Gameplay - The Dragon That Opposed an Empress

"Do we need to go back to the bar and talk about it?" Hehsh takes a long moment after he speaks. It has been a long time since he said something without an ssss.

I would like to listen to the Empress, then go back and plan with all the knowledge we can get.

Hasan wants nap!

Hasan stifles another yawn. "That sounds good but don't expect me to retain much infomratin."

"Do you think she entertains visit- oh you don't mean personally. I suppose, long as we aren't there too long." Ruby looks at the dragon with concern, but also hope. Nearly there.

Soon, the activity increases. Hundreds of hobs, orcs, and gnolls fill the area, bickering slightly. Guards clear the area, pushing the gawkers back from the gate, not sparring the truncheons. A pair of guards in black plate escort a slender hobgoblin woman in red garb head to toe, a sort of magicians robe with a high collar and complex, multiple layers.

The empress arises to the top of the gate wall. She scans the crowd with disinterest.

When she speaks, her voice is unnaturally loud, carrying clearly to everyone nearby. "My children. The time has come. We march soon. The obstacles placed before us have been destroyed. We shall not fail. Victory is within our grasp. Glory, power, and the song of death shall march with us. We leave tomorrow. Gather your weapons and armor. The Vermilion Reavers will supply the rest. Those who can fight but stay will be my slaves when I return . At dawn we march!"

Hasan whispers to the creature that should be Garth. "Well, that kinda hinders that. So something tonight then?"

Yes, looks like our hand is forced. Let's move away a bit so we don't draw too much attention. Then when Mavis comes back we will make a plan.

Hehsh leans into whisper. "Is there any reassson we can't wait until the army is gone and then free the dragon? I bet that the dragon can fly fassster than the army can march. We let them leave, kill the guardsss, free the dragon in disssstresssss and fly home. Then we ssssurprise them with not one but two dragonsss wherever thisss army is heading." Hehsh is assuming his father will join the inevitable fight.

That is a good thought. One that didn't occur to me.
If we do wait, and they take the dragon with them, or decide to kill him we are undone.

"Do you think we should ask the Empress? in a shout-y angry way to stir up the crowd? It might aggravate them..." Ruby has to ponder this plan, not liking the situation one bit.

"If they take the dragon with them, we go with them! It will be-" Hehsh struggles to find a word that doesn't have an s in it because he's getting really tired of the involuntary hissing. "not complicated" another pause "compared to freeing the dragon here." Hehsh really misses his body. Particularly a tongue that can pronounce the letter s.

The empress’s announcement cut short Mavis’s investigation.

She returns to the others.

She’s put clock on it.

Ah’ll sneak in an’ try slot ‘er. If nowt else should cause distraction. If assassin in palace don’t pull guards away, nowt will. Should gi’ you lads an easier run.

Tha’s a sneaky urchin an’ all, Ruby. Come wi’? Or does tha want help boys?

I think that getting the dragon free will take all of us, especially our sneaky ones.

Maybe we can quietly take out the guards and have a minute free time on the chains.

I think an assassin would just bring more guards everywhere.

I can cast silence and maybe buy us a minute to work.

Mavis frowns. This can’t be right. The leader should be fearless.

An tha’d sit on arse as Empress guz t’ war wi’ world?
Ah’ll help thee free dragon, but after? Ah’ll not skive when hard graft is called fer.
Ah’d rether ferther raised dead lass, than one who runs from right.

It's not that I don't want to stop the Empress, I just think we have a better chance with a couple of dragons.

Garth stops in surprise.

By all the gods, am I starting to understand her?

No one thinks your father raised a coward. You are as brave as any I have served with.

Hehsh is not starting to understand Mavis