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Once you are all seated, the greasy haired man speaks again.
“As you know, we are here to decide between 2 equal threats to the empire, which the Dragoons will eliminate first. Before we get to that however, His Majesty tells me he has received intelligence that needs to come before this council.”
He inclines his oiled head in a little bow and sits. Everyone now looks to King Matthias Brimhorn.
The aged King slowly rises on shaking knees. He is an old man wrapped in deep purple robes trimmed in a light blue. His wispy mustache flutters like an old cobweb as his breathing become more labored by the effort it takes to stand. His eyes are a keen blue, his gaze is piercing. It is his eyes that show the man he was: a powerful warrior and a wise leader.
The king speaks with a deep, baritone voice. A keen listener can hear a slight vibrato edging into his voice.
“It has come to our attention that the Dragoons were billed for the resurrection of the Halfling known as Dango. Normally, this debt would stand. However, it seems our Dragoons were attacked in the night by an unknown foe; it seems that someone without honor sought retribution for this crime. We will not speculate here, who those persons may be, but I will have it known that, for the sake of fairness, I will not investigate this attack and the Dragoons will not be charged for a resurrection. And, please, let that be the end of it!”
The King lowers himself onto his throne with obvious effort and the room sustains a reverent hush at the decree. Some look shocked, some indifferent. There is a Halfling and a human who are clearly not in support of this decree.
The Halfling, an old man by the look of him, bears a striking resemblance to the deceased Dango. He cries out, ”Someone must pay for my boy to be raised! These Dragoons murdered my son in an honorable contest! If you will not execute them, I demand they pay reparations!” He looks like he’ll ramble on indefinitely, but the man in H5 silences him with a wave of his hand.
The crowned Prince is a tall, handsome man with powerful shoulders and a severe brow. He wears the regalia of a general of Pollexia: leather breeches, tall black boots, a close fitting shirt, and a leather jerkin plated with golden scales.
“If it pleases my father, I will bear the cost of an investigation into those that attacked the Dragoons so that they are free to pay their reparations to House Dango.”
The old King sighs, but does not answer. The prince smirks.
”By the right of succession, I decree that the Imperial Dragoons will pay a sum of 10,000 gold sovereigns for the resurrection of Dango’s son. Thobir the dwarf will mount a full scale investigation into the attack on the Dragoons at my personal expense.”
The Prince nods to the greasy haired man and sits.
The scribe finishes writing, fidgets with his oily beard, and rises.
”Does anyone have anything to say before we continue?”
Osslend fidgets several times, looking as though he might speak or stand. Finally, nodding to himself, he stands, looks toward the Prince and in a soft voice says, "Forgive my lack of formal graces, please, but it seems to me that if we had been told, explicitly, not to kill anyone, then we wouldn't have."
Looking directly at the King, he continues, "We were told that our opponents might well be in the mood to kill us so that we might be wise not to withhold our strength. For any who were there to witness, I think it's fair to say that our opponents withheld nothing in their attempts to defeat us. We felt we had to give our all to survive...so we did."
Then turning to the halfling, he says, "I am sorry that your son did not survive, but if he were at war for the crown, would you ask that his resurrection be paid for by the crown? I would hardly think so. To my eyes, this situation is the same."
Nodding to himself once again, he sits awkwardly as he adjusts his clothing.
"Dear Prince, the King has already settled the matter. Your right of succession does not yet trump the King's final word. The King is still the last word in law and to openly go against his judgement and defy his order.... that's a bit bold, even for the Prince."
Shinami bows again to the King, reverence in his eyes to the old and wise man.
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The King listens to the two of you intently, his eyes blazing with a thankful smile. His mouth hangs open, unmoving.
The Prince rises slowly, a storm of rage brewing behind his intense blue eyes.
"You are well spoken Osslend, Houndmaster. What you say is fair, I will not require payment if Thobir finds evidence that House Dango was behind the assassination attempt. However, I will not abide insolence from the Crown's envoy. My father, The King, accepted my offer to pay for the investigation. I, The Crowned Prince, invoked the Right of Succession. I fail to see how the matter is again before the council."
He pauses and looks with mock bewilderment around the room.
"Be careful master Genbu, I will not explain our laws to you again. In future, tell that wrecking ball of a colleague of yours to show a little restraint!"
The Prince, Lucius Brimhorn, takes a deep breath and suppresses the storm. He continues.
"Please, Balthazar, let us return to the task at hand."
The Prince sits. The oily man stands.
"In the south, the town of Faellstaff is plagued by persistent wolves. They seem to rise after being killed. What's more is they attack systematically which suggests an enhanced intelligence of some kind. As most of you know, Faellstaff is one of Pollexia's greatest lumber suppliers and must therefore be protected."
"Alternatively, in the north, Clabbereton's nobles die in droves to mysterious disease that seems to affect only the court. If we have no leadership in Clabbereton, our borders are no longer secure against invasion."
"Before we vote, we would hear the Dragoons' thoughts about these cases. Which might you handle fastest? What materials or items do you require to complete these tasks? Do either seem below your abilities?"
Kayla will stand to speak, I would think that the Faellstaff matter would be the quickest to deal with. I also do not know if we would be able to deal with with the Clabbereton matter since our mage did not arrive here with us. If the disease proves to have a magical cause or targeting system, we would be at a severe disadvantage to deal with it.
Osslend listens to the man speak and, after a moment's thought, says, "I'm afraid I don't know much about diseases, sir. I doubt I'd be of much use in that affair. But I know wolves and I know how to put them down. That said, I'll defer to my friends here on which problem we tackle first."
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The Prince stands abruptly.
"A missing mage? I will see to it immediately."
The prince rushes to the waiting platform; it glows faintly and he vanishes.
Balthazar speaks now.
"Faellstaff it is then, you will go by way of teleportation tomorrow."
Everyone stands, bows to their highnesses, and exits.
Once you've exited the tower, you find Thobir waiting for you.
"Come quickly!"
Thobir leads you to a back alley near by.
"What did you do! Now I have to investigate the Prince and House Dango. However, I'm not allowed! Only Royalty can pry into the noble houses and no one can pry into the royal houses!"
Thobir slowly works himself down.
"I will figure something out. Now, tell me what everything that happened at council. I'll do what I can to get you prepared by morning without charging you."
Kayla will relay everything that occured at the meeting to the best of her recollection. She will also mention that the investigation is all the Prince's fault and the King was willing to let the matter drop entirely.
Brynn comes out of his daze. "Sorry for freezing up in there. I felt like I had something to say to the sour, old halfling, but the more I started thinking of my words before saying them, the more behind in the conversation I became. In formal situations such as these, I hold my tongue to a flaw. Damn usually saying what first comes to mind."
Stirring a bit, Brynn makes another point. "Now, I'm not one for politics, but the prince overruling the king's word doesn't seem normal to me. And if not dealt with or put in his place, that kid will be a problem to this country. Seditious tone aside, he's a huge ass."
Kayla shrugs, "He's a huge ass who will someday be King and he is well aware of that. I just hope he doesn't plan to make that happen sooner rather than later. As to the old Halfling, I'll forgive him this once. Afterall, his son did die even though they were able to resurect him. Though I do wonder if perhaps it wasn't the Prince who hired those assassins since the Halfling was bitter enough to have done it and most likely has enough money to arrange it." Kayla turns to adress the Dwarf, "Thobir, what do you know of the elder Dango? Do you feel that he could be capable of such a thing?" Kayla walks over to the couch area, kicks off her boots and curls up on the right side of the couch. "Also, should we keep watch again tonight? Are we likely to be attacked again?"
Osslend happily greets his hounds and sits on the floor to play with them. After a moment, his face turns serious even as he pets his friends.
"Just so you all are prepared, I have no intention of paying that 10,000 gold. Ever. Period. We were in the right and right is right. I'm sure the king is a good man and, as a rule, I think Pollexia is a fine place to live. That said...it's unfair to ask us to do that and I will refuse."
His smile begins to return as his hounds lick his face.
"Also, I suggest we all agree not to go anywhere until Maedoc's disappearance is lost. If they are remiss about a missing team member, that does not bode well for our future. Now, on to the matter at hand. Wolves that seem to rise from the dead? What do you make of that, Kayla?"
Shinami sighs and slumps down cross legged on the floor next to the hounds.
"Apparently standing up for the king doesn't mean much anymore, now with the Prince self-absorbed in his own glorious gluteus maximus. The way I knew law, the king's word was the last word ever. I've always hated politics. Osslend, as a hound master, any ideas on a way to tame a wolf?"
"Aye, but taming takes time, months sometimes. Putting them down is usually the way. But this news about them rising again troubles me."
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"Thobir, what do you know of the elder Dango? Do you feel that he could be capable of such a thing?"
The dwarf considers for a moment, then speaks.
"A number of years back, my father was attacked and killed by a man who claimed my father owed him money. I cut the wretches heart out of his chest with a dull knife in the middle of the market square and spent 11 years in prison for it: and I'd do it again in a heart beat. A father's love to a son is more than a son's love to a father, they say. So, yes, Dango is more than capable. The issue is proving the deed."
Osslend looks surprised by Thobir's story. "You killed a man, rightfully it sounds, and spent time in prison for it? Yet they let you serve the crown? Either Pollexia is even more...open-minded than I might have imagined or there is quite an interesting story there to be had. Out with it, Thobir," Osslend says with a wide smile.
"Just so you all are prepared, I have no intention of paying that 10,000 gold. Ever. Period. We were in the right and right is right. I'm sure the king is a good man and, as a rule, I think Pollexia is a fine place to live. That said...it's unfair to ask us to do that and I will refuse."
At this, Brynn nods, raises his flask, and says, "Agreed. While I do still feel bad, it was honorable combat and they held back nothing. We would have died had we not crushed their will to fight."
"I agree that they did not hold back. If I hadn't healed myself after I was first shot by their gunman, his second shot would have finished me off. I doubt that they would have been required to pay for my resurrection if that had happened."
"I wonder what the younger Dango thinks of this. Ah well, I'm sorry you have to deal with this investigation Thobir. Maybe it will turn out to have been the elder Dango and you won't have to worry about investigating the Prince. I rather doubt that the five we fought were responsible for it, I think they would have arranged to attack us themselves in an attempt to prove themselves better."
"Thobir, on a different topic for a moment, is there an enclosed courtyard attached to this portion of the palace? I prefer to pray and meditate under the open sky in view of the sun, but I have no intention of straying far from our appartments.
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"Thobir, on a different topic for a moment, is there an enclosed courtyard attached to this portion of the palace? I prefer to pray and meditate under the open sky in view of the sun, but I have no intention of straying far from our appartments."
"Yes, miss Kayla. There should be a sliding door on the left hand side of your bedroom. It'll be covered by a drapery probably."
Thobir turns to Osslend and Brynn.
"I agree with you brothers. It irks me too that you must pay for a brat that didn't deserve his first life: bloody drunk. I would urge you to at least make a showing of collecting the money. Open defiance would go badly for you with this Prince in the throne."
"To answer your question Osslend, this was back in the first days of Brimhorn rule. I was a young dwarf, and the human Kings were making many changes. Under the Kings of Kalna, eye for an eye was law. To keep my honor and avenge my father's, I was obligated to kill the thief, and to do so in public. The humans decided to use me as an example of how the old ways would be seen going forward. I was sentenced to life in prison. I was 41: that's about 14 to you humans. I spent 11 years in that prison as a model inmate. In the end I was able to convince His majesty Matthias Brimhorn, the true King, to release me as an example of a rehabilitated prisoner. He gave me this job to honor me."
Thobir snorts.
"My father was a great silver smith and I was to be his apprentice. Now I am a free servant. I spend my time running erands and mending people's arms and armor."
Thobir's eyes glaze over a bit and he rubs his fingers over a bronze medallion at this neck. It depicts A crowned mountain on one side, and the symbol of house Brimhorn on the other. He snaps back to the present.
"Do not think me ungrateful! I would be less than nothing but for our good King. Even the most loyal of subjects dream of what life could have been from time to time. I am content."
"If you will excuse me then, I'm going to check out that door and courtyard then. Hopefully there is some way of locking it from my side." A bit disturbed to find out there is a door to her bedroom she hadn't known about yet, Kayla gets up, puts her boots back on and goes into her room. She'll look where Thobir said to and if she finds the door she will open it and check out the courtyard.
Glad to see that the balcony is not easily accessible by others, Kayla will make sure to lock the door back and rejoin the others in the common room.
Osslend nods to Thobir. "While I'm sure your work is not always everything you might want it to be...I'm glad to have you where you are. Thank you for your help and support so far, Thobir. Now we're to wait until morning and some sort of magic to take us to these rising wolves, eh?"
Osslend snaps his fingers. "I do hope Kayla returns. I wanted to hear her thoughts on these wolves rising from the dead."
Kayla reenters the common room after checking out the balcony and settle back onto the couch. "I don't have much experience with undead anything, let alone wolves rising back up after being killed. I'll try to see what I can recall what my teachers had to say on the subject."
Brynn looks to Thobir. "The old king seems to be one that I would have been happy to serve under. And for the time being, we are Imperial Dragoons. We represent this king, not the prince. If we are to do enough good that we may get a name for ourselves, is there any way to proclaim our support for the king, denouncing the prince, while keeping our heads?"
"Denouncing a Prince would not be a wise thing to do unless you had some very damning evidence to prove him unsuitable to rule to everyone. Otherwise you could have worse results than just losing you head. You could start a civil war between his supporters and his detractors. Plus, even if the Prince were deemed unfit to rule, there could still be a civil war if different factions back different heir apparents."
Osslend's face shows plain surprise at Bryce's question. "I...I hadn't thought of us as maybe having any sort of influence. I guess I was thinking that as Dragoon's we were just soldiers. A little special and different, maybe but..."
Osslend stands and nods. "You're right, though. We were just in the Royal Court. I guess it hadn't hit me until just now. This is such a different world than the one I am used to. I need to keep that in mind."
Shinami gave a mirthless smile.
"The King doesn't happen to have some bastard child that we could place on the throne instead of the Prince does he? A brother of the Prince that was funneled away at birth that would have equal claim to the throne? I'm sure we'd be much better off in the future"
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Thobir turns pale. "This is a dangerous line of thinking friends. As much as I may disagree with the Prince's methods at times, I will not participate in treasonous discussion. I have preparations to make for your journey tomorrow. Excuse me."
Thobir walks quickly from the room and shuts the door slowly behind him.
Wolves rising could indeed point to necromancy or malicious spirits, but when it comes to wolves immune from death, you thoughts stray to the old stories of the man-wolf: one who could take the shape of either or both man and beast.
As he is closing the door, Osslend shouts after Thobir. "Wait! Thobir...what about Maedoc? What's happened to him?"
"Thobir's right. Sorry for getting us on the topic. However, like I mentioned...we are the king's soldiers. Let us represent him well. If the prince tries to steal the glory..." Brynn pauses. "Well, let's just hope that he doesn't, and possibly remind him of his charges pressed against us." Brynn gives a troublemaker's smirk, turns around while drawing his sword, and sits against a wall. Pulling a whetstone from a pouch on his belt, he starts to methodically sharpen and care for his blade. Anyone with a keen eye might notice Brynn holding the blade like a babe.
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Thobir speaks through a half closed door.
"They captured him with a necromancer's anathaem on his person. He is to be executed. I am so sorry, the evidence if irrefutable."
The door latch catches with a resounding, hollow click: A ringing emptiness courses through the room and your newly formed team.
Osslend steps back in shock of Thobir's words. "No, no. Surely not. Someone must have placed that on him. Maedoc wouldn't..."
He turns to Kayla and says, "He wouldn't...right?"
Startled at the news, Shinami gasps "There's no way. I've been observing Maedoc for a while and he wouldn't do that. Someone must have planted that on him... the Prince? But why?"
That couldn't have been Maedoc. I was charged to watch over him, but I did not notice any dabbling in necromancy at all... Who's behind this...?
Kayla also appears shocked at the news. "Though we've only known Maedoc for a few days, he doesn't seem the type to indulge in the dark arts. Could it be another plot by whoever sent those assassins after us?"
Brynn looks up from his blade. "Though he was an incredibly resourceful partner to have for the day, it seems his parting from us may be unchangeable. If our word may go for something, maybe it can at least keep his head off the chopping block." Giving his blade a light blow and polish using his shirt, Brynn places it on the ground and pulls his lute from his bag again. Quickly tuning the strings, he looks up once more. "Now, same as last night? Shinami with the first couple hours, and myself heading off the rest of the night?"
After recovering from the shock of hearing Maedoc's fate, Kayla remembers their mission for tomorrow and shares what she recalled from listening to some old stories at the temple regarding stories of the man-wolf: one who could take the shape of either or both man and beast. She'll try to think more on what their weakness might have been.
I'm sure that at some point dinner will be brought to us, Kayla will eat and then it will most likely be close to sunset when she will go back out onto her balcony to say her evening devotionals.
Deciding that no one would be stupid enough to make another attempt on them with the investigation going on, Kayla will go ahead and sleep in her room for the night wearing just her shift.
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After a simple meal of excellent bread, cheese, and fruit, you all turn in for the evening.
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Breakfast arrives next morning: a silky porridge of honeyed oats, dried berries, and milk. With it, are hard boiled eggs, toast, and salt pork.
Breakfast also brings a stranger into your midst. He carries a bit of parchment.
Dragoons,
We at the Arcanum send our deepest condolences for the loss of a brother mage and memeber of your elite team.
The bearer of this missive is Cecil Von Spirito. He is a friend of the Arcanum and he will take Maedoc's place within your ranks: if you will have him.
ArchMagus Elemenopes
p.s. Do not fear Owen, he is quite friendly.
As everyone is eating breakfast the door to the inn opens. In the doorway backlit by the morning sun are three shadows. One is a tall human with a pony tail. The second is a raven on his shoulder. The third is possibly the largest dog you've ever seen.
The three enter and shut the door behind them. As your eyes readjust to the darker interior of the Inn you can make out the three more clearly.
You can now easily confirm that the humanoid is, in fact, human. His white hair is drawn back in a very neat ponytail held together by a silver hoop. This exposes his very human ears. He stands silently for a moment looking at everyone. His posture is tall and proud with an air that has been cultivated through generations of nobel breeding. He knows he was simply born better than most people, but he knows his place and where he ranks compared to everyone else.
He has on a red collared riding jacket with tails (Similar to a tuxedo) with filigree silver buttons, Leather riding gloves, Black soft leather breeches, and calf high glossy black boots. He also wears a unusual, but extremely fashionable leather shoulder piece that serves as a perfect perch for what you can easy determine is a raven. His exquisite clothing absolutely reeks of money and none of them have even the slightest hint of wear and tear.
On his shoulder is a raven that seems like any other, though it is a particularly handsome specimen. It's not uncommon for mages to have such birds as familiars.
Perhaps stranger still is the creature that follows next to him. When you saw his shadow you assumed it was a large dog. As your eyes adjust you see it is dog-like, but also like no animal you've ever seen. It's muscular quadruped frame hosts a large head complete with large set of teeth. Though all of it's legs are extremely muscular it's front legs each have a set of wicked claws that clack on the hard floor of the inn. It's skin is mostly covered in short black fur, but you can see a sheen of scales as the creature moves. It has no tail to speak, but there is a short nub where the tail should be. Finally there are a pair of massive leathery wings on it's back tucked close to it's body though the outer portion is almost identical to its hide. You almost wouldn't notice them if it stayed still, but as it moves you see they move independently.
Though all three sets of eyes look over the group the man in the red jacket pulls a letter from his inner pocket using a delicate gesture with his gloved hand and speaks to the group.
"Well met." He says with a smile."I am Cecil Von Spirito. Who may I address as the leader of your group?" He slowly and casually holds the letter looking for whom to give it to.