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Post by NajaSide on May 7, 2019 2:50:10 GMT -4
Deep in the depths of the mighty citadel, the Grand Hall stands tall as a one-of-a-kind chamber, which serves as the final, most inner-most sanctum of Hyrule Kingdom's power. Indomitable, impenetrable, and its might glorious in every way. It is here that the fortress serves its masters as the heart of its council and whereupon they grant audience with those they deem worth their measure. Though no windows line its walls, they stand no less adorned nor majestic than a palace. Banners bearing the arms of the Lunar Crusade hang in their place. The metallic flooring of the chambers reflect the world with such perfection, they almost seem a mirror of what reality projects upon them. And at the head of the chamber, beneath the mark of the moon, the dais upon which the seats of its rulers sat. Standing at the center of the chamber stood their Stellar Crusader, Countess Stellam. Her ashen figure stood with an arm wrapped around a staff as she held her hand outstretched to the space between them. There, hung in the air, was the scene as she saw it at the castle. The king and his princess and the gathered champions before them. The audience, nobles and knights, foreigners from all over the kingdom. The clergy and their dissenting voice. The owl screeching over the chamber. Their distant voices rose from the display, the ash swirling as each shape moved over the stage. The scene progressed as it was while she was there, until eventually the guests began departing from the stage. Soon, only the few remaining Champions and the Monarchy of Hyrule remained as the Countess stood as the last figure in the throne chamber's doorway. And then, she too departed. The ashen shapes began to dissipate and the dust drew back across the room, in to her figure. As it did so, she seemed to regain her strength, and when all had returned to her there she stood once more, staff held powerfully in her grip and her resplendence restored. |
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Post by Meta on May 7, 2019 15:59:00 GMT -4
Watching from his seat, Aethelnoth leaned back and chuckled at the end of the presentation.
"So, Elphias seeks to bolster morale and get a personal elite group loyal to him." His gaze wandered from Ashley to a small piece of metal he was fiddling with idly. "Shows much about who he is. Doesn't seem the kind to take defeat easily." He then placed the metal piece in his armrest and waved dismissively.
"But that works out well for us, here in Akkala. He is busying himself with his pet project...but giving such attention and praise to an elite squad means he's giving less attention to the common soldier. He may try to put a spin on it however he wants, but only one of those champions is a Hylian."
An amused smile showed itself. "Yes...we'll be stronger for this. And bide our time. We are, after all,making a home for ourselves here in the frontier. It simply comforts me in knowing that if something comes to pass, we will endure, and we will know where everyone's loyalties lie..."
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Post by NajaSide on May 9, 2019 1:13:30 GMT -4
Ashley did not say anything at first, her expression somewhat distant, though after the moment passed, she let out a short breath. Indeed, it was so. And even further, she couldn't help but feel strange following what she had witnessed at the castle. He had put forth a powerful display, no more or less than before, but still it now struck her as odd, the King's actions.
The more she thought back on what had transpired– the words spoken during the celebration –the more put off she felt. As she thought on them, she recalled her studies of Hyrule's history and couldn't help but think of the actions of another ruler in the kingdom's past, the king who had brought about an end to the Era of Strife nearly two and a half centuries ago by unifying the realm under a single nation. It was hard not to draw a comparison in Elphias's actions, yet something was still different.
Indeed, it seemed he was aiming for the cooperation of the nations under a unified force once again. But as Aethelnoth said, this was not simply a unification of the nations nor the familiar gathering of Hylia's faithful. But the formation of an elite group, these champions... Even the timing was off. The unification of the Light World had been the king's solution to the Hyrulean Civil War. But this, what was this a solution to?
The Countess pursed her lips and spoke, her tone filled with complete certainty. "The King refuses to tell us the whole story." She laughed a little, barely making an effort to hide her annoyance. "Beneficial as this change is to our position in the monarchy, it is at least worth us keeping a vigilant eye on whatever it is that is developing. Elphias is bolstering the capital's defenses for some reason, and– He may refuse to tell the rest of the court, but that is no reason for us to be caught on our unawares," she said, tapping her staff on the floor of the hall.
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Post by Meta on May 9, 2019 10:51:14 GMT -4
"True enough." Aethelnoth said, as he looked upon their banners in distant thought for a moment. "In that case, I believe it's you who is best suited for this, Ashley." The crusader spoke, looking back at her.
He placed a hand upon his chest. "Me, I'm a noble busy taking care of Akkala and staying close to home as my wife is expecting a child. For me to wander around other provinces would draw too much attention and suspicion." Tilting his hand and gesturing towards the countess, he continued. "You on the other hand could go by practically unnoticed and unburdened."
He smiled. "While I envy that to some extent, I can't complain about my position." Chuckling, he leaned back. "When the time comes, this'll pay off. Whatever Elphias is hiding, a king without subjects is no king..."
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Post by NajaSide on May 12, 2019 15:08:40 GMT -4
His decision was hardly a surprising one. It was one of convenience and sensibility. The reasons He had provided aside, Ashley was already thus physically present in the capital. As a noblewoman she had unparalleled access to much of the capital that any of their other subjects would fail to achieve. And where she couldn't go? Well, she still had her ways.
Besides, how could she be anything but honored to act on His behalf.
She bowed forward. "Of course, Your Grace."
Upon standing once more, her eyes drifted between the rulers' seats once more. Ordinarily, she would report whatever findings she found throughout her tasks to the Crusader of Intellect, but it seemed Lord Alzion still remained absent. Until then...
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Post by Devixer on Jan 4, 2020 3:01:26 GMT -4
Sunan felt lost.
Not in the physical sense - she knew where she was, in the Grand Hall of the seat of this military's power. No, she felt lost in that even though she was standing here following others, she still stood with no direction. Though she no longer needed shelter from the cold, her hood was still very much up and hiding herself, the yellow gleam of her eyes piercing through to examine the people she had found herself with.
"So much is being done..." she muttered. "This king is preparing for war before it has the chance to come. It will bring him to ruin." She wasn't speaking to anyone; she didn't even mean to be heard. But all this preparation with no clear enemies in sight... it reminded her of the Garo Masters. Always planning for the unseen, while their doom becomes all too clear.
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Post by NajaSide on Jan 7, 2020 1:56:08 GMT -4
Perhaps Aethelnoth hadn't heard Sunan, but standing as close as she was, Ashley couldn't help but to do so. "As is the way of kings," she replied low enough for just the Garo to hear. She smiled gently. "Their duties may be to their people– just as any public servant's ought to –but it is also his responsibility to ensure ultimate mortal power remains in the hands of those such as himself... even if he himself does not realize it."
Truthfully, no one in any real power would need to put such effort into maintaining their power. The gods, for example. They themselves stood not just as pillars of the public's faith, but were a part of the world's very natural order. Whether there existed belief in them or not, they would remain, for that is how they lived. They simply were, are, and always would be. That was the truth for the Spirits.
Even in spite of the Master of the Realm.
Kings, nobles, the manipulators of the world though? Their power would grow, their power would wane. They would come and go. They were all subject to the changes of time, regardless of how short or long they lived. No matter who they were. And there was no tragedy in this, except for those who vied to control the will of the world for such eternity. And yet, that would be why this new band of Liberation came to be. What irony. It would all be so amusing to her if–
A frown crossed the Countess's visage.
"Your Grace, there is a new situation that has arisen." she again spoke. There was a clear apprehension in her voice now. She began to relay the reports provided by the emissaries of the gorons, warning of a danger in Death Mountain, one which had claimed the life of a mighty warrior. This would not concern her so grievously if she expected the trouble to remain isolated, but, "His Majesty is planning to make contact with bordering regions of the mountain in order to prepare countermeasures for the kingdom's... safety. Needless to say, these regions include the Great Hyrule Forest, Eldin Province, Northern Lanayru Province, and the Akkala Territories."
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Post by Meta on Jan 7, 2020 12:21:56 GMT -4
Aethelnoth listened intently to Ashley's report on the situation at Death Mountain. He paused to deliberate, his gaze wandering far as he stroked his chin. "So, the King is going to ask for Akkala's help..." There was something to be said about the king, in a crisis he did seem to think like a general, while attempting to delegate tasks. To him it was interesting that Elphias did not take up arms and march right into the mountain's crater. A king aiding their neighbors so directly was certain to brand him a noble warrior and raise morale. Why did he falter to do it though?
The warden of Akkala chuckled. "There is something at hand that we aren't being told. On the surface, one could suppose it'd be the threat of the rebels...but I don't think that is it." He waved his hand dismissively. "But no matter...I have an idea on how to aid Hyrule without sending troops to their deaths or merely cowering in our posts in wait for the outcome of this confrontation..."
His eyes fell upon Sunan and Ashley. "I will need both of you to assist me in this. A small team, swift and able to evade much notice." The details of this plan were a bit uncertain at the moment, but judging what he knew of Ashley, and what little he had gathered from Sunan, it was safe to assume combined they could pull it off.
"Akkala is able to hold off an assault for an indefinite amount of time. A feat that relies on many factors, but no least of which is our firepower with the cannons set along its walls. It can fire away at many of the roads that surround us and nearby territories." Aethelnoth moved his arm, conjuring a few bits of metal that began to take the shape of a cannonball in the palm of his hand. "In its regular range, they could never hit a target up on the mountain peak. However...should I remain here and give some magical assistance, I could easily extend their range far beyond what is expected of the citadel's ordinance."
He gestured towards the two. "Which is where you come in. Though I am able to do that, I do not possess the eyes of an eagle. I would need you to locate this dangerous target in Death Mountain and create a signal that I could sight all the way from here in Akkala. With that, we could show this enemy and Hyrule that Akkala is not to be trifled with, and that we stand with Hyrule...for the time being." He smiled slightly. "Would you take part in this plan?"
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Post by Devixer on Jan 7, 2020 18:10:30 GMT -4
Sunan shook her head, eyes gleaming beneath the shadow of her hood, looking between Aethelnoth and Ashley. "Power cannot remain in anyone's hand for long. I have learned that in my travels. Without fail, it will wither and die. My masters, and their foes, did everything they could to hold onto theirs, and it only bought their fall all the sooner. I think... the only way to truly preserve power of any sort is to let go, and pass it on." Where was all this coming from? She wasn't sure. She supposed the long and quiet trip here had given her time to think about the fall of Ikana, and the Garo alike. Such a long and drawn-out war, all for naught.
She looked back up, at Aethelnoth. She wasn't sure why he wanted power of his own, but what she had heard... perhaps building a new home for people was a worthy endeavor. And if her skills, honed over a lifetime, would be of some use, then she would use them. Not for the Garo, but perhaps for herself, and for the people who had found a home away from the Kingdom.
Sunan's blades appeared in her hands, before she laid them on the ground - their hilts facing the warden of Akkala. It was an important symbol for her, as a Garo - one of deference, and willingness to follow orders. "It will be done, as swift and silent as death itself." Though she knew the exact meaning of her words would be lost on the others in the chamber, they were significant to her. Perhaps that was enough.
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Post by NajaSide on Jan 13, 2020 17:14:33 GMT -4
Ashley couldn't help but arch a brow in response to the Duke's musings. There was certainly the secret the king was hiding beyond the Champions, but if there was indeed more than that– There must have been something that she was missing. For the time being, she wouldn't concern herself with it. If there was something, it would reveal itself to her in her investigations at the castle. And she would concern herself with it then.
Her eyes drifted back to His Grace once again when he addressed the both of them. Her response was not so immediate as Sunan's. It was of course not in hesitation provide her support in His Grace's plans. Of all those she would place her efforts behind, He was the one who she would remain with for an eternity. It was more of... a moment of concern. This threat loomed ever so close to home in a way that did not normally bring her to such a pause.
...This was no time to doubt in her capabilities. The Countess was the Stellar Crusader. She would defend her home and her people and whatever lay in the Mountain to its knees. It was never a question that she could. She was born of powers that could do so much more beyond this. This would be a walk in the park.
She shrugged nonchalantly. "Your Grace, you know me. Ask me not, you need only give me your command. Whatever it is that dares threaten us will regret ever emerging from the depths as it has."
Ashley gently gestured toward Sunan, offering a hand out to her. It was time for them to begin their preparations. First of all: "So, Lord Aethelnoth, what can you tell us about this sniveling, pathetic pebble of a goron named Krakatoa? It seems to be that he is the mastermind behind whatever has happened at Death Mountain."
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