Mellaris Uldreiyn
Entry XI
17th Summer-Eve, 2021 New Reckoning (2/14/2016)
The Prince's life is in danger. During their adventure last night, the rest of the group uncovered a letter including a plot to assassinate him. At the present moment, we sit once again at the long table for breakfast, where 6 nations in total are represented. They are mostly chatting to themselves - like there's nothing at stake here. Of course, they know nothing of the intended killing.
Across the table from me, Theresa has silenced herself for the very first time since Vinnie introduced her to us. She simply sits with her head down, poking at her food with perplexed eyes. I don't know much of what happened to her underground, but my guess is she's still traumatized by it. No matter what it is that's quieted her - I'll take it. The rest around the table, oddly enough, seem in much better spirits than before. They all speak now of more trivial, noble-like affairs rather than political squabbles. Even the two Njordenfjorders who'd been quarreling without end are now clinking glasses in celebration. The woman Eradne is looking over at me with some sort of interested glance… in response to which I immediately break eye-contact. I want no sort of relations with these nobles. They'd all want nothing more than to further their own gains.
As "cheery" as everyone may be, the mood hasn't sunk inside myself. If anything, it unsettles me even more. One of these laughing, grinning fools is intent committing murder - we just don't know who.
My thoughts and observations are quickly shaken as the Prince stands, raising his glass in a toast (to himself, no doubt). He says that everyone should drink up and be merry, for there are many exciting and fulfilling events planned for the day. The first he has in mind is jousting, at which everyone seems interested and excited. It might possibly be fun, if it weren't an activity that made it so easy to kill somebody "accidentally". As long as everyone's gone, however, Ellie whispers to me that this is when we should go looking for any evidence of an assassin. I nod discreetly, only to find out that we were somehow overheard by Ruby and Juniper, who now demand to stay and search with us despite their ridiculous lack of skill and stealth.
I'll take no chances of being caught and hanged. I move off into the men's quarters by myself - well almost, Ruby forces me to take Labby the Owl - while the other three search the Women's side. The first room I slip inside is that of Knute, one of the Njordenfjorders. I kneel first by the chest at the foot of his bed, but it's tightly sealed with a complicated lock, and I can't get it open. His wardrobe is unguarded, however, and I find nothing but a symbol to one of Njordenfjorden's more forgotten deities. Despite my fierce protest, Ruby orders Labby to snatch one of his silver rings and bring it to her. If he notices that it's missing, we could be suspect - and I let Ruby know that I'll point her out without hesitation.
The second room I enter belongs to Lord Chase, who I definitely wouldn't be surprised to uncover as the killer. A chest on the floor contains nothing but a large bag of coins, and his wardrobe has only a nice set of clothes and a backpack - inside of which is a small hand crossbow. As much as Ellie might like it, there's no reason for me to take anything here. Checking room individually is taking too long… I don't want to risk anyone coming back while I'm here. I cast detect poison to hopefully find something straight away.
I can sense a poison coming from another room - the Prince's own quarters. Just as I make for the door, I can hear footsteps around the corner, and so I duck behind a wall just in time to avoid the Elven Prime minister. He simply enters his room, and doesn't seem suspect, but I'll wait for him to come back out nevertheless. He's in there for around ten minutes… when he finally opens the door to leave, I follow close behind him in an attempt to see if he's carrying anything suspicious. Luckily, my boots do well at covering my footsteps as I follow not a foot behind him.
He's carrying a pair of daggers at his waist, but that's to be expected. That, and they're not poisoned. The only thing worth noting is the few blots of ink on his right fingertips - he's been handling a writing utensil. I stop pursuit to let him go, and duck quickly into his room - on top of a small chest, I see the quill and ink bottle. The chest is locked, but the lock is weak enough for me to pick - with a creak I open the chest to reveal several hand-written letters. Most of them appear to be mere political conversations. As I shuffle through them, I notice one that's dated just yesterday - and it certainly catches my interest. It's written in an Elven code that takes some deciphering, but there wasn't much effort put into it: the Minister knows of an intended assassination, but nothing in the letter indicates that he's involved. The rest of the letters are mostly foreign policies: the Minister has most recently been trying to attain a political advantage in Gabilan… that would explain his presence here.
With the Prime Minister's room inspected thoroughly, I get back to the Prince's quarters, where I detected the poison. As I slide the door open, I see a figure in the bed. It's a man - an old one, at that. I'd get a closer look if not for the risk of being noticed. Instead, I step quietly past him to inspect the small chest at the side of the room - where I find a bottle of poison. This sets to rest my suspicions, however - this kind of poison is only medicinal. It's for stabilizing a wounded person that's beyond any other healing. Alongside the bottle are several letters: correspondences between the Prince and the Elf Queen. To put it simply, they're love letters - half of them even have lipstick stains. Not that I'm surprised, but I'd thought the Queen to be more wise. She seems to me intelligent and capable on her own - this Prince is quite the opposite.
But did I forget to mention how little I care? Of course I did, because I don't care. I quickly step out of the room and rendezvous with the others. I tell them of my discoveries - rather, that I've found no sufficiently incriminating evidence. On the other hand, Ruby shows me a poisoned dagger - from the room of the Kronian woman - with a handwritten letter in a language that none of us can read. I doubt it'd be worth the risk to accuse her; so for now, we're going to meet the others in the jousting fields.
Just as we arrive, Ko'ruk seems to be setting up for a joust against Angus, one of the Njordenfjorders. I move to sit by Melek during the activities, and tell him everything we've found. On the first round Angus gives Ko'ruk a strong hit and insults him (I believe his words had to do with a "wee g'ill"), but Ko'ruk simply scowls and deals him an equally strong blow. On the third round, Ko'ruk strikes again and knocks Angus clean off of his horse. At this, Melek stands, eager to get in on some jousting action. Surprisingly, he challenges the Elven Prime-Minister, who to all of us honestly looks to old to be jousting. Regardless, the Elf doesn't back down - instead, he steps down and mounts a horse, twirling the javelin in his hands with remarkable dexterity. Of course, I'd forgotten - twenty years ago, just about every Elf in Inis Ilyn was required to be educated in some form of combat. The match is short, and Melek gets knocked off of his mount easily. It seems I've misjudged the minister's athletic ability.
As the jousting matches continue (which many of my friends take part in), I watch the crowds for any suspicious activity, but find absolutely none. In-between matches, I go to discuss the issue with each party member individually, but no one has any ideas. As closely as we've looked, we still have no evidence pointing towards a single person. As we continue throughout the day, however, I overhear talk that there's going to be a banquet tonight. If there's any time for a killer to rear their head… that's it. I'll hold off writing any more until then.
At the banquet, things are going as I would expect of any noble party. It's taking place all throughout the palace - the others are conversing out in the halls, while it's just Ruby and I in the main dining hall with a few of the royals. At the moment we're standing by ourselves, with our attention directed toward the Elf Queen, Elf Minister, Prime Minister (the horned satyr) and the Prince. Ruby and I both agree that we should remain in close proximity to the Prince to prevent an assassination. To do so, we both approach their small group as Ruby quickly (and rather skillfully, I forgot how good she was at pointless noble-talk) strikes up a conversation with the Elf Queen. The Queen takes an interest in Labby - Ruby's Owl - just as she seemed to last night, and the two very quickly head off in another direction as they talk. The Satyr and the Elf minister seem to be having some sort of political conversation to themselves, so I'm stuck having to entertain the Prince on my own.
Fortunately, I still remember how to feign interest and respect in the presence of nobility, no matter what my real opinions may be. He seems somewhat interested in me, remarking at first how exciting it must be to travel and adventure unhindered with my group of friends. I decide to take what he's given me, offering to tell him several stories of our previous adventures, like the encounter at the Orc's fortresses and the defeat of the Red Dragon. As I speak, I remind myself of my brother, Drahl - he was always a warmer and more respectful, talkative type. He never had any trouble making friends quickly.
Nevertheless, I manage to keep our conversation going for several minutes. Just as the Prince is beginning to tell me how much he wishes for adventure and excitement, I can hear screams and thuds coming from just outside the dining hall.
I figured the assassin would show him/herself soon enough. I quickly grab the Prince's arm and urge him to stand behind me as I face the door through which I hear the sounds. He resolutely draws his sword and seems reluctant to follow my command, but eventually obeys and stands just behind my right side. I can detect the sounds coming closer, and I hold a readied arrow nocked to my bow - just as a creature bursts through the door. I can't tell what it is at all - it looks similar to a wraith, but with a completely different shape and more form than a ghost.
As soon as I catch sight of it, I fire a shot that doesn't appear to damage it too much. The creature targets Labby (who must've flown into the room at some point) but misses, in response to which the Owl blasts the demon with a bolt of lightning. Just as I ready myself for the creature's next attack, cold realization grip me as I hear the Prince cry out in pain. I turn to see him not five feet from me - with a knife in his back. A knife held by the Driad woman. As decisively as I can, I lunge in her direction, forcing her off of the Prince and whisking my scimitars from their sheaths. The Prince is barely able to remain standing, and now I'm the only one between him and his assassin - with a mortally dangerous demon added on the other side.
The demon's a bigger threat than a woman with a knife. I pivot on my feet, lashing out with both blades at the creature along with the Prince, surprisingly enough. The fire from my Dragon-fang weapons are enough to cause the demon to evaporate. At this point, my reflexes kick in just as I see Ellie tearing forward in my direction. I twist back around and throw myself at the Driad, barely managing to hold her against the wall.
I'm not in a very pleasant mood at the moment, so I try my best to intimidate her into talking. Apparently that's not my strong point. She remains pridefully silent until Ko'ruk eventually arrives (covered in blood, I might add - there must have been more demons than just the one) and threatens to bend her fingers backwards one by one. That works quite well, and the Driad tells us that she was forced into the job by the Hags. I assume these hags are the same that the party encountered last night while I sat watch. She says she's not the only one working for them, but she's the only one to be found in the palace.
The guards lead her away as she's told us essentially everything she knows. I glance to the Prince, who's now limping and has to be held by a palace guard. Come to think of it, it makes me wonder where the guards were during that entire battle… now, however, my thoughts are interrupted as more of the nobles are returning to the main room. I see the Elf Queen return with Ruby, and as they emerge, Ellie takes her to the side and whispers some words to her. I don't know what exactly the rogue is plotting, but as soon as the Queen notices the wounded Prince, she breaks loose and runs forward, throwing her arms around him.
Considering the letters I found in the Prince's chest, it's not surprising. As she finally releases the Prince, he begins babbling something about how he should have decided sooner and so on - and then gets down on one knee. I don't really know what I expected, but for some reason I've an intense feeling of dissatisfaction in my gut. This Queen is the first royal I've seen possess any sort of virtuous qualities, but the Prince… he's just a cocky, inexperienced fool and - to be honest - a bad decision. Regardless, she kisses him in acceptance of the proposal - and I turn my head to see the Elven Prime-Minister storm out of the room, his fists balled.
As we attend the wedding, the party and I are also called up and given medals - ones that signify our acceptance into the Order of the Lion of Gabilan. As thanks for the protection of the palace (and the saving of his life) the Prince offers our group anything we may ask. Knowing my friends, that's a very dangerous thing to offer. Ellie asks for a ship that we may take for our journey to Kemmet, and Ruby receives a pair of shoes that considerably increase her maximum running speed.
Just as the rest are getting set to depart, I wish to have only a short word with the Queen. As much as I've attempted to set myself apart from the nation of Inis-Ilyn, our vision of the protests in the capital still plague my mind. I simply ask her what state the government is REALLY in (regardless of what anyone would have me believe), and she says that the Council still wishes to box her out of the decision-making process. She says she deeply wishes to integrate more closely with the mainland - and that her marriage may well help that - but the council's still making it incredibly difficult. With that, I thank her and move to catch up with my group.
From here, we embark towards Kemmet, where we hope to make progress in destroying the Tears of the Night. I end this entry on the 24th of Summer-Eve.