Rolled 8, 11, 16, 12, 20 = 67 (5d20)
>>5608947The arrogance of this ape-man incenses you. He reminds you of your Wevenore Drow rivals, when you were meddling in the selection of their new king: all the pomp of Minothel of House Tlintear, with all the self-seriousness of Corandiirn of Sambra. It isn’t You who has ideas above his station—it is Alexos! You will put this foolish ‘Paladin’ in HIS place, before this is over.
But first…
“Why don’t we make thiss a bit more… Inetresssting?” you ask, as you take up and twirl your blunted sparring blade.
Prince Alexos narrows his eyes, delicately lifting his own blade. With a nod, he indicates to his sister to leave your side; grudgingly, she does so, with guards hastening to meet her and escort her away.
“Already disregarding my instructions in regards to the Princess?” he notes, surprisingly calm. “I would say you are making this interesting enough already, Mister Long.”
“I mean a bet,” you clarify.
“I KNOW what you mean,” the prince snaps back, then takes a breath and looks to the audience which ahs gathered.
“Yes, fine, I will take your bet,” he sighs, motivated plainly by the need to maintain his reputation in front of the throng of subjects and courtiers. “What are your terms? Something to do with Princess Ekaterine, I’m given to suspect.”
“No,” you say, surprising him. “An exxxchange of information. I wish to know what I am… Up againssst. What you disscusssed in that strategy meeting, behind closed doorsss. Let em meet with you and your brother, to discussss ur mutual adversariesss.”
A murmur goes up from the crowd. You catch some of the whispers: talk of demons, of lizardmen, of Bloodrise and the South. The rumour-mill is hard at work, spreading fear and anxiety through even these sheltered elites of the city.
“That is quite out of the question,” the Prince rebuffs you. “Those are crown secrets, not… FAVOURS to be traded.”
“Hey, you can trust Wang,” Irinnile assures him. “He’s on our side. Honest!”
You hold back a chuckle. As if!
“Fine,” the Crown Prince of Hawksong relents. “And when I win—”
“I will teach you the divination magic which allowed me to find the foe which YOU failed to root out, and which hass sspread enemy influenccce throughout your cccity!”
The murmuring of the crowd grows louder, turning in some cases to cries of alarm or disbelief.Prince Alexos’ eye twitches again.
“You dare?!” he hisses,, approaching you as if ready to strike you down then and there. “Yosef, what is WRONG with this foreign SAVAGE you have brought here? Have you taught him nothing of courtly etiquette? Of civility?!”
