As the throne room and all the larger formal rooms are occupied by refugees and the wounded, the decision is made to receive the messengers on the roof of the inner bailey gatehouse. There is already a large brazier for a fire and a sturdy tent, enchanted to keep the cold at bay, is erected. A number of chairs and benches are brought out as well. Asinjin, Rubius and Thale are the last to arrive before Martine, Nisoru, Arion and Lira.
Arion and Lira sit facing the stairs, just as if they were in the throne room, he in the right side chair. Arion is dressed in his full, white, plate, missing only the helm and the Gemblade is sheathed at his side. He has a heavy blue cape as well. He looks ill at ease in the formal setting. Still he is formidable looking, easily the tallest and most powerfully built person in attendance. Lira is the opposite. She is clearly comfortable and has likely been to dozens of these events in her young life. She is perfectly dressed and made up, though her blue dress is relatively simple, rather than the formal gown you have seen wealthy Icefian women wear.
To Arion's right stands Martine Vanyar. He is dressed in his intimidating black dragon leather and admantium ring mail, with the admantium shoulder guards and mithril sash of the champions mantle. He is armed with three short swords, one on each side and a third on his back with a shield. His face is impassive as always.
To Lira's left is Nisoru. He is arrayed as you have always see him: his mithril "wicker" armor with its diamond guards at the joints, the Kovan marked katana, with its blue jade handle and its companion wakizashi. He appears impatient, as if he would rather be in action.
Seated before and below Arion is King Oliver. He too is dressed in ring mail, his royal crest on a fine linen tabard, and his Kovan marked blade at his right hip. He looks perfectly at ease. Before Lira is seated Queen Irene Degala-Gemblade. She too has clearly sat through similar events on numerous prior occasions. Her gown is far more elaborate than Lira's, and perhaps more suited to the climate.
Two sets of long benches, with comfortable pads, face each other. On Arion's side are seated Lord Whiteknight, Michael Steelsmyth and the leaders of the church of Stasis, along with Asic Wintersend. Beside him are the high clerics of Gnarion, Enrik Firstsnows, and Hemator, Hugh Colrain, and a drow elf. Though you did not see him during the battle, word of his deeds spread quickly afterwards. He is William Summerlight, The Lord of Swords, of the church of Falan. He is dressed in a mithril chain shirt with a black tabard bearing the wheel of swords in white. Pinned to his breast is a small silver wheel as well. He too is armed with a sword that bears Kovan's mark on its hilt. His face is unreadable. Ari is seated beside him. Behind them are the Knights of the White Sword; Sir Bartholomew, Lady Alara, Lady Hanai and Lord Thamolly.
On the facing bench, closest to the thrones is Thale. He is still armed with the staff you saw him wield during the battle. He is dressed in a pure white robe with the symbol of Smofarf in the center. The stars seem to twinkle, though they are not gemstones. He also has a badge pinned to his belt. Now that you see him cleaned up it is clear that he is much younger than you realized. Beside him is lord Darpus, dressed in a robe of indeterminable color. He looks relaxed. Next is Strydus Archir. He is well dressed and unarmored, though a short sword hangs at his side. He chats easily with all around him. Beside him is Dean Hawklyn, dressed in a fine but worn outfit that Asinjin is sure is the same one he wore to the state dinner at the college. Beside him is Dean Haskra, his blue and purple scales making him nearly invisible in the flickering light. He is speaking with Russel who is seated next to him, looking miserable. He has a sword awkwardly belted on and his staff is standing beside him, unsupported. Beside him are Luigi, Cloud, Parker and last is Asinjin.
A young herald announces: Your majesties (at which Arion opens his mouth to speak but Lira lightly touches his hand) Amaras, Avoral of the Guardian Temple, The Messenger of Arborea, comes with two companions and requests an audience. Arion nods and the herald gestures to the stairwell. Amaras enters with a human woman and a halfling trailing behind him. Amaras' silver hair is loose and his green and grey robes clean. He is unarmed. He looks very tired, a marked difference from times you have seen him in the past, when his celestial nature seemed unaffected by any concern. The woman is in her thirties, with regal features and light blonde hair. She looks uncomfortable in a dress and a heavy fur. The halfling is dressed in chainmail with a tabard bearing two crossed short swords. He is armed with a short sword on each hip and his left forearm appears covered in a sheath of blue water. He surveys the assembly vigilantly, evaluating the warriors with particular care.
Amaras says: "Hail Arion, true heir to the throne of Icefia. All the Guardians are glad this day has come, may you and your queen rule wisely and justly in the Light. I bring you word of what has happened in the Vale."
Arion says: "Greetings Amaras, our thanks for your words, though I am not yet crowned High King, for we have been engaged here by the servants of darkness. Tell us your news, for I know you and your brethren would not fail to come to grips with the creatures of the infernal planes unless some greater threat prevented them."
Amaras says "The Vale was assaulted by a host from the north. Many zombies and barbarians, as well as werebeasts and even a small cohort of fire giants. But the heart of the host were Tanari, sixty in all, nearly all those that we have been seeking these last few years; each more powerful than is typical for their type. They were herded into battle by Nycaloth and Piscoloth. We stood against them for three days and nights. We summoned all the aid we could and with our allies we prevailed. Many of my brethren have been gravely wounded and others slain. Midan was nearly killed and enspelled, else he would be here. Anakova Brightsky and Shesthul Ari'aon were slain. Both will be returned, but a new master Clerist will be elected. "
"It is no coincidence that both of our homes were attacked on the same day but we do not believe they were the work of the same enemy, except that the darkness serves a common master. Marius Darkthrone sent the horde against us. We think his assault had four aims: first to weaken us, second to prevent us from coming to your aid, next to force us to destroy those Tanari we had sought to capture and last to allow him to consolidate his hold in Valleyhope.
The elves that have fled looking for refuge have told us that Marius now rules in Valleyhope. We have learned he has been living there in disguise, claiming some relationship with Fraelix, the elves long dead ruler, and was giving the elves' leaders counsel and aid. When the leaders of the military, actually their duplicates we now know, moved to surrender unconditionally, the most militant and wicked of the leaders listened to Marius' whispers and threw their lot in with him. Now no word comes from the north; nearly three hundred miles south and east a persistent storm rages with killing cold, grey snow and daggers of ice. It is clearly the work of powerful magic but it cannot conceal from us the evil that is building within. How many fiends Marius has summoned we cannot say but their numbers are growing. Marius has done this before, though not here." He gestures to the Halfling.
"My lords and ladies, I am Kerkley Andest, champion of Avoreen and Captain of the Imperial Guard of Chryatea. This is Lady Katrina Warburton, also a member of the imperial staff. Centuries ago we were guests of Stasis here in this castle and he aided us in a mighty task. It seems only a few years ago to us, for recently, in our minds, were cursed and fell into a magical sleep of sorts. We awoke only a few days ago in the midst of the battle. Our protectors, the Guardians, would have spared us from the danger but that is not our nature. (Here Katrina starts to speak, clearly to give her different take, but Kerkely continues right over her.) My brothers in arms, Möbius, Isolder and Alyssa, put many to the sword. Now we find enemies that were little more than legend on our world, Marius and the shadow drake, have come to plague your world. I did not include Uscis, for I saw him once, years ago, and he is more nightmare than legend. I will tell you what I know of them when it is time. "
Amaras says: "I regret to say my stay must be brief and that my farewell will be my last. The wall that has been created between Arborea and this world has grown strong enough to cut me off from my power. Soon I will weaken and die. Know that I continue the battle elsewhere. Long may you reign and may the Light shine upon you."
