Mysteries of the Floating Islands

[SmilyCube112]

Magnus is now hoping Avanyiss doesn't cause more trouble. At least he doesn't have to worry about anything else.

[Florien]

Yes! Questions! What is the Dragon Queen's Claimancy reason for the territory? What's your stance on monarchy? How has the king not blown you all up with a siege engine, are you controlled opposition or is the king just unable to get the resources together to finish you off due to infighting? Do you have enough soldiers and guns to make... ahhh... what do you call them... tercios viable? Do you have consistent rates for hiring Irekhin or is it a case-by-case basis thing? Is there any particular reason all the Dragon Queen's soldiers we've met thus far are draconic in nature, and if there is, is there any particular reason other species don't join?

[GoldenCityBird]

The guard seems very stunned for a moment. "One at a time!"

After taking a small moment to readjust, he clears his throat. "Alright, let's see how many questions I can answer...

"This fort is state-of-the-art Draconic design - can't be penetrated, ever. That's, unfortunately, why we tend to keep outsiders out, according to General Bonnam anyway. Given the very limited current pool of Dragons for the "Throne" on this island, I feel like the monarchy will die out rather quickly anyway, so there's little point in taking a stance on ours. I'd love to see King Ed's head on a pike, though. As for the rest of your questions... I dunno. Really."

[Florien]

Is she a full-size dragonsort or a bite-size dragonsort, like yourself?

I need to know. For diplomatic reasons. And other reasons. Mostly diplomatic reasons.

...And is there any particular reason you don't like Briar that much?

[SmilyCube112]

Magnus cuts off Avanyiss by saying "So, you're implying that King Ed is not as good as he looks. Just how bad is he?"

[GoldenCityBird]

@Florien, @SmilyCube112:

"Oh, Burnetta's a fully-fledged Dragon. That's pretty much why she's Queen. One of the only three that even exist nowadays."

He then proceeds to either ignore or not hear your question about Briar, jumping deftly to Magnus's question.

"Edward Rashbold... I'll admit, I don't know much about him. But from what I've heard, the kingdom's wrecked under his rule. He, his noble friends, and his military devotees are doing fine. But my friend in the reconnaissance team's told me that farmers are having their food stolen, city-dwellers are being kicked out... even some decent folks getting arrested for reasons unknown."

The other guard re-emerges, Briar next to them.

Briar approaches the two of you. "It's good to see you, Avanyiss and... uh..."

[Florien]

Dyir! Briar! It is good to see you, yes? You had a thing you wanted us to help with? And this is my... ahh... associate. This guard here, the shorter one, they have a bad opinion of you, yes? Anyway, is an explanation of what you want forthcoming, or was this a trick to get me in stabbing range? I warn you, I am quite possibly mildly diseased and you may be inconvenienced after a short incubation period if you are interested in the stabbing route.

[SmilyCube112]

Magnus just facepalms as he says (in a mildly annoyed tone of voice) "My name is

MagnusMang-noos

Ingvar, Mr.Brair.

He then turns back to the guard and says "Also, guard, that sounds like it has nothing to do with the King. Seems to me there's possibly some corruption in the law enforcement, or something."

[Florien]

Avanyiss, who is not currently drinking anything, does a spit take anyway.

YOU THINK THE KING DOESN'T... HSSSSSFFFKHKHKH That's fucking hilarious! No, please tell another! Corruption in law enforcement? Ooh, is it angry ghosts that are only repelled by having money and supporting the king? Are the assassinations in the village we saw not a massacre of assassination, but spontaneous simultaneous house collapses? Please, if it wasn't sanctioned by the king, the king would acknowledge the existence of such problems!

And you wonder why people are after you and/or want you dead in some place or another! Your eye for political machinations! Unmatched! Your trust in the monarchy which is codified inherited wealth? Sensible and restrained, probably the best decision! YES! Ah vels, I get stuck with these people.

[GoldenCityBird]

Briar clears their throat. "If the two of you are quite done, here's my request:

"Basically, there's a lot of internal strife within the higher levels of the Fort. There have been a lot of rumours saying one of the other big dragons will try to duel Queen Burnetta - probably General Bonnam, but I wouldn't be surprised if Chancellor Adora wanted to try to take charge.

"These rumours are, quite frankly, commonplace, but I've never paid them any mind. But, given a few recent developments, I... well... it could happen. Bonnam's losing himself, Adora's gone way too quiet, and... well, even some wishful thinkers like the translator, uh, Putto Razor-Wing, they're acting off.

"I promised Burnetta I'd keep something secret, but... if she dies, it'll never see the light of day. Help me, and I'll help you - resources, physical assistance, anything."

Briar itches the back of their head. "As for why they all hate me... that's kind of related to the Doc. Nothing you need to know."

[SmilyCube112]

Magnus, wanting to keep things civil, pretends he did not hear that from Avanyiss. However, he did take note of the "people after him/want him dead" part. However, what he was just told was quite troubling. "Briar, I'd be more than happy to help."

[Florien]

Vels yes, intrigue! Love that.

Avanyiss bends in and whispers to Briar the next part, at least vaguely aware that it's generally frowned upon to talk openly about exactly how flexible the help about to be provided is.

So you want me to assassinate the general, the chancellor and the translator? Because while I can help, I'm not... ahh... exactly Regent level, much less Lackhreiter, and I'd need to know their individual goals and whether they might actually be better choices. Help protect Burnetta's deathswitch? Which, sure! Yeah, I'm all for deathswitches. Sorry, I'm unclear. I didn't catch your request in all that, I just got "fun intrigue and almost certainly plots to become the new big dragon in the vaults". Obviously, I am HERE for this whatever your request is though. Presumably it'll get me closer to resolving this whole "islands in the sky" situation. I can do diplomacy if you need that too, obviously. Optimally as few people end up dead as necessary.

[GoldenCityBird]

Briar whispers back:

"Oh, heavens no, only as a last resort. I'd very much prefer a peaceful transition of power, or total prevention of the duel in the first place, but... if you have no other options, kill. Now I just need to get you two in."

Briar then turns to the other guards. "I need to let these two in."

The two guards shake their heads. "Says who?"

"Says... uh..."

[Florien]

Avanyiss interrupts Briar, and switches into Serious Mode(tm), adopting a flat, almost monotonal voice, in order to sound more authoritative.

I say so. Despite my anti-monarchist tendencies, I will sell my coupwork services, destabilization expertise, and admittedly limited combat experience to your opponents, or to a would-be conqueror of the isles if you don't get on this right now. My offer is time sensitive, because this miserable city-state of an island in the sky's value is far lower than the land from which it was taken, and my time is valuable. Quite besides, I have evidence known only to me that can be useful in your propaganda efforts to encourage defections to your side, so killing me won't remove my threat from play, it will negatively impact you.

Also I see multiple ways to breach your "unbreachable" fortress. I'll give you one for free. You have poor air defenses, especially considering the existence of airships. Your defense presumably relies overmuch on your dragons existing. I need to inspect your place to find all your vulnerabilities so they can be fixed... but as for now, the additional ones I've found I'm already making notes of how to best exploit.

Avanyiss uses her height to tower over the guards as much as she's able. Hopefully they're shorter than she is...

>Intimidate and bluff the guards until they let us in.

[SmilyCube112]

Magnus is not even gonna bother at this point. He just moves a few feet away, awaiting the inevitable.

[GoldenCityBird]

@Florien: You roll a 4 for the first guy and a 4 for the second.

"Oh shit!" The shorter one draws himself up. "Laura, I think this lass is for real."

The taller one nods. "Right. I'll try to arrange something. In the meantime, come in. Rules are rules, though - if you're seen wandering around freely, accompanied by only one of our rank, chances are you'll end up in trouble."

Briar makes their way through, beckoning for you two to follow.

[SmilyCube112]

Magnus is visibly surprised that worked, and follows Briar inside.

[Florien]

Excellent. I'm glad you understand your position here.

>Follow Briar inside.

[GoldenCityBird]

Cliffside fort, Jails

You follow Briar and the taller of the other guards into the jail. Roughly carved out of rock and reinforced with new metal bars, the place feels like a very new development. There also seems to be a distinct lack of prisoners within your lines of sight, but quite a handful of guards.

"This is pretty much the lowest point of the fort," says the taller guard. "From here, you can get up to the treasury and the barracks, and from those, you get to the royal quarters - residence, throne room, and... other stuff, presumably." She sighs. "I've never been up there before."

"We'll be taking the barrack-side stairs up to the throne room," Briar says. "Unless either of you object, that is."

[Florien]

Yes, yes, taking notes.

What other routes are there to the throne room besides the barracks-side stairs? And do you have a clipboard and writing implement I could use? I'm fairly confident that things will work out and I'll get this consultancy job.

But no, no particular objections to the barracks-side stairs. That'll take us past security force quarters, yes? If I'm going to be doing security consultant work, I will need to see as much of this place as possible, so even the long way around would be an interesting path to try.

>Follow On

[SmilyCube112]

"No objections from me either. Lead on, Briar." Magnus says, though he takes a mental note of the lack of prisoners.

[GoldenCityBird]

"Only other route is treasury-side. But, since you two seem to be OK with the barracks, we'll go that way.

"Also, what's a clipboard?"

The four of you ascend a large staircase to the barracks. It seems vaguely labyrinthine, but there are plenty of signs dotted about. They all have utility names like "Surgeon", "Sleeping Quarters II", or "General's Quarters". Draconic soldiers march about in unison, clear ranks visible upon their uniforms.

It is here that you see, for the first time, the intimidating presence that is General Bonnam. He's an eight-foot quadrapedal mass of muscles, horns, and amber scales. He wears a fancy uniform, well-fitted around his broad wings. Fortunately, you're rather far away when you see him leading a squadron across a hallway.

Briar reaches a final staircase near the end, but is brought to a halt by a pair of guards at the door. The three of them mutter in hushed tones, before Briar returns to you. "Seems like the queen's in the middle of something important. We won't be able to interrupt her for a while." They lean in next to Magnus's ear, but draw Avanyiss close, too. "You seem like the sneaky sort. Reckon you could scout out a way in?"

[SmilyCube112]

Magnus, upon hearing this, thinks about it for a moment, before quietly telling Briar "Seems I've got no other choice." and proceeds to do as requested.

> Quietly, and stealthily, look for alternative ways into the room.

[Florien]

Please, you don't have clipboards? No wonder this place is a hellscape. It's a board with a hinged clip on it. You know what clips are, yes? Then you use the clip to clip paper or parchment or what-have-you to the board, and write on it.

Though studies do show that even people unaware of them think they look very official.

Anyway, I'll let Magnus deal with the way in. I'll deal with the guards.

Avanyiss walks over to the guards.

Hello, yes you! I'm your new defense consultant, I've got some important information for your leader in there! Can you give me an approximate wait time for the appointment?

>This is all an attempt to distract the guards to make it easier for Magnus to get in.

[GoldenCityBird]

@SmilyCube112: You roll a 2, with a +1 stealth bonus, making it a 3

You manage to find what seems to be some kind of air vent or small tunnel. Yeah, it's high up, but it definitely looks like it can hold a humanoid within.

@Florien: You roll a 2

The guards still seem very alert. "The Right Honourable Queen Burnetta will finish her official meeting in an estimated quarter hour, so - wait a second..."

One of the guards leaves to investigate, his place quickly taken by a second, identical guard.