The Bridge Gate [Post here first.]

One guard seems a bit taken a back by Grandma's request the other seems unfazed until he whispers something to his compatriot who in turn whispers back then the they both look taken aback. The guard you reacted first says in halting common tongue.

"Oui je peux pardon, I can direct vous to le palace, but madam the wedding is by invitation only."

He then points down the main road.

"Still if you wish to go to the palace simply follow the main road."

As he speaks he slowly gets a bit more confidant and comfortable with the common tongue.

Remelia's wagon trundled up to the bridge, the way clogged by a throng of people traveling into the city in expectations of the forthcoming festivities. By the light of day, the decorative yellow paint shone like golden fireworks and the mahogany wood was a deep red of polished ruby. The lady herself sat at the reins, whistling a bardic song from before the Cataclysm that she'd found etched onto a clay tablet and attached a tune to. The vibrating, alien music accompanied by her own strange anatomy earned her a few looks from the personages, most gave her a birth due to both this and the size of her wagon. A few children, however, had taken up running alongside the cart to ask her questions about where she was from and why she was here and why she was a snake. She answered them with amusement, used to and appreciative of such openly honest treatment, until their guardians came and collected them.

She pulled off to the side where a lot had been made for wagons such as hers. Drawing herself up and swiveling gracefully about, she went back into the covered compartment of the wagon. She took the few things she would need to preform, an entertainer's outfit and a cloak enchanted for warmth for late at night, then slithered back out the front. She activated some meager wards to keep snoops and other rogues out of her wagon then made her way to join the procession as it made it's way across the bridge, her tail spilling out behind her for the better part of six feet.

Late in the middle of the night, several dog-like creatures would sneak their way in the middle of the night as well, tracking Aria's scent for guidance.

Overhead, several large, non-magical creatures would fly high above into the city. They would not attack anyone if engaged and simply behave as bats with a 3 meter wingspan would normally behave, minus the being giant part.


Off in the distance, somewhere in the waters, might be heard an ominous groan. Meh, it was probably just a whale.

The hyena's keen sense of hearing gives them the advantage in the middle of the night, and they are able to run much faster than typical guardsmen. They would at least try to escape in whatever way they could, even if it meant seeking out the gutters and sewer systems to mask their scent. They would only reveal their true form if they were directly confronted and cornered, and they certainly wouldn't go down without a fight.

Also given the chance, one of them would be more than willing to sacrifice itself to allow the others to escape, transforming into its massive, beast-like form to fight the guards. There were five in total.

Bright and early the next morning, some of the large, bat-like creatures would return, having evidently completely avoided detection. Just as Gauldin's equivalent of rush hour began, the creatures would sore overhead, causing the crowd to marvel and gaze in wonder at them.

What they didn't realize was that the bat's wings were saturated in fairy dust, and that with each flap the fairy dust would flutter through the air, the very same fairy dust which he had stolen from The Godmother .

But this wasn't ordinary fairy dust. It had been enchanted by Ukufa's mind-control magic, and also laced with a toxin which had been derived from the flowers he had taken from the park. The toxin of the datura flower had the unfortunately effect of greatly enhancing the fairy dust's properties while also adding an additional side effect.

It make people susceptible to suggestion.

There were already several planted individuals in the crowd as Ukufa's new and improved patented mind-control dust would begin to take effect.

"The honor guard had twelve people killed!"

"I can't feed my family! The taxes are too high!"

"King Renaux is incompetent! His father was a better ruler than he'll ever be!"

As the stimulant and hallucinogenic properties of the fairy dust would take effect, people would start to talk. Then they'd start to get angry. Then they'd start to get angry.

Then the riot would begin.


Hundreds of people would begin attacking nearby guards. Even some guards would begin attacking nearby guards. Anyone who didn't notice the fairy dust in time would fall under its spell. A frenzy of potentially hundreds of people would begin to surge through the streets, maybe thousands depending how far the fairy dust was able to spread, and also depending on the sentiments of the locals and the military's response time.

For it was Ukufa's hope that a real, legitimate riot would begin, without requiring everyone to be under his spell. After all, King Renaux's approval rating would most definitely be less than 100 percent. Then again the King's supporters could potentially cause just as much damage in the form of a counter-mob, all without Ukufa lifting a finger.

Even if the riot's effect wasn't maximized, hopefully it'd serve as just enough of a distraction for Ukufa's escape.

After the riot was in full swing, at least a few dozen mind-controlled people would attack the guard posts leading out of Travere...

Flying high in the sky, at the very climax of the riot, was Ukufa.

He was riding on a certain friend he had made in his last excursion.


The holy creature had been worked over extensively. Hours of exposure to Ukufa's evil presence had worn down the poor beast's will. Its magic resistance finally gave out, and the pegasus' consciousness finally chose to except the darkness. Any tags and tracking magic had been removed as well. (One of the budas in her completely human form was a decent mage).

Ukufa and Skittles could just barely see the riot happening below, but they were pleased. "This was much more fun than I could have imagined." Just behind his back, hanging on for dear life, was a hyena, along with a pack containing fairy dust, poisonous flowers, and blood, along with several novelty toys he had somehow purchased from the Travere gift shop, and some gold coins.

The dark Pegasus was flanked by the remaining flying bats, or as Ukufa referred to them as, the Olitiau, who were carrying the remaining budas.

As Ukufa and his servants finally left the city, there would be another distant groan in the waters, but it would seem much farther away. Again, it was probably just a whale...

Eva seems to be quite excited by the city, and it is quite noticeable despite her attempts to remain composed. She has been slightly angry with Godwin ever since they were stopped at the border and questioned. She scolded him a few times after they let them pass. Why would he try to sneak into Gauldin, she wasn't trying to become some criminal!

Her somewhat petty anger was gone now as she witnessed the grandeur of the city Travere. She looks up at the towering citadel that loomed overhead, starry eyed, "Oh Godwin, the city is so beautiful... I just hope we can get in." Her sentence ended with a slight frown as she glanced at Godwin from where she sat right beside him. She did not say anything else as they approached the gates and Godwin handed the guards the papers.

"Gotcha."

Godwin turns to Eva.

"Hmm... I'll go to the academy and find a place for the Gibbering Devourer. Can you book us a room at the hotel? I hear there's fairly fancy one in town."

He pats the abomination on the tentacle.

"The folks at the Academy know what they're doing. I'm sure I'll be able to find a spot for this fella."

Godwin grins cockily.

"Get the best room they've got, Eva...actually, scratch that. I don't like big extravagant rooms. Get something fancy and high-end, but cozy. I think that'll...suit our needs better."

He stretches, stiff from the cold and from riding an abomination.

"Do you want to get dinner at the hotel, or somewhere different? I hear the food in Gauldin is excellent, although they don't give you much."