9.18.22 - City Shenanigans

We took a nice rest before returning to managing the empire while my family continued to recover from their time away. At breakfast one morning, we discussed what everyone wanted to do now that we had saved my parents and they were heroes to Purrgatory. Dense mentioned something about a Veronica person, and we discussed the issue of Gorgol and Knit who were both still at large. Since I was busy managing the kingdom in my parent’s stead, everyone else went about their business.

I received word that Pey had found some stolen family heirlooms that he was trying to sell before shifting goals and trying to find the owners and returning them instead. He made his way to the house of my acquaintance, Duchess Flamehair, to return an emerald necklace of hers that she lost one night in a mysterious dark alleyway. They made some kind of deal since he had returned it to her, she could grant him something of his request. Rumor has it she gave him a letter and told him to meet her at The Grove the next night.

Meanwhile, Dense and Marko were training in one of the courtyards. They attracted the attention of some of the city and palace guards who joined in on the lessons. Dense taught anyone who was interested. Now, perhaps, my guards will be a little better suited to handle any issues that may arise in the city.

Throughout my day, I did what I could to gather information from the court gossip and some light reading in the library about the affairs of the world and any information about Knit. Within the court, I discovered more information about the factions amongst the tabaxi, with the primary break being the north and the south still not agreeing about Bast not supporting slavery. Also, there were the usual reports that the ‘Saurans number one import were the slaves that never seemed to come back no matter how many of them were sent up. Suspicions were growing that the ‘Saurans were not what they seemed.

It was decided that it was time for us to have a night out, so we got together to visit my favorite tailor: Fabulous Fern Frond’s Fashionable Finery. When we arrived, we were greeted by the familiar smile of the finely dressed Mr. Fern Frond who looked up at us as we entered. He seemed quite delighted to have us visit, but had to call Abernathy to clean up Pey before he could even consider the request Pey had for him. We each made our requests which were to be delivered to the palace before tomorrow evening. Fern was a little bit skeptical when I told him to add it to the royal tab, as the people seem concerned that we have lost our touch and the northern families may be seeking to usurp our power since Marko was here in the court. I assured him that we would be fine and Marko was here to learn about governing from a different perspective than his father.

The next morning before I was needed at court, I visited my father to remove some of the items that he may have absorbed and ended up with a massive metal bar. He talked to me about being careful with Bast and not to go around making declarations against our beliefs or confusing myself with too many ideas about who Bast really is. It could be dangerous to do so. Then it was time for him to rest again, but I assured him I would be careful.

That evening, we all gathered at The Catwalk to display our new outfits before we set out for The Grove and our lovely evening of mingling amongst the nobility. The Grove was at the center of town where there were establishments on the first few floors, but a grand spiral staircase going around the outside leading up to a grand garden on the roof. It was a peaceful place with refined guests mingling about the various pathways and secluded areas. Duchess Petunia Flamehiar was waiting for Pey to arrive, and when he did she said something about him being a great hero who had returned her necklace to her before she gave him a light peck on the cheek. He pulled out a handkerchief he had had Fern make for him to give to her. However, the bright orange cloth was embroidered, very clearly, with catnip leaves on the border. She was flabbergasted by the gift and slapped him across the face before storming out of The Grove.

Before I even knew what was going on, Marko had come back carrying drinks for everyone and the entire establishment was looking at us whispering to each other about Pey and Petunia. Dense took his drink and gave it to one of the girls wearing white and told her it was from Marko. He just seemed confused about what was happening, so I put my metal arm up to my mouth to jokingly summon my brothers to explain courting to him, but when I did that, I heard a little voice ask me what I wanted to know. At that point, it was time for us to get a secluded area for ourselves to sort out everything that had just happened.

Once we got to our area, everyone ordered drinks, and I explained what I found out about my hand. It was apparently a construct of knowledge, so I asked it where Knit was. I was informed that Knit was in his throne room in his level of Hell. We all took a minute to unwind and relax for a minute before Dense took Marko out to learn how to talk to girls. They went over to the girl Dense had given the drink to who introduced herself as Tabitha Tabby, of the Tabby Trading Company. They had a lovely conversation before Dense dragged him away to dance with Pey who had appeared on the dance floor. I was making my way around the room exchanging pleasantries and listening in on any conversations I possibly could. For the most part I heard people debating about the north versus the south and how the court had been infiltrated by a northerner since I was running the court in the emperor's absence. There was one table however, that was discussing how the ‘Saurans were not what they seemed to be and that their founder, Palo, was rumored to still be alive somewhere deep in their empire.

It was as I was leaving that table that Dense approached me, pointing out two cloaked figures who had come in after us that seemed to be following me around the establishment. He suggested we go to the bar and get drinks for our friends, so we did before he took them over to them and blinded them with those drinks. Chaos broke out as they began to go toe-to-toe with Dense. I yelled for everyone to try to make their way out as quickly and calmly as possible, but as people started to move, the underbrush began to grow at a rapid rate, trapping many people. We managed to take out the more intimidating looking person, a rotting goat like person, with ease, but their companion, a tabaxi, proved more difficult. They teleported themselves out of range of the plants and a growing fire, trying to stab me. This person told me that they were the will of Bast, and, “The will of Bast will not be undone.” Dense managed to take it out, but not before it had leaked its yellow icor everywhere. We then worked together to free and heal the trapped patrons from the plants while Pey talked to the tree. Marko healed his new friend Tabitha and she gave him her handkerchief as an excuse to go visit her again.

I asked the voice in my hand to tell me more about Palo. It said that he was the ancient ruler of the ‘Saurans and that he was last seen in the Temple of Awakening. It confirmed the rumors that the ‘Saurans were not what they seemed as there were reports that there were some that claimed they had been diplomats visiting the temple before they had been put into new bodies that they had not had before.

The owner of The Grove interrupted my revelation by demanding I pay for the damages done to the establishment. I agreed and was greeted by Sheriff Bubbles on the way out who told me my father was not very happy but needed to speak to me at once. Pey came with me to help explain what had happened, and after their explanation my father told them they could go. He asked me why these people had attempted to kill me, so I told him it must have been because I was a member of the royal family and we were all members of the royal court. He bought my lie, but told me I was grounded for four days and the money would be coming out of my allowance.