King Rufus the Foxth

"We are always, always His Royal Majesty King Rufus the Foxth. The one before us was His Royal Majesty King Rufus the Foxth. The one who succeeds us will be His Royal Majesty King Rufus the Foxth."

As the two guards present their preferred options to the party, they are interrupted by a loud trumpet fanfare that rings out of the dark. Before globes of blue fire ignite in the air, a little over sixty or seventy feet in front of the party, Ylkwa can already see three small quadrupeds moving in the darkness through open ground, in the party's direction. The light reveals **two blue foxes** (Could they be the same as before? Can you even tell foxes apart if they are all blue?) - but also **two massive snarling wolves**, also blue-furred, but with shadows of evil faces rippling over them like ocean waves. These four flank **another blue fox, alike to the others, save for a long scarf** it wears around its neck. Both ends of this scarf are burned.

"Greetings and salutations, most honorable and peaceable of wanderers from outside the realm. You are most welcome to the Foxwoods, where our forefathers have rightfully ruled for since before the night began. "When we learned from our scouts of your entreaty for parlay, we moved with all haste to intercept you before any other horror of the dark might do so. Rest assured, you are safe in our presence from all harm, for we are the highest law in the land. "We are His Royal Majesty King Rufus the Foxth, and we need your help. An urgent question demands your attention. Great deeds of derring-do must be done. "**But first, we must insist you grant us the due obligatory from all ambassadors to our realm - your dearest and greatest treasure. For each of your knights, warriors, and sorcerers, deliver unto us a gift worthy of being preserved in our glorious treasury**. "We shall treasure it alongside the relics of the saints and the bones of ancient heroes we venerate, and no more eternal fame is there, than entry into the venerable annals of those who uphold the last true kingdom of vulpine virtue."

The Grand Duke bares its teeth.

"You know, King Rufus the Foxth was quite happy to look the other way when it came to your greedy ways, invaders of the Forest. But I am quite happy to give you righteous justice. Die if you like, wretched humans."

At Keryth's words, the Grand Duke bows once more.

"We will endeavor to ensure your safety as far as is within our power in the Foxwoods. I, and His Royal Majesty King Rufus the Foxth, consider you Foxfriends not only for your gracious gifts to us, but for your selfless deeds of chivalry in slaying what the Herald here tells me was the Beast of the Palace, bane of all Foxkind."

The Herald whispers:

"I promise to relay the story of how you challenged the Beast to single combat, and shrugged off its fierce blows with nary a trace of fear, to His Royal Majesty King Rufus the Foxth. The King will determine the details of the reward.

"At the very least however, you will have earned the name of Sir Silvius Beastkiller in our annals."

"King Rufus the Foxth was quite interested but understandably cautious about traveling to another world." The Herald tells Silvius.

"The Prime Minister advised me to simply ask what the humans of your world wish to gain from traveling to ours - and what they could offer in exchange.

"Naturally, assurances of peace would be appreciated as well. The Emissary was very specific.

"Now that the Foxwoods are linked closely to your Door via the Crossroads, we will be very near to any incursion by you humans."