Elendreth's page

"Ah, that would be the brewing cauldron noted upon the list we received."

Elendreth hesitated for a moment as if perhaps she thought it some joke at her expense. However, when there was no laughter forthcoming from the Princess or her companions, she lifted her chin and said, "Although I would be loathe to part with such a memorable piece, it is valued at sixteen thousand."

"By all means," Elendreth gave the curvier blonde a wan smile before she haltingly gestured towards it, "please do."

"An ANGEL'S HALO! ... Elendreth, how did you acquire this?"

Standing there, in the museum-like chamber that served as the local mages' consignment shop, the abjurer approached, expression circumspect as she thought back. The wall niche housing the bust around which the other women had clustered was one of several, yet there could be no mistaking what Lureene meant by a halo.

"Many of our contributions have been selected from private collections of great prestige. That particular piece from my dear Glorohir's actually. It has been several years, but the halo fell to earth during a meteor shower as I recall. Although the locale wherein we found it had been blasted by the impact, the device itself was as unblemished and gleaming then as it is now."

"I wish the circumstances were less dire, yet duty calls us on a task of utmost importance. Any aid you can lend to us would be sorely appreciated."

Lady Elendreth curtailed Poe's response by stepping forward and gesturing to those behind her with the staff she carried. "A sentiment we all share, I assure you. Please, inform us what more common items we might each retrieve that would aid your worthy efforts: potions, scrolls, wands... In the meanwhile, perhaps an expedient tour of our more notable collections might reveal more unique wares that might avail you."

"Yes, I rather imagine Poe would have enjoyed a chance to prove himself, your Highness, albeit I should prefer to defer such trials until he is somewhat more experienced. As for my own intervention, of course one cannot be too cautious where denizens of the lower planes are concerned." Anxiously stealing a glance at Lureene and Sindariel, she added somewhat more quietly, "They are renowned for their duplicity, after all."

When the spears and bows had been withdrawn, Ladies Elendreth and Lammontari approached, the neurotic catgirl sticking close by them.

"Forgive us for not arriving sooner, your Highness," Elendreth began with a curtsey. "I could spy no summoning portals from the tower."

Looking towards the perfectly restored statue of Súmalya, she inquired, "Has the enemy departed? Lady Lammontari informed me a great disaster had befallen us, yet all seems as I remember it."

The wizardess nodded deeply towards the Harbormaster. "Yes, forgive me. Lady Lammontari is quite correct, my good man."

"I–" Looking quite pale even for an elf, the wizardess took a deep breath and nodded twice slowly, lips pressed tight as she swallowed. "Yes, your Highness, of course."

Stepping forth and doing her best to compose herself, she said, "I must admit a certain degree of uncertainty as to how we should proceed. If our aim is to civilize the native population that they might enjoy what we deem to be a suitable standard of living, then that would imply our goal is to indoctrinate them into our own culture."

"In that case, we have only to look at the histories of those empires who have dominated other human peoples to see that there are a number of... practices that may be seen as efficacious albeit ethically tenebrious." At a raised eyebrow from the Princess, she quickly added, "Not that I would advise such a course of action or broach decorum by going into greater detail, of course."

"No," she shook her head, "as unpopular as it may be, I believe that the balance which we know to have existed two-hundred years ago was the most stable — Elves and Patricians, keeping to their city-state while engaging in only limited contact with the native peoples of Dafar. After all, is our King's noble goal here not to protect the Zucks against exploitation? Rather than thrusting self-rule upon a diverse indigenous people still locked in the throes of tribal rivalries, perhaps we should instead endeavor to maintain a border state along the Bay of Desolation to serve as a bulwark for the interior."

"Should the Dafari, Obanohi, and Qungolo desire to trade with us or adopt our ways then so be it, but for all our sakes, perhaps a healthy measure of mutual isolation would be best. Call it remaining separate yet respectful."

With that, the elven abjurer gave her curtsy and stepped aside without further comment.

"Your Highness, plea–" As Poe looked about, obviously confused as to what Lady Ourson and Lord Bonati were getting, his aunt tried to intercede on his behalf, but was quickly cut off when the Princess held up her hand for silence.

With a disinterested sniff, Elendreth remarked, "Yes, yes, no doubt a Dafari owing half her heritage to an elven father. If she intends any mischief then she shall find a sound thrashing awaits her here!"

"Captain Accordion? Ashemaru" Elendreth raised an eyebrow. "What rather odd names these sailors have..."

"Heavens forbid..."

As surely as the mention of stuffed boar made Sasha perk up, Lady Elendreth blanched. Averting her gaze, she looked instead at Lureene and Lucio and commented, "Such a vulgar display, is that really quite appropriate before a princess of Ilmarond?"

"Honestly... hmmph!" Elendreth rolled her eyes at Lucio and Sasha's comments, and raised her chin towards the seat of honor, daintily applauding the Princess.

Thinking better than to answer such a loaded question directly, Elendreth replied, "The Builders have to their credit many of the grand structures found in the human quarters including virtually all of Monument Green. Yet in addition to stone, lumber among other materials is needed in great quantities."

It was everything Elendreth could do not to roll her eyes at Sasha or Lureene — not that either of them picked up on her annoyance. The abjurer gave a doleful glance to her wineglass as a servant refilled it.

"If you were relegated to sharing the company of an enemy of a close friend rather than joining them, I imagine that you too might be 'touchy'."

Elendreth took a measured breath even as she averted her eyes from the lecherous man sitting across from her. "That 'old man' happens to be one of Port Eldarion's most respected Patricians. Luca Petronius is the Master Architect over the Fraternal Association of Builder and a friend unto many–"

Averting her eyes from the pudgy human, Elendreth remarked, "Surely the Lady Ourson's guard would relinquish her seat for your Lordship..."

"Lady Ourson," Elendreth hissed beneath her breath, "perhaps we should save some guests for other tables?"

Although it went unnoticed by Lureene, Isaac, and Sasha, Lady Elendreth seemed to pale as she glanced sidelong at the curvaceous blonde enchantress.

"Your Highness is too kind," she replied in curtsy, her lack of enthusiasm evident to many as she moved to join Ieana at Lureene's table.

The young nobleman seemed about to thank Alis for her graciousness when her question caught him off-guard. Evidently he must have thought it obvious.

Beside him, his aunt, Lady Elendreth cleared her throat, "Your Highness, on that fateful day one month ago, against all thought of self-preservation, my dear nephew stood tall. While others fled and no guards were in sight, he fought to save Governor Taurion from the cowardly villains who slew her. Poe very nearly met his death that day, and he still bears the scars of that battle. Is it so much that he asks, your Highness?"

It wasn't difficult for Lureene to pick up on the innuendo, particularly with Sasha nudging her in the back, Gelik clearing his throat, and Elendreth glaring daggers at Iole and her.

"Come along, Poe, we should check our seating arrangements as well. Good day, Lady Ourson."

Lureene's statement about augmenting her 'natural charms' gave the elven wizardess pause, her gaze briefly dropping to the succubus' bustline.

"I see," she murmured quietly.

Giving the shorter blonde a wan smile, Elendreth's hand strayed to her own throat, fingers caressing a mithril and lapis choker, arm held just-so to conceal her own dearth of cleavage.

"For my part, I began the study of abjuration quite some time before I made the acquaintance of my dear Lord, Glorohir. I daresay my own talents have proven quite a boon to my husband's endeavors. Wouldn't you agree, Poe?"

Even as the elegant elven woman looked to her nephew, it was rather obvious even to Lureene that Elendreth had suddenly become more guarded all of a sudden. Was she jealous?

Unswayed by either her nephew's skittishness, or the way Sasha mangled her name, Elendreth merely admonished the tall young elf, "Poe, dear, you are ever so shy! It is unbecoming of you. Why what would your mother think?"

With a flick of her wrist, the elven lady conjured a magical fan to help cool the young man that he might regain his composure. Smiling gently, she met Lureene's bright blue eyes with her own, "Lady Ourson, it seems your gnome thinks quite highly of your arcane talents. Tell me, do you favor a particular school, or do you draw upon the power of your planar origins directly?"

"My goodness, such perils you faced!" The beautiful elven woman's response was so calm and quiet, it took Lureene a moment to realize it was an exclamation. Lifting the hem of her long, sky-blue gown, the black-haired wizardess returned the shorter blonde's curtsy.

"Elendreth. My husband is Glorohir, and this," she gently cleared her throat to get the attention of the orange-eyed young man beside her, "is my young nephew, Poe."