Kal lowered his eyes and waited for the older woman to speak, dialed up "respect" to 11. He took in his surrounding, particularly any possible threats while he waited.

"Slumming again, Elora?" she asked, one eyebrow raised in a disapproving manner. "Who is this half-breed you've deigned to bring to my court?"

She studies you like a cat might study a rodent, while around her the other members of court snicker in disdain.

"Highness, I am Kalmus the Grey, no one of particular import. I will let Elora speak on her own. For my part, allow me to say that his gathering is glorious and unexpected. Thank you for not having me killed on sight."

Leanin turned the full force of her black gaze upon Kalmus as a small grin turns into quite the wicked smile. "Who is this charming morsel, Elora?" she asked as if she hadn't heard Kalmus speak. "And where might I get one?"

Suddenly a slight personage exits from the crowd of onlookers, a young man who cried out, "Milady, my petition for your granddaughter's hand." He held forth a rolled parchment, extending it toward the Queen of the Unseelie Court as if in proof.

"Oh, put that away, Devlin," she said. "You are not serious about my daughter. Nor are you worthy, despite the fact your devil-may-care smirk has every young miss in the court fluttering their eyes at you. Second son of a second son is worthy of some small note, but fails beneath the light of my granddaughter's fifth of a fifth. Better you should find someone who will truly dote over you...which I have done. Amilidora, come, meet your new betrothed."

A lovely young sylph stepped forth from the crowd, her diaphanous gown revealing most of her finer attributes, with sequins shimmering in various pastel colors. Her eyes, ice blue, fixed firmly upon him and as she drew near, she knelt before him and crossed her hands behind her back as if waiting for him to bind her. Looking at him with adoring eyes, she said, "Your wish is my command, master."

Suddenly, Devlin's petition went up in a sudden blaze, his effort met with great applause, especially Amilidora's clan who seem especially happy with the match. Leanin offers lusty kisses to both Amilidora and Devlin before dismissing the court to their daily celebration.

"Come with me, both of you," she said in a matter of fact tone, walking away from both with the expectation of being followed. They make their way to an ancient oak with many branches that carry the weight of many abodes. Near the top is a grand flet with shimmering lights that breathe life into the dusky surrounds. Sitting upon a wooden throne, she said, "Who are you, Kalmus the Grey?"

A moment later, several servants arrive with refreshments and food.


ooc: recall you have the brooch that protects you from enchantments.

"I  born of an elven mage, sired by a human warrior. The circumstances
of my birth were such that they shamed the daughter of an important House and
led to scandal. As I up, his mother taught him his letters,
mathematics, history, magic and Elfin Lore but I was restless and matured
far faster than his fellows. Those self-same fellows hated him anyway, so I
spent much time alone. Then a man showed up in the village, a big, strong man who took an interest in a half-blooded boy and showed me how to fight. I later learned that he was my father.

"So, glorious one, I am no one, really, just a man looking for his weird. I would, however, like to help your granddaughter who has been so kind to me."

"I bet she has been kind to you," the queen said with a laugh. For her part, Elora had the grace to blush.

Leanin's grin turned downward, however and she looked far more closely at him in silence as if divining his intent.

"You've the taint of death, Kalmus," she finally said. "I would know more of that."

"We had a brush with a Nehwon ghoul who sent us into a tomb to confront an restless ghost about his treasure. I've been around death a lot recently. We're off to find a tome the ghost wants for whatever reason. I had no idea that ghosts kept learning, I'm afraid I'm still wrestling with the idea." Kal looked her in they eye and told her the truth, sensing that the fey woman was no one to trifle with nor was she one to waste even her vast reservoir of time.

"Ach! They aren't ghouls, no more than I am," Leanin replied. "They are cannibals from another plane, chased from their homeworld by their rivals. Now they are here, in Lankhmar and the surrounds trying to gain a foothold. I would prefer they did not, however. The dark fae and light rarely agree, but in this we have struck an accord. These ghouls must go elsewere. Their magic is unstable, corrupt and threatens all of Nehwon, including the demi-planes of light and darkness. Would that I could find someone with the ingenuity, courage and strength to deliver these planar felons a blow. Surely their reward would be great if they were to succeed."

Her gaze is keen like the edge of a knife as she awaits your thoughts.

"I must admit I was more favorably inclined towards her before she threatened to eat me. Seemed like a shoddy thing to do to someone who simply wanted to... ah, loot an old ruin that happened to be her home. What did you have in mind in this regard?" Kal had a sinking feeling that he was going to find out, at least find what she wanted him to know.

Surprisingly, perhaps, Leanin laughed aloud.

"You are droll, Kalmus," she said. "T'is fitting, I think, that you are here. The fates work in their own way, curse their ragged souls, but in this, I think they got it right: you seem the right man for what needs done."

Suddenly, she stands and claps twice. A thunderbolt crashes down from on high, twisting between the boughs of the tree so that no harm comes to it at all. On the flet appears an eladrin of great beauty, her clothing intemerate, her eyes a dark violet with flecks of platinum interspersed throughout. The affect gives an impression of eternity.

"Stop showing off, Elle," Leanin said. "We've business to attend."

The other, Elle, sticks her tongue out, eliciting a laugh from Leanin. Standing, the dark queen approaches and hugs the other Queen and said, "Welcome back. I think I've found one who might fit our needs. Meet Kalmus the Grey, rogue, warrior and wizard all wrapped up in a neat little bow. Introduce yourself to my sister, half-blood."

Kal offered a bow to the newcomer fae queen and said, "I am Kalmus the Grey, journeyman warrior and novice wizard, born of a hero and an elfin mage. I am deeply honored to meet her grace."

"He has a pretty tongue," Elle said with a glance at her sister. "Yet his name sits between black and white. I wonder, is he trustworthy?"

Pondering this, she moves toward the table and pours wine into a silver chalice. Taking a long sip, she stares at Kalmus before asking, "You call yourself a novice and yet we've need of someone whose acuman cannot be doubted. Has my sister described to you the dangers you will face?"

"No my lady, not in detail but I've met one of them. Vicious beast with foul magic indeed. I suspect I will have to strike hard and fast to survive. I say 'novice' for I've yet to master the greater magics, I know only small magic, useful in my trade."

"Tell me of this 'ghoul' you've run afoul of," Elle said. "Recall every detail that you can."

Kal ordered his thoughts, "Judging from the sway of her hips, she was female and exotically alluring, her every step graceful, that is until I got a better look. A bit taller than a normal human female, she wore a rapier at her hip, leather armor warded her chest, and twin bandeliers of daggers crossed between her breasts. I could see through her flesh, her skeleton, invisible blood flowing through veins and arteries and her skull with eyes that looked hungry.

"I was startled to find that she had a sense of decorum, manners even. We drank wine and talked a bit. She only let us live because she had a use for us, she didn't even try to hide it, rather came right out and told us of her needs.

"As we drank, I could see the wine running down her gullet and into her stomach. It was disconcerting, yet fascinating. I recall thinking that if she were clothed with normal skin, she might be fetching. Her servant, a wretch named Reggie, had been driven mad being around her, constantly on about her organs and whatnot.

"We contracted with her to access a treasure hidden on the grounds of the ruin in which we found her. Turns out the treasure was in a tomb, the tomb had a ghost and the ghost had an agenda, so, we headed out to fulfill the ghost's request to gain access to the tomb so that the see-through lady could have her wish.

"And then, I met Elora. I have to be honest, after hearing her sing, I had all but forgotten the horrors of that ruined estate. Thank you for that, dear lady." Kal stayed on point, remained honest but was still wary, these sort of creatures considered even long lived men such as he to be pawns and playthings at best. Whatever they offered, he knew that the sweet came with a lot of bitter for those not ready for consequences.

Elle looked at her sister, released what seemed an aggravated sigh. Petulant even.

"Minor noble," she said, casting her glare at Kalmus. "You mentioned a manor, so the place she stays in is, mm, large enough to support a full cadre of staff and such if the place were fixed up? I daresay that there's one beneath who outranks her. Greater powers among them enjoy intrigue almost as much as flesh and will often hide behind the curtain, so to speak, while others do their bidding."

Pushing on, she asked, "Tell me more of this Reggie fellow? Who is he, what purpose did he seem to serve? And the spirit in the sepulcher, what did he want from you?"

While she seems a bit intense, she seems genuinely curious about all the topics discussed.

"Reggie seemed a member of the family though I do not know the exact position he held. The manor was very large and could hold quite a few people, it was empty except for those two as far as I could tell. I did get the feeling that Reggie was once very sharp and a wise man, though I don't know why. The ghost asked us to retrieve a tome, we are to go to  Winter's Home, where witches hold sway. In a bole in the tree where a man named Brevin Gard was hanged sits a book of blackened leather. It has a hasp that locks, with magical wards that will explode and destroy the book if anyone is foolish enough to try to open it. The spirit is very interested in it and wants it badly."

Elle approached Leanin and brief whispers were exchanged.

Elle turned back to Kalmus and said, "Okay, your initial plan seems sound, so traveling north suits for the time being. Death is as natural as life, and furthering the deity's aims are in line with our own. Hell's and high fives, succeed and he may even grant you a boon.

Go, get ready to head north. Once you have the tome, bring it here and we'll see about what comes next. Oh, and Elora will accompany you as well. Her knowledge of various Hedge-magics will prove invaluable. Now go get ready and be off.

Elora is quiet on the journey home. Both of you enter her chamber through the liquid glass, and she quietly goes about readying her pack for the journey. She finishes quickly, looks at you and asks ,What are you waiting for?!

She seems cross.

Kal said, "What is it? Your grandmother took care of your would be suitor and we're off on an adventure. Are you angry because you meant to use me and be done?"

Elora grinned. "Silly man, you sound like a spurned woman," she said with a laugh. Crossing the room, she gave him a hug and kissed him deeply. Once you both come up for air, she said, "I'm sorry, luv, I didn't mean to be cross with you, but it'll be weeks until I'm back doing what I love. I've got good people to run the place, but no one does it better'n me."

"That said, Leanin and Elle are aligned in this. My goals goals align with theirs, even if both look at things from an opposite perspective. But, much as they contend with each other, there is real love in our family. They wouldn't send me into danger if they thought the risk too much...but I'm a future heir to my Gran's throne, and not without my own power. I cannot shy away from this task."

"Now, that said, let's go find your companions and make ready to leave. We've mounts for our use; I've even conjured up a great hyena for the gnoll girl - no one lags behind."

Both of you finished preparations and headed down into the main parlor, where Pious and Agrax sat eating. Agrax looked up first, but then Pious noted your presence and said with a grin, "That was quick."

Kal brightened a bit at the explanation. He followed her downstairs, admiring the way her hips swayed as she negotiated the stair. Once he spotted his companions, he nodded with a grimace then said, "Better get packed up. We're moving out as soon as we can. Seems there's a bit more skin in the game than we first thought."

Once they had their things together, Kal lead them out to the stables to get acquainted with their mounts before leaving.

ooc: Hyena? LOL. I'm sure she'll be thrilled.

Agrax exited the inn with the others, but suddenly halted. Sniffing the air, she turned around only to find a dire hyena cordoned off from the other animals.

 "This is mine?she asked. At Elora's nod she rushed over and inspected the beast closely. After some soft yips and a few growls, Agrax nodded her head and said,A good beast. He will do.Sound

ooc: we ready to go?

The curtain closes on chapter one. Well done. I'll post chapter two shortly.