Thread:Eureka Enderborn/@comment-26005135-20160819210238/@comment-26084195-20160908032045

Murrar Shar and Jaukoehai Ironskin led the little Ratonga group through the streets of Qeynos. The Ratonga marvelled at the sheer size of the city, even bigger than Freeport, and substantially nicer. It was really beautiful, and nature was far more present on the Greenwind Isle. Jaukoehai and Murrar Shar led them straight to the gates of the immense palace, so big it made the Ratonga dizzy trying to see the top from so close.

the Qeynosians led the Ratonga through the marvellous palace to the room where the queen, the Circle of Ten and many royal guards awaited them.

"Your majesty, Queen Antonia Bayle, these are the Ratonga you were told about. This is Renny Parvat, unanimously elected leader of the Ratonga refugees."

"Thank you, Murrar Shar. And you as well, Jaukoehai. You may now leave our presence."

Jaukoehai sped up the events in the mirror, which largely consisted of him standing outside of the doors performing as a guard, as he often does. He stood out there for hours, until eventually the doors opened back up and Renny Parvat and his group came jumping with joy from the door.

"We dids it! We's going to lives in Qeynos!"

Jaukoehai crouched down again. "Brilliant! But... what's with all the extra S's?"

"Oh, that's hows we talks. I prepareds that fancy speech fors you to makes my point."

"Oh... well, alright then. We'll go out and get your people set up!"

As Jaukoehai said this, a royal guard came running into the hallway and handed Jaukoehai a note.

"Whats is it?"

Jaukoehai didn't speak for a moment. "A very large Freeportian ship was spotted sailing along the northern coast of Karan. It was bearing the flag of peace but..." he stopped talking and ran into the council chamber.

Qeynos's five best warships sailed out to meet the Freeportian Man O' War, and escorted it to a dock just off of Coldwind Coast. Off from it walked Overlord Lucan D'lere himself, accompanied by four Wrathguard knights.

He was a frighteningly tall Human, probably about seven feet tall, with bleached white hair pulled back into a ponytail. Despite his white hair, he didn't look old at all, though his left eye was clouded white. A rather impressive scimitar rested at his side.

He was met by Jaukoehai Ironskin and for royal Qeynosian guards. The Overlord seemed a little bit surprised to see Jaukoehai. "Well, look who it is." Imagine him speaking in Christopher Lee's voice. "I'm rather amazed that Queen Antonia sent you to guide me. Was she not worried you'd try to kill me?"

"She ordered me not to end your worthless life, and I never disobey an order from her majesty. Come along, D'lere." Jaukoehai said in a voice dripping with so much poison you're surprised the grass around them hasn't died. The Qeynosians and Freeportians walked side by side toward Qeynos, the tension in the air so thick as to be tangible.

When they mounted a hill and the Ratonga camp came into view, Jaukoehai yelled out "Guardsmen! Defensive position! Form a shield around the Ratonga camp!"

As the Ratonga gasped in dismay and recoiled at the sight of the feared and hated Overlord, the dauntless Guardsmen assembled to defend them. The Overlord chuckled slightly. "Do you fear that I will harm the cowardly little rodents?"

"I'm concerned for the safety of every innocent life within a mile radius of you, Lucan."

"They are not innocent. They are worthless little rats. Thieves, criminals, plaguebearers and slaves."

"And yet they've got you beat on pretty much every level in terms of worth. Now stop spewing garbage from that giant, overused trap of yours, the Queen is ready to meet with you."

"You're lucky I'm here to prevent a war rather than start one, or I'd rip your soul right from you."

"I'm sure that'd go about as well for you as the last time you tried that."

Lucan began walking toward the gates, but stopped at the sound of swords being drawn. Jaukoehai stepped in front of him. "Where do you think you're going?"

"To Qeynos, to meet your queen."

"No. You're not putting one foot in our city. I will not let you defile Qeynos with your malodorous presence. Her majesty Queen Antonia Bayle will meet with you out here."

"Out here? Very well, then."

Shortly later, trumpets sounded, and the gates opened. Murrar Shar, still in full armour, and the queen walked confidently through the gates, along with what appeared to be nearly 100 Guardsmen. Upon closer inspection, you realize she was also accompanied by Renny Parvat. The Guardsmen moved to surround Lucan and the Wraithguard, while Antonia, Murrar Shar and Jaukoehai remained within the circle. Lucan remained unfazed, though the hatred on Antonia's face was quite obvious.

"Hail, Lucan."

"Hail, Antonia. Might I say--"

"Cut the formalities. Why are you here?"

"...Very well. I am here to peacefully negotiate the return of the property of Freeport?"

"Why? Have we stolen something and I'm not aware of it?"

"No. It escaped on its own. Him." Lucan pointed to Renny. "And his people."

"Nos! You can'ts lets him!"

"Ah, I see. So you are claiming an entire species as your property? Your arrogance continues to astound me."

"They are slaves, all of them. This is the truth. They ran away from their masters, and on the way, stole several valuable items from various Freeport institutions. We seek the return of what belongs to us, nothing more. Rest assured, the people of Qeynos will be rewarded."

"No."

The Overlord didn't seem to expect such an automatic negative. "You do realize that I can't simply allow you to take my property."

"They're not your property anymore. Through a careful and legal process they transferred citizenship to Qeynos."

"They're slaves."

"Not anymore. Besides, according to Qeynosian law slaves can turn to Qeynos if they wish. And while you're on Karan, you follow the law of Qeynos. But, since I know that you're going to declare war and I'd like to wait a bit longer until I dethrone you, I suppose I could return the things they stole."

"Whats? But that's our propertys!" Renny said with indignation. "Wes was gonna use those to buy our homes heres!"

"Then I'll purchase them from you, Renny. Don't worry, your people will find a safe home here in Qeynos, I promise."

"I don't intend to just let these rodents escape me."

Antonia smiled a little. "Do you see the two warriors on either side of me? Both of them are extremely skilled, and both hate you with a burning passion. It is only my direct order that is holding them back. You can either accept my generous offer, leave with your property and your dignity, OR  you can refuse and I will lift my order, and we will keep everything."

"They could not kill me."

"And the army assembled before you could not?"

Lucan rolls his eyes. "Fine. Neither of us want a war right now, and they had started to become a nuisance. Of course, I'll be keeping a very close eye on those who didn't manage to flee."

Renny's ears droop.

The items were swiftly transported onto D'lere's ship, and Jaukoehai and Renny stood near the Overlord, watching him closely. The Overlord suddenly took a step toward Renny, and in a flash Jaukoehai was between them, his shield glowing green and his hammer coarsing with lighning. Lucan, too, drew his weapon, the blade swirling with bright red fire. After a moment of tense standoff, Lucan smiled and sheathed the blade.

"Soulfire and the Qeynos Claymore. The two halves of the Sword of Destiny. It is told that their two wielders will meet in the battlefield, a battle to decide the fate of Norrath. You can't imagine how pleased I was to discover it had chosen you."

"And on that day, D'lere, I will make you pay. Pay for what you've done to the Ratonga, what you've done to the Commonlands, and every injustice you ever committed."

"We shall see, Ironskin. We shall see."