//------------------------------// // Ch.5 "Eloquent" // Story: The Tale of Draknirv // by Draknirv (Sortos) //------------------------------// ஜ۩۞۩ஜ His hooves made a sharp clop upon the tomb's stone as he left his casket. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ By the time we reached the keep's steps it was raining, strangely enough we hadn't seen a cloud in the sky all day. "So... mister..." I started to ask. "Lord..." Arnhoof replied in correction. "Apologies... Lord Aluchi..." I continued. "You mentioned earlier that we would be recieving training." "Indeed I did." He replied. "Well..." I resumed inquisitively. "Just how long will that take?" "Hrrm..." He pondered. His face struck a bemused expression at the question as he answered. "It all depends on your own skills... you, I'd say about a month... and a half." "I see." I answered to ensure him I was listening. "However... during that time you and your brothers here, shall be given many menial tasks and undertakings." "Such as?" Asked Etrosk, noseing into the conversation. To this Arnhoof just chuckled. "You'll see." By the time he finished that statement we had reached the gates to the keep. The doorway was massive, roughly twice the height of a minotaur, and several times wider. The wood that the door comprised of was an unnaturally dark tone, no doubt from years of rain and use. It was also studded with an array of iron coffers. The keep itself was comprised of limestone bricks, many of wich being grown over with tanglevines, a few windows and statuettes dotted the sides of the building. Arnhoof pushed open the door and we were assaulted with a gust of warm air. "Welcome to your new home." He said with a snide smile. The interior of the main room had strong Venetian overtones, the floors were of a black marble lined with copper, the walls were of the same limestone bricks as outside, only painted a dark gray, the ceiling came out as gothic arches made of linoleum. There were no lamps or artificial light of any kind, the hall was lit solely through the light of the large windows that adorned the sides of the room. A large table with a black cloth stretched along a divide in the center of the room, and upon the middle of the table was a copper statuette of Hetman "Bogdan" clashing blades with an unkown robed Zebra. At the furthermost end of the table was a large throne like chair with black cushions and copper lining. The designs were extremely out of place within the Hetmanate realm, Arnhoof seemed to be attempting to capture something with the designs that he once knew. "It's uhm... eloquent." Said Etrosk weakly. "Quite..." Arnhoof replied. We walked inside and Arnhoof walked over to a stand at the end of the hall behind, what we all assumed, was his chair, and proceeded to rack up his armor upon it. His armor was shiny, sleek, and posessed varying gothic overtones. Elegant, well crafted, and simple. Adjacent to the stand was a rack that posessed a hafted blade with a black and gold rimmed handle. "Thats a nice weapon you have there." Etrosk pointed out. "Indeed it is." Replied Arnhoof. "We got it from a raid on the chrimeans, beautiful thing, and very effective." Aluchi stood there for a few moments admiring his... plundered respite. "So..." He started after untransfixing from the weapon. "Why don't I show you'all around?" "Certainly!" I replied. "Very well then, lets be off to the armory." He assured. ... The armory was branched off to the right of the main hall through a narrow black-bricked hallway.The door was of a darkened mahogany and had several iron bands across the top and bottom. It swung open to reveal a twenty by twenty room made of limestone bricks, and the walls were lined with various types of armor and weaponry. Attached to the ceiling was a small, broad chandelier hung up not with chains but with iron gait to give it a rustic appearance. "Should the keep ever fall under attack all able bodied Colts would come here." Explained Aluchi. "I can see why." Replied Etrosk, viably noting the lines of equipment upon the walls. "Just... how often does this keep come under attack?" I inquired. "Not often." Aluchi said in answer. "The last time we came under attack was about seven months ago..." "Who were the attackers?" I continued. "The Chrimeans..." Aluchi stated. "We've been at war with them for about three years now..." "Why don't we continue with our tour... instead of wading in the frivolities of conflictual discussion." He continued. ... The kitchen was extraneously well put together, the cooking stations were all of a sterling silver in contrast to the darkened stone floors. There were many varying utensils such as ladels, knives, cleavers, and forks hanging from racks attached to the walls in various places. A large cobblestone oven adorned the center of the room and was filled with maple wood, currently lit, burning, and heating an unknown dish. There were seven chefs currently at work within the kitchen, comprising of two Gazelle, three Zebras, and two Ponies. They were all adorning classical Italian chef attire, hat and all. One of the lankier of the Ponies was carrying a large steaming pot through the kitchen. Etrosk immediately ran up to the poor Colt and said in the most menial of ways. "What'cha got in the pot!" Unfortunately the pony was pre-occupied with carrying the large pot and... *~CLANG!~* He dropped it in surprise, spilling a large amount of an unknown chowder across the floor. Etrosk immediately jumped back in surprise at the poor Colt's folly and a few seconds after the tragic accident a rather short and timely Gazelle wearing a black lacened Sou-Chef outfit came careening out of a door on the other side of the kitchen. "Idiota! Mundare hoc nunc vel ego personaliter vobis pependit!" Was what the miniscule Colt screamed at the poor wreck. With that the victim of the accident immediately ran from the room, with the pint-sized havoc in hot pursuit. "That's... one angry fellow." I stated. "Indeed." Arnhoof replied in respite. "Let's move on shall we?" ... We continued walking the halls and viewing varying deprimental rooms until we came upon a large door decorated with a manner of golden gothic swirls. "This is Pelrazh' chamber..." Stated Aluchi. "Who?" Me and Etrosk asked. "Pelrazh..." Answered Aluchi. "He is my court's advisor and our keeps alchemist." "Alchemy?" Etrosk asked. "Isn't that a practice of wickenry allocation?" Aluchi chuckled bemusedly at his question. "The things you commoners come up with... no, alchemy is a very respectable act that is essential to the success of many lords and their personal guard." "Either way Pelrazh is also my court advisor, meaning he is my personal aide of all political decisions I make, as well as the placant of my lordship should something happen...or at least he was until you came along." Aluchi smiled as he ended that sentance, something about depriving a cohort of an heirdom brought him a small joy, clearly. "It's also his job to brief you on any and all tasks I beseach of you'all... now then... this has been a fun little tour.. but I believe it's time for you to adjorn to your bedchambers... follow me." ... The door to the bedchamber was a light birchwood and adorning the center of it was a solemn skull, with antlers, that we assumed was of a deer. The interior was extremely cozy, the floor was covored, for the most part, with biege wool and there were three matted beds on opposite corners of the room. "Very homely" Stated Etrosk as he went over and immediately sat upon the nearest bed. "Indeed..." Stated Aluchi in response. "Now, rest easy, for tomorrow you will recieve your first task." I turned to face him and asked "what would we be doing?" "Assassination."