?Well, look who hath decided to join us!? Elessaria winked at Alysia. The former was a petite, elegant elf currently acting as bar tender for the Red Dragon Inn. The latter was a tall figure with pale features and burning crimson eyes, known mostly as Alysia Skye, the High Priestess of Rhilshen. Alysia paused at the greeting, with brows raised in amusement.

?There's so much I could say, Eless, and all of it would only add to rumors, so I shall only start with Hello, lovely.? Alysia responded.

?Hello, m'friend. 'Tis good to see thee again.? Eless smiled warmly. ?Drink??

?Blood tea, if it will not trouble you to prepare it. Otherwise, lemon juice with salt.? Alysia?s voice almost echoed in the warm wooden walls of the Inn. Sardonic surprise touched the corners of her mouth and her lips curled in a smirk. ?Why the quiet? Was there a funeral earlier that I was not invited to haunt??

?I do not know...? The petite elfess shrugged her slender shoulders and tried not to wrinkle her nose at the requested drink. ?I guess everybody may be dueling or something.?

?Dueling?? The tall priestess closed on the bar. The sound of her footsteps was nearly muted by the elfleather boots she wore, and she snorted with appreciative laughter. ?Dueling. Well, that's a healthy occupation at least. Were there more who indulged their more violent urges, my own work would . . .? She trailed off, noting Eless? barely perceptible distaste. ?Ah, you poor dear. Lemon juice is really alright. I'm sure I can find some worthy soul to help keep my strength up.?

?Not a problem at all, 'lysia.? Eless dug through the Inn?s stock for the ingredients and tossed them together, warmed them and set the mug in front of Alysia. Conversation rose and fell, then she added, ?All I know is I must keep as much distance between me and the dueling venues -- especially these days.?

Alysia took up the mug, glancing over the Inn. She nodded in recognition of a familiar face, then turned back toward Eless with keen, fiery regard. ?Surely, you are a saint.?

?Pfff... far from it!? the bartender chuckled softly.

?The -- hm, emotions inspired by dueling can be uncomfortably raw, but it's always been the case.? Alysia remarked in a smooth, thoughtful contralto as the elfess continued her work. ?Is something different now??

Eless nodded, the movement nearly imperceptible but noted quickly by the priestess. In response, the priestess half-grinned, then straightened, feeling a peculiar, almost electric tingle shivering through her limbs. She turned, searching . . .

Movements somewhere between a predatory prowl, and serpentine undulating coils made up the silent stride of the ?Black Wizard?, one Lord Veighn Yhaull. He meandered a winding path through the furniture and drunken bodies, heading in a round-about way toward the bar. A slight smirk formed his lips as his eyes panned the scene. He then turned his attention toward the wine racks. Eless shrugged her shoulders and nodded at Veighn, querying if he wanted a drink.

Alysia mirrored the bartender?s shrug, commenting in a wry tone, ?It's enough to drive one mad.? She turned then toward Veighn, an appraising smirk on her lips.

A trinity of discordant harmony came forth at the prompting query of the tendress: ?That is what I seek.... Though I am debating the particular beverage in which to partake,? said Veighn. He preened and halted his forward movement, his posture a poised pose as he ran his fingers along the tracery of scales lining the line of his jaw. His lips puckered in a lopsided smirk of half wry, half sly amusement. He even went so far as to cast the Priestess a wink.

His features were briefly obscured by a swirl of foul, sulfurous mist. The mist spat out a female demon of some sort, clad briefly in something short and silver, bearing weapons and feathered wings. The demoness stood motionless next to Veighn and her eyes roved hard over the patrons. He pivoted slowly, arching his brow as the scent of brimstone was wafted beneath his nostrils with the manifestation of woman standing near him. Veighn turned his gaze back toward Alysia, the other brow rising as if asking of a silent question.

?Oooo... an admirer, Alysia,? taunted Eless with an impish grin.

Alysia wrinkled her nose at the familiar scent of sulfur. She glanced past the Black Wizard, Veighn Yhaull, and studied the infernal, winged creature next to him in mild interest. Another figure - female and bandaged - came up quietly behind the Black Wizard.

?An admirer, is it, M'lord?? Alysia drawled to Veighn. Her features were impassive, though her eyes glittered.

The infernal one bore golden eyes, which stared intently at Alysia. Her feathered wings ruffled and her feet shifted just abit.

The bartender gave a smiling explanation of Rhydin?s complex mating rituals to another patron and followed with a sly wink. Veighn?s brow knit at the commentary from Elessaria, and he then turned his gaze toward the golden-eyed infernal standing close to him. His voice was very low, scarcely audible. ?There a reason ye're standing in such close proximity??

?Does it offend you lord?? The infernal, a Soldier of sorts, finally spoke. Softly. Her gaze still holding Alysia's with an emotionless stare. Alysia offered a slow smile toward the infernal. The Priestess' expression was not quite predatory, but it was not at all pleasant.

Veighn turned his gaze toward Alysia, canting his head to the side. ?She was referring to me?? he asked, drawing a masque of shock upon his features. Eless snickered softly.

?Could be. Or ?? Alysia paused, regarding Veighn before continuing in a silken drawl, ? -- it could be your pet, here.?

Veighn spoke to the golden-eyed infernal without looking at her: ? I do relish my space, if ye donnae mind. Room to move, ye understand.? He turned a sidelong glance to the infernal before his attention shifted back to Alysia, keeping the other in his peripheral vision.

The infernal slowly shifted over a few feet from Veighn. Eyes continuing to move over the place slowly.

?My pet?? Veighn continued, as the infernal creature drifted away. ?I donnae own this one. I'm as curious as ye are, Priestess.? He turned his gaze back toward the scantily-clad infernal Soldier. ?Have ye an interest in the priestess??

?She was staring at me, so I returned it.? The infernal?s response came softly as those golden eyes continued move about the room. ?Sire.?

?You carry the scent of my Grandfather's domain upon you. How are you called?? Alysia asked calmly, then chortled. ??Sire, is it?? The Priestess? heated amusement became apparent as she turns back toward Veighn.

He nearly turned away fully, before the word "Sire" registered in his mind. He moved to speak to Alysia, but paused, closing his mouth as he turned his head to regard the woman suddenly. ?Peculiar.?

?My lady Sairin told me you were another I have to serve, and so I shall,? came the infernal?s response.

Sudden dawning of awareness came over Veighn, an epiphany. It was now that he took a better look, more at scrutinizing appraisal, of the hell-bound. ?I suppose so,? he muttered. His eyes narrowed, not having expected to have had such power of calling manifest so quickly in the one mentioned by the fiend. ?Interesting...?

?Do you know the states of my friends? Err, if they still wish to call themselves my friends. . .? Hanzo murmured.

?I?ve been avoiding this town of late, Hanzo,? answered Alysia.

?So I should make a house call when I feel like harassing you?? Hanzo smirked slyly at the silver-maned priestess.

She drawled, ?I suspect you would not find me, if you did.? Alysia went on to suggest that the assassin inquire of the innkeeper for news of his friends. Eless commented that Hanzo?s friends had been seen recently and seemed in good health.

Thus reassurred, Hanzo shot a more inquisitive look at Alysia. ?You avoiding something? I guess I don't know you as well as I thought I did.?

?There's no quantifying what I would not avoid, if I was intent on consolidating my power, Hanzo.? Alysia mused, still watching the argument in the shadows. ?But there was someone I had to kill. Surely you understand that.?

?Strange bedfellows these days, Alysia?? Veighn seemed slightly amused. He picked up the word avoidance, and pressed further. ?I have not felt ye presence in the realm for some time now. I trust ye have seen the spire of stone, atop which my new chateau rests. It seems curious to me that ye get to have all the fun.?

Alysia?s attention was drawn sharply toward the unmistakable sound of blades drawn, prideful words exchanged in the shadowed booth along the wall of the Inn. She then focused upon the Black Wizard, with eyes intent and glittering. ?Things needed my attention in Rhilshen. But I'm sure you've found plenty of entertaining diversions, my Lord.?

Veighn turned his gaze toward the pair, where voices were starting to escalate, the drawing of steel also caught by keen hearing. He took a step toward the bar, and turned to watch the escapades, joining Alysia's company. ?I've been delving into some interests in the mystical realm of things. Though it seems much less fantastic than what was shared just now, brief as it was.? He turned his gaze toward her, his brows arching. ?Those among the fold of Quietus' radius do interest me.?

The priestess chose not to comment on that, instead saying, ?Hanzo, may I introduce you to Lord Veighn Yhaull, an . . . ally of mine. My Lord, this is Hanzo, whose last name I am unaware of.?

?Clearly,? remarked the assassin. Hanzo then turned to Yhaull, unclear how to properly greet him. ?A pleasure to meet you.?

Veighn kept his wrists crossed behind him, as if bound there by invisible fetters. He did, however, perform the grace of a slight nod indicative of introduction and awareness of Hanzo's presence. ?Well met, Hanzo...? He turned his attention slowly from the man, after appraisal was taken of the fellow. Training those carmine-hued eyes upon Alysia once more, he commented, ?I say again, all the fun. Killings ye say? Anything noteworthy??

?Hmmm,? began Alysia. ?Noteworthy? Let me spin you a tale, my Lord.?

Hanzo took opportunity of a lull in the telling and slipped out without a word. Unthinking, Alysia encircled her wrist with her fingertips, then pressed her lips into a thin smile. She drummed her fingertips against the polished surface of the bar. The sound provided a strange, restless rhythym to her words as she continued. ?With a stronghold behind her and an army surrounding her, this priestess began to plot, envisioning massive deaths and a lingering war which would allow her to summon her forbidden god and take the throne of this distant realm as her own. She commanded the goblins who served her to delved deep into the western mountains for a precious metal, and to craft that metal into a bracer to her specifications. Tainted with the very essence of this dark, ancient god, the bracer was sent to the current sovereign of the realm as a gift.

?As the sovereign succumbed to the influence of a forbidden god, the corpulent priestess gleefully bided her time, intent on bringing battle right to the center of the realm. Yet war did not wait for her convenience - battle and bloodshed came right to the temple this priestess ruled. In fear, she summoned her dark god, bleeding her life out around a dagger upon an alter. When her god appeared, she begged him to restore and elevate her weakened form, that she might represent him on the battlefield.? Alysia took another sip of tea, then pushed the mug aside. ?She was quite dismayed to learned that her god had chosen another, who razed the temple and destroyed the bloated priestess with fire and shadow.?

?Another? Intrigue. . .? Veighn seemed to grace Alysia's face with a look of savage interest for a brief flicker of an instant, before the dark swirls were engulfed in the moats of fiery red that were his eyes. His hands moved to steeple before his abdomen, turning his frame toward the Rhilshen Priestess with subtle movement. ?This story gets better as it goes along.?

?A fanciful tale, yes?? Alysia chuckled. ?The priestess was Tacrya the Fat, late of K'Thayne Province in Rhilshen. That was the first part of the treachery. . . for it was my throne she sought. The other who her dark god backed was me - and that was my treachery, for that dark god is considered anathema in Rhilshen.?

The word "throne" caught Veighn?s attention, and the correlation between it and Alysia ascended her in status to that higher than just a mere High-Priestess. His brow piqued, his features reserved. ?Hmmm...?

?You must be surprised to hear me speak so bluntly. Surely such a topic deserves more obfuscation.?

?Indeed I am. Though, it seems an shadowy avenue has made itself apparent. To what end, I cannae foresee quite yet. Nor do I press myself forward with insight into the matter, save that which could be put into a simple question.? The Black Wizard paused, considering his words carefully. ?There is more, isn't there? Tell me there is more...? He trailed off, hands gesturing in languid, sweeping movements.

?Of course. I simplified, somewhat, for brevity. And in my own treachery, I was betrayed, and still redeemed. I should not have been. Still - it was an interesting encounter. There are many who now believe there is nothing I will not do to secure my own power.? She smiled dourly and paused, reflecting. ?That is a tale for another time, however, my Lord.?

?Such is a question of morality. By no means do I say that in indication of addressing some lack of scruples, rest assured. By what I say, I mean that power comes to those who seize it, and power kept is held by those strong enough to grip it.?

?How truly you speak,? murmured Alysia.