A/N: Sorry about the lack of chapter last week! Was really busy so I didnt get a chance to write much. Anyway, enjoy!
Special Dungeon Entered
Story Information: The Court has a traitor, and the Nobles are trapped within until a solution can be found. Lord Ferin was found murdered in the council room, and to prevent the killer from escaping Lord Az'Tereth sealed the doors and has ordered the surviving Nobles to remain in the Court until the traitor can be found and executed.
Role: Noble/Court Member
Role Information: You are a member of the Crystal Court, a gathering of Nobles under the rule of Lord Az'Tereth. You rule the province of Carrowind.
Navigate the politics, avoid being exposed as an outsider, and find the killer assassinating important Nobles.
Well, I wasn't expecting to roleplay my way through a dungeon today. Or ever, for that matter.
Nesuskape has reverted to its original appearance of a purple and black dress, my armor of shadows gone with the change. Keira and Angelina have undergone their own makeovers, though Keira's is much less dramatic. She's gained a half-face mask like the ones assassins use in every movie ever made, and I don't even have to ask before she flicks over her own role information.
Role Information: You are a blackguard sworn to your Lady, her blade in the shadows. Defend her with your life, gather information, and strike down the traitor.
Angelina has had the most significant makeover of the three of us, her tattered cloak and hat now brand new and dirt-free. Beneath the cloak, a fresh suit has been fitted to her slim form and a set of bandages cover every inch of exposed undead bone. Her magic rifle is strapped across her back, freshly polished and somehow out of my spatial bag. She hesitates for a few moments before sharing her own role.
Role Information: You play two sides of every battle, and this one is no exception. You are sworn to the service of your Lady, but report directly to Lord Az'Tereth. Serve your Lady, keep the Lord informed, and execute the traitor.
“Of course… why can't anything be simple?” I groan, already feeling the headache that dealing with the other Nobles is going to cause. Sharing my role with the pair, I take in where we were dropped at. It's a large bedroom, likely my own room as a Noble. The walls are hewn from solid stone, not just blocks but a single uninterrupted cave wall polished to an almost glassy shine. Veins of shimmering yellow crystals trace intricate designs across the walls and ceiling, providing a soft light that's just enough to see by. The bed is massive, a four poster bed draped in purple silk straight out of a fantasy novel. A wardrobe is against the wall nearby, a vanity table complete with a mirror of the same yellow crystal next to that. A small wooden door near the bed presumably leads to a bathroom, and an open doorway beside that leads to a servants room with a pair of simple but comfortable beds and another small wardrobe. Turning to Keira, it's time to get our stories straight if we want to survive.
“Alright, so before we leave this room we need to get our story straight. I am the Lady of Carrowind, and you-” I point to Keira, “-are my bodyguard. And assassin it sounds like, but that hopefully won't be necessary. Angelina is a double-agent, meaning you probably have to give reports to the Lord regularly. Which, depending on what he wants to know, means we have to come up with stories that are believable.”
The pair nods, and I send them off to familiarize themselves with the area. Mainly Keira, since she's supposed to be my blackguard. Searching around the room, I find several sets of clothing neatly folded in the wardrobe, assorted makeups and accessories on the vanity, and something useful on a tiny table next to the bed. A leather notebook, bound in delicate silver with a sigil of a ribcage filled with some kind of grain. Flipping through it, it's a ‘journal’ of mine that details information about my supposed territory. Everything from a Labyrinth that has one of our main exports, alchemical reagents, to our other export of wheat and many other grains.
Hell, there's even a few mentions of how I treat the commoners so I can practice my act! Which from what I read… yeah, pretty much classic noble attitude. Fairly dismissive of them, but not outright disdainful. More like they just aren't worth the time to care.
I don't really like that, but I can act it out well enough. The politics are going to be painful though… Chapters fırst released on 𝖓𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖑~𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖾~𝖓𝖊𝖙
Closing the notebook and storing it in my bag for later, I turn to call for Keira but get interrupted by a knock on my door. Somehow, I've completely missed the set of ornate double doors made of dark wood engraved with silver, ‘my’ sigil engraved prominently in the center. Angelina opens the door, revealing a servant in a plain yet obviously good quality uniform standing with his arms crossed behind him.
“His Majesty requests your presence in the meeting hall, mi'lady.” I give him a cool glance before looking into the vanity mirror, idly brushing out my hair and straightening feathers and trying to appear calm despite my nerves.
“Inform him that I shall be there momentarily.” The servant bows, backing out of the room as Angelina closes the door behind him. Slumping a bit, I can already feel a headache building as I wave for the pair to follow me as I wait a minute before stepping outside my room, barely noting the opulent crystal and stone hallway as I let Keira take the lead. Luckily, she had actually found the meeting hall earlier when scouting around with Abyssal Dive, so she knows where we need to go.
Damn, that would be embarrassing to be outed by something as simple as not knowing where I need to go.
Stepping into the room, it's honestly exactly what I was picturing. A massive crystal round table with customized chairs surrounding it. Mine is obvious; dark wood with purple silk cushions, the silver symbol of ribs and grain inlaid in the tall back. Flanking it on the right is a chair seemingly made entirely of living bark, large leaves forming the hammock-like seat. To the left is a throne made from steel, no ornamentation or comfort at all. There are a total of twelve seats, with a thirteenth made of the same crystal that's everywhere in this place. That is the only one occupied, a hulking six-armed crystalline golem clad in ornate armor with an orange cloak draped over one side dominating that part of the table.
Must be Lord Az'Tereth.
I give him a short bow, enough to show deference without being overboard and submissive. He returns a small nod, and I take my seat three spaces to his right. Keira melts into the darkness behind my chair, and Angelina takes up a place next to the wall, standing at attention but still relaxed.
Glad they're getting into their roles easily enough.
I'm barely seated before another noble joins me at the table, what looks almost like a humanoid tree taking a seat in the bark chair beside me. We share a nod before returning to the wait, and not long after several more wander into the meeting room. Three are various types of beastfolk, with an eagle, tiger, and some kind of many-limbed insect taking seats across from me. Another is a tall knight that takes the steel throne on my other side, giving me a nod before looking up at Az'Tereth. The last five are varying humanoids, three normal humans and a pair of elves. Once everyone is seated, one of Az'Tereth's arms bangs on the table to get everyone's attention. He speaks with a voice like a landslide, a low rumble that fills the room.
“Members of the Crystal Court, I, Lord Az'Tereth Acerin, call this meeting to order. There is a traitor amongst our ranks, and none shall leave until they are found.”
We all glance at the lone empty seat, a stone throne with plush cushions, now shredded and stained with blood. Az'Tereth steeples his hands, leaning onto the table as his prismatic eyes bounce from noble to noble, finally ending on me.
No please for the love of the gods don't call me out-
“As we shall be here for some time, we shall continue with the meeting that was originally planned before this unforeseen incident. Lady Siris, I would like to hear how your domain has been faring with the recent drought.”