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The sun was shining as David sat in a chair looking over towards the council entrance. The old queen had just entered and her children started walking around, looking at the people, playing hide and seek. As he was drinking a glass of juice, a smile spread on his lips, he remembered being there, running around, being handed a piece of bread by the old women so he wouldn’t starve the same night.

As he stood up, the two men accompanying him followed quickly, one was bald and had an old face, he was mean looking, but so was the other one. The other man had lost an eye, leaving only an empty hole where it used to be, he had a deep scar running across his face, and was missing several teeth. As they walked past the children, they all cleared a path until one ran into the latter guard, looking up at him before freezing.

He moved his head closer to the child, until he was an inch away from him. David looked at them with a small chuckle, watching the boys terrified eyes before kneeling down, offering the child a smile and an apple before standing back up and walking forward.

As he walked up the stairs, a guard stood up in front of him as he approached the door. Asking him to leave unless he had official business. David went forward, looking up and down the guard. “You smell of piss, wine and shit, if you want to pretend that you are here to guard me or anyone else. At least have the decency to take a bath so I don’t have to smell you.” He gave David an angry look until another guard came up, telling him to let the Prince pass, and as they moved aside, he smiled to the guard before going in. He took in the palace building before moving towards the council chambers, leaning against the doorway as he looked at the soldier and queen, discussing marriages and husbands.
 
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Feeling someone's gaze upon her, Avila turned her head towards the door, squinting as she struggled to make out the features of the person there.

"No need to stand outside deary, come in, come in." She blinked owlishly. "You don't look like one of my big boys, strapping young lads that they are, but I think I know you. Come closer deary, let me have a look at you. I always remember a face, even if my eyes aren't what they used to be."
 
Hera had an eventful day infront of her, it seemed. She clacked her fingers against the table, they were in the gauntlet, so an distinct thump was made was made they clashed against the wood. She raised an eyebrow as the guard spoke to her, and she spied an mysterious young man staring at her. "As the old woman says, there is nothing to hide.." She looked back at her guard, and let Avila take care of him. "An elf, you say? An elf is here? I wonder.. And he speaks of the Wuld. I see no reason why an elf would approach the Palace, other then he was the Prince the Wuld Mother had chosen.. But we may never be too sure."

She reasoned with herself, thinking as she pondered, grasping her chin. "Ah, let him in, but watch the paths, and follow him here... He can't cause too much trouble. Remember, do not enter this room, unless it is something like this." She stuck her finger at the guard, and he nodded, quickly walking away to get the elf and inform the eccentric creature that Hera would allow him to enter.
 
“As you wish.” He said with a faint smile on his face as he went forward, stopping in front of the old queen, and looking over to the younger woman. The young one, Hera, she wasn’t ugly, she was wearing too much armor, was she afraid of getting impaled by sharp tongues and words. Her breasts was a good size, but her hair made her look like a young boy.

“It would be pleasant if the guards would smell less in the future. To bring health, happiness, prosperity and equality to the whole of the city, then we should aim to upgrade the rest of the districts, not downgrade this one.”
 
She studied him intently, her wrinkled brow furrowed in concentration. After a few moments she let out a cackle of victory. "David! Little David, I remember you. You were taken in by that seamstress Elva, weren't you?" She smiled confidently. "I always remember a face." She repeated, as if to herself.
 
She squinted at him. "If you are implying my guardsmen are anything less then impeccable, perhaps you should get out of the docks more often. You merchants are all the same, you speak high of how pleasant your new brooch is, yet you spend all night sleeping with your fishes?" She snickered, folding her hands together.

"I know Issarians don't like to have too many manners, for they respect their right to moan and complain about everything else, but would it really be past you to simply act as if you weren't insidious?" The look he gave her unnerved the Captain, she did not like his eyes.
 
“Correct as always Avila.” He said with a smile as he sat down and looked over at Hera. “Me implying that, no, oh my I would never. As for the guard, the wine stank from his mouth, he smelled of piss and shit, and you want me to trust him with my life. If you want a compliment, you need to earn it, I will not compliment you or your men in hopes of winning your affection.” He stared into her eyes for a moment. “As for my complaining and moaning, you put a guard in my way, I didn’t ask for it and I will not take something forced upon me and blocking my way as a gift and a blessing.”
 
"Again, I question your nose, and your speech is quite unbecoming infront of an Lady." She frowned, "It is very hard to get promoted into my unit. I doubt you have ever stood command over even an platoon of soldiers, excuse me if I don't pity your dissent of my guardsmen." She looked at her fingers, "The guards are not for your leisure, but for my safety. I do not trust the seneschal, who knows what might have happened here while the Princes were away.." She breathed, "I would advise against such random acts of hostility, for an simple standard of safety."
 
Avila chuckled maternally and waved her hands dismissively. "Come now dearies, let us not argue about who smells of what. I am sure we can sought out who guards who when the all Councillors show up, but until then let us play nice, no?"
 
​

And the guards escorted him beyond the palace gates, deep into the heart of the Sacred City, to the very chamber were princes sat in council for centuries under the ever vigilant gaze of the gods.
There he met for the first time Prince Morin, always between shadows, Princess Bedanburg of the sharp tongue and Princess Loiranta, ever vigilant and hard-hearted.
He stood there, at the entrance of such revered place and introduced himself with soft words, a simple bow and humble gestures.
"I salute you, my prince and princesses. My name is Chaelas Nyvmrail of the Silver District and I have the honour of being here by the grace of Tha'Wuld and the confidence the people of Wuldbreach bestow upon me. It is tuly a privilege to be here in such renowed company"
 
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“Greetings Prince Chaelas, it’s my pleasure to meet you.” He looks at Avila. “You are right of course.” As he then looks over to Hera. “My apologies, you are right, I should not speak as such in front of you, a proper lady such as yourself.” He said as he moved his head slightly down, looking at his fingers at the tables. “Who knows what has happened, and what the seneschal can be trusted with, now that the princes have been away.” He looks upwards with his eyes, gazing into hers. “Then again, if someone hadn’t opened the gate, they wouldn’t have needed to run.”
 
Hera nodded to the elf, he had asked to see her, if he needed to ask anything, he could say it now.

She looked to the Man. "Exactly." She smiled knowingly.
 
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​

The Fair Prince bowed once more before his peers and took his place among them. Taking short and soft steps, he reached the empty chair and carefully placed his flute on the table.
"It is always a great pleasure to be greeted in such a warm and friendly manner" he smiled briefly with a spark of sadness on his face "Alas, I cannot help but notice that we are all not present at the moment despite the severity of the situation..." he turned his eyes to Hera "While I understand the necessity of protecting the Sacred Heart with men of courage and noble purpose, I fear I do not see wisdom in doing it. Why confront the fears of the people with spears and swords instead truths and words? We need to give the people something to believe in rather than enforce our decisions with cold steel aimed at them. Violence only begets violence and swords are always met with swords. This I believe, is a grave danger to our city that must be averted" he waves his hand with a gentle gesture to the other members of the council "Please, let us seat and discuss how to find an alternative solution. I´m sure we all can agree that much?"
 
She almost doubled over at his words. "Do you believe that you can survive without the protection of someone lesser, risking their life, to save yours, elf? Do you dare disrespect all the proud men of the city watch, all the soldiers who have lost their lives in the world's countless history, by calling for the replacement of an shield with a.." She looks him up and down, "Flute? Swords are met with cowering bodies, and obedience. The only people who have any lick of sense, wouldn't dare to challenge an Prince, and the only person who could challenge a Prince, is another Prince!" She sat back, folding her arms. "Our edicts will be heralded, and our laws shall be protected.. Not by diplomats, and bards, but by taxcollectors and soldiers." She shook her head, "The most pressing concern of this council must be the beastfolk who have averted trade, and squandered an part of the harbor. They must be vanquished immediately, not with an parlay by the docks, but with swords and bows."
 
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Eli Fara, Grand Seneschal​

After the proclamation of princes went far and wide across Wuldbreach, Eli Fara made his way to the Council Hall, where he found it under guard by the swornswords of Princess Hera. Dismissing his own swornswords to supplement the force, and keep any mob incursions at bay, Seneschal Fara entered the chamber. Dressed in an ordained robe of red silk above shining plate mail, he bowed low to the Princes already in attendance.

"Gods bless this day, for the Council of Princes is chosen. Today is the day we take back our city!"

A row of servants clad in white robes followed the Seneschal, and with a quick word of orders, they went about cleaning the chamber, left a mess by the priests who deliberated here for many days. Discarded food and spilled wine, smashed plateware from passionate debate, and even a few dribbles of blood here and there were cleaned - all within mere minutes.

Trays of fruit and vegetables were carried out from a large vaulted door, followed by seared meats and wine and cold water. Though considered meager fare by noble standards, to a peasant it would seem a feast.

"Apologies for the meager offerings, My Princes. Considering the state we find ourselves in, I am sure you can understand. Please take your fill, please." The man, skin of light brown, of Issira descent, coughs and clears his throat. "My Princes, I am Eli Fara. I have the honour to be Grand Seneschal of Wuldbreach and am at your service. There are many matters to discuss, and your own proposals to be addressed, I'm sure. However, our chief concern, this the season of the Sea, is to bring peace and order back to the city. I have ordered the chiming of the council bells, for all nobility and holy men to join us and lend their voices. If I may lend my voice now, peace will ever elude us until the rebel prince is arrested and made to answer for his crimes.

"Tradition dictates a grand coronation of princes as well, though given the times we find ourselves in, this matter can wait until the city is secure. My Princes, please, let us discuss how best to return law and order to the city of Wuldbreach."
 
Baldur Vitupars raised an eyebrow as his carriage entered the palace grounds and saw soldiers standing about. Either someone outside the council put them there, or it was that Hera's doing he thought. The three carriages behind his own followed closely to the entrance to the palace proper, where more guards stood in front of the doors, clearly an attempt to show power by acting as a gatekeeper. Almost fitting for her, but for the closed nature of the doors. Baldur tapped his fingers upon the edge of his door, which had the sigil of the Vitupars House upon it, a silver griffen on a red field, as the other carriages emptied their contents, a dozen of his own men, armored from head to toe in the finest armor money could buy. They spread out and formed a semicircle around his carriage, facing the entrance and the guards.

Baldur stepped out from his carriage, adjusting his silver cloak as he did so, making sure it didn't scrunch up or cover the fine red silks beneath. With a wave of ring adorned hand, his men formed into two columns and followed him as he walked towards the entryway, stopping at the stairs. Baldur approached the guards who had watched his entrance nervously. One of them decided to say the usual spiel, regardless of whether it made sense.

"If you are not here on official busi-"

Baldur interrupted the guard before he could embarrass himself further, "Do you know who I am? Even a backwater simpleton gate guard must know the sigil of my house at least."

The guard lowered his eyes, "Yes, Prince Vitupars."

"Then you know perfectly well why I'm here and that I am not a man to cross with these petty power plays of your lead lass." Baldur paused a moment to let the words sink in, "You are either going to let me in now, or we are going to have a most unfortunate problem here, and I doubt that would go well for you, or your boss."

"Well... I... we.." The guard tried to stammer out an answer, but Baldur was already walking past him, and the guard wisely decided to let him go.

Baldur entered the council chambers swiftly and quickly eyed those already there. As expected, Hera seated trying to force herself into power to compensate for her weaknesses. David Morin playing up his own importance and laying low at the same time. The old woman Avila Bedanburg was there too, though Baldur couldn't tell what game she was playing yet. And the elf was there too, holding his flute like some two-bit corner beggar. All kinds made it on the council it seemed, hopefully some would last shorted than others. He caught the tail end of what Seneschal Fali was saying as he entered.

"Mankar must be brought to justice for sending our city into chaos and neglecting his duties. We should send soldiers to scour the countryside to root him out of his hiding place before he can instigate another problem. but even removing him won't end the chaos we see in the city now. We must impose a curfew and get the rabble off the streets, by force if necessary. For too long the anarchy has been left to fester, like an open wound. Drastic action must be taken to save the city, before the infection can take hold of the entire body."

Baldur eyed his fellow Princes and Princesses to gauge their responses.
 
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Eli Fara, Grand Seneschal​

"Let the Council recognize the motion set forth by Prince Vitupars. A motion is put forward to call for the arrest of Mankar Silvist. A motion is also put forth to impose a curfew by force, so that a peacekeeping effort may be mounted. What say you my Princes? A vote in favour? A counter proposal?"
 
Hera almost rolled her eyes as Baldur stepped inside, and spoke his words. She clacked her fingers on the table again, an habit, it seemed. "Why, those are rather bold claims. Mankar brought this city to its knees, and was dispatched only just." She wished to speak little of the matter, but they could not let her be. "He holds power in many sectors, and his followers are spread out all throughout outside the city.. He will make himself known when he feels the time is right, extending our power too far outside would be playing into his hand, and would give him the advantage. We should secure the city's defenses, first matter of that, is disposing of the beastfolk in harbor." She clasped her steel gauntlet onto the table. "An curfew sounds reasonable, but I would wish more allocation of resources to be donated to the architect guilds, to shore up our walls, and make them more defendable. Putting more money into the Wall Watchmen would also allow them to recruit more, and thus allow them to be better manned incase of any type of attack again." She smirked, "Other then that, your mind is in the right place, Prince Baldur." She bowed her head, offering her hand to her chest.

"I'm Prince Hera, if you hadn't already been addressed to me, though, we have. Just if you forgot."
 
Baldur frowned as he turned his eyes towards the upjumped gate guard.

"Your plan seems an exercise in foolhardiness, Princess Hera. To let Mankar determine when he can act gives him the initiative, and to counter that we would need to be prepared for every avenue of possible attack, which is more difficult and would require more resources than hunting him down. You claim that pursuing him plays into his hand, but letting him choose when and where to act would be far worse. He already destroyed one council, must we wait until he tries to destroy another before we go after him? For securing the city we must focus on the restoration of order before we improve defenses, or it will be a hollow victory to keep enemies out when many already lie within. Dispatching the beastfolk is good, though I'd say that they should be dealt with after we impose a curfew on the city to secure the other districts."
 
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