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Post by Shark a' Pult on Mar 19, 2014 2:54:52 GMT -5
"You keep calling them savages, andIdon'tthinkthey'regoing to be as willing to help us on our mission here."
Rory didn't bother to look up as he commented, busy writing in his notes about this place already and what seemed to be known of the next marking. He didn't like how Fate was already trying to burn bridges though, since it would make their job harder in the long run. Instead, he responded to the boat owner himself.
"Excuse me Miss, areyoutakingus to see the Prince directly? Is he the only one of authority here to talk about the marking?"
Rory was actually fairly curious as to why it was a Prince they were meeting. Clearly it was important enough to see a royal about it, but not important enough for someone of higher title?
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Post by Kyubey on Mar 28, 2014 0:56:10 GMT -5
Galfreid did not look at Fate, nor did she respond to the Marine's threatening words. From the look that crossed her face after Fate spoke, it was clear that she was greatly offended. It wasn't being called a savage or a liar that appeared to have hurt her feelings, however. Rather she seemed to be most upset at the insult to her boat. After all three passengers were securely on board, she began rowing, away from the Marine ship and the cliff caves she called home.
"They should be listening to us. How do you expect us to get any respect if we keep bowing down to these liars?"
"We're guests here, that's why," Ohyeah replied, looking ahead. "We want their help, so we're following their rules. Now we have an audience with their royalty, and nobody had to die for it. If you don't like the lack of respect, and trust me, I don't either, then at least be happy about that."
Ohyeah's words may have seemed stern, but internally he did feel sympathy for Fate. As dangerous as her words were, they came from a good place. And just as he also understood why the Galateans acted the way they did, he still wished they could have been more diplomatic. If he had to include this aspect of their visit in his report, then he did not want to be there for the political mess that would ensue amongst his superiors.
The boat drifted along the watery passageway through the rocks, a narrow, twisting road. The cliffs towered high above them, to the point where the grey sky had the vague appearance of a murky stream. Below them, the waters were equally foggy, though if Fate or Rory looked down long enough, they would see fish of various sizes, some larger than the rowboat or any of its inhabitants, swimming along, not minding the humans at all. A chilly wind bit at the Marines, and large birds, like the one that the Strand Watch had used as a messenger, cawed and circled overhead. They moved at a slow pace, but one that was understandable given the size and make of the vessel, and the fact that there was only one ferrywoman to transport all of them.
"Excuse me Miss, areyoutakingus to see the Prince directly? Is he the only one of authority here to talk about the marking?"
"Only taking you to the shore now," Galfreid said. "Us Watchers seldom go farther than that. Never to the castle. If that is where yer going, I'd reckon one of the masters from the castle will pick you up from the beach and guide you wheres you needs to be. And then, you'll meet the Prince. Would have been Queen Claudia, but she's out fighting a war for us. Little Prince Leberecht is the most important man left back 'ere in Galatae. That's why we gaves you such a bad time comin' in. Nobody goes in while the Queen's out, is what our orders are. Not even the Government. Only reason we're treatin' you special now is because you're here about the mark. That is why you've come to visit, aye? To try and fix that? It's a good thing you've came, we've been wishin' someone would come do just that for a while. I remember when I first heard 'bout the mark. Of course us Watchers were blamed at first, lettin' someone in who'd do that, but we didn't know nothin' at all. Oh, it was a mess, alright. Then, not long after that day, men from outside come to summon Queen Claudia to a... uh, meeting of some kind. And of course she accepts, to find out who disgraced her lovely castle. So she goes, then she comes back, then she goes out again, only this time she takes her big ship and all her soldiers, 'cause she's at war. A real mess. A bad mess. And the man who put that mark on that castle, is the one who caused all that. I don't trust Governmenties. I don't trust any visitors, not really. But I hope you finds that man."
By this time, they had come out of the passageway, and into a circular peninsula, with the shores of Galatae visible on the other end. The beach was just as grey and dead-looking as the sea and sky, with docks that did not look like they'd been in use for many years. Further on, small houses of wood and stone lay beyond the sands, with signs of people going about their business amongst them. Farther on that that were the trees, part of a vast, dark forest, the kind of ominous, untouched woodland that tended to appear in stories for young children. A ways off south from the town, in the far distance, one could see top of the castle, hidden away by the great trees. At the shore, a row of men, decked in armor and holding weapons, stood in wait for Ohyeah and the others. These knights were still, like statues, and did not make any sign to acknowledge the guests to their land, even as the rowboat pulled up before them. Ahead of these knights stood a middle aged man of average height, with a large beard and extravagant robes. Upon docking the boat safely at the shore, Galfreid put down her oar, looked at the robed man with her strange, eccentric eyes, and bowed deeply.
"Three visitors, safe and dry, m'lord."
"Very well done. Thank you, Galfreid," the nobleman replied.
Ohyeah stepped out of the rowboat, and onto the sands, expecting Fate and Rory to follow. Once they were all off, Galfreid would sit in the middle of her rowboat, as if in wait for the time when the Marines would be ready to take the trip back to their own ship.
"Hello, soldiers of the Marines," said the older man with an authoritative voice. "I am Archduke Bowdren Phillip von Acis. I am here to escort you to His Majesty, the Prince of Galatae."
He looked at the Marines expectantly, as if waiting for the three to introduce themselves.
"Good day," said Ohyeah, matching Bowdren's tone of voice. "I'm Ohye... Vice Admiral Xavier Barlow." He decided, this time, to let Fate and Rory give their own introductions, and stayed stoically silent, trying his hardest to fit in with the solemn feeling that the Archduke was exuding.
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Post by CJ on Apr 3, 2014 22:27:39 GMT -5
"It shouldn't matter if they're willing to help, they will help," Fate said, turning her helmeted head to Rory. "You're forgetting these people are beneath us. We're not here to make friends."
She huffed at Ohyeah's explanation. Yes, no one had to die, but her pride and dignity were hanging on the edge. She knew she was being selfish, but her emotions were still getting the best of her. Ohyeah was stern but empathetic, which Fate could appreciate, but she couldn't stand Rory. Yes, he was likely wrongly imprisoned, but that still didn't mean she was forced to work on an equal level with the social equivalent of a criminal.
The gray of the landscape of Galatae reflected against her motorcycle helmet. It was impossible to tell what she thought of the place, but it wasn't hard to guess. She kept her arms crossed, but her head held high. Despite the darkness, the sky emitted enough sunlight to scorch Fate if she were to remove any bit of her clothing. She stubbornly fought gratefulness that she didn't feel hot or uncomfortable. The weather really was perfect for her.
Coming to shore, Fate's body language didn't change. However, she turned to Galfreid and nodded.
"You have done well, salvage. You have my thanks for not deceiving us."
Shifting around, her helmeted head titled at the Archduke who Ohyeah had greeted.
"And I'm Captain Morgana Fate. Now, let's meet with this prince already. We're not here for a tour. We're here for business."
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Post by Shark a' Pult on Apr 11, 2014 2:12:28 GMT -5
It was quite a sight, to witness the disparity that existed between Fate and Ohyeah. They both seemed to exist at some extreme, based on Rory's experience in the Marines. Ohyeah seemed too empathetic for someone as high a rank as he was, and Rory found himself questioning how he had made it this far as an officer, doubting that he would move any higher. Fate on the other hand had no empathy at all for someone as low a rank as she was, and again he wondered why she was not of a higher position. Either way, Rory busied himself with transcribing all that was said by those on the boat, exemplifying his journalist skills.
"Thank you Miss, we'llbesuretoget to the bottom of this, and make sure the name of the Watchers remained untarnished."
Making sure to thank Galfried before getting off, Rory noticed the others had gone along without him, and in a hurried panic shuffled all his things together as he tried to catch up. Once he did catch up, he remained somewhat behind Ohyeah, dwarfed by the big man.
"Hehe, he called us soldiers..." chuckling to himself, he looked to the other two for affirmation, but stumbled over his words as he tried to change the topic to introductions "I-I ah... m-my name is Meyer. Rory Meyer, it'sapleasuretomeetyouArchduke!" the reporter attempted an unsteady bow, "As I understand it, the Queen is away? Is there a certain way that is customary, that we should behave while here, in the court of Galatae?"
There was nothing but sincerity in his voice, and an intense desire to understand this land and it's people. His expression was one of an eager child in a museum.
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Post by Kyubey on Apr 12, 2014 19:34:34 GMT -5
"Barlow, Vice Admiral. Fate, Captain. Meyer... titleless."
Archduke Bowdren recited each name slowly, matching each one to their faces, and committing them to memory.
"As I understand it, the Queen is away? Is there a certain way that is customary, that we should behave while here, in the court of Galatae?"
"There are only two things you should keep in mind. The first is to understand and respect the hierarchy here. Regardless of however you are treated where you come from, remember that our kingdom is not a part of your World Government. The second is more specific to this island. We make it a point here to not show signs of weakness to anyone. You are not required to follow suit, but I do ask that you keep it in mind."
He turned his body away from the Marines, and made a gesture for them to follow him.
"Come with me. I will now lead you to His Highness."
He began to move forward and Ohyeah followed, expecting his companions to come along as well. As they traveled, the band of knights that had previously been behind Bowdren moved to a semicircular formation around the three Marines, marching along to match whatever pace the three were moving in. As they made their way past the small town, the common villagers of the island made it a point to avoid the knights and the Marines they were escorting, conspicuously walking away and averting their gazes. Still, Ohyeah felt a strange presence during the walk to the castle, like someone unseen was watching him very intently. Fate and Rory may have felt the same thing as well. Either way, the feeling would vanish as soon as they reached the castle gates. Before they got there, however, they had to walk down a long path through a forested area, where the clouded darkness of the island seemed to thicken with every step. If Fate or Rory had looked hard enough, they might have noticed that as Bowdren walked, he moved one leg much stiffer than the other, as if putting enough weight on that one side caused him pain. He never spoke during the walk, leaving the Marines to their own thoughts as they saw just a small part of the island.
They reached the gates, which Bowdren had a guard open, and stepped into the courtyard, where Galatae castle stood before them. The marking, the reason they had come this far in the first place, was no longer visible, having been cleaned off some time ago. The courtyard, as well as small parts of the castle itself, seemed to be very old, damaged in places, and not well maintained. They passed a few more guards, and were now within the confines of the castle itself. Interestingly, while they had to be cleared by many guards to get to this point, nobody ever checked them for weapons, or tried to disarm the Marines in any way. Granted, it seemed like everyone there, whether they were soldiers or nobles, had weapons of their own, so perhaps they thought it unneeded, or perhaps even rude, to remove the Marine's means of defending themselves.
Eventually, after passing through several hallways, none of which were lighted all that well, they came to a set of large doors, that seemed to once have an ornate pattern on them, but was chipped away over time. One of the guards opened the doors and stepped through, while Bowdren signaled for the Marines to wait.
"Presenting the Archduke Bowdren, and guests Vice Admiral Xavier Barlow, Captain Morgana Fate, and Rory Meyer of the Marines!" the guard shouted to an unseen person in the room.
"Let them in," replied a soft voice.
Bowdren led the three into the throne room. The space was expansive in every directions, with a high ceiling supported by large pillars. Not like almost any other room in the castle, in here it was very well lit, with torches ablaze along the walls and sunlight streaming in through tall windows. A dark purple carpet stretched out to the throne itself. If any of the three were to look downwards, they might have seen a few brownish marks on the carpet, that littered the flooring in spots. While these stains had become very faded, Ohyeah still recognized the familiar sight of bloodstains, and noticed that some of them seemed to be from a very long time ago. The throne itself was as majestic and imposing as one would expect from a proud nation like this one, as decorated as a chair could possibly get. Unlike most of the throne room, and by some extension the castle as well, the throne showed no markings of age or battle, and actually sparkled with cleanliness. Sitting upon this chair was an elegantly dressed portly young man. Unlike everyone else the Marines had encountered up until this point, from the Strand Watch to the royal knights, this man, more like a boy in disposition, looked gentle, too kind, to have come from such an island as Galatae.
"This is his Highness," said Bowdren, as he stepped aside, "The Prince Leberecht Riordan von Acis."
"Welcome to Galatae," Prince Leberecht said. "Like Archduke Bowdren just told you, I am the Prince of this kingdom, and the one placed in charge while my mother is away."
Ohyeah gave a clumsy bow, in an attempt to heed Bowdren's words earlier. Clearly, he wanted to make a good impression, but how well he was doing it was up for debate. "It's an honor."
"There's much I wish to discuss, but as of right now, I think it would be best to get straight to business. The Strand Watch has informed me that you have come to discuss the marking. Is that not true?"
"It is."
"Very good!" Exclaimed Prince Leberecht. "I am glad to hear it. But, I do wonder... why? What is it about that marking, which would cause you to come all this way to talk with us? The World Government has not helped Galatae in any other matters in the past. Why this one?"
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Post by CJ on Apr 16, 2014 23:26:55 GMT -5
Whether Fate paid any attention to Bowdren's instructions to Rory was unseen. Her motorcycle helmet made it hard to decipher her move and her body language didn't seem to give anything away. She remained deadly quiet, perhaps sensing the same presence Ohyeah did.
As the sky darkened, the Captain seemed to stand taller. She hadn't been this comfortable in daylight in a long time. For once, her attire was perfect for the occasion. Even passing by the people of the island didn't seem to annoy her.
It wasn't until they got to the castle that she started to get upset again. Every bit of faded architecture or stain reaffirmed Fate's stubborn belief that these people were merely savages. The throne itself didn't do much to offset that feeling. Every negative thing was ten times as noticeable as a good one to her. Seeing light stream in from the ceiling in the throne room, Fate scowled. She hated windows, especially ceiling ones. Going indoors was pointless to her if she couldn't escape from the sun.
Unlike Ohyeah, Fate refused to bow. She held her helmeted head high and crossed her arms.
"The World Government does not exist to help anyone. It is your duty to assist us with our investigation. and any benefits you receive are arbitrary. You have tampered with evidence and my guess is that you savages have no way of recreating it via photograph. What do you have to say for yourself?"
If it wasn't obvious already, Fate wasn't there to make friends or, at the very least, pretend to be courteous.
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Post by Shark a' Pult on Apr 23, 2014 5:48:46 GMT -5
When brought before the king, Rory followed after Ohyeah's cue of bowing. Unfortunately, the skittish reporter was so desperate to not make it look like an afterthought reaction to Ohyeah, that he haphazardly bowed in a hurried manner and ended up spilling his papers all across the floor. In a panic he dropped to his hands and knees and crawled about picking them all up in a worried fashion.
"Oh dear oh dear, not good not good..."
"Very good! I am glad to hear it. But, I do wonder... why? What is it about that marking, which would cause you to come all this way to talk with us? The World Government has not helped Galatae in any other matters in the past. Why this one?"
By the time Rory had managed to get some of his papers collected again, the Prince had already gotten into a conversation with Ohyeah. Feeling that he could answer in a relevant fashion, he stopped gathering his notes for just a moment to straighten up as he sat on his knees, to answer the Prince. Straightening up his notebook and looking towards the throne, he spoke up.
"Wellyousee your Highness, it's about-"
"The World Government does not exist to help anyone. It is your duty to assist us with our investigation. and any benefits you receive are arbitrary. You have tampered with evidence and my guess is that you savages have no way of recreating it via photograph. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Rory's mouth hung open, speechless. There went Fate again, proving herself as someone worthy of a higher rank. What had worried Rory the most when he initially dropped all his papers, was not that he might make a bad impression, but that by having to gather up his notes he hadn't a chance to transcribe all that was happening and being said. It seemed now though that Fate had taken care of the issue of first impressions for him, so he was free to write down all he had missed so far and what was still being said, with a fervor unmatched. All the while he still remained on the floor since he hadn't yet gathered up every bit of paper.
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Post by Kyubey on Apr 24, 2014 2:28:07 GMT -5
As Rory dropped his papers, Ohyeah had wanted to help the journalist pick them up, knowing how precious those documents were to him, and how embarrassing it must have been for him to make a scene like that in front of the prince. However, possibly still heeding the Archduke's advice, he stood firm, barely moving at all while he faced Leberecht.
"The World Government does not exist to help anyone. It is your duty to assist us with our investigation. and any benefits you receive are arbitrary. You have tampered with evidence and my guess is that you savages have no way of recreating it via photograph. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Rather than shirk at Fate's accusations, the only reaction the prince showed was a slight grip on the arm of the throne. Otherwise, he remained perfectly calm. In fact, for a mere moment, there was a flash of something, maybe anger, in his eyes. While these circumstances were most abnormal for the country, it seemed like Leberecht was used to being shouted at.
"Removing the mark was not my decision," he said. "That was a choice made by Her Majesty the Queen. In her defense, however, I will say that I would have done the same thing if I had been on the throne at that time. The mark was a symbol of shame to us. In the centuries since the castle's formation, there has never been such a disgraceful display on the walls. Already, the commoners were beginning to speak of the royal family's weakness, for allowing such a thing to happen. You must understand, that in this nation, such talk can be deadly for those in power. We struck away the blemish to our pride without any hesitation. Just as you are not here to help us, we were not obligated to help the World Government either. Our needs come first, you understand. Of course, at the time we weren't expecting you to come all this way. This is quite a surprise for us."
"I think I should explain one thing," said Ohyeah. "As I'm sure you know by this point, this island was not the only place where that symbol showed up out of nowhere. Several locations important to our government have been affected as well. That's what we're here about. Otherwise, you're right. As you're a non-WG affiliated nation, we probably wouldn't have come to you."
"Ah yes. So I heard. I must say, it was something a relief to us when we learned that the marking was not a singular attack against the crown." He sighed. "It did not do much good for us, however. Knowing that so many nations had also been put at risk did not stop mother from going to war. Still, it's good that you came. It would please us all very much to get some closure on the matter." The Prince leaned back on the throne, and rested his cheek upon his fist. "Our goals may be different, as may be our allegiances, but there's no reason for us not to aid one another, when we can. Since you came to us, you no doubt have heard the simple, dull facts. The marking appeared, just the same as it had so many other places. What else is there for you to know?"
The prince flashed a small smile, to show that he wasn't prepared to start any conflicts.
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Post by CJ on Apr 27, 2014 13:34:54 GMT -5
Fate remained cold and silent for some time, taking in all that the prince and Ohyeah had to say on the matter. She crossed her arms and tapped her fingers. As soon as the prince asked if there was anything else they needed to know, the Captain let go out of her arms and clenched her fists.
"There is nothing more to know because the mark is gone, along with all other evidence that came with it. You say you had to destroy it out of pride. But what is fickle pride in a nation of savages? Instead of investigating the matter thoroughly, you discarded it in selfishness. Your people are going to suffer because of the lie that your status is more important than their safety."
It was impossible to tell what Fate was feeling exactly with her motorcycle helmet obcuring her face, but it wasn't hard to infer.
"Further more, you may claim you are free of the grasp of the World Government, but you are wrong. No one is ever truly free. Your insolence in this matter may cost you dearly in the coming future. You and your country have made our journey here pointless. There is no need for to dwell in your ignorance any longer. Excuse me."
Fate began to leave the hall, stomping as she went with her back turned to the others. It was unclear where she planned on going, since she had no real way off the island without someone's assistance, but off she went.
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Post by Shark a' Pult on May 5, 2014 23:27:03 GMT -5
Ah, so it seemed Fate was playing the Bad Marine routine, surprisingly well Rory might add. If that were the case, then Rory would have to play Good Marine to contrast. Surely, Fate must have been some kind of genius to enact this ploy, and Rory was certain it would work perfectly. By the time he made an effort to speak up though, Fate had vacated the scene, but she had helped out enough already.
"Ah, what she means your highness, isthattheGovernmentcares about countries that aren't even a part of it. We all share this world together, and even if we aren't on the same team, we can play for the same cause. Whoeverisleavingthesemarksaround could become a real threat, and your country was among those vandalized. We're here because we care about what happens to you and yours, even if you aren't interested in who we are or what we stand for."
Rory took a break from writing, in his attempt to salvage the situation. He wasn't sure if it would work, but he believed it was worth a try. His approach in doing so was to speak honestly, and he felt certain that his caretakers didn't feel the same way, but it was also something he believed in. The enthusiasm he spoke with was genuine, and he hoped their case didn't end here.
"Whatwewouldliketoknowatleast, are any details of the crime you found important to keep track of, if any. As well, an explanation of how it came to be found and where, and what was done to remove it would be of great help. If we knew what your country was capable of in terms of defense and capability to prevent this, thendespitethemarkshowingupregardless, we might better understand what the culprit is capable of and perhaps how to prevent more marks from showing up."
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Post by Kyubey on May 7, 2014 1:51:15 GMT -5
After Fate had her outburst, it was as though a chill wind had blown through the throne room. Several of the guards posted around the room shifted into battle-ready positions, as though anticipating a fight. The Prince himself did not show aggression or even anger, but did seem rather surprise at Fate's lack of manners. There was a recognizable air of hostility all around, but as no signal for battle was ever given, nobody acted on it. It was only when Fate turned around and began to leave, that anyone stepped forward. The guards at the doors moved to block Fate's path, and Archduke Bowdren, who had been in the sidelines until that point, walked up to face her.
"You stop right there," he said. "His Highness the Prince has not given you his permission to leave. If you think you may come and go as you will, after insulting our royalty, you are quite mistaken. Such impudence, no matter who it comes from, does not go without consequences in this kingdom."
"It's no matter," Leberecht announced. "The sailor wishes to leave. She may."
At this, the two guards that were in Fate's way stepped aside, leaving the exit open to her.
"It is as you say, Your Highness, but is this wise? If the people hear of this, they might say..."
"I am the Prince, of course it is wise. And I am above whatever the people might say. We're already in one war, we need not start another one due to one woman."
Bowdren nodded and stepped back, although he did so reluctantly. "Yes, Your Highness. You are correct."
Leberecht shifted in his chair, and called out directly to Fate. "One of my men will show you to the gates. I give you permission to move about the island as you'd like. It's a shame you came when you did, while the Queen is not here. I believe my mother would have liked you."
"Gates're this way," said the guard closest to Fate. "Come with me."
The guard would then lead Fate outside, assuming she did not struggle against the guard. As they left, and the doors closed behind them, Ohyeah shot one last, troubled look back at his subordinate.
"Fate..."
"Whatwewouldliketoknowatleast, are any details of the crime you found important to keep track of, if any. As well, an explanation of how it came to be found and where, and what was done to remove it would be of great help. If we knew what your country was capable of in terms of defense and capability to prevent this, thendespitethemarkshowingupregardless, we might better understand what the culprit is capable of and perhaps how to prevent more marks from showing up."
Prince Leberecht paused to consider this, and sat back upright. "Yes, that is why you're here, isn't it, for your own answers. And we are means to that end. I suppose I never thought otherwise, really. This does make sense. Under the guise of worldwide security, you wish to prevent more of the markings that sullied your own domain, so you came to perhaps better understand the marks that sullied ours. You may be deceitful in your approach, but your end goal still does not conflict with ours. Well, I see no reason to not be cooperative now, all prior complications set aside. It could be that we're not so savage as you expect. Now, for the answers. We have guards posted all around the castle at every moment. Bowdren is the one in charge of our defense, so perhaps he would be best suited to explain it to you."
"The guards stationed at the castle are of the highest level of ability and training," Bowdren explained. "Each of them tailored to stop any intruders, and to think of nothing else. How one managed to so much as get near the castle unnoticed seems an impossibility, and how they could also leave the marking, I imagine must be due to some kind of wicked magic. Us royals were first alerted to the mark's appearance by one of our sentries, the moment after he first saw it. As the reports were given, one moment the mark was not there, and the next... is a mystery."
"It was in bright paint, in great letters, right on our walls, as clear as I am to you right now. If it was indeed the same marking that you've seen on your own property, the one that spells out 'era,' then you know already what it looked like to us. Our world was in havoc after that. Everyone was suspected for a time, but mother put a stop to all the needless accusations before they turned into needless deaths. At first, we had all thought that the Laverna, a native tribe of this island that claims the land is rightfully theirs, were the ones responsible. They have never done any attacks of this nature, nor do we think they have the means, but we have never underestimated their talent for trickery. But, after some investigation, we realized that they could not have done the deed, though they may have wanted to. The evidence simply did not add up. And still, during the time immediately after the appearance of the marking, we did not think it could have been somebody from outside our borders. There are more than enough within them, even when we exclude the Laverna, who have cause to commit a crime like that. After we learned that the marking was not limited only to here, however, we were simply lost. We do not know enough about the world around us, to begin to guess who'd want to leave their symbol upon our castle. About the material itself, it was but simple paint. It took many days for it to be scrubbed away, because of the sheer volume of it, but our servants found that it could be washed off with water. For your last question... Bowdren, tell them further of our defensive capabilities."
"Very well. Here at Galatae, it is true that we may not have all the technology possessed by your kind. We are aware of it, but we do not feel we need it. Our own forges, and our traditions, kept us strong and firm for many centuries, long after your devices first appeared. This is the first, and only, time that such a thing has happened. Perhaps we were only careless. In that case, our heightened awareness after the incident should be sufficient to ward off any more attacks. But that is a possibility I greatly doubt. We are strong enough to defend ourselves against anything. You will know as much once we defeat our foes in this war and ensure our names are carved into your world history. But one cannot defend against something, if one cannot know the nature of the attack. And we know nothing of mark, other than that it appeared. If we had more information, that would put us all at ease. So, I ask you. If you are indeed the men sent by the Government to find the criminal, then you must know so much more than we do. What is it that you know, yourselves? What is there to know, about trickery such as this? We gave you knowledge. Now, return the favor."
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"'ere you are. Don't come back."
True to his word, the guard had led Fate back through the way she had come in, and was now at the courtyard at the entrance to the castle. The sky above was just as gloomy as it had been when she entered, and the island would have seemed to stretch out before the Marine. Now, Fate had a choice to make: she could stay and wait for Ohyeah and Rory to finish talking to the Prince, in which case the guards would not have prevented her from remaining in the courtyard, so long as she didn't cause any trouble or wandered around too much. Or, she was free to leave the premises entirely, and explore the island at her leisure.
Outside the castle gates was an expansive forest, that extended far, far out, longer than one could travel even with several days of walking. Still, the wooded area closest to the civilization of Galatae was relatively safe, and may have been worth exploring a little. If Fate did choose to go out to the forest, she would be able to detect a strong smell, like that of pine needles, but slightly different, and she would hear the rustling of animals all around her. From the castle gates, a single, worn trail led through one part of the forest, and if one were to walk down it, they would come to a fork. From there, they could choose to turn left or right, though from the point where the paths diverged, Fate likely wouldn't have been able to tell much different between the separate roads.
Outside the forest, and away from the castle, there was also a town for her to move around in. It was a small, dreary little place, with tired, downcast people, and Fate would find herself neither welcomed nor shunned amongst the passersby, simply ignored unless she were to speak to anyone directly. If Fate was to step within the town and walk around within it, the most active place, really the only spot that could be called busy, was a tavern called the Prenzie Guard, though there were other places as well, like a blacksmith's shop and the beach were the Marines had first landed, that someone might find of interest. With the island so open to Fate, and there presumably being some time before Ohyeah and Rory would be finished speaking to the Prince, the choice of where to go was entirely up to her.
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Post by CJ on May 8, 2014 0:07:33 GMT -5
Her plan failed. She had hoped to stir up rage in the savage prince and get him to reveal something, anything about the process of covering up the symbol. Instead, they simply let her walk out of the castle. She couldn't take back her words so she complied and was escorted out.
In a fit of shame, she said some colorful words to the guard and set off to the forest, where she could find some shade. After some walking, she found a tree with thick branches, nearly completely out of the sun's light. She climbed it and pulled off her helmet, shaking her head about to get her sweaty hair loose.
"What was the point of me even coming here? I am useless. Even the reporter was doing a better job than me... Vice Admiral Barlow must be ashamed to even be associated with me."
Her red irises peered at the small town beyond the trees. She caught of glimpse of people going about their ordinary lives... as ordinary as they could be in Galatae.
"Foolish savages," she muttered. "They have no idea what their leaders are doing to them. One day they will die because of the lies and slander of lesser men in fine clothing."
Sighing, she pulled out a booklet from an inside pocket in her helmet. It was tiny photo album, containing rather dark tinted pictures of her and two other children.
"March, Gracie... I wonder how they are doing. I should not have taken their company for granted."
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Post by Shark a' Pult on May 17, 2014 3:19:50 GMT -5
Rory didn't like that they seemed to have the wrong idea about why there were there, or at least why he was there. He honestly did just want to get to the bottom of this mystery, rather than some inclination to help the government or whomever else. In that respect, he felt he could answer their questions well enough.
"Well, from what we've seen so far, theredoesn'tseemtobe a place yet that the markings haven't had the potential to show up. The first one was seen during the Paramount War, andthey'vebeenshowingup ever since, even on a living person's forehead." Rory held his hair back, as if there was a need to demonstrate what a forehead was. "They're usually left in some indirect manner, andsofartomyknowledge, there hasn't been a clear culprit. The most important thing however, is that so far, to our knowledge noonehasbeenhurt by the presence of the markings. We still don't know their purpose or what they're supposed to mean, but at least for now, whoeverisresponsible doesn't seem interested in conflict?"
There might be things that Rory was not aware of, but at least as he spoke, he believed what he said. As far as he knew, this entire fiasco with the graffiti showing up across the world, had not yet led to any direct injuries or deaths. In fact, from what he had gathered since Ohyeah and Fate had come to release him from prison, there was still no clear motive. Whomever was doing this either was very patient and had some reason for all this, not yet seen, or they had some personal reason for doing all of this without any further motive. Maybe it was being done, just because it could be.
"From what I've read, there'sbeensometroublingreports about copycat cases, and people giving the mark more exposure. Almost like a fashion icon or something similar I guess. Thankfully however, at least so far it's been easy totellimitations from the real thing."
From what little he had seen of Galatea, Rory assumed the common citizenry weren't in their free time, sneaking up to the palace and leaving massive paint marks all over the place. He at least believed this was the work of King Era, even if he didn't know it.
"Say, that's a fair question. How have your people reacted to the mark? YousaidtheLavernawerenotresponsible, but did you consider maybe it was someone else here? Unless the culprit somehow sneaked through your borders and happened to paint all over the castle, itseemsreasonabletothink that it might be at least one of your citizens." Rory, at least in his mind, but also somewhat on paper was already beginning to formulate a connection web. "Remember, that they may not have wanted to leave the mark, orevenrealizedtheyweredoingit. From what we've seen, there's often been an amount of trickery involved to get the mark placed."
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Post by Kyubey on May 18, 2014 2:29:25 GMT -5
Prince Leberecht stroked his tiny patch of a beard as Rory spoke. There were some parts he didn't quite follow, like when a "Paramount War" was mentioned, but other than that he seemed interested, not just for the matters as they affected his own country, but out of a true curiosity for the affairs of the world outside his own.
"Tricked," he said quietly. "So some of the victims left the mark themselves, through means not of their own design? That does leave for new considerations, except the only ones we think could have done it are the guards, and I do believe one of them would remember painting such a symbol, don't you? Unless they lied to us, but we already considered that as well. Intensive questioning on the subject revealed nothing on that end."
Leberecht had thought about the chance that one of his own subjects was responsible, but it wasn't for a long time. He seemed somewhat hurt by that line of questioning, as though he didn't want to consider that one of his fellow Galateans would do such a thing.
"The people's reactions have been rather mixed. Some of our most loyal have shown concern on our behalf, and their kindness has not gone unrecognized. Some, like the Laverna, do not care for us, and have been most thrilled by our misfortune. Most, however, are concerned for another reason. In the past, before Mother's uprising, such signs of aggression towards us were seen as harbingers to conflict, a sign that unrest was soon to turn to rebellion. In a sense, they were right to be afraid. It's most unlikely that one of our own is the culprit behind all this, simply for the fact that, save for matters of war, nobody leaves this island. We are an isolated nation, you remember. This one mark, if it never appeared anywhere else, could have been anyone, from one of the Laverna, to a commoner loyal to the old kingdom, maybe even my sister playing one of her twisted jokes, but if the criminal is the same person who left the mark on all the other islands, they could not have done it from here."
"And you're so absolutely certain?" Ohyeah said with some disbelief. "There's not one person who could leave this country? Nobody with regular contact to the outside?"
"Yes, we watch everyone. All the boats that could have possibly left this island have been accounted for, and nobody retains any sort of meaningful contacts beyond our walls." At this last word, his eyes widened with a slow realization. "But on the walls... we do not observe what happens there. The Strand Watch keeps ships, captured from the intruders they defeat, to use for spare wood, but they could have used them to sail away, and we never would have known. Oh God, it could have been one of them!"
Leberecht stood up hastily, and signaled to Bowdren, who signaled to one of the guards.
"Bring me Klaus, of the Strand Watch. Immediately!"
He looked to Rory and Ohyeah, as if to ask whether either of them had something to add.
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"They have no idea what their leaders are doing to them. One day they will die because of the lies and slander of lesser men in fine clothing."
"It's been so long, since I heard one brave enough to say that," said a small voice. From behind one of the trees, a woman in a ragged dress appeared, carrying a satchel. "Everything you said was the truth. I feel the same way."
She had blonde hair that reached her back, and bright, vibrantly blue eyes. She was thin enough for one to think that she hadn't been eating enough, and her movements seemed nervous and timid. She stepped out further from the tree, and smiled, to show that she was not a threat to Fate.
"Galatae used to be better. We were civil, once. We had pride, not out of misplaced confidence, but because of all the things we had to be proud of. Our king was good, and wise, and noble. That was before Claudia killed him." Her smile faded, presumably because due to the difficulty involved in saying such things, and it looked like she was fighting back tears.
"You're a foreigner, right? I can tell from your clothes, you're one of those Marines. Why have you come to Galatae?" She cocked her head to the side, and peered at Fate with a great interest. "My name's Mairenn. Mairenn Cassia. I'm pleased to meet you."
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Post by CJ on May 21, 2014 16:12:21 GMT -5
As soon as she heard the woman, Fate quickly threw on her helmet. She didn't have her Commander's Haki but her aura wasn't pleasant as she peered down at her suspiciously from the tree.
The Marine Captain was really missing her subordinates now. If March had been with her, he would have detected this woman one hundred yards away. Gracie would have proposed some information about her, based on notes she already had taken about Galatae and the other citizens.
Sighing, she kicked her legs out and jumped down from the tree. She crossed her arms and tilted her helmeted head at the woman.
"I am Captain Morgana Fate," she said, keeping some distance from Maireen. "I am here on a mission. It is not to be disclosed to the public. I am... sorry if this causes you some discomfort."
Fate was slowly learning to treat people better. Unlike her encounter with the Prince, she was somewhat tolerant of seemingly innocent civilians like Mairenn, so it was easier to be kind to her.
"I don't know much about the history of this country," she said. "Did you say your former king was killed by the current queen?"
So Galatae really was the crumbling waste land of savages Fate had suspected they were. But why would these people blindly follow a murderer?
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