Loyalty or No SV you Are the Daedra

[Kyrina]

You kneel, looking down at a reflection of your helm in polished crystal, and touch a gauntlet to the floor. The moment you focus on it the power seems to rise to the surface, becoming more intense as you reach for it... for control of it. The power beneath the throne is tempting but....

I shall not consume an energy field larger than my own head

That may be from an evil overlord list but the general principle applies here. A thread linked to an obelisk is an entirely different prospect than the wellspring of Order's power. Even the Order Daedra you have on hand to 'explain' things and completely veto refusing to take Order's power doesn't know what would happen if you took control of that. Better to be safe than sorry.

You draw up the link from obelisk on Nirn and the Heart of Order, reel it in around your gauntlet, a shimmering thread of silver running through your fingers. The power within it is familiar and comforting yet at the same time wrong, it fits together too perfectly. There's nothing alive about it, there's no spark, it's just there.

Well now it's yours.

You tighten your grip and pull.

Spoiler

Physical Stat upgrades: Unlocked

The Knights of Order stop. The obelisk in front of you isn't the same dull grey blue crystal it was when you put your gauntlet on it. It's still on the greyer side of blue but it's much lighter than before, more like the weird cyanish hue of your armour or the colour you imagine Order-Boy's voice to be.

That's... how does my voice have colour? Explain yourselves! Great, I'm invisible again... better work on that

You ignore him. There's a non-zero chance you'll be hearing more from him than usual now. "Uhm... Fast? They stopped moving. Is that good?" Diana calls over one of the knight's shoulders.

"Yeah," you stand up and stare in shock at your sword. It's... streamlined itself. Before it was jagged and a bit tarnished around the hilt and about halfway up the blade. Now it's still wicked looking and spiky as sin in places but the dark patches of tarnishing are gone and if something can look sharper your sword does.

Huh... cool.

I told you accepting the power of Order would only help.Oh! Oh! Lemme show you something AWESOME!

He sounds smug. You maintain your policy of ignoring him for the moment. "I think I may have got an upgrade and...."

There's a loud clinking and clattering. All three Knights spin on the spot to face you and salute.

"Very cool." You raise a hand and wave it, trying to will the three Knights to do the same. They wave back at you. Diana wanders around one a touch warily, looking closely at it. Morlia's about half a step behind her, ready to grab her and get out of the way should the Knights suddenly turn hostile.

Lucas is still out cold against one wall, he's screened by the three daedra for now but Freyja's got to be about to come around them at any moment. Sullinus has squashed himself into a corner, hands still pressed to his temples. You doubt that's a good sign since he's probably the closest thing this obelisk had to a priest.

[ ] What do?

 

[Kyrina]

There is only one acceptable course of action now that you have three backup Knights of Order. Barbershop Quartet! And you know just what to sing.

You focus on the three identical knights and mentally assign the roles. You are, of course, the lead. The leftmost knight can provide the bass, the rightmost the tenor while the middle knight will take baritone and be happy about it. Then you start, all on your lonesome, and push the song at your three backup daedra.

At once they start their crystalline counterparts to your lead vocal. The left, bass knight, sweeping low under your voice, rich and resonant in a way that reminds you a huge bell chiming. Tenor knight skips along above your lead, voice almost twinkling with that odd crystal tone you all share. Baritone knight finishes the classic barbershop chord just under you with a sound that reminds you most of someone blowing over the top of an almost empty bottle.

It's not a bad sound, just kind of weird and not quite human sounding.

"I should have expected this yet somehow I did not." Morlia deadpans, expression vaguely horrified.

"Don't be like that, it sounds great." Diana chirps, partly in harmony with you and your backup singers. "Hey, we could turn this into an act and earn some money with it!"

"Absolutely not!" Morlia fixes you with a glare for, however unintentionally, putting that idea into Diana's head. Then her eyes flick past you, rest on Sullinus for a moment then slide to Lucas. Unconscious Lucas slumped against a wall. Lucas who's kinda-sorta wanted for thievery, breaking and entering and who knows what else.

Sobriety and general sensibility smashes into you like a comically large anvil. Now you've tested your control of you three minions, and found it pretty damn good, you do something productive with them. Bass and Baritone hurry towards Lucas, blocking Freyja's eye line with their bodies, pick up the thief and carry him into the next room, the one Sullinus sprang from earlier.

"Thought it was a little crowded in here with four of me." You say cheerily to explain the two disappearing knights.

"Yeah... just a bit crowded." Freyja nods slowly and casts a glance around suspiciously before focussing on Sullinus. She approaches the mage cautiously, you follow and subtle motion for Morlia and/or Diana to go check on Lucas in the next room. It would be most unfortunate if he was dead or horribly maimed.

Freyja kneels in front of Sullinus. "Sir?" She reaches out and takes hold of his shoulder. "Sir are you alright?" You clank down to Sullinus' eye level when he doesn't answer her.

"Hey, Sullinus, you want to explain what happened here?" You refrain from demanding answers about why he thought it was a good idea to mess around with Order even though you told him not to.

"Y-You took control of the obelisk... stopped it spreading... b-but not the voices...." Uh that's potentially very not good. Freyja glances at you warily.

"Grabbed the obelisk grabbed the daedra with it. But each obelisk has a priest as well as the knights we saw... I think Sullinus is the priest for this obelisk." You tell her and she frowns.

"Do you have control of him like you do the daedra?" She doesn't sound happy about the possibility that you do.

"I don't know..." that stuff about voices though.... You should probably investigate that.

[ ] Experiments with Sullinus/Knights/all of the above?
[ ] Explaining more to Freyja/Morlia/Diana/any combination of the above?
[ ] Shenanigans?

I did research into barbershop quartets for this and now the knights are named Bass, Baritone and Tenor. @Dark as Silver I hope you're happy

 

[Kyrina]

Silly order priest who should have known better says what?

Sullinus' brows knot in confusion and his head tilts a little to the left, like he's trying to listen to a sound that's just beyond his hearing. Either he's not hearing your voices, which begs the question of what he is hearing, or whatever connection to them he has is tenuous at best.

"Okay, so the basics are that I'm a Knight of Order with an independent streak a mile wide so I don't serve Jyggalag or want anything to do with him and his plans to Greymarch Nirn." You point to the obelisk. "That is an Obelisk, or pylon, and they spread 'Order' basically the crystal stuff they're made of. Jyggalag would Greymarch Nirn by constructing additional pylons until the world is all crystally and boring." Freyja's hand tightens on her sword and she eyes the obelisk with disgust.

"Wait, this one's fine. I stole it, it's not going to do anything I don't tell it to and I prefer grass and trees and people and butterflies to crystal and knights everywhere. Though having a posse of minions is nice and..."

"Focus, is there any chance of that daedric prince you mentioned taking this obelisk back?" Freyja asks. "And how did Sullinus create one?"

"Uh... I told Sullinus a bit about Jyggalag and Knights of Order. I also said they were very, very dangerous and Morlia's very lucky she got me rather than an actual Knight. I thought he was smart enough not to mess around with Order after that warning but...." You glance at Sullinus. His fingers are tapping a familiar rhythm.

"And Jyggalag taking back the Obelisk?" Freyja presses. You mentally turn to Order Boy and ask.

Not without creating a new priest and linking them to your... our obelisk. Or coming to reclaim it himself. I do not think they would be able to locate our obelisk either.

we changed its 'frequency' so it shouldn't show up as the same Order as old jyggalad, though it can certainly be changed back if a powerful enough Priest or Knight could find it and do their rituals

"Nirn would be fighting off a Greymarch already and Jyggalag would either have to replace our priest, Sullinus by the looks of things, or come himself." You don't think it's much to worry about unless the worst were to happen.

"Well... destroying it immediately does seem rather short sighted in that case." Freyja allows, sheathing her blade. "This will have to be brought before count Hassidor." You nod that seems reasonable, it's his city after all. "I'll stay with Sullinus tonight and see if he'll say anything useful, you and your mages should go grab some sleep." You glance out the window, the sky is a dark dusky blue and you can see a few stars scattered behind the clouds. It probably is time for Morlia and Diana to get a little shut eye.

Of course Morlia and Diana are making sure Lucas is okay in the other room... and Freyja's still here. You can't exactly carry him out past her... can you?

[ ] Plan to get Lucas out without her noticing?
[ ] What do while Morlia and Diana are sleeping?

The return of the coloured text! Huzzah! And Cheese for Everyone!

 

[Kyrina]

Yeah, getting Lucas out of the building right in front of Freyja is a no go. But this does need to be reported, Freyja practically said that herself and she has to leave to do it. You can make sure she gets going quickly and doesn't notice the girls and... uh Bass sneaking Lucas out.

This plan is genius, nothing can possibly go wrong!

You relay your orders to your minions, via the tried and true method of thinking really hard at them. Bass pops his(it's?) head around the door of the room and snaps off a salute smartly. "Well... I don't have to sleep and neither do my new... friends so how about you and me tell your captain what happened here while Bass escorts Morlia and Diana to the inn. Tenor and Baritone will stay here, guard Sullinus and do a quick hunt for any Order crystal I might have missed."

"I... I don't know. Captain Birch is..." Freyja trails off and shakes her head quickly. "The man's an ass, frankly, and I'm not on duty." It's pretty obvious that she doesn't want to go reporting to her boss when she not on duty and obliged to. From what you've seen of him you can understand that.

"He does need to know though, if only to report it to the count, and it'll probably have more weight coming from a member of the guard than one random daedra." You point out as diplomatically as you know how. Freyja's eyes narrow suspiciously.

"What are you trying to hide from me? You have two of your minions rush off the moment I enter the room, your mage friends follow moments later and now you want me out of the house." She looks between the stairs, the door to the next room and the space Bass and Baritone tactically blocked from her view earlier. Then she settles on the door and walks purposefully towards it.

[ ] Stop her!
-[ ] Write in how.

[ ] Make up an excuse!
-[ ] Write in the excuse.

[ ] Just explain truthfully what's going on
-[ ] Any point you want to emphasise or gloss over?

I uh... I planned this to be longer! I swear I did but Freyja kinda put an end to that idea. She's too damn smart for her own good!

 

[Kyrina]

There's no time like the present to tell the truth. You want her to trust you, you want her to come adventuring with you, can't really persuade her on that front when she knows you're lying to her.

"Okay, look you are off duty, right?" Freyja nods slowly, you take it as a good sign. "Right so you wouldn't feel the need to bring in one measly thief that I miiiight have helped out of jail to recruit into my roving band of world changing adventurers? Offer still open, by the way." There's something intensely frustrating in the lack of facial emoting you can do. Relying on body language and hand motions and, sometimes, interpretive dance can only get you so far. Sometimes it's sincerity in the eyes, or the set of someone's mouth that lets trust flourish. Since you have neither Freyja's not going to find whatever she's desperately searching for in your blank crystalline helm.

"Your master is incredibly lucky that I'm not on duty." Freyja neither looks nor sounds happy. "She's also lucky that it was Lucas you decided to help not someone else." She doesn't elaborate on that point and reaches for the door knob.

"Y-Yeah, okay, but look." Freyja glares at you over her shoulder but she's paused with the door only a crack open. "He's the one who lead us here and he injured himself trying to help. I think we owe him for that." To your surprise when you mention Lucas injured himself trying to help Freyja smiles.

"You have no idea how much trouble that man is, do you?" She shakes her head and pushes open the door.

"Well, no I supp-" you stop dead, body freezing in place like a statue as shock sweeps through you. You've walked into the bedroom of the house and Morlia is standing with Diana by the bed. Both of them look confused and glance from Freyja to you and back again. Bass is doing a statue impression at the foot of the bed, Baritone mirroring the position to your left, right beside the door. Lucas is no where to be seen.

Freyja scans the room, taking in the smallish wardrobe pushed against one wall and the lonely functional beside table. She crosses to the wardrobe and pulls it open. There's an assortment of robes in there. No Lucas. "Where is he girls?" Freyja turns to Morlia and Diana, arms crossed and a stern expression on her face.

"W-Where's who?" Diana stammers out, it's pretty obvious she's lying what with the way her hands are twisting at the hem of her shirt.

"Lucas of course, your daedra told me everything. I am off duty, I'm not about to arrest anyone." Freyja says patiently. Diana looks at you, eyes wide and confused. Is she trying to ask you to intervene? "Look if he just got away from you that's fine, he does that."

"Diana, seriously, where is he?" You're doubtful that he ran off without anyone in this room making some kind of racket about it.

"I-I thought..." Diana's gaze flicks between you and Bass desperately. What is going on here?

"What, exactly, is going on here?" Freyja asks, brows furrowed and expression distinctly unamused.

[ ] Uh... yeah I got nothing.
[ ] Mumble something about Sheogorath
[ ] Actually make and execute a plan of action (write in plan)

Well that's odd, dontcha think?

 

[Kyrina]

"Hey Lucas, come on out so we can give you healing. Freyja promises not to arrest you." You don't have any better ideas, not many or indeed any worse ones if you're honest. Oh wait, there is one.... "If any of you silly Knights ate Lucas spit him out right now! You don't know where he's been." If that doesn't get some kind of result than you will have to resort to the final option to decipher this mess. Asking Morlia what happened. The world must be ending for that to be a seriously considered option by the voices.

Baritone tilts his head at you in a manner that manages to the be the epitome of confused incomprehension. Bass pauses for a moment before saluting, gauntlet striking his helm with a gentle clink.

"Sorry Boss." Bass says and everyone stares. If you had eyes they'd be bulging in shock. "Wanted to make sure that out thief friend got out of this not in chains." Bass has a lower speaking tone that you do, rather appropriately, but there is a certain familiarity to his voice though.

"Is he imitating you?" Morlia asks quietly. "Or are you just playing a horrible joke on us?"

"Nothing to do with me." You protest at once. You mentally glare at Order Boy.

It is nothing to do with me.
Me neither!
"Also," Bass raises a finger sharply, attracting everyone's attention again, "I don't think it's physically possible for us to eat people. At least, not that fast." That doesn't help with where Lucas actually is though.

"Did you lose control of one of your new friends?" Freyja sounds suspiciously close to laughing. It feels like your face plate should be glowing with embarrassment. Bass still isn't done, he turns to Diana and Morlia then bows to them from the waist. The Knight's back forms a right angle with his legs he bows so low.

"Sorry for misleading you ladies. Still getting used to this whole free will not order obsessed thing." Diana giggles in a nervous manner, fingers pressed to her lips like she's ashamed to let the sound escape. Morlia's jaw drops and her hand finds her face in a classic face-palm worthy of Captain Picard himself.

"By the nine divines you're catching." She sounds about as exasperated with you as Picard could get with Q.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Clearly it's not. "Bass... er, are you okay with being called Bass?" You don't want to force a name on someone. Bad things could come from something like that.

"Oh right!" Bass claps his hands together. It sounds somewhat like a gong being struck. "I should introduce myself." Bass pauses like he's inhaling, chest plate seeming to puff out proudly. There's a moment of total stillness and Bass appears to deflate a little. "Actually, you know what, I'll just use the boss's name for me. I'm Bass, Bass the Knight of not so much order." You get the impression that if Bass could grin proudly he would be.

"Hi Bass." You all chorus politely, the girls with a slight edge of hysteria while Freyja just sounds like she's moments away from bursting into laughter.

"Nice to meet you guys! Well not meet... I mean we've seen each other before but this is the first time 'I' meet you guys as a thinking being." You re-rail your thoroughly derailed train of thought.

"Right, so Bass. Where is Lucas?" You ask and Bass points under the bed. "Seriously?" You don't want to believe you could have missed something so obvious. That's a kid's hide and seek spot!

"Yes boss!" Bass answers quickly. You go and look under the bed, Freyja right beside you. Bass is totally correct, Lucas has been shoved into the narrow space between bed and floor. It doesn't look like the most comfortable position if you're honest.

"Hey," Freyja pokes Lucas in the shoulder, "you awake?" The silence provides all the answer you really need and between you and Freyja it's easy enough to get him back on top of the bed. Freyja, with a semi professional air, checks the thief for any obvious life threatening injuries.

"Looks like he banged his head, probably best to drop him at the chapel on your way back to your inn." Freyja doesn't sound like she wants to be argued with. Discretion is probably the better part of valour at this point and you did sort of have plans anyway. Morlia primly covers a yawn with one hand.

You scoop up Lucas and throw him over your shoulder. Again. "You still planning to stay with Sullinus?" You ask Freyja and she nods.

"I don't think he should be alone. I'll grab a friend to relay a message to the captain about what happened and that everything's under control." She pats you on the arm and grins. "See you tomorrow in front of the Count." Oh yeah... best vampire. Excellent.

"Right, let's go ladies. Baritone and Tenor will do that sweep for bits of crystal I mentioned earlier and Bass will... uh, I guess that's up to Bass." All eyes turn to the newest independent Knight of Order in Tamriel. Bass shrugs. Baritone drops to his hands and knees to start an inch by inch examination of the floor boards.

"You da boss, boss."

"Okay, since we don't sleep we should probably test out what you can do. Same with Baritone and Tenor when they're done." You decide. Bass seems happy enough to discover what he can do.

When Morlia and Diana are safely asleep in the inn you lead Bass and Tenor just outside the city walls. Baritone stays behind to make sure your companions remain safe in their beds. When you get out there you start testing what they can do, whether they can do your sword flurry move or cast any of the spells you've learnt.

The answer is a resounding no. Each of the new Knights of Order has the same abilities you did when you were first summoned. So 'swing sword at enemy' and 'swing sword at enemy with more effort'.

[ ] Any training for the rest of the night?
[ ] Talking to Bass?
-[ ] What do you talk about?
[ ] Preparations for going to see Count Hassidor?

The time of Best Vampire approaches :lol

 

[Kyrina]

You keep up the sparring with Bass and Tenor, who knows they might learn something. It's... an experience that's for sure. The other knights are rather predictable in their motions. Very quickly you settle into a rhythm that you could keep up for weeks if the mood took you. So while you have the spare brainpower you strike up a conversation with Bass.

"Okay Bass, I know you weren't improperly summoned like me so what's the deal with you being... you know, sentient?" You ask, unsure what you're going to hear.

"Well... I was before," Bass says slowly, "Sorta anyway. I mean, I could think but it was only after You and the voices took over the obelisk that I felt... different. Like I could think beyond just Order." Wait he knows about the voices!?

"You know about the voices?" You ask in shock. Given Sullinus, at best, only gets a vague impression of them you hadn't thought that the Knights could hear them as well.

"Yeeees." Bass draws out the word and tilts his helm quizzically to the left. "Oh wait! Does that make you my dad?" He brings his left fist up to roughly where his chin would be and hunches a little, like he's deep in thought. "Well, the voices are a mix of both genders, I think, so both mom and dad?" You stand there stunned by the very idea. Bass rubs his helm making a sound like someone running their finger around the lip of a half full wine glass.

"This thinking for yourself stuff is hard." He adds, almost whining. Oh god! He really is a little kid! ARGH! You aren't ready for this kind of responsibility!

"Y-Yeah Bass... yeah it is." You say shakily, weight of responsibility clanging onto your shoulders with each word. You need a distraction and you need it now. "Hey I know a perfect song for you!" Bass, Baritone and Tenor started as your backup singers and damn it they are going to live up to the early potential you saw in them!

You start teaching Bass 'All About That Bass' the pun is too amusing to pass up. While you're at it you drag in Tenor and begin teaching him Opera. At least you think it's opera... Pavarotti sang it so it has to be opera.

Tenor has a good voice and not having to breathe helps about as much as it hinders. It's a little hard to get the timing of each line correct without needing to inhale but you work past it with Tenor and soon he's got owls flapping from their perches in outrage at their silent night being disturbed.

Unfortunately that doesn't distract you as long as you hoped for. You have to resort to desperate measures.

"...and that is why we must succeed in our mission to defeat the Legion of Doom! Or, as the people here know them, the Dark Brotherhood!" You raise one hand and puff out your chest in a suitably heroic fashion. "And this is why we shall now be known as the Justice League of Tamriel!"

Bass and Tenor clap politely at the end of your speech. And, ohthankgod, the sun's just peeking over the horizon. "Let's get back to the city, best vampire probably starts the working day early." Bass obliges without any mental prompting form you. Tenor doesn't move until you order him to. Apparently Tenor hasn't mastered all the subtleties of unorderlyness yet.

When you get to the inn Freyja and Morlia are ready and waiting for you. Sullinus, looking a bit more stable and sane than he did yesterday evening, waves a hand tentatively at you from behind the guardswoman. Diana is presumably still asleep.

"Good morning!" You call out cheerily to the trio awaiting you.

"Hello!" Bass says enthusiastically.

Tenor waves mechanically from side to side twice. Freyja glances between you, Bass and Tenor. "Uh... there aren't any distinguishing marks between the two new guys. Maybe you could..." she starts and a lightbulb ignites in your mind. You grab a lump of charcoal from the inn fire, well you think it's charcoal anyway, and turn to your two Knights.

You draw a large S shape on Bass' chestplate. It would look better in red but it'll serve until you can retouch it in red paint... or until it rains. On Tenor's chest you draw a lightning bolt. Both done you turn back to Freyja proudly. She stares at you like you've gone completely insane. Morlia doesn't question it, she's actually smiling.

"Well... I mean.... How do an S and a lightning bolt relate to Bass and Tenor?" Freyja asks like it's not obvious.

"Because...."

"No, hold it, no time. Explain after we've seen Count Hassidor." Freyja shakes her head and motions for everyone to follow her.

"What about Diana, she was there too. Isn't what she saw also important? Not to mention Lucas." You ask and Freyja pauses.

"Do you want to wake her up?" Morlia raises an eyebrow at you.

"I was planning to check if Lucas was still where you left him on the way to the castle." Freyja pauses by the door, Sullinus at her side. "I doubt it personally but if you want to get the kid up while I see if he's still around then meet later that's fine."

[ ] Wake up Diana

[ ] Go with Freyja to see if Lucas is still in the temple

Urgh mom, I feel like some kind of horrible stain has tarnished my Britishness

 

[Kyrina]

Oh no, you can't be everywhere at once! Luckily you just acquired some minions, so you can delegate. You could leave those minions behind to wake up Diana but an experienced hand would likely work best. If only because you have no idea what Bass or Baritone or Tenor would do faced with a situation not covered by your instructions.

"Right I'm going to stay behind and wake Diana while...." You pause. Bass is jumping up and down, hand thrust into the air. The tables are jolting into the air every time Bass lands and there's steady trickles of dust from the beams over your head.

"Oh, oh! Pick me! Pick me, I'll find our sneaky friend!"

"U-Uh, okay you and Baritone can go with Freyja." Freyja's face freezes in a slightly forced smile. "Tenor, Morlia, Diana and I will be along in a bit."

"Yay!" Bass stops jumping. The proprietor breathes a hefty sigh of relief.

"Thank you for that." Freyja says through her grimace. "Sullinus you okay with having these two along?"

"I-I think so." He replies.

"Good, let's go people and daedra." Freyja and Sullinus leave. Bass trails after them like an eager puppy. Well, that's that. Time to brave the perils of waking Diana. You turn to Morlia.

"Oh no, you're on your own for this one." Morlia refuses to come with you before you can ask her. Hah! Shows what she know you have a daedra shield!

"Come on Tenor, we're going to dare the lair of a creature far more fearsome than a vampire." You direct Tenor in front of you up the stairs.

With great silence you approach the door to Diana's room. With great trepidation you reach for the door handle. With mounting anxiety you push the door open and....

With great speed you dodge the jet of flame and slam the door again. You wait patiently for several minutes.

"Fast, are you okay? That, uh, that was you right?" Diana's sleepy voice called from inside the room.

"Yeah it was me." You answer her. "We need to go meet with the count about what happened yesterday." You hear a groan.

"But it's so early and.... urgh, the sun's barely uuuup." Diana does not sound best pleased with the time of day you've chosen to wake her up. Since she's probably hungover you can't really blame her.

"There's a count I'd rather not keep waiting... waiting for us." You say, shaking your head that you couldn't think of anything better to say. "You see why that's a bit of an issue?"

"Urgh-fiiiine, gimme a minute."

You give her a minute. Then two. The third minute is drawing to a close when she shuffles out of her room. She's wearing a simple robe, brown with some pale yellow embroidery around the edges and hems. It comes with a hood that she's pulled low over her face.

"Let's go see this Count guy." She says, resigned to her fate of being awake it seems. "Sorry about trying to immolate you again." She adds a little sheepishly.

"It's fine, I dodged." You say lightly and head down to collect Morlia and start the walk up to the castle.

It takes maybe half an hour to reach the castle that looms over the rest of Skingrad. Freyja, Sullinus, Bass, Baritone and a surly looking Lucas are waiting for you at the gates.

"Something wrong, Lucas?" Morlia sounds positively gleeful that he doesn't seem to be having a good time.

"Aw it's sweet you care enough for me to notice." Lucas says with sweetness you can only hope is faked. Morlia makes a sound like she's attempting to swallow her own tongue. You look over at her worriedly. She doesn't seem to be choking but that was a very concerning gurgling noise.

Lucas laughs until Freyja thwacks him upside the head. "What?"

"Shut up!" Freyja growls before leading you into the castle.

You enter a stone hall, throne dominating it from the raised dias at the end. A man is sitting on the throne, pale skin almost luminous in the light of the chandeliers. He's dressed in fine velvety black that seems to eat every ray of light that touches it. His hair is dark and slicked back from his face and his eyes are sharp. How the hell does anyone in this city not know this guy is a vampire?! He could change his name to Dracula and you'd believe it was his real one!

"Ah, Freyja," Count Hassidor says, his voice smooth as an oil slick. "I trust you come to me of your own initiative rather than being sent by Commander Birch." You watch him speak carefully but don't catch sight of the fangs you know are there.

"My lord," Freyja bows deeply, everyone but you and the knights following suit, "I have discovered something that I felt should be brought to your attention." She begins to explain what occurred yesterday, stressing that everything is under your control now and that no more Order crystal was found.

"I see," the vampire Count rests his chin in one hand and his eyes focus on you. "You are clearly the product of an imperfect summoning," Morlia flushes deep crimson, "and it seems your coming to my city has set in motion an incredibly dangerous series of events. Perhaps you can provide some reason I should not have you removed from Skingrad."

[ ] Provide him a reason not to get kicked out of Skingrad
[ ] Shrug and accept being chucked out
[ ] Character references, your friends will vindicate you with the power of friendship!

Reminder that write ins are always welcome and that Best Vampire don't take no shit in his city

 

[Kyrina]

You shrug in a screech of crystals. The count's lips thin slightly at the sound. "Because the threats to your city weren't of my actions or designs. Because twice now I've laid my life on the line, unsolicited, to protect the good people of Skingrad, once against the aforementioned daedra and once against the giant spider menace."

You almost stop there but something compels you to continue. "Plus we were on our way out anyway, so a real punishment would be to make us stay."

"I see." Count Hassidor says, expression blankly deadpan. You have no idea if anything you said was effective or if whatever good your sensible phase did has been totally undone by your bout of less seriousness. "Well your attitude is less than inspiring and presuming that you speak only the whole truth it seems you attract trouble like a carcass attracts flies." You aren't sure if you should be insulted or not.

"My lord, if I might suggest something?" Freyja offers and the vampire count of Skingrad considers her for a moment.

"You may."

"The obelisk, so far as Sullinus and myself could determine, is possible to deactivate, under certain circumstances. According to Sullinus if the hearts of the three knights that emerged from the obelisk are pushed back into the crystal the obelisk will crumble."

"But!" Sullinus cuts in, academic fervour driving him on without a thought for who he's talking to. "But the material itself is incredibly durable and there seems to be power flowing through the crystal. If i could study it...." Sullinus falls utterly silent as the count glares at him. Freyja starts speaking again quickly.

"If Fast wishes to keep the obelisk then perhaps a trial for Fast and his companions to prove their intent?" Hassidor sits in statue like stillness for several minutes. How hasn't he been caught yet! It's bloody obvious what he is!

"You speak a certain amount of sense." The count says with a slight smile, you aren't entirely sure that it's there at all. "Very well, get to the bottom of this deplorable situation with the spiders infesting my city or the obelisk will be removed from my city and you with it." You look at your three minions, Bass and the kryptonion symbol of hope scrawled on his chest, Tenor and the Flash's lightning bolt and Baritone who... you should get him a trident or something. Your fledgling justice league. You don't think that getting their hearts would be anything other than violent. And in Bass' case....

You don't want them to die.

[ ] Maybe you can persuade the count to change his ultimatum. (Write in how)
[ ] Accept your task, go and investigate the spiders and everything connected to the spiders?
-[ ] Interview victims with Freyja (not able to delegate)
-[ ] Investigate afflicted areas (can delegate to minions)
-[ ] Go out of town and clear out a cave for clues (Whole team activity)
-[ ] Go ask the mages some pointed questions with Morlia/Diana (Not able to delegate)
-[ ] Go ask the fighters guild what they know (Not able to delegate)
-[ ] Write in for something Batman related if I know you lot
[ ] Skip town, Hassidor can't shut down the obelisk using Knight hearts that aren't in the city anymore!

Uh... that got kinda dark towards the end there. Damn it Hassidor! Stop serious-ing all over the place! I'm holding onto the 'talk about vampire cure and countess Hassidor' vote for next update, just so you know

 

[Kyrina]

Investigating spiders doesn't sound that bad. You just need to think logically about the problem. These are frostbite spiders, from Skyrim. Naturally, therefore, they would enjoy and thrive in cold areas. Where in this city would you find somewhere cold that frostbite spiders would enjoy?

The answer comes to you and you would smirk if you had a face. "There is no need for a search, for I..." raise finger for dramatic effect with a beat for tension "have already solved the crime!"

There are no 'ooos' or 'aaahs' or applause. The count merely raises a brow at you. Morlia seems almost terrified of what you're about to say. "These spiders are from Skyrim and Skyrim, as we all know, is cold. Therefore these spiders wish to be somewhere cold. Since it's insulated from daily temperature changes the underground is cold. The deepest place underground is most likely the dungeons."

"Oh... oh divines please don't..." Morlia mutters, staring it what must be horrified fascination.

"As such the spiders must be in the count's basement!" You stab your finder down at the floor in dramatic fashion. Diana lets out a nervous giggle. Lucas' shoulders are shaking and his fist is stuffed in his mouth to muffle his laughter. Freyja and Morlia appear to be considering applying their heads to the walls.

The count glances to his feet briefly. "Nothing living is in my basement. I suggest you investigate elsewhere. Perhaps with the mages guild, they've been complaining more than usual." Well that's a dismissal if you've every heard one. There's just one more thing you need to mention before you go.

"Just one more thing," the count glares but you press on regardless, "if you weren't already aware, witch Melisande of Darkelowe knows how to cure your wife's affliction."

"I would recommend you prove you may be trusted before you presume to offer me your opinion on something as insignificant as the colour of the sky let alone advice concerning my family." You think you catch a glimpse of fang towards the end of his sentence, perhaps a suggestion of scarlet in his eyes. You take his advice and get out of his castle.

"You know your not all that bad, armour daedra." Lucas grins and claps you hard on the shoulder. He regrets it immediately. "Ow~ What are you made of? Obsidian?"

"Order crystal." You answer him quickly. "Okay, since we're being sensible about this I have a plan."

"Oh good," Morlia does not sound impressed, "I suppose we'll sneak into the count's basement? Or perhaps we'll just brazenly walk back in there and wander around his castle all day."

"No, we split into teams. Freyja and I can interview the victims and go over what the guard knows about these attacks. You can take Tenor and Baritone to investigate the afflicted locations in the northern areas and Diana can take Bass and Lucas to do the same in southern ones." Morlia loses her confrontational look in a heartbeat. At least you think it would be a heartbeat if you still had a heart that beat.

"That's... actually not a bad plan." She still does sound a little dubious though.

"I regret getting involved with you people at all. And why would the daedra be a good choice to interview anyone?" Freyja is less impressed with your plan.

"He's easy to talk to," Morlia says, you're shocked but the words are coming out of her mouth and you can't see anyone coercing her. "When he's not being ridiculous anyway." That's more familiar.

"Cheer up Freyja, there's worse jobs I'm sure." Lucas apparently has the same sense of self preservation as a lemming.

"Like arresting you?" Freyja's reply has less bite then you expected.

"Like catching me." Lucas corrects and turns to Diana. "Shall we go then, I seems to remember some overlarge cobwebs around Tibus Crescent."

"Yep!" Bass chirps and waves at Lucas. "I'm Bass, Fast Enough's minion."

"O-kay... can I give you orders?" Lucas says hopefully.

"Nope, Diana's team leader so you only listen to her." You inform him. Bass salutes again then the three of them are off towards the south. "Baritone, Tenor, you listen to Morlia and do what she tells you." You instruct them. They nod like two perfectly synchronised robots.

"Follow me then." Morlia says and starts walking. Tenor and Baritone follow dutifully. "Oh good, minions that do what I say. Just a pity I didn't summon them." You barely catch her muttering.

You turn to Freyja. "So, where do you recommend we start?"

"Start at the guardhouse, compile a list of names, work from there." Freyja says firmly.

"Okay that sounds.... wait, are you talking about paperwork?" Freyja's smirk says everything.

It's... actually not that bad. All that really needs to be done is sifting through a list of 'person x reported crime y' and noting each down for later reference. Easy. Not the horrible bastion of bureaucracy you were expecting.

The interviews are more taxing. Turns out there are lots of people who don't appreciate being reminded that their basements once hosted a den of frostbite spiders. There are also very few that remember anything relevant about before the spiders set up shop. A couple thought they maybe heard a banging noise the night before the spiders showed up. Another couple think they might have seen a shadowy figure around their homes.

Most of the rest slam their doors in your faces after giving you both an earful about the disgraceful response of the guard to their various, often unrelated, complaints.

"Rude." You say to the recently slammed green painted door in front of you.

"Well... that's three quarters of the mages in the city down." Freyja says and crosses the penultimate name of the list. A thought sparks in your head.

"There can't be that many mages in the city." You say. "Proportionally they can't be that large of a group, right?"

"I suppose they aren't the most numerous but..." Freyja pauses, you can see her coming to the same conclusion you have. "It is a little weird that we've been through three quarters of them."

"You think someone could be targeting them?" You ask her and she grimaces.

"It seems likely but... why would someone do that?" Freyja pauses for a moment then her eyes widen. "Sullinus!"

"What's the chances that he'd be targeted next?" You say. It's got to be pretty low, right?

You can't believe you just said that. That was the worst possible thing to say.

[ ] What do?

And to make up for Saturday's short update have a huuuuge one for today.