now damaged vest. For all the scenes of violence, blood, and war the foxkin has seen--and fair share she's caused--this is one she's unable to stomach any longer. Eventually, however, Satoshi finds her voice, tones halting and faint at first so that her words are inaudible. But the second attempt, made after she shakes herself, is considerably stronger, voice taking on a frigid, calculated tune, "It's not your fault. It's -hers-." Looking up at the kensai then, the amber in the kit's eyes spark like boiling, liquid hatred in an arctic sea of azure as she imagines the myriad ways they'll return Ishataulak's favor.


Kasyr 's throat is dry, constricted. Somewhere along the way, the words have lodged themselves- threatening to choke him with every passing second. His only response comes in the slow nod he offers to Satoshi, a curious mixture of grief and loathing swimming in his gaze. Her fault, he could not deny- but it's the unknown cause, that has the Revenants stomach churning.


Satoshi, as if reading the revenant's thoughts--and after years together and bound in so many complex ways, it wouldn't be surprising in the least, steels herself to look back at the bloody scene once more before saying in a whisper, "This... is payback. Kirien... stole an egg from her. Svilfon told me. After she attacked us before. I..." It's the kit's turn for her throat to constrict and words get caught a moment before she can continue all the more softly, "...I didn't think she'd get this far..."


Kasyr s' front lip is slowly becoming a bloody ruin, the Revenant working away at the flesh as the sickening truth of the situation dawns upon him. No longer able to stomach a single facet of the scene, the Kensai simply murmurs, "..We..should see her buried."


Satoshi's claws involuntarily sink into Kasyr's arm in response to his words. "They. All of them should be." Taking a steadying breath, the magus turns back around, prepared for the work needed, and determined to do it by hand, not magic.


Kasyr , and Satoshi, have a long evening ahead of themselves.