An Alliance Forged - Timestamp ???

Subject: An Alliance Forged - Timestamp ??? Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:32 pm

The purple-robed human walks determinedly down the long hallway, his footfalls echoing with every step. The walls are carved out of thick coral and painted with various murals of aqua elf mythology. Phosphorescent light leaks from an unknown source, glinting off the walls and decorating the floors with multi-hued prisms and shadows. The human ignores the beauty around him and continues down the hallway to the brightly lit chamber at the end.

A facsimile of sunlight blazes throughout the room, glinting off the beautiful pools and statues that stand about the chamber. At the far end, a dais carved of marble and adorned with pearls and shiny shells from deep dwelling creatures. Two coral thrones sit upon the dais, and upon the thrones to aqua elves. They wear simple blue-green robes and crowns carved from shells. The light in the room originates from the crowns, the illumination so bright that the faces of the elves are obscured.

The purple-robed human continues into the room, surprised at the lack of guards surrounding the leaders of Tradaven. He walks up to the foot of the dais and kneels before finally being acknowledged. The voice is actually two voices, speaking in unison, though neither elf's lips nor jaw move.

Greetings, Lord Torrakis. We congratulate you on your unification of Winterstern. The hospitality of Tradaven is yours.

Thank you, Holy Diad. Torrakis replies. It has been many years since my last sojourn into Tradaven, and I never had opportunity to visit this impressive sanctum, though back then it was occupied by your predecessors.

The two elves nod as one. You have, we understand, a proposal for us.

Torrakis smiles and gestures. A pearl-encrusted trident springs out of nothingness. Its tines are tipped with a strange red metal, and the entire length of it pulsates with power. Behold the Trident of the Coral King! Lost to the aqua elves since the time even before the Thawing. A piece of history and a great artifact of power, it could provide great insight into the very nature of your people if properly studied. And the hand that wields it...well who knows what they could accomplish, but if even half of the fragmented legends of the Coral King are true...Torrakis smiles again.

The light of the Diad's crown wavers as the two elves rise to their feet as one. What little of their expressions that can be seen are dominated by shock and desire. Finally, the two elves compose themselves and sit back down on their thrones.

What do you wish in return for this artifact? Anxiety tinges the normally peaceful voice.

Well, now that the lands of Winterstern are united and under one banner, the warriors champ at the bit to rape and pillage new lands. The felines of Ethengard have been at peace far too long. Their lands are fat, their riches plentiful. I intend to have them. I will make landfall at Randver and from there my hordes will go throughout the land. But there is one small problem - the navy. My people are not the most adept at crafting any watercraft save troop barges, and the fleet at Randver is the strongest in the Tri-lands. I need their ships and saliors neutralized.

We know of this fleet of surface-dwellers. Our forces may not be enough to subdue them. Our military is charged with defense, not aggression.

I do not speak of your military, though their assistance would prove extremely useful as well. I speak of your other power, your ultimate defense...

You would have us unleash the Kyal-nuk? Your own fleet will be in danger as well, doubly so now that one of its young has been slain.

You leave that worry to me. All I want is your word that the Leviathan will destroy the Randver fleet. In return I will hand you the Trident here and now.

The Diad turn to each other silently for a moment. It is agreed. Place the Trident upon the dais.

Torrakis does so and straightens, a sudden gust of fire flashing through his eyes.

If you are contemplating betrayal, I would advise you to reconsider. The might of my army is as nothing compared to what I will do to you and your people if that fleet survives. The pertinent details will be sent to you soon.

With that, Torrakis turns and walks from the chamber.
_________________
"Tis better to keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."