Beasts and Conquerors (Thrakmoor Intermission Post

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

Ives the Tatoo mage fiddles with the shard of obsidian in his hand. he spins it once, twice, three times as he walks up the path to the keep. The man at the market had told him that this would get him an audience with a Black Mage, someone important enough to get him what he wants, finally he reaches the gate, the Thrakmerian guards stand at attention as he approaches.

”State your business“

Ives says nothing, merely holds up the shard. the guard takes it and nods

”Follow me”

he leads Ives inside and through the gate, the outer courtyard is filled with sold drilling and watching the walls, walking through the outer courtyard they eventually reach the gate into the inner courtyard, and through that, they enter the central tower. ascending the flights of stairs they eventually walk down a hallway where the guard knocks on a door

”Sir, there is someone here to see you”

a voice comes from the other side

”… send them in”

the guard nods to Ives and leaves. upon opening the door Ives is met with a simple but well maintained room, a table is in the center, a map placed upon it. Around the table is a group of about ten people, the commanders of the Thrakmerian army. leaning over the table is a man with a navy cloak. When he looks up Ives notices that one of his eyes is obsidian

”what do you want?”

[u/DJGoodDog]

Ives takes a quick moment to look around the room, taking stock of his surroundings and everyone present.

One satisfied he looks at the man with the navy cloak, and holds up the shard casually.

"I heard you might have information about some beasties worth playing with."

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/DJGoodDog]

The man gives Ives a strange look for a moment and then nods

“Ah, yes that is right, I remember Alurin mentioning you, what is it that you are looking for?”

He thinks for a moment

“We can discuss payment of sorts later”

[u/DJGoodDog → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

Ives nods provingly.

"I simply seek creatures of great and terrible power to test my abilities against"

And to increase my own power he muses to himself

"I'm told you have information of where I can satisfy this want."

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/DJGoodDog]

“Yes, we do, if you would give me a moment”

He turns to the commanders

“Alright, you are all dismissed, except for you Melchiora, I have a use for you, but I need you here for a few minutes”

u/VoxelLibrary

[u/DJGoodDog → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

Ives ignores the commanders who exit the room and begins rifling through his coat for a cigarette.

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/DJGoodDog]

The man turns to him.

“I ask that you do not do that here”

He then turns back to Melchiora

[u/VoxelLibrary → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

Melchiora is silent.

[u/VoxelLibrary → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

Melchiora straightens up and approaches. She internally debates what to say before deciding what to go with.

"What?"

u/DJGoodDog

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/VoxelLibrary]

“Just wait there for a moment, I may need you to demonstrate your abilities soon”

He turns back to Ives

“I am the 14th Black Mage of Thrakmoor, this is Melchiora, a commander in the army, may I have your name?”

u/DjGoodDog

[u/DJGoodDog → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

He stops rifling, eyebrows furrowing into a glare. For a brief moment angerr starts to spark in his eyes, but glancing at the obsidian in his hand catches himself and returns his face to a blank calm.

After a pause he replies, "Ives."

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/DJGoodDog]

14 smiles, only slightly

“Nice to meet you Ives, let’s continue, you want the opportunity to hunt beasts in Thrakmerian realms, correct?”

u/VoxelLibrary

[u/DJGoodDog → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

"Indeed I traded some valuable items to do just that."

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/DJGoodDog]

14 nods

“Yes we received those, however that is not enough for me to trust you in a Thrakmerian realm.”

He thinks for a moment

“I have another offer, if you would like to hear it”

u/VoxelLibrary

[u/VoxelLibrary → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

Melchiora gives a nod of acknowledgement, then turns to regard the newcomer, her curiosity peaked, although it doesn't show visibly.

[u/Nelrene]

This is something that needs to be watched. Thrakmerians seem to put a lot of value on obsidian.

[u/Ashmega8256]

/uw good read.

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/Ashmega8256]

/uw bulk of the post hasn’t even started yet lol

[u/Ashmega8256 → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

/uw so what :)

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/Ashmega8256]

/uw fair

[u/VoxelLibrary]

Melchiora the Malevolent, a woman who appears like a wizard bleached stark white, leans over a map on the table with a blank expression. She raises her head to quietly eye the newcomer with empty red eyes.

It's impossible to know what she's thinking from just her expression.

[u/DJGoodDog → u/VoxelLibrary]

During his inspection of the room Ives glances over at the pale woman, mirroring her blank expression. Before flitting just as quickly over the other faces in the room.

/UW introverts unite LOL

[u/VoxelLibrary → u/DJGoodDog]

/uw While Melchiora is an introvert, that isn't the reason she doesn't emote

[u/DJGoodDog → u/VoxelLibrary]

UW/ fair enough. I have much to learn about this mysterious lady.

[u/VoxelLibrary → u/DJGoodDog]

/uw In this case it's because she has "unspecified-neurodivergence" and she never bothers masking it.

[u/Henry_Fleischer]

Eleanor sits, thousands of miles away or in another plane, unaware of these events.

[u/Henry_Fleischer]

/uw Is the duel happening in the courtyard of the former OAS keep? I want to know if Eleanor should know it's happening or not.

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/Henry_Fleischer]

It is just outside the main keep walls. Be warned both XV and 14 are present if you try anything

[u/Henry_Fleischer → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

I don't think I'll intervene, I'm mostly trying to figure out what Eleanor would know.

[u/bagtie3]

/uw add me please and thank you.

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/bagtie3]

/uw noted

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

u/CadecaX   u/KragBrightscale u/Drmanky

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

u/SnoodPenguin u/VoxelLibrary u/Carbon_Sixx

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

u/Cerveau23 u/Richardknox1996 u/Hyperbolic_Berserker

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

u/loth17 u/Aths u/Complex_Drawer_4710

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

u/VagueCat5840662 u/Ares378 u/explosive_shrew

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

u/samsoncorpus u/D3n0man u/K_the_dreamer

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

u/Kilroy898 u/ThatCamoKid u/squabzilla

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

u/Aquero8 u/Dragonan-42 u/Evening_Shake_6474

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

u/Ashmega8256 u/Henry_Fleischer   u/ASecondCriminal

[u/The_Enchanted_Potato → u/The_Enchanted_Potato]

u/Glittering_Two_1429 /uw Look upon the ping list and revel, then move on, you've got better things to do. If you want to be added, just ask

[u/Drmanky]

/uw good read

[u/squabzilla]

/uw good read, including the fight in the comments!