Ascension: Sword and Sorcery

[Black King]

Robert cautiously approaches what appears to be Lady Ida with a smile and a wave.

"Greetings!" He calls out to her, causing her to turn to him and sort of...smile...in a weird way that doesn't fit her. Like a forced smile of sorts, something foreign to her face. Nonetheless, she nods in his direction and beckons him to come hither, as he was already doing.

"Lady Ida." Robert speaks, bowing slightly in her presence.

"Young man...I see you are looking for someone. For something, even." She speaks cryptically in a jovial tone, that again doesn't suit her much.

"I am." Robert confirms as he looks up at the woman, whom the King recommended to him. She walks around him, getting a view from every angle, as she takes time to observe, to read him.

"I see...you are looking for...aid, in a lofty goal are you not?" She asks in a knowing manner, clearly already having the answer.

"I am. I--"

"What if I told you about a secret weapon, made by the Dwarves, that could help you in your mission? Would you be interested, young man?" She questions with a mischievous smirk.

**10d10 = 38
**6d10 = 29

Yep, it's official. This isn't Lady Ida, or at least something about her is...off, deceptive. But her words about a secret weapon appear to be true. So Robert could trust 'her' and go for this weapon, he could call her out on her true identity, or he could...go to the house to try to find the real Lady Ida, or what's left of her.

What would he do?

[] Inquire more about this 'Secret Weapon'
[] Confront her about her deception
[] Hurry to the house to find the real Lady Ida
[] A combination? (Write-In)

 

[Black King]

Robert bows ever so slightly to the imposter, making sure to be as nice as possible. If this is Lady Ida, he doesn't wish to offend her, and if it is an imposter, it's likely a Fae. And Fey are not to be trifled with nor angered.

"Thank you miss, but I was told by the King to make my way elsewhere. I hope to meet you there." He speaks apologetically. The possible Fae Lady Ida imposter gives a strained smile as she clearly recognizes the betrayal.

"I see...then I wish you luck with your goal. It is bound to be...entertaining." Is all she says as Robert sorta-not-really hurries off, no longer wishing to be in the presence of what could be a member of the trickster race. In another few minutes, Robert has made his way to the destination set out by the King. The house looks like a mini-temple of sorts and has a cold aura about it.

**20d10+10=114
**10d10 = 48

Robert goes to knock, but his hand freezes as he feels an overwhelming pressure that washes over and through his body. Gagging on air and trying to catch his breath as his body, Robert struggles to still his body, as his very soul begins shaking.

Robert waits there for an agonizing amount of time, that no doubt...was only truly a few seconds, before the real Lady Ida answers the door. She looks just like the other imposter, but her demeanor is cold, as if someone had bothered her during an inopportune time. She looked mean, angry, and exasperated all at once.

"The hell do you want?" She asks in a cross manner. It takes all of the willpower in Robert's body to even attempt to steady himself. How would he respond?

[] Show her the King's Seal
[] Explain to her your goal
[] Ask for her help
[] All of the above
[] Just leave. This was...

 

[Black King]

Robert meets her question with a deep bow, a gentleman's bow.

**20d10+200=317-66=251
**20d10 = 96

"M-m-m-m..." He stops to gather himself, swallowing his feelings of trepidation. "My Lady, I am...the honorable Robert, and I have come here on direction of the his majesty." He explains in a trumped up voice, sounding much like a Great Knight of sorts. He hands her the King's Seal as proof. Lady Ida takes the seal wordlessly and motions for Robert to continue.

"Go on..."

"I have a dream to one day unite the 5 Races, in peace and in harmony, and I would be honored to have your aid in such a taxing and complex endeavor. The Royal Majesty himself has informed me that you once tried something similar, a noble effort to attempt by your self if I can say as much, and I thought that maybe you would be interested in gracing me with your presence as I attempt this in my own way."

Lady Ida appears to be...amused by Robert's grandstanding and 'honorable' shtick, and a smirk befalls her face.

"Really? I can't say your request interests me at face value but...you do seem to know your place, and mine. So...what the hell, I'll give it a shot." She says with a shrug. "So--"

"My lady, I hate to interrupt you--"

"So don't." She says in a cross manner.

"But I must inform you that..." Robert leans in closer, standing now rather than bowing. He takes great care to whisper his next words. "The Fey are watching. I...may or may not have...encountered a doppleganger of sorts, of you, that was no doubt one of the Fae, trying to trick me into doing their bidding." At his words, Lady Ida rolls her eyes.

"Of course. When aren't the Fey watching and trying to ruin shit? They tried me at least a few dozen times during my go. Let's just say...this is not my shocked face, Robby." Robert internally winces at the crude nickname, but lets it roll off. "Hey, I have an idea! Why don't you go uh...prove yourself to this 'graceful' Lady and squash that stupid Faerie for ever thinking it could impersonate one as great as me! Eh? Eh?" She coaxes with a nudge and a wink.

Robert grimaces in response, and this causes her to raise her eyebrow.

"I...don't really do that, my lady. I am not one for senseless violence!" Robert retorts. Lady Ida narrows her eyes.

"Robby, Robby, Robby, are you denying my request?" She asks in a tone that cuts through the air. Robert quickly shakes his head and bows slightly.

"I mean no insult my lady, I am simply...incapable." He informs her. This causes Lady Ida to adopt an expression of confusion as she blinks rapidly.

"In...capable? You want to Unite the 5 races and you can't even take on a simple low level Fae? How can you...you know, if you can't fight? What's your plan? You're not one of those evil geniuses who's going to unite the world against you because you do something so heinous, that everyone just has to hate you, are you? Because that's a big 'no' for me, if so."

Ignoring her...interesting and over the top scenario, she does bring up a decent point. How did Robert expect to unite the 5 races?
[] He doesn't have a plan right now. He'd have to take his time and think carefully as he travels the world to meet with said races
[] He would gather influential people from each race, like she is for humans, and convince them to buy in
[] He will have to unite them against a huge threat (that isn't him), though finding that can be...difficult
[] Yes actually. That's exactly his plan (uniting the world against him)
[] Free Will

 

[Black King]

Robert gives Lady Ida a polite smile as he ponders her question. What is his plan exactly? Does he have one? Yes...he supposes he does, if he thinks about it. Of course it's uniting them against a big evil...where would he find that? And he had no desire to be the big evil either. No, he knows what he must do.

"I will...gather people, like you...well not like you, as you're one of a kind, but I mean...unique people from each race, influential people, and I'll bring them together and convince them of my cause." He states confidently. Lady Ida raises an eyebrow.

"And you think that will unite the 5 races? I gotta give it to ya Robby, you got Moxy. And a plan. Which is more than I can say for myself when I tried my hand at it so...eh, why not. Let's give it a go." She relents with a shrug. Robert can't help but to smile. Not only did he seem to have Lady Ida on his side now, but she actually made him think about his goal, and establish a plan. Once a plan is made, it's much plot a course of action and figure out one's next move. So really, she had helped him more than anything else so far.

"So that's good for the future and all kid but...what do you want to do about the Fae out there?" She questions. Robert blinks in surprise.

"The...Fey?" He inquires.

"Yeah, the Fey. You know, magical being that's been impersonating me and trying to sell you on some...secret weapon?" This causes Robert to narrow his eyes. He hadn't told her about the exact conversation had he? He doesn't remember doing so...

"Right." He answers tentatively.

"Yeah so, what are we doing? We following it to the secret weapon? We ignoring it? Or..." She grins. "Do I get to take out the trash for daring to besmirch my good name?"

That's... a good question, what would they do about the Fae sitting outside, impersonating Lady Ida.

[] Have Lady Ida dispose of it
[] Let it go, it didn't harm anyone ultimately
[] Warn it, but let it live for now
[] Try to recruit it
[] Follow it to the secret weapon
[] Send a message to the Fairy King? (Write-In on the message)

 

[Black King]

"We should recruit it." Robert says simply, almost in wonderment at how obvious the idea is, and how late it came to him. At these words, Lady Ida recoils.

"We what?"

"I mean...we're going to recruit people from each race right? Why not start with this Fae? Surely it can't be that bad." Robert states in a hopeful tone.

"I...what? Not only do you want to let this little shit get away with impersonating me...but you want to recruit...a Fey. Say it again. Recruit. A. Fairy. No one even knows if it's possible and you--"

"Exactly." Robert cuts her off. "We'll be the first to do it, just like we'll be the first to unite the races." Lady can only shake her head.

"Robbie, Robbie, Robbie. What will we do with you and your optimism?" She exhales deeply. "Fine, let' give it a shot, I guess." She relents. Robert can't help but to smile and cheer internally as they exit her house and look for said Fey. "There." Lady Ida points to a tree about 200 meters away. Robert narrows his eyes and uses a bit of his Future Sight to figure out exactly where she's pointing and where they'd be heading to next.

"Alright, let's--" Robert's cut off by a finger to his lips.

"Quiet kid, we gotta be quiet. Unassuming." She warns him. "Follow my lead." She commands as she pushes him forward while walking next to him. Lady Ida starts off first, talking about something inane, fake gossip it seemed, and Robert followed her lead, nodding along and pretending he was interested. Soon they were at said tree, and Lady Ida casually leaned against it with her hand on the trunk. "Gotcha." She whispers as she nods to Robert, motioning for him to do his thing. Robert nods and clears his throat.

"Right." He looks around and...sees nothing. No sign of the Faerie at all. But if the Fairy can take shapes and pretend to be Lady Ida then...yes, it must be the tree itself. "Hello Exalted Fae, I would like to thank you for your attempts to aid me in my quest and wonder if you wish to join me instead."

The tree quickly shifts into a very small, flowing humanoid with large wings. If Lady Ida did not have extremely sharpened reflexes, it's likely she would've fallen flat on her face. As it is she...simply remained where she was, somehow unaffected by the lack of a balancing object.

"Oh boy, do I! Of course I'll join you!" The Fey speaks excitedly. "So does that mean we're going for the secret weapon?"

[] Yes
[] No, there was more to do first
[] No, there was no need for a secret weapon
[] Depends, what is it?

 

[Black King]

"Depends on exactly what this weapon is." Responds Robert. The Fae somewhat frowns.

"Well...I don't exactly know what it is per se." The fairy says sheepishly. Lady Ida gives him a dry look.

"You don't know what the weapon is." She repeats. The fae smiles wide.

"Nope."

"And yet you want us to go with you to find it?" She questions.

"...yes."

"That is the stupidest--" Lady Ida begins with a sneer.

"Wait, wait. I uh...know that it's Dwarven-made and super special. It's like magic, but it's not! It's really fascinating. Or so I hear." He adds.

"Or so you hear." Lady Ida repeats, unimpressed.

"Yeah..."

"..."

"..."

Robert then steps in, sensing some hostility from Lady Ida, trying to save his fairy friend.

"Let's table that discussion for later. Do you happen to know anyone else who would join us?" Robert quickly changes the subject, addressing the Fae. The fey frowns and taps its chin.

"I...do. I can take you to them if you want but...I'd rather take you to the secret weapon first. We might need it!" He adds.

Where does Robert go?

[] To the people
[] To the weapon
[] Write-In

 

[Black King]

"Before we go anywhere, Lady Ida, do you have any recommendations for people we can recruit? You've done this before and have a certain expertise..." Lady Ida looks at Robert quizzically before shrugging her shoulders.

"I know a few people but I wouldn't recommend them for you. I...can actually fight, so I knew a few Drow and even an Orc or two that were willing to help...given that we unite the strong and leave the weak to die. You...would be the weak we leave to die so...yeah. If you got a death wish, we can try it, but otherwise...best listen to fairy boy here." She points to the Fey with her thumb. The Faeries shrinks back a bit, almost...embarrassed?

"Oh uh...I sort of have mostly Drow and Orcs too..." He trails off, looking down in shame.

"Do you? Any Goblins?" Lady Ida asks, a cheeky grin on her face. The Fairy glares in her direction, but opts not to answer and instead harumphs in indignation.

"I see..." Robert replies, deep in thought. "And about the weapon?" He asks. She shrugs again.

"I don't trust Fey. And I got mine right here." She pats her waist where...presumably a weapon sits. "But you...you're in desperate need of some power if you can't even beat a Fairy Peon like this so...eh, your decision." She replies.


Does Robert go to meet Lady Ida's People? Or does he go for the weapon?

[] Meet Lady Ida's people
[] Go for the weapon
[] Do both
[] Do neither

 

[Black King]

Yeah seeing her people and being weak and without the language skills...likely would be game over.