Kevin
Danico Felrantres
Vallen, Taemar

A small, intrigued smirk builds on the edge of Danicos lip, genuinely surprised that the answer had in fact not been no. "Colour me surprised." He replies, his expression turns with a smile for the first time during the conversation. Having genuinely thought that the practice of magic was banned from nearly all facets of religion- as it was in most of the southern countries, the Alchemist leans forward onto the table as a plate of hog was brought around. Inspecting the new, far more appetising dish for a moment, his attention darted back to the woman across from him. His eyes were full of curious intrigue, intent and a thirst for knowledge, but his demeanour had slowly become more casual, his usual uptight posture had begun to relax as the conversation continued. It wasn't often Danico had a decent conversation like this, but he enjoyed it all the same.

"I had believed that magic was looked down upon by the many faiths." He continues as he meshes his fingers together in front, pushing the dish to side for the moment to indulge the conversation further. "And I have indeed practiced the magical arts to a practical degree." His words become somewhat quieter as the conversation of magic continues- he knew there were people here who certainly wouldn't take kindly to someone openly admitting they practice magic "But to what extent does magic play a role in your job? If it does, that is."
Michael
Serafina - Magistrate Wisdom to House Terresol
Castle Grunewald, Vallen 

The invisible scent of food filled Serafina's nose as the Grunewald servants strode past their table with platters of hog to serve the royals. The discomfort she saw among many of them made her chuckle quietly, but it quieted as her eyes crossed with the Pirate King. 'A enigma if ever there was one.' The man called himself a "King" But he was nothing more than an established merchant with an extraordinary ego. He, among others, had been an obstacle to the spread of the Southern Pantheon in the Southern Isles. If murder wouldn't add the remaining years of his life to her Mourning she may have been inclined to remove the obstacle using the flower the magician had so kindly explained the function of. Serafina felt a sense of disappointment in her chest at the thought and sighed, turning back to face Danico while sending up a silent apology. 'Free will and without provocation, Saris, yes, I remember.'

The main course was delivered to their table moments later, steam rising from the freshly carved hog. Serafina had to admit the smell was heavenly and a welcome respite from the abysmal appetizer. She chuckled as Danico spoke, watching him through the steam that rose from her plate. "It is." She returned, her smile losing its glow for a moment as words of her own elder mentors chastising her for filling her mind with insignificant information rang in her ears. "But I am not like my colleagues. Ignorance is as equal a sin as robbery."

Serafina had nearly missed his admittance of practicing magic as it was covered by her own chewing and inner thoughts. Not that it mattered much, he had indirectly implied his involvement earlier. "More intellectual than true practice." She admitted, washing down a bite of the surprisingly delicious meat with a sip of blood wine. "Understanding its nature assists in discussions much like the ones you and I are having. If I do dabble," She paused with a short smile, "It was in the outlying villages where they believe in it more heavily." She took another bite of hog and studied him for a moment, unsure of how he would take her next remark. "However, many of the problems they wish to solve with magic have mundane solutions."
Lawrence
Kallophon
Grunewald Castle, Vallen, Taemar

Kallophon wrinkled his nose beneath his mask. Surely it was inappropriate to speak openly of *Poison*, especially at a gathering meant to engender ease and diplomacy. If these people grew too defensively minded, then any performer inquiring about patronage would seem more to them like a crafty assassin hired by a fellow guest! Kallophon would spend the next few months either eating, sleeping, and working well, or limping near-penniless back to Terresol; it all depended on tonight.

As he struck sparse, thin notes on his lyre, Kallophon's eyes began to prospect. King Gregor was an unattractive mark; nothing about the man spoke of good artistic taste to Kallophon. Merely looking upon the rough-cut king made Kallophon queazy. His nausea peaked when he noticed King Gregor seeming to lear at a woman at the middle of the table. Kallophon followed his gaze and contemplated her.

Her description matched what he'd heard of Queen Elsinore. Following the criteria of "Handsome, lavish-looking blondes", he identified the man to her right as Sir Heath, who caught the Kallophon's eye for a few seconds too many. If the Romanovs lived as sumptuously as he had heard, surely they were the kind to appreciate his crafts? The idea of spending time in so lush and cosmopolitan a court was also very enticing. He thought about strategy. The Queen had a few children, yes? Maybe he could offer himself as a tutor. He made a note of it.

To the right of Sir Heath; was that ...? Ah yes, it was. Queen Lane. She was nicely dressed, he supposed.

At the end of the table were two regal-looking women. He didn't recognise one, but the other was remarkably familiar; those silver eyes, that elegant nose. By the gods, could it be? He thought, and waited for an intermission in the music. He hurried a hand into his coin pouch and sifted around. With an excited grin, he produced an Astorian silver and interposed it between his eyes and she the object of his curiosity. A quick comparison between her face and the one on the coin's obverse yielded the answer he'd hoped for: he was looking at Anyanka Durkhan, Grand Duchess of Astoria and Queen of South Feyshore! If his recent experiences in Ostrava were any indication, Astoria was the perfect place for an artist of his calibre to prosper; if he could manage to insinuate himself into *Her* Patronage, he'd be set for life.

His excitement took a brutal fall when he realised she wasn't conscious. Maybe if she roused just as he was beginning to win over the crowd with sweet music, then she'd be even more captivated? Either way, between her, the Romanovs, and any other potentially adequate patrons he had yet to identify, he was spoiled for choice. All he needed to do was show them.

He leaned over to Imogen just before they resumed playing. "Imogen, I have a proposal," He said, his voice soft and humble. "If you and the other two offer some accompaniment while I play my own material, you can keep every coin you were going to pay me, as well as my tunic. I might need you to do a bit of mid-range singing. All I need is a half-hour. Please."
Kari
Sir Jax Brightwater
Probably the only point in time when zombie boars could be boring.

Jax barked at his squire. The pale boy quickly materialized from the crowd, holding a placard and pointing to a chair at the end of the table. Jax swept his arm underneath his lady's leg and lifted her up to carry her to the only available seats.

The pale boy in a cadet uniform ran ahead to pull the chair away from the table and kick Jax's away to create more space, a feat that would have destroyed the former indentured boy from the leg up.

Jax was using every bit of discipline he could to not jostle Anya too much while moving his feet as quickly as possible. Jax was Geisha running. The delicate part was putting her in the actual chair itself without knocking her head against anything. Once she was seated and he was kneeling next to her, he held out a hand to the air, in which Aleks placed a piece of ice wrapped in thick linen. Jax brought it up to his queen's forehead and gingerly placed it there for a few moments before removing it, he repeated this process multiple times while calling: "My Lady, can you hear me? Wake up, please."
Lawrence
Kallophon
Grunewald Castle, Vallen, Taemar

Kallophon thrust up a finger before she could answer, looking away from her with a furrowed brow of reconsideration. "Actually, forget that. Um ... Hmm ... Yes, I'll approach Gregor and ask him to call for a moment of silence so I can perform a short solo piece. You can keep half of what I'm owed."
John
**Kirk Pinewood
Vallen, Taemar**

Kirk took his seat at one of the four secondary tables. It was empty except for a man whose place tag read "Advisor Zane." He didn't recognize any of the names on the tags. Hopefully, the advisors present would be honored to be seated next to Ibethiel's Royal Antiquities Dealer, a title which unfortunately had been omitted from his place tag. The tag belonging to a woman next to him also had no title, so hopefully it didn't mean anything. After settling in, Kirk began the work of eating his serving of bog bread.

. . .

**Queen Lucrezia Scheer
Vallen, Taemar**

Lucrezia found her seat at the end of the table. Sharing the end with her was Anyanka Durkhan, who seemed to be passed out in her chair on the left with a man dabbing at her face with a cloth. "At least the dinner will be quiet," The queen mumbled to herself as she sat down. She looked at the table off to her right and noticed Kirk sitting at it, facing her direction. It wasn't the greatest view. Whoever was sitting at her right at the long table had not yet arrived, and she couldn't read the tag for whoever it was at her angle. In silence, she began to eat the bog bread.

. . .

**King Dennon Bigsby
Vallen, Taemar**

Dennon sighed when he saw the child in pink sitting next to his place at the table. At least King Whylder hadn't taken his seat yet. Dennon inched both chairs to the left, away from the kid as much as he could before taking his seat. He made eye contact with his wife once before trying to eat the bog bread, which was quickly followed by the serving of a roasted hog. The cabbage was a nice touch.
Robert
Imogen
Castle Grunewald, Taemar

Imogen's spindly fingers plucked at the strings of her instrument as she considered Kallo's offer. 

"All of your coin and you must buy the drinks tonight once we retire to the tavern," She countered with a smirk.
Katherine
Anyanka Durkhan
Grunewald Castle, Taemar

It felt like years had passed when she blinked open her eyes again. Jax Brightwater crouched before her, doing something that made her face feel slick and she scrunched her nose in distaste, turned away from the... Rag? It was a rag, it had to be, the slick wasn't hot like sweat or the humidity of the bog-king's court. She blinked twice more, remembering the sight of the reanimated hog and swallowing down the thought. 

When finally her vision cleared she looked up and past him, finding herself seated across the table from a sloppily eating Gregor with Sir Brightwater to her left. 

"We're still fucking _here?_" She breathed, all too aware of the smell of blood still in the room. Mikhail was seated next to Auburn and Queen Elle, and she gave him a look to try and catch his eye. He was distracted, however, by his Aunt who was sipping wine. There was a moment of hesitation before he took the glass before him, and Anya turned her attention to Jax. 

Her entire party had been divided and placed in different positions in the hall, and she inhaled deeply, straightening herself. It was already a long night.
Lawrence
Kallophon
Castle Grunewald, Taemar

"Fine," He replied, his eyes rolling playfully, "But *Only* If he says 'yes'!"

He stepped into the corner, taking some obscurity behind them. If he was going to get anywhere near those people, he needed to make sure he was sensually tolerable. His hand fished another useful item out of his pouch: a small tube of rosy liquid. He popped the cork and dripped it gently onto his wrists and the flanks of his neck. Rather than rub the rose-petal perfume into his olive skin, he waited about ten or fifteen seconds for it to become sufficiently soaked into each spot. Taking care of his appearance could demand every ounce of patience in his soul. Once he was confident he *Smelled* Pleasant, he decided to hike his boar mask to expose his countenance. Perhaps having it down would be too much, but he at least wanted to show King Gregor a bit of respect for the man's culture.

Kallophon tucked his lyre under his arm and set off with a confident stride. As King Gregor's imposing image grew larger and larger in his view, he felt a sense of impending doom rattling in his chest. Steeling himself, he came around Princess Walburga, and, gingerly stepping in beside Anna, gave the king a low bow. "Your Majesty, if I may intrude upon your time to make an offer of myself." His manner was gentle and courteous, and he relaxed his larynx to hit the deeper, most soothing tones of his voice.