A meeting with the king

Princess Aurora guides you and Lord Veritas through the castle towards the audience chamber and before you can adjust to your luxurious surroundings, you end up in front of a set of tall, exquisitely engraved double-doors, looming almost ten feet high. Sitting on a stool next to the doors is a doorman, tall, lanky and droopy-eyed. His eyes stare out into space, but as the three of you come closer he turns to you and his eyes suddenly widen. He springs to his feet and stands at attention as the princess walks up to him. He bows generously to her but she waves him off and indicates the entrance to the audience chamber.

"A moment, your Highness. I'll get those doors open and I'll announce your presence."

He quickly walks over to the doors and quietly pries them open, just wide enough for them to enter one at a time. Even when done discreetly, the doors make a deep, rumbling sound as they swing open. Once the four of you are through the doors, he closes them behind you and waves his hand, beckoning you to follow him.

A high-ceilinged hall welcomes you, with great, stone arches soaring above your head and down the walls. Off on one side a grand fireplace blazes in its hearth and on the other side a long row of windows let in the late-afternoon sunlight. At the far end of the chamber, just in front of a raised dais and the throne, was a long, rectangular wooden table draped with a velvet tablecloth. Roughly a dozen men were standing around it, pouring over several sheets of paper and a large map, detailing the immediate countryside around Morgent, spread out on the counter. The men were debating something, but you are too far away to hear their discussion, but you can see some of them gesturing at the map and others nodding or shaking their head in response.

Suddenly coming to a stop, the doorman calls out in a loud voice towards the table, "Introducing his Lordship, Veritas Cassius!"

The nobleman shoulders his way past you and the princess, pushing the two of you aside roughly. Ignoring your glares, Veritas straightens his back and parades down the carpet with his chin raised, a spectacle for everyone to see. You glance at Aurora and spot her briefly making a face, sticking out her tongue at him.

"Her Highness, the Princess of Morgent!" The doorman declares after waiting a moment.

Aurora takes you by the elbow and guides you forward beside her. You pointedly notice that the man did not speak to you or mention your arrival as you entered the courtroom alongside Aurora. You take the hint and choose to let Aurora do all the talking.

At the mention of her name, a man at the far end of the table quickly rises up from his seat. A He is dressed in a deep blue robe with fur trimmings and at the top of his head sits a golden crown.

"Aurora! My daughter!" King Lucian cries out, swiftly walking around the table towards her. "You're safe!"

"Father!" Aurora answers. You watch as the princess dashes ahead of you, ignoring the men sitting around the table and the servants hovering over their shoulders, and embraces the king as he approaches her.

One of the ministers around the table nervously clears his throat. "Your Majesty, we are all delighted at the return of your only daughter, but if we could return to our planning...?"

"Yes, if we can continue." A old man dressed in silk finery grunts, tapping his finger impatiently on the table. "We were discussing what options we had before us, like reclaiming some of our lost land!" Several men around the table nod their heads and murmur in agreement. You glance at the men sitting along the long table. All older gentlemen, well groomed and well clothed. Their cheeks and hands have a soft look to them and their faces are lined with worry, but only out of self-interest. You would bet that none of them had seen a hard winter their entire lives.

"My lords! You are here because there ARE no other options!" The king clasps his hands in front of him and addressed the noblemen in a stern voice, "Those who attempted to parley with The Pretender were met with **** and bloodshed! Entire fiefdoms reduced to smoking ruins! Anyone who met with the Demon Overlord in the field have met only with slaughter!"

"I'm sure Lord Veritas can back up those claims." One of the nobles in the back whispers. A chuckle spreads throughout the table while Veritas turns a shade of purple, his lips pressed together in rage. You can't say that you wouldn't share a laugh yourself, if you weren't in the presence of a king.

"Silence, please! We were discussing the defense of the city. How we could turn back Vanarim's forces and break his siege! THIS is why I sent Aurora, my only child, several weeks ago to seek help. To find allies!" Turning back to Princess Aurora, the king asks her hopefully, "Tell us, Aurora: How went your expedition? Is there anyone who will come to our aid? Is there anyone left?"

Returning to a professional stance, Aurora begins to deliver her report to the king, relaying all the information that she had told you. With each disappointment and each failure, the king's expression darkens. By the time Aurora has reached the end of her report, King Lucian's face is marred with a great scowl and a worrying look in his eyes.

"This is dire news, child." The king reaches up to stroke his chin. "I had not expected a great deal from the others, but for even the Elves to be embattled is worrying..."

"Regarding Elohin then, your Majesty." The minister, the same one who had spoken up at the beginning, said. "How should we respond to the Waygate summons from the Wizards' College?"

Waygate? You think back to Elohin, how Tri'lanna and Ceinwyn were still in the city when you had fallen into the river. Could it be?