Event: Urscort Quest

Some days have passed since Alaric’s “mind dive.” While the precise destination of their next venture wasn’t made any more public than returning to Khetmaat, those in the know were busy with a whole other set of preparations than the journey to Khetmaat’s capital itself would require. However, one stipulation still remained: King Alaric insisted on going as well, despite many trying to convince him to go with Mindaugas’ secondary party instead once the library had been found and a safe path could be provided.
Despite their previous failing to do so, Bál was anything if not stubborn, and had requested yet another meeting with the king. So the fire Pokémon entered the lord’s throne room, where he had, despite Guinevere and Tara’s protest, taken his daily residence again. Speaking of the queen, she was nowhere to be found - but then again, after recent developments, her trouble dealing with the situation wasn’t surprising. It was Alaric’s handling of it that was odd, but then it might just be a result of Ene’s work, the thought of which made Bál’s scowl deepen as he approaches the throne where Alaric sits.
: Hello to you, too. Judging from your expression, you have something to say-
: I figur’d th’ fact I ask’d for this audience had alr’ady establish’d tha’. Noneth’less, th’ queen’s absence an’ your seem’ngly lack o’ concern for it is extra worry’ng, yes.
: Tara just needs some time to get used to this - “new me.” And one can’t forget how taxing my previous state has been on her.
: Yet you see no need t’ support her in this, instead head’ng t’ th’ front again, which is part’cularly unwise wit’ Khetmaat’s rebel situation - an’ th’ nature o’ our quest.
: Yes, as you have said - many times.
: Tara is strong, she - she just needs time, we all do, a lot has happened…
: It’s not just th’ impression you leave on your wife-
: You, th’ king, leav’ng th’ kingdom aft’r your “incident” an’ th’ mess in th’ outskirts won’t exactly leave your stand’ng in th’ kingdom in a secure position, an’ wit’ th’ queen also struggl’ng t’ get “used t’ this new you,” as you say.
: I suppose there is a worry spread’ng among th’ people tha’ this “new you” is mak’ng decisions just as foolish as th’ old you, if not more so, an’ it doesn’t make ‘em feel very safe.
: I didn’t think I’d need to remind you that NOBODY is very safe with what the future has in store. That’s why we need to go.
: Tha’s why “someone” has t’ go. It doesn’t hav’ t’ be you.
: Coming from one who isn’t going himself to make sure all goes well.
: I’m the one with the vision, so obviously I need-
: Even if tha’ was th’ case - which, see’ng as Ene has seen this particular vision as well, is not - what’ver use th’re is t’ you go’ng would still be fulfilled if you go af’er a safe passage has been secur’d.
: I do understand the risks, Bál, despite you obviously thinking me a fool.
: I have just finished writing a letter to Sa’Perah Ah about the matter. I had planned to have Koji summoned to deliver it to her personally, but since you likely want to snoop beforehand, you might as well bring it to Koji once you’re done.
As he speaks, Alaric waves the sealed letter in the air before flinging it in Bál’s direction with a vine, who catches it with an unimpressed look. The Typhlosion hardly gives it a glance, and Alaric’s smug look begins to fade.
: Are you not going to read it?
: No. You probably ask’d Sa’Perah Ah for a guide an’ guards t’ get through th’ desert, an’ I can alre’dy tell you she’ll say no.
: Why would she not want to help us?
: It’s not 'bout “want.” Things hav’ chang’d since you last set foot in Khetmaat, or bother’d t’ check up on your “allies.” Th’ rebels hav’ become much mor’ aggressive ov’r time, an’ Sa’Perah Ah’s forces are los’ng control ov’r large patches o’ territory.
: She seems to have been dealing with these rebels for a while. How did this sudden uprising come to be?
: Th’ reason why th’re had been a “break” for th’ pharaoh’s forces was th’ split of th’ rebellion alliance into two fact’ons. Why th’re’d been a split isn’t clear, but it had caus’d th’ more aggressive side of th’ rebellion t’ lack th’ manpow’r t’ ov’rpow’r th’ pharaoh’s forces for a while, especially as there was fight’ng among th’ two factions.
: Howev’r, they seem t’ have ov’rcome this problem, an’ after th’ first battle, th’ pharaoh lost. Since th’ fall of tha’ settlement, they hav’ grown strong’r an’ strong’r wit’ ev’ry village they take. I’ve had th’ guild look into it, but we can’t trace any source outside o’ Khetmaat tha’ provides warriors or slaves t’ th’ rebels.
: Sa’Perah Ah’s followers, meanwhile, are slaught’r’d or driven out o’ their home: spirits lost in th’ desert as their blood stains th’ sand. If they somehow make it ov’r t’ th’ next village alive, they spread mass panic an’ fear an’ tax th’ people receiv’ng ‘em who somehow accommodate ‘em wit’ wha’ little resources they alre’dy hav’ - tha’ is, if they are not driv’n out once more ‘cause th’ people fear they bring wit’ ‘em a similar fate for any who would shelter ‘em.
: Needless t’ say, wit’ ev’ry bit of th’ battle lost, more of her people lose faith in th’ pharaoh’s lead’rship - an’ some hav’ join’d th’ rebels ‘cause of this lack of faith an’ th’ fear o’ a similar fate t’ all who don’t abandon loyalty t’ her court.
: What? Why has the guild not helped then? You always insist on sticking your nose into our business so-
: You do NOT get t’ speak t’ me ‘bout sticking one’s nose where it doesn’t belong.
: Sa’Perah Ah has refus’d most o’ our help, as she would yours. Th’ situation is delicate, an’ Sa’Perah doesn’t want our int’rf’rence, for it makes her fear she’d lose even more respect if she’d need t’ resort t’ outsiders fix’ng her mess.
: But the rebellion’s actions can’t be attributed to be her fault, that’s absurd!
: She an’ her people do not think so. See’ng her history wit’ th’ rebels, wha’ they hav’ done t’ her an’ her family personally, she must feel this is someth’ng she has t’ solve t’ prove t’ both herself an’ her people tha’ she is worthy o’ th’ title Pharaoh, an’ t’ finally lay her past t’ rest.
: Her history with them?
: Has Ene seal’d old’r memories too, or do you truly not inform yourself on these things?
: Sa’Perah’s mother an’ brother were kill’d by rebels when she was just a child; this caus’d her t’ become th’ sole heir t’ th’ Pharaoh, her father, who would lat’r be assassinat’d. Finally, her husband, a form’r gen’ral who was promis’d her hand by her father, an’ through her had become th’ new pharaoh, was assassinat’d as well - can’t say I mourn tha’ last one.
: Gaius mentioned some of this but-
: Then I’d advise you keep your advis’r clos’r t’ your side, as it is his job t’ inform you.
: I sent him away. I can’t really place why, but when I see him I feel odd, like I am forgetting something important…
: ‘Nother reason why you should stay ‘ere, so we can see if we can unseal those memories as quickly as possible. An’ tha’s besides th’ fact we don’t know how their “barrier” will affect your thought pattern an’ actions from ‘ere on-
: I can’t go back to that previous state right now, not when there is still so much unclear-
: I’ll alter the letter to Sa’Perah Ah, to just announce our arrival, but besides that-
Alaric grabs two more sealed letters next to him and holds them out for Bál to take. The fire weasel approaches with a sigh, accepting the two letters and giving back the letter he was holding in return.
: These letters are for both Dracul and Pausanius. The first could help us when it comes to gathering information, and I have not heard from Pausanius in a worryingly long time.
A silence falls between the two, and Bál flutters the letters at Alaric, making the serpent jolt out of his reverie.
: I sense an “an’”?
: I can’t recall them clearly because Ene blocked them from me but-
: You had visions o’ Pausanius an’ Dracul?
: Dracul, no - well, yes, but I think it was a memory… in my time? His castle was boarded up, and I don’t think he was there?
Bál’s scowl deepens even more while looking at the sealed letters; he seems to be considering something, but with a shake of his head changes his mind on what to say next.
: An’ wha’ of Pausanius?
: That one is even more unclear - but one of the flashes I saw, along with - well, with your death, was him being chained up, severely emaciated, surrounded by a strange mist and branded with a symbol.
: A symbol? Wha’ kind o’ symbol?
: I’m sorry, I can’t - I can’t remember what it looked like.
Bál lets out a heavy sigh and rubs his temple.
: I’ll deliv’r these lett’rs while you work on your “revision” o’ th’ lett’r t’ th’ pharaoh.
: Thank you.
: Speak’ng o’ lett’rs, aft’r your mind dive, I sent word t’ Læghelmine-
Seeing Alaric’s vacant expression, Bál suppresses a groan.
: Th’ Veethrfölnir jarl in whose homestead Nicholas, Gawain, an’ Cecil were stay’ng. I’ve ask’d ‘im t’ send Cecil, an’ your son an’ captain ov’r if they are travel worthy.
: And?
: I just receiv’d word back tha’ th’ lett’r had been open’d once it got t’ ‘im, an’-
He pauses again, once more considering his following sentence-
: Læghelmine ensur’d me they’ll be arriv’ng back in Aeth’r soon.
: I’m glad; I wouldn’t want to go to Khetmaat without Gawain, and I have been anxious to see Nicholas after everything-
: Indeed. How’ver, I more wish’d t’ let you know tha’ Cecil could help serve as a guide through th’ desert. His abilities could help th’ Aeth’rian party avoid th’ rebels entirely an’ make your way t’ th’ library.
: That’s wonderful news! With his guidance, Matteo and Ene’s knowledge, and Osmund and Gawain’s power, our chances are looking very good. Thank you for letting me know, this way I don’t need to bother Sa’Perah Ah with much at all-
: Right, well I’ll go deliv’r these lett’rs.
The fire weasel doesn’t wait for an answer from the king who was already scribbling away at his new letter. After he exited the room and turned the corner, he let himself rest on the wall and releases a heavy sigh while closing his eyes. Moments later, he pulls himself together and heads towards the castle exit to make true on his promise.
Bál hadn’t gotten far from the castle gates, only just passing The Bumpy Turnip, when he feels a sense of an upcoming headache-inducing mess. Moments after, the mess reveals itself in twofold as a thundering sound of running comes straight towards him.
It’s Nicholas and Cecil, and Gawain is running after them - far behind them actually, the dragon was clearly struggling to keep up and to stop himself from using what little breath he had in cursing in every language under the sun. This would all be well and good if it wasn’t for the fact that Nicholas and Cecil weren’t running, nor were they the sound of the thundering noise or Bál’s upcoming headache. No, all that credit belonged to the two Pokémon he’d least wanted to see at this current place and time.
 : Whoooooooooooooohoooooooooheeeeeeeeeeee!
: Bál! We found your quest letter!
: And we took it upon ourselves to complete the quest you gave us, even if it was an escort quest-
 : Objectively the WORST kind of quest-
: We brought you two dogs and a dragon!
Bál cocks an eyebrow at the jogging dragon, who finally comes to rest with his claws on his knees, panting heavily.
: Why are you runn’ng??
: We had to drop the dragon, he added too much carry weight.
: We were over encumbered and he was too complain-y too.
: He did a fly for a while, but got complain-y about that too. So much complain-y!
: The dogs were good though, good dogs!
From their perch above the bears’ heads, Cecil somehow manages to look somewhat dignified in his slight nod to Bál while the prince wriggles uncomfortably.
: Bál.
: Hello, Bál.
: Righ’, ‘ello. First o’ all, I sent tha’ lett’r t’ Læghelmine - you two were not even suppos’d t’ BE at Læghelmine’s place, we talk’d about this a great many times.
: You talked about it.
: While we didn’t listen, besides you should have known we’d find the letter.
: Therefore it must have been meant for us, because you must have known.
Bál seems conflicted between holding his head in utter misery and rolling his eyes at himself for even bothering to talk reason - he might have known.
: (huffs and wipes away sweat) Wha’ in blazes is WRONG wit’ ya two-?!
: Not our fault your stamina is so low.
: Should have joined bear class
: You’ve almost been runnin’ non-stop!
: We had to stop when it looked like you were going to pass out.
: Why do I even both’r arguin’ wit’ you lot...
The dragon looks up and notices Bál standing there, straightening with a grumble and a renewed scowl.
: Bál.
: Th’ bears just ran in an’ bearhandl’d us, talkin’ ‘bout some letter an’ a quest ya gav’ ‘em, so wha’s th’ news, th’ king already stop screamin’ ‘bout ya dyin’?
: Yes, please, how is my father?
: T’ spare me th’ time, in short: I had sent for someone t’ help your father wit’ his visions, but both king an’ queen were particular impatient. A meeting was call’d to ord’r - Matteo, Nimue, an’ Caldene, as well as Osmund, brother o’ Oakdale’s mayor for his expertise on Celebi, an’ myself were part o’ this council. As was Mindaugas, who eventually provid’d an alternative method t’ my own.
 Oh great - th’ guard imposter, witch, an’ priest were not ‘nuff, tha’ pompous freak had ta be involv’d. An’ what relevance does Celebi have-
 : What does the onion have to do with it, he asks?!
: The onion messed everything up!
: They made time all weird.
 : What has passed since you started bear trials, weeks or months? I raise you a full year!
: They messed up all our plans for this year! We want a word!
: Can ya two please have NO words a’ ALL fer a while?! I swear, I believe ya a year has pass’d, since spendin’ an HOUR wit’ ya two already feels like purgatory. In fact, no - if it had been a year, I’m surely dead righ’ now, an’ I don’t want ta imagine this bein’ my personal hell.
: So is it like you thought, what you said in the cabin, with Suicune’s master?
: ‘Fraid so, but I won’t discuss tha’ ‘ere.
: So, th’ king?
: If you had let me finish - th reason for th’ king’s state is tha’ Celebi sent a future version o’ Alaric back t’ th’ present day, along wit’ giv’ng ‘im visions t’ act like clues t’ hopefully prevent what’ver future was so terrible tha’ she felt th’ need t’ interfere in.
: What-? That - no, more importantly, why my father?
: Probably ‘cause o’ tha’ dumb prophecy or wha’-not: can’t believe even th’ suppos’d “gods” would buy inta tha’ mess-
: He might hav’ been in th’ righ’ place an’ time, we can’t say - especially now tha’ most o’ these future memories an’ visions are lock’d away due t’ Mindaugas’ method in lett’ng an amnesiatic Elgyem child root ‘round inside his head, which th’ king opted for ‘imself.
: I wish I’d be able ta say tha’ I have no clue why he’d do someth’ng lik’ tha’, but wit’ tha’ ‘mon… yeh, sure, I buy it.
: Is my father alright?
: Unfortunately alrigh’ enough t’ insist on go’ng t’ where we need t’ go accord’ng t’ th’ one vision we were able t’ access. I don’t think it’s wise t’ discuss much o’ it ‘ere, I need t’ deliv’r these two lett’rs. If you want t’ know more, you can ask th’ king yourself.
: Hell, ‘nuff wit’ this, wha’s he thinkin’, aft’r tha’ whole mess-
: I have no idea wha’ he’s think’ng, I very much doubt he’s think’ng this through at all. How’ver, while you are there, you might want t’ read Matteo’s reports, see’ng as it has come t’ light tha’ some o’ your outskirt station guards need some reprimandation. Like th’ capt’n of th’ squadron, Fearghas, whose attitude has play’d no minor role in th’ relationship between th’ guards an’ th’ citizens of tha’ district.
: Why do ya - where is this comin’ from?
: Because one of th’ guards from his squadron “accidentally” murd’red a young child, an orphan’d Zorua, an’ most certainly not-so-accidentally burn’d th’ body an’ feigned ignorance. He wasn’t caught by ‘nother guard either, t’was a tradesman who did him in. Furthermore, speak’ng of th’ children, I’d advise you look’ng into a certain Francišek, currently kidnapp’ng ‘em within th’ city.
: As to why I’m tell’ng you all this: I’d much rath’r have you focus on these things than waste time like I made th’ mistake o’ doing try’ng t’ convince tha’ stubborn king who would nev’r change his mind. Now I hav’ places t’ be - an’ now tha’ you know all o’ this, so do you.
: Wha’ th’ hell-
Gawain flies off towards the castle, grumbling more obscenities: but his departure is not nearly so dramatic as the bears’ boisterous yell.
 : WHATARETHOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!!!!
: More quests for bears?
: We’ll trade you our dogs for those.
: You want t’ deliv’r th’ lett’rs?
: Yahuh - that’s how these things work, we fetch item, we trade item, get new item and quest.
: We’ll just go get them anyway. If you give ‘em to the messengers, it’ll just be another entry in our quest log.
: I know - an’ since I must expect tha’ it’s like they were meant for you anyway, don’t both’r, take these.
Each bear grabs a letter and holds it above their head in triumph, humming a happy tune: on the other hand, the two dogs that were thrown on the floor in order for the bears to do so are not so happy.
: But it’s dangerous to go alone, we’ll go get some losers to come with us.
: You go do tha’, just make sure these lett’rs get t’ their destination, which means t’ Dracul an’ Pausanius, in good enough shape they can actually read an’ understand wha’ they say. If you can’t find either ‘mon, you give ‘em t’ Alphonse an’ Phyntia, understood? If there are return lett’rs, you wait for those an’ take ‘em t’ me personally.
: You got it boss - wait, Bearis-
: Yeh, these do look off, who’s been snooping, looks like a bear, was it us?
: Who knows with this time nonsense! Maybe it was us, we’ll do it again later anyway.
: I am go’ng t’ Th’ Malevolent Mistress, I need t’ talk t’ Umbra.
 : Tell him we said hi.
: I won’t. Unless he pisses me off.
: What about me?
: We brought you to Bál, that was the quest - bringing you to your father?
: That’s boring, you can walk yourself, you wrestled oceanbear after all-
: We got questing to do, you are your own escort mission now.
The bears run off at a loping gallop, grabbing an unfortunate herald on the way.
 : Wooweee, we need you to do some shouting for us!!!
 : lfp for urscort quest! Dm for invite!
Nicholas stares after them for a moment before turning to Bál who is already walking off towards the outskirts.
: What just happened?
: You ask at this point? Just get t’ your dad, you don’t need an escort, do you? No? Goody. Cecil, come wit’ me, in case Umbra goes mopey toddler on me an’ tries t’ hide. Also need t’ fill you in once we’re there, since you’ll be go’ng wit’ tha’ crown’d noodle too.
: Ah right, I see. Greetings to your father, young Nicholas.
With that, the Lucario walks after the Typhlosion, leaving the Umbreon to head over to the castle: unfortunately instantly recognized as he walks passed the Turnip and now flanked by Aetherian guards.
: Nicholas should be safe with those guards.
: I know, I spotted ‘em earlier.
: So what did Umbra do?
: Hopefully not wha’ I think. Either way, you can deal wit’ him aft’r I’ve given ‘im an earful, then we go find Itzal’s cohorts - gods, I could use a drink.
As Nicholas heads to the castle and they make their way towards their own destination, the sound of bears still shrill and loud as ever now accompanied by the hostage herald reverBEARates through Aether.
: Deliver de letter, de sooner de better. De later de letter, de madder Bál getter. : 
Mission??? Objective
 : I bet you were expecting us on the 1st, mmh?
: Well too bad! We do not conform to the onion’s ways of nonsensery!
: We were on strike!
: Riot!
: Who’s the fools now? Doh-hohohoh~
: Only bear nonsensery is allowed.
: I mean the bear nonsensery.
: It’s why us bears can pun with ease.
: With just the bear nonsensery in life! : 
 No time to waste!
We’ve got to go, our prompt needs us 
Okay, okay, time to do an explain.
Yes, our April Fool’s was to not post on April Fool’s, got ya.
No, this is not mission 15 quite yet, don’t panic; it’s still coming, just not today.
This is a behest of sorts-- a bearhest if you will, and it is an actual prompt that will last for the month of April. Now pick a bear and buckle in, it’s time to do the main explain:
The bears have their main prompt of delivering their letters, which to have counted as complete you need submit something depicting your character assisting the bear they are with in getting to their destination. Short stories (under 1,000 words) and sketches are always fine to submit, but remember to make them clear and touched up enough to be able to tell what your character is doing. If you show it to a friend and they can’t tell what’s happening in an image or story, then the admins likely won’t be able to tell either. If submitting a single image, utilize your description section and make a small story or give us your rundown of the scene. And remember, if you are writing a story, be sure to list your word count at the bottom of your description!
In addition to the main prompts, the bears also have several mini-prompts that you can do. You can take part in as many or as few of the mini-prompts as you wish, heck, you don’t have to do any of them if you don’t want to. They are for fun and extra rewards, but they are not necessary to do in order to complete the main prompt.
And remember, you can only pick 1 bear to go with on your urscort quest! They’re going two different directions at the same time after all, and really, just one bear is already too much to handle. Though, if they see that you are an official honorary bear, maybe that will make things easier for you. Or it might make things so much worse, who knows, it’s really a shot in the dark.
While you’d be very foolish to even try- no bears may be harmed in the making of these stories, which includes making sure that no major harm comes to them. Believe us, more easily said than done with these 2 cases of walking pandamonium. If you think you are Koalified for the job, honorary bear or not, you can find more info ahead.
Note: Despite escorting the bears to Dracul's castle or Pausanius's palace, you won't find either 'mon there. Perhaps they each had the foresight of the bears approach and made themselves scarce. Alphonse the Crobat for Dracul and Phyntia the Espurr for Pausanius will take the letters in their place, Bál did mention them, so we can call it quest completed by just getting it to them.
Now, back to your irregularly scheduled bears...
: The herald is gone, but his ear murder screaming got all your attentions at least.
: So now that we are all here, listen up!
: Avalon needs us, it’s time to bear it again.
: Join us bears in a thrilling adventure to deliver beary important letters to Count Flirtula and Floofydoompupper.
 : Bring forth the letters!
The bears do a little dance before pulling out the letters from- somewhere.
: This one is for pupper, right? Or was it Flirtula?
: We yeeted the herald for it remember, he landed on his head, so I got Flirtula.
: Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight- then on to business, this isn’t some sidequest - or achievement badge.
: This is canon, but then we are always the canon.
: We are more canon than the onion’s plot holes.
: Right! So without further ado-
: CHOOSE YOUR BEAR-acter! : 
BEARIS		BEARPER
 		BEARPER
 		BEARPER
 		BEARPER
Category:Events
Category:Arc 2
Category:Aether
Category:Bears
Category:Branching Objective