10-04-2017, 07:54 PM
Arcaite 20, 948
These past few weeks have been a whirlwind. We met with one of the Princes of the Lion Laguz, Leonar. Apollo started off by delivering a message to him to arrange a meeting between our envoys.
According to Apollo’s reports, Leonar’s father had been killed by a woman wielding magic. The assailant had stolen the King’s beast stone and fled. The woman was wearing a mask. Thus we made the assumption it was either the same woman that attempted to kidnap Orion, or potentially affiliated. Apollo additionally made the note that Leonar seemed to be a man easily angered over a perceived slight. Apollo made it apparent that a man like that should not have power. Unfortunately, we do not live in a world where only those who are good and reasonable are allowed to wield power.
When we met with Prince Leonar. We were met both with a show of his numbers and that he had the hostages, roughly 70 in tow. We attempted to report to him that this was not Zodia’s doing. In fact, it seemed Zodia and the Confederacy had a common enemy.
Leonar was willing to release half of the hostages with us, keeping the other half as collateral. Should we not be able to locate and return the Beast Stone and the murderer by the Festival of the North Star, the 17th of Drydara, he would have the hostages killed. He and his general Kevlar were insistent in the fact that this was a problem that Zodia had brought, and such intrusions would not happen in Feline territory now that they knew the danger. We unfortunately did not have much choice to agree.
It was then that the meeting was interrupted by an arrow that struck Leonar. Paris noticed the arrow had come from a nearby cliff, though in the chaos, the Zodian infantrymen had begun attacking the Laguz. They had ceased listening to orders. The situation devolved quickly, and there was little time to think. Apollo offered to carry me to where Paris had seen the assailant and the two of us began looking for the archer. Eira stayed behind to heal Leonar from his wound. She did quite remarkably, and through her powerful magics and quick action she was able to heal the poison that the arrow had been tipped with. The mercenaries went to go to stop the traitorous infantrymen. Though Apollo and I were unable to catch the assailant, we were able to catch a glimpse of them- another masked person, and we were able to take an arrow as evidence. Though everyone’s quick thinking and action, there were minimum casualties. 5 deaths and 7 wounded from both Leonar’s and Paris’s forces.
It was apparent that whoever this mask-wearing group is, through the infiltration and assassinations they meant to try and start another Beast War. They had both snuck into Feline territory undetected at least twice and infiltrated the Zodian military. To say this is a huge problem would be an understatement.
Because Eira had been able to spare his life, Leonar granted her a boon of him. She asked him to release the hostages, and he agreed to this. It also seems given the circumstances that he is more willing to work in tandem. We still have the 17th of Drydara to deliver the Beast Stone and the murder to him before he starts taking things into his own hands. He will also send an intermediary to Ascension. We will be keeping in touch.
It will be another few days until we reach Ursa’s Rest. Hopefully Laird and Chance will be there waiting for us. If not, I suppose then we will wait. Regardless, I think all of us could use a good rest after this.
It’s apparent to Paris that there is something rotten in the Zodian military. These men were ones he had picked himself. He said it was difficult to tell in the carnage that if there was anyone unaccounted for or that wasn’t suppose to be there. Whoever these people are, it appears they have agents everywhere. Of the 50 Zodian soldiers that accompanied us, only 11 remain. This doesn’t bode well.
Though it is best to look at the good things while we can. The hostages were rescued. Eira and Apollo have been assets on this mission. Had it not been for the both of them, this situation might have devolved into another Beast War just as whoever is causing this had intended. The people of Zodia owe these two a lot of gratitude.