Beyond the Sky - Session 31

-24th Autumn's Third-
After a long day of events, the party retire to bed. The following day, after a peaceful rest in the palace, the party gather in the library, preferring the peace and privacy the empty magical wing provides.
Night Eyes flicks through a tome about magical bonding, pondering ways to peel away at her masks's binding.
Valaire casually resumes reading a book from the previous day, idly wondering what directives her lord has for this day.
It is early in the morning, and the light is just about shining through the windows at the top. Prince Kallian is in the corner, reading a book, looking up at the party every so often nervously.
Adrian sits down tiredly, looking around at the others.
Arkune: "So then... what's the plan for our next course of action?"
Adrian: "We're all to meet with the queen later. I don't know precisely why, but it's not the treaty she wants to speak to us about. Something about an emissary from Dragontooth, as well. Any objections?"
Night Eyes: "That location sounded very dubious already."
Valaire: "Your will is, as ever, my own, my lord."
Kylisae: "Dragontooth? Yeah, that doesn't sound like a dangerous place at all, nope."
Adrian: "It's not dangerous. Just a little too innocuous."
Night Eyes: "A convenient legal haven between borders."
Kylisae: "So it's not Zeltrian?"
Adrian: "Not quite, no."
Valaire: "Alas, so soon home, and yet it seems I will be taken away again."
Arkune: "Dragontooth... that's where Ursan was fleeing to, right?"
Adrian: "That it was."
Valaire: "Ah, Ursan. It's a shame, there were so many more games I wanted to play with him..."
Valaire puts a claw to her lips mischievously.
Night Eyes: "It sounds like you will have another opportunity to humiliate him soon, then."
Valaire: "Hmhmhm~"
Kylisae: "Guys? My tiefling is frightening me."
Prince Kallian perks his head up over his book, listening from his corner.
Adrian: "With any luck, it won't be something that needs us to go all the way there."
Arkune: "It might be exciting to visit a new land."
Night Eyes: "Well, that would suit me better."
Adrian: "Traveling to Dragontooth?"
Arkune: "I wonder why it has that name?"
Kylisae: "Come to scenic Dragontooth! Where you very likely will get to return with most of your limbs!"
Valaire: "I would have thought you would be more excited to visit it with a name like that, country mouse."
Night Eyes: "Staying within Zeltria would fit my immediate concerns, but I would not hesitate to follow orders, my lord."
Adrian: "Then we're in agreement on that. We'd best go see what trouble this emissary has brought first, I suppose."
Arkune returns a book she has been holding to the shelves.
Arkune: "I'm ready to as well."
The party make their way to the audience chamber, where they see three people already present. Queen Rozeal, General Freyja, and another woman. She has dark hair, and fur on her arms, chest, and legs, with small winglike parts on her forearms.
Adrian bows and takes a seat at the table, observing the draconic woman out of the corner of his eye.
Queen Rozeal raises her hand in greeting, smiling when she sees Adrian.
Queen Rozeal: "Marvellous, you're all here, welcome."
Night Eyes follows suit, bowing, before taking a seat beside Adrian.
Arkune bows as well, sitting across from Adrian.
Valaire sits into the chair adjacent to the new girl, discreetly scrutinizing her.
Dragontooth Emissary eyes the party as they enter, assessing them with red eyes.
Arkune tries to subtly glance at the unusual person next to Valaire.
Adrian: "Good morning, Your Majesty. News of Dragontooth?"
Queen Rozeal: "Yes, indeed, it seems we have had some quite disturbing news from the Isle... Lady Pol, would you explain?"
Dragontooth Emissary nods, pulling out a small piece of parchment from her satchel.
Dragontooth Emissary: "It seems we are at risk to the growing aggressions of Eribe."
"Two weeks ago, we bore witness to five Eriban battleships, patrolling dangerously close to our island."
"Not only this, but we have found that 'traders' and 'sailors' coming to the island are heavily armed, and rowdy."
Dragontooth Emissary twitches her ears in annoyance.
Dragontooth Emissary: "We suspect these are soldiers sent to disturb the peace."
Arkune: "A lot of travelers are heavily armed though."
"Especially with the beast problem."
Adrian: "No, this sounds like a deliberate show of force."
Night Eyes: "That befits the Eriban MO."
"It sounds like they are provoking hostility."
Dragontooth Emissary: "...a final point, is that several wyverians have gone missing in the last...uh... elelven days."
Arkune: "What's a wyverian?"
Night Eyes: "You would like this, Arkune."
Valaire: "You know about dragons, and yet..."
Valaire sighs.
Arkune: "Is it like a small dragon?"
Dragontooth Emissary: "...We grow concerned that Eribe has taken them. Our tribes do not command the same physical force as other countries, and we would not be able to resist an invasion."
Adrian: "Is there anything in Dragontooth they are likely to want? As I understood it, I would have thought they would be content to focus on other targets."
General Freyja speaks up, shifting in her large chair.
General Freyja: "Dragontooth Island has long been rumored to be the resting place of true dragons. Not only this, but it is the best tactical point for Eribe to launch an attack on us from."
Arkune: "Isn't it a neutral nation though?"
Adrian: "Not if it's conquered."
Valaire: "So, as intervening territory between Zeltria and what is quickly beginning to seem like her greatest threat, the safety of Dragontooth is rather integral, even if they are nominally neutral."
Arkune: "So... what role would we play in this?"
Night Eyes: "It sounds as if the island would need to be fortified, if war truly is to brew."
Dragontooth Emissary: "Indeed. The wyverian tribes and towns are in need of soldiers, in the case of an attack."
Arkune: "Do you have much of a navy?"
Dragontooth Emissary twitches her ears in thought, trying to formulate Common in her head.
Dragontooth Emissary: "We do not much have a navy of. Only boats for fishing."
Valaire puts a finger to her chin in thought.
Dragontooth Emissary: "We do not often leave the island. Wyverians like staying where they are. We feel bonded to the island."
Night Eyes: "Entrenchment is sounding like a better option. Is there much in the way of hills or cliffs of strategic value?"
Valaire: "I suspect they would not be speaking to foreign powers if they did not already exhaust all resources available to themselves."
Dragontooth Emissary: "Indeed, there are many mountain clans. But many of us live by the shore. There is much resources there."
Adrian: "Five warships... two weeks... How many soldiers would we need to send to sufficiently deter Eribe from seeing the island as an easy target, would seem to be the question."
Arkune: "How have you managed to remain safe and independant for so long?"
Valaire: "The question on my mind is... at what point do we come in, if the matter is a concern of soldiers?"
Queen Rozeal: "This is actually the second issue I wished to bring up."
"It seems that the orcs, ogres, goblins, and others who live in the Orst Hills are getting... riled up by something."
"They have become significantly more aggressive and territorial about their lands, and are even staging raids and attacks on towns, including yours, Adrian, dearie."
Arkune: "Fire breathing boars? Dragons?"
Adrian sighs, shaking his head.
Adrian: "I see. Any apparent cause?"
General Freyja: "We have not managed to discern the cause. However, it seems many are using magic, and are being enhanced by something, or someone."
Night Eyes: "Perhaps we could turn their aggression to Eribe. That would put the pressure on them without directly provoking a war."
General Freyja: "We worry that they are being urged by Eribe. This may very well be a two pronged offensive."
"Get the Orst tribes to do what they do not want to do."
Arkune: "It might still be worth trying to turn them against Eribe though."
Adrian: "That leaves the question, Your Majesty, of what you wish us to do. Of course my first concern is my own people, and as such... do I have leave to investigate the troubles in the south?"
Queen Rozeal: "Of course, you indeed do have leave to see your own fiefdom. It has been more than a year since you last visited too..."
"I hope they remember you."
Arkune: "Adrian... runs a fiefdom?"
Night Eyes: "He is a lord, after all."
Adrian: "It has been some time. I'd like to think I'm more memorable than that, though."
Queen Rozeal: "All lords have their own fiefdoms."
Valaire: "Were you unaware of how politics worked all this time, little mouse?"
Arkune: "I assumed he was just, like, a knight of some kind."
Valaire: "No, little mouse, Lords command knights."
Queen Rozeal: "You may leave when you are ready. I must imagine you still have some things to attend to as you're just gotten back."
Arkune: "Is he like a mayor?"
Adrian: "Understood. Thank you, Your Majesty. It shouldn't take too long to figure out what's got them behaving this way."
Queen Rozeal looks at Adrian, pouting momentarily, before returning to her normal demeanor.
Queen Rozeal: "...Kind of like a mayor."
"But more of a background role."
Adrian smiles, shrugging slightly.
Queen Rozeal: "Now, with that news dispensed... I suppose myself, Freyja, and Milady Pol need to organise military aid."
Dragontooth Emissary nods to the party.
Dragontooth Emissary: "I will be in the Royal house, should you have need of knowledge."
General Freyja looks over the party, blue eyes focusing and scrutinizing the fey.
Kylisae shirks from the general's gaze, hiding behind Valaire's head.
Kylisae: "(It's gonna eat me...)"
Arkune: "(Do birds eat faeries?)"
Adrian meets the tengu's gaze calmly, smiling faintly at Kylisae's reaction.
Kylisae: "(It's a known problem.)"
General Freyja: "I do believe the Queen means we are no longer in need of you, now. You may go about your business."
Adrian: "Very good. I wish you all success, then."
Valaire stands from her seat, bowing politely before rejoining Adrian at the entrance of the room.
Adrian gets up from his seat, bows again, and turns to leave the room.
Night Eyes: "Very well, then. By your leave."
General Freyja: "Mulvery."
Arkune: "Y-yes?" answers Arkune, pausing nervously.
General Freyja: "...Skye has told me of your accomplishments. For now, you are not wanted in Zeltria."
Arkune: "Thank you, miss.... Freyja?"
General Freyja: "General Freyja."
"Treat Skye nicely. I will not be pleased if you hurt him. He has a fragile heart."
Queen Rozeal: "...Yes, and with that, I suppose you all should get going, shouldn't you?"
Arkune: "Y-yes, miss Freyja! I will do my best to ensure he is safe."
Adrian: "I suppose so. Thank you, General. That does make things easier."
General Freyja: "Do not misuse this benefit of the doubt, or you will have me to answer to. That is all."
Night Eyes: "Mikolotov is certainly held in high regard."
Arkune: "Does... he have some relation to her?"
Night Eyes: "I believe it is because of his diligence as a soldier."
Valaire: "I would imagine that if a giant bird tells you what to do, you do it regardless of questioning her motives."
Kylisae: "(Uh, yeah. I think I'll just stay far away from giant birds in general, thanks.)"
The party gather outside, in the entrance hall, to reflect on their new information.
Adrian: "As Night Eyes says. I seem to recall Freyja was something of a mentor to him."
"Congratulations on your semi-pardon, anyway."
Valaire: "How important was this Vitus if even Zeltria wanted you arrested over it?"
Arkune: "Thank you... hopefully we can solve stuff eventually, after things have cleared up."
Adrian: "Hopefully so, if new things can stop happening every time we turn around."
Night Eyes: "Oh, right, the fiefdom. Does the nobility not spend much time in the land they own, then?"
Valaire: "I should imagine most would see it as more of a summer home. Or a burden..."
Arkune: "What is the point then?"
Night Eyes: "Duty, I suspect."
"Lords inherit all the wealth and authority for a reason."
A familiar knight in a green uniform comes into the entrance hall, and upon noticing the party, trots over to them.
Adrian: "Other duties generally keep me away enough that I don't have that much choice. As you may have noticed..."
"I've appointed a governor in my stead, and usually address anything more significant once or twice a year... it's nothing that one of the citizens can't be trusted with to some degree, but this business with Eribe, for instance..."
Night Eyes: "Indeed."
Mikolotov: "Hey there, have you been hearing about the news with Eribe?"
Adrian: "Possibly. Which news this time?"
Mikolotov: "There's a few battleships around Dragontooth, and some of the military is being mobilised in order to provide aid."
"I just got given the briefing an hour or so ago, myself."
Valaire: "So what we were basically told, then."
Mikolotov: "Oh, great! So you're up to speed!"
Adrian: "Yes, we are. Will you be leaving as well?"
Mikolotov: "No, not really. It's mostly the naval division that's being called up. I don't exactly have my sea legs yet, so I've not got an assignment yet."
Arkune: "It's good to see you again, Mikolotov! Freyja seemed a little concerned about you. Or... about me treating you well, at least."
Valaire: "I would imagine heavy armor is not that useful in water..."
Night Eyes: "Would you like to direct some upset Ogres towards Eribe?"
Adrian: "Back toward Eribe, probably, from the sound of it."
Mikolotov: "Oh right, yeah. I talked to Freyja about how great you are, and she said she'd take that into account when passing judgement over you..."
"I haven't seen her eyes glow like that before..."
Kylisae: "T-they glow, too?"
Kylisae cowers further behind Valaire's head.
Arkune blushes lightly.
Mikolotov: "Oh yes! When she's angry or upset, her eyes glow blue. When she's really angry, her feathers turn red."
Kylisae: "Eep!"
Mikolotov: "Don't worry! She's actually really nice."
Adrian: "Good work, Mikolotov. You won her temporary status as almost a legal resident. I do appreciate the help."
Valaire sighs, resting her hand against her forehead.
Mikolotov: "Oh, I did? She didn't focus her wrath on Arkune?"
Adrian: "Not at all. Just told her to play nicely with you."
Arkune: "Hopefully once things with Eribe have calmed we can deal with clearing my name more thoroughly."
Mikolotov: "...play nicely with me?"
Valaire: "(I'm still quite curious how you got this notorious in the first place...)"
Mikolotov: "Huh. That's strange to say... what did you say about ogres, by the way, Night Eyes?"
Night Eyes: "They are becoming more restless. We are visiting Adrian's fiefdom to make them stop attacking us and attack Eribe instead."
Adrian: "Something - or someone - is disrupting the southern tribes, turning them against us."
Valaire: "After all, if they are living upon Lord Adrian's land, they are his to command."
Mikolotov: "...are you sure we could get people in the Orst Hills to attack Eribe?"
"I mean, there's a huge jungle in between them."
Adrian: "I'm not sure we can, but it's worth a try. In any case, the priority is to do something about their aggressions."
"I suppose the question now is how soon we leave. Tomorrow may be best."
Night Eyes: "How long will the journey take?"
"There may be time to remove this mask's bindings on the road."
Adrian: "Half a week or so. Will that be long enough?"
Night Eyes: "I believe so, yes."
Adrian: "Then tomorrow morning it is. I'll have a few things to attend to in the evening, in that case..."
Mikolotov: "Do you want me to come along?"
Kylisae: "That soon? Didn't you have it for years or so?"
"And yet it takes less than a week for you to remove?"
Adrian: "Up to you. I don't imagine we'll need the extra force. Unless something happens that one more would make no difference to."
Night Eyes: "A week of rituals, meditation, expensive reagents and assistance, yes."
Adrian: "I'd ask how long it took to put on, but..."
Arkune: "I'd like Mikolotov to come along... if... if he wants to, anyway."
Mikolotov: "I'd be happy to come along with you, Arkune. I'll ask some people to be assigned to you."
"The group, I mean."
Arkune: "Thank you, Mikolotov."