ACT I
"NEXT!"
A man, mid to late 40's, clad in leather armor bearing the insignia of officer in the reachmen of Ophanheim, barks orders for people ahead of you in line at the castle gates to step forward. The sounds of celebration clamor from behind a large, stone archway with a raised iron portculis, guarded by a post of reachmen standing beneath the cobalt and silver striped standard banner of Coldwin Castle.
"NEXT!"
You gently pull Porridge along and find yourself in front of the line, where you watch
a very tired looking elderly human couple in simple tunics and shawls slowly make their way towards a structure that would look more at home in a garden than on a road; a tunneled archway of black iron draped exclusively in lazily hanging deep green vines upon which pale iridescent blue spotted flowers with lavender centers bloom. A plant that is very familiar to you - Hedera Luzes, or more commonly known as sapgrass.
"CARRIAGE!"
Nearly everyone turns to face the approaching vessel. A rich, black lacquered carriage with gold metalwork detailing its outer edges pulled by 2 fit stallions with equally dark coats and black bridles brimming with golden filigree stops beside the blossoming archway. The attendant reachman walks over and briefly converses with the carriage driver before nodding and giving them clearance to move ahead. As road dust kicks up behind its wheels and it heads into the castle, a black banner emblazoned with golden crossed axes burning with white fire signifies the sigil of House Devotore, one of the high houses of Ophanheim.
"NEXT!"
Your gaze returns to the Reachman beckoning you forth. As you head towards the archway, the guard looks at Porridge and stops you.
"There is to be no livestock at this-" He stops with a look of recognition on his face. "Sir Stonescale?"
You nod.
"Pardon me sir, it is an honor to finally meet you. As for your steed, all stable space is taken," he stops and thinks for a moment, "but, my space at the barracks stables is empty. Tell stablehand Sanders you are to use Lieutenant Seraval's stable space and if he asks for verification, just say alfalfa. He'll know what that means".
[YOUR RESPONSE: PICK ONE]
[A] (nod slowly)
[B] That's very generous of you
[C] Are you sure? I haven't been a soldier in years
[D] Using military resources on civilians?... At least its for a veteran
Lieutenant Seraval smirks and nods. "Now just on this way". He gestures towards the floral archway.
As you walk down the arched path, sounds of celebration grow with each step closer to the Rite of Succession.
"NEXT!"
Beneath the ivy laden tunnel, you observe the vines, the blooms, and the petals of the sapgrass all around you and Porridge. Many of the pale blue and lavender blooms look withered, and yet they cling strongly to the iron archway.
"Ahaahhh!" shrieks a cracking, adolescent voice.
"GUARDS", commands the lieutenant.
You turn to see a Dwarven woman cry out, "Wait! Please, there must be some mistake!"
She stands in a light colored sundress next to a Dwarven man in his mid 30's in his best wrinkled sailors attire attending to a teenage boy in loose fitting burlap overalls who is squatting in the middle of the archway, covering his head with his arms as a swarm of sapgrass vines writhe animatedly towards him. The vines hungrily search and stretch themselves towards the boy, who is just out of their reach, triggering even more vines to stir into action.
"Unhand your magics at once.", says Lieutenant Sereval, firmly.
The couple looks at each other before the mother speaks. "We have nothing, we swear!"
"Possession of magical items is a criminal offense. You will unhand your magics or you will face the full force of the law."
Two of the other reachmen draw crossbows, load them, and aim them down the archway at the family while they slowly back away towards their son with their hands up. The father bends down and says something to the boy, who's having a hard time looking away from the ivy that is focusing on him like hungry snakes. Finally the child looks down as he reaches into his pocket and shakily pulls out a small ring. The father immediately closes his eyes and clenches his jaw in a wave of emotions.
"At once! Do not make us repeat ourselves!"
The father gingerly grabs the ring out of his child's hand and slowly turns around. "A thousand pardons, sirs, I had no idea this ring was magical when I gave it to my son."
The wife's eyes widen in recognition but she holds her silence as she stares back towards the guards.
"Bring it forth!", barks Sereval.
The father walks back towards the guards with the ring held high and as he does, the sapgrass loses interest in the boy and begins to reach and wind its way to follow the ring in the fathers hand as best as it can. "It was a family heirloom, I'd no idea it-"
"You gave your son magic?"
"I didn't know!"
"Are you with the Bolivar?"
"What? No! We are citizens of Ophanheim."
"We'll see about that". Lieutenant Sereval pulls out a silver whistle from within his leather armor and blows into it three times. Almost immediately, you hear a door opening outside the heavily vined archway and two pairs of boots walking in lockstep.
"How may we be of assistance?", you hear two voices say in unison.
The family gasps as two tall, elven Nullpriests in white robes adorned with holy symbols and wearing brass and crystal headsets turn the corner and address the officer.
"Are these people in disguise?" asks the lieutenant squarely.
The first Nullpriest turns to the dwarf family, lifts a hand towards them and his amethyst earpieces glow momentarily.
Instinctively, the mother hugs her son tightly while the father raises his hands in the air so quickly he drops the ring.
The Nullpriest lowers his hand. "No disguises or illusion magics detected".
“You’ve made me ask 3 times.” says the lieutenant, walking slowly towards the man.
The father turns his head to his loved ones, revealing a look of fear.
“To whom do you owe fealty?”
The father, recognizing he had dropped the ring, quickly reaches down and grabs it off the ground. “oh, of course, you wanted the ring! Here-”
The lieutenant snatches it out of his hand immediately. “-No sudden moves! I asked you a question. You will answer it.”
The father looks at his partner before looking back to the Lieutenant. “Uh. House Svarog.”
“Noted.” Sereval tosses the ring to one of the Nullpriests. "Risk assessment."
The second Nullpriest catches it and holds it before themselves. The blue gem on their circlet glows bright for a moment.
"This object carries enchantment magic and is known as a Ring of Recall. It's true purpose is to assist memory and recollection in the wearer. Sale and possession within the Ophanic Empire are prohibited under the DREAM doctrine. Associated risk: trivial."
Lieutenant Sereval turns to the Dwarven man. "You have committed a crime of magical possession against Ophanheim and her people, disgraced the high house Svarog, and are hereby under arrest. What say you in your defense?"
"-but he didn't know it was magical!”, the mother defends. “Surely there must be some-"
"-Hey you!", a voice from behind you speaks up.
You turn to see a reachman in leather armor approach you. "You and your horse can’t stand here. Move along."
With one last look, you watch the father being manacled with his hands behind his back.
"I'm sorry!” cries the boy. “I forgot! I forgot I had it, I'm sorry! I’m sorry I forgot!”
"It's okay. It's okay", the mother says holding back tears, clutching her son. "Daddy’s gonna be- we'll figure something out."
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" The guard behind you says again.
You nod and guide Porridge out of the floral tunnel and towards the courtyard of Coldwin Castle. You take one last look behind you and amidst a separated family, watch the lieutenant hold up the ring to the sapgrass vines, which hungrily grab it out of his hand and pass it along to the more withered parts of itself while the blooms closest to the ring appear to flourish and glow a slight luminescent blue. You return your gaze to the lieutenant who catches eye contact with you. He winks and smirks before turning around.
“NEXT!”
(Go to page 1.2)
