Kara's Daughters: A Royal Invitation

[DeepShadow of FoS]

Date: April 3rd, 765 BC.

A small caravan of Vistani appear just outside Lekar. While the others make camp, three of them immediately ride for the city and Draccipetri, carrying a message for Vlad Drakov himself....

*take it away, WhisperingWolf!*

[WhisperingWolf]

The three figures are dressed in formal attire of the Vistani, the lead horseman's face is covered by a hood and cloak, a rolled parchment is within a leather case hanging at her side. Her hands are covered with gloves, the form hidden within the folds is slight and only the sparkle of the dark eyes from within the cloak are seen as she and her two escorts come to the gates of Draccipetri. Head tilting slightly to the side, a gloved hand pushes aside the hood and she looks directly at the guards at the gates an almost hauty look within her eyes as she speaks, the accent is thick, but understood.

I have a letter for the KingFuhrer Vlad Dracov of Falkovnia from the Queen Incanthe Maridae of Maridrar. I am under orders to deliver it directly to the KingFuhrer himself.

Easily moving off of the well trained stallon, looking over the shoulder as her guards also move off of their horses as well, coming up behind her and look directly at the guards to Draccipetri. The Three simply stand there and wait, it would be obvious the three would not move until entrance was given.

[DeepShadow of FoS]

After a little discussion, the trio are escorted directly to the throne room of Draccipetri. After about half an hour with only the guards for company, the Kingfuhrer and a dozen others wander in, the latter eyeing the three with curiosity. Taking his time to finish joking with one of his companions, Drakov finally walks up the long scarlet carpet and sets himself on the throne to receive his visitors. A herald announces his official presence, and all eyes move to the Kingfuhrer.

"Welcome, ladies!" booms the warrior king. "I regret we are unprepared to show you some true Falkovnian hospitality. As it is just after dinner, we were retiring to a game room for the evening entertainment when we got word of your arrival. What's this about an urgent message from your queen?."

++++++++

We have no stats for your messengers, but I can gauge basic bonuses by their assignments. Let me know what they want to do and say, and I'll make the appropriate rolls.

[WhisperingWolf]

a shrewd look comes into the dark colored eyes as the KingFuhrer enters in with his voice booming around the room, the woman looks over her shoulders and just does a slight shrug of the shoulders before turning back towards Drakov. The hood comes off and exposes the long dark hair hanging down in a single braid, the guards follow suit, their own hair cut shorter, their more masculine features prominent.

The young woman walks forward, bowing slightly to the Kingfuhrer and hands the scroll to him, the insignia of Miradrar in a unbroken wax seal on the exterior. Speaking in an almost sing song like voice, although it is somewhat accented in Falkovnian

Yes Your Highness. My Queen wished for me to deliver this message to you immediately. She said it was important, as time is somewhat short.

Upon opening the missive, Drakov would read the following

[WhisperingWolf]

Upon handing the scroll to Drakov, the Vistani woman steps back and looks around the great hall, her escorts standing one on each side, the group of three looking around the room. taking in the number of people with Drakov, looking for the various exits, taking note of how many guards are present, weapons, and also keeping a eye on Drakov.

the three turning slightly to watch but having their backs turned just enough where the backs were facing the others, all three having a full 360 view of the Hall. Arms crossed over their chests, and simply watching, waiting, and listening. The dark almond shaped eyes of the woman always coming back to rest on Drakov, waiting for an answer to her Queen's message.

[isignasl]

Hey all, its Mike (Neerajah, Liesel, Anika, Sarafina Giatano, and Marka for anyone who doesn't know me

Okay... so this is Neerajah and Liesel acting in this situation:

First off, according to Matt, these events are beginning to occur as Neerajah is entering Drakopetri. She will make a perception check of: [dice]0[/dice] to overhear what's going on. Should she successfully overhear what's going on, but WITHOUT KN geo, she will attempt a KN (n/r) of [dice]1[/dice] to possibly know of the ruler(s) of the specified area.

[isignasl]

Hey all, its Mike (Neerajah, Liesel, Anika, Sarafina Giatano, and Marka for anyone who doesn't know me

Okay... so this is Neerajah and Liesel acting in this situation:

First off, according to Matt, these events are beginning to occur as Neerajah is entering Drakopetri. She will make a perception check of: [dice]161796:0[/dice] to overhear what's going on. Should she successfully overhear what's going on, but WITHOUT KN geo, she will attempt a KN (n/r) of [dice]161796:1[/dice] to possibly know of the ruler(s) of the specified area.

Don't know how to add in the skill bonus -- the perc. check is +16, and KN(n/r) is +8... someone fill me in? I checked the previous posts, and typed it in how you said to, but doesn't seem to be working right...

[steveflam]

Whatever your dice roll is, type it in as such. If you have 1d20+16 then type in 1d20+16 , like so:

[dice]0[/dice]

[steveflam]

Ok so that actually doesn't work...... heh. I'll try it with a space maybe, in between the dice dice:

[dice]0[/dice]

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

sorry folks, you can't add anything to a roll automatically. It's a flaw in the dice roller. But the guy who coded it kind of abandoned it, so don't expect it to be remedied any time soon. You'll have to add in your own bonuses.

[Revka et al]

I believe that Revka is one of the dozen or so companions who enter the throne room with Drakov. Of course she would wait to see what Drakov's response is before doing anything, but I wanted to post so that I could subscribe to this thread.

[WhisperingWolf]

I'm just waiting for Drakov's reaction myself. Since I was the one to give the letter in the first place.

[DeepShadow of FoS]

"I'm not sure what to make of this," Drakov muses aloud. "Your queen wishes to bestow a great honor on our country, but will only accept a woman." He lets the last word hang a little in the air. "Obviously, we're interested in trade negotiations--" he glances at Jardian Kovedknochen, who gives a polite nod of approval, "--but I'm not sure who to send. My daughter Kara is...politically minded, but she's already busy--"

"Quite busy, milord," Kara agrees quickly. She bites her lip as she realizes she interrupted.

"--here." Drakov's eyes linger on his oldest daughter a moment, then stands and ambles slowly down the carpet toward the messengers. "I know many women with the spirit for festivities," here he pulls Revka close and eyes her cleavage, "but sadly, few of them could serve as diplomats!" He breaks into a hearty laugh, and the others in the room join him.

"It's unusual for a woman to serve in that capacity at all, you know. Normally I leave it to Herr Vedarrak to know which fork to use and how to flatter a bald grandfather." He gestures at Marcos Vedarrak, who rolls his eyes and chuckles. "I'd hate to break with that tradition now. Marcos, my Nina goes out with you frequently, perhaps we could just switch your hats this time and have you escort her--"

"She's got the boy," Marcos reminds his father-in-law. "Even with the Vistani, travel with a newborn is treacherous." Marcos leans against the wall and looks sidelong at the messengers. "I'm afraid this is one party you'll be having without me."

Drakov spreads his hands in resignation, shrugs, and continues toward the messengers.

"If I may, Kingfuhrer," Jardian interrupts, "selecting this woman would also require a little knowledge about the situation she will enter. With the gypsy-folk as intermediaries, we've traded with Maridrar as recently as three months ago, with no mention of a royal family! If we've been on the wrong side of the politics, or if things have changed recently, we need to know, and we need to prepare our representative with that information."

Drakov gives only the tiniest nod, and the Falkfuhrer falls silent. Obviously this is no time to be discussing the political instability of Maridrar, with the ambassadors in the room. Drakov stands before the messengers, his hands holding the letter behind his back, his smile broad, his eyes cold.

"We have but a week until the festivities, but with the Vistani leading the way, the trip ought to be quite short. Might we not spend some of that time selecting the...woman...your queen would like to meet with? Someone up for travel, adept at diplomacy, enjoys a good party and...so forth?" he brushes away the rest of the list like a fly. "When do you leave, and where can we find you before then?"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Now you may respond!!

The others in the room are:
Jardian Kovedknochen: Minister of Finance
Mikhail Drakov: Minister of the Arcane
Calons Weir: Minister of Intelligence
Marcos Vedarrak: Talon, diplomat and wizard
Kara Drakov-Likarevie: Founder of Kara's Daughters
Revka Kovedknochen-Regess: Jardian's daughter, Kara's personal guard and Drakov's latest mistress.
Hans Van Laake: Talon and speaker for the vampyre community

Neerajah and Liesel are just outside the throne room, listening. Either or both may join at any time.

In addition, Jardian, Mikhail and Calons each have two guards with them, and the Royal Herald remains in the room. Public knowledge on all the named characters is found on the Facebook page--roll Kn (n/r) to find out more. Kn (local) will tell you about any of the unnamed characters. Please make these rolls using the IM function, as not everyone is privy to the same information.

Bonus points for anyone who uses the proper titles (found on the Facebook page)!

[isignasl]

Alright...Neerajah and Liesel will slowly and quietly (not silently) enter the throne room, and approach the center floor. If they are accepted/allowed, they will mutually bow to Drakov, ask forgiveness for the intrusion (if any), and request to speak.

--From there, if allowed: she will politely and by Vistani traditions (whatever it may be) greet the messengers. Then turn to the Kingfuhrer and speak:

-"If I may, Kingfuhrer, I have personal and strong knowledge of the ways of the Vistana, and am more than capable of traveling. I would gladly act as diplomate on my country's behalf for this situation."
**Diplomacy roll (if needed) would be: [dice]0[/dice] + 12**

--If she is dismissed/asked to leave, she will do so quietly.

[WhisperingWolf]

the three stand waiting. the female messenger simply watching as the KingFuhrer approached her and the others. Her only reaction is to simply stand there, hands raising on her hips and an eyebrow lifting slightly as she listens and watches. The two men at her back watching the group closely as well. A slight grin upon their faces as the woman simply watches without moving as she is approached by the larger Man, despite her smaller frame.

The woman looks first to Kara, then to Revka, before sliding to the one referred to as Herr Vederrak, before then looking at the man whom had spoke of having recently traded with Maridrar, before then looking once again at the KingFuhrer. There was a definite intelligence within her eyes as she watched and listened. A slight quirk of her lips as the head tilts to the right and she looked up at Drakov even as he approached closer. Waiting for him to finish speaking, her own thoughts going over the details of those dressed, the way the various men and women within the room spoke and were spoken to and even simply of. The dark almond shaped eyes sliding once again to the women before finally ending on Drakov.

Although the two guards with her whom are watching the rest of the room notice the other two women enter the door, looking at the one woman (Neerajah) recognizing some features as being at least of some of Vistani blood. The woman had heard the noise and looked towards the new arrivals as well. Speaking clearly just a hair before the one.

I am simply the messenger sent by my Queen, Kingfuhrer. What was written within the letter was not passed onto me for what her requirements were. Yet if I gather from your words, she has extended an invitation to our day of Unspoken Talents. As it is often the women within the Vistani whom are the leaders of our most undefined abilities, that would be going along with the celebrations. Also I have heard that the women of Falkovnia are also wonderful with being scene more often than heard. Which is also a major factor in this special celebration.

We shall be leaving in four days to make it back home to Maridrar in time both to rest before the day, as well as to have plenty of time to travel.

Once again the young woman bows to Drakov, before starting to turn then as if to recall at the last moment speaking out in a voice that was soft but carried as well

We will be outside of your great city with the rest of our clan to await your reply and the woman or women you would wish to meet with our Queen.

There was definitely a note of something within her voice as she once again pointed out that there was a monarchy once again in charge of Maridrar, and the change was recent but the Matriarch obviously had the support of the Vistani. Then the three bowed once more and moved closer to the doorways and with a slight smile the woman asked

By your leave, we must return to our encampment for the evening, walls are so... confining.

(and wouldn't you know it this post would be able to be done just after Mike's post. LOL)