<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/3zq0vUV.jpg)</div><strong>Ember &amp; Emilia</strong><br/><hr/><br/>The twin dreamers would find their shackles quite unbreakable. The fact they didn't even have any kind of lock on them brought worrisome concerns for their situation's permanency. As the two rose and addressed their current situation, one much more violently than the other, the masked jester would prop her arm up against the throne and stroke her "chin", "Hmm...their temperaments about as expected, one's head is hot, the other's cool and collected...." she mused, and the two gladiators would swear they saw the carved grin widen. With a jovial giggle the jester would prance on the tips of her toes down the hall, stopping halfway between the throne and the two competitors, greeting them with such a deep, sweeping bow that they would hear the bells of her hat jingle as they bounced off the floor,  "Welcome wonderful warrior women! With well wishes we welcome wou woth...." she greeted, resorting to cheating to keep her alliteration going, "...to the Court...of the Crimson King..." she declared, and while the name held no meaning to either of them, the gravitas in her voice implied a great deal of weight and import behind it.<br/><br/>A blink and the masked woman was gone, followed soon by a hand clasping their shoulders. The jester had appeared behind them in an instant, sticking her head in between theirs and pulling them together in a far-too-chummy fashion, "And I suppose that depends on what you mean by "this". If you're asking the meaning of life? Sadly nothing. After all that is but fleeting pleasures and strife. However if you wish your purpose in the court be known, look no further than to the throne..." she cheerily cooed, playfully turning their heads forward. Now that they took the time to look at him, the figure sat in throne appeared to be a man donned in crimson armor...or at least one could only assume it was armor, for if not then he was of a race or being that neither had ever seen before. Though perhaps more perplexing than his appearance, was the fact he was subtly slumped over, eyes closed...sleeping.<br/><br/>"You see the reason you've been called today, is so that on his throne the King shall stay. Long as he's lulled by clash and play, then not an inch the crown will sway. So we humbly ask without delay, that before the court you slay and lay. For if he should awake one day, then surely it would bring....unpleasantness..." she said, her voice suddenly dropping to a more serious tone, only to perk right back up in an instant, "But worry not Ember and 'lia, for your task be no different than the arena. A simple battle, whether lost or won, and just like that, your job is done. As over just as soon begun. So think it of it no more than a bit of fun" she cooed, suddenly appearing before them, standing at the base of the steps that led up to the throne, "And once festivities have been partaken, back to your world you shall awaken. No worse for wear, and it will seem, that tonight's ordeals were but a dream. And if you manage to emerge victorious, you shall earn yourselves a reward quite glorious. A blessing from the King in red. A generous payment it should be said." she explained, making it all seem so very fair and amicable, "It is truly an arrangement in which all parties win. So what do you say? May the games begin?"