Letter to Ileas 5

Dear Ileas,
 
Hope you are doing well and sorry for not writing sooner. Quite a lot has happened since the last time we spoke.
As you know, Robert Talespinner was in league with a cult obsessed with finding the secrets of turning humanoids into dragons, and this cult was terrorizing Keralon and especially the ambassador Rachnar and his son Norgar. Now, during a feast by this ambassador at their newly opened embassy this all came to a head. While he tried to kidnap Norgar, we fought off Robert in his new hideous form, something resembling a dragon but much weaker, and it saddens me to say that we killed him that day. I know you were friends with him but believe me, he was far from the Robert you knew: so obsessed with draconic power that he forgot the strength of the likes of humans, elves and satyrs. This endeavour earned Luke and Gael their knighthood, joining the Rose Garden and Briar Ring respectively.
 
All of this did mean we were now to be honored by the King and Queen themselves at the Royal Palace. We had a week to prepare and most of us spent that time with their respective circle. Luke and I spent it relaxing a bit with our new brethren of the circles, it mostly ended up with us getting the newcomer's hazing and poor Luke getting pickpocketed over and over. We tried to get Gael to join us for some drinking but he seems allergic to fun and wanted to make connections in his new circle. He didn't really talk much of it but I didn't see him with anyone of the Rose Garden either, so it's hard to guess how it went. Hayley spent her time working with the long table and Liliana spent her time at court. She didn't want to join a circle, so she asked Elsa to show her around court.
 
Dadroz (holding a new crossbow) of course vanished to the shadows of the moonblossom circle. Like Gael it's hard to know how it went but he did look a tinge green when we met up on the 28th of Nuan to go in front of the King and Queen, of course he could have been a bit nervous. Gods know I was, even wearing full armor as requested by the crown my heart felt like it could beat a dent into it while we approached Ser Donovan, patiently waiting for us. He informed us on the day's proceedings, we would present ourselves to the King and Queen, have our moment in the spotlight at court and then we would be officially knighted at the Cathedral to end the day with a nice party with our friends and fellow knights. After spending some time arranging invites we were led by Ser Donovan to our first gifts, Warhorses from the King's own stables, one each for us. The horses were meticilously trained to be used in combat and require care in how you approach them. Guess the animal sensed my nerves (and maybe some whiff of Torrin) because it was difficult to approach and mount. Eventually we all got on our horses, though besides Gael and Hayley we all had our problems, and rode towards the King's keep, beyond the Octagon's keep and at the peak of Palace Hill. The Silver Keep was the actual living quarters of the King and Queen and also where their official throne room was. As we dismounted and entered through the front doors, trumpets bellowed to announce us and we walked through a long hallway with portraits of all the Kings of Keralon. A weird detail here: the last three Kings all look very similar, even sharing a similar scar on their face.
 
As we approached the throne room, an old man with a staff appeared from an alcove in the hallway and stopped us. He used the staff (with a massive orb at the top) to check us for magic items and get our name and coat of arms to announce us inside. Luckily Liliana left her magic sword... wherever she leaves it these days.
 
We then entred the throne room, lined on both sides with the most prominent nobles of the city as our names were called and banners fell down with our coat of arms. Luke's symbol a Tower basking in flames, Dadroz' a crossbow with a flower, Hayley a raven and a glass of wine and Gael's a stag with a rose between its antlers. And ahead of us, on the thrones, were King Carollus III and Queen Adelaide. The King is a rather... impressive man, towering over the hundred or so nobles in the room at 2 meters in height. But our attention also was drawn to the empty throne, the crown prince could not attend this event it seems.
 
The King thanked us for our deeds but before giving us our rewards he wanted to hear the tale from our mouths. We decided to split it up with myself starting on the first part, helped by Hayley, going from us getting together and meeting the ambassador, ending with the entrance of Rachnar and Norgar into the city and retrieving the gem from the cult. Then Gael, helped by Luke, took over: weaving the tale of how we went to Ravensfield, found Reynis, and cleaned up the cult underneath Hollow Hill. Ending with how we evacuated Ravensfield, fought off an army of this cult and then guided the refugees to Keralon. And then Liliana, helped by Dadroz, finished up the story of the embassy and fighting Robert Talespinner.
 
When we finished the King and the court broke into a small applause, he did follow up with asking each one of us about our lives before and in Keralon. He started with Liliana and myself, regretting the death of our brother from the curse of the Black Knight and chastising the briar ring for not having been able to solve the problem with the Knight Nemesis. As Liliana only came back a month ago he was also curious as to what she was doing, and she revealed that she spent her time with Vivienne who the King is apparently quite familiar with.
 
He then moved on the Luke and Hayley, being facinated with their magic and expecting a demonstration as Hayley grew some thorny spikes from the floor and Luke caused a major firey explosion right outside the castle. The King also took care of Luke's apparent animosity with some of the nobles at court after his time at the academy, again chastising his court for petty infighting. Hayley mostly myseriously answered questions the King gave her.
 
Dadroz was next, and while he seemed extremely sincere to the King he was asked to perform some fancy archery and asked Luke and to choose a 'volunteer' for the display. Apparently some test to see if Luke still held resentment to some of the nobles in court but there was no need as he chose Vern Skald, the herald of the outer city circles for Dadroz' display. And it became clear Vern chose well when he gave Dadroz his mettle for becoming a knight when he expertly launched a shot right next to his head, displaying his marksmanship.
 
Last but not least, Gael was asked to step forward. The King was especially interested in his bow and also requested he showed a bit of his magic, prompting Gael to disappear into mist and reappear at the entrance of the hall. Again to astonishment and applause of the court and King.
 
After all that the King moved to our reward, you might remember Nordick? The poor administrator that when we entered Keralon dragged that massive book around with all the nobility and their lands in it. Well, he was there to show that Gael, Luke, Dadroz and Hayley would be elevated into the nobility. Now, my sister and I are already of noble birth so he couldn't give us this but I couldn't help but admire the accomplishment. Being born into nobility is easy, earning it is a true reward and I reckon deserving of more respect than being born into it. My great-great-grandfather made a deal with King Ulther and signed generations of second borns into service for nobility (he did fight the Leper revolt with the power from that deal but that's another thing) but our friends earned it with nothing but hard work.
 
Hayley immediately refused the elevation into nobility, claiming it would go in against her beliefs. The King was a bit confused as he also prepared to give us ownership over Dogville, a piece of land right across the Lorerun river. An ideal place to settle the now homeless Ravensfield villagers. But she was happy enough to let the rest of us have official ownership. But as said, we were now all lords an ladies of Dogville, a place the King said we could rename as it used to be named for the royal kennels which are now disbanded. But not before giving a decree that Liliana, despite not being a knight, should be allowed to carry her sword in the city.
 
At this point, the King dismissed court but said that after our knighting ceremony he would be at the party. And so left us with the leaders of the circles who led us to the cathedral for our knighting ceremony. So all of us besides Lil were asked to pick a holy symbol outside as priests of the different faiths would be involved. Only Luke and I chose a specific God, Luke picking the Duke of Time Zebulor. I was a bit conflicted since I have grown to have faith in both The World Tree and The Keeper of Balance, but in the end I chose Aitlas as Justice is part of why I became a knight.
 
We were given respective holy symbols and large gray coats to wear and were guided into the cathedral where we swore an oath, and then priests of different faith asked us to whisper our desired goal, the one thing we wish to do before we die, into their ears as a brother or sister of our respective circle approached us and put a hand on our shoulder. You might wonder what I whispered, but that's a secret for me (though I doubt it's hard to guess). What was more noteworthy was the scorching pain that hit us right after. Only before going to bed could I notice that I now had a scale, balanced on a thunderbolt, the symbol of the Keeper of Balance on my left shoulderblade. It was hard to tell when you're wearing plate armor. We were then received to thunderous applause, now true knights of Keralon, and dragged outside by the audience where more people gathered for the party that was to start in a few minutes.
 
The party itself was really fun, though right as I finally thought I'd have a fun evening talking and drinking with Rachnar and Norgar I heard Liliana yell out in pain. Apparently Vivienne decided Liliana's loyalty in not becoming a knight deserved a reward and gave her a mark not unlike what we just received from the Gods. Liliana still treats her like a friend though so we couldn't make more of a scene of it. I just don't see what Lil sees in her...
 
Anyhow, soon after the King himself arrived. Now without a crown and dressed more casually, at least, as casual as a king could be expected to dress. He approached us with a proposition and took us to the courtyard in the palace hill where some nobles had gathered, after the displays of everyone's skill and magic he wished to see us in a real combat scenario. So he had two golems come over: one emitting steam, the other a glass construct with a strange light burning. He said that since we now had lands he would bet on the outcome on the match: if we won he would give us some extra gold to get ourselves better established, but if we lost we would have to return the warhorses he gave us. We had to choose one of the golems and after Luke and Hayley looked them over we went with the glass one, they cited a lack of magical resistance as the reason we should go with him.
 
Now I was itching to showing what I could do, everyone got a chance to display their skill at court except for my sister and myself. So imagine my disappointment as the golem went down before I got a good hit in. My sister got in a magnificent hit, empowered by fey and divine magic, and together with Gael and Dadroz filling the thing with arrows it was over before the fight got properly started. The thing didn't even get a good hit in, as it was fooled by Lil's fey mirage.
 
The King and nobles in the courtyard were seriously impressed. It was also around this time Luke mentioned these nobles didn't really look familiar and we returned to our feast being unsure of what really happened. Though we would be a few thousand gold richer for it at least.
 
So it seems our next few weeks will be spent getting to know our new lands in Dogville and the people who are now in our charge. And while it is a great opportunity to help more people than we ever could, I hope our careers as adventuring knights are not too burdened by it.
 
We all hope you are doing well and hope we can go to Hillfield soon to see eacht other again.
 
Alistan
 
 
P.S.: I've missed making music with Liliana, Gideon and you, The Fey-roost Five. And while I've never matched your ability for composing I've been trying my hand at writing some verses again to play with Liliana. This one is titled "The Young Stag":
 
In the heart of Tarn, where the Driftway flow,
Lived a young elf ranger, destined to be a hero.
Gael was his name, with eyes sharp and bright,
Raised by a fey stag, in the moon’s gentle light.
 
Sylvesse, the fey stag, with antlers of silver and light,
Taught Gael the ways, to wield the forest's might.
But an evil fey, named Cornu, did rise,
And took Sylvesse’s life, under darkened skies.
 
Oh, the young stag, swift and bold,
A silent protector, his story untold.
Now he wields the antlers, with magic so grand,
To vanquish the darkness, and protect the land.
 
With a heart full of sorrow, and vengeance in hand,
Gael faced Cornu, in a final stand .
Fey magic danced, in the night so dark,
And Gael struck down Cornu, arrows finding their mark .
 
Oh, the young stag, swift and bold,
A silent protector, his story untold.
Now he wields the antlers, with magic so grand,
To vanquish the darkness, and protect the land.
 
Now in Keralon, the Silver City so bright,
In the Rose's Garden, he serves as a Knight
With honor and courage, his heart never sways,
Defending the realm, through nights and days.
 
Oh, the young stag, swift and bold,
A silent protector, his story untold.
Now he wields the antlers, with magic so grand,
To vanquish the darkness, and protect the land.