A man wearing a long coat fitted tightly black in color but embroidered with  many patterns of birds and flora in a garish pink, a sword is bound at his waist and he wears many a rings, once one sees past the nauseatingly bright decorations what strikes most odd about this man is that he is wearing slick black gloves and his coat entirely covers his neck and he is walking down a hall luxuriously decorated but not a servant in sight nor anything living to be precise.

At the end of the hall is a large door obviously reinforced with some type of metal but painted with hundreds of abstract patterns, as the eccentric man in gloves neared the door it opened beckoning him to a room barely lit enough by a few candles on a table for one to discern that there’s another man sitting on a chair with his hands covered in rings of various size and shape but all gold, unlike the man outside he wears no gloves as his pale hands are warmed by the tea and his neckline is at a sane height revealing more pale skin. The man is not without abnormality, he wears a mask that is covered in gold patterns and jewels of many colors while his jacket has a golden snake made of coiling vines embroidered on his sleeves while many other floral patterns in silver take up the space on the chest of his coat.

Despite the strange opening of the door the gloved man heads right into the dark room and sits down as the door shuts behind him.

After the door had shut completely the man with gloved opened his mouth “count taurine it has been a while”

The masked man known as count taurine nodded with a simple “indeed” in a monotonous almost tired voice.

“I did not think you would be here considering the trouble with viscount Orwelis”

The same tired voice responded again “the king has not given orders, but I will kill the heretic if I must.”

After hearing such an answer, the man in pink picked up the grey teapot and poured himself a cup of tea with a smile while count taurine stared in silence.

Once satisfied with tasting the tea the man in pink began again “I heard from the king’s hands” “there are 12,000 nobles without fiefs, of course a vast majority of that is due to the eyes(counts) creating too many of the lower strata like pens and parchment but it is concerning nonetheless.”

“The fires of the mainland will soon reach the sunken isles” – count taurine.

“So, they will” – man in pink

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“But not for a lack of trying, count Stefan is dealing with the bandit issues in the region I suggest lending some of your men at arms” – man in pink.

“I will be sending the strongest twelve.” – count taurine.

Wise decision I’m a bit strung for men as you know how much my vassals want my head so I could only send 6.” – man in pink.

“Ask the kings knights they tend to have far too many men at arms.” – count taurine.

“You know the wolf wouldn’t allow that those men are there for war and to keep us in check.” – man in pink.

“If we were the master of the great forge that would change” – count taurine.

“Ah, yes, I did hear that it was without master again poor guy died last week.” – man in pink.

“Mmm, you pay attention to the mainland, right? What of the hanging gardens” – count taurine.

“The Aldver are running it into the ground apparently their contract with the library expired.” – man in pink.

“Pity, remnants of the old empire grow fewer by the day.” – count taurine.

“Reminds me of something I heard in the TriStar union a while back, apparently after the last of the imperial crownland fell the royal family took refuge in Seatheach’s keep.” – man in pink.

“It would be good to have a ruler from the imperial line, the wolf manages his pack well but fights amongst each other are inevitable, we will soon be thrust into turmoil.” – count taurine.

“Speaking of turmoil, the Myrkyr magistrate looks like it’s about to implode and the Garbridge kingdom is amidst a civil war.” – man in pink.

“Do you have any refreshments other than tea?” – man in pink.

“The biscuits are behind you.” – count taurine.

“Apparently the king has sent one of his men over your way.

“it’s for one of his knights, it’s a high ritualist, the wolf is giving great importance to this ritual as he sent the one that did the crown prince’s ritual when he was young.

“The only house that would warrant such treatment in your territory would be the Hrafn family” – man in pink.

“They were once hunting dogs for the eclipse now they are hunting dogs for the wolf” – count taurine.

“Must have come over when the crownland fell then?” – man in pink.

“They came afterwards.” – count taurine.

Why?” – man in pink

“a dog must finish its task before returning to their master.” – count taurine.

“What were they doing?” – man in pink.

“I would have told you if I knew.” – count taurine.

“strange” – man in pink

The masked count taurine took a deep sigh and looked down at his now nearly finished tea and began to think while in the absence of a conversation the man in pink began consuming most of the biscuits.

Once there were no biscuits left the man in pink spoke up again

“I would give it until winter next year the fools won’t do it in full when they have to worry about their crops and the stockpiles are too empty by now.”

“A wise estimate if they use levies the king will have their neck, I will guarantee.”

The man in pink began getting up and said, “my good friend I hope to see you at the end of this.”

The doors opened and the masked taurine gave his word “and so you shall.”

The door began to close as the man in pink left for his own fief.

when the door was completely shut, and silence was restored once more the masked man seemed to have disappeared the only traces being the candles that still lit the room.