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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1491306" data-attributes="member: 15043">Hehe... yeah.  For me, the unexpected turns are some of the fun of being a DM <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />A Noble Is Born, Part One - typed by drag n flySuddenly, from the rear of the room, the sharp sound of a staff being tapped loudly against the marbled floor echoed through the massive chamber. “The Princess Siabrey Sipner-Caladron!” an equally loud voice yelled. The crowds of petitioners parted on impulse, and the party suddenly found themselves at the edge of a clear pathway that led from the ornate double doors up to the throne. The figure standing framed in the open doorway stepped forward, and they all gasped.“Is that….Siabrey?” Shaun asked in a hushed voice. It was indeed the fighter, although she looked as none of the party had ever seen her before. Her short, muscular frame was shrouded in elegant white robes of state, her obviously newly re-forged sword swinging from her hip. Long golden hair hung down past her waist, framing a copper-skinned face with eyes as red as a desert’s sunset. Eyes that whirled with heartbreaking loss, glossed over with the knowledge that she had a duty to perform that could not be denied. The noble blood in Siabrey had awoken.The hush on the crowd was maintained as Siabrey strode forward, head lifted with a strength and pride that was superficial only. Inside, she was being torn between her heart’s desire to flee and find Lucius, and her mind’s wisdom that she could not desert the Empire…her Empire. Kelir reminded her.All of her concentration was on walking; somehow she had found a gate halfway in between her normal strutting pace and a noblewoman’s simpering glide, and she was focusing on maintaining it.As she passed by the party however, and saw their dropped jaws and widened eyes, Siabrey paused momentarily and gave them a wink. Her joy was forced; inside she was trembling with trepidation at what she was about to do.Taking the last few steps down the cleared pathway, Siabrey mounted the dais, turned, and with deliberate slowness, sat down in the massive gilt throne. A murmur ran through the crowds. Siabrey resisted squirming, she felt like a bug on display up here, with hundreds of eyes focused on her, and barely even registered Kelir’s comment that her exotic looks meshed well with the equally exotic throne.Taking a deep breath and swallowing, she raised an arm in salute.“Petitioners!” she projected, feeling incredibly grateful that her voice came out strong and sure. “Pending valid news about the Emperor’s condition, all petitions will be held until further notice.” This announcement caused an uproar in the crowd as shouts of shock and rage echoed through the chamber. Obviously these nobles were not used to not having their complaints listened to.“However!” Siabrey shouted over the crowd, suddenly glad of the fact that her voice was battlefield honed. “However,” she continued, as the voices quieted momentarily, “A list shall be taken of your petitions, until they can be managed by the appropriate parties. ” The mood of the crowd changed as quickly as a dragon turns in the air. Now the nobles were cheering and shouting her name, those that knew it. She gave a short nod to the Imperial Chamberlain; the one who had announced her entrance and followed her into the room. He nodded back and took up a position at the base of the throne to the left. “Form a line here, please! Form a line to have your petitions taken!” his reedy voice called out. Immediately, there was a great deal of pushing and shoving as all the nobles attempted to be first at the same time. There was one particularly annoying individual who kept screaming about his “three acres”…Siabrey shook her head at the din they were making, reminded of the way a pack of dogs fought over who was to be the first fed. Inclining her head in the party’s direction, she gestured with her hand toward a doorway to the right, where a set of guards already stood. Taking her hint, Tess led the others in that direction. They passed through the open door and found themselves in a circular war room. Books and charts of all kinds lay scattered about the various tables. The room, normally unused in peacetime, was filled with the fresh odor of sweat and fear that accompanied war-driven times.Siabrey entered the room a few minutes later, said a few swift words to the guards, and closed and locked the door behind her. She leaned against it for a brief moment, finding solace in its firm surface, before opening her eyes and surveying her friends. Up close, they could see that her facade was just that, and already threatening to crumble. In their eyes she could see recent pain and triumph, and she didn’t have to ask about what they had done to Ilia.“So…am I doing a good job as a noble?” she inquired, trying to break the awkward silence that had filled the room. As usual, Shaun, with his reliable rapier wit, grinned.“Siabrey, if I didn’t know any better, I would have said Alexander himself was up on that throne, bossing those nobles around. I think he would have used more swearing though.”Siabrey grinned back once weakly before settling down to business.“You look….good, Siabrey.” Tess said caustiously. Wearing nice clothes, fully cleaned, and with jewelry!?! This is NOT the Siabrey that I know…“Thank the maid,” Siabrey brushed off the compliment. There were more important things at hand. She drew another deep breathed and forced the steel back into her face and voice. “So, what did you learn from Illia?”Tess proceeded to spend the next few minutes laying out all the information that the former assassin had given them; regrettably little. Siabrey listened carefully to Ilia’s numbering of the troops, and tried hard not to cry at her description of what the Countess wanted with Lucius. When Tess mentioned that the Countess was indeed marching with her army, Siabrey looked up sharply, and revenge glinted in her eyes.So, the Countess is coming here. Which means that she’ll have Luke with her. Which means that I will have the opportunity to slice her into little pieces and…save my love. She refused to think of what the Countess’ influence could have already done to Lucius. It is best not to think of such things at this time…. Kelir’s soothing voice commented.She was saved from further depressive thoughts by a loud knock on the door.“Ahh, right on time.” Siabrey straightened and went to open the heavy oak door. Four heavily armed men entered, carrying their helms in their arms and looking as if they weren’t quite sure what they were doing here.“Gentlemen, thank you for coming on such short notice. I am sorry to have had to summon you from your troops.” Siabrey inclined her head in a short bow to each of them. “I have to admit, Majesty. I wasn’t sure what to expect when you summoned us here. I mean, with the news of the Emperor and all…” “The news on the Emperor is inconclusive, although the last report I received informed me that he is very much alive and on his way here.” Siabrey interrupted, her fiery eyes authoritative. “But until we know for sure, we will act under the assumption that he is alive, and do what he would do were he here in our stead.” The generals looked impressed by her speech, as did the others in the room.Siabrey’s eyes met each general’s, who slowly dropped their own gazes.“Now then,” she continued. “Since my friends and I are in charge of the defense of this city, I think we should begin planning the fortifications. I would not wait until the Countess was knocking at our walls to have a suitable defense plan in place.”“Agreed.” One of the generals looked around for a convenient place to put his helm, and finding none, placed it on the floor under one of the larger tables.“Now then, where is that map…” he murmured.Tess and the others stood back as the general, looking disgustedly over the cluttered table, heaved it over, knocking everything to the floor. The now debunked map fluttered to the floor on top of the mess, and the general grabbed it with a flourish and spread it out on the now clean table. Siabrey looked on with an amused expression, before bending over the map with all of the others.“Ok, here we are in the palace middle of the city.” The general started, explaining the map to the others. “Now, these two lines around the perimeter are the outer and inner walls. The inner walls are 50 feet high; the outer walls 30.”“The walls don’t go all the way around.” Shaun noticed, frowning at the squiggles on the paper.The general shook his head. “No, but the river forms the border on the West side, and the mountains to the East.”“Is the river fordable?” Siabrey asked. That’s a big chunk of land to defend if it is… But the general was already shaking his head. “Not at this time of the year. Tonight is Midsummer’s Eve, and even though the river is at its lowest, it is still a quarter mile wide and some 40 feet deep; any invading army would need boats, lots and lots of boats, and we would be able to pick them off easily as they came across the water. No, no sensible army commander would attack that way.”Tess gave a start at hearing the date. With all of the excitement over the past few weeks, she had completely lost track of time. “Midsummer’s Eve, that means that tonight is my birthday…” she mused quietly to herself. Siabrey heard her and gave the bard a funny look, coupled with an odd smile. Tess’ birthday? I wonder…Shaun was still staring at the map, turning his head sideways to try to get a better idea of what all the little symbols meant. “So, if the river is safe, where are they most likely going to attack?”“Very good question. Based on our analysis,” the general nodded at his three compatriots, who all nodded back “we are in agreement that the attack is most likely to come here.” The general pointed to a thin valley between the sheer cliffs that lined the city’s East side. “There is only the outer wall to breach in this location, and an invading army could overpower our defenses and get into the heart of the city by sheer numbers.”“Then this is where the major defense will have to be set up.” Tess finished.“Yes. If it’s not too much trouble,” the general turned to Siabrey. “We would like you and your companions to be stationed here, on the outer wall above that valley. We have heard the tales of your effectiveness in combat with the demons, and it would be good for the troops to see their Commander right in the thickest of the fighting along with them.”“Of course we’ll be there.” Siabrey said smoothly, after a quick glance at the others to be sure it was alright. And if this is where the Countess tries to get in, she’ll have a surprise waiting for her…my sword.Thoughts of the Countess caused Siabrey to look up at the general and inquire, “Where is the Countess’ army exactly?”“Honestly, we’re not sure.” The general shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. “She could be two days out or two weeks out for all we know.”“Don’t you have spies out?” Orion asked; the first time that the monk had spoken. The general shook his head. “We do, but they keep disappearing, or coming back in multiple pieces, or burned beyond recognition.” Hmm…. Orion thought.“We have found out some information though.” The general added quickly, as if to make up for the lack of knowledge of their foes whereabouts. “We do know that the Countess has demons with her, as many as four red dragons, and bombards.”“Bombards? What are bombards?” I don’t remember seeing that in Lucius’ books of warfare… The thought of Lucius brought a cramp to her gut, and she swiftly began thinking of other things, like Tess’ birthday…</blockquote>

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