"White, Mr. White." he says confidently as he returns the handshake. Into a side room he makes sure the door is closed and a blanket is at the base of the door he asks, "So what can you tell me about your paladin that I could sell to others?"
|
oh s&%$ I forgot she is a lycanthrope. Well, she either wants more of me or to kill me.
Frank smiles. Pulling the tunic that was lent to him off.
"Ready for more my princess."
Frank moves in aggressively catching the princess as she lunges for him. They wrestle and play around a bit before things get serious. They go at each other for what seems like hours but was only minutes. They eventually fall into bed exhausted breathing harder than most fight either has been in. Soon the fall asleep in each others arms.
All this assuming she doesn't just attack him.
Frank wakes up with her on you, straddling to be precise, drinking a strong smelling drink, . Beside the bed is a small table and it has three breakfast sandwiches and another cup of steaming liquid. The sandwiches have sausage patties, eggs, cheese, and bacon.
She purrs as you come to attention, then quietly syas, "Tell me Frank, breakfast or me first?"
Unsure if Arelius will return, King Joseph walks back to the banquet hall to resume his request session.
Artemis just raises an eyebrow at the precautions by 'Mr. White' before crossing his arms a little, giving the noble a curious look, "So, you are the one who is trying information on Joe huh... what makes you so interested in him? And why me? Why not ask Joe yourself?"
"Yes I am one of the many. Artemis. How would the bearer of excaliber not be interesting? From what I know, you run in the same group. Joe isn't here to ask. Also my coins would go to him then." Mr. White says.
"Fine. I asked Jellena to keep me posted," King Joseph relayed. Before both men returned to the banquet hall, Joe stopped Arelius to talk. "One quick thing before we return. In my opinion, threats to the realm rank higher than a payment dispute between knights and merchants. Lead with realm threats first next time, please."
|
|
"I totally agree, I would have led with it but Lancelot pulled rank. And as his request came in first by the by laws he would be seen first. I agree some of the laws of the regent seem very burecratic. It seems we see eye to eye, and you have untied my hands. I will try to use wisdom and kindness as tools to temper my interactions from here on out. If that is what you desire, Sire?"
"I will also not be holding my tongue in the future. I don't like that Lancelot boy." he says with a slight sneer at the name of Lancelot, then he speaks less formal with you. "You are an adventurer with the blessings of a goddess who calls you her personal paladin. You can't die! Also you will be away from the throne for weeks at a time. You should lead the other 25 soldiers into battle. The royal guards can handle any threat. This is urgent, I will tell the other nobles to stay as long as they want but this is an urgent business. And it rekes of the Regent."
King Joseph crosses his arms. "Really? What have you heard on Lancelot?"
When Arelius talks of the king being an adventurer, Joe interjects. "I assure you, Arelius. I can die. I live at The Mistress's leisure. I am not immmortal."
When Merlin's Apprentice suggests the king take the field, the paladin relents. "If you think it best. I shall return with Escalaver."
King Joseph double-times it back to the throne room, Escalaver still laying across the throne. "Let's go, Escalaver! We have brigands to bring to justice!"
As you enter the banquet hall Arelius had finished his statement to the nobles. He runs with you, guiding you to the garrison. There he calls the guard and orders for them to follow.
Down three flights of stairs and three doors to unlock with guards at them too. At the bottom he announces, "King Joeseph will lead you through when the time is right. Green Dragons follow his lead. I leave you in very capable hands."
While they wait many of them ask if they can touch excaliber?
"What do you say, old friend?" King Joseph addresses the golden sword in his hand.
King Joseph holds out Escalaver with both hands, allowing those who wish to come forward and touch the blade.
The hour passes and your four friends appear. They smile and cheer at your appearance. Jellena takes 7, Ryada takes 7, Delman takes 5, Queen Adora and Joe. Only leaving nine soldiers behind with the guards.
On the other side you see the cave is cramped. You follow the flow of bodies and after a half hour find yourself on a mountain ridge overlooking a valley. You see your soldiers mostly in heavy armor moving down the mountain path to the valley. Some sit on the trail with blood upon their legs.
Artemis just shrugs before nodding a bit, "Fair enough. Question is what do you already know about him? I don't want to waste your time with what you already know if I even decide to give you information? My second and third questions are, what do you want to know about him and why are you willing to pay money in the first place for this information?"
|
|
"Who am I to refuse a princess."
Well-rested Frank does the job and does it well satisfying the princess's needs. Soon after he slams down the breakfast.
"So you had a job for me right? As much as I would like to stay with you my friends set off on an adventure and I probably shouldn't be away too long from them. You could join me if you're not tied to anything here. I could do a little dance for you each night."
He grins.
Mr. White shakes his head with disappointment. He quickly walks to the door and begins to open the door.
---
With a wide grin, happily pleased, she says a bit unsure at your statements, yes... you have done well so far. It sounds like a deal. What do you meN tied to anything here?"
|
|
"Well if you come with me now we are going to go through a portal do a different realm. One of my friends just took the throne and became king. We had to kill a few vampires to do so. One was acting regent. I'm assuming not everyone will be happy he is in charge and he will need my help. If you would like you can come with me. We can always come back here if you need or want to. What do you say? You want to go on an adventure with me?"
King Joseph and his troops slowly make their way to the injured men.
Artemis just thinks a bit, "Look, I... I like money, but if this is how its gonna be, just ask Joe yourself, he is in Avalon at the moment, pay him if you really want to know stuff about him."
Mr. White nods and tips his hat, as he opens the door he says, "I might just do that." Then he leaves.
---
She smiles as you, and reaponds well, "Sure, why not.". She then begins to clean up and throwing her stuff into a large chest. Once done she locks it up, secures her gear and nods. "Okay you willing to carry it down?"
After the healing the soldiers and Night Hawks would make good time down the trail. Then you could see where the valley comes to a natural choke point with the mountains. You see smoke coming up from there. The captains look to Joe and one of them suggests, "If you have anyone with great speed or flight, go check on the village. Send us to go support the walls at the pass."
"I can take my flying carpet with up to three others." She offers.
The crow sitting on the King's shoulder hops over to his extended fingers.
"Brandon, we need to know what we face. Come back after a few circles around the village and be careful."
The disguised crow takes flight from Joe's fingers and flies toward the smoke in the distance.
"Brandon, my familiar, will be right behind you, Queen Amora", King Joseph nods, approving the plan.
They come back after flying around, meeting you as you approach the pass. "It appeared that the villagers were not around or hidden. No one was out except for a small boy who quickly took shelter."
You see that the flames are not on this side of the wall. There are men and women running around mostly without armor bringing water to the wall. As you get closer you see that those in armor are in cover until they spring an attack. One of the soldiers there runs out to meet you, "We have held the wall but we are down to 10 soldiers and 4 valorous adventurers. The rest of us are villagers."
"Men, help with the fire chain. Jellena, I hope you beseeched create water this morning? " The new king asked the oracle.
Artemis just watches him leave, sighing a little as he rubs his forehead, eventually just leaving the room and heading back to his room in order to sleep the rest of the night way, "I... hopefully me telling him that Joe is in Avalon didn't give the plot away.." he murmurs to himself as he heads back to the library.
|
|
"Yes princess." Frank takes the chest.
Once outside Frank tucks the chest up under one arm and grabs Bridgett with the other.
"Hold on. We need to head over to the tavern I left the red robed noble guy at. I owe a little kid five gold as well for helping me find the Rusty Cauldron. I'm glad you are coming with me. This should be fun. What job did you have in mind for me or the group? We may be interested just don't know how long we will be gone."
|
She shakes her head and asks, "Ryada and Delman please cover me as we make our way up." With both of them in agreement she takes the lead with her lightsaber charged and before her. Up the stairs, she says, "We are here to help, clear a path!" Once she gets up to above the gate she presents her hand and water pours from her off hand.
The soldiers and villagers see the three and are a bit surprised. Seeing the flags of the lion they cheer. The soldiers quickly make a line and make the passing of water better but there are far more men than pails.
There are many wounded along the wall.
One of the captains comes over to Joe and asks, "Sire shall I go on the wall to see the situation?"
"Yes, but be careful." King Joseph walks up to help tend to the injured on the wall.
The good thing about the smoke is you can't see targets and they can't see you. Until a few stray arrows make their way towards you. Those firing must be further along the sides or even upon the mountain but you dont see them yet.
It appears that those on the walls have been hit several times before stepping down. They look up at you with awe.
They are in awe of their healing as many of them stand ready to fight again as arrows are pushed out and their wounds are healed.
Frank you make good time flying but you lose track of where you are.
The princess tells you, "I had hoped you would help me with liberating a town."
---
Artemis, going back to the library. You go to the temple of death. Head down. Activate the waypoint. Appear in the desert. You traverse the desert towards the town...
|
|
"That does sound fun. What or who would we be liberating it from. Tell you the truth I'm not so keen on leaving. Our mission is to deal with the dark souls here. My understanding are the dark souls came from another world and gained power. Running off to another world seems like a slippery slope to me of getting off mission and going down the path to becoming one of these dark souls even if it seems it's for the good of people, but what do I know. Were not saying goodbye to here. Just checking in on friends. We may shoot back here and liberate your town tomorrow. Who knows. That what being on an adventure is. Not knowing where you're going."
Frank heads in with his princess. He looks to find the red robed noble.
"Alright. Let's go back." He says to the man excitedly.
She whimsically says, "Pirates Frank." Then she gets serious with the details, "It is a free hold that needs to be liberated, though we would likely need a force of protectors. Perhaps on your present adventure we can persuade some to follow me."
She looks at you and asks, "Do you know where you are going?"
|
|
"Oh pirates. I was always more of a ninja guy than pirates so I could certainly do some liberating from them. Uh, where are we going? Not sure. The dude in the red robes knows. I literally showed up naked on the floor suddenly teleporting away from you servicing me. Very nicely I will add. To a room of vampire, knights, Vikings, and my friends. I got fireballed 3 times. Possible from red robed dude. Killed some vampires and I think my friend Joe became king. Soon as the vamp's were on the run I had red robes bring me here so we could be back together. Now got to go check on Joe and the others make sure he's not in any trouble, but with your looks and my moxie I'm sure we can round up some followers. But yeah I don't know the name of the world."
Artemis would just be walking in the desert a bit, thinking before pausing as he just realizes something. Giving a loud groan as he realizes his mistake, he just grumbles to himself, realizing that he could have just spent the night at the Temple. "Why... why am I like this? Screw it, I'm heading back..." he says, quickly heading back to the way-point that leads to temple before his steps are blown away. Once he gets back to the temple, he just goes to his room, gets undressed and passes out on the bed.
"Frank land please." she asks a bit dismayed. Once down she asks you, "Let's focus on the here and now. Where are you going? The red robed guy, why? Where is Joe? Why would Joe be king now?"
The walls are full of activity, Jellena comes back to douse the flames, Joe tends the wounded, Ryada and Delman look to shoot the snipers.
Within minutes the firing from the enemy stops, the fire is out, and a full show of force is on the walls a good 60 soldiers.
The captains both look to Joe and whisper, "Can we order our men?"
"Carry on, men." King Joseph begins to help move the injured out of danger.