Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1490847" data-attributes="member: 15043">Chaos Resolved... Slightly?Tess looked about, lost in the sea of nobility and merchants now pressing around her.  The party had gone to bed the night before, and when they had come back early in the morning, the same chaos still abounded, and people still expected them to have answers.“Madam!” a man from the crowd pushed forward, “Madam!”Tess winced as she realized he was making a beeline straight towards her. “Yes?” she said rather guardedly, glancing at the others nearby for some support and/or distraction.“Madam,” the man began.  “My name is Lord Eschelis Varron, and I currently have a case in front of His Majesty’s government regarding three acres of land that Lord...”“Lord Varron, I told you yesterday, I cannot speak for His Majesty’s government,” she snapped, recognizing the name.  She’d forgotten his face in the sea of people pressing them with petitions or asking for information, but she remembered his request well.  “Upon news of His Majesty’s state, we might be able to direct you on where to go, until then, you must remain patient!”The man rolled his eyes, and gave a grumble before looking towards Shaun. “Don’t even think about it,” the rogue growled.  “Same goes for all of us.”  The man looked down, and then stormed off into the crowd, as others took his place.“Why are they pressing us so hard for information, hon?” Elenya asked, brushing away another petitioner, a merchant who was complaining that a deal he’d signed had been violated.  Shaun turned from  “3 acre man,” as the party had begun calling him, and shrugged.“I guess they remember us being close to Crown Prince Alexander during the chaos with his sister... maybe some of them assume we speak on his behalf.”  He kicked his foot around slightly, a motion Elenya recognized as a sigh of worry in him.  “Its not like anyone knows what happened down there for sure... no singly accurate report has come through... each one has been contradicted by the next.”“No!  I don’t know what the status of the new taxation edict is!  Stop pestering me!” Orion snapped at another petitioner, and finally it seemed the crowd had understood the idea that the party were NOT messengers or representatives of the Imperial government.  The Provincial Chamberlain coming into the throne room also provided another target, and the crowd proceeded to start mobbing him for information.  Over the din, Tess and Shaun could both hear some noble families already starting to plot efforts to seize the throne if the Emperor indeed was dead.“They’re like a pack of ravenous wolves,” Tess growled, as the nobles and merchants proceeded to corner the chamberlain, and the poor man was downed by a barrage of complaints, questions and demands.  “I truly understand why Alex didn’t like being Emperor.”“Tons of work, annoying people, and political backstabbing... um.. yeah, I don’t blame him for hating it,” Orion chimed in.  “I need solace... peace and quiet...”“I need nobles staying out of my face with problems that I can’t solve and don’t care to solve,” Shaun added grumpily.  Some of the nobles were already starting to trickle back, as it was apparent the chamberlain carried no news himself.  The trickle increased as a messenger in Imperial livery arrived and ignored the large crowd, instead headed towards the party.Tess caught the messenger’s attention, and as he approached, she gave a gracious bow.  Maybe something concrete this time?“Baroness Keldare?” the messenger asked, and Tess nodded.“His Imperial Majesty has personally sent me to you, Lord Shaun Dice, Master Orion, Father Grumki, and other members of your group to convey the following message.”“Firstly, that his Majesty was assaulted by poison five days ago.  He is currently recovering, and is expected to be at the head of his troops within the day.  Second, during this time when he was incapacitated, the Countess’ forces assaulted our positions.  During the confusion, some three score thousand of her troops managed to sidestep our forces, and are now marching north with all due speed for Irulas itself.His Majesty is mounting as rapid a pursuit as he can organize, however, He doubts he will reach the city walls before the Countess does.  Therefore, His Majesty has charged me to inform you that your group... Baroness Keldare, Prince Lucius, Princess Siabrey, Lord Shaun Dice, Master Orion, Father Grumki, and the Wizard Barachis are charged with organizing and supervising the city’s defenses.  You must merely hold the city till His Majesty can arrive, at which point he shall take over operations and destroy the Countess’ forces.  He knows you have fought demons and the like in the past, and he is counting on your experience to save the city of Irulas and its six score thousand residents during this dark time.  In addition, His Majesty begs you to check with the court mages regarding the magic questions about a certain item you asked about earlier,” the messenger added, before taking a large breath.There was a distinct pause from the party, as the mouths of all were agape.Us... organize the city’s defense?  I don’t know how to organize the defense of a city! Tess’ mind gasped.  I tell tales, I fight a little... I’m not a General!The silence was finally broken by Elenya giving Shaun a nervous smirk.  “Hon, close your mouth.  He said defend the city, not clean its coffers dry.”  A slight push with her hand caused his mouth to close with a click, but he still stared straight ahead, frightened.By this point, the rest of the petitioners had noticed the messenger as well, and quickly the swarming about the party continued.  Tess, Shaun, Orion and Elenya quickly found themselves herded further and further into a corner, as nobles, dignitaries and elites pressed them for information.  On their statement as to what the letter said, there was general air that many regarded the note as dubious.  Pressure once again remounted for them to take charge, take control, even as they wished not to....</blockquote>

Verification