A package

[darkness]

The rain beats down outside, and a steady wind blows through the door as it creaks open. The candles and torches flicker and patrons turn their heads to see what it was. A shadowy figure moves to the board at the right, and begins to write something. As he finishes writing something, he turns and makes his way to the bar. He pulls tight the wet dark cloth around his shoulder. His hood hangs low and the light barely penetrates to his face. His direct line distinctly gives the impression that he knows exactly what he wants done. He walks up to the bar and places a tissue of fine silk on the bar and walks off. He heads straight for the door, and none seem to notice. He opens it and steps out into the night. Kale wanders over to the silk tissue. He is about to call out to the stranger that he left something behind, but thinks perhaps that it was left for a reason. He picks it up and notices something is wrapped inside it. He unfolds it and notices a well polished ring. On the inside of the tissue is written in black coal, "The First Knights Ring."

Kale's face paled, and he nearly collapsed. The air would not enter his lungs, no matter how hard he tried. He felt as though someone had hit him hard in the stomach with a staff. But he wasn't worried about that, he was worried about how fast he could tell a guard. Kale ran as fast as he could out the door and to the nearest militia man. The rain beat down upon him. "The Lady, something has happened to her!" He yelled.

A commotion was starting in the regal griffon as a crowd gathered and began murmuring about what was written there.

"Darkness has come. A wizards light is never enough! The first has fallen. The First Knight has fallen."

[Jerico]

The rains of Isinhold driped from his cloak as he entered the Regal Griffon. As he left the gloomy weather outside, it was the darkness of the news that clung to his heart.

Jerico looks up to see Kale standing behind the counter as he usually does but he could see Kale's sadness in his eyes. Word had reached Jerico in Suzail.

The First Knight of the Shield was missing, Sharita Amraphen was missing, his Light of Cormyr was missing.

Walking to the bar Jerico threw back his hood to uncover the face given him by his enemies. They sought to take much from him and now his love was taken.

"Kale, Give me the package!," Jerico demanded in a harsh tone.

To much was gone, left within him was anger and grief. Kale turned and went to his back counter to retrieve what was left by the stranger. Taking the fine silk in his shaking hands, Jerico slowly opened it to reveal what was inside.

All his strength left him in an instant as the ring was revieled, the ring of the First Knight. Falling to one knee, Jerico felt as if his very soul was torn asunder.

Looking up to Kale with tears in his mishapen face, "Who Kale, who left this and why?" Kale just shook his head and looked down.

Pulling himself up, Jerico squared his shoulders and stood straight. "They will pay, My Lady will not be held long and they will pay."

[Jerico]

Word reached the Griffon quickly.

Jerico and Gial were to enter the Keep of the Banites and face the armies there to seek Lady Sharita.

Kale grew concerned for the Knights. Many of the Banites had come to reinforce the walls of the keeps to protect against the many incursions from many of the adventurers of Isinhold. Two against so many, if anything was to harm them the Lady would be lost to the lands.

Two Paladins against the Army of Banites. Surely this was the thing many a tale would be sung of.

Looking out to the small crowd he had that night, Kale lets out a cheer, "to the heroes of Cormyr, may they live to hear their own actions in tales of legend. To all, drinks this day are on me."

[manyasone]

All that preparation... All that time... And nothing. The Magic Circle he led in an attempt to scry for Sharita reveiled only darkness and shadows.

He stood in the center of a group of red-robed mages, his hands still in the air, the circle of runes painted on the floor still glowing with magic. The candles that surrounded them grew dimmer as the spell ended. He lowered his arms and cursed in Mulhorandi.

Melkroth frowned and eyed the other Red Wizards around him. The Thayan Enclave was reluctant to give up the services of their wizards to aid Cormyr, more notably, the Silver Shields. It was Melkroth who convinced them, using his position as a diplomat to get his way. By offering aid to the Shields, it helps clean up the Red Wizard's ill reputation in the eyes of the locals, making them more inclined to be receptive to Thayan interests.

Though he had little love for the Shields, Melkroth viewed the kidnapping of Sharita as an unfortunate setback. She was one of the few to treat his ambassidorial position with some respect and at least hear his words on Thayan interests in Cormyr. With her missing, his work would get harder, and that was something he would not allow.

He cleared his throat and directed his attention back to the other Red Wizards who still stood around him as if waiting for some que. "It seems that those who have the Silver Shield knight are a touch more competent then you pethetic whelps. You would do well to leave my sight at once. I can handle only so much of your failure before I get angry... You are dismissed."

He watched as the other Red Wizards left the room below the Thayan Enclave, their red robes looking much like wavering flames in the dim light provided by the candles. The Circle's failure was not theirs, nor was it his. Wards were up around Sharita and any attempt to scry was bound to fail. "A wizard's light is never enough... Hmph..." Seething with anger, he tossed his staff against the far wall.