The Stolen Sword Session 1

Princess Guard - The New Era 2017/23/03 	 Titan Natasha Wolf 41

''editor's note: This event occurs after the Princess Guard confronted a group of dwarves secretly building a dimensional portal in Colonial Bay City. (That plot was run by Charm.)''

Back to the Embassy
After the almost fiasco with the dwarves, which is likely to have diplomatic consequences, the members of the PG team are asked via team communicators to return to the embassy.

Ghost sighs, "Don't worry. If there's any fallout over this I'll isolate you from it. I was on site for once. I made the decision and I'll take whatever consequences might occur. The rest of you, excluding Daemon, did a fine job."

Titan raises a brow, "What kinds of consequences are likely?"

Wolf looks up at Ghost worriedly, hoping she won't get into too much trouble, his shaggy brows furrowed and his tail swishing too and fro.

Ghost gestures back at the store, "We engaged a group from a theoretically friendly to Undermoon nation. It was necessary given the situation. The dwarves were about to activate the portal, with unknown results. But diplomatically it's a bit of a mess."

Ghost shrugs, "Anyway, back to the Embassy."

Titan takes a deep breath. "Are we so sure that they really didn't know what they were doing? Everything about this...just feels wrong."

Wolf looks back and forth from Titan to Ghost, his whiskers twitching thougtfully as he wonders.

Ghost nods to Johnathan, "The Embassy mage is an officious jerk, Johnathan. But he's skilled and knowledgable. I wouldn't bet against him. If he says it is dangerous to open a un-natural portal he's probably right. We stopped the dwarves opening their portal without doing any safety checks. I'm going to suggest, as I did to the dwarves, that a group of three examine the situation. A dwarven expert, a Fae expert, and a human. This is your world. You ought to get a say, Johnathan. Human's I mean."

Titan nods. "I agree with that. I'm sure we can find a dimensional science expert in the city someplace. But I'm just saying that I can understand the dwarves' stance too. There were a lot of assumptions made. On both sides."

Ghost nods, "I can understand their stance too. If the consensus of the expert panel is that their portal is safe I'd support their right to open it. But until then... Well, this world is my second home, and you live here. I'd rather not see it scattered over a thousand dimensions."

Wolf pauses for a moment, tryin intently to imagine what that scattering would be like.

Titan nods.

Back at the PG quarters in the Embassy Princess Liandere is waiting with the new librarian and one of Ghost's covert operatives (a spy). The Princess turns first to Ghost, "You're stirred up a mess. Knowing you I expect it was required but you need to go to the Palace and brief the King." she says. Then looking at Titan and the other members of PG she adds, "Meanwhile there's a task that requires quick resolution. Jolran, explain the problem please."

The so easy to overlook Fae agent nods, "Yes, your highness." he answers. "Duke Thallion of Rilland, of the House of Galnendil, is in danger of becoming dishonored. A thief has stolen the Galnendil House Sword. If this becomes public knowledge the Duke will lose all honor. He'll be disgraced."

Wolf's ears perk up and swivel to point to Jolran, and he arranges all four limbs one at time to quickly face that direction.

Titan nods slowly as he remembers a little bit about Duke Thallion and his attempts to court the Princess. "Any suggestions on where to start looking for it? Investigations aren't exactly my strong suit, but I think we can manage.

The Princess adds detail, "Duke Thallion is an honorable person. He is one of the more progressive of the Dukes. Although I'm afraid not almong the brightest. I believe you encountered him once, Titan. He visited Earth to pay suite to my daughter."

The librarian speaks up, "Yes, Ableman Titan. The embassy mage has scried the sword's location. It's here on Earth. Perhaps not surprising. No Fae would be so honor lost to purchase it."

Wolf tilts his shaggy head to one side, wondering where it is, or, where someone could even attempt to hide such a thing from scrying. ..

Titan nods to the librarian, "Where is it located?"

The Princess hands Titan a scroll, "The details of where and who are contained within. The castle in which the sword is located belongs to someone described as a Drug Baron. It appears to be fortified."

Titan nods and takes a look at the scroll. "A drug baron? Interesting."

The librarian adds, "My researches indicate that this person has purchased immunity from the local guard."

The Princess nods, "This is a matter pertaining to internal Fae security. I am thus extending diplomatic immunity to you all for this mission."

Wolf blinks and tilts his head at a forty-five degree angle, wondering what such a person would possibly want with the Duke's sword, or, how such a person even found out about it. . . . perhaps they are (also) an armaments collector?

The mansion is in the wilds of South America, away from anywhere. Access (conventionally) by helocopter only

The librarian looks at the Princess. He coughs meaningfully. "Ah am. The other matter, highness?" he prompts.

Titan raises a brow and looks to the Princess to see what the other issue is.

Princess Liandere frowns. Then reluctantly nods, "Very well. If I'm to support the changes my daughter is introductiong I must be flexible myself." she says more to herself than anyone else. Then she looks at Titan, "I'm informed there is a dragon residing in Colonial Bay. One known as Natasha? Once, a long long time ago, long before my father was born, according to the oldest and most ancient records," she pauses to throw a frown at the librarian, "as I have been informed, dragons were considered friends. I cannot imagine it myself.. but if you can: take this dragon with you. Watch it carefully, and report if you believe an easing of tensions is possible."

Titan nods. "Of course. But I'd say that at the moment, I'm optimistic that it's possible. Just based on what I've seen up to this point, including the work of Harlequin."

"The Firebird Carriage awaits." the Princess says.

Wolf wags, though a bit uncertainly, having only ever flown with his trusted friend Pulsar. Firebird Carriage, hmmm. ..

. . . Wolf looks over the strange convenence, curiously. ..

Titan heads out toward the carriage, "Well, I guess we'll see how this goes."

The goblin driver leans over the side to welcome you. "Where to. I'm told you may be picking up someone in the city?"

Titan nods, "I believe you're correct." He gives the driver the necessary instructions.

The goblin flicks the reins gently but it's more his voice than any control from the reins that gets the firebird up and pulling the carriage to the destination requested by Titan.

Natasha is waiting for the carriage outside Lucky Finds. Excitement! A magic vehicle pulled by a magic bird, and adventure awaiting!

Natasha flies to the carriage, giving its occupants a wave with her forefoot.

Titan waves, "Natasha, right? Nice to meet you."

Wolf wags happily to see Natasha again, and he barks out his greetings while placing his forepaws up against the ledge.

The goblin driver shouts, "Where to next? The castle where the sword is?"

Natasha nods to Titan, and waves to Wolf. `And hops in!

Wolf scoots over to make room.

Titan calls out, "Yeah, let's head there!" He contemplates the 'team' that's assembled. Himself, a wolf and a small dragon. It feels sort of like 'The Beastmaster'.

Natasha doesn't really need much room; she perches on the back of a seat so she can see out the windows.

Wolf then sticks his head out of the -other- side of the carriage, so that he can "smell things faster" as they fly, his fur smooshed back and his ears fluttering with the speed of their flight.

South America - Jungle Base
The firbird carriage never seems to go especially fast. Nevertheless it covers distance in a remarkable short time. So it's not long before the drug baron's mansion is in sight. There's two outhouses, a main building, and a perimeter wall. Keen vision can observe rifle toting men walking around the top of the thick wall. The surrounding terrain is heavy forest with a 20 yard cleared area butting up to the base of the wall.

Wolf wags excitedly to smell the strange and exotic vapours of the lush and vibrant jungle forest.

Titan looks to the other two. "I don't have much of a plan. My suggestion is...I go up to the front gate and distract them. Worst case scenario, it'll turn into a firefight, and they'll hopeuflly concentrate on me. Then you two can go into the compound via another method and retrieve the sword. Seem reasonable?"

Natasha nods! Although playing with men with guns can be fun too. They always look so funny if you bite their guns in two!

Wolf nods, once, and begins to think of specific elements aligned with Titan's directives. IF the sword has a "magic" aura, he'd be able to smell that. IF not, how to find where it's hidden? Hm....

Natasha is also hoping to be able to smell the sword!

The goblin driver asks, "Where do you want me to put you down?"

. . . would it be in a display case? Or in a safe? Hm...

Titan says, "I'd say if you can find a landing spot that's not in that immediate cleared area."

Titan says, "The others need to be able to flank around without being spotted."

The goblin driver shakes his head, "I can't land in that heavy a forest. I can slow down so you can jump out?"

Titan says, "That'll work, I think."

Natasha nods.

Natasha gets ready to jump - well, fly - out!

The firebird carriage drops low over the canopy of the forest and slows to a virtual crawl.

Titan jumps down through the canopy, assuming he'll just bounce off or break through any branches.

Wolf looks at the diminutive dragon speculatively, wondering if Nat could carry an extra 23 kilos. Not wishing to offend, he gladly takes Titan up on Titan's offer.

Titan makes sure to protct Wolf on the way down, shielding with his body.

Natasha launches herself from the carriage and quickly flies down to the cover of the trees.