[HQ Ignorance] Re : Scene 113: The Siege of the Iron Fort

[Lev Lafayette]

On Fri, 2010-07-23 at 06:49 -0700, Loran wrote:
> Azhur looked at the Godlearner and wondered about the Luathan advice
> to keep this rather unpleasant character within the Fellowship, then
> he remembered about the Crimson Bat exploding in Sartar :
> -  "Rikku, should we say that there is no Godlearner among us or
> should we tell them that you're under the grip and wisdom of the
> Dragonewt ? By asking this I'm trying to save your own skin. We need
> to put Lei Tse in the position to not stopping us to get the Saint
> Talor relic, and the best course I have found is to raise an army
> against the army he put on our back. All these disorders are delays
> and we don't need delays while the nations are under the threat of the
> Kingdom of War !"

As the Fellowship members argue among themselves, General Han Sui spends
no time engaging in the conversation. He gathers a large number of his
best men together and they leave the open-air courtyard, leaving a much
smaller group to maintain guard and order.

Time paces, and eventually a servant returns the Fellowship members to
their quarters, with a plate of stonefruits provided. Helping themselves
to this and some water, Azhur notices a note placed at the bottom of the
plate. It reads simply: "We have not succeeded in preventing the Exarch
this time. But your friends need training in the philosophy on
non-violence. Yao Fune."

Azhur considers the cryptic message as another servant enters the room.
"You are summoned to meet the Emperor". The claim is unusual as General
Han Sui had only just declared that there was no Emperor. One again the
Fellowship members were taken to the open courtyard. This time, the
General's throne has been placed to one side, and a much more grandiose
one had taken centre stage. Upon it sat a most serious man of average
build, bald dark skin and great regalia. Everyone facing him was in
bowing position.

"So these are the friends of the rebels?", the seated figure says.
"Miscreant peasants and merchants disrupted my entrance to this fort,
blocking the way, overturning carts and etcetera. Typical weakling
tactics of the Yao Fune cult. But some people fought! A bunch of
half-bred bandits from the lands of Lei Tabor and a small group of
foreigners, one a woman who bore a great axe. But they have turned and
ran like whipped dogs."

"So these are the friends of the foreigners.. A Dragonman who has a
Godlearner servant? I thought the Godlearners were all but dead... A
supposed King from the West, an Iron Dwarf, a wizard and his familiar,
and a healer... Well, what a strange group. But potentially useful,
potentially useful..."

The Emperor turns to Azhur.. "So King. I hear that you have some
military skill. The city of Laonan Tao is protected by Kui Hui, a giant,
who supports the Mandarins and the pacifist cult. How do you suppose I
get rid of this nuisance?"