<strong><span class="bbc_u">The Murmurs of a Slumbering Nation:</span></strong><br/><br/><em>(Feel free to play any characters within, they only lack more detailed info thanks to my running out of word space in the initial post; essentially they're all powerful mages.)</em><br/><br/>It was a dark night in Velar, the stars and moon blocked by heavy grey clouds as hints of the coming storm rumbled in the distance. Most of the nation was taken by sleep minus the ever diligent castle's staff who crept quietly from room to room, ensuring everything was in order. Something disturbed the silent halls however as the sound of a swift pace echoed through the dark and lonely passages, the individual disturbing the peace clearly in a rush.<br/><br/>With each hurried step his dark robes rustled around him, the determined stride of brown leather boots on the smooth limestone floors resonating through the spacious halls. As he made his way, he muttered angrily under his breath, the word “Morgana” escaping his lips at several points until he was forced to stop before a pair of large, heavy looking, doors. Made completely of a cream marble they miraculously reacted to his presence by suddenly jolting and gradually sliding open, the figure tapping his foot impatiently before slinking through the gap just as it grew wide enough.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/TrashyMe/stuff.jpg)</div>On the other side he found many servants, identifiable by the white aprons and black dresses they wore, going about the night’s chores or chatting excitedly - only to grow quiet in his presence. He couldn’t understand why as he cared little for the shenanigans of the castle’s help.<br/><br/>Finally he came to a stop again; turning on his heel swiftly as yet another large pair of ornate marble doors came into view. Members of the elite guard stood at attention on either side of this one, each dressed from head to toe in an exquisite plate and royal-blue cape, their large steel halberds glistening menacingly as they diligently stared straight ahead. The man couldn’t even tell their gender under the polished armor, or even if there was anyone inside of the similarly statuesque figures that were spaced out all through the castle. Not that it mattered to him; it seemed more like a ceremonial position after all.<br/><br/>With a gloved hand of toughened black leather, he pulled back the hood of his robes, allowing his long, flowing, black hair some freedom as well as exposing his handsome, yet hardened, features.<br/><br/>The guards barely acknowledged him before the doors began to gradually slide open as if upon recognizing him. Waiting this time for them to make way, he stepped confidently into the room, finding himself on a walkway which circled and looked down upon a massive, bright blue, orb, buried deep in the rock below; the Eye of Velar. All along the walkway stood a variety of other mages, peering down at the orb with interest as the images in it shifted.<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/TrashyMe/mage1.jpg)</div>“I see you’ve deigned to honor us with your presence archmage,” a snide remark broke the silence from the opposite side of the Eye, the source dressed in the flowing blue robes of an ice mage, with little more than his neat white beard visible from the darkness of his hood.<br/><br/>“Shut up Gregor, I didn’t summon this meeting to suffer your infantile jibes,” the man retorted, sweeping his hand angrily as if to swat aside the other mage’s comment. “Of course,” Gregor replied with an exaggerated bow of apology, “Far be it from me to criticize one who pulls us from our important studies only to leave us gathering dust for the past hour.”<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy103/TrashyMe/mage2.jpg)</div>“Why don’t you both shut up,” another mage cut in sharply, her tone impatient as she brushed back a stray hair of her short white bob, “Tell us what this is about Maeven! As Gregor so rightly pointed out, you have wasted enough of our time.”<br/><br/>A nasty smirk crossed Maeven’s features. “ My dear Lithian… listening to you and Gregor, you’d think my position of archmage was merely ceremonial but fine, let us begin,” he started, waving a hand over the orb. Reacting to the unspoken command, the blue of the Eye started to ripple and swirl as new colors emerged, gradually evening out into a clear view of the mines deep below the castle. “I’ll skip right to the meat of the matter. As you all know our excavations uncover fewer gems with each day and our reserves are quickly depleting, and so…”<br/><br/>Maeven glared as Gregor interrupted him with a yawn, the old mage clearly trying to rattle his cage as he waved his hand theatrically, “We all know about the gem crisis Maeven, don’t tell me you came here to bore us with statistics.”<br/><br/>Shooting the elder mage a threatening gaze, Maeven continued, “Well, if the honorable Gregor would allow me time to finish, I can share my plan on how to rectify the problem. As I was saying, before being so rudely interrupted, we are growing dangerously short on gems and it is for this reason that I summoned you all here to propose that Velar, once again, march its troops beyond the wall.”<br/><br/>The room immediately broke out into a low murmur as mages conferred with those beside them or merely expressed shock at such a suggestion. It was Gregor who finally made any real objection however, his incredulous tone silencing the chatter. “Have you gone mad Maeven? You know as well as any of us that the barbarians are too powerful. The nobles and royalty have engaged them on numerous occasion to no avail, including your<em>mistress</em>!” The mocking inflection of that final word, and small smirk, did not escape Maeven’s notice but beside a frown he ignored it for now as he addressed the argument.<br/><br/>“Gregor,” he started with amusement, “Our higher born have hardly taken the barbarians seriously, sending in such pitiful regiments to playfully poke at them. What I am suggesting is rallying the entire nation’s troops and marching out to crush them!” He raised and gripped his fist aggressively as if clenching the world within his fingers, his eyes gleaming with excitement for just an instant before Gregor’s finger-wagging tone quickly extinguished his flame. “Maeven, if you haven’t forgotten, it was the decision of the council which swayed their highnesses from taking such action. Please tell me this isn’t some desperate attempt to win the vote of archmage again at the next gathering, is it?”<br/><br/>Once again moved to a scowl as he folded his arms, the archmage simply glowered as Lithian gave a small cough to draw the council’s attention, brushing her dress of dark indigo as she prepared to speak. “He is, of course, correct Maeven, we did advise that such an action could unite the tribes, causing them to overwhelm us through numbers… However, while I disagree with what you suggest, I do believe steps should be taken. As such I’d like to put forward the counter-proposal of reaching out with diplomats, traders and scouts as opposed to soldiers.” Finished, Lithian simply smiled politely as Gregor gave her an approving nod and Maeven harrumphed.<br/><br/>The chamber at once erupted into a din of bickering as the mages debated the issue until, feeling that there was little more to say, another mage took the stage, this one more grizzled than the rest as he towered over them in his cape of fur; an exposed, barrel-shaped, chest below a full black beard and hair only adding to his intensity. “Enough! All in agreement with the magess,” he boomed, “say aye!” The room was immediately filled with slow thoughtful nods and acknowledgements, with the large one crossing his mighty arms as he stated, “Very well, due to the nature and weight of this issue I assume we’re all in agreement that Queen Valen’s approval should be sought before acting? Good. And with that said… I believe we’re done.” He didn’t wait for a response before turning from the circle and making for the exit, many mages in tow as they hurried back to their experiments and machinations.