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#Post#: 702--------------------------------------------------
Grand Empress Zeva: Reign of the Saint
By: Dungeon Master Date: January 2, 2024, 1:50 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Grand Empress Zeva[/center]
[center]vol. I Reign of the Saint
Story One: The Great Peace
Chapter One: The Fire [/center]
Soreel
Marika,
Tarish Imperial Capital of the Soreel Empire
Tarish, The Imperial Capital and seat of Empress Zeva Lisset
d'Janikar; The Greysword, General of the Wolverines;
Blood-Sister to the Clans; Star-Child, bringer of change;
Nachish, Holder of the Oasis; Var'I'Ali'aie, Protector of the
Currents Deep; Yu'en'ak'yun, First among the Firstborn; Mate of
Rotas; Mother to Lucius; and Defender of all Peoples.
53 ST by the current calendar of Soreel. (ST for Seija no Tochi,
Seija no Tochi translates to "Reign of the Saint")
The scene opens at dusk at a theatre production in the imperial
city, seeing a play, based on a myth of the early prehistoric
tale of Nakeel, the Fire Goddess.
Aravis, daughter of Karnea, is taking in a play at the ancient
Ishma hillside theatre, just outside the Imperial District.
Aravis came with a few acquaintances she had made since coming
to live here on Soreel.
Her on-again-off-again relationship with Lucius occurred without
acrimony or remorse, and over time, she looked back and wondered
about her place here. She is treated like a Princess consort in
waiting behind the scenes, and outwardly as just a friend and
longtime acquaintance. But the cold, hard truth is she has begun
to feel aimless and unsure if she wants to continue with the
current state of her tidal engagement.
She has been coming to this decision for an age. His dedication
to the shadow world of espionage has left gulfs of time that
have left her unfulfilled. Her breakfasts with the Empress are
painful reminders every morning. The extended period of neglect
has left her wondering what she is still doing here. It has not
been something she has felt she could speak with Zeva about,
even with the friends she made; Aravis still feels alone. True,
she has tried to make the most of things, and that has worked
for a time, but it has become years. A decade later, nothing has
changed.
Until a couple of days ago, life had been predictably the same.
But now something was different. A darkness she could not
define. It is not ever-present, and it is not hounding her per
se. But there is also the case that on a couple of occasions,
she has felt like she is being followed in public, though she
has no visual confirmation of anything.
Aravis is always followed by a security detail of pretorian
guards, so she is used to that so this was something else
shadowing her footsteps. She is in a quandary if she tells her
guards about these feelings, which she might normally do, but
she has become apathetic with boredom, and with all its
sameness, she has become willing to take more risks of late. It
has been years since she has left the planet, but even that has
just lost its charm.
She needs something different. The play progresses into its
climactic climax, and she stands and joins the others in
clapping for a fantastic performance. The fire dancing was a
highlight.
The friends make their way on the cobblestone streets under the
lamplights to a local café for espresso and enjoy musing takes
on what they just saw. After thirty minutes, the friends
separate, and Aravis heads back to her apartments, shadowed
discreetly by the Praetorian detail. She walks with her head
high, full of assurance learned from her lineage as the daughter
of one of the most powerful wizards in the known Planes, as well
as the betrothed of the heir to the Soreelian Empire.
Appearing to be in her early 20s, she is stylishly dressed in
the fashion of the local youth of the aristocratic class,
wearing a flowing, translucent, silken, brilliant emerald green
dress with gilded seams and jeweled details, over a sheer slip
that clings to her body underneath the dress. At 5’6”, she is
taller than her mother but still slightly shorter than the
average human female. Her figure is fuller than her mother’s as
well, with a graceful curve at the hips that has attracted the
eye of more than one would-be paramour.
She wears her strawberry-blonde hair parted in the middle, with
two long braids down her back ending at the shoulder blades. Her
striking blue eyes and her pale complexion are both features
inherited from her mother, with a scattering of freckles on her
cheeks that are more prominent in the summertime.
Long, delicate fingers are adorned by several rings: a magical
ring of protection in the form of a simple golden band given to
her by her mother, a large black diamond in a platinum setting
given to her by Lucius, and a small silver ring with a flat
circle of obsidian, representing her connection to Nuitari. Her
nails are painted in the fashion of the ladies of the court,
Aravis’ being a deep, glossy black. Her lips are similarly
painted black, with the waxy pigments favored by the
aristocratic class of Marika. A simple silver chain necklace
hangs from her neck, with a large obsidian circle set in a
platinum pendant suspended at the top of the plunging neckline
of her dress.
Tied at her belt are a few pouches of spell components and an
ornate dagger, but she otherwise carries no weapons or obvious
magical items.
Aravis crosses the wide avenue and walks past government
buildings and the giant Ferris wheel, a leftover remnant of last
year's World’s Fair. She walks to the Gate of the compound to
enter the Imperial Campus. She is cleared with no muss to go
through, and she walks to her entrance and up the back steps.
She nearly trips and almost dies avoiding stepping on the mouser
cat. She catches her breath and curses the cat long after it has
scattered off.
She walks into her expansive apartment. She knows it so well
that she makes it to the kitchenette before lighting her
candles.
She turns and takes in how huge the sitting room is. Aravis
walks through her private apartment, taking off some of her
different magical items to place in special boxes. To specific
keepsake boxes, gifts from her mother and father, and some she
made herself. She walks past her collection of lifelike dolls
into her bedroom.
A shrine to Nuitari, the God of Dark Magic. Lunitari and
Solinari are represented as well, informing us that the occupant
is a child of Krynn, or at least one who has some ties there.
After she divests herself of all but her small clothes and slips
into a silk robe that she pulls around her as she fills her
bathwater and prepares to soak some of her troubles away. She
lights a wooden lighting stick and sets about lighting more
candles, a soft, warm glow fills the domicile in a pleasant
astrosphere.
She ignites a few more aromatic candles, then moves the skull
over and places candles on the fireplace mantle and lights them.
Shadows flicker on the walls and set the ceiling dancing with
light.
Aravis walks past the full-body mirror to find her hairbrush.
What will she do tomorrow? She could go for a short cruise out
to the Islands and get some swimming in before the season
changes. Monsoon season will be upon us before we know it.
She continues brushing her hair on the way past the dolls to
check on the bath water. She decides that is enough and walks to
the hallway mirror to finish brushing her hair.
Something is not right. Aravis stops brushing for a moment when
she realizes something strange about her reflection; her
reflection stopped brushing her hair before Aravis did. The
reflected Aravis takes on a haggard and deathly pale visage of
Aravis. They lock eyes, and the reflection smiles a scary smile
of intent.
Aravis takes two steps backward into the wall and screams.
But the reflected evil-looking Aravis reaches through the mirror
and grabs Aravis about the neck. Aravis looks, but she does not
see the arm, and the hand is choking her out. She can see the
creature in the reflection of the mirror, but not in our plane.
The door to her apartment bursts open, and the pretorian guards
enter to see Aravis looking like she is being lifted and choked
against the wall, but they see nothing being the cause of the
attack.
The Pretorians attack, giving Aravis the ability to get away
from the outsider creature. She grabs her belt from the rack and
pulls forth her magic dagger. She cannot see her attacker,
except through reflective surfaces, for which there are a few in
the apartment. The dolls bear silent witness to the
assassination attempt. Aravis runs through the options available
to her. She is attacked, and a strike gets through and drains
away levels, rending to her soul. Fetch are known as harbingers
of death. Existing on the fringes of the Abyss, these creatures
can only reach into the Prime Material plane through reflective
surfaces. Their goal is to take Aravis to the edge of life and
drag her through the Mirror. He will enter the material plane
and turn her into a minion like him.
Aravis must end this quickly, or she is done for; her list of
options begins to dwindle. Trueseeing requires too much
preparation time, and she begins to see only one option. The
Pretorians are ineffective in this situation; she considers the
risks to herself and the room, and with one last look around,
she casts Firestorm on the creature in front of her.
The resulting Firestorm in the royal apartments is tremendous
and devastating. The spell was centered on the creature in front
of Aravis. Her Demigod status brings her through mostly
unscathed, but the beast is still moving. It is picking itself
up off the floor, the flames are dying out on the surface of its
black body. It looks up at Aravis, and she sees its her visage
hideously twisted visage break into a terrifying grin as it
comes again at Aravis.
Aravis casts Magic Missile, and the missiles finally end the
creature as it dissipates into nothingness. The apartment is
engulfed in destructive flames as Aravis is grabbed by burnt and
smoking Pretorian Guards and pulled from the burning building,
while the Tower Wizards arrive and begin putting out the fires.
A blanket is wrapped around Aravis as she is lowered to the
ground in shock. Watching the fires blaze over the apartments
she has known as home for decades burns. The wizards produce
great spouts of water that fall on the flames. Soon, just grey
smoke rises from what was once her home.
It is just after Midnight when the empress is awakened by a
distant noise. Is that muffled bells she hears in the distance?
It has been a long time since the Empress has been woken up by
any trouble in her realm. She lies there for a few moments,
unable to hear anything more. Just as she has decided to try to
get back to sleep, the door to her chambers is opened, and she
hears her Pretorians settle back at attention and footsteps
approaching of what could only be her Hand, Duke Mormont.
“Well, what is it?” Zeva asks
Her Hand replies, "I’m sorry to intrude, my Empress, but the
Imperial Apartments are on fire."
Zeva rolls over, slowly opens her eyes, and sees that it is
immediately brighter in her bedroom than usual. It is then that
she sees the blaze in the back apartments, which are connected
to the Palace by hallways and palisades.
The Hand turns around respectively as Zeva moves into her
dressing room and out of view. Her Handmaidens appear and move
to her and assist her in getting dressed. Zeva tells the Hand to
bring her up to speed. Zeva slides breaches on while her ladies
in waiting to help Zeva pour herself out of her nightgown and
assist her into a tunic. Her ladies help her stockings and boots
while her other handmaids bring her fur-lined cloak
“It is said Lady Aravis departed the royal apartments after six
this evening, where she met with acquaintances of hers and they
went to eat where they attended a social gathering before
attending a performance on the Ishma hillside theatre before
stopping at a café and her and her friends parted way and she
returned to the royal apartments a short while ago. It is
reported by her Pretorian detail that her scream was heard and
investigated wherein the guards report an invisible assassin
assaulting Lady Aravis. The altercation moved around the
apartment wherein Lady Aravis continued to be attacked by this
unknown creature. It is believed by the detail that it is then
Lady Aravis tried to destroy the creature with fire.”
A growing panic builds inside Zeva, “Is Aravis, okay? Where is
she?”
“Our pretorians pulled her from the burning apartment. The
creature is reported dead; Lady Aravis is on the campus at the
current moment. We think she is in shock. She is being treated
by the clerics. The fire is being put out by the Tower Mages. We
don’t currently believe there is a danger to the Palace, but I
wanted to make you aware of the situation.”
“You did the right thing,” Zeva tells Duke Mormont as she straps
her famous bastard sword to her side, and they depart her
chambers while a pretorian detail falls into step behind her.
The Empress’s main mission right now is to find Karnea’s
daughter and put her somewhere safe.
#Post#: 709--------------------------------------------------
Grand Empress Zeva: Reign of the Saint Chapter Two: Countdown
By: Dungeon Master Date: January 6, 2024, 11:39 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Grand Empress Zeva[/center]
[center]vol. I Reign of the Saint
Story One: The Great Peace
Chapter Two: Countdown[/center]
Soreel
Marilka
The Imperial Campus at Tarish
53 ST
Crowds start to gather in places that give the best view of the
fire, an event not seen in living memory. Speculation abounds.
Aravis is indeed in a sort of shock. The thing rent her soul.
She can still feel the strike even after she has been healed by
the Palace clergy. She knows this will spread across the empire;
the Great Peace is shattered, all because of me.
Aravis sees an Inspector arrive and groans inwardly; it's
Inspector Dantivo, the very last person she wants to talk to
tonight. It appears he is interviewing the pretorians who were
inside the apartments.
I would love to hear those interviews. No doubt Lucius will hear
them. An Invisible creature was attacking her, and only she
could see it in reflections. Very convenient that, Aravis
laments, how am I ever going to be able to explain this was a
nightmare?
He will probably come… I feel like this might bring him out.
She looks around and sees the Inspector coming closer to her,
eyeing her every few minutes. Her anxiety starts to manifest,
and she starts taking deep breaths to calm herself.
Grand Empress Zeva walks out of the palace and onto the campus,
along with her entourage of handmaidens, guards, and advisors,
some struggling to keep up.
Zeva can see the crowds building up as well and can only guess
what the press will publish in the morning, she sends a
messenger to Army Command. She tells General Yanna to deploy the
city garrison and let’s get these crowds under control and send
word to my son that he should get down here to the campus, right
now, if he wants to have a hope in salvaging things with his
relationship.
She does not know if either one knows what they want; they were
very much in love at one time, and now the engagement has gone
on for years.
But now, it's only a matter of time before Karnea arrives; the
countdown is already on. Zeva sees Aravis huddled under the
blanket, watching the blaze being put out.
Aravis sees the Empress, and in the nick of time, just as
Inspector Dantivo arrives to question Aravis. He bows before the
Grand Empress and says
“I was just about to question Lady Aravis, your Highness, may I
continue?”
Zeva looks at Aravis and tells him he can come to the Palace,
and Lady Aravis will be happy to answer your questions then.
Let's give her some time to recover. Give us three days, and
come at noon.
Dantivo opens his mouth to say what he really thinks about that
idea, but can only bow to the Grand Empress’s wishes and watches
as the Empress offers her hand to help Aravis up.
Zeva looks her up and down and asks Aravis if she is okay.
“Yes, … I’m sorry- “
Zeva puts up her hands and says, “Don’t say it, it’s alright.
I’m just glad you are okay. Have you ever seen or heard of such
a creature before?”
Aravis exhales, shaking her head. “I’ve never encountered such a
beast; I don’t know anyone that has. It was insanity, I could
only see it in a reflection, no one else could, just me. I don’t
know if that means it picked me or I was targeted.”
Aravis sees Zeva looking around nonchalantly, which makes her
wonder if she is looking for the same person she is.
Aravis can see that her guards and Hand are insisting they get
Zeva out of the open, and the Empress turns them away. She is
stalling for time, Aravis realizes.
Some time passes, and the fire is out. The Military has been
turned out to take over the campus and herd the crowds away.
Now Zeva knows her orders have been heard, but now she wonders
about her son.
Aravis !!! yells a voice from across the campus.
A range of emotions plays out over Aravis’s face, though she can
be very stoic; this outreach touches her. For now, wondering if
it is too little or too late is immaterial at the moment. Aravis
looks down and is gladdened to hear his voice. She moves with
small steps that move a little faster until Aravis is embracing
the person she has long desired, but could never grasp. A Ghost
of the Underworld
Their collision reignites their close bond, allowing her to
forget, for the night anyway, the inner hell she has been going
through.
Well, Zeva feels her work is done here; she chances a word with
them and tells them to come into the Palace, and she will order
up some Hot Sakhar*.
Though it only dims the spell they came under, both of them see
the sense of Zeva’s suggestion and walk back to the Palace, hand
in hand.
*Hot Sakhar is like Hot Chocolate
#Post#: 727--------------------------------------------------
Grand Empress Zeva: Reign of the Saint Chapter Three: The Return
of Karnea
By: Dungeon Master Date: February 27, 2024, 3:53 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Grand Empress Zeva[/center]
[center]vol. I Reign of the Saint
Story One: The Great Peace
Chapter Three: The Return of Karnea[/center]
Soreel
Marika
Imperial Palace at Tarish
53 ST by the current calendar of Soreel. (ST for Seija no Tochi,
Seija no Tochi translates to "Reign of the Saint")
It is nearing Midwatch, three days after the attack. Aravis was
unable to rise from bed, feeling drained from her experience.
Her muscles are tense from the fight for her life.
Aravis sits across the table from the Empress, nursing a glass
of white wine from Arimal and pretending to nibble on the
chilled fruits on the platinum platter between them. Lucius has
already returned to his offices after some quiet but tense words
with his mother. The Inspector is due to arrive momentarily, and
Aravis is still trying to think of a way to describe the other
night’s attack in a manner that makes her sound…less insane. A
magical creature that only she can see, coming out of a mirror,
one guard was killed and two more were wounded, and an entire
wing of the Imperial Apartments was burned down over it.
As if right on cue, the Inspector arrives with the chiming of
the bell tower and is announced into Her Majesty’s presence.
Zeva insisted on being present for the questioning, and Aravis
was not going to argue with the Greysword. The servants silently
clear the platter and wine glasses and replace them with Kava
and a tray of light pastries. The inspector pays his homage to
his Empress while steadily looking at Aravis.
He’s already decided, Aravis thinks. He’s just here to place the
blame.
“Lady Aravis,” the inspector sneers. “I am Inspector Dantivo
with the Imperial Investigation Directorate. Thank you for your
participation in this inquiry. I’m sure that with your help, we
can clear this matter up and find out what really happened.” He
reaches into his satchel and withdraws a sheaf of papers,
thumbing through them. “I have the statements from your guard
detail, those who survived, that is to say, and I’m a little
unclear as to what exactly it is that you think was attacking
you.”
“With all due respect, Inspector…” Aravis begins.
A commotion from outside the room cuts her off. Raised voices of
the guards in the corridor, and suddenly, the door is thrust
open. The visibly agitated form of the Empress’s Seneschal
enters the room, bowing deeply. “Begging your pardon, my
Majesty, but a visitor is without, insisting that she be
admitted.” Glancing back at the doorway, he straightens to his
full height and clears his throat as the diminutive figure
crosses the threshold. “Your Majesty, the Lady Karnea Dragonbane
of Daisen Parrish, and of Krynn.”
The inspector gapes as Karnea enters the room, and belatedly
remembers to rise to his feet, as is proper when a noblewoman
enters the room. Zeva, of course, remains seated, a wry grin on
her face. “My old friend, welcome,” Zeva says, gesturing towards
the table. “We would be pleased to have you join us.”
Karnea stops and pulls back her hood. Effecting a small bow of
deference, she raises an eyebrow at the Inspector. “Forgive my
unscheduled appearance before you, Your Majesty. I hope that I
am not interrupting anything…significant?”
“Nothing that cannot be dealt with.” Turning to look at Dantivo,
Zeva says, “Inspector, I’m sure that given the circumstances, a
written statement from Lady Aravis will be sufficient, will it
not? Unless, of course, you are planning on charging the heir of
a noble house of Unari with a crime…”
“I, uh, Your Majesty, that is to say, the fire, the damages,
very expensive and err, suspicious…” Dantivo stammers, flushing
under his high collar.
“So you intend to charge the intended partner of the Heir
Apparent with arson, Inspector?” Zeva asks, her voice dripping
with curiosity.
Looking at each of the people in the room, Dantivo takes a deep
breath. “No, Your Majesty. You are, of course, correct. A
written statement will be more than sufficient to conclude this
investigation.”
“Very well, Inspector. Lady Aravis will submit a statement to
you as soon as she is able.” Glancing at the door, she inclines
her head ever so slightly. “You have leave to go now.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” the Inspector bows deeply before
being ushered from the room by the Chamberlain. Watching the
door close behind the Inspector, Zeva sighs. “You always did
know how to make an entrance,” she says to Karnea.
Karnea simply shrugs as she walks over to the table and looks
Aravis up and down. “You look pale,” she tells her daughter,
taking her chin in hand and turning her head back and forth.
“What manner of creature attacked you?”
Pulling her head back from her mother’s grip, Aravis smooths her
gown.
Zeva stands, clearing her throat slightly. “I’ll give the two of
you the room, to catch up,” she says, walking towards the door.
“You are both welcome to stay in the palace. Emil will see to
your accommodations.” Zeva leaves the room and closes the door
behind her.
Aravis stands, taking a few steps to gain some distance from her
mother. She looks her mother over. “I’m fine, Mother. Just
tired, and drained. It came through the mirror…it looked like
me, but different, changed.”
Karnea frowns. “It is less important what the creature was, than
where it came from and who sent it. Rest assured that will be
determined.” She absently picks up one of the mugs of kava and
sips at it. “The important thing is that you are ok.”
“Yes, well, now that you’ve come all this way to find that out,
I’m sure that you’ll be going,” Aravis scoffs, turning away from
Karnea. “I’m sure that you have more important things to concern
yourself with.”
“Yes, Aravis, I have come a very long way indeed to see to your
well-being. I would have been here even faster but for the
meeting of the Conclave. I’m sure the other two Heads of the
Orders would have understood my leaving, but it certainly would
have been used against me by my colleagues in the Black Robes.”
“The other two heads?” Aravis turns to face her mother. “So you
lead the Black Robes now?” She is genuinely interested now.
“Yes. Our faith and diligence over these many years has finally
come to fruition. I am now your Father’s chosen representative
to the Conclave. And we are in agreement, your Father and I. It
is time for you to come home. Too long have you lingered in this
place, hoping for something that will never be.”
“Lucius and I are to be married, Mother!” Aravis seethes through
her teeth. “I cannot abandon my commitment here.”
“My dearest, if that addled man-child were going to marry you,
he would have done so a decade ago. I know that you love him,
and maybe he also loves you. Or at least, the idea of you. But
it is hard when two people love each other, but cannot agree on
how that should work.” Karnea looks out the window, perhaps
staring at a place far from where she currently stands. Turning
back to her daughter, her face hardens again. “And where is your
dashing Prince now, child? Did he even come to you?” Karnea sets
the cup down forcefully, cracking the delicate handle.
“Come home, Aravis. Stand beneath the moons that are your
birthright. Feel the true magic burn inside you once again.”
Aravis throws her hands in the air. “And what then, Mother?! Be
your pawn, your…, your…Khas piece?”
“Yes, damn you!” Karnea yells. “Krynn needs you. Your Father
needs you.” Her voice drops to almost a whisper. “I need you.”
Aravis pales, eyes wide. She can only think of a handful of
times that her mother has raised her voice, and never to her. “I
need some time, Mother.”
“One week. Things are happening that I cannot delay further. You
will decide and tell me within the week. Send word to the estate
at Diasen. I never could stomach staying in this palace.” Karnea
turns away from Aravis and, in the next eyeblink, disappears.
Six days later…
Aravis hands the sealed scrollcase to the young page outside her
chamber door and shoulders the pack containing the few things
that were able to be salvaged from the fire. A few clothes, an
amulet, and three dolls; one representing her Father, one her
mother, and the third in her hands, is her... She looks at it
for a long time, then sets it on the table next to the door.
Hopefully, he will find it here and remember her.
“Are you ready?” comes her mother’s voice from behind her.
“Yes, mother. Let’s go home."
The Story of Lady Aravis and her mother, Master Karnea of Krynn,
continues here:
HTML https://thedamnforum.createaforum.com/karnea-master-of-the-black-robe/karnea-master-of-the-black-robe-34/msg729/#msg729
While the Story of the Heir of the Empire: Prince Lucius
d'Janikar Continues here:
HTML https://thedamnforum.createaforum.com/heir-of-the-empire-prince-lucius-d'janikar/heir-of-the-empire-prince-lucius-d'janikar/
For what happens next for Empress Zeva, follow this Topic.
#Post#: 737--------------------------------------------------
Grand Empress Zeva: Reign of the Saint Chapter Four: It Begins
By: Dungeon Master Date: March 1, 2024, 2:53 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Grand Empress Zeva[/center]
[center]vol. I Reign of the Saint
Story One: Breaking of the Great Peace
Chapter Four: It Begins [/center]
Soreel
Marilka
The Imperial Campus in Tarish
In the days after the Prince’s departure, life had settled into
a new routine as you only saw Catspaw when something was
important; otherwise, Ajax would brief her. It was sad seeing
all of her companions age and die left and right around her.
Zeke hurts the most. Her right hand. Duke Mormont is her Hand,
effectively, her head of state. He is a veteran of many of the
great last battles of the Conquest. He was a junior officer in
those days but moved up in position under the careful study of
his leaders and soon became a senior officer and was raised to
the height of Governor General in his own right, before he
retired with honors.
He is one of the few who are still active in the government. He
has been loyal through and through, having served as your
minister of defense, minister of finance, and chief ambassador
in his post-active-duty service. He proved his mettle in each
position and was a natural choice for Hand after Zeck passed
away.
So, it is distressing when she sees Her Hand, Duke Mormont
coming in with Catspaw the Elder behind him, when she is
enjoying breakfast with her handmaidens, who get up from the
table and stand against the wall.
“Gentlemen, what do you have for me today?”
Catspaw The Elder answers, “Two scout spelljammers were on deep
patrol like normal out around the Gas Giants, Tisha and Nuva,
and they have failed to report in. They are over late and were
due back six days ago.
Duke Mormont informs Zeva that “Grand Admiral Volstag is
outside, along with the Governor General of the Wolverines
Hjortarian, General Roe is accompanying him.”
“Tell them to come in.” Zeva signals to her chief Handmaiden to
get refreshments for everyone, and to bring out some kaff for
the guests.
The hulking Grand Admiral Volstag, the veteran Krynnish Blood
Sea Minotaur, and the Master of Ships and Spelljammer fleets for
the Empire come in and sit on a stable-looking chair, and Zeva
assures him the chairs are all reinforced with magic. Governor
General Hjortarian and General Roe (Military Intelligence,
mostly based in the Arun Desert at the Special Warfare and
Intelligence Center at the White Oasis).
Hjortarian is a shapeshifted Dwarf, but the secret to all he is
a Steel Dragon. The Grand Empress is the only one alive who is
aware of his true nature; only he has made her forget with his
magic.
The briefing continues as the handmaidens bring kaff and some
food to everyone around the room.
“Zeva summarizes, So, two scout ships are overdue, by a lot.
They haven’t defected and absconded with my ships now, have
they?
Grand Admiral of the Navy Volstag answers vehemently, “No, mum.
They were solid, all down the line. Relatively new, but they
have long many hours and trips for a long time before now.”
Zeva savors her mug of perfectly black kaff and says, “So,
something has got them? They have not been found yet. We have
people looking right?"
The Grand Admiral answers, "We have people looking, I have ships
doubled up and looking, but so far no joy."
Zeva looks over to General Roe and asks her, “Why are you here
this morning?”
“We have had a whole network come down in the southern Cities
across the southern Desert region. We think it was Black Hand
Agents. It’s true we have been getting aggressive of late, but
we have been trying to find out what is going on in the Deep
Desert. Effectively, the White Oasis Special Warfare and
Intelligence Center’s southern flank is wide open.”
Zeva looks around the room and asks, “We don’t think this is in
any way connected right and this just a compounded situation
that is unrelated, but is just about just as bad ?"
Catspaw the Elder answers and says, “We don’t think it is in any
way connected, the Black Hand is a effective secret police force
tied to the Litch, our two groups have long traded on tolerating
each other ever since we moved in twenty-first year of your
reign. We moved further south than usual recently and had been
picking up good information about the Litch-King and his lands,
we know next to nothing about it, we have had some overflights,
but nothing to cause any trouble in the past. The standing
orders has been to leave them alone, but I’m afraid we may have
upset the applecart.”
Zeva holds her eyes on Catspaw the Elder and questions who put
this forward into operation…
Catspaw leaves the question in the air for a few moments.
Zeva looks at him and does not want him to answer what she
already knows.
He wants to spare her, but he feels the question has been in the
air long enough. “The Prince felt it was an avenue we should
investigate, several months ago.”
“And these are the fruits of that venture. Okay, Governor
General of the Wolverines Hjortarian, what are you going to do
about it?
The Dwarf perks up and answers, "the 3rd Army Group is closest.
I’m going to send a corps-sized deployment covered as an
exercise. It is appropriate for Arun.... It's a lot of troops,
but manageable. That should deter any untoward Undead adventures
from the south so long as I have anything to say about it."
“Cut them loose General.” Zeva tells him.
Hjortarian turns to Roe and tells her to prepare the paperwork
for him to sign. Roe begins to depart.
“Don’t go just yet General Hjortarian, I want a strong
contingent supporting Spelljammer Navy."
He thinks it over, "I think a division would be an appropriate
tasking. I'll look at the org chart." A Chart is handed to the
General by Roe from her folder in the hallway. He goes on to
say, "I'm also considering that the Imperial Navy might benefit
from having some Marines going forward, according to my military
advice for the day. The 4th Light Infantry Division from II
Corps, that'll be about 30,000 troops, with a full regiment of
archers.
"Excellent General, and General, Noted about the Marines.
Admiral, I want you to send the 2nd Fleet out there and see what
is going on with those Gas Giants, you heard the General, 30,000
troops, with a full regiment of archers."
General Hjortarian tells Roe to wait for him, and Grand Admiral
of the Navy Volstag nods in understanding and bows to Zeva and
follows as well.
Zeva exhales and looks at who’s left at the table. She then
calls to have her handmaidens bring more kaff. It's going to be
one of those days.
A page comes in and walks to Duke Mormont and whispers in his
ear. She watches his reaction. It doesn’t comfort her. He sends
the boy away, then he looks to Zeva, and says, “It’s the Oracle
of Tarish, she has come to the palace to see you.”
#Post#: 738--------------------------------------------------
Grand Empress Zeva: Reign of the Saint Chapter Five: The Oracle
of Tarish
By: Dungeon Master Date: March 1, 2024, 4:18 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Grand Empress Zeva[/center]
[center]vol. I Reign of the Saint
Story One: Breaking of the Great Peace
Chapter Five: The Oracle of Tarish
[/center]
The Oracles of Marika and Soreel are an order that goes way, way
back. They are born a couple every generation and are taken to
the order temple in the great forest and taught to control their
powers lest they drive them mad. They imbibe a sacred
hallucinogenic nectar that allows them to bring the visions into
better focus.
There have been some generations that have been skipped over
time, making the order members very sacred. In the ST times of
Zeva, each Oracle was allowed to preside over a different region
serving with some autonomy from the influence of the Grand
Empress, as opposed to the IA period (Pre Zeva) when each Queen
had their own Oracle bent to their will. The order stretches
back into the ancient ED period but teetered on collapse through
the Dark Ages.
Known living Oracles of Marika and Soreel
The Oracle of Tarish lives in her own Tower in the Capital, east
of the imperial palace campus.
An Oracle of Northern Marika
The Oracle of Western Marika
The Oracle Temple is in a secluded area in the Great Forest.
An Oracle lives in Arun
A Rogue Oracle is known to live in the Free Isles
Soreel
Marilka
The Imperial Campus in Tarish
The Grand Empress does not make the Oracle of Tarish wait and
allows her to enter her east wing chambers, which are lit by the
morning light from great windowpanes in this sunroom. The food
is taken away, and Catspaw leaves the room, only to enter a
secret chamber that allows for clear surveillance. A Handmaiden
brings the Oracle her usual hot tea, and the Handmaidens all
depart from the area. And Her Hand Duke Mormont steps outside
the doors, then promptly closes them and waits to be called
again.
The Oracle of Tarish is very young, in her mid-twenties, and has
red hair tucked beneath her habit (Something Catspaw assures
Zeva is the case), striking blue eyes, and is only the second
oracle to come to Tarish in Zeva’s reign. She arrived six years
ago after Sister Mayla passed from old age. This one is Amelia.
She is wrapped in Robes, as is their way.
“To what brings you from your Tower so early great one?” Zeva
asks respectfully
The Oracle doesn’t return Zeva’s weak smile. “I fear a great
many are going to die with your name on their lips.”
“Well, that’s awful, tell me more about this, where is this
going to happen?” Zeva can almost guess what the answer is, but
she isn’t going to try to preempt the Oracle of Tarish.
“Behind the great Gas Giants, I have seen death waiting there,
they live on the moons of the Great Giants.”
“Who exactly lives on the moons of the Great Giants?” Zeva asks
with great interest.
Sister Amelia answers, “Their ships look like wolfen faces with
great snarling teeth. They are a race I have never seen; they
are vicious and vile and will take great delight in killing our
sons and daughters. There are a great many of them, my Empress.
You must warn them.”
“I will,” Zeva assures her. She then turns Amiela’s attention to
Arun. Can you see the Black Litch there? Can you see his riders,
can you see what he has planned?”
Sister Amelia sits there for a moment and looks back at Zeva,
and admits she has nothing.
Empress Zeva tells her, “Go back to your tower and have a think
on it, realize it’s very important, and keep your eye out for
anything further untoward going on at the Gas Giants. Zeva calls
in Duke Mormont to have the Oracle escorted back to her Tower.
Once Mormont returns, she tells him to call the Governor General
of the Wolverines Hjortarian, and Grand Admiral of the Navy
Volstag back in to see her.
She spends the next fell minutes describing what the Oracle told
the Empress. She bids them both to warn the troops that they
expect imminent contact. She tells them to just conduct recons
before moving any large-scale forces in.
Volstag is quick to identify their enemies. “Scro, a brutal
scourge of the spaceways. Our scouts are captured, probably dead
already.
Zeva asks Volstag for some clarification
The Minotaur Grand Admiral replies, “They are not from my
Homeworld, but I have heard from others of the Spelljammers
speak of these creatures on spaceways and in ports we have
visited. They are a militaristic and advanced breed of orc. They
do not have the weakness of sunlight. It is said that the Scro
love combat. It is foundational to their disciplined society and
uses methods of battle that are simply raw bloodthirstiness. The
description of their Wolf ships is the most telling feature of
the Oracle’s vision.
Zeva tells Her Hand Mormont, "To call on the Giff Ambassador
and bring him to my throne room in the next hour." She then
turns to the minotaur Admiral
“We need to approach this smart Admiral and not walk into any
disasters.” The Empress commands.
The Grand Admiral and Master of Ships nods and departs the room
to send messages to his commanders with the dire warning from
the Oracle of Tarish.
#Post#: 759--------------------------------------------------
Grand Empress Zeva: Reign of the Saint Chapter Six: Orders
By: Dungeon Master Date: March 5, 2024, 1:15 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Grand Empress Zeva[/center]
[center]vol. I Reign of the Saint
Story One: Breaking of the Great Peace
Chapter Six: Orders [/center]
Soreel
Continent of Marika
Tarish Imperial Capital of the Empire
There are three throne rooms within the great residence. There
is the grand throne of the Imperial Court; beyond that is the
solemn throne. The last one is an antechamber for private
discussions with accredited Ambassadors of the Realm
Grand Empress Zeva sits upon her throne within the antechamber.
The room itself is modest and does not pull attention away from
the grand Empress herself.
The Imperial Hand of Grand Empress Zeva, Duke Mormont announces
the arrival of Marquis, the Giff Ambassador. The Giff are a
large, upright Hippopotamus-like warrior race whose home world
was so overcrowded that they had to move to the stars and create
new societies for themselves across the stars. Though they are
war-like, they are incredibly refined, polite, and intelligent.
Niceties and diplomatic exchanges are made. Zeva is by now a
very practiced hand at this. She asks him about what he might
know about the Scro.
Ambassador Marquis’s reaction is one of total disdain. He
detests the lot of them. He inquires why she is asking about the
Scro.
She discloses the possible presence of Scro out by their Gas
Giants, not sure how large yet, but it may be significant.
Zeva gauges his reaction to see if he would be interested in the
coming hostilities.
The Giff Ambassador asks if there is anything the Giff Houses
can do with this potential War.
Empress Zeva pushes in with an offer of enlistment of the Giff
Mercenary Houses in a coming campaign.
Over the next hour, they hammer out an agreement with Letters of
Marque for the Giff Houses that come along.
Location Command Center for the 3rd Army Group of V Core
Commanding General Hillard
The aged General reads the orders from the Governor General of
the Wolverines. General Hjortarian orders the deployment of 3rd
Army Group V Core to stand at alert following orders for
deployment: Following team leaders report to the CO for Mission
deployment orders. Bring unit status reports and present them on
arrival. Be advised to put the full core on alert for possible
future deployment in the potential of two developing theaters of
conflict.
3rd Army Group
V Corps
1st Cavalry Division
1st Light Cavalry Regiment
111th Light Cavalry Brigade
112th Elven Cavalry Brigade
113th Light Cavalry Brigade
114th Elven Mounted Archery Brigade
2nd Medium Cavalry Regiment
121st Medium Cavalry Brigade
122nd Medium Cavalry Brigade
123rd Elven Cavalry Brigade (Airborne)
124th Mounted Crossbow Brigade
3rd Heavy Cavalry Regiment
131st Elephant Cavalry Brigade
132nd Dwarven Warpony Brigade
133rd Heavy Cavalry Brigade
134th Heavy Cavalry Brigade
2nd Light Infantry Division
4th Ranger Regiment
241st Elven Ranger Brigade (Airborne)
242nd Ranger Brigade
243rd Ranger Brigade
244th Elven Ranger Brigade
5th Light Infantry Regiment
251st Light Infantry Brigade
252nd Archery Brigade
253rd Elven Infantry Brigade
254th Light Infantry Brigade
6th Mobile Infantry Regiment
261st Mobile Infantry Brigade
262nd Mounted Archery Brigade
263rd Elven Infantry (Airmobile)
264th Mobile Infantry Brigade
3rd Infantry Division
7th Dwarven Infantry Regiment
371st Dwarven Infantry Brigade
372nd Dwarven Crossbow Brigade
373rd Dwarven Infantry Brigade
374th Dwarven Artillery Brigade
8th Infantry Regiment
381st Infantry Brigade
382nd Infantry Brigade
383rd Archery Brigade
384th Artillery Brigade
9th Support Regiment
391st Medical Brigade
392nd Quartermaster Brigade
393rd Transportation Brigade
394th Supply Brigade
The orders go out, and soon the Team Leaders arrive and report
to Command General Hillard. When everyone is accounted for. (It
took much too long to track everyone down. Hillard
self-criticizes himself)
He addresses the team leaders:
Your orders: Travel to Arun and establish a perimeter around the
white Oasis Special Warfare and Intelligence Center located
within travel distance to the port city. Note: the port is your
only way out of Arun. Orders are not to provoke the Litch of the
southern desert, but also deter him from any movement north. Run
this operation under the cover of conducting drills as a part of
an exercise. Alert, Intelligence Officers should get in contact
with the local ambassador and hand them the diplomatic papers
included in the orders packet. It is paramount not to upset the
natives in any way and prepare for possible anti-outsider
sentiment to build, should the deployment last, and how
obtrusive they are. Airborne should not fly over the Black
Fortress; only cover the perimeter. Evacuate the intelligence
base and destroy sensitive information if you are in danger of
being overrun. Send daily reports.
General Hillard prepares his men and women for War.
The units get on the ships and begin sailing to Arun for the
three-week trek.
II Corps Commanding General Black receives orders from the
office of the Governor-General of the Wolverines Hjortarian
The commander breaks the Governor General’s seal and his nervous
hands read his orders.
Put on alert II Corp 4LID for imminent deployment to the gas
giants with the Fifth Fleet. expect heavy ship-to-ship, ship
boarding, and hand-to-hand fighting against possible Scro/an
advanced spacefaring orc or some other deadly foe.
Team Leaders should report to the CO immediately with team
status reports in hand.
Fleet Admiral Volstag is sending the 2nd fleet to your location
for pickup.
II Corps
4LID The 4th Light Infantry Division
1st Light Infantry Regiment
411th Ranger Brigade
412th Ranger Brigade
413th Infantry Brigade
414th Infantry Brigade
2nd Light Infantry Regiment
421st Infantry Brigade
422nd Infantry Brigade
423rd Infantry Brigade
424th Infantry Brigade
3rd Light Archery Regiment
431st Light Archers
432nd Light Archers
433rd Light Archers
434th Mounted Archers
Soreel
Continent of Marika
Tarish Imperial Capital of the Empire
Empress Zeva is meeting with Her Chief Wizard Mierra Soong from
the Wizard’s College. She brings word that the threat of
Doppelgangers has returned. Several were found in various
cities. She has been checking, and none has been found in the
capital as yet, but she bids the Grand Empress to take
precautions with her closest staff; she offers to help teach
them the signs to look for.
Zeva takes the matter deadly seriously. Soreel has always had an
ever-present problem with Doppelgangers throughout history, even
back into the ancient Empires.
They move on to discuss the coming conflicts and potential
Conflicts. Imperial Wizards already serve aboard the Naval
Fleets. As for the Arun Excursion, we have wizards headed to the
docks to meet up with the Wolverines headed to Arun. The Black
Litch is a deadly foe; this will be a precarious mission
#Post#: 789--------------------------------------------------
Grand Empress Zeva: Reign of the Saint Chapter Seven: Contact wi
th the Enemy
By: Dungeon Master Date: March 16, 2024, 7:29 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Grand Empress Zeva[/center]
[center]vol. I Reign of the Saint
Story One: Breaking the Great Peace
Chapter Seven: Contact with the Enemy [/center]
Soreel
Continent of Marika
Tarish Imperial Capital of the Empire
The Next Day,
The Grand Empress is meeting with her Chief Surveyor in the
throne room.
The Surveyor is doubling down on his reporting that there was
nothing of any interest anywhere at the Gas Giants. “66% of the
moons are uninhabitable, and only 16% of them could sustain any
life. It was like that three years ago, and four years before
that, and so on, since your first expedition to Marook and the
Surveyor Guild took the lead on exploring the known and unknown
of our sphere.
“Then the Scro must have just slipped through the cracks.” The
Grand Empress says. “Lucky us. Put any surveying on hold until
to hear from the capital again for the foreseeable future.”
The Grand Empress dismisses the Surveyor and calls Duke Mormont
over before her next meeting.
“The next one is the agent from Psion school, correct?”
“Yes, Lady Serena, she has been at the school for over fifteen
years.” Her Hand answers.
Zeva looks directly at him and says, “I want you to stay in here
with me. You should hear this as well.
“The Lady Serena of the Mentalist School,” The herald announces
About medium height, thin build. She is cloaked and bows before
the Grand Emperor.
Zeva begins, “I’m told by my Chief Mage that doppelgängers were
found in outlying towns and cities. There is no telling how many
might already be in the capital already. I’m going to need some
help with that. Its been done before. They will have to be
stopped. I’ll need some trusted agents here at the palace to
scan everybody and everybody that comes in. I will also need
cooperation with the Security Directorite to determine if there
are any in the Capital. The Countryside will have to be swept. I
realize the magnitude of the task I am asking of you, but if
they succeed, it all falls apart.”
Serena responds, “We will bring you enough trained dogs to
defend the palace complex as well as to patrol the Capital. We
will provide agents and handlers to handle the dogs. Lady Serna
explains that these dogs are vital to identifying the
doppelgängers. They will be your front line of defense. They are
of great use to the Mentalist school and are proven allies
against the doppelgänger threat.
Zeva tells her Hand, “Gates and fencing with have to be erected
around the complex, along with pens for all these dogs. Call the
ministers in for a cabinet meeting. things are getting
interesting, and I am going to have to address the public and
let them know what going on.”
Grand Empress Zeva thanks Lady Serena for coming.
Serena tells her she will be back with the dogs within the week,
and she bows and departs. Mormont starts to leave as well, but
Zeva asks him to stay a moment more. “Bring the captain of The
City Guard into my sitting room at his earliest convenience. Ira
will need to know what is coming to town.”
Zeva rises from her throne and leaves through a secret passage
leading to her sitting room, where her Handmaidens are present.
Zeva sits back on the divan and unwinds as she is brought a wine
goblet.
They let her relax and hold their questions until Zeva informs
them of what they need to know.
Soreel Space
Gas Giants Nuva and Tisha
The Doubled-up Imperial Spelljammer ships look and look for any
sign of anything amiss.
The Scro comes out of nowhere, seemingly out of a dark void, and
they emerge forth. Their tactics are merciless. They catch the
Spelljammers completely unaware and are so overwhelmed when the
Scro drop marines onboard. The ensuing bloody battles led to
both ships being lost.
There are other Imperial scout ships in the area, but they are
on the other side of the Gas Giant. They are attacked as well;
one ship makes it out to tell the bloody tale.
#Post#: 795--------------------------------------------------
Grand Empress Zeva: Reign of the Saint Chapter Eight: Agenda
By: Dungeon Master Date: March 17, 2024, 11:21 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Grand Empress Zeva[/center]
[center]vol. I Reign of the Saint
Story One: Breaking the Great Peace
Chapter Eight: Agenda [/center]
Soreel
Continent of Marika
Tarish Imperial Capital of the Empire
The room is large, dominated by a large ornate half-moon table
with the appropriate number of seats around Zeva. Bookshelves
along two walls, with maps dominating the other two walls. The
maps have been updated for the meeting. They are maps of the
capital, Map of Marika, and on the other wall, the desert
continent of Arun, and two artist impressions of the Gas Giants
Nuva and Tisha.
Meeting with the Ministers
Grand Empress Zeva enters the room, and the people around the
table stand up, and Zeva motions for them to take their seats.
Zeva takes her customary position at the apex of the outer
curve.
Doppelgängers-
“Ladies and gentlemen welcome, my staff has passed out the
agenda. We will start with the potential panic we have on our
hands concerning doppelgängers coming to the capital. Riot walls
are being put into place around the palace complex and gates
will be established and patrolled by Psi Agents along with their
canine assistants. The streets are going to be patrolled by a
psi team, as well, and the Gates to the City. I talked to the
Grey Cloak captain last night and he will back up those psi
teams, we have to operate like this for the foreseeable future.
The next step is going to the cities and countryside and finding
out where they come from and putting an end to their threat to
our own peace of mind. I am also putting them at military base
gates before you ask Dugan."
The discussion quiets down, and they move to the next item.
Space Marines-
Zeva gives the rundown of what is happening in both Arun and the
Gas Giants. Zeva then looks at Dugan, who is shaking his head
in shame.
The former Governor General of the Wolverines, Dugan, says, “I’m
embarrassed to say it's been an oversight, a glaring one to be
sure. Being that I’m the last man standing on the original line
of Governors General, I guess I take the blame. It was early in
your rule when we faced the Neogi; it has been nothing but quiet
since then.
“Until now, Zeva says
“Until now,” Dugan agrees. “I got the memo from Hjortarian and
the Grand Admiral yesterday afternoon. When I got back, sorry I
was out of town yesterday. Hell of a mess.”
The Grand Empress declares that, from personal experience, she
calculates the trip times for each deployment. “It should take
the Arun task force three weeks to get to their target. Three
months for the Fleet to reach the Gas Giants.”
“I checked. Both are provisioning and getting loaded and should
get under way tomorrow. As for the Space Marines. We should open
a school and get a base on both coasts dedicated. They will not
be as big as the Army Bases, but for the purposes of housing and
training. This will have to be a multi-purpose force. A true
Sea, Space, Land, fighting force. We might have to go from moon
to moon to moon to get them all out. I have to tell you; I don’t
envy II Corps 4LID The 4th Light Infantry Division at all. Its
going to be a bloody slog.”
“Everyone is telling me that. I think you are right. I take it
we are going to pull from existing units or am I wrong?”
“Dugan considers the issue. It’s an interesting situation. I
will want to wait to deal with the Scros before I start messing
with force dynamics. We start building the bases and mixing and
pouring the concrete, but let us hold off on breaking up the
teams just yet.
The rest of the meeting runs its course over a range of topics
having to do with the well-being of the people of the Empire.
Nothing else blowing up in the world is good. Zeva is reminded
that her Marika tour is coming up. Zeva tells them, “I’ll not be
attending this year, I have too much going on at the moment.
With the Ministers Meeting over, Zeva visits her speechwriter
for her impending public address.
Zeva wrote the themes she needed to convey: impending danger,
the defensive barriers in the capital for strong defensive
purposes, explaining the threat of the doppelgangers, and a call
for letting the psi agents check and allow us all to be safe.
She sends the same talking points over to Catspaw the Elder to
give to the propaganda department.
Later that night, Zeva is in her private quarters away from
everyone (her handmaidens are nearby). She has been enjoying the
night air and the silence the night brings (aside from the
distant stray cat or barking dog). It is like we’ve been
sleepwalking, and now my troops are again headed out without me.
I should be out there. Mormont is more than capable of acting as
Chancellor while I am gone, but with Lucius on sabbatical. I
just can’t risk the throne like that. For whatever reason, I
don’t think he is coming right back. Something inside Zeva tells
her that his path is going to lead him to Rotas. Many times, she
has tried to make peace with things, and now this new chapter.
She spends some time fantasizing about Lucius meeting his
father... Oh, Rotas. Zeva truly wishes the meeting had happened
decades before, but the Dragon Queen stole Krynn away, and took
it far away somewhere else, and hid it for thirty-eight years.
How was I supposed to know that was going to happen? To tell the
truth, time has just gotten away from her. And these couple of
days, if not weeks, have woken her from a deep torpor. Well, I’m
awake now. She questions why she put the Intelligence/Special
Forces Center on Arun again. It seemed like a good idea at the
time.
Zeva contemplates what the tour would look like this year. She
is sure she made the right decision. She is going to have to get
somebody trained up to take over for Catspaw the Elder if
something happens to him and Lucius is away. It is probably time
to pull the Lesser out of the field and put her on deck if Gods
forbid something happens. She sits down at her desk and writes
out the orders for the Lesser and takes the letter to her
handmaiden, who sees it to the Messenger to take to the docks
for the outgoing mission to Arun. She walks down to the training
room with her longsword and proceeds to have a training session
before turning in for the night.
#Post#: 811--------------------------------------------------
Grand Empress Zeva: Reign of the Saint Chapter Nine: Dreams
By: Dungeon Master Date: March 22, 2024, 11:57 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Grand Empress Zeva[/center]
[center]vol. I Reign of the Saint
Story One: Breaking the Great Peace
Chapter Nine: Dreams [/center]
Soreel
Continent of Marika
Tarish Imperial Capital of the Empire
Week 2
Two weeks after the deployments have left, The Psi’s have made
good on their commitment and the dogs came to the capital. The
dogs in question are of a specialized wolfhound breed. They are
positioned at all the key points, and from there, teams are sent
out to patrol. The truth-sayer has been recalled to the capital
amidst trying times, if only to keep everyone honest. Over the
week, there have been no hits, only amping up the anxiety.
If she could only figure out what they wanted, she could deal
with these doppelgangers, but as it is, they pose too much of a
threat to live and should be eradicated. Having this many PsI’s
around is going to upset the populace eventually; it’s a no-win
situation. As it is, she also does not like having so many Psi's
in the capital. It is a recipe for disaster; once someone
figures that out, we are all in a lot of trouble.
Zeva has given her big speech to the public. It went about as
she expected. She needs to keep her people’s spirits up somehow,
and this temporary emergency is not helping matters. She
decides to enlist her ministers in brainstorming some ideas to
get the public through this ordeal, okay.
Over the coming nights, Zeva starts seeing in dreams unfinished
parts of a scene that play out over several nights, until she
wakes up to a scream coming from Bera’s room. She saw it too.
The Scro are headed to Marook. She goes in to comfort her
personal aide, Bera.
Bera is one of the modified Maru from Marook, now considered one
of the Lariu. She is 5', bipedal with mostly human features,
though she only has three fingers and an unusually long thumb.
She has a delicate, heart-shaped face with large ice-blue eyes
that dominate. Her short pelt, which grows longer on her head to
resemble hair, is pale grey. She is a quiet woman who has
learned over the decades to tolerate the changing temperatures
and people. She views Zeva as a child of prophecy, destined for
great things, but who must be carefully guided. While outside of
Soreel's space, her connection to the Dream is cut off (which,
after a while, probably a few months, she will become quite
uncomfortable).
Bera is like nothing the others have seen before (unless they've
been in Soreel space and at Zeva's side). She is a petite
humanoid, only 5' tall, and covered with pale fur that grows
more on her head to resemble hair. Her thin, pointed face is
dominated by huge blue eyes. She has only three unusually long
fingers and rarely speaks. She is constantly at Zeva's side
unless ordered away by the Greysword (or if Zeva's in battle).
She wears a simple grey robe but does so in a manner that
indicates she wears it for the comfort of those around her. If
asked, she will say that she is one of the Lariu and that she is
to serve the Star Child--which means Zeva. She smells faintly of
flowers, earth, and something else--very pleasant and soothing,
actually. And those close to Zeva will realize that Zeva has a
very similar 'perfume'.
Bera is distressed by the images she saw. Zeva feels sick as
well. The violence on display was maddening. She is torn. How
can she do this? Her Navy is headed for the Gas Giants. She
calms down Bera, and they slip on robes, and Zeva takes Bera to
the kitchen to get some warm milk, while Zeva calls her page to
get Minister Granitehammer, Governor General Hjortarian, and
Admiral Volstag in here first thing in the morning. The page
runs off, and she finds her Steward Duke Mormont putting on a
robe, having just rolled out of bed himself. “Your majesty, what
is wrong?”
Zeva explodes, “The Scro are going to hit Marook, savage
killings, taking slaves. I will not have it I tell you.”
“How did you come by this-this information,” Mormont asks.
“A dream Mormont, a dream, though it very well could have been a
nightmare. It was more than that, I’ve told you about the
connection I’ve had in the past with Bera’s people, with the
Dream. This is all over, I swear it, that is what is happening.
I’m being warned all over again.
Duke Mormont knows better than to discount this. This may have
never happened on his watch before, but he read about it in the
History of the Conquest. “What do you want me to do, my Empress?
Zeva falls back against the wall. “Those people have to be
saved. I don’t know if I can make it in time. It’s a bit more
than three months by spelljammer. The Fleet has already left,
they are headed to the Gas Giants, what if I’m supposed to warn
them, redirect them, I don’t know. If I could only teleport out
there.”
“That might only get you killed if you went yourself Majesty,
still your right, something should be done for them out there.
You have the Defense staff coming in the morning?”
“Yes, I don’t know what can be done, Feel like I need to go, but
I’m tied here.”
“I will hold it together here if you decide you must go your
Majesty.” Her Hand volunteers.
“I’m going back to bed, and I will tell you in a few hours.”
Zeva says while walking away, she stops and looks at him, and
tells him Thank you for believing me, then she walks back to her
room.
#Post#: 819--------------------------------------------------
Grand Empress Zeva: Reign of the Saint Chapter Ten: Silver
By: Dungeon Master Date: March 26, 2024, 11:17 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Grand Empress Zeva[/center]
[center]vol. I Reign of the Saint
Story One: Breaking the Great Peace
Chapter Ten: Silver [/center]
Soreel
Continent of Marika
Tarish Imperial Capital of the Empire
Zeva meets with her Military advisors and gives them the warning
from her dream. They are going to strike Marook. The advisors
are unsure about this. They know the stories of the Neogi
invasion, but the truth of it was that the Brass had never been
comfortable with using dreams as the basis of determining
deployments. But they have a sick feeling themselves that the
Empress could be right about this, as their staff have been
gaming different scenarios playing out, and a strike on Marook
was one of the possibilities.
The brass ended up sending a messenger ship with orders for the
fleet that is already en route to the gas giants. It hardly
makes Zeva feel any better. But maybe this was a warning to
divert the fleet heading to the gas giants. She wants to send
more, another fleet, more troops, and they tell her how it is
now cutting into home defense.
She tells them she wants another fleet to get ready to go there,
and she tells the Generals to decide who they are sending and
get them ready to go. These troops might have to go into the
tundra and the void at the cracks. Troops might have to fight in
the trenches from moon to moon to get them out.
Within days, more troops are activated and shipped out to Marook
By the end of the week, paranoia had settled in over the Capital
of Tarish. In some cases of resulting citizen-on-citizen
violence, the neighbor points out a suspicious neighbor, and it
escalates from there.
Seneschal Mormont and Catchpaw the Elder come into the Grand
Empress’s morning breakfast. The handmaidens scatter as Zeva
observes their faces for any tells. She does not know how much
she can take with these gentlemen interrupting her breakfasts.
“Good morning, just give it to me, what is it?” Zeva says,
expecting the worst.
Catspaw the Elder begins with a smile, “Our silver mines in the
northern slopes have been on the decline for the last thirteen
years. Our Imperial prospectors on Arimal have struck a rich
vein on territory deeded to your majesty.”
“I’m rich? “Well, hallelujah, how much are we talking here?
Catspaw hands over a scrap of paper folded in half.
Empress Zeva reads it, and her jaw drops, and she asks if this
is for real. Both her seneschal and spymaster nod.
Zeva feels like she is going to have to go hug that Arimal clan
leader, but maybe she will hold off on that until her next state
visit.
By the end of the week, despite rough seas, the Navy and Corps
will arrive at Arun-See Operation Sidewinder for future details
of this deployment.
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