SPEAKER_03 0:27

Hi, this is Callie Nugent, and you're listening to Famero, Marcella.

SPEAKER_02 1:00

I arrived precisely when I planned to be here. It's not like you have anywhere more important to be, Sidworth.

SPEAKER_03 1:05

I'm a pirate. Do you know what that means? That means that I sail around the world taking things from other people that are worth lots of gold. Sitting around a desolate island, waiting hours on end for a mage was not on the agenda. Don't call me Sidworth. Sidworth Jones isn't the most infamous pirate in all of Welkin. Whom would that be, gentlemen? Ah Pirate Sid Go on, Marcella. Say my name.

SPEAKER_02 1:43

If you're all done pleasuring yourself there, Pirate Sid.

SPEAKER_03 1:47

Does one ever really get done with self gratification? I'm thinking that's a more serialized experience. If you consider all the granularities.

SPEAKER_02 1:56

Anyway, nothing in what you've said disputes my point.

SPEAKER_03 2:01

What was your point?

SPEAKER_02 2:03

That you have nowhere more important to be.

SPEAKER_03 2:06

Just the same. That does not mean that I feel like sitting around here waiting on the likes of you.

SPEAKER_02 2:13

There. I threw in extra gold since you had to wait for me. Satisfied?

SPEAKER_03 2:18

Get in there? Next time I won't wait around, Marcella.

SPEAKER_02 2:22

You'll wait or I'll turn you into a toad again.

SPEAKER_03 2:25

Huh.

SPEAKER_02 2:25

What? You had the time of your life the last time I turned you into a toad. You were so cute too, hopping around, eating flies.

SPEAKER_03 2:33

Can we please get on with it?

SPEAKER_02 2:35

So impatient. You need to learn to smell the roses, old friend.

SPEAKER_03 2:40

And you need to learn to be on time. I'm serious, Marcella. Every second I spend here, it's time I'm not out there taking people's stuff. My time is precious, and I take it as an insult when you have me and my crew waiting around for you for hours. Next time, I will leave and throw your cargo overboard.

SPEAKER_02 3:05

Do I need to remind you of who I am?

SPEAKER_03 3:08

Oh I'm sorry. Is this the pirate why I'm supposed to tremble?

SPEAKER_02 3:12

You'll wait for as long as I want you to. As you said, you're a pirate, Sidworth. You would sell your own mother if there was coin in it, and there's always coin in it when you serve Marcella DeRue. Now speaking of my cargo, where is it?

SPEAKER_03 3:28

Resting comfortably in our holding cells.

SPEAKER_02 3:32

Holding cells?

SPEAKER_03 3:33

Well, a few of them are criminals. And just because they're being hired to do a job for you, doesn't mean they won't try to kill me.

SPEAKER_02 3:42

A fair point. How many did you bring me this time?

SPEAKER_03 3:45

Five.

SPEAKER_02 3:46

I'm not paying for five mercenaries, Sidworth. I only need three.

SPEAKER_03 3:49

Yeah, I know. But seeing as how we only brought three on the last trip. Three that you murdered. Incidentally, I figured I'd provide more choices this time.

SPEAKER_02 3:59

You're learning. I like that. While these minions are certainly expendable, this job requires that I only have the best.

SPEAKER_03 4:07

What is this job again?

SPEAKER_02 4:09

Nice try. Stay in your lane, Sidworth. Tell me about the large stout one in the back.

SPEAKER_03 4:15

Marcella de Rue. Meet Cinder the Bow. He's part orc, part dwarf. We found him on the Lenorian outskirts, running from Evok's.

SPEAKER_02 4:24

Yevock near Linor. I didn't realize they travelled that far from Tronlordon. Part orc, part dwarf? That's a love story you don't hear every day. Still. Cindar the Bold has a ring to it.

SPEAKER_03 4:38

No, Marcella. Cinder the Bowl. B-O-W-L. Apparently he makes the finest pottery in all the realm. Hence the bull. He makes other things too. Pots, spazes, dinnerware.

SPEAKER_02 4:53

I got it. Can he fight?

SPEAKER_03 4:55

No, but he runs really fast. He outran an entire pride of Next Marcella de Rue meets Zudam Kron. Zodam is a harfling druid from the Forgotten Forest.

SPEAKER_02 5:13

You ever wonder why they call it the Forgotten Forest when clearly we all remember that it's there? Next.

SPEAKER_03 5:25

Marcella de Rue. Meet Braun Brightkeep. Former paladin of the House of El Shadai. We found him fighting members of his own religion. Oddest thing I've ever seen.

SPEAKER_02 5:36

Ugh, religious groups have falling outs all the time. Nothing odd about that.

SPEAKER_03 5:40

That wasn't the odd part. The oddity was that he was fighting them with a sword that literally drank their blood. Like those things in the mountains of Translore. He could barely control it.

SPEAKER_02 5:51

And this one fight got him banished. One fight got a paladin cut off from his god.

SPEAKER_03 5:57

You know what they say. It's never the crime, it's the cover up. I'm thinking he's had a blood drinking play for a while, only his church buddies didn't know about it. We just happened to arrive during the last act of a story that's been unfolding for some time.

SPEAKER_02 6:12

My oh my, a blood drinking sword. Interesting indeed. Where is it now?

SPEAKER_03 6:17

Well it took three of us to subdue the bloody thing. After we knocked him out, it's in my quarters, chained up.

SPEAKER_02 6:24

Wait, it's sentient?

SPEAKER_03 6:26

No, but the damn thing is alive. Torks and everything. It'll fetch me a nice price when I get to Spectral.

SPEAKER_02 6:32

Sentient means the same thing as alive, genius.

SPEAKER_03 6:36

I was being sarcastic.

SPEAKER_02 6:39

Were you though?

SPEAKER_03 6:40

Anyway, I'm keeping the weapon. You can take him, but I'm keeping Sadanus.

SPEAKER_02 6:46

It has a name, even better.

SPEAKER_03 6:48

I'll never serve the likes of you, foul witch.

SPEAKER_02 6:51

Oh, now I have to have him. I'll take him and Satanis.

SPEAKER_03 6:55

Technically that's two of your three. If you take the other two, then I'll need extra gold.

SPEAKER_02 7:00

I already gave you extra gold. Who's the chick in the back with the hood?

SPEAKER_05 7:05

I'm Kessimartell. I don't need you saying anything on my behalf, scumbag. As soon as I get out of this cage, I'm going to stab you in the groin, twist the blade, and break it off.

SPEAKER_03 7:15

That's big talk. If you were so bad, and how do we capture you? Why don't you just stab me in my giblets then, eh?

SPEAKER_05 7:21

You kidnapped me in my sleep.

SPEAKER_02 7:23

Like cowards. What kind of rogue slumbers so lightly that she could actually get captured?

SPEAKER_05 7:28

I assume you are a rogue, yes? I prefer to say that I liberate expensive items from wealthy people who are using them incorrectly.

SPEAKER_02 7:36

Everyone's got a gimmick now. Any weapon proficiencies?

SPEAKER_05 7:40

Longbow and blades. Eh, good enough. I'll take her, Sidworth. Nobody is taking me anywhere. The minute you let me out of the cell, everybody dies.

SPEAKER_02 7:53

You're feisty. I like you, but I will kill you with less than a gesture if you don't silence yourself. You're not in charge here, understood?

SPEAKER_03 8:02

I'm not in charge here yet.

SPEAKER_02 8:05

Our last contestant is Ugh, this last one needs no introduction, Sidworth. I'd know those rainbow robes anywhere. I have to know though, how did you manage to catch the provost?

SPEAKER_03 8:16

We found him drowning in the middle of the waters near Les Row Parm.

SPEAKER_02 8:19

This is so perfect that I might be dreaming. Oliver Merlness, the infamous provost, completely powerless and under my tender mercies. How are you, old man? The last time I saw you, you were studying for final exams for our white robes.

SPEAKER_00 8:36

Always a pleasure, Marcella. You have aged poorly.

SPEAKER_02 8:41

I heard that Ursula stripped you of your powers, but then I heard that she was killed by you. I figured that you'd gotten your powers back.

SPEAKER_00 8:48

If I had my powers, do you honestly think that I would have been captured in the middle of the ocean by this pathetic lot?

SPEAKER_03 8:57

Captured? You begged us to pick you up.

SPEAKER_00 9:00

I threatened to smite you if you did not do my bidding.

SPEAKER_03 9:04

And then you put me in this cage. I put you in the cage because you wouldn't shut up. Marcella, he's all yours. M I'll give you for free. Oh, he was carrying this.

SPEAKER_02 9:16

The Book of Ellion. Wow, you've really fallen on hard magical times, old man. Sidworth, I'll take him for entertainment value alone. Seeing him try to pull his job off with no powers will be priceless.

SPEAKER_03 9:31

Done and done.

SPEAKER_02 9:32

Bring up that sword and we'll be on our way.

SPEAKER_03 9:34

More or more. Crows, you're with me. Ah, I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_06 10:10

Obey me, Stacy.

SPEAKER_02 10:17

Excellent. We have Baron, Kessa, and Oliver.

SPEAKER_06 10:20

I believe I made myself clear when I said I would never serve you with.

SPEAKER_02 10:28

Perhaps I wasn't clear. You have two choices. You can do my bidding and be handsomely rewarded, or I can kill you where you stand. Choose.

SPEAKER_06 10:45

Damn.

SPEAKER_05 10:46

That one was a little bit too real. Reward? You have my attention made. So long as it includes my freedom.

SPEAKER_02 10:52

You're assuming you'll survive this, but let's say you do survive and you are successful. I can be quite generous when I choose to be. Isn't that right, Sidworth?

SPEAKER_03 11:01

Whatever.

SPEAKER_02 11:01

Smell the roses, grumpy pirate. I'll be in touch. What do you want from us? This island is not the place for us to discuss business. I'll transport us to my shrine. You remember shrines, don't you, Oliver? You used to be able to cast those when you still wielded real power.

SPEAKER_00 11:22

Marcella, I do not believe you would know real power if it kissed you full on the lips. You have admittedly piqued my curiosity, though. Oh, how so? Your shrine. You would just allow us to know of its location. One might be tempted to visit you unannounced, if one had its location.

SPEAKER_02 11:45

Only cowards hide, Oliver. I have no rivals. And unlike you, I earned my power through study and practice.

SPEAKER_00 11:52

Marcella, you are a marginal mange. Nothing more. Please do not insult my intelligence with bloated overtures of your so-called academia.

SPEAKER_02 12:04

And I'm not going anywhere until I know what you want. All right, fine. I am sending the three of you to the royal city of Finn to kill the Queen.

SPEAKER_01 12:25

The group teleported directly into the shrine of Marcella de Rue. The provost immediately began scanning the area, trying to decipher what was magic and what was real, mostly so that he could return here and kill Marcella if need be. He found it far more difficult to discern magic from reality without the powers that he'd been given by Ursula. Marcella's shrine was like most magical shrines, extravagant, plush, and filled with a large assortment of magical artifacts, many of which were stored in a mystical vault or trophy room for safekeeping. Marcella gestured, and comfortable chairs appeared in the center of a large open area. The provost gathered the trains of his robe, brushed Lint off the chair he chose, which caused Marcella to roll her eyes, and seated himself. Braun sat down with his sheathed weapon on his lap, and Kessa chose to stand, never taking her eyes off of Marcella. Marcella had several conjured servants. However, like useless the horse, they were not real, but they were real enough to interact with the corporal world. These servants looked as authentic as anyone else living in the realm. Marcella gave them a look, and refreshments were presented to the group. Kessa and the provost took none of what was offered. Marcella, after changing out of her traveling robes, joined the group, holding a plate of conjured fruit. She seated herself and smiled.

SPEAKER_05 14:26

Can we get home with this? Why are we here?

SPEAKER_02 14:30

I already told you, you'll kill the Queen of Finn.

SPEAKER_06 14:33

You want the three of us to murder an innocent woman? I'll have no part in that. It's wrong.

SPEAKER_02 14:37

Really? Aren't you a former paladin? I'd love to know the full tale of how you fell out of favor with your god. That must be quite the story. At any rate, what you want is inconsequential. You will do this, or you will die in that chair. Besides, Satanis would probably relish the opportunity to satiate its bloodlust.

SPEAKER_06 14:59

Yes see? I'm a former paladin, yes, but I'm on the path of redemption. I will be a paladin in the service of El Shaddai once more. It was choices like this one that caused me to lose my connection with God in the first place.

SPEAKER_02 15:14

I can respect that, but suppose I told you that the woman sitting on Finn's throne was not Marlena Peros? What if I told you that even the former king, Ramses Perros, was unaware that the woman he married was not the woman he'd fallen in love with? What if I told you a shape changer has been sitting on Finn's throne since the king died at the hands of Borokane?

SPEAKER_00 15:38

That is impossible.

SPEAKER_02 15:41

Is it, Oliver? Why do you say that?

SPEAKER_00 15:43

I would have known about it.

SPEAKER_02 15:45

And yet here you sit completely clueless, completely unaware, powerless.

SPEAKER_05 15:49

And how exactly do you know that the queen is a shape changer?

SPEAKER_02 15:53

Well, I placed her there for starters. You find this amusing?

SPEAKER_00 15:59

Frankly, yes. And I will explain why. First of all, shape changes do not exactly grow on trees. The tactic of putting a doppelgang of your choosing on the throne is nothing new, but that particular gift is rare. Second, any mage worthy of their rooms would have sensed the deception long ago. And finally, the king, though certainly not magically ademed, would know his own wife. A ruse of this magnitude, no matter how well planned, would not have been sustainable for this long. Unless your shape changer.

SPEAKER_02 16:42

Genuinely believed she was the queen. I knew you'd get there eventually, Oliver. I manipulated her mind, gave her my instructions, killed the real Marlena, and put my agent in her place. Any fool can replace a king with a shapeshifter, but no one would ever suspect the queen. Or even if they did, women are generally ignored anyway, so her discovery was never a real concern for me. The plan was for her to eventually murder the king in his sleep. But the order of the dragon beat me to it. My shapeshifter assumed the throne, and I was all set to have her do my bidding.

SPEAKER_06 17:19

So what happened then?

SPEAKER_02 17:21

She woke up. My perfectly placed doppelganger suddenly remembered she was not the queen.

SPEAKER_00 17:27

But decided to keep the power.

SPEAKER_02 17:29

Exactly. My demands that she follow my orders have been largely ignored. I'm glad you're so amused, Oliver.

SPEAKER_06 17:40

Let's assume I believe you. Why not just kill her yourself? You place this woman there. Why can you not clean up your own mess? We all watched you wave your hand and execute your tyrannical will. Killing the interloper would be child's play for one such as you. Why do you even need us?

SPEAKER_00 17:56

She needs us because the magic she would use to kill the queen is traceable. The constables and arc magi of the guild would investigate the sudden death of Finn's queen. Not even Marcella's power would protect her against the focused totality of the Mage's Guild.

SPEAKER_02 18:15

Well done, Oliver. You three are capable, but expendable.

SPEAKER_05 18:20

And why do you need three of us? I'm thinking that Braun and his wicked blade would be enough to kill one shapeshifter.

SPEAKER_02 18:26

Do you have any idea how powerful a shapeshifter is? How elusive they can be once they've mastered their power? We are fortunate that my interloper has only begun to recall what she is. She's a novice, so ending her life should not pose much of a problem. However, when she learns that she can become anyone, or worse, anything, it might be impossible to remove her. I need three of you because you'll each have three unique roles. Braun is the muscle. He'll go in, draw the attention of the guards, create a distraction.

SPEAKER_06 18:59

I'm not killing anyone.

SPEAKER_02 19:07

Yeah, but he might.

SPEAKER_00 19:09

As you have been so very warm to remind me, I am powerless. What use can I possibly be to you?

SPEAKER_02 19:19

You were once considered the most powerful mage in the entire realm, and you've arguably done more since losing your powers than you did when you had them. Lots of people have tried to take down Ursula, and you actually did it.

SPEAKER_00 19:33

That was hardly done by my hand alone. I had my warrior wielding the sword of Aeon, Aeon's book and a myriad of other allies.

SPEAKER_02 19:43

Nevertheless, I want you there. There are wards around the castle that even my magic cannot detect. You know where those are. You'll point them out and make certain we gain entry without dying.

SPEAKER_00 19:55

You know, Marcella, the loss of my powers has taken a great toll on my memory. I certainly hope I do not forget anything.

SPEAKER_02 20:07

Then maybe I'll simply ask your daughter, Lisa, to assist us. I'm sure she'll do anything to save her daddy.

SPEAKER_00 20:16

First of all, it is Lysa. And it was not that long ago that my daughter wanted to kill me herself. If you send her a raven carrying a message outlining conditional terms of death for me, she may well offer to assist you.

SPEAKER_02 20:32

There are ways to get your compliance, old man. I'll find your weakness if it takes all night. Forget him. What about me? What is my role in this? You, my dear, have the greatest job of all. You're the rogue. You kill the queen. Once Oliver ensures that we safely bypass any magical ward spells, and once Braun causes a ruckus, you will casually stealth your way into the castle and kill her. We will reconvene at a predetermined location, and I will teleport us back here. And then you will be handsomely rewarded for your efforts. Get some rest. We leave at dawn.

SPEAKER_01 21:14

Marcella's conjured servants showed the group to their individual quarters. Once they were all settled, the provost found it difficult to sleep. How had he gotten himself into such a mess? Well, technically he didn't. Angelica summoned his conjured mount out from under him, and he fell into the ocean. Had he not been rescued by that pirate ship, he would have likely drowned. And Marcella de Rue, he hadn't seen her since he was a young mage. He'd never considered her a threat. But that was before he lost his powers. The fact that she had casted a shrine was proof of her abilities. It wasn't so much the Casting of the shrine as much as it was maintaining the shrine once it was casted. Only the most powerful of mages had the willpower to maintain a shrine. Marcella was the youngest mage that the Provost had ever seen achieve this. He walked the halls of the shrine, and before long he found himself standing in front of her trophy room. All mages' shrines had them, trophies taken from battles or exploits that the mage had won, or magical artifacts handed down from prior mentors or masters. Something in the back corner caught his eye. He was about to take a closer look when he was suddenly interrupted.

SPEAKER_02 22:49

A denarius for your thoughts, Oliver.

SPEAKER_00 22:52

I was admiring your trophy room. You have quite the collection of powerful toys, my dear.

SPEAKER_02 22:59

It has to be frustrating, wielding the power you once held and now being reduced to scavenging for magic dust, or relying on a book of fables written by men who believed that they had met the one true god. How does this thing even work anyway?

SPEAKER_00 23:14

Do you honestly believe that if I knew the subtleties of Elyon's book, that would we be standing here having this conversation? You would be quite cadaverous, my dear.

SPEAKER_02 23:27

You know, I can give you back your old powers.

SPEAKER_00 23:29

What makes you think that I would even want them back? You said yourself that I have done far more without those abilities than I ever did with them.

SPEAKER_02 23:39

Stop it, of course you want them. Once one has tasted filet, can one really return to ground beef?

SPEAKER_00 23:47

And why not? The same animal dies the other way. Besides, I have power. Elion's power.

SPEAKER_02 23:55

No, Ellion has power. You have a book of fictional stories that speak about Ellion having power, and right now you don't even have that.

SPEAKER_00 24:03

I do hope this little monologue of yours reaches an eventual crescendo. One are you really offering?

SPEAKER_02 24:11

Ambrosia.

SPEAKER_00 24:14

Nectar of the Gauns. You chide me for carrying a book of fables, and then offer me fables of your own.

SPEAKER_02 24:22

I'm telling you the truth. Would you deny yourself real power?

SPEAKER_00 24:28

To what end? You give me power, and then what? I become your minion. I have already bent the knee to a powerful yet delusional woman. I know how this ends, Marcella. Thank you, but I will pass.

SPEAKER_02 24:46

Sleep on it. Once this bit of small business with my interloper is complete, I have greater aspirations in my purview. I could use someone with your knowledge of magic at my side.

SPEAKER_01 24:58

Marcella then turned and walked away from the provost, signaling, at least from her perspective, that the matter was closed. The provost quietly admitted to himself that he was tempted by her offer, and the admission of that internal conflict bothered him. She was right, he did miss the power, even though he knew that reliance on Elion's power was far greater than anything he had ever experienced. But the power was not his. He liked control, even if at the end of the day it was an illusion. While this was going on, Kessa Martell was learning more about Braun Brightkeep. She was standing in the shadows, observing him as he appeared to be searching for a way out of the shrine. To no avail, it seemed.

SPEAKER_05 25:51

I hate to be the one to tell you this, big guy, but there's really no way out of here.

SPEAKER_06 25:55

I don't believe you.

SPEAKER_05 25:57

No, that's funny. I've been standing here watching you for the last fifteen minutes, and you aren't any closer to finding an exit than you were when you started.

SPEAKER_06 26:04

No, we're aligned there. That isn't the part I don't believe. Then what don't you believe? The part about you hating to tell me. Ah, it laughs after all.

SPEAKER_05 26:14

It does when it hears something funny, and apparently the brooding expeladin isn't always brooding.

SPEAKER_06 26:20

No, he's not, but he has admittedly forgotten what joy feels like.

SPEAKER_05 26:24

That was more honesty than I was anticipating. You must think I want to be your friend.

SPEAKER_06 26:29

After only one successful attempt at humor, I wouldn't dream of it. Two now for those keeping score. I have no issue sharing my feelings with someone I believe I can trust. You barely know me. I know your type. Oh, do you now? This should be entertaining. Explain. You're a rogue. You keep that hood over your head to hide what I'm assuming are elven features? Your skin is dark, which makes you a dark elf. If you weren't a dark elf, you'd lower your hood so we could see how amazingly beautiful you are. Hey, that's three. Since you're a dark elf who's living on the surface as opposed to the underdark, you come from either a house that has been recently defeated or disgraced. You may be a rogue, but you haven't been one for very long. What makes you say that? Your clothes are too cheap for one. The only things you carry that are worth any gold are your weapons. And from what I saw when those pirates stripped them from you, they were not forged by anything human. Go on. You're good at killing things, but you only do it if you have to. You don't want to steal, but you will if you get hungry enough. You're an elf, so that makes you both old by human standards and young by elven ones. I imagine you're no more than seventy, seventy-five at the most. Not even an adult yet. You're still finding your way in the world. Anything else? One last thing. I believe you could have killed every single one of those pirates, and perhaps even our current captor, but you're intrigued to see how this scenario will play out. You're undecided as to whether or not you'll kill the shape changer posing as the Queen of Finn or Marcella DeRue. But kill them you could, if you so decided. Am I close?

SPEAKER_05 28:05

Oh, don't ask for confirmation, Bronn. Rune's mystique. That's not a no. Okay. My turn. Oh, I'm listening. Bronn Brightkeep. That's original. Your real name is probably Stanley. That's one for me. In fact, neither Bron nor Brightkeep is your real name. You did grow up in the church, though. You were adopted. That's why your name doesn't feel real. That's why you became a paladin. Your entire family is involved in the church, in some capacity. You aren't cut out to be a priest, so you chose the next best thing. Your scars tell me that you either haven't figured out how to cast healing on yourself, simply haven't the ability, or worse, you carry around those scars as some sort of self-inflicted penance. You wield a sword that can speak, but has a completely different alignment than you do. That weapon is a curse. I don't know what you allegedly did, but whatever it was, it got you banished from the church, separated from your family. You were fighting them because you won't back in, and they won't let you back in. You won't kill because you did kill. And if my mouth is right, the soul of the person you murdered is stuck in the sword, and your punishment is to carry it. A literal cross to bear. That's a tough path to walk.

SPEAKER_06 29:26

But walk it I must. Well done, Kessa Martel. You were nearly perfect in your guesses. What I miss. Sathanus is certainly a curse, but only to those who would oppose me. Part of my redemption will be redeeming him, too.

SPEAKER_05 29:40

You could have easily fought your way off that pirate ship. You could have fought Marcella, probably even killed her.

SPEAKER_06 29:45

You're not wrong, but killing is what got me into this predicament in the first place.

SPEAKER_05 29:50

You're committing suicide of a kind, aren't you? You could fight your way out of this, but in some twisted way you think you deserve this fate. You're planning to go into Finn and die during the distraction you cause. I can see that your bodily scars aren't the only ones you have chosen not to heal. I'd love to hear that story sometime, assuming you decide to stick around.

SPEAKER_06 30:10

You must think I want to be your friend.

SPEAKER_05 30:13

Yes. I do.

SPEAKER_01 30:25

The next morning the group teleported to a nearby outskirt of the royal city of Finn. The provost was visibly anxious. He did not like being at the mercies of anyone else. Least of all, a meagerly talented blood mage, whose foolhardy mission would get innocent people killed. Kessa stood unperturbed, and Braun appeared equally nonplussed. Marcella, like a child before the winter solstice, was smiling with wicked anticipation.

SPEAKER_05 31:00

Apologies for stating the obvious, but that place is a fortress. Are we really only sending in one person to cause a disturbance?

SPEAKER_02 31:07

My illusion magic will cause the guards to believe that Braun is 500 men. I once used this spell when Gath was at war with Spectral. It is quite the spectacle to see grown men swinging war hammers at the air in front of them, believing all the while that they're fighting real beings. One of the few wars that Gath has lost in its storied history was to Spectral, and Spectral had the smallest battalion in Welkin. Then why even send him in at all?

SPEAKER_05 31:36

If your magic is so powerful, then why do you need us?

SPEAKER_02 31:40

Not that I need to explain myself to you, but illusion magic in and of itself is useless. The mind needs something real to buy into and believe the illusion. Think of it like lies. The best lies always contain a large amount of truth. And where is the false queen?

SPEAKER_05 31:56

How will I know who she is?

SPEAKER_02 31:58

Oh, I don't know. Maybe look at the person dressed in royal robes sitting on a large throne.

SPEAKER_00 32:03

The queen will have decoys, Marcella. This will be all for naught if Kessa murders the wrong false queen.

SPEAKER_02 32:12

Hand me your weapon, Kessa.

SPEAKER_01 32:13

Marcella took Kessa's short sword, took a handful of dust from a pouch on her rope belt, sprinkled it over the blade, whispered a few arcane words, and then handed the weapon back to Kessa.

SPEAKER_02 32:28

There, I have given your weapon a temporary enchantment. It can detect magic within a twelve foot radius. To shape shifters, it causes a flicker in their ability to hold a false shape. When you see that, that is your target.

SPEAKER_06 32:41

I assume we'll meet back here after this is finished.

SPEAKER_02 32:44

Not you, Braun. Your distraction will have the guards in hot pursuit. I will line of sight teleport you out of the city. After that we'll make our way here and then teleport to my shrine.

SPEAKER_01 32:55

The provost knew that Marcella was lying, but he said nothing. Very few mages in history ever grew powerful enough to cast teleportation. Fewer still could cast mass teleportation. Teleportation required the bending of both time and space. The slightest of mistakes could cause the mage to rematerialize inside of a wall, or some other undesirable locale. Further, because the mage was also bending time, this could cause the mage to rematerialize in the past or even the future. The provost, while wielding Ursula's dark magic, had mastered the skill of teleportation. And even he knew better than to disturb the timeline. Teleporting another person at all, assuming they were perfectly still, was a feat in and of itself. Teleporting a person that was moving, however, even a short distance, was akin to throwing a pebble at a raven, but not with the intent to hit the bird, but rather to rest the pebble on its wings, without the bird ever noticing. It was a virtual impossibility for all but the most powerful of spellcasters. Marcella looked at the provost, daring him to say what they both knew that only they understood. Braun was a sacrificial lamb. And if that were so, chances are Kessa would also die before the day was over, or be captured by the Finn guards. And the only reason he was not dead yet was because she wanted him to serve her, as he had Ursula. He had to figure something out, and soon.

SPEAKER_02 34:51

Gather round. This is a map of the city.

SPEAKER_06 34:54

I see several points of entry, which I assume are well guarded. How do you want me to enter? And again, I'm fine with creating a disturbance if it leads to the removal of an interloper from the throne, but I will not kill. If you require me to kill, then I cannot continue with this mission, even if it means my death.

SPEAKER_02 35:12

Relax, none of us in this circle knows the address to the moral high ground. I don't need you to kill. I need you to survive long enough to give Kessa her window. Cause whatever sort of distraction you wish. Just make sure it creates the opportunity for Kessa to strike, understood? Now, as far as where we can safely enter, that is where our rainbow robed friend here comes in. Oliver, I need you to identify the ward spells and their locations on this map.

SPEAKER_00 35:41

Identify them with one my winning personality. I am powerless without Elion's book, which you have yet to return to me. And even with it I cannot guarantee there's a verse of scripture that will unveil magical ward spells. The book does not work like that.

SPEAKER_02 36:01

Relax, chicken little, the sky is still in place.

SPEAKER_01 36:04

The provost watched as Marcella opened another pouch on her belt, this time sprinkling glowing sand into her palm.

SPEAKER_00 36:13

Heron's beard. I have never before seen magic dust of that calibre. I assume that is what this is.

SPEAKER_02 36:22

You assume correctly, old man. Only this dust is from the fires of Rodana herself.

SPEAKER_05 36:28

Who's Rodonna?

SPEAKER_00 36:29

Rodonna is believed to be the mother of all red dragons. It was her fires that began the war of the dragons. The war that made dragons extinct. That dust is easily ten centuries old. How did you acquire it?

SPEAKER_02 36:46

Another time, Oliver. For now, take this dust and cast unveil to reveal the ward locations. If I hear anything come out of your mouth other than a ward reveal spell.

SPEAKER_00 36:57

Yes, yes, I know. I suppose with that veiled threads you would have no threats at home. Alana Yeshua El Shadai. It is done.

SPEAKER_02 37:12

Interesting. Is this all of them?

SPEAKER_00 37:14

Oh, I would never even dream of deceiving one as powerful as you, Marcella. I assure you, this is all of the ward locations that I am aware of.

SPEAKER_02 37:27

Braun, make your way through the west entrance. I'll cast my illusion spell once you're inside the city walls. Kessa, unfortunately there appears to be no safe route to the Queen. Once Braun causes the distraction, you'll have mere moments to get in, strike, and then get out. Does everyone understand? Good luck and Godspeed.

SPEAKER_01 37:47

Braun and Kessa made way towards the city. Once inside, Braun ran up to the first guard he saw, tickled it, and then ran away, laughing. As the other guards exchanged odd glances, they chased after Braun.

SPEAKER_07 38:08

Hey, catch me if you can. Too slow. Oh, oh, almost. Oh, snap, you know. Oh, you can't catch me. You can't no, too slow. Whoa, whoa, watch out.

SPEAKER_01 38:24

Braun, you idiot. Kessa simply shook her head and quietly admired Braun for staying true to his word to not hurt anyone. He had to keep both hands tightly around Sayathanus, she noticed, as the sword was angrily trying to free itself, hissing furiously. Braun was also pretty agile for a man his size. She tugged her hood tight and slipped past the guards, while Braun had their undivided attention. What she found to be oddly curious was that Braun still only appeared to be one man, not the illusion army that Marcella had promised. No matter, she had her own business to attend to. Kessa unsheathed her freshly enchanted shortsword and stepped casually past the citizens of the city, as they amused themselves, delighting in the spectacle, no idea that it had murderous implications. She closed her eyes briefly, calling to her mind the map that Marcella had shown them, trying to discern the most likely places that the queen would be. She crept down a long hallway and up a large flight of stairs, assuming that she'd be near a window at a high vantage point to see what all the commotion was about. As she turned a corner, her intuitions were rewarded, or so she thought. She did see a strikingly beautiful woman wearing the royal garments one would expect of a queen. Standing behind that person, however, was a simple woman in functional, comfortable clothing. This woman had the grey hairs and signs of aging that were likely caused by the heavy toll that would come from ruling a kingdom. The simple woman confirmed Kessa's suspicions when she asked the splendidly dressed woman what she could see, as opposed to simply looking out the window herself.

SPEAKER_05 40:36

Found you, Your Highness. And your decoy, too. Ah, well, I guess I'm getting two for the price of one today.

SPEAKER_01 40:44

While this was going on now to cast my where is it?

SPEAKER_00 40:49

Where is my looking for something?

SPEAKER_02 40:52

What have you done with my belt?

SPEAKER_00 40:54

Oh. Do you mean this belt? The braided cord that contains all of your pouches, trinkets, and magical artifacts. The belt that I am now wearing is this what you seek?

SPEAKER_02 41:09

Take that belt off now and give it back to me. How did you even get it from my waist?

SPEAKER_00 41:14

Just because I once wielded powers granted to me by Ursula does not mean that the magic casted itself. I had to study, my dear, for years. One does not accidentally become powerful. Unless, of course, that one is you, it seems.

SPEAKER_02 41:36

What? What do you mean? What are you implying?

SPEAKER_00 41:39

You know, you almost had me fooled. Teleportation, a shrine, a dispel magic enchantment. You casted things that only the most powerful of arcmagi ever corn. And yet you were at best a C plus student during our time at study in our youth. You gave away the location of your shrine without so much as half a care. That told me there was no way you could have spent the years learning to cast it. You had to have done it with borrowed powers. Your trophy room confirmed my suspicions, as did your proposal to have me join you. A real mage would not need nor desire any others. I assumed you had a powerful staff, a spellbook or something that granted you power that you had not earned. You kept going on and on about it. Typically that is a sign of envy. Further, I suspect that the queen is actually still the queen. Your plan was never to kill a doppelganger. Your plan was to murder the real queen, and then use your stolen illusion magic to assume her place after you had slain all of us. The culmination of your borrowed power all the way to Welkin's throne it would seem. A well crafted plan. Points for creativity, certainly.

SPEAKER_02 43:16

Well done, old man. I'm going to have to kill you now.

SPEAKER_00 43:20

Oh, please do. I am looking forward to seeing what spell you use to do end. You disappoint me, Marcella. It would seem the only fraud here is you. Name more dawn coisons. Ah, that was. Rather satisfying. Now then, time to prevent the murder of an innocent queen and save a former paladin from certain death.

SPEAKER_01 44:10

Using the Rodana magic dust, the provost began casting mental magics. In one stroke, he caused the guards to forget they'd ever seen Braun. He also made Kessa forget that she was there to kill the queen. He did not attempt to do anything with Sayathanus, however, and wisely so. Kessa simply sheathed her blade and went about her business. Braun caught up with her and appeared to talk his way into keeping her company. The Provost made a mental note to keep tabs on them. They could prove useful in the future. After a brief survey of the royal city grounds to confirm that all was well, the provost returned to an unconscious Marcella. The Provost arrived at the wizard's jail and handed Marcella off to the warden of mages. As he was turning to leave, the warden spoke to him.

SPEAKER_04 45:14

This was all she had, Oliver? A rope belt, a copy of the book of El Yon, some pouches with herbs, and an enchanted map of the royal city? Nothing more? And and no real powers of her own.

SPEAKER_00 45:30

You would be amazed at what one talented mage can pull off with the right tools, Warden. True.

SPEAKER_04 45:37

Though I honestly wonder if she should be kept here. This is a prison for mages with powers, Oliver. She can do nothing.

SPEAKER_00 45:46

Warden, this woman very nearly killed the Queen of Finn with a pouch of dust. This is precisely where she needs to be. I would make her digest silver as well, just on general principle. She was likely a blood mage at the height of her powers. Blood mages tend to be very resourceful, Warden. You're you're right, Oliver.

SPEAKER_04 46:11

I forgive my ignorant thinking.

SPEAKER_00 46:14

Warden, you are being too hard on yourself. By definition, you are certainly correct. She is indeed powerless. Now, chances are she lost whatever power she had long ago. But she is certainly resourceful, which is magic of a sort in its own right. Marcella DeRue has been sustaining herself with magical weapons, totems, and tools of the arcane. She had some magic dust as well, but she used the last of it to enchant the map of the royal city. The Book of Elion, though, was mine.

SPEAKER_04 46:51

Oh, then then let me get that for you.

SPEAKER_00 46:54

No. Keep it. I was not getting the desired results from it, to be honest.

SPEAKER_04 47:02

Okay. I'll get her processed. Say the Queen, Oliver, you're a hero. Again.

SPEAKER_01 47:10

Oh, it's all in a day's work, my friend. The provost exited the wizard's jail, smiling as he clutched the pouch of Rodana's magic dust that he had kept hidden within his rainbow robes. Dust that he had conveniently forgotten about when the warden asked if he had turned over everything. He used it to teleport back to Marcella's shrine, immediately making way towards the trophy room. The thing that had caught his eye earlier was a large golden throne. He had never seen its like before. He eased himself into it and looked around at the vast array of magical items suddenly at his disposal. He then smiled to himself and said, I'm back.