Date: 27 August 2025
Chronicle Day: Day 151
Abercrombie’s recollection, frae the feasting halls tae the pale‑blue light o’ the circle.
Arrival in Quellburn
We were brought tae Quellburn for an audience wi’ the King himself.
The castle’s reception hall was already in full feast — long tables, silver platters, banners hangin’ from the rafters 🍗🍷.
Rudy, ever the opportunist, attempted tae pocket some o’ the furnishings — a candlestick here, a napkin ring there 🕯️🫢.
Throsh, meanwhile, asked about protocols, titles, and proper address, wantin’ tae avoid offendin’ royalty 🏰📜.
The Throne Room
We were escorted tae the throne room, opulent beyond reason —
marble floors, gold filigree, and a massive bejewelled door that shimmered like a dragon’s hoard 💎🚪.
Inside sat High King Andor Windsor — stern, proud, and wi’ a tongue sharp enough tae cut stone.
His views on the other races were… let’s say less than charitable 😒.
He questioned us about the Ratmen.
He claimed they’d last been seen 200 years ago, during the Unification Wars — long thought extinct or scattered.
Illiana had called the Triumvirate, and the King confirmed it.
Royal Orders
We were tae accompany His Majesty as proxies, settlin’ disputes wherever they arose.
Our next destination: Mount Druitt.
Home.
Moradin be praised! 🛠️⛰️
The Teleportation Chamber
We were led doon tae a lower level o’ the castle — a chamber lit only by candlelight, shadows flickerin’ on stone walls 🕯️.
Two teleportation circles lay carved into the floor —
perfectly symmetrical, inlaid wi’ gold and crystals, runes etched wi’ masterful precision 🔮⚙️.
The left circle had its crystals installed.
The runes lit pale blue, and our ears popped as the air shifted.
The King explained the process as if we’d never done this before —
which, tae be fair, we hadn’t.
Through the Circle
His Majesty stepped through first.
Then Rudy, Sergei, Throsh, Kaz, myself, and Ryn in that order.
On the other side:
- Rudy, full o’ rum, lost his lunch 🤢
- Sergei dry‑heaved 🤮
- Throsh threw up in his snout 🐗💦
- Kaz flexed 💪
- Ryn and I were perfectly fine 😌
- Ryn paused tae study the mechanism — the crystals, the runes, the glyphwork 🧠🔷
Messages and Magic
Throsh sent a message tae Illara, keepin’ her apprised o’ our movements 📜✨.
Rudy revealed a new ability — conjurin’ three conch shells 🐚🐚🐚
that allowed communication wi’ him for eight hours.
Sergei learned a wee bit more Common from Kaz and Throsh along the way 🗣️.
The Arena
We were taken tae the arena, where the King ascended tae the Royal viewing platform 🏟️👑.
And there, standin’ among the gathered, was Alistair —
our King.
Ryn’s King.
My King.
The air grew heavy wi’ expectation.
The Elven Queen and the First Bout
The Elven Queen — knife‑ears herself — rounded out the royalty present 👑🧝♀️.
Cold, elegant, and wi’ a stare sharp enough tae cut steel.
Her proxies stepped forward for Round 1, leavin’ the sands stained wi’ their pride and sweat.
Then came the human proxies — our opponents for the skirmish:
- Three humans
- Two dogs 🐕🐕
- One in full plate — a Paladin, gleamin’ like a polished anvil ⚔️
- One illustrious woman, poised and dangerous
- One surly fighter, the two hounds at his heel
The Paladin introduced himself wi’ all the pomp ye’d expect — voice boomin’, armour clatterin’, confidence radiatin’ like a forge fire.
Preparations for Battle
Ryn cast Invisibility on me, his hands movin’ in tight, precise gestures ✨🫥.
The air shimmered, and I vanished from sight — ready tae strike from the shadows.
We took our positions on the arena floor, the roar o’ the crowd echoing around us 🏟️.
The Skirmish
The clash was fierce:
- Steel on steel
- Dogs snarlin’
- Magic cracklin’
- Dust risin’ in clouds beneath our boots
We fought hard, each o’ us takin’ hits, dodgin’ blows, and pressin’ the advantage where we could.
In the end, we were victorious —
the human proxies lay defeated upon the sand 🩸.
But it was no easy triumph.
We bore scrapes, bruises, and a few temporary casualties — the kind ye walk away from, but only just.
Still, we stood.
And the arena knew our names.
