Completed Chapter VI: Eye of the Storm

Auri the Insatiable

Ambassador of the Drakkar Nation

"Wait," Auri said as he heard unfamiliar footfalls in his home. He relaxed when he recognized the voices of their owners. "Hello there, Meric! And you too, Violet! And why should it be a surprise to see us? I live here after all and Maggie is my closest compatriot in all of Alicante! Besides that--" Auri's ears suddenly perked in delight as he heard the "fizzle-pop!" and saw the brief rainbow glow of the twenty-minute candle he had set. "Cookies!"

The old drakkar blew out the candle with a whoosh as he dashed toward the oven, rubbing his claws together like a dragon over a hoard of newly-found gold. With skill matched only by his enthusiasm, the 350-year-old snack lover checked the delicious morsels with a toothpick. Finding them ready, he slipped on his oven-gloves and hauled out both batches of soft, golden-brown treasure, each cookie made for someone Auri-sized.

"Get the plates ready, Maggie! For today, we dine on...

(Incoming Om Nom Alert!)

(Out of Character note for all. =) )

"Cookies sound good to me." Violet voiced her opinion, all in a dazed-like state with her eyes glued seemingly to both dishes at the same time. Even if she could notice Meric rolling his eyes next to her, she probably wouldn't care. The Shadow Elf didn't seem entirely her usual self altogether. She was much too relaxed, as if some of Meric's natural cool passed onto her, but was then topped with the carefree joy of someone.... somewhat younger. Not that Violet was old, for elves at least, but she hasn't shown such a lack of restraint ever since she'd met Dina on the ship in Aboran. And that was even before Maggie and Auri joined the company. All in all, whatever she and Meric did earlier in the day seemed to have a very positive impact.


"I'll have some as well, then. Thank you both." Meric said with a subtle bow of the head. "Is this all of us? Have none of the others made it back yet?"

[SIZE= 36px]Maggie[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 18px]Priestess of the Maker[/SIZE]


Maggie waved to the new arrivals.  "Hello, Meric and Violet!  Auri let me help with the cookies this time!  I hope you like them." She herself made a beeline for the plate of cookies with dark chocolate, peanut butter, and walnuts peeking out amid the golden brown of the cookie.  "Not yet, no.  It's just us so far.  You two look like you've had a nice day...?"  She trailed off hopefully, leaving the sentence somewhere between a statement and a question. 

Maggie's observation made Violet pause with her hand still outstretched, holding a cookie. It was brief but apparent, and drew come color to her cheeks.


Meric cleared his throat. "You could say that. Not that our duty went neglected for it, of course." He took a large bite out of cookie, chewing and swallowing contentedly. "No, we've been quite busy." he added, ignoring Violet's wince. "The odds are definitely less stacked against us than they were this morning. Even got the Resistance to help."


By then Violet had regained her composure and looked more like her usual professional self. She took her eyes off the cookie dishes for the moment and addressed the two cooks. "I've met with my contacts and requested their assistance for tomorrow. We won't be able to use them during the mission itself, but they can help us get out of there when the time comes. There are still those loyal to our cause in the Royal Army - I wasn't certain so I didn't mention it before, but it's confirmed now - and they can arrange safe passage for us to leave the palace via the bridge over to Fort Artan.


"I wouldn't have believed it either," Meric interjected, "But it's one of the options for our retreat, and one that would be least expected, I believe. A lot depends on the nature of said retreat, needless to say.... So we should prepare for different scenarios with different escape routes to be safe. I support Fort Artan as an option, but I'd rather we not make use of the rebels that way unless we have to."


"I was initially thinking to use that method to gain entry in the first place, until Meric told me about the invitations that were sent out." Violet looked at Auri. "Along with this Asher character, whom I only trust because he seems a true enemy of the Sorceress, that's two betters ways we can use to get inside."


Meric nodded, grabbing another cookie with an appreciative glance at their makers. "I know we'll go through all this tonight when we're all accounted for, but what do you two think so far?"

Vittorio Valtieri


The Gentleman Necromancer


Vittorio arrives at Auri's estate like a mourner, grim in expression and stride as he navigates streets that were once familiar. He feels like a stranger in his own homeland, now. He can't remember if the Sorceress made it that way before he left, or if it's simply all those weeks on the road. 


It was heartening, certainly, to know Greywall was still a good man at heart and still working where his work was best, but Valtieri had failed to secure aid against the Sorceress and simply served witness to the aftermath of a murder. It was cold comfort that the body was returned.


Perhaps he would attend the funeral.


He knocked on the door and waited patiently for a valet to let him in. A pity he would have so little to show the others.

It took barely more than a few moments before the beautifully ornate door opened, revealing an unknown drakkar inside. Valtieri's experienced eyes placed him to be at least several decades old, but less than a century. Young still, by the standards of his people, as well as remarkably slender, though he would still be considered burly compared to most humans. His clothes and mannerisms identified him as the valet that Valtieri expected, but hadn't yet seen since the fellowship had first arrived to Auri's house late last night, and then dispersed throughout the city for their tasks early morning. The drakkar did not seem surprised to see him in the least, however.


"Ah, master Valtieri," he addressed him and promptly stood aside holding the door wide open, clearly well briefed by the ever-thoughtful ambassador. "Please enter. You will find the others in the kitchen, I believe."

[SIZE= 36px]Maggie[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 18px]Priestess of the Maker[/SIZE]


Maggie smiled and reached for another of "her" cookies.  "That's excellent news!  Somehow I hadn't thought as far ahead as getting out.  I was more worried about getting in, but it sounds like that's got some good options, too."  She sighed.  "Unfortunately, I don't think my fellows at the Temple will be as much help.  Or rather, I don't dare ask without knowing exactly who to ask.  It seems the Sorceress has infiltrated there, too."  She stared down at her cookie, unusually downcast for a moment at the thought.

Auri the Insatiable


Ambassador of the Drakkar Nation


"This all sounds good to me!  I am an ambassador and wizard foremost; I leave the tricksy espionage-related details to...  well...  those of you who are better at this rebel thing than I."  Auri scooped up a cookie or three.  He broke out milk jugs meant for drakkar and filled the glasses of all who indicated the desire for some.

"Fear not, Maggie," said Violet in an attempt to comfort her, "Infiltrated does not equal overtaken. The Temple has stood for a thousand years before the Sorceress came along, and whatever corruption may have crept inside will be rooted out once we defeat her. Count on that. The Maker is on our side."


"Indeed." Meric chimed in. "For now, I am glad to have you on our side, even if that's all the help we ever get from the Temple. I imagine we will only depend on you more the farther we go down this path. Starting tomorrow, even. What little demonic presence remains in the city is focused in the palace, as you no doubt know." he warned. "We'd best hope we can do the whole thing while keeping the element of stealth, otherwise... It will be a lot more difficult."


Violet chuckled, chipping away at the grave mood setup by Meric. "You forget who you're talking to? Maggie finished off a greater demon not two days ago! I'm not worried." she said, reaching for the milk with an appreciative glance for Auri.


"True enough. Still, perhaps you could pick up a few new Miracles from the Temple, under some excuse? There may as well be a greater demon or two in Ilhirel's pocket."

Vittorio Valtieri


The Gentleman Necromancer


With a polite nod, Valtieri hands over his cloak to be hung and leans less heavily on his staff en route to the kitchen. Some mild merrymaking reaches his ears, but doesn't lift his mood. Perhaps what little good news he has to offer will be of use. "Greetings friends," he says, stepping into the room, "smells like a productive afternoon was had." He rests his staff in a corner and rests a satchel against it. He never likes to be far from his tools.

[SIZE= 18px]Priestess of the Maker[/SIZE]


Maggie smiled up at Violet in response to her comforting words.  "Thank you.  I know He is.  It's just... disheartening to find that not all of His people are.  But I can't get too downhearted while I have friends like you!"


She blushed when Violet mentioned the demonslaying.  "I had a lot of help!  I couldn't have done it without you two and the others.  Oh, but yes!  That's some good news I do have.  The Keeper at the library is not one of those infiltrators; in fact, he was the one that warned me to be careful who I approached.  And he helped me learn some new miracles.  New to me, at least.  We'll be rather more able if we do come across some more demons."  She frowned thoughtfully, then smiled as Valtieri entered the kitchen.  "Hello!  Yes, please help yourself to the cookies, and Auri's got milk too if you'd like.  I was just telling the others what I learned at the Temple today.  Oh, and that reminds me.  The Keeper particularly warned me not to underestimate the Sorceress, and to stay away from her if at all possible.  He was so very sincere, I can't help but believe him when he says she's the most dangerous entity in the palace, even if there are greater demons present."

Both elves listened intently to Maggie's words, even amid their avid noshing of the tasty cookies and milk. They looked bright, brighter still when Valtieri made his appearance and joined them, but nothing could yet disperse the sour note in the air that was put there by the first mention of Ilhirel's name.


"Your Keeper does well to warn you so." Meric affirmed, and at that point the others may have remembered that the elf said the same thing during last night's talk.


Violet lay her drained cup on the table with a resigned sigh. "And the warning cannot be overstated. I fought in the war. I bore witness to what she is capable of, and her army..." Violet's words were spoken so gravely that a brief yet heavy silence was forced upon the room, broken only tentatively by Meric.


"We will not be able to avoid her at the reception, unfortunately." he said. "Not those of us who intend to play the guest card. But it won't matter, for as long as we don't provoke a direct confrontation. That we must not do. Under any circumstances."


"I won't go." Violet shook her head. "Aside from the risk of someone recognizing me, I can't vouch for my behavior near demons." The elf practically spat the word out. "I will take my chances with our master thief, even if I can't meld with the shadows like he can."


"It is the fact that there are demons in the palace, and only in the palace," Meric mused, "That perhaps best signals the gravity of the threat that is the Sorceress. Just think about it," he said, appearing to himself be thinking about what he was saying for the first time, having struck his usual contemplative pose in the process; eyes narrowed and out of focus, and the knuckles of his right hand sliding back and forth across his chin. "Her ability to command demons was shocking and frightening from the very start, though such a thing was not unheard of. Indeed, rogue sorcerers such as those practicing blood magic have been sundering the Veil and rallying demons to their cause since time immemorial - albeit not to the same extent as Ilhirel. That is why there were still doubts, at first. Many believed that the demonic legions were merely her allies through some unholy covenant, and not true loyal servants doing her bidding. We know little of demonkind, but it has long been assessed that demons truly serve only other, more powerful demons, and not the summoners - and also that they are beings of chaotic evil, with desire only to kill and destroy without restraint."


"So how did Ilhirel bend them all fully to her will, each and every last one of her fiends kept in check throughout her conquest, killing and destroying only what they were allowed to? When the enemy reached the capital, it became apparent that this demonic force was not merely summoned and then unleashed upon the world - while Asgard's army was defeated and all who stood in Ilhirel's way slaughtered, very few others were harmed. Even the city itself suffered minimal damage during the siege. But perhaps most staggering of all is not Ilhirel's seemingly impossible total control over her army, but the fact that she just as easily dismissed it when she was done. An entire army," Meric repeated, "Thousands upon thousands of soldiers, simply done away with it. Ordered gone, save for the relative few that remain at her side. Demons don't simply go back to beyond the Veil when they've had enough for the day. They don't even retreat there when faced with certain death. There has never been a recorded case of any number of demons that left our world once they managed to enter it, willingly or by force. Until Ilhirel came along, that is. To me, what speaks most frighteningly about her power is the amount of influence, or control, that she is able to exert over those foul creatures - both by accurately directing their actions and being able to dismiss them entirely as she did with her army. And where, in Maker's name?"


Meric's contemplation was finally brought to an end when he emptied his cup of milk and said no more, staring still into nothing in particular.

Grey said:

"Greetings friends," he says, stepping into the room, "smells like a productive afternoon was had." He rests his staff in a corner and rests a satchel against it.

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"Greetings to you, fellow gentleman! Might I offer you some of our rich and delicious bounty?" With a grand gesture, Auri displayed the cookies proudly. There were much fewer cookies than before, a fact that gave the old drakkar satisfaction, for what was sweeter? The making or the sharing? Each act held its own pleasure, but when combined, oh, the delight!

Wolf Rawrrr said:

And where, in Maker's name?"

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Auri listened to Meric and found his words intriguing. He clicked his claws and spoke thoughtfully. "In the world of the diplomat, most people do things for only two reasons - as an expression of their free will or because someone else has something they desire or need."

Knowing little else of demons, Auri added nothing else.

Auri's words only gave further pause to Meric, seemingly deepening his contemplation after he'd paid the drakkar one brief intrigued glance. Truly there was much to be considered.

Violet took up the conversation from there. "What about your afternoon, Valtieri? Did you have any luck with your errands?" she asked the necromancer.

Vittorio musters a smile, gladly accepting a cookie, but his expression sobers as Meric speaks.
"Spirits laid to rest, Violet," he says in answer, "and some small opportunity found."
He pauses a moment, refusing to speak with his mouth full, and continues: "A nobleman who shares our cause has volunteered to escort me - and perhaps one other - to the banquet tomorrow under the auspice of an old custom."
He glances around the room, half-shrugging. "The question is how best to use this opening."

Violet nodded. "Both Auri and the Shadow Elf ambassador received such invites. Between the three we have now, we should be able to get most of us inside legitimately. That's what Meric meant when he mentioned playing the guest card earlier," she quickly added when she remembered that Vittorio can't have known about it before. "It turns out that infiltrating the palace will be a lot easier than we expected, thanks to those invites and that thief, Asher. But I fear that getting out will be every bit as difficult as imagined."

"You patron must be someone important." Meric interjected. "Let us hope he is trustworthy as well." The elf stood up, his gray eyes meeting the eyes of everyone present. "We will discuss everything in great detail tonight. No use making all the plans with half of the party missing. Since it is taking them so long to return, I dare hope that they are bringing aid of their own to the table. Until then..." he began when his voice trailed off.

"Until then what?" Violet asked, looking back at him.

"Dinner?"

They both looked to Auri and Maggie for that one.

Auri listened to his guests with real interest, for there was much at stake. That is... until....

"'Dinner?!'" Auri gasped and grinned. "My goodness! That is one of my favorite words!"

Auri began cleaning up the cookie-baking-related-mess with a rapidity that belied his age and size.

Maggie listened intently. The mention of the demons kept in the palace had her wondering. "Would it be better if I was one of the less-visible attendees? Or, with the corruption spreading even to the temple, will they just assume I don't mind the demons?" She smiled at Auri's reaction to the mention of dinner. "That sounds like a wonderful idea, Meric!" She stood and started helping with the cookie-baking mess.

Maggie's question had Violet looking to Meric with uncertainty, but her fellow elf couldn't look more at ease. "Your best way inside is with Auri, no doubt." he said right away. "He is an esteemed foreign government official, and a common sight at court. And you are his close friend visiting the capital. It's the best way because it's all true. No lies. No deception. No one will bat an eye. I'd advise you to wear something other than your robes, even your ceremonial ones if you have them, but only so as not to imply that you are there in official capacity. You needn't shy from revealing that you are a priestess, if the topic arises."

"I can tell you from experience," he continued, "That the less lies you have to remember, the less disguises you have to keep up, the better. Especially in a setting like tomorrow's will be. At least you, unlike most of us, have virtually nothing to hide. Just don't mention to anyone that you're with the Resistance on a covert operation, and you'll be okay. And I don't expect anyone will ask to check that, either." he grinned.

Meric's response brought much relief to the young priestess. "Oh, that does sound a lot better. I'll see if I can find something to wear by then." She smiled at his last remark. "I hope not! That would be pretty odd."

Wolf Rawrrr said:

"I can tell you from experience," he continued, "That the less lies you have to remember, the less disguises you have to keep up, the better.

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Auri could not help but nod enthusiastically in agreement. "True, true, Meric!" he piped up. "Maggie, it is like saying, I didn't eat the last cookie!'" He then dropped the last cookie into his mouth and followed this act with a well-practiced look of mock-innocence.

Maggie giggled at her big friend. "All right. I'm going in with Auri then, as unofficially as I can manage. What about the rest of you?"

Date: October 9th, year 3321
Location: Alicante, the capital of Asgard
Weather: A dark, windy, starry night. Fairly cold.

Around 22:30 h
Auri's residence, Southeast Alicante



Later that evening, following a plentiful and most delicious dinner, the fellowship all gathered in the living room to forge their plans for the next day. It was long dark by then, but the place was well-lit by candlelight and the happily crackling fireplace.


Nearest to the hearth was the westerner, Battojutsu, apparently comfortable enough sitting on the floor in the lotus position. His katana was neatly laid out in front of him in its foreign-looking, beautifully designed hardwood scabbard. He was being his usual self: quiet, dignified, and attentive. Close by, the man known as A'kal was much the same - except that he shamelessly occupied a high seat chair with his legs propped up on the accompanying footstool.

The dwarf, Laurolf, was leaning forward on the sofa so that his elbows were up against his knees, and his chin rested on his hands that were closed into a single fist. He gave off an impatient aura, his hazel eyes returning every so often to his great axe that lay just outside reach next to the wall. He seemed eager to get things done, a sentiment clearly shared by Violet who looked all business-like herself. The she-elf stood with her back against the wall and her arms crossed out on her chest, and her concern for Dina was written on her face.

The other Shadow Elf stood apart from everyone else, holding himself like a professor before a class of students. Meric's grey eyes settled thoughtfully on the fireplace while he waited for everyone to get settled down.

It was time to plot.

"Time for the gritty details then!" Auri rubbed his claws together as a wide smile crossed his reptilian features. "So, Maggie and I go in together, she as my guest. Got it! We'll look around for signs of Dina while being as unobtrusive as we can. Er, how does that sound?" This he said as he began expertly moving about his kitchen cleaning up after the aforementioned dinner. Cookies alone would not save Dina, but the best thinking was done on a belly filled with good food and drink or Auri was a hatchling! Now that they had that, the plotting would pick up!

Maggie perched on the sofa next to Laurolf. Concern for Dina was clear on her face, but equally clear was her trust in her companions and her faith that they would be able to work together for a successful rescue. "And between official invites and, um, less official infiltration..." She smiled at Asher. "...we should all be able to get in, right? Violet, earlier you said that getting out would be the difficult part. What ideas do we all have for that?" Her smile faded as a thought came to her. "I think we should probably plan for Dina not being able to walk, just in case. Some of you should probably be prepared to carry her out, however we manage it."