X] ...intriguing. These Laws of Physics... did they have something to do with your abilities?
[X] Tell him on one condition...
-[X] That he tells you the name of the noble that failed his village. He needs to face justice.
-[X] That he agrees to keep contact with you in the future. You can't help but feel that some of the things he knows will be important.
"Hmm... As a commoner, there isn't much you can do with this type of information. I'll tell you... on two conditions."
The commoner immediately looked wary. "What conditions?"
"For the first condition, I wish to know the name of the noble that was in charge of your village. Whoever they are, they've obviously failed to do their job and as such must be brought to justice. The second condition..." You hesitate a bit. "...I would like a method of keeping in contact with you."
He looked surprised. "Um, why would you want that?"
"What you've told me so far sounds rather intriguing. I've never heard of the Laws of Physics before, and would like to know more."
Micheal's face lightens up and he gives you a broad grin. "I've never had someone want to talk to me about science before! Sure! And the name of the noble is Alexander Rohan. I think." He scratches his head. "It's been a while since he came to visit and I'm not sure what he looks like. I hope that helps."
Alexander Rohan. Doesn't sound like a name you recognize. Then again, you still weren't able to memorize every noble in Tristan yet. You knew some of the major ones, which might mean that this Alexander was rather low in position. Maybe he was a Baron? Eh, it didn't matter what position he was. You would make sure he would face justice for his negligence, one way or another.
In payment for giving you what you wanted, you start telling him about the basics of magic. The five elements, what they mean, as well as the various different classes for each mage. In return he starts recalling you with what the Laws of Physics are, what they mean, as well as how they interact with the world. And while a lot of the terminology and examples he uses are unfamiliar to you, many of the concepts he discusses are something that you know of. Many of the laws that he talks about are extremely similar to the laws that govern magic. Which is amazing since he was said to have never had a conversation with another mage before.
He also expressed an interest in alchemy and transmutation, an area of magic that you admittedly didn't have much experience in. You're parents mainly focused your teachings on pure battle magic, and neglected the other magical arts. Still, you tried to answer his questions the best you could and when you ran out of answers, he started coming up with his own theories and possible experiments. He seemed really enthusiastic about the subject, and you couldn't help but get caught up in his enthusiasm.
Then he started further explaining some of his "science" to you and before you knew it, you were only a few yards away from the carriage. You admit that it was a very enjoyable conversation and you had a lot of fun. Your sisters never seemed to have the same fascination with magical theory that you did, while your parents pretty much saw it as a means to an end. Finding someone who shared the same passion for theory as you was really... nice. You weren't blushing. You weren't.
[X] Use some of the remaining bandages to bandage up your light wounds.
[X] Make yourself look as presentable as possible.
Williams hands you some bandages and you carefully patch any bleeding cuts that you may have. They don't seem to be serious -- no infections or poisoned areas from what you can tell -- but you make sure to remind yourself to get to a healer as soon as possible.
As for making yourself look presentable well... that'll be a bit more difficult. Currently, you wouldn't be surprised if they mistook you for a commoner, what with the way you look. Compared to the elaborate and beautiful pink dress that you had before, your bland brown one looks like a potato sack. Your slightly high heeled boots have been replaced with flats the same color as your dress. All of the jewelry and hairdressings are gone; your hair lays limply on your shoulders, looking as though it hasn't been brushed in days. You're still covered in dirt, blood, and orc dust while what remaining skin that is somewhat clean is covered in bandages and bruises. You're also pretty sure that you have a black eye, since it hurts every time your left one blinks.
Despite this, you ask Williams for some water and a cloth of some sort. You are going to do your best to make yourself look halfway decent.
Your Roll: 50 + 5 (Water and Cloth) - 10 (Huge Mess, Small Time) = 45.
You only manage to wipe most of the grime and blood off of you when you arrive to the castle, but not all of it. Your hair is still an entangled mess and you still look like a commoner who went several rounds with your mother, but it'll have to do.
You're carriage arrives at the castle gates. The guardsman standing in front of the gates approaches. "Halt! Who goes there?"
Williams steps out of the carriage. "We are the guards of the Vallière family. We're here to escort Lady Louise Vallière to her playdate with Princess Henrietta."
The guardsman sounds doubtful. "Do you have the appropriate papers proving this claim?"
Your Roll: 97. You totally do!
Williams hands over a set of papers. The royal guardsman read over them for a while, before nodding. "This looks correct and everything seems to be in order. You may enter." He looks up and shouts, "Open the gates!"
Finally. You're going to meet the princess.
It's only when the castle comes into sight that you start feeling incredibly nervous. You look terrible and are dressed like a commoner; what if the royal family mistake you for one and kick you out? What if they think you're playing a trick on them and get angry? What if they take it out on your family? You don't want to disgrace them! Oh dear Founder, you and your family are going to get exiled to Germanina and it'll be all your fault!
You start to hyperventilate.
"My Lady?" It's Williams, holding his hand out towards you. He looks concerned. "Is there something wrong?"
You take a deep breath. "No. Nothing is wrong." You take his hand and delicately step down the carriage steps. You can feel eyes staring at you, but you determinedly ignore it.
You take another deep breath. You are Steel. You are strong and unbroken. You will get through this.
The walk through the castle to the throne room goes by quickly. You don't even get a chance to take in the decor before you find yourself staring up at the King and Queen.
What do you say?
[X]
[X] Curtsy. You are a noble lady after all, and are in the presence of royalty. Behave like a member of the court and show your respect for their status.
[X] Apologize for your tardiness. Your carriage and a nearby village were assaulted by a warband of orcs. According to the villagers you spoke with afterwards, this has been, to understate the issue, a problem of theirs for months.
-[X] If and when they ask on whose lands this took place, reply with everything you gleaned from the villagers concerning his identity.
The King and Queen stare down at you, faces stern. Standing there in the throne room, their very presence like a physical weight on your shoulders, you freeze.
The King turns to your guards, who have all kneeled on the ground, faces lowered. "You are her guards?"
Williams speaks. "Yes, my King."
"It seems as though you and your men are fairly injured." He turns and addresses a servant, standing in the corner of the room. "Escort these men to the infirmary. Make sure the Healer takes good care of them."
The servant nods, and leads your guards out of the throne room. Living you all alone, with the King and Queen of Tristain. For a moment, your nervousness makes you feel as though you're going to faint. Then your training kicks in.
You dip into a deep curtsy, making sure to keep your eyes on the ground. You hold the position for a moment, before rising. "M-my d-deepest apologies, your majesties. My name is --"
"Louise," the Queen smiled, cheerful and bright. "I barely recognized you. For a moment I thought you were a commoner."
You blink in shock at the change in personality, as well as the fact that the Queen knows your name. "You-you know my name, your highness?"
She laughed. "Why of course I do! I held you when you were first born. Even after all these years, I still recognize that face of yours. You look just like your mother."
You blush and stammer a bit. "Th-thank you your highness. And please, excuse me for my tardiness. I know I was supposed to attend Princess Henrietta's playdate, but my company and I ran into some trouble along the way."
The Queen arched an eyebrow. "Really? Getting into trouble at this age? You are your mother's daughter."
You blush even harder, not sure whether to feel pleased or embarrassed. The King, who up until now has been watching in silent amusement, laughs. "Maybe we should let her speak before you embarrass her even more, my Queen."
The Queen actually rolls her eyes. You aren't sure if your power has catapulted you into an alternate dimension or what. You did not expect the King and Queen to act like this.
You don't realize that you're gapping until you see the King and Queen stare expectedly at you, waiting for your explanation. You snap out of your shock and reflexively curtsy again. "My ap--"
"Now, now, Louise. There's no need for that." The Queen begins to look concerned. "Do you need to go to the infirmary as well? You look fairly injured."
"N-no, your highness. I'm perfectly fine." You have a deep breath. "My carriage was assaulted by an orc raid."
"An orc raid? This close to the capitol?"
"Yes, your highness. We were attacked without warning while we were traveling to your castle a few hours ago. The orcs were raiding a nearby village when we passed by and must have thought we were an opportunity." You scowl at the thought of those orcs and all the death they caused. Filthy creatures.
"I spoke to the villagers after the orcs were driven off. They said that the orcs were a problem that they've been dealing with for months."
Your Roll: 14 + 15 (Banged up) + 30 (Covered in Orc Dust) = 59. They believe you.
"Months?" The King straightened up in his throne, frowning. "That shouldn't be possible. There should be someone in charge to make sure that the orcs are taken care of. If what you say is true and the orcs have been running wild like this for months, then this could actually be a threat to the capitol."
"E-excuse me, your highness. If I may... why would the orcs be a threat? They're fairly weak and the capitol is filled with nobles."
The Queen answers your question. "That is true. Orcs are fairly weak compared to most nobles. An entire raid should be no match for the might that the capitol brings, if not for the particular ability all orcs seem to have. The ability to create spawning areas."
"Spawning areas?"
The King looks at you. "When an orc dies, they die just like any other living being. Their heart stops, they bleed, and they leave a corpse behind. And yet sometimes when someone slays an orc, they turn to dust. This indicates that they've created a spawning area, a place where they go to resurrect themselves when they've been 'slain'. Every time an orc 'dies' and turns to dust, they resurrect themselves later on at their spawning area, giving them another chance to sow chaos and death. This is the same for all orcs."
Your eyes widen. Then that would mean... "They're immortal?!"
"No. You can kill an orc permanently once their spawning area has been destroyed. It makes them mortal. But when a spawning area has been left alone, the orcs end up using it not only as a method of cheating death, but to multiply and make more of themselves. If months go by and this problem isn't taken care of..." The King trails off.
You don't need it to be explained to you. The sheer numbers alone would be enough to do a lot of damage to the capitol. The nobles would probably come out unharmed, but the commoners? There would be so many deaths...
"Tell me, what else did you find there? Did you perhaps get the name or rank of the noble who was in charge of this village?"
"Ah, yes! His name was Alexander Rohan. The villagers said that they have been trying to contact him for months about the orc problem, only to get no answers."
The King smiles a you. "Excellent. You've done a good job, Lady Louise."
The Queen nods. "Yes. Who knows what would have happened has this gone on without us knowing."
The Queen stands up from her throne and walks towards you. "Now I believe its getting late, Louise. You look as though you're barely managing to stand. Would you like me to escort you to one of the guest rooms?"
As soon as the Queen said that, you felt all the stress and exertion of the day come to your attention. You didn't realize until now how tired you were, both mentally and physically.
What do you do before ending the day? (Choose three.)