Porcelain Child/SessionFourtyNine

[09:46] <onine> Taking the lead in front of the two mortals, Kess and Six, you follow Mouse's lead as she takes you down the hill towards the sprawling military camp on the shores of the artificial lake. [09:47] <onine> Across the wide expanse of water you can see the rooves of the small city that once surrounded the fortress that looms partly submerged from the waters shunted from the Meander River by enormous wooden ducts built by the Legion's engineer corps. [09:48] <onine> It must have taken months to construct by mortal means, so you imagine they likely had aid from Dragonbloods at least. [09:49] <onine> It is an unorthadox strategy that the commander has taken to lay siege to the country's fortress, a strategy that certainly is easy on his or her troops. [09:50] <onine> You can see dotted camps on the shores, spaced evenly around, and long transport boats have been moored near them to prepare for an inevitable naval attack in the middle of fertile farmlands. [09:50] <onine> Mouse walks as quickly as she is able outlining a bizzare situation... [09:52] <onine> "We arrived here shortly after the siege started, around the stage that Commander Akemi lay the foundations for her strategy." She explains. "Brilliant really, its a peaceful siege, minimal bloodshed. All we needed to do was wait it out... at least it was relatively bloodless at first." [09:54] <Aliasi> "So what about now?" [09:55] *** Aliasi is now known as Anona [09:56] <onine> "Well, after the siege was laid... no actually, I'd best let Lord Gonza explain the military matters to you, there is a certain 'visual' that is needed." Mouse considers looking worried. "In any case I was afraid that you weren't coming after all. I'm glad you're here." [09:58] <onine> You know the name Akemi, she was one of the few good commanders in the Tepet Legions, perhaps she would have been on par with the Roseblack had she gained more field experience. Unfortunately after the complete obliteration in the north she was court-martialed to keep up appearances. [09:59] <onine> Mouse leads you up to what is obviously the command tent, the largest in the camp. Soldiers march left and right, and the smell of animals and war is in the air. Two heavily armed and armoured guards open the tent for the Dragonbloods. [10:00] <onine> "Sorry, only Legion personel and the Princes of the Earth are alowed to enter the command tent." One solder says as the pair cross their polearms in front of Kess and Six. [10:01] *** Anona has quit IRC (Ping timeout�) [10:08] *** Aliasi has joined #palas [10:08] *** Aliasi is now known as Anona [10:11] <onine> "Sorry, only Legion personel and the Princes of the Earth are alowed to enter the command tent." One solder says as the pair cross their polearms in front of Kess and Six. [10:12] * Anona turns to them. "I'm sorry, but it IS probably best if you wait out here... for the moment, anyway. [10:14] <onine> Kess shrugs almost indifferent, and Six merely looks on, not understanding. [10:15] <onine> "Sorry..." Mouse offers quietly. "Commander Akemi's policy, one that the Captains are keeping alive." [10:16] <onine> The command tent is decorated with nothing more than a large wooden table constructed simply, and unpolished. Maps, books, letters, weapons and other such items are arrayed across it, before the varied members of staff. The head of the table is empty. [10:16] <onine> The debate ceases when Mouse and you enter, and every eye is on you, in a respectful way of course! [10:17] <onine> "Ahem." Mouse begins. "May I present Tepet Anona, the troubleshooter that Juno informed us would be arriving to advise us on the present situation." [10:17] <onine> It occurs that how could Juno have known where you are... [10:18] <onine> ...there's a good chance that the REAL troubleshooter is not you, and is still en route. [10:20] <Anona> (... but THEY don't need to know that, and what trouble can there be that I can't shoot!) [10:20] <Anona> (still...) [10:21] <Anona> "I do work for Juno, true, but I have not been told anything about the situation here." [10:25] <onine> An officer to the right of Commander Akemi's chair stands. "Tepet Anona." He adresses you, holding an officers helmet under his arm. "Captain Kargan. I would be honoured to elaborate on the situation if you will be moved to take a chair." He gestures at numerous available spots at the table. [10:26] <Anona> "Certainly." [10:30] <onine> Mouse takes a seat next to you and Commander Kargan begins, unrolling a map of Palas, with its territorial borders. "Palas, a small kingdom with an approximate population of eight hundred thousand to a million. Bear in mind this is not by Imperial Censor, so this is an estimate only. Around three hundred years ago, a large mercenary band under the command of the self-styled lord Gravin [10:30] <onine> Palas settled their forces in an old First Age castle..." [10:30] <onine> "Here." He points at the location of the Palas Fortress. [10:31] <Anona> "Hm." [10:32] <onine> "As far as we are aware, the stores in the catacombs were stripped dry by the Shogunate long before Palas settled his band here. Essentially, they were a military group turned kingdom, much like the Seventh though signifigantly smaller and less well equipped. Never the less, they were a well trained group this far out, and civilians flocked to live around the lands." [10:33] <onine> "That's the condensed background." Kargan finishes. "Lord Gonzha?" [10:34] *** Magpie has joined #palas [10:34] <onine> A simply clothed muscular man stands from across the table, some distance down. "Thank you Captain." [10:34] *** Epheri has joined #palas [10:34] <Anona> "So what's the problem?" [10:36] <onine> He is a bald man, with a simple moustache and many scars from battle. "Three months ago, I joined this Legion as a diplomatic functionary and expert to educate the officers on the ways of Palas and its ruling council. We offered a trade for a certain artifact - one passed down to the original Gravin Palas. According to legend, this silver ring was in posession of Palas' dragonblood ancestors, [10:36] <onine> but centuries of breeding with mortals..." [10:37] <onine> "...has thinned the Palas bloodline to the point where exaltation is no longer possible." [10:39] <onine> "The current Palas council head and his subordinates unanimously refused to hear of any such trade, and according to our mission mandate, we laid siege to the capital. We will not bore you with irrelevent clean-up details of the few forces outside the fortress. After a month of siege, the council still refused to part with the artifact." [10:40] <onine> Kargan speaks up from his seat further up the table. "It did at the time strike us as odd that such a small kingdom would resist the Imperial Legions, perhaps they felt they could pull the same stunt that Lookshy has numerous times. Foolish - or so we thought then..." [10:41] <onine> "As per Akemi's orders..." Gonzha continues. "We commensed construction... Leutenant Arax?" [10:42] <onine> Another younger officer stands, stocky built and in light armour. Not a fighting man. He bows and addresses you. "Tepet Anona. Leutenant Arax, Third fang, engineers." [10:43] * Anona nods in reply. [10:43] <onine> "As per the commander's orders, we commensed construction of the floodgate manauver. With ample resources from Palas' surrounds, and the proximity of the Meander River, we were able to pull off an unconventional manauver..." [10:44] <onine> The young engineer explains the particulars and whatnot of the strategy for using heavy naval assets in such a situation. "Effectively we had Palas blocked in. They could not last. At this point-" [10:44] <onine> The engineer is cut off by a wave from Captain Kargan. "Shh." [10:45] <onine> Every head turns towards the castle. Over the sounds of the camp, you can hear wafting on the breeze, the sound of a mournful flute. [10:45] <onine> "Right on cue." Kargan responds darkly. [10:46] <Anona> "What's that?" [10:48] <onine> "After the area was flooded," Kargan continues for the engineer. "Someome in that forsaken castle plays this song, from sundown and onwards. To taunt us. To let us know their moral is still high." [10:48] <onine> The lilting melody grows louder as the wind blows towards the camp, carrying the sound. You notice that the camp noises have ceased for the most part, the soldiers stopping what they're doing to listen. [10:49] * Anona muses. "I don't suppose that ring of yours is fireproof, huh..., listening to the melody. [10:50] <onine> "Probably is." Mouse replies, not catching the meaning. [10:50] <Anona> (should be another " after that ellipsis.) [10:51] <onine> The player is very talented, but Kargan continues over it. "Commander Akemi had taken a liking to the song, and would sit on the shore well out of striking distance and listen to it nightly. Then she was killed." [10:51] <onine> Kargan tosses a barbed black javelin on the the tabletop. It skids across it and comes to rest before you, carrying a few maps with it. [10:52] <onine> "By this." [10:53] <Anona> "Reminds me of some sailor's tale from the far West. 'lure them in with a beautiful song... and then the monster eats them.'" [10:54] <onine> On closer inspection the javelin is not a javelin at all, but its base bears fletching. Not a javelin. An arrow. [10:56] <onine> "You may be close to the truth in a way." Kargan responds. "We prepared her body for a military burial at the next sundown, but that night *something* stole into our camp under the cover of darkness, slew the guards silently and brutally - and took Akemi's body. [10:56] <onine> " [10:56] <onine> Some of the men around the table shiver visibly. [10:57] <Anona> "Cannibalism?" [11:00] <onine> "We do not know." Kargan shakes his head. [11:02] <Anona> "Well, it seems the problem is easy enough to solve, then." [11:02] <onine> "A voice called from the ramparts the next evening, demanding a Dragonblooded envoy to meet with the council and discuss the terms of our departure from their lands. They cited the body of our Commander as their bargaining chip. Unfortunately for us, we had not a dragonblood to send untill Sesus Edell and Nellens Slaine arrived and offered assistance." [11:04] <Anona> Oh. TALKING. Anona looks a little crestfallen. [11:05] <onine> Even more crestfallen, you know the name Nellens Slaine. From the Heptagram. Arguably one of the most Irritating with a capital 'I' person you have ever had the misfortune of meeting. Slaine is a water aspect, one of the few that the pathetic House of Nellens can front up - not that it does them much good. [11:06] <onine> Slaine has forsaken the house entirely for adventuring. Slaine is an odd freak of dragoblooded nature, though he may be Water Aspected, his aspect markings are all red, like blood in the water. He insists that people call him 'The Red Tide' or 'Tide' [11:07] <Anona> "So what happened?" [11:07] <onine> He is as smug and sure of himself as Tany, as headstrong as you, but with the advantage of actually being able to back-up his claims... [11:08] <onine> A thoroughly disreputable sort, one that would stain you by association. [11:09] <onine> "Edell and Slaine - er Tide arrived." Kargan continues "Tide offered his services to us as a mediator, and took a one-man boat into the fortress of Palas." [11:09] <onine> "This was three days ago." Mouse murmers weakly. [11:10] <onine> "We have received no word from Palas. And word from the Imperial City is just that a troubleshooter will arrive in time." Kargan finishes. [11:10] <onine> "We should attack!" An angry officer in colonal's stripes shouts, slamming his fist onto the table. "No more negotiating, Kargan!" [11:12] <onine> "He's correct, sir." A cavalry leutenant replies, then bows his head to Anona. "Ma'am. With all due respect we have lost two princes of the earth to this fortress already. The time for talk is over." [11:12] <Anona> "Hmpf. I can't say I disagree, but going in under the guise of negotation could be useful." [11:12] <onine> "Are you forgetting that Palas is a first age fortress, almost impregnible from the outside by force!" Gonzha fires back, and quickly the table degenerates to argument. [11:13] <onine> Mouse leans toward you. "Anona this has been going on for days, Tide could still be alive." [11:13] <Anona> "And he could not be." [11:15] <Anona> "But I could check on such things, if I went inside. And if they try foul play... I think I'm more than their match." [11:15] <onine> "Yes..but..." Mouse sulks sadly and rubs her rounded belly. [11:15] <onine> "You would?!" She looks delighted and awed. [11:16] <onine> "I'd go myself, but I'm nowhere near Tide's match at sorcery and combat... and if they beat him... what could I do?" [11:17] <Anona> "Well, there are those handier with a sword than myself - but I believe I am the best in this entire direction at converting perfectly good fortresses to piles of ash and coals." [11:19] <onine> "I've sent word to numerous field experts to see if they have heard of anything like this before, but thus far I've had no luck. Anona there could be anathema in there and we dont even know!" [11:19] <onine> Meanwhile the officer's argument continues. [11:19] <Anona> "I've fought Anathema before. Haven't killed one, but I've sent them running." [11:22] <onine> Mouse's sharp intake of breath is a fair sign of how impressed she is. "Should we do anything about this argument?" [11:23] <Anona> "Let them hash it out. If I don't like what they come up with, I'll do what I want anyway." [11:23] <Anona> "and there's an outside chance they'll have a better idea." [11:24] <onine> Ultimately, without exalted input the long drawn-out discussion ends in 'lets see what Anona thinks.' [11:24] <onine> The officers present their plans to you in turn and wait for you to be suitably supportive. [11:25] <onine> The group seems to be split evenly under Captain Kargan for waiting, and under the Colonal for attack. [11:28] * Anona decisive comes on the "waiting" side, with the proviso that she will go in and signal an attack if necessary. [11:29] <onine> "Do you beleive that is wise my Lady?" Kargan replies, obviously not happy with the plan. [11:31] <Anona> "It's as wise as any other action, and doesn't risk anyone but myself." [11:33] <onine> "The Prince of the Earth has spoken!" The colonal says with finallity. [11:41] <Anona> "Indeed she has. Now, how soon can we get me in there?" [11:41] <onine> "Within the hour." Gonzha replies. [11:43] <Anona> "Good." [11:45] <onine> "We will make the necessary preparations then." Kargan replies. [11:45] <Anona> "And I, myself." Anona rises to leave. [11:46] <onine> Mouse follows you out quickly. She sort of reminds you of Epheri the way she follows you around. "Are you sure about this?! Isnt it dangerous?" [11:47] <onine> Outside the command tent, night has fallen and the flute plays on, the soldiers having returned to their duties after a while. Kess and Six are nowhere in sight however. [11:48] <Anona> "Of course it's dangerous, but that's what we're born to." [11:49] <onine> "Uh, right..." She climbs awkwardly up the steps behind you. A small swarm of dandilion seeds float past, then stop, disobeying the wind. [11:50] <onine> They group together in front of the pair of you, and then with a little flutter of feathers the shape of a hummingbird forms from the shape the seeds had taken. [11:50] <onine> One tiny claw holds out a very small rolled piece of paper. [11:54] * Anona accepts it. [11:55] <onine> The hummingbird explodes into a puff of dandilion seeds and floats off into the sky. [11:57] <onine> The tiny note is hard to read, but it is written as follows. "Messenger set to deliver note to first met Dragonblood of Palas. Response to Sesus Edell. Advisor will meet at the Stark Lake west of Palas. Requests mortal only. Signed Tepet Velis." [11:57] <Anona> (uh-oh!) [11:58] <onine> "Tepet Velis." Mouse reads. "I sent a message to her requesting information. She's an expert on the spirit courts." She looks at you worried. [11:59] <Anona> "The bit where this 'advisor' only wants a mortal bothers me, too." [12:00] <onine> "Oh Tide...why did you have to be so brave..." Mouse looks at the looming dark fortress behind you, with the song still echoing over the lake. [12:01] <Anona> "Granted, I've dealt a little with spirits, too... though I'm far from an expert. It mostly involved poking them with sharp objects and setting them on fire." [12:02] <onine> "But what are we going to do? I suppose we can 'requesition' one of the soldiers to meet Velis messenger?" Mouse suggests. "Though that is forbidden." [12:03] <Anona> "Or we can just ignore that part and go ourselves." [12:04] <onine> "We could..." Mouse replies. "Stark Lake is not far from here, by horse it would only take a short ride." [12:05] <Anona> "Then let's go." [12:08] <onine> You borrow a pair of horses from the cavalry and ride them west along the road. Along the way you ride over a small dam. Mouse informs you that Stark Lake connects to this dam, and that it is only a little further up. [12:09] <onine> You ride slowly along the river bank, disturbing fireflies as the horses move through. Through some trees you see Stark Lake, and there is a shape moving in the water. [12:10] * Anona peers at said shape. [12:10] <onine> As you close you see that it is a slender white humanoid crane. It balances carefully on one leg, its orange foot gripping the top of a submerged rock. [12:10] <onine> Floating on a lillypad nearby is a cube of tan grey which glows luminously in the night. [12:11] <onine> The crane cuts a small piece off with a knife and places the small cube on a hook attatched to a line, which it dunks into the water. [12:11] <onine> Five fish hang of a rope over its shoulder. [12:12] * Anona watches intently. It's rude to annoy fisher...cranes... at work! [12:13] <onine> The bird does not turn to you. "You are more than mortal, I can smell Air and Flame about. This breaches the agreement I had with the Dragonblood Velis." It calls out in the voice of a teenage boy. [12:14] <onine> The water splashes and the crane pulls the line out and inspects the now-empty hook. [12:15] <Anona> "Velis may have agreed to something, but I never did." [12:16] <onine> "Then please leave. You frighten the fish." [12:19] <Anona> "If it's fish you want, that's easy enough." Anona rolls back a sleeve. "Do you prefer yours medium, well-done, or charbroiled?" [12:21] <onine> "Raw." He replies sighing and winding the spool of fishing line carefully around with the tips of his feathers. "You miss the point, part of the activity is catching the fish, not just eating them. Like anything, the experience is as much about the end as it is about how you reached there." [12:24] <Anona> "You're the one who spoke up. I *was* trying to allow you to continue without interruption." Anona feels justifiably irritated for the one time she DOES show a little restraint... [12:27] <onine> "Very well, rather than waste my purpose here, I will tell you what I was asked to say, though your exaltation changes the field of discussion somewhat." The crane replies, wrapping the lilly around the luminous cube. "I am Ishan Swift, servitor and winged heel of the Dandilion Theater, here to respond to an urgent message from one Sesus Edell." [12:27] <onine> He looks at you both. "Since you are both Terrestrial, I will assume that one of you is she?" [12:29] <onine> "Yes, that's me." Mouse replies. "And this is Tepet Anona." [12:30] <onine> "Yes, yes, good, good." The crane replies, evidently wholely uninterested. "Now then, I was asked to relay some information." [12:33] <Anona> "Relay it." [12:34] <onine> "It is the judgement and educated opinion of the Dandilion Theater that it would be 'wise' to abandon your siege of Palas altogether." [12:34] <onine> "No! We cant just leave!" Mouse cries. [12:34] <onine> "And why not, hmm? Precious Realm egos to bruise perhaps?" [12:37] <onine> "No, its not like that at all." Mouse replies. "My husband is trapped in there!" [12:37] <onine> The crane blinks. "Then he has likely perished. As have all of the inhabitants of the fortress." [12:40] <onine> "What do you mean perished?" Mouse asks. [12:40] <onine> "Perished. Gone. Dead." The crane replies simply. [12:40] <Anona> "How?" [12:41] <onine> "Certainly not of old age." The crane states. [12:42] <Anona> "Then who is in there now?" [12:43] <onine> "I cannot say." The crane replies. "Given the state of our agreement I have already parted with more information than I am comfortable with." [12:44] <Anona> "Why was it so important you talk with a mortal?" [12:45] <onine> "Because there are certain things in the Immaculate Philosophy I am willing to break around beings that can slay me irreversibly and those I am not willing to." [12:48] <Anona> "If *that's* what you are worried about... I'm prepared to listen to anything you might have to share without violence." [12:50] <onine> "You'll forgive me if I do not altogether trust you, given what I know." The crane says. "What is likely in that fortress is a being known as Brattica." [12:51] <onine> "Stories abound, and I would be willing to tell you one... for a favour." [12:51] <Anona> "And what would this favor be?" [12:53] <onine> "One held in good faith." The crane chuckles. "The type depends on which story you want to hear." [12:54] <Anona> "Whichever you think might be more useful." Anona racks her brains... has she ever heard of a 'Brattica'? [12:57] <onine> You've not heard of Brattica [12:58] <onine> "Very well, the story most suited to your present situation. Ho hum!" The crane rubs his wing feathers under his beak. [12:59] <onine> "Some years ago, some centuries to be wholely exact, a legion of the Dragonblooded Shogunate travelled through the River Province - that's the Scavenger Lands by the way - searching far and wide for a place to rest their weary feet. They had marched for years some say, decades say others..." [13:01] <onine> "Their General, a wise and fine warrior came into conflict with another of the many wandering Legions after the sickness spread across the lands. His opponent was smaller, less well equipped, and contained far fewer Dragonblooded Warriors." [13:03] <onine> "Indeed, this force was far inferior, yet still they challenged the General to battle." The crane continues. "They met and a storm of smoke and mist swept across the bloody battlefield as the armies clashed. The General's strategy was foolproof, yet the screams of his men echoed from the field of war." [13:04] <onine> "Taking his horse, the General charged into the mist, where he found countless of his warriors slain in a manner brutal and horrendous. Amongst the blood and the bone, he came upon a great beast, tearing the bodies to pieces and heaping them in piles, rending them to the point that they could never be cremated properly. All the while, the beast laughed." [13:06] <onine> "Raising his blade, the General fought the beast, waist deep in the blood of his brothers and sisters." The crane seems to smile as he tells this story, and his eyes gleam as it takes life through his words. You can almost see the battle, the General versus the savage beast. [13:07] <onine> "For nearly a day, they waged their war, as the spirits of the dead screamed around them. The beast told the General that he had not fought one so great since the So... the Anathema walked creation. He had at last found a worthy foe." [13:09] <onine> "The battle gave him power, the strange invigoration that 'ending a grand story' gave him such delight. The General knew not what the beast meant, but fought on for the souls of his men. At last, as the day broke, be plunged the beasts own great blade through its heart, ending it forever." [13:11] <onine> "Rallying the remainder of his shattered troops, the General journeyed to the nearby city, and rested at last. There he named their new home Lookshy. Since then, they have faced unknown beasts in battle, a beast invigorated by the slaughter, but never reaching the same power that their General faced." [13:13] <onine> "They call this thing many names, The Undefeated Ghost, The War God of Slaughter? An Immortal Man? But the beast himself told the General. Know that my name is Brattica." The crane finishes. [13:13] <onine> "A simple tale perhaps, but one that I will impart more clarity to." The crane adds. [13:13] * Anona nods. "And that's what we face?" [13:15] <onine> "A simple tale perhaps, but one that I will impart more clarity to." The crane adds. "You MAY be facing Brattica. Since that battle, he has been fascinated with battling the Dragonblooded. He has fought against Lookshy in the den of her enemies on many occasions - sometimes fighting on the side fo the Realm." [13:16] <onine> "He is a god, that much is certain, and one of diminished power, thankfully. He battles dragonbloods for his own reasons, he seems to know something. The few spirit witnesses have been able to glean that much. Right now he is playing on your kind's funerary customs." [13:17] <onine> "He knows you will do anything to retrieve your heroes. And he will continue to wait and battle those you send to maintain his power. To deal with him you simply need to wait. Eventually he will grow bored and leave." The crane explains. [13:18] <onine> "In the end you may even be able to swim through the blood and retrieve that precious ring you're so fascinated with." [13:20] <Anona> "I'm not the one who's fascinated with it. Right now, I'd just as soon go home... if it weren't for the fact that placing errant gods like him in line is a necessary function." [13:23] <onine> "If you say so, Dragonblood." The crane says. "Nefvarin was unable to erradicate him, what makes you think that YOU can? Brattica is no ordinary god. He's waiting for a sign. A sign that is signifigant to his purpose - and I don't think that you're it. If you face him you will be nothing more than entertainment untill that sign arrives. Don't join the millions of bodies that lie in his wake." [13:26] <Anona> "So what's your suggestion? That we just turn our backs on this?" [13:29] <onine> "That is my *suggestion* alone. I do not expect you to follow it, though I would hope you'll stay alive so that I may call the favour one day." The crane says. "There have been only one other to defeat Brattica in battle that I am aware of." [13:31] <Anona> "And I suppose sweet reason is out of the question." [13:35] <onine> "I will tell you, as the information will likely aid you in keeping your lives. Brattica has been killed by indirect means and siege weaponry, but beyond Nefvarin, the only other soul to defeat Brattica one-on-one is an Anathema of old." [13:36] <onine> The bird seems to smile and looks into the sky. "He wascalled Eo Faucon. The Prince of Falcons." [13:39] <Anona> "Hm. Your advice is well-considered... and ulimately correct. I can't allow him to continue unchallenged. But it is clear a direct assault will have very little chance to work." [13:40] <onine> The crane nods. "I have spoken. You have listened. And now you will act. And I must go, it is a long flight back to the Dandilion Theater." [13:41] <Anona> "I thank you for your efforts." [13:44] <onine> "You will." The crane says, before opening up his wings and taking to the air. Some distance away, he dematerializes and you see nothing more of him. [13:45] <onine> The clouds are growing more common, and they look heavy with winter rains. [13:45] * Anona turns to Mouse. "So, your thoughts?" [13:46] <onine> "I'm not waiting." Mouse replies adamantly. "If what that spirit said is true, I'm not waiting any longer, I need to know Anona. I need to know if Tide is alive." [13:52] <Anona> "Then we are decided. I go in and find out. [13:56] <onine> Mouse follows you quickly. "I'm going with you!" [14:00] <Anona> "I'd try to dissuade you, but I've found backup of some sort to be useful. Just follow my lead once we get there." [14:01] <onine> "Alright." Mouse rides alongside you as you make your way quickly back to the military camp. A soldier makes his way towards you. "My ladies!" He bows respectfully. "A landing barge has been prepared for you, and waits just on the shore if you'll follow me." [14:04] <onine> The soldier leads you through the camp and down to the shore, where a sizeable force of men has gathered to watch the dragonblood(s) departure. The fortress looms ahead, low in the water, and barely visible against the cloud filled sky. Only a few of the windows are lit, and they are not lit very well. [14:04] <onine> Two soldiers have been released to your command to row you to (and hopefully from) the Palas Fortress. [14:13] * Anona outlines the plan... which, right now, consists of "go in and see what's there." [14:14] <onine> Mouse and Captain Kargan nod. As you step into the boat, Kess and Six jog down from the hill. Six has somehow picked up a bow along the way. "May I ask where you're going?" Kess asks. [14:16] <Anona> "In there. *nods toward fortress*." [14:16] <onine> "Alone." He states. [14:18] <Anona> "With Mouse." [14:20] <onine> [You cant take her in there with you, not in that state.] Six replies low, so Mouse cant here. [14:20] <onine> "What state?" Kess strangely does not comprehend, Six merely sighs at the strange young swordsman's response. [14:21] <Anona> [Look, her *husband* is in there. She's going to go in, will I or no. At least this way I can watch over her.] [14:22] <onine> [We'll go with you.] Six replies. [14:25] <Anona> [I'd prefer you didn't... but I guess I'm not going to stop *you*, either, am I?] [14:26] <onine> [Quite right.] Kess replies, and Six laughs and swings a quiver of arrows over his shoulder. [14:27] <Anona> [Onward, then...] [14:28] <onine> With the four of you in the boat, the two soldiers cast it off, and bring you about to face the fortress. As you close the winds seem to howl through the eaves and gaps between the walls and parapets. Then all of a sudden, the haunting flute's song halts, and all you have left is the howl of the wind...

MEanwhile

[09:34] <onine> The soldiers finished their search of the rugged mountains and cliffs surrounding the Six Birds ruins but to no avail - the mysteriously powerful entity called Lao was long gone or hidden by the time the heavily armed mortal legion soldiers had combed the area. [09:35] <onine> With no small measure of displeasure Quintus orders the decontstruction and stowing of the camp, any usable items are loaded on board the Snapdragon - the remainder is burned. Why leave useful items behind for barbarians to use? [09:36] *** Kraken is now known as Epheri [09:36] <onine> By mid afternoon, the skyship is fully loaded, and the sleek vessel and its important cargo comes about and aims its delicate prow towards the Blessed Isle - and the Imperial City. [09:36] *** DK is now known as Yengo [09:37] <onine> The mission by the original charter was a total success, the ring piece of the sword known as Dragonwrath has been retrieved, however the cost in life and materials has been high for the mere bauble of a legendary sword that could well be just that. A legend. [09:38] <onine> An entire camp full of specialists and savants, slain by an anathema. One Dragonblood killed, another missing without a trace. An enormous relic of forgotten magic forever sunk into the chaos of the wyld, becoming little more than shatter fragments of stability and broken ideas and inspirations. [09:39] <onine> And of course the loss of Anona, and the mysterious stranger, Lao's companion Kess. Six, the young man sleeping inside Six birds also lost, no one will ever know who he was, and why he was there. [09:40] <onine> To the soldiers, the mission went well, and Quintus is unbearably pleased with how his end of the mission went. But looking out over the Eastern forests from the deck of the Snapdragon, Epheri, Tara, Magpie and the mortal Doctor Yengo find that their hearts are heavier... [09:43] * Epheri offers the small falcon chick in her lap some meat as she sits and looks out over the forest. "She is still alive out there. I know it ..." [09:43] * Yengo looks over the railing, blowing out a puff of air. "Yeah. I'm just wondering what WE gained out of all this." [09:44] <Epheri> "I'm not really sure ..." [09:45] <Yengo> "A story, I guess." Not one he's eager to tell, considering his last 'conversation' with Quintus. [09:47] * Epheri offers the falcon more meat after it lets out a protesting cry. "Not the best of stories." [09:50] <Yengo> "Not at all." He looks back at the falcon, about half-surprised it's not stripping the meat from Epheri's fingers. "Listen... Epheri... I have to ask you something." [09:51] * Epheri gives some more meat. "Ask then,Yengo. I'll do my best to answer." [09:54] <onine> Magpie watches from nearby, sitting crosslegged on a spool of ship rope. She and crow watch Epheri and her falcon critically. How DARE Epheri move in on her girl-and-bird patent! [09:54] <onine> Tara stares listlessly into the passing trees below, you cant tell if she is listening or not... [09:55] *** Aliasi is now known as Anona [09:55] <Yengo> "It's not a question." He turns around, looking across the deck of the airship to where Magpie tugs at Tara's skirts, pestering her about Dragons know what. He lowers his voice to the briefest whisper, knowing the Exalt will hear. "It's not easy to ask this... but if something happens to me, please... make sure they're safe." [09:57] * Epheri turns to regard yengo, wondering just what prompted him to ask this ... now. "Of course." she nods [09:58] <Yengo> "Thank you, Epheri. I know you're not all-" He stops short. "Thank you." [09:59] * Epheri raises an eyebrow at that, but lets it slide. [10:01] *** Anona has quit IRC (Ping timeout�) [10:02] * Yengo notices, and is grateful. [10:04] <onine> After a few weeks of uneventful travel, the Snapdragon finally crosses the sea and the Blessed Isle is in sight. The journey has been a dull monotony of watching the landscape flow by, listening to Quintus scream at his men, and watching him beat them consistantly in martial practice. [10:05] <onine> The Snapdragon angles in low over the city, swooping over the extensive Palace complex and at its center the Imperial Manse, forever sealed since the Empress' disappearance. [10:07] <onine> The ship passes the estates on the hill, instead of arriving and letting you off at Tepet Juno's mansion it lands in the water of the Scarlet River and is steered into the impressive Imperial Docks north of the City. [10:08] *** Aliasi has joined #oninegame [10:08] *** Aliasi is now known as Anona [10:08] <onine> The ship garners a little attention from the busy, but unused to excitement dockworkers, and they watch as the sleek ship angles in and is moored on one of the yacht piers amongst the pleasure craft of the other members of the Dynasty. [10:09] <onine> "Captain." Mistral asks. "Why have we not been delivered directly to the mansion?" [10:10] <onine> The very upstanding officer replies to the question in the midst of barking out orders to his sailors almost reflexively. "Orders. Some have taken a disliking to our landings in the city, also the Commander insists on allowing his troops off first." [10:11] <onine> The man shrugs and sighs, obeying the orders of the closest and angriest dragonblood available, which happens to be Quintus. Besides, if Juno takes exception it will be on his nephew, not the captain. [10:19] <onine> There is however a carriage waiting on the main area of the docks, with a driver. [10:19] * Epheri sighs softly. "Looks like we have a walk then...or not. She brightens a little" [10:20] <Epheri> (errr, translocate the second " left a ways) [10:20] <onine> You walk up to the large and stately carriage, and the driver opens the door for you and bows low. "Please enter, and I will take you into the city, with the compliments of Lord Juno." [10:21] <onine> The interior is well furnished, with glowstones that provide perpetual light, enough to read by if it were night time. It is large enough for six and has armoured dragonbloods in mind, thus Yengo finds he can fit in with ease. [10:22] <onine> Juno extends a hand politely to aid Epheri, Magpie and Tara into the carriage. [10:22] * Yengo climbs in a little uncertainly, seating himself in a corner. [10:23] <Epheri> "My thanks." she says as she accepts the hand, stepping up. [10:23] <onine> "My lady..." He smiles. He is well aware that none of them need aid, but the custom must have come from his homeland. [10:24] <onine> "OH why THANK you NOBLE SIR!" Magpie accepts his hand, hamming it up nicely with the pompous accent. She uses his hand as a launcher to throw herself into the carriage. Tara sighs and follows with less shocking vigour. [10:24] *** Magpie has joined #oninegame [10:31] *** Yengo has left #oninegame [10:31] <onine> The carriage begins its trip into the Imperial City from the dockside, rattling over the uneven stones. [10:31] *** Yengo has joined #oninegame [10:35] * Epheri glances out of the window at the sight of the city, still a draw for her "Have any of your camps reported in about Anona yet?" [10:37] <onine> "None that I have been made aware of I'm afraid." Mistral replies, shaking his head sadly. [10:39] * Yengo looks out the other window to avoid the conversation, watching the streets rush by and wondering what Juno has planned for them now. At least Anona would escape Lady Aria for a while longer... [10:40] <Magpie> "She couldn't be- stuck there- could she?" Magpie asks anxiously, for what was perhaps the twelth time since they'd left Six Birds. "Maybe if Epheri's not there, she'll get in trouble.." [10:43] <Epheri> "She is not stuck there." Epheri more states than anything else. "And she can look after herself." most of the time. Unless there was something that didn't burn. [10:43] * Yengo had been on the cusp of saying "She'd get in trouble no matter what," but Epheri's comment seems more comforting. [10:44] * Magpie screws up her face skeptically, and slumps back in her cushioned seat, squirming slightly so she can comfortably sit and scowl at the city. [10:54] <onine> After a short ride up the hills towards the Imperial Palace, the carriage halts just before the enormous complex of Juno's mansion. The building with its balcony garden casts a shadow over you. The driver quickly dismounts and opens the door or you. As before, Mistral politely offers his hand to help the ladies down. [10:55] * Epheri once more accepts, stepping down gracefully [10:55] * Yengo exits last, with considerably less grace. [10:56] * Magpie hops out, and blinks up at the huge building. She hides a yawn. Destroying the peace of mind of a whole ship full of sailors was exausting work, even for the best. [10:58] <onine> The driver shuts the carriage and rides it off toward the imperial stables, leaving you at the base of Juno's mansion in the midst of the finest district of the Imperial City. Men and women ride past on fine horses and chariots, and the occasional Dragonblood moves through as well. [10:59] <onine> Mistral takes the lead and you follow him up the long stairs to the balcony above. [11:00] <onine> Even at midday, the sun warms you little in the winter of the Blessed Isle, and indeed there is still frost where the sun has not yet touched with its light. Soon the rains would come, and if the chill of the autumn was any indicator, there would be snow in the Imperial City this year. [11:03] * Yengo shivers a little in the chill, looking thoroughly miserable. [11:04] <onine> The gardens are lush as you remember, and new winter flowers have blossomed in whites and pale ice-blues with the end of the autumn blooms. The wooden lattice doors of Juno's meeting hall are fully open, and the winds blow some of the coloured drapes out the northern side, a cascade of filmy colours. [11:05] <Magpie> + [11:07] * Magpie grabs hold of Yengo's hand, and yawns hugely again. She blinks at the opulent colors, and shaking her head as she is momentarily engulfed in the silk hangings. She leans in closer to Yengo, trusting he'd eventually lead her to food and rest. [11:09] * Epheri follows them into the, room, shaking her head a little at the hanging, wanting to find Juno fast, to ask about Anona. [11:10] * Yengo looks down, a small smile creasing his face. He gently drags the mostly incoherent Magpie after Epheri. [11:14] <onine> Juno is sitting behind his usual table, seemingly unaffected by the icy breeze in his thin clothing. A small fan with jade decoration sits on the table with a blank book and ink-brush. Juno appears to be making notes on it from a book he reads from in his other hand. [11:18] <Epheri> "Juno, thank you for the carriage from the docks." she says by way of a greeting [11:19] <Magpie> "We got it, and we went down the stairs, but we lost Anona," Magpie reports sleepily, attempting to straigten her spine in to some parody of Quintus. [11:20] <onine> "Splendid, I'm glad that you have arrived so soon - sorry, let me just finish this line..." Juno finishes the line on the page and sets the little book down. [11:20] <onine> "Please sit." He gestures with a broad smile. [11:21] * Epheri takes a seat across from him [11:21] <onine> "Yes, Epheri has referred the information to me, and we are doing everything we can to locate her, but unfortunately we must wait for her to send word." Juno replies to Magpie with a solemn nod. "Unfortunately Anona has not focused in the communicative arts." [11:24] <Magpie> "She burns things," Magpie agrees. She wrestles a chair around, and sits down cross-legged in it. [11:25] <Yengo> "Yes." He seats himself on the periphery of the gathering, reflecting that that approach has actually worked several times. [11:25] <onine> "Please, I have had the outcome of the investigation refered to me, but I would like to hear from you how it went - you were able to discover the Inner Ring?" [11:27] * Epheri nods. She explains what happened within the realm of the tree, how they found the ring, how she retrived it from the pond, and how the flames of Anona consumed the place. Their flight. Quintus' actions. Lao's escape. [11:30] <onine> "That nephew of mine..." Juno shakes his head in disappointment. "I really expected to conduct himself better." [11:31] <Epheri> At the end of her explanation, she offers him the ring. [11:31] * Yengo is markedly and deliberately silent on this front. [11:32] <onine> Juno holds it carefully and looks at it slowly, as if afraid to drop it. "Amazing... it is even more beautiful than I imagined!" [11:33] * Magpie looks at him blankly. "It's a �ring�. It's not even �pretty�. There's no gold gilt or anything." [11:35] <onine> "Sometimes Magpie you need to look past the object in your hand." Juno replies still transfixed. "What I see is not only the ring, forged by the dragons themselves an aeon ago, but the peace and unity it will bring." [11:36] * Magpie frowns at him, but is intimidated enough by him to mutter "It's a �ring�" under her breath. [11:37] * Yengo nods silently, more inclined to agree with her, especially considering Quintus. [11:37] <onine> He carefully wraps the ring in the velvet and holds it out to Mistral. "Please my friend, take it to the observatory hall and place it with the rest of the sword." [11:38] <onine> Mistral stands and takes it confused. "You will not be joining me?" [11:38] <onine> "Perhaps later, I would like to continue my work on this book while my energies are still focused." Juno replies, patting the small book. [11:39] <onine> Mistral looks at Juno, then at you, then once again to his patron. "Very good, My lord." [11:39] <Magpie> "How many more pieces are there?" Magpie asks, standing up again, wondering grumpily to herself when they were going to give her food. [11:39] <onine> With a slight flap of fabric in the wind, he abruptly turns and departs the hall. Juno listens to his footsteps fading. [11:41] <onine> "One so far." Juno replies. "We will be aquiring it soon." He looks at Magpie with a smile. "Are you hungry?" [11:41] * Magpie beams at him. "�s. [11:41] <Magpie> <onine> He carefully wraps the ring in the velvet and holds it out to Mistral. "Please my friend, take it to the observatory hall and place it with the rest of the sword." [11:41] <Magpie> <onine> Mistral stands and takes it confused. "You will not be joining me?" [11:42] * Magpie beams at him. "�Very�," she says earnestly, pleased he had comprehended her heart's desire. [11:43] <Epheri> "Some food would not be unappreciated." [11:43] <onine> "Tara." Juno says. "We have a very well equipped kitchen and larder..." [11:43] <Yengo> "I could eat... but Tara, you don't have to- er-" [11:44] <onine> "Of course." Tara stands and holds out her hand. "Come along Magpie. Perhaps some fruit bread is in order." [11:44] <onine> Juno seems to have picked out the various roles of your small bureacracy with ease. [11:46] * Magpie trots off happily with Tara, rapsodizing about fruit to the poor woman as she does. [11:48] <onine> Juno watches them go. "If I may, now that we are alone, can I ask a personal favour?" [11:49] <Epheri> "You may ask, yes." [11:51] <onine> "I walk on the riverside on evenings occasionally. Would you mind terribly joining me on my walk tonight?" [11:53] * Epheri nods "Thank you for the offer, I am happy to accept." It will perhaps take my mind off anona. [11:54] <onine> "I begin my walk at the West Marker." He replies with a smile that does not hide a certain ammount of concern. [11:56] * Epheri nods "When?" [11:59] <onine> "This evening, late afternoon." Juno replies. "If I arrive before you I do not mind waiting." [11:59] * Epheri nods. [11:59] * Yengo grunts. He'd much rather spend his time away from Dragonbloods for now, but it couldn't hurt to have Juno on his side. As if such a thing were possible. [12:01] <onine> "One more thing..." Juno says to both of you. "Please do not mention this to anyone. Not Tany, not Mistral. Not even my wife." [12:02] * Epheri frowns a little at the strange request, but nods after a moments thought. [12:02] <onine> "Thank you." [12:11] <Epheri> "And now I will take my leave. If you could tell me how to get to the kitchens, please." [12:12] <onine> Juno smiles and gives you the appropriate and lengthy directions. [12:13] * Epheri wanders off to obtain more fresh meat for the falcon, and a light snack for herself. [12:13] * Yengo follows her silently. [12:14] * Magpie , perched on a stool, has already fallen asleep over the demolished remains of a fruitplate and crumbs of bread. [12:15] * Yengo takes a seat nearby, glancing over at Magpie. "I miss the days when I could get away with that." [12:15] <onine> The kitchen is positively huge, with a few servants working in it. It connects to a large eating hall for Juno's servants, with heavy support pillars of stone angled diagonally. Square windows between allow ample light into the majestic hall, and give a grand view of the city and the Imperial Mountain. [12:17] * Epheri smiles "Me too, sometimes." she looks around for a servant, beckoning the young woman over. [12:18] <onine> The young woman darts quickly over, holding a basket full of long loaves of bread. There is a red flower in her hair which is held back by a white scarf. She bows low and nearly loses the bread from the basked. "Can I hel-oh no!" [12:18] <onine> She puts the basket down quickly and bows low from the waist, shaking. "Forgive me!" [12:21] * Yengo looks at the reaction sideways, then smiles at Epheri. "Well, Epheri, you could probably get away with it NOW." [12:22] * Yengo thinks after a second that it's not really altogether funny, though... [12:22] <onine> *Servant trembles* [12:22] <Epheri> "Please, stand." she says with a friendly voice, keeping the small flash of irritation out of her voice. She waits for the woman to stand "Could you please get me some fresh raw meat? And some foodstuffs for a light snack." [12:24] <onine> "Yes milady!" The woman races off, then remembers her basket of bread, running back to fetch it, her face bright red. Within a few minutes, perhaps longer than you'd have expected to wait for such things she returns, holding a medium sized tray with lamb, rice, berries and dried fruits of many varieties. [12:32] <Epheri> "Thank you." she says with another smile. "Yengo?" she moves the tray to sit between them as she gets the chick out of the small warm pouch she rigged up for it, giving it some of the lamb. [12:35] <Yengo> "Thanks." Yengo scoops up a few morsels from the tray before finding Tara and convincing her to sit, and eat, in his place. [12:36] <onine> "Thank you." Tara sits. "Can you watch the oven for me then, Yengo?" [12:38] * Yengo nods, with a look that seems to say. "Sure, but I can't guarantee the results." He steps off to do just that. Well, it's no worse than mixing up a firedust grenade... [12:40] <Epheri> Her falcon fed, Epheri samples some of the food on the tray herself. [12:42] <onine> "Is everything... okay?" The servant asks from a good distance. [12:43] <onine> "I can smell smoke..." The servant sniffs. [12:44] <Yengo> "Er... it's fine..." [12:46] * Yengo glances between ovens with slight, yet rising, alarm. [12:48] <onine> "Are you burning my bread?" Tara begins to stand. [12:48] <Yengo> "Only a little." [12:49] <Yengo> "It's, uh- ah, done anyway-" He opens the ovens and is greeted with a healthy amount of smoke. [12:52] <onine> She rounds the table and comes over, inspecting the smoking tray in your *thankfully* thickly gloved hands. "Oh Yengo... I cant trust you to cook a meal that's already cooked. [12:54] <Yengo> "Guess not." He heaves a sigh, but the image is too ridiculous for anything but a smile. "That'll teach me to help out. Er, where should I-?" He waves the tray about. [12:55] <onine> "Just put it on the table, maybe we can still eat the center." Tara sighs. [12:56] * Yengo does so, glancing around as if daring any of the others to mention this. [12:59] * Epheri pretends not to notice, busy as she is feeding the chick alittle more lamb [13:20] * Epheri meets Yengo at the gates of Juno's manse, walking with him through the late afternoon towards the west marker. [13:21] * Magpie dozes, oblivious. Crow cackles to himself, and hops from one foot to the other has he finishes her plate. [13:23] * Yengo walks along quietly, feeling out of place once more, but deciding he's so used to the feeling that it's almost normal these days. "Wonder what all this is about..." [13:26] <onine> The walk is pleasent and you are not bothered much. On the very outskirts of the docks' western shore is the West Marker, identical to the East Marker. An enormous marble pillar, peaked by a sphere of light that can be seen for miles. The sunset is surprisingly plain, though the sky is coloured in rich blue-greens and purples, the remaining sunlight is pale. [13:26] <onine> You can see a figure in simple grey clothing sitting on the edge of the wall, tossing breadcrumbs from a bag into the water. [13:27] <onine> Without his dragonblooded finery, Juno looks surprisingly mundane. He does at least have a cloak to shield him from the chill of the coming night. [13:28] * Yengo raises an eyebrow, but says nothing. [13:28] * Epheri walks up to him "Good evening, Juno." she says quietly [13:31] <onine> "Good evening." He smiles, throwing breadcrumbs down to sharp beaked waterbirds. Some of the breadcrumbs look burnt, and you see some suspicious fruit pieces amongst them. "These moments of tranquillity are the finest that one can experience. It reminds me of my place in the world, and how my duty works." [13:32] <Yengo> "Your methods seem nicer than your nephew's," Yengo mutters quietly, before he can stop himself. [13:33] <onine> "But they are not without peril, Doctor. You can feed green water-wren by hand, but there is always one that will bite and draw blood. When you directly aid your lessers, the risk of injury is heightened in life as well." He continues. "It has been some time since I have fed these birds, and I had forgotten the lesson they teach me when I begin my walks." [13:36] * Yengo says nothing in reply to this. It's not something most of the Dragonblooded have to worry about, after all. [13:36] * Epheri smiles. Interesting ... [13:38] <onine> Juno empties the remainder of the bag into the water and stands. He gestures for you to join him in walking. While he follows the irregular wall that holds the banks of the Scarlet River back, he fishes into his pocket, pulling out a note, which he hands to Epheri. [13:39] * Epheri takes the note, a little surpised, opening it to read [13:41] <onine> The note is made from an expertly flattened reed and smells of strange herbs. The ink is scarlet. It reads simply: You have a traitor in your midst. [13:43] * Epheri reads the note again, then frowns lightly, before screwing it up. [13:44] <onine> "The woman that delivered it to me is no woman I have met before, her hair was white as a cloud. She spoke perfectly - but little. She approached me in my bedchamber while I was alone and handed me this note. With it she said "Take care who you trust. Advice from a friend."" [13:46] <Epheri> "That is ... odd. Both the note and the delivery." Epheri says after a moments thought. [13:48] <onine> "I tried to follow her, or ascertain how she made her way to my bedchamber without being disovered. But I lost her - and I found nothing. I almost dismissed it out of hand, but I found that certain information had been stolen from my archives." Juno replies. [13:49] <onine> "Nothing drastically illegal, but enough that it could resonably with enough embelishment be used to bring me down." [13:52] * Epheri nods "There are many things one wouldn't want the rest of the Realm to see." she says thoughtfully "Do you have any suspicions?" [13:53] * Yengo decides it'd be best to keep his mortal mouth shut, but listens intently. [13:55] <onine> "Yes, but none focussed. Someone close to me. This is a task that I would ordinarilly place Tany in charge of - if I was sure that it was not him." Juno looks pained. "I am ashamed to say it, but right now I do not trust even my own wife. I have come so close to lose everything now." [13:56] <onine> "This is why I have asked *you* to help me personally." Juno finishes. [14:00] <Epheri> "To help you do what, exactly?" Epheri asks [14:00] <onine> "Finding out just who is doing this to me." [14:02] * Epheri nods and glances to Yengo, trying to see how he feels about this [14:04] * Yengo looks back at Epheri levelly. He'll go along, at least for now. But if taking down Juno looks like the right move, well... [14:06] <Epheri> Finding yengo seems to agree with her feelings on the matter, Epheri nods to Juno "Very well. We will find out who." [14:06] <onine> "Thank you." He says gratefully. "Whoever is trying to betray me must know I'm aware by now, after all, certain documents are missed very soon after they are taken." Juno explains. "I have a suggestion on how to ease their fears, hopefully they'll grow less cautious." [14:08] * Epheri nods for him to continue [14:09] <onine> "I will accuse you." Juno explains. [14:10] * Yengo starts a bit, enjoying this part of Juno's plan a little less. [14:11] <Epheri> "...I see." she says after some consideration. "That could work though." [14:12] <onine> "Our traitor has to know of the sketchy relations we have had in the past - and understadably so. It would not be a large stretch for me to wildly accuse the very archons I allied myself with for reasons that most Dyansts would not consider. If we make a grand scene of it, the traitor will relax, and wont hide his or her tracks as quickly." [14:15] * Epheri nods. She can follow his logic, but is not entirely sure she likes it. [14:16] <onine> "That way you will be able to investigate with impunity, and I can 'mock' focus my attentions on you, perhaps force our traitor to make an erronous move." Juno smiles. "You will of course be provided with whatever resources you need - and lodging." [14:18] <Epheri> "I shall let you know what we will need then." [14:18] <Yengo> "Where's our assurance that you won't use this against us?" [14:21] <onine> "I dont suppose that I have one." Juno says. "The only assurance is that without you, I'll likely fall." [14:29] * Epheri glances at Yengo, then nods. [14:29] <onine> Also, I have a few things for you... [14:29] <onine> (By that I of course mean...) [14:29] <onine> "Also, I have a few things for you..." [14:30] <onine> Juno opens a small bag under his cloak and pulls out a silk wrapped item, handing it to Epheri. [14:32] <Epheri> "..Thank you." she carefully unwraps the silk, looking at the item within. "...It's beautiful!" she exclaims [14:33] <onine> There is a strange cube with many gold rectangular pieces across its face. A tiny portion glows yellow, underneath is a button to open the box, but the owner must move all the pieces around in order to reveal it... [14:33] <onine> "Just some small tokens of my appreciation for your efforts. I have things for Anona, Tara and young Magpie as well, though I have not brought them with me." Juno says, and turns to Yengo. "Your gift is somewhat insubstantial at the moment Doctor. I have called in an indirect favour from a Sorcerer collegue." [14:34] <Yengo> "Oh... ah... thank you." He wonders if he should even ask what it is. [14:34] <onine> He hands Yengo a small letter. "She'll empower your armour and weaponry for you, to make them better and more manageable." He explains. [14:35] * Yengo nods shortly. [14:37] <onine> Well, I hope they're suitable, they'll aid you along the way." Juno smiles. "And thank you." [14:37] * Epheri shows great restraint in folding the silk up around the box once more, putting it in a pocket. "Thank you once again." [14:38] <onine> "My pleasure, Epheri." Juno replies. "I hope you don't beat it too quickly." [14:39] * Yengo carefully tucks the letter away, wondering if it's all that time around Anona and Epheri or just practicality that's made him glad to accept sorcerous aid. [14:40] *** Epheri is now known as Kraken|Sleeping [14:40] *** Anona has quit IRC (Quit: �) [14:40] *** Tsueg has joined #oninegame [14:40] <onine> With the request made and an agreement, your tasks now are even more delicate and important than ever before. No longer a simple matter of overcoming foes and retrieving items, this task will put you up against the machinations of a mysterious traitor - and what of the unknown messenger? [14:41] <onine> All the while Anona is missing, and the Tomescu gripes...