RP:Josleen, Lycidas, and Seiko Plot to Destroy Red Ogre Inn!
Part of the Larketian Fault Lines Arc
Summary!
Lycidas and Seiko meet with Josleen under the premise of helping to rebuild the city.
Lycidas offers to host a brawl within Red Ogre to help destroy the remnants of it, so that it might be rebuild atop of!
Josleen Accepts!
Gigi sniffs Seiko's butt.. Trust me, it happened..
The RP!
Josleen has been using a tearoom as an office. As the throne room has no roof, only three walls, and an obstacle course of debris, the King and Queen greet their audience separately--Macon in his office and Josleen in this tearoom that she has grown quite fond of. Gigi, Prince Pooch, has found the moment appropriate to leave his gold-threaded dog bed and join Mom {That’s The Queen to you, riff raffs} on the couch. Why now? A suspicious mind would see Josleen’s turkey dinner on the coffee table and think ‘Aha! This rascal wants a bite!’ {WRONG!} Gigi loves Mom, and the fact he sits within slobbering distance of the turkey, eyes transfixed on the golden crispy leg, is pure coincidence. This is the first dinner Josleen has had apart from Macon, who had to deal with an emergency and cancel. The earthquake has taken its toll on the city, its citizens, and royal marriage alike. Josleen, not wanting to dine with her wretched mother-in-law, decided to take dinner early and alone. She has completely forgotten her meeting with Lycidas and Seiko and is engrossed in a book about witches. A servant asks Josleen if she’d like more cider, and when Josleen looks away from Gigi for a split second, the pooch snatches a bread roll off the table. Josleen catches him in the act and reprimands, “Gigi!” in a tone more affectionate than chastising. Gigi eyes Josleen side long as he ducks low and dutifully chomps on the bread and butter. {Mmm. Bread. Yes. More. Yes.}
Lycidas moved with deliberate steps towards the throne room, a redirecting guard pointing them at the tea room instead. As he entered with full business apparel, which in his day and age was studded leather armor, a long sword on his waist, and a squire at his back, the man knelt the appropriate distance before the queen. “Queen Josleen.” The knight would wait until being told to rise, a smile on his face as he spoke. “I’ve come to you on this fine afternoon to respectfully ask you the privilege of destroying what remains of the Red Ogre Inn.. For charity.”
Seiko walked silently behind Lycidas, Looking around the building. Even with the recent destruction, the building maintained a regal beauty about it. Once they were before the queen, Seiko moved to the right of Lycidas. He decided to take a more traditional bow from his homelands, resting on both knees with his forehead pressed to the ground above him, a show of the utmost respects to the queen of this land. His ears lay flat as he waited for a verbal command from the queen that he may rise once again.
Josleen feels her turkey-filled stomach drop when Lycidas and Seiko walk in. She completely forgot! Her schedule has been so full since the earthquake that she simply forgets anything that is not immediate. She dabs at her mouth with a cloth napkin then nods and greets the pair to release them from their bows. “I was looking forward to meeting you again.” Lycidas announces his intention and Josleen forces a false smile. What a terrible idea, but she can tell from his tone that some of this is in jest or for dramatic effect. Gigi abandons the turkey in favor of strangers! Seiko gets the bulk of the poodle’s attention. {What is this?! Squirrel?!} Gigi, still quite young though large, sniffs wildly under Seiko’s tail. “I hope you don’t mind,” says the Queen as she eyes her dog.
Lycidas had a grin from ear to ear, pleased to find himself in front of royalty that could actually handle a jest.. The usually all too serious knight found himself giving her a nod, signaling he’d go on with his charade. “I’ve spoken with the owner of the Red Ogre and it has come to my attention the damage isn’t easily repairable, that it would be simpler to rather just demolish and build anew.. And, I know the inn itself is the main source of revenue amongst food and hotel establishments in the city. I am proposing a brawl. A Charity Brawl. One where fighters amongst the lands are encouraged to come forth and lend their fists towards rebuilding the inn itself! It’ll be a two stage event.” He paused, giving her a moment to soak it in before continuing, “The first stage would be simple, a brawl, people are permitted no weapons other than what is found within the inn itself. Each contestant and spectator pays a fee, which I match per entry, and comes willing to either bash apart each other. Though the spectators will be set up in a separate part of the inn itself. Secondly, all those who attend will be encouraged, though not forced, to assist with rebuilding the inn. I will be attempting to provide resources, if I can locate them and if not, the money from the charity brawl will go directly into rebuilding the inn.. With all remaining funds going towards the city itself regardless of the scenario that comes out.” The man smiled, pleased with the idea and good fortune that this event might bring.
Seiko until the Queen had released them to turn his attention to Gigi. Seiko always enjoyed treating himself, so in his pocket he always kept a handful of Fox treats. He assumed foxes couldn’t be -that- different from dogs, so maybe Gigi might like some as well? He placed a couple on the ground in front of Gigi so that he could sniff them and give them a try. Turning his attention back to the queen and Lycidas he smiled, “That’s an interesting plan, Lycidas! I of course will be an innocent bystander if that should happen... Could you imagine if someone stepped on one of my tails, it’d be dreadful!” he thought for a moment, “Oh! Will there be betting as well? That could be fun too... A little gambling never hurt, right?” he grinned at the idea. “What do you think Lady Josleen?” He looked at her, his ears perked with a childlike excitement.
Josleen laughs at the idea of brawlers using their fists as wrecking balls. “That’s quite an idea!” she says to them both. “The brawl could be quite the catharsis. Fists only, yes? No magic or weapons? And you say you spoke with the owner of Ogre and he is agreeable?” Gigi sniffs the fox treats one, twice, then eats them! {Nutty!} He sits and waits for more. If none are forthcoming immediately, he whines and paws at the ground. {Come on! Squirrel man, come on!} Then to Seiko’s point about gambling she says, “Everyone likes a good bet. I’ll deepen the pool--make the market, so to speak.”
Lycidas turned towards the overly chatty youngling, debating between lecturing him or allowing him to be his rambunctious self. He decided lecturing someone in front of the queen was probably not in anyone’s best interest and rather turned back to face her, a nod and smile given. “Yes but we wanted your blessing before proceeding, your majesty, as I would hate to sponsor an event in your city without the blessing of those who own it.” He waited a moment and then spoke, “Oh! Yes, the only weapons will be the chairs, boards, bottles, whatever people find in the tavern. And, I’ll speak with the leader of the healer’s guild and attempt to get them on board with being on-site so none are injured past their ego.” He winked playfully at the comment, knowing the queen would know just how common that was. “This way, the destroyed remnants of the tavern get splintered apart further and easier to destroy then rebuild.” The knight finally turned towards the dog, “You’re quite.. Eager, little pooch.” The knight leaned in closer, “Bite the tail, that’ll get the fox’s attention!” Lycidas began to point directly at the fluffy fox tail.
Seiko glared over at Lycidas’ comment. Opening his mouth to form a bolt of flame… Alas, he realized this was not the place and/or time to bit spitting fire balls at crotchety old men. Seiko finally placed a last couple treats on the ground, and then gave out some wonderful ear scratchies for him! After hearing of the queen’s plan to even deepen the betting pool, Seiko became even more thrilled. “Oh yes! This will be incredible!” He laid back on the floor, “If I won… I could buy a lifetime supply of steak… Oishiiiiiii!” he rubbed his belly elatedly.
Josleen , no fool, doesn’t trust strange messengers. Lycidas could be lying, after all. She doesn’t know him. “I see. Ask him [the Ogre owner] to write to me with his seal asking for this permission and I shall grant it gladly.” Gigi looks at the vampire and immediately stops wagging his tail. {Smells like dead squirrel.} He is not a fan of the undead and only Josleen’s good spirits keep the dog from turning on the vampire. Seiko commands the dog’s attention again and he enjoys the scratches happily. He flops onto his back and exposes his belly for the big prize. Josleen continues with the business on hand. “When are you looking to start? An opening ceremony may be just the get together the people need.”
Lycidas nodded at the woman, “I will have the letter for you tomorrow.” He pulled away from the dog, sensing the mistrust it had for him, “And I was hoping to start perhaps, the weekend after this. Enough time to get everything in order, fighters, spectators, a purse, materials.”
Seiko finished petting the pooch, finally standing up from the ground and taking his place at Lycidas’ side. It was wise for the queen to require a written letter, Seiko hadn’t even thought of that. But, she is a ruling queen who has to worry about legalities at all times.
Josleen smiles graciously at Lycidas’s agreement and takes a breath and pauses as if from here on out there are only goodbyes to be said. Classically trained as a bard, and a natural charmer, the queen is quite gifted in swaying a room with sighs and glances. “Excellent. If that is all, I am afraid I must make a hasty exit.” Indeed, she hears Macon’s footsteps in the hallway and hopes that perhaps he has returned sooner than anticipated. The moments between obligations are the only moments together they manage to squeeze during this crisis.
Lycidas moved to leave the chamber, “Thank you my Queen, I will make sure to bring it by your office tomorrow or quite possibly just drop it off with one of your aids pending on the situation at hand.” The man motioned for Seiko to follow him out, making a clear path to avoid the pooch.
Seiko bowed his head to the queen, "Have a lovely evening Lady Josleen!" he turned and quickly caught up with Lycidas, somehow managing to drop one last fox treat on the ground on their way out of the room. "See you later, Gigi!"
Sometime later...
Lycidas walked into the Red Ogre Tavern to remeet with the owner of the establishment.. Not that one truly had much to walk into. IT was a remnant of it's former glory, the fire consuming large amounts of a majority of it, the beams cracked from the earthquake, tables and chairs flipped in the people's rush to escape, if they even remained. The knight took a seat in the front of the establishment, knowing that he'd be seeing the giant within a few moments. As the giant came from the back room, or what remained of it, the knight gave him a wave. "I have spoken with Queen Josleen. She's fully accepting of our idea and willing to help endorse it. If you're still accepting of the offer, I suggest we set this for the following weekend." The knight paused only for a moment, "We just need a letter, your seal, and our project to rebuild your inn will be underway." The giant, a man of few words in this iteration of him, gave the knight a gruff nod and went over writing down the acceptance letter, signing it, and rolling it up. Once rolled, sealed with fresh wax and redelivered to the knight. Lycidas paid his respects and walked out the door.
-Queen Josleen, Long have I worked under your fair city and upon this day I'd gratefully request your acceptance of Lycidas' plan to rebuild the tavern. -Gumorn of the Red Ogre.