Chapter 1 - Leaving Dunova

"He won't answer you- can't answer you." Desdemona follows Velisse's eyes to the suit of armour still stationary in the corner of the hall. "Not yet, but soon."

She looks back up at the group, her eyebrows raised a little. "Why would you want to stop me? I'm only trying to help people. The cost with worth the result, I assure you. Not that it matters, we're in the end stages now."

Her eyes settle on Jezlyn. "Familiar? You aren't to me, but I suppose I'll give you my name. Desdemona, of house Archyle in Elonia."

"Strong Ail of house Circus," Strong Ail replies mockingly. "So how is this helping people?"

"What power do you have over the Kirin knights?" Velisse edged forward even as Desdemona spoke.

Desdemona's eyes narrow slightly at Ail's mocking tone, but she doesn't rise to the bait. Well, she doesn't as far as she's concerned. Instead she indicates the central column. "I know the cost seems high, but with this I can break a curse- No, the curse left on us so long ago."

She turns to Velisse. "Over Kirin? None. I thought Kirin died a long time ago, did it not?"

"Care to be more specific? I'm a sucker for a good villain monologue. What curse? What is this column? Spill the beans." Jezlyn puts her hands on her hips in a scolding grandmother fashion.

"A villain?" Desdemona's mask cracks a little more. "How dare you say something like that, judge me even though you've never-"

She pauses, and takes a breath, then shakes her head. "You really don't know how the gods cursed us? Our hubris brought their wrath, and now we're destined to lose our will and become machines."

For a moment she glances at the suit of armour as though she's going to say more, and then seems to think better of it. Instead, she takes in the pillar with a sweep of her hand. "This is a weapon, a weapon to restore our choice. Even if there are some who must be sacrificed to restore it. The result is worth it."

"Cursed? What are you talking about? I have plenty of choices! When I make tea I can choose earl white, earl grey, earl black, saffron, strawberry, mint, and the list goes on. Not to mention how much sugar or honey I add to it."

"Then you're one of the lucky ones." Desdemona sighs, her eyes downcast. "Some go their entire lives not once feeling the effects of the curse, while others barely have any time at all."

It seems she genuinely doesn't understand that you don't know what she's talking about. Whatever it is, she seems to think it's common knowledge. For a few long seconds she doesn't say anything else, and instead keeps her eyes pensively on the floor, until she eventually lifts them back to you.

She frowns. "Or perhaps Dunova has found a way to turn back the encroaching clockwork and hasn't shared it with the world? It wouldn't surprise me."

Velisse became even bolder as they spoke with Desdemona, now marching right up to the stationary suit of armour. "What curse needs breaking that a suit can achieve that I cannot?"

Desdemona grimaces, her arm wrapped protectively around herself.

The suit of armour responds to Velisse's question, it's helmet tilting forward for the vision slits to look down at her. No sound comes from within the suit as it does, nor does any new sound come when it looks to Desdemona as if for confirmation. She doesn't respond for a long time, a look of pain across her face, before she addresses the question.

"The suit cannot break the curse, you are looking at the effects of it." She closes her eyes. "A machine, which once was flesh."

Pinion dares to speak up. "What, . . what happened to the suits former owner?"

"He..." Her jaw tightens, and her eyes loose focus. "He remains in the suit."

The words hang in the air, and then she whips around to face the group once again. She has a look of renewed determination on her face, and her hand clutching the spear is tighter.

"I need give you no more information, but time runs short. What are your intentions here?"

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"Our airship was shot down. We were investigating some rumors of...bad people in the area of the old ruins."

"We'd like to leave, but ideally without getting shot down again. And if there is evil or injustice here, we'll put a stop to it! We'll try at least, it is just the four of us after all . . ."

"Well, I'm afraid that won't be possible." Desdemona sounds genuinely apologetic about the situation, but it doesn't stop her from bringing her spear to bear. "I've come to far too let anyone stop me now, and I can't risk you getting others involved."

Jez nods as if this is what she expected. "There's the part of the villain monologue I was waiting for. It's in all the great adventure books. 'There's no other choice. I've come too far to give up now. I won't let you stop me.' Etc., etc. Shall we get to the shooty, stabby parts then?" She readies her pistol.

"I am here because there's something present that gives me a clue as to how to restore the glory of the Kirin empire which I serve. I have a feeling this could be it." Velisse reached out, almost touching the suit of armour. "Is it not?" The conversation had come to an impasse, even Jezlyn sensed it was time for action.

"Perhaps it is the key, but I'm afraid you cannot have my brother's armour." Desdemona shakes her head, disappointed. "And now, inevitably, we come to blows."

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