Today is the day for the annual meeting between the four kingdoms. People are scattered everywhere in the street, excited to see the representatives of the other kingdoms but despite that, they still keep clear of the road for their arrival. The town bell rings once, twice, thrice and then the city gate opens to reveal the 3 ambassadors surrounded by their entourage.
The first one to be seen is the beastmen from the Lycathiel kingdom, their impressive physique with a perfect tan have many women swooning over. Instead of using carriages, they prefer the old-fashioned way and arrive riding horses which is an impressive feat itself to ride all the way across the desert like that. Their ambassador was a massive man wearing a cloak just as large as him made from the fur of a great demonic wolf with sturdy leather armor underneath. His ashen hair gleams in the bright sunlight along with the glittering from the massive silver axe slung across his back made him a shining beacon. His face is filled with scars from the slash across his lips and nose to the cut over his eyes, yet he did not look threatening at all. The gentle smile on his surprisingly young face makes everyone feel at ease. That man was Lucius Baltazar, the first ever human chieftain of Lycathiel for his incredible hunting feats.
The elves were just as impressive, the elegance in their women charms many men some of which were even openly drooling at the sight. Of course those were the single men, the married ones wouldn't dare to look at them lustfully or they will suffer the wrath of their wives. They wore masterfully crafted armor with intricate carvings made of moonstone, a rare material native only to the elven kingdom. All of the knights carry both a sword and a bow with them, it's the strict requirement of marksmanship that require everybody in their army to be able to shoot a bow properly. No matter if they're a mage or even a healer, their shot always strike true with the bow. Their carriage is wooden by nature but with elven architecture, it looks just as beautiful as the royal carriage. From the carriage, a woman exits with 2 elite elven guards on her side, each of them capable of killing a battalion of soldiers within minutes. She wears a delicate white frilly dress that reaches her ankles with pearl necklace around her neck. In her beige hair is a neatly tucked pink lotus that fills the air with a pleasant aroma next to a hairpin made of black turtles shell. Her golden irises like the Lycathiel chieftain's aura, gives people a sense of security and warmth within their hearts. She was princess Selene Evergreen, next in throne of queen Elisif.
The most glamorous out of them all was Regalia arriving with soldiers and carriages covered in dazzling gold. The armors of the guards seem more decorative than combative but it probaly has the ability to distract their opponents from the blinding sheen. The carriage itself is made of platinum and decorated with gold, even jewels like ruby and sapphire with gems alike adorn the door. A rather portly man step out of carriage in a formal yet average suit in contrast to the display of wealth of the entourage. His eyes twitch in irritation and his face scrunches up in dissatisfaction. But those were not directed at the town but at the entourage itself. Despite looking like any other nobles and slimeballs of the captials, his appearance causes a lot of fuss in the crowd as people look on in admiration. For that man is Malcolm Blackberry, a farmer who has built his own trading empire from scraps and share all of his earnings with the poor whose intellect is only matched by his cunningness.
Malcolm: Ugh i asked them for a normal carriage and they give me this block of moving gold, the audacity of those bastards.
Lucius: still being humble as always eh Malcom?
Malcolm: It's not being humble Lucius, it's called saving money.
Before the conversation could go on, the guide of the town arrives at the gate and greet the 3 ambassadors. It was Matt, head of the guild situated in Gobi. The ambassadors respectively wave him back and got ready to head to the city hall for the meeting. Just as they are about to go however, Selene taps Matt shoulder to get his attention.
Selene: mr Matt, why is the area around here being rebuilt?
Matt: ahh that. Well you see, not long ago Gobi was besieged by the bandit king Vvulf himself along with around 500 of his men.
Lucius: I've heard of him, quite a warrior for someone of his caliber but sadly he lacks the honor of one.
Malcom: If that's the case, how come Gobi is still standing? No offense but i doubt you can defend against such an attack.
Matt: It was a close one i'll tell ya. We were down half our numbers and the walls were breached. Right as Vvulf charges at our remaining forces, the mayor returned and save the day.
Lucius: He sounds quite powerful, also who are those knights? can't say i've seen such an emblem.
Matt: he is indeed strong, those are his personal enforcers. They help around with pretty much everything we ask of them. A field needs ploughing, herbs need gathering, animals need herding? they all have it covered. They directly take order from the mayor himself and the head of security Sergei.
Selene: such dedication... what else can you tell us about the mayor.
Matt: An adventurer party happens to come across him one day he follow them back to town where he started as a cook for the Courageous Courier inn. His heavenly delicacies quickly became known to the public and everybody craves for them. His culinary passion is also something to behold, i couldn't believe it when i heard that he spent an entire night cooking for the poor and he even gave them money after their meals.
Malcolm: He must really care about the people but how was he strong enough to take on Vvulf?
Matt: cooking was his main profession but he was also an adventurer. The card couldn't even measure his strength when he registered and the first mission he picked was for a platinum party! I thought he was insane but he sure proved me wrong when he came back by night covered in goblin blood and guts.
Selene: i see, not only does he care deeply about his people, he also possesses the strength to protect them. Such a great leader is hard to come by, i wonder what ideas he would have for this meeting.
Matt: You're meeting the man himself soon, he'll be able to answer your questions better than i can.
The group arrives at the humble city hall, though it is not spacious as the chieftain's den or delicate like the elven palace or as glamorous as Regalia's city hall , none of them really mind. If anything, they would prefer to meet like this, remind them of simpler times. Their entourage waits outside while 2 guards of each party follow the ambassadors inside to the meeting room. The room itself has large oak table in the middle with a map of the 4 kingdoms on it and leather chairs for the representative. The carpet was but a simple white one made from wool and the walls only have a few paintings of the previous mayors. They all take a seat and patiently wait for the mayor himself to arrive.
About 10 minutes later, there is a knock at the door and Matt opens it for Osmond to walk in with some rolled up papers in his hands. the ambassadors were surprised to see that Osmond was the mayor, they were expecting someone more akin to a knight. Seeing their faces Osmond chuckles before explaining that he was just a secretary for the actual mayor that the mayor would be a little late.
Lucius: Wait if you're not the mayor then who is it and where is he?
Osmond: Oh his name is Yosif and as for who he is, it's best if you see it yourself. As for where he is, he deems that it's wrong to not treat you folks after travelling all the way here so he is now in the kitchen personally preparing a meal for you all.
Selene: that's rather considerate of him. What is it like working for him mr Osmond?
Osmond: well how do i put this... He's doing a good job so far but i think there's something wrong in his head.
Lucius: Oh does he constantly fights beasts for the thrill of it, i do it all the time.
Osmond: No, he... studied spells for 2 days straight without sleeping and what's more is he can perfectly cast all the spells he read about right away afterwards.
All 3 of the ambassadors got even more intrigued about the mayor. Heart of gold, strength of a fighter, mind of a scholar all in one person, it's truly baffling to think of such a thing. They start to feel more and more anxious as the time goes on until finally, more knocks come from the door and they were sure it would be the mayor himself. Lucius expected a buff man who has love for brawling like himself. Where as Malcom expected a sly calculative tactician who is always one step ahead of his opponent. While Selene expected a charming knight who will die for his people should the need arises. The door opens to reveal Yosif in his armor but the visor was up as it's rude to not show your face at a meeting. Before Yosif can even get a word out, a battle cry sounded through the room as Lucius grabs his axe and jumps at him.
Lucius: ASSASSINS!
*BANG* *CRASH*. The impact made Matt and Osmond wince or at least i think i heard they wince over the sound of me being flung through the door, shattering it. As i was standing up again, my knights from the hallway got into battle positions in front of me as Lucius brandishes his axe, Malcom ready his spell and Selene draws her bow. Sergei also rushes down the hallway and stands next to me as he slams his hammer into the ground and raises his shield. Before all hell breaks loose, Matt yells out intervening the fight.
Matt: SIR LUCIUS WHAT ARE YOU DOING!
Lucius : WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? I'M KILLING THESE ASSASSINS SENT BY FOUL NECROMANCERS!
Matt: NO DAMMIT THAT'S THE MAYOR YOU JUST HIT!
As the word "mayor" echoes throughout the room, all the ambassadors freeze up in place before their jaws promptly hit the ground. Lucius looks as if his brain stopped responding. Selene was stuttering incoherently. And Malcolm was constantly slapping himself to see if he is hallucinating. But yet again, before i could say anything to defuse the situation, the doors at the end of the hallway burst open as the ambassador's elite guards pour in.
Elven guard: YOUR HIGHNESS ARE YOU OK! [Tempest Blade]!
A powerful gust of wind forms into a sharp blade and slam into my chestplate further burying me into the city's hall wall but luckily this didn't hurt like Lucius's attack but it's definitely doing damage to my wallet alright. Selene pales at the scene as her guards will probaly face execution for assaulting the mayor. I order Sergei and the knights to stand down before slowly pulling myself out of the rubble of the wall.
Me: *ahem* if you want to spar with me, wait until AFTER the meeting.
And at the sound of my voice, it's now the guards turn have their jaws dropped. Sighing, i tell Osmond and Matt to drag the frozen ambassadors back into the room to actually start the meeting while Sergei and the knights will work on fixing the broken door and wall.
Total inventory:
Brigand's greatshield
The iron castle
Warp dagger
Diadem of supreme arcane might
Helm of clairvoyance
Old knight captain's armor
11 slime essence
130 bone powder
10 scrap metal
Crystal of decay
7 healing potions
Greater ironskin potion
Captain Lambert's journal entry #1
76 copper 53 silver 45754 gold
Current familiars:
- Sergei the Skeleton Paladin