Fallen Empire

[albatross]

Fakir absorbs the battle tactics of the Splugoreth with rapt attention, nodding here and there as if he has fought them before, and likely he has in the The Market on Atlantis.

He pauses now and again to ask questions and to have Bellephoebe explain some detail.

After the mid day rest stop, Fakir begins teaching her the spell of the True Gate. At first, he tells stories. These stories seem to be traditional fairy tales, only Fakir's versions focus on tests of character. Similar to the bet in Taming of the Shrew. In Fakir's stories, the test of character either reveals a true relationship between the people, or it reveals one person is false.

At the end he says, "Long ago, the True Gate was used as such a test."

[shiivster]

*she catches the messenger bird's attention. 'i travel after wild flyer. might not be wild. will be back tomorrow evening at camp edge with words if i find anything' *she caresses the nighthawk once, then sends it off on its errand . . and with a whistle to alert her sibs, heads off in the direction she saw the 'wild' hawk travel in. she suspects it is a scout for this world's army.

Aki will scoop up Yumi and settle her in the large grass carry sack for now. she senses the sharp claws digging into the strange fabric as well, then shifts the bag to the side so her hand can touch the mongoose's fur. her other hand gives the lynx's ear a massage and slight tug, before she starts jogging after the flight plan of the sole hawk.

[thorley]

"Well, whatever the intent of the gate, I'd still rather get Mikalah out of there. We have important things to do with finding the right bride here, but I plan to work on the problem when I have time."

[albatross]

Aki is able to track the hawk a long ways, and she eventually discovers its nest. The bird seems to be a natural hawk.

Aki does notice there are more insects and animals further away from the trail the others are making. This tells her that the path between the Palace and the cave must be traveled by human or other predators, even though there isn't a permenant road or trail.

[albatross]

Fakir smiles, "Understanding the intent of the gate is the first step towards summoning it. The gate is a test. The location of the summoned gate is influenced by whom you seek to test. So if you try to test me, or test Tesla, the gate will appear in a different location." As he talks he makes gestures as to where the gate would appear based on different individuals. "Questions?" Fakir pauses to see if Bellephoebe needs to know anything else.

[yendor]

"We'll see what we can dig up, and how difficult it will be. Decoys, the kind people shoot at instead of you."

[thorley]

"I think I understand, but if that's the case how was the gate controlled when used against the leader of the demon army? It's something I'll have to work out later. Love is supposed to be the solution to the spell, or one of the solutions, as a result I figure that if I can't find another way, there might be some method to get Mikala out that way, by sending her a love potion or something if nothing else. Getting it to her would be difficult, which is why I was hoping we might be able to do something with her sword when the time comes.... right now we have a dimension to save though".

[albatross]

Talon nods, "Understood." He turns to the nun next to him, "Assign Malone two assistants as decoys." As she turns to go, "Our people." The woman nods and drifts back in the marching order to find a couple decoys. Fakir's bunny girls are clearly much more used to being decoys than Talon's. Either he feels guilty for killing so many himself or believes the Sealed Kingdom will hunt intelligence before stalking obvious targets. Perhaps a bit of both.

[albatross]

Nodding, Fakir smiles. "It will be time to make camp soon. You are right. But Mikalah is subtle. She may have had reasons for chosing a particular location."

The marching done for the day, another camp is made in the same pattern as the previous night. Tomorrow, another vanguard left behind.

[thorley]

Bellephoebe doesn't appear too happy about the idea of using the Bunny Girls as decoys, and is even more apalled that they seem to be fairly used to it, but she doesn't say or do anything overt for the moment.

She'll camp and be ready to move on whenever the rest of the group is.

"Subtle or not, Mikalah hardly seemed to be expecting that demon army, and her not returning afterwards on her own definatly seems to imply she wound up getting stuck where ever she went. "

[albatross]

At dawn another support team stays behind. Eight bunny girls and four nuns.

The day's march goes swiftly and soon they can see the capital in the distance, a palace fortress with lots of spires topped with pennants in the distance.

The last support group is altered slightly. Sister Caterina remains with Tesla to continue his training. Two warrior nuns support Malone as decoys. Meaning the last support team is nine bunny girls and two nuns.

Fakir and Talon decide to bring only one bunny girl to the initial meeting. Etiquette and diplomacy is hardly their forte. They hold them in reserve in case they need to shake things up. They ask Ora to remain with this group as well.

Talon, Sarah, Sister Caterina, Malone's two assistants, Fakir, Beatrix, Bellephoebe, Malone, Jourdan, Tesla, and Aki and her animals will be the initial contact team. The support team will camp a couple hours from the palace and remain hidden.

"Alright," Talon says. "Everyone look your best. Ready sensory magic and abilities. Be patient. We'll have our audience, but there is no rush. Eat, drink, bathe, rest and enjoy our hosts' hospitality at first. The longer we take the more time we'll have to spy and gather information. This is the first step to fulfilling the prophesy. Be cautious."

[thorley]

Bellephoebe says "It sounds fairly straightforward, and I admit I am fairly interested in seeing what a real castle is like".

Bellephoebe will prepare herself and be ready to head out when everyone else is.

[albatross]

The outer wall is yellow and grey stone set in alternating geometric patterns. The outer gate is open and undefended. The town within the outer wall is adobe houses painted in complimentary shades of red: orange, yellow in myriad hues with gold trim. Many houses have designs on them. The roofs are thatched grasses. The villagers curtesy in greeting. The people they see look human, like Talon and Sarah, though they have tan skins from lots of time outdoors or natural color or both. Grey eyes, or metallic bronze or gold. No one looks particularly surprised to see them, and perhaps the city's reputation as a provider of brides to the nobility means they seem just another delegation looking for match making services.

The palace itself is lots of spires topped with pennants. As they draw closer, Talon mutters: "Each of those pennants belongs to a land that has currently has a woman from the Sealed Kingdom living in the ruling family." He points out his own standard, "My mother." Then the imperial standard, huge and black from the tallest spire, "The Empress and her retired mother." Fakir claps him on the shoulder, "A promising record then." Smiling, Fakir looks at each pennant. A town that makes princesses. He shrugs.

[thorley]

Bellephoebe responds "Seems like an unusual situation, perhaps the problem that causes your crisis is somehow rooted in the history of how this kingdom was able to negotiate such a position for itself rather than the desician that is made in of itself? I'd imagine a system like this must have a hefty opposition".

[albatross]

"Oh, I don't know about that. It is an aristocracy after all," Fakir drawls. "I'll bet all the kingdoms and fiefs have a connection to the imperial line through this place. Gives all the barons and dukes and minor nobility an easy way to establish a connection. And I can't help but wonder if some of the women who leave here as brides don't send a daughter or two back to replenish the stock."

Talon shrugs. "I don't remember any resentment, perhaps it is as Fakir says. But power attracts enemies and rivalaries. Even if every kingdom but one is satisfied with the arrangement the one could still make trouble." He nods to Bellephoebe, "We'll look into it. This place has a reputation for exceeding clients expectations..."