Brevon looks distraught. "Is the Empress informed? Is the Ivory Tower prepared to face such a threat from the north? Do you know Vader's plans? From what we could see, he has accumulated a vast army."
He grees the Captain with a bow. "Hello Captain Hahft. I am Brevon, bearer of AURYN for our Order. I regret that we have made such a surprising entry, but we felt it necessary to avoid being captured our slain by Vader. Perhaps we can discuss with you where to turn next in our search for the Triforce and Shard of Division."
With Argento calm again Hrothgar steps forward to face Cairon and Captain Hahft bowing his head a moment. Forgive our entrance. We had little choice. I am Hrothgar Densfellhe pauzes a moment and looks for Archer among the urRu .. one of the former captives of Vader. As for Atoh Khan i do not know his name, but i will remember it. We owe him for our escape.
Hrothgar will then move to the urRu Now that you are safe, i have a letter from Princess Andromeda. He searches beneath his armor a moment and produces a letter with a royal seal on it.
"I assure you that the Empress is informed." Cairon says, his eyes grave. "Captain Hahft and his Skullsplitters were the first of our forces to make contact with what Lord Vader has dubbed his Imperial Forces, and...well. It was not good."
The Captain averts his eyes while Cairon recollects this.
"Since then we've been in a near constant state of conflict with the enemy, though it is not going well. Our spies north of the mountains indicate a progressive southern advance. We look for them to invade the lands around the Ivory Tower in a matter of weeks, maybe soon, and the Empress...the Empress has concerns about this. We think he intends to march south in the coming weeks and potentially try to capture the Ivory Tower itself. We're...preparing accordingly, and working with King Randor on contingency plans."
"No uh...no apology necessary." Captain Hahft says as he removes the horse maned helm. "And Dabbert. Or Dab. That'll be enough. But uh...I'm glad to see you've made it. That is better than many can say who've faced him. I'm glad uh...I'm glad that you're here now. But no. I'm sorry. I don't know anything of real uh...real value in regard to the information you seek."
When Hrothgar approaches, Dabbert smiles and raises a hand in both greeting and understanding. He looks tired, and older than he probably is. He watches as Hrothgar steps to the Archer, announces his intention, produces the letter...and then Cairon steps forward, placing a hand on Hrothgar's shoulder.
"I wish that I had good tidings for our first meeting...but I do not. I am sorry, Hrothgar Densfell, but Princess Andromeda has been taken by the Kraken, Kygrax, as tribute to Queen Bavmorda of the Nockmaar. That means the Princess, if still alive, is behind Lord Vader's lines and we have reason to suspect that the Queen has aligned herself with him."
Dageron makes a 'hrumph' sound. "Madness. Bavmorda was one of yours... one of the soft races. She was a natural ally if ever there was one. I have been to Nockmaar many many times, and it is one of the few tolerant Human kingdoms. What is it with the judgement of your kind? At Greyskull the Sorceress was all but eager to surrender. The urRu were categorically unprepared for this highly foreseeable war, relying on the Shemfolk to fight their battles for them. The Shemfolk foolishly ran directly into slaughter, unwilling to change their tactics when it was self-evidently necessary to do so. All of your races are unflinchingly weak-minded about your own basic safety, and now you say that you've allowed yourselves to be outflanked? How was that not foreseeable? Even as children, we studied how to invade this place! I bet that if I walked your lands I would find tens of thousands of civilians fleeing - away from battle, too soft to stand and fight even if they were willing to do so. But they aren't willing to do so, are they? And your princess, she isn't willing to force them to, is she? Why are you races worthy of being saved at all if you lack the basic nerve for self-preservation? I say this not as a judgement, but an earnest question. If, in a time of great peril, you are unwilling to ally yourselves with your own kind simply because you disagree with their politics, then how could you hope to survive adversaries with no such restrictions? If you won't ask for the lives of the current generations of your own people, then how could you hope to secure the next generations? In a very short time I have been witness to your races, and the kingdoms they thrive within, showing again and again a complete lack of self control."
Dageron folds his hands behind him and walks back to Jek, then nods at the small one. "Like him, your minds break at the first sign of destruction and death. For him it was more extreme, more direct... but for your kingdoms and their peoples it is a slower unraveling of your nerves. But only slightly more slowly... weeks or months instead of seconds or minutes. Vader has already won the war that matters. The war waged in the hearts and minds of those that fight. I can see that much on Captain Hahft's face. You have magnificent warriors, and as they lose time and again, so too will they lose their will to fight. In the face of their own losses, they will seek their own deaths. You can win battles by fighting desperately, but not wars."
He walks back to the others. "I do not say this to incite a violent reaction from you. But I do say it to incite some reaction. Are you people finally ready to wage real war? Or are you still preoccupied with long-shot glory quests that risk everything. Even if we succeed, to do so will only reinforce the wrong message to the surviving generations. Are you ready to give homage to the Gods of War? Or will you continue to pray only to the Gods who know nothing of it. Don't you realize you can do both? Let me know what you decide. I am ready to start any time you are. Otherwise, I will continue to watch the world end at your behest, lest we find victory not from our own actions, but through luck alone."
Having spoken his peace, and with an earnest look of frustration upon his face, Dageron bows to the others as he recedes into the background. Desperately seeking a balcony or window from which to get fresh air.
"We weren't outflanked. We were slaughtered." Captain Haft says, his speech suddenly clearer. "You're right, though. We are soft, because we dared to value happiness and freedom than being married to death and destruction."
The Captain, clearly bristled, looks at Cairon
"This is the second group of your heroes I've met, and this group may be worse than the last." Captain Hahft says.
There's a new voice that enters the mix. Soft, sweet. A glance to the dais reveals the Childlike a Empress, standing and looking over those gathered below.
"They have these opinions because they are different from you." She says gently to Hahft, a smile on her face. "Time shall show their story is different, ever changing. Complex. We must never forget that one's whole existence may not equate to the power of another's journey."
Having not yet secured a place away from the others, Dageron is thrown off by the suddenness of the Empress' arrival. And her words hit him like the strike of a bludgeon. He turns and faces her, his tone neither harsh nor reverent - but cautious.
"I... am a guest here. I have not been given leave to speak freely." He turns and looks at Captain Hhaft. "I apologize for my outburst sir. This is your command, and I am an enemy race." He looks at the Empress. "And... once again... I meet one who leads the soft races who is philosophically detached. Clearly I am the one who who cannot understand." He steps back noticeably. "Is there some place outside this room I can await the others while you all speak? Perhaps I can see the mounts to a stable?" His eyes betray his feelings, anywhere else but here.
Jek has not looked up since he has calmed down and regained his voice. He was just sitting and listening. He shifts slightly as Dageron mentions him. Was he right? Was he too soft? Were they too soft? But.... That doesn't seem right. Never ending war? All you thinking about is fighting? Is that really living. He looks up, curiously, at Dageron as he continues to speak. Really looks at him. At the scars on his face and hands. The well worn hilts to his weapons. Then, Jek thinks about there conversation, what seems like so long ago, at the Oasis. About his family, and how it seemed to be so.... structured? Arranged? Then he thinks on Barok, the Orc who died and was brought back. He fought to the death for a cause he didn't even believe in. And then Jek thought about his very existence. He was a shadow, a mixture of dark and light. And he realized that, no matter what they said, so was everyone in this room. They were all the same.
Jek was about to say something, when a soft voice breaks through the thoughts of his mind. He looks up and sees... a vision. A brightness. So this is the Childlike Empress. As he sees Brevon take a knee, he stands and bows.
When Dageron speaks again, and the look in Dageron's eyes, that was new. Jek steps forward and grabs Dageron's hand. "You should stay. We may be different, but we are still the same. Your race does not matter, it is you who matters. And your insights... they are not wrong, but they aren't entirely right, either. But they are valuable. I think it would be good for you, and for everyone, if you stay. Perhaps you can make us harder for these trying times.. and perhaps we can make you a little softer for when the times are not so trying." Jek will keep a tight hold on Dageron's hand, but will look up towards the Empress.
Jek will say "Hello, Empress. Umm, we have some new leads, but we seem to have come back to the beginning. Do you need help, or should we head off on our quest again? What can we do here? Dageron knows how the enemy works, how they think. He would be able to help formulate a defense or something. Or.... Should you leave this Tower? Find shelter elsewhere?"
Jek's grabbing hold of Dageron elicits a frozen response. In Dageron's mind he immediately stifled a defensive strike at an unexpected contact, as his eyes dart downward to identify the nature of the threat... to find Jek. Like check-boxes in his mind, a calculated de-escalation of his own instincts takes hold, and he unfreezes his posture in stages. The whole process takes the breadth of time for Jek to speak - several seconds for his expression to go from combat assessment to recognition to standing down. And it shows.
Dageron recognizes a look of not unkind judgement in Jek's expression, and in his words. The weight of it is unexpectedly much for Dageron. A deep shuddering breath, and a wordless nod to Jek is all he can muster at first. Then, after a moment of internal dialogue, when Jek has addressed the Empress, Dageron kneels down to respond. "My people were lost because they would not change their ways. Now I see that history unfolding for others and I am once again relegated to be a spectator to it all. You and I mean the same thing, but my words are tainted by my own frustrations. I will stay. I will try to speak more concisely. Even if we are destined to lose this war, I will not run from it."
Slade sits quietly wondering what he has found himself embroiled in now. As great as it was to be free from a bunch of cannibals, it might have been better if he and Darla had never come to this place. "Nothing for it now, in for a pinch, in for a pound." He mumbles to himself.
The Empress smiles at Dageron, at Jek, at the heroes gathered before her as she listens to their words and conversations. She waits for a lull before she addresses the group again.
"There is no such thing as an enemy race." The Childlike Empress says as she smiles at Dageron. "There are only people. Individuals who do what they believe in, no matter if it violates the beliefs of others. But I agree with Jek. You should stay. You're a part of this neverending story."
She looks at Captain Hahft, her smile never losing the warmness it conveys.
"Captain Hahft shall handle our defense. He's trying to rally what is left of our army to protect the tower. But you need to focus on the big picture. Get the Shard, and the Triforce...and we can recover Fantasia after that. Your intentions are noble, but your story is elsewhere. For now, we must decide what to do with our esteemed guests, the urRu."
The urRu, for their part, are stepping forward, calm and collected.
"Our instincts tell us to go to Skyloft." One of them says, his hands outstretched. "But we do not believe they can protect us. We King Randor of Eternia may still have the means to mount a formidable defense, if necessary. Or, perhaps, we go back to the Crystal Palace."
Hrothgar almost lets the letter slip out of his fingers after hearing the news of Princess Andromeda. After handing the letter to the urRu Hrothgar just stands there with looking around at the floor lost in thought.
As the shock of the news fades he hears Dageron belittle his people as he did in the stables. Dagerons people only knew war, how could he blame the soft kind for wanting more. Is that not why he betrayed Vader. To know more than fear and violence. Perhaps this view is shared by all that serve Vader. Life is meaningless for them, its purpose to be diposable for their masters gain. They know not the burden of leadership.
With the Childlike Empress making herself known Hrothgar follows in Brevons action and kneels to the royalty.
As Jek speaks it confuses Hrothgar, after being called weak he still seeks Dagerons company. Not a response he would have given him. Perhaps it was what they needed, an innocent mind among those that only knew battle.
Hearing the Empress and the urRu speak Hrothgar can no longer be silent. With respect, i should find Princess Andromeda. he interjects. With the princess taken it seems Hylia is in more danger than now then when i left.
She is the future ruler she.. The people will need her, and will follow her. It must be why she was taken.
"Only you can choose your path, Hrothgar." The Childlike Empress says from the dais, "But do not forget; there are some things that are bigger than us, any of us. It seems you have taken up the burden of finding the Triforce and the Shard of Division, and I dare say that is the most important thing in all the world right now. Know you have my support in whatever you endeavor upon, but do not forget what is at stake here. All of Hyboria."
The urRu are silently conversing at the base of the dais while the Empress speaks, and finally, as she quiets, they speak up.
"Empress...if we may." One of the Mystics says, stepping forward with four outstretched hands. "We have discussed our options, and we believe the best place for us to go will be to the Southern Oracle. Lord Vader and his Imperial Army will be unable to pass through the Sphinx Gate without annihilation, nor will they be able to move beyond the Mirror Gate, the Mirror of Twilight, even if they could. We believe that our pure hearts would allow us to dwell in the lands of the third gate for many trine, until this threat has passed."
The Empress nods at this, smiling.
"This makes much sense." She replies, stepping back with her hands held out. The hairs on everyone's arms begin to bristle as the Empress slowly and gently begins to work some magic.
Bigger than any of us.. he repeats the words in his mind. Was that not what he was doing, risking his own life for Princess Andromeda. She could help unite the people of Hylia. That IS the bigger picture.
He tries to shake of his toughts. Empress, where would you have us go then?
It would seem that Nockmaar might hold an ally of Vader. Would it not be important to turn Queen Bavmorda back to our side, it would align our paths.
His mind and words seeking ways to justify his quest.
What do we even know of the location of the Triforce and the Shard of Division? If Queen Bavmorda is with Vader now, she might know what he knows.
What do we even know of the location of the Triforce and the Shard of Division? If Queen Bavmorda is with Vader now, she might know what he knows.
Jek perks up, being able to answer some questions is helping bring him out of his funk. "Oh I know this one. The Triforce of Courage is in Celestia, with something terrible guarding it. That's a floating island! Which means floating in the air, not the water.... Hey, how do we get to a floating island? Oh, yea, the Triforce of Power is with Ganondorf. I don't know much about him, but people seem to make him sound scary. We haven't found out much about the Triforce of Wisdom, unless anyone here has some leads. As for the Shard, Mother Aughra in her observatory in the Thar Wastes knows some more about it."
Jek nods to Hrothgar "I don't know much about Nockmaar or Princess Andromeda or Queen Bavmorda. Do you think they would know about the Triforce or the Shard of Division?" To the Childlike Empress, Jek will say "Do you have people that can help? Or should we go? It seems important... but there are a lot of important things going on."
"Seems to me," Slade puffs out a ring of smoke from his cigar. "If this tree force... whatever, of courage is safely guarded. Might be we need to git after the one Ganondoof be holding. Tis as good a start as any I be thinkin' of."
"Please, come forward and kneel, AURYN Faithful." The Childlike Empress said, stepping to the edge of the dais and kneeling herself. She held her hands out, offering them a place to go, an indication of where to bend the knee. "First, for you Hrothgar Densfell. I know you all have been frustrated at one time or other, not understanding your journey, but humble yourselves and accept when I say I cannot make this decision for you. Your part in the neverending story is to find your path and walk it. If your path takes you to Queen Bavmorda, then that will be your decision to make."
She pauses for a moment, her slow, deliberate looks almost unsettling as she focuses on Jek.
"We are stretched thin." The Empress replies. "Cairon and Dabbert have their places here, and Atreyu has a mission far away."
She leaned forward, her voice dropping lower.
"Have you ever felt different, Order of the Phoenix? Somehow special? You must know that you are all different, that your place in the story is of greater significance than most others. It is greater than Cairon's, or Atreyu's, or Dabbert's. It is greater than the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull. It is greater than the urRu or the Star Strider, high in the Tower of the Elephant. And it is greater than my own, for what am I, but the spark that has ignited the fire your Phoenix has arisen from?"
Thunder grumbles overhead, and a glance up reveals blackening clouds. The Empress rises to her feet, still smiling, and turns toward the urRu.
"Cairon, if you will; help me to get our friends the Mystics to their place beyong the Sphinx Gate of the Southern Oracle."
"As you wish, my Empress." Cairon says.
Energy pulses as she raises her arms, and reality begins to warp...
"Seems to me," Slade puffs out a ring of smoke from his cigar. "If this tree force... whatever, of courage is safely guarded. Might be we need to git after the one Ganondoof be holding. Tis as good a start as any I be thinkin' of."
Jek blinks at Slade, then coughs a little from the smoke. "Umm, but... Isn't Ganondoof... Ganondorf supposed to be really bad? And.... Honestly I don't even know where he is, I thought others might know that. Where is Ganondoof? ..... dorf."
At the Childlike Empress call, Jek will move forward and kneel.
As her gaze falls to Jek, he is forced to avert his gaze. She has a very bright light, and her attention is unnerving.
At her words, Jek slightly shocked. He is a shadow of the Bright Lady, so he always knew he is special, just as all of his brothers are. But... To be said to be greater than the Sorceress, or the Mystics? .... What even is this Star Strider!?! Why do people keep mentioning it?
Jek will go up to the urRu as they prepare to leave. "I'm... I'm sorry we couldn't save your home. I'm going to miss stopping at the Tower and hearing your stories. Maybe.... Maybe I'll see you again, and I can give you a new story to share!"
Jek will stand back and watch as this great magic takes effect. As he does, he will think about the Childlike Empress's words and where there path might take them next. To Ganondorf, to the floating island Celestia, to the Thra wastes, or someplace else.
Brevon kneels before the Empress, humbled by her words. He also keeps an eye on Melisandre during this exchange, gauging her reaction to the Empress's words.
What does the Empress mean when she says that their story is more significant than her own? Is she suggesting that her own life is expendable? Again, Brevon looks toward Melisandre.
As the Empress prepares a portal, he bids farewell to the Mystics. "Safe journey, wise ones. I am sorry we were not able to save your home. As Jek has said, I hope one day we may meet again."
"Regarding the triforce, it seems our only lead presently is in Celestia, to find the Triforce of Courage. Whatever guards it, can it be much worse than hill giants?" He winks at Jek.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Shirin stands near the back of the group of party members and uRu, listening closely to the conversation.
Brevon looks distraught. "Is the Empress informed? Is the Ivory Tower prepared to face such a threat from the north? Do you know Vader's plans? From what we could see, he has accumulated a vast army."
He grees the Captain with a bow. "Hello Captain Hahft. I am Brevon, bearer of AURYN for our Order. I regret that we have made such a surprising entry, but we felt it necessary to avoid being captured our slain by Vader. Perhaps we can discuss with you where to turn next in our search for the Triforce and Shard of Division."
With Argento calm again Hrothgar steps forward to face Cairon and Captain Hahft bowing his head a moment. Forgive our entrance. We had little choice. I am Hrothgar Densfell he pauzes a moment and looks for Archer among the urRu .. one of the former captives of Vader. As for Atoh Khan i do not know his name, but i will remember it. We owe him for our escape.
Hrothgar will then move to the urRu Now that you are safe, i have a letter from Princess Andromeda. He searches beneath his armor a moment and produces a letter with a royal seal on it.
He then holds it forward toward the urRu.
"I assure you that the Empress is informed." Cairon says, his eyes grave. "Captain Hahft and his Skullsplitters were the first of our forces to make contact with what Lord Vader has dubbed his Imperial Forces, and...well. It was not good."
The Captain averts his eyes while Cairon recollects this.
"Since then we've been in a near constant state of conflict with the enemy, though it is not going well. Our spies north of the mountains indicate a progressive southern advance. We look for them to invade the lands around the Ivory Tower in a matter of weeks, maybe soon, and the Empress...the Empress has concerns about this. We think he intends to march south in the coming weeks and potentially try to capture the Ivory Tower itself. We're...preparing accordingly, and working with King Randor on contingency plans."
"No uh...no apology necessary." Captain Hahft says as he removes the horse maned helm. "And Dabbert. Or Dab. That'll be enough. But uh...I'm glad to see you've made it. That is better than many can say who've faced him. I'm glad uh...I'm glad that you're here now. But no. I'm sorry. I don't know anything of real uh...real value in regard to the information you seek."
When Hrothgar approaches, Dabbert smiles and raises a hand in both greeting and understanding. He looks tired, and older than he probably is. He watches as Hrothgar steps to the Archer, announces his intention, produces the letter...and then Cairon steps forward, placing a hand on Hrothgar's shoulder.
"I wish that I had good tidings for our first meeting...but I do not. I am sorry, Hrothgar Densfell, but Princess Andromeda has been taken by the Kraken, Kygrax, as tribute to Queen Bavmorda of the Nockmaar. That means the Princess, if still alive, is behind Lord Vader's lines and we have reason to suspect that the Queen has aligned herself with him."
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Dageron makes a 'hrumph' sound. "Madness. Bavmorda was one of yours... one of the soft races. She was a natural ally if ever there was one. I have been to Nockmaar many many times, and it is one of the few tolerant Human kingdoms. What is it with the judgement of your kind? At Greyskull the Sorceress was all but eager to surrender. The urRu were categorically unprepared for this highly foreseeable war, relying on the Shemfolk to fight their battles for them. The Shemfolk foolishly ran directly into slaughter, unwilling to change their tactics when it was self-evidently necessary to do so. All of your races are unflinchingly weak-minded about your own basic safety, and now you say that you've allowed yourselves to be outflanked? How was that not foreseeable? Even as children, we studied how to invade this place! I bet that if I walked your lands I would find tens of thousands of civilians fleeing - away from battle, too soft to stand and fight even if they were willing to do so. But they aren't willing to do so, are they? And your princess, she isn't willing to force them to, is she? Why are you races worthy of being saved at all if you lack the basic nerve for self-preservation? I say this not as a judgement, but an earnest question. If, in a time of great peril, you are unwilling to ally yourselves with your own kind simply because you disagree with their politics, then how could you hope to survive adversaries with no such restrictions? If you won't ask for the lives of the current generations of your own people, then how could you hope to secure the next generations? In a very short time I have been witness to your races, and the kingdoms they thrive within, showing again and again a complete lack of self control."
Dageron folds his hands behind him and walks back to Jek, then nods at the small one. "Like him, your minds break at the first sign of destruction and death. For him it was more extreme, more direct... but for your kingdoms and their peoples it is a slower unraveling of your nerves. But only slightly more slowly... weeks or months instead of seconds or minutes. Vader has already won the war that matters. The war waged in the hearts and minds of those that fight. I can see that much on Captain Hahft's face. You have magnificent warriors, and as they lose time and again, so too will they lose their will to fight. In the face of their own losses, they will seek their own deaths. You can win battles by fighting desperately, but not wars."
He walks back to the others. "I do not say this to incite a violent reaction from you. But I do say it to incite some reaction. Are you people finally ready to wage real war? Or are you still preoccupied with long-shot glory quests that risk everything. Even if we succeed, to do so will only reinforce the wrong message to the surviving generations. Are you ready to give homage to the Gods of War? Or will you continue to pray only to the Gods who know nothing of it. Don't you realize you can do both? Let me know what you decide. I am ready to start any time you are. Otherwise, I will continue to watch the world end at your behest, lest we find victory not from our own actions, but through luck alone."
Having spoken his peace, and with an earnest look of frustration upon his face, Dageron bows to the others as he recedes into the background. Desperately seeking a balcony or window from which to get fresh air.
"We weren't outflanked. We were slaughtered." Captain Haft says, his speech suddenly clearer. "You're right, though. We are soft, because we dared to value happiness and freedom than being married to death and destruction."
The Captain, clearly bristled, looks at Cairon
"This is the second group of your heroes I've met, and this group may be worse than the last." Captain Hahft says.
There's a new voice that enters the mix. Soft, sweet. A glance to the dais reveals the Childlike a Empress, standing and looking over those gathered below.
"They have these opinions because they are different from you." She says gently to Hahft, a smile on her face. "Time shall show their story is different, ever changing. Complex. We must never forget that one's whole existence may not equate to the power of another's journey."
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Brevon immediately falls to one knee before the Empress. "Empress."
Having not yet secured a place away from the others, Dageron is thrown off by the suddenness of the Empress' arrival. And her words hit him like the strike of a bludgeon. He turns and faces her, his tone neither harsh nor reverent - but cautious.
"I... am a guest here. I have not been given leave to speak freely." He turns and looks at Captain Hhaft. "I apologize for my outburst sir. This is your command, and I am an enemy race." He looks at the Empress. "And... once again... I meet one who leads the soft races who is philosophically detached. Clearly I am the one who who cannot understand." He steps back noticeably. "Is there some place outside this room I can await the others while you all speak? Perhaps I can see the mounts to a stable?" His eyes betray his feelings, anywhere else but here.
Jek has not looked up since he has calmed down and regained his voice. He was just sitting and listening. He shifts slightly as Dageron mentions him. Was he right? Was he too soft? Were they too soft? But.... That doesn't seem right. Never ending war? All you thinking about is fighting? Is that really living. He looks up, curiously, at Dageron as he continues to speak. Really looks at him. At the scars on his face and hands. The well worn hilts to his weapons. Then, Jek thinks about there conversation, what seems like so long ago, at the Oasis. About his family, and how it seemed to be so.... structured? Arranged? Then he thinks on Barok, the Orc who died and was brought back. He fought to the death for a cause he didn't even believe in. And then Jek thought about his very existence. He was a shadow, a mixture of dark and light. And he realized that, no matter what they said, so was everyone in this room. They were all the same.
Jek was about to say something, when a soft voice breaks through the thoughts of his mind. He looks up and sees... a vision. A brightness. So this is the Childlike Empress. As he sees Brevon take a knee, he stands and bows.
When Dageron speaks again, and the look in Dageron's eyes, that was new. Jek steps forward and grabs Dageron's hand. "You should stay. We may be different, but we are still the same. Your race does not matter, it is you who matters. And your insights... they are not wrong, but they aren't entirely right, either. But they are valuable. I think it would be good for you, and for everyone, if you stay. Perhaps you can make us harder for these trying times.. and perhaps we can make you a little softer for when the times are not so trying." Jek will keep a tight hold on Dageron's hand, but will look up towards the Empress.
Jek will say "Hello, Empress. Umm, we have some new leads, but we seem to have come back to the beginning. Do you need help, or should we head off on our quest again? What can we do here? Dageron knows how the enemy works, how they think. He would be able to help formulate a defense or something. Or.... Should you leave this Tower? Find shelter elsewhere?"
Jek's grabbing hold of Dageron elicits a frozen response. In Dageron's mind he immediately stifled a defensive strike at an unexpected contact, as his eyes dart downward to identify the nature of the threat... to find Jek. Like check-boxes in his mind, a calculated de-escalation of his own instincts takes hold, and he unfreezes his posture in stages. The whole process takes the breadth of time for Jek to speak - several seconds for his expression to go from combat assessment to recognition to standing down. And it shows.
Dageron recognizes a look of not unkind judgement in Jek's expression, and in his words. The weight of it is unexpectedly much for Dageron. A deep shuddering breath, and a wordless nod to Jek is all he can muster at first. Then, after a moment of internal dialogue, when Jek has addressed the Empress, Dageron kneels down to respond. "My people were lost because they would not change their ways. Now I see that history unfolding for others and I am once again relegated to be a spectator to it all. You and I mean the same thing, but my words are tainted by my own frustrations. I will stay. I will try to speak more concisely. Even if we are destined to lose this war, I will not run from it."
Slade sits quietly wondering what he has found himself embroiled in now. As great as it was to be free from a bunch of cannibals, it might have been better if he and Darla had never come to this place. "Nothing for it now, in for a pinch, in for a pound." He mumbles to himself.
The Empress smiles at Dageron, at Jek, at the heroes gathered before her as she listens to their words and conversations. She waits for a lull before she addresses the group again.
"There is no such thing as an enemy race." The Childlike Empress says as she smiles at Dageron. "There are only people. Individuals who do what they believe in, no matter if it violates the beliefs of others. But I agree with Jek. You should stay. You're a part of this neverending story."
She looks at Captain Hahft, her smile never losing the warmness it conveys.
"Captain Hahft shall handle our defense. He's trying to rally what is left of our army to protect the tower. But you need to focus on the big picture. Get the Shard, and the Triforce...and we can recover Fantasia after that. Your intentions are noble, but your story is elsewhere. For now, we must decide what to do with our esteemed guests, the urRu."
The urRu, for their part, are stepping forward, calm and collected.
"Our instincts tell us to go to Skyloft." One of them says, his hands outstretched. "But we do not believe they can protect us. We King Randor of Eternia may still have the means to mount a formidable defense, if necessary. Or, perhaps, we go back to the Crystal Palace."
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Hrothgar almost lets the letter slip out of his fingers after hearing the news of Princess Andromeda. After handing the letter to the urRu Hrothgar just stands there with looking around at the floor lost in thought.
As the shock of the news fades he hears Dageron belittle his people as he did in the stables. Dagerons people only knew war, how could he blame the soft kind for wanting more. Is that not why he betrayed Vader. To know more than fear and violence. Perhaps this view is shared by all that serve Vader. Life is meaningless for them, its purpose to be diposable for their masters gain. They know not the burden of leadership.
With the Childlike Empress making herself known Hrothgar follows in Brevons action and kneels to the royalty.
As Jek speaks it confuses Hrothgar, after being called weak he still seeks Dagerons company. Not a response he would have given him. Perhaps it was what they needed, an innocent mind among those that only knew battle.
Hearing the Empress and the urRu speak Hrothgar can no longer be silent. With respect, i should find Princess Andromeda. he interjects. With the princess taken it seems Hylia is in more danger than now then when i left.
She is the future ruler she.. The people will need her, and will follow her. It must be why she was taken.
"Only you can choose your path, Hrothgar." The Childlike Empress says from the dais, "But do not forget; there are some things that are bigger than us, any of us. It seems you have taken up the burden of finding the Triforce and the Shard of Division, and I dare say that is the most important thing in all the world right now. Know you have my support in whatever you endeavor upon, but do not forget what is at stake here. All of Hyboria."
The urRu are silently conversing at the base of the dais while the Empress speaks, and finally, as she quiets, they speak up.
"Empress...if we may." One of the Mystics says, stepping forward with four outstretched hands. "We have discussed our options, and we believe the best place for us to go will be to the Southern Oracle. Lord Vader and his Imperial Army will be unable to pass through the Sphinx Gate without annihilation, nor will they be able to move beyond the Mirror Gate, the Mirror of Twilight, even if they could. We believe that our pure hearts would allow us to dwell in the lands of the third gate for many trine, until this threat has passed."
The Empress nods at this, smiling.
"This makes much sense." She replies, stepping back with her hands held out. The hairs on everyone's arms begin to bristle as the Empress slowly and gently begins to work some magic.
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Bigger than any of us.. he repeats the words in his mind. Was that not what he was doing, risking his own life for Princess Andromeda. She could help unite the people of Hylia. That IS the bigger picture.
He tries to shake of his toughts. Empress, where would you have us go then?
It would seem that Nockmaar might hold an ally of Vader. Would it not be important to turn Queen Bavmorda back to our side, it would align our paths.
His mind and words seeking ways to justify his quest.
What do we even know of the location of the Triforce and the Shard of Division? If Queen Bavmorda is with Vader now, she might know what he knows.
Jek perks up, being able to answer some questions is helping bring him out of his funk. "Oh I know this one. The Triforce of Courage is in Celestia, with something terrible guarding it. That's a floating island! Which means floating in the air, not the water.... Hey, how do we get to a floating island? Oh, yea, the Triforce of Power is with Ganondorf. I don't know much about him, but people seem to make him sound scary. We haven't found out much about the Triforce of Wisdom, unless anyone here has some leads. As for the Shard, Mother Aughra in her observatory in the Thar Wastes knows some more about it."
Jek nods to Hrothgar "I don't know much about Nockmaar or Princess Andromeda or Queen Bavmorda. Do you think they would know about the Triforce or the Shard of Division?" To the Childlike Empress, Jek will say "Do you have people that can help? Or should we go? It seems important... but there are a lot of important things going on."
"Seems to me," Slade puffs out a ring of smoke from his cigar. "If this tree force... whatever, of courage is safely guarded. Might be we need to git after the one Ganondoof be holding. Tis as good a start as any I be thinkin' of."
"Please, come forward and kneel, AURYN Faithful." The Childlike Empress said, stepping to the edge of the dais and kneeling herself. She held her hands out, offering them a place to go, an indication of where to bend the knee. "First, for you Hrothgar Densfell. I know you all have been frustrated at one time or other, not understanding your journey, but humble yourselves and accept when I say I cannot make this decision for you. Your part in the neverending story is to find your path and walk it. If your path takes you to Queen Bavmorda, then that will be your decision to make."
She pauses for a moment, her slow, deliberate looks almost unsettling as she focuses on Jek.
"We are stretched thin." The Empress replies. "Cairon and Dabbert have their places here, and Atreyu has a mission far away."
She leaned forward, her voice dropping lower.
"Have you ever felt different, Order of the Phoenix? Somehow special? You must know that you are all different, that your place in the story is of greater significance than most others. It is greater than Cairon's, or Atreyu's, or Dabbert's. It is greater than the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull. It is greater than the urRu or the Star Strider, high in the Tower of the Elephant. And it is greater than my own, for what am I, but the spark that has ignited the fire your Phoenix has arisen from?"
Thunder grumbles overhead, and a glance up reveals blackening clouds. The Empress rises to her feet, still smiling, and turns toward the urRu.
"Cairon, if you will; help me to get our friends the Mystics to their place beyong the Sphinx Gate of the Southern Oracle."
"As you wish, my Empress." Cairon says.
Energy pulses as she raises her arms, and reality begins to warp...
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Jek blinks at Slade, then coughs a little from the smoke. "Umm, but... Isn't Ganondoof... Ganondorf supposed to be really bad? And.... Honestly I don't even know where he is, I thought others might know that. Where is Ganondoof? ..... dorf. "
At the Childlike Empress call, Jek will move forward and kneel.
As her gaze falls to Jek, he is forced to avert his gaze. She has a very bright light, and her attention is unnerving.
At her words, Jek slightly shocked. He is a shadow of the Bright Lady, so he always knew he is special, just as all of his brothers are. But... To be said to be greater than the Sorceress, or the Mystics? .... What even is this Star Strider!?! Why do people keep mentioning it?
Jek will go up to the urRu as they prepare to leave. "I'm... I'm sorry we couldn't save your home. I'm going to miss stopping at the Tower and hearing your stories. Maybe.... Maybe I'll see you again, and I can give you a new story to share!"
Jek will stand back and watch as this great magic takes effect. As he does, he will think about the Childlike Empress's words and where there path might take them next. To Ganondorf, to the floating island Celestia, to the Thra wastes, or someplace else.
Brevon kneels before the Empress, humbled by her words. He also keeps an eye on Melisandre during this exchange, gauging her reaction to the Empress's words.
What does the Empress mean when she says that their story is more significant than her own? Is she suggesting that her own life is expendable? Again, Brevon looks toward Melisandre.
As the Empress prepares a portal, he bids farewell to the Mystics. "Safe journey, wise ones. I am sorry we were not able to save your home. As Jek has said, I hope one day we may meet again."
"Regarding the triforce, it seems our only lead presently is in Celestia, to find the Triforce of Courage. Whatever guards it, can it be much worse than hill giants?" He winks at Jek.