The Castle - Princess Alethea

The battle over, you and your companions stare at the “dragon” in shock. Several adventurers start speaking loudly, accusing Merlin of having a hand in the spell that turned this creature into a fearsome beast. Several more attempt to interrogate their foe, but the disorganized questions only cause more confusion. Some Druids insist they never wanted to fight this “dragon” in the first place, and return the battlefield's terrain to its original state. Before a conclusion can be reached, the Rogues join the fray, telling of their escapades in the castle, where they found kidnapped adventurers locked in cells. Now everyone is talking over each other, trying to make sense of the information, and you're not sure how best to proceed.

“Silence!” A voice booms over the din, and you turn to see that the “dragon” has spoken. Of course, you knew that it could understand you; dragons are intelligent creatures. The shock of the volume it can produce stuns everyone, though, and the requested silence is granted.

“Nagha!” The cry from behind your group interrupts whatever was about to be said, and you turn to see a cloaked figure rushing from the castle. The hood falls from their head, revealing a disheveled-looking Princess Alethea. “Are you okay?!” she asks, kneeling before the tiny dragon.

The Chicken Smoothians remain stunned into silence, watching the princess and the dragon she called you to defeat face each other in the courtyard, clearly well-acquainted. “I'm fine,” Nagha says, stretching her small wings. “But now all is lost! How will we ever stabilize the spell without these adventurers?”

She means you, obviously, and you quickly check your packs and supplies, making sure they're still attached. “I don't know!” Alethea cries, looking at all of you in horror. A few adventurers still have their weapons raised, and she cringes away.

“What is the meaning of all this?” Everyone turns to see Merlin walking into the courtyard, looking a bit grimier for the wear after traveling across the realm.

Alethea stutters in response, and Nagha speaks instead, “You! Your spell caused this! We did what we had to do!”

“And what was that?” Merlin asks.

Nagha pauses, a look of intense concentration furrowing her scales. “I read the arcane texts that manifested in this castle, learned their spells, and built a system of energy transference that would keep the walls from crumbling around us! I became a Wizard to protect my Princess from harm. No one was supposed to be hurt, really, but we needed the magic and might of adventurers to power the spell, and they needed to stay here. It's like being in a luxury hotel, honestly... you just can't leave!

“The illusion of a dragon kept them coming, looking for a battle. Then, that Sorcerer blanketed everything in clouds, and it was hard to travel here, so our systems started failing. We needed a new plan! And so we reached out to you, knowing that with these powerful adventurers you had at your disposal,” she pauses, gesturing to you and your companions, “the whole realm would be stable.”

“That was never a sustainable plan,” Merlin says. There is a look of horror on their face, as if realizing the repercussions of their actions for the first time. “However, I do see that this is, in many ways, my responsibility. I cast the spell that brought this world into existence, with all its adventurers and you two, as well. Slivers of dreams and memories of the Medieval Faire of the past combined to create something I never intended. If you are still looking for a Court Wizard, I will join you, and will help set this right. With our knowledge combined, I'm sure we can come to a solution that benefits everyone.”

“And release the prisoners!” You're not sure who yells this, but there is a chorus of agreement from the gathered adventurers.

Alethea takes a deep breath, knocking her hood down the rest of the way to reveal her crown. With careful motions, she removes it from her head. “I don't know if I can call you a Court Wizard if I am not the monarch of this realm,” she says. “It seems to me like others might not rush to attend my coronation, after these events.”

There is a general murmur of affirmation from the gathered crowd, and Alethea nods. “I will work to make this right, and to become the ruler I should be, not someone harming others in my desperation to keep control. Perhaps, with time, you can trust me, and I can one day become your queen. And my first act, of course, will be to release the adventurers I have held captive.”

“I will help,” Nagha says, and Alethea immediately turns to smile at her, three little words brightening her whole demeanor.

“Perhaps two Court Wizards are better than one,” Alethea says.

“Perhaps,” Merlin agrees, and the three of them head into the castle. In moments, freed adventurers stream out into the courtyard, and you're able to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, as well. The outcome remains to be seen, but for now, you might say that you've had a vacation for the history books, or at least the Bards' tales...

You need to log in to your account to trade in.