The World of Astrial

The Banquet room was the most beautiful. The first was when it realized that our earth was not the center of the universe, but only a tiny speck in a world-system of a magnitude hardly conceivable of all. The room itself was open air, with the place covered by the Sky Tree. Countless of flowers and pots were placed across the room. Berry bushes, apple trees, etc were placed on the corner of the room. Anyone can take a pick of those fruits to eat, even during events. The center of the banquet room was cleared for dancing and had a beautiful flooring to pair with. Music played through the event. Drinks, food, and laughter slowly filled the mood.

The guards would let Kris right through without much of a questioning, other than who she was and if she had an invitation, which a word about Alisa and the Heros' party was sufficient. The Palace was definitely warded, or other words, had a protecting barrier and measures set in place. It wasn't strong enough to deal against anything too powerful but enough to suppress almost, if not the majority of incidents. Currently the banquet was close to starting and a few people have arrived.

Kris walked along and enjoyed the sights, completely unaware that John was tailing her at a distance. She looked like she was just strolling at her leisure and enjoying the sights. Introducing herself to the guards at the palace, and mentioning Alisa, they let her through.

Once inside, she found a place where some women were doing last minute touch ups to their face paint, a sort of dressing room. The elf found a screen to hide behind so that she could change. She was not too worried about the dress, it fit just fine and it was pretty. Standing in front of a mirror at a vanity, she eyed her hair as if it were an untamed beast that had to be broken in.

Emerging from the dressing room, she left her satchel and pack in the dressing room with an attendant taking up women's purses, coats and other things and putting them away. She didn't want to be bothered with them at the banquet. It had not taken long once she'd used some of the thick oil for her hair, it had weighed it down enough to allow her to comb and style it, pinning it back.

She had arrived early, and milled around waiting for the others. Kris had not been about to stand around and watch what she interpreted as a bunch of posturing.

John approaches the entrance that Kris went through and told the guards who he was. "I am John Halthorn Protective Guard of the hero's who are to attend this banquet." John showed his guild card just to confirm. The guards then let them through. Walking into the palace he gave friendly nodes to guards and guests already there then he stood in the main hall and paced back and forth waiting for others to arrive.

John looked very out of place. A tall muscular guy who wore armour and a green cloak to a formal dinner. Luckily his cloak hid most of his weapons. John took his hood off and looked around. He saw Kris walking down the hall. She looked stunning but he just kept his guard up and didn't say anything to her.

Kris chatted with people here and there, smiling and looking happy to be in attendance. She'd always been very modest and humble, devoting her time and attention to others rather than her personal appearance or recreation.

The cleric spotted John and approached him. "What are you doing here? Where are the heroes? Are they still carrying on with their childish duels? I'm not healing them if they get any wounds in the process," her voice turning lofty towards the last couple of sentences.

Before departing the dressing room, the elf had conjured a protective spell that would ward off attacks that were either physical or magical. The spell wouldn't hold up against repeated attacks, but it would at least present a surprise attack. John and Korbin were both acting jumpy, and she also recalled the news of someone stalking them.

"I'm not to sure about the current status of the hero's. I left the moment you did. I didt want you to be alone. Non the less we should all eventually meet here so until everyone arrives il be staying with you."

John kept scanning the palace looking for anything suspicious.

"Please don't let my presence disturb you, I really want you to enjoy this dinner. If you need anything il most likely be here or rather easy to find." He said with a slight smile.

The banquet was slowly starting but introductions and the likes haven't till a little later into it. The music was starting in the main center of the area. Above the leaves of the great tree set a mood of those below. Guards on flying animals patrolled the sky for enemies. From the front door walking through was the guildmaster of Mast, The Enchanter. He was dressed really formal today, compared to other days dressing casually in his jobs. It seemed he didn't like how constraint the clothes were but endured it.

If John looked up at the tree...there was a girl sitting on top of the tree's branch, looking directly down at the banquet. It was the same girl from the day earlier who warned about the stalker. The girl who was at the guild. The flying guards seemed not notice her at all, or anyone at all. It seemed only John can see her...perhaps?

As Korbin approached the banquet his eyes began darting around faster and faster.

Just keep calm Korbin. Keep calm. Just focus on having a good time. We can't let another one happen again.

He began looking around at all the different people that were attending, keeping himself from focusing on his peripheral vision.

Kris had been chatting with a couple who had approached her and John to make smalltalk whenever she saw Korbin come in. "Excuse me," she smiled sweetly to the couple, "I've seen someone I've been expecting come in." People were milling around while the appetizers were being brought out on carts, filing into seats slowly but surely.

The moon elf appeared in front of Korbin. "It's about time one of you got here! It's like trying to herd a bunch of cats! Late to the banquet! At least you didn't show up all disheveled after a duel," she sniffed. Reaching out to try and haul him over to a table and sit him down, she directed a critical gaze toward his appearance as well.

"Have you see Leo? He was really the only other one to show up, wasn't he? I am sure Alisa will handle herself, at least. And what was with that other guy who showed up and tried to duel Alisa? Is he a hero, too? Where did that brother and sister get off to?"

She didn't take any notice of the woman up in the tree in the top and center of the room. Attendants were taking drink orders and setting out appetizers that mostly consisted of finger foods.

Korbin simply sidestepped Kris' attempt to drag him to a seat. He scowled slightly once she chastised him for being late.

"So many questions. No I haven't seen Leo, the guy that wanted to duel Alisa just left and no he wasn't a hero, and the siblings are probably around here." He said, annoyed that she had disrupted his concentration.

Damnit. Why now of all times? I need to get to a corner area, keep away from other people.

The couple that Kris left with John had to meet up with people and left leaving John alone with his thoughts.
John saw Kris lecturing Korbin and chuckled to himself. A lot of Hero's weren't here yet and that worried John. He decided to go wait outside the palace and get some air. He walked towards the exit and left. Now standing in the front entrance he had started talking to some of the guards while waiting on the other hero's.

Kris was not going to give up so easily. She picked up the skirts of her dress and followed after him, pestering him. "You're the only hero left and you're going to try and avoid any sort of interaction whatsoever?! You can do alright killing wolves and starting duels but a banquet makes you want to hide in a corner?" She scoffed and whipped around to go and sit at a table. Some demi-human males made some room for her at their table. The cleric thought they were just being polite, not realizing they had been keeping an eye on the pretty elf in a dress due to her somewhat naive nature.

As the appetizers were set out, important local and regional figures were being introduced. Kris munched on a bit of meat wrapped up in some cheese and bread, sighing to herself. "Boys. I miss Eliana."

Meanwhile Alisa was having troubling issues with a number of amount of people trying to proposal marriage to her off in the corner. It was a bit chaotic considering there was a good number of officials and parents trying to do as well. She tried to pushed them back with words and most common reason was that she had a husband before, noting the ring on the ring finger, and that she didn't want a new one.

A scholarly female mage, dressed rather formal but hints of mage style attire, with her 12 year old maid, dressed formally as well, entered through the entrance. The Exorcist walked up to John, "Looking for the heroes? They should all be in the banquet by now."

((Leo is out of the rp momentarily as he got an unexpected trip to Europe))

Angelo had watched as everyone split up, leaving him alone. He sighed. "Welp, now what?" he mumbled as he looked around trying to find something to do.

Korbin quickly found himself a corner area that was unoccupied and reasonably close to an exit. He quickly sat down and felt more at ease.

Now they are all in view, I can more easily protect them. Kris misunderstands, I don't hide in a corner, I observe. I don't want anyone else to die under my watch. It is best this way. There is a nearby food table if necessary.

Korbin's eyes began darting about, keeping watch of Kris, John, and Angelo. He saw a number of people that seemed to be much more powerful than others.

Most likely guild executives or high ranking soldiers. I'll give it one hour then I'll head over to Kris. Hopefully those two guys won't be to forward with her.

Alisa still swallowed by the gossips and the hand for marriage.

With Korbin's eyes darting around, he found there was a girl sitting one of the giant branches of the great tree, which seemingly the guards paid no attention to her existence at all...

Initially Korbin just glanced past the girl, but he then quickly looked back and saw her sitting there. He cocked his head slightly in confusion.

Who is she? A higher-up? A magic user? The guards aren't paying her any mind so maybe she's just normally there.

He watched the girl for some time, trying to figure out who or what she was.

Kris talked with the other elves at the table, she looked for where John and Korbin were once in a while. The elf merely glanced around to take note of their location, she did not get up from her table. The entrees were served after introductions were made and people worked their way through the appetizers.

None of the males that seemed interested in Kris were being uncouth or had gotten fresh with her so far. It was a good way for her to wile the time away, since she didn't like talking with Korbin much and John was keeping a lookout.

John noticed some well known people in the guild community walking in and out. John's parents had established one of the world's post prestigious guilds for rangers and scouts. However only select people know who he is at all. However John has a lot of respect from fellow guild members and former comrades.

John said his farewells to the entrance guards and walked back inside where he could see everyone. However where he was standing he was unable to see the girl sitting above.

He glanced back and forth between Kris and Korbin just wondering where the other hero's could have been.

He sighed and decided to sit down at a empty table at the very back if the banquet. John then pulled out an old picture of his late older brother and let out a quick sad yet happy smile.
"It should have been you teach in these hero's not me. You taught me well but I can't teach like you can." He sighed once more this time with a more sad look.