|
Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 17, 2022 7:03:30 GMT -8
"Thank you. I'll get to writing one," she says.
|
|
|
Post by Daos on Jan 17, 2022 15:46:24 GMT -8
"In the meantime, hopefully we find and capture these rogue nobles and dismantle the Hydras and Dragons, and you and the other people of Deppsburg can start living your lives freely again," Daos says. "Until then, I've arranged with the duke to allow you to stay here as long as you need to."
|
|
|
Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 18, 2022 6:02:22 GMT -8
"That's very kind of you!" she says with a smile.
|
|
|
Post by Daos on Jan 18, 2022 15:35:16 GMT -8
"I'm happy to help," Daos says simply. He knew all too well what it was like to not have a place to call home.
|
|
|
Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 19, 2022 6:59:18 GMT -8
That night, the General leads Meine, Daos, and Qurrak to the docks at 8:30. Daos' sharp eyes spot several troops hiding behind barriers, and several more disguised with brown cloaks. Smolt waits by his boat, visibly sighing.
"Don't worry," whispers Blackpool. "Smolts on side, despite his complaining." He gestures for the three to take a spot behind a barrier. Qurrak has to lay down on the floor for it to cover up his horns.
After half an hour of waiting, Daos peers over the side to see two figures approaching the Captain. Though they wear tattered cloaks to disguise themselves, he could never forget the Countesses' face, and a strand of the Count's ridiculous hair dangles down from the hood.
"You're ready to sail?" Cryfold says. Smolt shakes his head.
"I don't intend to ferry wanted fugitives. And if you heard otherwise--you heard wrong."
Lenkinshire makes a sort of chirping squeak. "But Nichols said--" She puts a hand to his mouth.
"Captain, you did not say, 'Lockdown be damned' or something similar, and declare your intent to take us on the voyage we chartered?"
"Never."
"Are...are you going to turn us in?" Lenkinshire whimpers.
"He won't need to. The authorities are probably on their way this instant. Come on, let's go," she says, grabbing his hand and turning to leave.
Blackpool nudges Daos and whispers, "That's our cue. Let's go!"
|
|
|
Post by Daos on Jan 19, 2022 15:34:11 GMT -8
Daos nods. "Right." Not sure how well this will go, he decides to try and cast a spell on Cryfold, judging her the more dangerous of the pair. If all goes well, it should make capturing her even easier.
===========
Daos will cast Hold Person on Cryfold.
|
|
|
Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 20, 2022 6:34:43 GMT -8
Cryfold gasps and whispers "You!" as Daos pops out, right before she freezes stiff.
"Surrender! Now!" Blackpool shouts. Lenkinshire looks around at the soldiers surrounding him, before squealing, "I surrender!" and throwing his hands in the air.
"Well, that went excellently!" he bellows, as Lenkinshire is handcuffed by the king's men.
"Look, this is all a big misunderstanding, all right?" he stammers. "I'm completely--well, not completely innocent, but guilty under coercion, that doesn't count, does it? DOES IT?"
"With charges as serious as this? Unlikely," Blackpool says, clearly disbelieving him. "You'll have a chance to explain yourself from within a holding cell."
"No--no! NO PLEASE! Don't put me in there! That's....that's for commoners! I am a Count! A COUNT!" he shouts as the soldiers drag him away.
Meine gestures to Cryfold's paralyzed body. "Hey, Qurrak, can you help me lift her?"
|
|
|
Post by Daos on Jan 20, 2022 15:29:06 GMT -8
"That spell won't last forever," Daos warns. "Make sure to tie her up and gag her. We don't want to risk her repeating her husband's fate."
|
|
|
Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 21, 2022 6:14:59 GMT -8
Blackpool frowns. "What was her husband's fate?"
"Psychically killed himself using a...code word, or something," Meine answers. Blackpool arches his eyebrows.
"Elshodi's good graces! Are...are nobles inclined to do that?" he asks, a bit confused--though he gestures for Cryfold to be gagged as Daos instructed.
Meine explains, "He said he was a member of the Night's Breath--'an ancient organization of spies and killers,' apparently."
The General still seems confused. "You're telling me that three esteemed members of Foccu's nobility are Night's Breath spies?" he says as they walk back to the castle. "That's...ludicrous!"
|
|
|
Post by Daos on Jan 21, 2022 16:21:02 GMT -8
"It is ludicrous, and yet very worrisome," Daos says. "I can only hope it ends here, with their capture." But somehow, he doubted the Night's Breath would give up so easily. And if they can recruit high ranking nobles to their cause, there's no telling who else might be on their payroll.
|
|
|
Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 22, 2022 6:54:04 GMT -8
"Do you think the other one, Count Lenkinshire, is in danger of doing the same?" Blackpool wonders as they approach the castle. The few people left on the streets in the evening point and whisper at the captured nobles.
|
|
|
Post by Daos on Jan 22, 2022 14:24:52 GMT -8
"I suppose gagging him wouldn't hurt, just to be on the safe side," Daos remarks. "He doesn't strike me as the type to sacrifice himself, though."
|
|
|
Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 22, 2022 14:34:39 GMT -8
"Not from what I've observed. But he does seem like the type to talk," Blackpool says as they enter the castle. "If you ask me, it'll be better if you handle it. He seems a bit excitable, and we might get more out of him if it's not a soldier interrogating him. Besides, you've got a soft face. If, uh, you don't mind me saying."
|
|
|
Post by Daos on Jan 22, 2022 23:50:00 GMT -8
Daos touches his own face a bit in confusion, then shrugs and agrees. "Very well. I don't have any experience, but I'll do what I can."
|
|
|
Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 23, 2022 9:55:36 GMT -8
The two nobles are each placed in one the dungeon's cells, and Daos is led to the one where Count Lenkinshire was dragged. The door of the stone wall shuts, leaving Daos alone with the Count and the chair he sits it.
"Wait...you're that mage working for the Advisor!" he shouts, standing up with a start. "Please!" he pleads, "You have to convince her I'm not at fault, she'll have my head and feed it to the dogs!"
|
|