Rohar is hesitant to hold  the weapon.  She had never held such a thing in her life. 'A sword, I am holding a sword, and no one is trying to kill me for it.'  Her mind is reeling, she almost can't think.   'I have been given more in the last minute, than I have my entire life.'  

She spins the blade in her hand, almost dropping it the first time.  'So balanced, so perfect.'  She closes her eyes and focuses on the blade, she feels its weight and its balance.  She starts to spin the blade with her hands, her wrists getting quicker and quicker as she feels the sword become a part of her.  She can think of nothing else, she is one with the weapon in her hand. 'Is this blade perfect? Is this the greatest sword ever made?'  She doesn't know, but It feels like it to her. The blade gets faster and faster as her hands get more an more in tune with the scimitar.   So unlike the wooden boards she has always practiced with.  She feels the power and the strength of the steel.  She feels how the handle of the sword is so perfectly balanced to the steel of the blade.  Her mind loses itself in the motion of the weapon as she instinctively knows how deadly it is in her hands.  She knows that she could use this blade to kill everyone in the room and run, she could have her freedom, she only needs to act.  'Surely nothing could stop me.  Not while I carry this.'  Her mind is going down the path of the berserker.  She feels the barbarian start to rage inside her.  'Oh, the power that surges through me.' she thinks.  'How did I get such power?  From the Pharaoh'.  She remembers the pharaoh... she had forgotten about he Pharaoh that has given her this amazing gift. Now she remembers.  'The Pharaoh, she is the reason I have this.'

She feels, more than she sees the others looking at her.  She stops the blade from twirling in her hand and drops to her knee.  Her mind is still reeling from the power she felt, she can't quite get her body to relax, can't quite think straight, but she knows she was wrong.. she knows she must atone..

she stammers, trying to think..  "Please forgive me your highness, I act out of line."  Is that enough, did she say enough?   No, not yet.. "Thank you for this amazing gift, I promise I will earn your trust."

Whilst awaiting further details on the quest, Yurime glances around hesitantly, observing the fighters she needs to work with in order to redeem herself for her past traumas. She first glances at the Tiefling but made no comments inside her head, which is still pounding like a V8 engine with the fact that she is meeting the queen face-to-face for the first time along with six other fighters. 

She then notices the tail from Gnash about to whip the Tiefling before withdrawing. She then gave an unnoticeable scowl to herself after hearing the latter's bold words. I know, lizard guy!  What kind of audacity drove him to announce that ridiculous statement towards the royal queen of whateverthetowniscalled? (yes she still can't pronounce Aldhahab properly) In my Japan/Korea world if you speak like that to someone with a similar title as the queen, it's a warning for a death sentence, even if you're a lesser noble! He should be grateful like me that he's not in the lower class like those two gigantic muscled slaves!  And even then, just give her some courtesy, even if it's just for a brief moment!

Glancing back forth at Rohar and Khaddim, her fluffy white tail, which is concealed underneath her fine kimono, tenses and becomes rigid with fear. Most noticeably at Rohar, who was granted and twirling a sword that could end her centuries-old life within seconds. However, she made no comments inside her head yet again.

She then gazes towards Rashaken, who limps uneasily towards the statue, and lets out a silent gasp. That poor guy! I can already see his skeleton-like body even though he's giving it all to hide it from us! What on earth did he endure in his life to end up like this???? I wish I could help so badly if it wasn't for my unstable nature... 

So, she resets and concluded to herself, I've been told by my advisors that there will seven of us taking part in this major mission... She stops, counts the fighters again, and realizes that instead of seven fighters (including herself), there were only six. And then her fox ears twitch again as this uneasy thought comes out: Wait... Isn't there supposed to be one more? (Seria)

He coldn't help to tense up his body in anger after hearing how the pharaoh talked about the so called "ferocity of the orcs", when in reality they were just as capable of been as kindhearted people as the nobles were ruthless. But he then smiled and relaxed his body, "Of course she thinks that orcs are ferocious. She is just like all those ********"

"There is no need to worry. The elven blood flowing in me gave me the nobility to get rid of the bad parts of being an orc." said Khaddim smiling at the queen, hoping to see a reaction from her. Being passive-agressive in a way that he didn't get caught by the target of his words was something that he learned as a way to release some of his frustration and hatred towards the people that treated slaves badly.

Kheprina hums in annoyance at Khaddim's reply. If you want to know why she is annoyed, give me an insight check or a history check. 

Insight check: 22

Rohar Insight: nat 20-1 = 19

 Rohar, it only takes you a glance to recognise the source of the friction between the queen and the half orc. The combined fact that the kingdom of Aldhahab has been at war with the orcs for decades, and the fact that the previous pharaoh’s reign (the reign of Kheprina’s father) was cut short by his death by an orcish general’s hand adds together to create an intense dislike of orcs within the current Pharaoh. So for Kheprina, Khaddim represents Elven betrayal. And he’s being passive aggressive. So yeah, she is very annoyed. 

Khaddim, with an 8 I’m going to say that you realise that the fact that Aldhahab is at war with your ancestors doesn’t help your popularity with the queen.

I silently observed the one named Khaddim drone on about his blood. A slave presenting himself as a representative of a noble family was preposterous. While a subordinate resorting to passive insults and sly remarks was a time-honoured tradition, he really ought to know better than to do it in the presence of the pharoah, let alone to her face! Greater men have been executed for less and a slave would not be missed by anyone above it. I could not ascertain what Khaddim's personal issue was with her majesty, beyond the slave-ruler dynamic, but I hoped it would not pose an issue now nor later. 

'Your majesty,' I said in an attempt to draw the attention and diffuse the tension, 'we thank you for the opportunity to prove ourselves and the trust you place in us. Does her grace favour a particular problem we should handle first?' I raised my head to address the three advisors. 'I propose an expedition to the source of the Okhiti river but perchance the esteemed royal court knows a better course of action?'

At Rashaken's question, both tabaxi start to argue all at once, and Kheprina has to hold up her hand to silence them.

"Tali, Omar, be silent. Now, as for the question, I'll firstly thank you for requesting guidance in this matter. You must be a member of one of the more intelligent races," She says, turning to the druid. "As much as the river is a very, very high priority, I would suggest looking into the matter of the sphinxes first. Their aggression is starting to become a significant problem and it can't be allowed to continue. Just yesterday a priest visiting the lonely pyramid was attacked by those vicious creatures. I need you to help me make Aldhahab safe again."

It was talking again, the thing that smelled like rot but used sweet words. Something deep and primeval in Gnash stirred with revulsion at this creature. It should be thrown into the river and contribute to the cycle but instead it was walking around in a mockery of life. Gnash did not understand what this creature was and to him that made it a threat.

Still, what it said was true. It showed proper deference to her highness and the court. Apart from the small woman who had spoken first that was far more than the rest of this lot had done. If the Pharaoh wishes it to be included, then it shall be so. For now. Gnash slowly rises from the ground, head still bowed. For the first time he speaks, a deep low pitched rasping sound. "As you command your highness. We will solve this problem and bring your aspirations for the Kingdom into reality."

"Does this mean we can go?" said Rohar quietly.  "I want to get my shield and leave here a free person."

"So I'm dismissed? I can leave now?"

*Looks around nervously*

Inside her head and OOC: What is this mood?

(The mood is pretty tense. The queen is stressed and you can feel it in her social interactions)

Kheprina raises her eyebrows at Rohar. "You aren't free until you complete your quest."

With one last sigh, her eyes sweeping over all of you once again, she nods to the three. "Yes, you are all dismissed." 

As all of you turn to go (I assume) the queen makes her way to the group's paladin. "Gnash, may I have a word with you in private?"

OOC: If you guys are going to sneak off to have a conversation, since I'm a literal assassin, can I make a stealth check to sneak in on the conversation? If so, could this possibly be with advantage since I am in the palace, where I grew up? (I ask this because some DM's I know allow the plot and backstories of characters to give them advantage/disadvantage in certain areas. If you don't allow this, it will tell me that you are the type of DM who doesn't do that. It basically helps clarify.)

OOC: I'll be happy to give you advantage on that stealth check. So long as you can justify why, then I will grant you those advantages/disadvantages. 

As the Pharaoh approaches Gnash quickly responds, "of course your highness, I am at your service." 

Steadily rising up from her aching feet (Agh! My legs! I coud literally feel them cracking!), Yurime gives one last courtesy towards the queen, choosing her words REALLY wisely: "I won't let you down, your highness. That's a promise". She then walks out slowly, muttering something inaudible in Japanese and debating in her head on whether to cast Calm Emotions or not...

Kheprina nods distractedly back at Yurime, then leads Gnash into the inner palace, Aikhitiar following a few paces behind. As they walk through the hallway, late afternoon sunlight spilling through windows of glass, the queen turns to the paladin with an openly worried look. 

For Gnash to read and/or Three depending on his stealth roll: 

Quote from queen_of_ashes19 >>

OOC: I'll be happy to give you advantage on that stealth check. So long as you can justify why, then I will grant you those advantages/disadvantages. 

 good to know. thanks

Stealth: 22