Death and Gold

[Praetor 1550]

The sun sets in a glint of orange and gold over Salvus. The remains of snow upon the city glint and seem to glow as the stars appear slowly in the dark night sky. In contrast with the pure white snow, large red marks trail from a house close by to the Bank of Salvus.

In front of it, as if lying in a pillow of dark red snow, lies the body of a strong looking man. His neck seems to have been torn out by teeth, marks on both the back and front of his neck. His bone is laid bare, red flesh surrounding it on even redder snow. The mans face is unrecognizable, his cheeks torn and devoured, his eyes ripped out, nowhere to be seen.

His legs seem untouched, while the rest of his chest and abdomen is laced with bite marks and rips, traces of a hungry thing passing over his body. In his stomach, a careful observer would see that a large gash has been made, obvious signs of a dagger stab. On his chest two letters are carved deeply, with a dagger once more.

They say "FT". What remains of his face seems strangely peaceful, his limbs sprawled and dirty, signs of having been dragged with great effort across the ground. On his chest, a strange thing in in such a scene lies a Rose, bloodies on one side, the other covered in a light frost. The whole scene stinks of decay...

Only shortly after, a note is pinned to the door of the Hightower residence, a cloaked figure having shot an arrow into the door before sprinting off full tilt. This note is written in what seems to be rather fresh blood.

"To the Hightower, or should we say Horen-Hightower house. We are here to take responsibility for the previous gruesome murders in your city, as well as the one having happened only a short time ago.

We would like to communicate certain things with you.

Firstly, we have no mercy, and will not stop killing until such actions are taken to bend knee to our requests.

Secondly, our requests.

• We wish for 5 hefty bags of diamonds be given to us, the exact count being 320 diamonds. They shall be put in one singly bag, with one strap to put upon the shoulder. Any duplicity shall mean the death of more of your citizens.
  
• We also demand the handing over of 4 sets of well forged steel plated armor (5 diamond armor sets.) And 20 swords of the same material. The same rules apply here as above.
  
• We wish for 320 well baked loaves of bread be brought with you, wrapped up and put in bags.
  
• Our last request is for 1000 emeralds to be given as well.
  

Not meeting these requirements, or any treachery will mean the horrible death of many more of your citizens. You have been warned. You will be given two elven days to comply, after that one person shall die every elven day till you comply.

The items will be stored on a cart, and brought to a location you shall recieve by pigeon. Only one cart driver may come. He shall return unscathed if the packaging is what was demanded. Bring men, and more die.

-X"

[Arkelos 1027]

Kyral walks upon her garden, an early day to her renewal of vows as she seems to be in a form of bliss, the bump on her belly forming even more as she tends to her herbs,looking around her as she prepares the days celebration.

Kyral spots something rather strange at the bank, something of a red tinge as she walks closer to it, leaving her herbal garden as she takes upon her armor. Walking outside as she reads the note left by the killers, grumbling as she walks towards the bank, keeping the note in one of her pouches as she nears.

Kyral inspects the body closely, the guards and other men yet to make it to the scene of the crime. She looks at the "FT" on the body of the corpse as she curses under her breath

"******* thorns, I thought we had a deal." she gives a scowl at the corpse, picking up the rose as her suspicions are laid to rest. Kyral making her march back to her home as she writes a letter back to the roses, using the bird that had tracked the strange scent off the notes to find the leader the first time. The note reads, in a strange blood red ink:

"To the Frozen Thorns Leader

I say this to you, to the fact we had a protection deal that would have stopped this long ago, then again it fell on deaf ears. I want you, the leader of the Frozen Thorns, to come to Solace immediately, unarmed, so we may converse.

You and I have some unsettled business, literally, and I never leave business unfinished. So I say to you, come to me, and allow us to discuss business, Salvus itself may not do buisness with what we would consider to be Bandits, but you are fare different, far more capable, so I extend my hand to you, to come to Salvus, and meet with me.

If this does not convince you, then I do believe the other gift my bird has for you shall be enough for you to pay me a visit, no?

Signed by the Imperial Queen

Kyral of House Horen-Hightower"

The note finished, the bird drops two eyeballs at the feet of the Frozen Thorn's leader's feet, plucked clean. The raven squawking loudly as it awaits a note.

[Praetor 1550]

The raven lands close by to Altariel. She frowns, getting up from her sitting position in the middle of the windy lake, all of it covered in solid ice, the temperature freezing. Ice and snow swirls around her in a rapid dance, slowly covering the ice and transforming the once noise and liquid depths into just another prairy of snow. She does not seem to care about the weather in the least, grabbing the raven and ripping the note of it's foot.

She carefully unfolds it and reads it, protecting it from the white flakes with her back. As she reads further she frowns, biting her lip thoughtfully. With a sigh, she jumps up and brushes the snow off her skirt and shirt, tossing her head to dislodge the little flakes caught in her hair.

She hurries over to a small hut close to the lake, her feet leaving light prints across the lake. As she opens the door, she hurries over to a desk and grabs a quill and a pot of reddish ink, starting to write.

"

To the Imperial Queen Kyral Horen-Hightower,

We would like to remind her grace that no deal was ever stipulated, a mere exchange of letters having been done. You shall understand my concerns of coming unarmed into hostile hands, and a better arrangement shall have to be agreed upon.

My interest is piqued by this "gift". I shall await if before coming back to you with a counter proposition of a location.

If agreed, we may iron out the wrinkles in our.."relationship."

*The Frozen Thorn's mark is stamped here*

*She tosses the tired raven out the door before returning to her seat, awaiting an answer*

[The Media Wizard 2958]

Scicle walks through the streets of Solace during the early morning when he stops, sniffing the air again.

"Rotten flesh. Blood. Kyral."

Scicle uses the homes inside the city walls to slowly approach the scents. He peers around the corner to see Kyral storming off from the corpse. When Kyral leaves, Scicle turns the corner and walks to the body, kneeling down to predict the probable death.

"Daggers, two entry points. Teeth marks. This is strange, Kha were not the assailant."

He notices the engraved words, but pays it no mind as he stands. He looks around nervously when the note catches his eyes. He approaches the note, taking it into his paws, reading. He drops the note, shaking his head.

"Dumb bandits. Kyral will not care for one man, although she may for more."

Scicle whistles as Monte the Falcon swoops down with a dead bird in his beak. Scicle laughs slightly, his voice slowly coming back. Scicle writes a quick note and sends Monte of to find Kyral:

"Kyral

We have had our many differences, but I still must not stray from my oath. Whether known or hidden, I will always protect you, my Queen.

*Scicle's paw mark"

Scicle smiles slightly, knowing she will never trust him again. He walks towards the Palace to ascend the roof to meditate.

[Arkelos 1027]

Kyral, drinking her tea as she applies her oils to her pregnant belly, covering it back up as the maids come back in to fill her cup and serve her meal of carrots and potatos, Kyral chowing down as she is interrupted by her tired Raven.

She reads the note, looking at her belly, then back to the note, somewhat conflicted by the choice she has to make. Her people dying, or risk being ambushed. She tries to think of a way to make sure both sides are not displeased, looking at the note as she calls her maids to bring a fresh piece of parchment and her firey orange inkwell.

The maids come in, giving her what she eeds as she finishes her tea, the maids taking the dirty cups and plates away as Kyral writes the note.

"To the Frozen Thorn's leader,

I must inform you of my pregnancy, it is one of the main reasons why I have requested you come to Salvus/Solace. I may inform you that there can be and will not be any trickery of the sort should you come. You do not even need to inform the guards of your business with me, just simply walk in, come to my palace, and inform me of your presence.

However, to inform me that you are the leader of the Frozen Thorns without simply stating the name of your guild, I ask you present me the mark I am leaving here for you, this way there are no suspicions of your identity, and that those who know your guild do not attack.

Also, if you want, you can take Aron back. I think he might look better in a cell.

I wish to be your friend, not your enemy, I also wish for you to be those who I call when I need business of a shady nature taken care of, seeing as I myself can not do it anymore.

I promise you, nothing will happen if you follow these details. And as for who I may look like, he is a picture, so you may find me more clearly, but do note, my hair is now a dirty blonde.

Bring this seal of House Hightower back to me, and I will know it is you, remember, do not say the name of your guild and all will be fine and safe. I promise you, no tricks.

Signed by the Imperial Queen

Kyral of House Horen-Hightower

[Praetor 1550]

((THe note is on the Hightower abode door/gate, not at the location of the body. I stated it in the OP.

Also, rest of the stuff with Kyral will happen in RP, not here.))

[Arkelos 1027]

((THe note is on the Hightower abode door/gate, not at the location of the body. I stated it in the OP.))

((That, and Kyral has the list of demands now.))

[Agnub 605]

King James was in the courtyard collecting butterflies when news reached him of these demands. Without even turning he was heard to have said:

"Hightowers do not negotiate with terrorists!"

He then went back to catching butterflies.

[The Media Wizard 2958]

((THe note is on the Hightower abode door/gate, not at the location of the body. I stated it in the OP.

Also, rest of the stuff with Kyral will happen in RP, not here.))

(Oh, I'm an idiot; completely misread that. Void my contribution.)

[Helvetius 314]

John Smithing, having business with the Hightower nobles, finds this note on the door and reads it. Frowning and disgruntled, he continues on in. He wonders what deal or what will happen to the one who dares demand such a thing. In any case, he will have to bring it up later among Hightower nobles.

[SkyyoBee 249]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.