>>5720929In the throne room stands only one man, wearing the full and ornate armour of a Paladin of the Hawksong order. It isn’t just any armour: the gryphon motifs, the shine, the gold filigree—this is PARADE armour, and for someone important. You recognize it instantly.
“Prince Long Wang, is it?” the man asks. “Curious name. I only recently learned its providence, you know.”
“Where isss Princce Rufoss?” you ask, <Danger Sense> prickling, but not yet active.
“King Rufos, now,” the old human sighs, and lowers his head almost in defeat. “Still, if he be not a Paladin King, another shall arise. I must believe this, for all our sakes.”
You narrow your eyes. What is this monkey blithering about?
“He is… Busy,” the Paladin supplies. “I will speak with you in his stead, if you’ll allow it.”
“I—”
“I was being polite,” the old man interrupts, almost apologetic. “Prince Long… King Theral… Let us speak.”
…He knows. He knows about Blackpine. He maybe, quite possibly, knows more than that. And if this is not where Prince Rufos is… Where IS he?
How will you react?
>Draw steel, demand answers! [specify a weapon]>Attack! There will be no warning, no quarter! Slay this simpleton! [Specify a spell or weapon]>Calm yourself—he says he wishes to talk and, frankly, if this is a trap he could have already closed it and attempted to end you, right? Humour him.>Own up to everything, admit your true nature, and throw him off-guard—you are STILL a Prince of Hawksong now, and you will treat as one>Write-in 