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Post by Admin on Dec 17, 2022 17:49:24 GMT
Brian:
Squelch...squelch...squilch...squelch. Brian's boots are full of his blood, and noisily reveal his coming to all in the hallways. Not that he comes across anyone in his wanderings. Or do they hide from him? The throne room is ahead of him, doors open and no guards outside it. Sounds of the conversation within drift down the hall. He recognizes Kat's voice.
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Post by Katerina on Dec 17, 2022 21:22:15 GMT
Kat sighs. Must she explain this to everyone.
"When I finished walking the Mirror Maze, it teleported me to the Hall of Mirrors in Amber. Unfortunately it also split me and created a mirror version of me. The mirror version of me, lets call her Tak has made a deal with the demons and has caused all the chaos here. You can tell she's the mirror version as she uses her other hand and has the writing on her sword written backwards. I'm surprised that no one here had the wits to see that. I am here to save my people and will probably die in the course of trying to do so. Perhaps I truly am mad for making the attempt, but this is my home and I will defend it."
"Now she says looking up to the guard who has just entered. Don't you think you should go and organise the defence of the castle against these demons? The King must be protected."
One of these days perhaps all the bad luck even itself out and some really good things start to spontaneously happen to her, but Kat wasn't confident that was more than just a fervent desire or some wierd dream brought on by too many Acharo fruits.
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Post by Brian on Dec 18, 2022 11:50:06 GMT
I join in behind Kat at that point in her speech
" The battle outside is going poorly Kat. And the guards here are quite mad with fear.....amongst many problems."
I turn to the King " There is something they want here....something they will kill every single person in your castle to control. What do you think that might be?"
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Post by Admin on Dec 21, 2022 9:02:46 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/LQC26H5/Coy~jpg Brian enters. He is a giant covered head to toe in blood. The guards see him, yell, "Demon!" and rush to attack him. "That's King Brian of Ayalos, not a demon!" Coy yells to the guards. "He has been duped by this traitor girl, just like the rest of us."The guards stand down but continue to stare at him with suspicion. Fortunate for Brian since he is so wounded that he would have most likely fallen in the fight. Coy just saved his life. Coy keeps his sword drawn and pointed towards Kat, only a few inches from her throat. "I am too busy to explain to you the Philosophy of Self, or the psychology of ego, superego, and id, but think on this:
One, you are a master of disguise, changing your appearance on a whim. This talk of hardness and writing is nothing to a person of your skill.
"Two, if there is an evil version of you, why should we not think that you are her, come here to kill the last of your family and Mytorran's defenders? If you are good, as you say, then why are you not using your power to defeat the demons instead of bringing your friend here to kill the castle's guards?"Louder, he calls out. "Yes, this blood-covered man is the 'demon' you believe stalks the halls of the castle. But, as I said, he is an innocent dupe."Maybe he hasn't saved Brian's life. Then back to Kat: "I know you are the evil one; why else would you stand so calmly with my sword at your neck? When we fought out by the Maze, your armour deflected my blade. What you are too arrogant to realize is that I have forged this sword anew. Your armour offers no protection now.""Kill them both. This farce distracts you from seeing to our defence," the King commands Coy. "One more thing: a multitude of mirrors will cast more than one reflection. I'm surprised you don't have the wits to see that," he paraphrases her ironically.
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Post by Brian on Dec 21, 2022 12:16:32 GMT
" I begged your guards to let me help the people. They attacked me.....why would an ' Evil Kat' just limit herself to attacking people.....why not make the people kill themselves. The guards were unmoved by the screams of the people outside"
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Post by Katerina on Dec 21, 2022 15:36:45 GMT
Kat fingers her sword just in case, ready to duck back and draw it.
"Everyone already thinks that I'm her. I'd have at least expected you to see the truth Coy, but maybe your not as clever as you think you are. I've never fought you as you claim, but I'd guess my mirror self has. If I was the traitor version of Kat then I'd have killed you all from hiding not come here to try and get you to stop the Demons. The reason I haven't gone out to fight the Demons yet is because everyone wants to kill me. No way I can fight them when my own side wants to put a sword through me. I'd die fighting them, but I'll be blowed if I'm going to die by an arrow in my back. Yes I can change shape, but don't you think that the evil me would have come as someone else to kill you? After all, I know all the people here very well."
"You claimed to be trapped here Coy but you have several ways out, so you're lying about something, though what it is I still need to work out. Yes I standing here calmly because I'm not expecting you to be an idiot and start a fight when we need to stop the demons now before it is too late. If my people get killed because of your stupidity then I will seek you out and make it my life's work to ensure everything you want in life fails. If you help and my people are saved, then I can offer you something that you can never truly have anymore."
Or how you knew the way to get here in the first place. The army took a long time to march through shadow to get here, but Coy did several things in that time and must have got here quicker than she did somehow. She steps back and draws her sword in readiness for an attack should it come. Her sword being in her right hand and not her left. Hopefully he's clever enough to work that out. He should be clever enough to know that Brian is a more mighty opponent than even Kat is.
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Post by Brian on Dec 22, 2022 0:18:15 GMT
"Or you would have killed your father taken his place.....and used your position to encourage all the people who mistreated you to kill each other in fear and terror."
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Post by Admin on Dec 27, 2022 4:48:06 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/LQC26H5/Coy~jpg "I'm trapped here because I gave my word to the king that I would defend his city from the demons.""If you can change your appearance, then you could fight with no one recognizing you. You could be out there with your friends. Hell, you and Brian might have been able to save them from the demon army. Try for a better excuse next time.""THe people of the city were dead once the walls fell. To open the gates of the castle and let them in would have allowed the demons to enter. The guards did what they had to do to protect their king no matter the cost or grief. They were good men until you killed them all.""King Brian, you innocent sweetheart, don't you understand that the subject of your revenge has to be the last one to die after everything they love has been destroyed? The King is the safest person in Eshanta until the castle is breached."A guard rushes in, sees what's happening but still blurts out, "An army has appeared outside the city! They are attacking the demons!" "Eivor and your other dues have bought us a few more minutes of life by spending theirs. I doubt Flora or Bleys would condone Amber's sneak attack on the Courts of Chaos. Another complication added to the state of war between Ayalos and Eshanta."
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Post by Katerina on Dec 27, 2022 10:14:49 GMT
When did Coy gain morals? He never had any in killing people and turning their minds in Deiga.
"My friends are fighting for me to save Eshanta and I have confidence that they will help turn the tide. Now I am not here to fight you or kill anyone on this side. We need to work together to overcome the demons. Together we can do this, but if you are determined to fight us here then all will be lost. King Brian is one of the best fighters I have ever seen, and if you put the word out that he is on our side he can make a difference in defending my father. You told me that you were going to help me save Eshanta at the ball. You're only doing part of that if you're not on my side so you'll be breaking your word to me. I want the realm saved and my fatehr safe, so help me fight or get out of my way. We only have so much time."
Seeing he hasn't attacked her, she lowers her sword, but is still prepared to spring to the side.
"What state of war between Avylos and Eshanta. What nonsense are you trying to spin now?" Kat is genuinely surprised at his last remark.
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Post by Admin on Dec 27, 2022 10:30:40 GMT
"The King of Ayalos snuck into this castle and massacred its guards. Sounds like war to me. What other response could there be? If you truly do wish to fight for Eshanta, then start by killing this enemy king."
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Post by Katerina on Dec 27, 2022 12:23:08 GMT
"Sounds like he was attacked and defended himself. If you think I'm going to attack a man who is a friend and is capable of killing every one in this room including me then you're wrong. Make sure the guard know he's on our side and he will fight with us. King Brian is the best weapon we have in this war." Kat replies.
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Post by Brian on Dec 28, 2022 0:03:09 GMT
"I wouldn't be of a mind to be disagreeable. I was attacked while being brought here to help. None of your men thought to bring me to you. I'm willing to let bygones be bygones and be forgiving. Based on the fact everything here is in complete and total disorder. But it would be best not to do it again." I nod to the King before turning to Coy "I mean you just make the case then for the King being an 'Evil' Kat who wants to torture the Lady Katrina who is here with me. But we could play that game for days of time we don't have. I don't suppose you've figured out what the actual target of this invasion is?"
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Post by Admin on Dec 28, 2022 0:26:55 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/LQC26H5/Coy~jpg "You all heard her words. She would stand beside the Butcher of Mytorran rather than her family and city," Coy exclaims. "Captain Grennik reported that you were both told to surrender but refused.
"You are correct, Kat. Brian would be the best commander for your army, so why did you bring him to skulk about the castle rather than lead the army? Brian, since your arrival in Eshanta, how many demons have you killed compared to how many humans? It is as I said: you have been led astray by this girl."Coy laughs, and the king scowls. "You who killed my guards wishes to forgive us?" the King sneers. "Brian, Brian, Brian, poor, silly Brian. Do you mean to tell me that you have come here and fought without knowing why?"
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Post by Brian on Dec 28, 2022 2:36:52 GMT
I look at the King and nod. " Yes. I even let your guards wound me in an attempt to try to incapacitate them. You don't attack a man without expecting him to attack you back. Your guards were unwilling to offer anything other then prison. I would be glad to forgive you because in your crisis things have fallen apart. But don't act like you are the only one without umbrage here. "
I look at Coy "I got delt into the game late. I want in on the real game....not the surface game. This war is all to get to some real important piece on the board. And for my silly desire to try to help people I've been punished quite a bit. As for killing the demons....I was going to do that. Then the guards attacked me. And I could go to find a place to actually go about fighting our enemies....but the guards would persist in trying to kill me. So I came here so I could do the job I sought to do....and you make vague threats about killing me. As opposed to letting me help you. Which is what I asked. I had reason to suspect their was something deeper going on here. I had reason to suspect I might even have been able to find it here. I think the war is likely a distraction from a bigger game....and the only way we could make things right is if we get ahead of the folks who are deeper into the game. More importantly I was under the impression people would take an offer for help. Amber didn't....pretty much no one I have offered to help has been willing to take my offer. And they've all come out of it worse for wear. "
I turn to the king. "Your principle adviser knew I was the sort of person who might come here. He know Kat ....whose allegiances might be of good or ill intent would likely bring me here. " I point to Coy "And I am sure he is informed enough to know that I don't go surrendering myself to guards who are offering to throw me into the dungeon. So....He might be pouring poison in your ear. You might be the venom in the heart of this city. All I know is there are two people in this room who would like to get some work done in helping your people. Since you and Coy don't seem to be interested....let us work."
I look to Kat "You asked me here to help you. And the madness we have both seen in the current crisis has poisoned your people. What would you ask of me?"
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Post by Admin on Dec 28, 2022 6:09:58 GMT
OOC: want to keep things synched with the Xu, Ry, Ed, & Eivor scene, so will hold off here until they all have the chance to post.
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