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The clone by the ambassadors paused as the Voice revealed itself, startled that after meetings in secret it had come to light. Upon learning that the silver kingdom had fallen, a shadow fell over Mort's face, and he glanced at them with a whole new perspective; little wonder several had come weeping and shaken.

The truce was broken. With the silver kingdom obliterated, vast amounts of miasma were up for grabs . . . He barely heard what Sin said and snapped to attention a few seconds after the Voice's departure, pushing his glasses up with a soft "mrr". "I will take that into consideration then," he said simply, in his heart wishing he could hit pause to let the displaced ambassadors calm themselves but knowing that this was a window of opportunity that would not always be open. He had to choose.

The clone found the real Mort and melded together into a final being once more, his look growing more furrowed as he pondered. Three areas, three chances of getting the miasma needed to replenish what he had used, and all equally dangerous . . . He tapped a horn on his crown thoughtfully and at length lifted his head with a grim set to his normally grinning lips. "It is time, my compatriots. I can only send you to one area for this, but if what I have selected isn't palatable, speak now.

"The Silver Kingdom's remains are rich in the miasma we seek, but you must tread lightly. Julian, Alexei, Tori, Mimsy, and Aiden will investigate its corpse for resources. Sophie, I ask that you accompany them and tend after any wounds sustained. It has only recently been destroyed; the structure will be compromised.

"The Silver Kingdom's labyrinth will be difficult to explore. Thus I ask our nimble thieves Alex and AJ, Kemnebi, Solia, Eva, and Blake to plunge into its depths and steal the treasures lying within.

"Finally, the desolate lands. Those who go must be as fearless as they come, for I do not know what lies in wait there. Sin, you will accompany Belladonna as requested, as well as Ofelia, Arachne, and the one know as The Bard along with his companion Song. Take care when you harvest there, my friends."

The weight of the crown was beginning to finally hit him, and the king's head fell as he look out to his warriors solemnly. "If you have no complaints, then claim what is rightfully ours. I will tend to our ambassadors while you are away." Though with Belladonna near, he could at least add a few more words to her. "I suppose I can't make do on that now," he remarked with a wry smile. "But there will be time still when this is finished and you return, no?"

Sin gave a sharp nod and then stepped back to wait for the King's choice, she did not envy him the choice at all. Each place seemed dangerous, or unknown or both but the lure of Miasma meant that each was also worth venturing to. She stroked Framboise idly and wondered who she would be going with and where.

Of course, she didn't have to wonder too terribly long soon the King was speaking and his grin had faded. She listened to the assignments with baited breath and then gave a faint sigh of relief when she heard she would be going with Belladonna. The desolate lands...not exactly a reason to sigh with relief but Ofelia would be coming as well, a fierce champion worth having in any sticky situation...and Arachne...and The Bard...lovely someone who could sing about all their successes....and failures. She inclined her head and swept off to change into gear more suited for what might lay ahead.

"My thanks your majesty. With your permission...I don't wish to dawdle."

[Sin EXITING]

Lex was startled by the sudden appearance of The Voice and what it told them. Silver had fallen? How was that even possible - had another Kingdom attacked it? No, that couldn't be it...there was still rampant Miasma everywhere that an invading Kingdom would have picked up instantaneously.

Then, how...? A frustrated rumble of his hair and a sigh as The Voice left them, leaving Lex a little shell shocked and in awe. His own Miasma had been shaken and spoken to like it was simply nothing. How powerful The Voice truly was...

The King began assigning roles, telling who to go where. Lex would be headed to the old Silver Kingdom to collect the rampant Miasma. To invade such a freshly fallen Kingdom...

For glory. He steeled himself with the thought, and looked to his King with a broad grin.

"As you wish, sire." He bowed once more, before running to the Red Wyrm Inn - he rented out a room there - to collect the things that weren't in his hammerspace.

((EXIT))

That same hopeful smile stayed upturned at the King even as the music started, for just a moment the faerie thought the musicians had returned. But it was off kilter, wrong in some way and then the deep silence that followed provided the answer. A hand went out to touch whatever she could to stabilize herself, but everything blended to nothing and The Voice spoke. North, East and Center were now places in which to prove themselves and their new pledges, to go forth and harvest Miasma for their kingdom. For if enough was not collected, so too would their glorious and wondrous home fall. It was frightening, to say the least, but just as quickly as The Voice had come, it gave one final push and was gone. The colors bled back into the world, things resumed their original shapes and the faerie blinked herself back to rights.
Though the King was still nearby, she saw Sin approach and Belladonna was flattered to hear the girl wanted to stay with her. A smile was given to the Eladrin, grateful for her vote of confidence as well as her loyalty.
Uncertain of little else, the faerie remained quiet by the King's side, small with her wings folded down and still for this solemn moment. But it was quick, as there was precious little time to waste and instead commands to give. Once more she patiently waited, once again saved for last. A hand was lightly waved at Sin, an indication that Belladonna would follow her soon.

For there is one last thing she must say, though it will be small and silly and should perhaps not be spoken of, but the faerie is nothing if not vastly foolish. The wry smile from her King makes her return a smile, though she infects it with all the warmth she can for him.
"I suppose you are right... But, do you promise?" It is asked with a quick wink and a flutter of wings that momentarily lift her off the ground. "I shall do my best and return, but I would so adore a promise to spurn me on. And I think I would at least like one dance upon my return." Perhaps it was a bit much, but it felt silly now to curb any attentions she might pay.

With another curtsey she departed, hurrying with her wings all aflutter, to deposit what remained of her flowers back in her stall and be on her way. Though it felt odd, she quickly rose up the circlet and set it upon her head, a small pledge given in her heart as she hastened on to complete the task given to her.

[EXIT]

Arachne listened carefully to the King's announcement of who he had bestowed certain roles on, nodding each time. She was happy taking orders, and felt that he was wise indeed, for her to take on a leadership role would require her to speak more than she felt able or willing to do so. She was just musing on that when the Voice spoke, her fingers tightening around the wooden limb of her bow, listening even more intently than before if it were possible.

When it had faded away, she looked once more to her King, awaiting his orders. They were soon given, and as the ranger had no quarrel with where she had been directed to go, she also took her leave, intending to re-string bow and check her arrows were all in order. She left the Plaza, her eagle owl swooping after her.

[Exit]

Ofelia had spent some of the time after the King said things getting around to eating food. She'd devoured a chicken whole, bones and all, and was set about to start working on a pig when The Voice came. It announced the fall of Silver so easily and the Tiefling couldn't help but look at the figure whom'd she'd held in her arms. Not an ambassador then, a refugee? It wasn't any of her business why they really were in Om, she was just a Champion and not someone who made important decisions, but her nerves felt slightly plagued and she hoped this passed swiftly. There was no time for worry and doubt, not when there was chicken or pig to be eaten, and Ofelia did her best to ignore the way her Maisma swirled in her body and touched at her core.

But then it was gone, just as soon as it was happening, and the King was telling people places to go. AJ wasn't going to be with Ofelia, not that she'd admit any worry over him. Her was a Tiefling and her younger brother - two things that would make him pretty much good to go. She could always smart off at him and tell him if he came back without Miasma for the kingdom she'd beat him up but that seemed a little harsh. Instead she was just going to leave and get on with her life but she was stopped when Aj actually approached her. As far as Ofelia was aware Tieflings as a whole didn't have a hive mind and so he couldn't have known her thoughts and she was about to say something when he handed her a small pouch after pattering her on her shoulder. She looked at the bag, back at him and how he was retreating, and moved to easily catch up to him in a few strides.

"Runt." She held the pouch out, letting it dangle in her hand, before tossing it up and catching it properly. "We're going to look at it together when I get back so...." Her tone was all together demanding as usual but at the end of it she turned and looked around. No one seemed to be watching and thus she showed an unusual bit of affection. Aj received a quick kiss on the cheek from his older sister and she rested her forehead against his. "Come back safe, okay?" The moment of affection and familial love was over as soon as Ofelia moved her head away.

There was no more time to worry about AJ, no more time to do much else. Belladonna had gone ahead and Ofelia had been sent with her. It likely wasn't for protection since Ofelia wasn't good at such things - it had to have been for the fact she would destroy anything in her path. The only hope there was that she returned at all from that path and with something to prove to her kingdom. With those in mind she set off to her destination, head held high.

Om would not fall.

[ exiting ]

Julian had puffed up slightly in pride when he was acknowledged for his leadership abilities. Being addressed alongside one of the tieflings, and the way the king spoke... It sort of seemed like that were meant to be battle commanders. Seemed fair enough, all things considered.
He had been curious as to what the Muse would bring to him and his eyebrows rose when it manifested into a bracer around his left wrist, one far more intricate than the rest of his clothing and engraved with a delicate design. He couldn't help but touch the piece of armor in reverent fascination, thankful for it even though it now prevented him from hiding his left hand from view. But then, what did that matter? He was a Champion, he shouldn't need to hide what he was.

His hand flew to the sword at his side when the world went dark, knowing his bow would be far more useless being unable to see. But then there was no sword, there was no bow, there was no him. Just nothing, a deep, oppressive nothing.
Until the Voice.
The land of Silver, the King's Labyrinth, the Desolate lands. Where would he go to serve his kingdom, where would he be sent?

When reality returned to him, he too looked to his king for guidance. Send me where you will, lord, I'm not afraid, he thought, ready to do whatever it took to make sure that the kingdom of wonder, of Creation stood tall.
Silver.
It would be dangerous, but he would endure. And he would do all he could to make sure those with him did as well. He gave King Mort a small bow before turning away with the others, heading straight for Silver. He didn't need to fetch anything, all he needed was already on his person. As soon as he was out of the main center, he summoned Alpha once more, mounted, and set off.

[exit]

She leaned in slightly as Moriko whispered to her. Sigrún nodded her head slowly as she listened and thought. She parted her lips to begin answering when something happened.

The Voice it had spoken, of silver kingdoms fall and that it wanted something from the other kingdoms. It wanted them to harvest miasma.

Sigrún looked at Momo her eyes bright and glittering. The fall of the silver kingdom must have been what happened in the marketplace. What she and her best friend had managed to survive. Sig looked at the others from the silver kingdom. They had not been as fortunate as she and her friend.

"Momo....We need to help them." Was all Sigrún said. Moriko knew that Sigrún felt no emotional ties to the fallen silver kingdom, save for those who had not made it out so lucky. She certainly did not want either of them turn to dust.

Sigrún turned to face the king and rolled her shoulders back and stood straighter.
"Thank you, your majesty" she inclined her head slightly.
"We would be grateful for the assistance." Sigrún paused and added
"We would be most glad and appreciative if we could... That is to say.." Sigrún paused again not sure she was doing this properly. She glanced at Moriko for help, her checks flushed in embarrassment.