Humanity had long stumbled through the night at the mercy of the howling beasts that were MerGN-A and her Emergent. The brave knights who led the evacuation of Callisto Station had witnessed exactly how bleak that night could be. Yet, by their heroism, they had snatched hope from the bloody jaws of suffering and death. If the rise of John Arthur and his court at Avaluna had been a torch in the darkness, then perhaps, just perhaps, they had uncovered the seeds of a new dawn...

In the days since the Passelande and its accompanying warhost had returned to Avaluna, the court had been on edge. Not only were they hard pressed to treat the many wounded, but the influx of nearly twenty thousand refugees strained the settlement to near-breaking. While Avaluna was a veritable paradise compared to most of the solar system, even it was not without its limits.

Yet it wasn't just the refugees that were a matter of concern. The nature of the attack on Callisto Station had raised some uncomfortable questions. During the attack, Sir Brun discovered that the station's systems had been sabotaged and all evidence pointed to House Hyle, a long-time enemy of House Gehenmis. Further the attack suggested a level of collusion between human and MerGN-A's Emergent--a frightening prospect if it proved to be true. Avaluna was on high alert around the clock. In the event of another attack like the one on Callisto, they would be ready.

Only a select few knew what had been discovered during the chaos of the attack on Callisto. MerLN, Guardian and Protector of the Wyrmgates, and John Arthur's closest advisor, believed they were now in possession of information which might lead to the legendary G.R.A.I.L--the lost secret with which humanity had once terraformed the solar system in the days before the Emergent threat. Both he and Sir Brun had turned their full attention to solving the mystery of the coordinates. Day after day poured into the problem only brought frustration, despite the keen intelligence of both present. The young Lady Irina, herself a formidable intellect, was also at a loss.

---

They called her The Fury. They spoke it with love and reverence. They whispered it in the halls of her carrier, for they had nowhere else to go. They filled the passages and gantry ways, huddled together. They bowed their heads in deference and gratitude as he passed. She was the Princess of the People, and her ferocity in their defense had been unbridled.

During the attack on Callisto, Meara had sallied forth, brave and bold, in a savage attack against the Emergent forces. She became a whirlwind of destruction causing enough disarray within the Emergent lines to allow time for Sir Brun to coordinate an evacuation effort. Every ship still space worthy, the carrier she shared with Freyr included, had been used to evacuate as many civilians as possible from the doomed station. Damaged heavily in the opening volley, the carrier had been filled to capacity with as many people as it could hold. Brunhildr & Grazyna temporarily resided elsewhere, their armor berths given over to the support of the refugees. Here and there technicians sectioned off areas while they conducted repairs, trying to get the carrier battle-ready once more. The carrier wasn't the only machine in need of repair. Brunhildr had been pushed to the limit. She was in need of a complete overhaul as she had sustained redline combat performance long passed the limits of her design.

Meara, too, had been pushed to her limit. The days following the attack had forced her to confront the pain and death that she had seen. It seemed everywhere she turned, there was only another example to face.

There had, of course, been moments of brightness as well. After days of searching and uncomfortable questions from the little girl, Mimi's parents had, at last, been located among the refugees. Their tearful reunion brought to Meara's mind the words John Arthur had spoken to her in the mess hall of the Passelande in the aftermath of the attack on Callisto. There would be days to smile again. There would be those who were able to smile because of her sacrifice. Yes, the King had reminded her of that. At least, that's what she had taken from the conversation. It had been hard to concentrate at the time, she recalled thinking, because John  Arthur had been so cute. Her Aunt was very lucky.

Uh-oh.

Valerie La Guin, Queen of Avaluna, Regent of Venus, Fourth of Her Name, and the elder sister of Meara's mother had invited her to lunch today. A lunch which was scheduled to start five minutes ago. If Freyr wasn't so dignified she would be foaming at the mouth at this very moment. Wait, where was Freyr? She hadn't been around all morning which was extremely unusual. In fact, Meara couldn't recall it happening before. Seriously, where was Freyr?

---

Sir Brun, exhausted from his efforts leading the evacuation, had found rest in the aftermath of Callisto, but sleep had been a rare treat his first days upon Avaluna. Between collaboration with MerLN on the mysterious data Gwydion had recovered, introductions to the court, and work to restore Euryleia, there had been little time for anything else.

The King, true to his word, had given Brun a dedicated armour bay and every tool he could imagine was at his disposal for Euryleia's repair. There was even a team of technicians to assist him, if he so chose. The repair of Euryleia would be no easy task. Nearly every system she had was burned out. Only her neurocore had survived intact and even it had received considerable strain. Perhaps this wasn't so much a repair as it was a full rebuild. But Brun had the necessary facilities and components. This was a chance to make Euryleia as powerful as she deserved to be. To cut no corners. To make her into her very best self. Brun and his lady would fight together once more and they would be stronger than they had ever been.

If the survivors of Callisto Station considered Meara their avenging angel, then they saw Brun as their savior. They often left gifts and small tokens (a broken chrono which had once been of a very fine make, a child's dolly--it's dress and hair partially burned away, ration bars passed out to the refugees) outside of the armour bay where Euryleia was undergoing reconstruction, But mostly they left candles. They had made an altar, devoted both to the lost and to their deliverance. Many, having no where else to go, held vigil there. They had found chroma-tubes and painted a mural upon the wall above the altar. They had painted what they had seen from the view ports of their transports as the huddled among darkness and fear. Ten thousand twinkling lights--flares and blaster fire--made a wall of light, a wall defended by valiant knights against an oncoming tide of darkness. Euryleia was at the center, her twin disruption foils crossed to ward away the monstrous onslaught.

It wasn't just the survivors of Callisto with whom Brun had proven popular. Many of his fellow Knights of Avaluna were eager to meet the man whose leadership had turned what should have been a certain massacre into heroic triumph. It was an ideal to which many of the knights aspired. A victory worthy of John Arthur himself. Those of non-noble lineage idealized him as well. A mysterious knight, self-made on the Edge, had risen to become one of Arthur's chosen knights. It was a tale that resonated with many. It was why the turnout for his Oath ceremony was expected to be quite high. Though Sir Brun was already a part of the court of Avaluna in all but name, this would officially mark the swearing of his fealty to John Arthur and his sacred pledge to uphold the ideals of the Knights of the Round Table.

Brun had long ago renounced House Kotta. Nor was he still an Edge Knight doing what was necessary to survive. Now, with Arthur's blessing, he would have a House of his own. A House of Two, just he and his lady Euryleia--once she was feeling herself again. He would need to select a name and a coat of arms for this new house. What would he select?

---

Avaluna Base looked like an island paradise afloat in a shimmering silver sea. Earth's Azure Wyrmgate hung in the void between Humanity's cradle and it's tidally locked satellite which was the home of King Arthur's court. From here, they kept a vigil against the return of the Emergent.

"Gwydion, my boy," John Arthur addressed his nephew as he often did. The King looked as though he hadn't slept in days. That was probably close to the truth. He had given the rescue and recovery effort his full attention. Now that the Warhost had arrived back at Avaluna, he had ensured the full resources of Avaluna were to be made available to aid the refugees. "The people of Baron Gehenmis's realm have lost everything and it is our duty to help them. We've got nearly twenty thousand more mouths to feed. But not just that. We need to house them, help them heal, give them new vocations and a new purpose. Make Avaluna a home for them. It won't be easy." He let the weight of that sink in. "I'm making it your responsibility," he said at last. "You won't be doing it alone. You'll have all the help that we can muster, but it is your duty to see it done. I know you will make me proud, as is your habit." He ruffled the young knight's hair as he had since Gwydion was a small boy.

The task proved itself formidable. For every issue Gwydion solved, another pair seemed to arise. But he was making progress. Housing was being found or new construction started, and though they had to dip into their stockpile, mouths were being fed, even if much of it was dry rations for the moment.

When his duties allowed he visited Lady Iliza. She was still recovering from her wounds. She was out of bed now, but still healing, though it was apparent to Gwydion that she was beginning to chaff under the physicians orders of only light activity. Then came the day Gwydion had been dreading. She had somehow managed to get a datapad with the casualty estimations from her home. According to best estimates, 7,614 lives had perished in the attack on Callisto Station. Close to one-third of the population. Iliza had spent the afternoon weeping in Gwydion's arms.

The next day Iliza asked him to take her for a walk. She needed to lean heavily upon Gwydion as she had yet to fully regain her strength. They strolled through the gardens that Gwydion had told her about on the night they had met. It seemed a lifetime ago, though it had only been a little more than a week. They stared up at the Earth in the sky, when suddenly a shadow briefly passed over them. It was only a small shuttle, likely heading to one of the outlying districts. Iliza began to tremble and shake. She would have fallen if not for Gwydion, but he held her steady. She began to panic and looked up at him as tears streamed from her eyes, "Gwydion...oh Gwydion...No...no...no, no, no, no." She was nearly hyperventilating. Her fingers gripped the fabric of his clothing so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She couldn't seem to catch her breath. Afterwards, the doctors recommended that she rest. When Gwydion called on her the next day, a handmaiden politely begged his forgiveness, because the Lady Iliza wasn't receiving visitors. He heard the same thing the day after that. And the day after that.

Gwydion focused on his duties, training and overseeing the refugee program. What difficulties arise?
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:52, Sat 08 July 2023.

After the events aboard the station, part of Gwydion's own recovery had been to spend some time in a hyperbaric chamber to slow and ease the oncoming effects of decompression sickness. Every single medical professional who treated him had admonished him for even considering subjecting himself to hard vacuum at all, let alone without his flight suit. Naturally, the young prince quietly apologized to them and accepted their concern. If word didn't reach them that he did it for a girl, that would be just fine with him.

Even with treatment, he still wasn't allowed back in his Longsword for several days, as his body readjusted. At first he had complained, but when the joint pain kicked in, the doctors found him much more reasonable. With all he had to do, he'd simply taken to a few gentle painkillers to dull the aches when they gave him trouble. Just because he couldn't get back into his Armour, he clearly wasn't off the hook for getting things done.

Between handling the refugee crisis and ensuring Meara was doing alright mentally and Brun was doing alright socially, Gwydion spent as much time as he could with Iliza. She had a peaceful effect on him, like the well of human misery he had to manage was made of hope instead of hurt. He got to be happy for a while, and those thoughts could linger all day if he let them. Seeing her so suddenly overwhelmed and then cut completely off was absolutely crushing, but he wasn't one to give up. Each day he was told that she wasn't taking visitors, he thanked the handmaiden and handed her a white flower to deliver to Iliza, and then he'd come again the next day. Gwydion understood what had happened. He intended to be there for her whenever she was ready to see him again, or rather whenever she was ready to be seen.

In the meantime, he had to continue his duties to the dislocated people of Callisto Station. With more space dedicated to farming, Avaluna would eventually be capable of feeding these people, though that was still months, perhaps years away. In the meantime he needed to determine effective rationing to let their current food supply last, and negotiate extra imports of staple foods like flour and beans from what allies they had. And while the new farms provided employment for a great deal of people, it was only a drop in the bucket compared to how many were left in need.

Constructing and repurposing housing provided another good chunk of work, and people could watch as their future was literally being constructed before their very eyes, so that would also provide a sense of hope that was desperately needed in such times. Gwydion also encouraged the expansion of business areas, street markets, as well as bed-and-breakfasts and even simple entertainment venues. This would provide more people with things to do, engage them in commerce and a sense of normalcy that much sooner. It wasn't just their physical needs that had to be attended to, but their spirits as well. Allowing folks to sit around long enough for depression to sink in would tear them apart rather than letting them come together. It would promote petty crime for survival instead of cooperation and unity. He needed to stave that off as long as possible.

He also needed to schedule time to simply walk among them. Being there, with those who had lost everything but their lives, letting them see him and talk to him, listening to their stories and their needs, was vital. They needed to know he was there for them, not just another Petty Titan giving orders from a gilded throne without a care for how it affected actual lives. They needed to see his face, and it needed to have an empathetic smile, something that could give them hope. That was the key. Hope was everything for them, even if they didn't understand it just yet.

Meara had been doing her best to cope with the reality they had faced, and she was reminded of it every time she heard someone mention what - or, in many cases, who - had been lost.  Freyr wouldn't let her stay cooped up in a room all day moping, so she had to walk among the people.  At first, she felt upset, and yes, a little bit frightened, when she heard what she had been dubbed by the people they saved.  It reminded her of the brutal realities of war against the Emergent.  She could deal with battling other people - they understood the concept of innocents and combatants, and also understood the concept of surrender.  The Emergent... the stories did not do their horrific acts justice, and being reminded of them reminded her not just what they did, but how many times she could have died back there.

She did thank Freyr several times for the years of combat drills she was forced to endure, because while she's no warmonger, she very much understood those drills are what kept her alive and let her help save as many people as they did.

It was the fact that in what could have - and should have - been a complete slaughter, she and the other knights saved so many people, that brought her around from being afraid of the moniker to embracing it.  She could not save everyone.  She would never stop trying, of course, but she understood that now.  Those she cannot save, however, she will avenge.  But first, she had to get a proper grip on herself and her tendency to see red in battle.

That very problem was what was on her mind right before it started wandering towards that unfairly cute king and his advice, which then chained to her aunt being super lucky, which then immediately became dreaded panic as she realized she was late for lunch.  Freyr was going to kill her!

Wait, where is she?!  Am I even dressed for lunch with Aunt Val?!

Meara closed her eyes, slapped her cheeks, and then looked very determined.  I'm not late to lunch!  Aunt Val just didn't notice I was already there!  Yeah!  That's the ticket!

With that in mind, she slipped on shoes, burst from her room, and did her very best impression of a ninja as she ran, jumped, flipped, somersaulted, cartwheeled, and scampered in places that weren't designed for people to scamper in order to rapidly make it to the lunch meeting and pop out of a ceiling vent behind Queen Valerie.

Yes, this was the perfect plan and nothing bad could come of it, and she definitely didn't have any lint in her hair from crawling in the vents.

At least she was wearing her usual noble-but-ready-to-pilot outfit and not a nice dress.

23:11, Today: Meara rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, -1, 0.  Zeal +5 with Cat's Grace.
I was here all along!
This message was last edited by the player at 06:23, Tue 11 July 2023.

Meara dropped in just as they were about to begin and slipped around the back without notice. The poor seneschal nearly bumped into her as he turned to leave. He was clearly startled. He looked toward the closed door, back to Meara with some confusion, and then bowed his head in apology, "Forgive me, your Grace."

At last, the Queen turned to regard her guests. Valerie La Guin was the very embodiment of poise, elegance, and martial prowess. She was tip to toe a Warrior Queen. She wore her station naturally. John Arthur had donned the mantle of royalty for the good of humanity, but Valerie La Guin had been born to it. Her every movement precise, her comportment unimpeachable.

The Queen looked over her guests and when her gaze fell to Meara, the feisty young princess could feel her scrutiny. The Queen seemed to take in her appearance with exacting measure. When her gaze reached Meara's hair she raised an eyebrow, almost imperceptibly. Had she noticed?

"Please, ladies, be seated," the Queen entreated. Meara found her placeholder which read "Meara La Guin, Heiress of Chonaill." She was to be seated right next to the Queen. A place of honor, Freyr once told her. The food served was modest by the standards of Venusian Nobility. That tended to be the way of things here on Avaluna. All shared equally. There were those who saw this as a blessing, and those who viewed it only with derision and contempt.

"I am given to understand that you acquitted yourself proudly upon the field of battle, Meara," Queen Valerie said at last. "Seventeen confirmed Emergent kills. That is quite impressive."

OOC: Would you like a Compel on (Un)Fortunate Reputation for Meara to make a scene of some kind? Maybe her conversation gets out of hand? Up to you what happens, just have fun with it. We'll deal with the entrance compel later as per your suggestion.

---

As he intended, Gwydion made time to walk among the refugees and hear their concerns and troubles. John Arthur even joined him now and again when he could. Managing the refugees situation seemed a monumental task. How much more difficult was managing a kingdom?

Gwydion made steady, if slow progress, on the herculean task before him. He had a solution for keeping the refugee population engaged and invested in their future. He asked all those able to do so to volunteer to work for the relief effort. As Gwydion had hoped this gave many a place to focus their energy and they began to forge new bonds and build toward a new future. But there was one area where he didn't seem to be making progress.

"Can't you just yell? Demand to see her," Irina asked as Gwydion was turned away during his attempt to visit Iliza on the eleventh day. She was dressed as a technician. She had volunteered for the work crews assigned to new construction. "You are like her that way, so well mannered. Couldn't you throw a tantrum, just this once? Cause a row? Please...she needs someone. She's not herself. She won't talk to anyone, not even the physicians. She's not sleeping despite the medications. She just sits there...empty. Iliza was always so perfect. She did everything right. I hated it. Sometimes, I even hated her. But now..." Irina paused for a moment before she continued."We all know how many of us you're helping. Everyone is grateful. But can't you forget about all of that for a day? Can't you just be selfish? Just forget about helping everyone. Help her instead. Just her." Irina didn't wait for Gwydion to answer, perhaps afraid of what he'd say. Her plea hung in the air as she left for her shift.

OOC: How about a Compel on Louder Than Words to have Gwydion try to engage Iliza is some capacity rather than just be turned away once more?

Despite her many flaws when seen from the perspective of noble society, Meara at least had excellent table manners and dining etiquette.  As such, she did not make much of a scene upon entering and being seated.  She also knew not to pick up her silverware until everyone was served and the host (in this case the Queen) gave the subtle signal to start eating and drinking.  Which, despite how she did so among the people, she did according to noble standards.

Freyr had made sure of this.

Meara did, however, always have trouble with proper noble speak, but she really did not want to make a fool of Queen Valerie.  She liked Auntie Val.  So, she did her best to speak and reply properly.

"I could not have done it without the others.  Sir L1-4MNT, Sir RHY-S32, and Lady Freyr watched my back so I could harry the Emergent to let the transports escape."

Yep.  Definitely lint in her hair, and it could stand to be brushed again.  Where was Freyr?

---

"Please tell me she was not late.  Please." Freyr pleads with the seneschal as she catches her breath.  Much like Meara, her hair is mussed from some sort of physical activity, but otherwise she has this glow about her.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:24, Wed 12 July 2023.

It hurt, not being able to see Iliza, to reassure her that things were going to be alright. Keeping busy with his work, and even taking the time to visit with Uncle John hadn't really helped him feel less lonely. Or less worried. As Irina walked away, the prince watched, forlorn, before turning to look at the door one more time.

A city was much different from a space station or starship. The open air, sun in the sky... a sky. It was a very different and more free experience. You weren't huddled into a small space with only utilitarian doors and glowing terminals to interact with. You could have windows in a place like Avaluna. Sunlight. And A boyfriend sneaking in through those windows.

Gwydion's steps were rapid after Irina had left, taking him around the building and in search of a more direct means into Iliza's room. Stealth was never something he was adept at, so rather than darting between shadows and moving quiet as a mouse, he strode with confidence and determination like he owned the place. Which was sort of true, his uncle owned it and he was put in charge of the place's safety and security. Technically any guards he came across couldn't stop him. He just hoped no one else tried, because then he'd have to explain himself.

[I am absolutely ready to take that Compel. We're bustin' in!

11:56, Today: Gwydion rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 0, -1, 1.  Skulking +0.
Total: 1]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:57, Wed 12 July 2023.

Brun was quite overwhelmed.

It was....so much...  The G.R.A.I.L puzzle...  The sudden uplifting of his status and the attendant social obligations...  He was to decide upon his own name.  A NAME again.  The outpouring of quiet thanks from survivors; the mural, the offerings...

All of it pulling at his attention and energy, forcing him to prioritize.  To be kind.  To insult no one.  To be seen as kind and humble and patient and grateful.  As he had been trained (WELL-trained) to be as a Venusian prince so long ago.

And he was grateful.  Really.

But his Lady needed him.  Without her, the rest meant nothing.

The dedicated Armour Bay was a marvel.  Tools and resources that he could never have hoped for were at his fingertips.  The technicians were...fine.  It was fine, for Euryleia's health he would suffer them.  They were good.... efficient... skilled...  But they did not /know/ her.  They did not understand her and her design as Brun did.  But with their help and the forges of Avaluna, Brun would make sure that everyone could see his Lady as he always had.  No more would she be the Ill-Made Armor.

Euryleia, the Lady Reforged.
____________________

"Sir Brun, have you reviewed the new lists?  The names?"  Herald Godwin was growing impatient.  He had leapt at the opportunity when it was offered to guid the Edge Knight into his proper recognition.  To lay the foundation of a new house.  A new /banner/.  A herald did not get such opportunity very often.  Ever.  It had never happened to him.

But this Knight, Sir Brun, did not seem to understand the /gravity/ of these decisions.  Always distracted.  Half asleep on his feet. Godwin had, at first, felt the the Edge Knight was lazy or stupid.  But the facts of his deeds at Callisto showed that false.  As did the fact that he never really seemed to stop doing.  But, Herald Godwin had a job to do and he must try.

"I also have new sketches of possibilities for the coat of arms.  Your banner?"

"Sorry," muttered Brun without truly knowing why.  He was reviewing a dataslate from the technicians regarding the overhaul of the defense matrix.  They simply did not believe that it could operate as Brun insisted that it did.  It was yet another struggle to explain his own "artistic" methods to their university trained knowledge.

He looked up at Gutman... No...Goodman... Goodone... Herald, "Yes.  Lists.  I...did look.  And others sent suggestions.  So very many."  He paused, to steel himself, "And I am...grateful..."  His eyes hurt to think about the lists.  He rubbed them and tried to remember...  There was something that had stood out...  Brun cast his eye around the armoury as though the name were written on the floor...  No.  Wall.  On the wall.

Brun looked up to the mural.  His breath caught.  It always did.  The wall of twinkling stars, flares...blaster fire...  It was not beautiful to have been in it.  But somehow, the artist had rendered it so wondrously.  And Euryleia at the center.  This artist saw the Lady as Brun did.  Really /saw/ her.  He understood.

Wall...

"Stjernevold," announced Brun, turning back to the Herald, "Old...old Danish, I think.   Would that do?"

Herald Godwin mouthed the word slowly...as though tasting the syllables.  Considering the edges.  He wrote it down, "I will look into it..."

Brun continued right over the Herald, "And find the artist...  or artists....  You should work with them to design the banner.  The arms.  Please."

Herald Godwin's nose scrunched up a little at the thought of asking anyone outside the College of Heralds to assist in designing anything.  But he too looked up at the mural.  It was...very good...  Oh well, "As you wish, Sir Brun."

Brun was already off again, reading the slate.  He paused at the makeshift altar below the mural.  He carefully and efficiently tidied everything up, though it didn't need much.  He made sure all the candles were lit, replacing them as needed with a stock he kept nearby.  It was the least he could do.
_______________

Later, Brun was going through pieces being tagged for replacement from the Lady's armor plating.  A piece caught his eye.  He ran his hand over it.  This piece he knew very well.  From Sigrid's Armour...  In his mind he saw again the fight that took his sisters...  That led him into captivity...  The captivity that lead to desperate survival.  All means justified on the Edge.  His own hand gripping cutlass and blaster as the cutters burned their way into the hull of a prize....

He had not always been a knight.  He has once been a frightened prince clawing his way to any sort of safety.  Even the safety of joining the captors...

The Pirate Brun in his mind's eye turned to regard Sir Brun coldly, "Liar. Tell them /who we are/."  The pirate's cutlass raised and slashed down....

Brun woke with a start from where he had fallen asleep at the worktable.  Panic gripped him.  He /was/ lying....  He had to confess.  Arthur needed to know.  He needed to know why he could not accept any oath from him...

"Yes, Lady Freyr. She was here on time. Quiet as a mouse too. It was so unusual, I nearly overlooked her myself, " the seneschal reassured Freyr. "Shall I announce you, Lady?"

---

Queen Valerie nodded slightly in response and Meara could tell she approved of her response. "It is good of you to recognize that. No one can stand alone against the Emergent. No knight and no kingdom. The King had the wisdom to see that. Now, Venus, Earth, and Mars are united under the banner of Avaluna and we are better for it."

---

Herald Godwin appeared again, as he often did, during a crucial step in the repair of Euryleia.

He cleared his throat softly, "Sir Brun, may I present to you Madame Liwynne, chief artist of the mural." The woman was in her fifties most likely, her gray hair tied back under an old scarf. Before her she held out to him a design carefully drawn on the back of a placard used to mark cargo pallets. "I was only a baker, Sir," the clearly nervous woman offered by way of explanation.

The Design itself was Per pale argent and sable, five mullet or chief to base. The central star had been modified. It was larger and though it still had five points, the points were created by a crossed depiction of Euryleia's Disruption Foils.

"Have you given more thought to your House words, my lord?"

---

"Sir Brun, I hope it's alright if we walk and speak at the same time? I've been in council meetings the entire morning and I feel a need to stretch my legs. My wife managed to escape because she is hosting a lunch for several important figures from Venus today, so it was left to me to preside over the councils which are normally her purview in addition to my own," Arthur was indeed walking and talking at the same time. Briskly, in fact. Brun nearly had to jog to keep up with him. "MerLN tells me you're no closer to a solution on your project. Keep at it. I am certain you will figure it out. But that's not what you have come to speak about is it? Speak your mind, Sir."

---

Gwydion spotted a window left open wide enough for him to slip inside. It wasn't seemly by any stretch of the imagination to sneak into a lady's window, but well...

The air inside was stale. He didn't have to guess why someone had left a window open. There was a vase near the window that held all the flowers he had brought, though some had begun to wither away.

Iliza was curled up into a chair in the corner. Gwydion almost didn't recognize the young woman that he saw. She seemed sunken somehow. Her skin pale with heavy bags beneath her eyes. She stared towards the far wall, but her gaze seemed unfocused, vacant. She was a far cry from the warm, witty, and charming young woman of whom he had become so fond.

Iliza continued to sit perfectly still. She didn't even seem to notice he'd entered.

The questionable act of breaking and entering (though he didn't break anything!) didn't escape Gwydion, but his concern for the lady's well-being overrode any future issues that might crop up. When he saw Iliza's condition, his resolve crystallized. This was definitely not right.

He took a few steps toward her, still a few steps away when he stopped to call her name. His presence was likely startling, and he didn't want to cause further harm.

"Iliza?" It wasn't much, but Gwydion wasn't sure how intense her reaction would be just yet.

"Please do.  I needs must apologize for my lateness," Freyr replied to the senechal with a polite bow of her head, then looked confused.

"You said she had been here, but had remained quiet?  Hmm..."  Already the wheels in her head were turning, and she idly glanced upwards before letting out a sigh.  The vent grating was hanging loosely.  At least Meara had not made a fool of herself.

---

The praise from Auntie Val made Meara feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  Or maybe that was the wine?  No, definitely the praise.  Clearly, she was acing this luncheon, and nothing could possibly go wrong.  Especially not the fact that if it was not for Auntie Val, Meara would be bored out of her mind and start imagining everyone with silly hats and moustaches.

Or think about how cute King Arthur is.  Or Sir Brun's butt.  Or Prince Gwydion's smile.  Or Irina's eyes when she talks about engineering.

Wait.

Wait.

Huh.

Yeah, her eyes are really pretty when she talks about engineering!

At the very...very familiar sound of the herald clearing his throat, Brun was surprised at how quickly he hated the man.  And at the depth and severity of that hatred.  Perhaps it was his nightmare riddled sleep.  Perhaps it was the fear and anxiety of waiting for his audience with the king to discuss his sordid, violent, shameful outlaw past... Or....

"Sir Brun, may I present to you Madame Liwynne, chief artist of the mural."

Brun's head came up in surprise quickly, which was not the best given the tight situation he was in checking the myo-fiber links in Euryleia's left thigh.  The heavy, resounding clank let everyone get a clear idea of just how not the best it was.  He slithered out ungracefully onto the scaffolding.  Eventually, he made it to the ground, rubbing the back of his head, "Madame Liwynne...  It is...so...nice to finally meet you..."  He accepted the placard, stopped rambling and looked it over.  The heraldry...  For the House.  The House he did not deserve.  The House that no one would ever hear of as he would soon be placed in irons or banished or dead.

Tired as he is, likely all of these conflicting emotions flow across his features unfiltered by his usual courtly skill.  Liwynne would watch as Sir Brun, Savior of Callisto, looked on her artwork with utter despair.  Brun caught himself too late, trying to cover it up with a wan smile, "It's perfect..."  Need to do better than that.  He straightened, brightened the smile, "No, I'm sorry.  I'm...very tired...  and...  It's perfect and you, dear lady, are not /only/ a baker."  He tried for eye contact, to broadcast sincerity, "Thank you."

________________________________

Brun followed after the king, jogging to keep up.  He had been going over exactly what he was going to say when he had this opportunity.  How much detail to offer.  How best to frame it.  To shape the words.  To explain his sins with sincerity and integrity.  To stand up to his past and the consequences he rightfully deserved.

But here, now, finally in the moment that he had been dreading, Brun simply blurted, "I was a pirate."  All his preparations crumbled away.  None of it really mattered.  There was no way to say any of this to make any of it better.  He couldn't even look up at the king as he spoke.  Some knight.  He started again, not wanting to wait for the king to say anything, "I was a pirate, your majesty.  I committed crimes as a member of a pirate crew on the Edge.  I should...  I should have told you immediately and I am sorry.  Everything happened so fast...  But, I should have."  He tried to straighten himself up, "I am not worthy of the laurels that have been given me and cannot, with honor, give my oath.  Or take a place at your Table."

The door opened quietly and the seneschal stood to one side announcing, "Lady Freyr Aegisdottir."

Freyr entered. She smoothly approached the table in front of Queen Valerie and executed a textbook curtsy. "Your Majesty, please forgive my tardiness. I was delayed by an urgent matter."

"Think nothing of it Lady Freyr," the Queen said with the barest hint of a wry smile on her face. "The King and I are well accustomed to urgency."

"My niece has been doing credit both to herself and you, Lady. Please, join us." She motioned to the open seat on the other side of Meara.

OOC: Left it open to give you the chance to steer the scene a bit, since your scene is pretty easy to hone in on the plot point, whereas the other two might take a few more exchanges to resolve properly.

---

Madame Liwynne wept.

Though Brun's courtly manners may have suffered due to his exhaustion, his intuition was still keen. He hadn't offended the artist. Rather, she was crying tears of Joy. She kept curtsying in front of him and repeating, "Thank you, sir."

---
 "And?" The King asked as he came to a stop and turned to face Brun. "Do you know how many knights of this court are former brigands and pirates? Quite a few, I can tell you that. Does that surprise you, sir?"

"Every human being has done things in the past that they regret. Every single one of us. Some much worse than others, granted. And for different reasons...but... " John Arthur placed a hand upon Brun's shoulder. "You feel guilt, shame, for what you've done. Good. That is seemly for a moral man who has acted against his nature. Brun, you know I hold the knights of this court to the highest standard. I tolerate no abhorrent behavior. If I did not think you deserved a seat among the Knights of the Round, I would not have offered it. You, and those you led, saved eighteen thousand souls in the face of annihilation. I've met plenty of pirates in my day, and I can't count a single one who wouldn't have saved their own skin instead.

Perhaps your worry is that you think I am rewarding the behavior of a blackguard? Handing you absolution for your crimes? Far from it. What I am handing you is a life sentence. Compassion, Equality, Valor. These are our watchwords. From the time you take the Oath until your dying breath, these are your burden. There is no rest. No respite. From now until the end of your days will you labor in service to the people of this realm. The sentence will not be commuted. There will be no parole."

John Arthur gave Brun the smile of a patient father, "Think on it, Sir Brun. If you choose to repair your armour and flee, so be it. But, I think we will next see each other at the Ceremony."

The King gave Brun one last pat on the shoulder then continued his walk.

OOC: Brun, can you give me a Smithy roll to see how well Euryleia's repairs are progressing?

---

"Gwydion... " Iliza said, drawing into herself as much as she could. Her voice was soft and hoarse. "P-p-please...leave..."

OOC: Sorry it's so brief, but I feel like Iliza would be super reactive right now. Once you respond and I see Gwydion 's approach I will make another reply for you to give you something of actual substance.

She could speak, at least. Gwydion's concern grew as her voice projected poorly, and he took slow, careful steps toward her.

"My apologies, my lady, but my duty to you demands I stay. You are hurting. It wouldn't be gentlemanly of me to abandon you at a time like this. Please, I want to help you in any way I can, but being shut out from you leaves me helpless. Can you tell me what's happening?"

What does it matter...? What does it even matter? Iliza managed to ask. She lowered her head, so that her hair fell over her face.

A few moments later, she began to speak. Her voice was raw and Gwydion had to strain to understand her.

"I felt a connection with you. I knew after only a few minutes in your company that, like me, you understood the responsibility of your position. You weren't like the other noble sons I had been forced to entertain--entitled, obsessed only with vainglory and self satisfaction. Rather, you were every bit the prince from children's bedtime stories. Those short few days were like a dream...

Then it happened. Darkness. Then the fire and the screaming. But I couldn't be scared. My mother wounded, my father missing, Derrol dead. I wanted to help as many as I could. So many died and so many sacrificed themselves so that others could live. Then came my turn...

There were so many Emergent in the station. It was coming apart. The Emergent were maiming and cutting down any they could...even children... I knew that the last group would never reach the transports unless someone managed to hold the Emergent off. The guards had nearly all fallen...I was one of the few left who could...so I asked you to...to...

Iliza began to have another panic attack. She struggled to press on despite her gasping breaths.

But you...you...came for me. When I saw...you I...I knew I....w-was safe. When...I woke...after...the...surg...ery, I was.... gra...te..ful. To see...my family. To see you. I re...solved... to...heal, so... I could... help... my people. I thought... that...there... could...still...be...hope...

W-w-when...we...walked...in the gardens...I realized...the truth...of it all...

Deep body-wracking anguished sobs overtook Iliza. Painful and inelegant, she shuttered with each cry. Iliza's fit summoned several handmaidens and her mother into the room. They stared in shock and surprise at the prince and in anguish and pity at Iliza. "Prince Gwydion. Perhaps it's best if you--"

Iliza reached out and curled her fingers into the fabric of Gwydion's tunic.

Tear-stricken and gasping she tried to continue on. Her words were choked with tears and somewhat slurred, but she had managed to find her breath again, even if her voice continued to crack. "I have nothing to give you, Gwydion. Nothing. The night after your victory over Sir L1-4MNT, I lay in my bed unable to sleep imaging that, I might one day be your Baroness bride. Your Lady Wife. I could have offered the resources of my home to ally with your uncle's realm. But I have no home now. No barony, no men-at-arms to call upon.

Nor do I deserve them. I thought I did my best, Gwydion. I tried to know the people of my father's barony, to serve them. I thought that was my life's purpose. Yet, seven thousand six hundred and fourteen people died. Gone. Lives...loved ones. While I was busy wearing fancy dresses and daydreaming like a silly little girl. If it had not been for you, Brun, and Meara then everyone would have died. Everyone. I danced and laughed, oblivious to the Emergent that swarmed in the void. To sabotage in our very own halls. And seven thousand people died. Tell me Gwydion, how isn't that my fault? They were my people. I loved them. I failed them. And you should have let me die with them like I deserve. They deserved so much better than me. And so do you. Be grateful Gwydion, seven thousand souls lost to the Emergent so that you can see the truth of me. Does that satisfy your gentlemanly requirement? If so, take your leave and do not return."

Iliza collapsed backward into her chair, exhausted and defeated. She seemed hollowed out by the ordeal with no strength left to muster.

OOC: Wow, so that took on a mind of its own. Poor Iliza has a lot going on. No wonder Irina called in the big guns.

I hope the text reads okay. I just kind of spaced things out with Ellipses rather than writing in *gasp* every time because I thought it made it easier to read.

Gwydion, sorry for the Wall of Text. Last one for a long time. I promise.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:15, Sun 16 July 2023.

Naturally, the prince listened and hung onto every word. The despair in Iliza's weakened voice pulled him ever closer, until he could kneel beside her chair and become closer to her level. He glanced to the others as they entered the room, and then held onto her hand when she reached to clutch his tunic. By that point he was almost in tears himself. Unlike her mother and handmaidens, Gwydion didn't look on her with pity, but with understanding and patience.

This whole time, Iliza had been blaming herself for what happened to the station. He'd never even imagined such a thought might cross her mind. He kept his composure while she explained, and then kept his voice soft in response.

"My dear Iliza. You hold such a heavy burden. Your love for your people and the deep suffering at their plight is ever evident, and shows the depth of your decency and worth. If you truly believe that I deserve better than you, then I am doomed to be alone forever, for there are none.

"There was no warning of the attack, no place to have spotted treachery, and no way to predict it save for the power of prophecy. Nothing you did or didn't do can be to blame for the evil actions of others, and none of your people or mine would ever consider you guilty of what happened. You are a hero, and you saved the lives of so many who would have been lost if not for your bravery. I know it may be hard to believe me right now, but you are not responsible for the loss of Callisto.

"I don't ask for you to offer anything. I have already seen your heart, and it gleams bright and beautiful. My only desire is permission to stay, hold your hand, and admire you."

Iliza shook her head very weakly as she gave Gwydion an incredulous, somewhat bewildered look. Perhaps, she had wanted to argue the point, but she had spent her strength. She had only enough left to trail her free hand gently down the side of the devoted prince's face. Then, for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, Iliza slept.

With a small smile, Gwydion let out a breath and slid his arms under Iliza to lift her up from the chair. His voice was kept low so as not to disturb her as he addressed their audience.

"The lady needs her bed, if I could have some assistance getting her to it. And if it would not be too inappropriate, I'd like to stay nearby for when she awakens."

Brun was at a loss for words.  He had been thinking hard about this meeting, his confession, and had thought his way through many variations.  He had many words prepared; most ready to nobly and honorable accept the rightly due punishments he felt he deserved.  But, his gaming out of this encounter had never considered this...

The idea that any of Arthur's knights were brigands and pirates seemed completely preposterous.  If anyone other than Arthur had said it, Brun might have accused them slander.  These were the greatest heroes.  The chivalric ideals he had dreamed about it in his dark days on the Edge.  The inspiration for his decision to escape...

Brun swallowed hard as the king laid a hand on his shoulder, meeting his gaze.  He did his best to listen carefully to the rest of the King's words even as his mind raced to incorporate this new reality and exorcise the voices of his personal ghosts.  The explanation washed over him.  Acceptance of his past.  Recognition of his deeds.  An opportunity for penance.  A life devoted to rebuilding and serving.  To make himself /into/ that Ideal...

As the King walked on, Brun stayed.  Say something. Right!  Respond!  Ummm....  "Thank you, your majesty.  I will be there."  He felt warm.  Why was it suddenly so hot?  He could still feel the King's hand...  His eyes...  He swallowed hard again and turned to head back to the Armour Bay.

Stop that.  He is married.  And the King.  But.... NO...

OOC: Smithy total - +5(or +7, see below) (Rolled -1, Smithy +4, Spending FP for Euryleia is my everything)

Happily willing to spend another FP to tag: Avaluna's Forges to take it up to +7.  If it could mean anything.
 This is Euryleia and she deserves the BEST.  He's been burning all the midnight oil, midday oil, all the oils.  Threw himself into a bit of a depressive break even.  He's tired...

22:01, Today: Brun rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 0, -1.  Reforging the Lady - Smithy +4.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:13, Mon 17 July 2023.

Meara looked quite proud of herself when Auntie Val praised her in front of Freya, but then she processed what the two of them said just before the praise and did an impressive job of not showing that she actually understood the noble double-speak.  As Freyr sat next to her, the two of them exchanged incredibly quick glances that spoke volumes to one another.

Did you climb through the vents to get here?
Did you skip out on your morning duties to get LAID?
That is not-
I'm so proud of you!
Answer my question!
Nobody knows I was actually late!  I think it is rather impressive that I managed to make it here 'on time' without your assistance.
There is lint in your hair.
Your buttons are off by one.
I shall say nothing if you say nothing.
Deal!

All of this was unspoken and conveyed in a manner of seconds while Freyr was seating herself.

"Please do not let my lateness ruin the conversation," Freyr said as she straightened herself in the seat, ensuring that she looked like the buttons being off was intentional.  Her natural elegance definitely helped, and given her position with Meara, may end up accidentally setting off a fashion trend.

One of the nobles, an middle aged woman about the same age as Meara's mother, asked with a critical tone, "I heard you personally rescued a commoner, Princess.  One whom you had purchased a dress that matched the one you wore."

As if doing such things was the most natural activity for nobility, Meara nodded in confirmation, while Freyr sat up slightly straighter, prepared to cut into the noble's honor harshly (with words, of course) should he slander Meara's deeds, odd as they were.  "I did.  An adorable little girl whose parents had told her to look to me as an example of how to behave like a lady.  When the attack happened, she was with me, so I kept her with me, then due to the circumstances, brought her into the cockpit of Brunhildr so she would not be left alone in the middle of a firefight.  I am happy to say she was successfully reunited with her parents after the evacuation."

As I'm sure this will be ripe for scandal among the nobility (bringing a mere peasant into a ball AND a Knight?!) while being equally wonderful news for the commoners (look how she cares!), I'm Compelling (Un)fortunate Reputation for a fate point.  Let's go, scandal, let's go!  Get those rumors flowing!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:45, Mon 17 July 2023.

Baroness Kotta made a face like she'd stepped in something very unpleasant and had just gotten her first whiff of it. "Indeed? That's just as well. Back with her own kind. It's just a shame your act of charity was sullied. An armour is no place for a child and certainly not one of peasant stock. To think that an armour as storied as Brunhildr would be...despoiled so. You are indeed a credit to your house, Princess Meara. To have fought so fiercely while minding that little creature."

OOC: Oh, I am definitely letting you have that Compel. Take your Fate Point! And, I'll raise you another. How about I offer you a Compel on Berserker to lose your temper on this rude lady. What's more important? Keeping your cool in front of awesome Auntie Val or putting this woman who talks about Mimi like she's a stray dog in her place?

If you take the Compel have another Fate Point. But if you refuse it, you owe me a Fate Point. What will you do?

---

Brun's meeting with the King put his mind at ease and despite his fatigue, he made encouraging progress in his work upon Euryleia's. She was still far from combat ready, but her core systems were restored and her inner frame had been completely overhauled. Now he needed to run diagnostics to ensure everything was functioning properly. It would do no good to continue working on other systems if there were still issues with the fundamentals.

Brun entered the cockpit, donned his neuronhelm, and slowly brought Euryleia's reactor online. As the reactor core thrummed to life he felt a surge of...Triumph once more. The same emotion he'd felt after he and Euryleia had save the last transport from the Emergent suicide attack. The same emotion he felt the instant before she had gone offline.

The sensation suddenly turned to intense Curiosity. Then Fear. Back to Curiosity. Elation. Suddenly, Brun found his mind racing. His neurosync levels became erratic. His vitals spiked on the bio-monitor. His vision began to blur...

Brun's eyes shot open suddenly. Had he lost consciousness? The bio-monitor showed his vitals were textbook perfect. His neurosync levels were all within acceptable parameters.

Then he noticed he wasn't alone. An alluring young knight stood perched just inside the cockpit. She wore the style of flight suit commonly seen on Avaluna, though she had several affections which made her uniform unique. A dark blue sash was loosely tied around her waist and hung to one side. Her flight suit was unfastened, the zipper pulled down a little lower than courtly decorum dictated was appropriate.

The woman suddenly yawned and stretched as much as the cockpit would allow. This gave Brun a good look at the emblem on the chest of her flight suit. It was the heraldry of House Stjernevold that had been proposed to Brun just the day before. The woman saw Brun watching her and gave him a dazzling, if mischievously wicked, smile. On the bio-monitor, his vitals spiked once more.

OOC: Brun, with your Success with Style, you have done Just What You Promised on Euryleia's Repairs. You are also Way Ahead of Schedule. You may even be able to finish her by the time of the Oath Ceremony.

You know if you can figure out what's going on...

---

Iliza nibbled at a bit of cheese as she sat perched on the edge of her bed. She had slept the entire day as Gwydion kept watch over her. Her rest was fitful at times, but she hadn't  awoken, even when Irina had slipped in to check on her after she returned from her shift.

Irina brought a tray of food for Gwydion and placed it beside him. Rather than risk waking her sister by speaking, Irina mouthed "Thank You" to Gwydion before slipping out once more.

Eventually, Iliza stirred. She sat up slowly in the dim light and rested her back against the headboard. She regarded Gwydion for a long while, and though she started to speak several times, she stopped short of any vocalizations. After several minutes, she swung her feet over the edge of the bed and then reached up to pull her hair back over her shoulder. She sat there on the edge of the bed a while before she had spotted the tray and reached out to take a small rectangular slice of cheese.

"I'd like to go with you tomorrow. If you'll have me," she said between small bites. Her voice was still hoarse. "I know I can help somehow."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:32, Tue 18 July 2023.

The time Gwydion spent watching over Iliza hadn't been idle, as he'd still his other responsibilities to take care of. Today, though, those could be handled over his dataslate, sending messages as needed and delegating authority as appropriate, glancing over graphs and projections and not being too bothered by how many of the messages were panicked cries wondering where he was. All of those things were already plans in motion and only needed the slightest correcting. Iliza needed him present. He was fully committed to being there for her.

Irina got a soft smile and a nod when she gratefully brought in the food, and every indication was that Gwydion was happier to be here than he had been for days. Once Iliza stirred, she had his full attention. He even brought the plate of food closer to her, as well as some water, all with a look of pure adoration rather than pity or unease. The prince let her recover at her own pace.



"My dear, there is nothing in this universe that would make me happier than to have you by my side. As long as you're feeling up to it, I would love to have you with me. And I think it would do the people good to see you up and about, as well. You have a way of lighting up everywhere you go. Though maybe that's just what I see when I look at you."

Brun's eyes strayed to the monitor that kept spiking, trying to quickly gauge whether it was malfunctioning or if he was dying or...  Then he snapped his attention back to the unknown knight, trying to gauge what her intentions were...which just made the vitals monitor spike again as he /thought/ he might have a good idea about her /intentions/.

A flurry of questions came to mind and Brun struggled to sort them out to prioritize what he needed to know, "Who??  What??  How??"  He paused and tried to get control of himself.  Take a breath.  Start again.  Don't think about the uniform or the security breach.  Or the uniform.  STOP.  He tried again, "Who are you?  How did you get in here?"  His eye narrowed on the House Stjernevold crest.

The change in Meara's demeanor was instantaneous.  She had been cheerful and well mannered, but for a moment, the room became so silent one could hear a pin drop.  She set down her silverware and a shadow fell over her face, her smile nowhere to be seen.

"How... how dare."

Freyr was on edge before the baroness had finished speaking, as she knew that, of all the things Meara felt strongly about, this was one of the biggest.

"How dare you insult her.  Insult them.  Their work is what allows us to live as we do.  We owe them more than we can repay, and you call them creatures?  You dare imply that her presence sullied Brunhildr?!  Despoiled her?!  I fought well that day because of her.  You have no right to-"

"Princess!"

Meara cut her angry retort short when Freyr's curt interruption brought her back from what was building up to unyielding rage.

"Do not speak ill of the common folk in my presence ever again."

It was only then that Meara realized she had stood up and slammed both of her hands on the table as she yelled at the baroness, causing her glass of wine to tip over and spill on the tablecloth.  Part of her wanted to apologize to Queen Valerie for her behavior, but the rest of her wanted to jump over the table and throttle Kotta right then and there, and the only reason she didn't was due to respect for her aunt.  The cold rage in her eyes, however, was nonetheless clear for all to see.  While Meara was not naturally intimidating, Freyr knew that it was quite likely she would have to wrangle Meara out of there if Baroness Kotta was truly foolish enough to continue provoking Meara.  Even if the baroness did not, the damage had already been done.

Consider that compel accepted!

Queen Valerie La Guin's regal visage stayed perfectly neutral during the outburst. Completely unreadable.

As servants rushed forward to clean up the spilled wine, her eyes fell upon her young niece. She regarded her before she spoke, "You may apologize..." The Queen's eyes shifted to the middle-aged noblewoman "...Baroness Kotta."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I meant no offense b--" The noble began before she was cut off.

"If you do not mean offense, then do not give it," The Queen said carefully. "You have long been a valued advisor to me, Baroness, but you let other matters cloud your judgement in this. I charge you to think upon it."

Baroness Kotta bowed her head obediently, "Yes, your Majesty."

Baroness Kotta looked up at the still standing redhead "Princess Meara, I humbly ask that you forgive my ill-considered words. It was not my place to presume with regards to Brunhildr. You are her Knight and, thus, her care is subject to no judgement but your own." An apology as required, but, perhaps, not the one expected.

Queen Valerie's eyes turned back to Meara and watched her expectantly.

OOC: I love it. Meara has probably made an enemy, but that's not going to be a problem is it? Nah.

Also has anyone picked up on the connection yet?

---

"You know exactly who I am," the woman said. And she was right.

The moment Brun heard her voice, he knew. It was a voice he had heard perhaps more than any other. She had been his companion when it had been just the two of them.

Euryleia.

"I've always been here. Ever since you built me. Okay, sure, this is new. But it must be because you kept your promise. You always said you'd get me the best. Now, look at me."

A holo-display of Euryleia's current status appeared in the air beside them.

"High-Efficiency Myoelectric Motivation Coils, Reinforced Neocore Pulse Conduits. The works," she said proudly. "I'm looking good."

She leaned down to give Brun a full view. As she did so, she traced the fingers of her hand along the bottom of the ribs on his left side. He could feel the line she was tracing, hot, even through his clothing. "Don't you think so?"

OOC: Brun, feel free to give Euryleia's human avatar a physical description of her features. I left that intentionally vague for you to fill in. She has purposely picked a form that is designed to 100% do it for Brun as far as the ladies go.

---

Gwydion's words seemed to reinvigorate Iliza somewhat. She nodded in acceptance and understanding. She was still carrying a heavy burden, but the load had been lightened somewhat. Gwydion saw a playful twitch to her mouth when she locked eyes with him and asked, "Oh Nurse? I don't suppose you give sponge baths?"

 ---

Outside the room, Irina bit down on her lip to keep from squealing. She would have denied it, of course, just as she would have denied the shuffle step she began moments later while quietly chanting, " 'Liza's Back...'Liza's Back... ". Her dance ended scarcely a dozen seconds later as she caught wind of herself and winced. Iliza wasn't the only one who needed a shower.

---

Gwydion's judgement had proven correct. Iliza was a major asset to his work. Not only was she a morale boost to the people they helped, but she sped up operations immensely. She was incredibly well-organized and she seemed to know more about her people than anyone else. She was able to match personnel with assignments with remarkable success. She had a mind for coordination and logistics that made Gwydion feel that she had missed out on a successful career as a superlative Quartermaster.

Iliza and Gwydion worked hand in hand, sometimes literally, especially on some of the more difficult days. She'd squeeze his hand when she needed strength or when she was scared. Gwydion learned breathing exercises that helped her when she felt overwhelmed. Some days were easier for her than others, but she was trying. She was fighting for recovery as best she could. And even though she had some setbacks now and again, she was slowly winning that fight.

OOC: Gwydion, can you roll Household for me, please? So we can gauge how well you've been able to bring Avaluna's resources together for the Refugee effort? I think recruiting Iliza will give you a +2 bonus on the roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:52, Tue 18 July 2023.

Well.

That was not the resolution Meara nor Freyr were expecting, but both of them were grateful for it in their own way.  Freyr became notably less tense, and Meara, the naive young woman she was, took the apology as earnest - at least at the moment.  Her rage cooled, and she sat back down in her seat, taking a deep breath to calm herself.  It was another moment of silence, this one almost long enough to be awkward, before the princess lifted her gaze again, revealing her face to have the smile it had before.

"I accept your apology, Baroness, and apologize for my outburst in turn," she finally said before turning to Queen Valerie and giving her a thankful bow of her head.  The young princess' eyes said it all.  Auntie Val, you're so cooooooooooooool~

Meanwhile, Freyr takes a mental note to alter her physical notes about potential enemies for Meara and add Baroness Katta to the list, as well as the time, date, and reason.  It has only been a year, but those notes are already extensive.  At least this is only the tenth one from a tea party!

Ah, what's one more enemy on the list?  Meara's young, she's got a long way to go to get that list of enemies!  Besides, the fact that lots of nobles hate her means she's doing something right.

The unexpected shift caught Gwydion off-guard: his eyes went wide, his brain shut down, and the sound he made when trying to respond was something in between choking and giggling. After a few attempts at speech, he just smiled like a lovestruck idiot and nodded vigorously. The brain Iliza had reached was no longer in service.

---

As he had said, Gwydion was much happier doing his work with Iliza by his side, if slightly less efficient what with stealing glances and daydreaming about her so often. Still, he was focused enough to make sure her people were well-attended-to. The foundations were being laid out, but there was still so much work to be done, and the constant threat of Emergent strikes or further acts of sabotage were not lost on him.

[12:44, Today: Gwydion rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, 1, -1.  Household +1, Iliza +2.
Total: +4

I think that looks pretty good! :D]

She was right.  Brun did know who she was.  Just surprised...and tired...and...

Euryleia

He reflexively reached for that tracing hand with his left.  His right went ever so gently to her face.  He hoped there would truly be something there not just shimmering holo-light.  Hope was really too soft a word for the desperate, manic wish.

Brun never looked away from heras she brought up the status display.  He knew all that information.  He drank in the form of her, precisely as he never knew he had imagined.  The blonde swordswoman braids keeping her hair back.  Sharp features.  Eyes too blue.  He couldn't look away and didn't really want to try, "Of course, my lady.  After all you've done for me,  how could I not?"  The pride in her tone had brought a smile to his face, "You have no idea how happy makes me to hear you approve."

Some small thought occured to him about just how this new avatar had come about...  But the rest of Brun's mind quickly knocked that thought out, tied it up, and locked it far away.  How didn't matter.  She was really here....

OOC: I would like to self-compel Euryleia is my Everything; he doesn't want to question anything about this.  His wish came true.  He's won.  Maybe he was dreaming, maybe he was dying, maybe the amazing Euryleia did it all herself, maybe something else....  NAH.  Doesn't matter.

"Let us press on to our important business," The Queen said as though nothing untoward had occurred at all. "As you are all aware, Emergent raids are a constant concern and we lose sisters in battle every day. Though Venus is responsible for the most elite warriors in the Solar System, the Emergent are endless. We need more warriors to defend our borders and home. To that end, we must train more young women in our martial traditions. I propose we expand our candidate pool to young women of non-noble blood. This will prove a controversial decision, as we have seen today. In order to convince our sisters of the wisdom of this decision, we need a proof of concept."

The Queen turned her attention to Meara's handmaiden, "Lady Freyr, you have done an exemplary job training my niece. Princess Meara is a fine young knight and we all look forward to seeing what she will accomplish. I wish you to do the same with other young women of promise. You will return to Chonaill where you will take up the training of squires of your choosing from among the common people. Raise them to be fine warriors and others will see the truth. In time the strength of Venus will be bolstered tenfold."

OOC: Auntie Val is stealing Freyr! Why?!

---

Euryleia was solid, real, warm. She smiled as Brun touched her. She placed her left hand over the hand resting on her cheek.

"Of course I approve, but you're hardly finished. I have no armor, no weapons. We'll need those to have a little fun." She gave him a devilish wink."Say, when is our oath ceremony?"

When...when...when...when...when...

It all fell into place in that moment. Whether it was his exhaustion, his elation, or a quirk of fate beyond his understanding, he knew. That was it! He knew how to solve the G.R.A.I.L riddle. The coordinates weren't where the G.R.A.I.L was, they were when... the G.R.A.I.L was. Or rather when... it would be. He had to tell someone.

Euryleia must have noticed Brun's distraction. "Oh, you poor thing. You're exhausted. You don't have to start right now. No, definitely not. I know what you need." She stepped forward and, despite the confines, straddled him in his command seat. "You need what every good little Venusian boy needs. A big strong woman to take care of you." Euryleia reached up and, careful of his neurohelm, pulled Brun's face into her bosom. She was as soft as he imagined. She smelled of lilacs and a hint of ozone. Her finger tips trailed around the back of his neck and played with the hair protruding from beneath his helm. "Mmmm. That feels good. That's it my brave knight. I'm right here. I'm right here." She started giggling suddenly. "Your breath tickles, Sir Brun."

OOC: Take that Fate Point, Brun! In fact, take two, provided you're so into Euryleia that you forget to tell everyone you have figured something out that could save humanity. You can do it in the morning, right?

---

"You've done good work, my boy. This moves up the timetable by four months and it's entirely doable." John Arthur looked up from the report on his datapad, the pride evident upon his face.

"Now then, I hear you finally named your ar---" the King began to segue.

"Sire, there's been another engagement," the voice of MerLN, the King's chief adviser cut through the conversation. A moment later a holo-projection of a wizened old man appeared.

"Same creature as before, MerLN," the King asked.

"We have positive confirmation directly from Sir Bors. There is no doubt," MerLN waved a hand, and another holo appeared. It was a holo-image feed taken by an armour. It was combat footage of an Emergent form that Gwydion had not encountered before. Wings, claws, a massive head reminiscent of the Wyrmgates. It took a few moments for Gwydion to appreciate the scale of the creature. It was gargantuan. "Classification: MerGN-D(ragon)."

"Shit..." the King said in a weary tone.

MerLN cleared his throat. The Emergent had no throat, of course, but it was one of many affectations that made it easy to forget that he wasn't human. He continued on, "Sire, this engagement was worse than the last. Seven knights were lost. Armour unrecoverable."

John Arthur closed his eyes. He breathed slowly before he asked, "Nearly two full Lances. Who?"

"Dame Alymere, Sir Degore, Dame Kay, Sir Lucan, Sir Morholt, Sir 05-R1C, & Dame Segwicke. Sir Bors is alive, but he has lost an arm and a leg. He will need prosthetic replacements."

King Arthur was quiet a long moment before he asked,"Current position of the creature?"

"Unknown."

"Unknown?! It's nearly the size of a Wyrmgate and you're telling me you don't know where it is? Seven of my knights are dead, MerLN. They deserve better than 'Unknown'."

Gwydion rarely heard his Uncle swear and though Gwydion knew the King dealt with life and death daily, he always behaved with aplomb and casual confidence even in dire circumstances. That he seemed so agitated said much about the situation.

The elderly advisor continued on, "Sire, there is more. This particular creature is confirmed to be--"

"I know, MerLN! I know," the King said testily.

MerLN shot a glance at Gwydion. "Ah, yes. I see..."

"MerLN, bring us to full alert. All personnel. Notify all traffic that this thing is out there. Double patrols, but make sure they understand that they are not to engage the creature if sighted. Report and observe. Now, please, give us the room." the King dictated to his advisor.

MerLN nodded and blinked away.

John Arthur took a seat in a nearby chair. He motioned for Gwydion to do the same. "Gwydion, my boy, have a seat. It's time I tell you a story I should have told you years ago. It's time I told you the story of how I got your father killed."

OOC: Gwydion, that's a standard success. The refugee effort will proceed in the background, but you've done a great job laying it foundations.

Both Meara and Freyr were completely surprised by Queen Valerie's casually dropping the idea of Freyr instructing an army of commoner armour pilots.  Before Freyr could even respond, Meara started to protest, but her voice died before she could finish the thought.

"But I need Freyr!  She's the best instructor ever..."

Meara very clearly wanted to keep her around, and not just because Freyr was so helpful to her in her daily life.  To Meara, Freyr was the older sister she never had, whom she could look up to as an example (and who could help pull her out of trouble).  The fight against the Emergent at Callisto made that quite evident, as she would not have survived without Freyr's support.

But at the same time, she knew that a plan like the one Auntie Val was suggesting had the best chance of success with someone like Freyr instructing.  Meara was naive, not selfish.

That didn't mean she had to like it, though, and so Meara gave Freyr's sleeve a tiny tug.  For her part, Freyr knew what was best for everyone present.

"Your Royal Majesty, I would be honored to instruct the first generation of such knights," she said with incredibly honesty, "My only worry is leaving Princess Meara without a handmaiden."

Meara wanted to cry, so she stopped herself with the tried and true method of putting a sweet pastry in her mouth instead.

The back and forth between Arthur and MerLN put a sudden halt to Gwydion's good mood, the bottom dropped out of his stomach as the news came in. A massive Emergent, seven Knights dead, one lost and possibly dying. And no idea where to even start looking for them. One of his legs twitched before he could stop it, every instinct pulling him toward his own Armour to begin the search immediately. That wouldn't do any good without a location to begin. The potential for crossing this MerGN-D also meant he'd need as much information on it as would be available for analysis, since his technique depended on a perfect defense.

And then the King sat him down with words that turned his blood to ice. The sheer shock on top of shock had him still as a stone once he was seated, eyes wide.

Brun tried to hold onto the thought....  It was important...  Right?  They had been wrong before...  Probably wrong again...  It can wait.  Tomorrow.

Brun sank into Euryleia's embrace feeling safe and loved and whole for the first time in....possibly his whole life.  Grinning foolishly, he shifted only enough to ask, "Could you...get the door?  My hands are full..."

OOC: I'll take two please.  And Brun folds.

"Then it is decided. Lady Freyr, you will have the time you need to set your affairs in order and select your replacement." The Queen said as she acknowledged the handmaiden's concerns. She shot a sympathetic look toward Meara and then turned to other business.

The rest of the lunch went by without incident. At least, Meara assumed it did. Words were used, she was sure of that. What words, well, that was harder to recall. As the Queen dismissed them all Meara could think was Is Freyr really leaving?

OOC: Why?!?

---

Brun heard the cockpit close.

"I think this is the part where I'm supposed to ask if that's a disruption foil in your flight suit, but we both know where this is going..." Euryleia pulled Brun's head back and kissed him hard.

---

She lay in his lap afterward. They were both covered in sweat and that was the closest they had to clothing. Well, Brun still had his neurohelm on, but she'd stripped him and then herself of every other stitch.

"And here I thought fighting at your side was fun...that was just as exciting and felt much better." Euryleia laughed, light and airy.

Euryleia had pulled up a live feed of the mural and altar using her external cameras. She watched the people with interest. The gathered throng were going about their business as usual. "I don't think they heard you squeal. Too bad. I'll have to try harder next time."

"You know what I like? Toes," she said suddenly. She held out her foot and wiggled the digits. "Never had them before. They make feet more interesting don't you think?"

A blaring alarm suddenly cut through the chamber.

"We're at Full Alert," Euryleia said as she sat upright. "You're being summoned to a war council." She looked back at Brun, "So much for the afterglow."

OOC: My girlfriend is 18 meters tall and capable of war crimes.

---

The King spoke slowly. He seemed to a reliving his memories as he told the tale.

"Geraint was the best of us. I don't say that out of sentiment. It's true. He was better than me. And though L4-NC3-L07 will never admit it, Geraint was better than him too. But he wasn't just a peerless warrior, he was a good man. The kind of friend that every man wishes he could be. When he and my sister Enid fell in love, well, I think I may have been happier than the two of them. I could think of no better husband for my sister. The day you were born, Gwydion, was the happiest day of his life. He took one look at you kiddo and he was a changed man. He refused to fight after that. He said his place was with you and your mother. He and I quarreled. I told him that we were in a fight for our very survival as a species. How could he keep his family safe in the face of that? I told him he was a fool. We didn't speak for four years.

"Then the time came. We were preparing to retake Earth. Poised to reopen the Wyrmgates and launch our assault directly upon MerGN-A's central data stacks. I went to Geraint and laid out our plan. I told him that I needed him now more than ever. He asked me what difference one knight would make among hundreds. I accused him of going soft. I knew it would sting his pride. It did. So much so that he relented. He said goodbye to you and your mother while I waited. I don't know what he said to you, but it would be the last time you ever saw him."

"The Emergent defense of Earth was like nothing you've ever seen. When MerGN-A realized what was happening she tried to destroy the Azure Wyrmgate. It would prevent further reinforcements and cut off Earth from any outside aid. The Dragons were some of her chief weapons of terror. Gargantuan combat forms, that could only be taken down by massed concentrations of knights and only then at great loss. The foremost among these was MerGN-D-ER404. We called him Ember-Rend. Plasma projectors as hot as the sun, claws which cut through armor as if it weren't there. Ember-Rend was the last of those great beasts and it was he that MerGN-A sent for the gate. The struggle was desperate. Many were lost. I was trapped in the jaws of the beast. The End and the Death had come for me. But, suddenly, Geraint was there. He freed me from the beast and it turned it's attention to him. That bought enough time for me and a handful of other knights to strike a fell blow to the beast. It fell lifeless in the void. But not before it claimed one final life. Your father's. I had traded Geraint's life for my own. We won the day. We freed Earth. I still wonder if we paid too high a price. "

Tears streamed down John Arthur's face. Gwydion had never seen him cry before.

"So there it is. The story of how you were deprived of your father's love. I have tried to do my best in his stead, though I am a poor substitute and I know it. Now, my sins and the beast that killed him have come to call once more. You see, I have no doubt that the beast which fell upon Bors and the others is Ember-Rend, The End and the Death, the King of Dragons."

OOC: Story time with Uncle John was a bit of a downer, yeah? Also, I promised no more WoTs for a bit right? Have a Fate point because I accidentally lied.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:37, Wed 19 July 2023.

Brun was happy to listen.  He had lived so long with mostly one-sided conversation.  Now she was sharing surprising thoughts and idea.  Such wonderful ideas...

He nodded happily to the idea that she could try harder next time.  Toes really did make feet more interesting.  He had never considered them at all before.  He flexed them experimentally near hers.  He was much slower to catch up to the meaning of the alarm, smiling curiously even as Euryleia explained.  Like she was still discussing toes....

Then it hit.  Brun's eyes went wide as she looked at him,  "War council?  Full alert?  But....  We're...you're not ready!". He reached for whatever clothing close by for each, "How much time do we have before the council at least?  A shower seems right...  Dress uniforms!  Do you have....".

He paused as reality started to intrude.  A hand went to her, offering what clothing he managed to nab.  The other hand settled on the neurohelm.  His smile cracked....slid, "You can't come with me...  Can you? Does this end if I take this off?". If.  Not when.  If he takes the helm off does the spell break....

Once again, Meara was coping with cookies while Freyr set about getting both of their affairs in order (the less exciting kind of affairs, like, ugh, adulting).  The coping had been going on since they got back from the lunch, and if Meara wasn't someone with such an active metabolism, Freyr might have commented about potentially ruining her figure.  But no, Meara was one of those people who had a frustratingly adaptable metabolism that kept her figure just right and processed       all that extra sugar and starch from the baked goods without any harm to her health.

They both worked in silence, with most of Freyr's work actually being compiling a list of handmaiden candidates for Meara to peruse - none of them would ever be a proper replacement for Freyr, but if such a person was available, Queen Valerie would have been able to choose them instead.  There was a dire shortage of options that were both capable of the job and potentially capable of the job specifically in terms of Meara herself, especially in the upper echelons of nobility that a retainer of someone of Meara's status would have.  Freyr had given up on archnobles and mednobles and was digging through laynobles, as she was unable to choose a commoner for such a position (and not for lack of trying, but she wouldn't subject someone to the ridicule they'd receive in that position as a commoner dealing with nobility).

Unless John Arthur had any ideas, or was able to grant a title to a commoner (she knew he was more than willing, but she also knew he needed a reason that would at least be begrudgingly accepted by the current nobility), she was stuck with an incredibly tiny list of people Meara didn't even know.

Meanwhile, Meara was trying to mentally come to terms with everything.  Just after (mostly) recovering from the horrible battle, she was going to lose her emotional support pillows (and the rest of Freyr as well, who is just as important as her soft, warm chest), and she probably still had to do stuff out here as well.  Especially that G.R.A.I.L. thing.  She vaguely remembered it was something important to do with terraforming, but she also still was adamant it had to do with gerbils.  Her mind refused to give up on that, and she had no idea why she couldn't stop thinking of cute, fuzzy, silly gerbils.

Gerbils~

As Uncle John told Gwydion about those long gone days, the prince visualized each scene in his mind as vividly as if he was there. From the sounds of it he actually had been for some, but he didn't remember much from that time. The fight against the dragons was half romanticized in his mind's eye, and half brutal reality of war against the Emergent. The moment of his father's death... blank. No heroic or gruesome imagery came to mind, just the crushing weight of knowledge.

When his uncle had finished, Gwydion took a moment to process before moving to hug him. His voice wasn't particularly steady, but still held his usual stubborn conviction behind it.

"You didn't kill him, uncle. My father did what was necessary and right, and MerGN-A took him from us. The only thing that's changed is that now my enemy has a face. I know he loved us, and he wouldn't want you to blame yourself for doing what needed to be done, and I don't either. I love you, Uncle John. I'm here for you. We'll avenge him together." The words were practically automatic, falling right out of him almost out of reflex. His mind was still on MerGN-D-ER404, the beast called Ember Rend. Tactical scenarios played out one after the other, as often happened when Gwydion's mind turned to the fight. Without a true understanding of the creature's limits, none of them ended with Gwydion in one piece.

Please don't blame yourself when the same happens to me.

[Fate Point accepted! FP total is back to 5.]

Freyr knew that this day would come. Meara was a woman grown even if her sheltered upbringing gave her a more child-like exuberance and outlook when compared to knights her own age. Freyr couldn't have stayed with her forever, no matter how fond of her she had become.

Freyr couldn't be prouder of the woman Meara had become. She often likened her dear charge to a boulder rolling down hill. It often took Meara a while to get moving, but once she did, may the stars have mercy on anything that got in her way. The young heiress of Chonaill did nothing by half measures.  She was a red-headed comet and wherever she blazed the universe benefited. Well, once the fires were doused.

But, the fact that this separation had come so soon after Meara had been forced to truly confront the brutal realities of war was a concern. That, Freyr felt she needed to address with Meara. She had been putting it off to delay the inevitable. There was only so many times she could pack the same suitcase before Meara noticed...

An alert rang out on each of their datapads.

"Princess, Avaluna has gone to full alert. We are requested to join the War Council."

OOC: How many pairs of socks do you have?!

---

Euryleia sat on Brun's lap once more and answered his most salient question, "Yes and no. When you take off your neurohelm, I'll still be here. But as a hard-light hologram. I'm using your neurohelm to fill in the rest of the details. Smell, taste, texture, warmth. Normally, your helm allows me to feel your input. Now, I'm letting you feel me too. I don't know why this is happening, but I am grateful. I just...feel...like this is how we're meant to be. A Knight and His Lady. Partners. She kissed him again.

Euryleia stood suddenly. She was once again clad as Brun had first seen her. "Now, Get your fine ass moving. You only have an hour and you definitely need a shower. I am not going to be known as the Armour with the slovenly Knight."

When Brun stood up to put his clothes back on, Euryleia drapped herself across the command chair, feet hanging over one side, "While you're gone I'm going to peruse the armory manifest. Warheads are a girl's best friend..."

OOC: Excuse me, Quartermaster, do these come in high yield?

---

It was clear that Gwydion's words had an effect on his Uncle. The King returned Gwydion's hug fiercely.

"Thank you, my boy."

He held the hug a few moments longer.

"Come now. We need to summon our banners. Too many lives have been lost today. It is our duty to see that there are no more.

OOC: Well, I've had just enough time...

Thankful for the distraction, Meara jumped up and brushed the crumbs from her top before wordlessly grabbing her belt with her sword and pistol, buckling it on, and hurrying after Freyr, who also grabbed her personal arms as they left the room.  The two of them kept pace, with Meara ensuring she went slow enough for Freyr to keep up.

If there was anything Meara was better at than Freyr, it was acrobatics and speed.  Also eating copious amounts of sweets without getting fat, which was a both blessing and a curse in Meara's mind.

"If you have to go out and fight, will you be alright?  Are you ready to fight again?" Freyr asked, knowing the answer but wanting to hear it from Meara's mouth.

For her part, Meara had a determined gaze as they hurried to the War Council.  "I will do all I can to save as many people as possible, but I do not plan on dying anytime soon, if that is your concern."

Freyr felt a surge of pride at Meara's response.  "That is all I needed to hear."


OOC: Never enough!

As larger than life as he was to the rest of the system, John Arthur was just a person like anyone else, and he could hurt in more ways than bleeding. He needed hugs just like everyone else. Gwydion was able to push the concern away when it seemed his uncle was feeling better about his role in the past, and took to his feet in preparation for the next steps.

"Uncle, what's our plan? We've missed the fight and don't know where to look for the creature. Jumping into Dyrnwyn won't help unless we have somewhere to go and some strategy to wield. And yes, I did finally name my Armour. I like it."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:38, Thu 20 July 2023.

Brun melted with relief as soon as she explained that whatever this was seemed to be stable.  It also, possible, answered the question of whether this was delusion or dream...but it could just be a very elaborate dream...  Doesn't matter!  It's a good dream...or...whatever...  He returned the kiss fiercely, joyously.

He was, he had to confess, a bit sad at the sudden return of her uniform.  Possibly a bit jealous that she didn't have to go through the clumsy act of getting dressed in the small space, "I'm not sure why its happening either...  but yes, this feels how it should be.   Should always have been."  He struggled back into uniform, but took whatever chances were available to make sure Euryleia got a good show out of it, should she be interested.

He fumbled with the buttons, "Oh, yes!  Absolutely...  Peruse away...  We, you, have options now.  The best of options.  I can't wait to see what strikes your fancy..."  He waved a hand over a touchpad, keying in a few file names, "Not that you couldn't find them, but these are the final armor plate designs.  Your new...outfit, I suppose?"  He went for one more kiss before giving up the helmet, "Look over it...  Tell me what you think.  I'll be back...  lots to discuss...  And news from the war council, of course..."  As usually lately, there was so much time and so little to think about.  No, the other way around.  He doffed the helm quickly, checking to make sure Euryleia still existed.  Assuming she did, he sighed happily and exited the hatch.
______________________________________

Brun descended the pilot's gantry quickly, with a crazed spring in his step.  To the first Avalunan technician he came across on his way down, he paused, "Mister....  Avram...  Yes.  Avram.  The neurocore test was successful!  My lady is back online.  Thank you for you and your team's efforts."

The sullen Edge Knight not been this happily polite to the team since work had begun.  Usually acting like they were in the way or not understanding something about his Lady.  Avram gave back a nervous smile, "Glad to hear it, sir?"

Brun was almost beaming, "Very glad!"  He glanced up at Euryleia's, mostly the cockpit area, "I've... left the diagnostics running... subroutine updates...  But, I have to go.  A council was called.  Just...leave everything running and don't touch anything till I get back."  He patted the man on the shoulder, then turned to sprint off to the armoury bunkroom he'd been using.  He paused suddenly, "Oh!  The armour plates...  We should get started on those...  If they're ready.  What with an emergency...maybe.  Thanks again."  Then he was gone.

Avram scratched his head, watching Sir Brun go, "That guy's been alone in space for a looooong time."   He started pulling up information on the dataslate, "Gerold!  Marta!  He says start in on the armour pieces...  where are we at?"

Euryleia carried on the conversation while Brun dressed. He felt a sharp pinch on his backside "Mmmm. Just as firm as I thought. Now, quit your teasing, otherwise I'll change my mind and lock the hatch.

"I'll certainly need my Disruption Foils. I can't be a proper swordswoman without them." Euryleia looked over the plans for her armor plates when Brun pointed them out. "Oooh! You've given me filigree like a proper Venusian armour. But, so sharp. Traditional, but with flair. You know me so well."

"And be a good boy while you're gone." she said just as Brun exited the cockpit hatch, adding seductively, "You know what good boys get."

---

As Brun left Avram and his team behind, he passed by the shrine and mural outside the armor bay. As always the attendees acknowledged him. Many bowed and curtsied as he passed. Among those lighting candles Brun noticed a very familiar face. Rose.

---

The War Council was held in CAMELOT Command and presided over by the King and Queen. It opened with sombre news.

"This morning seven of our number fell in battle: Alymere, Degore, Kay, Lucan, Morholt, 05-R1C, & Segwicke. Bors is fighting for his life."

A mumur went through the crowd. These were formidable knights, all.

"We will mourn them. We will avenge them. But we must not do so in haste. This," the King said as the combat footage that Gwydion had seen earlier played before the assembled knights. "is the foe that bested them. It will be the ruin of us all if we are not careful. Classification: MerGN-D(ragon). We thought we'd killed them all. Apparently we were wrong. They have more firepower than an orbital fort and just as much armor. And this one is loose in our realm."

It was apparent that Arthur's veteran knights knew exactly how formidable a foe was before them, though the younger knights were eager to test themselves against it. Arthur anticipated this.

"Let me be very clear. To take on this beast like it were any other combat form is suicide. The cost in life would be staggering. But neither are we going to let it prey upon good people and knights unopposed. Based upon the location of it's last attack we believe it to be somewhere, here, between Earth and Venus. We are doubling local patrols, here and on Venus. Those not on patrol are on standby. When the creature rears it's ugly head, we'll be ready. The plan is to use its size and the fact that it is operating alone against it. We will engage from extreme range using Darklance equipped siege platforms."

Another murmur went up. Darklances had been used by MerGN-A during her rise as a devastating weapon of mass destruction. The Earth still bore tremendous scars from their use, as did Luna itself.

A Darklance was an electromagnetic launcher that accelerated projectiles to extreme speeds. When fired from orbit onto a terrestrial target, the result was catastrophic. Their use in space, however, was generally limited. The vast distances and mobility of targets meant that the unguided projectile was easily avoided. Massed fire, however, might prove effective if they could pin a target in place. The problem was they weren't common weapons, and they had been priority targets of humanity's resistance.

"These are our current battle plans. As you can see it's simple. Locate. Encircle. Avoid. Obliterate. If we execute properly, we can annihilate the beast without another lost. But this plan requires coordination and that we find it before it is able to link up with other Emergent forces. Stars help us if it does. Any questions?"

Brun was moving quickly, straightening his outfit to crispness.  He'd been tired and overworked, but had been managing to keep his appearance together.  Old habits die hard.  Today though, he had reasons to want to look good.  Wanted to.  As he passed back through the Armour Bay, with a skip in his step, he smiled up at his Lady.  The mural attendees snapped his attention back around.  The smile faded off.  He bowed his head, quietly acknowledging them in return.  But, he was headed for the war council and didn't have...  Right.  War Council.  When he headed off again, the skip had left his step too.  Focus up.

Rose?  Rose, who?
_______________________________________________

Arthur's report at the council had Brun's full attention.  The fallen knights.  The scans of the MerGN-D(ragon)...  The return of Darklances?  This was...a very different fight...  Images of Euryleia after the last battle flashed through his mind.  His heart skipped.  But, he also knew his Lady would not sit idly by...  He had preparations to make.  Of course he had questions, but Arthur's offer was likely rhetorical.  Research and analysis would likely provide the answers that Euryleia would need first.

Brun took a steadying breath and took a moment to look over the rest of the gathered knights and nobles.  Trying to get a sense of how everyone else is taking this news...

Meara's heart fell upon the news she heard upon entering the room, as did Freyr's.  More loss.  More deaths.  More good people gone.  If Meara had received such news before the tournament on Callisto, she quite likely would have broken into a crying mess.

Not now, though.  She could still hear the people talk about her.  The Fury.  Angel of Vengeance.  She recalled the moment Mimi was reunited with her parents.  The relief on everyone's faces.  The endless thanks.  So many tears.

Clenching her hands into tight fists, she listened to the plan.  Even she knew of Darklances and dragons, but until recently she had only thought of them as challenges to overcome in heroic battle.  Now, though, she can understand the hesitation on everyone's faces, and the conflicted thoughts about employing Emergent weaponry for any purpose.

To her, however, what mattered most is ensuring everyone lived, and if that meant using the Darklances, so be it.

With a burning fire behind her eyes, she asked the only question on her mind.

"What would you have me do, Your Majesty?"

Even in this moment, however, a certain thought squeezed through everything else.

Why is he cute even when he's serious and sad?!  No fair, Auntie Val!

The prince listened quietly as his uncle explained the situation to the others. He'd already had plenty on his mind, and was having some difficulty focusing on the matter at hand. He picked up the plan itself, though: harass the creature and get it to hold still long enough to be obliterated by planetary-scale railguns. Even having seen the video feed, having heard the tales of Earth's battle involving these creatures, turning the Darklances upon it seemed like overkill.

When the time came for questions, several jumbled through Gwydion's mind. He grasped onto one to try and get his train of thought settled.

"How many of these Darklances do we have available to us?" He worried about the window of opportunity, but didn't want to voice the concerns in his thoughts, only the questions. Disheartening the others would do no one any good.

Brun surveyed the gathered War Council with a discerning eye. Dozens of knights were present in the command center of CAMELOT fortress, the heart of Avaluna's martial power. This had to be a gathering of nearly every knight present on Avaluna. There were faces missing, of course, chief among them the listed dead. Alymere and Lucan had been two of the first to welcome him to Avaluna. They had been comrades all too briefly.

As the briefing progressed, Brun got the impression that some of the younger knights seemed to feel that the threat was exaggerated. Meanwhile, the veterans, those who had fought with the King through the Liberation believed his optimism was unfounded. There would be more blood. No matter how well laid the trap, it would be inevitable.

John Arthur locked eyes with Meara and said gently, "I would have you think of your weeping mother. Your heartbroken aunt. The comrades and companions you would leave behind." he let those words sink in. "The only glory to be found here is when all of us toast to victory together. Exercise caution. Stick to the plan. That goes for all of you."

"Twelve. Certainly not as many as we'd hope, but it will be enough," the King said to Gwydion.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:02, Fri 21 July 2023.

The Edge Knight...  No...  One of the newest Knights of Avaluna became concerned by what he saw amongst his peers.  The disquiet of the veterans put the danger of this Emergent beast into sharper focus.  Being so veteran, he had to assume that this would not translate into hesitation when the time came....  No, Brun decided that more trouble would come from the younger knights.  He himself had a recent taste of "glory" and was in no rush to take his Lady back into the fray, but...  some of these might just give in to vainglory and make an attempt before the time was right.

But which ones....  Not Gwydion or Meara, surely.  Gwydion was too level and loyal.  Meara had seemed to take the aftermath of Callisto very hard.  No, The Fury did not seem to be in any rush either...  Who would bear watching?

Mark Result +4.  Overcome?  To try and make some guesses as to what young knights might be stupid enough to try for all the glories.

23:03, Today: Brun rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 1, 1, 1.  Mark +2.

Twelve. At least one of them would have to hit the target, which could move much faster than a city planetside. This plan would require either holding Ember Rend still or tricking it into position at the right moment. Gwydion sent a request MerLN to download as much data on MerGN-D and Ember Rend specifically as was possible for analysis and comparison to his own Armour's specs. He'd need to run some simulations, do some training, and make sure Dyrnwyn was at absolute peak performance, or else he might end up meeting his father sooner than anyone wanted.

This was going to cut into his time with Iliza, and possibly his time overseeing the refugee situation. Still, it also represented the survival of humanity itself, and that was vital. He'd have to talk with her about it, not just to reassure her that he wasn't pulling away, but also to ask her help unburdening himself of these tense feelings the creature put upon him. His history with it.

As Brun examined the Knights at the meeting, he might become surprised at Gwydion's own reaction to all this: he seethed with a combination of barely contained rage and abject terror. There was a lot going on in the young prince. It was uncharacteristic of someone otherwise so often genial and optimistic.

Two Knights, Sir Osenain and Sir Tor, would be a problem, Brun suspected. He could see their eagerness. The embers of ambition and vainglory burning in their eyes despite the warnings. He'd seen the look before. In the eyes of his sisters Sigrid and Lærke before they had let their ambitions lead them all to death and worse in the Wreck...

Speaking of family, it seemed that his sisters weren't the only family ghosts haunting this War Council. He spotted his mother, Baroness Yodil Kotta, sitting amongst the Venusian contingent. She wore the same imperious scowl Brun remembered from his childhood. And judging by the venom in her eyes, she had noticed him too.

OOC: I'm going to compel I Will Survive on Brun. His mother is mad he had the audacity to live where his sisters died. She's sure to cause trouble, even if it's not readily apparent.

---

MerLN was already ahead of Gwydion. As the prince went to send his request, he found he already had access to the data he desired.

As if on cue his Uncle spoke, "You should all have your patrol assignments within the hour. Each patrol will be responsible for scouring a pre-determined sector for our foe. In order to maximize our potential search area, patrols will be comprised of a single lance formation--four knights--led by a Lance-Commander," the King continued with his briefing. "Should you locate the foe you are to report in and the rest of the taskforce will converge on your position."

The briefing went into precise detail. The King had not exaggerated the need for careful coordination. With the battle plan laid out and nearly all business handled, the King concluded the War Council. The Knights began to disperse.

"Sir Brun, a word," the King requested before Brun could depart. "How soon can your armour be ready? I would have you lead one of the patrols if possible. Needless to say, we'll have to delay your Oath Ceremony until this crisis is passed."

With the council adjourned, Gwydion thanked MerLN with a grim smile and went to look for Meara. It had been a while since they were able to spend any time together, and the prince was glad to be able to be anywhere except right here, right now. He'd noticed her taking things seriously, which was always a little worrying.

Brun took note of Sirs Osenain and Tor.  It would be bold indeed to make any public declaration of his misgivings, but perhaps he could find a way to...  Wait a moment...  Brun's eye tracked back again to Gwydion.  He was not sure he has seen Gwydion quite so...out of sorts...  That was very concerning indeed.  He made a mental note to check in after...

Then the hair on the back of Brun's neck raised a bit and he felt that someone else was watching him...  There.  Mother.  No, Baroness Yodil Kotta of no more family relation to him.  She'd made that clear enough. He returned her venom with a polite, formal bow of the head.  Like he would give to anyone of her station who caught his eye.

OOC: I'll take the Compel! I'd like to roll Intrigue.  Since she isn't currently doing anything we'll try for Create Advantage: You Have No Power Over Me

Intrigue Total: +1

07:53, Today: Brun rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, 1, -1.  Create Advantage - Intrigue +3.
______________________________________________
After the briefing, Brun began to make his way to Gwydion, but found himself waylaid my royal decree before he could make it.  He straightened respectfully as Arthur explained and did his best to hide his surprise at being named a Lance Commander.  The Battle of Callisto was an emergency... Was everything an emergency now?. He was truly almost grateful at the ceremonial delay.

Brun answered, "I am honored, your majesty.  My Lady is being fitted with new plating and her armaments are being finalized.  With the assistance of your armourers, she could be ready for battle in three days.". Three long, sleepless days.  But what's three more on top of all the others?  Brun would always sacrifice for Euryleia.  That sacrifice was probably starting to wear at the edges of him though...
This message was last edited by the player at 12:54, Mon 24 July 2023.

Gwydion did not have to look very hard for Meara, as she was slowly nibbling on what looked to be a formerly large plate of cookies that now held possibly half of what it did before.  Most alarming was the type of cookie.  It was no mere chocolate chip, but snickerdoodles - Meara's ultimate moping cookie.  Freshly baked, as well.  Clearly, something was on her mind, but what was it?  And just outside the door to her quarters, too, meaning she was possibly avoiding Freyr.

Despite her best efforts, it was not fuzzy, adorable rodents running in wheels and through tubes, nor was it the greatest of comfort animals to observe, the capybara.  Nay, it was the upcoming battle and Freyr's absence afterwards (there was no way Freyr was leaving when they needed everyone they could get for this upcoming plan).

When she noticed him approach, she looked up and gave him a stare that basically said, 'I would like a hug and a mug of hot chocolate, with whipped cream and some sprinkles.'

Meara's datapad chimed a priority alert. Her patrol assignment.

Checking the notice, Meara saw that most of the Valkyries had been assigned to sectors near Venus. This included Freyr even though she wasn't a native of the planet. Meara, however, had been assigned to a near-Earth sector.

She had been wrong. Instead of the crisis delaying Freyr's departure, it had accelerated it.

Gwydion's datapad chimed as well. He too had received an assignment--in operations. Garrison Duty. He'd effectively been grounded.

"Meara," shouted a small excited voice. Mimi came bouncing down the corridor ahead of her mother. The little girl brandished an inflated pink balloon in the rough shape of a sword, complete with crossguard. Mimi stopped next to Gwydion "'Scuse me, can you hold my sword, Mr. Lady Iliza's Sweetheart?" Once she had both hands free, she reached up to give Meara a hug.

"Miriam! That's His Royal Highness Prince Gwydion! Begging your pardons, Prince, Princess" Mrs. Sylvie Moss said as she curtsied to Gwydion and Meara in turn, an apologetic look on her face. "We don't mean to be a bother. I managed to scrape together the ingredients for a nice filling casserole and thought, maybe her royal highness and Lady Freyr might enjoy some. You're welcome too, of course, Prince Gwydion." Mimi's mom always made delicious food, even with the restrictions of the current rationing. The inviting smell reached Meara. Snickerdoodles? What Snickerdoodles?

"Oh," said a disappointed voice from somewhere behind Mimi's mom. "I didn't realize she already had company. I'll just come back later." Irina, dressed in her technicians uniform, tried to sneak away from the crowd unnoticed.

---

"Three days? See that it's done," the King ordered, though he looked apologetic. "I am sorry to ask so much of you, Sir Brun, but our need is dire."

Gwydion had glanced at the assignment notice on the way, and it only worsened his mood. His face still showed that fire in him as he approached Meara, the cross between anger and fear that added an unusual stiffness to his motions. Clearly he also needed a hug and sprinkly cocoa, but the expression dropped in place of confusion at the sound of the tiny voice. The prince accepted the young lady's sword with a slight tint of red hitting his cheeks at his new name.

"A- um, yes, my small lady. Of course." Meara's friend Mimi! It had been some time since he'd seen her, after the Callisto incident. His eyebrows went up in surprise at Mrs. Sylvie's offer of casserole. Once the confusion wore off, Gwydion managed a smile again, tinged with sadness, and gave a small bow. "It would be my honor and my pleasure, madam. I hear your daughter was a fine hero in our darkest moment, protecting my dear cousin, and to share a meal with her and her family would certainly do me a world of good." And then came another voice. Gwydion looked to Irina and moved to her.

"Lady Irina, please don't go. I'm sure we would be happy for your company as well. It's been a difficult day, and I think we could all use the company of our friends, don't you think?"
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 23:39, Mon 24 July 2023.

Meara was about to collapse into complete despair upon seeing Freyr was leaving even earlier, but then the most wonderful things happened.

First, she heard Mimi.  Then, she smelled freshly baked, homemade, commoner casserole (made with things that are nutritious and taste good instead of what's most expensive!).  Then she saw Mimi, as well as Mimi's entourage.

Mimi was immediately scooped up into a hug and spun around as Meara laughed.  "Mimi!  It's so good to see you again!" she exclaimed before settling Mimi in to be carried, ensuring they could both look at one another's faces as well as out at everyone.  To Mimi's mother, she said, "Yes, please do not mind our stations.  Freyr is currently getting the last of her things together before she is sent back to Venus to train commoners as knights - can you believe it?  It is about time we gave the people the means to protect what they care about as well."  Classified?  What's that?

"It is going toooooooooo- bwuh," she said, intending to explain more before she made eye contact with Irina.  If she thought she was cute before, well.

"Irinapleasecomeinsidewithuswemightnothaveenoughchairsyoucansitonmylap."

Is that a tiny blush on Meara's face as she looks at Irina?  It most certainly is.

Meara also though she didn't say the quiet part out loud.  But with Mimi and everyone else, it is quite likely Irina did not hear it.

Regardless of whether or not anyone did hear it, the princess quickly entered the code to enter her quarters and walked inside with a surprisingly high class gait.  An outsider might think her lessons with Freyr were finally starting to stick, but no, the gay panic had put her into acting purely on ingrained manners, hence instead of shouting 'FREYR, FOOD!' she said in a much more regal tone, "Freyr, we have guests.  Prince Gwydion, Lady Irina, as well as Mimi and her mother, Sylvie.  Miss Moss brought a casserole."

Gwydion's face on hearing that Freyr was being reassigned was the loudest silent "WHAT?!" ever exclaimed. And then went back to confusion at Meara's reaction to Irina. Well clearly he couldn't let Irina just run off all sad after something like that. Whatever that was...

"Understood, sire," offered Brun with another deferential bow of the head, "It will be done."  He waited until he was properly dismissed from the king's presence then began to make his way clear of the Council chamber.  He drew a small dataslate from a pocket as he walked.  First he snapped off inquiries to Avram and the armoury team, requesting updates on the final fabrications of the armor pieces.  He informed them of their new deadline; also asking them to advise on any ways to speed up the process.  Another message was sent off to the Armsmasters for the new missile system and a need to push up the time table.  Yes, again.  By the King's order.  He didn't want to throw that around lightly, but Arthur did say to see that it was done...

Needs must, once more.  As always.

He somehow managed to carry on like this without running into anyone or walls.  In the case of the "anyones", likely they were being kind and getting out of the way.  After the initial messaging, he queried the system for locations on Gwydion and Meara.  Of course, Brun /wanted/ to return to the Armoury and Euryleia, but something had changed for that pair.  As he was a fellow Hero of Callisto, he felt a certain responsibility to make sure they were well.  Brun would never say it, but it was also often easier to help other people with their problems rather than facing your own.

He couldn't take long of course, so much to do.  And his Lady to return to.  The query seemed to indicate Meara's quarters as the likeliest place to catch them.  Brun arranged a secure message exchange directly to Euryleia's system as he walked and worked...

-->Council ended.  New threat.  Will explain as soon as possible.  The King requests that your outfitting be completed in three days.  Your blades are needed, once more.  I am returning, but need to check in on Prince Gwydion and Dame Meara.  How are the armourers treating you?

Mimi giggled delightfully as Meara spun her around. She regarded Meara with pure adoration. Then she took a snickerdoodle from the plate. Thankfully her mom didn't scold her because she was distracted by Lady Iliza's sweetheart. He was nice. And he looked funny with a pink sword.

"Bless, you sir! Such kind words from a honeyed tongue," Mrs. Moss said to Gwydion. "If'n you ever have a mind to give lessons to us common folk, Mr. Moss will be the first in line. I'll see to that."

"Oh," Irina said again, suddenly surprised and a little embarrassed by all the attention. "I didn't intend to...I was just..." Irina protested feebly, but her retreat was carefully pincered off by Mrs. Moss (and her large dish) with military precision. Sylvie Moss wasn't a soldier, but feeding people that needed feeding was her battlefield. Now hemmed in and uncomfortable with the attention, Irina relented and shuffled inside along with the rest.

---

The response was immediate.

-->Understood.  We will soon fight together again. Send my regards to your friends. Enjoy yourself.

Appended to the message was a pict of Euryleia's current status. Her feet had been armored.

By the time Brun looked up he had arrived at Meara's door.

---

Freyr appeared and surveyed the line of guests. She had hoped to speak with Meara. But she put on her host's air nonetheless.

"Welcome," she said, taking note of Meara's precise manners. What was this?

Meanwhile, Meara counted chairs. Six. She compared that total to those present. Mimi, Mimi's Mom, Freyr, Gwydion, Irina, Herself. Noooooooooooooooo!

A soft bee-doo came from the door. The view screen showed Brun outside. Yes!

Somehow, Mrs. Moss had already found a place for the casserole and was beginning to set the table.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:40, Tue 25 July 2023.

Brun couldn't help the smile that the immediate response brought.  Social instincts almost forced him to debate the point of calling Dame Meara and Prince Gwydion friends...   But, Euryleia knew him.  Of course she did.  Hopefully, the association did no harm to their reputations.  Society can be fickle.

-->Your new dancing shoes look lovely.  Your company would bring greater enjoyment...   I will be swift.

Brun realized he felt relief.  Euryleia's AI had always been robust and could offer much in security and assistance.  But now, the Lady herself seemed to be aware....  He had someone he could truly rely on to see to her best interests

He smiled happily again as he keyed the door chime.  Momentarily forgetting the serious reasons for his visit, the new devastating Emergent threat, and....something else....

More after the door opens!

Meara continued to fall back on polite, noble manners, especially as a hostess without a senechal or servants to perform most of the setup.  She carried Mimi towards the head of the table and placed her in a seat of honor reserved for the most important guest before giving her a gentle pat on the head with a genuine, yet reserved, smile, before ensuring the seats were open for others to take their places as they wished.  She retrieved plates and fine mother-of-pearl flatware (just in case the casserole had eggs and would tarnish silverware!), then set them down with a dutiful efficiency.  It was nearly perfect to the nanometer.

She never did lose that blush.

However, before everyone could finish taking their seats, the door buzzed and showed Brun was at the door, and she was going to go let him in when Freyr made Meara sit down at the head of the table before going to open the door for Brun.

"Sir Brun, what a pleasant surprise!  Mrs. Moss just brought us a lovely meal.  Would you like to join us?

Meanwhile, Meara had already placed Mimi in a seat before Irina sat down, and now they were short a seat, so she actually had to figure out what to do.

Outwardly, she appeared very proper.  In her head, though, she was about to bluescreen.

Gwydion's smile grew as he spoke with Sylvie, and gave a gentle nod at the suggestion of giving lessons.

"I would love to fit such a thing into my schedule. It sounds like a good way to spend time with good people." As they were let in and seated, he smiled to his cousin and future sister-in-law at their adorable awkwardness. Gears started turning in his head while he took the least important seat: that of the foot of the table. The prince's station may have demanded he be seated higher up, but his heart insisted that he give everyone else that honor while he appreciated the company around him. It went a long way towards calming the anger he felt.

With Brun's appearance, his smile grew further. Then he counted the chairs. Then he grinned at Meara.

"It seems we're a seat short, cousin. Did you want to reshuffle us? Perhaps your initial suggestion for Lady Irina's place would be best." Were he a proper anime character, he'd have sprouted a mischievous cat face.

As the door opened, Brun looked up from his data slate with a bright, distracted smile.  Which is not an expression anyone had ever seen on him before.  Polite smiles, sure.  Court smiles.  But, not genuine happiness.  It suited him well.

The question caught him off guard, as he had been expecting to offer help to two compatriots...only to find them at a small dinner party.  The smile cracked a bit under the pressure of the surprise.  His glance darted from Freyr, to the table, then back again, "Oh...  I... Um..."

Then he caught the scent of the food.  When was the last time he ate?  If you couldn't remember, it's probably been too long.  Biology trumped manners in this case.

A smile returned, the usual polite smile, "I do believe I would...though it was not my original intent.  If you are sure I would not be an imposition?"  He had subtly, if possible, attempted to step in....indicating he was very very hopeful that he was not an imposition.

"Certainly no imposition, Sir Brun. Please, join us," Freyr led Brun in to join the other guests.

Mrs. Moss was just about to move Mimi so that all of the adults had a proper place to sit, but she caught the look of sudden panic in Meara's eyes. With a quick wink, she covered over her change of plans by tucking a bib around Mimi's neck. "Mind your manners, now," she said gently to the little girl.

"Yes, Momma," Mimi responded, already holding her flatware at the ready. Her balloon sword rested gently against the table beside her. Mrs. Moss normally didn't permit swords by the supper table, but today was a small exception.

Gwydion's suggestion rang out and Mrs. Moss looked to the pair. "It's not a half-bad suggestion, given the seats and all. Why you both could fit right in that seat if you scootch." Mrs. Moss suggested.

"Oh," Irina said for a third time in as many minutes. This visit wasn't going at all as she expected. "I really shouldn't...You see, I... Eeeiii!" The sudden yelp came as Mimi gently prodded Irina in the side with her balloon sword, startling her just enough to cause her to fall right into Meara's lap. She squirmed a bit, looked at Meara while biting her bottom lip nervously, and then turned away blushing furiously.

Mrs. Moss deftly reclaimed the sword from her daughter's hand even as the little girl offered it up with a cheeky smile. Worth it.

Without missing a step, Mrs. Moss went around the table serving each of the guests before finally seating herself. Everyone had a large portion, but Brun's was truly a heaping serving. "Suppose it was something the Baron put in the water," Mrs. Moss wondered quietly as she passed behind Freyr and Brun, leaving only them able to hear.

Freyr managed to pick up on the source of Meara's sudden change in behavior, not that it had been difficult. Meara had certainly mentioned finding fellow knights and nobility attractive often enough (and at most inappropriate times), though she had never turned her attention fully to the pursuit of it. Given her age and apparent interest, she was certainly due for a romantic awakening...

Yet, that this interest had come along at the same time as her own departure, and that departure on the heels of other woes, wasn't lost on Freyr. Young infatuations were tumultuous enough without the weight of trauma upon them. The additional layer of courtly matters was another issue. Meara's position made the proposition of romantic dalliances downright dangerous, if not handled properly. As the future Duchess of Chonaill, and niece of the Queen, her match would certainly be expected to further the cause of the realm. If that conflicted with Meara's own desires...

Freyr didn't even want to consider that at the moment. One step at a time. Get through dinner first and then she and the young princess would have much to discuss.

Once she was seated again, Mrs. Moss encouraged everyone to begin, "Go on, then. Everyone enjoy. There's plenty. And if you clean your plate, there's a nice sponge cake for dessert."

Irina dropped her fork, loudly, at the word sponge and couldn't bring herself to look down the table.

Brun followed Freyr to the table.  He did his best to look mildly embarrassed for showing up uninvited, rather than show the ravenous hunger he truly felt at his core.  Even so, his keen social senses picked up the seating maneuvers and he sat quickly to preclude any other arrangement.

His eyes went a bit wide at the serving, his hand moved towards the available tableware while tidal forces of societal norms tried to force him to not be the first one eating....  Mrs. Moss's comment brought a grin despite his internal war.  His eye flicked to Mear-ina, then questioningly to Gwydion and Freyr.  The look also managed to convey: Ah, young love, amirite?. This worldly implication of foolish young love does come from a young man who, by all account, seemed to have some sort of adoring "relationship" with his Armour.  So, take that with a grain of salt.

Mrs. Moss' urging seemed to satisfy Brun's internal conflict.  He waited no longer and attacked his dinner like a wolf.  A polite wolf.  Who knew how to use a napkin.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:34, Thu 27 July 2023.

404: Meara Not Found

This is what was happening to the princess now that she had an incredibly hot young woman on her lap.  While others smiled and winked to one another, and in some cases started eating, Meara bluescreened hard.  Of course, she still had her ingrained reflexes that liked to act before she could think (and in this case, when she couldn't think at all), which caused her to catch Irina with both arms and hold Irina on her lap.

It looked like an affectionate hug, and probably felt like one, too.

If a puff of steam could erupt from Meara's head, it would.

In fact, she was so full of gay panic that it was not until Irina dropped her fork that Meara's brain kicked in at all.  Her first thought?

Excellent support, Mimi!  While Irina couldn't see it, Meara gave Mimi a thumbs up.  She then forced herself to look at Irina and said, "Y-you look nice scent soft."

Nailed it.

This was a far better time than Gwydion had anticipated having today, and his smile gradually lost the turbulent emotions behind it. It took him a moment to realize just why Brun was so eager to get the food into him, but then remembered that hardly anyone had seen the man recently due to all the work being done on various projects, including repairing the Armour he'd dedicated himself to. Brun had likely forgotten all about food, or at least been taking only enough time to snack on protein bars and just enough calories to keep moving.

Across the table, things were clearly going swimmingly for Meara and Irina. The little guest was clearly excellent backup. When the group was given permission by Mrs. Moss to tuck in, Gwydion happily did so, with more restraint than the clearly-hungry Brun. It wasn't until some moments after Irina dropped her fork that the prince's look to her went from quizzical to shocked, nearly choking on his mouthful of food in surprise and turning slightly red himself.

Had she been...spying on him and her sister? He wouldn't be able to bring it up here with the guests present, but now he had a whole other problem on his mind. This one might have been more alarming than the war council's problems.

Aaaaand then that concern was obliterated by his having to stifle a full on giggle at Meara's dinner conversation. He tried to help by taking some of the spotlight away from the pair.

"The meal is wonderful, madam, thank you so much. Sir Brun, how is the restoration of your Armour coming along? I imagine it must be thrilling to have the Forge of Avaluna at your fingertips. Tales of your time on the Edge have gotten me nothing less than giddy to see what you can produce now, after crafting such a wonderful machine with naught but scraps and your own two hands. Your duel with my cousin in the finest Armour Venus itself could produce was truly awe inspiring. I still watch it every few days to get the blood pumping."

Brun, in his time amongst the pirates, had learned to eat when food was available.  Because it wouldn't always be.  He also learned to do it quickly, lest someone stronger take it from you.  His hunger seemed to have kicked on these old habits.  One arm seemed to move almost protectively around the plate as he ate.  He was still managing to do it cleanly and relatively politely, just with a bit too much edge...

Brun only paused to note the strange reactions to the notion of dessert.  Dropping cutlery, nearly choking, and losing the capability of coherent speech.  How good must this sponge cake be??  He was quite happy he would be finding out.  This was turning into the very best day in a long while; despite the imposing threat of the Emergent Dragon form.  He glanced between Gwydion and Meara again.  He had come here, he thought, to offer...something...  Care?  Kindness? Support?  They seemed so...  But here they were surrounded by fine company and fine food.  Spirits obviously lifting better than he would've been able to manage.  Good.  They quite deserved it and were lucky to have such to mend the spirit.

Gwydion's questioning commentary brought Brun's attention back sharply.  He managed to apply the brakes to his feed, making keen use of a napkin, and only answered when he was sure the path was clear, "Ah, yes, well..."  His smile brightened and spoke volumes without need for words, "My Lady has awoken.  I brought her neurocore and main systems online earlier today.  Everything looks better than expected..."  He paused and looked to Irina, a more grateful look now, "Just as you said, dear lady.  You said her neurocore was intact and you were so very right.  She /is/ remarkably resilient."  He took another quick bite or two, then turned back to Gwydion, "Her new frame was finished as well, with improvements thanks to the forges here.  We are down to external armor plating and weapon systems integrations.  A few more improvements there, of course.  I am very hopeful we can achieve the King's deadline of three days."  Brun paused again, looking almost regretfully down at his plate, nearly cleared.  Talking about deadlines while sitting at a dinner party was not the best look...  No matter how much of a surprise the gathering had been for him.

Best get back on track.  Brun cast looks to Gwydion and Meara again, "In truth, I do have...quite a bit to be doing... But, I wanted to check in on you both.  After the council..."

Gwydion smiled wider at Brun's revelations, though he clearly didn't understand just how literally the Knight meant by "awoken". "That's fantastic news, my friend! With your skills and our resources, I'm confident that you're about to become the strongest Knight Avaluna has ever seen." His enthusiasm was curbed at the mention of the council, and he peered down at his plate of food with a much softer smile and a nod.

"Yes. These days it seems difficulties are queued up and waiting, doesn't it? I discovered that current threat is quite personal to me moments before the council was gathered." That's where the smile fell entirely, and he stabbed a forkful of food he wasn't even prepared to eat. "That's probably why I've been assigned ground duty where this beast is involved. You've seen how I get when I let my emotions determine my tactics. I suppose even my uncle thinks I would only serve to put lives in danger, like I did at Callisto..."

"Why thank you, your highness. It's my pleasure." Mrs. Moss acknowledged Gwydion.

Mimi dug into her own dinner with nearly as much gusto as Brun.

"Forgive me," Irina asked clearly too distracted by her own embarrassment to have focused on Meara's words. "I'm afraid I didn't hear you at all."

Freyr swooped in before Meara had a chance to respond,  "She was wondering how your shift went today. We've noticed how rapidly new construction seems to be taking place."

"Oh," Irina looked grateful for the topic to distract her. "Well, Prince Gwydion could tell you more about over all progress, but..." As she spoke she seemed to settle in a comfortable position against Meara, who still had an arm wrapped around her waist.

Freyr nodded politely as she listened. She had bought Meara time to regroup. She hoped that the young woman would use it to good effect.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:48, Thu 27 July 2023.

Unfortunately for Freyr, Sylvie, Irina, Mimi, and Meara, the princess had never been a strategist, and she was far too nervous to try and 'go in for the kill'.  Besides, if she followed her instincts and tried to pin Irina on the table and kiss her, she'd ruin the meal!  It looked delicious!

... It smelled delicious.

With Irina regaining her composure and settling in more comfortably, Meara worked on doing the same, grateful at the moment that she had trained herself to be mostly ambidextrous what with Irina occupying her right hand.  And arm.  And leg.  And her neck was right there.

Calm down, Meara.  Calm down.  Do not think about her lovely neck, do not think about the amazing view of her booba you have right now, and definitely do not think about her moaning your name, she thought to herself, somehow succeeding despite actively doing the contrary to make it happen, Just think about what Auntie Val and Freyr would do.  Okay, Auntie Val.  Freyr apparently runs off to get laid.  I'm proud of her.

Finally settling in properly herself, Meara takes her first bite of the casserole and her eyes go wide.  She's had high class food all her life, but she'd almost always enjoyed the commoner's faire more.  Even with that, though...

"Sho gooob..."

She had a look of bliss on her face as she swallowed and turned her gaze to Irina, her eyes, to those thinking in a certain way, almost looked like bedroom eyes.  If this was an anime or manga, she'd probably have hearts in her eyes and sparkles around her face.  Really, though, she was just basking in a super delicious meal.

Brun straightened a bit, an almost impolite amount of pride at Gwydion's heaping of praise, "Well...  I don't know about strongest...". He glanced at Meara again, remembering his loss to the Valkyrie that Gwydion kindly reminded of.  Not that he could forget.  Some small part wonders how the match might go now...  No.  Other concerns now that competitions.  Besides it was very difficult to feel competitive against the Meara he saw at the other end of the table today.   Back to Gwydion, "I hope all my designs do her abilities justice...  We must all be at our very best in these times."

The mention of Gwydion being placed on ground duty seemed very surprising to Brun.  As well as the prince seeming to take it so hard, "You...saved lives at Callisto...  More than I thought possible.  But you did it.".  The gaunt (but getting better now) knight shook his head, "I would never be so bold as to gainsay King Arthur, but...  Keeping you and Dyrnwyn grounded seems...a terrible waste..." He paused, trying to gauge how much that was going to sink in before continuing, "But, I am sure he has very good reasons.  For my part, I will be glad to know you are waiting in reserve to come to my rescue.  Again." A friendly offer of a silver lining, with a dashing smile to ease it along.

Thoughts on Create Advantage for Gwydion?  Brun's trying to boost him, remind him of purpose and skill.  Find a silver lining, etc.  If it doesn't feel earned or needed, please ignore.

Chivalry Total - +4: The Lady's (and Brun's) Favor

13:50, Today: Brun rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, -1, 1.  Create Advantage: Chivalry +3.

Gwydion nodded as Brun spoke, his smile turning sad at the mention of his deeds at Callisto Station.

"Oh Brun, you've never needed me to rescue you. All the same, I'm proud to stand by your side. Uncle John... er, his majesty, that is. I suspect he is more worried for my safety than anything else. Though..." The prince turned to regard the rest of the table, pulling his smile up further, "a lovely dinner with such polite company is probably not the place to discuss such concerns. Lady Aegisdottir, I understand you'll be in charge of training up and comic Valkyries, is that so? It's quite the task, but I know of no one in the system better qualified. But, pardon my asking, does that mean you'll be leaving the direct service of my dear cousin? Even during my earliest childhood memories, I can't remember a time you two have ever been apart. Is that going to be alright?"

"Yes, your Highness. You are correct upon both counts. I will be leaving to return to Chonaill to begin my task. That does mean that I will no longer serve as handmaiden to Princess Meara." There was something about saying the words aloud that made the situation all too real. Freyr and Meara had known that would be the case since the Queen had given the order. They had been making preparations for that order to be a reality, but Freyr had never actually spoken it aloud in such definite terms until now.

She looked to Meara, trying to control the emotions welling up inside her. "Yes," she said. "Everything will be alright."

"You can count on me to keep Meara close by, Freyr. This posting won't last forever, and when you come back we will have a celebration. Of course, with Lady Iliza and I spending so much time together, I'll need an extra pair of eyes to keep my cousin out of trouble, a task I'm hoping I can entrust to Lady Irina." Gwydion, while not nearly as subtle a wingman as Mimi, was just as supportive. His smile went from sad to self-satisfied as he turned it from Freyr to Meara and Irina.

"Oh," Irina looked at Prince Gwydion for the first time since the beginning of the meal. "I'm happy to keep her company when I can. Between that and her duties, she should hardly find time for trouble."

"I believed that once, too," Freyr said fondly.

"Mimi and I can make sure she's well fed. She'll keep her strength up." Mrs. Moss offered.

"Yes," Mimi chimed-in excitedly.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 12:27, Fri 28 July 2023.

Ah.  Well now.  That answered the other question.

Gwydion's Irina suggestion brought a grin and Brun went back after whatever had survived on his plate.  It's harder to laugh while eating.  The rest chiming in with offers to watch out for the Valkyrie slowly brought down the amusement for Brun.  He aimed for a good polite middle.  Yes, we are all very amused and supportive.   It's good that people have support systems and networks around them.  It's...so....  Great.  Yes.

Needing cover for darkening thoughts, Brun also chimed in, "And I offer my support as well.  Or, since that job seems so well covered, I can assist with getting into trouble.  Whatever the Lady Meara wishes.". There's that dashing smile again.

So much was going on, and Meara just wanted to enjoy the moment, but then it had to get ruined by reality.  And then she wasn't even given the proper time to mope about it!  Oh no, the conversation had to make Freyr speak the words they had both been avoiding, and then before Meara could do more than register them, everyone was talking about making sure Irina 'kept an eye on her', and then Sylvie said she would keep her fed, and then Mimi chimed in, and both Gwydion and Brun said they'd chip in as well...

All she could do in response is hug Irina and bury her face in the other woman's back to keep from crying.  She had always worn her heart on her sleeve, as it were, and now everyone was poking it.  Everyone.

A very faint, muffled, "Thank you," was heard, at least if people were not talking over it.  Her breath probably tickled Irina's back, at least.

Irina managed to turn herself enough to hug Meara. She put her arms around Meara's shoulders and her cheek against Meara's red hair."Of course. That's what friends are for you know. We'll take good care of you."

"Yes," Mimi exclaimed again.

Mrs. Moss gave a warm smile, "She's right, you know. How about we start with a piece of cake, hmm?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:25, Fri 28 July 2023.

Well, if Meara was not flustered before, she was now, what with her face no longer being in Irina's back and now being in her boobs.  Well, at least she was going to die happy.

Except there is cake, so she can't die just yet.

Still, she cannot speak, but her face is nearly glowing red now.  She does have a silly smile on her face, though it is not exactly a maidenly smile.

Brun, having by now cleaned off his plate, gave Miss Moss all of his attention, "That sounds like a wonderful idea,  Everyone seemed to get very excited when you mentioned the sponge cake earlier..."

Gwydion's grin had to be covered so the escaping chuckle would have a hand to hide in. He decided to show his cousin some small mercy and redirect attention to Freyr for the moment.

"See, Freyr? Meara will be in good hands while you're shaping new Valkyries. Hopefully that won't be too terribly long. We'll miss you the entire time, but we'll be just one planetary jump away. Everything will be alright. You can count on us. Ooo, sponge cake~"

The cake did not disappoint. Light and airy, it was the perfect counterpart to the delicious casserole, which had been delightfully filling.

"Well, my dears, it's been a pleasure, but I'm afraid Mimi and I have to be going," Mrs. Moss announced eventually.

"Noooooooooooooo," Mimi lamented.

"Oh, yes, you still have schoolwork to finish, and don't you even think about getting Princess Meara to write you an excuse." Mrs. Moss rebutted and would brook no further argument.

Mimi pouted when she realized her ploy had been anticipated.

"There's no use in pouting. Go on now and say your goodbyes," Mimi's mother urged.

Mimi began to make her way around the table.

"Bye Miss Freyr. I hope you have a fun trip. Train lots of knights. I'm going to be a knight one day too." Mimi said as she hugged Freyr.

"Bye Mr. Lady Iliza's Sweetheart. Thanks for holding my sword. I hope you get lots of smooches from Lady Iliza." Mimi said as she gave Gwydion a hug.

"Bye Mr. Appetite man. You eat even more than my Dad." Mimi gave Brun a hug too.

When she reached Meara and Lady Irina she tried to hug them both as best she could. "Bye Lady Irina. Bye Princess Meara. Thanks for the cookie and the party. Oh! And sorry I poked you with my sword, Lady Irina," Mimi giggled. She was, clearly, not actually sorry.

Mimi and her mother soon departed leaving the rest gathered round Meara's table.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:06, Sat 29 July 2023.

Brun seemed surprised by the hug from Mimi, but returned the offered hug with a smile, "Thank you, my dear.  I do what I can."  He glanced up to Miss Sylvie Moss herself to add, "With food like this, the task is easy."

After the Moss' exit, Brun stood, "And...  I should be off as well...  My Lady waits and the King commands."  To each, he adds sincerely, "This was...lovely...  You were very kind to allow this vagabond a seat.  I do believe I needed it."  A polite bow, "When chance permits, I hope to be able to return the favor."  Straightening again, his brows knit at some passing thought while he awaited being politely dismissed back to his work and back to Euryleia again.

Gwydion happily returned Mimi's hug. He seemed to like her nickname for him.

"Thank you, Miss Mimi. You're quite welcome, and I'll let her know you said so." Adorable. And then he tried not to laugh too much when Mimi addressed Brun as "Mr. Appetite Man". When it was Brun's turn to begin his goodbyes, Gwydion's smile turned much less silly and more simply warm.

"Hardly a vagabond, Sir Brun. You've become one of my uncle's most trusted. Any table would be lucky to have you present. We should talk more often. Though times are busy, I should like to get to know you better than we've had a chance to."

Having managed to regain enough composure to finish the meal and enjoy some sponge cake (once again, 'sho goob~'), Meara had nearly forgotten she had an incredibly lovely lady on her lap.  At least, until Mimi hugged them both so they pressed into one another again.  With a blush still on her face (although much more faint than it was at the beginning of the meal), she smiled and wordlessly gave Mimi and Sylvie a wave farewell.  Once they had left, she looked at Gwydion, then at Brun, before asking, "Ah... I know this is a bit awkward to ask after sharing such a lovely meal, but... Sir Brun, may I ask why you came to visit?"

There was not a hint of body language asking Irina to stand up, despite there being an open seat next to Meara now, and on the same side Irina was sitting on her lap, no less.

Brun shifted his look from Meara to Gwydion and back again as he answered, "You both seemed...distracted... At the council.  And not in the way I expected, given the news.  After all that happened at Callisto and the extra time spent together on Arthur's... other project... Well, I found that I was very concerned about you both.  I thought, perhaps, to see if I could help in some way." He seemed almost apologetic to have considered offering any kind of assistance to Lady Meara of Chonaill and Prince Gwydion of Avaluna.  Presumptuous to think, /they/ could possible need help from /him/.  He smiled a wan smile, with a small shrug and started to say something....then his eyes suddenly got bigger.  He straightened, "Time!  Damn my eyes!"  Without considering the rudeness, he pulled out his dataslate and began furiously tapping away on it.  It only took a moment to realize the calculations were really beyond his Armoury skills, if only...  Brun's head snapped up and around, "Irina!  You're here!  It's not where...  It's WHEN.  The coordinates??"  The fevered shot sentences of someone who's mind raced ahead of their words.  He looked to Irina with a desperate hope that his ravings might make something "click" for her as well.  At least he would not be alone in his madness then.

OOC:  There.  That should ruin whatever Bossman had written.  Sorry!

Gwydion looks down to the table as Brun mentioned his distraction, nodding gently. He turned another sad smile to Brun, but was stunned out of it when the Knight came to his sudden realization. Irina got a quick glance, as the prince was suddenly well out of his element.

Intrigued by Brun's outburst and eager to see what's on his dataslate, Irina tried to stand from Meara's lap but found herself secured by the Princesses arm around her waist.

"Meara, I need to see what Sir Brun is working on. I think it's important," she said gently as she delicately tried to uncoil Meara's arm from around her. The blush of her cheeks was still apparent, but her eyes conveyed the importance of her request.

Once Irina could see the contents of Brun's dataslate, she stared at it hard for several moments in complete silence. "Oh. Oh! Sir Brun, you're a genius. I would have never thought to conceive of the coordinates that way. But if we treat what we thought were spacial coordinates as a measure of gravitational distortion...and then we think about this all in five dimensions rather than four we get...42 days, 6 hours, 3 minutes, 7 seconds...5 years, 4 months, 11 days, 8 hours, 39 minutes, 10 seconds...and 15 years, 1 month, 4 days, 2 hours, 51 minutes. Roughly speaking. From now. But...why? I mean that's interesting math, but how does it help us find what we're looking for? And why in five dimensions...I don't understand." Irina sat back in Meara's lap absent-mindedly, completely perplexed by the new problem.

Freyr watched the whole situation carefully. Clearly something was going on of which she had no understanding.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:05, Mon 31 July 2023.

Brun was happily impressed at Irina's acceptance of his flash of inspiration and quick calculations.  He was also more than a little relieved.  Many things today had made him feel he might be going mad.  It was nice to have company on at least one.  As to her questions, Brun could only offer a shrug for the moment, "Quantum physics is a bit outside my engineering experience....  But, time as a concept does fit MerLN's dream river....  But it sounds like we have 42 days, 6 hours and.... That'll just keep changing ...". Brun quickly set up timers to track her calculations I'm his slate.

"It sounds like we have that long before our first opportunity presents itself", finished Brun as he activated his dataslate's voice input, "MerLN, could your river be time?  And does that make any more sense with five dimensions?  ". He paused and looked to Meara and Freyr, "Would you mind terribly one more visitor?"

When Irina first tried to stand up, Meara reflexively held her in her lap, but quickly blushed and gently released Irina when the princess realized what she was doing.  She then found herself admiring Irina as Irina shifted into 'work-mode', not even trying to hide the smile on her face as she watched.

Before she could say anything, or even stand up, however, Irina sat back in her lap, much to her delighted (and flustered) surprise.  At least it stopped Meara from blurting out the subject matter itself to Freyr as she slipped her arms around Irina's waist again.

"F-far be it from me to keep MerLN or His Royal Majesty from visiting upon such a discovery," Meara replied to Brun before Freyr could properly grasp what might be going on.

Poor Freyr was now even more confused.

For his part, Gwydion mostly just watched and listened. The math was well beyond him, but the results were at least something he could follow.

"That isn't long before the first counter arrives, and it looks like we'll only get three chances to understand what it means and take action. We were told that Sir Sawyer first found the chip because a ghost led him to it. Iliza let me know she experienced something similar, a ghost leading her to the station's vault during the attack and the vault just opening to her. I feel like we would have a lot more insight if we could identify this ghost."

"Would you be surprised to know that those two tales are not the only two times that I have heard of travellers encountering a ghostly woman in the Solar System," MerLN asked the assembled group as he appeared in the room. The wizened gray wizard turned to Meara and bowed, "I humbly accept your invitation, Princess."

"As for your question, Sir Brun, yes. Time could make sense in that context. As for the Fifth Dimension it represents"

"Entanglement," Irina said reflexively as she curled her fingers through Meara's own fingers at her waist. She didn't even seem to realize it.

"Precisely," MerLN said encouragingly. "That mechanism of physics which your ancestors called 'spooky action at a distance.' The fifth dimension is a micro-dimension that is the key to a unifying theory of physics as we understand it. Even the Breach which you enter when traveling via the Wyrmgates is made possible by the..." MerLN stopped suddenly and cleared his throat. "I suppose that lecture should be saved for another time.

MerLn reached out a hand and the data from Brun's datapad swirled in the air for all to see. "What matters now is that Sir Brun has made our first major breakthrough since deciphering the data chip. A series of breadcrumbs through space-time itself leading us to the G.R.A.I.L. Fascinating. Sir Brun, how were you able to make such a remarkable discovery?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:43, Mon 31 July 2023.

Meara wanted dearly to contribute to the conversation in a productive fashion.  She truly did.  But she also knew that this was all way over her head and oh goddesses those are Irina's fingers intertwining with her own-

No!  You have to focus, Meara!  Stop thinking about how absolutely gorgeous she is when she's talking about... math stuff!

So, with as much subtlety as she could muster (which was impressive that she could summon any at all), Meara motioned for Freyr to come over so she could speak to her quietly without interrupting the conversation at hand, knowing full well that MerLN would probably hear her anyway.

"Should we send a message to Auntie Val and King John to invite them to the discussion, or do you think MerLN has already told them?  I figure we should at least send the invitation so it is less awkward when they inevitably arrive, what with this breakthrough about the G.R.A.I.L."

Brun's brows lifted slowly in surprise as he turned towards Gwydion.  Who had just explained that the chip was found with the help of a ghost...twice...  So, now ghosts exist?  It has been a /day/.  MerLN materializing somehow did not seem strange or surprising, even with the ghostly context.  That's MerLN.  That's /different/.

MerLN's confirmation of the reports of ghosts was much more concerning.  Thankfully, the holographic intelligence did not stay on that topic but began a small lecture on quantum mechanics and the fifth dimension.  It raised questions for Brun and he wanted to know more, this not being familiar ground for him at all.  Before he could ask though, the lecture was prematurely stopped and credit was given to him for his flash of insight.

A happy moment of pride as he watched the system map float into being.

Brun stepped into the holographic data display to study the points shown by MerLN.  The question of his discovery was answered absently, "It just...came to me...  Earlier today?"  A pause. "Yesterday?"  Brun took another pause looking a bit concerned that he can't say for certain which, "I had brought Euryleia's neurocore online..."  A smile. "She asked me a question and it just came to me...  Then I..." The smile grew a bit more and wistful, "Got distracted.  Then the council.  Then I was concerned about Price Gwydion and Lady Meara.  Then Miss Moss brought dinner...  Then I remembered..."  Brun paused his recitation of his timeline, rubbing his hands over his face, "I apologize.  I've not been sleeping well...  Or eating. Apparently..."

"Brun, I am absolutely ensuring you eat food from this point forward. What do you mean she asked you a question? You mean your Armour?"

Brun looked a bit chastened by Gwydion's notion of making sure he eats.  But, he really has no defense having just admitted as much.  The prince's question gets a bit of a confused, almost offended look, "Euryleia.  Yes.  Asked me a question."

MerLN seemed to overhear the conversation between Meara and Freyr. "I thought it best to wait until we had something concrete to give them. We've made progress, but we aren't at a solution just yet."

Irina nodded and raised her hand to gesture at the floating data. Meara's hand went with it. She noticed their fingers for the first time. Her eyes went wide. Her blush reintensified. "Eeep!" Irina was clearly surprised, but the task at hand was important. She gently put Meara's hand back in her lap and completed the gesture she entended. A map of the Solar System appeared with the data. With Irina's input it split into threes.

"MerLN's right. These are the coordinates. Mars in six weeks. Saturn in five years. And the Kuiper belt in fifteen years. That last trip is a worry. The Wyrmgate at Saturn is the furthest out. Neptune, Uranus, and anything out that far is beyond the gate network. Assuming we send someone from the Saturnine gate, that's a two year trip, each way, at best. But that's not the worst of it...."

"These are five dimensional coordinates. Normally we're dealing with relativistic physics in four dimensions. The spatial dimension descriptors length, width, and height traditionally associated with three-dimensional Euclidean Space and, of course, time. We're still within the realm of our everyday existence. It's deterministic. But the fifth dimension complicates things. It's not deterministic. It's probabilistic. This isn't like someone asking you to meet at cargo pad three at 15:00 hours. It's like asking you to meet at cargo pad three at 15:00 hours, but they will only be there if you're wearing the right shirt. And you don't have any idea which shirt that is or even that the shirt is a stipulation in the first place. Even if we are at these places at the right time we've no guarantee we'll encounter whatever it is that these coordinates indicate." Irina, deliberately this time, took Meara's hand. She wasn't sure what was happening. Or even that this wasn't a dream. Now that she thought about it, it probably was. Theoretical physics on the lap of the Princess she'd had a crush on since they'd met and the fate of Humanity might rest in the balance? Definitely a dream. Too bad she couldn't tell if dream Meara was into her at all. Nah, probably not. That tended to be an entirely different sort of dream. No, Irina. Physics. Physics!

"A fairly succinct summation," MerLN agreed. "Metaphor is never perfect, but I take it you all understand the point..."

"No, this is great. Now we know what kind of information we're missing. That's a huge leap from where we were just moments ago. First good news I've heard all day honestly... Do you know if there's a way to determine what's necessary, or are we just going to have hope we get lucky?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:06, Tue 01 Aug 2023.

Meara's face fell a bit as Irina let go of her hand, but it brightened up again when it was placed in Irina's lap instead.  She genuinely paid attention to what Irina was saying, and actually understood as well, for probably the first time in awhile.  The princess really, really wanted to contribute to the conversation, but before she could speak, Irina took her hand again, then Gwydion mentioned getting lucky, and the one thought she had fled the room.  It was all she could do to gently squeeze the hand that was holding hers again.  She gave a very, very fleeting glance at Freyr.

Help!
Are you seriously too gay to function right now?
YES
Oh my goddess, I should have expected this.
Freyrrrrrrrrrrrr
Nope.  I can't help you in this one.
Buuuuuuuuuu~

It's amazing what two people can say without speaking with just a momentary glance and a grin in reply.

Without backup, from her own brain or from Freyr (who they both knew wouldn't have anything to add yet either until MerLN or Irina replies), all Meara could do is fight to stay focused on the subject at hand.

But then, suddenly, a flash of insight!

"The fifth dimensional coordinates would relate to possibilities, but we will need more context to figure those out, I think.  But why would the encryption have these coordinates if they did not want the G.R.A.I.L. found?  Lady Iliza and Sir Sawyer both claimed they were led to the coordinates, so perhaps...?  No, they were not seeking it, so that cannot be it.  What is the common thread between them?  There has to be something there!" she thought aloud, her face furrowed in thought.

Fate point spent to activate "See? I was listening!" to Succeed on a Lore Overcome action.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:28, Tue 01 Aug 2023.

Gwydion nodded at Meara's input, and glanced over. Then stopped when he realized who it was talking. Once given a moment for that to compute, the prince gave another slow nod and turned to MerLN.

"It might help if we knew more about this ghost. MerLN, can you tell us more about these incidents? Do we have clues to the identity of our benevolent apparition? A motive could provide more context."

Irina had been just about to offer an answer to Gwydion's question when Meara spoke. Yes, that was exactly right. The fifth dimensional coordinates would correspond to quantum states--possibilities--and they would be impossible to predict without a frame of reference. Her assumption that something wanted them to find the G.R.A.I.L. did seem sound. And the notion that considering Iliza and Alon Sawyer's experiences might provide them some clue. Oh goddesses. Oh stars above. This was one of those dreams!

Irina suddenly looked faint, her breathing a little shallow, and she gave a brief squeal which sounded suspiciously like, "Marry me."

When the others looked her way, she realized that she had said the internal part aloud. "I-I mean, Maybe ME-ara's right. Perhaps there's something in common with the other people that saw this "ghost" as well? Something that could lead us in the right direction." Good, nobody had caught that little slip, right?



"I know of fourteen reports of a Ghostly woman sighted throughout the Solar System in the last 16 years. Lady Iliza's case being the most recent," MerLN answered. " Descriptions of the apparition vary somewhat, though eyewitness accounts can be unreliable. Shall I send for Lady Iliza, see as she is the one who encountered this ghost most recently?"

With another glance to his cousin and her technician, Gwydion gave a smiling nod to MerLN.

"Yes, please do."

Brun was trying to think.  The dinner helped, but all the long days and worry and....  Focus.  This is hardly the first time you have pushed this hard. The dinner had helped, but this was an extensive and confusing problem...  Fifth dimensional probablistic thinking...  Not something you do everyday.  Irina's explanation made things more clear.  Such a mind...

Gwydion raised a good point about trying to consider how to determine the rules...  Then even Meara leapt in with a surprisingly logical leap.  Think, brain....

He started speaking, train of thought out loud sometimes helped, "Aside from descriptions....  Were there any other commonalities?  The sort of people it visited? Where it happened?"

Brun paused again looking at the holo-map, "Would it be possible to plot the reports here?"

"And was it always in a circumstance with no power? The shuttle was dead, and Callisto's generators were all down, emergency included." That was right, he still needed to have a word with that Hyle fellow. The one who decided to dance with Gwydion's Iliza. Before murdering so many people...maybe. Maybe being responsible.

She heard that right, didn't she?  Yes, she absolutely did.  No mistake, she just got a proposal.  Not about to let this opportunity pass her by,  Meara did the only thing she could.

"Okay."

Oh no.

It happened.

Her last day on the job after fourteen years and she'd dropped her guard. She had taken pride in her work well done. She had taken pride in the woman Meara had grown to be. She had begrudgingly acknowledged that she had come to love the Princess as she would a younger sister. She had delighted in Meara's first brushes with romance. She had dropped her guard.

She had dropped her guard.

Had she not, just earlier this afternoon, mused at how the Princess seemed to blaze through everything she set her mind on?

Perhaps, she thought, this was all a feint. A jest.

No.

She had been a warrior too long. She knew when the killing stroke was falling. She saw it now.

The death of the last of Meara's childhood. The dawn of her true womanhood. Embracing life for all it's bitterness and slights and all it's wonders and joys. Whole-heartedly.

It was that which the young princess understood that the rest didn't. Perhaps, Meara had been her teacher all these years...

There were tears welling up in young Irina's eyes as she turned to look at Meara.

There were tears welling up in her own eyes.

As Lady Irina leaned tentatively toward the Princess and softly pressed their lips together, Freyr uttered the only word she could.

In defiance of these foolhardy young women rushing headlong into engagement.

In defiance of the Duchess's certain rage, which may cost her, her position if not her head.

In defiance of her own understanding of the world.

She said...

"Congratulations."

The map populated with fourteen isolated markers as Sir Brun requested.

MerLN seemed not to notice the other goings on in the room as he began to provide an in-depth survey of each of the reports.

The time and location, circumstances, witnesses. It took several minutes before he realized his audience was focused elsewhere. He turned to see the Princess Meara and Lady Irina, her arms around Princess Meara's shoulders, kissing softly. "I fail to see what relevance this has to the task at hand," he asked with genuine confusion.

Freyr's voice distracted Gwydion from MerLN's explanations, and his eyes went wide seeing his cousin and Irina kissing. Congratulations? Did they just? No. Even Meara isn't that fast. Unless?

He stared, processing.

Brun nodded slowly to Gwydion's suggestion about the power, or lack thereof, "Another good observation..."  Everyone was making keen observations, except for him.  He needed more data.  He focused more on the information that began populating the holomap, studying the reports and the available data MerLN had.  There has to be some correlation...  What am I missing?

At Freyr's congratulations, Brun rubbed his eyes, "I'm not really sure that congratulations are in order yet...  Its a start, yes, but...  We'll get there."  Then MerLN made his confused assertion.  Brun looked over to the "wizard", "She was just offering an accolade towards the good start.  It's a polite thing.  Hopeful.  Not sure its really...deserved....yet, as... I... said...."  He quickly began to realize that MerLN was not looking at him or Freyr.  He turned to track the eyelines to...

Meara and Irina sharing a kiss.

Brun smiled fondly at the site...perhaps a /little/ wistfully and what might've been...  Then slowly back to MerLN again, "It's a kiss and has no relevance to this task.  You are correct.  Don't stare."  He began to return his attention to the map again when his very tired brain made one more realization.  The congratulations from Freyr...

Brun slowly turned back again, hands clasped tightly in front of his face.  Eyes a bit wider as regarded the couple again, "Awww..."  That fond smile again.  Then a quick glance to Gwydion and Freyr so they could silently share the...  Hmm... /They/ seemed to be taking this rather hard.  The smile slipped a bit, the smile tightened into a a bit of a worried line, "Ohhhh...  I see."

Meara wanted to ask Irina to slow down, just a bit, as there were matters to which they still needed to attend.  She wanted, at some level, to say something like 'maybe we should run it by my mother first and work on getting her blessing before we go forward with this', because there was a part of her that did actually think about consequences.  She wanted to make Freyr proud by showing maturity and responsibility.

All of that melted away the moment she felt Irina's lips on hers, and the only thought in her head was thus.

FIRST KISS!  WOO!

When the two of them finally pulled their lips apart, Meara rested her forehead against Irina's and gave her a silly, happy smile.

"I do not think this will help us find the G.R.A.I.L.," she said with a chuckle, unable to take her eyes off Irina's.

A soft bee-doo once again echoed through the room. Lady Iliza was at the door.

Freyr crossed the room and answered the chime. "Lady Iliza. Please come in."

"Thank you. I spoke with MerLN and he asked that I met you all here." Lady Iliza entered and curtsied to the assembled group.

Lady Freyr seemed distracted. Prince Gwydion looked stunned. Sir Brun, preoccupied. MerLN, confused. Princess Meara and...Irina were wholly caught up in one another. What was going on here?

"Is something amiss," she asked aloud, looking mostly to Gwydion trusting him to give her an honest answer.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:35, Wed 02 Aug 2023.

Brun decided to return to the task at hand as Meara and Irina attempted to negotiate priorities.  Ilizas arrival made his decision easier.  Though he was happy for and worried for the couple (and slightly jealous? No... No?), he wasn't really family and this felt like a family moment.  For now. Maybe ask Iliza about the "ghost" later.  Yes.  Right.  Investigations....

He gave his attention back to the holo-map again and the data points he had available.  His mind wandered back to the ready room of the Shadow King and the Captain discussing how they had tracked down a target....  Look for the patterns.  Everyone had them he had said.  Where they have been....  What they want...  You don't have to chase the prey if you know where the prey will be.  The sheep will walk right into the slaughterhouse without realizing the danger...  It was a game, hunting.  They enjoyed it.  Brun had enjoyed it....once...

Brun looked rather grim now, trying to look at the situation like a pirate on the hunt.  He hated it.

Overcome - Cunning Roll Total: +3.  Willing to throw in a a FP to tag Sharpened on the Edge.  Which would be +5

08:56, Today: Brun rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, 0, 0.  Overcome - Cunning +4

At Iliza's arrival, Gwydion's brain returned to the land of the functioning. He swooped up out of his seat and went to take the lady's hands in his own, smiling wide and warm.

"Iliza, my dear, welcome! I have good news and good news. The good news is that we've made astounding progress in deciphering the data on the chip you found, and could use your help to break through the next step. The good news is..." With a glance over his shoulder, Gwydion stepped aside to give a clearer view of the other ladies. "...Irina and Meara have finally noticed that they like each other."
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 21:09, Wed 02 Aug 2023.

Gwydion could practically see the excitement buzzing in Iliza as she looked at Meara and her sister clearly enamored with one another. She squeezed Gwydion's hand tightly as she began to speak, but it mostly turned into a restrained squeal, "Gwydi^{eeeeeethisisthebest.}"

Iliza took a deep breath to calm herself.

"I've never known Irina to have a crush before," Iliza said once again within the register of human hearing. "People mostly just get on her nerves. This is the breakthrough. How did I not see this coming? Tell me everything."

MerLN looked from the map of the Solar System, to the assembled group and back again. Humanity. They had an expression. "Reliable when the chips were down." That was the truth. Humans were attentive when staring down oblivion, but keeping them on task when they weren't actively dodging blaster fire? It was easier to herd felines. At least they could be trusted to follow a laser projection. Humanity wasn't nearly as consistent.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:02, Wed 02 Aug 2023.

Managing to register Iliza's presence despite the biggest distraction in her life so far sitting directly on her lap and giving her smooches, Meara raises her right hand to gently lay it on Irina's cheek, then very, very slowly rotate both of their heads to look at Iliza through the holoprojection.  Their heads are still touching, Meara is still blissfully smiling (if anything, she looks a little proud as if to say 'look at who I smooched!'), and Meara's left arm is still draped over Irina's shoulder.

Then, before Irina fully registers, she says, "Hello, Sister."

Subtle as a brick, that one.

Blink blink. Poor Gwydion has so many thoughts trying to put themselves in the correct order. "W-well, they were looking at each other all cute, and so Mimi and I sort of got them to notice each other during surprise dinner, aaaaand I think they just got engaged? Freya please confirm?"

Iliza was happily nodding along as Gwydion explained. He could almost see her joy for her sister radiating off her.

She froze in place after Gwydion delivered the last news. "They what," she deadpaned.

Freyr gave a curt nod of confirmation.

She turned to look at her sister, "You what?!"

"I admit it is quite sudden and entirely unexpected, but yes. Meara and I are engaged." Irina said with a nod. She couldn't keep the smile off of her face.

"'Quite sudden and entirely unexpected' are how you describe a sneeze, Irina. Not the rest of your life. I thought you were supposed to be the smart one?!" Iliza could hardly believe her usually thorough and practical sister was somehow trying to justify something so rash.

Speaking like a child proud that they tied their shoes for the first time, Meara explained, "I said some sciencey things about fifth-dimensional probabilities and stuff, then she asked me to marry her, and so I agreed, because what sort of fool would refuse her?"

Irina shot to her feet, "Oh so it's okay if you go around drooling over Prince Gwydion, but I'm not allowed to have feelings? Well I do! And someone finally likes ME too! Someone finally sees me. Not Iliza's sister. Not the weird one. Just Irina. Meara sees me. And she's amazing. And maybe I kinda dream about her too sometimes. I can't even put into words how this feels, Sis." Tears were falling from Irina's eyes.


Irina beamed at Meara.

Iliza couldn't stay mad. She suddenly hugged her sister tightly. "Oh I know exactly how it feels. I am happy for you. So happy. I just wish this wasn't the first time in your life you chose to leap before you looked. You usually won't tie your shoes without a plan, little sister. Oh I love you so." Iliza was crying now too.

Iliza reached out and pulled Meara into the hug as well. "Take care of her," she pleaded, adding wrly, "I do have a hostage, you know."

After the hug ended Iliza turned back to Gwydion, "You." She pointed her finger, "I can hardly blame Mimi, she's a sweet little girl, but you should know better! How could you let things go this far? Really, Gwydion. Hmph."

Gwydion was so very pleased with the scene, right up until Iliza's chastising was turned on him.

"Ah, okay, yes, in my defense, I thought one of them would eventually ask the other on a date, then have it pointed out that dinner counts as a date, then suggest another one. I did not expect a wedding proposal followed by their first kiss in the middle of MerLN providing some explanations about how we might be able to open the way to the GRAIL. Also I love you very with all my heart and would have absolutely summoned you sooner had I realized where this was going. Also I was planning to propose to you well before these two got anywhere near this point but I should really stop talking now."

Iliza had to bite her lip to keep from laughing as Gwydion began to explain. Her poor, sweet, Prince did look genuinely perplexed as to how this all came about.

"I suspect you think that silver tongue and honest heart will get you out of trouble, hmmm? I also suspect you are very right." It was true. His honesty, forthrightness, compassion touched her deeply. She had joked with Meara that she had a hostage, but the truth was that her heart was captive to her beloved Prince.

Tears began to flow again at Gwydion's admission of love. Her heart swelled and she threw herself in his arms drinking him in. "I love you too, Gwydion. Truly and deeply. But, yes, enough talking," she stood on her tip-toes and captured his lips with hers.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:42, Thu 03 Aug 2023.

The growing blush on Gwydion's cheeks was interrupted by Iliza, and he just sort of let his arms slip around her waist and back and gently pull her in.

FIRST KISS! WOO!

Brun tapped his chin lightly as he continued his investigation of the reports.  Checking this one.  Checking that one.  Then the other again.  Of course, he was paying some attention to everything going on behind him.  Wincing slightly and smiling at the appropriate times.  It was...nice...  It kept the memories of the Shadow King at bay.  No shadows here.  Not for them and not now.  They deserved to get through this.  And it seemed like, at least between the sisters, find a happy resolution....  And Gwydion too.  He grinned a bit and cast a look over to MerLN, "Sorry...  Best to let them run it out...  They'll never be able to get anything done till they do...   Patience."

He stepped over next to the "wizard" to wait as he had just suggested, tapping out some of the consistent details he had discovered into his dataslate.  Brun glanced back up again, to each couple.  Quite happy for them...?  Yes, definitely.  But the sight was making him very much want to get back to his Armoury...and /his/ Lady...  But the GRAIL....  But, Euryleia!.....  Duty....  EURYLEIA....  I'm not leaving the Armoury again.  That's just how it has to be...  Brun suddenly sighed, a bit too heavily while looking at his slate.

As the scene calmed down, MerLN cleared his throat, "Yes, well, very good. Back to the matter at hand, shall we? Lady Iliza, we asked you here in the hopes that you might recollect for us your experience with the 'ghostly' woman. How well did you see her? Would you be able to recognize her again? Hmmm?"

Iliza considered the question, and answered slowly. She squeezed Gwydion's hand. It was still difficult to think about that night. "Well enough, given the circumstances, I suppose. Yes, it's possible I might recognize her again."

Brun cleared his throat, joining in as politely as possible, "Could, possibly, remember any details of the..."ghost's"...appearance?"

"Yes. She had short hair. Older. Maybe around my mother's age. Brown skin. Some sort of heavy jacket or coat." Iliza answered Brun.

A grid of twenty faces suddenly replaced the map of the Solar System.

Iliza looked them over very carefully. "Third Row. Fourth Column. That's her. I am certain of it."

MerLN nodded, "Just as I suspected. I will summon the King and Queen. They will want to hear this. The woman Lady Iliza has identified is Dr. Vyvyan Locke. The creator of MerGN-A and myself. The...mother...of the Emergent, if you will."

That information hit Gwydion's face and knocked the adoration right out of it, causing him to look around at Freya and Meara, before returning his attention to MerLN.

"Should we summon them here or should we go to them? I feel this is quickly turning larger than a dining table can manage, and I mean that metaphorically. Perhaps a war room might be more appropriate?"

"Quite Right. See you soon," MerLN said before he vanished.

---

The group reconvened in the King's stateroom. The secrecy of their endeavor and the current crisis of the Dragon left CAMELOT Command a poor choice of venue given the circumstances.

The King and Queen were already in attendance. "MerLN tells me you have made a breakthrough. I wish this came at a better time, but we could use a bit of good news at the moment. Please, what have you discovered?"

Gwydion smiled sheepishly as he explained, giving Iliza's hand another squeeze.

"Well, Princess Meara and Lady Irina have discovered a fondness for each other, which is absolutely wonderful I think. ... That...probably isn't what you were asking about... Right, yes! We know when and where to find the GRAIL, but we need to find the ghost of MerLN's mother to tell us how to access it. Also we have just over a month before or first window arrives and no idea how long it will last."

Having somehow managed to separate most of her body from Irina so they were merely linking arms and squeezing hands, Meara added helpfully, "More specifically, we have three locations and three timeframes, one for each, and since the coordinates were five dimensional, we're hoping Dr. Vyvyan Locke is the fifth coordinate thingy.  Ah, it was Mars, Saturn, and the Kwooper Sash or something, at six weeks, two years, and, um, fifteen years.  Also now that I have had a moment to think, I am pretty sure Mother will need convincing, but that can wait.  Sorry, everything happened so fast!"

Brun was caught off guard by the sudden change of venue suggestion.  He, of course, wanted to get back to his Armoury.  For many very good reasons.....  But, needs must.

Dammit.  Dammit.

He managed to keep his cool and settled on a determined, neutral expression to cover for his rising frustration.  He did use the time en route to finish the very preliminary summary/report he had started during the romantic discussions.  And a little time to snap another message to Euryleia....

--->Dinner turned into an important discussion....  Now summoned to attend the King and Queen regarding.  "I am sorry" fails to convey the true depth of my feelings regarding conflict between duty and you.
__________________________

In the King's stateroom, whilst Gwydion and Meara offered excitable mixes of information, Brun sent his summary notes to the King and Queen.  When a moment presented itself, he let them know, "I took the liberty of compiling the basic information on the GRAIL discussion and have sent it to you both, your majesties."  He gave a small formal bow and stepped back, "As for any other matters of a more personal nature mentioned, I was barely involved."

Euryleia's reply was instantaneous.

--->You are a Knight and I am your partner. Your duty to the kingdom is your duty to me. Have as much fun as you can. When you return, we'll see if we can top it. I promise to wait up.

---

The King and Queen did their best to absorb the information being thrown their way. It was a lot, and disjointed, but it was hardly the first crisis, political or existential, that they had faced.

"I, for one, am very happy for the both of them. But that does bring up the obvious issue...how does Each Other feel about them?" The King looked very pleased with himself, while the Queen's usually carefully neutral expression suddenly looked very put upon.

"Do you understand what you have done, Niece? Not only have you ignored the concerns of the Crown and your own station, but you've gotten the King started. He'll be like this for the rest of the afternoon, no doubt. One of the few things my dear husband has in common with traditional Venusian Gentleman--he adores weddings."

"It's true. Best part of being King is that they let you marry people. It's the most enjoyable and least stressful part of the job. It's great," The King said earnestly.

"Be that as it may, as Regent of Venus, you do not yet have our blessing. But We will consider the matter. In the meantime, you will inform your mother, the Duchess of Chonaill, of your actions. Perhaps facing her ire will caution you against such haste in the future. Pray you find her in a good mood."

The Queen exchanged a look with her husband. He nodded reluctantly. "In addition, you will be reassigned to garrison duty for the duration of the current operation. Hardly more than an hour after the King cautioned you against recklessness and you do this? And in a crisis, no less. I had believed that I could trust your judgement in the heat of battle. Apparently, I was mistaken," Queen Valerie never raised her voice. It made her disappointment all the more painful.

The tension in the air was thick, almost oppressive.

"Which of them do you think makes the cuter couple? I can't decide." John Arthur had a look of intense scrutiny upon his face as he glanced back and forth between Gwydion & Iliza and Meara & Irina. "I think they are perfectly matched. We could pull off a double wedding. I've never done one of those before. Twice the happiness. Maybe even twice the cake."

The Queen arched an eyebrow in his direction, "I hardly think this is the time, husband."

"Oh, right. G.R.A.I.L. Yes," King Arthur said as though he had forgotten. But the twinkle in his eye said that he'd gotten just what he'd wanted.

The tension was gone. Like that John Arthur had disarmed the sour mood that had threatened to settle in the chamber

The King examined the data Brun provided. "Excellent work, Sir Brun."

After a few moments he said, "I think I've seen this woman before as well. On the day I found MerLN. That makes sense if she was his creator, but what does she have to do with the G.R.A.I.L.?"

"Unknown, sire. But the location you found me was below the remnants of her destroyed laboratory. She knew she would be one of MerGN-A's first targets, so she hid me so that I could complete the necessary subroutines and become who I am. I remained buried for decades until you found me. Even if Dr. Locke had survived, there is no way she could still appear so young. She would be near a hundred by now."
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:31, Thu 03 Aug 2023.

Brun watched both couples as they were reproached by the Queen.  Well, really just Meara....  Gwydion was Arthur's problem and the king did not see any problem.  So....that was good.   A wince as Meara too was grounded away from the crisis.  These knights were needed....and these swords would be missed....   But, he had no standing to gainsay anything.  Technically, he wasn't even even fully sworn yet....

It was a relief, for him and hopefully the others, when the subject returned to the GRAIL.  He considered, then offered, "Not really my area...  But, if we consider that time is a coordinate factor....  Perhaps, she found a way to bypass time?  Move differently along the river?  Hypothetically, she would not age or experience time the way we do....  Though she doesn't seem to have much control /if/ this was the case.". Brun didn't sound terribly convinced of his thought, but it was obviously more reasonable than ghosts.  Right? Right.

Not expecting such a rebuke from Auntie Val, Meara frowned and looked a bit sad, like a scolded puppy.  If Gwydion was allowed to choose Iliza, why wasn't she allowed to choose Irina?  Neither were political matches, but everyone seemed supportive of Gwydion and Iliza.  "You would think they would be happy I accepted the sister of a princess-to-be," she muttered, "especially one so brilliant.  I hate double standards."

She gave Irina's hand a squeeze and held it for emotional support.  She made no complaints about being reassigned to garrison duty, however.  The worst part of all of it was the disappointment in Auntie Val's face.  That stung the most.

Gwydion subtly scooted his way closer to his cousin, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze as well. They definitely had his support. Grounding Meara as well came as a shock, and his hand squeezes to both girls became tense and almost painful, while his face fell like they'd just kicked his dog. The prince had some things of his own to say, but that would have to wait until a more appropriate moment came up. The GRAIL was more urgent. The survival of humanity as a whole depended on it.

He cast an alarmed and crestfallen glance to his cousin.

"It's more than we had to go on before." The King acknowledged. "While two sets of coordinates afford us ample time to prepare. The set on Mars is more pressing. This may be our only shot for five years. We need to make it count. This Dr. Locke seems to be the connecting thread. But we need more to go on."

"Sire, if I may make a suggestion," MerLN interjected.

"By all means, MerLn," the King encouraged.

"Perhaps we should return to and investigate the ruins of Dr. Locke's lab. It is the only known link to the Doctor. Perhaps there is something we missed. Something we overlooked," MerLN suggested.

The King nodded, "Back to where this all began, eh? A sound enough suggestion. But we are needed here."

He turned to look at the three Knights in the room.

"What say you, Gwydion? Fancy a trip to Earth?" the King looked almost pleased with an excuse to send his nephew away from the looming danger. "You never let me down. If there's anything left to find, I know you'll find it."

"And how about you two?" the King asked as he looked to Meara and Irina. "It's maybe not the most romantic place for an engagement trip bu--" he trailed off when he saw the glare from his wife. "I, uh, mean to say, I can hardly send Prince Gwydion alone. Earth is still dangerous. He'll need someone to watch his back. Meara, that falls to you. And your fia--, the brilliant Lady Irina will, no doubt, be an asset to your mission."

The King turned to Brun, "While I would prefer you here as a Lance-Commander, I'm afraid your expertise may be needed on this mission. With any luck, you'll be back in time for that as well. I told you this was a life sentence." John Arthur shot Brun a wink.

"I want you all to depart as soon as Sir Brun's Armour is ready. Three days, yes?" He looked to Brun for confirmation.

"Oh! That reminds me. I was going to save this as a surprise for your Oath Ceremony, but needs must. MerLN, if you will..."

A hologram of a transport flickered to life. The profile looked very familiar.

"This vessel is probably one you recognize. You should. This is the Thames, one of the transports you saved from Callisto Station. The very last transport as a matter of fact. She's spent the last few months undergoing extensive retrofit from Cargo Hauler to Armour Carrier. She is yours to command, Sir Brun. A gift from the Crown to the newly raised House Stjernevold."

Just before the sovereigns dismissed them, Queen Valerie looked to Meara, "Inform Dame Freyr that I would speak with her. In person."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:05, Thu 03 Aug 2023.

Despite her emotions, Meara let go of both Irina's and Gwydion's hands to give a proper salute of respect and acknowledgement to her orders, both to King Arthur, and then again to Auntie Val.

"I will, my Queen.  Let it be known that Lady Irina and I acted before anyone else could even know what was happening, so please, know that Dame Freyr is not at fault," she said, mixed emotions on her face, "I shall reflect on my actions and construct a proper apology, both to you and to Dame Freyr."  Visibly upset, it was clear that she was not upset with Queen Valerie, but herself for disappointing her aunt.

Assuming she was dismissed after those words, she took Irina's hand and headed back to her quarters to pass the word along to Freyr, then get started on that letter home to Mother.

The plan was pulling him further from the front lines, and Gwydion was becoming more distressed by the moment. Upon their dismissal, he spoke up.

"Your Majesty, may I ask who set my duty in regards to Ember Rend? It could have been either you or my Uncle John. If it was you, I understand and will obey with no further question, but if it was my Uncle John, I must voice my protest. My skills are needed in that battle. Isn't keeping me from facing that creature simply putting others at more risk? Uncle, please. That beast is danger beyond the understanding of over half the people you presented it to. I don't plan on letting it take me as it did my father, but I can still protect others from it, and ensure its defeat this time."

Brun was not prepared for the swift changes of course that had followed.  He was conflicted at the loss of his role of Lance-Commander, but honestly felt a bit more certain of himself on such a mission with Gwydion, Meara, and Irina.  To the question of his Lady's readiness, he straightened, "Three days, your majesty.  Yes."

He might've been about to say more, but was cut off by the King's presentation of the Thames.  He recognized the original lines of the cargo ship, even as it had been remade into something new.  Rather fitting really...   And now back to being in command again.

He took a steadying breath and gave a deep bow, "We thank you, your majesty.  We will do all that we can to be worthy of these gifts..."  He wasn't sure why he said we...but it felt right when speaking of the new household... and armourers... and crew...

He was glad to step back and stop having to think of anything more to stammer out as Meara stepped up.  His proud, grateful smile dimmed to see the Valkyrie distraught on what should have been a happy day...  He hoped it would get better for them; resolving silently to help if he could.

Dismissal.  Finally.  He could get back to work...  Meara and Irina could take some time to consider and plan...  Gwydion...

No, he looked like he was going to...  Oh.  Well.  Damn.

Brun looked from Gwydion, to John, to Val...to Meara...  It seemed wrong and unsupportive to leave, but he had been dismissed...

"You are welcome, Sir Brun. I know that you will. It's the least I could do after all that I've asked of you," the King said graciously.

Queen Valerie absorbed Meara's words with no more than the slightest nod of acknowledgement.

At Gwydion's outburst, John Arthur rocked back on his heels and forward again in a casual motion as he shrugged his shoulders. Oh, it's one of those days his posture seemed to say. He exhaled slowly.

All at once he had the regal bearing of a King.

He chuckled before he spoke, but his voice had a touch of the irritability Gwydion had seen earlier,"My boy, I think you have confused the fact that I phrased my order as a question to mean that you have a choice in the matter. You will serve as your King sees fit. For now that means going to Earth. Afterwards it means strengthening the garrison here on Avaluna. You better than most should know what happens if a settlement is caught unaware and defenseless."

The King winced at his tone and the import his words had for those present.

He tried again, "Forgive me. Gwydion, you know I don't doubt you or your skill. I trust you as much as any knight in my service. Know that I have my reasons. Think of your assignment as an opportunity to enjoy more time in the company of Lady Iliza." He smiled at both of them fondly, "That, too, is an order."

"Now go, all of you. See to your duties and get some rest while you can."

Meara managed to stay professional and of her proper standing all the way back to her quarters, although she didn't let go of Irina's hand if she could get away with it.  She got one step inside before the door closed behind her and tears started to well up on her face.

"Auntie Val yelled at meeeeeeeeeheeheeheeeeeeeeeee~"

This was Irina's life now.  Meara didn't even manage to say anything to Freyr, let alone confirm she was in the room.  Still, at least Meara wasn't wailing.  Just... well, she somehow had an incredibly adorable sad face going on.

Crestfallen, the prince stood tall and gave the king a solid nod.

"Yes... yes, your majesty. Your will shall be done. I love you both, uncle and auntie, and I won't disappoint you." With a deep bow, Gwydion turned on his heel and began the practiced walk of a soldier to the door, eyes clearly haunted. He was on the verge of tears, but contained himself at least long enough to leave the room.

Clearly dismissed then. Right.

Brun watched each depart and felt a bit helpless to resolve anything now.  Time and, perhaps, time spent with their significant others... Thinking...  Discussing...  That was probably the best for them right now.

Besides, Brun had work to do.  Three days.  Three days to return his Lady to fighting form.  Three days to be in her company while he did so...  Brun was smiling again by the time he was on his own in the corridors rushing back to Euryleia and the workshop.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:00, Fri 04 Aug 2023.

Irina immediately tried to comfort Meara. She hugged the taller woman close, "There, there. It's alright. She didn't yell. She was fairly quiet, really. But stern. Definitely stern. Oh! Please don't cry. Oh! This is all my fault. If only I hadn't said the quiet part aloud."

Irina looked around for Freyr, but didn't see her. No! This is my fault. I'm going to fix it. The truth was she usually wasn't good with people. Not like Iliza. What to do?

"How about I make you a nice cup of cocoa? Would you like that?"

---

Iliza sensed Gwydion's distress immediately. She held his hand even as they walked arm in arm. She traced her thumb along the side of his hand in the manner that he often did when he knew she was has having a bad day.

Iliza steered them toward Gwydion's quarters without a word. When they stepped through the door she led him directly to the couch and sat with him. There storm of emotions he was feeling was written on his face. She pulled his head to her shoulder and embraced him tightly.

"Oh, my love. Your burdens are not yours to bear alone. Please, tell me what you're feeling." She began to gently massage his back as she held him, giving him the opportunity to unburden himself in his own time.

---

Euryleia was already pouring over the battle plan and the data provided on the MerGN-D when Brun returned. Her face was tight with concentration, but she favored him with a smile as he entered the cramped cockpit. "Hello, my Knight. How are your friends?" She stood up from the command chair to allow Brun to sit and don his neurohelm.

The flood of data was immediate. Loadouts, tactical assessments, the timetable for her armor plate installation, in-depth analysis of MerGN-D-ER404. "The beast is...formidable." Euryleia said gravely. "But before we get to the matter at hand..."

Euryleia sat on Brun's lap and kissed him. "Mmmm...you sure do know how to make a forty metric-ton war machine feel wanted. Your heart flutters every time we do that," she said with a smile.

Her eyes lit up as a hologram of the Thames appeared. "You got me a surprise? Oh, my Knight, you really are a very good boy." Her delighted smile turned mischievous then hungry.

Brun grinned a very silly, relaxed grin that was reserved now only for his Lady.  No pretending here, no secrets.  Just them.  It was.... Happiness.  Joy, comfort, and safety here in his Lady's arms.

He did try to rise above the happy enchantment to respond with more than dumb nods and grins.  Kiss.  "They are...complicated....  Engaged, so happy.... But it was rushed, so there are difficulties....  And Gwydion wants to throw himself at the dragon...." Kiss.  Flutter. "Which may have killed his father....". Kiss.  Flutter.  "And yes, it is formidable.  Very.  But, we have been assigned a...." Kiss.  Flutter.  "...New task...  We're going to Earth".

When the Thames was brought up, Brun nodded sheepishly, "A gift to you from the king...  For our service....  It is...a lot..." Kisssssss.  Melt.  Flutter.  "You deserve it, of course."

He too had a hungry wolfish grin now, "As good or bad as you like...."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:35, Fri 04 Aug 2023.

With a sniffle, Meara leaned into the hug, the emotional crisis averted before it truly began.

"Ish nob yur faul," sniiiiiiiiiff can't get anything on Irina that'd be yucky "It is not your fault you look so good in that.  And... and I am the one who said yes."

...

"Cocoa?  With marshmallows and whipped cream?  I-I can send a message to Freyr, um, if you would.  Ah... yes.  Yes, please."

Luckily for Irina, Meara was easily distracted.

His breathing was stiff and being carefully controlled, letting her scent fill his thoughts and keep him grounded. It took a few minutes for him to settle enough to put words together, gently holding onto her.

"He's right. Even if he's just afraid he's going to lose me, I still can't be trusted to handle an operation like that. I nearly cost us the lives of everyone at Callisto Station because I couldn't control myself. I can't make hard decisions, and for all the danger I put everyone in, I don't think I could ever make another choice. The beast the Knights are hunting killed my father when he pushed Uncle John out of the way, and I had no idea until today. That's exactly me, though. I need to be there, to be sure it doesn't somehow survive again to keep killing, but the moment anything goes wrong, I know full well I'll make that same choice he did, because that's what I do. That's what I'll always do." Gwydion's voice slowed down and he shook his head to clear it up. Maybe it wasn't making any sense to him.

"I'm sorry, my love, I'm whining about doing what I think is right and it's stupid. But being grounded just because of my compassion? Putting others in more danger to spare me from any? It feels wrong. Just... feels like... my uncle loves me and doesn't want to watch me die. Stupid. I should be making him proud, not making him worry." Finally a deep breath, and he pulls away from Iliza so he can look at her. A few tears have left tracks down his cheeks, though one has been smudged into his lady's shoulder.

"I would probably do the same thing in his position, wouldn't I?"

Irina returned a few minutes later with the most delicious looking cup of cocoa Meara had ever seen. It had a mountain of whipped cream which looked as though it was being summitted by two small figures made out miniature marshmallows. Irina had clearly put work into the presentation. She set the mug down beside Meara. "Careful, it's hot. Like me." Irina giggled. Clearly she had been pleased by that comment.

---

Iliza held Gwydion cradled against her while he spoke. She gently ran her fingers through his blonde locks, even as she continued rubbing his back. She listened intently until he finished. When Gwydion looked at her, she had tear streaks on her face as well. Tears shed in empathy with his own.

"Oh, Gwydion. I am so sorry about your father." She hugged him tightly for a long time before she continued.

"And as for your Uncle and yourself, I understand why you feel that way, but I think you're wrong. It's clear that your Uncle loves you a great deal and doesn't want to see you come to harm. And who could blame him? On that I will always agree with him wholeheartedly. But I think you let your feelings cloud his words. In him I see how you have become the man that you are now. When he says he trusts you, he means it. When he says he's proud of you, he means that too. And I don't think your compassion is a weakness. Nor, I suspect, does the King. I think he needs you where that compassion would best serve the Realm if the worst should happen..."

"And need I remind you that your compassion is the only reason I am here right now? The only reason I can tell you how much I love you. And how wonderful you are. But you didn't just save me, Gwydion. You have given us, all of us, a chance at a future. If the G.R.A.I.L does what MerLN says and we can find it, we can live the way we were meant to do. No more hiding in the void, scraping out another day. Everyone could live in fullness, and light, and togetherness. For the first time in a long time, Humanity could have a real future. Because of you."

In the short time Irina was away making the cocoa, Meara had sent a message to Freyr's comm device informing her of the order request for her to meet with Queen Valerie, but she didn't get the courage to press SEND until Irina came back with the cocoa and set it down next to her.  She set down her own comm device and picked up the mug with both hands, holding the cocoa reverently as she admired the garnishment.  "It is amazing.  I almost do not want to drink it."

With a tiny smile, she licked at the whipped cream.

"Almost."

Gwydion's face grew his smile once again, slowly, as Iliza spoke. His breaths weren't completely steady yet, still so tightly controlled.

"Yes, I suppose that is true. Since we arrived at Avaluna I've been so concerned about what could have gone wrong, and how lucky I was that my disobedience put everyone at risk. I hadn't considered that without the ghost's data, humanity would have no hope regardless. Do these things happen for reasons, then?"

The cocoa was every bit as delicious as it was adorable. Clearly, Irina's talents ran to more than just mathematics and engineering.

Irina sat next to Meara tentatively sipping her cocoa. She could hardly believe this was happening. She knew it hadn't sunk in for her yet. She hoped when it did she would keep it together. For right now, though, all she could feel was excitement and joy.

---

Iliza thought on Gwydion's question. "Sometimes things happen outside of our control, but our choices are important. They can have a great deal of influence on the world for good and for ill. That is reason enough." Iliza offered.

The couple continued talking for a long while. Finally Iliza asked, "Gwydion, do you have a sweatshirt I could borrow for tonight? You can hardly expect me to sleep in this dress."

"Would you mind," Iliza asked once something suitable had been provided. She turned to give Gwydion access to the laces at the back of her dress so that he could loosen them. "Thank you."

Iliza emerged from the refresher a few minutes later. The shirt Gwydion had given her was large on her, so large, in fact, that the elastic of the bottom hem hugged her thighs. She had let her hair down as well. It cascaded around her shoulders and down her back. Her feet were bare.

She spoke as she stepped back into the main living space of the Prince's quarters, "I checked in on Irina before I changed. She and Meara had cocoa apparently. They seemed to be well. I still can't believe what she did, but I want her to be happy... "

A moment later she added, "To make sure Mother doesn't worry after me tonight, I told her I am on assignment from the King. What? It's technically true. You heard his orders. What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Gwydion casually answered and went to pull a large tunic out for her, stopping once he realized what she'd said and what it meant. Pink cheeks. He finished getting it and very gently offered her a light blue and yellow thing, that silly smile on his face again. When she requested his help in loosening the dress, he hesitantly provided, then slipped his arms around her waist, pulled her close, and planted kisses on her neck and shoulders. One nuzzle of her hair before he let her slip away.



His gaze turned to a bright and goofy stare, taking in the beauty he'd managed to charm and thinking about what forever was going to look like.

"Hm? Oh. Apologies. I just, um. You look beyond perfect wearing my things."

Having sent the message to Freyr, Meara felt her immediate duty to Auntie Val was done.  She could at the very least spend cocoa time focusing on Irina.  Which was, truth be told, one of the easiest things Meara has ever done - this includes breathing on the list.  Quite happily leaning against Irina (who was leaning into her), she slowly made progress on the whipped cream mountain so she could drink the delicious cocoa beneath, then proceeded to sip the cocoa.  Of course, this meant she had whipped cream on the tip of her nose, but that would be easily remedied if Irina decided to assist.

"D-do you want to stay the night?" Meara asked, still waiting for everything to fully register with her as well.  She had somehow charmed the clearly most desirable woman in the system enough to make said woman propose to her.  She had no idea how she managed, but she was not about to question it.

"Yes," Irina said her face heating up to a bright bush. "Do you...want to make out?"

---

Iliza smiled at Gwydion. "Really? Do you like it," she asked as she did a twirl for Gwydion's amusement. She joined him again on the couch, folding her legs under her and settling against him. She sighed contentedly.

"This is so nice that I may soon be guilty of treason," Iliza announced after a few moments. "I've half a mind to keep you here, rather than let you go to Earth."
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:39, Sun 06 Aug 2023.

Staring directly at Irina with huge, open eyes, Meara set down the mug of cocoa and replied with a single word.

"YES."

Gwydion gives Iliza's waist a squeeze as he holds her close, a lazy smile becoming a lazy grin.

"Treason? Can't have that, my love. Maybe I'll have to take you with us on our little trip. Wouldn't want you to get lonely while I'm off galivanting, would we? Besides, you're the only one who's seen our spectral benefactor, so perhaps there can be practical reasons to have you close by. In the meantime, we've three whole days together. How would you like to spend them?"

"I would love to see the Earth," Iliza said excitedly.

She shifted her position to Gwydion's lap in response to his last question. "Like this," she answered before bringing their lips together.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:49, Mon 07 Aug 2023.

Brun had gotten very used to repairing and maintaining Euryleia on his own since he "quit" his previous position.  He had wandered with her, scrounging and scavenging.  Making repairs and refitting on outposts, mining stations, even hanging in the silent, cold dark between stellar masses.  It had been just the two of them, though she had not been much of a conversationalist then.

Learning to work with the Avalunan armourers had been difficult for Brun.  Trust was not something he gave easily, especially when it came to Euryleia.  But they were skilled, in their way, and we're providing resources that could never have been dug out of derelicts and scrap heaps.  So, Brun did his best, but pushed himself very hard to always be on hand to observe /very closely/.  Correcting their learned mistakes with his own methods; which the armourers couldn't understand.  It was tiresome and frustrating, but progress was made.

Then, she woke.  And for the first time in his life, Brun had someone he could trust.  Someone to rely on.  He had a collaborator to help make his plans and ideas better.  He had someone who could correct him and offer useful feedback if his ideas were wrong (or, at least, someone whose opinion mattered enough to listen to.). Euryleia could watch over the armourers work while Brun rested, for once, and let him know what was done wrong (and, she made sure to point out all that was done rightly, as well.).  For Brun it was a whirling, wonderful dance of love, of partnership.

The armourers might have been a bit concerned about the amount of time spent dlone in the cockpit on "systems" work.  But, Sir Brun seemed to be finally trusting them to do their jobs.  Frankly, the odd Edge Knight seemed better rested and happier despite the deadline.  They assumed it had to do with the successful reactivation of the Armour's neurocore and, apparently, the systems having no degradations.  It didn't really matter, it was much easier to work with him now.
________________________________
On the second day, new hands showed up in the Armoury bay.  A motley band of seasoned spacers lead by a grizzled, bald man who identified himself as Captain Smalls, of the Thames. Each bore a patch, the as-yet-unofficial silver and black heraldry of Stjernevold.  The crew stepped in and got to work without waiting to be asked.  They stuck to what they knew how to do and quickly found ways to assist the armourers with the manual work.  Which also allowed them to closely observe the work and learn.

The Captain took Sir Brun aside and explained who they were and how this would go.  Smalls was firm, but kind as he outlined the agreement he and his family were offering.  No matter how the King had presented it, Thames was no gift and they were not the King's people.  They volunteered to provide him and his Lady a home.  A home that wouldn't exist without Brun and Euryleia.  Brun had accepted the terms and the depth of the offer, gratefully.

He wasn't alone anymore.

After spending an amazing night with Irina (they talked about so many things in their undergarments before they fell asleep - okay it was mostly Irina talking and Meara admiring how happy Irina was to have an audience for her theories), Meara gave her fiancee a bleary-eyed kiss on the forehead before climbing out of the bed to refresh herself for the day.  A quick shower, a change of clothing, and straight to her desk to write a holo-letter to her mother.

Dearest Mother,

I am writing to you about recent events, some of which that will have a direct effect our house.  Firstly, Dame Freyr has been requested directly by Her Royal Majesty Queen Valerie to return to Venus and instruct a new recruitment of commoners as Armour pilots to aid in battling the Emergent threat.  As such, she will be returning soon, and has hopefully picked out a successor to her position as my handmaiden - I trust her judgement in such matters, as she knows me better than I know myself, as she has been shown many times.

Additionally, the dreaded dragon Ember-Rend has been encountered recently, slaying several honourable knights and wounding many more.  Her Royal Majesty has stationed me on garrison duty, which I will perform to such high standards as to make both you and Her Royal Majesty proud.

The people of Baron Gehenmis' barony that we rescued speak of me reverently, but in hushed tones.  They call me The Fury, an avenging angel, and much more besides.  Some of them have even sent me gifts.  Our house is well loved by the people here, and any we recruit to serve the household shall do so with loyalty and joy.

I also became e-

That was as far as she had gotten when she heard Irina call her name in sleepy confusion from the bedroom and the reason she had been scolded by Queen Valerie finally registered in her brain, the combination of which caused her to stand up, spin around, and knock over the holographic ink well all over the letter.  In her panic, she accidentally saved the letter as-is, making it impossible to undo the spill, then sent the letter to her mother.

She later sent another letter properly explaining things, although she left out the word 'engaged' when describing her courtship of Irina.  She did give an incredibly long list of why her match with Irina would be a strong one and good for the family name for reputation, connections, political value, and because Irina is incredibly smart, so much smarter than Meara, you do not understand just how smart she is, also she is the younger sister of Lady Iliza of House Gehenmis, engaged to Prince Gwydion of the Royal House of Avaluna, nephew of His Royal Majesty King John Arthur and Her Royal Majesty Queen Valerie, and there is not really any higher connection she could possibly achieve successfully since Prince Gwydion is already taken, also if he hasn't already proposed I am going to smash him with a hammer Iliza is very skilled at administration and can totally, absolutely help teach Meara in Freyr's absence.

That letter was sent within an hour of the first.  It managed to get sent out about the same time an extensive letter from her mother arrived, scolding Meara for being foolish, disappointing Queen Valerie and being pulled back from her previous assignment to be held for garrison duty as a punishment, and all sorts of things about proper behaviour, getting engaged well below her station, etc etc etc etc.

Meara figured her mother found out about most of that from other sources before she sent her first letter.

She then had to spend most of the rest of the day having a vidcall with her mother, getting yelled at more and more, only speaking when she was finally instructed to do so.  It was quite the heated debate, about her engagement, but Meara at least had the sense not to say she shouldn't have spoken to her mother and Auntie Val first before doing something like that.

That day ended with Meara once again needing hot cocoa and other comforts from Irina.

On the SECOND day, the morning started much like the first, but instead of the entire day being spent on scoldings, Meara composed a formal, written apology to Her Royal Majesty Queen Valerie, then sent it through the proper channels.  She then sent a request to make a more personal apology in person through a direct channel, hoping Auntie Val wouldn't be upset with her for doing so.

That day went much better.

That afternoon, she spoke to the head engineer and captain of her carrier to let them know that she would be heading to Earth soon, Lady Irina would be going with her as their technical and science expert, and to prepare what was needed so they could make the journey with what provisions and equipment they would need.  She let Irina describe what technical equipment Irina would need for the quest, since all she was going to bring in terms of personal equipment was her sword, her dagger, and her pistol.  Everything else would be standard kit.

Day three was spent attempting to coordinate with Brun and Gwydion so they neither under-prepared nor brought any unnecessary gear.

Also snuggling with Irina.  Lots of that.

After doing her best not to become a blubbering mess when saying her farewells to Freyr, which Meara did not succeed at doing, so a memorable part of their goodbyes was Freyr patting Meara on the head while hugging her and telling her they'll see one another soon enough, and to be strong for her (and for Irina, and especially for Mimi, because Freyr absolutely knows Meara better than Meara does).

Meara did, at least, manage to smile enough (and get cleaned up enough) for some farewell photos of the two of them.  At least one photo was dignified enough to put on a desk.

She spent most of her Irina snuggletime talking about Freyr.  It was almost exclusively praise.

Almost.

Everyone has some embarrassing stories of those they grew up with, after all!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:56, Mon 07 Aug 2023.

The rest of that day was spent with Gwydion and Iliza cuddling and relaxing on the couch. And kissing, quite a lot of that. And it was entirely possible the kissing got quite aggressively playful, but anything that may or may not have happened beyond that is not for gentlemen to discuss with anyone who wasn't present. Needless to say, Gwydion's guilt was exorcised from him effectively.

Their first free day, the pair looked into what a trip to Earth would consist of, what they might need to be prepared for, and how to bring Iliza along while keeping her as much out of direct danger as possible. There was also a lot of kissing and some petting of Iliza's hair as she napped in one of Gwydion's shirts. Another task undertaken during that nap was the prince heading out to talk with Uncle Arthur and Baron Gehemnis (separately) about his intentions with Iliza. Almost as an afterthought, he also took a visit to the Armoury, checking on the repairs and refitting of his Longsword. Rose, now his chief Armourer, assured him it would be ready well within the time limit. He also informed her that she would be coming with on their trip to Earth, a fact she seemed to take in stride, if not for the small deepening of her ever-present frown.

On the second day, the pair went on one of Gwydion's walks among the people, checking in on the two days he'd missed of refugee oversight, and personally ensuring that Mimi's house in particular received a royal gift basket as thanks for their kindness. It included a pink toy sword that was much sturdier than a balloon. The little adventure ended up with them in the refugee oversight office, overlooking the new additions to Avaluna in progress, and seeing the people below like little ants busily working away to ensure their future. He took her hand and smiled at her over the view.

"My dearest Iliza. We've been through so much together in such a short time. You know I was sent to Callisto Station to solidify an alliance between my uncle and your father. The Baron's offer was that we marry, and then our peoples would become one. I hesitated to answer at the time, as the notion of wedding a stranger, even a beautiful and erudite one, was not something I wanted to take lightly. When you had your unfortunate episode of grief, you said many things that seemed as though they'd gotten between us, but I didn't see it that way at all. Fate has united our people regardless of our own plans, and now there are no political gains to be had through our union. Instead, we're simply a man and a woman who desire each other's sweet company, and I hope you agree when I ask for it to be forever. No political agendas, no pressure from anyone, no marriage for the fate of humanity. Just us." Gwydion sank to one knee, still holding her hand in one of his, while the other reached into a pouch on his belt and extracted a small white ring. A holoring, the sort that could display programmed images when worn.

"Iliza, the more I've gotten to know you, the more I've fallen in love. Nothing would make me happier than for you to be my wife. Will you?" His smile beamed up at her as he held up the ring in offering.

Iliza's eyes filled with tears of happiness, "Yes! I would be honored to be your wife. Of course, I will marry you."

Carefully, Gwydion slipped the holoring onto her finger. When activated, it displayed a hologram of him looking lovingly at her, with "Yours Forever" beneath in skilled calligraphy, curved upward as though at the bottom of a locket. Then he kissed her as though he was never going to stop.

The third day was a scramble! While coordinating with Meara and Brun in regards to the logistics of their journey, Gwydion also had to announce his engagement to Lady Iliza, ensure the refugee project would be able to handle their time away, handle some royal paperwork, and find time to sneakily pin Iliza to various walls and make out like goofy lovestruck teenagers. It was a lot to handle in such a short time.

The events of those days passed quickly, though they were momentous indeed.

With Brun and the armouers' diligent work, Euryleia had returned to her full fighting strength. Coupled with the arrival of new allies in the crew of the Thames, House Stjernevold began in truth. From humble beginnings true greatness arises.

Gwydion and Iliza had decided to do what their hearts had already done and joined themselves in a pledge to be married. The King was overjoyed at Gwydion's decision to propose, but their meeting was interrupted by the news that a Lance of Knights had been attacked near Venus and it wasn't clear whether it had been perpetuated by Ember-Rend or other Emergent forces. The announcement of Gwydion and Iliza's engagement prompted a riot of revelry in the refugee sector. An all night party which put even the atmosphere of the Callisto tournament to shame.

Meara, too, had a bride-to-be and though their relationship was new, it grew in strength in those few days. Irina supported Meara through her difficulties and, in turn, the Princess gave her the joys of love and affection. And lots of kisses.

The Knights all made preparations for their expedition, gathering supplies and equipment which they would need on the often hostile environment of Earth. Loaded aboard their carriers, they embarked upon their quest.

Euryleia patched the communications feed through the speakers in her cockpit.

"Camelot Tower this is Carrier Thames, ready for departure."

"Thames you are cleared for departure on Vector 35-1 mark 14-9."

"Roger Camelot Tower, Vector 35-1 mark 14-9 confirmed. Beginning takeoff."

"Good Hunting, Thames."

The interior of Euryleia began to vibrate with the force of the liftoff, "This is it, My Knight. Our quest begins."

---

The journey from Avaluna to Earth was made by conventional spaceflight and took just over two hours. Given that it lay at the heart of Arthur's domain, the trip was a safe one. The carriers reached orbit and completed atmospheric entry without issue.

The reclamation of Earth has been a tremendous task. Decades of Emergent occupation scarred the planet horribly. Humans who lived underground to avoid the Emergent now slowly climb back to the surface to rebuild amidst the devastated landscape. The ravages of the Emergent have made the survivors wary of technology, many choosing a simpler lifestyle. As recovery efforts begin, small scale farming and even beasts of burden are becoming the norm. However the environment remains incredibly harsh to life and the threat of lone or dormant Emergent forms is very real.

The knights' appointed destination waited in the environs of one of the shattered tall-cities that had dotted the surface of the world. Great spires once reached into the heavens, now they lay toppled and in ruins. The sensors of the carriers detected little life among the broken landscape. Holo captures displayed a blighted landscape. Ground scans showed elevated radiation levels and that large portions of the area were covered in blast craters and had been vitrified. It was clear that MerGN-A's wrath had been visited upon this place. If Arthur had once been here, he must have been desperate indeed.

OOC:
Feel free to fill in what you do on the flight over.

Why don't you guys give me a Lore roll to see if you can find a good landing spot near the coordinates that Arthur and MerLN provided.

And, any once per session etc. Stunts are refreshed now since I am going to say this is the beginning of a new session.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:23, Tue 08 Aug 2023.

Brun settled comfortably into the pilot's seat, quite happy to hear the excitement in Euryleia's voice, "It does, My Lady.  It will be good to see you back in action again...  The new armor did come out rather well, I think.  Now everyone else can see what I always saw."  He brought up camera views of the converted cargo bay, alongside the feeds from the Thames external sensors, "This crew seems very good at what they do.  I was impressed by their retrofit...  Rather homey.  Frankly, far more comfortable than the Passelande.  Never felt...fitting there...  This feels more like where we started."  And no one seemed to mind too much that he was riding out the initial burn in the cockpit of his Armour.  Seasoned spacers understood a connection to their spacecraft.

"Let's see what we can find out about your hunting area.  Can you bring up the scan data we were provided with?"

Lore Total: -2 (Having spent his life almost entirely in Venusian floating cities, pirate ships, and an Armour cockpit...  Scanning planetside ground and figuring out landing areas is HARD)

3:20, Today: Brun rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice ((1, -1, -1, -1)).

The scan review .... Did not go as easily as he had hoped.  So many more variables than any of the places he had flown before...  Brun was grateful when Captain Smalls invited him for a quick tour of the ship in transit.  It was also a good opportunity to meet the crew he hasn't met yet.  "Back before we touch the atmosphere, My Lady.  Public appearances....  Fame has a price."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:24, Wed 09 Aug 2023.

Having found herself needing to provide extra suits, Meara asked the quartermaster of the carrier to do their best to reasonably accommodate their extra passengers, and emphasized that the safety of the carrier crew was the highest priority so anyone who had fitted suits for things like external maintenance shouldn't have their suit provided without volunteering.  Thankfully, as almost all but a few token "unisex" suits were designed for women, it wasn't very difficult to get everyone prepared.  As such, Irina, Iliza, and Rose (should Gwydion be bringing her as well) all had suits provided with reasonable fits if they did not have their own.

As such, Brunhildr found herself in formation positioned behind and to the left of Euryleia, with Meara and Irina in a space designed for one.  It was definitely easier to maneuver when it was just Mimi strapped to her and not Irina - both due to space and the distraction factor.  Form-fitting suits do not help when one is trying to focus on scanning and landing instead of their fiancee.

"Oh, come on!  Why is everything so weird?!  Planetary surfaces are weird!  Where's a good place to land?!  Iriiiiiiiiii~"

09:17, Yesterday: Meara rolled -3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, 0, -1.  "Lore".
Too much Zero-G/Upper Atmosphere training and not enough planet-side simulation training is not good for landing on natural terrain, nuked or otherwise.

On departure, Gwydion stood with Iliza on the ship's observation deck (not wanting to bother the bridge crew with unwanted presence) and watched Avaluna drift away. Over the next two hours, the prince went over his personal gear and his Armour to ensure everything was prepared. He even donned the Armour and fired it up to run a few diagnostics and get used to the new hardware and software. Iliza, meanwhile, discussed with MerLN what he could tell her of Earth, of his creator, and of the ghostly encounters with her.

When it came time to find a landing spot, Gwydion offered his help.

[15:36, Today: Gwydion rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, 0, 1.  Lore +1.
Total +2

Yay, a positive number!]

Gwydion spotted the best place to set down three armours near their destination. Their route was surrounded by vitrified spikes of earth which formed a jagged corridor in the direction they needed to go. They weren't far from what had effectively been MerLN's birthplace.

Unfortunately, the radiation was playing havoc with their sensors, their surroundings made visual navigation difficult, and the gravity of Earth made moving in their armour different to what they were normally accustomed. Reaching the long abandoned base might be more difficult than they anticipated.

OOC: Gwydion's roll is a tie, so we'll say you're not too far from where you wanted to be.

I'm going to say the "setback" is that the Environment is disorienting.

Everyone make an Armour roll vs. 3. Failure results in that many stress.

[16:13, Today: Gwydion rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, 0, 1.  Armour +2.
Spending a Fate Point to invoke Young Prince of Avaluna for +2, representing his having trained for various environments where he might take the fight to the Emergent, especially recreations of Earth's great battle.

Total +2

Taking 1 Mental Stress.]

As much as he'd trained to handle Earth's gravity, he had also trained in a very different location when studying Uncle John's battles on the old planet. Also his training tended to involve the tactical elements of the environment in battle, not navigating the barren crags that were once homes to locate a place he'd never been to before. All this was unsettling and unfamiliar. Being honest with himself, he would have much preferred they be surrounded by Emergent ready to pounce. Without a proper threat to focus on, this place gave the prince chills.

"MerLN, is this the right way? Everything looks... the same. I can't make out any landmarks to follow."

Brun brings up readouts on the sensor interference and the unexpected gravity stress.  He begins to make adjustments to Euryleia's systems to compensate from the conditions literally "on the ground", "Did that help smooth it out, my love?  If so, I may be able work up adjustments for the others ...". He brought up specs on Dyrnwyn and Brunhildr to begin working on calculations ..

OOC: Armour total: +2.  Spending FP to tag I Will Survive.  Final Total +4

EDIT: Create Advantage- Smithy Total +5 to create Ground Ops Compensation

19:16, Today: Brun rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, -1, 0.  Armour +4.

19:42, Today: Brun rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 0, -1, 0.  Create Advantage: Smithy +5.

This message was last edited by the player at 23:44, Thu 10 Aug 2023.

While the reentry was shaky, and their landing position not perfect, Meara managed to focus well enough to land properly.  It wasn't a perfect landing, but it wasn't distressing, either.  She tried to give Irina a kiss but instead their helmets bonked together, and she ended up giving Irina an awkward smile.

"We made it planetside, Iri.  Now we just need to make it to our destination.  Maybe we will get to see the fabled nature of Earth.  Oooh!  Do you think we might find a bear?  They always look so snuggly!"

16:07, Today: Meara rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 0, -1.  Armour +4.

MerLN answered in a sure tone, "It is, Prince Gwydion. That is because very few landmarks remain."

"It's certainly not the worst sensor distortion we've ever seen. It's not even the worst we've caused," Euryleia answered. Brun could hear the amusement in her voice. As the technical specifications for Dyrnwyn and Brunhildr appeared, Euryleia spoke again."Princess Meara and Brunhildr were lucky to have beaten us. If I had been in this state on Callisto, they wouldn't have had a chance."

Irina was just as excited to be on Earth as Meara. She pantomimed a kiss in lieu of the real thing."Oh, no! I hope not! Any bear that survived what's outside isn't a creature that would be cute OR friendly. Hopefully our trip stays fauna free."

The going was slow, but the three knights made progress. No signs of other life showed on their sensors. As they moved closer to their destination the vitrification became more pronounced. Suddenly there was a tremendous rumbling from beneath.

"What's that?!" Irina exclaimed.

OOC: Everyone roll Mark for Initiative! Meara don't forget Brunhildr gets +2.

Brun Creates Ground Ops Compensation with two free invokes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:16, Fri 11 Aug 2023.

Feeling the rumbling, Meara went on guard, prepared to jump up into the air should the footing become, well, suddenly hostile.

20:18, Today: Meara rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, 0, 1.  Mark +5 w/ Reflex Enhancer.
That's a 5!

[23:39, Today: Gwydion rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, 0, -1.  Mark +4 (Targeting Computer Crest).
Total +4]

"Humanity has a long road ahead of us if we ever want to rebuild this--" The rumbling was met with a low and wide stance from Dyrnwyn, even while it fed various types of energy readouts (including seismic? the devs thought of everything!) to Gwydion's tactical display. "Everyone alright?" He tried to keep steady for Iliza's sake. Though there was still very little room in the cockpit, room was made for a passenger during the refit. It was hoped he wouldn't need to board anyone unconscious again, since this was a seat just behind and above him rather than a lap-bed, but hopefully the safety systems would be enough to keep her from jostling too much; she was strapped in the same way he was, with torso secured and freedom of movement for her arms and legs. There were also spaces she could rest or even brace her extremities for just such an occasion.

Brun grinned at Euryleia's pride as he continues to work on the recommendations, "Perhaps so.  Though Dame Meara is quite skilled, it is fair to say you were not at your best....  I'll see what I can do to arrange a rematch when the situation permits.".  He left her to keep up the formation; stretching her legs, as it were.  He concentrated on the programming task.

As soon as he had the software packets prepared, he opened comms to the other Armour's:
-I found a way to counteract some of the environmental effects...  Transmitting now.

"Hopefully that will...." The ground shook.  Brun readjusted his displays from his programming work to external sensors.  He prayed he hadn't let himself get too distracted at the wrong moment....

OOC: Mark Total -1

06:56, Today: Brun rolled -3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, -1, -1.  Mark +2.

Contact indicators appeared on instrumentation. Close proximity. Where had they come from? Perhaps they had been drawn to the landing? Perhaps they had simply waited here to ambush any interlopers? Either way, they would need to be dealt with.

The contacts were certainly Emergent combat forms, but not ones ever encountered by Brun or Meara. Stocky with overly large arms and legs, they only stood half the height of an amour.

Gwydion, however, was very familiar with this particular model. Goblins. Terrestrial combat forms that had no exo-atmospheric capability. MerGN-A had used them to terrorize the human population. They roamed in packs, capturing slaves and destroying any resistance. While, individually, they were puny compared to a Knight, they could overwhelm one with numbers. To an unarmoured human, they were sheer Terror.

The seismic forces were being generated by the Goblins themselves. A tool they used to off-balance their foes and prevent human prey from escaping.

Now, Brunhildr, Dyrnwyn, and Euryleia were their prey.

Euryleia laughed and a surge of excitement ran through Brun.

Irina tried her best not to impede Meara, "You've got this, babe."

Iliza remained silent in her jump-seat.

The Emergent opened fire.

OOC:
07:56, Today: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, 0, -1.  Mark +2 . Emergent.

Initiative
Meara
Gwydion
Emergent
Brun

Aspects
Ground Ops Compensation (2 Free Invokes)
Jagged Canyon

MerGN-G(oblin)
Stress: [ ] [ ]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Charge Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.


Map Layout

To Landing <-- Chasm 1 -- Chasm 2 -- Chasm 3 --> To Base
            Gb1, Gb2, Gb3    B, M, Gw     Gb7, Gb8, Gb9
                        Gb4, Gb5, Gb6

With no people nearby except the three knights and their boon companions, and also getting cheered on by Irina, Meara grinned and quickly extended the blade on Brunhildr's arm before rapidly boosting in to slash at a Goblin with the intent to bisect it.

11:55, Today: Meara rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 0, 1.  Reroll . CC
11:55, Today: Meara rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, -1, 0.  Melee+2, Lævateinn Blade +2.
Total Melee result: 5

The sensor readouts were clear. Gwydion grimaced and braced Dyrnwyn against the disruption.

"Goblins! Don't underestimate them, these things can tear Armour apart when they work together. Try to keep them from grouping up!" With that, he charged in Meara's wake with sword in hand, prepared to cut down one of her target's partners.

[12:35, Today: Gwydion rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, 1, 1.  Melee +5 vs Gb5.

Total +6]

The closet Goblins fended off the attacks relatively unharmed and retaliated with strikes from their heated claws.

The ground trembled violently as the rest of the horde used their seismic disruptions to impede the knights.

OOC:
16:16, Today: MerLN rolled 3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, 1, 0.  Armour +2 Defense vs. Meara. Total: 5. Meara gets a tie and receives a Boost.

16:33, Today: MerLN rolled 3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, 1, 0.  Armour +2 GB5 Defense vs. Gwydion. Total: 5. GB5 takes 1 stress.

These beasts are rolling high.

1-3 and 7-9 will try to use Create Advantage to Unbalance you. I will just make one roll to keep things simple and you each can roll against that total.

16:41, Today: MerLN rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, 1, -1.  Armour +2. +2 Seismic Disruptors. Create Advantage to Unbalance. Total: 2

Each of you need to make an Armour roll vs. 2 or else receive the Unbalanced aspect.

4-6 will each deal one attack to each of you.

16:49, Today: MerLN rolled -3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, 0, -1.  Melee +2. +2 Thermal Claws, +2 Horde Directive. GB6 vs. Brun. Total: 3

16:48, Today: MerLN rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, -1, 0.  Melee +2. +2 Thermal Claws, +2 Horde Directive. GB5 vs. Gwydion. Total: 5

16:47, Today: MerLN rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, -1, 0.  Melee +2. +2 Thermal Claws, +2 Horde Directive. GB4 vs. Meara. Total: 4

Looks like their luck turned.

Each of you should roll your defense against the total against you. Armour or Melee, whichever you choose.

Brun, you're up!

Initiative
Meara
Gwydion
Emergent
Brun

Aspects
Ground Ops Compensation (2 Free Invokes)
Jagged Canyon
Might Get Lucky (Meara's Boost)

MerGN-G(oblin)
Stress: [ ] [ ]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.

MerGN-G(oblin) 5
Stress: [x] [ ]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.


Map Layout

To Landing <-- Chasm 1 -- Chasm 2 -- Chasm 3 --> To Base
            Gb1, Gb2, Gb3    B, M, Gw     Gb7, Gb8, Gb9
                        Gb4, Gb5, Gb6

14:18, Today: Meara rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, -1, -1.  Armour +4 (vs attack).  Using Might Get Lucky for a total of 5.
14:17, Today: Meara rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, -1, 1.  Armour +4 (vs create advantage). Total of 6.
Should have reversed those rolls.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:05, Sun 13 Aug 2023.

[16:53, Today: Gwydion rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, 0, 1.  Armour +2 vs TN 2.
Total 3 to evade Unstable

16:54, Today: Gwydion rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, 1, 1.  Melee +5 vs TN 5.
Total 7 to avoid being hit]

Now ready for the Emergent tactics, Gwydion maintains his footing and uses both sword and shield to parry the frighteningly well-placed attacks.

Brun eyed the Emergent forms climbing up from the ground.  Gwydion's naming of them provided useful information, but he noticed Euryleia had already beaten him to adding the information to the database.

"Eyes forward, My Knight.  The battle is joined," chided Euryleia lightly, "En garde"  Giant feet shifted to learn the balance of this ground-fighting, turning towards the attacker most likely to come at them first.  Disruption foils swept into a high guard defensive posture.

The new sensor protocols gave a prompt alert as the seismic waves rippled towards them.  Brun watched the monitors and deftly executed a series of timed steps to land between the waves and avoid overbalancing...while leaving Euryleia in the right position as the goblin-form struck in with claws rippling with heat, "Crude, but the thermal readings do show a danger...."

Disruption foils dove in sweeping curves to direct the inelegant claw attacks out of line, "Only if they can touch us." Brun concentrated on defensive footwork in the meanwhile, knowing just how close that thing /had/ come to touching them.  He then brought up the new diversion countermeasures. Small, concealed launchers slid open on Euryleia's legs and began peppering the goblin-form with a fusilade of microflares.

Reactions:
Armour Overcome Total vs Unbalanced +3 (Burning 1 Free invoke of Ground Ops)
Melee Defense Total: +4 (Burning a FP to Tag, Knight of Avaluna)

Action:
Create Advantage - Cunning Total +5 to Create Stars in your Eyes

23:18, Today: Brun rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 0, -1.  Create Advantage: Cunning +6.

22:28, Today: Brun rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, 1, -1.  Defend - Melee +4 vs Attack 3.

22:26, Today: Brun rolled -3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, -1, 0.  Overcome - Armour +4 vs CA: Unbalanced.

Euryleia's foils deflected the incoming attack while Brun carefully timed their movements to counteract the seismic disruptions. He fired a burst of microflares to create a disruption of his own.

OOC:
07:32, Today: MerLN rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, -1, -1.  Armour +2 CA defense against Brun. Total: 0 Brun succeeded with style.

End of Round Update.

Meara, you're up!

Initiative
Meara
Gwydion
Emergent
Brun

Aspects
Ground Ops Compensation (1 Free Invokes)
Jagged Canyon
Might Get Lucky (Meara's Boost, Expended)
Stars in your Eyes (2 Free Invokes)

MerGN-G(oblin)
Stress: [ ] [ ]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.

MerGN-G(oblin) 5
Stress: [x] [ ]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.


Map Layout

To Landing <-- Chasm 1 -- Chasm 2 -- Chasm 3 -->To Base
            Gb1, Gb2, Gb3    B, M, Gw     Gb7, Gb8, Gb9
                        Gb4, Gb5, Gb6



This message was last edited by the GM at 16:26, Sun 13 Aug 2023.

Glad to have avoided any damage (while a bit upset she hadn't landed a hit yet either), Meara focused on the Goblin she was engaged with and thrust at it with her Lævateinn Blade, once again hoping to secure a one-hit-kill.

11:47, Today: Meara rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, 1, 0.  Melee+2, Lævateinn Blade +2. Total: 4

Dyrnwyn had its footing now and was prepared to eliminate the first target, approaching with shield at the ready and striking out with a thrust!

[16:35, Today: Gwydion rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, 0, 0.  Melee +5 vs Gb5.
Total +4

I'll expend the last free invoke on Ground Ops Compensation if need be to hurt/kill it, though I'm not ready to start dropping Fate Points yet if it survives even that.]

The fighting continued as the Knights and nearest Goblins exchanged blows while the creatures farther back adapted their seismic attack to weaken their prey.

OOC:
15:01, Today: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 1, -1.  Armour +2 Defense vs. Meara Total: 2

Meara deals a 2 stress hit to GB4.

19:46, Today: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 0, 0.  Armour +2 GB5 Defense vs. Gwydion Total: 2

Gwydion deals a 2 stress hit to GB5.

Same As Before: 1-3 and 7-9 will try to use Create Advantage to Unbalance you. I will just make one roll to keep things simple and you each can roll against that total.

19:55, Today: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, 1, 0.  Armour +2. +2 Seismic Disruptors. Create Advantage to Unbalance. Total: 4

Each of you need to make an Armour roll vs. 4 or else receive the Unbalanced aspect.

4-6 will each deal one attack to each of you.

19:59, Today: MerLN rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, 0, 0.  Melee +2. +2 Horde Directive. GB6 vs. Brun. Total: 3

19:58, Today: MerLN rolled -3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, 0, -1.  Melee +2. +2 Horde Directive. GB5 vs. Gwydion. Total: 1

19:58, Today: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 1, -1.  Melee +2. +2 Horde Directive. GB4 vs. Meara. Total: 4

Each of you should roll your defense against the total against you. Armour or Melee, whichever you choose.

Brun, you're up!

Initiative
Meara
Gwydion
Emergent
Brun

Aspects
Ground Ops Compensation (1 Free Invokes)
Jagged Canyon
Might Get Lucky (Meara's Boost, Expended)
Stars in your Eyes (2 Free Invokes)

MerGN-G(oblin)
Stress: [ ] [ ]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.

MerGN-G(oblin) 4
Stress: [ ] [x]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.

MerGN-G(oblin) 5
Stress: [x] [x]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.


Map Layout

To Landing <-- Chasm 1 -- Chasm 2 -- Chasm 3 -->To Base
            Gb1, Gb2, Gb3    B, M, Gw     Gb7, Gb8, Gb9
                        Gb4, Gb5, Gb6

Brun continued to lead Euryleia in a light-stepping dance between the beats of the goblin-form's tremors, "One...and two...and one...and two..." It was always like this, he worried for her, but it was a delight to join a battle with Euryleia.  It was what she was built for and she did it so well.

The Emergent, maddened now with the flashes and flares erupting around its sensors, swung wildly after them.  Euryleia started up a song in the cockpit, a Venusian volta (a favorite of Brun's in fact), modulated to the tremor counteracting dance, "See?  You always worry too much.  This is joy!"  Brun sent Euryleia into a sweeping turn away from the wild slashes only for her to suddenly spin back in towards the goblin-form.  Disruption foils crackled and hissed as they snapped out in a series of rapid thrusts....

Reactions:
Armour Overcome Total - +6
Melee Defend Total - +5 (Burned one Stars in their Eyes, FP to Tag: I Will Survive for a reroll)

Actions:
Melee Attack Total - +4 (Willing to burn the other Stars in Their Eyes, if they roll low enough that a +6 could take them out/damage a component)


21:50, Today: Brun rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, -1, 0.  Defend - Melee +4 vs Attack 3 (Reroll - Tagging I will Survive).

20:57, Today: Brun rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 1, 0, 0.  Attack - Melee +4 vs GB6.

20:53, Today: Brun rolled -3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, -1, -1.  Defend - Melee +4 vs Attack 3.

20:50, Today: Brun rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, 0, 1.  Overcome - Armour +4 vs. CA: Unbalanced.

This message was last edited by the player at 01:55, Tue 15 Aug 2023.

While she landed a solid hit, Meara barely managed to evade the counterattack - but she did manage it, which is better than not.  However, she had always preferred pressing the attack over parrying and evading, so she continued to to exactly that.  While she couldn't land a decisive blow before, she hoped she would at least be able to finish it off so she could go after its friends that keep being incredibly annoying.

Still, it was very, very important to ensure Brunhildr (and by proxy, Irina), received no damage.

For the attacks against Brunhildr:
17:29, Today: Meara rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 1, 1, -1.  Armour +4.
17:29, Today: Meara rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, 1, 0.  Armour +4.
17:30, Today: Meara rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 1, -1.  Armour +4 (Fate reroll).
Total of 4 for both preventing the aspect and evading the attack, so with the evasion I think GB4 gets a boost.

For the attack this round:
19:38, Today: Meara rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, 0, 1.  Melee+2, Lævateinn Blade +2.
Total of 5.

[18:16, Today: Gwydion rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, -1, 0.  Armour +2 vs TN 4.
Total 3 (+2 from Ground Ops Compensation to 5)

18:18, Today: Gwydion rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, -1, 1.  Melee +5 vs TN 1.
Total 7

Creating a boost: Right Where I Want You!]

The enemy's coordination was their greatest threat, but Gwydion and his teammates were better. Using Brun's seismic data, Dyrnwyn plants itself appropriately and lowers its center of balance to keep upright, even while using a sudden downward strike from its shield to knock the attacking goblin's claws aside, letting its momentum carry it just past and slightly under the bulk of Gwydion's Armour. With that, his sword hand came down for a crushing hammer strike toward its head!

[18:23, Today: Gwydion rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, 0, 0.  Melee +5 vs Gb5.
Total 4 (+2 from Right Where I Want You! to 6)]

Brun landed a devastating hit on one of the Goblins, shearing away part of its blocky head and its left arm.

Meara followed up with blow of her own, removing one combat form's hand at the wrist.

Gwydion struck a hammer blow to much the same effect as Brun. The Goblin's head caved and it's right shoulder shattered. Somehow it continued to function.

Despite the damage, the Goblins continued to attack while seismic onslaught became more intense. Despite having only one remaining arm, the Emergent attacking Meara managed to get inside Brunhildr's guard to deliver a vicious rake with it's remaining claws.

OOC:
22:04, Today: MerLN rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, -1, 1.  Armour +2 GB6 Defense vs. Brun. Total: 0

Brun deals a 6 stress hit to GB6. Check 2 stress box and disable Horde Directive to absorb 4.

07:27, Today: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, -1, 1.  Armour +2 Defense vs. Meara. Total: 2

Meara deals a 3 stress hit to GB4. Check 1 stress box and disable Thermal Claws system.

07:07, Today: MerLN rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, -1, 0.  Armour +2 GB5 Defense vs. Gwydion. Total: 1

Gwydion deals a 5 stress hit to GB5. No stress boxes to check so it'll shut down two systems to absorb 6. Thermal Claws and Horde Directive. Went ahead and went with those to save time.

Same As Before: 1-3 and 7-9 will try to use Create Advantage to Unbalance you. I will just make one roll to keep things simple and you each can roll against that total.

10:35, Today: MerLN rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, 1, 0.  Armour +2. +2 Seismic Disruptors. Create Advantage to Unbalance. Total: 6

Each of you need to make an Armour roll vs. 6 or else receive the Unbalanced aspect.

4-6 will each deal one attack to each of you.

10:27, Today: MerLN rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, 0, 1.  Melee +2. GB6 vs. Brun Total: 3

10:23, Today: MerLN rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, 1, -1.  Melee +2. GB5 vs. Gwydion. Total: 1

09:49, Today: MerLN rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, 1, 1.  Melee +2. +2 Horde Directive. +4 Expending both boosts. GB4 vs. Meara. Total: 9

Each of you should roll your defense against the total against you. Armour or Melee, whichever you choose.

Poor Meara! They really mean business.

Brun, you're up!

Initiative
Meara
Gwydion
Emergent
Brun

Aspects
Ground Ops Compensation
Jagged Canyon
Might Get Lucky (Meara's Boost, Expended)
Stars in your Eyes (1 Free Invoke)
Unbalanced (Boost on Meara, Expended)
Wicked Claws (Boost on Meara, Expended)
Right Where I Want You! (Gwydion's Boost, Expended)

MerGN-G(oblin)
Stress: [ ] [ ]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.

MerGN-G(oblin) 4
Stress: [x] [x]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.

MerGN-G(oblin) 5
Stress: [x] [x]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.

MerGN-G(oblin) 6
Stress: [ ] [x]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.


Map Layout

To Landing <-- Chasm 1 -- Chasm 2 -- Chasm 3 -->To Base
            Gb1, Gb2, Gb3    B, M, Gw     Gb7, Gb8, Gb9
                        Gb4, Gb5, Gb6


This message was last edited by the GM at 10:49, Thu 17 Aug 2023.

Euryelia swept around again, her disruption foils deflecting the claws out of line again.  Brun worked to maneuver through the battle-dance, while also keeping up with the timing of the tremors and the beat.  But the tremors were coming in from too many directions; a mistake was bound to happen.  There, a slip.  The ground bucked just as Euryleia's foot came down at just the wrong time.  The Lady's dancing step stumbled for a beat...

Brun quickly tried to activate another countermeasure, trying to flood the most likely frequencies for the Emergent-forms with sensor noise, though he didn't hold out much hope.  He had to try and keep them off for a moment, "I should have let you lead..."

The song changed, something less suited to a formal party.  Martian battle-rock with more aggressive synth-riffs and drums. Euryleia responded, "Just the wrong sort of music for these beasts.  Try this and do keep up."

Reactions:
Armour Defend Total - +6 (Spending FP to tag Ground Ops).  This should give them a boost.... Mis-step?
Melee Defend Total - +5

Actions:
Create Advantage Total - +2; Trying to create Sensor Noise...but that's a pretty low roll...

22:41, Today: Brun rolled -4 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, -1, -1.  Create Advantage - Cunning +6.

11:30, Today: Brun rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, -1, 1.  Defend - Melee +4 vs Attack 3.

11:18, Today: Brun rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, 1, 0.  Defend - Armour +4 vs CA: Unbalanced.

Meara's mind hesitated as the blows came in.  The reflexes pounded into her by Freyr's drills, however, did not.  Her movements were flawless.  Flowing like water, Brunhildr performed what looked to be a ridiculously well-timed lean, evading the claw at the last moment with only the barest of movements.  It looked Bad.  Ass.<i>  And it was well timed, as well, as some of <i>Euryleia's flares passed between them at just the right moment to help obscure Brunhildr's movement.  Thanks to Brun's earlier assistance with the telemetry data, as well, the computers in Brunhildr were able to provide that last bit of compensation to keep itself balanced, as well.

However, despite the apparently flawless evasion, it was not as flawless as it first seemed, and Brunhildr's next swing was not as solid as the previous ones.

Inside, Meara's grip on the controls were tightening, but she was otherwise appearing calm.

09:22, Today: Meara rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 1, -1, 0.  Armour +4.
09:22, Today: Meara rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 0, -1.  Armour +4 REROLL.
31, Today: Meara rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 1, -1, 1.  Armour +4 REROLL THE SECOND.
Invoking Impeccable Balance (free) and Ground Ops Compensation (Fate point) to get a 7.
09:16, Today: Meara rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, 0, -1.  Armour +4.
09:17, Today: Meara rolled 4 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, 1, 1.  Armour +4 REROLL.
Invoking Stars in their Eyes for a total of 10.
THE DOUGHNUTS WORKED.  Also THANK YOU BRUN.
I don't get any invokes, but neither do they, and I spend less points after I smack myself and use the aspects in play properly.

Also:
09:40, Today: Meara rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 0, -1.  Melee+2, Lævateinn Blade +2.
Total of 3 to counterattack.

[12:07, Today: Gwydion rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, -1, -1.  Armour +2 vs TN 6.
Total 2
Taking Unbalanced and it looks like also giving a Boost to the enemy. Dun like that.

12:18, Today: Gwydion rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 0, 0, 1.  Melee +5 vs TN 1.
Total 7
Taking a Boost to counter the Extra Unbalanced Boost.]

The longer it went on, the harder it was for Gwydion to keep from being overwhelmed by the rumbling monstrosities. This was going to make things much harder. Even so, his opponent didn't have the finesse it would take to get through the duelist's defenses. He hoped his next strike would land true even despite the quaking ground...

[12:21, Today: Gwydion rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, -1, 1.  Melee +5 vs Gb5.
Total 4+2 (invoking Dueling Prodigy for +2, -1 FP)
Attacking Gb5 some more.]

The fight continued and Prince Gwydion managed to put down his foe.

The Seismic forces that the Emergent unleashed were beginning to destabilize the vitrified spikes that jutted from the canyon. Shards began to burst from the surrounding walls and debris rained from overhead.

Suddenly as alarms blared one of the giant spires sheared away and tumbled into the canyon crushing some of the Goblins beneath. Sensors indicate that other spires are at risk of eminent collapse.

The Goblins gave pause as their system tried to reoptimize their approach given the lost of several units.

OOC:
08:17, Today: MerLN rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 1, 0, 1.  Armour +2. GB5 Defense vs. Gwydion. Total: 3.

Gwydion deals 3 stress to GB5. It shuts down it's last system and dies.

08:17, Today: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, -1, 1.  Armour +2. GB4 Defense vs. Meara. Total: 2.

Meara deals 1 stress to GB4. It shuts down the Seismic Disruptors system.

08:21, Today: MerLN rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, 0, -1.  Armour +2 vs. CA Advantage Sensor Noise. Total: 3.

Emergent Overcome the CA attempt for Sensor Noise.

07:27, Today: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, -1, 1.  Armour +2 Defense vs. Meara. Total: 2

Meara deals a 3 stress hit to GB4. Check 1 stress box and disable Thermal Claws system.


08:56, Today: MerLN rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, -1, 1.  Blast +3. Falling  Debris. Total: 2

Each of you need to make an Armour or Zeal roll vs. 2 or take stress from falling debris.

09:06, Today: MerLN rolled -3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, -1, 0.  Armour +2. CA Tactical Reassessment. Total: -1. Fail.

Brun, you're up!

Initiative
Meara
Gwydion
Emergent
Brun

Aspects
Ground Ops Compensation
Jagged Canyon
Might Get Lucky (Meara's Boost, Expended)
Stars in your Eyes
Unbalanced (Boost on Meara, Expended)
Wicked Claws (Boost on Meara, Expended)
Right Where I Want You! (Gwydion's Boost, Expended)
Mis-Step (Boost on Brun)
Unbalanced (Boost on Gwydion)
Seismic Tremors (Emergent Boost)

MerGN-G(oblin)
Stress: [ ] [ ]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.

MerGN-G(oblin) 4
Stress: [x] [x]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.

MerGN-G(oblin) 6
Stress: [ ] [x]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.


Map Layout

To Landing <-- Chasm 1 -- Chasm 2 -- Chasm 3 -->To Base
          Collapsed Spire    B, M, Gw     Gb7, Gb8, Gb9
                          Gb4, Gb5

"That Valkyrie is quite fast.  Not efficient, but fast.  Perhaps... Euryleia's commentary was cut off as the spires began to collapse.  She started to move after that ill-timed step, but wasn't quite back up to speed yet...  Brun activated another counter measure system and quickly began tagging the largest and most dangerous rockfalls heading for them, "PDMs away."  Panels on Euryleia's upper arms slid open and a flurry of tiny missiles spiraled out.  Each one tracked into the tagged rocks and shattered them into much more harmless gravel.  He opted to, for now, ignore his Lady's dig at Meara.

She began to dance forward again, but target acquisition markers began tagging the further three goblin forms.  Brun took note, "Why are we choosing new targets?  Further targets?"

"Further is relative.  We need to keep them from starting up again.  Thrusters."

Brun had never really had to deal with any other opinion when piloting, but now his Lady had opinions of her own...  He was also concerned about her reasons, but the middle of a battle seemed like a poor time to argue a point.  He brought the thrusters online, "As you wish, my Lady."

Thruster ports opened across Euryleia's back and legs as she suddenly began to sprint away from the Emergent they had been facing.  The jets blazed as Euryleia leapt up, rocketing off towards the further knot of Goblin-forms leaving a trail of dust and rock debris whirling behind her.  Brun poured on the power as the battle-rock thudded through the cockpit.  Speed would have to do for their defense.

Across the Comm, Brun relayed to Gwydion and Meara: We are moving to engage the other formation to prevent further seismic interference.

Reaction:
Overcome - Armour Total - 3 vs 2 (Triggered Mis-step Boost (with GM permission), then countered with Starshield Countermeasures)

Self-Compel - Euryleia is My Everything (Euryleia is much more direct in her style of fighting that Brun is.  Also, she wants to showboat a bit.  This is Trouble for Brun as she is throwing them in the midst of three enemies and now he is having to deal with OPINIONS.)

Action:
Create Advantage - Armour (Using Thrusters to allow Armour over Zeal) Total - 6 to create A Need for Speed

22:44, Today: Brun rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, 1, 0.  Create Advantage - Armour +4.

09:43, Today: Brun rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, -1, 1.  Overcome - Armour +4.

Brunhildr immediately took action upon noticing the falling debris, once again showing off Meara's agility and coordination as she turned the sudden disaster to her advantage.  Weaving in and out of the debris, she used her boosters to dart side to side, forward and back, in shorter jumps, making it hard to track where she is, and when paired with her strikes, causing doubt as to just how many of her there are.

"Geeeeeeeeeeet beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeent!" Meara exclaimed as she performed another slash at the stubborn Goblin in front of her.  She absolutely has not forgotten Irina is in the cockpit with her, but she is in the heat of battle, and one cannot attack without venting frustration at their opponent.

09:08, Today: Meara rolled -4 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, -1, -1.  Zeal +5 vs Falling Debris.
09:09, Today: Meara rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 0, -1, -1.  Reroll Zeal +5 ARE YOU SERIOUS.
Total: 4
Yeah, so that happened.  The ONE ROLL that would cause me to take stress happened.  So there goes my second to last point.  At least I got a boost out of it - "Debris Haze."
09:13, Today: Meara rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, 0, 1.  Armour +4 vs CA - Advantage "Can't shake me".
Total 4 to create advantage
09:14, Today: Meara rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 1, 0, 1.  Melee+2, Lævateinn Blade +2.  Using boost "Debris Haze"
Total 7 5
I am ending this thing's day right now before I roll another -4.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:47, Sun 27 Aug 2023.

[18:18, Today: Gwydion rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, 0, 0.  Armour +2 vs TN 2.
Total 4
Successful defense against the Collapsing Spires.]

As the Goblin crunched to the ground and finally stopped moving, Dyrnwyn planted its feet and lifted the heavy shield, deflecting aside much of the smaller chunks of debris caused by the fall of the geographical feature that used to be a place of business. When the dust settled, he found that Brun had charged forward to the next group of goblins, while Meara was turning the new dust field to her advantage.

"Meara, this place is coming apart, let's push forward and let these things crush themselves under the ruins!" Even as he spoke, Gwydion sent his much slower Armour at a boosted running pace to follow after their comrade. Dyrnwyn's large pauldrons disconnected and floated along beside him, mechanically sliding open to reveal blaster barrels and downward-facing antennae. The attack bits then begin unleashing a hail of laser fire at the next zone's goblins. Weak fire, but hopefully a suitable distraction.

[Moving to Chasm 3
Creating an Advantage: Disrupting Disruption using Blast
18:30, Today: Gwydion rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 1, 0, 1.  Blast +4 to Create Advantage.
Total 5

The intent is so they can't use their Seismic Disruptors until they clear the aspect.]

The Knights all evaded the falling debris unharmed.

Euryleia's speed was indeed remarkable as she and her knight rushed the Goblin pack. Their breakneck speed allowed them to be on top of the Goblins before they could adequately respond.

The Goblin facing Brunhildr did, indeed, get bent as Meara's hammerblow doubled it over before she bisected it neatly with her Lævateinn Blade. Irina gave a whoop of delight before adding, "I knew you could do it!"

Dyrnwyn's fusillade of blaster fire had the desired effect as well. Under such a bombardment the Goblins were forced to cease their seismic attack and fall back lest they be destroyed.

They tried to focus their claws upon Dyrnwyn's attack bits, but their tough alloy and interference by Brun and Euryleia prevented them from doing damage.

OOC:
Brun that CA seems like it'd be against passive opposition since you're creating it on yourself and I think I'd set that opposition at 2. So you'd succeed by 4 giving you a success with style.

Need for Speed Created with 2 Free Invokes.


17:57, Today: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 0, -1, 0.  Armour +2. GB4 Defense vs. Meara. Total: 2

Meara deals a 3 stress hit to GB4. Knocks last system offline. Goblin destroyed.


18:07, Today: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, 0, 1.  Armour +2. defense vs. Gwydion's CA. Total: 2

Gwydion succeeds w/ style. Disrupted Disruption created with 2 Free Invokes. Goblins will have to overcome Gwydion's total to use their seismic attack again.

For their action they are going to try to overcome it and continue their assault though.


18:18, Today: MerLN rolled -3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, -1, -1.  Armour +2. Overcome vs Disrupted Disruption. Using their invokes on Unbalanced and Seismic Tremors for another +4. Total: 3

They failed! And since they failed, they can't follow up with the attack they wanted.

Brun, you're up!

Initiative
Meara
Gwydion
Emergent
Brun

Aspects
Ground Ops Compensation
Jagged Canyon
Might Get Lucky (Meara's Boost, Expended)
Stars in your Eyes
Unbalanced (Boost on Meara, Expended)
Wicked Claws (Boost on Meara, Expended)
Right Where I Want You! (Gwydion's Boost, Expended)
Mis-Step (Boost on Brun)
Unbalanced (Boost on Gwydion)
Seismic Tremors (Emergent Boost)
Need For Speed (2 Free Invokes)
Disrupted Disruption (2 Free Invokes, Opposition 5 for Goblins to Overcome)

MerGN-G(oblin)
Stress: [ ] [ ]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.

MerGN-G(oblin) 6
Stress: [ ] [x]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.


Map Layout

To Landing <-- Chasm 1 -- Chasm 2 -- Chasm 3 -->To Base
          Collapsed Spire       M           B, Gw
                            Gb6     Gb7, Gb8, Gb9

Euryleia blasted through the middle of the Emergent formation as the fusillade of Gwydion's blaster fire stormed in around them.  Her foot touched down, thrusters re-vectoring for a tight turn as she zeroed in on the first target.  Another quick burst from the thrusters and she sprang back tearing at the goblin-form as she sped past...

Brun let his Lady take the lead and concentrated on supporting her daring slashing maneuvers.  She kept her eye on the target, he kept his on making sure they didn't ram into anything.  Despite feeling unused to sharing piloting decisions... he couldn't help but feel pride and love as she stormed in...

Reactions:
None needed that I saw...

Actions:
Attack GB7 Total - +8 (Rolled -2, +4 Melee, Using both Need for Speed Invokes, and One Disrupted Disruption.  Willing to burn a FP for Ground Ops Scanning, if it could possible take it out or if it rolls super well so it can still be a solid hit)

14:09, Today: Brun rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, 1, -1.  Attack - Melee +4 vs. GB7.

Leaping back after the victory and allowing herself a grin from Irina's cheering, Meara maneuvers Brunhildr atop the collapsed spire, continuing to use debris and rapid movements to make tracking her a veritable nightmare.

Moving from Chasm 2 to Chasm 1
09:13, Tue 22 Aug: Meara rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, 0, 1.  Armour +4 vs CA - Advantage "Can't dodge what you can't see".
Total 4 to create advantage, possibly vs Mark since it's a tracking thing
Told ya I'd use it for this turn!

Dashing into the space behind Euryleia gave Dyrnwyn momentum to ram into the Goblins with its shield! Gwydion called back the bits to dock and laid into the enemy with shield and sword, a fierce attempt to keep them from recovering from the lightning assault.

[13:23, Today: Gwydion rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 0, -1.  Melee +5 vs Gb8.
Total 4+2 (-1FP to invoke Jagged Canyon for +2)]

Euryleia's lightning fast strike completely overwhelmed the Goblins and one of them was sliced to pieces in the blink of an eye.

Meara took cover atop the collapsed spire and disappeared from sight and sensors alike. The Emergent tried to reacquire their target, but their scanners could not locate Brunhildr.

Dyrnwyn slammed into the combat forms in Euryleia's wake and battered one to near destruction, but the Goblins fought back raking the proud armour with deadly claws.

OOC:
07:30, Mon 28 Aug: MerLN rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 0, -1, -1.  Armour +2 Defense vs. Brun. Total: 1

Brun spends that FP to bring his total to 10. Deals 9 stress. GB7 checks off 2 stress box. 7 left. 6 stress taken by shutting down a system of it's choice and player's choice. 1 stress left over. Shuts down last system. Explodes. One shot. Nice.

16:45, Today: MerLN rolled -3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, -1, -1.  Armour +2 Overcome vs. Meara's CA Total: -1

Meara Succeeds with Style. Creates Can't Dodge What You Can't See with two free invokes.

16:58, Today: MerLN rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, -1, 0.  Armour +2 GB8 Defense vs. Gwydion. Total: 1

Gwydion deals 5 stress. Checks its 2 stress box. Three left. Shuts down 2 systems for 4. I will take Seismic Disruptors. I will shut down Horde Directive on your behalf. It's mechanically identical to Thermal Claws in the current situation and Thermal Claws will be useless after the next exchange.


17:19, Today: MerLN rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, 1, -1.  Mark +2 . GB6 Overcome vs. Meara's CA. Total: 1

Fail!

17:15, Today: MerLN rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, 1, -1.  Melee +2. +2 Thermal Claws, GB8 vs. Gwydion. Total: 5

17:15, Today: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, -1, -1.  Melee +2. +2 Thermal Claws, +2 Horde Directive. GB9 vs. Gwydion. Total: 6

Gwydion roll a defense vs. each attack on your turn.

Brun, you're up!

Initiative
Meara
Gwydion
Emergent
Brun

Aspects
Ground Ops Compensation
Jagged Canyon
Might Get Lucky (Meara's Boost, Expended)
Stars in your Eyes
Unbalanced (Boost on Meara, Expended)
Wicked Claws (Boost on Meara, Expended)
Right Where I Want You! (Gwydion's Boost, Expended)
Mis-Step (Boost on Brun)
Unbalanced (Boost on Gwydion)
Seismic Tremors (Emergent Boost)
Need For Speed
Disrupted Disruption (1 Free Invokes, Opposition 5 for Goblins to Overcome)
Can't Dodge What You Can't See (2 Free Invokes)

MerGN-G(oblin)
Stress: [ ] [ ]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.

MerGN-G(oblin) 6
Stress: [ ] [x]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.

MerGN-G(oblin) 8
Stress: [ ] [x]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.


Map Layout

To Landing <-- Chasm 1 -- Chasm 2 -- Chasm 3 -->To Base
                 M                        B, Gw
           Collapsed Spire    Gb6      Gb8, Gb9

The Goblin-form rippled with explosions after Euryleia's pass.  Brun could feel her triumphant exhilaration humming through him.  He felt the same rush now...  but was it him or an echo of her?  Did it matter?  Separate or one....

Brun snapped his attention back to the battle as the other Emergent went after Gwydion, "We need to relieve the pressure on the Prince..."

Euryleia was already rounding back to the melee, Thrusters flaring, foils spread like wings behind her, "Their destruction should offer relief enough."

Reactions: None

Actions: Attack - Melee Total 7 (Spending 1FP on Knight of Avaluna)

Would like to split the attack: 4 to Gb8 (the very damaged one), 3 to Gb9

Willing to burn another FP for Need for Speed to make sure Gb8 goes down.

08:50, Today: Brun rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, 0, 0.  Attack - Melee +4.

This message was last edited by the player at 13:50, Thu 31 Aug 2023.

Having thoroughly confused her opponent, Meara took a deep breath, slowly let it out, then gave all her focus to the next thrust of her blade.  If it ended up hitting like she hoped - and it was a solid attack - it should end quickly.  Because ending the fight sooner means getting to a place they can remove their helmets sooner, which also means victory smooches!

12:08, Today: Meara rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, 1, 1.  Melee+2, Lævateinn Blade +2.  Spending 1 free invoke of Can't Dodge What You Can't See for another +2.
Total: 7 vs GB6

This should hopefully finish it off.  If it does, Meara's going to showboat and lift it up over Brunhildr's head while still impaled.

[14:16, Today: Gwydion rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, -1, 0.  Melee +5 vs TN 5.
Total 5

Alright, I'll let GB8 have that boost. :P

14:17, Today: Gwydion rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, -1, -1.  Melee +5 vs TN 6.
Total 3

I'll take the 3 Stress to my Physical 3 box. I got this.]

The artificial creatures' claws didn't so much push against Dyrnwyn's shield as they scraped and pulled, taking him off his solid balance for the briefest of moments. In some attempt to end the conflict before his enemy could make use of that fraction of a second, Gwydion simply allowed gravity to take him and his machine in the direction the surviving creature pulled, adding his thrusters for a stronger fall and swiping his sword at it, the tip cutting right through the earth itself.

[14:23, Today: Gwydion rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, 1, -1.  Melee +5 vs Gb9.
Total 7+2 (-1 FP to invoke Jagged Canyon)

If it rolls 0 or worse I should be able to smoosh it!]

Euryleia downed another foe and turned to engage the Emergent assaulting Dyrnwyn. Gwydion turned the momentum of the Goblin's attack against it and nearly crushed it under the weight of the armour's push.

Meanwhile Brunhildr darted from cover and impaled the lone Goblin in the middle of the chasm. Meara raised her armour's Lævateinn Blade and shredded her foe above her armour.

OOC:
13:21, Thu 31 Aug: MerLN rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, -1, 0.  Armour +2 GB8 Defense vs. Brun. Total: 0

Brun deals 4 stress to GB8. Checks its 1 box. Shuts down last system. Explodes.

13:23, Thu 31 Aug: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, -1, 0.  Armour +2 GB9 Defense vs. Brun. 2

Brun deals 1 stress. GB9 checks its 1 box.

17:06, Thu 31 Aug: MerLN rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, 0, 0.  Armour +2 GB6 Defense vs. Meara. Total: 0

Meara deals 7 stress. GB6 checks its ine box and shuts down its two remaining systems. Explodes.

31, Today: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 0, 0.  Armour +2 GB9 Defense vs. Gwydion. Total: 2

Gwydion deals 7 stress. GB9 checks its 2 box. Shuts down two systems.

Still up. Just barely.

Brun you're up. Finish this.

Initiative
Meara
Gwydion
Emergent
Brun

Aspects
Ground Ops Compensation
Jagged Canyon
Might Get Lucky (Meara's Boost, Expended)
Stars in your Eyes
Unbalanced (Boost on Meara, Expended)
Wicked Claws (Boost on Meara, Expended)
Right Where I Want You! (Gwydion's Boost, Expended)
Mis-Step (Boost on Brun)
Unbalanced (Boost on Gwydion)
Seismic Tremors (Emergent Boost)
Need For Speed
Disrupted Disruption (1 Free Invokes, Opposition 5 for Goblins to Overcome)
Can't Dodge What You Can't See (1 Free Invokes)

MerGN-G(oblin) 9
Stress: [x] [x]
Head: Horde Directive - +2 Melee Attack if at least one other Goblin unit is in the same zone.
Arms: Thermal Claws - +2 Melee on the first melee attack of combat.
Legs: Seismic Disruptors - +2 to Armour Create Advantage to Unbalance Target. This is increased to +4 against targets smaller than an Armour. Only works on a solid surface.


Map Layout

To Landing <-- Chasm 1 -- Chasm 2 -- Chasm 3 -->To Base
                              M           B, Gw
           Collapsed Spire                  G9

Euryleia spun away from the second destroyed Goblin-form.  Disruption foils lancing crackles of energy into as they parted.  As Gwydion recovered Dyrnwyn's balance from the crashing shove, Euryleia pounced in from the flank.  The Emergent's targeting must have still been disrupted from Gwydion's earlier distraction or his more recent slam.  It didn't see her coming. Her foils struck down in flurry of elegant, precise destruction...


Reactions: None

Actions: Attack Melee Total 9 (Burning the last free Disruption Invoke for certainty)

If there is a world where 9 doesn't do it, burn another FP for Knight of Avaluna.

08:39, Today: Brun rolled 3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, 0, 1.  Attack - Melee +4 vs Gb9.