[Open Broadcast]

[protect_and_serve]

 I've finished my first reconnaissance, more or less, and after a week I hope that most of you have, as well.  Everyone who can should gather back in Liminal Space so that we can compare notes, and marshal our forces.  Everyone who can't... should let me know, so someone can retrieve them.

I don't suppose anyone has stumbled over the missing queen or her throne?

Comments

[hakodate]

And how pissed off were they?

[protect_and_serve]

I don't think they're quite... human.

[hakodate]

Color me unsurprised.

What'd they do?

[DID ANYONE GET TURNED INTO A FROG OR WHATEVER HAPPENS IN THOSE STORIES HE DOESN'T KNOW...]

[protect_and_serve]

Nothing too extreme. But I wouldn't under-rate them. Whatever their interests are, if something does cross them...

They move faster on foot than we do on horseback. They command the elements around them. They're not simple mages.

[hakodate]

I can't tell the difference between simple mages and un-simple mages, so I'll take your word for it.

[Magic: not really a Thing, back home.]

[protect_and_serve]

It's a matter of... attitude. Their worldview, maybe.

[hakodate]

That worldview being?

[protect_and_serve]

I've only spoken to two of them, but each one seems to have a different... fixation.

[hakodate]

Is "fixation" meant to sound as creepy as it's sounding to me right now?

[protect_and_serve]

I haven't reached a verdict yet.

[hakodate]

How invested do you think they are in the politics around here? The missing Queen, and all that?

[protect_and_serve]

After their display at the end of the tournament? Either they are, or it suits their purpose that we think they are.

[hakodate]

I knew there was a reason I decided to start with Flamegard. Less deflection, less bullshit.

[protect_and_serve]

If you find dragons a fair trade for those.

[hakodate]

I'd rather dodge the thing that has the balls to attack head-on.

[protect_and_serve]

Having seen magic before... if I agree, it's not for the same reasons.

[hakodate]

Interesting thing about those dragons, though - they're intelligent. Jaeger couldn't tell me about what touched things off or whether there was an attempt at negotiations...but he said I should ask Sir Perry.

[protect_and_serve]

Perry?

Are you still sure you'd rather be going to Flamegard, if Perry is there?

Or, for that matter, that we shouldn't all be going with you?

[hakodate]

If there's something going on down here, then someone's gonna have to take one for the team, and I'm already down here to do it.

[ That sounds very much like a "yep, still sure"...although Joscelin's concerns don't entirely fall on deaf ears. ]

...I haven't caught him around yet. Depending on what I hear, I may want backup here - or to get the others who came down here out. I'll tell you when I know more.

[protect_and_serve]

I'll hold off on other transport if I can, to be ready.

[Of all the familiar faces they meet, Perry has always been Joscelin's least favorite, a deep-seated but irrational bias.]

[hakodate]

If all else fails, I can get people in. I just won't be able to let them out somewhere better than this.

[protect_and_serve]

Easier to take care of. But you can't count on all being together whenever Perry decides to get himself killed.

[hakodate]

I know.

[ Hope for, sure. Count on, definitely not. ]

[protect_and_serve]

I'll be ready.

[hakodate]

Thanks.