Kingdom of Ornasia

As James had entered the hall his eyes had darted to the magical flora that decorated around. He curiously gazed at it, and how each flora looked different from the last, giving accents and vibrant life to the room. Each of the flora looked similar, yet distinctly different from the type of flora his home country. The paintings didn't interest him much, besides one of the diplomatic paintings, but it was nothing more than history to him.

Upon hearing the guards words he glanced to the tables, seeing people sit down he choose an empty table towards the side of the room, hoping that either someone friendly would greet him or he would remain alone, either would do.

Wow.. Everything looks so... elegant.

Khara had only taken a few steps within this rather fancy vicinity, and already, she was mesmerized by the regal appearance. Sure, it probably doesn't have that much decorations than the cleric had expected, but it still managed to capture the feel of this place.

The young cleric shook her head, after hearing the guard speak to everyone once more. Khara had nearly forgotten what the guard had instructed to do, and she hurriedly sat by a random table that was occupied by only one person. Well, two now, counting herself. Sitting a seat or two across from the man that had just sat down, Khara went into slight silence, as she waited patiently, and quietly for the queens to make their arrival or.. something.

Perhaps I could.. introduce myself while I wait here. After all, I suppose it's alright to get to know who I'll be allying with.

Betwixt the bustle and clammor darted a towering figure. It was not more than a pair of tattered boots, an all encompassing canvas coat and once dapper cap adding to its great height. Though entire face hidden, it gawked with up-thrown gloved hands at the décor, the estrange plant things strewn about, but most of all the scenes of glorious battles of which he needn't any context to appreciate. "Amazing!" A chipper sound came from the depths of the coat. "Amazing amazing amazing! Ornasia!"

Concord swiveled and darted and danced about the room until he landed at his destination: a table with ears to chatter to. Namely, one with two sets across from where he'd crashed into a vacant seat. "Aaaaah, what a wonder this is. Sitting inside a castle. A real for truth castle with a live mote and all! I bet they've real crocs in that water too, I bet. And this display!" He points a palm to the carnivorous plant at the table's center, "That looks like something I'd be payed quite a bit of coin to cut, and they've got it tamed and pruned for eye candy! Makes you wonder what we're in for with this, don't it?"

The faceless gap between coat and cap bounced between the woman and man, eagerly awaiting an answer.

James glanced up towards the two that had sat down at his table. He removed the hood that was hiding his face. He looked young, around 17 to people, with his golden-yellow eyes he looked at the tall figure. With a shy smile he nodded, "In for, you mean what we get out of this, right? If then, I don't care what it is, I'm not one for fancy things... Not that I've had the chance to really settle down and admire such things."

James paused before speaking again, "Oh where are my manners, I'm James, James Niles. I'm a wizard, but never was a big fan of the oversized pointy hats." He said jokingly. James was somewhat talkative, but only if someone started the conversation. "And your names?" He gave motion to both people at the table with a smile.

Khara managed a small, polite smile in return, as she spoke, somewhat quietly, but loud enough to be heard by the both of them.

"Ah, my name is Khara Drenneur. I'm rather a cleric, and I'm, ah, still training under my mentor, ahaha.." The young cleric would then clear her throat. "...It's a pleasure to meet you both.."

She'd then resume to eyeballing the place, still fascinated by the outlook. "It's.. nice in here, isn't it?" Khara asked herself, "I mean.. the decor and what not feels.. well, I suppose indescribable, to say the least." Her face was rather lit up in wonder at the area, before the cleric shook her head, realizing the fact that she was ranting off to herself.

"Er.. don't mind me," Khara spoke, "I'm just blabbering on to myself. Ahaha.."

"Concord, but my friends call me Conny, and please madam; blabber away!" He fixed his cap which was in danger of falling over by his madly excited demeanor. "So wizard and cleric? Incredible. This grand hall is full of grand people. So far away am I from the wonderfully seedy bars in nowhere towns! And as for what we're in for..."

A hand dived into his hefty coat and dug around, producing a long wooden rod which eventually ended in a heavy piece of worn metal. He waved the weapon in the air a bit, as though it were a toy or hollow replica. "I mean what we're in to do battle with! I've no knowledge on twisting hexes or healing hands, but I've a mind to think the Queens'll hire some real muscle if they're wise." The weapon was just as quickly plopped back into the depths of the coat.

When the crowd was finally escorted inside of the grand hall one patron in particular fell behind. A man wearing tattered old robes stood amongst the few who took their time to enter. Many of the various travelers wore robes and cloaks embroidered with ensignias from all over. A sign that word spread far and wide of the call to Ornasia. Though this straggler was not fashioned in the same bright colors as his peers. No robes were rather in shambles. Years or travels had left mud caked to the edges of the dull sun bleached grey fabric. The same of which had barely and stitching holding it together. The seams were so bare and worn thin they could be blown away by a toddler. No this traveler seemed well seasoned and quite familiar with his presence as he walked the grand halls.

A hand covered in scars that seemed to unnatural, reached out to touch the marble walls and columns for the hall. Something about his walk seemed like he had nearly returned to his home. Inspecting it as though to check and see if everything was just where he left it. He payed no mind to the few guards and adventures who eyed him with curiosity. For they looked upon an old man, one with hair so white that fresh snow would look dirty. His hair was messy, wild, and long. His beard even more so, but his eyes were a true wonder to gaze into. They were big and full, but tired and old as well. As for the color of them the irises glowed like the golden embers of a forge, as for his sclera his left eye was normal. His right eye though was consumed. A soulless darkness plagued his right eye. No light dared to touch for it was endlessly consumed.

The old man continued his walk around the hall as many found themselves seated at the tables. He himself walked to one that seemed rather lively as a sword was drawn and sheathed. “Careful with that, you could poke an eye out with that thing.” The old man placed a hand on the mercenary with a smile on his face. He gave a reassuring pat before having a seat himself at the table.

"Nice place isn't it? At least for me the flora is interesting, reminds me much of the flora back in my homeland, but it has some noticeable differences, color and such."

James was admiring the different plants, getting lost on thought for a minute before snapping back to see the new person sit down. "I suppose people are still sitting down. Well while we wait, I could entertain you all with a story or two, I'm an entertainer and a mage, using magic to tell my stories. That is if you would like to listen to my tales." He gave the offer in case they wanted something to do while waiting for the Queens.

After a tad bit of gawking over the fact that Concord had drawn a weapon from his coat, the cleric had nearly gave a yelp when the man with tattered robes had appeared near Concord, and took a seat at the table. Before she could say anything about how the man had just seemingly appeared, Khara heard James speak about how he would tell stories. The cleric turned in slight curiosity at the thought of storytelling.

"An entertainer, too, you say?" Khara questioned, "Very well. I'm intrigued to see what tales you have in store-" The cleric then jokingly finished her sentence, which was rather something she rarely does. "-oh great wizard!" Khara quickly cleared her throat as soon as the final words escaped her mouth. She'd return to her usual demeanor, and murmured, "But, in all honesty, I do, in fact, want to listen in on some interesting tales." Khara gave a mere chuckle, and carried on with her words. "After all, it isn't exactly every single day where you get to listen to a fine tale."

Concord jumped at the scarred hand's placement on his shoulder. He froze a bit thinking this to be yet another case of a job gone wrong and he was being kicked out by the guardsmen. It was much too soon for that, one would think. No, it was only a smiling elder man with tatters miles more ragged than the scrounged canvas he was dawning. "True, true. I always forget to worry about other people's eyes." Concord cackled high and nervously as he took the stranger's warning literally. The implication such an old man was taking what was to be thought a dangerous mission crossed Concord for the most brief of moments. However, the worry went away in a flash at the mention of stories. "Oho! I'm with the miss on this." He layed a palm for James to continue. "Please, please. I can't say I've run into a bard spinning tales with magic as of yet. Is it a tale with dragons? Mighty heroes defeating evil? Perhaps a dashing romance?" Even with his face well shaded, the raised brow was well implied by his tone of voice.

Another had straggled along behind with the old man as the group had been ushered into the castle. It was a rather small looking girl wearing oversized healer's travel robes. The small woman looked positively out of place amongst the gathered adventurers. She carried no visible weapon, nor casters staff or wand. What she did have was a very simple,though small, healers box on her waist and a small travel bag slung over her shoulder.

As everyone began to be seated, it seemed she had decided to attach herself to the older man, staying within easy sight of him as he made his way around and eventually to a table where she proceeded to stand off to the side awkwardly listening to the conversation, taking in everyone already at the table.

Finally at the talk of stories she excitedly pipes up "E-excuse me kind sir? But...do you have any stories to tell from the northern giant clans? Or ones from my people?"

James furrowed his brow in thought upon the person's request, with a sigh he replied, "No, I do not believe so... I will however tell a tale from my homeland. It's the story of how our lands were formed and how the season's came to be."

Carefully James started concentrating, five intricately detailed figurines formed of ice appeared on the table, four maidens and one old man. "This is a tale that occurred many, many moons ago. There was an old man, a wizard, who lived alone in the middle of the forest, long before there were kingdoms and the like." A cottage had formed of ice to accompany the figurines, the figurines of the old man sat inside the cottage.

"One day as the man sat in his home he was visited by a young maiden, who brought with her beautiful colors of nature." The first of the maiden figurines walked forward towards the house, knocking on the door, she seemed to be conversing. "The maiden tried to get him out to see the colors of nature, but he refused, but thanked her for the sight from his home. Before she left she said he would be visited by her sisters in due time, and then she left."

The first figurine departed, but lingered near the house as the next approached the cottage. "It was a few days later, and the next maiden came to his house, bringing with her cold winds. She merely sat underneath the tree outside the man's house in patience as the cold winds blew around. The man noticed her and offered to let her inside, to which she replied 'I am good, but thank you sir. If you patiently wait, my sister's shall be coming as well.' The old man returned to his home, admiring the maiden's patience."

The third figurine approached the house, quickly getting to work as she grabbed some gardening tools, "working," "The next maiden came to the house, bringing life and warmth to the house, she began to work on the fields the old man had neglected for many years, the old man watching, admiring the life that began to grow around his house, thanking the maiden. She returned with a smile and wave as she continued to work."

The final figurine approached the cottage, holding a basket. "The final maiden asked the man if he would join the maiden's in their feast of harvest. This maiden brought warmth and nature sprung to full beauty around this maiden."

There was now a table with food in front of the cottage, the four maidens moved to sit at the table as the old man watched from the door of his cottage. "The man accepted and went out to eat with the four maidens, thanking them for their work. He then decided to use his magic to give the four sisters powers beyond belief. He asked them to travel around and spread their gifts to others as they had to him. The maidens agreed, but returned to the man one by one every few months. These maidens were the bringer of the season's we have today, and are said to have created many of the kingdoms we know today." He finished with a bow, the figurines seeming to evaporate away once the story was to finished.

In his chair, across the table, the old man who seemingly came from no where leaned back in his chair as the magic began to unfold before him. Each detail of the story he took in with a smile or a nod. He too had heard of such a story though his mind was uneasy about its source. Never the less he found the story to be told quite well, though he wasn’t going to argue or complain about it.

No instead he was eager to watch the young mage at work. The indication that this young man could animate the ice before them gave the old man some ideas, alas he kept his tongue in his mouth as the tale finished. His scared hand clapped with the smooth seemingly unscathed left hand as he claped.

“That was actually really cool of you to show us.” The compliment came out with a smile on Zhoralel’s face. It was full of life and glee, as each cheek nearly raised so hi that it made his eyes squint. “Though I must say, you lost me as to what the order of the maidens was, only for a moment though.”

Zhoralel leaned forward into his chair though as his smile stayed on his face. The off beard did little to hide the scars that lay around the right side of his face. But what mostly stood out was the ebony of his right eye. Upon closer inspection faint insignia lay under his eye lids. And the same insignia lay upon his forehead.

The loose gloves of the shady blabber mouth quickly joined along with the old man's. Having been so engrossed in the visual wonder, he'd nearly forgotten to breath as he stared at each figurine glide about as opulent little puppets. "Wow!" He said as banged out a rather quiet and muffled applause despite his rapid claps. It was only after he was finished did the actual words of the story begin to stew in his thoughts. The ones he'd managed to catch, at least. "I'd never have guessed they were the seasons. I see it now! Who'd a thought the Maker would be such a lazy bum. One maiden knocks on my door, and I'm out the door!" He professed, nearly jumping from his seat before plopping back down, all sorts of clatter ringing from within the tall coat.

Concord briefly became lost in imagining a version with himself bursting through the door at the first maiden's request. "Yes, that'd be much more believable. And maybe a fight scene or two to spice it up... Well, it was a good try, er, James was it? What do you think of it, Miss Cleric?"

The queen’s voice was a welcoming distraction from the conversation the old man had been listening to. He turned himself around in his seat to not miss a single word of her announcement. As soon as she had emerged she was gone leaving many of the adventurers and mercenaries to find the door.

As for the old man he simply stood, pushed in his chair, and gave a simple bow.
“I thank you for the story, if any would feel so inclined to accompany me on an outing I would not turn them down. But let it be known that such regions are rather dangerous and not for the faint of hearted.” He stood there looking at the company he had sat with to see who would accompany him.

James was about to reply to Concord's statement, but was cut short upon the announcement of the Queen. He got most of it, nodding. He didn't really need the reward more so as the experiences along with the feeling of being helpful to others.

James nodded, he knew that there were dangers, he had seen some has he ventured to these lands. With a quick smile at the man's offer he stood up, "I certainly would like to accompany you. I hope my magic will be of use, but you must know I am still learning to master it."

An eyebrow raised at the young mage as he spoke. “Come with me then and tell me what sort of magic you have learned. Maybe I could help you be a master.” His smile moved to a smirk as he raised a hand out to the boy, “By the way, I am Zhoralel.” The old mans eyes gleamed a little as he looked upon the boy. His own eyes looked at this boys, their was a similarity between them. But his own old eyes held knowledge behind them, a vast knowledge of things.

Despite Concord's displayed tendency toward rowdiness, he was intensely quiet as the Queen spoke. Such a powerful entrance, such a commanding voice, and a stark aura of a leader to boot! The image was etched into his very cranium. It was practically love at first sight, and an all new desire to see this job through was lit alongside his previous obligation.

He stood at the brief speech's passing, glove clenched to his chest. "Then that is that! We must not waste another moment. These beasts need be felled, and I am intent to fall thrice as hard as for our Queen!" He said with as much if not more conviction than a knight under the kingdom's banner. "We must part ways for now, good friends. I am off toward the Deadlands! And I do not intend to ask any to follow such a dangerous path, niether old nor young folk. I shall bring this madness to an end single handedly! 'Concord, The Beast Feller' I'll be called! Yahaha!"

Concord scampered off, once more brandishing his hammer as though a beast were waiting outside the castle gates. Of course, there were only concerned guards, who Concord somehow eluded in his haste out and towards where he thought the dreaded Deadlands lay.

James watched as the man jumped up and ran off towards the Deadlands, which were towards the south. With a bit of concern he looked towards Zhoralel, then the others. "Uh, should we... go after him? Or should we leave him to his own adventures?" James asked. As odd as the man, who called himself Concord, was he still felt some concern for his safety. He also didn't want to run after the man alone, so he decided that he'd consult the people that he had at least introduced himself to.

"If he does intend to go off on his own, that puts him at risk and well... I'm not one to say things like this, but I'd like it for as little people to get hurt as possible." He added. If it was up to him, James would much rather have gone to the tundra or the desert which, despite their vast differences, would have been suitable for his tastes in magic and ability to survive harsh weather. As a traveler his cloak provided sun protection and ample warmth, making him suitable to be able to at least survive, albeit not too comfortably, in either place.

with the odd fellow nearly sprinting out the door it left Zhoralel rather stunned about his words. They were so energetic and forthput that Zhoralel had no time to react. He simple stood there letting it all sink in before his hand reached up to his chin. His fingers ran through the beard as James spoke up. “Well anyone traveling alone through these lands is at risk of something. That being said, having a group is much safer.”

His hand still scratched at the beard before letting it fall back at his side. A faint sigh came out of him once he rolled his shoulders, the audible sounds of him cracking his joints were rather refreshing. A sign of him being ready to go out into the world. “Let’s go get him before he gets hurt. By the way did he say his name was Concord?” Zhoralel asked walking towards the doors.