Subject: The Reception

The next couple of hours are a bit disorganized. Harp asks to be shown the way to one of the training grounds, Salix asks to be shown to one of the farms outside of the warrens and Ragnar asks for an audience with the Steward. One of the guards hurries off and returns an hour later. "First Steward Minlon is busy preparing for the reception dinner for tonight. He will meet with you tomorrow, at the third hour after noon. In the mean time you should clean your selves and prepare for tonights banquet. The King will be there." After he has reported he returns to his duty outside of the party's quarters.

Harp has an uneventful time at the training grounds. He tries to spar with some of the dwarves, but they seem to distrust him. The couple who do work out with him do so half heartedly and he learns almost nothing. Salix spends several hours outside at one of the few patches of arable land. After talking with the workers he realizes that they are the dregs of dwarven society as far as skill and intelligence are concerned, barely more than simpletons. He also realizes that they is not nearly enough cultivated land to support the large crowd of dwarves he has seen so far. Still, the druid finds in comforting to be outside and work with the dwarves tending the land. A couple of hours before the dinner a runner shows up to bring him back to his quarters.

At one bell past the evening bell a new set of guards show up to escort the party to the reception. "It's in honor of the Byhoian Ambassador, you know" one of them says. "This is the first new Ambassador that the King has welcomed." The other dwarf elbows his companion in the side hard enough to make him stop talking. "You will be in the back of the hall, but should have a good view" the second says. He was right about that. The party is about as far from the head table as can be and still be in the reception hall. Most of the tables are filled with dwarves in some sort of order that the party can not figure out.

At the head table there is room for almost twenty people. All but five of the seats are filled by the time the party has been seated. A loud voice rings out over the hall "His Lordship, Ambassador Calieri of Camlost." There is a smattering of applause as an older man, finely dressed, walks in through a side door and to one of the open seats at the head table. He is middle age, fairly heavy, with a bald head. He carries a white staff that has a red gem set in the head. As he gets to his seat he places his staff in a stand behind him.

The voice rings out again "His Lordship, Ambassador Tripin of Undulant." This time a much younger man, very tall and very dark of skin walks in. His hair is black but he is dressed in a fine white set of robes, trimmed in gold. He uses a finely wrought walking stick, but does not really seem to need it. He takes the open seat on the opposite side of Calieri.

The voice rings out a third time "His Lordship, Ambassador Elspeth of Tornado." A man of medium years walks in, dressed in very non nondescript robes. He is a bit shorter than Tripin and as dark as Tripin is, Elspeth is pale. If the man wore white robes, he might be lost. The only thing that stands out is his flaming red hair. He takes his place next to Calieri and sits.

A fourth time the voice rings out "Her Ladyship, Ambassador De Blum of Byho." The Lady walks out resplendent in a magenta gown. Her golden hair has been done up in a fancy braid and she walks with a commanding step. She takes her place at the table next to Tripin. Only one spot at the head table remains.

The hall falls silent as the voice rings out for what is probably the last time "His Highness, King of the Underkingdom, Defender of Dwarfdom, Hammer of Moradin, King Barden." A stocky dwarf comes into the room. He is dressed in fine purple and gold robes. He moves quickly to the open spot at the head table and speaks "I welcome the Lady De Blum to our court. Her beauty is only surpassed at our joy of her safe arrival. May there be many more years of profitable alliance between our two countries." He picks up his wine goblet "All hail Byho!" Everyone in the room picks up their drink and joins in on the toast.

OODM: Does any one want to do anything during dinner? Let me know and I will try and write more tomorrow night. I have a few e-mails to send to people.

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From: Derek

Subject: The Reception

If there are any Dwarves sitting with them that are amiable, Allistair will ask some general questions.

"Why is it that everyone's title seems to be numerical, i.e. the first of third of second of first of etcetera etcetera. Is it genealogical or something? Like tracing one's paternal lineage by birth order back to a common ancestor?"

"Are there many wizards here in the Dwarven kingdom? I'd be interested in meeting some, or at least visiting their library if it's permitted."

Otherwise Allistair will just politely eat, and answer any questions others might have for him.