Lord_Of_The_LEGO wrote:Caimlin turned, looking over his band of Dragon Masters and the four hundred slaves.
“Get shackles and chains. I want the slaves chained up by tonight. We leave before the dawn tomorrow. Lord Void is waiting.”
Grid: G-11
Location: Grolling Fortress
Lord Void was walking the grounds of the Grolling Fortress. Normally Lord Void was not one for leisurely strolls, but it was a scorching day, one that turned the Grolling Fortress into a oven, and Lord Void could not stand the constant complaints of that insufferable architect, Elsa Byrd: “My God, dahling,
how un-com-fort-ta-bull your home is, how hot! How unbearably hot! Fetch me some ice tea, will you, dahling.” And on and on and on. And so, with an enormous control of self-will not to poison to tea, Lord Void had escaped outside, where he found it doubly hot even under the palm trees. He pitch-black full-length robe didn’t help matters either. However, with a little magic-working with the Earth Magic, the Dragon Master sorceror soon conjured up a little sphere of coolness that enveloped him completely. After fifteen minutes of idle wandering, he was approached by a Dragon Master soldier clad in heavy, hot-looking armor. Lord Void wrinkled his nose as he caught a whiff of the sweating man.
“Do stand downwind!” Lord Void snapped.
There being no breeze whatsoever to cool the scorching heat, the Dragon Master had no where more desirable to move. So, flushed with anxiety and embarrassment, he thrust a wrapped parcel forward and then hopped out of what he hoped was smelling distance.
“It came only a few minutes ago, sir!” saluted the soldier, “It’s from the Classic Emperor.”
Lord Void dismissed the Dragon Master and then made his way to a stone bench, where he examined the parcel curiously.
How odd, he thought,
what would Constantius send me?
Lord Void undid the sting and pulled away the rough outer paper. Nine slips of folded paper, one smaller than the rest, fell into Lord Void’s lap. Lord Void picked up the smaller note and read,
To Lord Void, King of all Dragonar, Overlord of the Dragon Provinces, and Master of the Grolling Fortress, greetings!
Contained in this package are eight identical invitations from the most high Emperor of LEGOland, who wishes that, if you so desire, you may distribute them among your deserving countrymen as you see fit.
Trusting that you, and or your delegated representatives will be able to attend, I remain,
Julius Hadrianica,
Imperial Steward of the Yellow Castle,
on behalf of His Imperial Majesty,
Constantius VII,
Emperor of Legoland,
King of Orion,
Lord of the House Legonis,
Overlord of Dametreos
Lord Void moved to one of the longer letters:
To whom it may concern,
The Court of Constantius VII, Emperor of Legoland and Overlord of Dametreos, is pleased to invite you to an Imperial Ball, to be held at the Yellow Castle in Orion on July 11th, 2005, C.C.
With the end of the Wolfpack Civil War, and the end of the Royal-Falcon Conflict (2004-5), Dametreos now enjoys near-total peace, with no nations possessing formal stances of aggression towards any of its neighbors, a state which has not occurred, according to Imperial staticians, since 1723 C.C.
It is therefore in honor of this most momentous occasion that His Imperial Majesty is hosting a Ball, for all the invited dignitaries of the Empire and of Dametreos.
The festivities will open with a parade for the edification of Orion's citizens, in which as many guests as desire may partake in. A formal feast will be held for the guests immediately prior to the Ball. Both will be held in the Yellow Castle.
At midnight between the 12th and the 13th of July, a fireworks display will be provided, ending the official festivities.
In the days leading up the ball, and ending the day after, Orion will be hosting an international trade fair, open to merchants from across Dametreos. All guests of the Emperor are invited to visit this, and promote the trade of their nations.
All guests will receive food and lodging free from the Imperial bounty, and will be lodged in the Yellow Castle or in the great estates of Orion.
Trusting that the guest, or his or her delegated representative will be able to attend, I remain,
Julius Hadrianica,
Imperial Steward of the Yellow Castle,
on behalf of His Imperial Majesty,
Constantius VII,
Emperor of Legoland,
King of Orion,
Lord of the House Legonis,
Overlord of Dametreos
Lord Void put down the invitation.
Now this is most interesting, he mused.
As he was stowing the nine letters in his robes, he heard a commotion coming from the front gate. He stood quickly and strode to the gate. What he saw pleased him momentarily. He saw Caimlin. Then a scowl covered his face again. He saw no slaves.
“Milord!” Caimlin dismounted from his horse and bowed deeply.
“Caimlin.” Lord Void nodded, “Welcome back. Where are the slaves?”
Caimlin didn’t hesitate.
“At the ruins of the Fire Breathing Fortress, milord, or traveling to it. I sent my men to with the slaves and ordered them to start construction of holding pens when the get there while I rode back here to alert you.”
A very thin smiled graced Lord Void’s lips.
“Well done Caimlin. If there were any higher ranks, I would promote you. That, however, is impossible, so I suppose a raise in pay is due. Oh, and--”
Lord Void drew out one of the Emperor’s invitations, glanced at it, and handed it to Caimlin.
“How would you like to go to a ball?”
Caimlin looked at the invitation, read it through quickly, then looked back up at Lord Void.
“I would be honored, milord, but what about you?”
“Oh, I am attending as well.” Lord Void smirked, “I think my appearance will make ol’ Constantius jump a bit. I’ll put Thorninsforge in charge where’ll we’re gone.”
Caimlin nodded, then his eyes focused on something behind Lord Void.
“What the--?”
“Void, dahling!”
Lord Void sagged and growled.
“Who the--?” gawked Caimlin, as the tiny levitating form of Elsa Byrd floated toward them, a sunshade clasped in one hand and her wand and a tall glass of ice tea in the other. Her normally wacky appearance was made doubly so by the fact that both the sun shade and the little paper umbrella in her ice tea were both bright pink and plastered with gaudy flower designs.
“That is my architect.” growled Lord Void, “You don’t know how close I’ve come in incinerating her.”
“I can imagine…” murmured Caimlin as Elsa Byrd floated up.
“Void, dahling!” Elsa Byrd exclaimed, “I’ve done it! The plans are finished! The blueprints for the Fire Breathing Fortress are complete! What’s that?” she added, glaring at the letter in Caimlin hand, then: “Who’s that?”, glaring at Caimlin himself.
“This is Brigadier-General Caimlin, my second in command.” said Lord Void through gritted teeth, “He had just returned from acquiring slaves, the same slaves to build the Fortress.”
“Excellent, dahling!” Elsa Byrd squinted her eyes and flashed a big mouthful of perfectly white, perfectly straight teeth, “And what is that?”
Caimlin held up the invitation, glancing at Lord Void hesitatingly.
“It’s -- it’s,” Lord Void scowled, “It’s an invitation from the Classic Emperor. To a ball. And --” Lord Void’s scowl deepened, “And he has given me several to hand out to whomever I choose. And--”
Lord Void thrust an invitation at Elsa Byrd.
“Here.”
“Oh, Void dahling!” Elsa Byrd emitted something that sounded like a cackle, “I’m thrilled! And what good timing too! While we are away enjoying the company of the Emperor, your Lame-Kin can oversee the beginning construction of the Fortress!”
“Caimlin.” Caimlin growled.
“Caimlin is going as well.” said Lord Void, a hint of amusement glinting in his eyes, “And besides, the Ball isn’t for a month. Plenty of time for the groundbreaking.”
“Very good, dahling!” exclaimed Elsa Byrd. And then she was gone, her pink accessories floating along behind her.
“I don’t like her.” snorted Caimlin.
“Nor I,
Lame-Kin.” smirked Lord Void, “Here,” he continued, thrusting the last five invitations at Caimlin, “Send those along to Governor Drock. Let me him send them to whomever he wants. Then we shall dine. Then, tomorrow, we set out to the Fire Breathing Fortress for the groundbreaking.”