"A pleasure to make your acquaintances. Call me 'Ser Daniel,'" replied the Fist in his most casual-sounding voice. "These are Ladies Sally, Sue, and Gwen. The gentleman is Ser Wade, and...

Having no explanation for the unsettling Swarm, he looked at the others frantically with an expression that asked, "Help me out here!!

When Gwen asked Sally about the character, she answered with a befuddled shrug. “She’s a bad ass with a pistol. Red Sonya of Rogatino was a 16th Century warrior woman, at least in the story that I read. No chain mail bikini. Why would any chick wear that get up in a fight?

Aquilonia—THAT’S a name I’ve heard about! That was Robert Howard’s world, where heroes like Conan The Barbarian fought wizards, pirates, and elder gods.”

Danny’s attempt at negotiation got a bemused chuckle. Sally stepped up and touched Danny’s shoulder. in solidarity.“He’s Iron Fist, the Defender of K’un Lun. I’m, uh, Lady Polaris, the Mistress of Magnetism.”
This message was last edited by the player at 17:04, Wed 06 Oct 2021.

"Aragones?" Funnybone asked no one in particular. "Is this Conan the Barbarian, or Groo the Wanderer?"

Robert E. Howard --  jesus!  Johnny had gone though a phase with those Conan novels.  How was this a thing?  And, what did Gwen mean by saying her friend had been here?  Like literally?

She had not read them herself -- Ursula K. Le Guin was more her kind of thing, when it came to that genre.   She didn't recognize, or remember, the character Sally and Gwen were discussing.

Any case, Sally could disarm the bulk of them --  and force fields could easily turn fire, if that was the the worst they had.

Her first impulse was to speak plainly, keep things simple as possible -- and then she thought But why?

And though Howard wasn't her fave, she did love the genre.  And had done a little theater during college...

She moved to stand with Danny and Sally.

"And I am the Countess Susantia Dela Storm.  Mistress of the Unseen Walls -- lady of the flowers' children, protectoress of the innocent and downtrodden.   And I say unto you, my friends and I pose no threat, if you are not those who thrive on base and callous deeds!"  She turned toward Swarm.

"Have no fear of this one.  For he has the greatest heart of all of us!  So great was his love for the people, that he took upon his own flesh, a plague of insects sent by a black wizard, and brought harmony and calm to them."    She could barely stop herself from adding yea, verily! 

"We are here to support a just cause, and reduce strife and suffering as much as can be done." 

She nodded sagely, meanwhile silently replying to the telepathic emisary, if in fact he could 'hear' in return: ~We have arrived to help. Most probably we'd be willing to speak to your prophet.  What sort of change does he work for, pray tell?~ 
This message was last edited by the player at 00:13, Thu 07 Oct 2021.

In reply to Polaris (msg # 10):

Gwen shrugs at Sally's question.  "Could have been just for the movie.  But the costumes for these groups were accurate, and the stunts were as real as they get on film."

Gwen wouldn't be caught fighting in that, (for one thing she spends half her time upside-down) and had said as much.  She does understand how it might sell movie tickets.

Actually, her Spider-woman costume might not be that appropriate for this world.

Lord General Aragones stiffens at Funnybone's remark, but allows it to pass without comment.




Aragones offers a courtly bow to Susan and then Daniel, in turn. "Hail and well met, then, Countess de la Storm, Sir Daniel of the Iron Fist, sirs and ladies. I must confess that your names are unknown and unfamiliar to me, and I have not heard of the deeds upon which you base your fearsome epithets. For ourselves, we are not brigands set upon the road to line our pockets with yeoman's silver nor conquerors waging war to expand our sovereign's lands for personal glory."

"We are committed here to snuffing out a tyrant in his cradle, 'ere he overtakes our world in darkness. Our king is no lover of wizards or their otherworldly affairs, it is true, but he seeks no quarrel with any wizard who respects the laws of Man and Nature. If you count yourselves the friend of either, you should count yourself the enemies of our enemies."



With a bit of attention, you can spot the one speaking to your minds, Betres. She replies, ~~Just as He has lifted me from a life of poverty and servitude, He would uplift all of the world-- no more would soldiers enforce the cruel whims of priests and kings, no more would sorcerers prey upon the innocent on behalf of dark powers. My Master has not granted me the Gift of Tongues-- yet-- but I need not understand the Aquilonian's words to warn you of his lies. His king craves the source of my Master's power for himself, to keep for himself, to rule over mankind as an immortal sorcerer-king.~~
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:26, Thu 07 Oct 2021.

Two leaders representing bitterly opposed factions argued for their causes. After hearing them out, Sally stepped forward. She cleared her throat and spoke loudly enough to address two armies. “General Aragones. Betres. We definitely count ourselves friends and protectors of people and Nature. Sue…The Countess and I fight for the oppressed, and General, you’d better believe we fight against tyranny!

Sir Daniel uses his considerable wealth and skills to protect the innocent. Lord Wade there,” she gestured at Funnybone, “Punishes the guilty who prey on innocents. Captain Grant, the furry fighter, represents the best of his race in his own fight for Justice. Our Squire, Gwendolyn of Queens, left her trade as a Bard to protect ordinary men and women who can’t fight for themselves.”

Sally stared at Aragones and Betres. “We only fight for the most Just of causes, though. You’d both best present some stronger arguments than ‘I’m better than the Other Guy’ if you want our help! Perhaps you could start by telling us the names of your own leaders?”

Great...so once again, it was a matter of factions, each believing they were doing the right thing.  Unless one was flat out lying, of course.  Or both.  Always possible...

While Sue awaited to see how Sally would be answered, she hit up the Tallus, silently:

Hey, man!  Where are the mission parameters?  We didn't have to poke you for'em, last time.  We're engaged with locals out the gate, and we don't have any parameters!

Er, when you give them, let's have them telepathically, okay?  I don't want our new friends to learn you're sentient, just yet...

I was having fun dragging it out.

Aragones slaps his fist against his breastplate in salute; his bodyguards immediately repeat the gesture, followed by the entire Aquilonian army. "It is my duty and my honor to serve the rightful King of Aquilonia, Conan, the First of His Name, Protector of the Realm, Master of the Legion, Bearer of the Phoenix Sword, Slayer of--"

~~is he really still talking?~~

"-- of the Academies."

Betres coughs politely and addresses the parlay out loud, in Stygian, "So many excuses for doing so little. My Master's actions speak for days: He is the Prophet of Change. He is the Father of Clan Akkaba. He is En. Sabah. Nur. And he will remake this broken world."

The Tallus obliges:

“King Conan, huh?” Sally shared a thought with the group via the Tallus. So we jaunted here later in Conan’s life. He pretty much conquered a world to win his crown, kids. Just…Far out.

Aloud, she hung on the last honorific shared by Aragones. “Which Academies?” Sally stared at the General with quizzical eyes.

Sue sent back:  Yeah, even more impressive given he's a fictional character!  But honestly, I'm beginning to think we may be too!

And at least he's a character we know something about.   Which leaves this supposed prophet:

Tallus, provide any available data on En Sabah Nur.  Any relation to N'Astirh, by chance?   

The Tallus complies:

"Lady... Polaris, correct? His Majesty is known as the Sponsor of Academies because he opened all of the royal academies to any of his subjects, and many foreigners; he opened the royal treasuries, too, to maintain them. Aquilonia holds the most learned scholars in all the world because--" he casts some glorious side-eye at Wade, "-- Conan the Barbarian wills it." Aragones does not exaggerate his honor at serving his king.

"The king demands many things we do not understand, because of his youthful travels. He could rule a vast empire with less effort, or let himself grow fat and content with no effort at all-- but he's chosen to carry our kingdom on his back to Paradise."

“The King supports education for the people, huh? I can get down with that!” Sally nodded slowly in approval. Then, she looked at Betres. “What about En Sabah Nur? What kind of changes will he bring about? What does he have to offer the people of the world?”

Danny nodded as Aragones spoke of the king's deeds.

"He uses his vast resources to make the world a better place for his subjects? That sounds... agreeable."

That was the type of leader he could throw his support behind. In the past, he'd delegated most of his charity work at Rand Enterprises to trusted partners, but he knew a thing or two about philanthropy. He'd even be willing to share some tips with Conan about where his wealth might do the most good, if he had the king's ear.

"Hold on a sec," Funnybone said. His face grew back, and the flames flickered and died, leaving Wade in his place. "Much better."

In his own world, En Sabah Nur was the reason why the middle east was a smoking hole in the ground. But maybe he was great guy here, for all Wade knew. So he kept his mouth shut for the moment, and didn't bring up the A-word just yet.

Gwen first responds through the Tallus.  * For the record, the Stygians were extra evil in the movie.  But neither of those leader names are ringing a bell. *

There's a short pause before she asks * Tallus what year is En Sabur Nur supposed to be born in? *  Was it way in the future?

Finally she asks the Aquilonians a question.  "Do you know Red Sonja?  My friend travelled with her for a long time and I think she's been through here."

Sue's mouth dropped a little as the Tallus provided detail about En Sabah Nur, no one she was familiar with in her own timeline.   She consciously changed her expression, realizing she likely looked shocked.

God!  A mutant making more mutants -- and one with a bloody coup to his credit!  she sent to the others.  He doesn't need a big army, if his mutant followers have the right sorts of powers.  No wonder Aragones said that bit about defending Man and Nature.  I've heard that line of reasoning before... 

Sue was a mutant.  Naturally sympathetic to her own kind's causes and plights. However, she was also a member of a very normal, human family, with any number of non mutant friends.  And believed people with no powers had every right not to live in fear of those with them.

Jesus, I think this one's gonna be sticky!  Even more so than the last.   It's unlikely we'll get clarity from either of these employees... 
This message was last edited by the player at 16:13, Thu 07 Oct 2021.

Sue’s realization about “Defending Man & Nature” made Sally recoil. She turned away from both leaders so they couldn’t see her face. We could use a Mind-Reader right now. They’re both slimy, if you ask me.

A hue of disappointment and anger colored her thoughts. So Aragones is the Bolivar Trask of this world. Yuck! I should feel solidarity with En Sabah Nur as a fellow Mutant. I got my powers with a little push from Magneto & Mesmero, so my story is not so different from what they’re doing. Is it? But at the same time, I’m not down with world conquest, either.

What should we do, guys?

«In my world, En Sabah Nur is known as Apocalypse,» Wade replied over their group telepathic link. «He's responsible for millions of deaths. If this guy is anything like that, we've only got one option.»

Jesus Harry Christ on a bicycle. That was the focal point of Trask’s Anti-Mutant propaganda. He claimed that Mutants would overtake humanity, then destroy the world in the process. So many people feared Mutants as much as they feared the Bomb.

We’re caught between Genocide and Annihilation, huh?

The Tallus responds: "En Sabah Nur is indicated to be born in the year 3,590 BCE during what is indicated to be the predynastic period of Ancient Egyptian history. Predictive models of future history are impossible in unresolved timelines."

---

Lord General Aragones appears mildly taken aback by the question. but responds: "The Hyrkanian She-- no, I am afraid I have not made her acquaintance, Lady Gwen, though I daresay everyone has heard her legend. The king speaks of her occasionally, mostly wistfully; though from his tales it seems sometimes as if he's reminiscing about two separate women. Are you acquainted with her, m'lady? I would take your opinion, if you would give it."




~~ I was not born to Clan Akkaba, Lady Polaris. ~~ She lowers the crimson hood of her robe, revealing her gray skin and pale blue lips. ~~ I was born unto the Pharaoh's slave pits, with all that entails. Praise be unto Hathor I wasn't yet as comely as the Master has made me... but woe that I did not yet possess His other Gifts, either. Our world is ruled by metals; men of gold command these men of bronze to murder and enslave men of mere flesh. Our Master bestows His Gifts freely to any Man-- ~~ she pauses to indicate herself, ~~-- or woman who would foreswear this lifestyle. For those who would swear themselves unto His service, as I have, service is its own reward. ~~

She nods her head, and the other cultists remove their hoods. They bear different faces, different hairstyles, a couple of them bear horns, but all of them possess Betres' gray skin and blue lips. The Aquilonians have mostly seen this before, but a couple of their youngest soldiers gasp.

~~ The Master wages no wars of conquest, nor transmutes any person against their will. Every initiate of Clan Akkaba you see here, or will ever meet, bears the mark of His lineage by birth or by choice-- and the reason you will see His mark amongst the dungeons and the graveyards of His enemies is because you will not see it amongst their nobility and their soldiery. ~~

"My opinion?"

Gwen isn't really prepared for this question but she does her best to have her response match the speech patterns this guy is using.  Which shouldn't be relevant as she knows these people aren't speaking English and she is, and yet everyone can understand each other.  Thanks Tallus.

"I uh... I know much about her from the tales of my companion, but we have yet to meet."

Telepathically to the other: "Sorry, the smell of blood distracted me." his face twitches with the hunger to bring it forth but he seeks fresher air for a moment. "We need more information, it is noteworthy that one of them keeps slaves. Does the other? I would not aid a slaver's side, or would we ally with any fool who keeps others in chains?" he growls aloud.