Atlantic Roleplay Community Boards

[Thrax]

---

Thrax unfolded the letter and laid it across the table before him. Admiring the silky smoothness of the paper and the gilded borders framing it, he nodded with raised eyebrows. The script was bold, much like his own, written with the flair of aristocratic breeding. He read it slowly...

"Lord Thrax,

It has come to my attention that you have been seeking formal recognition of your government in Papua. I understand you have met with repeated failure except for those of the Tokunan Empire Alliance. I am willing to discuss this subject with you in person, privately, this evening. If your arguments are cogent, I promise I will use my status and influence to encourage the Regency Council to at least consider your request.

Meet with me, privately, in Serpent's Hold, Trammel. Go to the northeast guard room. Come alone and unarmed. If I sense there is anything amiss, I will conclude that your intentions are dishonorable, and will immediately forego or terminate the meeting. If you do not appear there within an hour of the setting of the 9th star in the eastern sky, I will assume you have declined my offer. If that happens, you will never get my assistance nor this opportunity from me again.

Consider your course wisely. Do not respond to this letter. I do not want any chance of outsiders knowing of the meeting and I want to see your good faith in action. Do bring this letter with you, however, so I may know for certain that I am speaking with Lord Thrax and no other.

Yours,

Lord Keris

Thrax folded the letter carefully and placed it in a pocket of his robe. "I shall be there, milord Keris," he muttered.

______________________


Thrax paced the walkway of the parapet above the guard room in Serpent's Hold, his arms folded behind his back. He was annoyed, and beginning to wonder if he had not been taken for a fool in a cruel joke. Gazing out across the vast, deep blue waters that stretched for leagues toward the horizon, he considered his options. He sighed and went back downstairs into the unoccupied guard room to stand beside a table where a chessboard lay. He felt uneasy that he did not bring any weapons and that instead of wearing his formidable armor, he wore the best clothing he had, a mix of red and black.

The door suddenly opened and in stepped a man whom he did not immediately recognize. He turned to confront him. "Lord Keris, the husband of the Regent, I presume?"

The man nodded once. "And you are Lord Thrax?"

Thrax nodded and bowed to him. "I am glad for this opportunity." Thrax surveyed him carefully, noting what he could of his facial features and clothing. Thrax began explaining to him how that, due to prejudice and misconceptions of him in the past created by his enemies, his efforts to have his government in Papua to be recognized as legitimate had failed except for the Tokunan Empire of Zento. He offered to bestow favors in return if Lord Keris would only help him convince the Regency Council to consider his plea.

"You come here and try to bribe a member of the Council?" was the stern reply.

"No, no, no," Thrax responded. "It is only a token of my generosity for your help is all," he explained.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, three hooded persons bearing long wooden staffs appeared surrounding the dark lord. He was incensed by the brazenness of the apparent perfidy. "What treachery is this?!! I see what one should now expect from the so-called lightbearers!" he shouted, turning to leave.

"See him out of the town," came the order as the official turned away.

"I can see my own way out," Thrax snarled, glaring at the hooded figures in turn. He started for the door.

The first of many blows smashed into him. He fought back, bravely but only briefly, pushing one of the assailants away, before he was dazed by a strike to his skull. Reeling, with blood pouring from a wound in his head, he fell to the pavement. He could hear their taunts... "This is for Kotare!!" "And this for Melior!!" they cried as they pounded his defenseless body relentlessly, unmercifully.

His world descended into darkness...

[Ceinwyn ab'Arawn]

---

Ceinwyn ab'Arawn had been seeking Lord Thrax out. She had found him in Serpent's Hold last time she had gone looking for him, though, and so she travelled there, now.

Walking through the gates, she took a deep breath of salty air. It never failed to remind her of her very first taste of freedom.

Opening her eyes, she saw a spirit before her. Calmly, she remarked,
"I am not in the business of giving life, only taking it."

The spirit ran off, probably to a healer.

As Ceinwyn continued on, the former spirit, now reborn, rushed by her. She had to laugh to herself.

This might be interesting..

With idle curiousity in her mind, she followed the direction the figure had fled in. The scent led her to a large room, some sort of hall. The figure had disappeared and the only people standing here now were Keris and some other fellow, drow in appearance. At their feet lay two corpses. It was obvious who had been superior, but just what, exactly, had occurred?

Names were exchanged, explanations given. Two figures had attacked and been beaten off. As they continued to stand around, engaging in other superfluous "small talk", the assailants again emerged from the shadows, attacking Keris.

The elf was badly bleeding now, and the attackers kept hiding in the shadows. Ceinwyn had never met them before, so their scents and thoughts meant nothing to her.

Keris was walking around, scouting, it seemed like. He climbed up a steep stairway, and Ceinwyn, always curious, followed. Maybe there would be more battle. The scent of his blood was making her very shaky. It had been three days since she had last fed. The vials Thrad had given her were tucked in a pocket, for emergency.

Then, from below, the sounds of scuffling. They descended the stairs, to find Rellik's body on a landing. Ceinwyn looked around. Whoever it was had attacked Rellik because he had been alone, a wise decision. Probably somewhere deep in the back of Ceinwyn's subconscious mind, the possibility existed that they might attack her, too. However, arrogantly enough, it didn't once occur to her waking mind that these attackers would dare to attack her.

Rellik returned from the healer's and gathered his belongings. He and Keris exchanged a few words that Ceinwyn didn't pay much attention to. She was contemplating what she had now dubbed in her mind as the "Bailos Situation". Rellik departed, leaving Keris. Ceinwyn spoke with him for several moments on the subject and possibility of vampires, before she, too, felt the urge to depart.

She met up with members of the Ministry. After mentioning she sought Lord Thrax, she discovered they did, as well. So she sent a wisp to Lord Thrax's estate, with the thought that maybe someone would be able to relay a message. They were rewarded with more than a message when Skurj arrived. He brought them to the Citadel to discuss recet events.

The hour passed quickly, and Skurj admitted worry for his father. Ceinwyn was surprised to find that he was still at a meeting.

This meeting has grown too long.

Ceinwyn, Adrien, and Illadar recalled to Serpent's Hold to see what the delay was. Skurj determined to stay behind, in case his father returned home. What greeted them when they arrived caused outrage.

Lord Thrax seemed to be struggling to stand, even. He had been beaten badly, blood and bruises mottling his form. Ceinwyn was full of questions, most importantly, "Who?" Lord Thrax stated that Keris had done it and that he had had help.

Still angry, they waited as Lord Thrax recalled home. Skurj arrived to relay that he had, indeed, made it safely home. When he had departed, Ceinwyn declared herself in need of rest. She needed to think tonight's events over. Why would someone do this to Thrax? She didn't know, but she vowed to find out.