"So that's settled," Texxor says to Haakon and Tawna.

"One thing I'd like to add that we want out of this," Tawna says.

Texxor rolls his eyes preemptively.  "What?"

"Well, all these preparations for a wedding going on... we can get some additional use out of all that work, why waste it?"

"What are you talking about?"  The Werewolf General asks.

"We're getting married.  Here is a good place."

Texxor looks stunned.  "You can't ask King Theoderic and the Lady Aelasuria to share their wedding with you.  It's an event!"

"Oh no," Tawna explains.  "I'm thinking, a few days later, when everyone's still sleeping it off.  A wereweasel wedding at the palace. You can't ask for a better way of declaring that we're officially back in good graces here."

Haakon grinned, "She's right Sir.  It would be perfect would it not?"

The Dwarf Metal Band, after much discussion, settle on Diamond Hammer as their name, and start reviewing and practicing with Phileas and Rory.  They show off their traditional Dwarven instruments, which include rocks enchanted with a variant of the magic used to create “Thunderstones” that give a loud, clear sound when struck.  Rory has much work to do- many of the lyrics the Dwarves know are a little too “Dwarfy”, and need to be adjusted for the wider audience of Lucimburic.

And there are still others to audition and schedule.

There is a girl so thin and frail looking that she seems like she could blow away in a strong wind… but she sings, and her voice is clear and strong and honey-sweet… Phileas puts her in the lineup at once.

Rory recalls her, vagues.  Cirrus… somewhere they met, and Cado wanted her for the traveling show, but Cirrus had other plans.

And Phileas Argentos has an idea.

“We have a wide open plaza with a large crowd,” he says.  “The acoustics are terrible.  But her voice.. there is some magic involved, I’m sure of it.  Her voice will carry through anything.  With her… and with Diamond Hammer… this could be the over-the-top main event we really need.”


* * * * * * *

Meanwhile...

Tawna is not the only one with things to add to the negotiation.  Texxor has his own.  They can use a chapel in the palace for a wedding… but there is one more thing.  Tawna is invited to a “security discussion” and asked to bring her uncle- and other Wereweasels.  There may be a job for them.

So Tawna and Haakon come back later, with help.

Their meeting place isn’t in the palace proper, but in Texxor’s private conference room in the Lucimburic Guards’ Barracks, which is reached from the palace by way of a bridge.

Kyriel and Ali’cor are invited, and Texxor is the one in charge.  Ovo and Cirostis may be there.  There are also several of his palace guards in attendance, as well as Haakon and Tawna a small pack of Wereweasels, including “Uncle Wallis”.

Texxor presents the information, repeating mostly what Tawna told him about bounties on Aelasuria and Theoderic, and the discovery of a small Vulturegryph in the palace tower.  It was that last discovery that moved him to action- the Vulturegryph is not a naturally occurring animal.  The chances are high that the creature was sent here as some kind of spy.

But first, he wants to know from the Wereweasels if there has been any word of a bounty, other than what they heard from Kyriel.

Wallis stands up to speak.  His beady black eyes take in the group before he starts.

“Your most toothy generalship, you know that there is little that happens here in darkness that we don’t know about, sooner or later, especially if it concerns gold being paid for some nefarious deeds.  But no one has made us any offers.”

The other wereweasels confirm that this has been their experience as well.

“Nor have I encountered it on our travels,” Tawna says.

“I would suggest one of several explanations,” Wallis continues. “If one wishes someone killed by elite assassins, one does not simply declare a bounty.  That’s foolish!”

“How so?”  Texxor asks.

Wallis takes a breath.  He reminds himself that Wereweasels may know about how the business of assassination works, but not Werewolves, who are so much more direct when it comes to violence.  “You see, sir, a bounty attracts all manner of opportunistic, less precise… ahh… idiots.  Amateurs.   Against a king, sir, especially one like Theoderic, they are almost bound to fail, and they will get in the way of more capable killers, spoiling their efforts.  No, the wise thing to do to would be to quietly employ a hand picked hunter, or group.”

“Then why the bounty?”

“Ahh. Well, there are other explanations.  It may be simply a reaction out of frustration.  It may be a move calculated to keep Theoderic from freely moving about in Gaul… which was where this bounty was announced, yes?”

So you do not think there is any danger?”  Texxor asks.

Wallis shakes his head.  “I said almost bound to fail, your wolf-y-ness. It has been my experience that opportunistic idiots can do surprising things.  There is certainly a chance that some eager gold chaser has come here for Gaul, hoping for his chance.

"Do you have recommendations?" asks Texxor.

The Wereweasel shrugs.  "If we were considering an attack by professionals, we would have many suggestions.  Against idiots, I am afraid Wereweasels are less well skilled.”

Haakon grinned at Uncle Wallis before saying, "I on the other hand, am well known for being an idiot.  Of course, even I cannot guarantee complete safety.  The only way to do that is to take out the idiot in question.  When we don't know who the idiot is, we have to consider what we DO know, or can trace, the source of the rumour of the bounty.  Find that and I am sure some were-cats could end the rumour pretty quickly." He frowned, "There ARE werecats aren't there?"

Kyriel accompanies Texxor to the meeting. Once the wereweasel is done with his comments on the bounty she shrugs. "It's also possible that a group of professionals could bide their time and use the 'idiots' to smoke out the defenses in place. That is my greatest fear. That our attention will be diverted by multiple attempts and the real attack will get through because they've been able to see how we react."

Ali'cor accompanied Texxor to the meeting along with Kyriel and the others, although he wasn't sure if he could contribute anything to it, but the meeting still seemed like his best opportunity to get to know about this bounty everyone had been talking about.

He tried hard to listen to all that was being said in the meeting, but given his wanderlust, he was finding it quite difficult not to pull a disappearing act and start exploring something, somewhere else. Although, some of the things said during the discussion did catch his attention.

Ali'cor couldn't help but smirk at Haakon at the comment he made, regarding himself being a known idiot. In his experience, one who recognized his own idiocy, was always only a few steps away from becoming a wise man.

Of course, he himself did not have any wise comments to add, except for one thing.

"A wedding is not a place which can be swarmed with regimens of soldiers or guards without ruining it in some manner... so professionals are really the only problem here..."

"As for the idiots.... I doubt they will hardly even make it past the front gate." He added.

"Also..." Ali'cor took out the amulet he had taken off the neck of the beast earlier. "...the Vulturegryph was wearing this around its neck... wonder if this might be useful in some way... to track how it got here."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Sat 30 Mar 2013.

Haakon nodded when he saw the amulet Ali'cor had produced.  "There", he said, "I prefer tracking by natural manner but those who know that sort of thing, I imagine, might well be able to find the source of this bounty, and arrange a removal so spectacular that all the idiots know they will never get paid."

With widening grin, he added, "We need a little theatre to protect the spectacle we will have here.... Oh yes, and to protect the Royal Wedding a few days before."  It is entirely possible that Haakon winked at Tawna at this point.

"We have a strange creature," Texxor says, "and it was wearing an amulet.  I think this is a fact as important as anything else we've heard, yes?  A creature like that doesn't have an amulet unless someone put it there.  And... this is a wizard's matter, now.  Amulets have purposes and I do not know these things.  Let's have a recess, then, while we get one here."

Texxor sends guards in several directions, the object being to find a wizard as quickly as possibly.

"Not the Lady Soulwater," he reminds them.  "She's not to be troubled.  But the plaza's practically overrun with Elves at the moment.  Good chance there's a wizard or three among them."

* * * *

The guards do find Elves, and through them, they find the best wizard available- and he happens to be Danazol, king of the High Elves, here for the wedding.  But when they asked him, Danazol didn't stop them with "but I'm the King of the Elves" or anything like that.  It sounded important, they needed his help.. so he went along with it.

The meeting reconvenes.  Ali'cor knows the Elf king by sight- of course, every Elf from Geneva does.  And Danazol knows Ali'cor, but nothing beyond "the Soulwater youngster."  He's not at all surprised to see that Ali'cor is involved here.  Even less surprised to see that it was Ali'cor who turned up the amulet they are asking him about.  Those Soulwaters have an unusual habit of getting involved in things.

Danazol studies the amulet carefully.

"Do you know what it is?" Texxor asks.

"I do," Danazol says.  "It's not a very uncommon tool.  We've made a few in the Alps ourselves, but this is not our handiwork.  A Roaming Eye, some call it.  It allows another to see through it.  It's limited... a few miles, I think."

Kyriel is glad that Ali'Cor has the amulet that the vulturegryph had worn around its neck. She realizes now just how valuable it is as evidence of her suppositions. The short range means that someone is here now. A few thoughts cross her mind. "Majesty, how likely is it that someone is watching through it now? Does it only transmit vision, or will it transmit sound as well? Can we use it to track the receiver?"

The other man has some interesting ideas; ones that she decides she likes. She doesn't comment though until the king answers her questions.

She considers the possibility of someone having seen her in action. If that's the case, then maybe the little 'human' servant girl will need to go away for a while. Maybe she should go for something completely different but equally likely to be overlooked? That's something that she'll have to ponder over.

OOC: Aelasuria, you're prophetic! I think this part actually happens before you suggest that Kyriel be one of your bridesmaids.

“As far as I know, it passes along vision only.” Danazol replies to Kyriel.

“Probably why they call it a Roaming Eye and not an Ear,” Wallis says.

"And one-way, strictly, for exactly the reason that young Kyriel has brought up," Danazol says.

“On a more pragmatic level,” Texxor says, “this thing has been fixed to a very noticable winged creature.  I imagine it was never intended to be within listening range of it's targets; far too obvious an intruder.  But up in the sky, or along the rooftops, it could wait and watch.  Well there we have it.  Our plot is no longer just a possiblity, but a reality.  Someone was... or is... will someone put thing in a bag or a pot, please?... so now we must assume, our enemy is here.”

“And you still do not want to bother Theoderic and Aelasuria with this?”  Tawna asks, sounding slightly skeptical.

“We will intrude upon them to the minimal extent possible,” Texxor says.

Wyllister, one of the Wereweasels who has thus far been silent, decides to speak. “Yet they must now take their part in this whether they like it or not!  Every assassin knows that an unsuspecting target is much easier!  A target that is wary, well, even the most basic precautions make an assassin's job that much harder.”

“Such as?”  Texxor prompts after Wyllister stops speaking.

“Well,” Wyllister says carefully, looking around to gauge the expressions, “they most certainly ought to keep their movements unpredictable.  No advance word should go out about where they will be and when.  That's the most basic defense.  Assassins prefer... I mean I suspect they would prefer, if I actually knew about them, which I don't... they prefer their targets to stick to routines, and plan well in advance.”

“Bit of a problem keeping their movements unannounced, what with a wedding being held, don't you think?” Texxor asks.

Once Kyriel hears that the device is only visual, she grabs a dark cloth and covers it up. "How likely is it that whoever is behind this knows that the vulturegryph is dead?  If the creature is nocturnal, they might not check on it regularly until dusk. Could we spoof what they see?"

"Likely as not he knows," Texxor says.  "Let's not be optimistic, if we have already decided to be pessimistic.  But we have to consider the nature of our opponent now.  Someone who can use this magic, and knows better than to risk unneeded exposure.  But how many have these skills?  Is this some shaman of the Demon lords, or have they corrupted a human wizard?

"Just knowing it is a magic user, we have narrowed down the target.  We need to find a magic user, from a land where news of the bounty has already reached.  It will be the kind of person who is not so mighty that the Emperor's offer means nothing, and not so low that he cannot wield the magic needed to tame a vulturegryph and use the roaming eye."

Rita follows Kyriel to the meeting, and if permitted, goes up to the attic to take a look at the dead creature. Can she tell whether or not it is of demonic origin?

"That magic user could very well be a demon shaman, a type of cleric," she says to the group once the amulet is identified. "We encountered several of them on the battlefield. They should no be estimated. They gain strength from sacrificing innocents to demons," she says with a grimace.

"I must agree with him," she says, immediately after Wyllister speaks. "Forewarned is forearmed. The king and Aelasuria should be told about all of this, if only so they can take proper precautions. Perhaps that might mean having protective spells on themselves at the ceremony. I would never want to trouble them on the day of their greatest happiness, but I do think it better that they know they potentially face danger. That knowledge can only help them make better decisions to outwit this unknown assassin."

King Danazol may very well not appreciate her suggestion. He will likely think I am overstepping, she thinks to herself. But Aelasuria and Theoderic are more than friends to her--they are practically a second family. Keeping them safe is what is important here, even if the elven king disapproves of everything she says.

Haakon doesn't know much about magic.  And what little he knows about subterfuge he has learned from Tawna but he does know a thing or two about misdirection.  "Is that thing working now?" he asked those who know about magic, and when he is sure he is out of sight of it he says, "Now just suppose, the Royal wedding is put back a couple oh hours and instead Tawna and I were to rehearse our own wedding? Then perhaps the idiots would show their hands and even the skilled assassins might have wood growing from their foreheads before the real wedding happened?"

Kyriel nods. The suggestions coming out so far are reasonable. She's hung out with enough wizards so she might have a clue what this one is capable of, however, they have an expert here! "Your majesty, what kind of spells do you think we can expect? Figure that the mage will know he only has one shot, so he'd have to make it a good one."

One of the participants at the palace “security council” meeting voices skepticism.  It is Mergyon, the Wereweasel majordomo of the palace, he of the polished uniform and obsessive adherence to decorum.

“It just isn’t logical,” he says.  “Texxor, we are preparing for a Royal Wedding.  These two… and this one’s a Wereweasel… they just wouldn’t rate any kind of special effort on our part.  And if we try to confuse the assassin.. whom we know nothing about, I should add.. we will confuse the people of Lucimburic as well.  And if the people thought we were doing all this for Tawna and Haakon… “

“Nevertheless… if we were to attend to both, the assassin would not know which preparations were for them, and which for Theoderic and Aelasuria.  He wouldn’t know which soup bowl to poison, as it were.  The more ambiguity we can create…”

“More ambiguity is good,” Wyllister says.  The other Wereweasels nod.

“Still,” Mergyon says, “ A Wereweasel being accorded such honors as a palace wedding… it’s hardly believable, is it?  It would be seen as an obvious sham.”

“Unless it is believable,” Texxor says.

“By which you mean?” the Majordomo asks.

“Tawna has just come back from a long, extended, covert and very dangerous assignment on behalf of the Duke.  I say she is to be accorded high honors as a Hero of Lucimburic.  And such honors are to include her wedding, as she requested.  Let us make it so.”

Texxor dismisses the meeting; there is work to be done.  Kyriel will shadow Aelasuria, and Haakon and Tawna will go with Mergyon, to start their own rehearsal for their ceremony, the preparations to overlap and merge with those of the Royal Wedding, the better to befuddle a villain.  It will be announced publicly- one more thing for Lucimburic to celebrate.

Texxor motions for his guards to accompany him- they will take a tour of the palace and review security plans.

Mergyon looks at Tawna.  “Hero of Lucimburic.  Really?  I suppose you want a medal of some kind?”

“It would be proper decorum for such,” Tawna says, knowing how to push the Weremink’s buttons.

Haakon looked down his nose at the weremink, mentally measuring him for a pelt, even though he knew that was impossible.  "We have sacked two cities", he said, "Are medals not usual in such circumstances.  Where a tailor and a schoolmarm conquer the enemies of the country?  Hmmm?"

kyriel grins at the weremink. "Chances are, the assassin doesn't know very much about things here. Otherwise he wouldn't have needed to use the spy-eye and wouldn't have used something like the vulturegryph to carry it. At this point, confusion is good!"

Nobody seems to respond to Rita's urging that Theoderic and Aelasuria be forewarned about the threat, as Texxor dismisses the meeting without addressing the issue.

She decides to approach Kyriel since both of them will be bridesmaids.

"It seems like no one agrees with me about informing King Theoderic and Aelasuria about these threats against them. Then again, these people know more about security matters than I do. But I still suspect the spellcaster is a demon shaman rather than a wizard, or possibly some combination of both. I'm still spooked by the fact that fire demons attacked the Temple of Pluto back in Arras. That is the last thing we want to see here.

I do wonder if any of us, including King Theoderic and Aelasuria, should have protective spells on during the wedding, just in case. I could cast a Magic Circle Against Evil on both of them, which would last nearly an hour and prevent any attempts at possession."

She knows Kyriel is busy, just like everyone right now, but there is something Rita needs to say.

"There is something else I've been wanting to discuss with you," she says, seeming slightly nervous. "When you were in Raviniacum at Midsummer, the two of us were talking, and I kind of gave you a hard time. I don't even remember what we were talking about, but I do know I acted like a know-it-all, and I want to apologize to you for that. I never meant to make you uncomfortable."

Kyriel looks surprised when Rita makes the comment about nobody telling Aelasuria and the King about the threat. "Matre, they're already aware of it. I told them myself. I think the General was saying that they don't need to know the particulars of the defense. It's about trust and delegation of authority. The king trusts the duke, and the duke trusts his people to do the right things. Believe me, everyone here takes their well being very seriously."

She looks sheepish a moment later and quietly comments to Rita. "It's possible to be too trusting though. I got angry and yelled at Aelasuria earlier today when I told her what's going on; she started telling everyone about it. Being open is one thing, but I'm going to be upset if it makes my job of protecting them harder."

When Rita apologizes for the incident at the midsummer fair, Kyriel looks confused for a second. "I don't remember you giving me a hard time. At least no harder than anyone else has ever given me."

"That's what I get for coming in late," Rita answers, glad to hear that Theoderic and Aelasuria are aware of the threat.

"Aelasuria can be too trusting," she says, smiling. "Especially once she is queen, she will have to be a bit more discerning in who she trusts.

If there is anything I can do to help you do your job better, just let me know. That includes my casting a protective spell on you if such a spell would be helpful."

She smiles again when Kyriel doesn't remember their conversation at the Midsummer Faire.

"Since I met him, I've always believed King Theoderic has been chosen by the gods to free Europa from the Hun evil. I've put a lot of faith in him, and I may have over-reacted to any doubts expressed about him and his ability to lead. I just want you to know that I am sorry for anything I said that was inappropriate, and I hope we can be good friends."

It is sometime after the wedding.  Barstow and Theoderic discuss the latest communication from Gellas.

"I can't keep the army in field this year," Theoderic says.  "I'll grind them into poverty, if I do.  There are herds and fields to tend to, and I can't draw them off until summer.  And not nearly enough money for paid troops, unless I spend the money from Belgica and I don't want to do that, not yet."

"War is expensive, if you don't intend to make it pay off in plunder," Barstow says.

"Plundering defeats the purpose.  But waiting for summer throws away the advantage we have now, with the Huns in disarray from their defeat.  There's got to be something I can do with a small force."

"We were talking about you striking east from Mos Trajectum."  Barstow says.  "It's the very fringe of the Huns territory.  It is impossible for the Emperor to quickly move against you, there.  And all you have to do is threaten one warlord, and all of them will be afraid of you.  A small force might work."

"It may not be so small.  If we have a few volunteers from the Elves, a few from the Dwarves, from you, I hope, possibly even a Halfling or two.. it would... Hmmm...."

"What is it, Theoderic?"

"Something Phileas and Hylensia Argentos said.  They had been talking to a wizard from Aurelianorum, who specialized in music and lore.  And he had asked of some... I think it was a magic oracle of some kind, if I have it straight.. how the defeat of the Huns could come about.  He was told, an army would have to be raised that joins all the races.  We seem to have that here."

"Don't you need a fey or two to complete it?"

"Then that's what we have to do.  Get a few Fey on our side, and find a way to make our attack with a small but elite force.  There are several towns east of Mos Trajectum, but the most important is Aquae Grannis.  The temple of Belenus.  I've heard.. and seen...that in some of the temples, not even Hun conquest has completely dimmed the fires.  There may be some power there that can help us."

"That should be your prize, then," the Werebear Duke says.  "Aquae Grannis.  Infiltrate first... take it from within, if you can."

“Aquae Grannis?” A voice called from down the hall, echoing questioningly between the palace’s grand columns like a sinuous ghost. The beating of wings followed him. In the quiet of this private place each sound seemed more than it was: louder, more defined. “I have not heard that name before,” it continued in admittance, along with the accompaniment of clacking bootstrikes on marble “But then, I am from a different land, and I do not know this one in its entirety yet.”

“Perhaps a place worth seeing,” it went on “If you’re looking for more swords.”

The voice’s owner walked the hall, coming close enough to be seen more clearly: a tall dark-haired Germanic warrior, by his garb and bearing. He wore a red leather vest and leggings over a drab green tunic and pale blue pants, a swordbelt girded to his waist, apparently prepared to march into the field even now. Barstow would recognize him. Heolstor had come once before to Lucimburic and into his company. To request support as he marched East towards the border of the Ardennes and the Hun.

Heolstor did not quite move into their proximity, being just far enough so as not to be rude by inserting himself where he was not invited. When he introduced himself he did so with a stiff but respectful bow. His face came near parallel to the ground, long black bangs dropping to obscure his face. “I am Heolstor Strang, Lord of Lingones and Tullum. Former-Commander of the Allied Army that shattered the Hun on the Celibus, your Majesty.” Heolstor rose again to his full height, olive eyes set on Theoderic. “Several months ago, King Theoderic, I had a rider sent to carry you a message. I have not heard of his return.”

“I fear him dead on the road.” Heolstor spoke, tone growing grim. The crow that had flown in with him found its way to Strang’s left shoulder. Below its perch was a newly embroidered raven on a field of scarlet, set at the breast of Heolstor’ leather vest. There above the raven the crow stood, dark eyes keen. “Do you recall if he found his way to you?”

Barstow makes the introductions, having met Heolstor earlier.

As soon as the protocols are past, Theoderic (who has always been short on protocol and eager to jump to the heart of the matter) tries to answer Heolstor's questions.

"There have been messengers, but we were on the move, constantly.  Most of what I managed to get was collected up at Hiricio and Raviniacum, and forwarded to the few who knew where to find me.  Even they had a hard time.  It’s been months of movement."

"Now, a rest," the Werebear Duke says.  "But soon, more movement."

"I can use swords, but this next season will be for a few with special talents and wits, as much as swords.  I do not wish to keep so many men in the field.  It is expensive, and it drains my people of the labor of their men, just when they need it the most.  We've been hard hit, and we need to rebuild.  But I will conduct an offensive nonetheless, of a different kind.  I've chosen Aquae Grannis because it is remote, and because the Emperor does not need it.  I could easily strike at a more important target, but that would force a long battle I do not want right now.  It is my hope that the Emperor will choose not to contest Aquae Grannis, and it will cause the local warlords across the Empire to doubt his commitment to supporting them, as well.  What I need now is a small force of the most talented and bravest we can find."

"Still.. dead or alive, no easy answers to give his kin then I fear." Heolstor reflected. Pwyll, by comparison had nothing to say. Heolstor took his silence for respectful agreement.

"I do not know if I qualify... but I am an able warrior, and no coward. Gundobad, Dunduin, and the ghosts of a host of Huns can speak to that. If you would permit it, I would have a hand in your continued war. I brought my people into this conflict... and so long as the Hun is pressed elsewhere, they are safe."