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Post by Daos on Jan 23, 2022 13:32:09 GMT -8
"Your head, if you're lucky," Daos agrees, pacing around the room absently. "You attacked your own wife, leaving her for dead. You aided and abetted a woman who seeks to take down the barrier, destroying Foccu and perhaps the entire world. To say you are guilty of treason seems like putting it lightly."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 23, 2022 13:37:27 GMT -8
"I didn't attack her!" he hisses. "That was Cryfold's idea, I tried to stop her! I didn't do this by choice, I was--wait, she wants to bring down the Barrier?" he says, shocked.
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Post by Daos on Jan 23, 2022 19:51:02 GMT -8
"You didn't exactly stop her, did you?" Daos asks. "Maybe Lady Cryfold is stronger than she looks. Your wife is alive, by the way...in case you were wondering." Pausing in his pacing, he places his hands behind his back. "So you didn't even know what you were helping her to do? Why exactly were you aiding her then?"
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 24, 2022 5:46:58 GMT -8
"Oh, thank goodness," he whispers. Answering the question, he sighs, "Well, it's...perhaps you won't believe me, but....my dreams are being invaded by a lich."
The statement takes Daos aback for a moment. He has heard of liches, mostly from his mother complaining that immortality isn't worth ripping your skin off. But as far as he knows, they only exist within the realm of theory and folk tales.
"He came to me one night a few months ago, calling himself 'Ozymandias,'" Lenkinshire explains. "He...he said he could, at any time, turn this dream into a nightmare so horrible I would die from the pain, and that I'd better do exactly as he told me. He...he wanted Selena Serpentine dead. I didn't know why, but now that you mention the Barrier...Elshodi's everlasting mercy, it's tied to her, isn't it..." he groans. "He knew I had some...irreputable connections. I didn't make them! They were inherited from my father, as slimy a noble as they come! But...well, I knew all the code words and drop points and whatnot to get a contract with the Night's Breath...I thought, why not just...let them take care of it, and pretend you and the lich are uninvolved? Nice and disconnected."
He gulps. "But when I met with Cryfold to explain who I wanted dead--you must understand, I had no idea a fellow noble of Foccu was a member of this group until we met. I met with her, said I wanted them to kill the advisor. She looked...confused. Concerned. And told me she'd check with her superiors and get back to me. And when she did...well, she said it was all taken care of. And...and I can't help but feel like I gave them the idea of breaking the Barrier! Elshodi's mercy, I should have let the lich kill me," he sobs.
"After the ball, when everything went pear-shaped, she...she said we needed to escape. Threatened me with descriptions of being tried for high treason...I was a coward. I ran away with her. I did nothing to stop her from killing my dear Winnifred. And after all that, the Lich still hounds my dreams. I...I've tried to lie to him, but it's no good. He sees right through me. And he wants me to kill a Gnome woman--Tympany Trite, a student at the Grand Academy. I thought, perhaps...perhaps I could go there, buy some magical trinket to protect me, and warn her that the lich wants her dead." He shakes his head in despair. "But all that's left for me is the chopping block. Or the noose. Or, if I'm lucky, a lifetime in a dingy dungeon."
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Post by Daos on Jan 24, 2022 15:00:46 GMT -8
Daos takes a moment to collect his thoughts. Was this just the lie of a desperate man? It might be. But why concoct something so fantastical and elaborate? No, he felt like this actually made sense. It bothered him that anyone would be so stupid to try and take down the barrier for any reason. He never bought the idea it was simple politics--anyone bringing down the barrier was dooming the world itself, not just Foccu. But there is one person who would have proper motivation to commit such a heinous act--the same man who committed the heinous act that created the need of the barrier in the first place. If Ozymandias was still alive--or undead, as were the case--then that means he'd be trapped within the barrier. Of course he'd want it taken down, if only to escape. And he of all people would not care how many thousands, or even millions, might suffer and die as a result. The mage felt a cold lump in the pit of his stomach from just the thought of it all.
Does the Night's Breath realize this? Is it possible they are, in fact, connected to Ozymandias in some way? Could he have created them as some means to manipulate the outside world, beyond the barrier? That could explain how they have the power to geas their members. It required a great deal of power to do something like that, far beyond his own meager abilities.
"I think...you should not speak of this to anyone else, until you are back in the capitol and then I want you to tell Serpentine everything you told me," Daos says. He was sure that even a rumor that Ozymandias was still out there might cause a panic. "And in return, I'll do whatever I can to get you some kind of leniency from the king. Is there anything else you can tell me? About Cryfold, her agenda, her future plans?"
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 25, 2022 6:12:21 GMT -8
Lenkinshire sadly shakes his head. "When I suggested we go to Paragon City, she agreed quite quickly, noting that the Night's Breath have...resources, there, and that she could contact her superiors. But, if you ask me," he whispers. "I don't think she wanted Selena Serpentine dead. She was almost...relieved when the attempts failed. All her worries were about escaping, not of the failure to fulfill the contract. And the way she acted when I first told her about the assassination I wanted...no, she doesn't want that Barrier gone, by any means. She's being...overruled."
He taps his face, thinking. "I...I don't mean to be a bother, but...I do still need something that could protect me from the lich? Without some...necklace or ring to protect me, he can make my head explode any night. And you can't let that happen! ....because," he says, coming up with the reason on the spot. "Because then I won't be able to tell Miss Serpentine what I've told you. Yes." Clearing his throat, he says, "If you find someone selling something of that sort, please bring it to me. I'd give you money for it myself, but, well, that may be misconstrued." He pats his pockets. "Oh, yes, those soldiers took my purse. ...well, perhaps you could ask them."
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Post by Daos on Jan 25, 2022 15:06:16 GMT -8
"I'll...look into that," Daos says. "But if such a device exists and can be purchased here in the city, I would wonder why you never bothered to pick one up before we grabbed you."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 26, 2022 6:41:01 GMT -8
"Believe me, I tried," he answers. "But all the magic shops had nothing but potions and scrolls. Nobody wants potions and scrolls! But if you lift the blockade, merchants will be able to enter town. Maybe some of those merchants will have magic items, and maybe one of them will have the one we need?" he feebly suggests. "I...I know it's a long shot. But it's my life on the line. I happen to be fond of my life."
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Post by Daos on Jan 26, 2022 15:16:35 GMT -8
"Alright, I will see what I can do," Daos offers. He then knocks on the door for the guard to let him out.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 26, 2022 16:24:55 GMT -8
The guard opens the door to allow Daos to leave. Meine, Qurrak, and the General are standing a short ways away.
"Well?" Blackpool asks. "What did he have to say?"
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Post by Daos on Jan 26, 2022 18:39:52 GMT -8
"I think we'll need somewhere private to speak first," Daos answers, glancing at the guards.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 27, 2022 5:03:33 GMT -8
Blackpool looks confused, but takes Daos to a private spot, away from Meine and the guards, regardless. He gestures for Daos to proceed.
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Post by Daos on Jan 27, 2022 13:45:01 GMT -8
"Actually, they should join us," Daos says, gesturing to Meine and Qurrak. "I trust them."
Once the four of them are somewhere private, Daos sits down and tells them what Lenkenshire told them. "So that's what we know. If what he is saying is true, than this situation is far worse than we had feared."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jan 27, 2022 14:57:17 GMT -8
Blackpool looks like he's about to faint. He leans against the wall and breathes in deeply.
"So...this isn't just a case of a foolish nobleman wanting to off Selena Serpentine out of a personal grudge," he recaps. "This is a case of a...a mad lich wanting to bring down the Barrier. This is a case of an ancient band of assassins conspiring to help him. A case of...apocalyptic proportions."
Meine nods, somberly. "It would be Second Calamity, no less. Arcadia and the Elven Lands might be able to extend their Barriers to protect themselves, but Foccu will be doomed."
"As will be Mortahl, Music, the Beastlands, the Land of the Giants, and quite possibly Short," Blackpool laments. "Merciful Elshodi, this is more than treason, this is...lunacy!" He paces around the room.
"What do we do now, General?" Meine asks, expectantly.
"I'm trained to lead militaries, not Apocalypse Prevention Forces!" he snaps. "Undoubtedly, the King should be warned. And the keepers of Arcadia and the Elven Lands' Barriers--if Ozymandias really is behind this, he won't care which nation faces the wrath of his demons. This Gnome woman, Tympany Trite--I presume the New Arcadia Barrier is tied to her?"
Meine shakes her head. "Nah, it's tradition for the Archmage to cast it. The current one's an Elf--Archmage Ant-Rock, or something. But then why does Ozymandias want Trite dead?"
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Post by Daos on Jan 27, 2022 15:32:44 GMT -8
"I agree, the king and Serpentine should be warned," Daos says. "Preferably in person, as any messages sent might be intercepted or read by the wrong people. We should keep all of this under our hats for now, lest we start a panic. At the same time, I made a promise to the duke that this city would be purged of the Hydras and the Dragons. But at the same time, this is a far greater threat and should take priority. Therefore, I would suggest that you and your men remain in the city and continue that process, General. As you said, you are a military leader, and this is a task you are more than suited for. Meanwhile, Qurrak, Meine and I will escort the rogue nobles back to the capitol to face justice and brief the king on what we've learned. Perhaps you might spare a handful of trustworthy men to escort us, but the bulk of your forces should remain here in Deppsburg to deal with the gangs."
Standing up, he adds, "As for Trite, I cannot guess why she is a target. But once we finish with the king, Arcadia may well be our next destination to find out."
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