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Into the Icy Darkness II: The Next Generation
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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1588535" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p>While her brother and friend were still speechless from their rage, Vintressa pulled them to their feet, and with an arm below their waists, pushed them outside of the ballroom. She knew a raging inferno was likely to explode from both, and the last thing she wanted was it to happen in the midst of a ball. </p><p></p><p><em>If word gets out that House Erelion placed an assassin within the Imperial Household... there are so many that would get bright ideas from that. No, the notion that the Imperial Household is impenetrable must remain! Otherwise...</em> Vintressa’s mind shuddered at the thought of having assassins from multiple houses. A security nightmare, that would impede running the state...</p><p></p><p>The hurried progress of the three out of the ballroom was something she couldn’t make the others notice, and as she rough-handled Valaron and Raven out of the room, she merely gave anyone that looked at them a death stare. Paths cleared, and quite quickly the three of them were in the hallways of the palace.</p><p></p><p>“Do not speak until we are in a safe place,” Vintressa growled at both of them, shuttling them through the numerous halls, corners and alcoves, and through several secret passages of false doorways until she was confident no one was within earshot of even her brother’s loudest roar. Valaron’s temper had been impatiently waiting, and as soon as she nodded, he left loose a string of profanities that would have impressed their “Uncle” Grumki, the half orc cleric of Kord.</p><p></p><p>“Pissing Pelor’s...” he continued to snarl, before turning to Vintressa. “Vin! They’re NOT going to do this! They are NOT going to hold us hostage to some tom-foolish whim of theirs! And by Pelor’s Flaming Armpits, I am NOT going to marry that... that... son of a two bit, roasted ass, daughter of Loviatar’s wench!” he spat.</p><p></p><p>“Threaten MY family!” Raven’s voice exploded in disgust as Valaron’s rant began. “We are true, nice, LAW-ABIDING family, not some two-bit smugglers! By the Gods, if I get my hands on that girl!” Raven’s eyes flashed, and Vin almost had to smile at the mental image of her choking Eyrna. It was a pleasing image, and Vintressa wished she could choke the woman as well. </p><p></p><p><em>But there is still business at hand,</em> the Princess’ mind settled.</p><p></p><p>“Quiet!” Vintressa said. She raised her hands at the death stare from the other two. “Instead of cursing, swearing, and kicking about... I simply propose we think.”</p><p></p><p>“Think!? Think about what!? How we’ve been jack-kicked into a corner by a vile...” Valaron started again, only to be cut off by his sister.</p><p></p><p>“You forgot smelly, Val,” Vintressa added. The comment might have been humorous in other times, now it was meant to trip him up long enough she could regain the floor. Once he sputtered, she launched onward. “Yes, think. Figure out what it is that they want so bad, and why they want it. Once we know that, we can form our own plan!”</p><p></p><p>“But, they still have an ace-in-the-hole, regarding your family... and a big set of cards against mine,” Raven sighed. “And for all my respect for your mom and dad’s fighting skills... if what they say about Hemmel is true...” Raven shuddered.</p><p></p><p>“If what they say about him is true,” Val nodded, before giving a sigh of his own. His anger had abated enough that he was now thinking again. “They might be trying to merely bluff us.”</p><p></p><p>“She knew that mom and dad were going to be in the balcony... she was looking away when they all showed up. And she <em>knew</em> Hemmel was behind them. Knew his name even,” Vintressa reasoned. “That all leads me to believe that they DO have some kind of arrangement with him, at least.”</p><p></p><p>“But why Hemmel?” Valaron looked off, lost for a split second. “He’s been a loyal friend for... five years!”</p><p></p><p>“Val!” Vintressa grabbed his shoulders and looked him in the eye. <em>If you’d paid attention, if you’d sat in on Dad’s council meetings, you would understand why!</em> “It takes months, even years to place an assassin close to its target... the better protected the target is, the longer it will take!”</p><p></p><p>“So you’re telling me, that House Erelion has been just sitting on this plan for five years or more?” Raven raised an eyebrow in question. Vintressa shook her head no.</p><p></p><p>“Not necessarily this plan... but some plan. The plan could have changed, with him still being an integral part. My question is what is so big that they would use him to leverage US into fetching an item for them?” Her mind then jumped to a thought, “If they had him in this long, and wanted to merely kill the family...”</p><p></p><p>“Vin...” Valaron visibly shook at that thought. “I think you’re right. They want something to do with us.... what though?”</p><p></p><p>“Well, if they wanted to just get an item, why would they ask us to do it?” Raven piped in, “or more specifically, you two? I mean, they could’ve just sent some hirelings to fetch the item, and offed all of us. Far more convenient on their part.”</p><p></p><p>“They need us for some reason,” Vintressa thought aloud, before giving a genuine smile, which broke into a light laugh.</p><p></p><p>“What’s so funny?” Val looked at his sister in annoyance.</p><p></p><p>“We know something about them Val!” Vintressa now genuinely laughed. “They need <em>us</em> to get this item! They can’t harm us or kill us until we get it!” At her brother’s look of confusion, Vintressa’s mind condensed the idea of plots and counterplots running in her head into one simple idea.</p><p></p><p>“Val, we have some leverage! They need us to fetch this item. All we have to do is stall in getting it...”</p><p></p><p>“Stall long enough that we can figure out a way to let Mom and Dad know we’re in trouble, and the danger they’re in, without tipping off Hemmel or his bosses,” Valaron’s mind finished her thought as he grasped the idea.</p><p></p><p>“For now,” Raven said quietly, “I think we should head back to our room at the Academy, and gather our supplies. Or rather, I should,” Raven smiled. “Vintressa, do you know where I can borrow a spellbook?”</p><p></p><p>“Why do you have a grin on your face now?” Valaron complained. “Its like everyone has a joke, an ace-in-their sleeve or something that I don’t understand!” He gave a growl when it seemed like no one was listening to him.</p><p></p><p>“Hm... you could use some of your family skills and slip into one of the palace mages’ rooms,” Vintressa grinned, realizing what Raven was about to do. “I mean, your father used to be one of the best thieves in the Empire, if what mother says about him is correct. Some of that had to rub off!”</p><p></p><p>“Some,” Raven grinned. “Which way are those rooms?” She took the small tiara off her head, and tossed to it Vin. “And if I’m going to be sneaking around, I should probably get into something more... nondescript.” She started to unbutton the back of her dress, till she remembered Val was present. She stopped, her face red. </p><p></p><p>Vin glanced from her friend, towards her brother, who also was red faced in the dim light. “Here... I actually did memorize spells like I was supposed to, unlike some people,” a glare went towards Raven, “and I can give you a minor illusion... mage’s robes?”</p><p></p><p>“That’ll do,” Raven grinned slightly at her friend’s admonition.</p><p></p><p>Vintressa was thankful she’d learned how to manipulate this minor magic without spell components. Quietly she intoned a few words, and felt the magic from her knowledge slowly move in tune with the distant magic in her blood. Before her eyes, bluish sinews of glowing lines seemed to form in mid air, sinews she wrapped around her friend. In her mind, the picture of the bright, colorful, and concealing robes of a court mage entered her mind, and a few moments later, it looked to Vin and Val that their friend was now immersed within such cloth.</p><p></p><p>“There,” Vin said. “And if anyone looks at you crosswise,” she pulled off her own signet ring, “carry this as well. I doubt they’ll pressure you too much if you flash this in their direction.”</p><p></p><p>“Thanks, Vin. What specifically do you want from your stuff?”</p><p></p><p>“My rapier,” Vintressa said quickly, “spellbook of course, and my travelling clothes, if you can find them.”</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>“See, Simeon? You just needed to be the eyes that kept others away! Things are proceeding according to plan!” Eyrna smiled at her brother as they left the ballroom, arm in arm.</p><p></p><p>“I’m... I’m still a little concerned,” Simeon replied nervously. Instinctively, he reached into his pocket and his hands clasped his family signet ring. It shape brought his father’s words back into his head.</p><p></p><p>“About what?” Eyrna replied, confidence in her voice. “Our man is in position, and once they bring the stone back to us, we merely arrange for an ‘accident’ to befall our dear little runners, while Hemmel deals with the bigger targets!” No names left her lips, though the intent was easy for Simeon to understand.</p><p></p><p>“And after that?”</p><p></p><p>“Uncle makes his moves, and you shall shortly find yourself in the throne room,” Eryna finished. </p><p></p><p><em>With the Emperor, Empress, and their elder siblings gone, the six year old and five year old should be easy to remove. Not even the silver dragon guardian of theirs can withstand the armies of my alliance of nobles alone if we have that stone, and the Imperial Guard is unlikely to back a six year old ruling the Empire with no clear Regent! We shall promise them order and strength,</em> her Uncle’s voice rang in her head, <em>and they shall embrace us! The brats can be taken care of later!</em> </p><p></p><p>She glanced down to her own signet ring, specifically to the blood red ruby that formed one of the snake eyes. She smiled, imagining the arrival of another massive, blood red stone that if all went well, would quickly be within their grasp...</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Raven gave an entirely un-ladylike giggle, which only caused her to laugh more. Instead of her ringing, melodic laugh, what came out was a high pitched noise, a cross between squeaks, bleets, and a child’s laughter. The giggling of a gnome.</p><p></p><p>It had been all too easy to slip into the rooms of the palace mages... when this was all over, she intended to tell her Auntie and Uncle to increase palace security. Only one person had tried to stop her as she went through the halls of the Mages’ Wing... a guardsman. Fortunately, when she flashed the signet ring of the Princess at him, he backed off.</p><p></p><p>As for finding a mage’s spellbook, it had been simple. Just as it was at the Academy, so many of the wizards were so focused on discovering spells and researching the realms of magic, that they were <em>very</em> absent-minded. And most of the academy mages, she knew, had at least two spellbooks. Their personal one (which they guarded jealously) and their more public one, which was far less powerful, and tended to be the one left lying around, sometimes unattended. Or attended, but left open as the wizard researched other items.</p><p></p><p>When she slipped into the Mage’s Library, there were numerous wizards about, collecting dusty volumes and pouring over their contents. It was very easy to walk up behind one that had several dusty tomes open, and read over his shoulder. After walking around enough, she found one open to the spell she was looking for... <em>polymorph self</em>.</p><p></p><p><em>They really need to be more careful,</em> her mind laughed, <em>You never know when a rogue’s daughter is going to be looking over your shoulder!</em></p><p></p><p>It was far into the night by this point, and she selected the safest route to the Academy from the palace. Within the higher quarters of the city, there was little, if any crime. Too many that resided here either had powerful magic on their persons, or nasty bodyguards that would make mincemeat of all save the most careful assassins. And somehow, Raven doubted that any assassins would be looking for a small, male gnome giggling as he dashed through the streets.</p><p></p><p>She still had on her mage’s robes, now fluttering much lower to the ground, and she planned to play the part of a partying gnome student that had returned slightly too late in the night. Thence, she would slip up to her and Vintressa’s room, and gather supplies, as well as changing back to her normal form.</p><p></p><p>She looked up, and watched as the imposing gothic towers, spires, and statues of the Imperial Magic and Arcane Academy loomed in front of her. The building was massive, sprawling, easily one of the largest buildings in the Empire outside of the Imperial Palace itself. As she walked through the massive front gates, which loomed some fifty feet overhead, her smaller form made her seem even more insignificant.</p><p></p><p><em>Focus, Raven,</em> her mind chimed in, and she hustled through the gate... and into the waist of a tall man clad in immaculate robes.</p><p></p><p>“Um... hello Professor!” she stammered slightly. The wizard’s mane of white air flowed down into her face, as he leaned over. Aergrifyr’s steel gray eyes looked into hers, and his eyebrow arched in stern question.</p><p></p><p>“I do not remember your face,” his voice said in a monotone.</p><p></p><p>“I...I am a... a... first year, sir. I have not reached a high enough form to take your classes,” she bowed hurriedly. Mentally, she winced.</p><p></p><p>“Mmmm,” he growled, scratching his beard. He stood back up to his full, imposing height, and in an instant, the swish of robes signaled him leaving.</p><p></p><p>For a few seconds afterwards, Raven was unable to move in shock. Then she doubled her speed, dashing through the halls. She was not aware of the footfalls that followed her...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1588535, member: 15043"] While her brother and friend were still speechless from their rage, Vintressa pulled them to their feet, and with an arm below their waists, pushed them outside of the ballroom. She knew a raging inferno was likely to explode from both, and the last thing she wanted was it to happen in the midst of a ball. [i]If word gets out that House Erelion placed an assassin within the Imperial Household... there are so many that would get bright ideas from that. No, the notion that the Imperial Household is impenetrable must remain! Otherwise...[/i] Vintressa’s mind shuddered at the thought of having assassins from multiple houses. A security nightmare, that would impede running the state... The hurried progress of the three out of the ballroom was something she couldn’t make the others notice, and as she rough-handled Valaron and Raven out of the room, she merely gave anyone that looked at them a death stare. Paths cleared, and quite quickly the three of them were in the hallways of the palace. “Do not speak until we are in a safe place,” Vintressa growled at both of them, shuttling them through the numerous halls, corners and alcoves, and through several secret passages of false doorways until she was confident no one was within earshot of even her brother’s loudest roar. Valaron’s temper had been impatiently waiting, and as soon as she nodded, he left loose a string of profanities that would have impressed their “Uncle” Grumki, the half orc cleric of Kord. “Pissing Pelor’s...” he continued to snarl, before turning to Vintressa. “Vin! They’re NOT going to do this! They are NOT going to hold us hostage to some tom-foolish whim of theirs! And by Pelor’s Flaming Armpits, I am NOT going to marry that... that... son of a two bit, roasted ass, daughter of Loviatar’s wench!” he spat. “Threaten MY family!” Raven’s voice exploded in disgust as Valaron’s rant began. “We are true, nice, LAW-ABIDING family, not some two-bit smugglers! By the Gods, if I get my hands on that girl!” Raven’s eyes flashed, and Vin almost had to smile at the mental image of her choking Eyrna. It was a pleasing image, and Vintressa wished she could choke the woman as well. [i]But there is still business at hand,[/i] the Princess’ mind settled. “Quiet!” Vintressa said. She raised her hands at the death stare from the other two. “Instead of cursing, swearing, and kicking about... I simply propose we think.” “Think!? Think about what!? How we’ve been jack-kicked into a corner by a vile...” Valaron started again, only to be cut off by his sister. “You forgot smelly, Val,” Vintressa added. The comment might have been humorous in other times, now it was meant to trip him up long enough she could regain the floor. Once he sputtered, she launched onward. “Yes, think. Figure out what it is that they want so bad, and why they want it. Once we know that, we can form our own plan!” “But, they still have an ace-in-the-hole, regarding your family... and a big set of cards against mine,” Raven sighed. “And for all my respect for your mom and dad’s fighting skills... if what they say about Hemmel is true...” Raven shuddered. “If what they say about him is true,” Val nodded, before giving a sigh of his own. His anger had abated enough that he was now thinking again. “They might be trying to merely bluff us.” “She knew that mom and dad were going to be in the balcony... she was looking away when they all showed up. And she [i]knew[/i] Hemmel was behind them. Knew his name even,” Vintressa reasoned. “That all leads me to believe that they DO have some kind of arrangement with him, at least.” “But why Hemmel?” Valaron looked off, lost for a split second. “He’s been a loyal friend for... five years!” “Val!” Vintressa grabbed his shoulders and looked him in the eye. [i]If you’d paid attention, if you’d sat in on Dad’s council meetings, you would understand why![/i] “It takes months, even years to place an assassin close to its target... the better protected the target is, the longer it will take!” “So you’re telling me, that House Erelion has been just sitting on this plan for five years or more?” Raven raised an eyebrow in question. Vintressa shook her head no. “Not necessarily this plan... but some plan. The plan could have changed, with him still being an integral part. My question is what is so big that they would use him to leverage US into fetching an item for them?” Her mind then jumped to a thought, “If they had him in this long, and wanted to merely kill the family...” “Vin...” Valaron visibly shook at that thought. “I think you’re right. They want something to do with us.... what though?” “Well, if they wanted to just get an item, why would they ask us to do it?” Raven piped in, “or more specifically, you two? I mean, they could’ve just sent some hirelings to fetch the item, and offed all of us. Far more convenient on their part.” “They need us for some reason,” Vintressa thought aloud, before giving a genuine smile, which broke into a light laugh. “What’s so funny?” Val looked at his sister in annoyance. “We know something about them Val!” Vintressa now genuinely laughed. “They need [i]us[/i] to get this item! They can’t harm us or kill us until we get it!” At her brother’s look of confusion, Vintressa’s mind condensed the idea of plots and counterplots running in her head into one simple idea. “Val, we have some leverage! They need us to fetch this item. All we have to do is stall in getting it...” “Stall long enough that we can figure out a way to let Mom and Dad know we’re in trouble, and the danger they’re in, without tipping off Hemmel or his bosses,” Valaron’s mind finished her thought as he grasped the idea. “For now,” Raven said quietly, “I think we should head back to our room at the Academy, and gather our supplies. Or rather, I should,” Raven smiled. “Vintressa, do you know where I can borrow a spellbook?” “Why do you have a grin on your face now?” Valaron complained. “Its like everyone has a joke, an ace-in-their sleeve or something that I don’t understand!” He gave a growl when it seemed like no one was listening to him. “Hm... you could use some of your family skills and slip into one of the palace mages’ rooms,” Vintressa grinned, realizing what Raven was about to do. “I mean, your father used to be one of the best thieves in the Empire, if what mother says about him is correct. Some of that had to rub off!” “Some,” Raven grinned. “Which way are those rooms?” She took the small tiara off her head, and tossed to it Vin. “And if I’m going to be sneaking around, I should probably get into something more... nondescript.” She started to unbutton the back of her dress, till she remembered Val was present. She stopped, her face red. Vin glanced from her friend, towards her brother, who also was red faced in the dim light. “Here... I actually did memorize spells like I was supposed to, unlike some people,” a glare went towards Raven, “and I can give you a minor illusion... mage’s robes?” “That’ll do,” Raven grinned slightly at her friend’s admonition. Vintressa was thankful she’d learned how to manipulate this minor magic without spell components. Quietly she intoned a few words, and felt the magic from her knowledge slowly move in tune with the distant magic in her blood. Before her eyes, bluish sinews of glowing lines seemed to form in mid air, sinews she wrapped around her friend. In her mind, the picture of the bright, colorful, and concealing robes of a court mage entered her mind, and a few moments later, it looked to Vin and Val that their friend was now immersed within such cloth. “There,” Vin said. “And if anyone looks at you crosswise,” she pulled off her own signet ring, “carry this as well. I doubt they’ll pressure you too much if you flash this in their direction.” “Thanks, Vin. What specifically do you want from your stuff?” “My rapier,” Vintressa said quickly, “spellbook of course, and my travelling clothes, if you can find them.” “See, Simeon? You just needed to be the eyes that kept others away! Things are proceeding according to plan!” Eyrna smiled at her brother as they left the ballroom, arm in arm. “I’m... I’m still a little concerned,” Simeon replied nervously. Instinctively, he reached into his pocket and his hands clasped his family signet ring. It shape brought his father’s words back into his head. “About what?” Eyrna replied, confidence in her voice. “Our man is in position, and once they bring the stone back to us, we merely arrange for an ‘accident’ to befall our dear little runners, while Hemmel deals with the bigger targets!” No names left her lips, though the intent was easy for Simeon to understand. “And after that?” “Uncle makes his moves, and you shall shortly find yourself in the throne room,” Eryna finished. [i]With the Emperor, Empress, and their elder siblings gone, the six year old and five year old should be easy to remove. Not even the silver dragon guardian of theirs can withstand the armies of my alliance of nobles alone if we have that stone, and the Imperial Guard is unlikely to back a six year old ruling the Empire with no clear Regent! We shall promise them order and strength,[/i] her Uncle’s voice rang in her head, [i]and they shall embrace us! The brats can be taken care of later![/i] She glanced down to her own signet ring, specifically to the blood red ruby that formed one of the snake eyes. She smiled, imagining the arrival of another massive, blood red stone that if all went well, would quickly be within their grasp... Raven gave an entirely un-ladylike giggle, which only caused her to laugh more. Instead of her ringing, melodic laugh, what came out was a high pitched noise, a cross between squeaks, bleets, and a child’s laughter. The giggling of a gnome. It had been all too easy to slip into the rooms of the palace mages... when this was all over, she intended to tell her Auntie and Uncle to increase palace security. Only one person had tried to stop her as she went through the halls of the Mages’ Wing... a guardsman. Fortunately, when she flashed the signet ring of the Princess at him, he backed off. As for finding a mage’s spellbook, it had been simple. Just as it was at the Academy, so many of the wizards were so focused on discovering spells and researching the realms of magic, that they were [i]very[/i] absent-minded. And most of the academy mages, she knew, had at least two spellbooks. Their personal one (which they guarded jealously) and their more public one, which was far less powerful, and tended to be the one left lying around, sometimes unattended. Or attended, but left open as the wizard researched other items. When she slipped into the Mage’s Library, there were numerous wizards about, collecting dusty volumes and pouring over their contents. It was very easy to walk up behind one that had several dusty tomes open, and read over his shoulder. After walking around enough, she found one open to the spell she was looking for... [i]polymorph self[/i]. [i]They really need to be more careful,[/i] her mind laughed, [i]You never know when a rogue’s daughter is going to be looking over your shoulder![/i] It was far into the night by this point, and she selected the safest route to the Academy from the palace. Within the higher quarters of the city, there was little, if any crime. Too many that resided here either had powerful magic on their persons, or nasty bodyguards that would make mincemeat of all save the most careful assassins. And somehow, Raven doubted that any assassins would be looking for a small, male gnome giggling as he dashed through the streets. She still had on her mage’s robes, now fluttering much lower to the ground, and she planned to play the part of a partying gnome student that had returned slightly too late in the night. Thence, she would slip up to her and Vintressa’s room, and gather supplies, as well as changing back to her normal form. She looked up, and watched as the imposing gothic towers, spires, and statues of the Imperial Magic and Arcane Academy loomed in front of her. The building was massive, sprawling, easily one of the largest buildings in the Empire outside of the Imperial Palace itself. As she walked through the massive front gates, which loomed some fifty feet overhead, her smaller form made her seem even more insignificant. [i]Focus, Raven,[/i] her mind chimed in, and she hustled through the gate... and into the waist of a tall man clad in immaculate robes. “Um... hello Professor!” she stammered slightly. The wizard’s mane of white air flowed down into her face, as he leaned over. Aergrifyr’s steel gray eyes looked into hers, and his eyebrow arched in stern question. “I do not remember your face,” his voice said in a monotone. “I...I am a... a... first year, sir. I have not reached a high enough form to take your classes,” she bowed hurriedly. Mentally, she winced. “Mmmm,” he growled, scratching his beard. He stood back up to his full, imposing height, and in an instant, the swish of robes signaled him leaving. For a few seconds afterwards, Raven was unable to move in shock. Then she doubled her speed, dashing through the halls. She was not aware of the footfalls that followed her... [/QUOTE]
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