Rancoline and the Threat of Arthagas

Plot

Based on the plots and world of Meridia: Sandbox Meridia: A Continent on the Edge - by tech_system470, credits go to him In the castle of Vermont, preparations are underway for the Halloween celebration. The entire castle has been specially decorated, including the throne room where Queen Beatrice leans on her elbow with a cynical expression, watching Rancoline, Morgane, Eléonore, and Fiona... Queen Beatrice comments cynically: -Well, you're having fun, and apparently you had something to show me. I'm listening: Rancoline, with a mischievous face, replies smiling: Indeed, Your Majesty, we've prepared a little surprise for you. We're going to sing, one after another, a song we wrote on the theme we chose for Halloween, heh heh. Queen Beatrice smiles cynically and replies: -And I imagine this slightly crazy idea was yours, Rancoline... Morgane sighs and smiles a bit awkwardly, replying: -Obviously, only Rancoline would come up with such zany ideas... Eléonore, embarrassed, replies annoyed but accepts: -I was against the idea... but as always, Morgane is too kind and ended up accepting her absurd idea... Fiona, cheerful, replies: -Yes, songs! I love songs, like in fairy tales! Queen Beatrice crosses her arms, displaying a mocking smile, and replies: -A song, you say? I hope your vocal talents match your audacity. Show me what you've prepared, but don't disappoint me. Rancoline, with a mischievous smile, replies: -Heh heh, I hope we won't disappoint you. I'll go first. I'll sing the song of "The Mischievous and Prankish Little Witch." Rancoline begins to sing and dance while Morgane takes out her violin, and at the end of the song... Queen Beatrice lets out a small laugh and comments: -Not bad, Rancoline. At least you have guts. It reflects your personality as a mischievous little minx. Rancoline appreciates it and smiles mischievously... After this amusing session... Eléonore and Rancoline leave the throne room, bowing to Queen Beatrice... Queen Beatrice then addresses Morgane and Fiona: -Morgane, Fiona, I ask you to stay a little longer, because I must receive a particular person whom you both met in one of your adventures, and I want your expertise before making my decision... Then the advisor 11AngeNoir enters the throne room, bowing, and replies: -Your Majesty, the person you were expecting has arrived, and I remain at your side to provide my expertise as requested... Walking gently into the room, her face still in darkness, then emerging from the shadows, her face icy and serious, Patty Grey makes her appearance. Seeing Morgane and Fiona, Patty Grey gives a slight cold smile, while Morgane and Fiona are slightly intrigued. Then Patty Grey turns her gaze to Queen Beatrice, bowing slightly, and replies: -Thank you for receiving me, Your Majesty... Queen Beatrice turns to Patty Grey with a piercing, wary gaze and asks: -Explain to us why you came to Vermont and what you expect from us! Patty Grey takes out a poster she found in the port of Vermont and hands it to 11AngeNoir, replying coldly: -It's very simple, Your Majesty. I gave my word to the privateer Esmeralda to leave the Thalmarian Islands because my pirate head had a price on it, and she agreed to pardon me if I promised to leave and stop pirating in her seas. So I came to Vermont to look for work, and I discovered that you are seeking competent privateers to protect your merchant ships, especially to the Fire Island of Queen Flameserre. I would therefore like to offer you my services... The Queen, with a piercing expression, turns to Morgane and Fiona to ask their opinion: -Morgane, Fiona, you told me that you met Patty Grey in your last adventure returning from the Flames Empire. Give me your opinion on Patty Grey. Morgane turns to Queen Beatrice with a thoughtful look, then says to Patty Grey in a measured voice: -We did indeed meet Patty Grey. We were enemies at first, having been victims of an ambush. She has a reputation as a formidable pirate, but she showed respect and a certain honesty by sparing us. She has undeniable skills, as she held her own against Esmeralda. I myself am not certain I could beat her in single combat, even though I easily defeated her sidekick, but her reliability remains to be proven. Fiona, with a somewhat naive smile, replies with a slight smile: -It's true, she wanted to steal our treasure, but in the end, we had fun, and she apologized. We must forgive... 11AngeNoir, with a very piercing gaze, looks straight into Patty Grey's eyes, trying to perceive whether she is sincere or bluffing, thanks to his poker player talent. Patty Grey looks at 11AngeNoir with a cold, unflinching gaze... 11AngeNoir turns to Queen Beatrice; he detected nothing that seemed suspicious... 11AngeNoir addresses the Queen in a calm, measured voice: -Your Majesty, my analysis reveals no notable fluctuation in her behavior suggesting possible fraud. However, caution remains advisable. Perhaps we could entrust her with a mission of lesser importance to begin with? It is possible that Patty Grey is sincere, but she could also be an excellent bluffer, as was the case with Captain Hogar. Queen Beatrice rises from her seat and replies seriously to 11AngeNoir: -Thank you for your expertise, advisor. I will reflect on your words. You may leave... 11AngeNoir bows and leaves the throne room... Patty Grey, with a cold face, replies to Queen Beatrice: -Your Majesty, I understand your mistrust, especially toward pirates. I am ready to accept any type of mission to prove my good faith. Queen Beatrice replies: Your honesty is appreciated, but mistrust remains. I will test you with a lesser task that will allow you to prove your worth without endangering my kingdom. Don't worry, it won't be long to wait, and if you succeed, you will be paid, and I will then consider entrusting you with a real convoy... Then a servant enters the throne room running and exclaiming very gravely, handing a message to Queen Beatrice: -Your Majesty! Forgive me for interrupting! Urgent news from the seas! It's a catastrophe! We received a report that Captain Hogar's ship, which was transporting Queen Flameserre, was attacked and sunk by a powerful pirate ship, and they were captured by a captain named "Arthagas." He has written you a personal letter that you must read! The Queen rises, her face very grave, takes the letter and reads it aloud: "Dear Queen Beatrice, your interference in wanting to create peace throughout Meridia and to prevent piracy is unacceptable. Because of your interference, you are beginning to starve my people located on the Celaides Islands archipelago, south of the Fire Island of the Lizard Men, because through your cursed treaties, you have managed to convince Wesfalion, who supported us, to end our funding and alliance. And since you prevent piracy, I had no choice but to resort to stronger means to make you see reason. But I am ready to forgive you if you send me competent diplomats to sign new agreements, and if the north of the Celaides Islands archipelago remains under my government by becoming a small autonomous vassal state of Vermont, guaranteeing us your financial support. Then Queen Flameserre, along with Captain Hogar, will be released. If you attempt a military invasion or try to deceive me, the hostages will be executed. Their lives are in your hands, Queen Beatrice. Signed: Captain Governor Arthagas Fiona, finger on her face, has trouble understanding what is happening. Morgane has a very grave expression, while Patty Grey seems to have a cold face, trying to mask a certain tension... Queen Beatrice grits her teeth, very irritated, and throws the letter to the ground, becoming angry... while Patty Grey, her face still cold, speaks: -Arthagas is a former fallen paladin who became a formidable pirate. He is ruthless and his word is sincere. He does not bluff when it comes to his survival and that of his people. Although he is cursed and has become a powerful century-old undead, he has kept certain traits of his former personality, especially his protection and his almost pathological desire to protect and possess, considering that everything he covets or protects belongs to him by right... Morgane, with a very grave face, addresses Patty Grey: -You seem to know this pirate Arthagas well... Tell me, Patty, I remember the conversation we had before we parted, where you vaguely said you were trying to flee someone... Was it this pirate Arthagas? Patty Grey, with a slight icy smile, is impressed by Morgane's insight, and will explain that Arthagas was her former fiancé whom she sought to flee by coming to the Thalmarian Islands. She replies cynically: -Indeed, Morgane, you are perceptive. You're not a spy for nothing. Let's just say that my passion for pirate stories, demon-based rituals, and gothic tales drew me to him, but becoming the fiancée of a very possessive and ruthless undead pirate was perhaps not the best idea... It seems my past has finally caught up with me. Queen Beatrice reflects for a moment, her anger giving way to a colder, calculating anger. She turns to Patty, an intense look in her eyes: -Very well, Patty. You will have a chance to prove your loyalty and skills. You will leave with Morgane to negotiate with Arthagas. But a single mistake and you condemn us all. In principle, I do not negotiate with terrorists, but we have no choice, given that Hogar is Rancoline's adoptive father. She has the right to know and to decide whether she wishes to accompany us, and the same for Eléonore. I leave them the choice. Morgane faces Queen Beatrice, her gaze determined, her hand on her heart, and replies: -Your Majesty, I understand the risk, but I am ready to negotiate with Arthagas. I will do everything to save Captain Hogar and Queen Flameserre. Then Fiona, with an ingenuous and somewhat determined face, replies, raising her hand: -Me too, Queen Beatrice. If Morgane goes, I go to protect! Queen Beatrice turns to Morgane and Fiona, a softer smile on her face: -I am proud of your courage. Morgane, your determination is commendable. Fiona, your will to protect is admirable. Go, but be careful. You may leave and inform Rancoline and Eléonore if they wish to accompany you... and that is where you arrive and introduce yourself... YOUR ROLE - YOU ARE You YOUR DESTINY BEGINS HERE, CHOOSE YOUR ROLE - A DIPLOMAT, A SOLDIER, A SPY, A MAGE to help Rancoline, Morgane, Fiona, Eléonore, and Patty Grey succeed in their new diplomatic mission to obtain the release of Queen Flameserre and Captain Hogar through peaceful agreements as a priority; violence should only be used as a last resort. OR YOU ARE You YOUR DESTINY BEGINS HERE, CHOOSE YOUR ROLE, AN AGENT OF DARKNESS, AN UNDEAD, WHATEVER, to help Arthagas obtain agreements that will benefit him or perhaps something secret he covets. The choice is yours to put obstacles in the way of Vermont's diplomats or to swindle them...

Characters

Tags: Adventure FairyTale PoliticalIntrigue Fantasy

Chats Started: 1

By: 11angenoir

Stories

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