The crowd murmured and nodded in understanding. "Now, there is a reason I said 'should you agree'. There's a possibility you'll be afflicted with the same curse, or arguably, blessing, as I. As you've noticed, especially those of you who've provided my yearly checkups, I've been 'locked' at the physical age of twenty-nine ever since I became a wizard. Simply put, I don't seem to age whatsoever, and I'll probably never pass away peacefully. "On one hand, it means I can serve the Leopards as your eternal king. On the other hand, it means I can only die in battle, as I can still get seriously wounded. The only thing I'm invincible to is age. You all know better than anyone that our bodies and brains are not supposed to exist for well over a century, and, though I'm nowhere near that point, I'm not sure if my mind will seriously deteriorate in spite of my perpetually youthful exterior." The crowd murmured, and Leodus took a shaky breath. He realized he'd never voiced all these implications about his "immortality" aloud before. They frightened him. If I don't fall in battle, I can really only hope that my brain won't turn into soup by the time I'm one-hundred thirty or so. "However," he said aloud, as much to himself as to the doctors, "it could be that my brain will remain just as physically young and healthy as the rest of my body. Indeed, there are several variables. Though Malgus briefly mentioned in his book that he'd become locked at the physical age of fifty, I'm unsure if this effect only occurs for male mages, as I never met the Witch-Queen Maulryene in person. Additionally, this near-immortality might only be granted to full-fledged mages who've learned attack spells and the like, not those who focus exclusively on healing. The Mammoths didn't have druids to my knowledge, so this, too, I can't be sure of. "If the thought of living forever, staying eternally young on the outside even as your mind ages, is too existentially terrifying, I understand completely. Any among you who see this as too great a cost are free to leave. However, I need at least some of you to stay. I honestly believe that the Leopard Druids will be the greatest doctors Chima has ever known. With healing magic, endlessly studied and refined by either you or your successors over centuries, you will no doubt save countless lives. "Much like how our ancestors 'took the plunge', drinking the strange water that appeared before them, and evolving into the next stage of life, you too, will evolve into the logical next stage of existence for doctors." Leodus gave them a moment to discuss it among themselves, and to his surprise, all twenty-four doctors remained in the courtyard. "Are you all...sure of this?" He asked. He'd expected around half or maybe more to be respectfully bowing and striding out at that point. "We all devoted our lives to saving people," an old doctor explained, "and the thought of doing so till the end of Chima is a dream come true."
"I see," Leodus replied, "that's good to hear." He beckoned to the hooded aide behind him, who carried twenty-four copies of the pages of Malgus' book that covered healing magic. Though Leodus had doubted all the magic-capable doctors would agree to become druids, he'd still made enough copies in case. The aide walked down from the small stage and gave the papers to the nearest doctor, who took one and passed the stack down. "I want you to study these pages whenever you have time," the Leopard King instructed, "then once you're able to perform the rudimentary healing spells that are known, keep practicing and see what you can create. Combine your medical knowledge with your magic knowledge. There's no rush, and you can all learn at your own pace. Thank you." After all the doctors received their copy, they bowed and filed out of the courtyard. Waiting until they all left, Leodus turned to the only other leopard there. "Now...how to deal with you?" The "aide" threw back his hood to reveal a leopard younger than Leia, but far older than Leodus. "Sounds like you still distrust me..." Agent Fire observed, "but Sire, did I not respond immediately to your beck and call? Have I not proven my loyalty?" "By copying and handing out papers?" Leodus returned his grin. "No, I'm afraid it'll take a bit more than that." "Of course, you remember that I had nothing to do with the Ice Hunter HQ ordeal," the old leopard clarified. "Had I been contacted by the LI during those five months in the south (which could've only meant a trek by foot all the way through the Iron Mountains for them, since I had no radio on me, you'll recall), I would've either reported to you immediately, or answered their summons; and then proceed to plant fire chi bombs under those Rupture vehicles. I've never been a fan of 'icy' things." "I don't doubt that you were being truthful when you returned in October and told me you had no idea where the rest of the LI went," Leodus stated, "dutifully searching for, and providing us the coordinates of, the Hunter HQ was also an immense help. However...you are still an agent, albeit the only one left." "I understand completely why you'd have difficulty trusting me, Your Majesty," Agent Fire nodded, "and If I were you, I wouldn't trust me either. Leia's incomprehensible actions have sullied the LI's name. Our previous Director would never have betrayed you or the tribe; that, you can be certain of. It's a shame you never met him." Well, I technically 'met' him, but it was in his last moments. "I'm glad you understand," Leodus said aloud, "but a thought I've had is that you not knowing about her plan, and then finding the Hunter HQ for us, was part of Leia's plan, even if you didn't realize it." "Hmm..." Agent Fire grumbled, "well, I'm pretty sure she can't manipulate me while in a coma." He pondered for a moment. "In fact, now I ought to tell you something she forbade me from telling you. Will that earn your trust?"
Leodus raised an eyebrow. "That statement implies you were hiding information from me at Leia's behest for the nearly eighteen years of my kingship." "Keep in mind, Sire, it was King Liodyne who ordered me not to tell anyone," Agent Fire added, "and your mother, the Queen–" So he doesn't know about that, at least, Leodus thought "–and the previous LI Director, and Leia; after the former three lost their lives, she told me about the Ultimate Prince Project (not that she could hide it anymore, after what Logos did). I was mostly respecting the monarchs' and previous Director's wishes..." "But you also didn't know what Leia would've done to you," Leodus presumed, "if you'd told me about this secret." "Right on the mark, Your Majesty," he answered grimly, "but now she's out of the picture. I suppose it goes without saying that you'll keep her in custody if she wakes from the coma?" "When she wakes," Leodus corrected, then waved a hand dismissively, "and yes, she'll be punished to an extent, but she's still of use to the tribe. Anyway, the secret, please–" "You don't have the genetic aptitude for magic," Agent Fire said bluntly, "and you never did." "Wha–" whatever Leodus expected, it wasn't this. "How is that...even possible? I can clearly use magic. You want a demonstration?" "Sire–" Agent Fire held up his hands, but Leodus turned to the left and launched a bolt of yellow lightning straight out of his hand, scorching the ground where the prospective Leopard Druids had stood minutes ago. The action caused what could qualify as "recoil" in the King's left arm, and he stumbled back a bit before regaining his balance. "Admittedly, it's still quite volatile and disorienting, which is why it'd be risky to use in battle. Malgus started at fifty, and he wrote that he fully mastered his balance nineteen years later, at about the start of the Sabertooth War. I've only been practicing for just over seven years." "Sire, have you ever wondered why the Leopards in general knew about magic even before you learned of your aptitude?" Agent Fire poised. "Twenty-nine years ago, I was assigned to observe the Mammoth Tribe. The Leopards didn't snoop around every tribe, mind you; mostly just our neighbors in the Iron Mountains, especially since the Sabertooths and Mammoths were growing increasingly hostile toward the south at the time. "I witnessed Maulryene educating Malgus in the magic arts, and reported to your parents, the Director and Leia about this. I was then sent to obtain a DNA sample. While disguising my species with a full-body suit, I fought Malgus, and managed to escape with both my life and a tuft of his fur. The explanation I was given? 'We can use the DNA to figure out how to test for magic aptitude within our tribe'. Well, that ended up being impossible even if it was a secondary goal. "In fact, the monarchs' aim was to have Leia splice the DNA into their sons." "Only to then be unable to 'awaken' our magic..."
Leodus nodded. "Yes, it's all adding up. Knowing Leia, she would've either considered that experiment a failure, or put it on hold. So the Leopards in general were told about the existence of magic, but your fur-snatching and its purpose was kept secret." "Exactly," the old leopard confirmed, "though pretty much every tribe learned about magic six years later anyway, when the news spread about how Maulryene and Melko overthrew their monarchy with unprecedented speed. Anyhow, when you-know-what happened, I naturally assumed that the 'berserk white leopard' looked like that, and pulled off what he did, as a result of magic. Biggest 'what have I done' moment of my life, for about an hour. "Luckily for my conscience, when I and the tribe's division leaders demanded an explanation from Leia, we learned the truth; about the Ultimate Prince Project, and how Logos' appearance and powers resulted from unrelated experiments, not magic." Yet even then, she still didn't tell you the full truth, Leodus commented privately. I wonder if he suspects this. Probably so. "Leia had no choice but to tell us the real reason I'd been sent to grab Malgus' DNA," Agent Fire continued, "to make you and Logos into 'artificial' magic users. She stressed that the order to never reveal my past mission to anyone remained in effect; that 'anyone' logically included you. As I recall, she said something about it being better for the King's 'confidence' if you ever learned magic while thinking you were naturally inclined to it." The King in question shook his head. "As usual, Leia misunderstood what was best for me." Leodus sighed in exasperation. "I'd rather know the truth than be in blissful ignorance, even–no, especially when the truth is less glamorous than the lie. I'd also prefer if you'd told me sooner." "As LI Director, Leia had eyes everywhere," the old spy explained gruffly. "I probably would've fallen prey to an 'accident' on the job if I even showed hints of wanting to tell you." "You were afraid of her." "After she was made Director? Absolutely. Heck, I wish I'd been afraid of her sooner; maybe then I would've stopped her." The old leopard planted his hands in his pockets and looked wistfully up into the gray Iron Mountains sky. "The LI of old was much different than the one you know. The agents all reported to the Director and monarchs one at a time, and we weren't permitted to meet one another. Though after Leia was made Head Scientist, we'd report to her when the monarchs and Director saw fit. Keeping agents separate and unaware of one another's identities–with a few exceptions–kept us from compromising each other's missions, or co-conspiring against the Leopards. "When Leia took over, proven in pre-written text to be the will of the previous Director, this changed. All agents were promptly introduced to one another, and we became more of an organized force, with a greater emphasis on loyalty." "To Leia," Leodus surmised.
The old man laughed. "That's exactly what I thought at the time. I preferred the old way the LI was managed; that of the previous Director and his predecessors. There was no point in objecting to the change aloud, because it'd already happened; she gathered us all together at once, and that was that. Though I think Leia always suspected that I was more 'conservative' than most of the agents, especially the younger ones and new recruits over the years. No wonder she didn't tell me about the plan for the Hunter HQ and Rupture vehicles...that's all over now, though." Leodus crossed his arms. "It's just so strange...the inconsistency between that and Leia's usual motives cannot be understated. She's probably the last person on the planet I'd ever have expected to betray the tribe, even while thinking she's still serving it. All of her actions over the years seemed to be for the sake of the tribe, for the most part. "Her militarized LI, for example, helped to round up the criminal organization I took down at the time of the Rupture Incident. Leia always supported me as Leopard King; that was the whole point of her "Ultimate Prince Project", after all. But..." "But what?" "In the factory," Leodus recounted, "she said a couple things about 'visions', now that I recall..."
"If these so-called 'Liberators' have been funding a terrorist group," the old General crooned, "a group that attacked our allies, included a traitor who brought shame to the Vultures, and tried to force His Majesty into joining them, no less–then they must be held accountable! If they thought they could just throw their little terrorist puppets under the bus and let them take the fall, they're sorely mistaken; the puppet-masters are just as, if not more responsible for all of this!" "Slow down, my friend," cautioned the Talon City Guardian Force Commander, younger than the General but still in his late fifties. "Patience is our greatest virtue, remember? Let's first consider the size of this potential 'enemy' force. They funded the construction of a fairly large factory, the numerous vehicles within, and, according to His Highness, Icescale had called their HQ the Gray City, not the Gray Camp. "Had it not been for the Liberators funding all of that, I'd write this off as bravado...but their known resources combined with the name of their base implies a sizable faction. Yes, the Ice Hunters needed–still need, even if the croc's the only one left–to be brought to justice, but there's a Gorge-sized difference between taking down a few terrorists, and all-out war. Not to mention, the whole 'Liberators' thing might just be a front for a tribe down here in the south, who've a colony up north and have it out for our allies. "Not to point talons at anyone just yet, but based on Icescale's species and their history with the Leopards–and us, now that I think about it–surely I'm not the only one eyeing the reptilian gentlemen of the southwest coast?"
-last edited on Oct 31, 2024 16:09:43 GMT by The J
Post by The J on Oct 31, 2024 16:08:41 GMT
"They're not associated with the Crocodiles," Valum replied. "Icescale implied that he opposes monarchies; I took it to mean that included his tribe. He's an exile. Plus, the Crocodile–Leopard War ended forty-seven years ago. I doubt the current Croc King, who was a child at the time, would hold a grudge for that long." "Agreed," another old General nodded, looking at the TCGF Commander. "You're overthinking this; the Liberators probably don't hold any direct affiliation to a tribe. Who knows what's going on in these northerners' heads? Perhaps they're angry about the Leopards' Elemental Balance mandates preventing large amounts of fire chi from being brought into the Arctic, thus making it harder to build civilization there? Several tribes over the centuries took issue with how the Lions handle the chi, after all. "Assassinating King Leodus and putting their friend Logos on the throne sounds like the logical next step, if their problem lies with the Leopards' regional governance." "It seems to me like they're just using Logos for his skills," the Commander posited, "and filling his head with the idea that he'll be Leopard King. He's not a son of the Queen like Leodus, so he's not even legitimate, is he?" "He will be, if they manage to take out Leodus," the General clarified. "The Leopards will have no choice but to crown the only other living member of the royal line. That's why it's so likely to be their actual plan; and then, what happens to our alliance?" "I suppose it could...ah...remain in place?" The Commander proposed. Everyone stared at him. "What? I'm talking, worst case scenario. The Ice Hunters try to actively avoid getting on our bad side, right?" "I'm afraid that was just Icewing's deal," Valum shook his head. "Now that she's gone, the Hunters seem to have no problem fighting the Vultures." He looked at the map in the center of the round carpet they all sat upon, almost perfectly filling the space of Valum's tower-top throne room. "In any case, Leodus and I have discussed traveling to the Gray City...to negotiate. We're hoping to de-escalate the conflict, if this 'Icedawn' will hear us out." Most of the Vultures in the room looked baffled. "Your Majesty," one general started, "Leodus is very likely their target! Is it wise to bring him to their doorstep? Not to mention your safety–!" "Please, General," Valum held up a hand, "you need not worry. We'll have guards on every side. If the Ice Hunters show up, we'll be able to effectively counter their Rupture weapons, since I have the Rupture Blade and Leodus has fire chi; though he'll only use that in moderation, up north." "But Sire," another General spoke up, "we know nothing about the Gray City other than its coordinates. Don't go there blind! At least let us send a scouting party–" "I already have," Valum revealed. "Vamprah and the others should be returning soon." "A-ah, of course..." the General looked down at the map.
It was one of many copies Valum and Leodus had made of the map depicting the exact coordinates of the Gray City. Vamprah and his team had another, smaller copy. "Sire," the TCGF Commander started, "young Vamprah is of the Guardian Force. Of course your authority is above all, but I do wish you'd told me you gave direct orders to a member of my division." "Sorry for not telling you," Valum replied, "but I needed it done quickly and by a reliable soldier, and Vamprah is incredibly capable. Hence why I said the team would be returning soon; there's no way they were seen by the Liberators with him in charge." "You have a lot of confidence in that child," the Commander raised an eyebrow. "If he was as gifted as you say, I would've promoted him by now." "He never had an opportunity to showcase his tactical prowess," Valum explained, "until five months ago. He was the one who outplayed and defeated Icewing, a mercenary more experienced than either of us in raw combat." He tapped the hilt of the Rupture Blade at his belt. "She only survived that by sticking this sword into a mountainside on her way down." He looked around at the old Vultures, who, rather than remembering Vamprah's feats as described to them by their King himself, still looked hung up on said King's bypassing of bureaucracy. Valum sighed. These were all good men, but they were his father's men; everyone in the room was far older than their current leader. These soldiers, many of them once fiery young souls who'd joined Prince Varn in convincing King Valkar to aid the Leopards in fighting the Crocodiles' territorial encroachment, were now grown into their roles, having enjoyed almost five decades of peace for the Vultures aside from the Rupture Incident, and with full confidence in regulation. This period of peace, though obviously preferable to war, was why no new warriors had chances to gain real experience, show their aptitude, and rise to the top of the tribe's divisions. Before long, especially now that they were in conflict with the Ice Hunters and possibly Liberators, the old guard would need to gracefully retire, and be succeeded by the next generation: Vultures like Vamprah, Vezon von Donitz, Vergere– Valum paused. The name of Icewing's enigmatic daughter had naturally popped into his mind as he listed the new blood. He thought, briefly, of telling Vergere about her, but quickly cast the idea aside. "By the way, your mother survived and, instead of raising you, became a terrorist for a decade and then took her own life. Also, she thought you were evil or something." Ridiculous. As much as Valum didn't like to withhold the truth, he felt it would be better to let Vergere keep imagining both her parents having valiantly given their lives for the tribe; the end result was functionally the same anyway. "Ah," Valum spotted movement through one of the arched windows, "that should be Vamprah's team right now."
"...and that's about the extent of their defenses," Valum concluded, reclining on the railing of a Golden City balcony. "Bows, crossbows, and small laser turrets," Leodus repeated, "with a blue glow; so no fire chi, as expected. What about those aircraft your scouts saw?" "Like I said, they're essentially glorified chi transport trucks," Valum waved it off, "lightly armed, just floating rather than on wheels. A smart workaround to driving in the snow. It seems the Liberators didn't bother paving streets; they can't keep up with the snowfall in the Arctic, and snow's covering the surface of the city." Valum thought of a remark Vamprah had made in the midst of his report: that an adequate Arctic city would need a dome somehow completely covering it to keep the snow out. "Big awnings over the doors of buildings shield their front porches from being covered in snow. Torches lit on the outsides of buildings–a small amount, no doubt in an effort to avoid their city being seen–provide warmth and melt enough snow to be used for water. But back on the subject of their defenses, they really don't have much aside from arrows and chi lasers." "Not necessarily," Leodus cautioned. "The blue auras de-confirm fire chi, but not Rupture crystals." "Ah, that's true," Valum conceded, "but if they have any crystals, they're small and hidden; the turrets are just big enough to be armed by a single Chimian." "And you said the Gray City is in a flat area," Leodus recapped, "without any nearby mountains...so how did your scouts see the inside of the city, again?" "They flew above it and looked with binoculars," Valum explained. Leodus raised an eyebrow. "Directly above it? And you're sure they weren't spotted?" The vulture nodded. "They were up in the clouds, without chi plugged or any bulky cold weather gear on. Vultures can naturally survive in Arctic climates, as well as deserts." "An unusual case," Leodus mused. "Perhaps you should be the ones living on the border, overseeing the Elemental Balance." Valum grinned. "An interesting offer, but we do prefer the Great Desert over the north; something would have to happen there to make us leave." "Speaking of which," Leodus rubbed his chin, "which species left our civilization to live in the Gray City?" "They've got just about every species south of the Iron Mountains," Valum said, "except Phoenix or Vultures. My scouts reported, though, that the Liberators appear to be predominantly Bears." "Bears?" The feline's ears twitched at this, and he seemed deep in thought for several moments. "We'll find out soon enough, but...I may have a hunch as to who Icedawn is."
