Everlaen:Story:Hospitality

It was moving from late afternoon to early evening by the time the group arrived at the palace. The days had been steadily getting longer though as spring marched into summer and also as the party had travelled south and the sky was still bright and blue above their heads. The heady scents of evening flowers beginning to open could be detected and the heat of the day abating and rising of the land was noticable itself, giving its own subtle scent to the day.

Their progress through the city was noted from time, but after a while it became obvious that the occassional curious glances they were getting was more to do with the presence of Deityr than anything else and possibly Andril. Since entering the vale, they had seen no other people other than elves, and of those almost all had been moon or gold elves. Still, they were not stopped or accosted and they simply had the feeling they were unusual rather than unwelcome.

The palace - which Lorathon had explained was not so much a royal residence as a meeting hall for the Hill Council and a centre for the workings of the government - was a beautiful building, as they expected. It was not as overwhelming as might have been thought, given the name. Rather it was a fairly low building which climbed up one the hills of the city with wide terraces spreading out around its environs like a stately woman smoothing her skirts as she sat elegantly awaiting a caller. The gardens and patios were laid out quite exquisitely, as again came as no surprise to the newcomers, who were seeing exquisite surroundings wherever they looked today.

Climbing polished wide white marble steps flanked with matching balustrades and stately statues of tranquil and wise looking elves, they approached the main entrance, set into a horseshoe shaped enclave lined with reaching pillars supporting only the sky. It was here they were stopped for the first time and the palace guards came forth to enquire as to their business. Lorathon spoke to them and they passed through, only to be stopped again a little while later as was the nature of such things and places and soon they were being passed and lead from one place and person to another until they could finally wait in a pleasant antechamber.

Some fruit juice was served to them as they waited on simple benches, their surroundings fairly plain and tasteful allowing each member of the group to easily focus their thoughts inward. They had not been waiting for so long when a well appointed moon elf came to greet them. He was dressed in fine clothes with tight black leggings and a deep purple shirt with extremely long and frilly cuffs to his sleeves, dangling almost past his knees. Over this he wore a waistcoat of silver sammite. A number of bejewelled rings adorned his long fingers and a silver circlet with a gleaming moonstone adorned his brow. His hair was long, plaited into a single silver rope which hung below his waist.

Lorathon stood and bowed in greeting to the elf as he entered and the pleasantry was returned in a slightly more profunct way. "Lorathon Starhome, I see you. What can I do for you, or do you come on your father's business?"

This was Hal'Ky'Thaness, the palace Chamberlain and one of the senior civil servants of the realm, in that almost all business which reached the Council had to pass through him first and he was charged with the upkeep and day to day running of the palace, the centre of government. He had held his post since before Lorathon had been born and was famously unphased by anything or anyone - including the Watcher Over the Hills and head of the Council, Lord Erlan Dursar.

Lorathon looked at the Chamberlain and smiled inwardly to himself, as a youth, he and his freinds sometimes joked that he was not an elf at all, but rather some kind of construct or golem, such was the precision and efficiency with which he conducted himself and the palace. His ability to remain unfazed was legendary. He and his companions could all transform, their bodies twisting and changing as new forms erupted forth, appearing as Lolth, along with a pair of Yugoloths and Pit Fiends and the strongest reaction they could possibly elicit might be a raised eyebrow followed by a terse, but very quiet, "Damn." "I see you, Hal'Ky'Thaness, and bid you greetings. I am indeed on Father's business, as well as that of the Council's.  I have returned with the envoy of Everlaen"  With that he turned slightly and raised his left hand to introduce his companions. "May I present the Lady Selenne Irithyl, Sircar Blueshaft, the mage Deityr, and Andril Forlorn, a noteable bard."