Ah, so he'd see- experienced it, had he? Lovely. <"That will be fine."> she told the archon, nodding to it. A meal with someone holy would be quite nice, really... not for the food itself, but for the company. <"And... think of the performance as my way of bringing a little light to this place."> With that, she nodded and set off. She had no real plans for the rest of the day, so if nothing else called for her attention, she intended to spend a few hours weaving power together and then retire for the night.
As the sky darkened, Iris returned to the room that she'd used before, taking a few moments to ensure it was clear of spies, nasty magic, and other unpleasant surprises. She'd probably discouraged most of such behavior, but with the fey, it was always best to be sure.
When that was done, she simply sat on her bed and focused, reaching out to a familiar bundle of power and starting to shape it to her will, reforming it into a semblance of what it had been. She wasn't planning to call Sorathel here - not unless things took a turn for the worse, anyway, in which case she'd be quite the surprise - but it was always better to be prepared when you were dealing with such tricky beings. Finally, she headed to sleep, fully intending to make the most of her morning.
Your morning is productive, as your new, higher status reveals much more of the courts. The Winter Palace is a crowded place, indeed, and you hear quite a bit of gossip.
- The queen doesn't really care about the mortal city of Kaer Maga, although her courtiers have various theories. Some say it's an attempt to lessen the power of a deity. Others say it's the place where the king and queen first kissed.
- The king and queen exchange the power of the throne on a schedule only they fully understand. Each holds a piece of the Shadow Realm's power.
- The statthalter that the king intends to send to Kaer Maga will grind it under his bootheel.
- The Moonlit King is as much a title as a person, but his word is the one that will make or break the claim to Kaer Maga. If he disavows the claim, the city faces no more threat from the shadow fey.
- All the court fears meeting the Moonlit King during his winter season. His moonlight devils destroy fey souls, and his Spiral Maze is a place of horrible suffering.
At the appointed time, you return to the Tower of Light, where you're allowed entry. Although the tower at first appears completely unadorned, you notice subtle runes inlaid regularly throughout the structure .
At the top of the tower, you find a plain white table, a pair of chairs, and a dozen lantern dragonettes that clearly make their home here. The lantern archon (your guide) signals for you to be seated. <"Revich will be here in a moment.">
You hear footsteps approaching, and a moment later, a Planetar Angel enters the room. He wears a blindfold but appears to have no difficulty maneuvering about. <"Greetings to you, Iris, the Lady of Spring. I am Revich, the Blind Seer and leader of the Lords of Light. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.">
Revich chuckled at your question. <"Both, as a matter of fact. As head of the Lords of Light, all who work to eliminate the darkness in this realm ultimately answer to me. And I answer to light itself.">
<"I see."> Iris noted. <"What about your methods here, Revich? If you had to pick a preference, would you rather face the champions of darkness with courage or try and spread hope to the people so they can banish the darkness from below?"> Once again, both answers were fine - sometimes the light came from the top when evil was banished, and sometimes it came from the bottom when normal people were inspired. Oftentimes, it was both. Still, it was important to know how militant the Lords of Light were, though, since that might be a factor later on.
...Well, that and one other reason.
Revich let out an almost-imperceptible sigh. <"As much as I would relish striking down the forces of darkness here, their foothold is strong, and my allies are few. Akyshigal's corrupting presence continually undermines my work, but there are still a few souls here who are willing to listen to the truth."> He looks directly at you. <"Enough about my tribulation, however. You're a new face in these courts, and your actions indicate you have an agenda, although your intentions are currently unclear. You're not a servant of Akyshigal (my Eyes would have told me), and you've shown no interest in the other factions - typically a sign of power and influence. Nobody knows anything substantial about you - which is virtually unheard of. So tell me, Miss Iris, what IS your purpose here?">
<"I'm here to discuss the matter of a mortal city with His Majesty."> Iris explained. She had no real reason to hide her main agenda from a Planetar, after all, especially when she was so pleased with his efforts here. Of course, she had no need to explain every bit of her motivations, either - gods were not in the habit of telling their celestial servants more than they really felt they needed to know. (There were actually a fair number of reasons for that, covering everything from free will to not letting information fall into the hands of their adversaries. Fortunately, the holy gods and their celestial servants were quite capable of trusting each other - so it all worked out in the end.)
<"As you may have already surmised, I have no interest in joining the Lords of Light. Quite frankly, I don't plan to be here long enough for membership with any group to truly matter."> That, and it simply wasn't appropriate for a goddess to be a member of such groups. If she wanted an organization doing something, she'd start one to be sure it conformed to her teachings. <"Though... I am not displeased with your efforts, either. Take my blessing, Revich, and use it to further the cause of the light."> Brilliant energy erupted from her hand and passed through the room, filling the angel with the power of Hope. She settled back as it faded, still completely at ease despite the expenditure of energy such blessings currently required.
There's a lengthy pause as Revich processes what just happened. <"Once again, you have intrigued me - and in more ways than one. Your blessing is one of great power, and I've not felt its like before. Very strange.... In return, I will give you advice: the King is fickle at best, and he's been far from his best for quite some time. The season of madness is lengthy this time, and reasoning with him will be difficult. While you've caused quite the stir here in the lower courts, the realm of Their Majesties is another matter entirely, and it would behoove you to play their game. Otherwise, securing an audience will prove ... difficult. Stay on guard but know that not all who walk these realms are lost to the shadows. And, while my influence here is severely limited, my Eyes are everywhere. If you need assistance, you need but ask, and I will do what I can. Perhaps we can speak again before you leave this Plane. I would enjoy learning more about the 'Lady of Spring' once the matter of the mortal city of Kaer Maga is concluded.">
Iris nodded. <"Thank you for the advice."> she got up to go, but paused by the door. <"You should know - the blessings of the dawn are fleeting, for it comes when it will, but ultimately makes way for the lasting light of day. It will be with you until the next time the sun rises. I suggest using it to the fullest until then."> With that, she stepped out of the chamber.
(Gods did not wait for the permission of angels to act, and she'd both gotten the information she wanted and given the gift she'd intended to provide. Unless someone accosted her along the way, she was done here.)
Revich nods and bids you farewell.
The hallways of the palace are filled almost to bursting with servants, guests, courtiers, courtesans, and a host of other individuals. Navigating is a slow process - even with your ability to maneuver through crowds. After checking with a passing servant, you're directed to the appropriate section of the palace. There, you find several rooms hung with bright tapestries of hills, sunrises, unicorns, and a rainbow. There are no bodyguards or wards in sight, but knowing the shadow fey, that means nothing. As you enter, Prince Loric and Princess Vailessia (twins looking around six years old) are playing with a MOONPUP. It's immediately obvious that the children's personalities are very different; the Prince is quiet and reserved, while the Princess is a bundle of energy, constantly in motion as she tumbles about the room. Engrossed in their fun, they're slow to notice you.
Iris smiled slightly as she looked at the children - she certainly liked the decorations they'd been given. (Sure, many might consider them childish... but it was a room for children, and there was nothing wrong with acknowledging things good for children.)
<"Good afternoon, your highnesses."> she said after giving them a bit more time. Her lantern dragonette was currently up on her shoulders, in plain view. <"Are you having fun with your new friend?"> The answer was obvious, of course, but it was important to give children opportunities to express themselves - the last thing they needed was to feel ignored in a place like this.
The twins looked up and smiled. Prince Loric gave you a shy nod, while Princess Vailessia gave the puppy an enormous hug and chattered gaily. <"Yeah! Her name's Princess Twilight Luna Sparklekins, and she's really nice. Would you like to play too?">
<"I'd be happy to play with you for a bit."> she answered. She focused on her energies for just a moment, and with a trick of Prestidigitation, she conjured a small ball that she tossed across the room for the puppy to fetch. <"Ah, but where are my manners? I am Iris, the Lady of Spring."> she added as her introduction.
<"Hi, Iris. I'm Vailessia, and this is my brother Loric. He's shy. You're really pretty! Are you the singing lady who makes the nice music stuff?">
<"I am."> she told the children. <"I've loved music for a very long time, so I practiced and got good at it. Would you like me to put on a performance just for the two of you?">
Prince Loric gave you a faint smile and a slight nod as the princess begins excitedly jumping up and down. <"Yesyesyesyesyes!!!">
Iris nodded back to Prince Loric, making it clear that she was acknowledging his wishes and interests, not just those of his... exuberant sister. She knew how easy it was for quieter children to get overlooked, and it was important for both of them to feel like they were valued for who they were.
With that, she took a seat near one of the walls and began singing for them. Unlike the performance from the day before, though, she didn't call upon her divine power to enhance the song. Instead, she simply gave what she'd call a normal performance... although she was talented enough that her "normal" was great by any objective measure. It certainly ought to be more than enough to entertain the kids.
Both children sit quietly and listen while you sing, and you can tell they're both enjoying the performance. When you're done, Loric applauds politely while his sister (unsurprisingly) bursts into squeals of delight and bounces around. <"Yay yay yay! That's like one of the songs Mama sings sometimes!">
<"One of the best things about songs is that they can be shared."> Iris answered with a smile. Kids were kids, after all - and even fey kids might have difficulty with concepts more complicated than what she'd done. When you were singing to entertain others, you had to keep their preferences in mind. <"Just like the way Princess Twilight Luna Sparklekins there likes sharing her affections with both of you."> she tossed another ball for the canine to chase across the room. <"What other kinds of songs does your mother sing?">
<"She knows lots of songs! There's the firebird song, and the sleepytime song, and the other sleepytime song, and the song about the moon and stars, and the fairy princess song, and the ...>" The list continues on for quite a while. The Queen of Night and Magic is apparently a talented singer in her own right.
<"I've heard a lot about the firebirds here..."> Iris mused thoughtfully. <"Does your mother particularly like them?">
<"Yeah. She thinks they're pretty. Sometimes people catch them for presents, but they always escape.">
Iris nodded. <"What about your father? Is there anything in particular he likes?"> she inquired. It sounded like his was the decision that mattered, and if they could come to an amicable arrangement, that would be better for, well, everyone.
<"I dunno. He's scary, so we don't see him a lot. I don't wanna talk about it.">
Scary... was it? Iris gently reached out and put a hand on Vailessia's head. <"There are scary things in the world... but all of them can be banished by the light."> she told the young lady. <"If I have a chance to make him less scary for you, I'll take it."> She considered for a moment. <"Of course, I'll have to find a way to get to him, first...">
The children didn't look too convinced. <"Okay ... We need to go now."> Taking her brother by the hand and beckoning to her puppy, the princess stepped into the rainbow painted on one wall and vanished.
Iris watched, more amused than anything else. She'd given them something to think about, at least, and had gotten some good information. With that, she stepped outside of the chamber. The pieces were falling into place now, but she needed a bit more information...
You're able to learn a few additional rumors, but it's clear that mundane information-gathering has its limits.
- Princess Vailessia is a pawn at court, but she's also one of the few trustworthy and honest fey of Royal Blood.
- Both Akyshigal and Black Prince Suvid have aspirations to the throne. The queen plays them against each other, but it's not clear whether she can continue to do so without exiling one of them.
- Marrying off the princess to one of them may be the best solution to resolve rivalries, as it would remove one of the pair from further politicking. However, it also runs the risk of emboldening them to seize power.
Iris had no intention of trying to arrange a marriage between a young girl and such... dark individuals. She did promote matrimony between her followers, but only when they were relationships that offered bright new beginnings. This would have been literally the exact opposite.
...
Hmm... Well, it was against her nature to lie, but a few pointed questions might help set the darker forces against each other. Perhaps that musician from before would know of a way to spread things...
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After giving it some thought, Iris ultimately ended up wandering back towards the dueling grounds. It seemed like one of the faster ways to get noticed in these areas... and frankly, all she really had to do was not monumentally screw up.
There are several duels taking place at the moment, but it's quite easy to reserve a place. As you await your turn, you're able to observe the duelists ahead of you. Challenging one of the normal duelists would likely be an easy match, but the status gained would be small. After all, most of the fighters aren't as skilled as you. On the other hand, the leader of the Ravens faction is here right now. He's highly skilled but an arrogant braggart. Defeating him would doubtless do wonders for your reputation.
Iris exhaled softly, then focused on her powers for a few moments. She was getting tired of wandering around without advancing much - as a goddess of travel, she was disinclined to stay in one place for too long, and she'd spent long enough observing the area. It really was time to finish this up.
Brightspur, First Knife of the Ravens, is a boastful, preening sort who laughs as he easily defeats his latest opponent. He wields a richly-decorated rapier that is difficult to see clearly. The fey sneers disdainfully at you. <"And why should I waste my time on you? A mere woman who doesn't even carry a proper blade. Go back to the brightlands where you belong.">
Iris raised an eyebrow. <"'Mere'?"> she inquired. <"Hm. Allow me to rephrase my words, then. I had hoped to have a friendly duel, and to give you the chance to say you sparred with the Lady of Spring when she visited the Invisible Court, a claim only one other here can make. He, at least, was not afraid of a woman holding a stick. However, if you're unwilling to face someone who has already bested one of your number - and without even using a proper weapon, at that - I shall gladly withdraw my challenge. I see no value in forcing a fight upon a coward. If you are brave enough to face me, though... I will show you that I am no mere woman.">
The dawn was usually pleasant. ...Usually. Sometimes, the light had to be a bit harsh in order to awaken people to the truth, and teaching this preening fey a little humility would likely do a lot of good for his group as a whole.
for
for
for
Brightspur's face turned an ugly shade of crimson as he spluttered in fury. Barely giving you time to ready your weapon, he charged at you, and the duel began!
After the first pass, the fey abruptly vanished, reappearing directly behind you.
He failed to compensate for your speed, however, and your return blow - fueled by a bit of your divine might - caught him squarely under the chin, dislodging a tooth. Brightspur's eyes rolled back, and he slumped to the ground, unconscious.
The audience has fallen completely silent. To the Ravens, this is by far the most impressive thing you've accomplished.
His attacks were... actually quite accurate, and more so than she'd expected they would be. Before he could land a third blow, though, she managed to put him down... and she bent over him a moment later, putting one hand on his chest and sending a surge of healing energy into him.
The slight sting of the poison was vexing... but her body wasn't so easily harmed. Besides, she wanted to make a point to both the audience and the duelist... insulting her would not go very well for them, but she wasn't the type to hold grudges, either. She'd made her point, and so offered mercy.
When she was done with the healing, she straightened again, then smiled at the audience. They looked like they'd learned the lesson she was trying to teach, though, so she didn't say anything to them as she waited for Brightspur to get up again.
As your energy flowed into him, Brightspur coughed and slowly sat up. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, it was clear that he was in pain - and probably would be for a while. The side of his face has turned an ugly shade of blueish-purple. <"What happened? Why am I on the ground?">
<"You're on the ground because you lost."> Iris explained, looking at the fey. In the end... he was basically a big fish in a small pond, wasn't he? <"However, it's not like I came here to kill you, so I decided to treat your wounds instead of allowing you to bleed out."> she flipped her staff around and set its point back on the ground, then held out a hand, offering to help him to his feet. <"You fought well, by the way, but I'm tougher than I look. If you take today's lesson to heart and focus on truly bettering yourself, I'm sure you can become much stronger than you currently are.">
Refusing your outstretched hand, Brightspur staggered to his feet and ran away, shoving aside anyone in his path. His pride's been dealt a mighty blow, and it's currently unclear how well he'll recover from this humiliating defeat.
Your status, on the other hand, has risen very highly among the Raven duelists. If you were so inclined, you could probably take control of the faction without much effort.
Iris shrugged slightly, allowing the beaten duelist to flee. They might appoint a new leader soon enough - somebody with a little more caution, perhaps. She had no desire to actually lead the group, given that she'd be leaving soon enough. Instead, she simply tipped her head in a polite nod towards Brightspur - more for the audience to see than anything else - and turned around to walk away. It had been a fairly busy day... and all things considered, it would probably be best to rest soon.
When you awaken, the entire palace is ablaze with light. Your victory over Brightspur has raised your fame enough to grant you full access to the courts. As you approach the Upper Halls, the lantern dragonettes perched at the top of the white marble stairs lift their heads; their tarnished silvery scales shake, and the orange light of their bellies shines out like a beacon, parting the darkness and revealing a small courtyard with a fountain, a white tower, and stairs up past two more footmen.
Once up the second stairs, there is a long hallway filled with lantern light and many doors. Laughter and music float down from the far end of the hall, and a few servants bustle to and fro. The footman in his silvery armor greets you in a pleasing, slightly echoing voice. <"Ah, milady, much joy and welcome! You are invited by their Royal Majesties to enter the Upper Halls! Please, the servants there await your command, and your fellow courtiers will surely be delighted to meet you! How shall we announce you?">