The throne room was not a room, but a courtyard, a wide open space ringed by huge stone pillars and shaded by an intricate iron-wrought dome. Flowering vines wound up the pillars and weaved throughout the dome, creating a verdant canopy and dangling down like luxurious curtains. The throne itself sat on a marble dais, ornately carved of white wood, bearing a motif of falling stars. A second, smaller, but just as beautiful throne sat beside it. King Araeth sat on the central throne, with Prince Aereze at his right hand.<br/><br/>Beside the king was an elf in opulent emerald green robes. All elves tend to be lovely, but this one was blindingly beautiful, with a face that looked like it had been sculpted by a master artisan. He regarded the guests with interest and a knowing smile. Those who listen to court gossip knew him as Qaizel, a stranger who had arrived in Glen Avon and quickly earned the favor of the royal family.<br/><br/>Standing beside the prince was a drow in handsome scale armor. She was stone-faced, her hands clasped behind her back. Her name was Thazel Daragon, a noble from the Underdark city of Calbriz. For nearly a century, Glen Avon and Calbriz had been at a tentative peace, although elves have a long memory, and 100 years is not long enough to erase the long history of violence between the two cities. Thazel was not trusted in the court, but she appeared to be a close companion of the prince.<br/><br/>King Araeth's companions were silent, but he was gracious and warm as he greeted the court and their guests. To Incala he winked and mentioned offhand that he had been doing quite a bit of reading lately. He also celebrated the new ease of trade between Glen Avon and Incala's home. To Tava, he made it clear how glad he was that there were heroes on the road willing to defend the city's treasures, and he welcomed her to their fair city. To Gil, he didn't say much of anything, since much of that story was not for the ears of the court. He greeted Gil as politely as any of the other guests, as if he hadn't ever had the clever halfling arrested.<br/><br/>The royal entourage was a sight to behold. King Araeth was not particularly tall or strong, but he had a charismatic presence that captured the attention of the court. He and his brother were elegant and lovely to look at, with curly hair, bright eyes, and noble features. Prince Aereze, however, looked tired. More than that, he looked old in a way that elves rarely did. There were streaks of gray in his dark hair, and his eyes were weary.<br/><br/>The time for the ritual was drawing near. Aereze stood without any fanfare and silently left the courtyard. Thazel and Qaizel hurried after him. The king clapped his hands for attention (not that it was needed) and announced that the ritual was about to begin. He invited anyone in the court who wished to witness it to follow him.<br/><br/>The party walked down several flights of stairs, going deeper and deeper until they reached the very heart of Glen Avon. There, they entered into a large circular chamber. Runic circles were inscribed into the stone ground, and crystals lined the ceiling like the center of a geode. Aereze stood at the center of the circle. Beside him were his companions, speaking with him in hushed tones. Just outside the circle was a ring of guards with needle-sharp spears, keeping the onlookers from getting too close.