The Royal Families had arrived at the Falchineve Colony’s main entrance cave. They met with the colony’s leaders, King Hekcho and Queen Yumbii Tolandah. “We’re so glad you could make it in these times of war,” greeted Hekcho as he and his wife shook their hands. “We’re in a really tight spot!”
“The Gorgons are starting to encroach on our own territories,” explained Yumbii, “and the Gryphons have been spotted patrolling the mountaintops, against our agreement!”
“We need your help, something fierce!” pleaded Hekcho.
“Well, that’s why we’re here,” assured Emfam. “Can we arrange a meeting with the leaders of the Gryphons and Gorgons?”
“Easily,” answered Yumbii. “We have one set up already at Meeting Mountain.”
“Then let’s get to it,” declared Orbak. The Tolandahs led everyone to a mountain that sat in the center of the colony. At the northern base of the mountain was a table. There were two parties already there. One consisted of beasts with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion while the head and front paws were replaced with the head and taloned feet of eagles. They also possessed eagle wings and carried an air of smugness about them. These were the Gryphons. The other party consisted of reptilian creatures with snakes for hair. The snakes were still as stone and silent, merely draping down like long hair. Some of the creatures had a snake tail like a Naga while others possessed two legs. These were the Gorgons. One female Gorgon with a snake tail examined her claws as she waited while a male Gryphon observed the party approaching them.
“Everyone, I present King Hanjar of the Gryphons and Queen Erudsa of the Gorgons,” introduced Hekcho.
“A pleasure to meet you,” greeted Emfam.
“Yes, I’m sure it is,” scoffed Hanjar.
“We’ll make this brief,” hissed Erudsa. “You’ve constructed a fort in Gryphon territory and placed an invisible object in an area that was supposed to be set aside for farmland for Gorgons.”
“Your Majesty, I assure you,” replied Orbak, “we did no such thing.”
“Oh? Then explain the design of the fortress!” Hanjar snapped his talons and a servant stepped forward. The servant drew a scroll out of her pouch and laid it out on the table. It was a sketch of the fortress. It was surrounded by walls of terrifying architecture, each wall corner holding a tower with a gate in the center, four surrounding a larger tower, and smaller supply buildings in between the towers. “Under-realm design, is it not?” asked Hanjar.
“…It is,” answered Orbak, “but something doesn’t add up. When did your scouts discover this?”
“Yesterday morning.”
“Fortresses that elaborate take almost a year.”
“There were concealment spells placed around the build site. One of your people got careless and didn’t cast one properly, allowing my scouts to see the gate and counteract the spells so they could see the entire fort.”
“We have reason to believe,” continued Erudsa, “that such a thing is happening in our lands. We have only a rough outline after feeling its perimeter.” She took out another scroll and showed off the outline. Arsha goggled at the picture. It was the outline of a Dauntless-class skyship.
“That’s impossible!” she breathed. “Who would hide building a ship like that?!”
“Well, who?” asked Erudsa.
“Your Majesties, we have no clue who’s behind this!” argued Arsha. “For all we know, this is something Oyed’s planned!”
“You would naturally shift blame to Oyed?” asked Hanjar.
“Who else could it be?” retorted Malnar.
“Impossible,” answered Erudsa. “Oyed has given us his word that he’s not behind this. He outlined how Realmfleet would stoop to such tactics.”
“Against him, yes!”
“Which leads me to my personal question, why go against him?”
“Because he’s gonna kill us all, regardless of whether or not certain people are loyal to him!”
“She’s right,” urged Endram. “If we let Oyed have his way, we’d only be burying the future.”
“…You really want us to believe that this isn’t Realmfleet’s doing?” asked Hanjar.
“We do.”
“…Then attempt to prove it. If you can solve what’s going on and clear Realmfleet’s name, we’ll join you.”
“If not, we join Oyed and burn Realmfleet to the ground,” continued Erudsa.
“…Fair enough,” declared Orbak. “Shall we see each other again tomorrow morning? We’ll have a plan to show you we’re not at fault by then.”
“Very well,” replied Hanjar. “You have until Early Morning. Let’s say…6:25. I will see how you handle the fort situation and Erudsa shall observe how the invisible ‘ship’ is dealt with.”
“We’ll see you all then.” At Orbak’s declaration, everyone departed from the table.
“6:25, Daddy?!” hissed Malnar. “It’s 18:00 right now! That only gives us our remaining seven hours today before we have to hit the hay! We can’t possibly have a plan by then!”
“Actually, I think I have a solution,” interjected Arsha.
“Oh?” asked Malnar.
“We can divide into two teams. One team will be with Hanjar and the other will be with Erudsa.”
“And who will be the team leaders?” asked Endram.
“And who will be accompanying them?” supplied Lardeth.
“I have the team leaders already; I just need the rest of the teams.”
“Oh? And who ARE the team leaders?”
“Because of his knowledge of Under-realm Fortresses, I was thinking Orbak can lead the fort team. That leaves Aldarval to the invisible ship.”
“Me, Captain?” asked Aldarval.
“Well, you ARE the superior officer around here.”
“…Fair enough. Very well. Assemble our teams.”
“Aye, Ma’am.”
Dr. Borg took a walk. A grin was plain on her face. Oyed ordered everyone to hold position and not get involved. After a scout had reported that the Gryphons and Gorgons threatened to join the Realm Trinity Empire, she was initially stunned that they would do so without any convincing from their side. After the reports were confirmed, she became more confident in the plan. It was only logical. The Gryphons and Gorgons were too prideful to work with Realmfleet. Their isolationist policies ensured that. As she walked, she bumped into Remsu. “Ah, my bride!” she greeted. “And how are we today?”
“Enjoying some much-needed downtime,” answered Remsu. “Just wanted to tell you that our veiled hubby’s challenged Oyed to Liar’s Dice.”
“Liar’s Dice? I’m unfamiliar with that game.”
“It’s a betting game our pirate friends play. It’s become quite popular among the soldiers.”
“How is it played?” Remsu led Dr. Borg to the game as she explained the rules.
“Each player has five six-sided dice in a cup. They shake the cup, then place it upside-down to hide the dice. One player then declares a certain number of a certain face, not just for their dice, but for all dice in play. For example, you would say that there are two threes. The other person would then either say ‘Liar’, after which you would reveal your dice to see whether or not you were right, or the person would up the bid, three threes. After that, it’s your decision. At which point, a third option becomes available. You can either call ‘Liar’, up the bid, or say three of another die-face, like three fours.”
“You said it was a betting game.”
“Yep. They’re just betting money right now.”
“And Tensam and Oyed are playing right now?”
“That’s right. Ah, here we are!” They arrived at a crowd surrounding a table with Oyed on one end and Tensam on the other.
“Four sixes,” called Tensam.
“Five sixes,” replied Oyed.
“Six sixes!”
“…Seven sixes.”
“LIAR!” Oyed and Tensam then lifted their cups. Out of ten dice, seven were showing six! Tensam was stunned. “Man, my Lord! You pick up the nuances of this game fast!” He handed over 20 golds.
“I challenge Oyed!” called Dr. Borg. Everyone turned to her in amazement.
“…I accept,” purred Oyed. “How much are you willing to risk?”
“I wager everything I own.” Oyed scoffed at that offer.
“With someone as dangerous as you, I’ll only bet on what’s dearest to one’s heart, else there’s no way to tell if they’re bluffing. What one is willing to risk or not is a measure of their soul.”
“…Very well, my soul in eternal servitude to you.”
“NO!” shouted Remsu and Tensam.
“And what would you get out of this?” asked Oyed.
“You take orders from me and my fellow Council Members.” Oyed’s face then became one of shock and anger at such a demand.
“…Cytanek Yavenag Borg, be prepared to lose your soul!” hissed the Titan.
“Then it’s agreed?” Dr. Borg placed her dice in the cup and held it up.
“…Agreed!” Oyed did the same. They then shook their cups and slammed them upside-down onto the table. They peeked under their respective cup. “Since you challenged me, Doctor, it’s your bet.” Dr. Borg considered what would be the safest bet to make.
“Two threes.”
“Somewhere along the way, you became desperate,” chuckled Oyed as he checked his dice. “What the cause may be, it can only be related to your spouses. Three threes.”
“Spouses need not cause you to be desperate if you choose the right spouses. Four threes.”
“I recall your goals now. You’re the one that hopes to create peace among the Realms. But your fate is to create chaos in my name for my amusement!”
“I choose my own fate.”
“Then it wouldn’t be fate, would it? Five threes!” Dr. Borg checked her cup once more before deciding her next actions.
“Five sixes!” The crowd talked amongst itself, trying to determine her reasoning. Oyed chuckled.
“Liar!” They then revealed their dice. Out of all ten, five were sixes! Oyed was visibly upset, then he regained his composure. “What is thy bidding, my master?”
“If and when Realmfleet manages to overcome this and recruit the Gorgons and Gryphons to their side,” she commanded, “you are to kill Arsha Royana. Kill her and morale will dip for all the Realms.”
“…It shall be done.” Oyed departed from the table and room. The crowd dispersed, each person chatting with one another as they left the room. Only Tensam and Remsu remained with Dr. Borg. After a small silence, one of Tensam’s tentacles brought Dr. Borg up to his and Remsu’s faces.
“Of all the dumbass gambles you could have made, this took the cake!” he hissed.
“What were you thinking?!” snarled Remsu. “For all you know, Oyed could disobey us, and he could still take your soul!”
“The master plan will be ready by the time he tries,” replied Dr. Borg.
“For your sake, I hope so!” growled Tensam as he released her. He and Remsu then stormed out. Dr. Borg sat back down and idly examined one of the dice, smirking as she did.