2. So much of the palace has an old, unused look.  The current Duke and Duchess have been here a little more than a year and have not made the restoration of the palace a priority.  They have no children yet, few servants, and few relatives.

Things were busier in the past.  On the third floor of the section of the palace called the Bartholomew Wing, there is a suite of several rooms facing a terrace, with big windows.  This is the Musicians’ Conservatory.  It was built as a practice lounge for musicians hired to entertain the palace inhabitants, and also as a studio for the Duke’s family to study music.  But there hasn’t been much of a musical inclination in years.

Phileas and Hylensia Argentos, well known owners and managers of what may be northern Europa’s best performing troupe, have lent their services to the Duke and Duchess- they have been put in charge of the entertainment.  Though they’ve brought none themselves, they have quickly begun taking “auditions” and assigning times to performers for days of festivity.

Hylensia is explaining the basics:  “There are two venues we have to fill.  The Duke and Duchess request chamber music during the day time in the Ardennes Hall, and nightly entertainment there.  Outside, at the Clear Fountain Plaza, there will be street performers and music for the public, as a service to the people, from the Duchy.  At least a week, they say.  Would that we had brought our troupe!  But we didn’t, so we must make do.  We have Rory who we have given several evening slots to.  He’s good for early evenings.  We need to finish with something more upbeat, though.”

The wizard wanders in, thankful once again for sweet Melissa. As he looks around patches of the air change color cycling through the long list of favorite colors Aelessuria told him.

Erm... Hello? I uh ... Was coming to review the fireworks with Lady Babettte...
I've come a long way, but can do more with a proper workshop for the practice of alchemy.

Hylensia and Phileas Argentos quickly recognize Scolo as a wizard.  No one else can give off that same air of being completely familiar with the absolutely bizarre.  They've often worked with wizards.  They know the type.

And brilliant as Scolo’s oft-befuddled mind is, he does recognize the two others in the room.  A mature couple, with silvery hair and a harmony between them that allows them to anticipate each others thoughts.. and he’s seen them before, years ago, with their traveling show, performing in Aurelianorum.

Going to see a performing troupe with a bunch of academy wizards ruins part of the fun.  They sit there and comment on the techniques of the show magicians.  Takes a little of the mystique away from it.  But he remembers them.  They had quite a show- musicians, dancers, acrobats, performing acrobats.. .and a couple of magicians who were shamelessly heckled by the Academy student wizards.

"Fireworks," Phileas says, breaking Scolo's flashback.  "Wonders of wizardry, arcane crafts to dazzle the audience!  You're a performing wizard, then?"

"He's like no one you've ever seen before," Melissa says, with no exaggeration whatsoever.

"Well we need some highlight in the Clear Fountain Plaza right after the wedding, and some amusements for the crowd as they gather," Hylensia says.  "What can you do?"

Um ... Well ...
Scolo stands there a long time wondering about that. What can he do really?

What can I do? WHAT can I do? What CAN I do etc ...

As he wonders little characters appear around his head like a word bubble in a comic and they move around making the images of a story or a book. The bunny slippers on his feet perk up and tease each other. He shrugs his shoulders at the artists brushing the images away and they fall tinkling on the floor. Solid bits of pure imagination. Edgar peaks his head out a little happier at being indoors. Deciding apologies might be in order as usual Edgar's voice comes from one of the pieces.

Please don't mind the mess, it is an accident and will vanish in 8 hours or so.

Scolo doesn't pay any attention to the voice or the bits, his clothing turns a shade of pink making the bunnies seem more natural. His beaded beard and cropped hair wave just a little.

I'm not sure, ... But the lady asked me to share some fireworks ... Maybe they can be somewhere? I'm not really an entertainer ...  he says sheepishly.

Dunduin makes his way to the palace figuring that would be the place to meet the 'important folk'. He doesn't have any formal clothes as he's been on the war march for a very long time. What he does do though is at least present a clean look though his 'new' armor is now 'used' and adorned with battle dents, scratches, and the like. At least he cleaned the blood and gore off. Striding into the room Dunduin presents himself "Excuse me! Hello all! I am Dunduin, commander of the dwarven legionnaire force now present here at this fine city of Lucimburic."

Rory remembers Scolo well, his tower contained many unusual things. He smiles and steps up to the wizard, "Master Scolo, do you remember me? I put on a small show near your tower? Honestly, sir, if we had but a few of your incredible items I could design a show that would make this the most memorably even in a hundred years." He smiles broadly...

And then Dunduin enters. This is truely a stroke of luck. "Master Dunduin! It has been far too long." He puts out his hand and if Dunduin returns it, he pumps the arm with great good cheer.

"Did you ever recieve the items the Academy sent? I understand they were meant to shore up your fighting forces. Honestly I am so glad to see you again. The items you allowed me to take back to the academy were studied and the information gleened was helpful in defeating Zerova. Bulwyf, A close friend of ours Kyriel, and I caught her at Mos Trajectum and Bulwyf slew her."

"If you are a magician and you have fireworks you can entertain," Phileas says.  "We just need..."

The silver haired man looks down at Scolo's footwear.

"You came in costume," Phileas observes.  "I don't think entertaining will be at all a challenge for you."

* * * * * * *

Elsewhere in the palace… it's not all festival and music and food.  There are some more serious matters that must be discussed.  General Texxor has little interest in the fun side of things anyway.  He is a widower, his daughter is off studying... or something... at the Academy of Aurelianorum, and he is a Werewolf.  He has little else besides the security of the Duchy.

Not that he avoids things- he's there in the Ardennes Hall, grabbing roast ribs from the buffet table.  But he quickly corners the Duke and insists on giving him the briefing from the Battle of Beda.

“How badly were they hurt?” Barstow asks.

Texxor sums it up.  “They fled in a panic, and they left more than two thousand dead on the field, between those that fell at Celibus, and those that were hit by the Elves as they retreated.  More importantly, the giant warbeast are no more.  They were the best offense the Huns had against the Elves.  Spells like Entangle did not slow them, they could absorb the arrows of a dozen Elven snipers, and from the top of their backs the Huns could attack into the trees.  They had sixteen, and they were all killed.  My warriors collected the tusks, I expect to see Ivory in the market.  But what comes next, my Duke, that is the question.”

“From the tone of your voice, you think the threat has not vanished,” Barstow says.

“Weakened, but not vanished.  You know the Elves.  They will consider this a victory and go back to their forests.  They are good defenders but have no taste for conquest.”

“Nor do we,” Barstow says.

“If we do not, then the Huns will rebuild.  They will learn from their mistakes, and adapt, and try again.  And next time, the offensive may be aimed directly at us.  We must take the offensive, sir.”

“March on the Hun empire?”  Barstow shakes his head in disbelief.  “ It would take a force five times the army Theoderic collected!  And although he does not speak of it, money is a concern.  He does not have the resources to sustain an army any longer.  We are in better straights... but our numbers are so much smaller.”

It was then that they noticed Dunduin, who had come to find the Duke.  Barstow nods to Texxor, indicating that the General is at east to continue talking.  And Texxor does…

”Nevertheless, the initiative cannot be left to the Huns,” the Werewolf General declares.  “The Hun warlords must be put on the defensive.  They must fear an attack.  That way, each will be too concerned with protecting his own holding, and less willing to provide troops to the Emperor.   They will divide into fifty little fiefs.”

”Where do you recommend?” Barstow asks.  “ I know you, you wouldn’t carry it this far if you didn’t have a recommendation already.:

The Werewolf gives a grin.  With very big teeth.

”What big teeth you have,” Barstow comments.

”All the better to bite Huns with,” Texxor replies, knowing the ancient phrases well.  “But… it must be a place held by the Huns, yet not so vital that it would trigger too much of a response.  It must be a place they can afford to lose.  Otherwise, they will mass against us there, and whichever forces we send will be unable to move.  Or trapped and destroyed.  So it must be Hun… but remote.  I will think on this.”

"Greetings Rory" Dunduin roars accepts and returns a firm handshake. "Indeed it is good to see you're well. The items..ah well..I'd have to check with my supply officers about that..but thank you! All aid is appreciated in whatever form it may take."

Spotting the Duke and his general "We should talk more. Lots of exciting stories to tell but right now I need to speak with the Duke. Please excuse me for the moment."

Dunduin makes his way over to the Duke and Texxor his general. "Duke, General" he gives a nod to each and offers a firm handshake to each if it looks like either will oblige.

"I think I may have a potential solution. I'm confident the dwarves would supply forces to aid you in your Hun attacks but at the moment we are sort of pinned down by a demon. And this demon has attacked the very soul of the dwarves. We can't rightly kill our own brethren so it's a stalemate. If it wasn't for a divine prophecy we'd still be stuck in a dwarven city some place. Now that the elves have been freed from their demon the dwarves need to be freed from theirs. The difficulty is that it can't be done by force of arms otherwise we'd have done it already. I've been thinking on this for quite some time and I believe that the solution may be actually converting the hearts, minds, and souls of dwarves back to good from within the city. Naturally this would require some special folk who are especially good at stealth and others at healing of mind, body, and soul, such as clerics. If we could put together a small but elite force along with some elves I'm confident we could be successful. It's the last thing the demon would expect from dwarves. The other part of this would be to have individuals who could spy and gather knowledge and finally, as much as I hate to say this, eliminate certain evil beings that can not be dealt with by other means. Would this be something you would consider?"

The tall wizard feels better from Phileas' kind words .. He smiles.

I saw you perform...I was - well a long time ago it seems, I was a teacher we brought students to your show - they thought they knew your tricks. But they could never repeat them
He chuckles.

I was going to make some chemical cumbustables by mixing colored gasses with trace metals for the fireworks. Then use my prestidigitations to organize paths of reactivity and magnify air currents. I thought that would be nice.

I need a lab to finish it.
He is happy to see the Bard -
Oooooh Rory, yes you came ... Twice! What are the odds of that? Hmmmm magical music and musical magic no? And the girl in the elf suit!  Ha! Did you find what you wanted? I should thank you it was you I suspect that sent the assassins and the elf and her kingleberry. Hmmmmm ... I miss Mestanon - I'm not sure I could do well in front of people. But I could add flare just a little to you're mugic or maybe for Phileas?

The wizard looks inquiringly, hoping to follow rather than lead on how to expand this show. He is rather unsure with a crowd.

"It's interesting that you consider it," Barstow says.  "Armies are like swords, Dunduin.  They are good for only one thing."

Texxor adds the rest:  "Heroes are like daggers.  You can stab with a dagger, or pick a lock."

Barstow nods.  "Or serve pickled olives, Barstow says.  You know, they way they bob around in the jar, and no matter you do they roll away?  I find that a sharp dagger can stab them, and then you wedge them against the side and you’ve got them!"

The werebear sees that he's run that particular metaphor into the ground. But now that Dunduin's here... there are questions for him.

"I am sure you will have your volunteers for your mission to free your home.  I have heard about the problem you face.  Dwarves.. Elves... and I think I know a specialist in infiltration among our own people, who can help.  This is a strange age.  We must all solve each others' problems, or nothing gets solved.  But while your hand picked team is going off to save your kingdom, you'll have an army here with nothing to do."

"They should go in the exact opposite direction, then," Texxor says.  "North.  The lands just north of the Ardennes, east of Mos Trajectum.  If Theoderic hits them there, it will be so far from the Emperor that he could not possibly send troops to take it back.  He'd need  a year.  And all the warlords will wonder if they are next."

"As long as I get an elite special force to save the dwaves you may have use of the dwarven force whether I lead them or not. I'm sure they will continue to prove their worth. So, I guess we have an agreement then. If our word is good enough I'll accept that. If we wish to shake or have a written commitment then so be it but I'll want to bring an aid to review the terms before signing naturally."

---

Dunduin will engage them in regards to some of the forces advantages and drawbacks. The dwarves certainly do not move as quickly as elves or lycanthropes and they are certainly not as stealthy either. However, what they lack in speed and stealth they make up for in sheer strength and mobile artillery which will provide some additional tactical options that may have not been available to them before.

A schedule is worked out for Scolo.  The Argentos's do not concern themselves with the lack of professional entertainment experience on Scolo's part.  That will be dealt with.

"Leave it to us to sell you to the audience," Phileas says.  "You just do your magic.  That's what they want."

But a laboratory... that's harder.  They have none.

"We'll inquire of the Wereowls here," Phileas says.  "They have a few wizards, and a workshop for wizardry, so we've heard."

Rory is worked into the schedule as well.  Carefully... the Argentoses do not want to "burden" people with serious or frightening tales. This is a festival.  But some people like a little drama with their festival ale.

* * * * * * *

"There are important parts of this planning missing," Barstow warns Dunduin.  "Theoderic, of course.  His decisions will be very important.  I am a Duke, he is a king.  He must decide how he will face the Huns.  And there are the Elves present.  We should hear from them too.  Not just yet, though.  Theoderic has much on his mind.. and he deserves some time away from the war he has fought for so long."

"If only the enemy was as willing to give him some," Texxor says.  "You know... up to now we have been officially uninvolved in the war. The Huns will wish to punish us for the decision to join in.  Two companies of our militia- and aid and haven Theoderic, and the other forces fighting.  They cannot brush it off."

After working things out Scolo wanders off to the wizards tower. Melissa may continue to discuss the details of how and when and what he should do for the show.

Tawna has her meeting in the palace, with Barstow and General Texxor, the werewolf commander of Lucimburic's military.

She reports on all the things they did.  The travels, the Elves, the battles.  Those they encountered, like Dobby.

And how they reconnoitered the Rhine River, finding the Hun assault force at Mogontiacum.

She wants the Duke's appreciation, and the clearing of the Wereweasel names, as she's told Haakon before.

After hearing her through, and asking a variety of questions, (Texxor is very interested in the military dispositions of the Huns), the Duke agrees that her goal has been achieved.

The honored status as full and accepted citizens of Lucimburic is once again for all the Wereweasels.  Their debt is repaid.

They ask about future plans, and Tawna explains the idea of the School For Young Wereweasels.

"Where would this prestigious academy be located?"  Texxor asks.

"I assume I would find space in the Grund," Tawna says.  "We do have some resources, but I can't be a spendthrift."

"More suitable grounds for your school might be available," Texxor says. "There are... political situations... one of which may be better handled by Wereweasels, or at least one, than Werewolves.  The Dwarves' aid to the Elves was not completely an act of charity.  You've earned your place, and the respect you are entitled to, and the records of the Wereweasels shall be cleared.  But you can earn still more."

[This was posted in the wrong thread]

Haakon holds out an arm for Tawna.  Both are dressed in fine new robes in shades of green and brown, suitable for wear in the field but fine enough for appearance at a formal ceremony.  Haakon is particularly proud of these robes.

They walk in among the assembled and greet the various people they know.  There is no war here and so they behave like a couple, standing close to each other, touching occasionally, and Haakon only checks his belongings often enough to be polite.  Tawna hardly has to check her own because Haakon's curiosity and desire is more for Tawna herself than anything she is carrying.

He leads her to stand in the best place he can see, drawing on his skills to see where they would have the best impact if Tawna's plan is to succeed.  "The timing", he whispers, "is down to you, but I believe this is the best place for us to stand."

Haakon listened quietly as the suggestion was made that Tawna could earn even more respect by some political situation and by some miracle, he kept his mouth shut and failed to confirm Tawna's theory that he was crazy even when, overhearing talk of the force needed to attack the Huns, he whispered in her ear, "They're wrong you know, I think they'd need seven.  Any more would be noticed, any less would be inadequate to sustain a low level war against an unknowing enemy.".

And then he thought of a speech and his eyes lit up, but Tawna kicked him and whispered, "Crazy Haakon" and he nodded and shut up.

OOC: Ok, I guess I'm done here. I suppose Dunduin can talk to the elves although he did that already before Lucimburic.

Tawna gives Texxor a look Haakon knows well by now: faux surprise.

“Are you suggesting wereweasels are the sort to undertake your sneaky, covert and dangerous assignments just for a reward?”

Texxor nods.

“Oh, Thank you,” Tawna says, relieved that the general does understand wereweasels.”I think arrangements can be made.  We’ll have to negotiate the exact terms.  I understand the mistress of this school lives in a dwelling in the Grund that may not be suitable for the raising of a large family.  And she intends a large family.”

Texxor looks over at Haakon, and for a moment, reviews things in his head.

“Wereweasel.. we'll need others.  The woman with the staff… essential.  Such a thing should not be wasted.  Her companion.  Dwarves, Wereweasel… Elf, must have an Elf.   We’ll have to speak to the Dwarves, and Anakri, about the composition of this force.”

* * * * * * *

In the palace, Dunduin encountered one of the Dwarven troopers from the heavy infantry contingent, a stout, red bearded warrior named Grompin.

“Dunduin, sir… we’ll be playing at the Clear Fountain Plaza tonight!”

Every where you went, there were those with musical talent.  It was part of life, especially for Dwarves, who sang as they marched, and sang as they drank, and sang as they worked.   In the deep mines and caverns they made up their own kind of music, featuring the rhythmic blows of their hammers and picks striking rock and steel.  It became more advanced, and some Dwarves had sets of tuned iron bars and hammers made, specially designed for producing the best tones when struck.  Naturally, to keep up with the loud banging of the hammers and picks, other instruments, and singing voices, had to be loud.  The style emerged as a genre of music some called “Dwarf Metal”.

Naturally, to entertain themselves on the long march from the Dwarf Kingdom to the Ardennes, a few of the Dwarves had organized an amateur Dwarf Metal band.

“Hopin’ ta have your blessing on it,” Grompin says.  “And one other thing… we should have a name, shouldn’t we.  Can’t be just Some Dwarves With Hammers.”

Haakon didn't grin.  It was a close run thing but he didn't grin.  He did speak though.  To General Texxor he said.  "General Texxor, Sir, there is something more we can do, Tawna and I, not because we are a wereweasel and a human, but because we are us.  Over the past months, we have shown that we are able to speak in civilised manner to people from many species, even including orcs and ogres.  Please allow us to be present when you speak to Alakri and the representatives of the dwarves.  The mission of which you speak needs people who see people, not just races.  That is a skill we have and can recognise in others."

"Of course Grompin, I would enjoy listening to some good dwarven music. Heck, even after a few drinks I'd probably wouldn't even mind listening to bad dwarven music." <Dunduin chuckles> "Now then, a name for the band you say. Hmmm...how about 'Hammers Slammers?'"

OOC:
Lead Pegasus, Gearhead, the Sex Hammers, Black Solstice, Bloodrock, Diamond Head, Diamond Hammer, Elf, Great Red, Digger, iron beard, Iron Bolt, Iron - oh hell anything after the word Iron is good, Vulcans Priest, Killer Dwarfs, WarHammer