Age of Retribution Part IV: The Gauntlet of Izabran

[DeadJim]

"Yes, but I really think it should be hung," Arlyss thought aloud, "Your arms will get pretty tired if you keep holding it like that."

Shelanna blankly stared at Arlyss for a moment, then took a corner of the sheet from Duncan and began to hang it off one of the beams.

[Tyler294]

Once the sheet was hung, Gideon picked up a pair of headless axe handles and clomped them together.

"Alright lads an' lasses, let's take it from the top!" he proclaimed, "Actors, take your positions! And... action!"

[DeadJim]

Once upon a time there was a kingdom in a far away land, where there lived a king and his beautiful daughter. The king was just, kind, and gentle, and was loved by all the people of the land. The king also loved his people, but most of all he loved his daughter, and wanted her to have a worthy man take her hand in marriage. So the king sent out invitations to every neighboring kingdom, and every noble family, that on his daughter’s 18th birthday, he would hold a ball in her honor. At this ball, his daughter would choose a man to be her husband, and they would live happily ever after. For that is how the stories go… or is it?

Twas the eve of the princess’s birthday, and the whole kingdom was in a uproar with preparations for the festivities. But that would not be the only thing that day to cause an uproar. Suddenly there appeared in the sky, a monstrous dragon, which began circling the castle, setting fire to the corner turrets and any of the king’s soldiers that tried to fend it off. The battle with the dragon was short lived, and the dragon soon flew into the heart of the castle, where it reached the keep. Before the king or his knights knew what had happened, the princess screamed, and the dragon carried her off into the distant mountains.

On the day of the ball, instead of a celebration, the king called to the palace the young men he had summoned for the occasion. When they had all gathered, he pleaded as he spoke to them…

“Princes, dukes, lords, and noble men of the land: I beseech you with my most earnest request. As you all know, my daughter, Princess Sarra Matilda, should be with us on this most beautiful day. But alas, she has been stolen from us, and is being held captive by an evil dragon in the Tower of Kismet deep in the mountains of Precipicia.”

The King sighed wearily and buried his head in his hands. After a moment he looked back at the men and continued.

“I cannot force you to go on this mission, but I can guarantee that if you are successful, you shall be greatly rewarded! Land, gold, jewels… and perhaps the hand of my daughter in marriage, if one of you should so greatly show his courage and valor! The fate of the Kingdom, the fate of the Monarchy, but most importantly, the fate of my daughter rests in your hands.”

[Tyler294]

One man, a relatively tall, yet also quite wide gentleman of middle age, with a great bushy mustache to accent his rounded facial features, boldly stepped forward before any other man could. He dramatically tossed his elegant cape over his back, then looked left to right, before centering his eyes upon the king.

"So..." the Duke of Boulderham began in a baritone voice, "Is that..."

He paused, blinking a moment, before looking side to side again.

"Why... we are here?"

[DeadJim]

"Yes, good Duke," the King replied, "I very astute observation! I do believe that you are all here, because it was your destiny in life to do so! 'Tis saving my daughter the reason for your existence!"

[Tyler294]

"Incredible..." the duke mused at that.

As the large man pondered the meaning of life, another, far younger man, accompanied by another young man, the two of them princes from a neighboring kingdom and brothers to boot, stepped forward. He dramatically drew out his sword and stabbed the blade to the ground, before genuflecting to one knee.

"Your majesty, I so solemnly swear upon my oath of honor as a High Lord of the Realm of Kitamor, Crown Prince of the city of Catinople, and heir to the House of Litabeaux, that thy daughter shall be recovered safely, and the fell beast shall be slain!"

[DeadJim]

"Alas, good prince, you are a most noble and courageous young man," The King exclaimed. "What is your name?"

[Tyler294]

"I am Prince Charles de Litabeaux, and your humble service your majesty," the man bowed again.

[DeadJim]

The prince with him, grunted slightly trying to attract his brother's attention.

[Tyler294]

"Ah yes, and this my younger brother, Carlyle," the prince quickly introduced his companion.

[DeadJim]

"No, not that!" Carlyle whispered quickly as he tugged his brother back a couple steps. He put his hand to the side of his mouth to hide it from view of the king, and continued frantically,"Why do you think we can trust him? What if this is a plot for him to kill off all the heirs to neighboring kingdoms! It is the perfect plot for total kingdom domination!"

[Tyler294]

"Carlyle, no. The king of this kingdom has always been the stoutest and most resolute ally of our own! Thou mustn't suggest such treachery of such a noble man!" Charles responded indignantly, "Come, let us not appear discourteous to our host!"

[DeadJim]

Before Carlyle could reply, the doors to the throne room slammed open, and a figure began to slowly slide into the room. He was neither young nor old, with long black hair which fell slightly over his brow. His face was pale, which was sharply contrasted by his black eyes. He wore a black cape that draped dramatically over his shoulders, under which he wore a black armor, in the center of which was a golden medallion. Depicted were several very sharp points, most likely teeth, surrounding a small object in the center.

The man walked so smoothly into the room, without the even the sound of a footstep, that it almost appeared that he might be floating. His head held high, he walked past all the others and stood before the king, though he did not speak.

The King sighed with annoyance, "Yes Morvatius, what do you want?"

The man smirked slightly and stated simply, "I'm coming with," and slid back slightly to join the others.

[Tyler294]

Over in the corner of the room, a head peered out from behind a suit of armor and eyed the latest arrival.

"Great Scott, James!" the man gasped in a low voice, so as not to be heard by anyone but the man he was talking to, "It is Morvatius! And he has managed to trick the king into allowing him to join the expedition! This is catastrophic!"

[Shawnex]

"Indeed it has!" popped up James Loch eyeing at the figure, "I thought we outwitted him after a serious weapon robbery that happened eons ago! He has no loyalty to serve the king after all that! Even after he took that position after his father and others fathers before him so we don't want him to claim victory after his father and his grandfather and his great grandfather and great great grandfather!" 

[Tyler294]

"Brilliant!" the first man, Elmer Talbot, declared, raising a finger toward the ceiling, "But James, what can we do?"