Log:Princesses' Guard Revived, Scene 10

Princesses' Guard Revived 2014/04/02 	 Lia Titan Jennifer Jessica Lothven Anthony Quinn|Anthony

10

Seeking Truth
Ghost has sent a message from Undermoon to Titan via the Embassy. She's asked him to come to Undermoon as soon as is convenient.

Titan shows up at the embassy, looking for Ghost.

The embassy mail administrator tells Titan the message came from Undermoon and that is where he would expect Ghost could be found.

Titan gets led through the portal, into Undermoon. He then goes about trying to locate Ghost. And if he should happen to run into one of the other suitors for Lorelei, that wouldn't be bad, either.

There's one of Ghost's messengers at the Undermoon end of the portal. A two foot high white bipedal rabbit wearing tux and top hat. A couple of seconds later Ghost appears, on the astral and manifests as a translucent form. She's visibly angry although it's clear the anger is not directed at Johnathan as she blows him a kiss, all she can do being not physically there.

Titan smiles and waves, "So...what's up?"

Ghost says, "Johnathan, thanks for coming so promptly. Those... I've been keeping close surveillance on Duke Silidhor of Greyfells. He is one of the tradionalists who leads his political fraction against the Princess. I've just heard one of his household, a Lord Elrohir, describing how he was attacked in the street for no cause and beaten brutally by those two so-called friends of the Princess. There's more than one way to harm the Princess, and having humans known to be connected to her beating up fae nobles is definitely one of them."

Ghost continues without given Titan much of a chance to interject...

Nobody says, "Apparently the Guard are doing nothing about it. Johnathan, I'm tied up with watching the Princesses' political opponents. Can you find out what happened, and if it's true, and I saw Lord Elrohir's face, he had been beaten badly, drag those two hotheads back to the embassy and let them cools their heels in the cells for a week or so. The wedding should be over by then. I'll take full responsibility, Johnathan, if the Princess objects."

Titan raises a brow, "I suspect that there's a good reason for it. Like Lord Elrohir acting like an ass.

Ghost says, "I don't really care, Johnathan. Humans beating up fae nobles in the street could do huge damage to the Princess. Yes, I know fae nobles can be utter asses but we can't let this kind of thing happen."

Titan says, "And if he's completely at fault? What then? I've seen what some of the nobles here call 'honor'. And their definition varies widely from mine. He claims that there was no cause for the beating. What if there was a good reason for it?"

Ghost says, "Then..." She sighs, "Then, Johnathan, use your judgement. Find out what happened and use your judgement. Yes, I've only heard one side of this. Maybe I've let my emotions run ahead of me. But what I've heard is so potentially damaging we need to do something. I trust you, trust your judgement. Do what you think needs to be done. Whatever that is."

Titan nods. "Between my run-ins with Emerdir and Palanir, I'm sure that my notions of what is considered honorable here is a bit jaded. But I'll look into it."

Ghost nods, "Thank you, Johnathan. I'll task the messenger with staying fully on the astral and following you. If you want to contact me just say my name three times and the messenger will let me know."

Titan says, "Will it relay what I see?"

Ghost says, "It can but I'm stretched to the limit personally observing Duke Silidhor and also watching and listening through the eyes and ears of another three watchers. Unless you want me to have it relayed I'll just instruct the messenger to call for my attention if you call my name."

Titan nods. "That's fine with me. I'll be in touch, assuming someone doesn't try to goad me." He smiles slightly, and heads off to look for the twins.

As Titan walks through the city of Undermoon he'll sooner or later come across Guardsmen patrolling the city streets. The Guardsmen give Titan respectful bows. Which rather startles some of the city inhabitants judging from the expressions on their faces.

Titan bows in return to the Guardsmen, though not as deeply. After coming across the second one, he says, "Pardon me, I'm looking for a pair of human women. The Markhams?"

The Guardsman thinks for a moment and then says, "The Ladies Markham? They can be found at the headquarters of the Society of Wraxling, Ableman Titan. Go up this street to the Dragon's Head, turn right down the Street of Healers and you'll see the building on your left some thirty paces on."

Titan nods to the Guardsman and smiles, "Thank you, sir." He then starts to follow the directions given.

After her shift of guarding the princess, Lia floats and flies towards the portal, probably somewhat glad her shift is over. Guarding the princess is cool and all, but probably not the most exciting job when nothing is happening.

The Guardsman Johnathan spoke to is hurrying back towards the castle.

Titan is pretty obvious, walking through the streets, when compared to the locals. He keeps making his way toward the building of the Society of Wraxling.

Stretching, Lia spots Johnathan, and decides to detour and fly towards him, "Hi there, Titan. What's up?"

Titan waves to Lia, "Checking out a report of a disturbance. The Markham twins supposedly beat up a noble. I need to find out what happened. It's...politically a problem if there wasn't enough of a cause."

Titan says, "You're welcome to come along."

Lia nods, considering, shrugging. "Sure, why not?"

The Society of Wraxling building is a significant size. There are large double doors, opened fully and latched in place. Most of the ground floor of the building is a sufficiently like a dojo for the purpose to be obvious. Especially with a class of fae females being instructed in martial skills by Jennifer and Jessica.

Titan steps inside, but knows just enough to slide off his boots before proceeding further.

Lia floats inside, looking around at the building, curious. Apparently she's never seen it before. "Who are the Markham twins, anyway?" Lia asks, glancing to Titan.

Titan says to Lia, "Jennifer and Jessica. Former assassins. Friends of Princess Stephanie. And some of the toughest people you'll meet."

Jennifer or Jessica spots Titan and Lia. Which one? Who can say and does it really matter? Jennifer assigns a class exercise that she can monitor, freeing Jessica to make her way to the doorway to greet Titan and Lia, "Hello Titan. And... Lia, isn't it. I'd heard the Princess was reforming the PG team. You're in it I assume. So what bring you to the Society of Wraxling?"

Lia nods to Titan, "I remember them." Lia looks between Jessica and Jennifer, nodding as she's addressed, "Yep. Lia is my name." As they ask for the business she and Titan have here, she frowns a little, looking to Titan, and back to the twins. She remains silent for the moment.

Titan nods to the twin who came over to greet them. "Business, I'm afraid. I've...been asked to inquire about the incident with Lord Elohir. Can you give us some details on what happened?"

Jessica looks blank for a moment. Then it clicks, "Oh. Him. Is that his name? He never introduced himself. Anyway, he came out of an inn without looking and nearly bumped into me. Jenn had to do some fancy footwork to avoid a collision. Well first he sneered on seeing I was human. You know all about that don't you, Titan. Then he saw..." She stops for a moment, "Jenn can tell this better." She says...

Titan knows a bit about the relationship between the twins...and raises a brow when she mentions that the other one 'can tell the story better'.

Lia nods, and listens. She doesn't seem to notice anything wrong with one twin being able to tell the story better than the other-Lia doesn't know too much about Jenn and Jessica.

The twins change over, Jessica continuing the instruction while Jennifer comes to the door. "... then he saw this." She indicates a small white flower pinned to her blouse. "It's a symbol, Titan, Lia. It means a fae male is interested in a female. Well he went ballistic. Ordered me to remove the flower. Told me we humans needed to learn our place, and said the fae who gave it to me would be better off consorting with a beast from the fields. When I refused to take off the flower he tried to slice open my face with his sword."

Titan blinks, but then his jaw sets, his own feelings about the princess, and how that was regarded by the locals, coming to the fore again. "I...see. What happened after that?"

Lia just sort of...blinks. She's surprised, this much is obvious. She tilts her head, nods a little to Titan, looking back to the twins, still shocked.

Jennifer shrugs, "Well I smacked him on the nose. Uh. I was a bit irritated so I smacked him rather hard. He didn't have much of a nose after I did that. But he was a bit slow on the uptake. He didn't manage to hit me even after surprising me. You'd think he would have realised he didn't have much chance doing it when I was ready. But, no, he decided his sword ought to pass through my heart. I grabbed the blade..." She holds up her left hand. Two thin healing cuts can be seen, one across the palm and the other on the insides of her fingers. "and hit him in the stomach and then on the temple. I left him in the dirt of the street."

Titan nods again slowly, "Just one more formality, then. You swear that your account is true?"

Lia continues to listen. She seems satisfied with the explanation, if a bit surprised.

Jennifer nods. "I do, Titan. You can check with the Guard. Two of the Guard saw the entire incident."

Titan nods. "I'll confirm with them. But assuming everything matches, I'm considering the matter over. Thanks for your time. I'll let you get back to teaching."

Lia nods to Titan and to the twins. Once then, she turns to head out, leading the way.

Jennifer smiles, "It's always good to see you, Titan. I suspect I may be seeing more of you in the not so distant future. I was planning on coming to see the PG team anyway."

Ghost adds, "You too, Lia. Didn't mean to exclude you but Titan and I go back a way. All the way back to New Blood."

Titan smiles. "I wasn't really on that team, except for helping out with the Best of the Best competition. But...yeah." He heads to the door and puts his boots back on. "It was good seeing you. I'll make a point of making a social call sometime soon."

Titan and Lia don't have to go far to check with the Guard. Captain Lothven is making his way to them along with the Guardsman Titan spoke to earlier.

Titan bows to the Captain and the guardsman. "Pardon me, sir. Do you have a moment?"

Lia nods to Jennifer, and continues heading out. Lia lands next to Titan and bows herself, before looking up to the Captain, nodding to Titan.

Captain Lothven smiles, "I always have time for any of those who went into the swamp in search of the King's antidote, Titan. But as it happens I came here to see you."

Titan raises a brow, "Oh? I was just looking to get an eye witness account from the two guards who saw what happened between the twins and Lord Elrohir. Did you need to speak to me in regards to the same thing? Or something else entirely?"

Lia stretches, and looks to Titan, "...I think you have this covered." With that, she flies back towards whatever portal she was flying to originally.

Captain Lothven scowls. "I would have arrested him on a charge of attempted murder. But," a slight smile displaces the scowl, "It would have looked odd in court when the victim was unharmed and the intended murderer was clearly beaten severely. Which is no less than he deserved."

Titan nods. "Ah...so you can confirm their story, then?"

Captain Lothven nods, "Yes. I spoke to both the Guardsmen who witnessed the incident. I should make my position clear, Titan. I gave Jennifer the eldis flower. However by my honor I swear the story I heard from the Guardsmen is true."

Titan nods to the Captain, "Thank you. That helps a lot. Was there something else you needed to speak to me about?"

The Captain nods. "The Ladies Markham have come to Undermoon. You have returned. I've been instructed to double the size of the escort the Princess has while she is in the castle or city of Undermoon. Is there something I should be told, Titan?"

Titan smiles, and chooses his words carefully. "The Princess wanted to re-form the Guard. Ghost asked me to join again. You can chalk it up to coincidence for the time being."

Captain Lothven looks at you. He can't see even the tinest hint that you're concealing anything. But, "I don't believe in coincidences, Titan. Please keep me informed as much as you can."

Titan nods, "If I learn anything that I can tell you, I'll be sure to do so."

The Captain nods, and bidding his Guardsman to resume his patrol he starts on his own way back to the Palace.

Titan heads back toward the portal, waiting until he's in a secluded area before reporting back to Ghost about what he found out. He summons the messenger by calling her name three times.

Titan reports back all of the details, letting Ghost know that the fae noble is clearly at fault. First for instigating, and also for upping the stakes to deadly force."

Ghost listens to your report, "I cannot fault the Markhams, Johnathan. If anything they acted with remarkable restraint. Remember this. If I have any one significant flaw it's jumping to conclusions. When I do you'll have to remind me of this moment.

Titan chuckles. "Fair enough."

Meanwhile at the Undermoon Embassy
As he did during the dinner Anthony arrives in a fairly mundane style, pulling up in his low slung roadster. He parks it in the lot outside the embassy proper where the bleed-through from the faerie realms is unlikely to cause interference with the technology of the car and then proceeds on foot. He is stopped at the gateway by the gatekeeper. "I need to speak with Jillian," he informs the gatekeeper. "Matters of the Princess' Guard."

The gatekeeper informs Anthony that Jillian is on Undermoon at this time. He offers to have a message sent, or to contact the mail administrator if Anthony wishes to cross over.

Anthony considers for a moment crossing over to find Ghost but decides in the end that things probably aren't important enough to justify that right at the moment. "That's all right," he says to the gatekeeper. "Are any of the other members of the Guard present? They might be able to answer my question."

The gatekeeper calls a servant to go check. "I know Titan crossed over a short time ago. He may return shortly."

Quinn nods. "Hmm...All right. Thank you," he says. "Could you ask him to give me a call when he returns?"

The gatekeeper nods, "Of course, Ableman Quinn. I shall pass the message on immediate he returns. Do you wish me to give the same message to any other of the Princesses Guard should they arrive?"

Quinn thinks on that for a moment. "No," he says after a moment's deliberation, "Just Jillian or Titan, or the Harlequin if he should show up. He might know as well."

The gatekeeper nods, "As you command."

And with that Quinn returns to his vehicle and departs the embassy.