Fantasy 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐃𝐎𝐌𝐒

[social]

It had been at least six hours sailing across the sea, the breeze rich with salt and fruit. It was visible to the fleets of ships, the brilliant colored sands, the glimmering castle, the banners, and the music, it was everything that had been promised. Nireath, the land known for the endless days of sunlight and warmth, was to host all the kingdoms of Nordua for the summer solstice, something that was heavily ingrained in the culture of Nireath. It was an honor to be invited, especially by the monarchs themselves. Dragons roared as they approached the land, their riders carefully escorting them to where they could stay during the festival.

Crowds of people had gathered along the shores and walls of the kingdom, all yelling and calling out to the royal guests, excited to see who had turned up. It was rare for all four kingdoms to come together in a time of peace, and especially for them to support each other’s cultural celebrations. Maybe the Gods had finally found a way to keep the continent in balance so that nobody needed to wage war against the other. But to the royals on the boats and the backs of dragons, this was more than just a time to celebrate. It was a time to make connections, establish marriages, and make their names known throughout Nordua.

King Aelon of Nireath stood on the docks, his guards standing behind him and his wife. The man sported a friendly smile and spread his arms wide in a welcoming motion. “Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, Lords and Ladies, welcome to the great kingdom of Nireath! We are honored to have you here for our most beloved Summer Solstice Festival!” His voice boomed across the ocean and the air, loud enough to be heard by every ship that carried the royals. His presence was quite charismatic, more so than any other from Nireath. His wife, Queen Elaella, wore a similar smile but her body language was more reserved in favor of giving her husband all the attention.

The ships were docked successfully and soon the three kingdoms began to descend, the royals and their guards coming down to group up, the various colors and banners clashing as they stood in their respective groups, the monarchs all greeting each other as if they were close friends. The atmosphere was nothing but joyous and inviting, almost intoxicating. Still, some could see and hear the whispered words of gossip and darkness, shifting eyes and glinting steel. There was no way to see if someone held a dagger or a coin of silver due to how crowded everything was, but there was good reason to be nervous and wary.

Deep within the crowds, there were those who held ill intentions towards the intruders that landed upon Nireath’s shores. They heard the stories, they saw the horrors that had been committed, and they knew all too well what those people could do to their kingdom if they were left alone. So they decided to wait in the darkness, concealed by festivities, song, and the heavy scents of wine and food. They would wait for the right moment to strike, taking the lives of those they believed to be their enemies.

SUMMER

SOLSTICE

coded by social

Spoiler: Uncoded

It had been at least six hours sailing across the sea, the breeze rich with salt and fruit. It was visible to the fleets of ships, the brilliant colored sands, the glimmering castle, the banners, and the music, it was everything that had been promised. Nireath, the land known for the endless days of sunlight and warmth, was to host all the kingdoms of Nordua for the summer solstice, something that was heavily ingrained in the culture of Nireath. It was an honor to be invited, especially by the monarchs themselves. Dragons roared as they approached the land, their riders carefully escorting them to where they could stay during the festival.

Crowds of people had gathered along the shores and walls of the kingdom, all yelling and calling out to the royal guests, excited to see who had turned up. It was rare for all four kingdoms to come together in a time of peace, and especially for them to support each other’s cultural celebrations. Maybe the Gods had finally found a way to keep the continent in balance so that nobody needed to wage war against the other. But to the royals on the boats and the backs of dragons, this was more than just a time to celebrate. It was a time to make connections, establish marriages, and make their names known throughout Nordua.

King Aelon of Nireath stood on the docks, his guards standing behind him and his wife. The man sported a friendly smile and spread his arms wide in a welcoming motion. “Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, Lords and Ladies, welcome to the great kingdom of Nireath! We are honored to have you here for our most beloved Summer Solstice Festival!” His voice boomed across the ocean and the air, loud enough to be heard by every ship that carried the royals. His presence was quite charismatic, more so than any other from Nireath. His wife, Queen Elaella, wore a similar smile but her body language was more reserved in favor of giving her husband all the attention.

The ships were docked successfully and soon the three kingdoms began to descend, the royals and their guards coming down to group up, the various colors and banners clashing as they stood in their respective groups, the monarchs all greeting each other as if they were close friends. The atmosphere was nothing but joyous and inviting, almost intoxicating. Still, some could see and hear the whispered words of gossip and darkness, shifting eyes and glinting steel. There was no way to see if someone held a dagger or a coin of silver due to how crowded everything was, but there was good reason to be nervous and wary.

Deep within the crowds, there were those who held ill intentions towards the intruders that landed upon Nireath’s shores. They heard the stories, they saw the horrors that had been committed, and they knew all too well what those people could do to their kingdom if they were left alone. So they decided to wait in the darkness, concealed by festivities, song, and the heavy scents of wine and food. They would wait for the right moment to strike, taking the lives of those they believed to be their enemies.

 

[social]

The sun fell towards rolling waves, and the golden rays were soon swallowed by the fierce ocean. A blanket of velvet spread across the sky, and stars appeared above the horizon line, mapping out a secret language that few could understand. Below their radiance, the lights of Silvaera flickered in the gentle breeze as the music swirled in the air, bodies moving effortlessly across stone floors. Yes, it was time for the famous Summer Solstice Ball, where only the nobility and royalty were allowed to attend. Dressed in beautiful clothes and jewelry, they were encouraged to spend the night dancing with possible suitors or friends and celebrate the life that Tholo had awarded the country once again.

Laughter could be heard down the halls as clicking heels echoed, whispered voices, and slurred words were exchanged, a rare sight for anyone of high rank. Food and wine were in abundance and everyone seemed to enjoy the company of their newfound allies. It was certainly a rare event. Arranged marriages were expected to be formed, the scheming gazes of lords and ladies as they tried to present their children as the best of the best, the most desirable spouse one could ask for. It was political, every bit of it, but it didn’t seem to matter to those who were enjoying the dance.

Towards the front of the room, a long table seated the visiting monarchs, their crowns glinting in the firelight as they watched in careful deliberation as their heirs mingled in the dance below. They seemed preoccupied in conversation with each other, but their eyes never seemed to leave their children for long. King Aelon and Queen Elaella sat in the center, both of them observing the festivities with surprisingly cautious gazes. There was an odd sort of tension settling over them despite how they tried to appear relaxed and peaceful.

To most, this seemed to go unnoticed, but with hidden words whispered in the ears of guards, it seemed something deeper was going on. Outside of the ballroom, guards walked the halls and stood outside of entrances and exits, blades prepared to be drawn and used against any enemies that dared to approach. A conflict earlier in the day had caused the castle to be on edge, even though they had assured their guests that nothing more would come out of such a disruption. Still, it had caused quite a stir and unease as the leaders of Nordua felt a growing sense of urgency to fix the unrest and anger that was starting to fester within their borders.

Just Hours Earlier...

Hands were outstretched, voices raised in excitement as they tried to get closer to the royals who walked down the street. Their jewelry and crests glinted in the sunlight, the colors of their Houses clashing with the blues of Nireath. Suddenly there was a rush and a cry, someone desperately yelling out to the royals as they passed by. Stones and mud sprayed on delicate fabrics and shining armor, the raised voices overpowering the music that played in the square. Everything seemed to come to a standstill as people watched in shock and confusion, unable to see the royalty who were getting trampled underneath frenzied footsteps.

It wasn’t long before blood flew into the air, staining the stones beneath their feet as the guards and civilians exchanged blows. “GET OFF! DO NOT TOUCH HER!” Angered words were yelled as a small opening was made in the crowd, a man being essentially thrown through by Malaenys, prince of Rhaeclya. Blood speckled his face and fists, mirroring that of Ser William who looked as if he was ready to kill the next man to approach. A flash of brilliant orange and yellow mixed with the red as Ser Callum desperately pulled and pushed people away, yelling for people to break it up, the hilt of his sword coming in contact with those who tried to throw a punch his way. He kept Prince Diablo of Rhaeclya close to his side, not allowing the commonfolk to lay hands on him as he tried to guide him away from the conflict as much as possible.

Between the bloodied blows, glimpses of Princess Naelys could be seen, being blocked by her guard’s body as he kept her pressed between a wall and his back, not wanting her to be hurt more than she was. There was a wild and feral look to each of those within the fight, their yells mixing and becoming a jumbled mess to the crowd. William’s fist easily connected with a man’s face as he approached, almost managing to grab onto Naelys’ dress. Black and green armor soon joined William’s side as Prince Drak of Tun was visible, having made his way through the crowd to help those in the most danger. Blood and dirt had been smeared across his face due to his fighting a way through, clearing a path so that they could properly escape.

It didn’t take long before the City Guards of Nireath came running, the turquoise cloaks billowing behind them. Following the soldiers was the captain of the guards, Ser Rewan, his broad frame crashing into civilians and steeled eyes narrowing at the crowd. “STOP THIS AT ONCE!” His voice boomed as his guards quickly began to physically pull the commonfolk off and away from the royals and their guards, needing to ensure the safety of those caught in the scuffle. "ENOUGH! NOBODY IS TO LAY ANOTHER HAND ON THEM UNLESS YOU WISH TO BE CUT DOWN BY MY SWORD."

As the crowd thinned, Rewan made his way to the group of royals, his face showing great confusion and concern at the state of everyone. Blood had darkened the fists of Drak, Malaenys, and William as they stood in the center, shoulders heaving from fighting. Callum was less bloodied but still marked by mud and the crimson liquid as he carefully kept Diablo to the side, sword partially drawn in case someone tried to harm the royal. Due to the protection of the guard from Araes, Diablo remained mostly unharmed, with only a few minor abrasions visible on his hands and face. Naelys was behind William, a cut on her face and her dress ruined by mud and tears in the fabric. This was clearly worse than he had expected.

“Your people seemed to find it acceptable to approach and assault royalty, and two heirs no less! What is the meaning of this? Where were your men? Why weren’t they patrolling such an area?” Malaenys’ voice was thick with anger as he gestured to the group of royalty who had been almost gravely injured in such a fight. Ser Rewan seemed to pale as he looked at the prince, his mouth drying slightly.

“I-I apologize Your Highness I will-”

“You will do nothing but escort us to the castle. We need to be cleaned up and to have a discussion with the king about your shortcomings.” Within minutes the square was clear as the royals were escorted by the group of guards to the castle, leaving behind evidence of the altercation. Broken boxes and bottles of wine mixed with puddles of blood, clinging to those who walked through them. The bodies of the unconscious commoners were loaded into the back of a cart, ready to be brought to the dungeons for questioning. Those who did not seem to make it were ultimately left to be brought to the church where they would be buried later in the week.

SUMMER

SOLSTICE

coded by social

Spoiler: Uncoded

The sun fell towards rolling waves, and the golden rays were soon swallowed by the fierce ocean. A blanket of velvet spread across the sky, and stars appeared above the horizon line, mapping out a secret language that few could understand. Below their radiance, the lights of Silvaera flickered in the gentle breeze as the music swirled in the air, bodies moving effortlessly across stone floors. Yes, it was time for the famous Summer Solstice Ball, where only the nobility and royalty were allowed to attend. Dressed in beautiful clothes and jewelry, they were encouraged to spend the night dancing with possible suitors or friends and celebrate the life that Tholo had awarded the country once again.

Laughter could be heard down the halls as clicking heels echoed, whispered voices, and slurred words were exchanged, a rare sight for anyone of high rank. Food and wine were in abundance and everyone seemed to enjoy the company of their newfound allies. It was certainly a rare event. Arranged marriages were expected to be formed, the scheming gazes of lords and ladies as they tried to present their children as the best of the best, the most desirable spouse one could ask for. It was political, every bit of it, but it didn’t seem to matter to those who were enjoying the dance.

Towards the front of the room, a long table seated the visiting monarchs, their crowns glinting in the firelight as they watched in careful deliberation as their heirs mingled in the dance below. They seemed preoccupied in conversation with each other, but their eyes never seemed to leave their children for long. King Aelon and Queen Elaella sat in the center, both of them observing the festivities with surprisingly cautious gazes. There was an odd sort of tension settling over them despite how they tried to appear relaxed and peaceful.

To most, this seemed to go unnoticed, but with hidden words whispered in the ears of guards, it seemed something deeper was going on. Outside of the ballroom, guards walked the halls and stood outside of entrances and exits, blades prepared to be drawn and used against any enemies that dared to approach. A conflict earlier in the day had caused the castle to be on edge, even though they had assured their guests that nothing more would come out of such a disruption. Still, it had caused quite a stir and unease as the leaders of Nordua felt a growing sense of urgency to fix the unrest and anger that was starting to fester within their borders.

Just Hours Earlier...

Hands were outstretched, voices raised in excitement as they tried to get closer to the royals who walked down the street. Their jewelry and crests glinted in the sunlight, the colors of their Houses clashing with the blues of Nireath. Suddenly there was a rush and a cry, someone desperately yelling out to the royals as they passed by. Stones and mud sprayed on delicate fabrics and shining armor, the raised voices overpowering the music that played in the square. Everything seemed to come to a standstill as people watched in shock and confusion, unable to see the royalty who were getting trampled underneath frenzied footsteps.

It wasn’t long before blood flew into the air, staining the stones beneath their feet as the guards and civilians exchanged blows. “GET OFF! DO NOT TOUCH HER!” Angered words were yelled as a small opening was made in the crowd, a man being essentially thrown through by Malaenys, prince of Rhaeclya. Blood speckled his face and fists, mirroring that of Ser William who looked as if he was ready to kill the next man to approach. A flash of brilliant orange and yellow mixed with the red as Ser Callum desperately pulled and pushed people away, yelling for people to break it up, the hilt of his sword coming in contact with those who tried to throw a punch his way. He kept Prince Diablo of Rhaeclya close to his side, not allowing the commonfolk to lay hands on him as he tried to guide him away from the conflict as much as possible.

Between the bloodied blows, glimpses of Princess Naelys could be seen, being blocked by her guard’s body as he kept her pressed between a wall and his back, not wanting her to be hurt more than she was. There was a wild and feral look to each of those within the fight, their yells mixing and becoming a jumbled mess to the crowd. William’s fist easily connected with a man’s face as he approached, almost managing to grab onto Naelys’ dress. Black and green armor soon joined William’s side as Prince Drak of Tun was visible, having made his way through the crowd to help those in the most danger. Blood and dirt had been smeared across his face due to his fighting a way through, clearing a path so that they could properly escape.

It didn’t take long before the City Guards of Nireath came running, the turquoise cloaks billowing behind them. Following the soldiers was the captain of the guards, Ser Rewan, his broad frame crashing into civilians and steeled eyes narrowing at the crowd. “STOP THIS AT ONCE!” His voice boomed as his guards quickly began to physically pull the commonfolk off and away from the royals and their guards, needing to ensure the safety of those caught in the scuffle. "ENOUGH! NOBODY IS TO LAY ANOTHER HAND ON THEM UNLESS YOU WISH TO BE CUT DOWN BY MY SWORD."

As the crowd thinned, Rewan made his way to the group of royals, his face showing great confusion and concern at the state of everyone. Blood had darkened the fists of Drak, Malaenys, and William as they stood in the center, shoulders heaving from fighting. Callum was less bloodied but still marked by mud and the crimson liquid as he carefully kept Diablo to the side, sword partially drawn in case someone tried to harm the royal. Due to the protection of the guard from Araes, Diablo remained mostly unharmed, with only a few minor abrasions visible on his hands and face. Naelys was behind William, a cut on her face and her dress ruined by mud and tears in the fabric. This was clearly worse than he had expected.

“Your people seemed to find it acceptable to approach and assault royalty, and two heirs no less! What is the meaning of this? Where were your men? Why weren’t they patrolling such an area?” Malaenys’ voice was thick with anger as he gestured to the group of royalty who had been almost gravely injured in such a fight. Ser Rewan seemed to pale as he looked at the prince, his mouth drying slightly.

“I-I apologize Your Highness I will-”

“You will do nothing but escort us to the castle. We need to be cleaned up and to have a discussion with the king about your shortcomings.” Within minutes the square was clear as the royals were escorted by the group of guards to the castle, leaving behind evidence of the altercation. Broken boxes and bottles of wine mixed with puddles of blood, clinging to those who walked through them. The bodies of the unconscious commoners were loaded into the back of a cart, ready to be brought to the dungeons for questioning. Those who did not seem to make it were ultimately left to be brought to the church where they would be buried later in the week.