Log:Princesses' Guard Revived, Scene 2

Princesses' Guard Revived 2014/04/02 	 Ghost Titan

2

Undermoon Embassy
Atop the rocky cliff near the end of the bridge stands the tiny "fairy tale" castle that serves as the Undermoon embassy. It's no larger than a large house, and its great front gate (with drawbridge to cross a decorative moat) is only the size of a normal door. Its slender towers are topped with graceful spires from which fly pennants of many colours and designs, but chiefly of purple and silver. Over the main gate hangs a rectangular flag of the same colour.

That's the outside. As soon as one passes through the gate it's another story - the castle is vast, the walls tall, the spires tower above the courtyard! Various buildings of the same graceful architectural style are found among the gardens of exotic flora, and the place is busy with staff, both human and fae.

Revelations
There's no trouble getting in to the embassy this time. The guards seem to have been advised of Titan's expected arrival and pass you through with the information that Ghost is in the PG quarters.

Titan heads into the building to look for Ghost, not really speaking to any of the embassy staff longer than he has to on the way.

Ghost hears you coming before you even reach the door, so she's already standing and moving over towards the door as you approach, opening the door prior to you reaching it. "Johnathan, thank you for coming at such short notice." She says. Her delight at seeing you is obvious, but there does appear to be a slight hint of apprehension too.

Titan smiles. "No problem." He pauses a moment, reading your face, "Everything okay?"

Ghost smiles back and takes a step to snuggle into your arms if you allow it. "I hope so. I'm just not sure how you'll... Lets go inside, Johnathan. We need to speak in private."

Titan doesn't do anything to stop you. He puts his arms around you comfortingly. He chuckles quietly, "That sounds kind of ominous. But okay. Let's go talk."

Ghost leads you inside and closes the door. Summoning a Messenger she instructs it to go astral and warn her if anyone is watching or listening. Then she pours you a glass of wine and gestures to the couch, "Sit down, Johnathan."

Titan takes a seat on the couch and watches Ghost curiously, but he doesn't say anything.

Ghost paces back and forth a couple of times. Then she stops and looks at you, "Johnathan, in a few days time the engagement of Princess Stephanie to Duke Vanatherion of Westmarch will be announced." she tells you.

Titan takes a deep breath, and then noticeably relaxes...though he still looks at least a little on-edge. "Ah. Well, not as...dire as I was imagining in my head."

(editors note: The engagement of Princess Stephanie to Duke Vanatherion is not public knowledge, and will not be until a formal announcement by the Undermoon Court.)

Ghost nods and sits beside you, taking your hand in hers if allowed. "I've been informed prior to the announcement as her Highness wishes me to assist with security for the engagement period and the wedding. The union will bring more stability to the Kingdom. Duke Vanatherion is a courageous and honorable man. However his appointment to the Duchy of Westmarch was not without some controversy. There were older traditionalist claiments with equally valid claims. You know of the resistance to the Princess of course. My analysis is that once the union is fact the progressive fraction will be advanced in influence. Which means the traditionalists will oppose this by any and all means at their disposal. And of course, although the goblin threat has been suppressed ex-Duke Palanir is still at large."

Titan takes another deep breath, letting Ghost take his hand. "How does Stephanie feel about the Duke?"

Ghost says, "I took the liberty of asking the Princess that, Johnathan. Yes, there is a political element in the union. It comes with royal blood. It was the same on Sercia. But she does feel for him, and I'm sure he feels for her. You've met him. He was the Fae who we escorted on a tour of the city. He used the name Ellasse. She pointed out that after what happened to her mother, Princess Liandere would drag her off to some far distant realm rather than allow the same thing to happen to her daughter."

Titan nods. "As long as it isn't purely political." He then grimaces, "I kind of hope Palanir shows up again. I didn't really get a chance to get my hands on him last time. He ran away instead."

Ghost smiles and gently squeezes your hand in hers. "I'm kind of hoping your presence will encourage him to stay away, Johnathan. But that brings me to another aspect of this. The princess wishes to revive the Princesses' Guard. Partly to provide additional security prior to and during the wedding, but mostly to forefil her desire to have a functioning Hero team assisting the security of the Embassy and the City. Her Highness has asked me to attend to this. However I've been spending much of my time on Undermoon, and will have to continue to do so as that's where any threats to her Highness and Vanatherion will be. So I have little knowledge of the current Earth metas. Will you join, Johnathan? And if you will, can I delegate most of the task of selecting other members to you?"

Titan blinks, thinking about that. "I'll happily join again to help out. I'm just not sure about who to select to join, to be honest. We had a fair amount of friction on the team last time."

Ghost nods, "Yes. In the end the only person I could count on and trust unhesitatingly was you, Johanthan. Sukeban was probably the next most trustworthy. If only she controlled her powers more. Scrapper never seemed to get the Princesses' concept."

Titan chuckles. "Well, you knew how to phrase things to get me to respond, unlike Scrapper."

Ghost grins, "She did keep me on my toes though. But that is what we must try to avoid, having the team pulled in different directions. There's always some rough edges when a team is put together. The making or breaking of the team comes from whether those rough edges are smoothed over or whether they get sharper and more jagged with time."

Titan smiles slightly, "I kind of felt like it got sorted out eventually. More or less, at least."

Ghost nods. "I'll try and get some possible names for the new team, Johnathan. I'm going to try and persuade Anthony Quinn to join us. Obviously he can't be a part of any Undermoon activities but he has impressed me with what I've seen. Do you think that would be wise?"

Titan nods. "He was certainly very helpful when he was around. I think he'd be a good choice."

Ghost says, "What do you know of Harlequin, Johnathan? He is a powerful mage, and has seemed helpful on the rare occasions I've seen him, but I really know little about him."

Titan tilts his head and rubs his chin with his free hand. "If he's willing, he's worth asking. Everything I've seen from him in action seems to indicate he's a team player, with perhaps a mischeivous streak."

Ghost nods, "Team players are what we want. All of the members of the old team were capable of fairly awesome talents, Johnathan. It was lack of a team spirit that was the problem in my view."

Titan nods. "Yeah, but it's going to need some kind of affinity for magic, too. Or at least a willingness to work with it."

Ghost says, "Yes. You're right. Although not all, in fact probably not the majority, of the team activities will be taking place on Undermoon or in the Embassy. The Princess wants to make the team a general hero team. I suspect like the ones she herself was in before being acknowledged as a Princess. When the team is involved in activities in the city magic may not be a factor. Also the Princess will be taking a much more hands off approach. She'll be moving to reside in the Duchy of Westmarch rather than at the Embassy where the team will be based."

Titan nods. "Ah." He pauses again to consider that, looking at the floor for a moment, "I suppose that makes sense." Unsurprisingly, he still looks a little conflicted when it comes to the Princess.

Ghost squeezes Johnathan's hand again, understanding his conflicted emotions. "The announcement will be made in a few days. Until then the information is confidential. You needed to know now however. Oh, I'm having the Embassy enchanter change the linking of the PG communicators, so they work on a different, uh, frequency I guess you can call it. We'll be able to communicate without anyone overhearing us."

Titan nods. "To make sure the old ones can't listen in?"

Ghost smiles and nods, "Yes, exactly."

Titan rubs his temple lightly, considering. "How many people were you considering for the team?"

Ghost says, "I don't have any fixed ideas on that. At least four, but ideally rather more than that, to allow for the fact some won't be able to be full time participants. I suspect the limiting factor will be suitability rather than numbers."

Titan nods. "I guess...I better start compiling a list of possible candidates."

Ghost smiles, "Why don't you give that some thought on Undermoon? I'm sleeping on Undermoon to take advantage of the time difference. Eight hours there is less than an hour on Earth. I'm due some sleep now as it happens, since I've been dealing with various issues for about twenty subjective hours. I'd enjoy some good company."

Titan quirks a smile. "I only need to sleep about...an hour and a half a day. But sure, I'll join you. It'd be nice for a change of pace."

Ghost rests her head against your shoulder, "Are you going to be alright, Johnathan?" she asks quietly. "I think we could all see this coming, the Princess and Duke Vanatherion I mean, but even so it must still be a shock to have it confirmed."

Titan nods, thinking about it for a long moment. "Yeah, I saw it coming. And I knew it was likely to happen. And I'd be a liar if I hadn't considered the possibility at one time of remaining her lover even after she married." He looks down at the floor and then closes his eyes, "I'm not that kind of person, though. It wouldn't be fair to the Duke. Or to you, for that matter. Not that we had anything going when I was thinking about this, mind you."

Ghost nods, her head moving gainst your shoulder, "The Duke is a good man. Under other circumstances I think you'd like him, Johnathan. I think they will be happy together, which is good because this union is unquestioningly political. The moment Stephanie was acknowledged by her grandfather her choices became limited. Especially as her sense of duty is so strong. Be happy for her that she has found joy despite that limited choice. So few in her position do. As evidenced by her mother's experiences."

Titan smiles slightly, "That's true. At least she has a chance to be happy, assuming the Duke is as he seems. That's something. I'll be okay. Really, I will. I apologize in advance if I'm irritable until the wedding, though."

Ghost says, "I investigated Vanatherion thoroughly after his heroism at Sorrysgate, Johnathan. I recommended his appointment to the Duchy. Although the decision had alreay been made before my report was received by the court. But I thought he was the right choice. And if you are irritable I shall make allowences for it. You know, Johanthan, despite my adoption into the House of Nariliin I remain low-born. I do not in any way envy the high born their privileges for they come at a fearsomely high price."

Ghost smiles, "I'll see if I can find someone for you to take your irritation out on. Palanir for instance."

Titan chuckles. "Palanir would be welcome distraction, I freely admit. He needs a pounding."

Ghost says, "I shall see what I can do."

Ghost stands and holds out her hand, "To Undernoon?"

Titan smiles and stands up as well. He nods and takes your hand.