Return to your throne.

You stand in the Great Hall (aka the Throne Room), garbed in something fresh and new--a thick, plush, blue house coat with an intricate jagged pattern along the sash you've tied at the front to keep it closed. It feels incredibly soft against your bare skin, which is a welcome comfort after rolling around in a cold, wet cave, even if it was certainly a lot warmer by the end. You're dry now, and not only that but comfortable as well, especially with the slippers you've been given to match the robe. Both are made to look like cute animals, with the one on the right being a rabbit, and the other being a cat. Meanwhile, Yin has taken away your clothes and armour to be cleaned and dried, and while you do have other articles of clothing to wear, this will be enough.

Your eyes look down upon your hands--a single ring binds one of your fingers, though it holds more importance than any amount of those which are ordinary. Occasionally you do wear additional rings of gold and silver to truly present a kingly visage, though right now, it's only Tol'vuus. Next, your gaze shifts to the throne across the room. Leaning against the side is a sheathed Luao. That's truly a weapon which has treated you well.

Though Yin has departed, two others remain inside, including the insectrin Luna still who stands before you. She certainly has the largest variety of outfits among all who reside at Castle Phoenix, which makes sense given her skills. Today she wears a red velvet dress with golden trim. The left side is cut so high that you can see above her hip, where a thin black strap wraps down to a pair of panties which remain perfectly hidden by the rest of the dress. She does herself up the most as well, having such a passionate interest in fashion. Her lashes are thick and bold, and her lips are painted to patch her attire. With one hand against her side, she traces you up and down with a bright violet gaze.

"How does it all fit?" Luna asks. It was her craftsmanship which made everything on your person after all, besides the magic ring. "It looks quite striking on you, if I must compliment my own work."

"It's perfect, Luna, as always. It feels like I'm being hugged by clouds."

The other body currently within the Great Hall is Linzeri. She minds her own business as always, looming near the throne with her back against one of the wide columns which hold up the ceiling. You still remember when Sa'dis threw Niki straight through one of those.

However, the double doors on the opposite side of the room creak open, and two more individuals march inside. It's Bek the dwarf and Mipa the goblin. As always, he's clad in metal with a hefty maul over his back, with braided brown hair, both atop his head and down from his face. Mipa is also dressed as she always is--a loin cloth below, and a bikini-like top made from animal hide and bones. She carries a hatchet in her hand as she steps alongside the dwarf beside her until they halt upon reaching you.

The little goblin puffs out her chest and salutes. "Demon King! We have a group of brigands who wish to speak with you."

"Brigands?" you ask. "What for?"

"They came in peace, but the guy who led 'em wouldn't say," Bek answers.

"All right. Send them in." After that, you turn and walk towards the side of the room where Linzeri lingers. For anyone to come this far to a castle known to be ruled over by a Demon King, they must have a good reason. So you sit down upon the throne and watch as Bek and Mipa once again leave the room.

Luna joins, standing beside you with hands politely crossed. "Surely they wouldn't come here to rob us," she says.

"I doubt it."

Linzeri speaks up from your other side. "But you best be careful anyway."

Without much more time to ponder, the doors open once more. Your loyal goblin and dwarven guards lead a group of about ten or so individuals. While most of them are humans, you spot a catfolk, a bunnyfolk, and another dwarf in there as well. You can gauge right away the situation they're in by attire alone. They wear ragged, torn clothing, and arm themselves with blades and bows which look worse for wear. Thankfully they don't look as if they're itching for a fight despite looking rather hardened, especially the man in front of the rest.