There and Back Again

Leo (Sawwar)

Mob spoke up a few seconds before Leo scaled the wall, and the interest made Leo pause—and then he registered Mob saying he liked turtles, and he had to suppress his cheeks going pink at that. "Um—thank you! I, uh, can't do the shell thing, though. Not something that my specific species can do. My brother Mikey can, though!"

He grinned brightly, but that didn't last long before he sort of...deflated, his smile wavering and his eyes flicking down to the ground, then swiftly shook it off and climbed up to the roof.

Sawwar - Alleyway

"Oh yeah, she's a bitch to me from the moment we meet just because I'm an angel, and somehow my attitude is the problem." Stocking rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'll agree to play nice if she does."

It was evident at this point that shortstack was incapable of playing nice, so this capitulation was really just a way to make Stocking look better than the man-eating dragon. That this group was defending the little monster at all was concerning, but Stocking was now thoroughly invested and would not be leaving them before shortstack did.

"Anyway, I believe we have a meeting at the king's palace." She nodded at the wizard, stepping closer to make it clear she intended to follow him. "I know my way around courtly politics, so I'll of course come with you. I've yet to meet a lord that isn't put at ease by a pretty face."

Sawwar - Alleyway

"I may have taken a few detours," Yuugi replied, deadpan. The Dragon only knows what took her so long to get here. "Good to see she's in one piece, at least."

Dresden then mentioned a new lead, one that would bring them to the palace.

"The king's palace, eh? Alright, no objections from me."

Sawwar (Ilulu)

"...M'fine...sorry for making everyone wor-"

Ilulu stops mid-sentence and glares at Stocking. She is, fortunately, distracted by Jason and Eve.

"...That's the thing you're looking for? ...Wait didn't we run into some pirate queen back in Pluck? Think she busted out and took it? Told you guys we shoulda just incinerated her."

Mob's kindness does not go unnoticed.

"...Yeah...yeah, I wanna be friend-did someone say 'palace?'"

Ilulu suddenly jumps up, gathering up the clothes she'd bought earlier.

"...And y'know what, Stocking's right. Human nobles are placated by a pretty face."

She smirks at Stocking as she turns a corner into an empty part of the alley.

"So maybe we should find one of those! Stocking, you know anyone like that?"

Ouch.

Ilulu's work uniform comes flying out from around the corner, making it pretty clear what she's doing out of sight. She comes back around a few moments later, wearing a new red ensemble with spiked accessories.

"Clothes are a silly human custom but getting all dressed up is fun!"

Szklana Góra Tavern (Barkeep)

The bartender, to his credit, ducks down behind the bar upon seeing a Saiyan walk in and get greeted by who appears to be a ninja. Not to mention the ominous man with the metal weapons.

"First my cousins in Pluck and Sawwar tell me their bars got banged up, now me? What is this world coming to?"

Sawwar

"You're one more smart mouthed comment away from being asked to stay behind. Both of you."

The ongoing tension between Ilulu and Stocking had not slipped past Amy's notice, and now she was fixing both the dragon and the angel with a look.

"Can you two behave? Or do I need to play babysitter while the others go to the palace without us?"

Szklana Góra - Streets (Master Chief and Cortana)

Chief turns his helmet just as Bardock is already heading into the tavern. It was a little surprise for the Spartan, as Bardock seemed to disappear after the incident at the manor. Cortana herself crosses her arms while slyly smiling.

"Huh. Haven't seen Bardock in a while. And yes, he's a Saiyan. We ran into him a while ago, and he was in our party for a while. I was wondering what happened to him after we left Beauregard Manor."

And then another tap, this time from a new face. Chief looks down to see Rayman asking him about the Teensies. Well, this was new.

"No, I don't think so. I'm Master Chief 117."

"I'm Cortana, his machine-spirit," Cortana waves to the little guy before squinting and noticing something about the impromptu Guardian. "What's going on with your arms? And your legs?"

Sawwar - Tank Goodness for that Poster (Jason, Eve and Fred)

Jason sighs at Ilulu's comment. So much for trying to mediate. "Amy's got a point, Ilulu. You're just being rude. And Stocking did help, so..." he says, shrugging as he trails off.

Eve, meanwhile, takes the opportunity to explain to Leo what Gaia-Sophia is. "Gaia-Sophia. It's our battle-wagon that we built together. A lot of the parts for it were from older battle-wagons made by my parents, but... well, we couldn't get any of them working, so we built a new one from the ground up. It's served us well throughout our travels, but someone stole it not that long ago. This poster might have given us the first solid lead in a while. And since Fred and I can sense it, we think we may have finally found it."

"Oh, speaking of, Ilulu, what did you mean when you said you should've incinerated her?"

Seems Eve isn't amused by Ilulu's comment about wanting to kill the illusive Pirate Queen.

Meanwhile, Fred decides to jump from Jason's shoulder to Eve's, his headache bothering him enough to decide to move. "Ribbit."

"It's that bad? Oh, you poor thing, Fred."

Rayman-Szklana Góra Streets

Cortana's question caused Rayman to pause and look down at his hands and feet, as if he'd never noticed them before (which, honestly, he hadn't, being all of 10 minutes old). He then experimentally floated his hands across his field of vision, spinning them around and rotating them in ways that no one with arms would be able to replicate (at least, not without breaking said arms).

After a good twenty seconds of that, he turned his attention back to Cortana and Chief and gave them a sunny smile."I don't have any!" He said, totally unconcerned by that fact. "Guess it's because my creation ritual got messed up. At least, that's what Kami said. Polokus didn't seem to mind, though! And neither do I!"

Then, Rayman remembered what else he was here in town to look into.

"OH! That reminds me! Have you seen a God named, uh, what was it...Mal something..." Rayman mumbled to himself for a few, before his face lit up and he snapped his fingers in recognition. "Malperico! Yeah, that was it! Has there been any sign of that guy around? Or any other dark Magic-ey things going on?"

Edited by Dezmo on Mar 14th 2024 at 7:59:47 AM

Team A

Szklana Góra Inn

The Thinker met Lightning's glare with a cocked eyebrow. "It is rather telling," he muttered, darting his gaze to Nia, "When a subject demands proof of something they did or didn't do."

The Thinker's mood quickly perked up as CC steered the conversation. "I prefer the term 'extra-legal entrepeneur'. As for a mode of contact..." He beckoned one of his robot drones over, then grabbed it and opened up the middle segment, fishing out a polished crystal ball. "This orbuculum component- or 'scrying stone' in layman's terms -relays audio-visual information directly to my Psionic Enhancement Diadem, or as I like to call it, my 'Thinking Cap'." He tapped a finger against his metal headgear. "It'll go dormant after thirty seconds, but just touch it with a bare handprint and I'll see and hear what goes on in your vicinity." He passed the ball to CC. "Thank you for being so cooperative, and may I say how refreshing it is to meet such a refined madam of reason and rationality?"

Shortly after, Bardock and Rayman made their entrance and got to talking with the party. The Thinker slunk back with a sour expression. "Oh, so the rugged brute and the limbless wonder get a warm reception? I see how it is." The man leaned backwards, letting the metal drones catch him and lift him off his feet. "Well, don't let me keep you all from your drinks and your brawls. You have my shrew-stone. If any of your thud-and-blunder 'quests' uncover the fabled 'firestorm man', I expect you all to inform me first. M'lady," he said with a tip of the cap to CC, before floating out the door in a reclined position.

Szklana Góra Tavern

Milly literally sticks her tongue out at the Thinker as he leaves, maintaining her position next to the still-sleeping Sagi.

"Good riddance! What was his problem?"

Bardock, meanwhile, returns Hinata's hug with one arm while looking around at the group.

"Missed you too, kid. I miss anything? Who'd ya tick off this time?"

His broken armor has been replaced with a full set, and he's now wearing a green Scouter over his left eye.

Nia and Pyra, Szklana Góra Inn: Back to the Drawing Board, Genius!

Nia glares as she sees the Thinker make his leave, "I think I just threw up in mouth a bit."

Pyra didn't comment because she didn't want to make the scene worse but after he left, she sighs, "Does he truly think his intelligence is what makes him better?"

"There's different kinds of smarts, Pyra. He may be smart with machines, but he's a bloody idiot when it comes to people skills."

They both look at the limbless wonder and the gruff Saiyan with curiosity. However, Nia looked at the stone given to C.C. and remarked, "Bet that would sell for a pretty piece. Seriously, you really want to spend any more time with that arsehole?"

Pyra meanwhile can sense the strange energy coming from the two, she mused out loud, "Is that a Saiyan?"

Edited by Ore-O on Mar 24th 2024 at 10:09:23 AM

Szklana Góra Inn

"I thought he'd never leave. I've never been happier to be wrong." Kazooie remarked once the Thinker departed.

"He would probably know if we got rid of it." Banjo chimed in, overhearing Nia's comments about the stone the Thinker had left behind. "Though maybe if we put it away for safekeeping and just get too dis...tracted..."

Banjo hadn't meant to trail off like that, but seeing someone bereft of arms and legs but still having their hands and feet was a new one, even for him.

Hinata: Szklana Góra Tavern

"I-I'm not sure..." Hinata admitted, eyeing the Thinker as he left the tavern before looking up at Bardock nervously, slightly tightening her hold on him. "I-I don't like that man. He... he sounds cruel... b-but I'm... I-I'm glad you're okay..."

She eventually broke away from him, noting his new armour and monocular device around his eye, and she gave him a quick glance-over with her Byakugan before offering the Saiyan a tentative smile.

"I... I wanted to say thank you, B-Bardock-san... for... helping me be more confident. I... s-since we met, I've... felt more independent. I-I think you've inspired me to act more... more honest with myself. Brave, too... I-I'm still working on it, but... thank you."

She gave him a formal, but grateful bow, before shyly shuffling back towards her seat with Sagi, Milly, Banjo, and Kazooie. She notably avoided all their gazes as she sat down, but she looked happier in herself overall. Like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders with Bardock's return, and that it was all going to be okay.

Mob: Sawwar

"I hope I'm dressed okay enough to meet the king. I feel pretty scruffy from that fight," Mob said, even though said fight had happened exclusively inside Ilulu's head. He looked absolutely fine, just as well-put together as he had been before. "Maybe we can ask a pretty person from town for help? But I feel like that's a little shallow..."

This kid was completely oblivious.

Unless he wasn't.

"Should we tell him that we've been exorcising spirits? We don't have to say it was Ilulu, since I exorcised a couple of spirits outside of town too," he suggested. "Maybe if we say that there's been evil spirits that have been plaguing the city, and they're gone now, he might be more friendly to us from the start. I'm just thinking."

Spyro & Sparx-Sawwar Alley

Spyro snickered to himself as Ilulu and Stocking got scolded for their smart mouthing. Having been on the receiving end of such a thing many a time by his dads, it was refreshing to not be the one being scolded for once. Still though, Spyro had to admit Amy had something of a point here. Something something teammates something something....though, why was Stocking their teammate again?

Spyro turned to Sparx with a questioning eye, and Sparx, seemingly sensing Spyro's question, gave a shrug, muttering "She showed up with Dresden, Leo and the the masked oddball over there." That last part was said pointing to Puppy.

Ooookay then. Guess only heaven knew why Stocking was here then (literally in this case, heh).

Mob's comment about dressing up made Spyro pause, and he turned to eye Ilulu's choice of outfit warily and huff in distaste. "Well, if you're trying to turn heads, that get up'll do it alright. I'll pass on playing dress up though, thanks. I'm cool enough as is. No need to stuff me into some stuffy formal wear."

"Hey, don't be like that!" Sparx chastised Spyro. "Sometimes a nice outfit is all it takes to really lift your spirits!" Was...was he speaking from experience? But how would he...with that many legs....maybe its best not to dwell on that statement.

Spyro simply raised a skeptical brow at that statement.

"That said, I don't suppose you have any other dresses?" Sparx asked Illulu. "I'm worried that dress may be too much" .

Meanwhile, Spyro went back to answering Mob. "Good idea! Though we should probably make sure the nightmaren are actually all gone before we say so," and he gives Harry a questioning look here, seeing as he'd probably be the one to know. "If not, we can definitely offer to help clear the rest of them out as a sign of good will or something."

Speaking of nightmaren..."That actually reminds me of a question I wanted to ask," and here Spyro turned to resident dream Jester. "Hey Ni GH Ts, you mentioned Dullwing back there by name and knew his weakpoints, and he definitely had it out for you . Even considering you two were both from the night dimension, he was way more focused on going after you then snatching any ideya or anything. Did you two have history or something??

Sawwar - Alleyway

"Wow, can't believe you'd insult all these people after they fought to save you." Stocking fired back, not missing a beat as she smirked at shortstack.

Amy's comment, on the other hand, gave her a moment's pause. "If you honestly think you can stop me from going where I want, you must have an absurd amount of overconfidence. Should probably work on that. Pride is a sin, after all."

She ran her hands through her hair, which was somehow still immaculate despite her flying around in the fight earlier. "Anyway, I think I mentioned this, but I've spent centuries schmoozing the upper crust, so I can do the talking, unless one of you thinks you'd be better at it."

They wouldn't be, of course, but Stocking was self-aware enough to realize that bitching too hard at these people ran the risk of them kicking her out, so she figured the occasional capitulation was necessary. And it would hopefully make her look more reasonable than shortstack.

Team A

Szklana Góra, Outside The Inn

   "Uhhhhh..."    Okuu took a moment to think, before having a sudden realization and pulling a piece of paper out of a hitherto-unseen pocket in her skirt and unfolding it.    "Yeah, there was this one person the Archmaester was penpals with who seemed important, so I wrote down their name 'n stuff! It's... um... er... 'K-something'. I think. ...I can't read it."    The bird-brained woman sheepishly proffered the paper to her partner for parsing.

Before that plot thread could progress too much further, the party of three was interrupted by the arrival of a little, limbless ray(man) of sunshine! For her part, Okuu beamed sunnily at him as he asked his questions. In fact, the spirit of divine make might even be able to sense that there was something divine and more literally sunny about the raven-winged woman as well, particularly emanating from the sizable red eye-like thing embedded in her chest. Being in her presence was like basking in pleasant sunlight. As the limbless goober asked about the whereabouts of Malpercio, however, she answered him without restraint or worry.

   "Oh, Malpercio? That's just a title of his, you know? His full name's actually Marno Ar Deus. You'll find him in there, possessing a blue-haired boy in red clothes named Sagi."    She pointed readily into the Inn, then held up a finger in warning.    "But just so you know, Marno-sama's not a bad guy! I know he has a bad reputation, but he did all those bad things while being controlled by someone else, and... he was... his family was... he... hic..."   

And so the waterworks began to flow, and it was as if the raven maiden's sunny heart had been covered up by rainclouds.

   "I'm sowwy!"    she sobbed, trying to wipe away her tears with both hands and only succeeding in smacking herself in the head with the heavy metal implement on her off-arm.    "Ow! Ow! It's jush... Marno-sama's story wash sho sad! All he and hish family wanted wash to... wash to... Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"   

Szklana Góra, Innside The Inn

"Yes, yes, I'll handle it," C.C. sighed, letting the crystal ball sit there until she was sure it was as inert as possible. The she stood, tucked the ball under an arm, and hastened over to the innkeep, setting the thing down on the hardwood counter before it could activate.

"I'll pay extra if you keep that thing in a backroom somewhere for me," she offered, taking her hefty coinpurse from her belt and setting it on the counter as well.

"Of course, Miss," the innkeep agreed readily, a slight glint of greed entering her eyes. "I expect you'll be needing rooms for you and your companions as well, then? We've plenty open!"

"Yes. How many beds to a room?"

"Two, usually."

"Then I'll need at least..." the green-haired woman paused to mentally count them, "eight rooms, possibly more, depending on whether the stragglers in our party catch up."

"My! That's quite the large traveling party!"

"You can say that again..." C.C. agreed, looking quite put-upon.

"Well, alright. I'll book eight rooms for you and keep a few more in reserve, just in case."

"My thanks," the well-traveled adventurer said, beginning to count out the gold for payment.

Team B

Sawwar, Alleyway -> Sawwar, Palace Gates

"Miss, uh, Hammer Heroine, let's maybe not treat the dragon and angel who are centuries older than us like children, even if they like to bicker, yeah?" I suggest, picking up my pack and slinging it over my shoulder. "Sometimes people just grate on one another. And Ilulu, and the rest of you who are non-human, for that matter, please don't insult humans to our faces simply for the fact that we're human. I might brush it off or even agree with it occasionally, but the King isn't going to bother listening to someone who calls his whole species silly or idiots, after all. Alright? Let's get moving; we're burning daylight!"

And with that, I mosey on out of the alleyway and follow the hurried steps of the much shorter pair of pages who'd brought many of us to the scene in the first place. While we walk, I take the opportunity to explain what I know about the people we're about to meet:

Besides the King, who's ostensibly neutral, there are two major factions vying for power within the Kingdom: the Moderates and the Reactionaries. The man who employed me for the 'ghost' problem is a leader of the former, one Lord Dusk Kiel of Gdonya. He wants the problem resolved not for the sake of his own standing or that of his faction, but because he cares about the wellbeing of the people he's charged with Lordship of. A real noblesse oblige type. The Moderates are all about running a competent government and keeping the Kingdom on a course to eventually become part of the wider Atlantean Empire. The leaders of the Reactionary faction are the Brothers Lord Plotynski, who fashion themselves as tribunals of the people's will and have been pushing through numerous nationalistic edicts which the King then stamps apathetically, including the edicts against dragons and other such "undesirable" folk entering Sawwar.

Once I feel like I've sufficiently regurgitated exposition, we find ourselves before the gates of the beautiful red and white palace of Sawwar, accosted by two guards holding halberds in full plate armor.

"Halt!" the first one commands, holding up his hand in a motion to stop. "What business have you in the palace?"

Well, Angel, you said you wanted to be the face of the party. Do your thing.

Edited by darksidevoid on Apr 2nd 2024 at 5:22:47 AM

Szklana Góra, Outside The Inn

"Gah, jeez, who told Okuu tragic backstory? She's not great with that..."

Tights puts an arm around Okuu's shoulders, trying to calm down her fellow research assistant as she studies the note.

"If your dead god friend is one of those guys who just walked in, I'm sure he's okay now, let's focus on finding the Archmaester...Wow Okuu I really can't read your handwriting, this looks like chicken...er, raven scratch. 'Kay, everyone else on Archmaester Stein's list was a doctor, so I guess we call this person...'Doctor K?' Sounds kinda dumb but we'll work with it. Yeah, I think I remember this pen pal, the Maester was always kinda cagey about them, though. Didn't they work around here on something? Maester Stein called it 'surprisingly groundbreaking?' Maybe we can ask around, see if anyone knows anything about an eccentric genius around here."

Szklana Góra, Inside The Inn

"Don't mention it, kid. I, uh...think you helped me work through some things of my own, if I'm being honest."

Looking through her Byakugan, Hinata will see something different about Bardock. He's gotten stronger still since last time, that much is obvious, but there's something subtler about him. While Bardock still has that mass of magic in the base of his neck, there's something else that wasn't there last time. A collection of golden-colored energy is concentrated in Bardock's upper back, right between his shoulder blades.

"That wanted poster he was holding...I think we've seen that picture before. That guy who kinda looked like Fire-Eyes Steve?"

Milly finally leaves Sagi's side, instead walking over towards Nia and Pyra.

"Well he was rude. I'm with Nia, I say we sell that thing off and be rid of that obnoxious buffoon. And his stupid helmet."

Bardock, meanwhile, raises an eyebrow at Pyra.

"Yeah. I'm a Saiyan, and you need pants. Any more questions?"

   "Ouch. Pyra's the one with fire powers but that was a burn."   

"Marno, shut up."

Edited by ZodanTheUnbounceable on Mar 25th 2024 at 9:10:06 AM

Sawwar's Alleyway, Shortly Before Going En Route to the Palace (NiGHTS)

Something got the jester in disguise scared to the point of gritted teeth. It was not the pirate queen deal, or having to visit the King so dragons could peacefully mingle with the Visitors - the former sounded more fun on concept but the latter didn't have any apparent negatives besides sounding boring.

The question was... how to explain Gillwing's insistence without lying.

Took a little bit, but NiGHTS could wipe something to whisper on Spyro's ear. "Yes. Kinda... his boss, does not like my freedom. And I'd rather let him not know where I am." If Spyro paid attention, he'd hear lots of willpower being used just to succeed at mentioning this boss.

Szklana Góra Inn-Inside (Meta Knight)

Yeah... whoever that The Thinker guy thought he was, he was NOT someone the little blue knight wanted to waste even verbal efforts with. He just rolled his eyes and kept himself wrapped around his cape, not even giving the satisfaction of giving attention to him.

If one didn't count snarking about the obvious mole of a crystal ball.

"Good luck on getting this thing to be actually useful for anything." He dryly snickered.

Sawwar, Alleyway -> Sawwar, Palace Gates

Stepping forward, Stocking allowed her wings and halo to glimmer into existence, holy light softly reflecting off the guards' gleaming platemail.

She clasped her hands as if in prayer and slightly dipped her head in greeting. "I am Stocking Anarchy, High Exorcist of Heaven." A completely bullshit title, but it's not like any mortal could fact check it. "My mortal companions and I seek audience with His Highness, regarding evil spirits that have taken up residence in this fair city."

Glancing between the two guards, she offered them a small smile, kind and alluring and honed by years of court politics into a deadly weapon that pierced the hearts of mortal men. And women, and those in-between. "May we enter, please, o brave knights?"

Sawwar, Palace Gates -> Palace

"W-Well, uh, I don't know that we c-can really j-just—" the first knight stutters, taken by Stocking's display and smile to the point that he nearly swoons.

"I don't see anything wrong with it, do you?" the second knight interjects, planting his hand on his comrade's shoulder. "A High Exorcist sounds like just about what we need, nowadays, what with the ghosts and all! I'm sure Lord Kiel'll be happy to see her, at least!"

"I'm actually also here to report to Lord Kiel about our findings so far," I volunteer from the Angel's right shoulder, "He hired me to look into it, and I happened to meet these fine people along the way. My name's Harry Dresden, if that rings any bells."

"Oooooh, Dresden! Yes, we were told to keep an eye out for you!" the first knight nods, though it's hard to tell with him being in full armor. "I'm sure Lord Kiel'll be even more happy to know you're working together! Alright, no sense in making you all wait out here! Let us just open the gate and you can be on your way!"

"Thanks, gentlemen," I offer sincerely, then when they turn away nonchalantly whisper to Stocking, "Nice going. I wasn't expecting that to go so smoothly."

Humming a merry tune that I recognize as the Lekhitian national anthem, the two guards escort us up the facade ramps, across the lawn, and to the front doors, which are heavy and oaken. After providing us with some directions to the chamber where the King's Sejm is in session, the leave us to our own devices just inside the palace walls. The inner foyer is of fine marble with brick walls, and daylight shines in through the many windows to illuminate numerous fine paintings hanging about, along with the occasional exotic vase and statue.

"Alright!" I declare, turning to the rest of the party. "So far, so good! We'll see about talking with Lord Kiel after the session. He should hopefully be the best avenue for our scaled friends to introduce their interests to the court, as well. That said, let's try not to make ourselves too conspicuous, eh?"

I nod to them, then begin striding down the hall toward the court in what one might call a "power-walk", sadly forgetting that not all of the party is tall enough to easily match my gait.

Gandalf

Gandalf didn't trust the new stranger either, and listened to him carefully. He suspected that there maybe there was something suspicious about it.

"Be careful with seeing stones." He warned CC. "You can never be certain what you'll find when you look though them. Or what's looking on the other side."

It was something he was too used to, whether it was his fellow wizards or Hobbits who looked in it.

Sawwar Palace

"...Not bad, angel. At least we're inside."

Even Ilulu has to admit that Stocking got them most of the way in. As they walk in, the petite dragon seems marveled at how shiny and fancy everything looks.

"Whoa...I've never been in a building this nice before! I'm usually stomping on 'em!"

As Harry and the party head down the hall towards a set of large double doors, they spot a trio of men standing off to the side. Two of them stand side by side, clad in corresponding yellow and violet formal wear, looking very much like political power players. The third man, however, is clad in black with a striking head of blond hair reaching down to his shoulders. The yellow-clad, shorter man speaks first.

"And you're certain you can hold up your end of our...arrangement? You have a reputation for-"

"I have a reputation for results and efficiency, Costello. If I recall correctly, politics are your domain. Strategy is mine. If you want the rest of our country to be as safe as you've made this city - and I must confess, you've succeeded-"

He spares a glance at the party, who have just walked in.

"...nary a dragon in sight."

"You understand that the king is more inclined to listen if he's given more...'evidence' of the danger at hand, correct?"

"And that, Abbott-"

The blond man smirks as he turns back down the hall.

"-is, indeed, where I come in. We are in agreement, safety and security are a top priority. But sometimes things must be broken...before they are fixed. I'll be in touch, gentlemen."

As the man walks past the party, there's something...unnervingly familiar about him. Nobody can quite place where he's familiar from, but it makes the hairs on one's neck stand on end. He particularly looks over Ilulu, Spyro, Amy and the other visible non-humans in the group as he passes by, prompting a literal snarl from the height-challenged dragon. Right as he's about to leave earshot, he mutters one parting remark to the group.

"...A warning, from a good Samaritan. You won't fool anyone in that room. Good day."

With a few more steps, he's left the palace.

Edited by ZodanTheUnbounceable on Apr 13th 2024 at 1:34:25 PM

Szklana Góra - Streets (Master Chief and Cortana)

"Creation ritual?" Cortana says in thought. "I guess that means— uh, wait, Malpercio?"

"That situation is complicated," Chief says before Okuu explains who, or what Malpercio/Marno actually was.

As Tights looks at the lists and explains Archmaester Stein's apparent behaviour in regards to the identity of this "Doctor K," Chief looks back in the direction of the inn while Cortana comes up with another question.

"Hey, if this "Doctor K" person wrote to Stein, maybe we could find an address somewhere for them?"

Sawwar (Jason, Eve and Fred)

Eve and Fred roll their eyes when Stocking persuades the guards to let the party in, with Jason double-checking that his weapons are stowed as he follows the rest in.

"Ilulu, not so loud," he cautions the short-tempered dragon as they walk into the palace. Though, as he looks up, he can't help but be in a little awe of it, as well.

As the man in black (har-har) makes his ominous statement after briefly conversing with his allies, Jason looks at the others as he leaves.

"What was that about...?"

"I don't know, but something doesn't feel right..."

Edited by G2BattleConvoy on Apr 4th 2024 at 12:36:52 PM

Sawwar, Palace Gates

She kept her wings folded but visible as she strolled past the guards, nodding in thanks as she did.

Once they were out of sight, she allowed the lightshow to fade, brushing her hair aside and smirking at shortstack. "Like I said, I've been dealing with people like this for a long time."

The overheard conversation piqued her interest. Blondie clearly knew what was up, but didn't attempt to out them; he merely warned them of the staggeringly obvious.

Stocking didn't respond to that, instead sparing a glance towards the dragons and Amy. Shortstack in particular seemed angry at him. "Any of you know that guy? I feel like I've seen him before, but for the life of me I can't figure out where. You'd think I'd remember someone that skeevy."

Sawwar, Palace Gates (Amy Rose)

"I can't say for sure. But he gives me the creeps." Amy admitted. More than that, he made her feel like she needed to draw her weapon. The fact that she couldn't pin down why bothered her more than she cared to admit. "Let's just focus on making a good impression with the king."

Leo (Sawwar)

So, obviously, given he'd lost his disguise in a city full of nonhuman-haters, Leo couldn't exactly waltz up to the front door like everyone else could. As such, while they went up to the guards and asked to be let in, Leo, who'd been following along from the rooftops, opted for a slightly different tactic:

Sneaking up over the wall, looking for the closest window, and entering the palace that way.

Okay, yeah, it wasn't exactly legal. Or entirely moral. But he, uh, didn't know how else he was supposed to get in, and if he played his cards right, no one would know he was even there to begin with!

...

He really, really hoped this worked out, otherwise he'd have some serious explaining to do.