Log:The Baron's Gift

2014/05/26 	 Anthony Quinn|Anthony Jennifer Jessica

1

City of Undermoon, Fae Realm of Undermoon
This is a medieval city overlooked by large castle on hilltop. But clean and tidy and no bad smells. The people seem busy but mostly contented. Horses and pedestrians share the narrow streets. Shops display goods outside with little fear of thieves.

Quinn meets with the Embassy postmaster to request transportation to Undermoon. While his Fae is far from flawless he has picked up a good degree of fluency in the language. Because of the nature of the meeting he has left both his armor and his force field suit at home, electing for more standard casual clothing.

The Embassy Postmaster agrees without qualm to Anthony crossing to Undermoon. Anthony already has permission due to his consulting role with the Princess Guard. The Postmaster does, however, ask if Anthony will take a packet of mail across with him and deliver it to the Castle Postmaster.

The world-walker assigned to take Anthony across is young for a fae and both friendly and loquacious. "... and I'd like to fly in one of the great craft I see in the sky overhead sometimes. To fly must be the most exhilarating experience ever." he says at one point as you walk to the Portal.

Passing through the Portal is a bit anti-climatic. At one point there's the normal scenery and after the next step both the world-walker and Anthony are in Undermoon, out on the fringe of the city. There's a stable and guard post nearby. But as Anthony has come through with one of the Embassy world-walkers the guards do not stir themselves from their posts.

Anthony nods to the Fae and smiles. "It is a wonderful thing," he says, "though I find it more fun to fly outside a plane rather than inside, but that isn't something that most people are able to enjoy." He produces a card and passes it to the young fae. "When you have some time off give me a call and I will arrange for a brief trip. If you don't mind I have a question of my own; would it be considered improper for me to transport myself to Undermoon?"

The young fae seems astonished, "You can world-walk? Uh... No. It would not be deemed improper but the guards would assuredly question you if you were not accompanied by one from the Embassy."

Anthony makes a gesture with his hand, rocking it back and forth. "It is complicated," he says. "I know a great deal about the theory, probably more than almost anyone else on my planet, so I could probably create something. I have been thinking about it to help the members of the Princess' Guard in case they should need to get across quickly."

The young fae carefully tucks the card Anthony gave him into a belt pouch. "You are an artificer?" he asks, thinking by device you mean a magical item. "You'll put me out of a job." he jokes.

Quinn nods to the world-walker. "I am," he says, "and you might laugh but I have heard people say that before, but the truth is that what I might end up doing is changing your job rather than putting you out of it." He smiles. "I think you would even enjoy the change, piloting a flying vehicle instead of walking."

The young fae, barely into his fifties, smiles, "That would be incredible. Only the most powerful of our mages can levitate, and then only for short periods and at no great speed. It must be like being the driver of a firebird carriage."

Quinn nods and smiles. "I think it would be something very much like that," he says. As the two of them arrive at their destination he smiles and extends a hand to the young fae. "Thank you for taking me to Undermoon," he says. "I hope I will see you soon."

The young fae shakes Anthony's hand. "I shall most certainly take you up on the offer of a flight in one of your great machines." He recalls his duties and tells you, "The packet the Postmaster gave you can be delivered to the gatehouse at the castle." He points up the hill to the large castle overlooking the city, although medium sized town would be a better description in Earth terms. "If I may ask where you seek to go I may be able to provide directions."

Anthony looks to where to fae indicates. "I am here to speak with Jennifer and Jessica," he says. "They are friends of the Princess who have come to live here."

The young fae nods, "The Ladies Markham? They reside at the headquarters of the Society of Wraxling. Go up this street," he points out the road ahead of you, "to the market square. Turn right into Dragonbane road and walk until you reach the Dragon's Head Inn. Turn left into the Street of Healers and you'll see a large building some thirty paces on. That is the headquarters of the Society."

Anthony nods once more to his guide. "Thank you very much," he says. He shakes hands once more with the fae and then goes to first deliver his parcel to the castle gatehouse.

It's a moderately long walk up to the castle gates but that gives Anthony a chance to see some of the city. The view from the hill shows how small in human city terms Undermoon city is. Once on the way you pass city guards, who look over at you but do not otherwise interact with you. The city residents seem rather blase about other world visitors and other than a few inquisitive kids they treat you no different to any other pedestrian.

The duty Postmaster at the castle gates thanks you for the delivery, and asks if you will be returning soon. The way his eyes glance at a stack of mail indicates why he is asking.

"I believe it will not be too long," he says, "but I have to meet with the Ladies Markham first and I am not certain how long that will take. I will stop by before returning, however."

The Postmaster smiles, "Thank you. If only more of our own were so thoughtful my job would be much easier." he says, and gives Anthony a slight bow of respect.

Anthony returns the bow with one of his own, though he is uncertain as to the exact protocols. "Of course," he says. "I am glad to be of help." He is about to offer more, his brain already working overtime on possible solutions for delivering mail but he holds off. One proposed disruption of the status quo per day is probably a good limit. With that he heads to the market square and from there to the Society of Wraxling.

The route described by the young world-walker proves accurate. As Anthony reaches the Dragon's Head Inn a richly dressed fae with gemmed rings on his fingers and a large ruby brooch pinned to his doublet comes out of the inn, staggering slightly as if his balance was impaired. The fae sees Anthony and sneers. "Another human interloper." he says, his tone would be coldly haughty and arrogant were it not for the slurring of certain words. "What are you doing here?"

Anthony smiles politely. Another person of privilege with an overinflated sense of his own self importance. It would be easy to blame the feudal system for such things but the truth of the matter is that as events at Serafino's a few nights ago showed it is hardly limited to places such as this. "Merely visiting a friend in the Society of Wraxling," he says in fae. "It is down this street, is it not?"

The fae Lord glances down the street, sees the Society of Wraxling's building and blanches. Seemingly something in his drink addled mind has put two and two together and come up with a number close to four. Turning on his heels he hurries off without a further word.

Anthony merely smiles pleasantly. While he did decide to mention the Society of Wraxling to give his position here a little more weight there was no intention to threaten the wealthy fae, so he does not receive any feeling of Schadenfreude at the man's discomfort. Instead he merely continues on to the society.

The building of the Society of Wraxling is a large two floored construction. Wide double doors are pinned back fully open allowing a view into most of the ground floor. Which is padded and obviously serves as a training area. There are a number of pairs of fae women practicing martial arts, and some of the pairs seem to be exceptionally skilled in their art. One such pair includes Jennifer. Or is it Jessica? Who can tell and after all, does it matter? That match seems to be the center of attention for most of those watching, and the match seems pretty even with neither participant having an advantage over the other. The unengaged twin is among those watching.

Anthony steps into the society, pausing momentarily to examine people for the presence or absence of footwear. He gives the unengaged twin a brief nod of greeting but does not otherwise engage her as half her attention is going to be taken up by the match. Maybe she has the other half to spare without it affecting her, but he's not really sure. He's still only got a general idea about how this whole Wolfguard thing works.

The momentary glance shows Anthony that footware is removed at the doorway. There's a line of shoes to the side. Jennifer, or Jessica, nods to Anthony and starts to make her way over to him. Meanwhile, and it doesn't seem there's any distraction factor, the other twin tries a complicated combination move, and with a fluid counter her opponent takes advantage of a brief instant of lessened balance. Suddenly the engaged twin is face down on the padded floor with an arm locked against a joint. She pats the padded surface of the floor to signal submission.

Anthony removes his shoes to leave them by the door, though his shoes aren't really intended to easily slip on or off like the footwear of most people coming to such a place. "Hey," he says to the twin as she approaches. "How are you doing?"

Jennifer smiles easily, and replies in English also, "I'm fine, Anthony. Truely. I'm fine. I haven't been so happy in my life since I was a pupil at Lord Markham's." On the training area the other twin and her opponent have stood and are bowing to each other. Both are wearing almost identical outfits, except the twin's opponent has eight knots at each end of the red silk cord fastened around her waist, while the twin only has five knots.

"That's good to hear," Anthony says with a smile. "Have you had an opportunity to read Titan's report on the vacation for the students' of Lord Markham's?" he asks.

The other twin comes over to join you as well. It's not necessary but the twins know that usually makes the person she is talking to more at ease. "No, I haven't." Jennifer says, "Well, more accurately while I have had the opportunity I haven't done so. So other than being informed it was successful from my father and the discussion at the dinner I don't know what happened."

Jessica smiles, "I'm retired, Anthony. I've left all that behind me."

Anthony nods and smiles. "Well, like the other years it was very interesting," he says. "Peter, the Illusionist's son, is growing into a remarkable young man, I think. The Wolfguard student, Mark and Patricia, asked Sukeban and me to adopt them, and we had a visit from Baron Zerstoiten."

Jennifer asks, "They what?!" referring to Mark and Patrica.

"They asked Sukeban and me to adopt them," Anthony replies. "They are not entirely happy living with Colonel Steel. They are not as militarily minded as their other brothers and sisters and so they find themselves feeling somewhat out of place."

The twins think about that for a few moments. "What did you tell them?" Jessica asks.

"Actually, both Sukeban and I told them that we would consider it," Anthony says. "We're both concerned that they might not know what they are getting into so we have talked with Colonel Steel and we are going to be doing some shorter trial runs so that they can be sure it's what they want and we can be sure that we're going to be able to take care of them, but assuming that all works out then we will probably be adopting them."

Jennifer says, "When I think about it, that may well be the best thing for them, Anthony. The rest of the fourth generation, well they are exactly like I was at their age. You can take us out of Wolfguard. But you can't take the Wolfguard out of us. It's taken me this long to finally grow out of that. Mark and Patrica though. Well if they hadn't been in the training camp with the others I wouldn't have thought they were Wolfguard at all. Maybe it's their mixed gender. The only pair. But they are just so different."

Anthony nods. "Yes," he says, "I think it may be the best thing for them as well," he says. "It's the primary reason I agreed. I know how awkward it was at their age not to fit in and probably outside of Colonel Steel or Baron Zerstoiten I am in one of the best positions around for being able to help them, so that is part of the reason for my trip here. While I understand that they are very different from any other Wolfguard I still thought that your insights into growing up as a member of Wolfguard could prove to be very helpful."

Jennifer nods, "If I can help in any way at all, then of course I will. But I have to say, Anthony, Mark and Patrica are as much of a mystery to me as they are to everyone else. Maybe the Baron has greater insight. I mean, he created them. And he generally knows what he is doing. So... You met the Baron? What did you think of him?"

Anthony smiles and thinks for a moment before answering. "I've only met him on two occasions," he says, "and both of those were fairly brief so I really haven't had much time to form an opinion, but he seemed pleasant enough. There are some concerns about some of the...mmm..." He pauses a moment to search for a word. "...basic imprinting," he offers at last, "that he put into the Wolfguard, but he does seem to be concerned about Mark and Patricia's well being."

Jessica nods. "He's concerned for all of us, Anthony. Third and fourth generation. I know he is a criminal. A mastermind villain. I like him though. Did you know he put a loyalty override in all of us? If he gives us an order we *have* to obey. But to the best of my knowledge he's never used it. When he wanted to see me, he invited to his castle, when he could have as easily just ordered me. A strange person. But as I said, I like him. And he truely does seem to be interested in our wellbeing.."

Jennifer adds, "You do realise that if we hadn't been what we were, the Royal caste would have ordered us terminated and the Council would have told the Baron to brew up a fresh batch of Wolfguard kids."

Anthony nods. "He also claims to have been responsible for the dismantling of Wolfguard as a threat," he says. "I'm still trying to figure out what to make of that." He shakes his head. "Anyway, the second reason that I came here was because he asked me to pass on a datachip to you."

Jennifer smiles, "I hope you didn't bring it with you, Anthony. You know what fae mana does to technical items better than anyone. Which... come to think, *how* are you able to be here?"

Anthony chuckles a little and taps the center of his chest, the surface of the Q-Drive beneath his shirt creating a slightly dull thud as he taps. "Ghost has put some enchantments on some of my equipment," he says. "My Q-Drive, a couple of my suits, things like that. The enchantments help to stabilize the technology against the effects of the fae dimensional energies."

Jennifer says, "And I've been leaving all my hi-tec equipment back on Earth in the Gym. I need to go have a word with Ghost." she smiles, "I glad she did. It means you get to see Undermoon and can enter the Embassy. Huh. I should have thought of this when you were at the meeting there. So the Baron gave you a datachip for me. Why didn't he just deliver it himself? Or send one of his people to deliver it. Or ask me to go see him? What's on this datachip? Do you know?""

Anthony gives a slight shrug of his shoulders. "I honestly couldn't say why he didn't deliver it himself or send one of his people," he says. "Maybe he was just concerned that people would think he was using your built in loyalty to influence you or something. As for what is on the chip, it is basically his data on your genetic structure, I believe. There are also a pair of injectors. As I understand it they contain a retrovirus that will change aspects of your code to give you a lifespan similar to his as well as allow you to have children."

The twins, both of them, freeze for a moment as they take your words in. "Allow me to have children?" Jessica asks in a quiet voice.

Anthony nods. "As I understand it the Royal Caste wouldn't allow the Baron to create you so you could have children or have an extended lifespan like his," he says.

Jennifer says, "Now... I know why he didn't deliver it himself. He obviously wasn't sure how I'd react. So he arranged for me to be three thousand miles and a dimension away from him when I found out. I... I don't know whether to be mad that he didn't tell me before. Or grateful that he sent me this *gift*."

Anthony thinks about that for a moment. "Well, I suppose it is possible," he says, "but that would be sort of surprising. I mean he doesn't seem like someone who is normally afraid of things, and of course he wouldn't have any reason to be concerned about you physically attacking him, given your loyalty. It seems interesting that he would be unable to face possible disapproval from you."

Jennifer and Jessica nod. "You're right. I'm going to have think about how I feel about him." Jessica says, "But... Well.. Lothven and I... I want to have children, Anthony. I want to settle down and raise a family. So in that sense I'm grateful to him. But he could have damm well told me before now!"

Jennifer says, "Thank you, Anthony. I'll come and see you on Earth very soon. As soon as I've spoken with Lothven."