The Bridge to Nowhere

[VAN]

Terik has a strange feeling as the jester is talking something he cannot put his finger on. And then suddently he realizes that Rellik is killer written backwards. A coincidence, maybe, and the jester did have blood at his hands. Maybe another coincidence, but now are two of them...he needs to learn more about what happened that day.

Putting his hand to Tammeri's shoulder to stop him from entering he says:

"Please a wait a moment."

Turning to Jester the wizard says:

"Your story is a bit confusing and significant parts are missing...What happened to the child, did the healers manage to save it? You said King tobi didn't get the baby when he saw it, what did he with it? Queen's Emily died during the child birth or was actually murdered by the maiden that thought the baby was ugly and that was an omen? Who are these "rest of them" King Tobi ordered to be found? And what else can you tell us about this Smiling Man is he a friend or a foe of the King Tobi?"

[Zilfer]

"No one knows, but the King has listened to the Smiling man in the past. Friend or foe I know not! As for those hunted down well their were the other hand maidens that had attended the queen and abandoned her child! Their lives might have well ended by the time they left the room! Or perhaps they were scared because of the king's fierce love of his wife, that he would be mad, mad, mad, that they could only save the beautiful baby, and not his wife. Well.... Rellik would never do such a thing however, I am a devote servant of his majesty!" says Rellik bowing at the mere mention of the king. His masked face turns back up to meet the parties from a bowed position.

His voice drops really low and in the most serious voice you've heard from the jester yet, he speaks in a faint whisper. "I will tell you... I've seen the Smiling Man wandering these halls..."

Almost a split second later the Jester's cheery demeanor comes back and he stands up straight. "Now... if you would please, the King awaits. I'm sure we're all going to be splendid friends, truly!"

"Well at least we get to keep our weapons... I thought it was customary to disarm when speaking to royalty... or at least that's how it's told back home," says Dexter scratching a bit of scruff on the lower end of his chin. Rellik laughs at Dexter for a moment.

"Ha! Why would you do that unless you wanted to kill the king... your not assassin's are you? No of course not!" said Rellik pulling out a small dagger and spinning it on the end before flipping it up and catching it all the while talking. "So there will be no need to use your weapons."

"Well I'm eager to speak with this King Tobi, I'm sure we all have questions to ask of him," says Lin before looking to her companions. "Does anyone else have any other questions for Rellik?"

[VAN]

So the Smiling Man has been seen at the palace, Terik doesn't know why but he was actually expecting that...At Linn's question the wizard says:

"Just a second Linn please."

Terik turns to the jester:

"One last question please Rellik. What happened to the child, where is he now?"

[Zilfer]

"Alas I cannot say, it is not my place young traveler." said Rellik rather simply as if Terik had just asked the time of day. Angelo scratched the back of his head before yawning and then looking at Terik. He crossed his eyes before looking back at the Jester almost as if to say the man was crazy.

[VAN]

Terik sighs since he would appreciate a more accurate reply the nods forcing a smile.

"Thank you Rellik, lead the way inside and lets hope King Tobi is in good mood."

[Zilfer]

Without further adieu the Jester opened the door, from which light poured into the hallway. A grand chandelier lit up the throne room which was no more than seventy feet deep and thirty feet wide. Small by most standards but large enough to hold a good number of people. Candelabra’s were also lit along the pillars leading to the central throne. Warmth poured out from inside and it was almost welcoming compared to the chill of the hallways.

“Enter,” came a voice at the far back of the room. A man dressed in half plate stands at the far end of the room and the Jester tumbles down the hallway alongside you as they approach. It is this man who speaks first.

“I am King Tobi, and You I’ve seen come into the walls of the city of Draken from the outlands. Beyond the walls, and I assume through the gates I have opened,” said the man apparently King Tobi. He held his hand up to a full beard of fine black hair. His gaze was stern as he wasn’t used to talking casually. He observed the group for a time before speaking again.

“I have summoned you forth from… well where ever you come from because I have a problem that cannot be solved by anyone within Draken. I need specialists from far and wide, and the only way I’ve been able to add anyone to this dismal place is with those doors. Each time I open one however, more undead pour through…” said the man Tobi as he paced the sound of his armor was the only thing that interrupted the silence… that was until Rellik had anything to say out it.

“Yes, the king… Yes the GREAT King Tobi has a problem only brave adventurer’s like you can solve! This is why Rellik found you and lead you down the right hallways so you didn’t run into any surprises! No, no no! Surprises usually are the last people in the castle see. Why just the other day…”

“Silence Rellik!” bellowed the King over the jester’s cacophony pointing to the far end of the room. “Leave Rellik, without delay or I will silence you.”

Rellik took cover behind the largest member of the party, bending down low in a fetal position as if fearing the king’s wrath. As if the words could physically hurt him before peaking over Tammerin’s shoulder and running to the door and tripping at the last moment and sliding out the door. A moment later he peaked back in.

“Do not fear! Rellik is okay,” said Rellik before slipping back behind the door and it swiftly closed with a slam. The King sat down uncomfortably on his throne, the sword on his back a claymore getting in the way of him sitting comfortably so he leaned forward placing a hand on his face shaking his head.

“Forgive the fool. He is my royal assassin and one of the few servants I have left. He has served me diligently, through the years but his methods can be…. Grating,” said King Tobi as he looked back up to the party. “I hope he did not threaten to kill you like he normally does. He is rather obsessed with dead bodies, and thinks they are works of art. Now if you please approach, I’m sure you have many questions to ask me about why I have brought you here and I will try my best to answer them all.”

Lin, Dexter and Angelo approached. Angelo and Lin bowed as they approached closer but Dexter simply crossed his arms in anticipation. It looked like they were waiting to see if anyone else would speak before they asked their questions. Angelo as usual held a blank look, that he was passively taking in the scene but not being an active participant.

[ash]

Fox didn't care much for the jester or his little jokes and everything else he was doing. Honestly, he would rather kill him and be done with it, but, being the nice man he was, he didn't. He just continued to play the nice man.

He was still playing nice when he, along with everyone else, were brought before the king. At first, he didn't care much for him, or the was he was speaking about him seeing them, or bringing them to this world. Now if he could only get his memories back.

Fox couldn't help but stifle a laugh as King Tobi bellowed at the jester to leave, which the Jester did at once, with a few words. When he was gone, did Fox finally speak.

Honestly, I would have stuck him already...

[VAN]

Terik listens at King Tobi quirking an eyebrow here and there as the King speaks, when he is done talking the wizard goes a little closer, bows and says:

"So you were the one that send the black door. You wanted people come here and help you I can understand that you are worried for your people even if in all honesty a messanger would have been better so we could know what to expect and come more prepared but anyway since we are here we will see what we can do. But you said that Rellik is an assassin? How a fool can be an assassin?"

Shaking his head in disbeleaf Terik regains his composure and asks:

"How can we help you?"

[Zilfer]

“How indeed,” said the King to Terik’s comment.

“There’s definitely something off about him alright. None of his rambling could be considered good fun if you ask me,” said Dexter, his arms uncrossing. Lin seemed to concur responding almost right after Dexter.

“His comments aren’t the comments of a fool, they brim with just enough to make you feel like he isn’t telling all that he knows,” said Lin who had approached beside Terik and bowed along side him.

“Yes, well that’s quite enough of fools today. I am in neither the mood nor do I have the ability to fathom why I was assigned a royal assassin in the guise of a jester. It seems almost a cruel joke. He has done his job faithfully however, and even saved my life a few times since the Mists rolled in,” said Tobi as he shrugged in his armor. “As for sending a messenger, I fear either they never have made it to the gates I have opened or have never returned. I can hold the gate open for only ten days. Unfortunately you have seen the numbers my people have dwindled too.”

“You have my sympathies, your majesty. What is the nature that you require our help with?” asked Lin.

“A straight forward woman, I can appreciate that. As I’ve just said ever time the door is opened undead pour through. What I need you to do is investigate the lower levels of the castle here. The undead seem to gather down there for some reason and I think something may be drawing them from…. Other realms here. Perhaps whatever you find down there will be the key to leaving or banishing the mists from my land,” said Tobi as he stood up and drew a sword on his side that seemed to be there for decoration compared to the greatsword on his back. “This blade may be of some help to you; it is forged of Cold Iron, and blessed in the name of each king past. And I should warn you, trust no one who smiles in this land. I fear it has something to do with the curse upon this land.”

Dexter sighs, it is obvious that he doesn’t like the string of trails they are stumbling along. He says nothing however, staying as silent as the passive Angelo.

[Metaflux]

When the jester left the chamber, relief flooded over Tammerin as if a cascading waterfall had cleansed his mind of all craziness. This did not help, though, when the king mentioned the undead beneath the castle. "Praise the sun! Undead to smite and a horde at that! Let my blade of the highest light banish the darkness! Let my will be the bane of their existence! Let my fist be the force that shall call forth their judgement!" And so on he cheered with symbol and purpose attached to each sentence, pacing back and forth with hands pumping the air to emphasize the ending of each sentence.

[VAN]

Terik has opened his mouth to say something but he has to change his mind soon after Tammerin's clear decision to go fight these undead. The wizard sighs and says:

"King tobi, what can you tell us about these undead? Are they zombies or ghouls for example or else? How many do you estimate will be there? And do you have a map of the castle's lower levels we can use?"

[Zilfer]

Seeing no one jumping at the oppertunity to accept the sword Lin came forward and took the sword gingerly from the King's hand. "Thank you for your gift Sire."

"If you search the library you should be able to find the architecture drawings there. I appologize for not being able to come with you but I must remain within the safety of this room. It is the only room that I know is still warded against the undead," said Tobi handing the sword to Lin. "If you should run afoul you can always retreat back here, but as for the types of undead. I'm afraid I do not know their classifications, it isn't a field of study most nobles undertake. I can tell you there are both ones with flesh and without, some use their hands to tear people apart and other's use weapons as skilled as any warrior at my command. Beyond that I'm afraid I can not help you."

Angelo bangs the bottom of his staff/scythe and preforms an exaggerated nod. Dexter chuckles slightly at the seeming determination. "Your friend seems to be very quiet," commented Tobi.

"He seems to have taken some vow of silence," says Lin to which Angelo nods again. "Very odd for one of his order."

[VAN]

"Well, I will check the library then for the lower level plans then, thank you very much."

Looking around the walls of the room for a sign of ward Terik adds:

"King Tobi, you said this room is warded against the undead. Who casted the spell and why it is only here and not at the city gate for example or at the entrance of the lower levels so the undead will be trapped in there without opportunity to exit? The town will be safer that way I think."

[Zilfer]

"A foreigner like yourselves came from a different land and with his faith warded it as a gesture of good will. He said there were far too many places to ward almong the cities walls and sewers. I however don't like to take chances..." said the King lightly clinking his gauntlet against his plate. "I'm afraid he must have subcomed to whatever fate lies below, and perhaps you will fair better with the layout..."

[VAN]

"I understand, well we will try to do our best."

Tutning to the others he adds:

"If you have no further questions for the King I would like to visit the library and take a look at the lower levels plans so we will have an idea of the layout. We should be prepared for everything I guess."