Traia Land of Corruption and Conflict

"Wake up little one we have another boat ride to go on," Phira walks into the inn room that her and Tailrill stayed the night in. She holds a loaf of bread, setting it on the table next to Tailrill. "I'll give you a bit and if you aren't ready then I'll find a way to make you get onto our boat." Phira turns and sits down in a chair near the entrance to their room biting into her own loaf of bread.

Tailrill stirs awake her. She looks down at where she stabbed her arm, the wound closed and sparks no longer shooting out. She touches her right ear feeling damaged machinery. She takes the loaf of bread up to her right ear and taps it. She doesn't hear any noise from her right ear. Disappointed, she bites into the bread. "What's your plan with me? Gonna be holding me prisoner at the capital or something?" 

Phira smiles as she looks at Tailrill watching her eat. "Well when I saw you in Smallhalldia you didn't exactly seem very happy serving there," she claps her hands together after she finishes eating her bread. "So I'm going to see if our queen is willing to allow you to stay within our borders or if you are willing to fight with us. After all, ever since we walled off the orcs we've been viewed terribly by most other nations," Phira leans back tilting her chair onto its back two feet. "So I wanted to firstly ask you if you are willing to join us and stand with us elves."

Tailrill looks at Phira, surprised holding her half eaten bread in her hand. "You know I'm a weapon that ran from her post so soon I may be hunted. Are you sure you'd want to run that risk?"

Phira gives a smile as she looks over at her bow. "Well if the fight I had against that other fighter has any indication of how another fight or hell even a war may go I think we're fine," Phira chuckles as she stands retrieving her bow and arrows along with her sword. "Anyways it is time to leave. Your weapon is over there, let's not dwindle any longer." Phira points at a gathering table where Tailrill's weapon lies. She grabs it after quickly finishing her bread following close behind Phira.

As the two of them walk to the port Tailrill gets glances and looks of confusion and some of fear. "I forget that we humans haven't left our islands ever since we settled them." Tailrill whispers as they continue to walk. 

As they arrive at the port the priest that greeted them stands next to the boat. "It was an honor to have you stay here, lady Phira. I wish you luck on your escort of this prisoner to the capital." With that they board the boat and begin to sail towards the elvish mainland.

As the sound of water cascades around Tailrill every now and then Phira stops rowing and simply lets the boat float for a bit. "Why do you keep just letting the boat float on its own? Don't we need to get to the capital as soon as we can?" Tailrill looks confused as she sees the freedom in Phira's eyes as she looks out at the water.

"We are getting there as soon as we can. My needs are just as important as how soon we arrive," she grabs the oar and continues rowing the boat after a while. "It isn't too often I get to see the nature of the free water. After all, I'm a royal servant in a capital that is not located at the free water's side." 

Tailrill reaches down to the water, feeling it run through her fingers. "So you really don't have any intention of holding me prisoner?" Tailrill askes while looking down at the water, her left ear facing Phira. 

"Why should I hold someone prisoner who seems to be the enemy of my enemy?" as she talks the mainland can be seen in the distance. "You seemed to be unhappy and angry; it looked to me like a slave rebelling against their master."

Tailrill seems surprised by the comparison. "What do you mean by that? We made the choice to become what we became. I just regretted my choice and decided I didn't want that voice telling me what to do," Tailrill removes her hand from the water and looks at the land before her. The land is densely covered in towering trees as some fishing huts can be seen at the edge of some landforms. 

"Don't get too excited, little one we are far from there. We will be taking a river that connects to the capital," Phira rows the boat along the shoreline waving at some of the fishers. 

Tailrill looks out at the ocean not making eye contact with the elvish fishers. "You know humans have been led to believe that you don't exist and that it was only us. How many other races are there that we haven't been told about?" 

Phira chuckles as they reach the river. The river flows very slowly into the ocean just enough to where they are able to go upstream. "Well other than ourselves and the humans the most notable ones are the orcs, the dwarves and arachnids," as they go up the river Phira's crow lands on the boat. "Ah there you are. Thank you my lovely pet for giving the queen word of our soon arrival."

Hours later as Phira continues to row up the river houses and huts can be seen. Some up in the trees some down at the base of the trees. Bridges connect the tree tops to one another as elves cross the bridges going from home to home. Tailrill watches her face hypnotized by the happiness she sees up above her. "How are you all so free and happy?"

"It's very simple little one. Those who are one with the nature and beauty around them are ones who are free to feel and live as they wish." As they get closer to the capital building a tree larger than any other stands next to the river. "I welcome you to the tree of beginning. This is where we shall all be set free when the time comes, and it is where you shall learn true freedom little one," Phira rows the boat into a port that sits at the base of the tree. Guards stand heavily armored archers and soldiers with lighter armor stand farther back speaking to one another.

"Lady Phira, we welcome you home. We have been told to expect you and that we are to escort you to the queen," a group of four soldiers wearing more prestigious armor than the others approach Tailrill and Phira as the two of them get off the boat and set foot on the port. Two of the soldiers wield a bow and arrows while the other two swords and shields, one of them having a larger sword than the other. "If you would both follow us we will bring you to the royal gathering room."

One of the archers and one of the soldiers stand behind the two of them as they begin to walk, the other two standing in front. They are led into the base of the tree where there is a makeshift elevator. With a short tug on a rope after they are all on it they begin to ascend the tree. "How has our homeland been since I left?" Phira questions looking at the archer behind them.

The soldier behind instead answers. "Tensions have been at the wall still and we are still waiting for our chance to push the dwarves away so we can be reunited with the other elvish nations," the soldier looks up the tree and begins to tap his foot. "The queen knows that you wish to become a royal soon."

Phira's eyes widen as she locks eyes with the soldier. "How is she aware of this?"

"Why else would one bring a human before the queen? When we were informed that you are bringing a human with the queen guessed it is because you want to use it as the base for your royal family." Tailrill begins to grow uncomfortable turning so her right ear faces the conversation in an attempt to ignore it. "While yes, using a humble as your base for a royal family is a gamble and may not be backed by the other royal families, the queen at least believes that you'll be backed by at least two families."

Phira stands strong looking at the soldier. "Well sir Daefir you are a part of a royal family what has your father and mother said to this if they've been informed?"

Daefir stands tapping his foot as the makeshift elevator continues to rise. "No family head has been told about this yet. Just the four of us. But I do believe that the heads of my great Xaetho family won't back you."

As Phira's eyes darken some the other soldier begins to talk, his heavier armor clattering some as he turns to face Phira. "I Balcan of the Birchwatcher family believe this is a good foundation for a new family and will try to get my grandmother to support this," he stands resting a head on his chest piece.

"I doubt the Sungleam family will support it even if the human is a good hunting asset. Father and the grand-parents are too stubborn to take risks," one of the archers begins to talk some and give her view. "However I Gillana believe it is time for change and wish I could support you.

Only one of the archers doesn't speak, instead he simply nods as they reach their destination and begin to walk again. Tailrill walks uncomfortably as the two behind them begin to bicker about family differences. They enter a ginormous room adorned with cloth and paintings of different battles and struggles. The queen sits on her throne as several smaller thrones face hers, each of them being used with two people standing next to the person in the throne except for four which the elves escorting Phira and Tailrill quickly go to and stand by their respective families.. There seems to be about thirty different thrones facing the queen. "Lady Phira welcome home. I see you have brought a human with you," her face is filled with a feeling that makes it clear she knows what Phira wants. "Tell me what do you plan to do with the human?"

Phira speaks in a serious tone, one that Tailrill has not heard yet. "She wishes for freedom and I have come to ask for your permission to allow her to live here freely," Phira attempts to speak around her true desires but the queen does not like being fooled.

"Speak your true desires Phira as you know I am not one who enjoys being fooled or tricked," the queen moves her hand and guards in gold appear beside her.

"I believe it to be time for a new royal family to be introduced to the nation. I honor and trust all thirty of the current royal families but I believe with how our nation has been split from the other elves and the wall being tormented every month it is time for a new family to join to allow a little more breathing room for the families ruling over land," Tailrill stands next to Phira watching her give her proposition. "As for the base of my family I bring the human fighter before all of you. She has been freed from those who seek to control and now wishes to be free. I wish to give her that freedom along with create a new royal family."

The other families begin to talk amongst each other, some trying to convince other families for or against the idea. After a while the queen raises her hand and the congregating ceases. "I understand your argument and agree with it. I the queen agree with this proposition but since you are alone and there would be no other members to your family other than you and the human you will need the backing of at least seven different families," she gestures towards the families seated behind Phira. 

"I head of the Dawnpath family, the family of the smith will not be supporting you," an old man responds, first staying seated as he speaks.

Three more families all refuse to support Phira before one stands and has the person beside them approach Phira with them. "I Dorhorn head the of Oakfate family support you. I offer my grandson Dorpetor as my backing," he gestures and Dorpertor steps forward looking at Tailrill and Phira before bowing and saying nothing. 

Two more families deny support before two family heads stand up at the same time. "I Faemoira, head of the Druinn family, support you. I offer Olana my daughter as my backing," she walks up with Olana at her side, bowing her head and turning to sit down at her throne.

The other family head that stood stares at Faemoira surprised. "I am surprised the family of alchemy backed her," the family head looks at Phira and then Tailrill. "I head of the Kilothrel family support you. I offer my brother Farven as my backing."

The next ten families refuse to support Phira. Phira looks over at a group of families all conversing amongst themselves. The seven land owner families declined assistance leaving just the four families that were talking. The four family heads stand up and walk over to Phira and Tailrill looking at the two of them then at Olana, Farven, and Dorpertor. One of them stands in front of the other three looking more royal and stands out more than any other family head. "You mentioned the wall and its monthly torment," Phira clearly recognizes the man and the three others standing behind him. "We bring forth an offer for our support and backing," he turns to the queen and approaches her. "Queen Fadi, what do you plan for Phira if she were to become the head of a new royal family."

The queen sits forward slightly. "I planned to make her the family of security or protection. With how the other elves view us and with the wall the people fear and need a family to represent their security and guarantee their safety," the queen looks into the man's eyes. "Do you have a different proposal?"

"Our focus on ourselves has caused us to become divided for our brothers and sisters in Sahnorgond and Cenonire. We do not have a military family which I feel with our current state of affairs we need a family to truly lead our troops and Phira with her skills in combat and having I assume found a willing human to join us in our conflict should be the one to lead the army. While yes my family is of military type I only lead and train the royal military thus leaving the rest of troops to be led by different commanders and high ranking soldiers."

"So my four military families ask for a new family to be added to handle the general military," Fadi begins to think to herself before opening her mouth again. "What is the offer you were going to make Phira?"

The man turns to Phira looking at her. "My offer is that if we back her and she becomes the head of the family of military that she gets the wall under control and put an end to those damn orcs pestering our wall," he walks up to Phira looking at her. "If you will do this for us we shall offer our support. I won't give a family member but I will give royal soldiers to you. I do not know what the other heads will give."

"I will control the wall and have the orcs go away. However, is this expected to be the first expectation for my royal family?" Phira looks at the man questioning him.

"We simply ask it to be handled within the year."

"I will do it then. With the support of your family and the other three, I will push the orcs away from the wall," Phira puts her hand over her chest.

"Very well. I Daepeiros of the Dirde family support Phira and offer my personnel squadron of royal troops," Daepeiros puts his hand on his heart as he turns and walks away.

"I head of the family of militia support Phira and offer my most elite soldier my grand-son Farkas," Farkas walks out from behind the family head and stands next to Phira.

"I head of the family of hunters support Phira and offer a group of elite hunters," the head of the family bows and follows behind Daepeiros.

One last family head stands before the queen and Phira. "I Valpihine of the family of the strongholds support Phira and offer myself as my backing. My brother Genkas I leave the family to you," with that Valpihine walks forward and stands behind Tailrill. 

"With that the queen stands and walks towards Phira. "And lastly I offer you this royal blade and proof of you becoming a new royal family. My most loyal and trusted personal soldier now to be the leader of a royal family. Well done," Fadit grabs a blade adorned in gold from the wall and offers it to Phira who grabs it bowing as she connects it to her waist. "Now you have an agreement to fulfill. I wish you luck with securing the wall."