In a dimly lit but grandiose palace corridor, Sofia and Karin stood before an imposing double door. This was the door to the throne room, where the Emperor would receive her. They were waiting for the signal to enter.
“You know, Sofia… Maybe… This might be a bit too much,” Karin said as she looked behind Sofia.
“Is it? If I am going to make a strong entrance, I might as well go all-out, don’t you think? Besides, I still don’t understand why I need to get a public audience. I asked for nothing. I don’t even remember how we got to the palace and you have been avoiding the subject all this time.”
“Listen… Sometimes… It’s better if… You should cherish the ability to forget, is what I want to say about that. And the audience was set in stone the second you entered the empire again if I’m being honest. As an unaffiliated and dangerous power, it’s Xeros’ responsibility to make sure you aren’t a menace to the empire.”
“Does he personally meet anyone coming in that’s above level 100? That’s going to be a lot of work.”
“Come on Sofia, don’t play dumb. We’ve all seen Pareth fight yesterday and Kuli saw firsthand what you left of the Church’s third temple. If you’re going to act like you’re a regular Saintess now I can’t guarantee that Xeros won’t snap back.”
“Alright, sure. I’m not unaffiliated though,” Sofia answered, flashing her Vampire card, which had the only effect of making Karin’s horizontally-slit eyes roll. “Oh, right, I also have this…” she continued, bringing out the Saint Alliance badge, and pinning it on her chest.
“Wait, you're in the Alliance? Oh, that just makes everything even… Ah. Whatever. Xeros’ problem, I’m only in charge of the coins.”
“You’re what now?”
Karin tilted her horned head. She smirked. “Oh, did I never say? Let me properly introduce myself this time then. I am Karin Lacour, Karlson’s wife for sixty-three years, mother of three, level 188 [Blood Mage], and currently the Empire’s head of finances.”
“Because of course you are… I guess the weird looks from the innkeep weren’t only because of Kuli… Then what is Drian’s job?”
“Boiling water,” Karin deadpanned.
“Boiling water?”
“Boiling water.”
“He is a fire mage so I could see that but… Let’s… You said many nobles would be here right?”
“... Yes, this is the day of the month when Xeros deals with their reclamations, most families will at least have someone there to observe.”
“I understand your position a little better now but it’s still surprising how casually everyone seems to be talking about the emperor.”
“It’s a long story, Sofia, this Empire wasn’t built by one man, Xeros owes us as much as we owe him. I know it is easy to forget from appearances, but we are all much older than you are. Even if you and I are almost at the same level, I am getting close to my first hundred years… Honestly, you do not even need all this spectacle you’re preparing, the speed at which you gain levels would be scary enough to most nobles.”
“Alright I got the message, thank you for the help, Karin. But I will go ahead with it. I don’t want anyone to get any funny ideas. I have enough enemies as it is. You are positive necromancy isn’t a problem, right?”
“It would still be bad with the general public, but the noble families all have their fair share of less-than-savory classes in their midst. If anyone has issues with it you can be sure they are only trying to discredit you. I wouldn’t pay them any mind. Look at my class, does [Blood Mage] inspire good things to you? I know it shows as a supporter, in truth, it’s anything but.”
“Interesting. That’s a lot easier to navigate than Skyreach then. Let’s prepare a better entourage then. How’s it looking, bookie, enough fog?”
Damn not enough for the Templars, the page is all translucent… Wait, the High-Priest’s page is good? I still don’t understand exactly how the fog consumption works. It’s a mix of the mana cost and the summon’s size but it’s not consistent with what uses how much… Anyway, High-Priest it is.
Depending on how you look at it, it is even better than three Templars.
Karin observed the new skeleton, “This sure explains the origins of the Sepulcher bead… You’ve probably made more war contributions than most of our soldiers at this point.”
“I’m not doing this to help anyone. What is the point of the war, even? I know of the supposed goal to take over the primordial lake and the academy but that feels very wrong.”
“Who knows… I’m just a poor innocent goatkin. I know nothing, Saintly Saintess! Trust me!” Karin joked around, acting meek.
“Hmm. I cannot blame you for not telling me… Not that I mind it that much anyway. You can take over the entirety of Skyreach for all I care, at least I’d be rid of the Church.”
“We would if we could… Are you ready? I think it’s your turn soon.”
“I am about done, yes. Thanks for your help, Karin. Last night was fun too.”
“It was a pleasant little outing, wasn’t it? Everyone really needed that.” She walked up closer to the door, and turned to Sofia again, “And thank you for forcing Karl out of his workshop,” she added with a wink.
The muted chatter coming from the other side of the heavy double doors toned down.
Through the thick wood, they heard the announcer.
“And now, the last audience for this session! You may have heard of her escape from the tyranny of the Skyreach Church last year, Saintess Sofia of Scriptures.”
Karin gave some advice before the doors opened, “Walk up to the stand, you should bow until Xeros addresses you, but not too low. To make things easier, only talk to answer questions, if possible. I’m sure you can get him to give you some nice stuff if you play this smart. You’ve got this, Sofia.”
Sofia thanked Karin for her help and quickly threw a Midenicite catalyst to the High-priest so he wouldn’t be empty-handed. She also gave a few last orders to the skeletons to make sure they played their part well. She also asked Pareth to change his armor to make it as massive as possible and to add a cape.
Also, make the sword bigger if you can.
The doors opened, revealing the empire’s throne room.
The throne room was a grand chamber of immense proportions, with soaring ceilings and walls adorned with intricate tapestries and murals. The dusk sun glared from the giant stained-glass window behind the throne, casting a warm orange glow across the room and illuminating the ornate decor.
The room was filled with a crowd of nobles, their lavish clothing and jeweled adornments glittering in the light. They were all dressed to impress. They stood in clusters on either side of the chamber, attentively observing the opening doors in perfect silence.
At the end of the room, elevated on a dais, sat the emperor's throne, an imposing structure of carved wood and steel. The emperor was sitting comfortably, his features stern and imposing as he surveyed the room from his throne. He wore the same attire from before, except for a different, heavier deep-red cape, draping over his shoulders and the arms of the throne.
Sofia was first to enter, Pareth and the High-priest following closely behind her on either side. A murmur of shock ran through the nobles' ranks as they laid eyes on the skeletons, but none raised their voice.
So far so good. Sofia scanned the whole room as she walked forward. Most of them are still under level 100. That small guy near the emperor is a 250+ supporter… Three others above 200. And the knights lining the walls are around my level. Ten of them.
In short, only two of them are a danger. Emperor Xeros and the supporter near him.
Wings ajar to appear more imposing, Sofia confidently advanced through the throne room. Under the awed eyes of some of the weaker nobles, the Paladin skeletons followed. They advanced, bones and armor shimmering under the sunlight. Their steps drowned the room in the cadenced sound of their synchronized march.
This lacks a skeleton musician.
She stepped up to the stand facing the throne, and following Karin’s advice, she bent forward in a light bow. Skeletons, kneel.
As if suddenly let free, the nobles’ voices got louder as she looked down. Only to be silenced by a snap of the Emperor’s fingers.
“Welcome, Saintess. You may rise.”
In a dimly lit but grandiose palace corridor, Sofia and Karin stood before an imposing double door. This was the door to the throne room, where the Emperor would receive her. They were waiting for the signal to enter.
“You know, Sofia… Maybe… This might be a bit too much,” Karin said as she looked behind Sofia.
“Is it? If I am going to make a strong entrance, I might as well go all-out, don’t you think? Besides, I still don’t understand why I need to get a public audience. I asked for nothing. I don’t even remember how we got to the palace and you have been avoiding the subject all this time.”
“Listen… Sometimes… It’s better if… You should cherish the ability to forget, is what I want to say about that. And the audience was set in stone the second you entered the empire again if I’m being honest. As an unaffiliated and dangerous power, it’s Xeros’ responsibility to make sure you aren’t a menace to the empire.”
“Does he personally meet anyone coming in that’s above level 100? That’s going to be a lot of work.”
“Come on Sofia, don’t play dumb. We’ve all seen Pareth fight yesterday and Kuli saw firsthand what you left of the Church’s third temple. If you’re going to act like you’re a regular Saintess now I can’t guarantee that Xeros won’t snap back.”
“Alright, sure. I’m not unaffiliated though,” Sofia answered, flashing her Vampire card, which had the only effect of making Karin’s horizontally-slit eyes roll. “Oh, right, I also have this…” she continued, bringing out the Saint Alliance badge, and pinning it on her chest.
“Wait, you're in the Alliance? Oh, that just makes everything even… Ah. Whatever. Xeros’ problem, I’m only in charge of the coins.”
“You’re what now?”
Karin tilted her horned head. She smirked. “Oh, did I never say? Let me properly introduce myself this time then. I am Karin Lacour, Karlson’s wife for sixty-three years, mother of three, level 188 [Blood Mage], and currently the Empire’s head of finances.”
“Because of course you are… I guess the weird looks from the innkeep weren’t only because of Kuli… Then what is Drian’s job?”
“Boiling water,” Karin deadpanned.
“Boiling water?”
“Boiling water.”
“He is a fire mage so I could see that but… Let’s… You said many nobles would be here right?”
“... Yes, this is the day of the month when Xeros deals with their reclamations, most families will at least have someone there to observe.”
“I understand your position a little better now but it’s still surprising how casually everyone seems to be talking about the emperor.”
“It’s a long story, Sofia, this Empire wasn’t built by one man, Xeros owes us as much as we owe him. I know it is easy to forget from appearances, but we are all much older than you are. Even if you and I are almost at the same level, I am getting close to my first hundred years… Honestly, you do not even need all this spectacle you’re preparing, the speed at which you gain levels would be scary enough to most nobles.”
“Alright I got the message, thank you for the help, Karin. But I will go ahead with it. I don’t want anyone to get any funny ideas. I have enough enemies as it is. You are positive necromancy isn’t a problem, right?”
“It would still be bad with the general public, but the noble families all have their fair share of less-than-savory classes in their midst. If anyone has issues with it you can be sure they are only trying to discredit you. I wouldn’t pay them any mind. Look at my class, does [Blood Mage] inspire good things to you? I know it shows as a supporter, in truth, it’s anything but.”
“Interesting. That’s a lot easier to navigate than Skyreach then. Let’s prepare a better entourage then. How’s it looking, bookie, enough fog?”
Damn not enough for the Templars, the page is all translucent… Wait, the High-Priest’s page is good? I still don’t understand exactly how the fog consumption works. It’s a mix of the mana cost and the summon’s size but it’s not consistent with what uses how much… Anyway, High-Priest it is.
Depending on how you look at it, it is even better than three Templars.
Karin observed the new skeleton, “This sure explains the origins of the Sepulcher bead… You’ve probably made more war contributions than most of our soldiers at this point.”
“I’m not doing this to help anyone. What is the point of the war, even? I know of the supposed goal to take over the primordial lake and the academy but that feels very wrong.”
“Who knows… I’m just a poor innocent goatkin. I know nothing, Saintly Saintess! Trust me!” Karin joked around, acting meek.
“Hmm. I cannot blame you for not telling me… Not that I mind it that much anyway. You can take over the entirety of Skyreach for all I care, at least I’d be rid of the Church.”
“We would if we could… Are you ready? I think it’s your turn soon.”
“I am about done, yes. Thanks for your help, Karin. Last night was fun too.”
“It was a pleasant little outing, wasn’t it? Everyone really needed that.” She walked up closer to the door, and turned to Sofia again, “And thank you for forcing Karl out of his workshop,” she added with a wink.
The muted chatter coming from the other side of the heavy double doors toned down.
Through the thick wood, they heard the announcer.
“And now, the last audience for this session! You may have heard of her escape from the tyranny of the Skyreach Church last year, Saintess Sofia of Scriptures.”
Karin gave some advice before the doors opened, “Walk up to the stand, you should bow until Xeros addresses you, but not too low. To make things easier, only talk to answer questions, if possible. I’m sure you can get him to give you some nice stuff if you play this smart. You’ve got this, Sofia.”
Sofia thanked Karin for her help and quickly threw a Midenicite catalyst to the High-priest so he wouldn’t be empty-handed. She also gave a few last orders to the skeletons to make sure they played their part well. She also asked Pareth to change his armor to make it as massive as possible and to add a cape.
Also, make the sword bigger if you can.
The doors opened, revealing the empire’s throne room.
The throne room was a grand chamber of immense proportions, with soaring ceilings and walls adorned with intricate tapestries and murals. The dusk sun glared from the giant stained-glass window behind the throne, casting a warm orange glow across the room and illuminating the ornate decor.
The room was filled with a crowd of nobles, their lavish clothing and jeweled adornments glittering in the light. They were all dressed to impress. They stood in clusters on either side of the chamber, attentively observing the opening doors in perfect silence.
At the end of the room, elevated on a dais, sat the emperor's throne, an imposing structure of carved wood and steel. The emperor was sitting comfortably, his features stern and imposing as he surveyed the room from his throne. He wore the same attire from before, except for a different, heavier deep-red cape, draping over his shoulders and the arms of the throne.
Sofia was first to enter, Pareth and the High-priest following closely behind her on either side. A murmur of shock ran through the nobles' ranks as they laid eyes on the skeletons, but none raised their voice.
So far so good. Sofia scanned the whole room as she walked forward. Most of them are still under level 100. That small guy near the emperor is a 250+ supporter… Three others above 200. And the knights lining the walls are around my level. Ten of them.
In short, only two of them are a danger. Emperor Xeros and the supporter near him.
Wings ajar to appear more imposing, Sofia confidently advanced through the throne room. Under the awed eyes of some of the weaker nobles, the Paladin skeletons followed. They advanced, bones and armor shimmering under the sunlight. Their steps drowned the room in the cadenced sound of their synchronized march.
This lacks a skeleton musician.
She stepped up to the stand facing the throne, and following Karin’s advice, she bent forward in a light bow. Skeletons, kneel.
As if suddenly let free, the nobles’ voices got louder as she looked down. Only to be silenced by a snap of the Emperor’s fingers.
“Welcome, Saintess. You may rise.”
