Of Realms and Relics

A Gathering of Kings

Chunks of meat fell from King Fat Colen's mouth. They bounced off his massive bare chest, rolling onto his giant belly that looked like a snake that swallowed an egg, and on to the stone table. With hands that felt like you could sit in, he reached out and grabbed his simple wooden chalice and slogged a drink of the purple wine. "Ok. I make trade for meat. It good."

The other five kings sat at the stone circle table, with meats, cheeses, fruits and exotic wine drinks. King Noss, adorned in his green robe with white and gold trimmings laughed. His normally stern face, softening at the edges with a bright smile. "Our hogs are raised on only free range corn and grains. King Dakrus would agree, it is the finest meat on all of Vale."

King Dakrus nodded agreement. "They do taste quite fine in a butty."

Fat Colen paused chewing and pointed the hog leg at Dakrus, "What this butty? Or you say buddy weird. I not know."

Dakrus stood, regal in his black and silver robes with his graying hair parted in the middle. He reached to the table and grabbed two slices of bread. He picked up a few chunks of meat from Colen's belly and put them on the bread. "Butty. With the T's heavily pronounced my Mountain Oruck friend. This will change your life."

Fat Colen eagerly grabbed the butty and threw it all into his mouth and chewed loudly. Bits of bread falling from the corners of his mouth. "Butty!!! Me like. Very taste good."

"You're welcome. My kingdom can accommodate any trades you would like to participate in for our finest breads."

"Me make trade for all the butty." Fat Colen said as he rubbed his enormous belly.

Dakrus sat back down and smoothed out his robes, "Well Colen, it's not the butty that is for trade but the bread that makes the butty."

"Ok, make trade. What you want?"
"Perhaps some of your mountain black stone?"
Fat Colen picked his wooden chalice up and drank more, wine spilling from the cup and onto his belly. "Me like deal. Sound very....what word?" He pondered for a moment.

"Fair?" Said King Jovy from beside Dakrus. He didn't speak much, but when he did most would listen. Hailing from the ancient leather makers kingdom of Penland, Jovy was a quiet king. His black hair tied back in a braid and his equally black beard well oiled and brushed past his chest. His leather jerkin was pristine.

"I believe fair is the word you're looking for Colen."
Fat Colen laughed a belly laugh, "You right, quiet small human. It very fair."

King Jovy produced a knife from his jerkin and stabbed a piece of pork on his plate. As he brought it to his mouth, he said, "Where is King Yandi? Six Kings meeting, yet Yandi is not present?"

Fat Colen tossed his hog leg to the table, "Oh he treasure hunt again. Pay for best warrior. Goddi. Say he make us rich."

"This is unacceptable! We meet for fair trades and Yandi just does whatever it is he feels like?" King Robyn exclaimed.
"He has yet to show for a meeting in months! Who does he think he is?"
King Robyn, was a big man. Large in girth and large in personality. King of the Iron Shores, he ruled with a closed fist. He stood abruptly, his red iron armor clinking. "I was not aware that these meetings were voluntary."

"Sit down, Robyn. You make too much of meeting rules. We are all ruling kings. We care for our kingdoms as we see fit. We cannot all rule with such stern force as you deem appropriate." Said Aether. Neither king nor queen. Aether was born a man, but dressed in the finest wares of his women archers. Long brown hair in dreads, Aether tossed a berry at Robyn.

"No, Aether. We cannot all be as free and eclectic as you. Rules were made to govern us. We elected King Noss to lead us but he allows Yandi to break these rules!" Robyn slammed a gauntleted fist onto the stone table. His drink over turning.