Writing The Saga Of The Forgotten Dragon Guild (working title) [Archive]

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-02, 12:15 AM

Here's the first scene, clocking in at about seven pages. There's a part in there about nudity, as I -still- haven't decided just how I'm going to run with it. It's poorly positioned, but I needed to get the exposition because it will be a factor down the line (as of now unwritten, but it -will- be a factor).

1100 years later...

Hervis Jasper nervously paced up and down the room, waiting for his cue to step out onto the arena floor to open the 150th Gladiatorial Games. Across his back was slung a huge clay pot containing a bundle of scrolls detailing the history of the Sycanesti Beast Peoples as researched by his own hands. His job was to read the scrolls to the arena attendants during the opening ceremonies, which were designed to teach and remind them where they came from. This job of being one of the many "Criers Of The Games" of the Kingdom of the Five Swords would be his rite of passage into adulthood.

He was a young rabbit boy from the well-to-do Jasper family, who were known for their expert geology and uncanny ability to find veins of precious metals to exploit. He himself was a miner working one of the lower levels of one of the largest veins of minerals ever found. The minerals in question that he worked from the stone were unique to the known lands; Hervis had never heard of the minerals "Malaezium" and "Diathrylium" being imported, at least to the Kingdom of the Five Swords.

The former was a clear, refractive yellow mineral that could be molded like putty in one's hands and which had some kind of connection to the background "radiation" of the world, which allowed it to be controlled or directed by those who had strong wills and minds. The latter was a dark blue quartz harder than iron that was used in all manner of technological wonders as a power source, from pocket watches to crossbows to airships and more. Combination of the two minerals led to explosive results, often leaving craters that were several feet wide.

The rabbit was in a room of shaped stone, the carefully-rounded cobblestones in the wall poking out like so many blunted spines. He could feel the slight chill of the cool gray marble plates beneath his bare feet, and he glanced downward to look at the patterns in them that were etched with silver from the realm's finest silversmiths. To drive off the chill of being underground, two torches in the walls to either side of him were kept lit at all times and a fireplace crafted from fitted interlocking black stones was blazing quietly away in the corner. The only exit out of the room was through a perfectly-oiled iron portcullis with three layers of bars.

Hervis paused, looking around the room. While he knew his history just as much as any other self-respecting Sycanesti did, it was still amazing to see how far his people had come in eleven hundred years. Simple caves of dirt combined with a nomadic lifestyle looking for others had given way to homes of stone, personal farms, and defensive castles with (hopefully) benevolent rulers that kept the population safe. Despite how far his people had come and all they had accomplished, something was bothering him just a little bit.

There were no records and no information leading up from beyond eleven hundred years in the past. It was as if his ancestors had just been deposited out of nowhere and left to fend for themselves. That thought constantly gnawed at the back of his head, but the priests of the Church of the Nine Diamonds had always said that there was a reason all prior knowledge had been lost before the beginning of recorded history. The general consensus was that the Goddesses had wiped the world clean of prior Sycanesti corruption, and that a fresh group had been created from thin air with no knowledge of their past, their abilities, or even of the concept of language.

Their past completely erased, camaraderie among the ancestors quickly became valued over all else as the new "creations" tried to survive. If their race had held hatred for each other before the beginning of recorded history, it quickly disappeared during that early life-or-death struggle for survival. Those who didn't ally with others or those whom went lone wolf often did not survive, while those that banded together with a common goal survived and flourished, coming out ahead of the others and forming miniature societies that slowly grew over time.

Of course, differences did develop between species and rather than be a united race, over time differences eventually led to disagreements... which led to rifts and then to war. The biggest war was fought with the Taur against the Sycanesti, which the Taur lost, badly, and the Taur wound up enslaved until their own heroes had rescued them. Their numbers were severely low before the war, mostly because their increased requirements for food, space and care made it economically unfeasible to compete with the bipeds. They did manage to slowly grow and even thrive over time, although their species population was the lowest in the kingdom.

And now, they were there, eleven hundred years later, probably making the same mistakes their ancestors did.

Hervis had every right to be nervous. Here he was, in an arena in one of the major cities of the Kingdom, hand-picked by the royal family themselves and expected to remind everyone just WHY they were friends and WHY the kingdom was a center of learning for all races and species of the Sycanesti Beast Peoples. It was not going to be easy. He would be judged on his essay and if he failed to provoke conversation or thinking, he would be publicly humiliated and exiled to outside the kingdom... and left to fend for himself, alone. Either he “came of age” in the eyes of his fellow Sycanesti, or he would be thrown out as "nonproductive."

The Games were one of the only points of the year where everyone would drop their society's formalities and social status to become "equal" in the eyes of each other while they cheered on the slaughter of the condemned, watched the various re-enacted battles through history, and listened to the multiple Criers of the Games telling the stories of their people. Everyone from the highest nobleman to the lowest beggar was held in the same regard as a thinking, rational being rather than someone “above or below” the other. For the nobles, it would enforce humility and teach them to support the poor, as even the poor were subjects of the kingdom. For the lower class it would be a huge increase in their social standing for a brief time, and thus was something to be enjoyed.

During that time Hervis and several others would be called upon to remind everyone of their history and of why being friends with each other rather than be at each other's throats was beneficial to the species as a whole. They'd be reminded that the only Sycanesti they should try to hurt were the "Ruined." The Ruined were spirits locked into warped, Sycanesti bodies infected with various kinds of plague, and their minds had been twisted by greed and corruption.

Hervis thought it was something more, perhaps a hostility to the very idea of the Sycanesti Beast Peoples, or a direct rejection of the Nine Goddesses' teachings in lives long past. Since they didn't live harmoniously enough with their kin, the spirits were punished after death to live again locked in ruined bodies and hungry for the flesh of “pure” and "thinking" creatures.

The Sycanesti were in a perpetual war with them, attempting to exterminate them wherever they were found. It was the job of some of the other Criers to The Games to remind them that the Ruined were the only "valid" target for war. It was hoped that this would keep the more malicious among them from hurting anyone "important", but there were always those who preferred to prey on their fellows instead.

Someone banged on the portcullis, breaking him out of his internal thoughts. "You're on in thirty minutes, Hervis." The rabbit didn't catch who came to remind him as they disappeared down the dark stone hallway leading to the arena grounds, but he caught sight of a feline tail on the way out that suggested a mountain lion of some kind. Fortunately he was safe here in the city of Rozrowan, and indeed safe in the Kingdom of the Five Swords, where predation between predator and prey Sycanesti had been outlawed.

Predation. That was a funny word to Hervis, especially since it was just not something that was done anymore in the Kingdom of the Five Swords. Early in the history of the Sycanesti, predator animal assaulted prey animal without regard to if the creature was a "thinking" creature with hopes and dreams or not. Corpses of the fallen would even be torn apart and devoured during battle, often in full view of the dead Sycanesti's friends and possibly family. For a little while predation extended to peacetime, where predator species could kill their prey at their leisure if it was to have a meal and not for "sport." Now, it was just flat out outlawed even though predator species were above prey species on the social ladder.

He turned to look at himself, the dull pewter frame of the mirror proving a dark contrast to the shiny polished silver plate that was set within it. A cocoa-colored face offsetting the darker chocolate of his fur and hide stared back at him, his beady eyes betraying his resilience and intelligence. His ears were longer than most of the rabbits in House Lapandar, often bringing him unwanted attention. His tail was brightly visible as a white puff against his darker fur. Against one hip was a dark gray tattoo of a boulder, halfway scratched out almost into a smudge. He was a handsome anthropomorphic rabbit built more like a professional wrestler thanks to years in the mines instead of a weak, timid prey animal best suited to hopping through wheat fields.

He was still very young by Sycanesti standards, being only twenty summers of age where most Sycanesti lived to almost one hundred or so.

Currently he was wearing a full suit of warm, padded chain mail, with a colorful shirt worn over it that had been dyed in the colors of House Lapandar. Upon his feet he wore low sandals decorated with ornamental polished stones, and over his other shoulder was a sheath for a sword, even though he never carried one. Upon his head was a chain mail coif, with two holes in the top of it to make room for his ears. Across his upper arms and upper thighs were pairs of bronze arm and leg bands, with the symbol of the House of Lapandar banged out in rough form. Around his neck was a solid silver medallion with the coat of arms of the House of Lapandar on it, and finishing things off was a bright red rope cord around his waist that functioned as a belt.

He looked at his clothes, turning his hand back and forth to admire the stitchwork on the leather gloves, quietly musing to himself about the fact that the Sycanesti were of two minds regarding the very idea of clothing.

Some argued that the idea of wearing extra color on top of one's natural skin was an affront to the Nine Goddesses, who would frown on any sort of “hiding one's body.” They thought that trying to hide oneself under bright, distracting clothes or darker, more evil-looking outfits was in fact someone hiding secrets, and as such, said Sycanesti could not be trusted. Having fur usually made extra layers impractical in the warm climate where most Sycanesti thrived; even in the more harsh northern lands one's fur was usually enough to deal with the cold. Leather armor was too hot to wear and grew diseased after a short time, and heavy metal such as mail armor slowed down predators and prey alike too much to be of use.

This argument gained a lot of traction with the early generations of Sycanesti, forcing the various species to rely on their physical speed and athletics in combat instead of relying on outside protection and "tanking" through fights. This helped the species as a whole, leading to faster, stronger, healthier generations.

The only things that these Sycanesti tended to wear were accessories and things for immediate practical use, such as backpacks, belts, shoulder pouches and purses, bras for the bigger-breasted females, and various objects of house standing and social status such as neck bands, capes, cloaks, pins, bracers, shin guards, anklets, and ribbons.

As a result, nudity was still very common, the more traditional Sycanesti proudly displaying their bodies for all to see and admire. If they were amorously aroused, everyone just assumed you were on your way to one of the many heavily-taxed brothels that were in towns across the land.

The only Sycanesti that had real trouble with things were the cold-blooded lizards and reptilians of House Reptsauri, and they usually wore some form of clothes made out of the shed fur and sheared wool of the other Sycanesti races. Such fur was a valuable trade good which brought the furred and scaled species together.

In the end, the royal family decreed that they could have it both ways. Some went about their day completely nude, ignoring the stares of those who preferred clothing and uniforms. Others wore their outfits like a badge of honor or a symbol of their trade. Sometimes there was a bit of a rift about the subject and more than one pub fight was sparked by the clothes vs. no clothes discussion, but in the end the Sycanesti thrived either way with the two genders not sexualized beyond reason by blatant nudity.

Hervis tore his mind away from both the musings and thinking about his tattoo. He didn't need reminders of past mistakes distracting him from his duty. He was going to be one of the youngest ever to come of age by reading the history from the scrolls on his back. Most Sycanesti took their coming of age ceremonies when they hit thirty summers... usually through other means such as trial by combat or by going on long wandering journeys to "find oneself." He was doing this more for the prestige it would give the House of Lapandar.

In the corner propped against the wall was his combat staff, which was one of his most prized possessions. The staff was oak, hand-carved by Hervis himself, and weighted at both ends by knobs shaped like wooden fists. He'd painted it in the colors of the House of Lapandar, bright reflective red and gold against a darker green background. The end-knobs themselves were painted solid black with silver accents. In one end of the staff between the two grips there was a tiny hidden latch holding shut a secret hollow; his prized keepsakes from his friends were kept here in a tiny pouch so they wouldn't be stolen.

Hervis had never liked real combat with sharp pointy bits of metal such as swords, nor did he like to bash someone's skull in with a heavy metal ball attached to a handle. He'd taken up the staff as a means of self-defense, since while the streets of Rozrowan were usually safe there were always exceptions to the rule and bad places you didn't want to hang out in after dark. With the staff he could trip up his opponents, disarm them, or use as a pole to vault himself to greater heights his normal spring-loaded legs couldn't reach.

As a rabbit, Hervis could pick up the slightest of sounds from a long distance. He raised his ears to listen to the outside and immediately regretted it as the wall of sound hit him full force and almost knocked him down. Over a quarter of a million voices outside were each shouting, crying out, ringing gongs or shaking hollow cans filled with stones as noisemakers. Despite the fact that the cacophony drove him to his knees for a few instants before he lowered his ears again, he figured the silence would be even more deafening once he got outside. He'd have the attention of the entire arena as he gave his history speech.

"It fills you with real excitement, doesn't it? I see you pacing back and forth there." Came a voice from the portcullis. "Hopefully those ears of yours didn't get too drowned in sound just now."

Hervis turned toward the sound, shaking the ringing out of his ears. "Jartpo? That you?"

The foot-and-a-half-tall iguana stepped out of the shadows, the dim torchlight accenting both his scaly features and the tribal paint covering half his face. "Could it be anyone else?" He unrolled a long white cloth in which several tools and lock picks were kept and began to work on the lock of the portcullis.

"You do realize it's unlocked, right? What are you DOING here?" Hervis asked.

There was a loud click, then a grin from the iguana. "If it was locked, it isn't now."

Hervis rolled his eyes as his friend Jartpo Thintail pushed up on the bars, raising the portcullis just enough so that he could scurry under as the gaps between the bars were too small for him to weasel through. Even though the three-foot tall rabbit was twice his size (not counting his ears), the little reptile was unfazed. "You know I always need the practice."

"Jartpo, if they catch you here... you know they'll think of it as trying to sway the speech givers with politics!" Hervis was understandably worried.

No visitors were allowed from thirty hours before up until the time of the speeches. In the past, the Criers had been approached and offered substantial bribes to pontificate on this or that political agenda instead of speak of proper history and remembrance. It was enough that the royal family had brought down the law and made the offense punishable by death. The Games were about everyone being equal... not about personal agendas or upstaging one's rivals.

"And you know I don't give one damn about politics." Jartpo said as he wrapped himself in the wolf fur cloak he was wearing, tongue flicking in and out as he spoke even though he had no trace of a reptilian hiss. "I've got news. Someone put out a hit on you!"

Hervis froze, ears going straight up and a wince covering his face as the outside sounds rang like a bell in his mind, almost drowning the pickpocket out.

"That's right! Someone's trying to incite a revolt!" Jartpo glanced behind him to make sure he had not been followed.

"A revolt, here? In Rozrowan? It's one of the biggest cities in the kingdom! What would someone gain by causing trouble here?" Hervis asked, going over and retrieving his staff.

The iguana shrugged, pulling out a scroll from his brown leather tunic. "I found this on the guild wall for jobs on my way here." He said. The iguana was a thief of the highest caliber; his skills were high in demand in the city. There was no lock he couldn't pick and no valuables too secure to be protected from his thieving claws. "It's a bounty on your head. Fifteen hundred pieces of silver tence, and get this..."

"Tence" was the name of the silver coins of the realm, with gold coins being called "Kul" and copper coins being called "Xim". Copper was rarely used except by the very poor social class, with silver being the usual method of exchange. Golden kul were usually (almost) reserved for the upper class.

The rabbit scanned the scroll. "And my weight in both Diathrylium and food. That's a fortune even with my light weight!" He looked down at the scroll, back up at his friend, then back down at the scroll. "Who wants to kill me?"

"I don't think it's you in particular, just that you're an easy target that will be standing in an open field, ripe for any sniper to pick off." Jartpo replied, taking the scroll back and glancing behind himself again. "There's been whispering right now in the guild grapevine that House Trei'kiya wants to put House Lapandar 'in their place.' so that's a start for the culprit, I suppose."

The more Hervis thought about it, the more he was confused. "Both Houses are known as mediators between all the Houses though... what would they gain by trying to sow dissent when they know anything that looks like an assassination will be formally looked into by the King and Queen themselves? Doubly so at this, the Games of all things! Even I'm not that stupid to bring about a public fiasco at a place like this, even if I thought I could get away with it."

Jartpo shrugged. "I'm just the messenger. Don't ask me the ways of the nobles. I'm a thief, not a politician."

"Some would argue the two are one in the same." Hervis smirked.

The iguana reached up and put a sympathetic claw on Hervis' upper arm as best he could, and it was obvious he was worried. "Just keep an ear out. If anyone can hear the loosing of a crossbow before the bolt hits its target, it's a rabbit. The guild master was muttering something about how he'd seen a fortune teller beforehand and that 'The First Crier of The Games will Make Or Break.' His capitalized words, not mine. This makes me think you're more valuable than you think. Better not to tempt fate, in my opinion."

"What was he doing seeing a fortune teller?" Hervis asked, tilting his head.

"What else? He was placing bets on the Games once the combat starts." Jartpo said, rolling his slit golden eyes. "He could spend the money on better things, like the guild... or me!"

Hervis snorted. "Says the thief. I'll have to find this fortune teller after my job is over and find out what is going on."

The iguana nodded. "I'm coming with you then. I don't know if you can feel it in the air, but something is not right here at the games." He turned to leave. "Just keep an ear and an eye out, ok? You're my best friend, and I won't have you die on my watch. I've got a bad feeling about this, and you know my gut is usually right. My skills came from trusting my gut, and I won't start to doubt them now."

"Be good out there. Bring me back a fair share." Hervis said with a nod and a smile as the iguana turned to go; while the rabbit was off giving his speech his friend would be working for the guild stealing anything he could from the pockets of those who had attended. If Hervis knew his friend, they'd both be rich Sycanesti by the time the Games were over with even after the thieves guild Jartpo worked for took their fair share.

"You know me. Always honest." Jartpo winked at his friend and darted off into the shadows.

Hervis sniffed the air and gripped his staff to try to focus his mind. Then he felt it. It was a combination of a pit in his stomach as if he was hungry, and a cold, sweaty chill going down his spine.

The world... was gathering.

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Bobbybobby99

2016-01-02, 09:25 AM

1. I wouldn't necessarily cut it out, but it might be better if it was organically put into the text somehow. Barring that, you'll want to cut out that part if you put it in the front. However, barring both of those... Have you considered ending the book with it? It would be an interesting stylistic choice, and it would accentuate the vileness of the aliens, while not turning people away. Though you should stillcut out the part that I've said before. Seriously.

2. Dialogue... Snip it into pieces. By that, I mean it doesn't quite sound natural enough. Normal people don't go two sentences without having an input from the other party; having miniature monologues makes it sound like a soap opera, or star wars, or a game at the tabletop. For instance, this;

"You do realize it's unlocked, right? What are you DOING here?" Hervis asked.

There was a loud click, then a grin from the iguana. "If it was locked, it isn't now."
Should ideally be this;

Hervis spoke "You do realize it's unlocked, right?
The iguana replied with a grin "Well, if it-"
"What are you even-"I'm picking the-"-doing here???"
There was a loud click, then a grin from the iguana. "If it was locked, it isn't now."
See how much more naturally that flows? Now, you might not want to have them in those conversational roles here, but you get the point. It's the same thing, in a different way- short and sweet and snappy. Now, you might want some people to stammer and hesitate, and you might have a meek fellow, but in regular conversation people talk over one another a bit.

Then let's see... Don't have seperate musings from the fur versus fleece debate and the magical metals and the history; intertwine them. I won't write it for you, but hop from one to another, if you can. Then it'll seem less forced, and more like Hervis is just actually musing. Speak about how the technology metal aided in the mass production of clothing, how the magical metal allowed the bare to warm themselves, how funny it was that they hadn't any records of the two being in use prior to eleven hundred years past- for that matter, they hadn't any records of anything. See?

Then remove the mention of being built like a bodybuilder or whatever that reference was. Have him be of average build, or perhaps slightly above average build. He's clearly eloquent and intelligent if he's going to have any musings at all; he can't be good at everything. Or he could, but the best protoganists are notably flawed or at least average physically, socially, and/or mentally; you can't have them all and be sympathetic.

Otherwise, looks pretty good.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-02, 02:11 PM

Hervis is a miner by trade. He'd naturally have a physique of some kind after working in the mines since he was a boy. Strength 17, if not 18. (I actually asked "what IS Hervis's dump stat, anyway?" to myself just now... heh)

I wanted to get the exposition down since in the next scene we're introduced to another character, who's a natural nudist. If I didn't have the exposition in there I'd have people going "why is she nude?" even if I mention the fact she's a traditional nudist and nudity isn't as sexualized as it is in our society (so Hervis doesn't even flinch). I'll see what I can do about the dialogue when I make my next editing pass (after I post all the scenes here) so this dialogue problem might be a bit of a theme for the rest of the scenes. I'll post the next scene tonight after hopefully some other people chime in besides you -- more viewpoints will be more help :)

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-02, 07:45 PM

Seems no one is coming forth with criticism or anything, so I'll just put up another scene or two.

Rated a bit more mature, this time. The first scene's main character swears a lot, the second scene's character is... well, you'll see.

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Elsewhere in the arena's bowels, away from prying eyes...

"Is that crossbow ready yet, Talex?"

"Patience, Ta'Maxia. We've almost got it."

The first anthropomorphic hawk didn't look impressed, and preened a feather in irritation while standing around waiting for her partner in crime to finish. "How long does it take to ****ing modify one of those?"

The second hawk, far taller and covered by a robe etched with scenes of the Tyrannical Darkness being victorious over the Nine Goddesses, just ignored her for a moment. Under the robe, a set of glowing human-like arms made of amber-colored light worked the enchantment he was trying to cast. "I said, have some patience, Ta'Maxia. Enchantments like this are difficult to pull off when you have someone squawking in your beak. I need concentration if we're to make this crossbow appear to have been made by the Lapandar instead of by the Sacred Nest."

Ta'Maxia looked down at the crossbow, held suspended in air by a glowing leash of orange light coming from the tip of Talex's Malaezium-tipped staff. "And you're sure they can't trace it?"

"Please. The Lapandar may be a lot of things to many Sycanesti, but magically experienced is not one of them, ever. They'll think one of their own did this and that will give us the time we need to finish the other things we have going on. Then we "sell" the information to the nobles, lead them into the ambush, hold them for ransom, and we'll be rich as kings in no time!" Talex made a series of gestures, amplifying his spell. The crossbow he was working on slowly changed appearance and style so as to appear to be Lapandar-made, not Trei'kiya-made. "One shot. That's all you'll need."

"Damn it, I thought this was about making a statement to the Houses that we are supposed to be the Criers of the Games and not some ****ing ground-dwelling lesser mammals." Ta'Maxia chirped, almost making a hissing sound in annoyance.

"I don't care who gives the damn speeches, as long as they're given." Talex said.

Ta'Maxia folded her wings against her body. If she had hands, she'd of had them on her hips in a condescending manner. "Do you not remember our orders from the Sacred Nest? It'd be ****ing stupid to piss them off now when we're so close to the goal.”

“Says them, maybe.” Talex grumbled.

Ta'Maxia flapped a wing at him. “We live on the highest mountains, we are those closest to the heavens and thus closest to the Nine Goddesses... we deserve to be the ****ing orators of history and those filthy ****-flavored vermin should be subject to us, not be part of some inferior House of their own accord. They are PREY, Talex, not proper predators, and we are to remind them of this fact that we can take them down anywhere."

Talex shook his head. "And I keep telling you we'll never realistically pull that off. We don't want the royal family's investigators and magistrates coming down on us when their skills in the art of magic far outshine ours. Do you want to be plucked alive and served at a fancy dinner, despite predation laws? I keep telling you, this idea of mine is better than what that stupid Nest thinks it can come up with."

"You underestimate my resources, wizard... and the abilities of the Sacred Nest." Ta'Maxia said, glaring at him.

"Are you saying you can outfox the royal vulpines of House Felcan'lu?" Talex said, finishing the enchantment. The crossbow floated into a white cloth holster strapped to the inside of Ta'Maxia's wing and the small three-digit "fingers" at the top of her wing flexed in anticipation of what she was going to do. Most of the members of House Trei'kiya didn't have "arms" so to speak, but at the top of their wings were three little fingers capable of wielding spears, crossbows, and almost anything else specifically designed for them.

Ta'Maxia made sure the crossbow was secure, then with a flick of her other wing threw a razor-thin stiletto she'd concealed in her feathers. "Yes."

Talex's eyes bulged and he gagged as he fell, wings going to his neck as the stiletto stuck up to its handle directly in his throat. Ta'Maxia quickly kicked him hard in the chest, gripping it with a talon and then giving it a mighty yank. The sound of ripping flesh reached her ears as she disemboweled him before whacking him with her wing hard enough to snap his neck. She then picked up the pouch of gold kul, broke Talex's staff over her knee, and pulled out what appeared to be a fancy iron and silver pocket watch from a rope belt around her waist.

Tapping a central button on it with her beak, it popped open to reveal several Diathrylium crystals arranged in a pattern with twisted silver wire connecting them. Then she began to chirp into it. "This is Bird Eight, calling the nest. Bird Eight calling the Sacred Nest."

There was electrical static as the shaped crystals of Diathrylium vibrated in response to her voice and lit up with a variety of brilliant colors from their many facets. The color highlighted the hawk's brilliant molten orange eyes, and accented the horizontal scar over the center of her forehead in the dim light of the back alley. Finally, the response came, with the Diathrylium crystal turning an opaque, dull black when the words came through as if attempting to hide the source of the sound.

"This is the Sacred Nest. Your status?"

"Birds One through Three did their ****ing job for once. Four is incarcerated but ended up with a broken beak and I cut out her tongue, so she won't be squawking until they use magic to regenerate it and by that time it will be too late. Five has been killed as per your orders. You were right in that he had some other **** planned and he actually expected me to do as he commanded. Birds Six and Seven had better be ****ing keeping the flight path clear so I can take my shots against the Criers..." Ta'Maxia chirped, looking up and around her to make sure she wasn't being watched.

Another pause.

Then, "Good job, Bird Eight. Dispose of Five's body. Take out only the first Crier; other things have arisen that require our full attention. Once the first Crier is downed and chaos is sown, report back for further instructions. The Lapandar will be our slave dogs and the rest of the Houses will follow in due time if they know their proper place. If they don't, we kill them. If we can't have it, no one will. Fly low, sky high."

"Acknowledged, Sacred Nest. Fly low, sky high. Clear." Ta'Maxia finished, snapping the watch shut with a loud click. "You ****ing bastards. If one feather on my brother's body is out of place after I do your dirty ****..."

Elsewhere, an upper-class raven peered through a large crystal of hardened Malaezium which was being suspended in mid-air by the magic of a pair of sorcerers standing to either side. Waving his wing over the crystal, the image of Ta'Maxia dissolved into a blurry mess before fading out altogether.

"The only thing we're releasing is you... from the mortal coil... heh heh heh."

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The portcullis raised, with a tall wolf poking her head through. "You're on in ten minutes, Hervis. You ready?"

"As I'll ever be. Thanks, Falanna." Hervis replied.

"You sure you don't need anything more? You know my earlier offer still stands." The busty wolf cooed, stepping into the light and showing off the many colorful ribbons attached to her ankles and wrists that marked her as a prostitute that worked at the arena. A staunch traditionalist who went nude everywhere she went, the rich-red furred wolf spent her time at the arena "servicing" the warriors before they went into battle for the excitement of the masses.

She towered over him at almost six and a half feet and her fiery red fur was a bright contrast against the white fur of her belly. With a slim build, large bust, and long, well groomed tail, liquid gold eyes beheld her world without rose-colored glasses. Her nipples were pierced with little silver rods and the fur just above her crotch was dyed a dark blue with a diamond pattern, the symbol of a high-social-status whore that could usually only be afforded by the upper class. Technically Hervis was supposed to just call her "whore" while she was working (and he'd have gotten in trouble if he got caught using her real name), but the two were good friends and neither cared much for the formalities.

"You know I still have and always will have eyes for Chalice, Falanna." Hervis gave her a wry smirk.

"I still don't know what you see in her." The wolf shrugged and rolled her eyes.

Hervis folded his arms. "The usual. Brains, beauty, soul. She is stimulating to be around and keeps me on my feet."

"Stimulating? She's so full of energy she's literally vibrating half the time and static charged the other half thanks to all those weird things she keeps inventing!" Falanna didn't do much to hide her dislike of the lavender rabbit.

Chalice was an inventor not much taller than Hervis who always exploring and tinkering, mixing this chemical with that mineral, trying new ways to unite Malaezium and Diathrylium without blowing her face and most of her home apart in the process. She'd lost her right hand in one particularly loud explosion that she'd replaced with a six-taloned claw made of black iron, and in a similar incident she'd blown off her right breast. She quickly fixed herself up with an iron implant set with gems, Malaezium and Diathrylium plainly visible in separate settings, and this put many Sycanesti off toward her when they saw the "clumsy" mesh of iron, gems and living flesh.

She was too full of energy to interest Falanna much, who was more into slower, more seductive move sets. Chalice was too immersed in her inventions to appreciate sex, while Falanna was an absolute slut, and proud of it.

"Speaking of Chalice, have you seen her?" Hervis asked.

Falanna thought for a moment. "I haven't, actually. I know she wouldn't miss this for anything, since I know she has eyes for you too." She faked a pout.

"Don't give me that jealous glance, predator." Hervis mock-warned, giving her a knowing look that he wasn't buying what she was selling. "I know you want to eat me."

Falanna pointed to her crotch. "No, I want YOU to eat ME." Her eyes gleamed.

"I can't afford you, and you know it." Hervis' smile was wider this time.

Falanna's eyes glittered seductively. "You know I can make you and not get in trouble."

"And you know I'm too quick to catch." Hervis shot back. Predator ruled over prey in social standing and she was high enough in social status that she likely could do what she wanted with him if she so desired without so much as a slap on the wrist. She'd never actually take advantage of him, though. His friendship was too valuable to her and he was one of the few real friends she had that didn't come "with benefits". She was a wolf, pack was everything to her, and Hervis was a part of her pack.

"That's why my earlier offer stands from last night." Falanna knelt down and hugged her friend, her tail wagging a mile a minute. "Besides, after today if all goes well, you should have a healthy amount of kul coming your way, so you could afford me..."

A gong sounded in the distance and both sets of ears perked straight up.

"That's the final preparation bell. I'd better get going. There are more here than just you that I have to... visit, and you have a speech to give." Falanna said, giving her friend an affectionate lick before turning away. "My next stop is this big idiot wolf who thinks he's a barbarian warrior but couldn't hit the ground if he threw a stone at it.”

“Then why see him?” Hervis asked.

“His kul is just as shiny, you know?" Falanna winked.

"He doesn't have a big sword?" Hervis asked, wriggling his eyebrows.

The wolf rolled her eyes again. "I'll put it to you this way. Yours is more impressive than his and his knot is bigger than your fist. I'll be listening while working, so make me proud. I'll see you after the Criers have all given their speeches, okay? Stay safe out there." She quickly turned tail and was gone in a flash of reddish fur, the portcullis slamming shut behind her.

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Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-03, 04:57 PM

This is the big scene of the first part of the story. Well, one of the biggest, anyway. Hervis gives his speech.

It might be exposition disguised as a speech, but I found that was the best way to not be completely boring about it.

"Hervis? It's time."

Hervis looked up from his thoughts to see the portcullis rise and a pair of Dobermans in chain mail wearing the badges of the royal court on their shoulders waiting for him. Between them was a younger rabbit that he recognized on sight.

"Morvis! What...?" Hervis asked.

"Hah... funny this." Morvis said, the cloudy gray-furred rabbit replied. "I got tapped to be your scroll-bearer." He pointed to the pot of scrolls on Hervis' back and showed off the seal of the House of Lapandar on the back of his bright yellow cloak. "That will leave your hands free while you give your speech, so you can accent your points. I know how you like to talk with your hands when you are down in the mines."

Morvis was one of the other foremen (well, fore-rabbits) that worked alongside him down in the mines. While not as athletically developed as Hervis was, the rabbit could swing a hammer just as strongly and the two had saved each other from cavern collapses on more than one occasion. Morvis'd lost his right ear and right eye in one such collapse, but Chalice had set him up with a metal ear attached to the remaining stump. True to her style she'd decked it out with small ornamental gems and little bits and pieces poking out here and there. The eye on the other hand was replaced by an ornamental gemstone.

The other noteworthy thing about Morvis was that he was resistant to the power of magic. He could neither feel magic nor be affected by it, which made him one of the best Lapandar to go to when a new vein of Malaezium was discovered. He could go in immune to its magical radiation, and return unhurt with a report to Hervis on the dangers surrounding the vein, including if it was safe to even approach or not.

"How did you manage this?" Hervis asked with a smile as he stepped up to him and gave him a big hug.

"I think it was that whore's doing." Morvis said, glancing up at the humorless guards behind him. "You know she likes you, right?"

Hervis shrugged, making himself comfortable by adjusting the strap that kept the pot strapped to his shoulder. "She likes everyone. She doesn't have a cold hearted manipulative bone in her body."

"The amount of manipulative bones of those she's buried, on the other hand." Morvis gave him a nod before turning away. "We'd better get going, it's nearly time for the beginning of the Games."

"Yeah, yeah. Did you see Falanna on the way here?" Hervis asked.

Morvis nodded, his ear lowering down a little bit. "She was in a hurry on her way to see you, and nearly ran me over. Didn't even stop to say hello."

"I think she's off working by now then. That wolf's fast. Let's get going." Hervis replied, shouldering the pot and looking up at the guards.

"This way then." One of the guards said in a muffled monotone, voice distorted by the brass mask covering his face.

Hervis was led up a series of staircases and the sounds of cheering, screaming and yelling got louder with every passing step. As he passed by the various rooms on the way up, the sounds of the screaming were intermixed with the warriors in a training room as they struck at straw dummies painted in the badly-drawn likenesses of local officials. He turned a corner and passed the apothecary's chamber where fresh beds had been set up in a circle around a central table upon which lay potions, beakers, a wand enchanted with healing spells, and cloth strips for binding wounds and stopping bleeding. Finally he was led up a long, straight staircase where at the end he could see that the hallway opened onto the arena floor proper.

To a miner, one's ears and hearing were just as important as the strength in one's arms and one's hammer. The moment he stepped outside, the sounds of yelling, crying out and such were now deafening as a wall of incomprehensible sound. He could barely continue even though he'd lowered his ears as protection.

Morvis quietly tapped him on the shoulder, and Hervis turned to see him making a series of gestures and signals with his hands, the same kind he saw on a regular basis back down in the mines. Gestures communicating information were a miner's lifeblood, sometimes with life and death curiously balanced on the end of them. Morvis' ear was almost completely down, pressed against the side of his head to try to stop the flow of raw sound to his eardrum. "Do you think you can do this?"

Hervis held up his hands and gestured appropriately, both of his own ears pressed flat against his skull. "Let's go. Your lead."

Morvis nodded to the guards, and one of them left to go inform the magistrates that the first of many Criers was ready to approach the center of the arena and begin reciting the history of the Sycanesti Beast Peoples (as researched by their own hands). Success would bring him much fame and prestige for the House of Lapandar. If he failed to get a reaction, provoke discussion or worse yet get booed out of the arena he'd be ostracized and sent packing, banished from the kingdom entirely.

Several minutes passed while they waited for the guard to get back and let Hervis know that it was safe to go outside onto the dusty ground. From Hervis' vantage point, he could see that the arena was an oval that stretched easily almost five hundred yards from end to end and was a good eighty yards in width. He could barely make out the stands at the far end, rising almost a good three hundred feet into the sky. He could barely see the ends of the arena, but the stands were packed with colorful banners that defined where the arena floor ended and the spectators began.

The entire arena was packed from floor to ceiling. Hervis could see all manner of colorful streamers, banners, heraldic symbols and other things that flooded the senses with color. Up and down the stairs between the rows of seats he could see everything from dancing jugglers to food-bearers to maids bringing beer, mead and ale to the thirsty, screaming crowd. Brightly visible against the backdrop of the rabble and riff-raff he could see the area of the arena set aside for the royal family or their ambassadors.

Hervis tapped Morvis on the shoulder and gestured, since with the crowd roaring he couldn't speak and be heard. While the gesture representing "Valuables discovered!" didn't really mean that in this context, Morvis looked where Hervis was pointing. Sure enough, the royal family themselves were in attendance, which was a surprise to both of them!

"What are they doing here?" Hervis finally managed to shout above the cacophony of the crowd. King Vanadei Tenquin, Queen Dianova Tenquin and their daughter Princess Shalandria Tenquin were hardly ever seen outside the kingdom's center, where they had taken up residence.

"It's the 150th anniversary of the Games. Why would they NOT be here?" Morvis asked.

Hervis turned back to the arena, carefully picking out the sections where the population of the Sycanesti had been divided up by House. He could pick out the reds, violets and golds of House Croctani, the silver and stormy gray of House Ursadori, the bloody red and black of House Trei'kiya, the twilight-violet and orange of House Equanoan, the reds, greens and golds of House Lapandar, the emerald, sapphire and lavender of House Reptsauri, the bright pink, bronze and purple of House Felcan'lu, and the black, white and steel of House Ovisoni. To an outsider, everything appeared nice, neat and tidy but Hervis was sure that there was intrigue going on in the halls of power. There always was, and it annoyed him.

On the opposite side, a dachshund went to a podium and leaned into a long staff upon whose end was a huge configuration of Diathrylium crystals which were precariously balanced upon little silver cylinders. The configuration mimicked Ta'Maxia's communication device.

"CREATURES OF THE SYCANESTI BEAST PEOPLES!"

The crowd quieted as the royal speaker began.

"We're here today for the 150th launching of the Great Gladiator Games! Welcome one and welcome all to the biggest event of the year!"

The crowd roared and stomped their hooves, foots and otherwise, the ground shaking under Hervis' feet. Both he and Morvis knelt down with their hands over their ears and Hervis was sure most of the rabbits in attendance would be doing the same thing.

"We will BEGIN immediately, with the first Crier Of The Games!" The dachshund cried, reading from a scroll held by a slave who had silver shackles attached to his wrists, linked by a thick leather strap. "We've come a long, far way from savages, and it is my pleasure to introduce to you..."

"Here it comes..." Hervis mouthed to Morvis, who only nodded.

"... the first Crier of the Games, HERRRRRRVIS JASSSSSSSPER!"

The crowd got on its feet as one of the guards pushed Hervis a little roughly out onto the arena grounds, with Morvis quickly following along behind. Hervis couldn't pick out where his own family was in the sea of vague faces and bodies, but he knew they would likely be in the upper seats of the House Lapandar section. He waved in their general direction as he headed to a stand set up in the center of the arena, where two vicious-looking Taurs wearing executioner hoods wielded battle axes. These rhinos were guards sworn to protect the Crier, as in the past there had been troubling disruptions by various factions all trying to push political agendas.

As Hervis made his way to the stand, his ears shot straight up. The feeling of the world gathering had assaulted him full force, and his very soul was screaming that there was a lot of danger all around him and that he should go hide. He looked up and around, first at the guards, then at the stands, and then at the sky. For a split second, he thought he could see the sky almost flicker, as if a translucent sheet of air had been drawn across like a curtain overhead.

Hervis froze, paralyzed.

"Something up?" Morvis asked. Hervis didn't hear him, partially due to deafness from the crowd, and partially from his danger sense going completely off the rails.

Hervis' eyes went toward the royal seating, where he could see most of the royal vulpine family looking expectantly in his general direction. Then he looked up at the sky again, then he looked up at the guards. Something was... off.

"Creatures of the Sycanesti, Hervis Jasper!" The dachshund cried, piercing the expectant silence as Morvis pushed Hervis up on the stand and pulled a scroll out of the pot, unrolling it and holding it almost too close to Hervis' face.

"Morvis, something's up." Hervis said a split second before the stand's communication crystals lit up, signifying he was "live". He made a slight gesture with his ears that was heavily suggesting "look around!"

Morvis took a long look around, looking up, to the left, to the right and behind him, but he didn't see anything too noteworthy, and with a shrug, whispered into Hervis' ear. "You're on, wing it. We're safe. Safer here than anywhere else."

Flying high in the sky, using the angle of the sun to her advantage and cloaked by the long "sheet" of haze and magic that her allies had cast, Ta'Maxia silently took aim, wings flapping hard behind her. Unfortunately, one of the rhinos was right in her current line of fire...

The Nine Goddesses bless me for this action... Hervis thought.

"Creatures of the Sycanesti!" Hervis cried, beginning to read from the scroll and jumping right in feet first. "We're here because we are to witness the bloodshed of those that are under us, of those that are condemned, and those of us who are no longer welcome in our society for one reason or another. Of course, we wouldn't be here were it not for our past, and the royal family has entrusted me to convey that past so that we know who and what we are, where we came from, and where we hope to go!"

The crowd started to cheer him on.

"Our beginnings began," Hervis cried into the crystals, his voice being amplified all across the arena. "Eleven hundred years ago. Our ancestors started recording history and it was a bloody, brutal one. Predator turned against prey, subjugating them and enslaving them and at times even predating on them. The population dropped and it looked like our ancestors were not going to survive as a united species."

The crowd quieted, allowing Hervis his time. Far above, Ta'Maxia flew about, looking for a better angle. The broad backs and sides of the rhinos presented too much of a shield to line up for a kill shot. “Come on, how the **** am I supposed to do what I was hired to do?”

Hervis glanced at Morvis with a smile then continued to read. "We traveled from place to place as nomads, some predators chasing prey, some hunting for their own food, and some building makeshift shelters. Some prey fought back, some prey took to farming, and some attempted to create burrows and shelters capable of holding many families. We had no uniting force to guide us as we walked from desert to forest to plains to mountains to lakes to oceans and beyond. We saw great mountain cliffs upon which castles could be built. We found sinkholes whose walls we could dig tunnels and homes into. We found crystal clear lakes to get fresh water from. We discovered vast oceans upon which to sail and explore."

On this last point, there was a lot of mumbling going on in the crowd. Building ships and boats to cross the ocean was still a new concept, and not everyone wanted to cross water out of sight of land. The kingdom only had three large sailing ships, each owned by the Tenquin royal family. On the other hand airships that traveled fast over land were rather commonplace and the Sycanesti usually relied on those or caravans of wagons.

Realizing that the last sentence could be considered political agenda, Hervis quickly started talking again. "Finally, upon the Plains of The Sky, we settled. Predator, prey, scavenger and hunter began to live in an uneasy peace.”

He looked around again, feeling the danger seem to grow. His ears began to twitch.

“Peace comes with a price, as we began to split, to diverge, and cause trouble for each other rather than unite and work together to build something. Something that would stand the test of time and show that we exist, we are smart, and we are powerful, ready to take the world on!”

The arena erupted in cheers as Ta'Maxia cursed a little bit and flew higher, relying on her enhanced avian eyesight to pinpoint the little rabbit. She needed to get directly overhead and shoot almost straight down in order to get a kill shot off, and so she flew higher up so that gravity would allow her to pierce the rabbit clean through. The bolt would go into the ground where it would stay buried. She didn't want evidence to be left behind that it was a Trei'kiya bolt that did the deed.

She flew too high, emerging above the protective cloak. Against the sun she was only a dark speck, and because of the cloak she cast no shadow to warn her prey, so she wasn't seen.

"Then," Hervis continued. "Then came The Tyrannical Darkness."

The crowd bowed their heads in silent remembrance, and even Ta'Maxia followed suit.

"Our ancestors released a superweapon, a deadly spirit that corrupted all that it touched or caressed." Hervis said, his eyes tearing up. "Our own ancestors, furious that they couldn't agree on a ruler, on a religion, or on roughly anything else, decided to kill everyone and everything instead of come to a compromise. They let it loose with the words, 'If we can't have it no one will.'"

"If we can't have it no one will." The crowd repeated almost in unison.

Ta'Maxia's eyes gleamed as she found her shot.

"Each of our ancestors wanted each other dead so badly that they released spirits of such anger and evil that it corrupted our people... it damaged our people, in their hearts, minds, bodies and souls." Hervis said. "It... Ruined our people." He emphasized the word "ruined" to make his point clear, especially since the Ruined were an ever present danger. "The Ruined spread among our people, spreading disease, rage, hatred and disaster in their wake! And what did we do?!"

"Let it ride." The crowd muttered.

Ta'Maxia felt the heat of the sun on her back. She was flying too high, living in the moment as she aimed. The dachshund who'd introduced Hervis was back in the stands now, and had spotted her. He was near the royal family's location, and knelt next to one of the royal family, whispering something. The crowd didn't notice.

"Yes. We let it ride, the common Sycanesti believing that the commanders of our armies... the nine women who would later become the Nine Goddesses... would see us through, when those in power just wanted to lord over us! Treating us like unthinking insects!" Hervis cried out. "We believed in our ancestors, and what did they do? Turn us on each other trying to gain the upper hand instead of living in harmony! Predator and prey, scavenger and hunter, all trying to kill one another, leaving nothing left even for the buzzards!"

The crowd over in the House Trei'kiya section sounded off with shrill cries and squawks of death, especially from those who actually were buzzards and vultures. They were mimicking the past, living in the moment a bit too well. When they were done, silence filled the arena, and Hervis smiled at Morvis while he got out a fresh scroll. Just as he was about to open his mouth again, he felt it. The feeling of danger was all too real, feeling like he was being pushed on by an invisible wall trying to push him over. The feeling came in a cone aimed directly at him from above.

Move. Left. His inner voice was practically screeching louder than the buzzards had been.

Hervis took two steps to the left, adjusting the strap over his shoulder as Morvis got into position and unrolled the new scroll.

Ta'Maxia fired as the royal family's enchantment casters took up their positions. They'd detected the cloak and were working to dispel it but they were being actively resisted by others of House Trei'kiya hidden from view who casting to reinforce the cloak.

"We fell into war and despair." Hervis said, the Diathrylium crystals brilliantly lighting up as they vibrated and sent little waves of color out with each spoken word. "War, despair, sorrow. In times of such darkness and evil, a light must shine through... a beacon of--"

Thump. Both Morvis and Hervis heard it. The sound of a crossbow bolt embedding itself into the ground. Morvis glanced down and saw the neat little metal bolt sticking almost straight up out of the ground, and the two exchanged a wide-eyed look as Hervis continued.

"-- hope in such battered times. That hope came with the Ray Of The Sun."

"The Ray of the Sun." The crowd repeated, looking up at the sun.

Ta'Maxia cursed loudly as she saw where she was as the crowd looked up, and then dove downward like a falcon in a prey-slaughtering assault. While she was too quick to be seen before she reached the cloak she saw the cloak rippling, as if the air were being pushed about in several directions at once by a stiff wind. That meant she'd probably get only one more shot before the cloak dropped. She looked to one of the sages of House Trei'kiya sitting in the stands, who was working and chanting a spell to reinforce the cloak. Thanks to her avian eyesight, he caught him chirping "Take. The shot. NOW."

Muttering under her breath, the hawk lined up for a second shot. "Good bye, prey..."

Hervis glanced upward along with the rest of the crowd as they repeated the line, and then continued. "War came. We fragmented further, but with war finally comes an uneasy, exhausted peace. The Ray of The Sun used artifacts we can't even imagine to wipe out those that would destroy our fair civilization once and for all. Some say the artifacts lie strewn about the lands in the hidden, dark places where no smart Sycanesti is meant to go. The Ray of The Sun banished the Tyrannical Darkness that had created the Ruined, destroying the Darkness' physical body. You all know what he chanted to warn the spirit away before he used lethal force."

The crowd chanted in unison. "Step aside and stand down, or I knock you aside and PUT you down."

"Peace finally came, and one of the last things the Ray of The Sun did was help the nine heroines of the great war into deity-hood. The Nine Goddesses then showed us how to build proper towns, proper cities, our families, and build our hopes for the future." Hervis said directly into the crystals. "After that, they ascended... never to be seen by mortal eyes again. They wanted to give us a fair chance at guiding our own hands to greatness. Their original guidance allowed the Sycanesti to unite under the concept of the Houses... a rallying force as one concept, one idea. This gave us a sense of belonging to the Sycanesti as a whole rather than to just one's family or species!"

The crowd started to cheer him on.

"The rabbits and ground mammals of House Lapandar!" Hervis called, pointing at his House's section of the arena.

House Lapandar's section began to stomp their feet, making the ground shake.

"The horned species! All under one banner, House Ovisoni!"

Hooves were stomped and there was much bleating, accompanied by elk and deer calls. The foot stomping of House Lapandar continued. Most horned Taurs also fit into this House.

"The workhorses of House Equanoan!"

Neighing, whinnying and equine war cries reached Hervis' ears and added their noise to the sea of sound. The general rule was if the Sycanesti in question was a large land mammal and had horns, they belonged in House Ovisoni. If not, they belonged in House Equanoan. If they were a bear or a Taur without horns, House Ursadori instead.

"The lupines, canines, vulpines and felines of House Felcan'lu!"

The cacophony of barking, howling, meowing and hissing almost drove the rabbit to his knees.

"The scaly ones of House Reptsauri!"

More hissing in unison from the section holding House Reptsauri. Hervis imagined Jartpo being a part of it, but it was likely he was "elsewhere" using the situation to his advantage.

"The avians! House Trei'kiya!"

More screeching, squawking and chirping. This time Hervis was driven to his knees and Morvis quickly helped steady his friend.

Ta'Maxia took aim. "****ing prey. We're better than little ****s like you."

"The large land mammals and the tree-dwelling small mammals of House Ursadori!"

There was a lot of chaotic roaring and a lot of noisemakers being shaken. Never let it be said that the Ursadori didn't know how to throw a party. Where House Equanoan was made mostly of horses, donkeys, zebras and others with the general equine body shape, House Ursadori had more bears and outnumbered the equine house almost five to one. The majority of Taurs also fit into this House, though those with horns usually were in House Ovisoni.

"And of course finally, the hyenas and marsupials of House Croctani!"

House Croctani erupted in unison in an eerie hyena laugh that was perfectly timed, making everyone else uneasy and shift in their seats. Everyone else shut up. The hyenas, and by extension the marsupials that shared the House, were never trusted. They were not outcasts, but they were not well liked as a whole. Their House High Steward was an incredibly popular man who'd tried to help all species instead of just the House... and had come under fire by his enemies as of late for being so friendly that everyone thought he was up to something when he really wasn't.

"With the Ray of the Sun gone and the Nine Goddesses ascended," Hervis continued, looking up and around him. The cloak wavered he caught sight of a shadow that was not his own having appeared by his feet. "We were left to our own devices. It was decided that the leadership of the Sycanesti would be decided in a simple game of dice. The vulpines won the roll, and ever since then we have been ruled by House Felcan'lu--"

The cloak dropped as the royal wizards finally dispelled the magic, revealing Ta'Maxia.

"They cheated and you ****ing know it." Ta'Maxia muttered as she took her shot, striking Hervis in the top of his head right between his ears.

Hervis briefly felt something touch the top of his head, there was a flash of light in Hervis' eyes and he barely heard something being shouted before he felt himself falling. Then, blackness took him.

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Bobbybobby99

2016-01-03, 07:00 PM

It seemed like those scenes flowed quite a bit better; that's a common situation with these things. There's still the dialogue length, but it was less stilted, if still needing work. The speech is meant to be a monologue, so no trouble there. I recommend cutting out some of the curse words with fantastic equivalents, so you don't alienate too much of the audience; for example, Rutting instead of the F word.
Also;
. Add a comma between cold hearted and manipulative.
. The crowd should stomp their feet, not their foots.

It's fairly compelling, really; though you'll want to clearly define the magic system at some point.

Edit: Also, never use the word bowels again, and preferably remove it. It just sounds weird. On the topic of weirdness, birds should not use heh heh heh. Just say that they maniacally giggle, or made a peculiar repetitive squak in a fit of humor.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-03, 07:21 PM

At this point, I'm sort of tempted to just email it to you so you can read it all at once and get back to me. I wish more people would chime in and say what they think or offer improvement.

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Hervis.

"What? Where? Where am I?" Hervis asked, opening his eyes but seeing nothing but a wall of blackness in front of him. He couldn't see anything. "I can't feel my body...?"

Hervis. It is not your time. The voice was dull, low, raspy and growling, like an elderly grandfather grumpily chastising a puppy.

"What do you mean, not my time?" Hervis asked. Here, wherever "here" was, his voice was faint yet took on an otherworldly echo.

You have been chosen to do great things, should you choose to accept the task that lies ahead.

"What? What do you mean? What... who are you?" If Hervis still had his body, it would have been trembling in terror.

Do you accept the duty? The task ahead? Or do you decline?

"Tell me who you are!" Hervis yelled.

No response.

"TELL ME!" The rabbit demanded. "On authority of the House of Lapandar, I order--"

Do you think your silly concept of a "House" has any authority over Me?

In front of Hervis, the darkness parted in a hazy, shifting oval. It showed him reading the speech, then it showed a higher vantage point from behind Ta'Maxia's back. The rabbit saw her fire, and saw him drop dead on the spot.

"Am I dead?" Hervis asked, petrified.

Could be. Granted, you're still here and talking to Me, which is more than many have done.

"Wait, 'many'?" Hervis looked around him as the scene dissolved. Nothing but darkness, a solid sea of black.

Eleven hundred years is a long time for... deities to emerge.

"You... you're one of the Nine... no, wait, this is all darkness rather than green fields. You... you're the spirit of the Ruined! The Tyrannical Darkness itself!" Hervis felt like he was going to faint, but it was impossible; his senses were locked in place and he couldn't have closed his eyes if he still had them. "What did I do wrong to wind up here?"

He heard a grumpy snort in response.

"Well? Do I at least get that answered? I thought I was behaving properly, going to church on the proper days, observing..." Hervis growled, growing irritated. If the Tyrannical Darkness had called his spirit forth to torment him for eternity, he might as well get started by talking its ears off and then some.

I'm not doing this for Me. I'm doing this for you. If your world is destroyed, I cease to exist. Do you think I want that?

Another scene opened in front of Hervis' eyes. He was standing outside of a stone circle, with a polished marble altar in the center of it. Surrounding the altar were several Sycanesti wearing sky blue robes, each wearing a bobcat skull around their neck, wearing a vulpine skull attached to their bright orange cords that functioned as belts, and wearing magically-enlarged mouse skulls as skullcaps. At least three members of each House were represented in this little "cult" although he didn't see any Taurs.

On top of the altar was a large shield carved of pure white marble which was stained red either with dye or blood, Hervis wasn't sure which. The shield's center was divided up into five quadrants in a square pattern, with the fifth one being in the center. In the lower left Hervis could see an indentation that matched the Royal Seal of the Kingdom, surrounded by brilliant clear gemstones of all kinds. The other four had similar markings.

You know your history, yes?

"Of course I know my history." Hervis grumbled. "The populations of the species got too big and they went off to form their own kingdoms across the world, but all remained united under the concept of the Houses. Someone from House Lapandar here is welcome in any House Lapandar in kingdoms the known world over. Am I to assume the other Royal Seals fit in the quadrants of the shield?"

And the shield is itself a key.

“What does it unlock?” Hervis asked.

Me.

Hervis' jaw would have dropped if he still had one.

You KNOW what the Ruined are capable of. What do you think will happen if I am released?

"But... but why?" Hervis went back to being terrified. The Tyrannical Darkness was evil and punishing, but it had a purpose. It was evil, yes, but it also served to torment and punish the wicked for all eternity. Those that were not wicked, but showed little promise or desire to “do the right thing” the second time around were instead oftentimes tricked, the soul returning to the world of the living by means of being reborn as a Ruined. It was not a mindless torturer wanting everything destroyed for the sake of destruction. The holy texts often described the philosophical, intelligent conversations it held with those in the living realm who sought "him" out... or the deadly bargains or pacts that the foolish offered to it, which it gladly twisted to its own ends.

I cannot control Myself if I enter your world. Last time the result was your people dead, scattered and halfway destroyed. The Nine Goddesses cannot act to steer the truly evil from their path, partially because they are supposed to be "good" and let the Sycanesti decide for themselves how to live, and partially because your species' collective belief shapes our powers. The Cult of the Sky Over Stone believes if they "open a gate" to free Me, they will free the Nine Goddesses as well... and it is they that this cult wishes to exploit.

"How?" Hervis asked.

Intent is shaped by thought. The collective thought of the entire Sycanesti race, on the other hand, is a sea of chaos. Countless individuals, all thinking their own things at the same time. All of that input at once would drive Us completely mad, and yes, I mean both Myself and the Nine Goddesses. The Cult believes that if all of its members think the same thing at once, that "will" can be directed and force the Goddesses... or Me... to act.

"Okay..." Hervis looked around, but again was met with only darkness.

There are too many Sycanesti now to make that the case. We would be mindless, enraged, and destroy the world in burning blackness. I don't want that. The Nine Goddesses don't want that. The Sycanesti certainly don't want that.

"Then why...?"

Petty mortal reasons, ranging from revenge plots to grand take-over-the-world schemes to let-it-all-burn Apocalypses. While the Nine Goddesses can only nudge their faithful to indirectly slow or stop the Cult, I on the other hand have no such barrier. I am supposed to be "evil" as your people understand it, so I can be more... direct. I can cheat, in other words.

"How do I know you're not evil now?" Hervis asked. "How do I know you're not manipulating me if you're supposed to be 'evil'?"

Don't try My patience, mortal. I DON'T want your world destroyed any more than you would. I'm asking you because you have the capability to accomplish great things where others cannot, and you're just the one to save the world.

"I suppose you're going to tell me to 'do it for Chalice'?" Hervis would have folded his arms if he still had his body.

I don't like pushing buttons unless mortals come to Me first with a bargain for power, Hervis. But yes, doing it for Chalice would be one viewpoint. The disembodied voice sounded genuinely insulted.

"And I suppose you're going to say you can fix her... injuries if I did this?"

Only if you entered into a bargain or pact with Me, and you know that by design I would have to mess with it, or take the literal wording and twist things to My advantage. She gets along fine with her... changes. Why fix what isn't broken?

"Well, forget it. I'm not making a deal." Hervis turned his back, and was met with yet more darkness... until another scene unfolded in front of him like a three dimensional box being unfolded one side at a time. He was staring out over a flat desert plain of red sand. The heat was intense, and there was no sign of life anywhere. The place felt dead, as if both physical life and spiritual life were gone. It was terrifyingly barren.

Which is why I am asking you again. Do you accept this duty? You will know what you have to do, when the time comes.

"And if I don't?"

Then I either find someone else, quickly, or watch the world fall to pieces in front of My eyes before I cease to be. The Cult of the Sky Over Stone is dangerously close to getting what they need. They NEED to be stopped, Hervis.

The scene vanished from Hervis' eyes, the darkness swallowing it up like water going down a storm drain.

Hervis didn't sound impressed. "Well, I'll get back to you when I'm dead. You're not letting me die when I can be your pawn, right?"

Another snort.

"Step aside and stand down, or I will knock you aside and PUT you down." Hervis growled.

Silence for several seconds, which felt like an eternity.

"No witty rebuttal? No counter to that? Or did it sting a little too close to home?"

Arise, Hervis Jasper. Your time is not yet. When next we meet, it will be the LAST that we meet.

The darkness gave way to a blinding light and if Hervis had his body he would have covered his eyes with his hands. The next thing he knew, the light had dropped from his eyes to be replaced with the groggy darkness of his eyelids; he was being pulled back to the world of the living, and was awakening as if from sleep.

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"Ugh... my head..." Hervis sat up in bed, raising a hand to his head. It was wrapped in bandages and when he rubbed a spot directly on top of his head between his ears, he could feel a divot under the bandages.

"Hmmm?" Falanna was in the corner, half asleep, but she immediately jolted fully awake the moment she saw Hervis awake. "Hervis! You're awake! You finally came back to us!"

Hervis looked around. He was still in the arena, in the healer's ward, and the almost-deafening silence that greeted his ears told him that the arena was empty now. Standing over him were four priests of the Nine Goddesses; their Malaezium amulets were glowing brightly as they worked another healing spell over him.

"Yeah... I think so... Falanna, what--" Hervis began.

"DON'T YOU EVER SCARE US LIKE THAT AGAIN!" Falanna leapt to Hervis' bedside and hugged him tightly, tail wagging and tears streaming down her the sides of her muzzle as she sobbed into his shoulder. Hervis could do little more than return the hug, his ears affectionately lowering over Falanna's back.

"I'm here, Falanna. I'm just not... sure... what happened after...?" Hervis put a hand to his head again, trying to recall the events.

Falanna released her hug. "You were sniped by a hawk. We caught her, and the law in this case states you have first rights as to what to do with her. The Games were suspended pending an investigation, and everyone's gone home. There's a lot of hate toward the House of Trei'kiya right now. There was a group calling itself the 'Sacred Nest' trying to make a power grab and make some demands, but it failed after you were killed. The rest of the conspirators were rounded up and there were other assassination attempts at the same time you were shot by the hawk, and rumor around the upper nobility is that there's going to be another attempt at a power grab rather 'shortly'”

"How do you know all that?" Hervis asked.

"I get around and hear things." Falanna gave Hervis a sly look. "You forget what I do for a living, Hervis. You know I keep my ears open, and the nobles have been stressed out something fierce. Loosened stress loosens tongues."

"How long was I out?" Hervis asked, looking up at the priests.

"Four weeks." One of the priests replied, turning to fetch some clean bandages. The ones on Hervis' head were thickly bloodstained. "The assassin used an envenomed bolt that stopped blood from clotting. Your head erupted like a geyser. We've done as much as we can to stop it. We're glad you returned."

Hervis sat bolt upright. "Four... weeks?!"

"Jartpo petitioned the thieves guild to save your life, and on the orders of a fortune teller, the guild leader spent considerable resources to hire the best healers in the kingdom. I had a hand in that, as the guild leader was being a bit stingy about paying for it at all until I slept with him. For a few days.”

Hervis looked at Falanna, who playfully stuck out her tongue at him.

"Why here?" Hervis looked around. "Shouldn't I be someplace..." He looked down on the ground. "Safer? In a town under guard, maybe?"

The wolf shrugged. "The fortune teller was absolutely adamant you come back to us from here. She said something about the darkness giving way to light, to clarity."

Hervis paused, replaying the scene with the Tyrannical Darkness in his mind.

Falanna hugged him again. "I don't understand it myself, but you came back to us just like she said you would, so who am I to argue?"

"The royal family is going to want my version of events..." Hervis said, thinking.

Falanna smiled. "You need to rest first. I'll go tell Chalice you're up."

"She's HERE?" Hervis' eyes bulged in surprise.

"No, but in the time it takes for me to get to her, dodge her exploding creations around the lab, hold my breath long enough to get past her brewing chemicals, and give her the news, you'll have had some more rest. Now rest, you. You've come back and I will be damned to the Tyrannical Darkness if you leave us again so quickly!" Falanna pushed him back down into bed and pinned him with her thighs like she was going to ride him. "You're going to be under heavy guard at all times. Not even a sneeze is getting in here without the royal family knowing about it."

"All right, Falanna. You take care of yourself." Hervis relaxed as laid back down. "I've got... got a lot to think about right now. I had some wild dreams I need to make sense of."

"Should I send for a dream walker?" The wolf asked, concern in her eyes. Dream walkers were those who walked the spirit realms, straddling the chasm between Tyrannical Darkness and the Nine Goddesses and interpreting dreams and omens.

"No. Not yet. Let me think first, and rest." Hervis replied, turning and curling up, putting his knees up against his chest. It felt good to have a body again after what he had experienced.

"I'll be back when I can!" Falanna darted out of the healer's area at top speed, running off to find both Jartpo and Chalice.

Hervis laid down and closed his eyes, going over his out-of-body experience. He'd been contacted by the Tyrannical Darkness itself and it had told him he was "destined for great things" whether he liked it or not. The Darkness itself was not a liar, it being a "needed part of the cosmos" and as such Hervis believed that while the Darkness didn't have his best interests at heart, it really didn't want to die either if what it said were true. Being told "you will know what to do when the time comes" unnerved him, and he turned the conversation over in his mind, going over everything piece by piece.

He knew what was coming next. First he'd be present for a "sentencing" for the hawk who'd killed him. Evocations that raised the dead were almost prohibitively expensive, so it was likely that House Trei'kiya would foot that bill as well as give a large amount of kul as an "emotional donation." His family would be well-off for a while and he'd likely not have to go back to the mines for a good few months, if not longer. What bugged him was that someone had paid for his return from the dead. The Tyrannical Darkness wasn't known for letting souls go, no matter how devout they were. Why was he the exception?

Then, he'd be summoned to the royal court in the kingdom's capital of Thynsaleth, with its massive Malaezium mines that stretched hundreds of feet into the ground, polished Diathrylium spires on top of the castle that stretched almost one hundred feet, and the paved roads that were unlike anywhere else in the kingdom. He'd have to give his version of events, and be judged by the Holy Words of the court priests. These priests were the highest priests of the church in the land, and if he was found guilty of "being impure of heart" enough to have "invited" bad luck to befall the games, he'd be at the least exiled. At worst, killed for real this time.

What am I going to do? He thought to himself. Before he could respond to his own question, he'd fallen asleep without realizing it. The answer would have to come later.

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Bobbybobby99

2016-01-03, 07:42 PM

I'd be careful with resurrection magic; at least you've made it sufficiently expensive to avoid it becoming too much of a plot point. I have to wonder about the mixing of the whole "There is no god" on the part of the aliens and the existence of deities, and so will readers, but whatever. Four weeks asleep is far too long; cut it down to a week or so, if you're taking my advice. If you can raise the dead, you can teleport, and the idea of things not progressing much in a month is a tad absurd.

In fact, you might want to make it four days out; it's a sensible time period. Once again, the conversation is stilted, but it's once again aptly justified by the 'god speaking to mortal' thing. Stop using all caps to indicate loudness; italics work perfectly well, and it seems unprofessional.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-03, 08:45 PM

These gods were created by the minds of the Sycanesti after they were... "removed" from their first land. Over time, belief can have a powerful shaping force to a world filled with magic.

There won't be any more resurrections (Hervis goes through a second one later, but that's the last one).

No caps, eh. All right.

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"This hearing has begun!" The crier at the door called.

Hervis was standing on a podium covered in plush red, green and gold carpet with the insignia of the House of Lapandar on it. Forced to kneel in front of him on a smaller dull gray dais, was his killer, Ta'Maxia of House Trei'kiya. To Hervis' left was the hawk's family, all looking either upset or angry at their kin and chirping quietly to one another. Some were openly condemning her, some were calling her names, and others looked about ready to kick her straight in the beak with taloned feet. To the right on a carved and raised stage of thick blue slate, Hervis' family stood silently with threatening looks on their faces. Hervis' mother and father held each other tightly, just glad to have their son back.

At the far back, a tall porcine male sat on a throne, dressed in a nobleman's outfit that had been rather poorly re-dyed the colors of House Lapandar. His silver crown of station was almost a little bit too big for his head and the eye patch covering his left eye looked so worn it was about to fall off. He raised a cloven hand-hoof.

"All right. We're all here, so let's get this underway.” The semi-obese Sycanesti said, lowering his hand-hoof afterward. “Ta'Maxia Windscar of House Trei'kiya, you know why you're here!"

Ta'Maxia had a ball gag in her beak, her legs were locked together at the ankles with iron and brass manacles and chains, and her wings had been tightly bound with thick black cord from which written statements from both families dangled. She'd been blindfolded, and a great iron weight in the shape of a rabbit had been fastened around her neck. This forced her head down so that she couldn't lift it up to look at anyone.

"You killed a member of House Lapandar in cold blood!" The pig proclaimed, snarling at her and smacking her in the back of the head so that she almost tumbled forward face first onto the ground. "In front of everyone at the Games, no less! He was not a slave destined to die there, nor a Ruined or condemned Sycanesti! You did not escape after the deed was done, however, and will face justice as given by your attempted victim!" Both families cheered Hervis on.

Hervis for the most part fidgeted, he had had enough of being the center of attention to last a lifetime.

"Have you anything to say in your defense, bird beak?" The pig insultingly asked, as the ball gag was removed.

Ta'Maxia considered the options. Revealing the existence of the Sacred Nest would only get her brother killed. Did she have anything to say to a prey species, though? While she had been forced into the action, she had no love for what was basically food in her eyes... and her favorite food, at that. Intelligent rabbits screamed louder and better when killed than the wild ones she'd hunted for dinner in the past; she preferred intelligent rabbits to wild ones any day. She thought for a moment then shook her head as best she could. Having decided she'd been caught fair and square she would now suffer the consequences of her actions.

"Hervis, your family receives 4,000 kul as a result of her actions. We present you with the crossbow that was used to do the deed." The pig said as two small canines dressed as squires in training handed him the crossbow. It was an intricate work of art as was most Trei'kiya craftsmanship, carved of black oak and built to work with three fingers on the top of a wing instead of being usable by other species. Another advantage to the wing fingers the Trei'kiya had was that most of their gear was specifically suited to them. This made it hard to use their weapons against them, or to devise counters for them.

Hervis accepted the crossbow with both hands, noting that it was already loaded with a dark iron bolt. While he couldn't hold it well, he could aim it well enough and could shoot Ta'Maxia at point blank range with her own crossbow if he wanted, right between her eyes.

"The bird has chosen to remain silent. The silence of a coward driven to murder, to ruin the Games for the rest of the Houses, perhaps?" The pig proclaimed loudly, and those present in both families began to berate and jeer Ta'Maxia. The pig held up a hand, and the jeering died down almost as quickly as it began. "Hervis, I turn to you. Your decision is final. She killed you, she was caught. You came back. You have first rights to her. What is your verdict?"

Hervis looked down at his killer, and it was obvious to him that she was in no way repentant of her action. As was his right, he had also received all known information about her from her family, and had learned that she was a bounty hunter. She came from a big family who was moderately wealthy, and she'd had a missing brother she was constantly searching for. She always accepted the highest bounty offers, the toughest targets, in order to raise money to fund her search. He'd come away from his information gathering with the sense that she obeyed the law in her own way but that she wasn't inherently evil. Selfish maybe, but not evil.

Hervis closed his eyes, then after a moment of silence he opened them and began to speak.

"Release her bonds, first."

Eyebrows in the room all raised so fast, they hit the ceiling and left craters. If the jaws in the room hit the ground any harder, there'd have been an earthquake.

The two canines from earlier released her bonds and Ta'Maxia stood up to her impressive six-foot height, dwarfing Hervis. She craned her neck up to stretch it after the weight had forced it down for so long, then her molten orange eyes stared at him so intently that Hervis thought he was going to burst into flames.

"I've thought long and hard about this," Hervis began. "And have come to my decision about what to do. The Nine Goddesses always say an eye for an eye during battle, and to avenge those wrongly slain, without relaxation." Hervis looked directly into the hawk's eyes, meeting her defiant gaze and staring her down. "But they also say that to release the non-wicked from troubling actions is a better act than revenge. I've heard about your past, about you searching for your missing brother, and about the good you've done bringing some real evil to justice instead of just being some thug out for the tence or kul."

He looked over at Ta'Maxia's family. "I don't think she was doing this willingly." Then he turned to his own family. "I don't think it would be right to take her life when her own work isn't finished yet. If Chalice was missing, I'd certainly do whatever I could to make it so that I could find her." He looked back at the assorted avians. "Plus, I have my own research outside of this, suggesting there's something else going on." He thought of what Falanna had said.

Both families began to murmur. Ta'Maxia tilted her head to the side like a dog.

"I think she fell in with some bad Sycanesti who offered her information and she was cornered into doing their dirty work. If someone wanted to seriously disrupt the Games, there would have been a lot better, more subtle ways to do it without bringing down the ENTIRE kingdom's wrath to turn House Trei'kiya into something nearly more loathed than House Croctani." He looked up at Ta'Maxia, whose beak was open as if she was trying to say something and couldn't.

"Ta'Maxia, without hesitation... I formally choose mercy. You are free to go and continue the hunt for your brother. I wish you the best." He held up the crossbow, which she accepted silently with quite a look of shock on her beak. "If you find those responsible, put a bolt between their eyes for me. No one deserves to have family taken from them." He looked at his own mother and father, who were wide-eyed with surprise while hugging each other close. "No one."

Ta'Maxia, paralyzed with surprise, would have laid eggs in shock if she was carrying any. She looked over at her own family, then at the assorted members of House Lapandar, before looking behind her at the pig presiding over the event. Several quiet, uncomfortable minutes passed while they waited for Ta'Maxia to speak, before the pig gave his reaction.

"All right, Ta'Maxia... I hereby declare this event closed, and you are free to go. I will not question the decision of your victim. If he declares mercy, so be it. By the Nine Goddesses' mercy, you may go in peace." The pig finished, pulling the crown off his head and staring at his reflection, considering Hervis' words.

Ta'Maxia turned to look long and hard at Hervis. Her molten orange eyes seemed to smolder in their sockets briefly and Hervis thought for sure he was going to regret his decision. Then the hawk turned away, and was escorted out of the room in silence. While those of House Trei'kiya didn't hear it, he was sure that his family did, because his ears certainly picked up on the softly-chirped reply.

"Thank you."

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"You let her go?!" Falanna almost fell out of her chair in surprise.

Several days had passed. Falanna, Jartpo and Hervis were at Hervis' burrow back in a rural village far away from the cities, relaxing and enjoying lunch. One of the mines Hervis worked at was almost directly under his house, and he planned to give them a bit of a tour later.

"I couldn't just kill her. I read about her and asked her family about her." Hervis replied, looking out the window at the countryside. "She just didn't have the... feel of evil. I'm not sure you'd understand it. It's a lapine thing."

Falanna lightly scoffed. "I know what you mean. Your kind is so twitchy to emotion and intent in the air that you jump at the slightest sound. She doesn't sound repentant, though."

Jartpo took a sip of his carbonated water. "Since when are avians ever repentant about anything?"

"Did you learn anything more?" Hervis turned to look at Jartpo. "What's the 'Sacred Nest'?"

Jartpo looked up. "I did some digging, yes. One of their informants is addicted to scent sticks, so I was able to bribe him pretty easily. They're a spy network that has a particular hatred for the House of Lapandar, and to an extent the other Houses, with particular focus on prey species. They prefer a return to the chaos of old, with them of course at the top ruling over both the predator and the prey. Since that's pretty much impossible, they're also happy with every Sycanesti for themselves, including themselves. If the Houses were shattered beyond repair they'd break up their little cult in a heartbeat, their mission 'accomplished'."

"That doesn't sound very productive." Falanna said.

"No one said birds were the most intelligent of Sycanesti." Jartpo continued. "It looks like the hit on Hervis was ordered by them, and there was a whole group of them trying to mess things up behind the scenes. There were demands going to be made, and so on. Some of the other members of the thieves guild partnered with the royal guards to sniff some of them out, but the only one we could catch to talk to had her beak smashed and tongue cut out when she threatened her employer with a double cross. And from what I understand, it was that hawk you gave mercy to who was the one that did the cutting."

Hervis sat back in his chair. "Are they dealt with? Are we going to hear from them again?"

"I don't know." Jartpo shrugged, looking down. "Not all of the members were found and it looks like they have informants everywhere in every House. Most of the 'true' members of the cult are avians though. Crows and ravens, in particular. Hawks are their hired muscle and golden eagles seem to be their shock troops."

"That matches what I heard when I did research on Ta'Maxia." Hervis replied. "Her family said she was a bounty hunter. You two are my best friends, so let me finally explain to you what happened from my perspective..."

Hervis started gesturing with his hands as he began talking, and that was when both Falanna and Jartpo knew he'd be okay in the end. The rabbit talked with his hands any time he was completely in the moment. He took a couple of hours to explain the entire situation.

Jartpo was intrigued, but he always liked this sort of knowledge. Falanna's eyebrows raised almost off the top of her lupine skull when Hervis went over the "conversation" he'd had with the Tyrannical Darkness and about how he was supposedly "destined for great things." He didn't like the situation at all and planned to just hide and live off the kul awarded to him once he went to the capital to give his testimony for the royal court.

"Do you think war is brewing?" Asked Jartpo.

Falanna looked thoughtful. "I don't think so. The entire House of Trei'kiya would gain nothing from having the other houses at their throats like this, especially now that the Sacred Nest has somewhat been exposed. The House of Felcan'lu would slaughter them on sight and have their eggs smashed for such treason, and if the ire of House Ovisoni were raised any more than it already is..."

"Maybe that's it." Hervis said. "They start a war they are forced on the defensive for, then retreat until the houses are expending or wasting resources to slow them down... or put them down. Then they strike when we're tired."

"That would imply the House of Trei'kiya has an ace in the hole to surprise the other Houses with later when their resources are expended." Jartpo replied, tilting his head and curling his tail as he tried to think. "That would mean they would have something to make the other Houses cower in fear, like a superweapon, another Tyrannical Dar--"

The three of them looked at each other.

"I'm REALLY not liking where that train of thought is going." Falanna growled.

"They'd risk destroying the entire kingdom just for them to... to rebuild upon the ruins and crow about their victory to the other kingdoms? There'd be no one left to worship them!" Hervis exclaimed, twitching nervously.

"If they can't have it, no one will. The rallying cry for evil deeds." Jartpo grumbled.

"The royal family should hear about our conclusion, then. You still have to go to Thynsaleth to give your version of all the events anyway, so we can include this conclusion to your testimony, and perhaps get the King's help in stomping this Sacred Nest flat." Falanna said. "I should go and get some things for the road. I'm coming with you, Hervis. There's no way that you're not going to be targeted again if this 'Sacred Nest' had any survivors. The Lapandar are mostly made up of prey species. It's impossible for them to resist another shot at you.”

"I agree." Hervis nodded. "I'm going to be guarded en-route, of course..."

Jartpo snorted. "Guards can only do so much, and if there are members of the guard in the thieves guild without the King's knowledge, then they can get another assassination attempt in if they're any sort of competent. No witnesses, no survivors, no information shared, even if it's the slightest amount of it. I'm coming with you as... wait.” He paused, realizing something. “They had to have done research on you if they were targeting the Criers of the Games, right?"

Hervis shrugged. "Probably." Then he understood what Jartpo meant.

"Chalice." The three of them said at the same time.

"I'm fastest, no offense, Hervis." Falanna said. "You and Jartpo prepare for a potential assault while you're headed to the capital. Pack heavy. If I know the Trei'kiya, they'll bicker over the loot while you make an escape.”

Hervis got a gleam in his eye. "I'm a miner by trade, remember. I can handle it."

"You sure?" Jartpo asked.

"I can dig a burrow faster than you can say you pick pocketed a homeless man's last xim." Hervis grinned. "Let's go, Jartpo. We've got some packing to do."

"I'm going to go do some more digging on the Sacred Nest. The guild loremaster and guild record keeper both owe me a favor." Jartpo said, hopping off his seat. "I'll also go tell the magistrate we will be leaving early, and to send for the carriage. Pack your things without me, Hervis. We should leave as soon as possible."

Falanna smiled. "I'll catch up later. If Chalice is a target to put pressure on you, she has to come with us. I've heard so many high-class plots in my time as a whore that I know how brutal and intense some of them can get. Blinded love, hateful scorn or childish spite are the emotional Sycanesti female's most deadly enemies. This'll be no different."

"I'm sure you have stories. What are you doing standing around here for? Go!" Hervis said, hopping off his chair and hugging his friend as best he could.

"Gone!" Falanna bolted for the door with her tail straight out behind her. Jartpo was hanging on tight to it as she ran out.

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Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-04, 03:51 PM

Aaaaand more scenes.

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Meanwhile, in the great trees making up a portion of House Trei'kiya, in the northwest part of the kingdom...

"That rabbit SURVIVED?!" Lord Veron growled, the raven's eyes almost darker than his feathers.

The capybara he was addressing turned away in fear, raising his hands in a feeble defense. "Forgive me, sire!"

"Shoot the messenger. I don't want to dirty my wings and talons with him." Lord Veron motioned, and the hawks standing in the corners of the room took aim.

"Sire! Sire! Wait! This can be fixed! He has a girl he fancies, and...!" The capybara's knees were knocking together in panic as a large rottweiler with a pike blocked the only exit out of the room.

"Yes. I know." Veron quietly growled, turning away from the capybara. The sounds of strings going taught and then releasing were followed by a strangled gurgle. "Too bad you're just a messenger instead of the assassin. That bird-brained bird brain missed, and then she got caught!"

Another, more refined voice spoke from the doorway. "She didn't miss, you feather-brained broken-wings. Someone paid to have the damn fool returned to us from death. House Felcan'lu has gotten better wielders of Malaezium that we didn't prepare for." Standing in the doorway as the rottweiler stepped aside was another raven, wearing little else other than a large tabard over her neck which brightly displayed the colors of House Trei'kiya. Avians had very little use for clothing and as such usually wore little, if any. It weighed them down while in flight.

Lord Veron rolled his eyes crossed his wings in front of himself, akin to someone folding his arms. "Lady Tiatrana. What brings you here?"

"What do you think, Lord Veron?" Lady Tiatrana asked back, holding up a bulging pouch of coins tauntingly within reach of him. "One thousand tence... a gift, shall we say. Some of those filthy vermin humiliated my forces, so now it's time to band together and smash them once and for all."

"Tence? Not kul?" Lord Veron sneered. He was greedy, but not stupid. "My forces are worth their weight in kul and then some, thank you very much."

"The rabbit is still alive." Lady Tiatrana chastised.

Lord Veron wickedly grinned. "But he'll be out of our feathers soon enough. I've sent a force to visit a woman he seems to like."

Lady Tiatrana scoffed at him. "That girl? What will that accomplish other than your prison blown up?"

Lord Veron looked proud of himself. "We capture her, hold her for ransom. He pays the ransom, and we spin it to the other Houses that he was bribing us for her services as she'd recently 'allied' with us. We smear his name, he falls from grac--"

"Are you stupid, or just crazy." Lady Tiatrana said, throwing down an ornate runed scroll and looking generally grumpy. "She's too well known as a scatterbrain to ally with anyone except the multiple voices in her own head." She pointed to the paper with one of her wings. "See? She just got a HEAVY reward for designing some kind of sewer system for the royal family's castle... one that doesn't blow up when you look at it too hard. She got noticed and... ugh, they're paying attention to her." She turned up her beak in a classic snobbish pose.

Lord Veron unrolled the scroll and scanned the runes. "I see. This... complicates matters by a few orders of magnitude. I suppose we'll have to threaten her and Hervis to stay out of our way until we can get our other pawns and pieces at the castle into play."

"No. We kill her." Lady Tiatrana said. "Hervis and his stupid friends will be in mourning for long enough that we can move our forces unmolested. I won't have someone prophesied to 'do great things against the evils of the Houses' get in our way. We kill her and I help you rebuild the Sacred Nest. Then we move on the throne."

"She's more valuable alive than dead, Lady Tiatrana." Lord Veron growled, narrowing his eyes at the she-raven.

"Do I need my forces to kill yours while shooting the girl? Because you and I both know I'll do that without blinking. What will the others say, when they hear the Sacred Nest were so afraid of a prophecy that you left a simple rabbit girl alive rather than teach her her proper place as a living meal at our talons?" Lady Tiatrana sneered back before gesturing with a wing. "Fine. I'll pay you three times that money pouch... in kul... for you to leave my forces alone while we take out the girl and her workshop... and to let me ally with you where we can lend each other our forces."

Lord Veron stared at the pouch, then glared at Lady Tiatrana.

"When your forces fail, then our alliance is dissolved, Lady Tiatrana." Lord Veron warily replied, accepting the pouch.

"When? Since when have they ever failed me?" Lady Tiatrana cooed.

"Shortly. Your teams are all women, after all." Lord Veron mocked.

Lady Tiatrana's eyes widened and she hissed, her talons gripping the ground so hard they splintered the wood.

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Jartpo looked up at the red cedar double doors leading inside the thieves' guild "open" branch", which was the part of the thieves' guild open to the public where questions could be answered, history could be researched, and new recruits accepted... if the price was right. The huge doors were closed tightly with black iron door handles, and Jartpo cursed his size as the handles were out of reach. He'd have to wait until someone larger than he was opened the door so he could slip inside. He, as well as some of the more vocal members of the guild, had long rallied for the guild master to spend a little extra on a small sliding panel for creatures of small or tiny size, but the guild master had been very stingy with money after Hervis' return and wasn't hearing it.

Annoyed, Jartpo spent the time tracing the designs in the doors themselves while loitering about and watching the lower-class Sycanesti go about their business. He caught sight of what appeared to be a mugging in one alleyway but did nothing to stop it; this was a less-than-savory part of the city and if you were wandering about unarmed or unskilled, you were going to get hurt. It was better not to step on the guild's feet right now by getting in the way of what was likely a guild operation... not when he needed information.

When Sycanesti-watching got boring, he went over the information in his mind that Hervis had shared, not liking the conclusions he was reaching. He knew the House of Trei'kiya was made up of purists to the whole predator-prey angle, but this entire thing, all for the death of one silly rabbit? That was taking it too far. Still, the knowledge he'd shared, about how the rabbit was supposed to be more valuable than he thought, was still resonating as well. The guild master was a twitchy little beagle that saw omens and superstition in everything, and had often consulted various means of divination when he had a major decision to consider.

Maybe it was time to visit this "fortune teller" instead, despite having to travel to Thynsaleth to see them.

He hopped off the steps to the guild and headed off down the main road, passing the alley where he had heard a scuffle. There was certainly a mugging in progress. Whomever the victim was, she was down on her back, her dress torn off and thrown to the side as she backed up on her hands and knees to get away from those who'd knocked her down. Two larger felines were the ones doing the mugging; one was armed with a dented iron bar and the other was bare-handed but had a knife attached to a sheath at his belt.

The Sycanesti living in this area were socially trained not to look – or even report to the guards if something was going on -– if you came down these roads without knowing how to defend yourself, or didn't have friends in high places, then you were going to get jumped and taken for everything you had. The lower-class thugs and bandits hiding in the shadows could sniff tourists or the overconfident out like a fresh kill fast, and clean up like a bunch of scavengers just as quickly.

Jartpo peered into the alley, watching.

"Please," The victim was saying. "I don't have any more tence!"

Jartpo froze. He knew that voice. Of all the interesting times to live in...

"Yeah, so we'll have to take your pretty little fur, rabbit." One of the felines growled, slapping the iron bar into his hand a few times while looking generally intimidating.

"If you don't have any tence, got any kul? We saw you go into the shop on the corner, and that's not a cheap store..." The other feline said.

Jartpo considered things. The "shop on the corner" nearby was a tourist shop for those visiting the kingdom, usually those who were under heavy guard while wandering these streets and seeing how the lower class lived. While the rogues' gallery did make off with something from them (usually), the pickings were not terribly valuable when they could be snatched at all. The guards were just too good.

On the other hand, for those in the know, the shop was a black market for fenced and stolen goods if you knew the proper phrase to greet the shopkeeper with.

What in the Tyrannical Darkness is Chalice doing here, at the black market of all places?! Jartpo thought to himself, before he picked up a small stone with a sharp edge.

"We'll take your goods, we'll take your kul..." the feline with the iron bar began.

"You'll take a nap." Jartpo growled, flicking the stone as hard as he could.

The stone hit dead in the center of the feline's throat as both of the felines whirled around on Jartpo, and the feline who'd been hit went down gagging in surprise. Jartpo charged at him and jumped, twisting his leg in a roundhouse kick while in mid-air. The kick was short and missed the feline by a few inches, but it was enough for the feline to back up, trip over his own feet, and fall on his tail with a yelp of surprise. Jartpo tried to make good on his surprise advantage and whipped his hips, twisting his body in a tail lash as he landed on his feet. The blow made the cat howl in pain as the tail lashed across one of his eyes, neatly taking it out. The other one's jaw dropped in surprise.

Chalice got to her feet and leapt at the second feline, sinking her teeth right into his neck and twisting. The feline dropped in a fountain of blood; Chalice had severed an artery with that bite and her aggressor would bleed out in about a minute or two.

"Will you shut up?!" Jartpo growled, picking up the iron bar and slamming it over the first feline's head, stunning him.

Chalice dropped to her knees, shivering after the adrenaline rush. She was bruised, battered and bloodstained in a few places over her lavender pelt; judging from the bruise on one shoulder she had taken at least one hit from the iron bar.

"J-j-j-j-Jartpo?" Chalice asked, quivering.

"It's okay. I'm here. Hervis' ears are going to tie in a knot over this for sure... what are you doing here?" Jartpo helped the woman to her feet.

"I-I needed some chemicals for my experiments." Chalice turned back to look at the two attackers. One was spraying blood all over the place and the other was still semi-conscious, staggering to the back of the alley. Jartpo had given him a concussion for sure. "This was one of the only places I could get them." She knelt down, still quivering, and picked up a shoulder-pouch which clinked and clattered as she did so, betraying the vast numbers of beakers and vials that were now inside it.

"You heard about what happened to Hervis, right?" Jartpo asked, looking Chalice over to make sure she was okay. It looked like the metal implant in her breast was damaged, and the skin around it looked infected. Both the Malaezium and Diathrylium that were normally proudly displayed in the implant were missing from their settings in its center, and even a couple of the gems were either cracked, missing, or... leaking.

"I'm as good as I'll get..." Chalice began, before seeing where Jartpo's eyes were.

"What happened?" Jartpo asked. "Hervis is going to go through the roof with stress if he sees that!"

"Which is why I was here in the first place, Jartpo." Chalice replied, making sure the bag was secure. "Can you escort me home? I did hear what happened to Hervis... is my poor honey bunny okay?"

Jartpo pointed back toward the guild hall with his tail. "He'll live. I was here at the guild to get information but I'm kind of locked out. We think there's a conspiracy afoot by House Trei'kiya, because it was they who wanted him dead. The longer version involves fortune tellers, the Tyrannical Darkness, and som--"

Chalice blinked at the iguana, then hauled tail for home as soon as she reliably had her feet under her. "I've got to help him then! Come on, let's get back to my lab!"

"... ... ... so much for 'escorting' you home... hey, wait up!" Jartpo called after her, rushing to catch up.

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Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-04, 10:48 PM

I'm going to keep posting scenes until I run out! Heh. At least it gives BobbyBobby something to do, because it doesn't seem like anyone else is interested.

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Falanna cursed under her breath. It'd taken all day to get to the other side of the city where the tinkerers, chemists and "mad scientists" all made their homes. She would have asked for easier directions, but most of them were part of the tinkerer's guild. The tinkerer's guild always tossed in bits of jargon and lingo from their experiments and creations into every day word usage, and as such it was near impossible to understand them in general conversation.

Chalice's house was a large, impressive stone structure that had been receiving some extra care as of late. The rabbit had just made off like a raccoon by selling the royal family some documents detailing some kind of method for getting sewage and waste away from the castle, and then into a "holding tank." There it could be burned for heat, and this heat would be piped into the colder chambers at night to warm the residents.

The door was wide open, and Falanna took a cursory sniff as she walked up the flat stone steps. Normally the smell of exploded components, smoke and... more exotic chemicals would have knocked her clear on her tail, but with those smells today there was another scent on top of it all that turned on her adrenaline and kept her on her feet.

That was the scent of hostile intent. To her delicate nose it smelled like burnt brownies with a hint of goldenrod over it, and instantly Falanna froze for a moment as she considered what her options were. The fur on the back of her neck raised. Someone was here, and it wasn't Chalice.

She slowed down and pushed the door open, taking another sniff and noticing a few black feathers on the ground. The room ahead of the door was untouched, but beyond that Chalice's work space was in absolute shambles. Beakers were overturned, shattered glass lay everywhere on the ground, experiments lay in pieces, and tables had had their contents violently flipped to the ground. The brass and Diathrylium lights above had been broken save for two in one corner of the room, giving the room a very tense feel. In one corner, an ornamental weapons rack had been overturned and the weapons looted. All of the windows had been broken.

Falanna's inner instinct said to remain quiet, and she quietly crept up on Chalice's back room, where three ravens were ripping apart the seams of the bed, sending feathers and rabbit fur everywhere. A hawk wearing a leather vest as armor and as a sign of station was leaning in the corner, apparently as their "boss."

Falanna took a step back to avoid being seen. This was odd. Usually it was the ravens giving orders to the hawks, and not the other way around.

"This'll get her attention." One of the ravens said.

"But how long will it keep it?" Another one asked.

"Long enough that the others can act." The third chimed in.

Falanna's inner instinct screamed to act, and she stuck her muzzle in the doorway of the room, deciding to play innocent. "Act on what?"

The avians whirled on her, and the hawk instantly leveled a long knife. "Who are you?!"

Think fast! Said Falanna's inner instinct.

"I'd heard this woman was an inventor and I wanted to see for myself. Based on the junk outside, it doesn't look like she was any good. Typical rabbits, right?" Falanna said.

The ravens relaxed slightly.

The hawk did not, looking over Falanna's many ribbons around her upper arms. "What's a high class whore doing in a place like this? Shouldn't you be off ****ing someone?"

Think faster! Said Falanna's inner instinct.

"Hey, I'm not ****ing Sycanesti all of the time, you know. Even I need a rest from the hustle and bustle of the attention on my chest." Falanna played herself up, and turned on her bedroom eyes.

"Emphasis on the bust." One of the ravens remarked, looking unimpressed, and Falanna had to remind herself mentally that avians didn't value breasts as they didn't have any. "You mammals think size matters. How do you remain standing with weights like those growing out of your chest?"

Falanna smiled shyly at her before dodging the question and looking back at the hawk, making sharp eye contact. "Does this mean you're not going to hurt me since I wandered in on your little wrecking crew? Come on, one predator to another. It's just a rabbit. If you're wrecking her things, it's not like anything of value is lost is it? She's just a dumb rabbit with an iron breast and one hand where there should be two, or at least that's what I have heard. She can't be very good if she blew her own hand off. I was just curious."

The hawk relaxed a little. "You Felcan'lu really need to work on that. Curiosity will get you all killed, you know." Her tone was more malicious than Falanna would have wanted, and she could just smell the hostile intent just flowing off of the bird in waves. She was sure the only reason the birds didn't attack was that they had other orders. They were waiting for Chalice and weren't going to take risks in beating down a wandering wolf that would make noise and attract attention, despite the fact that they'd be stupid to leave any witnesses, period.

"You going to rough her up a little? I can't imagine it takes four Trei'kiya to scare a simple stupid rabbit." Falanna said, switching mindsets and turning on the sociopathy. She'd been around enough lonely higher-class Sycanesti that hated just about everyone that she'd picked up on how to act just like one of them and "blend in".

"No, we've got both the orders to kill her, and the kul placed in our coffers to make sure it happens." The hawk said. "Did you know that one of the rabbit's friends showed mercy to one of us? That's going to get that friend killed later. We don't approve of 'mercy' and it will be his undoing later as the final lesson he ever learns."

Then I won't feel bad for not showing any when I tear the four of you to pieces! Falanna thought to herself. She was only a foot larger than the ravens, but that would be more than enough to tear them to feathery little bits if a scrap broke out... assuming she didn't get cornered in the corners of the room. While the rooms were large enough to accommodate her it would be tight spacing if she got jumped, and if she got cornered before she could strike hard enough to put them down, the avians' natural speed would overwhelm her. If she let herself get within gripping range of those nasty talons, it'd be all over.

"Suits me just fine, nothing important lost, anyway." Falanna said as she turned around to leave, leaving the avians to their vandalism. Material things could be replaced, lives could not.

Fate had other plans as she heard a shrill voice from the doorway to the building.

"My workshop!"

Chalice and Jartpo had entered, and Chalice was left staring at the large amount of damage done to her workshop that was for once not done by her hands. Jartpo looked breathless, like he had been chasing her all over the place and had barely kept up. Falanna wrinkled her nose as the new scent of infected tissue reached her nostrils; Chalice's implant had done damage to the skin around it and it was noticeably discolored.

"Falanna? What are you doi-- look out! Behind you!" Chalice called.

The hawk whirled on Falanna. "So you know her, you little liar."

"Chalice! Jartpo! Run for it, we're outmat--" Falanna shouted.

Twang. A crossbow bolt was loosed from the hawk's crossbow, barely missing Falanna and embedding itself in the wall. Falanna revised her earlier strategy; the birds were indeed too quick to take down on her own.

Chalice and Jartpo were both surprised in the doorway, and didn't move.

"I said RUN!" Falanna yelled, running towards them, grabbing Jartpo around his waist and Chalice by the ears. More crossbow bolts whizzed by her as the Trei'kiya gave war-shrieks and began to give chase.

"Falanna! My ears! Let go!" Chalice yelled, biting back the pain.

"Not until we find a place to... ah, here!" Falanna said, rushing into a quiet, narrow alley that had wooden boards placed between the roofs of the buildings. Figuring the advantage from above was neutralized, Falanna stopped to catch her breath as Jartpo wriggled free.

"What... who were they?" He asked.

"Trouble." Falanna replied, growling under her breath and pointing to the boards over their heads. "At least here they can only come in one at a time."

"What... what did they want?" Chalice asked, yanking herself out of Falanna's grip and collapsing on the ground, rubbing her now-sore ears.

"I think the Sacred Nest wants to make a statement to Hervis via killing you.” Falanna said, sniffing the air. Their pursuers were getting closer.

"The what?" Chalice asked. "And what's this about Hervis?"

"I'll explain later." Jartpo replied. "Do you have anything in that bag that can slow them down?"

"I... I think so." Chalice said, carefully withdrawing a vibrating flask filled with a black, almost pulsing liquid from her purse. "They get any of this on them, they'll regret it."

"The only thing you'll regret is being allied to that damned Crier!" The first of the ravens cried, diving down from the sky and landing at the entrance of the alley. At the other end of the alley another raven landed, drawing a pair of daggers in his wing-fingers.

Chalice froze, with a deer-in-headlights expression. "What..."

Jartpo saw the movement first. "DOWN!"

Jartpo dove on top of Chalice, tackling her as best he could as the raven with the daggers threw them both at Falanna. The wolf saw it coming and grabbed the first raven, twisting and dragging her into the line of fire. Both daggers embedded themselves into her back and she gave out a strangled squawk of surprise before she felt Falanna's jaws around her neck.

Snap. Crunch. RIIIIIIIIIIIP.

The second raven jumped back, reaching for a crossbow as the third raven took a potshot at Falanna as she spat out the first raven's neck. The shot missed her by inches as she stepped back inside the alley with a snarl, daring either the hawk or third raven to come in. Jartpo grabbed the little flask from Chalice's fumbling hands and twisting at the waist he flung it at the second raven like he'd flicked the stone at the feline that had attacked Chalice.

The flask shattered against the raven's chest and a black smoke billowed up from where the liquid stored inside made contact with her feathers and flesh. She didn't even have a chance to scream in surprise before the acidic gas had exposed her breastbone and the fumes had literally begun eating away at her eyeballs. She sat down hard before tipping over, twitching with strangled gasps.

"If that's what you cook with, keep it away from me." Jartpo quipped.

Chalice didn't reply, as she had her hands over her head and was quivering on the ground.

The hawk landed at the entrance of the alley. "To'Zali! Return to the Sacred Nest! Tell them we've engaged the enemy! I've got this, and will have their heads on... well, looks like you had surprises, little rabbit." She looked over at the now-quickly-dying raven at the far end of the alley.

"Yes, ma'am!" To'Zali cried, launching herself into the sky so she couldn't be followed.

"You might have gotten lucky with those two, but not with me." The hawk chirped, clicking her beak in anticipation. "You're just a whore, you can't fight."

Falanna snarled, loudly as blood dripped from her jaws.

"Oh, are you challenging me, fur face? We'll see what you say after I claw out your eyes with my talons!" The hawk leapt directly at her.

Jartpo dodged forward and grabbed at her ankle as the hawk flew through the air, intending to bite into Falanna directly with her sharp beak. The iguana's weight was barely enough to throw her off her angle of attack and she wound up short of her target, comically crashing to the ground in a mass of twisted wings. Falanna kicked her in her beak, causing her head to bounce back when it hit the wall of the alley.

"Get OFF me, lizard!" The hawk snarled, kicking Jartpo loose and jumping back the instant she got to his feet in order to avoid a punch from Falanna. Jartpo was thrown out of the alley and landed headfirst in a nearby fountain with a splash.

Falanna snarled again, standing over the cowering, crying body of Chalice. "Do you really think you can get through me to her?"

"You're just a whore!" The hawk cried, firing. He missed, and the bolt ricochet off the wall inches from Falanna's head.

"A whore with more skill than you, you overgrown iron weight!" Falanna shot back, bringing her hands up into a fighting stance.

"WHORE!" The hawk squawked before charging, enraged. To insult a Trei'kiya by implying an inability to fly was inviting a death sentence. Falanna took a step back but almost tripped over Chalice and stumbled instead. Taloned foot collided with lupine muzzle and knocked her to the ground, then she yelped as the hawk drove her talon into the wolf's right breast and twisted. If she clenched any harder she'd rip a good chunk of it clean off.

"Yes. I am a bitch." Falanna snarled, snapping at the talon and biting down around her ankle as hard as she could. "I'm a female wolf. That's what we are called, genius."

The hawk squawked with pain but maintained his hold. If she had teeth, she would have been gritting them in pain. "Any last words?"

"For her, maybe. For you, no." Came a voice from behind them.

The hawk looked up only to see a crossbow bolt hit her dead in the center of her forehead, causing her eyes to bulge out before she toppled over.

There was a click, and the end of the bolt burst, destroying what was left of the bird's brain in a shower of brain matter that splattered against the walls of the alley. Falanna looked up and saw Ta'Maxia standing in the alley, one wing holding a crossbow and the other a strange little device that looked like a jeweled button on the end of an iron handle.

"Explosive bolt. Finest Malaezium and Diathrylium mix. She won't come back from THAT." Ta'Maxia said.

"You're implying... ouch... that they can?" Falanna whined, in pain as she was left covering her injured breast. Fortunately the talons hadn't broken her ribs or pierced her lung. It'd leave a series of nasty scars, but most of her clients liked battle scars. She might get even more kul for her services in the future once she spun stories around them.

"Hervis came back, didn't he?" Ta'Maxia asked. "Are you okay?"

Falanna looked down at her breast. The hawk had been seconds away from tearing part of it completely off. Blood was cleanly flowing, oozing through the gaps of her fingers.

"Okay, so you're not okay." Ta'Maxia said, answering her own question. "Let's get you to a healer's."

Jartpo ambled over, thoroughly drenched. "Nice save."

"She's his friend?" Ta'Maxia asked, waving a wing at Chalice, who was on her feet, but looking around like she wasn't exactly there.

"Yeah... girlfriend, though he'd never admit it." Jartpo said quietly, rushing to Chalice's side as she collapsed again, bawling her eyes out. Rabbits frightened easily on average... and Chalice was on the extreme end of the scale. When she was caught off guard, she'd end up falling to uncountable emotional pieces.

"Help me get them both to the healer's. I'm coming with you, and can give a lot of information on the Sacred Nest." Ta'Maxia chirped, eyes ablaze. "Debts... will... be settled."

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Bobbybobby99

2016-01-05, 03:32 PM

Minor things; don't say burnt brownies. Maybe burnt chocolate, but burnt brownies is too alliterative. Don't say 'quipped'. People don't quip in real life, they say, or speak; don't feel the need to go theasaurus hunting. Further, people don't growl words, they say them in a snarl, or speak viciously. Don't use ... in excess. No cloven hand-hoofs, just hoofs. J-J-J-J Jartpo should have the Js fully capitalized. Still have to work on snipping down the dialogue. Seriously, Jartpo shouldn't be monologuing. Otherwise good.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-05, 05:39 PM

The "thesaurus hunting" is just me being a bit anal about it... if I keep using just "he said, she said" it doesn't sound right to me.

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"Whew." Hervis grumbled to himself, looking over the three huge trunks that he'd spent all day packing. The first one held supplies for the road, such as bedrolls, frameworks for tents, and extra torches for the night watch. The second chest held trade goods, raw ore and carved figurines he'd sell in the market in the capital while he was waiting for his audience with the royal family. The last held evidence; all of their observations and conclusions recorded onto thick scrolls and into books so that it could be presented to the royal family and archived to use against House Trei'kiya.

Hervis turned over the events in his head. Clearly, he was a marked rabbit. On advice from a fortune teller, he apparently was supposed to "make or break." He wasn't sure which he did, as while he "made" his coming of age, he'd also "broken" the Games after getting shot through the top of the head. On top of that, he was "supposed" to regain consciousness in the arena instead of at home, which seemed out of place to him.

Then, there was Ta'Maxia. Had he done the right thing by listening to his heart and showing mercy? House Trei'kiya as a whole would not forget that it had been shown, and usually considered mercy an insult. They saw mercy and compassion as a set of falsehoods made up to lull the stupid into a false sense of security. Then when one's guard was down they could strike again from behind. He would not be surprised if Ta'Maxia showed up for revenge despite her thanking him, or if those in her family or friends might seek him out and "teach a lesson" or two.

He glanced outside and watched the sun begin to set, and hoped that Jartpo and Falanna had better luck wherever it was that they were. Falanna had run off to get Chalice at full speed, while Jartpo was going information gathering at the guild. Either way, dinner was sure to be a hotbed of conversation, and he was looking forward to another good meal. His mother was an extremely good cook, often times hosting little parties for the mine workers that were Hervis' partners down in the mines. Sometimes she sent Hervis to the capital city of the kingdom to sell a recipe or two to the local chefs for the tourists. She'd become moderately wealthy doing it.

She wasn't one to spend that money, and the fruits of her labors were neatly squirreled away under their burrow in two sealed stone vaults. The money was meant to be a present for Hervis at his coming of age ceremony after-party, but with all the events that had come to pass, the money was going to be kept safe a little longer. The extra kul he'd "won" from Ta'Maxia had just been stored there and was icing on the cake.

"Hervis?" He heard his mother call out. "Someone here to see you..."

"This late?" Hervis lowered one ear and itched it. "Is it Falanna or Jartpo?"

"No, it's a messenger from the royal family." His mother replied from the next room over.

Hervis headed out to the front door of the burrow to see a portly feline wearing rich, bright silk clothing standing at the door. In his hand he held a sealed scroll which he wordlessly handed to Hervis with a nod, and after Hervis accepted the scroll, the rabbit unrolled it and scanned the contents. He looked at the scroll, looked back up at the feline, and then back down at the scroll.

"What is it?" Hervis' mother asked.

"His Majesty has summoned me. It's not like we didn't know this was coming though, given the events of the past few weeks." Hervis said. "I guess this just makes it formal. It says here a carriage is already waiting for me at the city's edge, which would make sense since Jartpo was going to--"

He paused. Something wasn't right here. His ears itched again.

"Hervis?" His mother asked.

Hervis cautiously stepped outside, looking around. If a carriage had been sent for him, it would have come directly to his burrow, not to just outside the city. Second, messengers usually came with guards, lots of them. A royal messenger or courier was a tempting target for bandits or brigands and the roads just weren't safe. Thirdly, the village of burrows he lived in was far enough away from the capital city as to be considered very "rural," and a royal messenger showing up would be a big thing for the entire village to celebrate. Finally, everyone knew that the royal family usually trusted only their own species to make messenger runs. So why was a feline standing here in front of him and not a vulpine?

There was only one conclusion. This... was no messenger. He was being baited!

Slowly, Hervis went into "work" mode. When he was down in the mines he would zone out into a trance, focusing on his muscles moving in a precise pattern as he went to work on the rock and stone around him. His focus and “inner sight” would expand until he could almost feel the rock wince as he chipped away with his mattock, separating ore from stone and hard rock from soft rock. Here, he adopted the same approach, and as he slowly looked at the clearing that was in front of his burrow, he quickly tightened himself.

"Hervis? What's wrong?" His mother asked.

Hervis released his focus and opened his eyes again, feeling his focus's expanding area of effect brush against something that didn't belong in the area... something that was neither tree, grass, air nor regular animal... and he looked up into the trees, calling out directly at the source.

"I see you! Show yourself!"

In answer, his father lifelessly fell out of the trees to the ground, a long black-metal dagger with a handle bearing the colors of House Trei'kiya clearly visible in the back of his neck. In the trees, a hawk in a black silk cloak jumped into the air and took off, disappearing into the growing darkness as the sun completed its journey for another day.

Hervis' mother gasped, and jumped out to rush to her husband's side... but the "messenger" was faster, and grabbed her by the ears with one hand while drawing another long knife exactly alike the one sticking out of Hervis' father's back. The bird brought it to her throat.

"You're coming with us, alive or dead." The feline growled.

Hervis cracked his knuckles. "Are you dumb, or just stupid?"

The feline jammed the knife all the way through his mother's neck, withdrawing it with a slash and a flourish. "I'm neither, and you're OURS!"

"MOTHER!" Hervis yelled, leaping back towards his mother. The feline withdrew the dagger in a single gesture and struck outward as he threw Hervis' mother to the side, narrowly missing Hervis as he landed.

Focus. Said Hervis' inner instinct. There was no one else around that he could see, but as he raised both his ears he heard the sounds of feet slowly scraping the ground and the short breaths of someone about to strike from the shadows. He was likely surrounded and outgunned, so fighting was out of the question. Whomever wanted him dead was sparing no expense to see that the job was done!

"You're out of luck, rabbit." The feline growled as two canines, a heavily-scarred lapine and two weasels emerged from the shadows, forming a semi-circle around him as he stood with his back to the burrow entrance. "The Sacred Nest WILL rule all! We will take all elements of the kingdom and bend them to our will!"

Elements! That's it! RUN! Yelled Hervis' inner instinct as he got an idea.

"Gotta catch me to kill me!" Hervis taunted, darting inside his home.

The others were hot on his heels as he ran to the back and then down a burrow that led into a back office of the mines. Hervis could navigate the tunnels in pitch darkness; he knew them like the back of his hand. His pursuers on the other hand he bet on not having such luxury.

"Keep at it! We will not fail! Scent him out!" Called the feline.

Hervis darted down one of the tunnels, careful to make some noise to attract his pursuers while he formulated his next idea. The first idea was to lead them through some unsafe work on one of the lower levels, intentionally triggering a collapse and bring down the ceiling on top of them... all fifty or so tons of it. The second idea was to run them into a room filled with methane gas they'd recently uncovered, and toss a lit torch into the room while they were inside, roasting them or killing them in the explosion. If these guys were playing for keeps, he was going to play for keeps right back!

"Which way did he go?"

"I think he went--"

"No, this way! I can smell his fear!"

"We're coming to get you, prey!"

Hervis led them on a chase that involved hairpin turns, one or two mad dashes across sinkholes partially covered by wooden boards, and one or two almost-too-close calls that almost wound up with him getting caught. Along the way he ran past a small guard chamber where weapons were stored and he'd grabbed a staff with a hook on the end; this was usually used to ride down zip lines leading to the deeper portions of the mines. The entire place was empty this time of night; rabbits were diurnal and didn't -do- night shifts.

Finally, Hervis reached the newest portions of the mines, where the ceiling above them had not yet been shored up too much. Quickly feeling around and tapping with the staff, he was rewarded by the clink of metal hook on glass, and smiled to himself as he found the explosives that were used to blast open new shafts. These were glass spheres that when shattered would mix Malaezium and Diathrylium in equal amounts, creating a controlled explosion. There were rabbits within the mine whose sole job was to calculate the blast radius of various mixes of the two minerals.

"Looking for someone?" Hervis taunted, his voice echoing down the corridor.

"He's down there! Let's get him!"

"Wait! He sounds too smug! He's got a trap set!"

"I don't care! It's a dead end down there, he can't escape if we block up the wall here!"

"Good idea! SEAL HIM IN!" cried the feline.

Damn it. Hervis thought to himself.

"One of you go down there and make sure there's no other exits!"

Hervis' ears picked up the clicking of clawed feet on stone, and from what he could scent out, both canines had come down to corner him, or more likely beat him to a pulp before they sealed the corridor. He slowly twisted his ears and felt the vibrations in the air as the canines approached, then he calmly and quietly slipped by them in the blackness of the corridor. Once he was safely behind them, he turned around and pitched one of the explosives as hard as he could at the dead end. Before the canines could turn around, the explosive globe had shattered against the wall, exploding. With shouts of surprise both of them were knocked to the ground as the wall shuddered.

"He's behind us! How did he do that?!" One of the canines complained.

"Quite easily, thank you very much." Hervis began to say, but then the ceiling shuddered and a large chunk came down next to him.

"The tunnel is collaps--" One of the canines yelled, but they never had a chance to react as the ceiling and walls both came down on top of them. Hervis tore out of the tunnel at top speed, dodging falling debris left and right, and shoulder-barged against the makeshift wall that the feline was busy constructing. The wall shattered with a CRUNCH, sending bits and pieces of stone everywhere as Hervis crashed into the feline, sending them both head over tail as the tunnel came down behind them. The collapse ended at the main artery of the mine; Hervis had escaped with seconds to spare.

"Get OFF me, you lesser animal!" The feline cursed, snarling as he used his legs to kick Hervis off of him. "My hired muscle might have been too stupid to catch you, but then again they were dogs, after all."

Hervis was already long gone, having run for his life down the main mine artery into a series of storage rooms that had been organized by rock type. After a few seconds the feline was right behind him and breathing down his neck. Feline speed clashed with lapine maneuverability as Hervis tried to outrun his attacker. He couldn't rely on the darkness here; felines could see (dimly) in the dark and as such he could only continue on his original plan.

Several minutes of chasing later, Hervis found himself at the entrance to the sealed chamber where the other miners had found a huge store of methane. A large metal plate in the shape of a stop sign, etched with the runes for danger and death, was attached across the center of the entrance with vines and rope.

"Give it up, rabbit! You can't stop us!" The feline yelled.

"But I can try!" Hervis called back as he ripped off the plate with one hand and jumped through the hole.

"And fail!" The feline taunted, following him through.

Holding his breath, he could hear the feline gasp for air as he followed him in. The only breathable oxygen here was above the heavier methane, and the cat wasn't large enough to reach the (barely) fresh air. Neither was Hervis, and the rabbit heard the cat go down, struggling to breathe. The rabbit jumped out, lit the torch, and tossed it inside before quickly replacing the plate that had entirely covered the hole, hearing it seal against the rock with a satisfying sucking sound.

"You fail mine safety 101. Always bring some form of breathing device with you!" Hervis taunted.

Hervis ducked as the resulting explosion blew the plate clear off and sent it tumbling down the corridor, and he twisted and turned to dodge the flying boulders from the explosion, eventually almost landing on his back. He heard a startled yelp and then a SQUILCH; the plate had decapitated one of the weasels that was in the hunting party. Now there was only one weasel left.

"You'll find I'm a lot more dangerous!" The weasel growled, drawing a knife.

"Ever been bitten by a rabbit? We're... vorpal." Hervis said, grinning. He was done with these morons. The word "vorpal" in Lapandar parlance usually meant that the gloves were completely off, and damn the consequences.

"Is that a threat?" The weasel grumbled. "You're nothing, and never will be anything!"

"Then why are you bothering with an inferior being like me?" Hervis asked, maintaining his focus and calmly sliding up one wall of the corridor, slipping behind the weasel.

"Lord Veron and Lady Tiatrana paid us extremely well!" The weasel growled, feeling around ahead of him, trying to find the rabbit. Hervis paused from removing the hook on the staff, leaving a sharp half-folded "spike" on the end where the hook attached.

"Good, now I have names to go to the royal family with!"

The weasel turned around and opened his mouth to say something but Hervis had stabbed the staff forward like a spear. The spiked end of the staff went right into the weasel's mouth and Hervis jumped over the weasel's shoulder, pulling the staff along with him. The folded spike caught the back of the weasel's throat and he gagged, falling to his knees as Hervis' weight forced him to turn his head... and then snap his neck as Hervis completed the leap.

Dropping the staff, he quickly retraced his steps back to the office and then back to one of the back rooms of his home. He'd effectively dealt with all of his attackers except the lapine, and he slowly moved from room to room looking for him. The lapine had not followed the others down into the mines, and Hervis was sure he was going to be ambushed the moment he left the burrow.

He had to leave, or at least find some of his friends, or figure out a way to get all of the trunks of supplies into a safe place before more troublemakers came along...

"Come out, I know you're around, traitor..." Hervis grumbled, taking a long look around him as he checked the clearing. "Come out and fight like a man!"

"No." Came the reply, too late for him to act.

Hervis whirled, seeing the scarred lapine standing on top of the burrow's entrance, a Trei'kiya crossbow pointed right at him. Before Hervis could leap to the side, the crossbow fired and the last thing Hervis saw was the bolt headed straight for him.

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Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-05, 05:44 PM

I'm particularly proud of the way I wrote Falanna's emotion in Scene 15.

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... ... what, you again? So soon? What happ... oh.

Hervis would have blinked in surprise if he could, and struggled a little bit as he found himself back in the grip of the Tyrannical Darkness.

"Stupid rabbit. Stupid stupid rabbit." Hervis said to himself, shaking his head and feeling shamed he didn't catch the rabbit quicker. He got the feeling the Tyrannical Darkness was turning around to "face" him, even though the darkness was all around.

Well, this is awkward.

"You think?" Hervis growled.

I did say the next time we met would be the last time we met.

"Then why am I still here?"

This... complicates matters. You do not belong with Me.

Hervis would have folded his arms. "No kidding."

The darkness in front of him parted, to reveal the rabbit kicking Hervis' corpse a few times to make sure he was dead. Then, out of the trees, "NO ONE TOUCHES MY PACKMATE!"

Hervis would have turned away if he could. The brutal near-shredding* of the scarred lapine would remain etched in his memory for all time. When Falanna was angry, whole kingdoms got out of her way. The she-wolf could bring down non-sapient prey twice her size, alone, if she put her mind to it.

"Hervis!" Falanna cried, dropping to her knees next to him and hugging him.

Hervis sighed. "I'm sorry." He said to himself, wishing Falanna could hear him.

The image winked out, cutting off as Falanna screamed in grief.

I think she likes you.

"Does it matter now?" Hervis grumbled. "Just send me to my eternal doom like you're supposed to and let's get this over with.

I just said, mortal, that you do not belong with Me. If you choose to go, you will enter paradise as the Nine Goddesses would have wanted. You were not evil.

"And I'm still here because?" Hervis asked.

Because I can't make deals with mortals and you know the situation. This is... unhealthy for you, because I want to see you succeed.

"You honestly expect me to make a deal to return me to life?" Hervis would have turned his back on the Tyrannical Darkness if he could.

No. And there lies the problem. I've looked through whom I could possibly pick to get this done right. Nobody... nobody can do it right like you can. But if you make a deal with Me, we both know the result and you don't deserve that sort of backstabbing.

The darkness parted, showing Lord Veron and Lady Tiatrana, standing in front of what appeared to be shock troops of hawks and eagles. Nearby there was an an ostrich wearing a suit of steel armor that left his knees buckling. His job was a sacrificial battering ram.

I investigated your recent memories, then I did some peeking. These two are... problematic.

"You noticed." Hervis said. "Look, can you let me go then? If it's my time, it's m--"

It still is not your time, which makes this... irritating. You are not supposed to be dead. That was not a lucky shot that the scarred rabbit got off. Something is violating reality's thread. This is more dangerous than that silly little Sacred Nest, and whatever it is, it wants you dead because you can stop it. These...

Well, I can't really do anything about it, can I?" Hervis replied. "And of course you can make deals with me, you already said you can 'bend' the rules where the Nine Goddesses can't."

Don't test me, Hervis. Yes, I want you t--

"Then return me to life and let's get this show on the road!" Hervis protested. "Either let me go to paradise, or kick me back to the world of the living. It's your choice. You said yourself that if you're released, it all goes to eight kinds of hell. That does no one any good. You just said the threads of reality are violated. They can't get any more broken if they're already broken, can they?!"

Nothing but silence.

"No response from the great evil of the world?" Hervis coyly baited.

More silence.

"I'm waiting, Darkness!" Hervis growled. "Or are you as cowardly as you are manipulative?!" Hervis would have begun walking away if he still had a body. "I can't stop them if I'm dead!” He would have thrown up his hands. “Y'know what, forget it. It's time to move on. I had my time alive, that other rabbit got the drop on--"

NO. This is wrong. I will work on fixing reality's fabric from this end while the Nine Goddesses sit on their scythes and spin. This will not be left unchallenged. I won't see this realm destroyed. There will be consequences, however.

"Of what?" Hervis asked, looking back over his shoulder.

If you die a third time before your proper time to die, you will end up neither with Me nor the Nine Goddesses. My blatant breaking of the rules here will render you a lost soul. You will be lost between worlds, manifesting as a hole in reality to those who can see spirits. Such a hole will truly weaken the fabric of reality to the point that these... stupid, stupid birds...

The darkness swallowed the image of the two upper class ravens.

... win. Then it's worse than if I had been released, because then multiple realities will be threatened.

Hervis paused, trying to wrap his head around the concept and failing.

ARISE, Hervis Jasper. The world is out of balance, and only you can correct it... by bringing these avians to a final end!

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Falanna dropped to her knees in grief as Hervis was buried next to the bodies of his family in their family grave. Hervis had been a good friend to her during some of the worst times of her life, and had even rescued her from a deal gone bad once by sheer luck of being in the same general place at the same time. With a long, echoing howl she screamed her grief at the sky, tears streaking down her muzzle as those gathered around her bowed their heads.

"We know." Jartpo said, reaching up and putting a claw on her hips in support. He couldn't reach any higher.

It was a couple weeks later. The guild master had been called away because of heat on the guild, so there was no affording a spell to raise the dead a second time (not that it usually worked a second time anyway). Almost all eight dozen of Hervis' other family had gathered to see the rabbit off, with Falanna at the front.

"It's not fair! It's NOT FAIR!!" Falanna cried. "If I were only faster!"

The iguana looked up at her, tears in his own eyes. "Then you would have been ambushed by that scarred rabbit's reinforcements in the trees. We were lucky to get there when we did to flank them and scare them off." Jartpo replied, looking at some of the guards that had come from the city. "You could have left some alive for us to try to interrogate though. It took us forever to document and count all the pieces."

Chalice laid a hand on Hervis' grave site. "I never told him how much I honestly cared for him. I shouldn't have flirted so much and been more serious." She said quietly, closing her eyes.

Falanna was completely inconsolable. She howled again to the sky, angry with how things had turned out. Both her hands were clenched and her body racked with sobs as she voiced her displeasure. Some of the other wolves at the back of the group gave half-hearted accompanying howls, but they let Falanna do most of the "talking" for them.

Ta'Maxia knelt down next to the grave, looking at the headstone. It was marked with a pair of scrolls being borne by angelic rabbits; the mark of a Crier of the Games. "I never got to settle my debt with him. Falanna, Chalice, if there's--"

Falanna howled again, her voice slightly hoarse.

"I think she knows." Jartpo said. "I for one am not going to rest until we get to the bottom of this. Hervis was sought out by someone or something powerful, with absolutely stupid amounts of resources spent to get at him. I, and the guild for that matter, want to know why.”

Chalice hugged Jartpo, her implant having finally been replaced. Her normally excitable demeanor had been nearly nulled by the sorrow around her. "I'm with you."

The priest of the Nine Goddesses who had been called to oversee the event, a huge woolly ram-taur with a stone maul over his shoulder as his sign of station and muscles the size of Falanna's head, opened a silver book and began to read from the passages. "Hear us, oh Nine Goddesses, we ask you to fully accept the one known as Hervis Jasper into your loving embrace, into eternal paradise, and--"

The grave seemed to rumble.

Falanna looked down, red-eyed and sore, as she was the first to notice the ground seeming to move of its own accord. Jartpo's eyes grew wide as those who had come to bid Hervis farewell all hopped back or stepped to the side in surprise, and the ram dropped the book in utter shock.

A minute or two later, the ground burst as Hervis jumped to his feet, coughing and spitting out dirt before opening his eyes and shielding them from the bright sunlight overhead. Feeling dizzy, he dropped to his knees as Jartpo rushed to his side. The Nine Goddesses didn't like the dead being imprisoned in a box of wood or stone, so Hervis had been buried plainly, free to "feed the earth just as the earth had fed the children of the Nine Goddesses."

"H-Hervis!?" Chalice gasped.

Falanna froze in utter shock. If she had any tears left they'd of switched from sorrow to joy.

Hervis dusted himself off, the innocence of youth completely burnt out of his eyes, it having been replaced with a dark, almost pure black resolve. "Sorry to interrupt you, priest, but I'm not done yet, thank you very much." He looked to his friends. "We've got work to do."

Jartpo scrambled for words, himself still in shock. "We... we can get the carriage here at a moment's notice..."

"Good." Hervis said as Falanna helped steady him, while he clenched and relaxed his hands repeatedly. "Come on and help me with packing. We need to leave now; I'll explain on the way!"

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Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-05, 05:48 PM

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"You've got to be kidding me." Jartpo said.

The group was aboard an airship specifically sent by the King himself, and were sitting in the lounge watching the scenery go by. The ship itself was small, as normally it was merely used for scouting long distances or carrying trade freight from one location to another. Crewed by four huge canines and one equine from House Equanoan calling himself Captain Tadraj, the flying machine was less "airship" than "inverted pyramid made of wood and bronze with balloons attached to the top.”

"Not kidding. The Tyrannical Darkness itself seemed... scared." Hervis said, leaning back in his seat and pointing out an interesting cloud. "Otherwise I don't think I would have come back. That rabbit got the drop on me and had me dead to rights for sure. I should have been more attentive."

"We should have been faster." Falanna replied, still somewhat sore about not being quick enough to assist him.

"No regrets, now." The priest said, having come along on the journey as "insurance" against bad luck or anything that would get in their way en-route to the kingdom's capital. The King himself wanted to hear Hervis' account of things, and upon hearing the Tyrannical Darkness had released him not once but twice, sent for them with the airship. They'd be there within a few days at the very most. He was laying on the ground with his legs tucked under him, the brightly colored cloth cape over his back decorated with both the colors of House Ovisoni and the symbols of the priesthood.

"And you weren't fast enough in ripping that guy to pieces. The Tyrannical Darkness was kind enough to let me see it as it happened." Hervis said. Falanna smiled a little bit.

"Okay, to recap..." Jartpo said, sipping at a drink. "A phony messenger showed up, you lured the troublemakers into the mine, got out and were shot. Then the Tyrannical Darkness spoke to you a second time... and it was afraid?"

"That's pretty much the length of the rabbit ear." Hervis said, nodding his head. "Then it basically said 'you're not done yet' and kicked me back. Said my thread of destiny was being violated."

"We've got those names you mentioned. Lady Tiatrana and Lord Veron." Chalice said, nibbling at a piece of fresh carrot. "Who are they?"

Ta'Maxia stepped into the room, cocking her crossbow absent-mindlessly before tucking it into a wing-holster designed so as not to interfere with flying. "They're a couple of well-connected nobles that like to make a lot of ****ing squawking to hear themselves squawk. They don't like most of the other 'mini-houses' of House Trei'kiya. If there's any weakness there, it's that the House itself is divided. I haven't heard much but in the nests I usually hang around in, if there is **** like a political problem or wing-breaker thugs involved, it is likely their ****ery doing it."

"Well, we'll take those names to the King and see what he has to say." Hervis said, looking out the window. Clouds raced by; they were moving at top speed and he almost lost his train of thought getting lost in watching the clouds.

"What I don't understand is why the two would team up. Lord Veron is an ******* that doesn't like women, period, and Lady Tiatrana is a self-absorbed egg-****ting slut more obsessed with counting her own ****ing tail feathers than any real outside plot beyond the workings of House Trei'kiya. What interest do they have in you?" Ta'Maxia said, her molten orange eyes sparking every now and then. "They get nothing from hurting you."

"That's not what the Tyrannical Darkness said." Hervis replied, looking over at her before she sat down to join them. "He... she... whatever... it implied that these two are to blame, calling them both and I quote, 'stupid stupid birds'. Then it said 'ok, multiple realities are threatened.'"

Thrommit, the priest, simply nodded his head and almost bonked Hervis in the head with his horns while doing so. "The scriptures do say that reality takes multiple paths, but that viewing them or using magic to breach them is grounds for being damned on the spot."

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around it myself." Hervis said. "Still, I don't want to spend eternity as a hole in reality's fabric, so something's got to be done."

"But what?" Jartpo asked. "Those two are connected if they're nobles."

"Summon them to the King and make them answer now that we have their names?" Chalice asked.

"We've got the proof their wings are in this mess... what worries me is that they're still out there causing trouble." Hervis replied, looking out the window again. Then he saw a reddish spark in the distance as they passed some hills. "Wait, what's that? Is that a... forest fire?"

The group went to the window. In the distance it looked like part of the forest was burning.

"That's a controlled burn." Jartpo remarked.

"In the middle of nowhere?" Chalice asked. “Nearest village is dozens of miles from here.”

Hervis' inner instinct tightened his gut, and he felt waves of malice. "We're... being watched."

Falanna sniffed. Sure enough, the smell of burnt brownies with a hint of goldenrod was all over the window.

Ta'Maxia squinted, watching the fire for a moment before her eyes drifted to what appeared to be a large wooden structure on a hill, pointed at an area ahead of them. Then she straightened up.

"BALLISTA!" She opened the door to the outside deck and called up. "Captain! DIVE and LEAN RIGHT!"

"What?" Captain Tadraj called back. "What's the problem?"

"Don't ask! Just dive and bear to the right! Otherwise we're going down!" Ta'Maxia screeched upward in a warning.

The equine shrugged before looking over the side and noticing the fire. "You're the boss, Ta'Maxia! Tiana, take us down!"

"Aye aye!" Tiana, one of the canines, called. The ship began to rapidly lose altitude and pitch to the right.

The ballista fired. The log would have penetrated the huge balloon at the top of the airship and sent them spiraling to the ground had Tiana not followed Ta'Maxia's orders. The log flew through the air several feet ahead of where the ship would have been, and a few seconds later as the log finished its trajectory, the captain saw that a large firework had burst over the ballista. At the object's control were several birds of various species.

"That's a flare." Ta'Maxia said, watching from the window. "It's got to be a signal... but a signal for what?"

Jartpo wrung his claws together. "Were it me, it'd be a signal for an ambush..."

"They missed... and we're flying right into more!" Hervis exclaimed, looking out the other window. Sure enough, four other ballista were on hills aimed directly on their approach and lowered altitude.

"Someone knew we'd be taking this route." Hervis growled as he felt the ground beneath him lift; Captain Tadraj had ordered an emergency ascent and the other ballistae shots all came up short.

"Hang on!" Cried Tiana. "ROUGH SEAS AHEAD!" Why yes, I was inspired, why do you ask? Shaddap.

She twisted the wheel to the left, causing the airship to nosedive down and at an angle away from the rightmost ballista. More ballista hidden along their route fired in quick succession, but the majority of them missed. Some of them were concealed under forest cover and the logs being fired were fouled up by too many canopy branches while others were aimed too high and soared over the airship. Two shots found their mark. The first hit the back of the airship, causing one of the propellers to shatter and fall off.

The other hit the underside in a direct hit to the lower control room.

The steering and the above-deck controls were linked to the lower control deck by a series of Diathrylium-coated "circuits" powered by a large chunk of raw Malaezium. A direct hit would kick the Malaezium out of its housing and into the circuits, causing a reactive explosion.

"Get below deck!" Cried Captain Tadraj. "Hang on to what you can!"

"No way." Hervis growled. "Jartpo, you're good with machines... and Chalice, I need your expert knowledge! Come on!"

"Where are we going?" Chalice said, jumping away from Hervis as some supply boxes toppled over and the ship shuddered.

"The control room! We've got to stop the reaction!" Hervis said, glancing up at Thrommit as he stood up to his impressive height. "Thrommit, can you get Falanna and Ta'Max--"

"No. Way." Ta'Maxia snarled, calling up at the main deck. "Captain Tadraj! Follow me!" The hawk ran upstairs and leapt off the side of the airship, soaring on the wind and flying out in front of the airship.

Hervis, Chalice and Jartpo ran down to the lower main control room, already on fire from the flaming log. Two of the crew were working hard to dislodge it, but splinters in the front and metal hooks attached to the middle made it stick in the hull of the airship.

"I got this." Chalice said, withdrawing a small metallic vial from the purse over her shoulder.

Without another word she flung the vial against the wood, where it shattered and released a fine yellowish powder that exploded on contact with flame. The hole widened a little bit as the log was blasted backward just a little, then the log fell away from the ship and down to the ground.

The room was built to resemble some kind of futuristic light-refracting chamber, with the controls in the center of the room. All around on the ground, walls and ceiling were lines of near-pure Diathrylium, pulsing as energy from the rough boulder of Malaezium in the center was being routed through them. The boulder had fallen out of its housing and the log had damaged the pedestal where it had been held, making replacing it upon the pedestal next to impossible.

Easily twice as big as Falanna was tall, it was now laying on the ground, where contact with the ground "wiring" was causing it to spark, bubble and hiss. If it were there much longer, there'd be an explosion as the Malaezium would shatter, sending fragments into the walls, That'd set off more explosions that would tear the ship apart.

"Help me get the Malaezium to the hole!" Hervis cried out to the two canines, motioning them over to the boulder he'd never be able to move on his own. "Jartpo, try to do something to stabilize the main controls so the captain has a responsive ship! Chalice, help him out!"

Jartpo and Chalice looked at each other before running to the control panel, and as Chalice removed an access cover to give the internals a once over, the two canines helped Hervis move the boulder. While Hervis was far stronger than most rabbits, he wasn't a god and couldn't do everything. While one of the canines went to get a rope to loop around and pull the boulder to the hole, the other canine pushed as hard as he could and Hervis tried to get his feet under it and "kick" it towards the hole. It was barely any use; the boulder was just too big.

The ship leaned to the right, and the boulder rolled a little before bouncing. It struck one of the lines of Diathrylium, and there was a loud pop before a larger boom that drove everyone to the room's floor.

Jartpo was untying some braided silver "ropes" from one brass node to another while Chalice was "welding" them together with some kind of chemical from her shoulder purse. The explosion drove them to the deck and part of the hull cracked. Hervis could see that the crack had gone straight through and if there was another explosion, it would blow the hull out from under them and they'd crash.

The other canine returned with a rope and together they tied it around the boulder before the ship rattled; they'd been hit again from the left side.

"That sounds like it hit the observation room." Jartpo said, finishing tying some of the silver ropes together.

"We can only pray Thrommit got Falanna to a safer spot. Everybody help me push!" Hervis yelled as the ship shuddered again.

Outside, Ta'Maxia was twisting and swooping. Whomever wanted Hervis dead had spent an absolute fortune on an army to set up a long series of ballista and catapults right along the airship's path. If they climbed too high, the catapults tried hitting them with boulders. If they flew low, the ballistae had it out for them. Fortunately the catapults' aim was short and the ship was maneuverable enough to avoid most of the flaming logs.

The hawk turned around in mid-flight to see the ship suddenly right itself as if something heavy had been pushed out of the bottom of it, then saw the huge hole in the bottom of the hull that the original log had left.

"How are you doing down in there?" She cried, the wind obscuring most of her chirpings as the ship grew silent, its power source cut and lost.

"We're gliding but we're losing altitude!" The captain yelled down to the others. "We can't keep her in the air! Who would do this?!"

Three guesses and the first two don't count. Hervis thought to himself.

"Whatever you guys did, it's working. I have control of the rudders. We don't have power or thrust, but we'll glide as far as we can." The captain finished.

"Remind me to tell His Majesty to look into other airship designs in the future." Jartpo grumbled. "An upside down pyramid means we're going to topple forward when the tip hits the top of the trees!"

"Doesn't this thing have an escape chamber with a parachute?" Hervis asked. While he didn't know airship design from a hole in the ground he did know that the bigger airships all had emergency "escape chambers" with parachutes fitted to them. Once they were released from their housings they'd float (or crash) to the ground.

"Too small. No one was supposed to know you were en route!" Jartpo growled, thoroughly sick now of whomever was causing Hervis trouble. "We weren't expecting a whole Nine Goddesses-damned army! How many of those logs were fired?"

Hervis froze, then his ears went straight on end. "Jartpo! GET DOWN!"

Jartpo's question was answered when another log hit them dead center in front of the hull, skewering into the control room. Hervis leapt and knocked the iguana off balance, causing him to topple over and to the left. He'd of been firmly impaled by the log if Hervis hadn't saved his life.

"Get to the main deck! I can already feel the..." One of the canines called out, before the ground beneath him split, sending sparks and fragments of Diathrylium everywhere. The lower deck was coming apart.

The group returned to the main deck, where Captain Tadraj was still wrestling with the controls and both Thrommit and Falanna were helping him. "That last hit took away my control, so we're going down hard and fast. EVERYBODY BRACE!" Their speed had picked up; the ship had lost its last bit of lift and to Hervis' horror he saw himself begin to weightlessly leave the deck as the ship fragmented.

"Time to put these rabbit feet to good use!" Hervis called as Ta'Maxia landed next to him, helping to steady Falanna. "Jartpo, grab onto Ta'Maxia's legs. Chalice, you and I are going to grab Falanna's arms and when the ship is low enough and begins to tip..."

"What about Thrommit and everyone else aboard?" Falanna asked.

Thrommit turned his head, looking overboard at the rapidly-approaching ground as he felt the ground underneath him begin to fracture apart. He then turned back to the group, his ire quitely obviously raised given his expression. Angering someone from House Ovisoni was an extremely unwise move. "You were almost murdered alongside many bystanders. There is evil at work here and I won't see that evil be successful." Now the ram was mad, and he raised his maul to the sky in a plea to his deities. "Hear me, oh Nine Goddesses! Give your servant a blessing of power so that I may shield the faithful from true evil intent!"

Sparkling white light began to dance up and down Thrommit's maul in answer to his prayer, emanating from a Malaezium gem set in the maul's top and slowly turning from light into sparks of electricity that took on a rose-colored tinge. A light rose colored sphere of light sprang into being around the ram, slowly expanding and engulfing those that were standing close to him so that they would be protected. Unfortunately for the captain, it could only fit a few Sycanesti into it, and both he and the rest of the crew were too large. Both Chalice and Hervis had grabbed onto the priest's legs and held on tight, while Falanna jumped on Thrommit's back, hugging him tightly and Ta'Maxia had hugged the both of them with her wings. Jartpo was left hanging onto Thrommit's soft, unprotected belly.

"Here we GO! We're going DOWN!" Captain Tadraj called.

The pyramid tipped as it struck the treetops. The captain was thrown off the deck and went soaring into the air, hooves flailing as he crashed into the trees. The sphere vibrated a little bit, but none of those that were inside it moved an inch. Then the pyramid completely crashed and the sphere of light went flying with everyone inside it. The pyramid exploded, sending pieces of itself all over the place, and the sphere of light landed on its "side" with everyone still frozen in their earlier poses. The sphere rolled down a hill, over a ridge and into a ravine with a small cave on one end and once the rolling had stopped, Thrommit ended the spell.

"Is everyone okay?" Asked Falanna.

"What about the captain?" Hervis asked.

"They always go down with the ship..." Jartpo reverently replied, looking down.

"With luck, our attackers will think we perished in the crash." Chalice remarked, turning to look at the cave. "The cave looks empty..."

"We're without food and water, though. No supplies." Thrommit said. "And I can't create food and water without being in a place of sanctuary. That cave is no sanctuary."

"I got that covered." Falanna said, sniffing the air. "You guys hide. I'll go hunting. Dig a burrow and hide so that any who come to the wreckage and search for survivors won't find us."

"How far are we from the capital?" Chalice asked.

"Close enough so that they must have heard the explosion. I could barely see it in the distance. Maybe... forty miles? Fifty?" Jartpo replied.

"We'll have to finish this on foot, then." Hervis said. "Falanna's right. Everyone into the cave to catch our breath. Chalice and I will dig a burrow with our bare hands nearby in the soft dirt and we'll hide until Falanna returns. We can only assume we lost the captain and his crew in the crash."

"I'll watch Falanna from the air, just to keep an eye on her." Ta'Maxia replied. "If House Trei'kiya is behind this, and if they had THIS amount of resources to just waste on killing one rabbit, then they will send someone to search. They'll regret it."

"Just keep an eye on yourself then, Ta'Maxia." Hervis said. "We'll figure out what to do next when Falanna returns."

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TaiLiu

2016-01-05, 10:09 PM

The "thesaurus hunting" is just me being a bit anal about it... if I keep using just "he said, she said" it doesn't sound right to me.
Don't worry about a said overdose. You may notice it, because you've been perfecting and editing (and editing) your story, but your readers will glaze right over it.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-05, 10:46 PM

"He said, she said" also sounds boring as hell though. I like spicing things up.

What do you think of the scenes so far, Tailiu?

Bobbybobby99

2016-01-06, 09:00 PM

The introduction of Ms.Murder bird back onto the scene was more than a tad abrupt. Add an explanation for her accompaniment. Otherwise looking mostly good, just more of the same advice applied.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-06, 09:22 PM

"Miss Murder Bird"? I oughta use that as a nickname she gets from someone.

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Falanna wiped her brow as the body of the deer she'd pounced on suddenly felt like she was carrying a sack of bricks. She took a break and dropped it then took a moment to catch her breath, which came in long gasps. "I got her. You see anything?"

"Nothing yet. I'm surprised we haven't been followed, or at least chased." Ta'Maxia called down from the air. They were quite far from the crash site and it was not hard to see the location of the crash, its plume of twirling black smoke stretching into the afternoon sky.

Falanna snapped the deer's neck vertebrae a second time, watching its eyes roll back and forth in in its head as she moved it. "We should head back. This'll feed us easily and we can pick berries and plants up along the way back to the crash for the others."

"Were we in Trei'kiya territory, I'd of scavenged the bodies of the dead." Ta'Maxia said, looking back the way they came. A small basket she'd woven on the fly already held a multitude of plants and berries that'd been harvested from the tops of the trees while she kept a sharp eye out for trouble. "Meat is meat, but after all those guys did for us..." She looked in the basket and inspected the greens.

"That and Thrommit would whomp you with his maul at least once." Falanna replied.

"One predator to another, what do you see in those rabbits?" Ta'Maxia said. "They're... they're prey."

Falanna hoisted the corpse of the deer over her shoulders as they made their way towards the crash site. "Are you saying you still don't like them, despite what Hervis has done for you?"

"Not at all." Ta'Maxia chirped, flapping her wings and hovering in the air. "Just looking for a fresh pair of wings to fly on about them. I'd be a ****ing fool to turn on Hervis after what he did... I'd be a damned ****ing fool. Everything I was raised with though says they are prey, and therefore to be ruled. It's a hard habit to break."

"I'd hardly classify that rabbit as 'inferior.'" Falanna said.

"They're prey, though. There's a reason some species are predators and some are prey." Ta'Maxia replied.

Falanna scaled a hill, then jumped down near a stream while balancing the weight of the deer on her shoulders. "Maybe the Nine Goddesses want the two to work together? You heard Hervis at the Games, and you know the past of the Sycanesti as a whole."

"We all do, yes." Ta'Maxia didn't look too pleased with herself. "Still, I had to do what I did. I had my reasons."

"You had your reasons, yes." Falanna replied, wading through the stream. "Your family member is missing. Hervis brought me up to speed about what he found out."

"It's not just that." Ta'Maxia said. "The Sacred Nest ****ing held my brother. He was a hostage to get my family to swear loyalty to them. And yet, ****, I was treated more like a side story than anyone important. Even though I was very well paid for the kills I did..."

Falanna paused.

"I don't think they'd be stupid enough to actually kill him – we hawks are vindictive in the worst of ways – but they won't release him for sure now that A) I was caught, and B) Hervis lives." Ta'Maxia said, swooping down and landing next to Falanna while she was still standing in the stream. A talon lashed out and snagged a fish, which she lifted to her beak to snack on.

"By now word that he awoke from that second hit is sure to have reached the ravens..." Falanna said, picking up the pace.

Ta'Maxia launched herself back into the sky. "I don't think they'll let my brother go, but they won't torture him or kill him. They'll just move him around to keep me guessing, or break his damned wings if he gets too resistant. Which, I don't see happening. I love him to death, but he's just not a fighter. He's a ****ing scholar, not some sword swinging barbarian." She looked behind her, focusing her acute gaze to make sure they were not being followed. "I've been hunting for their hiding spots for a long time now."

"Why did you not turn in the Sacred Nest?" Falanna asked. "That would have freed..."

"In that case they would have killed both him and the rest of my family, and then use me as a public example of what they do to others. I couldn't risk doing more harm than good like that." Ta'Maxia chirped.

Falanna paused, catching the scent of someone unfamiliar on the path, and motioning for the hawk to slow down a little. She turned back towards the way she came to make sure no one was following, then sniffed the air a little longer before wrinkling her nose. The sour, "wrinkly" odor that hit her nose and made her turn her head to the side told her all she needed to know... vulpines.

Then... wait... sniff sniff sniff... that's blood! Falanna thought to herself.

"Someone's hurt!" Falanna cried, pointing to some bushes further up the path.

The two emerged into a clearing that showed the signs of a campfire and an obvious disagreement. A tent lay completely demolished nearby, while a broken sword lay close to the campfire and two corpses of squirrels were on opposite ends of the clearing. Laying against a large boulder, concealed by some bushes, was a fox who appeared to have been badly beaten and then stabbed. The dirty fur, notched tail and scars on one side of him marked him as a lower-class Sycanesti. No clothes were present on the fox, which was really odd since vulpines were the "royal" family of the kingdom. Even the lowest ranking vulpines in the families were usually well-to-do off.

"Hey... hey, you okay? You alive?" Ta'Maxia squawked, diving down and landing next to him.

The fox looked up, eyes dull. A knife was still twisted in his side. He opened his muzzle to say something, but closed it again. He turned his head to the side, showing a nasty bump on his head that seemed to be swelling slightly. He'd been too badly beaten to reply.

"We need to get him back to the camp. Thrommit will help." Falanna said, looking down at him before kneeling. "Can... can you move?"

The fox tried to move, then shook his head.

"We can't remove the knife without hurting him further." Ta'Maxia said, examining the corpses of the squirrels. "Look at the way the knife is turned inward like that. That's a death blow if ever I saw... wait a minute." Next to the squirrel was a small crystal pocket watch, much like the one she'd used to keep in contact with the Sacred Nest.

"Did you find something?" Falanna asked.

Ta'Maxia's blood ran cold. "Keep him warm. I'll get the others. It's a big risk to be out in the open like this, but we need Thrommit here and now."

It took most of the rest of the late afternoon for Ta'Maxia to fly at full speed and get the others, but the group arrived in the clearing just as the sun went down. Ta'Maxia exhaustedly collapsed next to the fire as Jartpo got it going, and while Chalice went to see about making the tent usable again, Hervis went to see about the injured fox. He was hurt a lot worse than he looked; there were many bruises on his head, there was a second knife shoved into his rear end, and his tail had been broken in two or three places.

Thrommit rushed to the fox's side and began examining the wounds, constantly repeating "By the Nine Goddesses!" in shock.

"Will he live?" Hervis asked, looking around the clearing.

"The tent's a bust. It's been torn to pieces." Chalice said, dusting off her hands.

"I recognize one of those knives." Jartpo said, kneeling down next to the fox and looking at the hilts of the blades. "Order of the Black Acorn, a guild for cutthroats and assassins in the capital city. Small, but good at what they do. Not influential, but definitely a threat."

"You've had dealings with them?" Hervis asked as Falanna put her arms around the fox, hugging him to keep him warm.

"Not me personally, no. But the guild has. They're violent thugs and we chase them out of our territory wherever we find them. They're a bigger threat in the capital city than they are in the surrounding towns and wilderness, but the guards are good at keeping them suppressed so they don't kill anything in sight. We shouldn't run into them unless we interrupt an operation of theirs."

The fox opened his eyes. "The... th' Black Acorn..."

"Ssshhh." Falanna said. "Save your strength."

Thrommit stood up. "By the grace of the Nine Goddesses, I implore them now to assist one of their own with recovery." He said gravely. "Let the light of life flow through this Sycanesti's veins once more!" His maul's hammer head began to light up with a bright white light that extended fingers of itself to the fox, and as these fingers danced up and down the fox's body the wounds slowly began to close and the knives began to pushed out of their own accord. The fox's tail straightened as the bones audibly mended with a series of clicks and snaps, and he opened his eyes wider as the swelling of the bumps went down.

The fox looked up at Thrommit. "Th' Black... Black Acorn..."

"You're going to be okay." Jartpo replied.

"AMBUSH!" Falanna suddenly cried as a crossbow bolt whizzed by her ear.

From around them, half a dozen squirrels and one huge raccoon stepped out into the clearing, most wielding crossbows and the raccoon carrying a spiked wooden club that was still dripping blood from its last hit.

Jartpo got into an aggressive stance upon recognizing a former guild member. "I know you, raccoon... you're Rhygo Bluntblade!"

Rhygo grinned a lopsided snarl at Jartpo. "Filthy lizard. No witnesses. KILL THEM!"

Those with crossbows fired them into the crowd, narrowly missing the fox.

Chalice whimpered, then leapt back as one of the squirrels leapt at her with a curved, serrated dagger. Ducking the second strike she kicked out with her feet, and the squirrel was knocked over, sending the dagger from her grasp. Chalice then reached into her shoulder purse and took out three identical red glass vials, throwing one as the squirrel got to his feet and began to charge her. The vial crashed against the squirrel's fur, igniting it on the spot as the powder inside reacted with air. Screaming, the squirrel dropped her dagger and Chalice leapt into the air, stomping down with her feet. There was a crunch as foot connected with throat, and the squirrel sharply stiffened before going limp.

"Ain't no one allied with the ****ing Sacred Nest going to hurt my friends!" Ta'Maxia snarled, leaping at two of the squirrels and smacking them with her wings. Avian wing muscles had evolved in place of hands to be stronger than they looked, and these "punches" were just as strong as Thrommit's maul. Both squirrels were knocked to either side of her, and Hervis charged one while the other rolled to its feet and leapt back at Ta'Maxia. The hawk lifted a talon and lashed out in a kick, neatly impaling the squirrel in the chest with her sharp talons before stomping her leg down. There was a yell of pain from the squirrel as Ta'Maxia ground her talon into the soft flesh of the squirrel as it twitched, and blood sprayed everywhere.

"Sacred Nest?" Jartpo called, ducking a fist from Rhygo.

"I'll explain later." Ta'Maxia replied, launching herself into the air and pulling the corpse of the squirrel off her talon.

Jartpo ducked a second fist. "Figures... you'd be tormenting... the weak."

Rhygo stood still as Jartpo lashed out with his tail, then grabbed it and began to spin him around. "It pays better than the guild does!"

The raccoon let go, and Jartpo landed face first into what felt like a wall of fur. He'd struck the ram in the leg, and Thrommit looked over at the raccoon.

"Evil... does not pay!" Thrommit snarled, spinning on his front feet and charging Rhygo directly. The raccoon slammed down his club on the ram's head just before impact but it shattered as the ram's head struck him full in the upper chest. Thrommit raised his head as he hooked him with a horn, and threw him into the air where he could swing his maul. There was a sickening crunch and the raccoon's twitching corpse went flying into the trees, impaling itself on a sharp broken tree "spike" extending from the trunk. The branch had gone right through the raccoon's heart, and blood began to fountain outward in his final brief moments of life.

The remaining squirrels broke and ran off, Hervis cursing himself for not being armed as he was far more effective with a staff than with his bare hands.

"That's one bounty we can claim in the capital. He'd been wanted for years." Jartpo said, hooking a claw towards Rhygo's corpse.

Ta'Maxia landed. "Want me to follow them?"

"No." Replied Hervis. "The other squirrels will just ambush from the trees. We see to the fox's wounds and we go to the capital. We also need to rest. They won't be back here at least, not when Thrommit is around and is bigger than they are."

"I'm fastest. I'll get what supplies we can from the cave." Falanna said. "C'mon, Jartpo."

The fox looked over at Hervis. "Saw..." He coughed. "I saw yeh at th' Games. I thank yeh for what yeh did." His voice was low, sounding like he'd been a chronic abuser of scent sticks and other drugs his entire life. "I liv' in th' capit'l, yeh bring m'back and I kin see about getting proper payment fer savin' meh lif'."

"What were you doing out here alone?" Hervis asked.

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"So tha's th' trick'ry of it." Quentin said, the fox throwing another stick on the fire. He'd been helped back to the cave by the crash site, and now they were going to rest for as long as it took before the fox was ready to travel back to Thynsaleth, the capital city.

It was late night. Quentin had explained to the group that he was... had been... an emissary from the Sacred Nest, trying to get the Order of the Black Acorn hired to do some "wet work" in the capital city. The pocket watch was the means of communication between him and the Sacred Nest, and all had been going well until the squirrels had double crossed him. Given the choice of slavery to Rhygo or death, Quentin had instead tried to fight his way out and had been badly outmatched when a pair of tigers in Rhygo's employ beat him nearly to death before feeding him face first to the squirrels.

"They'll b'back ta end th' fox's tale." Quentin said. "We should move faster than rabbits run."

"Moving in the darkness invites more ambushes. We're too tired to continue." Falanna replied while the deer she'd caught earlier slowly cooked over the campfire.

"Can you use that thing?" Hervis asked Ta'Maxia. "I'm not good with contraptions like that."

Ta'Maxia opened the pocket watch. The intricate wires and Malaezium-coated settings were different than what she was used to. "I could, but there's no telling who we'll reach. This is connected to one party only, instead of the one I had, which was linked with a group of other watches for better group communication." Everyone crowded around the pocket watch as Ta'Maxia explained what each part of the communications device did. "This piece here amplifies sound, much like what Hervis was speaking into at the Games, and this piece translates it into electricity that can be "read" by another watch."

Chalice in particular was enthralled by the device, her eyes glittering with equal parts greed and curiosity. "Hey, on the underside here, there's an engraving. It's the royal coat of arms of House Trei'kiya."

Quentin nodded, coughing a little. "They're everywhere. Whateva they plan, th' plot's thick'r than an Ovisoni's head. I jus' deliv'r messages. I don' know what's goin' on."

"Hey now." Thrommit teased.

"How did you get this? This must be worth its weight in kul, and then some." Hervis said, looking at the pocket watch. Something wasn't adding up about Quentin's story.

"What kind of plot?" Jartpo asked.

"Can't righ'fully say." Quentin replied with a sigh as he rubbed the scars left after Thrommit had finished his healing spells. "I thin' they mean ta end th' rabbit there an' all who associate with 'im." He pointed at Hervis. "Hervis Jasper, right?"

"Yeah, that's me." Hervis said, thinking back to his history while he reorganized the letters in Quentin's name. He had a hunch, and if he was right, he didn't like where it was going...

"Should I try to contact whomever this is linked to?" Ta'Maxia asked.

The device began to beep and a central Diathrylium crystal began to flash.

"I think we're about to find out." Hervis replied.

"Let's see who we get." Thrommit said, pressing the central crystal.

The group knelt down next to the fire as a beam of orange light issued from the central crystal and fanned out into a triangular shape. The light folded outward and inward to take on a sharp 3-dimensional image of an avian head, but with a lack of detail to identify who exactly it was. The Sycanesti's eyes were not visible; they were predominantly staring at beak.

"Report, operative Dust Watcher!" The voice squawked, electricity and crackles obscuring the voice just a little.

"This is Dus' Watch'r." Quentin said into the crystal. "Nut-huggers neut'lized. Rhygo eliminated. They... violently oppos'd yeh offer, Lord Veron, then tried ta feed meh ta th' squ'rrls."

"Stupid little fur-tails. Typical mammals." The voice replied. Hervis froze solid.

"No new orders fer meh?" Quentin asked.

"Actually there are, Dust Watcher. There has been an airship crash near your location that contains sensitive information. You need to go and see what you can salvage and bring it back to the capital where my other informants will retrieve it. You will be paid forty thousand kul for this information."

Everyone looked at each other. Forty thousand kul was an obscene sum!

"That inf'mation deals wit' yer other target?" Quentin asked.

"That's none of your concern, mammal." Lord Veron growled, his beak clicking in irritation.

"I know more than yeh think." Quentin growled back. "So don't tes' me. I know yeh want th' rabbit. Why?"

"That is NONE of your concern--"

"Oh, shut UP, you dumb-beaked bastard." Ta'Maxia chirped.

Lord Veron muffled a surprised gasp. "... Bird Eight. You're still alive. A pity."

"Not so pitiful as you are, you feather-twisted twit." Ta'Maxia squawked back.

"We still have your brother." Lord Veron growled. "If you DARE to--"

"**** him, he's as weak as the Lapandar." Ta'Maxia was now into full blown avian snarls, which sounded funny to the rest of the group. She winked at Hervis, who exchanged looks with Chalice in surprise at Ta'Maxia's bluff. It was a bluff, right?

"Well... if you're willing to let him die, which I sincerely doubt you are... and if you won't submit to blackmail... then that means you're a problem, Bird Eight. Problems need to be solved..."

Ta'Maxia folded her wings in annoyance. "Yeah yeah. Tell that to Hervis, you rat-catching rat-muncher. What exactly is your problem with him? I found he's a real nice guy when he's not running from being killed by your goons."

"You're bluffing." Lord Veron accused. "You'd never let your brother die. Explain your connection to Bird Eight, Dust Watcher!"

Quentin looked up at the others. "Random encounter. She helped me in dealin' wit' th' nut-huggers' doub'l cross but it left meh hurt bad.”

"Hmph. You got lucky. You have new orders then. Take Bird Eight to the capital for... processing, and you will be paid eight thousand kul. We will retrieve the airship's confidential intelligence instead." Lord Veron said.

"Pro-cessin' my white-tip'd tail." Quentin replied. "But five thousand kul? Is she worth tha' much dead to ya?"

"Hey now!" Ta'Maxia squeaked.

"I'll pass." Quentin said into the device. "I can' catch 'er, not when I'm hurt like this."

"Fine. Your loss." Lord Veron mumbled. "We'll send others to pacify her later."

"I'd like to see you try." Ta'Maxia taunted.

"Dust Watcher, since you... say you're unable to do as you're told, you are to return to the crash site. My forces will be there shortly and will return you and the rest of the mammals to the capital where you will receive new orders." Lord Veron growled, the central crystal sparking with every word chirped. "As for you, Bird Eight, I don't buy your bluff. You will go to the capital and wait for my forces, or your brother dies in a week!" The image dissolved, the central crystal growing dark.

Ta'Maxia snapped the watch shut. "Rest of the mammals?"

Quentin nodded. "I had friends come alon', but they were all kill'd by the guild during th' doub'l cross." He motioned to the wrecked tent. "Tear th' fab'ic off and cover yerselves; yeh don't want ta cross th' Lord's forces and if they recognize yeh..."

"How is THAT going to work?" Jartpo asked. "There isn't enough to cover half of us, let alone Thrommit."

"They'll come in an airship." Quentin replied. "If yeh can't disguise, I'll sneak ya aboard whil' they're gatherin' ev'dence."

Hervis sighed. "That's the best we got. I for one trust a royal scout of His Majesty."

"Huh?" Chalice asked. Thrommit and Ta'Maxia looked at each other.

"That's a terrible accent. You're trying too hard to sound and behave as part of the lower-class." Hervis said, watching the fox's eyes glitter in acknowledgment. "That bird brain might be fooled, but I'm not. You're a scout, or more likely spy. That pocket watch... it's made of crystal, by the Nine Goddesses! How would someone lower class come across something like that? How would a fox of all species even be lower class? It's unthinkable!”

The fox began to laugh. "You're good, Hervis! You're really really good! I'm glad we chose you as Crier for the Games!"

Everyone froze. They knew that voice. Thrommit opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again.

Hervis folded his arms and smirked as he turned to face the group. "That, and 'Quentin' is a scrambling of the name 'Tenquin'. That's the royal family's last name. So this guy's at least a spy for the royal family, or possibly royal family himself?"

The fox bowed, rubbing a hand over his sore ribs before turning to Hervis and nodding in acknowledgment. "'King' Vanadei Tenquin, at your service. Thanks for the save. My entire entourage was wiped out by the assassins guild on the way here and they almost disposed of me as well. House Trei'kiya has been plotting rebellion for a long long time, but I don't know what exactly it is. It involves you, though."

"I think I have an idea." Hervis said, rubbing the back of his neck and looking upward at the sky. "Let's just say I... have good intel."

"I need to get back into character." King Vanadei replied. "When we get back into a more secure setting, I'll want to hear all about it while declaring a bounty on the assassins guild once and for all." Then he looked up at Ta'Maxia. "'Bird Eight', I give you my word as King that we will rescue your brother, alive."

"You're a fox. The epitome of trickery. They won't see you coming." Ta'Maxia smiled weakly, but didn't sound convinced.

"I meant it. I give you my word of honor. Twenty thousand kul if I can't make good on the promise." The King replied without flinching.

"That's enough to live the high life for a couple of lifetimes." Chalice said. "Why is House Trei'kiya..."

"Let's rest up, sneak aboard the airship when it gets here, and then we'll figure out our next move when we reach the capital." Hervis said. “It'll be good to see civilization again.”

Thrommit concentrated, and a glowing ball of light lit up his maul. "Let's cut up the deer; I for one am starving."

"A 'prey' species eating meat?" Chalice joked.

"Not all of us are herbivores." Thrommit smiled.

The group sat down around the fire and King Vanadei began explaining the real reason he was out there. He had a double life along with two “stunt doubles” working alongside him, acting as a beggar who had lost everything in “political combat” in the circles of the vulpine nobility. Thus “shamed” he traveled from place to place as someone who looked so weak and suffering that no one paid him a second thought. While risky and could very well result in his death without no one noticing, this allowed him to keep tabs on both the thieves' guild and the criminal underworld that lurked beneath it.

"You've got guts, sire." Jartpo said between bites. "Not even I would be brave enough to attempt something like that.”

Vanadei nodded and stoked the fire, vastly preferring not to be addressed as royalty except in formal situations. "I prefer a hands-on approach. I have enough lackeys and servants to keep the castle running in my absence, and if anything goes wrong I'll just have to deal with it when I return. Thanks for your criticism, Hervis. If you say I was trying too hard, how can I improve the accent?"

Hervis shook his head, shaking the dirt off his ears while munching on some berries. "If you want my advice, you'll drop it entirely. In my experience accents are one of those things where either you are good at it naturally, or you're not. No offense, but you, just like me, are not."

Vanadei leaned back against a tree after ripping a piece of the quickly-disappearing deer off the bones. "How do I explain that to the local crime lords?"

"Adopt a new identity and say Dust Watcher died. You might lose trust, but you will be safe, at least." Hervis replied. "Plus, you'll know things they assume you don't, so if they talk about stronger projects in front of you as if you're naive, you'll know what is going on."

"For given values of safe..." An unimpressed Jartpo said as he put his knees close to his chest, warming himself by the campfire.

"I'm not going to be able to drop the accent while dealing with the Sacred Nest and whomever is funding them." Vanadei said, looking over at Hervis. "I'll be honest with you. They've been working on some kind of super-secret project for the past few years but I can't say I know what it deals with. My technomancers say it harnesses Blackness -- with a capital B – and my sorcerers say that the Blackness is divine in origin. Word on the street is that a new 'beam of light' is 'prophesied' to eliminate and banish evil once and for all from this kingdom... and destroy House Trei'kiya for good for harboring diabolists evil enough to become Avatars of Chaos."

Hervis looked up, and after deciding now was as good a place as any, filled the King in on what he had experienced. King Vanadei listened raptly to every word, mentioning that when they were back in the castle, he'd have to recount it for the high priests.

"My guess is that this Blackness... is the Tyrannical Darkness' body. If it's brought to this realm, it's mindless and violent. Maybe they think they can control it?" Hervis finished.

"How does that factor in with the shield and royal seals you saw in your... well, 'vision' I guess is the right word?" Falanna asked.

"I believe I can answer that." Thrommit replied, sitting down next to the fire with his hand on his maul's business end. "The divine blackness of the Tyrannical Darkness' body is indeed capitalized when it's separated from its... well, soul, for lack of better words. However, the Blackness in our kingdom is different from the Blackness in another kingdom. I'm not a complete expert in the stuff but I do know that different geographical areas have different 'flavors' of magic in the 'background nature' of the kingdom. The sacred texts say the different flavors were meant to prevent it from being amassed all into one being, as they can be quite... incompatable."

Vanadei nodded. "I'm not a sorcerer nor a technomancer, but I know that magic, whether arcane or divine, is tied to belief. Maybe the Sacred Nest... and by association, this 'Sky Over Stone' cult... maybe they think they can harness it by using the seals as focal points. The seals represent the pride of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of Sycanesti. That kind of belief or psychological power would perfect to charge their 'weapon' with."

"What do you want us to do about it?" Hervis asked. "We're... not much to look at."

"Says the guy who survived the Tyrannical Darkness not once, but twice." Chalice quipped.

Vanadei looked thoughtful for a moment. "When we get to the castle, come find me and I will give you the seal of the kingdom for safekeeping. As long as no one knows its gone..."

"I can have a forger in the guild craft a replacement..." Jartpo piped up.

"Will that work?" Ta'Maxia asked, landing quietly next to the campfire with a flip of her wings and another fish she had speared. "I didn't see the airship yet. It's too dark to see now; we'll have to wait to hear its approach."

"It should work... yes." Vanadei replied. "The public places power in the royal seal. The real seal, I mean. If the real one were replaced with a phony, I don't -think- there'd be a problem if that one were stolen. The Sycanesti would still put their faith behind it since they wouldn't know it was a phony, but it'd take years to 'charge up' and not be anywhere near as powerful as the real thing, right?"

"We can hope." Falanna sat down and scratched like a dog with one of her legs.

"You're giving ME the seal?" Hervis asked.

The fox nodded, the wheels in his head turning rapidly as he planned ahead to attempt to cut the stupid, stupid birds off at the pass. "That, and as much gear and supplies I can for your free trip overseas. Pack your bags, Hervis... you're going to Atlacentia."

"Across the ocean? Why?" Hervis nearly spat out the berries he was eating in surprise.

The fox looked up, the light from the fire reflected in his eyes. "If the cult already has the shield created, and the ravens you mentioned have the money to fund them, and said cult is funding the Sacred Nest...”

“We don't know who is funding who, or if they're linked.” Thrommit shrugged.

Vanadei ignored him. “... Then I can only reason that they are looking for the seals. You're going to retrieve them for me and then come back here. They'll send groups here to retrieve the seals, and we'll send word that discussions are open to unite the kingdoms themselves in order to deal with this new threat. Mind, you'll need to convince them that the Trei'kiya are dangerous, and that the seals need to come with you."

Hervis and Chalice looked at each other.

"Do you have any idea how ****ing stupid that sounds?" Ta'Maxia asked. "No offense, your majesty."

The fox looked up at her, his intelligence shining in his eyes. "Don't worry about honorifics. Please, speak your mind."

"Okay. First, we need to get the seals, or convince the royal families of EACH kingdom that it is for the better. Second, the Trei'kiya of other kingdoms might be honorable, decent folk as opposed to the twisted ****-ups we see here in our kingdom. Third, they won't give them up willingly, I'm certain. Fourth, has there been any contact with the other kingdoms in... what, decades? We don't even know if they still exist!"

"The presence of the shield in my vision would suggest that they do." Hervis said.

"The kingdoms are in contact with one another in the upper social classes." Vanadei said, poking the fire with a stick. "The middle and lower class almost never see it. I can send word ahead that you're on your way. They might not like it, and they might not go just on my word, but we've got to start somewhere. You might have to prove yourselves somehow to them all. I'm a little worried about the Kingdom of Taedort'l in particular, as they sealed their borders some time ago and never reopened them. They don't reply much when others request to talk. Shi'an-Wei is even more isolationist."

"Somehow I think the only one that would be happy there would be Thrommit here." Jartpo said. "I'd freeze on the spot, myself." The Kingdom of Taedort'l was in the frosty northern wastes, isolated from the rest of the world.

The ram shook his head. "Not really. I don't like the cold any more than you do. Wool can only do so much."

"Could you send word ahead to the other kingdoms so that we can collect the seals all at once, if they come to Atlacentia?" Hervis asked. "Rather than we go to them, we have them come to us. Their arena is bigger than ours is, and we could hold a massive 'Games to End All Games' because it IS the 150th anniversary."

"I like that idea." Jartpo grinned, turning to look at his friend.

Vanadei rubbed his chin, thinking. "That... might work, but the squires and messengers of the Kingdom of Rarlbo are all Trei'kiya. They'd get word out and our opponents would know."

"But could they stop us?" Ta'Maxia asked.

"It'd lure our enemies into a false sense of security." Vanadei said, thinking. "All the seals in one place would be too tempting a target to ignore. Then with all the kingdoms 'gathered', they'd demonstrate their new weapon to scare us all at once. I like how you're thinking, Hervis. When we get back to the castle, I'll –"

Everyone paused as dim rumbling reached their ears, sounding like it was approaching from the sky.

Falanna's ears perked. "You hear that? Sounds like..."

"... An airship." Everyone else said at the same time.

"Let's go meet the neighbors.” Vanadei said.

"They're anything but neighborly.” Ta'Maxia spat.

Vanadei turned to the rest of the group. "I'll sneak you aboard, we'll head to the castle, and from there, I'll get you geared up and give you the seal for safekeeping. For now, stay hidden at the crash site as best you can. Thrommit will act as a bodyguard to me, because he sticks out like fur on fire."

"I'll set their feathers on fire when I get through with them." Thrommit grinned, the Taur spinning his maul in his hand-hooves.

"Holster the rage, 'warrior' priest." Vanadei winked. "If the Trei'kiya upper class are funding this little expedition, we can be sure we'll be outnumbered and out-armed here. This is a time for vulpine subtlety, not the time for a ram-o-lanche of vengeance. That will come later. Let's go!"

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"Look at the size of that thing!" Falanna exclaimed.

The Trei'kiya airship was easily four times the size of the little airship that had been sent by King Vanadei. Shaped like a horizontal hourglass, the front end was sculpted in the shape of a raven with its wings outstretched. At the back end were what appeared to be huge black metal "tail feathers" that raised up and down, acting as a bellows system to channel hot air up and to the balloon. At the front, a huge figurehead sculpted like a buzzard with an open beak. In the open mouth was a pair of ballistae with metal “logs” already in place ready to fire.

"Single point of failure, right there." Said Chalice, pointing to the tail feathers.

"How are you going to sneak us in?" Hervis asked.

"Leave that to me." Vanadei said. "Just stay out of sight. The enforcers on Trei'kiya airships are wolverine-mean."

"We haven't had any trouble yet..." Ta'Maxia said.

"Let's try and keep it that way. Now get down and hide!" Vanadei replied, stepping out into the open and waving the airship down.

Twenty minutes later the airship was on the ground, having extended huge black iron talons into the ground that slid out from the underside of the hull. The airship was bristling with armed Trei'kiya, with most of them wielding a weapon known as an orb-whip. It was their signature weapon, a metal fist-sized sphere with a Diathrylium core attached to a specifically enchanted flexible cord that could extend up to several feet and animate itself at the wielder's mental command. While the cord was not unbreakable, anyone caught in its coils would be electrocuted and stunned, making it the perfect weapon against low-flying opponents or other Trei'kiya.

"Took yeh lon' enough'!" Vanadei said, getting back into character as he waved at the others to hide in the trees and for Thrommit to accompany him out.

"Where did you find him?" One of the Trei'kiya asked, waving his wings in a gesture to follow as he barked orders. "You! Search the wreckage! You! Look through the trees in case there were survivors. With a wreck like this, they couldn't have gone far."

"One of the surviv's. Offered him some Malaezium when we return, which is what he's bin lookin' for." Vanadei replied.

The Trei'kiya, a golden eagle with an artificial wing in place of his right wing, just looked Thrommit over. "Mercenary?"

"For the Nine Goddesses, yes." Thrommit replied, gripping his maul.

"Hmph. Just stay out of our way, horn head. You best know we're above you." The Trei'kiya said, stretching his artificial wing. "Can you make wonders like this? No. You're stuck at the level of worshiping some invisible souls in the sky."

Thrommit just gripped his maul tighter, but didn't reply.

"Lord Tiraxxian!" One of the other Trei'kiya called. "We found something!"

Vanadei turned to look, and to his dismay saw that Chalice had gotten herself caught when she got too close to the ship. A pair of Trei'kiya were flanking her, and she had been tied up in one of the orb-whips. Further in the distance he could see Hervis' tail; he was hiding behind a tree and Falanna was in the treetops above. They would have been both spotted had the Trei'kiya been even remotely paying attention to their surroundings.

"Hey, this is the bitch that Hervis likes. I've seen a picture of her in the reports." The Trei'kiya with the artificial wing replied.

Chalice tried to look cute, lowering her ears a little and giving him the big-eyed treatment. "Uh... oops."

Vanadei waved her off. "Throw 'er in th' ship. Rans'm 'er later."

"No." Lord Tiraxxian squawked. "Fan out! Hervis is never far behind and we can roll this up all nice and neat! SEARCH THE TREES! We'll set an ambush! Set up an obvious trap with her at the center! We'll come up behind him when he shows up!"

Thrommit and Vanadei glanced at one another.

"What do we do?" Thrommit whispered.

"Stick to the plan. I'm thinking, I'm thinking." The fox replied.

"Better think fast." Thrommit replied before snapping back to attention.

Chalice weakly struggled in the grip of the orb-whip and then one of her captors activated it with a push of a button. There was a loud ZZZZT sound and her eyes comically bugged out as she squeaked in surprise. Then she slumped forward unconscious as the hold was opened and she was tossed inside like a sack of rice. Just as the doors to the hold closed and locked with a metallic click Vanadei saw Jartpo dash at full speed across the landing zone and dive into the hold. At least she wouldn't be alone.

As the Trei'kiya spread out, Lord Tiraxxian called Vanadei over. "Dust Watcher, you search the southern edge while my men gather what they can from the wreckage."

"Yessir." Vanadei replied, mockingly saluting him.

"Sir!" One of the other Trei'kiya said, walking up. "They pushed out the Malaezium while they were gliding. Should we search for it?"

Lord Tiraxxian nodded. "That boulder of Malaezium is worth a kingly sum, but will be more valuable to us on our own ship. Get some of the others to fly back and search."

"On my way sir!" The other raven saluted him and flew off.

Lord Tiraxxian turned back to Vanadei. "Where's Bird Eight? We were told she would be here."

Vanadei shrugged, barely noticing Ta'Maxia fly into the sky above where Hervis was trying to hide. "She took off aft'r our las' talk through th' watch."

"Damn it, we need to track her down." Lord Tiraxxian said, turning his back on Vanadei and motioning for a large falcon to fly over. "Organize the squad into three groups. One will sift through the debris. One will search for Bird Eight. She MUST not be allowed to escape. The rest of them will look for Hervis. He is to be killed with no questions asked. If you see him, you kill him."

The falcon nodded. "Will do, sir."

"What are yeh goin' do now?" Vanadei asked.

Lord Tiraxxian scoffed. "I am going to look for Hervis. You are going inside the ship. Lord Veron and Lady Tiatrana want to interview you personally..."

"Interview meh, or kill meh?" Vanadei asked, turning away a little.

"I honestly don't know. I don't -think- you'd be dumb enough to protect Bird Eight, despite being a mammal, and a fox at that. You're always smarter than you let on and I don't think you'd risk your skin when the advantage is ours." Lord Tiraxxian's back was to Vanadei now, and if circumstances were better the fox would have leapt at him in an attempt to snap his flimsy little neck. For all the power the avians had, their bones were hollow and their necks light; they were easy targets for even the weaker species if they put up enough of a fight.

"She got in her own troub'l." Vanadei replied with a shrug as he saw the doors to the hold being opened again. Standing next to the lever was Jartpo, and he was motioning the others to run inside while the other Trei'kiya were looking every which way but at the hold, where one could see that Chalice had already been thrown inside a cage. To add insult to injury, the cage had been attached to ropes that would lead down to the talons outside of the ship, so as to provide a very chilly and bouncy windy ride for her once they took off. Ta'Maxia was the first inside, and Hervis moved so fast that he was a blur of ears and fuzz. Falanna had to hide behind trees and carefully time her movements to make it inside.

Then Lord Tiraxxian whirled on Thrommit. "And you... priest. Dust Watcher didn't come with any of House Ovisoni as bodyguards and I'm pretty sure the Order of the Black Acorn doesn't need any big dumb walking meals-for-four." He poked Thrommit's chest with a wing. "I think you're protecting Ta'Maxia. I think she got cowardly and hired a mercenary healer to shield herself from trouble before you had the... luck... to run into our operative here."

The look exchanged between Vanadei and Thrommit told Lord Tiraxxian what he wanted to hear, despite his reasoning being one hundred percent dead wrong.

Thrommit played it up. "Well I guess I'm in trouble, then? Only the Nine Goddesses may judge me, not you."

Lord Tiraxxian turned back toward the ship. "Why should I judge you when interrogation is much more fun? I see the hold's doors are open... get inside. When we get back to the Grand Bristlecone, we'll ask some questions and maybe we won't arrange an early meeting with the Nine Goddesses, since you seem to love them so much."

The Grand Bristlecone was a giant twisted tree stretching well over half a mile into the sky, raised by both Malaezium magic and Diathrylium technology. Roughly one third of the entire Trei'kiya population lived and worked there. Some never stepped talon out of the tree, while others left at the first opportunity, never to return. It had been enchanted to repel fire, launch "explosive sap bombs" the size of a lion at airborne targets, and could not be cut down with normal tools.

Thrommit tightened the grip on his maul. While no one had seen the others sneak inside the hold, there were too many Trei'kiya in number to actively win a melee. "I have nothing to hide."

Lord Tiraxxian snorted. "We'll see, mammal."

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Artman77

2016-01-07, 02:32 AM

I hope you weren't lying about the thick skin part.... The intro, whether it's your worldview or not, the reader might think it is. You start off by having the aliens say "you are being judged" your reader is human, so they are going to identify with those judged. Then you list a bunch of controversial topics in a row. Just ONE issue that the reader disagrees with would be enough to make them put the book down. Skip it. If you don't scrap it entirely, at least wait until the end of the book to pull those punches.

Also, re-work the furry-sub culture bit or disregard it entirely. If super intelligent beings came to a broken planet and decided to "save some", they wouldn't use a subculture of a large culture that was broken. They would use something that they knew worked, right? Lots of people don't know what furries are and will feel completely lost, others do know and will think "amateur".

I felt like scene one was all over the place. I would describe the room and the cold floor initially, to set the scene for your barefoot protagonist, not halfway through. Also, the explanation isn't necessary at all. The dude is a rabbit. Rabbits don't need clothes. Trying to explain it makes it more awkward, not less. I feel like you spent a little too much time on the backstory too. It read more like a written DnD session than a novel. Sights, sounds, smells. That tense feeling in your chest. Readers don't care much about history. I know, I know. I'm a world builder too, and my worlds are so interesting. But readers don't care. The story is about the character. What he does. How he feels. I'll get to the other chapters later.

Someone mentioned that readers will gloss over the word 'said'. They're right. It feels funny writing it over and over, but it's like the word 'the'. When you read it you don't really notice it.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-07, 02:03 PM

Anything else, or was that just your take on the beginning? Yeah, the intro will be pared down for sure once I finish posting the scenes here for people to see as it stands? :smallsmile:

Artman77

2016-01-07, 06:40 PM

I don't agree with bobby99 about "chopping up the dialogue". That works well in a movie, but reading that was a PAIN. You could easily leave it the way you had it. Really though, it's a matter a personal taste and doesn't really affect the story.

scenes 3 and 4

I like the killer hawk girl. She spiced up the story in quick order. A physical description of the bird folk and their fingers is fine, but the whole "if she was a human" part was super distracting. You could say "she folded her wings, standing akimbo." If the reader doesn't know what akimbo is they will look it up, or at least know she folded her wings, which is a selfish/defensive/cocky posture.

"she showed of the ribbons that marked her as a prostitute" doesn't matter because you follow that up with:
"...A staunch traditionalist who went nude everywhere she went, the rich-red furred wolf spent her time at the arena "servicing" the warriors before they went into battle for the excitement of the masses." The 'that marked her as' is very dictionary/encyclopedia style and is pretty dry.
You could say;
'She stepped quickly into the room (cuz you said she poked her head in first, and then that she towered over him in a later paragraph) so that her blood red ankle ribbons danced through the air as she entered. Blood red was the preferred color of the arena prostitutes because it had a certain way of arousing the warriors, but few could afford it.'
This alludes to her being a prostitute that services the gladiators and also that she is trying to get his attention. (if the reader misses it, the dialogue is pretty clear)

The description is helpful because she is there and timely because she just stepped into the room. The info about the rabbit girl is an info-dump that interrupts the narrative and the reader will probably forget it by the time that character is introduced. (save it for then)

Bobbybobby99

2016-01-07, 07:23 PM

I don't agree with bobby99 about "chopping up the dialogue". That works well in a movie, but reading that was a PAIN. You could easily leave it the way you had it. Really though, it's a matter a personal taste and doesn't really affect the story.

Oh, it's a pain to read if you're skimming. Read intensively, and imagining the situation, hearing the words, it flows much, much better. It also increases immersion, which is a +.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-07, 11:36 PM

You on the current scenes, Bobby, so I can post more?

Glad to see someone likes Ta'Maxia. I'm not really a fan of hers, but she won't go away when I tell her to, so.

Ah, hell with it, here's a few more.

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"Ow... my head." Chalice said as she came to.

Lord Tiraxxian had left Vanadei and Thrommit in the hold, "the better to keep your enemies close." The Trei'kiya had spent a couple hours gathering what they could from the crash site, including flying back along the ambush route and finding the Malaezium "core" of the king's airship. Once that was secured in a separate hold, they'd taken back off, intending to return to the Grand Bristlecone for processing. Ta'Maxia had escaped the hold just as it was being shut, and was keeping pace while keeping out of sight of the spotlights attached to the bottom and sides of the hull.

"Okay, we're here." Hervis whispered, reaching into the cage and taking Chalice by the hands in a tender moment. "Now what?"

"We steal this ship. That's what." Vanadei replied, one hand on his chin as he looked at the ground, thinking.

"How? We're outnumbered here." Jartpo said. "They'd jump off the ship and just fly alongside it."

Vanadei shook his head, pacing back and forth. "The upper decks are rigged with multiple crossbows on the railings. If they jumped and we got our hands on them, it'd be lights out for them. They're not that dumb."

"Can we out-fight them if we corner them?" Falanna asked.

"I don't think so. They're quite literally over-spending as it is, all to take down this one rabbit." Vanadei replied, looking at Hervis. “I'm surprised their coffers haven't run dry yet.”

"I agree." Hervis said. "Jartpo, can you sneak around and see what you can uncover?"

Jartpo wrung his claws. "My instinct says stay put. I can but I'm not sure I should because of how outnumbered we are. One false step and it's over."

"Are you saying you aren't a good enough thief to sneak around a full ship?" Hervis teased.

The iguana shot him a sour look and the rabbit shut up.

Vanadei suddenly raised his head. "Wait. They took the crystal pocket watch from me when they got here. If we... hmmm."

"See? We need you to be useful!" Hervis poked Jartpo.

Jartpo looked at Vanadei. "What do you have in mind?"

Vanadei rubbed his hands together greedily. "Steal the watch and I'll break character. Once Lord Veron knows I'm on to him, the feathers will fly and the resulting confusion will enable us to potentially--"

The door to the hold opened, a sour-looking bluebird poking its beak through and barking down an order. "Dust Watcher! Wool face!"

"I have a name, you know." Thrommit grumbled. He'd been disarmed, so he was in a sour mood.

"You're to help us move the Malaezium to the engine room. It will double our power output and we'll be back into Trei'kiya territory by sunrise. Take a moment to prepare, grab the tools from the corner crates, then get up here." The door slammed shut again.

"And there's our opportunity." Vanadei said. "Jartpo, when we go upstairs..."

"I got it, I got it." Jartpo replied. "I'll bring it back down here and hide until you come back."

The vulpine nodded. "Falanna, you and Hervis stay here with Chalice. If those bird brains get the idea of throwing you overboard because you can't fly, do what you can to slow them down and I'll get back here as soon as I can."

"Can we rig the Malaezium? Jartpo, Chalice and I saw the airship engine room interior of your ship." Hervis said. "Horrible design, really, what with all those raw wires."

Vanadei looked down. "Those small airships were meant to be small, throwaway disposable units, usually used for transport of heavy resources like timber, iron, and so on. It was built like that to quickly and cleanly blow apart the materials used via other applications of Malaezium in order to re-use the pieces rather than pay increased maintenance on a full ship. The smaller ones are built together from a template and that raw wiring runs all over the ship, just usually better concealed. I doubt the Trei'kiya are so careless with their own airship designs."

"Then why did you not use a bigger ship?" Chalice asked, sitting up.

For the first time since they met him, Vanadei growled. It was a very unpleasant sound that suggested he was ready to kill someone in a blind psychopathic rage. "I didn't want to attract attention and sending a 'freight' ship was safer to hide you in. The fact someone knew your route almost exactly is really discomforting, made worse by all the resistance you ran into. There's a spy in my inner circle, and that's something I'll have to deal with when we get home."

"We'll talk spies in the kingdom or divination spells later. Right now, can the Malaezium be rigged?" Hervis asked.

"I'd rather take the ship intact." Vanadei said. "Let's try my way first, speak with Lord Veron, and then if trouble erupts, Falanna and Thrommit can lead the way into the captain's room where we can wrest control of the ship. We can signal Ta'Maxia to come and help."

The door opened again. "Alright, you two. Let's get going." The bluebird came down the stairs and motioned to them as Hervis, Falanna and Jartpo dove for cover. "Move it."

"Yeh not makin' any friends that way, yeh know." Vanadei said.

"Yeah, haven't you ever heard of asking nicely?" Thrommit complained. Four crossbow-wielding hawks were in the doorway waiting for them.

"I said move it, filthy mammals. Or would you like to end up like that useless fur face in the cage?" The bluebird growled.

"Hey!" Chalice yelled upward. "Be nice!"

"Shut it, prey. Now let's go." The bluebird finished.

Vanadei and Thrommit exchanged another look at each other as they went up the stairs carrying some tools. The moment the door was about to close, Jartpo dodged and wove through the doorway and slipped between the legs of the hawks, unseen. Then he darted off, wondering where in the ship they'd keep a watch "programmed" for communications.

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Vanadei and Thrommit were ushered through the halls of the airship, Vanadei noticing that the joints of the ship where Malaezium and Diathrylium met were outlined with rings of a melted alloy he could not identify. The normal explosive reaction was dampened and the "energy" seemingly sent into small Diathrylium crystals that held it before sending it along further into the ship. This made him pause; if there was a way to halt the reaction and control it in a more refined manner than was currently known, it gave the Trei'kiya an advantage he didn't want to think about.

"Keep moving you two. We're almost at the engine room." The bluebird said.

"What's a seed-muncher doing allying themselves with the prey-hatred of more militant Trei'kiya?" Thrommit asked.

The bluebird snorted, a funny sound coming through a beak. "The King had the mammalian balls to sentence some of my friends for crimes they did not commit. I think he has it out against bluebirds, cardinals and robins in particular."

Vanadei nodded. "He don' like 'em, but he don' not like 'em either." He didn't like many birds in general as it was too hard to catch the non-sentient ones for dinner. However, sentient ones were still Sycanesti, and still "his people." If this bird had a bone to pick, he wanted to hear about it.

"What kinda crimes?" Vanadei asked as they came to the chunk of Malaezium in the middle of the hallway. Some of the other Trei'kiya had been pushing and rolling it roughly down the hallway and it had left scuff marks and divots in the rich red wood paneling of the floor.

"Gang related." The bluebird replied. "The gang I flew with didn't do stealth robberies, we preferred more violent means." He looked over at the fox. "A couple corpses were planted, various bits of phony 'evidence' strewn about..."

Vanadei thought for a moment as the other Trei'kiya motioned for Thrommit to kneel down as he'd be carrying the boulder on his back for the rest of the way.

"I am not a slave, you should learn to ask nic--" Thrommit said, but his speech was cut off by a wing slap from the bluebird.

"I'll talk here, wool-butt. Get moving." The bluebird looked agitated.

Vanadei realized what the bluebird had meant. A few violent avian gangs had been stalking the skid row of the capital city, doing robberies and blatant extortion from those who had nothing at all. Vanadei had arrested all involved just to get them off the streets, whether they had been guilty or not. While he could understand that the bluebird was upset at having his friends arrested (which suggested that he himself had escaped, something he was sure to bring up with the guards at the castle later), it was their own fault for deciding not to get an honest day's worth of work done, instead resorting to looting.

As the boulder of Malaezium was balanced on the ram's strong back, Vanadei continued his small talk, trying to narrow down the gang in particular. "Was it a big gang? I'd heard lots goin' down 'n skid row."

The bluebird shrugged. "Not really. Why?"

That meant it wasn't someone terribly threatening. Probably a group of young adult avians looking to cause trouble for the sake of causing trouble. This was nothing immediately pressing, Vanadei decided. Still, something was wrong here as it seemed that the bluebird had a legitimate beef. "No reas'n. Jus' curious."

"Can some of you... huff... help me with this?" Thrommit asked, staggering forward with the boulder.

"Shut up and keep moving or I'll wear your hide for a sweater, skin and all." The bluebird said.

"They still lock'd up?" Vanadei asked as they slowly approached a large ebony door etched with a relief of two ravens fighting over a treasure chest.

The bluebird shook his head. "They were killed in a riot."

Vanadei paused. He knew this event. A Malaezium bomb had been attached to the underside of a cage transporting prisoners, and in the resulting mass-escape, those who were more violent had escaped to a small village. The village fought back trying to stop the hostile takeover and the result was a massive riot village-wide. Only three Trei'kiya, one of them being this bluebird, had survived and those who did witnessed the mindless murder of the others. While the gang in question was definitely guilty of something, he could empathize with the bluebird's loss. "I'm sorry ta hear tat, fer what it's worth."

The bluebird growled again. "Being sorry isn't going to bring my friends back, so I will plot against the King until the Tyrannical Darkness itself comes for me. He took my friends, my friends were everything. Everything. I take his life in return, or at least annoy him to the Tyrannical Darkness and back. Now, we're here at the engine room. Get inside, mammals. You have work to do."

"What if I could tell ya I could get ya pardoned?" Vanadei asked. He of course had no intent to, but someone admitting to the intent of treason to his muzzle was going to get punished...

"Shut up, fox. I know you're the 'royal species'. You're not swaying me with bribes of information or kul." The bluebird replied. "I know your kind. Goes well with horseradish sauce and some carbonated water."

A carnivorous bluebird. Now I've seen everything. Vanadei thought.

The bluebird paused. "Wait a minute. Pardoned? How did you know I was part of the riot?"

"Heh heh heh. I... hear things." Vanadei said with a vorpal grin, mentally cursing himself out for almost giving himself away. "I can get ya pardon'd... if ya help meh in r'turn."

Thrommit staggered inside, rolling the boulder off his back as two Trei'kiya helped him to stand up again.

The bluebird wing-slapped Vanadei, knocking him to the ground. "I said I won't be fooled by your tricks, fox. Now get to work before you're on tonight's menu for the hawks."

"Yes sir." Vanadei said as he got to his feet. Let's see... escaping from a riot you started... assaulting royalty, treason, oh this will be fun.

The engine room was twice the size of the smaller airship's. In the center of the room were three pillars of brass, upon the left and right one were small chunks of Malaezium that were mounted in Diathrylium housings. The explosions caused by the reaction kept the chunks turning, and this kinetic energy was being siphoned by both Malaezium and Diathrylium crystals in a strange configuration that amplified it into thrust for the engine. The center pillar was twice the size of the others, and the boulder would fit nicely into it.

Scattered around the room looking at wires and connections and reactions were several Trei'kiya crew members just doing their regular jobs. It took a lot of Sycanesti to make sure nothing overloaded.

"You. Fox. You wire the three pillars together with the silver wire that's under there along the other tools. The ram can lift the boulder into position." The bluebird said, nodding to some of the other crew on duty. "You two, help out the ram. I don't want any trouble."

"Yes sir!" The crew members said in unison, saluting the bluebird by putting their wings over their heart then stretching their wings outward and flapping them a little bit.

"What do we do?" Thrommit whispered to Vanadei.

"I'm thinking, I'm thinking." The fox replied, looking at the pillars and trying to formulate a plan as he went to the back of the pillars. In one of the toolboxes were many woven "wires" of silver outlined with gold, and these went around knobs in the pillars as if they were terminals on each end of a battery. Alongside the wires were coils of the metallic alloy he'd seen earlier that he couldn't identify. Thinking, Vanadei motioned one of the crew members over. "What's this? I haven' seen this 'n any ship I've flown in."

The crew member, a crow with a scar across the front of his chest, puffed his chest out in pride. "We recently discovered how to dull down the reaction between the two minerals into a truly controlled manner. You should see some of the weapons that use this new technology and heightened energy production. Not that you will, since where you're going... heh." He was proud of the technology. "I've heard it can even control things to an extent so as to pull things across dimensions."

"Yeh don' say." Vanadei sarcastically replied, wrapping some silver wire around a knob.

"There's this thing we're working on in the Grand Bristlecone..." The crew member began.

"Ti'Jan! No talking to the prisoners!" One of the other crew members said. "They might somehow escape. We CANNOT let word of our toys get out. The King'd have our hides for treason."

And the hides of your families as punishment... Vanadei thought to himself.

"But where they're going, it won't matter what they know, right?" Ti'Jan asked. "We're killing them anyway, right?" He was much younger than the first, and quite likely was a raw recruit on his first posting. They could use this, Vanadei decided.

"I don't care." The second one replied. "You're not to talk to the prisoners period, got it?"

Ti'Jan sighed. "Yes, sir."

"Now look what you made me do. I have to go up to the communications room and tell Lord Veron that some Sycanesti might know of our new tools. What happens if the ram somehow escapes? You see all these pipes laying around? If he weren't already broken he could pick one up and beat us!"

"Yes sir." Ti'Jan said, somewhat brought down from his pride.

"I'm not broken. And I don't hurt the... innocent." Thrommit said between growls and grunts as the other crew members helped him put the Malaezium in place. It began to spin in its setting, producing loud mini-explosions that almost knocked him backwards on his tail. Vanadei was instructed to wire up the central pillar, and as he obeyed and wrapped the silver wire around the knobs and then wrapped some around the pillar itself, the explosions were not only lessened but seemed to be routed in a circular fashion. This added to the stone's spin and increased its power output.

"I'm going to the communication room. If I come back to find you socializing with the inferior species, I'll have you plucked and served at the upcoming holiday!" The second crew member chirped.

"I'll show you who's inferior." Thrommit grumbled as he sat down to rest, two of the other Trei'kiya in the room now covering him with spears now that the heavy lifting was done.

"Yes sir." Ti'Jan said, looking down at his chest feathers and then glancing over at Vanadei.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Thrommit whispered to the King.

"I think so, Thrommit, but I'm going to need a distraction from you first." Vanadei whispered back. "I'm going to go talk to him. Can you get within reach of one of those pipes?"

"Give me a minute. I should be able to." The ram replied.

"Good. Wait for my signal." Vanadei finished. "I'm liking this design. I'm going to have to use it on my sea ships when we get out of here."

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Jartpo dashed down the hallway while Vanadei and Thrommit were ushered away, then he climbed a corner pipe and wedged himself into the bowels and crawlspaces between floors of the ship. He could feel the ship was moving, and it felt to him like they were pressed for time... that or they were running headlong into a windstorm that might knock them around. Slowly he crawled through the inner workings and tried to get his bearings.

"Now where would they hide the communications room?" Jartpo asked himself. It would have to be in a location easily reachable by most of the crew, so that ruled out the captain's quarters or general social area. It would have to be protected from wind, suggesting it would not be right up against the ship's hull. It had to be isolated from sound, which ruled out being close to the main deck. That suggested to him that the communications chamber would be in the bottom area of the ship, probably not far at all from the storage room they were using to hide in.

As he crawled through the space between floors, he watched various Trei'kiya coming and going, doing their assorted tasks aboard the ship. He took careful note of conversations to try to get a feel for what was going on that they didn't already know, and by the time he actually found the communications room a few minutes later (under the engine room, where a baffle had been installed to block sound), he'd heard many interesting things.

A pair of Trei'kiya had mentioned a "brewing war" with House Reptsauri. That was a bad idea; his fellow reptiles were expert warriors and not only were they better armed and armored, they were better tacticians as well. An assault from the skies wouldn't do much to stop the reptilian resolve to see dead that which attacked them first. Another pair, obviously in love with each other, were discussing promotions and transfers. Judging from the excited tone, Jartpo figured that the Trei'kiya had more airships and gear than they were letting on. Was a species civil war brewing?

While underneath one room in particular, he'd heard a voice cursing "his captor" out, suggesting there were other Sycanesti being held on board the ship. The iguana had managed to reach the other side of a wall of the room and peered through a hole in the wooden boards; a huge golden eagle wearing heavy steel armor and brandishing a metal-tipped whip was taunting his prisoner, a chestnut-colored Clydesdale. The golden eagle was bigger than the equine was and had a pair of huge silver-and-Malaezium metal horns attached to and going through his skull, making him look like some unholy avian demon.

The equine on the other hand wore bracers marking him as a diplomat and while Jartpo didn't recognize the equine, he made sure to memorize his appearance so as to inform His Majesty once he returned to the hold. Kidnapping diplomats was something His Majesty severely frowned on and there would be debt collected for sure.

What worried Jartpo the most was Lord Tiraxxian. Jartpo had trailed the golden eagle some while looking for the communications room, and he'd followed the bird into what appeared to be a private office. There, Jartpo watched the golden eagle take off the artificial wing and then sit at a desk, taking out another communications watch. This one was made of bright green and silver reflective metal that hurt Jartpo's eyes when he looked at it. The watch itself seemed to emit smoke, and when Lord Tiraxxian picked up the watch he looked visibly pained.

The golden eagle had spoken into the watch for several minutes, but it was not in a language that the iguana understood. There were many dialects in the civilization of the Sycanesti, from the growls and barks of the canines to the snarls of the felines to the mooing and grunting of House Ovisoni, and so on. This one beat them all, and had a sinister, tongue-twisting sound to it. The voice on the other end sounded flat and unemotional.

Just as Jartpo was about to turn away and resume his search, he saw tentacles of darkness reach up from the watch's inside and enter Lord Tiraxxian through his eye sockets. For about thirty seconds, the golden eagle's eyes glowed a rich, deep amber with no pupils. The iguana was paralyzed with surprise, then he watched as the glow faded from the golden eagle's eyes and he left to attend to other business. Whatever this was, His Majesty had to be informed about it at once!

Once Lord Tiraxxian had left, Jartpo used his sharp claws to poke and pry at the hole in the wall he was looking out of. Wrenching a chunk of wood off, he twisted and squeezed until he was inside, then ran over to the desk. The watch was still on the desk and was locked shut by what appeared to be an enchantment, and remembering what he saw when the golden eagle had touched it, grabbed a dust cloth and used that to handle it. The watch was almost as big as the hand-hoof of someone from House Equanoan, and it required both of his claws to carry.

Once he had made off with his prize and crawled back through the wall, the iguana resumed his search for the communications room. When he came across a thick metal baffle installed in between the noisy engine room (where over the noise he could hear one of the Trei'kiya talking with Vanadei, sounding either impressed or excited) and a thick-walled room below him, he figured that the lower room had to be the communications room.

Gripping the wall with his foot claws as best he could so he couldn't fall, he proceeded to "walk" on the inside of the wall until he found a small hole where he could squeeze out. To his dismay the door to the chamber was locked and guarded by two harpy eagles. He did NOT want to get on their bad side; harpy eagles were notorious for having a sense of humor measured in negative numbers. Fortunately they were important enough to each have a watch dangling from a red cord around their waists.

Both of the guards stood stock-still as other Trei'kiya came and went, going in and out as they pleased after identifying themselves. While one of them paused to strike up a conversation, Jartpo made his move and quickly squeezed out of the hole. Holding his breath, he slowly crept up on the harpy eagle and slowly, very slowly began to saw through the cord with one claw, making sure that only the watch would come loose and not the entire cord itself, which would give him away.

Just as the watch dropped into his thieving claws, the door opened and out stepped Lord Tiraxxian, wearing a royal-quality black silk robe of station the likes of which Jartpo hadn't seen before. The robe was pitch black, but etched with glowing Malaezium thread that left a non-repeating pattern. Jartpo almost got hypnotized trying to find a "solution" to the robe's thread, then had to stop a gasp as he saw that the pattern was not a pattern at all but runes... runes depicting the victory of the Tyrannical Darkness over all living beings.

Slowly Jartpo looked down at the green metal watch, then back up at the robe before putting the stolen watch on top of that one and picking both up in his front claws. Waiting for his moment, he started moving as Lord Tiraxxian did, staying right next to the golden eagle's ankle the whole time. Once he made sure he was close to the hold, he broke away from underneath the robe and returned to the hold, quickly slipping into the darkness and hiding.

Falanna and Hervis were leaning back-to-back against each other, catching up on some sleep while Chalice's cage had been wheeled down to outside, so that it was being carried by the "talons" of the ship's hull. She was likely freezing her tail off, but would (probably) survive the trip. He leaned back against the wall across from them, hiding in the shadows. When Vanadei and Thrommit got back, they could figure out what to do next.

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Bobbybobby99

2016-01-08, 04:18 PM

Same dialogue recommendations as before, plus the fact that commas are your friend. There are quite a few places where the sentences feel like 'duh duh duh duh' instead of 'duh,dud duh duh, duh duh'. Otherwise looking pretty good.
"Into a truly controlled manor" should be "In a truly controlled manor" in 22.
Foxes should know that talking softly and quietly is much more effective than whispering. It carries less.
"Brewing war" should be "War brewing" or possibly "They're brewing war".
Why would Iguana McThief say "His majesty"? Perhaps if he was sucking up, but when it's just broadcasting his thoughts it seems out of character. Gasping is also not how I (or other readers would) picture him.

TaiLiu

2016-01-08, 05:06 PM

"He said, she said" also sounds boring as hell though. I like spicing things up.
Sure, but you can spice things up in a lot of other ways. Improve the dialogue, show body language, et cetera.

What do you think of the scenes so far, Tailiu?
I haven't read a lot, actually.

Lethologica

2016-01-08, 05:15 PM

I'll take things slowly since there's a lot to read through.

For now: the intro does not need to be part of the story you tell. If the alien stuff doesn't come up for the rest of the story, you do not need to present it just to justify setting your story on Anthro Planet for the reader; instead, put the reader on Anthro Planet and pretend you've always been there, and the reader will buy it. If the alien stuff does come up, it's as a dramatic revelation later in the story, so you shouldn't be giving away the information here.

Artman77

2016-01-08, 07:02 PM

I forgot to mention the bit about the Dobermans. I know this is an anthro story, but still, when I read that I thought you meant actual dogs. You could have said what they were wearing, or that they gripped their spears tightly or some other human like action and my brain would've auto-corrected immediately. As it was it kinda took me a minute.

Did I say I like the robo-ear and the gemstone eye? Cuz I do. They create a vivid image in my mind's eye.

I don't get why The hawk girl spent all that time getting a wizard to transform her crossbow and kill him, and then later she "shoots straight down so that the bolts would go into the earth, leaving no evidence." Does she want to frame someone, or not get caught? If she had the bolts transformed too, she wouldn't have to worry about the evidence; she wants it to be found. If she didn't get the bolts transform then the whole meeting with the wizard and the spell was a waste of time...

Read the "Meeting with god" part. Were the nine goddesses ascended from mankind, animalkind, or were they created from nothing, like the Terrible Darkness? For "gods" they seem pretty powerless. Was I supposed to be concerned for Harvis cuz the god wanted to use him as a pawn? I wasn't. There could be two people talking on the phone with a black screen during a movie, and if the bad guy on the other end was a gangster, I would be more worried for that protagonist. I would either step my game up to make them more scary, or be more ambiguous. (Cuz the unknown is scary too.)

Four weeks to be in a coma is fine for me. The guy almost died. What's not okay is how neat and tidy it is. Oh, you were dead! But the council found all the bad guys and rounded them all up, and they are all awaiting trial right now. Wolf girl says it all in one or two paragraphs like it's no big deal. I think that's why bobby99 suggested only four days? So it gave a chance for the main character (and the readers) learn a little bit at a time? It looks like another info dump to me. Take your time. Let the story breathe.

The trial was a bit barbaric. I found it ironic that humanity was judged for being evil by an alien race and then a "trial" is convened with less due process and less rules than we have now. So lets say someone almost kills you, right? They get no defense attorney? And if found guilty you can do whatever you want to them? Cut their arms/legs/balls off? Strap them to a table and torture them every day? Drown them a little every few minutes till they die? If they're a female and the victim is a male...

Anyway. The mercy thing was cool. It's a good thing to have in your back pocket til later down the road. I don't feel like Harvis had to explain himself to the jury. He was kinda monologueing there for a while and I didn't really want to read all that. If you were trying to reveal a little of the hawk's back-story I would recommend doing it later down the road. If you leave out Harris's mental detective work, it would make it seem less like he was justifying something he didn't want to do, and more like he was just a really nice guy. Plus, it would be more of a shocker to the hawk, and she would be like "wow. I wonder why he did that" Then, if they ever did meet down the line, harvis could explain to her why at that time, and both the hawk and the reader would be like; wow. Harvis is a cool dude...

Artman77

2016-01-08, 07:30 PM

Is Jartpo a rabbit or what? I must've missed it. Each new character should get a tiny description when they show up, to introduce them to the reader. I find myself reading all the action and dialogue and sipping over all the background info entirely. Most of your paragraphs seem to start with Harris did this, or Fellana did, that or some other person, or person's stuff, or a house. Try starting a paragraphs with something besides a pronoun. The room. The air. The temperature, a feeling, a noise.

The background info that accompanies everything is always presented in the same format, making it repetitive and hard to keep reading. If it's not important to the story right now, leave it out. If it is, don't tell us; SHOW us...

Lethologica

2016-01-08, 09:50 PM

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-09, 01:48 AM

Scene 1. You get exiled if you're not thought-provoking enough? Damn, as thesis defenses go, this one's pretty hardcore. Speaking of which, the entire history of the Sycanesti is a pretty broad topic, and there are many criers--is Hervis maybe responsible for a particular period or aspect of their history?

Yeah, there are over a dozen Criers, from ancient history (Hervis) to local history and a few other things. We'll never see 'em as it stands, though.

It was easier for me to do the clothing backstory immediately. I've had someone else already mention Falanna was like a kick to the face on her introduction like that. I was warring internally over "go family friendly, and have clothes, or realistic and likely none, because animals" at the time. It gets a rewording pass once I finally decide what the hell I want.

The fortune teller bits have yet to be written. They WILL be a big factor. Especially when they find out who is giving 'em...

"That better not be who I think it is. If so, that's DAMN cliche." -- Hervis
"Shaddap." -- Me

*Stuff*

"Iguana McThief? Is THAT what he's calling me?" -- Jartpo

And yeah, that "not sucking up" part'll be edited. Vanadei prefers no titles unless he's sitting on his throne... mostly to stay in line with the nobles...

I'll take things slowly since there's a lot to read through.

The intro is going to be 90% pared down completely. I may have it be discovered knowledge by Hervis and company later. THAT'LL piss off some of the team...

*Stuff and Things*

I figured anthro story would give it away, but sure, I can make that clearer on my next editing pass.

Chalice is good with inventions.
What she lacked, was a good plot thread. Later she stays in the background despite all attempts to bring her out for a romance angle... and I had to get rid of her to make room for the rest of the party.

"Yeah, fatally, if you'll recall." -- Hervis
"But of course. You're the protagonist, I'm the author. Authors are *******s and I can't have you daydreaming about her when there's stuff to be done." -- Me

The wizard was on orders from the Sacred Nest. Not HER orders. She was a part of the assault team (hence the numbers when she reports back... "bird one, bird two", etc; she's Bird Eight).

The Nine Goddesses were ascended from some of the original animalkind. How, I don't know yet. They ARE powerless right now. That's kind of the point, they're not supposed to act and thus let free will continue to exist. This... may be a problem later.

"It's Falanna, not Wolf Girl. You're talking like those damned Trei'kiya that want us all dead." -- Falanna
"Quit backtalking the pre-readers, Falanna." -- Me

Waking up after the coma was supposed to be another info dump as Hervis gets brought up to speed.

Re: The Trial -- Yeah. That's kind of the point. The irony is staggering. Hervis surprised me with his mercy move. Ta'Maxia's original fate was to be sent home to her family. That... would not have gone over well. Maybe Hervis doesn't need to explain himself to the "jury", but it impresses his mindset on Ta'Maxia. The monologuing was intentional. If you think it should be kept as a shocker, I can move that to the next scene while he talks to his friends... and Ta'Maxia can find out later and realize how good this particular rabbit is.

And Jartpo's an iguana. It says so right as he's introduced, when he's picking the lock before Hervis gives his big speech. :)

"A rabbit? That's worse than being called Iguana McThief!" -- Jartpo
"Maybe having green scales and a reptilian lineage isn't your thing?" -- Hervis

Thanks for all the information, everyone. This is very useful to me for my next editing run before I write the next fifty or sixty thousand words. I know about the "show vs tell" part --- normally my enslaved editor dragon gives me good suggestions and comparisons but she is off writing her own thing right now (we both did NaNo last year, so she has her own manuscript to edit). I'll have s'more scenes up shortly-ish.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-09, 02:04 AM

I'm not pleased about Scene 23, if only because it's jarring and Hervis sort of has no reason to do what he does. Especially directly to the muzzle of his King...

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"So those are the stories." Jartpo finished. The airship's speed had increased and Chalice had been brought back inside to both shut Hervis up and to "protect" the cargo – apparently someone was paying them a bonus for a live capture.

Thrommit squinted at the silver and green metal watch. "Reflective green metal is one of the more obscure symbols of the Tyrannical Darkness. It represents false security, the green of an open field laden with resources beckoning the unwary or foolish. You were saying something about some kind of 'different' language?"

The iguana nodded. "And the fact that his eyes turned amber. I'll never forget that color as long as I live."

Thrommit looked concerned. "Amber, both the color and the material, is one of the Tyrannical Darkness' favorite colors. Many sacrifices to it are done in amber-studded circles and altars. No doubt about it, he's entered into a pact of some sort."

"Didn't you say you spoke to the Tyrannical Darkness itself?" Chalice asked, looking at Hervis.

"You don't think I should...?" Hervis looked down at the watch. The group was gathered around in a corner of the hold. Outside there were guards stationed, but the noise of travel prevented anything from being heard through the doors. The group was relatively safe.

Vanadei shook his head. "No. Not until we can be in a securely, properly warded chamber."

"So what's the plan?" Falanna asked. "We certainly won't live long once we reach the Grand Bristlecone..."

Vanadei looked up at her. "We have two options. Option one is to return to the ship's engine room and stage an accident, or have Thrommit go full-on enraged. I've managed to turn one of the newer recruits who was excited to have Hervis on board. He seems really wrapped up in the idea of duty over everything else. He didn't sing like a bluebird, but I've gotten some... unique information from him we can use later. His name is Ti'Jan, and he's a real youngster. I'm not sure what he's doing at a posting like this. The fact they're sending Sycanesti so young to places like this worries me."

"That bluebird couldn't sing if he was professionally trained." Thrommit snorted.

"Option two is contact Lord Veron and drop the act. I learned from the recruit that he is absolutely twitchy and will flee at the first sign of trouble. He might order the ship's controls destroyed and the ship abandoned to crash, since they can just fly away. There should be some escape chambers we can find to escape with, and Ti'Jan could help us find them."

Jartpo shook his head. “I didn't see any in my sneakings about. Why build in an escape method for non-flying prisoners?”

"He wouldn't turn coat so quickly, would he? And if he could, he could turn on us just as quickly if he was that easily capable of betrayal." Falanna said, picking up the silver watch that had a connection to Lord Veron, glancing behind her. Hervis was playing with her tail to pass the time.

"He probably would if he saw everyone abandoning him. If I can get him to just doubt things a little, we should be good to go." Vanadei replied. "Now, Jartpo, what about this kidnapped diplomat you brought up?"

Now it was Jartpo's turn to look concerned as he explained about the golden eagle, the equine wearing the bracers, the horns, and the armor that likely weighed more than the golden eagle did.

"The armor has to be for show. No way would they be able to fly or fight wearing that." Vanadei said.

"I don't know. He looked way too confident. Maybe they've designed something new?" Jartpo asked.

"We need to find that diplomat then, and get him out of there." Vanadei said.

"Wait. Your Majesty. I know you said you want a clean environment for this, but..." Hervis said.

Vanadei glared at the rabbit with a snarl. "No. N. O. We are NOT contacting the Tyrannical Darkness. I won't lose you to its wiles!"

"I didn't say contact in a meaningful way, did I?" Hervis asked. "Besides, I have an idea."

Now Falanna growled, teeth exposed. "Are you CRAZY? If you strike a deal wi--"

Hervis held up his hands in a defensive gesture. "I never said that, either. Just... do you trust me?"

Everyone looked at each other.

"No, but I expect you're going to be stubborn about this and do it anyway." Groaned Chalice.

"Look." Hervis said. "All of this action against me has shown that I need to take a more active part in things. I can't just sit back and run like... like some prey animal for them to catch! I'm not going to enter into a deal with it. It didn't WANT me to make a deal with it. I'm just going to speak with it briefly."

"We all know the lies of the Tyrannical Darkness, Hervis." Jartpo said, putting a claw on his friend's shoulder. "It can be... persuasive."

"I'll ask again. Do. You. trust me." Hervis said, looking at the watch. "Just for a moment."

Vanadei shook his head. "Hervis, don't you dare."

Hervis locked eyes with his liege. This was the King of all the Sycanesti in the kingdom, one of five kingdoms that were on the brink of a destruction Hervis was sure would come about if he didn't do anything. Vanadei's eyes held the chill of a trained killer, but he made no move to keep Hervis away from the watch, preferring to let the rabbit choose his own fate.

With rabbit speed, Hervis activated the reflective silver and green watch that was laying on a cloth as they sat in a half circle in front of Chalice's cage. The watch popped open and began to smoke briefly, then the Diathrylium crystals inside began to glimmer a dull orange before becoming brighter and brighter, soon lighting the room in a harsh orange light. Then, to the surprise of everyone else...

What do you want now, servant of the shadow. The voice sounded slightly tired.

"I don't want anything. This is just a social call." Hervis said.

Well, this is... interesting. My... servant was proudly bragging about capturing you.

"Yeah, yeah. Not for much longer." Hervis replied. "What did he say?"

I cannot tell you. Asking for information could be interpreted as a desire for exchange of information... which implies a bargain.

A thin wisp of smoke issued from the central Diathrylium crystal and flattened, opening on one side as if it were an eye. It opened fully around, appearing as a small brown sphere that could see in all directions at once before switching back to two dimensions only and appearing as a bloodshot deer eye.

You have quite the menagerie, Hervis.

Chalice gasped. Jartpo was rooted to the spot. Vanadei was glaring at Hervis and looked ready to hunt him down. Thrommit and Falanna's jaws both dropped wide open.

"They're my friends. I couldn't not include them." Hervis said with a shrug. The smoke-eye floated up and regarded each of them in turn, stopping briefly on Thrommit.

Interesting. I can see your heart, ram. You... have doubts about the Nine Goddesses, and in the past you've mercilessly murdered for money in cold blood.

Thrommit gasped and looked like he was about to faint.

"Be nice. They're trying to stop the Trei'kiya, same as I am." Hervis chastised. "Their pasts or past crimes have no importance here."

A snort. Then why have you contacted Me, Hervis? My servant will realize his communication device is missing and will not be pleased when he uses My power to locate it. When he finds it here in the hold..."

Hervis just wrung his hands in anticipation. "You can see my heart too then, right?"

I see. You wanted Me to say outright I don't wish you to fail, so that the others understand and have their fears soothed.

"Somehow that doesn't assure me." Vanadei grumbled.

Fine, I don't wish you to fail... but I cannot alter reality or bend the rules in your favor, Hervis! You're already on quaking ground with King Tenquin and a few minutes more will open a chasm of no return. If you think his wrath might be bad, don't tempt Me with displaying Mine.

"Can you?" Hervis taunted. "You just said you can't alter reality in my favor. That means you can't alter it to my disadvantage either. Not without a bargain, right? Earlier at our last meeting you said you could bend the rules, remember? Which is it, Darkness?"

"Nine Goddesses shield us... Nine Goddesses protect us..." Thrommit was saying, over and over. He felt... drained, like his power and devotion was being physically drained away.

You think you can hold power over Me and demand Me to dance as your puppet? "show me your anger here, show me how to get out of this problem there"?

Chalice was quivering, appearing ready to burst out into another round of emotional sobbing while Jartpo sat down hard with a "WHAT?!" expression. Vanadei was flat out snarling under his breath, and both Falanna and Thrommit were looking at each other like their whole world was about to come down.

Are you entering into a bargain with me? My bending of the rules in exchange for your success? The Tyrannical Darkness' tone turned irritated... but also seductive.

"Yeah... no. You don't need a bargain, Darkness." Hervis growled. "Things will get bent and we both know it because it is in your best interests. The moment I stop 'helping' you, it all collapses. I'm supposed to be successful here thanks to a prophecy, so I don't have to do much, do I? That IS why they're trying to stop me, right?"

That's not how it works and you know it. Success isn't assured, Hervis!

Hervis winced. His original plan was to irritate the Tyrannical Darkness in order to make it misspeak and give them something else they could use, such as who the golden eagle in armor was, or who the diplomat was, or something about the airship that could be exploited to their advantage. Irritated himself, the rabbit lashed out. "Spare me, Darkness. Either bend the rules to make an interesting story for the threads of fate, or –"

The central crystal in the watch shattered, with the others growing dim and then fading almost to a solid black. The connection was severed and the eye dissolved into black, foul-smelling smoke.

Chalice tried to lighten the mood. "When we get home young man, you're in for such a spanking."

"Before or after I throw him in the stocks, if not the deepest pits of my castle dungeon?!" Vanadei snarled. "Hervis, what in the Tyrannical Darkness was that for?"

Hervis looked down. "I'm sorry. I got irritated and demanding. I was trying to get the--"

"Trying, nothing!" Vanadei said, grabbing Hervis by his chest fur and sticking his muzzle right into the rabbit's face. "The Tyrannical Darkness is kept OUT of this reality for a reason, and now you go poking it with a stick thinking you're all clever! Leave the clever tricks to us vulpines, lapine! I don't care what you were 'trying' to get. Let fate weave herself an interesting story on her ow--"

From above them, they heard a massive explosion.

"I think things just got a lot more interesting!" Falanna cried.

The ship rumbled, then there were a series of explosions from near the hold.

"That was the engine... room..." Jartpo said, glaring at Hervis.

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"Well, I have tonight's meal..." Falanna said. "You guys coming around the fire?"

"What did you catch, another deer?" Jartpo asked.

Falanna nodded, slinging the corpse off her shoulders next to the newly-built fire that Thrommit was kneeling next to.

The ship had had its balloon shredded in some kind of explosion, and then the engine room had blown. As it turned out, Vanadei had rigged some of the wires in a short circuit, which would have given them reason to return and "repair" the problem. Then he was going to speak to Ti'Jan and recruit him to the cause. When both the balloon used to keep the airship in the sky burst into a billion pieces and the engine room exploded at the same time though, all plans went out the window.

The ship had begun to fracture into pieces in mid-air as the energy stored in the “unidentified alloy” let loose all at once the moment it was hit with an electrical surge. The Trei'kiya, terrified, took off and ran, leaving Hervis and his friends to their fate.

Thrommit had conjured another shield-bubble around those he could, but he couldn't fit in the cage and Chalice at the same time. If an object was even the slightest bit out of the shield, it would not be protected, and anything inside of an object only partially covered by the shield wouldn't be protected at all either. Falanna had tried to rip a bar off the cage to allow her to escape, but the cage held and there was nothing that could be done.

When the hold shattered, the cage had fallen away from the shield bubble, and plummeted towards the ground. Ta'Maxia had seen this and had sunk her talons into the roof of the cage, but couldn't hold on as the cage was big and very solidly made. In mid-air she switched tactics and flew alongside, trying to grip a bar with her talons, then had attempted to fly or at least try to slow the descent.

When this happened, the sudden arrest for a few seconds threw Chalice against the back of the cage and there was a snap. She had had her head twisted between the bars in an attempt squeeze out just as the hold was breaking apart and she had become stuck. When the falling cage was halted for a few brief seconds, her neck had been wrenched as she was thrown to the back and she'd died instantly as her neck snapped like a twig.

The weight of the cage won out in the end, and rather than having her talons ripped off, Ta'Maxia let go. The cage crashed to the ground and splintered into large chunks, and Chalice was introduced to the ground face first. If the snapping of her neck hadn't killed her, the fall would have.

Hervis sat quite a distance away, with his back to the campfire. The biggest wreckage of the Trei'kiya airship was laying in ruins nearby and would serve as adequate shelter for the night. The moon was beginning to set and the group would need to rest before making it back to the capital city in the morning. Jartpo sat with him, talking to him, while the other survivors were gathering around the fire.

Falanna looked over at Hervis with concern. His ears were down and his head was in his hands, crying over the freshly covered grave.

"Will he be all right?" Vanadei asked, looking down at the silver watch. The watch that was the connection to the Tyrannical Darkness had been destroyed in the crash. "I kind of lost my temper there. I kind of feel bad."

Ta'Maxia shook her head. "No, and that is what worries me. I haven't seen eyes as dark as Hervis' in a long long time. He's broken. Worse, it's not his fault."

"What do you mean?" Thrommit asked.

"I was pacing the ship, flying below and to the right of it. I saw this... this shadow appear in the sky overhead, near the ship. I looked up and saw what appeared to be a metal-coated winged lizard... thing. Imagine Jartpo, but immense, with wings, and made of metal. It was some sort of giant mechanical construct!"

Vanadei tilted his head, ears perked rigidly. "Go on."

Ta'Maxia nodded, gesturing with her wings. "The construct then slashed out the main balloon keeping the airship airborne. This normally isn't a problem because normally we have backup systems and wings that can fold out of the ship's sides. The... thing... opened its mouth and in it I could see a series of nine pipes in a circle around a center pipe. The pipes fired explosive bolts that tore into the left side of the ship like fire through paper. Then, it seemed to... dissolve into clouds, or mist, or something, and flow away and evaporate as the ship went down. I couldn't track it if I tried!"

Vanadei looked unhappy. "I've never heard of something like that, and if the Trei'kiya have something like THAT in their possession... well, I'll have to deal with that. I've looked at the stars and can judge where we went down; we were going to the northwest, towards the Grand Bristlecone. We're about one hundred miles from the capital; if we head southeast and then east, we should be able to get there in a few days."

Thrommit looked up at the sky. "Groups move at the rate of the slowest in the group... figure roughly what, two and a half miles per hour if we make good time. That's thirty miles a day if we keep up a 12 hour march, which I do not think any of us are equipped to do. We're without food, water and shelter. Falanna and you can only do so much, no offense Your Majesty."

"Please, call me Vanadei." Vanadei said. "And I agree. If we cut that in half to maintain our energy... fifteen miles a day is STILL a long distance per day. That's a week's worth of travel, maybe a little longer." He put his hand to his chin and looked down, thinking.

While Thrommit, Falanna and Vanadei talked strategy, Jartpo was with Hervis, trying to console him.

"It wasn't your fault." Jartpo said.

Hervis rubbed his bloodshot eyes. "Wasn't it? Look what I did, trying to demand or trick something of the Tyrannical Darkness in a roundabout way."

"We all make mistakes, and I know you. You wouldn't have been that stubborn unless you were truly convinced you were right. The engine explosion was Vanadei's fault, he was planning something." Jartpo said, looking down at the grave. Ta'Maxia had explained what she had seen to Hervis already, but he was having a very hard time trying to keep the events separate based on his demand to the Tyrannical Darkness of wanting things to get interesting. "We need to leave in the morning and get to the capital city, then we can plan how to take the Trei'kiya down."

"I've lost everything. Mom, dad, Chalice." Hervis said. He'd literally cut her iron breast implant out of her cold body, and had looped it on a small chain to wear as a necklace. Both gems in its middle had shattered, leaving a burnt scar over the center of it. "And for what exactly? I didn't ask for this... I didn't ask for this!" He threw up his hands in defeat.

Then they both heard a separate voice from the shadows. "Help... me..."

Jartpo and Hervis turned to see a form stumble out of the darkness. The Equanoan diplomat Jartpo had seen on the airship had survived!

"We got a live one!" Jartpo cried as the others looked up, then began to run over as quickly as possible.

"Wow! Are you okay?!" Falanna cried as they raced over.

"I've got this." Thrommit said, placing his hand-hooves on the equine's shoulders and channeling energy through his devotion. The equine slowly managed to stand as Thrommit sat down hard, drained after the spell was over.

"I know you." Vanadei said. "You're Torvanian, one of the diplomats from Racecircle Square, in the center of the southern Equanoan lands."

Torvanian let out a long sigh. "Yes, Your Majesty. I'd ask why you're out here but I don't think I want to know."

"You were on board?" Vanadei asked.

The equine lowered his head and closed his eyes. "Ambushed in my own home by a bunch of vermin who took me to this warrior. They've developed what they call "armored plate" which is enchanted with the blood of race horses to provide speed and weightlessness. Some avians can fly with a heavy suit of steel armor on, using its added weight as an advantage."

"What did they want with you?" Vanadei growled, more aimed at birds in general than the equine. He looked over at the wreckage. Equanoans were known for their luck, so it was kind of no surprise that he was still standing.

"Political trade for enemies of the crown, is my guess. I never found out the entire plan while I was being..." He shuddered. "I don't come from a racing line."

"I managed to see you in front of that golden eagle..." Jartpo said.

Torvanian shrugged. "He calls himself Sir Korviak The Bold, but I don't think that's his real name. Fancied himself a warlord because his armor was heavily enchanted, and he constantly bragged about it."

"They've got enough firepower to overthrow me." Vanadei growled, slowly getting his edge back like when he was yelling at Hervis. "Yet they haven't struck yet. They could easily overwhelm me if they wanted. Most of my troops are ground-based and I only have so many catapults and more to deal with an air threat. They can possibly control Blackness." He nervously looked up at Thrommit. "Yet, they don't. Why?"

"I think it's time we found out." Jartpo said, trying to stay out of the equine's way as they made their way to the fire. "Do you still have the watch that reaches Lord Veron?"

The fox shook his head. "It was destroyed in the crash. I consider it a good thing, it means we can keep the secret for a while longer and plan for a counter. I have a better idea, now that I think about it. Most priests know a simple spell that takes them to their sanctuary. Thrommit, do you have a spell of sanctuary available?"

"No. I favor combat spells and defensive spells. Travel and movement usually aren't part of my spell set. I'm the heavy hitter in a group should violence need to be applied. I don't need escape spells unless I'm doing it wrong." Said Thrommit. "Of course, my maul was broken into splinters in the crash. I'd need to go back to the church and get a new one consecrated if I wanted to use any magic stronger than healing or moderate shield spells, and travel spells are a fair bit harder than piecing flesh back together or putting up a shield of light."

"Yeah, sorry about that." Hervis said, ears lowering and looking away.

"Then we'll have to do this the hard way and simply walk home." Vanadei grunted with a grumble. "Eat up, everyone who can. We'll forage food for the herbivores on the way tomorrow after we take what we can from the wreckage. Get some sleep after the meal. We need rest."

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Meanwhile, in Lord Veron's Estate...

"Well, that didn't go according to plan, now did it?" Lady Tiatrana teased.

"Shut up, woman." Lord Veron growled, looking over maps. "They went down... here... which puts them several days walk to the capital city. I can delay them but not stop them... hmmm..."

"Oh, stop over-thinking it before you burn out the brain cell you have left." Lady Tiatrana said.

The raven paid his partner in crime no attention. "Now do I send a force to pick them up with overwhelming odds, or do I ambush them in the capital city, when they're exhausted from travel..."

Lady Tiatrana left the room and went down the hall, looking out of the window towards the Grand Bristlecone far in the distance. There, weapons of war were being made, mercenaries were being trained, and "Sycanesti of interest" were being tortured for secrets of all kinds. A war with the mammals was brewing and she was going to be at the forefront of it all, commanding the armies to strike down the lesser beings from the sky while they could only run around like, well, the prey that they were. That, and she was a psychopath that liked causing trouble.

Her watch clicked, then beeped. Reaching down to her waist she clicked it open. "This is Lady Tiatrana... report."

"This is Sir Korviak." Came a low-voiced reply. "The Equanoan diplomat survived the crash and is with the operative formerly known as Dust Watcher now. That rabbit you mentioned is with him, as well as a priest of House Ovisoni, an iguana I think is from the thieves' guild... a wolf who bears the ribbons of a whore... and Bird Eight."

Lady Tiatrana blinked. "Formerly?"

The watch clicked into static for a few seconds, then a response came. "It's His Majesty himself. I couldn't believe it either but his voice is unmistakable."

Lady Tiatrana's eyes snapped wide open. She could have the king killed now and no one would ever realize it!

"Excellent. Can you eliminate them once and for all?" She said, speaking quickly.

"I believe I can, yes." Sir Korviak replied. Lady Tiatrana heard the sound of a blade being slowly unsheathed. "Do you want me to bring them back alive?"

Lady Tiatrana thought for a moment. It would be a wonderful way to show up Lord Veron and make him scrape and bow to her for a while. On the other hand, these insects had been a thorn in their sides for long enough and if left alive, they might escape. "No. You may indulge yourself at your leisure, Sir Korviak. But do not underestimate them. If you fail, don't come back."

"You'll see me before three risings of the sun." Then there was a click as Sir Korviak shut his watch.

Lady Tiatrana closed her watch with an evil grin on her beak. "I'll see you dead in three days, you ignorant fool." If he succeeded, she'd have him killed for regicide and thus get prestige in the eyes of the public. If he failed, well, nothing of importance was lost... he was an excellent fighter, but too ambitious. With his special suit of armor, that made her... nervous.

Sir Korviak closed his watch and looked far in the distance down at the camp that had been made by the wreckage. Hervis had gone back to the little grave while the others were salvaging what they could and it looked like the iguana was trying to rig up a wheelbarrow or makeshift wagon that the Taur could drag behind him. He figured he wouldn't have much of a problem wiping them out; none of them wielded magic except for the priest, and his maul had been destroyed, leaving him at a disadvantage for spells.

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Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-09, 10:56 PM

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"Hervis?" Falanna asked. "We're about ready to go."

"... Yeah." Hervis replied, smoothing the last of the grave over.

"You okay?" Falanna looked down at him.

Hervis sadly looked down at the grave. "No, but I think I will be in time, Falanna. I can't let this get to me. I just can't. My parents didn't raise a quitter.”

Falanna knew what he meant. As pack was everything to her, family was everything to a Lapandar, especially a lapine.

"I still feel it's my fault. My parents wouldn't have been taken if they hadn't been outside that night." Hervis said, picking himself up off the ground. "Chalice wouldn't have died if she hadn't gotten caught before the airship."

"If I hadn't looked for her, she would have walked right into an ambush and we never would have known." Falanna replied.

Hervis stood up. "I'll manage."

Falanna nodded. "Good, the others are waiting. Let's get a move on."

The two walked over to the rest of the group, where Jartpo had built a small cart out of salvaged wood, rope and whatever else he could find. It wasn't much, but it could hold a few baskets of supplies as they foraged along the way for food and water.

Vanadei was looking up at the sky, trying to get his bearings. "We've got a few days of walking ahead of us. Thrommit, I want you to stay in the center with the cart. I want everyone to imagine a clock with Thrommit at the center. Jartpo, I want you at the noon position, playing scout."

"Yes, sire." Jartpo replied, cracking his claws like one would crack knuckles.

"Hervis and Falanna, glad to see you joined us." Vanadei continued. "Falanna will take the '10' position, while Hervis gets the '2' position. Ta'Maxia will take the '6' position behind us, remaining in the air. I'll hang back at the '4' position and Torvanian can take the '8' position. If something follows us, it'll be following big tracks like Torvanian's and Ta'Maxia can spot anyone approaching from a distance."

Hervis nodded and leaned on a new combat staff he'd spent all night whittling away out of a huge tree branch while watching sleeplessly over Chalice's grave. The staff was longer than he was, but he was used to that, and now he didn't feel so defenseless.

"When we get back I'll mark a map for the location of Chalice's grave, so Hervis can return to it when needed." Vanadei finished. "Let's move out!"

The group began to slowly head out across the savanna away from the Grand Bristlecone. In the direction they were headed, it would slowly turn to forest before becoming plains the last day or so of travel, and they needed to get into the forest to hide from any flying patrols of Trei'kiya.

Hervis made small talk with Torvanian. "What made you become a diplomat?"

The equine shrugged. "I always had a way with words with my family." He replied, smiling a bit. "One liners, puns, things like that. I began to work on accents, then work on impressions of my friends to make them laugh. It only grew from there, and I can mimic an Atlacentia accent just as well as a Taedort'l or Five Swords accent. Going into merchantry was the next logical step."

"I can only guess you have stories then." Hervis said, looking behind him at the grave site which rapidly was disappearing in the distance as they moved. Ta'Maxia was taking long looks around everywhere.

"A few. You'd be surprised how many feel... entitled to things they're not during negotiations in the town squares over everyday goods." Torvanian said. "I had to learn how to fight in order to protect my merchant stall. I got tired of the constant arguing rather than negotiating and decided that if I was going to be stuck in disagreements, then they'd better be worth something more valuable than easily-replaceable goods. I requested a diplomatic posting first to Atlacentia, then to Shi'an-Wei. Then I wound up back here when they kicked all the diplomats out."

Hervis arched his eyebrows. Shi'an-Wei was far, far to the east, across two oceans. It was known as the Forgotten Kingdom due to its distance.

"I heard about that." Vanadei said. "Public opinion is one of serious isolationist tendencies over there, and the nobles just decided to kick out anyone not native to the area."

"You of course, know more..." Jartpo implied with a smile.

Vanadei shrugged. "Oh, it's true. The lords and kings of Shi'an-Wei have long wanted to "shut down" against the world and keep to themselves, much as Taedort'l did with the MBI."

"The MBI?" Falanna asked, taking a glance at Thrommit. The ram was muttering prayers under his breath, zoning out in what appeared to be a form of meditation as he played the role of the pack beast. The cart was lashed to his shoulders by way of a jury-rigged clumsy wooden brace that creaked and splintered a little as he moved. The ground was even and didn't slow him down one bit, so he wouldn't have many problems. Most of the larger horned Sycanesti retained their ability to get on all fours and walk normally; being a Taur Thrommit didn't have to.

Vanadei snorted. "The Massive Barrier of Impassiveness. Typical Taedort'l naming style... what we say in two clear words they say in about eight hundred and fifteen useless ones. It's a giant blizzard dozens of miles in diameter meant to keep all but the hardiest of Sycanesti travelers out."

"And we get to go there!" Hervis joked.

"Later, maybe. We need to get back to the capital city first." Vanadei said.

"Crow approaching!" Ta'Maxia cried out.

Vanadei looked up recognizing the big scar on the front of the crow's chest. "It's Ti'Jan!"

"You survived!" Ti'Jan landed next to Thrommit. "Nice cart, hoof-walker."

Thrommit snorted, ignoring him.

"I see you did as well." Vanadei said.

"Yeah, I did." Ti'Jan replied. "After the MML attacked, I hid."

"The what?" Ta'Maxia asked.

"Mist-Metal Lizard. It's what popped the airship balloon." Ti'Jan said with a grin. "I'm proud to say I contributed some design time on that thing."

Everyone exchanged looks.

"Sounds Taedort'l in origin." Vanadei said.

The crow nodded. "We've had our people there for a while. We control their nobles, same as we're going to do with the other kingdoms."

"Interesting. How do you control them?" Vanadei asked. He had no trace of the accent left from being Dust Watcher. "And why did it attack us?"

The crow shrugged, looking at the rest of the assembled group. "That, I don't know. All I know is that the upper crust in the Grand Bristlecone was crowing about performing some kind of enchantment in that kingdom centuries ago and that the enchantment recently was renewed as full control on 'those in power'."

"Heh. You're more than you let on." Vanadei replied.

The crow's expression turned serious. "As are you... Your Majesty. I knew who you were the moment I saw you in the engine room. I couldn't say anything at the time... but... could... could I ask you for asylum?"

The party paused.

"Why? What do you need protection from?" Vanadei asked.

Ti'Jan wrung his wings nervously as Ta'Maxia landed. "It's... it's going too far. I've seen some things I would rather not have. The upper crust of the Grand Bristlecone seem to have entered into numerous pacts with the Tyrannical Darkness, and...” The avian's shoulders sagged with a sigh. “I've had enough. I might like 'prey' as little as the next Trei'kiya," He glanced over at Hervis. "But what they're doing with these summonings is too far."

"What?! Summonings?!" Vanadei's eyebrows shot up. If it was one thing that pushed all his buttons at once, it was summoning things out of the dark and sending them to reap terror on his fellow Sycanesti. He'd lost a childhood friend that way, and dabbling with the Tyrannical Darkness was the reason he'd lost his temper with Hervis earlier.

"I don't know much, since my family is only 'lesser' nobility of a tiny 'sub-House', but most of the highest nobles..." Ti'Jan said. "They're... they're corrupted for sure."

"That makes sense with what I saw while aboard the ship." Jartpo said. "Lord Tiraxxian's eyes turned amber while I was watching him."

"A sure sign of corruption." Thrommit growled. "What do we do, Your Majesty?"

Hervis looked up from loading the cart with one or two small baskets of berries he had been picking along the way. "We can't just tell him no, can we?"

"I'm not about to let one of my fellow Sycanesti rot over anguish based on what he has seen." Vanadei said flatly, gritting his teeth. "The House of Trei'kiya will be dealt with, in full, once we get back to the capital city. Asylum granted. Fly above Jartpo and watch for trouble ahead of us, all right?"

"Yes and thank you, Your Majesty." Ti'Jan replied, launching himself back into the sky and keeping pace with the iguana.

"Summonings. They have gone too far." Vanadei growled as they began to continue, at a slightly slower pace. "All right. Let's watch our backs, and the rest of you stay at your clock points but shrink the circle a little. The fur on the back of my neck is raising up and I feel like we're being watched."

The group made excellent time, covering roughly ten miles the first day and a good eight the second. The savanna slowly gave way to grassland, where berries were rare but grasses were in abundance (and neither the herbivores nor carnivores of the party had any trouble hunting for edibles), and then gave way to a light forest. One thing they noticed in their travels was that while food was still plentiful, it was far less plentiful than one would have expected of unspoiled terrain.

The group stopped for the night on the edge of the forest, camping next to a hill with a small cave in it. Scattered around the hill were several large stones that had obviously been placed there in ages past, yet some were falling down and others looked cracked and weathered as if disused. Thrommit identified it as a former druid's circle, but half the stones were gone and the other half damaged by the elements. The place was abandoned, its protective magic long gone.

"This is a good spot to rest. We're here for the night." Vanadei said. "Hervis, will you and Falanna get the campfire going?"

"I'm beat. My wings feel like they're going to fall off." Ti'Jan said.

"Yours and mine both. I'm not sure how much longer we can keep up the airborne scouting, Vanadei." Ta'Maxia twittered, sounding breathless.

"We've got this." Vanadei said matter-of-factly. "Just a few more days and we'll be home, and I will treat you all like you yourself were kings and queens."

"While you were scouting the skies," Jartpo said. "I've picked up a trail."

"Where does it lead?" Thrommit asked.

Jartpo pointed past Torvanian. "There, into the cave. I came across signs this spot was approached from another direction."

"Indeed it was." Came a voice from inside the cave."

Falanna paused for a moment. "Teralius?! Is that...?!"

An enormous wolf with muscles on top of muscles emerged from the cave with a big smile on his muzzle. He towered over Falanna by a good foot or more, and had several scars both on his lower legs and upper arms. Over his shoulder was a huge scabbard with a two handed sword comfortably resting in it. Attached to one thigh was a water skin and to his arms bracers denoting himself as a warrior of the Felcan'lu.

"Teralius! What in the Nine Goddesses are you doing here!" Falanna rushed into the big wolf's arms as he knelt down for her and gave him a huge hug.

"Out exploring. I was meditating when I heard your... party approach." Teralius replied, nodding over at Hervis. "Good job Hervis, back at the Games... wait a minute, is that the hawk that...?" He looked up and over at Ta'Maxia.

"We're good." Hervis said. "She's a friend, not a foe."

Teralius looked from side to side. "Falanna... Hervis... ... and Your Majesty? What's going on here?"

"Long story." Vanadei said. "For now, we're headed home."

Teralius drew his sword. It had a handle of polished red marble and a serrated steel blade that had been tinted yellow somehow. "Then let me escort you home!"

"You know this guy?" Hervis asked Falanna.

"Remember when I said I had a big warrior I had to go see back before the Games?" Falanna asked before hooking a hand in his direction. Teralius gave Hervis a cheesy grin and adopted a macho combat pose. "That's him."

"And I quote, 'Yours is more impressive than his and his knot is bigger than your fist.'" Hervis joked. "You called him an idiot, too."

"Hey! No fair, Falanna!" Teralius mock-protested. The she-wolf just rolled her eyes and punched the big warrior good-naturedly in the shoulder.

"Well, happy reunions aside, I think it's time to prepare to bed down for the night." Vanadei said with a yawn. "We're losing the light quickly, and our avian friends need a break from kissing the sky's ass." He grinned.

"Beats licking dirt as a ground walker." Ti'Jan said, folding his wings over his chest.

"I'll take first watch." Thrommit offered.

"How big is that cave?" Vanadei asked, looking up at Teralius.

"It should be able to comfortably hold you all." Teralius replied, sheathing his blade then looking up at the sky. The sunset was beautiful and he wanted to take it in. "No campfire in there though; there's no smoke hole in the ceiling. I'll take first watch with the ram here, and between the two of us we should be able to handle anything that shows up."

"All right, everyone. Dig in for the night. A few more days and we'll be home... then my work as your liege truly begins." Vanadei finished, heading inside the cave to sniff it out. It didn't sound like he was looking forward to his castle duties.

"Yes, your majesty." Everyone said in unison.

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The fire had dimmed, and Teralius was mostly dozing next to the fire though he still had one hand on his sword in case of trouble. Thrommit was up and about, pacing back and forth while remembering what the Tyrannical Darkness had said. You... have doubts about the Nine Goddesses, and in the past you've mercilessly murdered for money in cold blood.

Yes, yes he did. He had to, at the time. The murder was why he'd entered into the priesthood in the first place, so he could atone for the rest of his life. He always had had doubts that the Nine Goddesses had ever existed, because if they had why did they let such evil continue to exist into the world?

Now, with the confirmation that the Tyrannical Darkness indeed existed, that implied that the Nine Goddesses did as well. And he was scared.

"Something on your mind, Thrommit?" Teralius asked, opening one eye. "You haven't stopped moving since the beginning of the watch."

"It's... nothing." Thrommit replied. "Just musing on the past a little bit."

Teralius slowly sat up. "Pardon my curiosity then, but do you want to talk about it to pass the time? You look stressed, and stress is the last thing I want to see on a priest."

"Yeah, yeah, we're the paragons of having calm, quiet minds." Thrommit grumbled.

"I'll take it as a no..." Teralius looked slightly concerned and laid back down.

"No, I think I need to tell someone." Thrommit paused, looked behind him at Teralius, then looked down at his hand-hooves. For a moment, he could see blood on them, then everything went red.

Thrommit looked around, a little surprised. He was back in the alley, looking over the shoulder of... himself. Standing around him were several other rams, with a goat overseeing things, and a large banner on the wall depicting two crossed flaming swords with a lizard skull in between them showed that he was back in his old gang's stomping grounds.

Thrommit could see his much-younger self cleanly in his mind from all angles, even though in his flashback he was seeing things from over his own shoulder. He was sitting on the face of some strong lizard who was one of the merchants who had not paid his protection money on time for the final time. Thrommit was suffocating him and pummeling the reptile's chest with his Taur body's front legs, intent on making an example out of him.

"You haven't paid us one kul in over a year, Treccan." The goat muttered.

The lizard couldn't reply, as he was being asphyxiated by Thrommit's butt-wool.

"We can only wait so long. If we don't enforce our rules, no one will follow them." The goat said. "Your money is ours. Not yours."

The lizard struggled, Thrommit punched down hard and there was the cracking of ribs.

"Now we have to use you as an example to the others." The goat grinned, showing heavily decaying teeth and a pierced tongue. "End him."

Thrommit's younger self was handed a maul and he began beating the lizard to death, his muffled cries going unnoticed as they echoed off the bare walls of the alley in the abandoned village. By the time Thrommit's younger self was done, there wasn't a single bone in the lizard's body that hadn't been shattered.

The flashback faded, and he was back at the campfire. He looked around in surprise; Teralius was standing over him with one huge hand on his shoulder.

"You okay? You froze, then I saw your eyes glaze over." Teralius said, kneeling down.

"Just... just a flashback." Thrommit said. "Long story short, I was involved with some very bad Sycanesti. I killed on command for the promise of money. I got scared after actually killing someone and ran to the nearest church.”

"Atoning for your deed by entering the priesthood?" Teralius sat down next to him, bringing his knees up to his chest and listening.

"It was my first kill. The gang didn't last another year and I barely escaped with my life when the arrests started happening. I got scared and yes, I entered the priesthood. I made sure that if I was going to do that again it would be in the name of a higher power. I don't want to be sent to the Tyrannical Darkness when I die!" Thrommit lowered his head. "When the Nine Goddesses didn't seem to be answering prayers on the mortal realm, I started to have a few doubts. I walked from place to place, trying to help others in need. I never forgot that first rush I got from killing that lizard, though."

"That doesn't seem so bad." Teralius commented. "So what happened to get you so stressed?"

"Back on the airship we found some kind of device that allowed actual conversation with the Tyrannical Darkness itself, and it exposed the fact I killed in cold blood once. No one's bringing it up because of the other pressing matters... but..." Thrommit sighed. He wished he had a maul to hold on to, to make him feel a little stronger than he actually was. "I was starting to doubt there was really an afterlife and that magic came from another source. Now, with knowing the Tyrannical Darkness actually exists..."

"So you're afraid of the afterlife." Teralius said.

"Yes! A murder isn't something that can be taken back!" Thrommit looked up at the big warrior, worried.

Teralius folded his arms. "How is your killing different from say, mine?"

"That's different!" Thrommit protested. "You defend our way of life by destroying enemies of the crown in the arena... or go adventuring and put down monsters. The lizard I murdered hadn't done anything wrong to anybody!"

"And I think the Nine Goddesses notice things like that, like your desire to help others in order to atone. The only evil ones are those who know the difference between good and evil, and still choose evil." Teralius stood up. "I think you'll be judged fairly. Everything counts for something, no matter how trivial."

Thrommit turned around and looked at the fire. "I sure hope you're right. I don't want anyone to suffer like that lizard did, not ever again."

"Well, you're doing good work." Teralius commented, looking up at the sky... then doing a double take as he saw some of the stars dim. Something was in the sky using the darkness as cover... something big, and it was watching them. He squinted, trying to get a feel for what he was looking at, then the whatever-it-was began to dive at them.

"What do you see?" Thrommit asked.

"Get DOWN!" Teralius cried, tackling the ram to the ground as a large form dove out of the sky, arrested its dive and then flew just out of range of the campfire. Whomever it was, he was definitely avian.

"We've got company!" Teralius called inside the cave.

The group slowly rose as the unknown Sycanesti dove again, and this time the warrior and priest scattered in opposite directions.

Torvanian was the first one out. "Sir Korviak. I knew you wouldn't allow me to live."

Sir Korviak landed, katar in one wing-“hand” and electrical energy building up in the metal of his armor over his other wing. His horns began to crackle with electrical energy, and a small bolt of lightning flashed to Torvanian's hooves, causing him to step back.

"What's going on?" Falanna asked, bleary-eyed.

"That's some armor." Said Jartpo.

Hervis raised his staff. "I don't know who you are, but--"

"Spare me the talk, little prey." Sir Korviak said. "I'm surprised you survived, Torvanian."

The equine raised his hand-hooves in a defensive gesture. Even unarmed, he was a dangerous opponent. "You're outnumbered, Sir Korviak."

"'Sir'?" Vanadei spat. "More like just another lackey. Although, how in the hell is he able to fly with that armor on?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, Your Majesty?" Sir Korviak sneered.

Vanadei paled just a little bit, then folded his arms. "So your handlers know I was Dust Watcher now? How unfortunate for me."

"And how unfortunate for you, ya old buzzard!" Ti'Jan cried from above and behind Sir Korviak as he dove out of the sky, a freshly-sharpened log in both his talons. “Bombs away!”

Ti'Jan let go of the huge log that he had been carrying in his talons, aiming to drop it directly on the golden eagle. Sir Korviak looked up, and with a chirp of disdain lifted up his talon in a rather smug pose. He grabbed the log end-first, then looked up at Ti'Jan while just shaking his head.

“Pathetic little squawker.” Sir Korviak replied as he twisted on his leg, spinning in a complete circle. Using the weight of his armor to lend power to his swing, he swung the log like a baseball bat and tried to knock down the rest of the party in a single spin.

"Heads up!" Hervis yelled, and he dove down on his knees to duck the swing.

Sir Korviak was a strong Trei'kiya, and the group was still rubbing sleep from their eyes and only half-aware. Hervis had been quick, but not quick enough, and the top of his head was clipped by the log as the golden eagle swung. The rest of the party were all struck and knocked down... all except for Jartpo, who was too small to hit, and Teralius, who was too big to be moved by mid-sized logs. The lupine had stepped back to avoid the swing... but now his sword was out and he was getting angry.

Sir Korviak finished the swing by launching the spear back at Ti'Jan. Completely unused to combat, the raven could only gawk as the log was thrown back at him before he could react. The blunt back end of the spear hit him beak first and knocked his head backwards with a loud crack, then he spiraled to the ground and crashed beak-first, breaking his neck in the process.

"Unfortunate for you, perhaps. How do you inferiors like tha--" Sir Korviak began to gloat.

"NO ONE TOUCHES MY PACKMATE!" Teralius snarled. He'd meant Falanna because he didn't have a habit of having non-wolves in his immediate circle of friends, but he would still consider any friends of Falanna's to be friends of his.

"Aw, is she your 'property'? Fitting, for a whore." Sir Korviak taunted.

Falanna was the first on her feet while the others were still getting up, and Hervis was still shaking the stars from his eyes while Thrommit darted over to make sure he was all right.

Teralius charged, snarling.

"Catch me if you can, ground-dweller!" Sir Korviak cried, launching himself into the air as the wolf passed harmlessly below. Teralius swung his sword in an overhand arc aiming to clip the golden eagle's talons, but he missed as he flew above them.

"Come down here and fight like a man!" Hervis cried.

"Aw, did the little puppy miss?" Sir Korviak called, brandishing his katar. "Let me show you how a true warrior fights, you disgusting fleabag!"

Sir Korviak dove out of the sky, causing everyone to scatter as he shoulder barged the warrior and knocked him on his tail. The weight of the blow caused Teralius to sit down hard, and his sword went skittering from his grasp as the golden eagle stabbed forward with his katar... but missed when a crossbow bolt from nowhere struck the blade, knocking it off target and ending up just under his arm instead of right in his ribs. The golden eagle snarled, turning his head only to spot Ta'Maxia in the air, reloading her crossbow.

Hervis seized the moment. "Pick on someone your own size!"

Hervis charged with his new staff pointed forward Sir Korviak, and the avian was taken by surprise as the little rabbit vaulted over the two of them. Upon landing he spun on one foot, swung the staff in a golf swing, and the other end connected with surprised beak.

Sir Korviak reeled from the hit, turning his head only to see an angry lupine fist aimed right at his head from the other direction, wrapped around a sword hilt. The blow connected sending his head the other way and he faltered backward, stunned as Teralius steadied himself.

"Now, while he's down!" Thrommit cried, beginning some kind of chant to the Nine Goddesses.

Sir Korviak shot straight up into the sky to get away from the charging mammals, then whirled on Ta'Maxia. "Bird Eight, this is where it ends!"

"It only ends with the fall of the Sacred ****ing Nest and the death of Lord Veron and his sidekick slut!" Ta'Maxia spat back, charging in a lightning-fast assault, beak first.

Sir Korviak flew up and over her as she charged, but she was waiting for this and she twisted, launching her talons above her in an aerial cartwheel. Talon met armored chest with a scratching sound, then Ta'Maxia finished the move in a tumble as the laws of gravity re-asserted themselves and pulled her into a dive.

The golden eagle reversed course in mid-flight, assaulting Ta'Maxia at the end of the tumble with everything he had. He raised his talons to rake her chest before spinning backward and plunging his katar into her shoulder while just narrowly missing her wing. Ta'Maxia screeched in pain and went down, the blade stuck up to the handle in her back. The other end was visible, barely poking out just above below her shoulder.

The hawk crashed to the ground hard, unable to fly or flap one wing. Her bones were too light and the blade had managed to sever at least one nerve. She'd landed shoulder first right on the blade, and screamed as her shoulder shattered. She'd hit a stone on the rocky ground dead-on.

"And down goes Bird Eight!" Sir Korviak gloated, launching himself higher into the sky.

"Coward!" Falanna called.

"Weakling!" Jartpo taunted, making faces at him.

"Nine Goddesses, I beseech and implore, help me turn the tables on our feathered Sycanesti brethren! He who sides with evil must not go unpunished!" Thrommit called, throwing both hand-hooves to the sky. His eyes opened to reveal nothing but solid blue light, and a pair of ghostly golden eagle wings opened on his back.

Sir Korviak stalled in mid-air, watching intently before dropping the hearty attitude.

Thrommit, now a tool of the Nine Goddesses, launched himself at Sir Korviak from a standing start. All Sir Korviak saw was a blur before impact, as if the ram-taur were an arrow loosed from a divine bow. Hardened hand-hoof struck right in the center of the golden eagle's chest, and there was a metallic clang as the blow was deflected. A crack appeared in the armor; the blow would have been strong enough to shatter bone if it had struck an unarmored area.

Sir Korviak immediately backed off, squawking something under his breath. He raised his wings defensively, seeming to float in mid-air as he blocked thrown punch after thrown punch from the possessed ram. Soon his own little chant was finished and he closed his eyes as an amber aura of light surrounded his head. When he opened them again, they were solid amber.

"Two can play at this game!" Sir Korviak growled, his voice far deeper and darker.

The two seemed to float in mid-air for an eternity, bright blue aura crashing with harsh amber light. The two traded blows back and forth for several minutes, with Sir Korviak attempting to use the fact they were fighting in three dimensions to his advantage. Wing slaps and talon kicks came from every direction but the ram was having none of it and was expertly deflecting each one with his hand-hooves. He was effortlessly supporting his considerable size, and could take whatever it was that the avian was dishing out. Falanna squinted and could see that the blows by Sir Korviak were striking a field of solid blue light around the Taur.

"We've got to do something!" Falanna ran over to Ta'Maxia, who was slowly getting to her talons. "Can you move that wing?"

"I'll... manage." Ta'Maxia sighed. "He got a sharp hit in my blind spot. Can't... feel it... ... ... ugh, there." She reached around with her other wing and used the fingers on that wing to wrench free the katar.

Hervis picked up Ta'Maxia's crossbow from where it had dropped. He was completely unskilled in ranged weapons, and the fact that the crossbow was designed for avian wing-hands made it that much more difficult. He raised it to eye level after clumsily loading it with another bolt, and aimed.

"I've about had enough of you, mammal!" Sir Korviak cried, whacking Thrommit in the muzzle with an armored wing. The force of the blow knocked the ram's head back, and then there was a fizzling sound as Thrommit's spell ran out. The wings disappeared while he was still a good fifteen feet in the air and his eyes rolled back in his head; he'd expended everything he had and soon the ram was completely unconscious.

Hervis took aim and fired.

Teralius ran towards the falling ram as the golden eagle began a dive... and ran right into Hervis' clumsy shot. There was a screech as the golden eagle shot straight up; the bolt had impaled the bird's face, causing an eyeball to literally explode as the bolt firmly stuck itself through his head and into the metal horns.

The rest of them could only helplessly watch as Sir Korviak shot straight up at maximum speed with an inhuman screech, his amber aura making him have the appearance of being wreathed in unholy fire. The aura folded over on itself with a loud CRACK, and the golden eagle was gone leaving only the smoking bolt on the ground. The bird had ripped it out a split second before he vanished.

Teralius caught Thrommit in his arms, dropping to his knees in the process. "Gotcha!"

Vanadei had been watching from the cave's entrance, staying out of trouble. "Get him inside the cave. We leave at first light. This has gone on far enough."

"Ta'Maxia's hurt!" Falanna said.

"I'll... be fine." Ta'Maxia complained, dropping to one knee. "Let's just wrap it in what we can and when we get to the capital city we can prepare to eliminate him once and for all for the good of the Sycanesti. You remember what I said, Falanna?" Her eyes sparked. "We Trei'kiya hold grudges." Her molten orange eyes were almost fully bloodshot from the stress of the pain and she had a demonic grin on her beak, making it seem like she'd lost her mind.

Teralius picked up his sword, sheathing it. "How could he fly with that armor on? It must have weighed more than he did, and golden eagles are not small birds!"

"We'll figure that out when we get home, Teralius." Vanadei said. "And when we do... as Hervis would say, it will be time to go vorpal. Keep that katar close, Ta'Maxia. That's evidence against the Trei'kiya."

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Ta'Maxia replied, standing back up.

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The next few days were quiet. Ta'Maxia's shoulder was badly injured, while Thrommit had put everything he had into that little zealot-fueled rampage and could barely walk, much less function or even speak. Most of the time, Torvanian was giving him a shoulder to lean on as they traveled in single file along the trail. Twice more they evaded scouting parties by the Trei'kiya, as even with Teralius in the group Vanadei did not want to have any more trouble. Light forest turned into heavy forest, then heavy forest made way to plains, and plains finally made way to spotting the capital city of Thynsaleth far on the horizon.

As the group crossed a ridge while the sun began to go down, Vanadei pointed out the castle's huge spires and towers in the distance.

"Home sweet home." Vanadei said.

"Says you." Torvanian said. "I live in Valchid, on the east border of the country."

Hervis felt the fur on the back of his neck stand up. They were sitting ducks out in the open while still on the ridge. "We're not home free yet." Teralius was carrying the cart in his hands instead of pulling it behind him, "to train his strength." The others were more or less still in single file crossing the ridge with Jartpo at the back covering their trail and Ta'Maxia and Thrommit in the center.

"Sensing trouble?" Vanadei asked, turning to Hervis. "Ta'Maxia? Thrommit? How are you holding up?"

“I'm about spent. I need to get to the church." Thrommit said tiredly. "I need to meditate for new divine energy, I need to cleanse myself, and I need to... eat some real food, no offense, Vanadei. I've about had my fill of roughing it for quite some time."

Torvanian agreed. "We ALL have had our fill of hiking. I hope to keep my future postings close to home after this."

The fox nodded. "You will be generously compensated for your effort, and I will personally make a one thousand kul donation to the church. I'd offer more but somehow I get the feeling I will be expending a lot of kul to stop the problems before they get any worse."

"What are you going to do?" Hervis asked.

"Lots of things." Vanadei replied, putting hand on his chin as he thought while leading the group through the ridge. "First, I have to have my scribes draft bounty posters for the Order of the Black Acorn. Then I need to draft summonses for Lord Veron and Lady Tiatrana so that they may answer for what they have done. They won't dare deny a summons. Corruption, kidnapping of diplomats, summonings of not-so-nice things straight out of the Tyrannical Darkness's tail end..."

"Trying to control the Blackness... working with the Sacred Nest, working with the Sky Over Stone cult..." Hervis added.

"That too." Vanadei smiled. "On top of that, Ti'Jan WILL get a proper memory recorded of him in the castle books. He may have been young and too eager to share information that any smart bird..."

"There are smart birds?" Falanna smirked, shooting Ta'Maxia a look.

"Very funny, fuzzy-tail." Ta'Maxia said.

Vanadei shot them both a look that told them to shut up. "... as I was saying... eager to share information that any smart soldier would not... but he worked to protect us and at least keep Sir Korviak off balance, not to kill us. That was a proper soldier of the Kingdom of The Five Swords, right there, doing his job to protect his king. His memory... and that of Chalice's... will be treated as such."

Hervis felt his ears lower.

"It'll be ok." Falanna reassured him.

"What's the plan? They're not going to give up so easily, and Hervis only drove Sir Korviak off." Torvanian asked.

Vanadei looked at him. "The smart thing is to hide you somewhere that the Trei'kiya will not go. First guess is the church. No self-respecting Sycanesti will damage the church."

Teralius snorted. "I think it's safe to say they don't give one ass about things anymore if they're dealing with the Tyrannical Darkness, and I'm not talking donkeys either."

"You're saying they should stay in the castle where it'll be the first place their spies look?" Vanadei asked.

"If anyone can sniff out spies, it'd be Jartpo, and he's small enough to move almost unseen." Falanna said. "Or me. I can smell intent a mile away, and Teralius would be too conspicuous if he were watching for trouble. They'd overlook a whore wandering the streets keeping watch outside, while warriors stick out like tails on fire."

Torvanian thought for a moment. "You can work the outside angle, I can stay in the castle and get the feeling from the upper class while I wander the halls."

"I don't know." Hervis replied, turning to Jartpo. "Jartpo, what's the likelihood of the guild turning coat and serving the Trei'kiya?"

Jartpo shrugged. "They probably already do. There's shady characters from all the kingdoms... well, except for Taedort'l... in the guild. So it's safe to say that information that's out in the open already will be known to them, plus anything Sir Korviak can bring back to them. So they will at least know they're in for trouble."

"It will be enough." Vanadei said, looking down. "That means they'll know Hervis is in either location. I suppose it doesn't matter. We prepare for an assault and hope they don't send whatever that Nine-Goddesses-awful 'Metal-Mist Lizard" creation was."

"I never did get that favor that the lore master and the record keeper both owe me, since Chalice was in a bit of trouble when I first ran into her and we ran back to her workshop when we ran into Falanna." Jartpo replied, explaining how he'd run into her getting her face almost kicked in by the felines.

"All right then. Here's what we'll do." Vanadei said as they paused at the edge of the ridge, where a road led down toward the main route home. In the distance they could see where a campsite for travelers had been set up before they hit the city proper, and it was currently in use by what appeared to be a gypsy wagon. "Everyone join Thrommit in church and protect him as he's protected us for this trip. After about a week or two of rest and decompression, we'll meet up in the castle, discuss what we know and draft an official royal decree as well as summon the Lord and Lady to be judged before we decide what to do after that."

He turned to Hervis. "I will see to it personally that you are compensated for the deaths of your parents once Lord Veron and Lady Tiatrana have been led away in irons." Then he nodded at Ta'Maxia. "And your brother. I haven't forgotten my promise. You will both live in luxury for the rest of your days in thanks for escorting me safely home, although I might cut the reward down a bit for that bit of offense back on the Trei'kiya airship. I'm afraid I'm going to have to have some punishment there for you, Hervis."

“I understand. If the laws don't apply to me, then they're not laws at all, are they.” Hervis sarcastically replying, looking sheepish.

"I ain't complaining, that's a lot of kul." Ta'Maxia said with a smile.

"Lots of work to do." Remarked Falanna, looking into the distance at the city.

Vanadei glanced at her. "Well, I am King of the Sycanesti. Comes with the job. I am not going to allow suffering to get a foothold in my kingdom. Pain and terror are not the Felcan'lu way, let alone the Sycanesti way. I'll leave violence and such to the raised ire of your fellow horned mammals, Thrommit."

Thrommit cracked his knuckles tiredly. "It's... payback time."

"Just let me be at the back of the line, Thrommit." Hervis grinned. "That way, when you're done stomping the Trei'kiya into a bloody jumble of feathers, I can finish the job."

"Who's down at the campsite?" Teralius asked, peering off into the distance.

Ta'Maxia focused her eyes. "Looks like a gypsy wagon. I see a raccoon... she's alone except for a giant raven on her shoulder. The normal kind... not a Trei'kiya."

"That'd be some balancing act." Jartpo grinned.

"Well, shall we go and join her?" Vanadei asked.

"The more the merrier." Hervis said, looking down at his feet and suddenly feeling very exhausted.

Vanadei nodded. "All right, follow me. The hill is steep here, so watch your step as we traverse these rocks. Torvanian, make sure Thrommit doesn't fall over on his hooves. We don't need a ram-o-lanche announcing our presence prematurely."

"Yes, sire." The equine said, saluting him.

“... Ram-o-lanche?” Thrommit smirked.

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Only a couple more scenes after this...

Bobbybobby99

2016-01-10, 11:11 AM

That, my good friend, is what is known as an 'Idiot Ball'. Do not, ever, use the Idiot Ball. That is all for the moment.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-10, 03:09 PM

Hmmm... strange, did it eat my post? I had the last few scenes posted...

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-10, 03:20 PM

Take two, since the forums ate it the last time...

Idiot ball? I'm not sure I follow.

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The giant raven, with a wingspan easily as wide as Hervis was tall, began to shriek and caw as the tired travelers approached. The raccoon was cooking a pair of unidentified, skinned smaller mammals over the fire, and she turned to look at the raven jumped into the darkening sky.

As the group approached, she called up to the raven. "Zhire! Behave!"

"Got room for a few more?" Falanna asked.

The raccoon was a chubby older woman with a kink in her tail and lots of scars across her rear end that suggested she'd suffered at the hands of some torturer in the past. One of her feet was missing a couple of toes, and several deep scars across her upper left arm had been inked over in order to make them stand out. Strapped to her hip was a large leather pouch. A large backpack almost as big as she was lay nearby half opened with food rations spilling out.

"Always... you look..." The raccoon said, before Thrommit faltered and dropped to his knees.

"You okay, Thrommit?" Torvanian asked, helping him to steady himself.

"Yeah. I just need rest and some time." The ram replied.

"I'd ask if you were expecting trouble," The raccoon said. "But it looks like you ran into trouble on the way here."

"You can say that again." Ta'Maxia grumbled, looking at the sky.

"Have a seat by the fire, everyone. I'm sorry I didn't pack much more." The raccoon said, pointing to her backpack. "There should be enough to feed everyone, but that means we'll have to make a strong push for the capital city tomorrow. It's still a day or two out."

"We can do it." Vanadei said. "You heard the lady, everyone... dig in. We're doing a heavy march to the capital tomorrow. We've come too far to fail."

The raccoon's eyes widened upon recognizing that unforgettable voice. She immediately dropped to one knee in respect to her King and looked downward.

"We can ignore formalities here, miss...?" Vanadei said.

The raccoon nodded, straightening up. "Oh, all right. My name's Elaenneli, but my friends call me 'Neener'." What are you doing out here, sire?"

Vanadei glanced back at Hervis. "Court business. Had some nasty run-ins with some less than nice Sycanesti. I have a lot of work to do when I get home."

"I understand the basis of 'need to know' so I won't ask. I understand the Games are on a sort of hold? I wasn't able to attend. I had other issues to deal with." Elaenneli said as she poked the fire with a stick.

"You might say that." Vanadei said. "What are you doing out here? Just out for a bit of a hiking around?"

Elaenneli shook her head. "The spirits told me to come out here, that something big was happening and that I needed to be a big part of it. I'm a fortune teller by trade, and when the spirits speak through me, my cards and my Malaezium ball, I listen."

"A fortune teller." Ta'Maxia rubbed her injured shoulder with a wing.

The raccoon nodded. "Like my mother before me, and her mother before her, and... well, I figure you get the idea. I'm thirteenth in the line for the family 'business'. The men in my family are all farmers."

Thrommit reached up as he sat down hard, pulling one of the cooking mammals right off the stick and chomping down into it. "I've met my fair share of tence-tongued liars and showoffs who claim to see spirits and demons."

"Not all of us are liars. What's the point? We're supposed to be helpers." Elaenneli said, looking slightly sour at him.

"Greed, mostly." Thrommit said between bites. His belly rumbled and these two cooked rodents of some sort were not going to fill him at all.

"Fair enough." Elaenneli replied. "Just what is it that you do then?"

Thrommit yawned. "Priest." He held out one hoof and a very dim glow surrounded it, which was all he had remaining of his magical reserves. His physical ones were even more strained.

"Then you can..." Elaenneli began to comment, before tilting her head in confusion as if if listening to something only she could hear. "Wait a minute. The spirits tell me you're traveling with the..." She tilted her head the other way. "Huh."

"Care to elaborate?" Hervis asked. Jartpo smirked and Teralius and Falanna exchanged looks.

"You... mister Hervis... are the genesis thread." Elaenneli replied, folding her arms.

"The what now? And how did you know his name?" Jartpo pointedly asked as Hervis' ears went straight on end.

Elaenneli nodded at him. "The spirits tell me both your name and that you are the genesis thread. The thread of reality that upon which others depend on. You're a 'foundation' for reality... the thread that all others get attached to for stability. If you die, the tapestry of reality unravels."

"Sounds like something the Sky Over Stone cult might say..." Falanna said.

"You're familiar with them?" Elaenneli tilted her head again. "They're all crazy, every last one of them. Lately they've established a foothold in the capital city. They've been mostly confined to the southern parts of the kingdom in the meantime."

"That. Will. Change." Vanadei said through clenched teeth.

"I used to be a minor priest in the cult. I know they were trying to resurrect some long-ancient evils under the control of the Tyrannical Darkness, then a charismatic up-and-comer named Sungo Two-Tails got them to focus on something else. All I know is that it involved insinuating ourselves into Trei'kiya politics, to control them from within. Most times the ruses were discovered and the cultists cast out. I left of my own accord. I was tired of the politics."

Vanadei nodded as Thrommit suddenly stiffened. "Did you say Sungo Two-Tails?"

"You know him?" Torvanian asked.

The Ram-Taur paled. "He's one of my second-in-commands. He's in charge of the daily afternoon rituals. He'll be one of the first people I run into when I return to the church!" The glow around his hand-hoof was slightly stronger now.

"Don't tip your hoof just yet, Thrommit." Vanadei replied as the others returned around the fire with various types of food retrieved from Elaenneli's pack. "If they suspect their cover is blown..."

"I get it, I get it. I won't say a word." Thrommit said. He looked far more awake now than he had all trip ever since he cast his magic to deal with Sir Korviak.

"This is interesting." Elaenneli said. "Would you like me to do a reading for your little group?"

"Can't hurt, I suppose." Hervis replied.

"Why not?" Jartpo said. "My guild master is super superstitious, so seeing something like this will allow me to understand where he's coming from."

Elaenneli turned to her raven. "Zhire! Cards, ball! Fetch!"

The raven dove into the large covered wagon that Elaenneli was using to transport what worldly possessions she had. Compared to the wreck of a cart that Teralius had been carrying, it was fit for a king. A few minutes of rooting through her stuff later and the raven returned with a large Malaezium orb carried in a leather sling in his talons. In his beak was an ornate box that slid open to reveal a deck of cards that had been carved from what appeared to be slices of buffalo bone each as thick as one of Vanadei's fingers.

"Those aren't cards, those are thin tablets." Hervis said.

Thrommit snorted. "I'd of liked to know the guy who gave up his bones for divination purposes."

Elaenneli mimicked his snort. "He fell in battle against the Ruined, thank you very much. After his death I asked him if I could use his bones and the bones of some of the others that were with him. His response, and I quote, 'I'm not doing anything with them ever again now, am I.' And here we are. All right everyone, I need you to put your hands and hand-hooves on the box itself and let your combined spirits channel into the deck."

Everyone gathered around to follow her instruction.

"Feels tingly." Falanna remarked.

"Feels hot to me." Hervis said.

"I don't feel anything." Vanadei commented.

"Uh... are my claws smoking?" Jartpo asked. The tips of his claws were in fact smoking when he placed them upon the box.

"Ok, everyone take an equal number of the cards, shuffle them, and put them in the sling while I take out the orb." Elaenneli said, raising one hand. Little bolts of lightning flew from her hands to strike the orb, which was levitated out of the sling and held motionless in midair. The cards were loaded into the sling, Hervis going first while Falanna went last.

"Now then..." Elaenneli said, closing her eyes. "One... two... one... two..."

Elaenneli began to swing the sling as fast as she could, counting out the numbers one and two repeatedly. The sling got faster and faster until it was all a blur.

"Quite the buildup she's doing." Ta'Maxia remarked.

"I've never seen a ritual like this in my travels. It's very... uh... interesting." Torvanian said.

"One... two... one... two... one... two... THREE!" Elaenneli suddenly exclaimed, releasing the sling and sending the cards racing straight up as the orb flickered, then pulsed. The jumble of cards seemed to glow as they caught the fading sunlight's rays, then quickly began their descent to the ground. When the cards were in line with the orb, bolts of lightning shot out and zapped the cards. Most were knocked aside by the bolts, but those that weren't landed face up on the ground, some covering others in what appeared to be an almost-unbroken near-perfect circle.

Elaenneli counted the number of cards that had landed face-up. "Sixteen cards for seven party members. An... odd sort of number. That does not bode well right away."

"I'm counting you among us." Vanadei replied. "We're all headed home. One mind, one body, if you will."

"I can work with that." Elaenneli looked down at the cards again. "Doesn't change the meaning of most of these, though."

"So, what do we have?" Thrommit asked, sounding unconvinced.

Elaenneli gestured, and bolts of lightning flew from the orb to blast each card of the circle individually. They flew up into the air and slowly began to spin in a circle, forming a two-dimensional halo of cards around the back of the raccoon's head. She closed her eyes for a moment as the spin quickened to the point it was a blur, and when she opened her eyes again the top half of them were deep sky blue and the other half so dark they seemed to be staring back at the group.

She took a deep breath and began to speak in a commanding voice.

"The rabbit of humble, honest beginnings has been burdened.
This burden will weigh him down with the world, to shatter.
"The equine of smart wit and able tongue twists with the world's rot.
The rot will cause him to channel the dark, for the glory of the dark.
"Ram's head, beaver's tail, wings of steel and stone.
Only by dropping one's devotion will the Nine Goddesses smile.
"A brother mourned, a brother cried for, a brother stolen.
Rage will claim for darkness in water, if the quiet mind does not exist.
"Scales of cleverness and strong claws of thieving.
Not even they can hold on to the grip of life when the last die is cast.
"A warrior, strong. His blade, unbeatable. His resolve, unbroken.
His weakness lies within, and within the woman his shame.
"Masked madam spirit walker, pulled by the thread.
She is the blade that cuts the cord free."

Everyone looked at each other.

"Huh?" Hervis asked. "To shatter? Shatter what?"

"Say what?" Torvanian said, eyes wide.

Thrommit cracked his knuckles again. "I don't think so."

Ta'Maxia was paralyzed with her beak wide open while Jartpo looked at his claws.

Falanna looked up at Teralius, who looked down on her with worry and confusion in his eyes.

"Well, THAT'S a happy set of predictions." Vanadei grumbled.

"And obvious ones, too. That never happens in my readings." Elaenneli replied, looking almost as drained as Thrommit was. "I think we all know which sentences were which of your little group, King Tenquin."

"I noticed I wasn't mentioned, and that's probably for the better." Vanadei said, looking up and out over towards his castle. "Whatever is going on, I'm not going to be able to come with you on this little expedition. There are politics to deal with here, a fortune in kul and tence to be paid to afford it, and powerful, powerful Sycanesti to keep off your backs.”

"I'm coming with you, Hervis." Elaenneli said. "Someone has to deal with the spirits those who would be against you could send to cause mischief, and Thrommit is a blind devotee to the Nine Goddesses. He'd never see them coming."

"Blind?" Thrommit turned his head to stare the little chubby raccoon down in confusion.

Falanna looked up at Teralius again, sniffing his chest fur. "Is there something you haven't told us? Shame, 'in' a woman?"

"I don't get it." Hervis said.

Teralius looked down. "Not all the whores in the arena are there of their own free will. There are some that are specifically marked as those you can take advantage of with no repercussions whatsoever since they're usually either the dregs of society or in trouble for crimes against Sycanesti that forces a sentence of forfeiting their bodies. That... wasn't the case, once, and I was thoroughly drunk."

Elaenneli shook her head. "No. None of these events in my cards have happened yet."

Falanna leapt away from Teralius, shock on her muzzle. "You didn't!"

"I told you, I was drunk. I wasn't... thinking... and mistook someone for someone else." Teralius looked down. "Neither were the others."

"The other who?" Falanna demanded.

"It was a gang, me at the front. We were drunk and looking for trouble after a successful night at the arena. That's all I'm going to say. She did not deserve the things we did to her... but let's just say she did not survive afterward." Teralius turned his head away, avoiding the she-wolf's now-vicious gaze, so hot it could melt metal.

"To your knowledge." Elaenneli quietly said.

Teralius sat up bolt upright. "What?!" His eyes were bugging out of his skull.

"And so did one pup." Elaenneli replied just as quietly, turning away from him.

"You... you..." Falanna spat.

Vanadei tried to defuse the situation. "Cool it, lupines. Let's turn in. We've got a long walk ahead of us tomorrow."

Hervis stepped forward. "Falanna, Teralius... let it drop. Now. We can work out who and where she is when we're more clear-headed, because it is obvious he wants to atone for that action. I'm reminded of a little quote here... 'everything counts for something.'"

"Listening to us, were you?" Thrommit put his front knees close to his chest and smiled for the first time in a bit.

Hervis held up both hands in a defensive gesture. "We cannot let our pasts or differences ruin us worse than the Ruined before whatever is coming up happens. Look around, all of us are different species... a couple different Houses... even the House of the 'enemy.' If I can give mercy to Ta'Maxia and drop it then and there... certainly you can, Falanna?"

Falanna clenched her fists, glaring at the bigger wolf.

Teralius gave her a hurt, shamed look before turning his head away again, though his body language said he was confident and knowing. The she-wolf likely wouldn't beat him completely to a pulp if she attacked, but she'd sure lay the hurt on him before he put her down for good.

Finally after many uncomfortable seconds, Falanna relaxed with a snarl, baring all of her teeth at the wolf warrior much bigger and stronger than she was. "I'm never sleeping with you again, you... you demon. If your knot is ever within my reach again, I'm untying it by force, vein by vein, and making you eat it."

"And that is a curse I will live with every single day for the rest of my life." Teralius quietly sighed.

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The rest of the journey was done in almost complete silence.

Thrommit slowly was recovering, while Falanna and Teralius had to be kept at opposite ends of the party. The she-wolf was still red-hot over the revelation, while the big warrior wolf just wanted to give her some space. Ta'Maxia and Jartpo kept the path clear while Hervis and Torvanian made some small talk between them, mostly about the perils of the other kingdoms that Torvanian had diplomatically visited on business for King Tenquin.

“So, yeah. Taedort'l sealed their borders and doesn't want anything to do with the outside world... Rarlbo is predominantly Trei'kiya but the last time I was there I was treated well... Atlacentia out of spite wouldn't change even if commanded to by the Nine Goddesses, and Shi'an-Wei, well, best not to think about them.” Torvanian said.

“What's the difference between the two isolationist kingdoms now?” Hervis asked, glancing at Vanadei and then back at the Clydesdale.

“One might go to war with us if we ever come back.” Torvanian looked away. “They don't want their ideas getting out, or other ideas coming in.”

Vanadei nodded. “That would be Shi'an-Wei, all right. No one goes out, no one goes in. I don't even know if they use the House concept any more.”

“They did last time I was there, but that was a long, long time ago.” The equine replied, glancing over at Thrommit, who seemed to still struggle at every step. “Hey, Thrommit, what was that you pulled on Sir Korviak? You look like it almost destroyed you.”

“It almost did. I opened a direct channel to the holy power of the Nine Goddesses with that little plea and I'm going to be feeling it for weeks.” Thrommit said, yawning. “Not everyone can handle that kind of power, especially if you... have doubts about things. What they gave me in power to defeat their enemies, they will take back as life energy, which means I probably shaved a few years of my life off that little stunt.”

“You'll still live longer than the rest of us.” Vanadei remarked. “Bigger hearts and bodies equals longer lifespan.”

“Says you. I haven't had a good meal in days.” Thrommit patted his chest and looked behind him at his considerable size.

“Well, as your King I order it to be true then.” Vanadei grinned.

Ta'Maxia landed next to Hervis. “We've got another ****ing Trei'kiya group that is coming our way. It's not a patrol group overextending their borders or an exploration party looking for fresh kills or caverns to claim... it's a classic raiding and scavenging party. The strange thing is that they're also flying a flag of parley as if they want to talk to us instead of attack, and they have a sorcerer with them. This has my feathers in a bunch.”

“Yeah, I don't like it either.” Hervis said. “My fur is going all on end.”

“Yeah, they don't bring out the sorcerers unless some ****'s really gone down.” Ta'Maxia's eyes were shooting a blistering glare in the direction of the approaching group.

“Alright. If they have a sorcerer, that means they know where we are if they know I'm the King.” Vanadei said. “Bunch up the circle, everyone. Let's let them approach. If they're holding out a flag of parley, I want to hear what they have to say, even if it is just typical raider demands or a political agenda.”

“What do you think they want?” Hervis asked.

“To gloat at and threaten us, most likely.” Teralius growled. “Especially if Sir Korviak decided to come back and stick his beak in our business. We're too close to home for them to risk trouble now unless they're incredibly stupid.”

Hervis folded his arms. “If that squawking noisemaker shows his beak then I'll just shoot him again in his other eye.”

This got nervous giggles from the rest of the group as the raiding party approached, and Vanadei put his hand to his forehead to count the group. Six hawks, two falcons, a golden-breasted robin and a cardinal. Vanadei had his guesses about why the cardinal was there; they were usually the messengers of the Trei'kiya when very important messages had to be sent with all due speed. The bright red of the bird's feathers would be a warning to others not to mess with an “official Trei'kiya courier.”

The golden-breasted robin was surely the group's sorcerer, and the fox had no doubt that the bird was packed to the tail feathers with offensive spells featuring lightning, the conjuring of heavy winds, summoning hail the size of his head, and spells designed to suck the air right out of your lungs and back into your muzzle as an offensive weapon. Now was not the time for snide remarks; the golden-breasted robin could really ruin the party's day before they made it home and he wouldn't care about political borders. With their primary caster out of action until further notice, they'd have to watch what they said.

“Torvanian, you're the diplomat here.” Vanadei said. “Consider yourself drafted to talk these troublemakers off of whatever trouble they're making.” His voice took on a slightly deeper tone, as if he was making an official decree or ruling. “If they're here to threaten me directly, let me take over, though.”

The equine nodded. “Yes, Sire. I won't let you down.”

The party of avians approached Hervis' group, flying in a jagged lightning bolt shaped formation before they in unison dove out of the sky and landed in a line in front of them, cutting them off. Behind them they could just make out the huge wall surrounding the city of Thynsaleth; they were in reach of home and were not about to get stopped by a bunch of walking feather dusters.

“Hold!” Torvanian called out. “Do you approach to parley, or to fight?”

“To parley.” The golden-breasted robin said. “We have a message from Lady Zharinella, for the King's ears only.”

“I'm sorry, but as you see, I am... traveling.” The fox replied, giving the robin a very sour glare, while apologetically pushing the equine aside. “But that won't stop you since you know I'm here, so out with it. What does the Highest Feather of the Trei'kiya want?”

Each of the many Houses in the Kingdom of the Five Swords had a particular ruling triad who never under any circumstances dealt with the lesser riff-raff let alone the upper class. Each called the triad (made up of a single political, religious, and economic member) its own name; in the case of the Trei'kiya the group was called the Highest Feather. The triads met once a year to discuss kingdom-wide laws with the King. It was unheard of to send a “lesser party” to deliver messages.

“As you wish, Sire.” The cardinal replied, unrolling a scroll. “This is to advise you that the Trei'kiya are formally breaking off from the rest of the kingdom. We are officially cutting all ties to you, we are preparing to defend our borders, and we are preparing to remove all threats to the Trei'kiya lands.”

The fox folded his arms as Torvanian's eyes widened in shock. “And I suppose the next thing you're going to do is start a war?”

“Correct. You are consorti--” The cardinal began, reading from the scroll.

“Blah blah blah. Save it, feather beak. My question is, why does the entire House of Trei'kiya want Hervis dead?” The fox's grumbling turned to snarls. “And who is funding them? Don't tell me you don't know, because too much effort has expended for you not to!”

“That's not your concern, and will be the least of your concerns when we take over! If we can't have it no one will!” The golden-breasted robin exclaimed, throwing out a wing in a wide gesture as he'd had a spell prepared, ready to trigger. A shock wave of electricity flew out at waist height, aiming to go right through Vanadei's party.

“No!” Elaenneli exclaimed. “You will not slay our King!” In the instant that the avian had cast the spell, she'd sensed the magic, and threw up a spell of her own. “Zhire! SHIELD!”

With a loud squawk-shriek that sounded more like an eagle in pain than a raven in irritation, the raven stretched his wings and his eyes sparked with electrical energy. His eyes flashed once and a translucent field of pale light flared up between the two parties. The light stretched from the ground to slightly taller than Teralius, and when the shock wave hit the light, the wall of light warped as it visibly tried to dispel the effect.

“Not today, lesser being!” The golden-breasted robin taunted.

There was the sound of shattering glass as Elaenneli's spell failed, and the shock wave snapped shut on Vanadei's party like a bear trap.

The group was knocked off their feet and stunned, while Thrommit had used the last of his strength to rush the King, knocking the fox off his feet. With no route to the ground for the shock wave's electrical content, the spell's shock wave passed harmlessly through him. Thrommit on the other hand took that part of the spell meant for the King, and he was solidly blasted into unconsciousness as the bear trap of magic slammed shut. Where the others were just stunned, he'd been blasted into the air and landed with a THUD a few feet away, falling over on his side.

“RUN!” The golden-breasted robin called, and the Trei'kiya routed, not wanting to get into a spat with the King. Within sight distance of the castle's spires it was almost a given that there'd be royal watchers already viewing them from afar, and they couldn't risk anything more. The birds flew the coop, skyrocketing into the skies and taking off in several directions at once. They were certainly seen by said watchers, but it was obvious they didn't care about bounties on their heads, otherwise they would not have attacked so blatantly when they were flying under a flag of parley.

“Should I follow one of them?” Ta'Maxia asked, darting to the Taur's side once the party had shaken off the effect. Falanna's fur was frazzled, while Teralius looked unhurt. Jartpo was unconscious and bleeding. The others were shaken but alive.

“No. You'll be led right into an ambush. They have a numbers advantage.” Vanadei replied, now snarling. “They attacked me. They attacked me in broad daylight, near the castle where my watchers could just see them out in the open! Just WHAT do they hope to gain!?” He quickly turned his head toward Elaenneli. “Thank you for saving my life, Neener. We need to get Thrommit home now.”

“Oh, my head.” Elaenneli got to her knees. “That... that hurt...” Zhire flew down to her side and leaned into her, as if lending physical and emotional strength.

Torvanian nodded as Hervis helped the barely-conscious Jartpo to his feet, then decided to carry him the rest of the way in his arms. “It's a perfect agitation tactic. Once the public hears about this, and you can be sure that they will... it will make them think 'what are they capable of, and what is it they want?' And when they find out that they're attacking because Hervis exists...”

Vanadei paused. “They'll be angry that I'm protecting him and thus inviting problems...”

Everyone looked at each other.

“Ooohhhh, they're good. But they'll learn it's not wise to try and outfox a fox!” Vanadei exclaimed. “If they want a war, they've got one.”

“No, Your Majesty.” Hervis said solidly. “That's what they want. Unrest, so they can advance their other plots. You're looking one way, they strike from another.”

“Now you're beginning to sound like me... cough.” Jartpo said, his eyes opening a little bit more.

The little fox took one of Thrommit's feet in both his hands and tried to start dragging him, with an understandably comical result. “Teralius, help me out. You too please, Falanna.” He glanced at Hervis. “What am I supposed to do, then? Just sit there with my tail up my ass and let them proclaim war?”

“No, Your Majesty. I have an idea, but let's focus on getting Thrommit home. If we do this right, no more will die.” Hervis said, his determined tone giving the vulpine pause for a moment.

Torvanian glanced over at the wagon. “Can he fit in there? I think I can pull us all if we pile in.”

Elaenneli estimated. “It's a stretch, but I think we can do it. Everyone help our liege help Thrommit inside!”

“Wish we had a sanctuary spell right about now.” Jartpo muttered.

“My wagon IS my sanctuary. I wouldn't be much help.” Elaenneli replied with a helpless looking shrug.

It took a couple of hours but the group finally managed to fit the Taur inside the wagon, and both Torvanian and Teralius had lashed themselves to the front of it. It would be a clumsy run since Torvanian was bigger than the wolf by a fair bit and his stride was further, but they couldn't pull the wagon unless both were hooked up.

“Strap yourselves in, folks. It's going to be a bumpy ride.” Elaenneli said, taking up the reins.

“Glad I have wings.” Ta'Maxia said with a smirk.

“Ready when you are.” Torvanian replied as Teralius looked at him before looking at the city in the distance.

“HYAA!” Elaenneli called, snapping the reins. “Take us home!”

It took a day and a half of hard travel to finally make it to the gates of the city of Thynsaleth, and the moment they reached the gatehouse both Teralius and Torvanian dropped to the ground, spent. The equine was barely breathing, and Teralius looked like every inch of him hurt and then some. Those who had been manning the gatehouse had all sorts of questions for King Tenquin, from who the attackers were to what they wanted with Hervis. All the King had said was “All in due time.” and he had left immediately for the castle, an angry look on his muzzle as he cast off the rags and was given fresh linens and silks, topped off with a large cape.

The rest of the group had gone to the High Temple of the Nine Diamonds, which was the grandest church in the entire Kingdom, and was known for its inspiring size. Thrommit had walked there under his own power, and had brought the Clydesdale on his back with Teralius slowly following behind like he was in a drug-induced stupor. Jartpo had quietly departed for the “private” branches of the thieves guild, while Hervis, Falanna, Ta'Maxia, and Elaenneli all relaxed within the private rooms at the church.

No one had seen Sungo Two-Tails in several days, but to the group it was a welcome sign that they would not be bothered in the short term, and a rest was what they all needed.

Unfortunately, rest... is for the dead.

=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* =*=*=

“IDIOTS!” Lord Veron yelled. “Your orders were NOT to engage!”

“Apologies, Lord Veron.” The golden-breasted robin said, now wearing a loose orange robe over his wings as a sign of station. The rest of the Trei'kiya who had been a part of the “warning party” were assembled in one of his offices in the Grand Bristlecone.

“You were to warn the King. Not attack him! Why? What were you thinking?” Lord Veron growled, his wings outstretched in an exasperated expression. “Do you realize the forces he controls?!”

“Oh, shut your beak, Lord Veron. They had... other orders to engage if they thought they could get away with it.” Lady Tiatrana said, slipping into the room like an encroaching darkness and grinning wildly. “They had other orders. My orders.”

The raven whirled on her. “Your orders? Since when do you contr--” Then, seeing the murderous look in her eyes, ducked. He knew that glare. Betrayal!

Lady Tiatrana fired a crossbow, but missed. The other Trei'kiya in the room immediately rushed Lord Veron, who began screaming for help.

“No help for you, lesser bird.” The golden-breasted robin said, beginning a spell of silence that drew all the sounds in the room upon a gust of wind and blew it straight out a window, taking Lord Veron's voice along with them. Lord Veron tried to scream, only to find he'd been silenced.

Lady Tiatrana took no time in plunging a dagger straight into his heart, twisting, then ripping the serrated blade out, spraying blood everywhere. Lord Veron stiffened and died, with the last thing he saw being a large avian figure in the doorway behind Lady Tiatrana, wearing sky blue robes, a bobcat skull around her neck, a vulpine skull on the end of a bright orange cord-belt, and a magically-enlarged mouse skull as a skullcap. A condor, he realized. Then, he was dead.

The golden-breasted robin dismissed the silence spell. “That was easier than I thought.”

“Are your forces in position, Wizard-Sage Charlin?” The figure in the doorway asked.

“At your command, Lady Zharinella.” The golden-breasted robin replied.

The condor nodded. “Good. We now wait for him to act first while we purge the rest of the... disloyal. That little vulpine will be the aggressor in our little war. We do nothing until he acts...”

“Yes, Lady Zharinella.” Everyone replied in unison, dropping to one knee in respect and deference to her.

“... and the Stone Over Sky will rule first this kingdom, then the others!” The condor finished, folding her wings wickedly as her eyes took on a deep amber glow.

=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* =*=*=

Bobbybobby99

2016-01-10, 03:45 PM

It's when individuals randomly start acting crazy and/or stupid, with no build up or non-handwavy justification. It's generally considered poor writing, but is insidiously common. I'll read over the rest.

Edit: 1. Avoid the word literally when describing cutting off someone's prosthetic breast from their corpse. Perhaps maddeningly, or in a fit of madness, or enragedly.
2. Slow down a bit. It felt like you were cramming in quite a bit, without having descriptors, into a small space. It felt a bit abrupt.
3. How can a bird grin? What would that even look like?
4.
""If I hadn't looked for her, she would have walked right into an ambush and we never would have known." Falanna replied.

Hervis stood up. "I'll manage."
Same thing- too abrupt. Readers are going to get confused and lost.
5. Thrommit... Is a really odd name. It doesn't really fit. Thromit might work, but it just sounds, and looks, odd. Names don't really have Th sounds in front.
6. Increase the tension. Add adjectives.
7. Nine-goddesses awful is too long for a common phrase. Potentially shorten it to "Goddesses-Awful" or just some other phrase.
8. A gypsy fortune teller raccoon is a tad... Stereotypical, don't you think?
9. I reccomend changing the name 'genesis thread'. It sounds like science fiction. Speaking of science fiction, the more I read, the more I suggest you remove the aliens. For that matter, how does the whole "Goddess power priest" fit in with the magic metal?
10. Huh. A prophecy. I suppose that works. Feels a tad 'Percy Jackson'ish, though.
11. Wait, so the bigger wolf raped and killed her mother? Why isn't everyone banding against him? That... isn't the sort of thing you don't immediately gang up against someone for.

Otherwise good. In particular, the ending was quite satisfying.

Lethologica

2016-01-10, 04:10 PM

The "nine" part of "nine goddesses" is much more convenient for swearing, Nine damn it. There's lots of fun things you can do with a number that's central to religious teachings.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-10, 08:37 PM

It's when individuals randomly start acting crazy and/or stupid, with no build up or non-handwavy justification. It's generally considered poor writing, but is insidiously common. I'll read over the rest.

Ok, so you want me to build up to Sir Korviak? I can do that. He prefers to strike with no warning though, which is why he attacked from the air in the dead of night so he wouldn't be seen. Thrommit WAS exasperated and knew they were in trouble, but I can do a round or two of build up for when he goes all Goddesses-berserk on him.

"I can grin just fine. Wanna see?" -- Ta'Maxia
"..... that's not a grin. Your beak didn't move." -- Jartpo

Yeah, I'll fix the grin.

"Stereotypical/cliche or not, I'm here and not going away." -- Elaenneli
"Yeah, unfortunately. You were supposed to be a mink or ermine or weasel for the second part of the story, and NOT stay for the main plot!" -- Me
"No, YOU'RE the weasel for putting me in this situation." -- Hervis
"... you're saying 'hyena' awfully weird, rabbit." -- Me

She wouldn't say her lines unless I'd made her a raccoon.

"You don't like my name? Tough. It's my name." -- Thrommit
"That's what I get for keyboard mashing." -- Me

Thrommit's name stays. I like it. It's unusual and weird. Maybe turn it into a cultural thing later.

"Wha... no! It was some woman in the wrong place at the wrong time that I'd mistaken for someone 'worthless'... NOT Falanna's mother! If I did that to her mother and Falanna caught me, we'd never find all the pieces!" -- Teralius
"That's assuming there are even pieces left. Did you see what she did to that rabbit that sniped Hervis outside the burrow? I think we're still missing a few pieces." -- Jartpo
"That and I think Falanna's mother can beat you up." -- Hervis
"You know what they say... never give the DM ideas." -- Me
(The entire cast looks at the author. Falanna just runs a hand down the length of her muzzle with an "I'll be in the break room." expression.)
"Uh, nice knowing you. I'll stand over here on the other side of the planet." -- Torvanian

Thread is supposed to allude to "threads of fate" like the three fates or something. I don't think it sounds science fiction-y at all. As for the aliens vs the Nine Goddesses; the Sycanesti people's whole religion sprang into being because they believed in it enough over time. Over thousands of years, that can have a powerful impact. The minds of intelligent beings can shape their spirit world even before it exists, and this was just taken more literal. (those of you who read Gunnerkrigg kind of know what I'm talking about here)

Elaenneli's prophecy has yet to play out, though I might insert a "corrupt" element or something similar, just to mess with it.

I'm nine-tenths done with the "interlude" episodes of what happens while they wait for an audience with their King... then I'll put those up as well and that'll be the extent of what I've done. Only two left to do are for Hervis and Thrommit.

Hopefully I get feedback from Artman77 for the rest of the story as well... and anyone else readin' what I put up here.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-13, 10:23 PM

Alright, got the interludes done, here's the first three. These haven't been edited -at all-, which is why they're not doublespaced...

The sun slowly began to rise, but it was a discomforting first light.
King Vanadei Tenquin, the King of the Sycanesti, had been up all night pacing back and forth in his royal bedchamber. While his wife Queen Dianova slept soundly, he was constantly moving around, checking the stained glass windows, adjusting clothes in the cabinet nearby, or just plain worrying about his people. Three weeks had passed since he had returned home to Thynsaleth, and he hadn't managed to unwind for a single day. Not even the expert massage skills of his wife had him breathing easier, and that worried him almost more than the current situations his kingdom was going through.
The King turned back to the window, watching the sunrise and looking out over his city and wondering why such evil had come to the House of Trei'kiya. The rays of light filtered through the glass and were refracted into countless colors, playing a rainbow over the bed and over the body of his wife. He turned with a sigh to look at her and mused that there were "interesting times" and then there were times like these, where he almost wished he could just sulk off and watch the world burn.
Burn it may, the vulpine mused. But not without a fight. I won't see my people fall.
The door to the bedroom opened, and a rough-looking canine with experience in his eyes poked his head in, the chain mail he was wearing softly clinking against the door frame.
"Yes?" King Vanadei said.
"Sire, the R.A.T.S. have returned." The guard said, nodding his head back.
"Good, please send them to the private chamber behind the throne room. I will be there in a few minutes." The King turned back to the window.
"At once, Your Majesty." The guard softly closed the door with a click.
"Nine Goddesses, how do you do it? How do you sit back and watch such great evils be born, fester, and taint the land?" The vulpine said to himself. "They're still my people, even if they've chosen treason. There must be a way to make them see the light."
After a few quiet moments spent in contemplation, he whirled on his feet and made his way to leave. He paused by the bed, looking at his young wife peacefully sleeping and completely unaware of what was going on. He hadn't shared the kingdom's new woes with her as she had just revealed to him that a pair of heirs were on the way. With a long, deep breath he turned away from her and left the room, making his way to the throne.
As he walked the gray marble halls of his castle, some decorated with Diathrylium designs that shifted as he walked, he went over some recent developments. He'd hired a small group of rodents calling themselves the Rage Against The Stupids. They were a small family that worked as a spy network for those who paid the right price. Angry at the amount of completely stupid and willfully ignorant Sycanesti in their midst, their goal was the spread of information throughout the corners of the kingdom. They were not assassins, but they weren't usually that friendly either, only trusting their own to keep the secrets they found until they returned to their employer.
He'd posted a multitude of guards at the river where sometimes shipments of more important things were brought in, trying to attract attention to the docks set up on one side of the Firetail River. His method was security through obscurity and he figured that if thieves and thugs were looking for trouble, him spreading rumors of major shipments coming in would keep attention off the fact that most of the church's private meditation rooms were now full of his new friends.
Then he'd sent out messages for the triads of the Houses to come to the kingdom for a "species-wide review." This wasn't unheard of, but for it to be done in the spring instead of the winter as was tradition was unusual. King Vanadei hoped that it wouldn't tip his hand to his new enemies. That meeting would be a nightmare, as breaking tradition would be something he would have to "answer" for. If he didn't satisfy the nobles and especially the triads, they might cause problems for him politically, and more political unrest was the last thing he needed. All but the Trei'kiya had responded, which had come as no surprise to the fox.
Finally, he'd assembled his most loyal guards, knights and sorcerers, and told them to intensify their training. Unfortunately for them, he told them, they were likely going to war and King Vanadei didn't know how he could stop it. He'd have to cut the snake off at the head to be successful, and he just didn't have resources for an assault on a thoroughly-defended Grand Bristlecone. The best thing to do was to repel the enemies at the gates when they came calling.
The two guards at the doors to the throne room opened them as he approached, bowing slightly.
"You're up early, m'lord." One of them, a strong-looking feline said, relaxing his grip around the sword at his belt. A shield was slung over one shoulder.
"My work here is never done. You know that." King Vanadei tiredly replied.
"Something's really wrong, isn't it." Said the other one, a bloodhound-Taur who was decked out in medical gear and wielding a staff with colorful crystals at the top.
"It's my weight to bear. And bear it I will so that you don't have to. Return to duty." The King lowered his head and entered the throne room, approaching the throne.
The room was spacious, lit by three large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Two held dozens of candles, the third had a huge faceted crystal of Malaezium in its center, giving off a soft glow that seemed to amplify the other candles. Against the back wall was the throne, a huge chair originally intended for a bison. The throne was of white marble stained a bright blue, decorated here and there with lapis lazuli, turquoise, rose quartz, and amethyst. A large bean bag-like pillow served as a "seat" on the throne, wrapped in strips of leather colored to match the House Felcan'lu colors of pink, bronze and purple.
Over the throne and inset into the wall were nine huge statues, each one of them an Ascended Goddess. The Nine Goddesses were the core of their religion, and after all he had experienced, he was worried he would not have enough faith in his fellow people to stop this trouble before it began. He had become more religious as a result, going to the mid-week services and hoping for a spark of divine intervention.
As he walked up the huge pink, bronze and purple silk carpet toward the throne, he quietly mused about the Goddesses while thinking about his most unpleasant work. He still had yet to punish Hervis for what he did. Anything less than his planned sentence would anger the triads, but was ninety days in the dungeon's bottom level too much... or too little? The man had disobeyed a direct order, right to his muzzle on top of speaking with Evil itself in a half-baked plan to get information. The King'd have to dodge the pitfalls of condemning him to death on advice of the triads. If they thought they weren't being taken seriously, the kingdom would fragment and shatter like glass.
"May the Goddesses watch over us all." King Vanadei said to himself as he took a seat on the throne, motioning for one of the nearby guards. "You may send in the Rage. I am ready to hear their report. Please also send word to those staying in the church that it is time for them to make their move to the castle, so that they may get a crash course in court etiquette before next week's... events."
"At once, Your Majesty." The guard replied, saluting his king and then making a slight bow before turning around and leaving the chamber.
In the room's rafters, a large raven took off from its perch and exited an open upper window, riding the day's warming air and making his way down to the large gypsy camp at the west end of the city. The camp was beginning to stir, colorfully-dressed Sycanesti exiting the many wagons to assemble at the large cooking fire in the center of the camp. The raven landed on a windowsill of one of the wagons, then began tapping with his beak on the wooden sun-blocker over the window that served to keep out the light.

Tap, tap tap...
Elaenneli blinked, opening her eyes and rolling over in her bed. Thin beams of light were poking through the cracks between the sun-blocker and the window.
Morning already? She thought as the tapping came harder. Zhire had been out late if he was just coming home...
She rolled off the cot with a thump as she shook the last of the cobwebs from her eyes and pushed the sun-blocker aside. Bright beams of light dazzled her eyes as she felt around for the latch that would open the window, then as she pushed open the window she was rewarded by the sound of flapping wings and then a brief beak-shaped nuzzle on her cheek. Blinking repeatedly she watched as the raven flew inside a large cage; the cage was big enough for a very large dog but still probably one or two sizes too small for a huge-winged raven familiar.
“The sun's out. You were out all night.” Elaennelli said with a yawn, stretching.
The raven tilted his head, cawed, then stabbed his beak into a big piece of raw meat the raccoon held out for him.
“See anything amusing?” Elaenneli asked.
Zhire just cawed at her again before using his talons to tear the meat into slivers that he could eat. Elaenneli smiled.
The raccoon stepped out into the morning air, taking a deep breath as the sunlight struck the castle's towers in the distance. In a few short days the Hervis' group was going to officially meet with the King and things were going to get very interesting indeed. She had plans to be present for when it happened, as she wanted to help the Genesis Thread succeed at whatever it was that would interfere with the plans of the Trei'kiya.
The central campfire was already ablaze when she joined her fellow fortune tellers and city bards at the morning meal. All around her, city criers were getting their morning scrolls together, ready to yell out the day's morning news. Some bards in the corner were rehersing a song and lute bongos and a flute could be heard harmonizing. A couple of pickpockets from the thieves guild were in attendance, listening to the casual chatter around them.
“Morning, Neener.” Altruio, a peacock with half of his display feathers missing, said as the raccoon walked up to the tables where the meal was being served.
“How are things, Altruio?” Elaenneli asked as she moved down the line, helping herself to the morning stew.
“Energetic.” The peacock replied. “Guild got wind of an assassination attempt, so there's a larger than normal presence in the area. The Order of the Black Acorn left a chest full of acorns on the steps of the main church, and that has the city guard all up in a frenzy. A decree came down from the Highest Feather saying they were 'withdrawing' from the kingdom, but I don't know what they meant by that. Why would House Trei'kiya want to suddenly split off from the kingdom?”
Elaenneli looked thoughtful but didn't reply.
Altruio continued his news-sharing. “You missed two big gang fights last night. One was the Black Paws versus the Stone Tails.”
“Cats vs dogs. No surprise there.” Elaenneli rolled her eyes.
“The Black Paws won, which is a surprise. They were outnumbered five to one, but lured them into an ambush.” The peacock rubbed the back of his neck. “It looks like the Black Paws are receiving help from the city guard. The guard tore the Stone Tails apart and left 'em for dead.”
“That is interesting. I wonder who's paying them to look the other way? His Majesty isn't going to be happy the guard is receiving bribes...” Elaenneli paused as she walked to another table and helped herself to a pint of cool, clear water.
“The other gang fight was small... some Order of the Black Acorn thugs against some new gang calling themselves the Dust Crystals. That went as predictably as you'd think from an upstart new group of young hot-shots.” Altruio looked down. “I don't think they found all the pieces.”
“Any injuries? Less Order is more stability.” Elaenneli joked as they began to eat.
Altruio shrugged. “Just one. It's being told as an ambush gone wrong, where they struck down one, but were out-powered by the other thirty and were surrounded when they tried to break and run.”
Elaenneli ran a hand down the length of her muzzle.
“Oh, you missed the biggest part of another thing that happened recently. Seems one of the higher-class whores got set upon by a bunch of wolverine thugs. They beat her up but good. She's been locked in the church while she recovers and sleeps off her injuries.” Altruio said.
“What does Old Man Snout want with a woman? Isn't he gay?” Elaenneli asked. There was only one Sycanesti in all of the capital city that hired nothing but wolverines.
“I don't know, but she got cornered against some road work and nearly strangled. From what I hear, another Sycanesti came in and beat up those who were assaulting her. I found this at the site of the battle among the broken bodies.” Altruio held out a long red ribbon.
Elaenneli sniffed it, wrinkling her nose a little. “Smells like wolf.” Then she froze. It not only smelled of wolf, but... sniff sniff sniff...
“Smell someone you know?” The peacock tilted his head.
Sniiiiiiiiiiiiiff...
“No, not really.” Elaenneli wrinkled her nose again and went back to eating. Falanna, what did you get yourself into? The raccoon thought to herself, making a note that the ribbon had the stink of burnt brownies and goldenrod.
“So what are you up to today?” Altruio asked.
The raccoon sighed. “The usual. Entertain the tourists in the morning with a display of my skills, then go seeing about the afternoon's actual appointments with the middle class about their future and fortune.” She didn't sound impressed, as if she was bored.
“Well, it brings in tence to the camp. We could have it worse.” The peacock shut up after that, focusing on his meal.
Elaenneli turned over the news in her head as she devoured her stew. Falanna had gotten in trouble with a man everyone called Old Man Snout, a short bobcat who hated the world and had a habit of yelling at the clouds. He had a fetish for wolverines, maybe because he felt stronger when he was standing between slabs of muscle. The man was gay and disliked women as a whole, but he wasn't violently against them unless they seriously angered him. So what had Falanna done that had pissed him off?
Several minutes passed as both Altruio and Elaenneli finished the morning meal, then Altruio excused himself to go prepare his own manner of entertainment. A juggler by trade, he had lost half his display feathers when he'd fumbled and dropped several flaming torches onto himself while performing for the crowds of tourists to the city. Adopting the “what doesn't burn you to death makes you stronger” outlook on life, he'd gotten back into the game as soon as he could walk again. He wasn't much to look at but he was skilled at what he did and was all around a friendly member of the House of Trei'kiya.
Elaenneli returned to her wagon and grabbed her cards, shuffling them quickly before laying them out in a star pattern on a specially prepared and blessed small wooden table; twenty cards, plus one in the center representing the overall situation. The appearance of the ritual didn't matter, just as long as the intent was clear. She normally did the ball-and-sling trick for the crowds, but here in private and in her “real” appointments, she kept it low-key.
She studied the cards she'd shuffled and drawn for a good five minutes before grimly standing up and throwing a waterproof cloak over her shoulders as it began to drizzle. Her friends at the church would be interested in what she had to reveal. She glanced at Zaire, who'd moved to a cage with a nest of wrinkled papers, sticks and various shiny things he'd found. He was out cold. He really had been out all night.
Elaenneli turned away from his cage and headed out the door, heading for the church. Things were about to get interesting and ugly fast, and her friends needed to know.

Falanna's is a bit more mature, but that's what she gets for being a professional... "escort"... Could be a little triggery.

Falanna darted down the long, narrow alley as she glanced at the bloody slash in her left shoulder. The blade had been envenomed and a creeping numbness was slowly inching down her arm carrying the black leather pack, and she knew that if she dropped the pack or paused even once to catch her breath, it would be all over for her.
Behind her, four large burly wolverines wielding maces were giving chase, not happy that the whore they had hired for their lord was instead an agent of the king. She had kneed a fifth (wielding a sword, who had wounded her first) in the groin before taking off at top speed through the alleys of Rozrowan, aiming to get back to Jartpo's drop point. The pack contained all the correspondence the wolverines' lord had done with the Trei'kiya... and if such correspondence reached the king's hands, it would be all over... for their lord and them. Naturally they weren't keen on losing their jobs, if not their lives.
“Come back here, you slut!” One of the wolverines called.
“We won't hurt you...” Another called out to her.
“Much, right?” Falanna snarled under her breath.
“Yes! We wouldn't want to damage that pretty little body of yours!” Came a response.
“Tell that to the ******* who slashed my shoulder!” Falanna spat, overturning a garbage bin into the alley to delay pursuit.
No witty response came as she dodged and wove through several alleys, doubling back on one or two to try to throw them off the scent. To her annoyance, her sharp ears picked up the sounds of more feet hitting the ground; pursuit was not only picking up but it sounded like more were taking part and if she wasn't careful she would be cornered.
She wasn't terribly afraid of her pursuers. They were burly enforcers to a minor lord who had some slight sway with the inner workings of the castle. That sway was enough to cause trouble for her or her friends if the pack she was carrying failed to reach its target. Jartpo's information gathering for her had yielded results; this lord had been consorting with Trei'kiya brigands outside the castle and the brigands themselves had ties to the Order of the Black Acorn. Some of the letters in the pack had mentioned the Cult of Sky over Stone, and a potential alliance.
Falanna was sure she could beat up the wolverines, but doing so would slow her down and that would give time for their lord to finally catch up. Unlike the wolverines, the wolf was afraid of their lord, a older male bobcat with muscles to make Teralius jealous and a little bit of explosive magic to make up for his small size. She'd seen what he did to his other prisoner as a threat to “put down my pack or else” and she didn't want to be on the receiving end of his magic.
Fortunately, she was back in Rozrowan, chasing down one or two leads for Jartpo as a favor from Hervis. She knew these alleys like the back of her hands and could likely outrun the wolverines if she found a good corner to hide in. She would have gone to the guards, but they were known to look the other way if their palms were greased with enough coin... and she didn't want anyone else to know what it was the pack she was carrying was holding. Anyone who knew would be at risk for retaliation and she didn't need to add to her problems.
She turned into another alley, but ran up against a brick wall that had been built as what appeared to be an “alley remodeling” project for the city. Crude mortar and bricks lay everywhere, a couple of trowels were stuck blades first in a pile of dirt, and in one corner there was a large mattock that had been carelessly tossed aside as something that didn't belong. Cornered, she turned around to run only to see that the wolverines had caught up.
“We have you now, you filthy bitch.” One of the wolverines taunted.
“Over my dead fur, bandit-eyes.” Falanna growled. The pack seemed to be gaining weight.
“That can be arranged.” One of the wolverines picked up a brick and threw it at her, and she ducked to avoid it. The moment she ducked and turned to the side to see it impact the wall, the wolverines rushed her. She tensed then leapt, attempting to clear the much-smaller wolverines and then bolt out of the alley, but one of them got lucky and grabbed her tail on the jump, yanking her down. The wolverine twisted on his feet and swung Falanna by her tail, slamming her muzzle first into the brick wall and bringing it down around her, completely covering her in bricks.
The rest of the wolverines took no time in rushing her for the assault, kicking her in the stomach, punching her hips, and bludgeoning her legs with one or two bricks. The wolf's snarls turned into yelps of pain, then she was silenced as she was knocked senseless with a brick and went limp. The pack was pulled out of her paws and tossed aside.
“Looks like we have a prize for the night.” One of the wolverines said as Falanna tried to clear the stars from her eyes.
Another wolverine bit down on her wrist and tore, causing a very bloody wound. She yelped loudly and tried to scoot away but two other wolverines had grabbed her legs and pulled her back over the rough bricks. She'd have a lot of bruises on her back in the morning.
“Make a wish!” One of them yelled as her legs were forced open. The thin leather thong she had been wearing was ripped off and then wrapped around her throat. “Or I'll make one. I wish for your death!” He tightened and Falanna gagged, beginning to struggle. One of the wolverines grabbed her arms while the other undid his leather pants.
“Let me help myself to her first, Shargo!” One of the wolverines growled. “****ing whore will learn it's not wise to cross us before she dies!”
The wolverine called Shargo tightened the thong's string, leaning back and putting his weight into the attempted murder. Falanna's tongue hung limply out of the side of her muzzle as she choked, and she struggled weakly as the rest of the wolverines began to grope her. A wolverine fist struck her in the side of the head, causing her to see stars again.
“Aw, break her neck already.” One of the other wolverines grumbled. “I love hearing that snap.”
“No, no, I like them to panic and suffer.” Shargo replied. One of the wolverines grabbed her throat with both hands and began to squeeze as her head was slammed back against the bricks.
Just as her eyes closed she saw a dark form step up behind Shargo. She heard a surprised shout, then shouts turned to yelps as the thong's string loosened around her throat. From what she could make out as she sat up dazed, choking and coughing, whomever had stepped in behind her had routed the wolverines. Two escaped, one was laying against the wall unconscious with a wolverine-shaped indentation in the building wall behind him, and the last one who had been about to enjoy her without consent lay in a pool of his own blood, both legs and arms broken. To her surprise the man who stepped in drew a sword and plunged it into the back of the last wolverine's head.
She recognized that two handed sword.
“Are you okay?!” Teralius asked, kneeling down. “I saw you running and gave chase to the wolverines, but they had some damn snipers with them.” He looked at his shoulder and tore out the bolt that was still stuck halfway into a thick leather shoulder pad with a growl. “I was out training for a future trip into the arena, and saw the wolverines chasing something. I couldn't not investigate, especially after I heard you...”
Falanna hadn't forgotten his past transgression and admittance, and before she knew it she'd snarled a warning as a reply.
“Okay, okay.” Teralius raised his hands in defense. “I won't bite. Well, maybe them.” He turned to the wolverine laying against the wall unconscious. With a snarl he clenched his fist in frusteration and drove it right into the wolverine's muzzle, driving it all the way back into the skull and shattering both.
Falanna coughed. “I'm not ready to forgive you. Yet. You can thank Hervis I may give you a chance... someday. Take... cough... take the pack to Jartpo; he's hiding over by the red and green fountain not far from here. It's got important information for King Tenquin.”
“You got it, Falanna. I'm sorry I wasn't--”
“Save it.” Falanna slowly stood up then sat back down hard with a yelp of pain. She'd twisted her ankle when she was thrown into the bricks.
“You're hurt!” Teralius' eyes were full of concern. “We need to get you to a healer!”
“You lay one hand on me and I'll be shoving it down your throat, and your tail will follow after I rip it off.” Falanna snarled, shakily getting to her feet. “Don't even look at me when King Vanadei has our audience, either.”
Teralius took a step forward, exasperated. “Falanna, wait! You're hurt! Drop the stubbornness, please!”
The she-wolf whirled on him and lifted her good leg in a high kick, smacking him in the muzzle. With a yelp he was knocked to the ground and the belt holding his sword became undone, falling down around his legs.
“I said, no touch. Ever. Again.” Falanna turned around and began to limp away, leaving a trail of blood from her injured wrist.
Teralius looked at his sword, then the pack and then at the wolf, limping away. He knew not to anger her, and quickly grabbed the pack. Making sure the wolverines weren't hiding and waiting for him to leave, he went to the drop point and to Jartpo, who waved him down as he approached.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-14, 08:36 PM

And another three. Last two or so tomorrow.

Jartpo exited the guild's library with a large stack of heavy books in his arms, though that he staggered as he walked, and almost lost balance a couple of times. He'd spent most of the week looking up everything he could about guild rivals, Trei'kiya religious offshoot groups, and the noble families of the Trei'kiya... their motivations, their wealth, their politics, and everything else that might prove useful to His Majesty. Some of the books had been marked with a red ribbon, marking them as “restricted”... but the favors he was owed by some of the Sycanesti in the guild made it easy for him to access the books and thus get the information he was curious about.
The first thing he studied was the Order of the Black Acorn. While staying at the church, their acorn calling cards had been discovered quite often, and since there weren't any acorn-producing trees in all of Thynsaleth, the iguana figured that they might run into them a few more times and he wanted to be ready for them when they showed up.
The books didn't have much useful information on them. He'd learned that the Order had branched out and accepted mercenaries of all flavors, as well as anyone with a bounty without question, which is how Rhygo had gotten into the Order. Rhygo had been a leg breaker in the thieves guild before being kicked out for being “more violent, less stealthy” and Jartpo had almost considered him a personal rival. It made him feel better that Rhygo had been dispatched; when he wanted the raccoon could have been very much the tactical genius. Rhygo was genius enough to possibly outsmart most of the others at the church, including Hervis.
The expansionist tendencies the Order was showing established the theory in Jartpo's head that some kind of major assault or takeover was brewing while the King's back was turned or focused on Hervis. Certainly not a shot at the throne, but perhaps one of the major businesses in Thynsaleth. The iguana had spent days looking at the financial records (including some private records he stole himself) looking at things and came to the conclusion that the blacksmith's guild was the target: It was rich, the nobles were elderly and likely on the last of their four legs, and the weapons and armor that could be created as a result would make them a real threat instead of a mere irritant. His Majesty had to realize this before the Order made their move.
Jartpo heard a voice from behind him. “Hey, Jartpo. Got a minute?”
The iguana turned, seeing one of his guildmates. “Fyris. What's up?”
The sheep, still a lamb in every sense of the word, beamed. He loved playing “thief” and was quite, quite good at it. The lamb had a natural talent for pickpocketing that Jartpo had not left unnoticed. When he got older he planed to teach him personally.
“Did you see the recent list of bounties active?” Fyris asked. “There's a bounty out for that avian bird that shot that rabbit at the Games! Some upper crust types want her assassinated.”
Jartpo paused. “Really?”
Fyris unrolled a scroll. “I had a copy made for me. Check it out.”
Jartpo accepted the scroll from the lamb's hand-hooves and skimmed the contents. Several Felcan'lu nobles wanted Ta'Maxia dead for ruining the games, and they didn't agree with the mercy that Hervis had shown her.
“Two thousand kul?” Jartpo asked, lowering the scroll.
“Just think what the guild could do with that money!” Fyris was so excited he was almost jumping up and down.
Jartpo smiled, if only to satisfy the lamb's ignorance at guild politics. Two thousand kul wasn't much to the guild's coffers, and Ta'Maxia was worth much more than that, easily. This was insulting to her at the very least, and he planned to visit Ta'Maxia to let her know. The hawk was in a safe house, and Jartpo was the go-between for her and Hervis.
Not that the lamb knew this, but still.
“I've got a couple friends itching to try and claim it. You want to come along?” Fyris said.
Jartpo considered. Might as well make him work a little... make him feel useful. He thought to himself. “Why? She's an avian, I'm just an iguana. I'm a burglar, not an assassin. By the Nine Goddesses, you're just a pickpocket. You're not an assassin either.”
“I can learn!” Fyris excitedly replied. “Melgrin has been teaching me how to slit throats.”
The iguana paused. Assassination was a dark path to take, and the lamb was young enough to still treat everything in life as a game. Melgrin was an old badger who was one of the guild's foremost assassins, specializing in cutting the throats of the opposition in such a messy way that the mess that was left had become his trademark. Jartpo knew Melgrin was emotionless, but to willingly lead such a young Sycanesti child down that path...
Ignorance is happiness. Jartpo thought to himself. “Well, if old Melgrin is teaching you, I guess you might be one after all. Sure, I'll come along to help out...” By scaring away or warning the target... Ta'Maxia would kill you before you knew she was there... “Do you mind if I take this with me? I need to head to one of the safe houses for one of our other clients.”
“Yeah, sure. I'll see you later then? I've got some pickpocketing to do in the meantime and we can team up for it.” Fyris was grinning ear to ear. “Then we can take down this filthy feather face and be heroes for bringing her to justice!”
“Didn't you pay attention to what happened?” Now Jartpo was scolding him. “The rabbit showed her mercy, according to word on the street. That means she's in the free and clear, right?”
The lamb scoffed. “He's an idiot. He was killed and had to be brought back. All he's doing is inviting another stab in the back when she comes for revenge. She's Trei'kiya, Jartpo... they hold grudges.” Fyris folded his arms with a knowing, smug look. “He's just asking for trouble and he'll get what is coming to him. She will take another shot. Guaranteed. We'll get to her first!”
“And how do you know that?” Jartpo asked.
The iguana's face fell as the lamb's eyes seemed to freeze, and he pulled out a small dagger, grinning and licking his lips. The lamb couldn't have been more than ten or twelve seasons of age, and already he looked like he was bloodthirsty for the sake of being bloodthirsty. On the other hand, such a young... killer... would be underestimated... and that would be an advantage for the guild. Now the iguana had doubts about Fyris “automatically” failing the attempt. If he had this kind of bloodlust and cold-bloodedness in his heart, that would mean never underestimating him again. The lamb bowed to him and walked away, leaving Jartpo with the scroll in his claws.
Jartpo waited until he was out of the building, then exited the guild through one of the secret rooftop exits. From there he jumped from roof to roof before making his way down into the part of the city that had been set aside for House Lapandar. He walked from burrow entrance to burrow entrance, nodding at those who would say hello to him. Everyone here knew him to be part of the guild, but as it was “obvious” he was “just out for a stroll and not on guild business” no one paid him any attention.
Finally, he reached a specific burrow. A tiny blotch of orange paint along one wall marked this as a guild safe house; if you didn't know to look for it, it would have been unnoticeable. The burrow was half the size of Ta'Maxia, meaning she'd have trouble moving about, but when she was a marked avian comfort had to be sacrificed in the name of safety. Jartpo moved aside a small rock and crawled into a small space leading directly inside the burrow.
He could hear Ta'Maxia moving about, and he looked down at the scroll in his claws. She would not be pleased.
“You here?” He whispered from inside the crawlspace, his voice echoing down the tunnel to bounce off a stone block at the end. The other end of the tunnel had been blocked by an ornamental statue.
The sounds of moving about stopped, and as Jartpo reached the end of the tunnel the statue was moved aside. He poked his head out with a smile on his face. “How are you holding up?”
Ta'Maxia shrugged. “As well as can be expected. Did you learn anything interesting?”
The iguana shrugged back. “Lots of things. King Vanadei is going to be very interested in what I've uncovered. Unfortunately it doesn't help Hervis much. I also learned through some of my friends in the guild that he's entertaining a temporary dungeon stay for him.”
Ta'Maxia turned to look out the window again. “The rabbit's expecting something, yeah. We just don't know what.”
“Yeah, if King Vanadei doesn't do something about that one time he talked to the Tyrannical Darkness, his authority will be ruined. Word will spread and create more potential for unrest and that doesn't do any Sycanesti any good.” Jartpo said. “I also bring news that some Felcan'lu nobles want you dead. There's a bounty out for your death.”
Ta'Maxia's eyes widened as Jartpo handed her the scroll without another word, and she opened it up and scanned the contents. She looked at the scroll and then at Jartpo, scratching the back of her neck with one wing.
“Really... two thousand kul...” Ta'Maxia muttered, putting down the scroll.
“Yeah. I hate being the bearer of bad news.” Jartpo grumbled. “Listen, I have to go; I accepted a request for a little pickpocketing with a friend before he was heading out to search for you to make good on this assassination attempt, and I can't be late. He's a kid with some severe psychopathy issues that I hadn't realized he had, and I'm going to try to turn him away from them. We don't need another potential loose cannon in the guild right now and I've got to try to turn him aside before I head back to the church and Hervis.”
The hawk shrugged while sipping a mug of strawberry flavored water with a talon, reclining in her chair. “Go do your thing. I'll do mine. But two thousand? That's embarrassing. I'm worth twice that and everyone knows it.”
“I'd say more than that, given who you're associating with, plus you've already fed His Majesty what information you could on the Sacred Nest.” Jartpo turned around to duck back down the tunnel leading outside. “I'll be back at the end of the week. That's when we're being summoned by His Majesty.”
“I'll see you later. Keep Hervis safe for me.” Ta'Maxia replied, watching the little iguana salute her and then dive off into the hole.

“Really... two thousand kul...” Ta'Maxia muttered, putting down the scroll.
“Yeah. I hate being the bearer of bad news.” Jartpo grumbled. “Listen, I have to go; I accepted a request for a little pickpocketing with a friend before he was heading out to search for you to make good on this assassination attempt, and I can't be late. He's a kid with some severe psychopathy issues and I'm going to try to turn him away from them.”
The hawk shrugged while sipping a mug of strawberry flavored water with a talon, reclining in her chair. “Go do your thing. I'll do mine. But two thousand? That's embarrassing. I'm worth twice that and everyone knows it.”
“I'd say more than that, given who you're associating with, plus you've already fed His Majesty what information you could on the Sacred Nest.” Jartpo turned around to duck back down the tunnel leading outside. “I'll be back at the end of the week. That's when we're being summoned by His Majesty.”
“I'll see you later. Keep Hervis safe for me.” Ta'Maxia replied, watching the little iguana salute her and then dive off into the hole. She pushed the statue back into place, and looked around at the burrow she was staying in. Some of Hervis' family in Thynsaleth had offered a burrow to hide in and while she couldn't stand up because everything was rabbit sized, she was safe for the time being from those who were out to get her.
Jartpo had been her confidant and go-between between herself and Hervis, currently staying put at the church. None could be seen dealing with her directly, or they'd be targeted by both the Sacred Nest and the Order of the Black Acorn. The Order, in particular, had left a few acorns laying around the church as a warning, but the priests there had made sure that their wards and “visitors” were safe and protected.
She'd received news that her family had disowned her. The shame of having the “attempted assassin of the Crier of The Games” was too much for the family to bear and they had effectively told her to get lost. Because of the disowning, that made her brother no longer valuable, and so the Sacred Nest had been returned to the family. Instead, they had put out a bounty on her head instead, to make it seem like they were more reputable than they actually were.
Still, her brother'd been bird-napped in the first place. That still couldn't be left to stand, so she was going to remain allied to Hervis.
Her brother Ti'genis had reportedly said upon his release that he couldn't fault Ta'Maxia, but that if he publicly forgave her he'd be disowned or worse as well, so he at least in public had to pretend to “forget she existed.” The two had been exchanging letters daily since Ta'Maxia'd returned from the wilderness. Sometimes those letters were all that kept her from going crazy in the confined space.
Ta'Maxia looked out the window as the sun began to peek over the horizon, rising on a new day. In a week the group would return to His Majesty to both give testimony on the situations in front of the triads, and prepare to move on the Sacred Nest and Cult of the Sky Over Stone.
She checked her crossbow, making sure it was loaded and that she was carrying an ample supply of ammunition. Soon it would be time to take the fight all the way back to the Grand Bristlecone, and she wanted to be ready. She could understand the political agenda that the Sacred Nest had wanted to push, but now that she knew Hervis was supposed to be something more, she wanted to genuinely help. Prey be damned, he had shown her mercy when for all intents and purposes she should have been killed for failure. He'd spared her life without hesitation, so she was going to help the little “prey” right back, without hesitation.
Sir Korviak. The golden eagle had disappeared in a flash of amber fire-light after Hervis took his eye. That bird would be back for sure, and she wanted to be there when he made himself known... mostly because she wanted to shoot him in the back and let Hervis finish him off. In her opinion it wasn't right that birds could fly with such armor on and it reeked of something completely unnatural. This was not counting the fact he was now known to be in league with the Tyrannical Darkness itself on top of everything. Leather armor, maybe. Some small metal plates protecting the knees and maybe a back plate? Sure. But that full suit of “weightless” plate mail was going beyond proper.
House Trei'kiya was “progressing” too far too fast, and it needed to be reined in before they got so bold as to assault the rest of the houses in an inter-species war. Ta'Maxia might have been a mercenary, but total winner-take-all was good for nobody.
She shuddered for a moment. Am I getting as soft as the prey species? She thought to herself as she cocked the crossbow. A year ago I would have liked more war. It would have given me many contracts. She stretched out her other wing (now healed thanks to Thrommit's magic after he'd had time to rest), preening a few feathers here and there as she mused that House Trei'kiya needed to be stopped. It was not their place to attempt to usurp control over House Felcan'lu despite the prey-hatred. If a winner-take-all battle erupted, the winner could charge anything they wanted on a contract, leading to worthless contracts. No way in the Nine Goddesses am I going to allow that to happen.
A knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts and she tensed, not responding. There was a pause, then a second knock, harder this time.
Slowly the avian crept up on the door, peeking out through the eye hole. A rabbit wearing a brown tunic and wearing a headband marked with runes representing a messenger stared back.
“Who... is it?” Ta'Maxia asked.
“Ja'vael... of the Wing's Breadth.” Came a low male voice.
Ta'Maxia paused. The Wing's Breadth was a small sect of the Nine Goddesses that was tailored to better fit with the Trei'kiyan air of superiority. They wanted to rule over others as did groups like the Sacred Nest, but without killing anyone. At any cost. They weren't terribly paid attention to, mostly because their methods fell into the political, social, or economic arenas instead of force or intimidation that had become the hallmark of the Trei'kiya upper crust.
“How did you find me, and why should I let you in?” Ta'Maxia cracked her wings, looking at the trap door under the rug in the room. The escape hatch had been specifically dug for her so she could make a break for it if things got hairy or if assassins came to the door.
“Because you know we don't like violence, and because I have a message from King Tenquin that you need to hear.” Came the voice.
Ta'Maxia folded her wings up. “I'm seeing the King in a few days. He can tell me himself.”
“This needs to be done today, Ta'maxia.” The voice urged.
Ta'Maxia peered through the hole at the rabbit again. “You're not from the Wing's Breadth, only Trei'kiya are...”
The rabbit looked stressed. “Okay, okay. We're friends of theirs. They can't get the job done on their own, you know. They need people to do their other work in the other parts of the kingdom...”
“Friends.” Ta'Maxia chirped disinterestedly. She wasn't convinced.
“Yes, friends. Look. I don't have time for this. You can either let me in so I can give you these orders, or turn me away and I'll tell them I couldn't get through to you. They told me I could expect that since you do have a price on your head.” The rabbit turned to look over his shoulder as if he thought he was being followed.
“And you can't slide the 'orders' under the door because...?” Ta'Maxia asked, reaching for her crossbow.
“His Majesty was right. You are stubborn. I guess with the situation you can't afford to be too careful.” Came the voice. A thick envelope with the King's royal seal on the back was pushed under the door with some difficulty. “Here's the message and the orders. Good luck.”
Ta'Maxia watched as the rabbit hopped away, then looked down at the thick envelope with curiosity in her eyes. Whatever it was, it contained a packet of thick sheets of paper. Once the rabbit was gone she picked it up off the ground and slowly read the contents, tilting her head left and right as she read King Tenquin's flowing script.
“He wants me to do WHAT?!” Ta'Maxia exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise looking up and out the window at the castle. “Is he dumb, or just stupid?” Then she shook her head from side to side to focus. “All right, so he wants me to... hmmm. Wow, okay. He's a damned vulpine, his tricks had better be good if I'm putting myself in harm's way like this...”
She put down her crossbow and opened the front door of the burrow, looking outward at the awakening city. Stepping outside and stretching her now-healed wings she took a running start before launching herself into the air, feeling her wings creak and pop as they finally got some exercise.
“On the other hand, I've been locked in that chicken coop for too long. Time to go to work.”

Teralius made sure he'd strapped on the leather pads tightly to his shoulders and knees before stepping onto the practice mat, his sword at the ready. His opponent, a tiger almost twice his size, was readying his own blade.
He was in the arena in the city of Rozrowan, where the Games would have been in full swing still if they had still been going on. It was late evening, and he was itching for some practice before he'd have to report back to King Vanadei and listen to his declarations and decrees alongside Hervis and the rest of the group, including Falanna.
“You okay, Teralius?” The tiger asked. “You look distracted.”
“Hm? Just thinking.” The wolf replied. Falanna had never been far from his thoughts, but she wasn't the type to forgive easily once you'd broken her trust. Him admitting to what he'd done had scarred their relationship, and he was constantly thinking of ways he could get through to her that it was a one-time mistake. He'd had the thought of finding the woman he'd raped with the gang and apologizing, but he wasn't sure if that would be enough. After all, the damage had already been done.
“Have you seen the list of upcoming combat?” Largos, the tiger, asked. This was Teralius's trainer, and the two had known each other for several years. There was nothing the striped feline had left to teach the wolf, but they were always up for challenging one another any time the lupine was dropping by.
“No, but I heard it's being well-funded by a popular local lord. We should have a big crowd.” Teralius replied with a smile, stepping into the center of the mat's center ring and bringing his sword up in a defensive posture, blade down and ready to block the first attack the tiger would throw at him. Big crowds meant big payoffs for the fighters. Well, the survivors, anyway.
“Come and GET IT!” Largos snarled, charging. The wolf expertly parried the first blow and spun on his heels. Largos bent backwards almost horizontally to dodge the blade and sprang back like a sapling. He leapt at Teralius, who jumped back, then the two clashed blades, leaning their prospective weights into them. The tiger used his size and strength to outmuscle the wolf, knocking him to a sitting position before sending his blade skittering from his grasp.
“You must be distracted. I haven't disarmed you in, what... months?” Largos asked, sheathing his sword and helping the wolf up.
“A little.” Teralius rubbed the back of his head. “Remember when I told you about that gang and I, when we went hunting for some garbage whore in the bowels of the arena?”
Largos tilted his head. “And you were drunk, and picked a free woman? Yeah, I remember that. That was... wow, early in your career. Thinking about it after all this time?”
Teralius looked down. “You know Falanna Quickpaws?”
“Yeah. Don't you have a crush on her?” Largos playfully punched the wolf's shoulder.
“Long story short, we've slept together on occasion. She got wind of that... event, and now she refuses to be on speaking terms with me.” Teralius replied. “I've been thinking, trying to find a way to make amends, but that bitch is stubborn as a rock when she's angry.”
“I've slept with her too. She's worth her weight in kul... so friendly, soft and warm, and smart to boot. Damn smart.” Largos sighed. “My advice? You'll stop trying and wait for her to come to you. We all know it was an accident, and she's just being emotional until the shock passes. I know you never found the woman again to apologize and make monetary arrangement as a penance...”
Teralius looked away and down. “The gang... they told me they'd killed her to shut her up after I left. No witnesses.”
“... what.” Largos paused, shocked.
“Yeah. I never mentioned that. They said she'd been killed, either strangled or beaten to death to make sure the others wouldn't get in trouble. Yes, yes I know the rest of those responsible are either all dead or in the dungeons now, but that doesn't change anything.”
“I infer from your tone that she survived?” Largos said.
“According to a fortune teller and gypsy, whom I have a lot of faith in at the moment... she not only survived, but so did one pup.” Teralius lowered his sword arm, letting the blade fall out of his hand.
Largos froze. “What? Really!?”
“I don't know what I'm going to do, Largos. I think my feelings for her are developing into something more.” The wolf looked up at his trainer. “I want to spend more time with her. I want to eventually raise a family with her and protect her. I know she enjoys the whore's life, but she could have so much better.”
Largos folded his arms, looking thoughtful. “My previous advice stands. Until she is ready to open up, and she might not ever be... and you need to keep that in mind...”
“I'm not sure I can accept that.” Teralius replied. “I can give her so much more.”
“You respect her, right?” Largos put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.
“Of course. Seeing her in pain hurts me, emotionally and physically.” The wolf picked up his sword. “You're going to say leave her be and worship her from a distance. I know you.”
“I wouldn't say it if it weren't true.” Largos replied.
“Maybe I can get Hervis to get her to open up...” Teralius said.
“Hervis? The rabbit everyone's talking about?” Largos tilted his head.
“Yeah. I ran into him out in the wilderness on my last meditative trip to the old stones. It was an interesting adventure in bringing him back.” The wolf kept his muzzle shut tight on the details, not wanting to mention who else he'd run across, such as the King himself or the rest of the party.
“You've got interesting friends.” Largos sounded impressed.
The wolf nodded. “I have to go back to Thynsaleth in a few days to see him, actually. We're... planning something.”
“Surprise me.” Largos said. “That tone tells me I don't need to know any more. Shall we continue some sparring?”
“Yeah, let's.” The wolf raised his blade. “Your lead, again. This time, I'll disarm you.”
“We'll just see about that!” The tiger grinned, crouching down then leaping at the wolf with his own sword drawn. The two clashed blades again, sparring with one another.

=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* =*=*=

His sparring over, the wolf bid his trainer a good evening and went out to enjoy the cool night air before returning to the arena barracks with the rest of the warriors. He thought long and hard about Falanna, and about what his trainer had said during their second round of sparring, and how Falanna would really need to open up on her own time. It was possible, but it might not be on a time frame he wanted.
He looked down at his now bloodied blade as he walked, it having grazed his trainer's shoulder during the sparring. He'd been fighting for a long, long time now, lusting for the roar of the crowd, the thrill of the kill and the kul that it had brought in for those who sponsored him. He hadn't kept a large sum of his cut for himself, preferring to live from battle to battle so that he'd be forced to always be on top of his game.
He was getting tired.
He looked up at the moon overhead as he slipped down an alley, lost in his thoughts as he listened to the sounds of the night. He barely paid attention to the prostitute who'd waved at him from one of the windows, and as he came to a four-way intersection of alleys where a bunch of hobos were warming themselves by a campfire in a corner, he made his decision. He would fight one more year, then put down the sword and find something else. He was still strong and in his prime, and he didn't want to subject his body to riskier and riskier bouts. If he ended up badly injured, he'd be retired... possibly forcefully or even lethally. It was better to end things while he was on a high note.
Thump.
His ears perked as he felt something hit one of his shoulders and he turned to see a crossbow bolt firmly embedded into one of the shoulder pads he was still wearing. He slowly turned his head as his eyes widened, and caught sight of a wolverine sitting on top of one of the buildings hastily trying to reload his crossbow.
A sniper? Teralius thought. He knew he was a wanted wolf, as many of the lower ranking nobility wanted him out of the arena in order to protect their own business interests. He also knew that said nobles wouldn't dare send someone to engage him in melee, as they'd lose without a doubt.
Smirking, the wolf picked up a brick and threw it as hard as he could at the wolverine while the wolverine's head was still down and focusing on reloading the crossbow. The brick hit him square in the side of the muzzle, causing him to drop the crossbow and stagger to the side. There was an uncomfortable moment frozen in time as the wolverine staggered too close to the roof's edge, then he toppled over and went headfirst straight into a trash can. Teralius slowly strode over and picked up the wolverine by his neck, staring him down.
“You've got guts. Who sent you?” Teralius snarled.
The wolverine spat in his face as a response, then attempted to squirm out of the wolf's grip.
Teralius answered his squirming by slamming him against the wall. “I said, who sent you?”
“Go to the Tyrannical Darkness, wolf!” The wolverine growled. “You're getting too close...”
“Close? To what?” Teralius effortlessly lifted the wolverine until they were eye to eye.
Then he heard the shriek.
Turning his head, he saw a thin, nimble wolf dart out of a richer-looking home clutching a large black pack in one hand. Completely nude aside from the multiple ribbons over her arms and legs, her tail was straight on end and she looked panicked. From inside the home, Teralius could hear some older man roaring at some subordinates to go and chase her.
Before Teralius could shout anything to Falanna, the she-wolf had zoomed off down into an alley, being chased by several more wolverines. For a few seconds the big wolf debated whether to beat the older man into bloodstains for mistreating his packmate, but decided that he'd better shadow the she-wolf. Even panicked, he knew that she could take care of herself, and an armed gang might be in for a world of hurt. Still, it was best to be on the safe side.
Slamming the wolverine in his hands back into the trashcan headfirst before putting the lid on as an insult, Teralius began to give chase. Falanna was fast and could easily outpace the wolverines, but he wanted to be there in case she got into some real trouble. He knew she knew the alleyways well, and if she felt truly threatened in melee she could always outrun them and hide.
As he began to shadow the wolverines, another sniper fired at him from a rooftop. This time the crossbow bolt landed inches above his head. He turned to look upward, where the wolverine was mocking him, and as he moved to climb the wall and teach him a lesson another wolverine on another rooftop threw down a bucket at Teralius. The bucket landed square on his head and obscured his vision for a few seconds, and that was all the time the wolverines needed as several of them jumped him from every direction, kicking and punching.
Sighing, the wolf slowly stood up from the attempted assault, wolverines tumbling off him in every direction. Annoyed, he started both throwing bodies around and slicing open any who decided to stay in melee range. As those wolverines who were still alive halfheartedly scrambled away from him, it occurred to the wolf that they weren't really trying. He was not the target; the snipers were just taking potshots at him while remaining focused on their true prize... Falanna.
His ears perked sharply as thoughts were interrupted. He heard Falanna yelp in pain, and he quickly barreled toward the sound.
A few minutes later he reached the scene of the battle. Falanna had gotten cornered against what appeared to be some recent construction in progress, and the wolverines had knocked her to the ground. One of them was strangling her with her own thong, while the others were getting ready to enjoy her without her permission.
“Aw, break her neck already.” One of the wolverines grumbled. “I love hearing that snap.”
“No, no, I like them to panic and suffer.” A second one replied, tightening his grip on the thong as Falanna gagged.
Not on my watch. Teralius thought to himself, stepping over the pile of collapsed bricks and proceeding to go full-out enraged on the wolverines.
The wolf charged. His first strike was a quick kick, which punted a wolverine almost straight up and onto a building's roof. The one that had wrapped Falanna's thong around her neck he picked up by the scruff of his neck and held him up in the air with both hands before slamming his back down over his knee, snapping the wolverine in half. The third he grabbed by the chest fur and threw him into the wall, leaving a wolverine-shaped indentation in the wall itself. The last one he could reach was the most unfortunate, having both arms and legs broken before kicking him down into a crumpled heap. Taking his sword, he angrily plunged it into the back of the wolverine's head.
Falanna struggled to her knees, choking and coughing as she untangled the thong from around her neck. There were visible marks where the leather had literally bit into her skin; the wolverines were strong.
“Are you okay?!” Teralius asked, kneeling down. “I saw you running and gave chase to the wolverines, but they had some damn snipers with them.” He looked at his shoulder and tore out the bolt that was still stuck halfway into a thick leather shoulder pad with a growl. “I was out training for a future trip into the arena, and saw the wolverines chasing something. I couldn't not investigate, especially after I heard you...”
Teralius was rewarded with Falanna snarling at him, and inwardly he cursed his luck. She hasn't forgiven. By the Nine Goddesses, wake UP, Falanna! I'm no threat to you! He thought.
“Okay, okay.” The big wolf raised his hands in defense. “I won't bite. Well, maybe them.” He turned to the wolverine laying against the wall unconscious. With a snarl he clenched his fist in frusteration and drove it right into the wolverine's muzzle, driving it all the way back into the skull and shattering both.
Falanna coughed. “I'm not ready to forgive you. Yet. You can thank Hervis I may give you a chance... someday. Take... cough... take the pack to Jartpo; he's hiding over by the red and green fountain not far from here. It's got important information for King Tenquin.”
“You got it, Falanna. I'm sorry I wasn't--” Teralius began to say as he picked up the pack, then took note of her bruised wrist. She'd been bitten there, and if the bite had been any deeper, she would have bled out on the spot.
“Save it.” Falanna slowly stood up then sat back down hard with a yelp of pain. Teralius saw that she'd twisted her ankle. She was in no condition to move.
“You're hurt!” Teralius' eyes were full of concern. “We need to get you to a healer!”
“You lay one hand on me and I'll be shoving it down your throat, and your tail will follow after I rip it off.” Falanna snarled, shakily getting to her feet and beginning to limp away. “Don't even look at me when King Vanadei has our audience, either.”
Teralius took a step forward, exasperated. “Falanna, wait! You're hurt! Drop the stubbornness, please!”
The she-wolf whirled on him and lifted her good leg in a high kick, smacking him in the muzzle. With a yelp he was knocked to the ground and the belt holding his sword became undone, falling down around his legs.
“I said, no touch. Ever. Again.” Falanna turned around and began to limp away, leaving a trail of blood from her injured wrist.
Teralius looked at his sword, then the pack and then at Falanna, who was rapidly disappearing into the darkness. He knew better than to anger her, and quickly grabbed the pack. Making sure the wolverines weren't hiding and waiting for him to leave, he went to the drop point and to Jartpo, who waved him down as he approached.
“You look like something interesting happened.” Jartpo said, leaning against the fountain with a smile on his face.
Teralius snorted. “Falanna got jumped, hard. I saved her life but she hasn't forgiven me for what was revealed earlier.”
Jartpo's face fell. “Is she okay? I did hear what I thought were the sounds of a scuffle.”
“wolverines. One almost strangled her, another almost raped her, and to top it all off there were some wolverines on the nearby roofs with crossbows. Snipers!”
Jartpo tilted his head. “That would mean only one man. There's a lesser lord that employs wolverines specifically for leg-breaking work and he likes to strike from the rooftops with snipers.”
Teralius held up the pack Falanna had been carrying. “Falanna told me to bring this to you.”
The iguana nodded. “She mentioned she thought she 'found something' while being hired for some snob's rich party.” He took the pack, nearly falling over. The pack was as big as he was.
“I'm going to go hunt Fa--” Teralius began to say.
“That's not a good idea.” Jartpo said. “Wait for her to cool off. You know what happens when she gets mad, and if she's as injured as you imply...”
Teralius rubbed his muzzle. Trying to calm down a berserk, half-strangled woman was just asking for trouble, even though he meant her no harm. Beating her down instead of calming her down would defeat the point, so he had to reluctantly agree. Jartpo was right.
“I'll bring this to King Vanadei. The audience with us is right around the corner.” Jartpo finished, beginning to scurry off. “I think you should go back to the church and wait for Falanna to show up. Hervis makes a great buffer and Thrommit there will keep people sensible.”
“Yeah.” Teralius rubbed the back of his head. “I'll see you at the church?”
“I'm on my way there after I drop this off and do some business with a friend. I'll see you when you get there and hopefully Falanna will have returned.” Then Jartpo was gone.

Aegis J Hyena

2016-01-15, 02:27 PM

Aaaaand finally, the last three. I'm not pleased with how either Thrommit's or Torvanian's came out. They both feel a bit forced.

That's what editing is for. Heh.

Torvanian looked down at the leather bundle that the small canine child had presented to him, then he looked back at the child. “You're sure this is what I asked for?”
“Sure, mister. I made extra sure the thing looked like what you said it was supposed to look like.” The puppy couldn't have been more than six years of age.
“Good job, kid. Here's your reward.” The equine flipped him a gold kul. “You earned it. Just... promise me you'll put it to good use, and not use its power for evil?”
“An entire kul! Thanks mister! This'll feed me and my sister for weeks!” The puppy replied, dashing off into the crowd.
Torvanian smiled as he watched the child go, then looked down at the bundle again. He was surprised the kid could find what it was that he wanted, and now that he had what he wanted, he hoped he wasn't getting in over his head. The discussions he'd had with Thrommit and Hervis about the nature of the Tyrannical Darkness had left him curious. He wanted to experience what they had described for himself.
If the Tyrannical Darkness was indeed “open for casual conversation” as long as a bargain wasn't implied or reached, then the possibility existed that those who were condemned or those who had done some extreme wrong could somehow give back some good to the community. By proving such Darkness actually existed, maybe he could scare those who were “evil” into giving up their ways by showing them the Tyrannical Darkness actually existed.
That was what he hoped, anyway. Those that couldn't be scared straight could be... used in other ways... if the power of the Tyrannical Darkness was anything like Hervis had made it out to be...
Torvanian left the hustle and bustle of the marketplace and returned to the castle with the bundle carefully concealed in a leather backpack. Once back in his room he opened the bundle to find three things... a mirror made of reflective green and silver metal whose reflective surface was polished obsidian, three rings made of quartz each carved with runes depicting the Tyrannical Darkness in a different aspect (Political evil, mindless blood lust, and corruption of youth with dark secret knowledge), and a scroll of sheep skin with a magical formula written in what appeared to be goat's blood... that was still wet.
Torvanian wasn't about to curse his good fortune, despite wondering exactly how the child had found this, or gotten the materials together.
Unrolling the scroll, he briefly scanned the words before looking at the mirror and then at the rings. The rings would be used to “entice” the Tyrannical Darkness to show up, by forcing the Tyrannical Darkness' essence into them and thus drawing its attention. The mirror was where he'd view the Tyrannical Darkness itself.
“All right...” He said to himself, making sure no one was coming to unexpectedly visit him in his room. If King Vanadei found out he was experimenting with the Tyrannical Darkness he'd be sent home in several pieces after a brief visit to the gallows... if he lived that long.
The opportunity to do good by coercing evil though... it had to be a chance taken while the chance was still available. He felt his shoulders sag a little as he thought of all the potential previous lives he must have held; he was tired of the cycle of life. It was time he left it.
Unrolling the scroll, Torvanian said the words. As he did so it felt like his tongue was turning into sandpaper and a cough was beginning to tickle the back of his throat. The words on the scroll lit up with an unusual amber light before they started to smoke, then they burned away off the page leaving the scroll itself untouched. The center of the mirror began to glow a dull orange while the three rings slowly floated up to the equine's eye level.
With a sizzling sound the dull glow at the center of the mirror lashed out, and three tendrils of light slammed into the rings. All three rings began to glow brightly for several seconds before falling to the ground at the equine's hooves. Then the entirety of the reflective surface of the mirror began to glow a dull orange. Torvanian could see naught but his own reflection, but it looked slightly aged. He checked his appearance in a normal mirror, and it looked normal, un-aged.
Then, he almost dropped the mirror in shock.
Good afternoon, diplomat of the Kingdom of the Five Swords.
The voice was in his mind! It was a booming bass, and he was almost driven to his knees at its volume.
“Good... good afternoon...” Torvanian replied to thin air, hoping no one was outside his door to hear him speak.
To what do I owe the honor of a visit?
Best not to lie. The equine thought. “Curiosity. I've had some... experiences.”
And you wanted to thus experience Me for yourself?
“Yes.” Torvanian shivered. The voice's bass was vibrating through his body, ringing in his skull, and making his hand-hooves shake. He almost dropped the mirror.
Somehow I think this isn't just a social call. The voice said. You have... wants. Your heart has the colorful stains of desire. It glows like a beacon to Me.
Torvanian felt a pressure at the base of his skull, like something was trying to force itself inside. “Stay back, demon. I don't give you permission to enter my mind.”
Permission. That's a funny one. Tell Me another?
The pressure faded. “The power of the scroll binds you to your plane, Tyrannical Darkness.”
Mortal magic has no play on immortal entities, especially Me. However, your thoughts and memories are... interesting. Very interesting.
“Then you know who our mutual friend is.” Torvanian solidly said. “I don't think you want him to come to harm.”
In his mind, he heard a snort. Neither of us do. I fear harm is all that he is going to come to know in the coming months, and there isn't anything I can do any longer to assist him.
“Hervis said you bent the rules for him before.” Torvanian said.
Once in response to a mortal's request as per the rules of magic, and once because something else is going on that he needs to stop... something else which you don't need to know about yet. I returned him that second time at great risk to Myself, you know...
“Then how are we supposed to deal with an unknown threat?” Torvanian asked.
Now the voice was genuinely curious. Are you entering into a bargain with Me? I would hardly expect this would go over well with His Majesty. You want knowledge of the future in exchange for something, perhaps? Or perhaps a pact to ensure Hervis' safety on future travels?
“How... how did...?” Torvanian had been entertaining the thought of a pact... a minor, miniature pact that he didn't see any way to twist or ruin.
You forget. Your memories are completely open to Me. This includes your dreams, and desires... of which you have several. I can give them to you, sure. What are you prepared to offer Me, diplomat?
Torvanian looked out the window. The sun was only just beginning to set.
Well? Are you going to stand there all day while the spell wanes and then I disappear?
“You know my thoughts, demon.”
I've been called worse. So you want to give up a soul in exchange for Hervis' well being and that of his friends. You were planning on giving Me yours, in a noble gesture for history to record as a self-sacrifice?
Torvanian went to the window, looking straight down. The drop was over sixty feet down into a small alley where a guard appeared to be making a deal with some robed figures. Everyone had their politics, Torvanian mused. “Yes. And there are several hundreds... thousands of souls available that have truly done wrong. Instead of them returning as Ruined and giving us more grief, I am asking that they get destroyed instead.”
And what gives you the right to bargain souls with Me? Do you have rights to the condemned's eternal souls, Torvanian Duskwalker?
“No. But... no one would miss them in the physical world if they died, so no one will miss them period as they are ushered off to eternal destruction at your wicked... paws? Claws? I don't know. This could be their last 'use' to do some good.”
Then if you don't have the right...
The equine looked away into a corner, his shoulders sagging. “I'm offering you mine as an extra to balance it in your favor. I am tired of the cycle. I do not know how many past lives I have had...”
Twenty three, five as Ruined. We can't all be perfect.
Torvanian shook his head from side to side as if to clear it. “Whatever. My soul's destruction plus the destruction of one other soul that has done bad per group member that goes with Hervis to Atlacentia. Their souls' deaths in exchange for safety for Hervis and his friends. See to it that they are safe throughout their stay there, and that their return trip is just as safe. The three rings will be used to empower them with gifts for when they need them the most. Political glibness for bargaining, combat expertise for a difficult physical battle, and much-needed knowledge that mortal Sycanesti were never meant to know. That's my bargain.”
Several uncomfortable moments passed as Torvanian got the sense the Tyrannical Darkness was considering his offer. Then, pain. Pain like he'd never felt before as amber bolts of light surrounded both his wrists, ankles and penetrated into his eyes. The pain was so acute he couldn't scream and he was left paralyzed, standing stock-still. His tail had tied itself in four knots.
He opened his eyes to see the rings brightly glowing, having been transmuted to pewter and each containing an oval-cut amber inset into the top. Around his wrists and ankles were bands of amber light that somehow he knew only he could see.
This eases things for the rabbit's first leg of his great journey. I accept your deal, equine.
“Just like that?” Torvanian asked. Then he stiffened. “Wait... first... leg!?”
Oh, no. It's never that easy. If you ever breathe a word about this to anyone, your hands and legs will fall off at the wrist and the ankle. I guarantee you will be in immense pain as you die from the blood loss. I will also use you as a vessel to see to it that they ARE safe in Atlacentia, because you will be going with him. You will know when I am using you because you will be blind during any time I choose to view the mortal world.
“That doesn't sound so bad.” Torvanian asked. “I was expecting you to twist things to a knot of agony.”
I'm not finished. I have used My immortal power to view the various future potential outcomes during the next few days after King Tenquin has his little audience with the rest of the mortals. Your wording was “my soul's destruction, plus the destruction of one other soul that has done bad.” One soul per potential 'hero' that goes to Atlacentia with Hervis.
“And?” The equine tilted his head, looking into the mirror. He saw naught but his own reflection.
The only way Hervis can fully succeed at this is if he goes to Atlacentia alone.
“Wha...!?” Torvanian felt like he was going to pass out.
You never said whose souls besides yours. You inferred and expected the souls of the condemned, correct? So that they never again plague the mortal realm even as the Ruined?
“Well, of course, but...” Torvanian said.
You do realize that all of Hervis' friends have some 'bad' in their past, especially the ram, the hawk, and the iguana? There isn't one Sycanesti there without at least one dark stain on their heart from selfish, petty, evil actions that hurt a lot of other Sycanesti, including Hervis and especially Thrommit!
Torvanian gulped. He felt the Tyrannical Darkness grin, and the sharp teeth of the grin brushed his mind like a wave of sickness, like a panther breathing down the neck of its hunter.
It's not his fault his friends both have lives of their own and have... other tasks, once King Vanadei gives his orders.
“But you just said he has to go it alone! If I come along with him...!?” Torvanian yelled.
He will be safe in Atlacentia. Cause and effect are preserved in our bargain and the threads of reality, while currently warped and damaged, will remain less damaged than if you had done nothing.
“That's hardly fair! I didn't know he had to...!”
I will welcome you to My abode when the time comes, Torvanian Duskwalker. In My realm, I can make time stretch, go squish, or pass not at all. No one said a soul's destruction had to be 'instantly' done... or that I couldn't awaken you at the moment of your soul's death to revitalize you to continue the torment! Your screams will amuse Me forever as I keep you awake while I rip you apart!
Torvanian dropped to his knees, the glowing bands of amber light around his ankles and wrists physically feeling like iron weights. They now had physical form despite him knowing that only he could see them, and were tightening as amber manacles impervious to mortal magic.
And remember... not a word, diplomat. One word... or your premature death... and our contract is void. If our contract is void, can you imagine what will happen to Hervis as the balance of good and evil comes back on top of him?! All of his good deeds in his life... paid for in full by 'bad luck' of equal weight happening all at once! That... and you can imagine what I do with those who attempt to willingly void their contracts!
The mirror shattered, sending obsidian fragments falling at Torvanian's hooves.
Torvanian opened his mouth to scream as he turned to look in the room's mirror, but no sound came out. His voice was gone. His eyes were solid amber, with no pupils... and after about ten seconds they faded to expose his regular brown eyes. He felt broken, as if every inch of him had been shattered but remained intact as a vaguely Sycanesti-like shape. He felt like a man made out of sand, about to fall apart into dust at the slightest breath of wind.
Several minutes passed in which he stood still, going over the events in his head. It was only when he took a step and almost stepped in a puddle that he realized he was in a cold sweat and was sweating buckets. His fur was matted, his eyes were dulled and he moved like a drunk.
He needed to get to the church. Thrommit would know what to do.
Meanwhile, the Tyrannical Darkness brooded a little on its plane before causing some of the darkness to part and it viewed events in other lands. Ok, so he'd lied about Hervis having to go it alone to Atlacentia. But the equine didn't need to know that.

Thrommit closed his eyes and clenched his fists, listening to the eternal storm rage outside his little protective sphere and feeling the occasional zap as a lightning bolt struck the hollow iron sphere he was currently floating in. He opened his eyes to see images race by him at breakneck speed, and he focused inward, trying to calm himself down enough to slow the images down so he could organize them properly.
Focus, ram. Focus. Thrommit thought to himself, even though each word reverberated across the inside of the sphere.
He turned his head as a lightning bolt from outside the sphere generated a loud crack of thunder and his focus was shaken for another few seconds. Here, in the protective recesses of his mind, the storm and thunder represented the outside world and it was his job to quell that sound and fury to a dull roar so he could focus on the more important task at hand. The images racing by him were his memories, and he was trying to order them, trying to find relationships and read between the lines.
To the outside world, it looked like Thrommit was resting comfortably in a meditation chamber, his horns framed by dim candle light and fragrant incense permeating the air and seeping into every inch of the Taur's fur. Is legs were all tucked underneath him as if he were resting, but both his front paws and rear paws were turned up and out as if they were waiting for a handout. He balanced himself by planting the butt of his maul in the ground to steady himself as he swayed rhythmically back and forth. His eyes were shut tight and he had an expression of serenity on his face.
Inwardly, the sphere was floating in an eternal thunderstorm, one that threatened to smash the sphere apart at any moment. Rain and wind constantly howled like a thousand screaming souls all baying for his lifeblood. Lightning constantly struck the sphere, sending little zaps into his body as the charge was (mostly) absorbed. Thunder boomed, and the sound waves were enough to knock the sphere about like it was a air-filled balloon in the middle of an ocean, completely at the mercy of the currents.
Thrommit looked down at his hands, then turned to the images as they circled him and spun about, trying to stay out of reach. Each image was a memory, of both recent events and events from his own past. He grabbed one at random where he crushed it into a ball of multicolored light, then threw it at the sphere's inner surface. It splattered like water as it struck, then it re-formed and took on a freeze-frame quality.
Image after image slammed into the inner wall with an audible splash, loud enough to almost drown out the sounds of the storm outside. Then Thrommit's focus faltered and the entire collage of images against the wall began to run like watercolors, his self-doubt and worry about the afterlife distracting him from centering his mind.
“Not now... not now!” Thrommit grumbled to himself, mentally commanding the images to solidify and stay put.
Once he had his collage of images, he began to manipulate the images' order, trying to reason out probable future paths. He put an image of Hervis to the left of an image of Sir Korviak, and an airship or sea ship beyond that. Not liking what he saw, he superimposed an image of the King's guard getting in Sir Korviak's way, then made room between images so that Hervis had a clearer roundabout path to the ship. Still not liking what he was seeing, he forced himself to take deep breaths and reflect.
“Okay, Thrommit. What's the simple solution? The easiest point from point A, here at the castle,” He called up an image of the castle. “... to point B, Atlacentia...?” An image further away appeared of a sprawling cityscape, built on the coast at the other end of the ocean. “Hervis is going to be in trouble with the King,” He pitched an image of an open dungeon cell between the two. “And the King needs to placate both the high priests and the nobles and anyone else who shows up...” Another image, this one of a royal social gathering where the underprivileged were denied access, flared up between Hervis and an image of an unhappy King Vanadei.
Thrommit manipulated the images a bit more, positioning them in various configurations, and trying to get a clearer picture of what kinds of things might be happening. His brow furrowed and he faintly felt the sphere's interior darkening as he found his groove, and the scene his images constantly painted was not a pretty one. It was clear that there was no scenario that could please everyone, especially if some nobles refused to be pleased simply for the sake of spite. The ram stepped away from the inner surface to ponder.
“Okay.” He said to himself. “We can't please everyone. What's the next important thing, who do we have to please the most, to offset those that will not be satisfied and use them as a buffer?”
All of a sudden, an image of Ta'Maxia appeared behind the image of the nobles, leveling a crossbow from a sniper's position. Thrommit waved the image away, watching it fade out of existence. “No, the King wouldn't murder his own people.” He turned away to think, and when he turned back, the image had returned, but this time the image was of the avian leading Hervis down a tunnel after firing at the nobles. This wasn't a memory he'd had at all; where did these images come from? He willed the images to animate. Experience had taught him that when images appeared completely unannounced and making no sense, that they came from a higher power and needed to be paid attention to.
The image showed Ta'Maxia leading Hervis down an underground shaft, being chased by shrouded figures. Ta'Maxia fired, then was knocked senseless by a bolt of magical energy from the figures chasing them. Thrommit saw Hervis leap through a hole into what he could only assume to be open air, given the blue sky he was seeing through it. Then the image winked out, falling to colorless water and running off the internal wall of the sphere, only to evaporate on contact with the ground.
Was this a glimpse of the future?
Thrommit willed the images to play in reverse, and then re-play. The more times he did this the brighter and more vibrant the other images became, which to him represented a high likelihood of things happening. Normally if he played “false memories” or “fears” or paths that likely would not come to pass, it would ruin his focus and cause the images to run like wet paint, turning the images into a jumble of melted color. Here they got stronger, and he could only infer that His Majesty was going to kill some of the more difficult nobles by hiring Ta'Maxia to deal with them on the sly. Then... an escape? From the dungeons?
I suppose he's thinking that the brain of the society has a disease, and to stop the disease from spreading, he has to kill it... Thrommit thought to himself as he broke his focus, returning to the real world. The sphere dissolved as he opened his eyes; he was back in the meditation chamber. But to kill? The Trei'kiya might be self-serving but that doesn't mean they simply flat out have to die. The ram stood up stretching his legs and listening to his joints pop after hours in the same pose. They're already planning to break apart anyway. I'm going to have to suggest banishment over killing. We have no proof the triads want to...
The triads? Where did that thought come from? He had assumed the nobles in his memory images were just representative the usual high-class riff-raff that turned up their noses at anyone who was not themselves. He hadn't even thought about the triads. What would they gain? Why would they be summoned? He blinked a few times, wondering where the thought had come from.
He turned around at the stained glass windows above him. It was early morning, and he could hear the crack of a wooden staff against the training dummies outside. He looked up thoughtfully at the images of the Nine Goddesses in the glass as if silently asking them if they were putting thoughts into his head, then took a few more deep breaths and spun his maul once in his hands.
“Time to purge evil where it lives and breathes for another day.” He said to himself, the maul's head striking the ground at the end of the spin. “I hope His Majesty knows what he's doing.”

CRACK!
Hervis wound up, then attacked the dummy again, thrusting with his staff.
CLACK!!
It was early morning, a few days before the audience with King Vanadei. The rabbit had hardly slept, pausing only for meals, nightly prayer with Thrommit, and sleep. When push came to shove against the Trei'kiya, he wanted to be at his best.
Faster and harder he attacked the dummy, envisioning it as a member of the Order of the Black Acorn, or worse yet Sir Korviak. He dodged and wove, parrying imaginary strikes before putting his lapine legs to good use and vaulting over the dummy, spinning and whacking it in the side of the head with the staff.
Jumping back to dodge another imaginary blow, he flexed his legs and planted his staff in the ground, vaulting a second time back over the dummy before whacking it twice in the head and then spinning on one foot in a whirlwind, his two-handed stance with the staff delivering extra weight into the blows. When he finished the dizzying spin, the dummy's head had been knocked from the wooden pole that was its neck and was laying in two pieces on the ground.
“Enjoying the morning?” Came a voice from behind him.
“Morning, Thrommit.” Hervis said, wiping his brow.
“You're really expecting trouble, aren't you.” Thrommit was dressed in light leathers, heavy boots covering all four of his legs.
“You saw the chest of acorns we found on our doorstep yesterday.” The rabbit rolled his eyes and shrugged. “We've got multiple enemies and the church won't be safe forever if the Trei'kiya are en route to starting a war. I want to be ready. I wasn't ready to lose my parents. I wasn't ready when Chalice was killed. I wasn't ready when...”
“Oh, enough.” Thrommit waved a hand dismissively. “You're as ready as you'll ever be. I've been seeing you out here each morning since we arrived. You can't get any more good.”
Hervis looked smug. “There's always more to learn. Always a way to get better.”
“That being said,” The ram said. “Care to take an actual living, breathing target on? I'm too big to be tripped and too strong for you to defeat.”
“Well, yeah, now that you've rested from that little sortie back out in the wilderness.” Hervis replied. Then his ears lowered. “Speaking of which, how is Falanna?”
Thrommit turned his upper waist so he could look behind him. “Healers made it to her in time and brought her back here. She's been resting comfortably, but she's going to have a few new scars when this is over.”
Hervis had debated attacking Thrommit while his back was turned like that to teach him to never turn his back on a potential enemy, but relented. “Is her voice okay?”
“I think she's going to be hoarse for a few more days, but she should come out of it otherwise. Whomever assaulted her did quite the number on her.” Thrommit said. “Teralius was lucky to be there when he was. Even my healing spells couldn't fix all the damage. She'll need to be quiet for a few days.”
“I can't imagine that was a good meeting. She was still sore over the revelation.” Hervis said, leaning on his staff and looking back at the training dummy.
Thrommit spun his new maul in his hands then dropped it to his side, letting its heavy end impact the ground with a thud. “He's still alive, which is more than I would have expected.”
“The meeting with His Majesty is going to be awkward.” Hervis said, alternating between an offensive stance and a defensive one while imagining Thrommit throwing a feint. He was still in his little focused zone.
The ram looked a little wistful. “You're not kidding. I've trained you and some of the others with what I know based on my own duties when giving a sermon at the castle, but my meditations have suggested that it gets worse... King Vanadei is summoning the triads. Now, you not only have to impress the priests with your 'testimony', but also the Triads of the houses. They've never dealt with any Sycanesti before, save the King himself. They don't know how to be social, they don't understand slang, and they don't use any such social skill we take for granted.”
“Are you saying they don't know how to be impressed?” Hervis tilted his head with one ear cocked.
“That's exactly what I'm saying. They don't know what is good from what is bad. They don't know what is normal. They only know their charts, their figures, and what their own research tells them. They were raised from birth to do this. They don't deal with society.” Thrommit raised his maul, and deflected a light-hearted blow from Hervis. “I don't know why he'd be doing this, honestly. He's putting you in harm's way by exposing you to their attitude of 'I'm right, you're wrong and that's the end of it.'”
Another voice came from the doorway, behind the ram. “He's trying to solidify his power.”
“Didn't hear you come in, Jartpo.” Thrommit said.
“How so?” Hervis asked.
“If he can satisfy the triads, especially the Highest Feather, that you're not a threat nor did you have sufficient bad intentions in your heart to invite bad luck to the Games, word will get out via the high priests. Word will spread that the Goddesses themselves are looking favorably on you because no one expects the triads to be satisfied over anything... and that will cool off any unrest and possibly make the Order of the Black Acorn scatter.” Jartpo said, unrolling a scroll. “One less threat for sure.”
“Whatcha got there?” Hervis asked.
“Shopping list.” Jartpo replied, scanning it. “General supplies for the ocean trip. Ever since we got back, His Majesty has been sending shipments from within the kingdom down the Firetail River. Some are meant to distract thieves, others are supplies of food, tents, and anything else we'd need for a trip and an extended stay in Atlacentia. I've got to go to the guild soon to pick up a few more unusual things we might need, and I was informed by the guild that we might need to be making a fast getaway.”
Both Thrommit and Hervis paused.
“He's expecting trouble?” Thrommit asked.
“His own spies have confirmed what Ti'Jan said. He thinks the Highest Feather herself is corrupted. He can't risk exposing her for fear of turning the other triads on him, because such a concept of corruption in the highest levels of society is unthinkable.” Jartpo looked behind him, rolling up the scroll and sticking it back on his belt. “That's why he sent off Ta'Maxia on some... errands. Errands to deal with the situation if you know what I mean.”
Hervis and Thrommit exchanged looks. “Are you saying he put out a hit on his own triads?”
“Need to know, and I didn't need to know enough.” Jartpo shrugged. “All he said was 'Trust me and Ta'Maxia to get you to the ship in the harbor when things are done. Be prepared to run.'”
Thrommit and Hervis exchanged another look and suddenly went at it with knowing glances to one another, maul locking with combat staff as they began to spar.