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Message: <blockquote data-quote="carpedavid" data-source="post: 974497" data-attributes="member: 6971">Session 6, Part 1Despite having just broken into the most feared prison in Avengard, killing all of the guards, and releasing all of the prisoners, the heroes encounter little resistance on their return trip. The five heroes spend most of the return trip tending to and conversing with the rescued prisoners. Edmon of Willoughby, the spy they were sent to retrieve, says little, spending most of the journey being sick over the railing of the airship."It reminds me of Nym," Laurel remarks to Wrayce."Yeah, poor Nym," he says sadly."Let's try not to get eaten by any more dragons, ok?""Yeah. Ok."When they get within a few hours of the front, though, they begin to get nervous, speculating on what they'll find. What if the front has moved? What if Avengard has broken through? Will they even have a country to return to?Fortunately, the front is more or less where they left it, though more airships have joined the line on both sides. They all hold their breath and hang on to something stable as the pilot plunges them back into the middle of the maelstrom. Ballistae bolts fly over their heads and fireballs explode in the air around them, as the Displacer Beast dodges broken and blackened hulls. Everyone is nearly knocked off of his or her feet as the pilot makes a hard left to avoid ramming an Avengardan flagship, but no one is lost overboard.As they approach the Terrelian side of the front, the crew gets ready to change flags. The five heroes all look at each other, waiting for another to make a decision. After a few minutes of inaction, someone yells, "Now!" and the Avengardan standard is quickly lowered and the Terrelian flag is raised.A few Terrelian ships break off from their own battles and dive after the Displacer Beast. "I don't think they're buying it," Shoji says as a lightning bolt flies over the deck of the ship."They're only firing warning shots," Quara says as she checks her hair to see if it's been singed."Yeah, well, can we get them to stop that?" Laurel asks as she ducks a second bolt.Quara grabs a white sheet and begins waving it in the air. The other ships seem to recognize the international sign of "please don't shoot," and no more shots are fired. They do, however, accompany the Displacer Beast to the airship docks in New Charleston, and only break off after the heroes have landed and moored the ship.The gangplanks are lowered and the five heroes emerge, looking far more grizzled than when they left. A contingent of soldiers greets them, relieves them of the spy, and informs them that they're needed in the general's tent at once.As the group hurries through the crowded and chaotic streets of New Charleston, Laurel notices that Quara looks quite nervous. She starts to say something, but thinks better of it and holds her tongue.When they reach the command tent, they are quickly escorted in. Waiting for them are the general, who is hunched over his battle plans, and an elderly lizardman, who is draped in noble's robes. "Welcome back," the general says wearily as he looks up from his plans. "I heard that you were successful in your mission. Congratulations," he says, smiling, "You have done the empire a great favor.""Allow me to introduce Qatsaketh, Grand Duke of Gryphalia," he says, motioning to the lizardman."Kneel," the noble lizardman commands. The heroes looks at each other with uncertainty, but each kneels before the Duke. He motions to Gen. Talvyn, who hands him his sword, and then approaches Shoji, who winces inwardly, sure that his head's about to be cut off. "State your name," the Duke commands."Shoji," the monk replies nervously. The Duke unsteadily taps him on both shoulders with the sword, then moves to Erendil."State your name.""Erendil, your Grace," he says nervously, fearing for the safety of his ears. He inwardly sighs in relief when the Duke moves to Laurel."Name.""Laurel Sylvan Oakenblade," she says as the sword lightly touches her shoulders."Name.""Wrayce," he replies, and receives the same treatment as the other heroes. Everyone expects a repeat of the procedure with Quara, but the lizardman stops and smiles at her."Ah, Quara, my dear. Your father told me about the bravery of you and your companions," he says, casting a glance back at the general. The other four heroes look at Quara in confusion, and she blushes. "By the sovereign power granted me by our glorious Emperor and by Dominus himself, I hereby dub thee Masters of the Most Noble and Sacred Order of the Griffin," he says as he touches Quara's shoulders with the sword. "You may all rise." He turns back to the general and hands back the sword.The group rises. Each of them has heard of the Order of the Griffin through legend and reputation: it is the most prestigious knightly order in Terrel, the Grand Master of which is the Emperor himself. Each of the newly dubbed Griffiners feels a warm sensation on his or her chest. When they look down, they see that they are now wearing small golden brooches in the shape of griffins."Ooh, shiny!" thinks Laurel.The Duke continues before the heroes have much time to comprehend their new knighthood, "I'll be leaving for Devonshire in three days time. The Emperor has summoned all the nobles to court, and since I'm leaving all of my troops here, the Lord General has been kind enough to assign you to accompany me." He hobbles back to his chair, and then eases himself down as he grimaces in pain.General Talvyn waits until Qatsaketh has settled himself, and then says, "In the meantime, I've got an assignment for you. A large number of our supplies have gone missing. We think that some of the hijacked goods are being sold to the refugees on the black market, and perhaps even to the town merchants, who are short on supplies themselves." He picks up a sheaf of parchment off of his desk, and hands it to Shoji. "Additionally, the merchants are using the war as an excuse to raise their prices to unfair levels. The Emperor has drawn up a list of customary prices," he points to the sheaf of parchment, "on many essential goods, and the merchants are to be made to understand that they are to abide by the Emperor's prices.""What if they refuse to comply?" Quara asks."They are to be made to understand," he says.  The heroes look at each other, trying to suppress smiles. They'll finally have a chance to rough up someone who won't fight back."Can we take a few soldiers as backups?" she asks."Certainly, choose who you wish," he nods to the group, "You're dismissed."The five heroes salute the general, and then turn to leave the tent. "Quara," the general says, just before they exit, "I need a word with you."The archer turns to look at her father as the rest of the group exits, "Yes sir?""I have something for you," he says as he points to a large, cloth-wrapped package on a table."What is this?" she asks as she walks over to the table. Her father simply motions to her to unwrap it. After a few seconds, she reveals a <a href="http://www.thehumanproject.org/trinis/index.asp?formMode=weapon_entry&id=7" target="_blank">beautifully carved compound bow</a>."It was originally your great grandfather's," Talvyn says, "he used when he defended Arios from an orcish army. Then it passed to your grandfather, and then I used it during my days in the field. Now it's yours.""Why are you giving this to me?" Quara asks, her confusion evident by the expression on her face."Well," Talvyn begins, sternly, "I'm sure you must know that I've never been happy with your decision to enlist, instead of accepting an officer's commission, which is your birthright, and the legacy of your family." Quara sighs inwardly, having heard this sentiment expressed hundreds of times in various ways. The general stops himself, takes a deep breath, and his countenance softens, "But you've proven your dedication to the Empire. You've done very well, and I'm proud of you."Quara looks at her feet. This is the first time in years that her father has expressed any approval of her actions, and she isn't quite sure how to feel about it. "Thank you, sir," she finally says after a moment.An uncomfortable silence settles between them as they look at each other, uncertain of what to say. Finally, after a minute of silence, her father manages, "Err, yes. Dismissed."Quara salutes the Lord General, takes her new ancestral bow, and leaves the tent to find her companions.Session 6, Part 2 coming soon...</blockquote>

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