Chapter 40: Meeting?

The party decide to delay leaving Seolford slightly so they can change into their formal clothes before leaving Seolford and travelling back to Empire city in order to attend their meeting with the emperor. Also needing to pack their usual adventuring clothes away into their packs before making the journey as well, because once the meeting is over, they intend to get their supplies in order and iron out any final holes in their arsenals and defences before taking their first steps into the Dark Lands just outside of Empire city. After another restless eight-hour journey in the motor vehicle the party arrive back in Empire city just after dawn breaks over the city, without even being able to set their packs down or take a short rest in their temporary operating base the party are ushered by a gaggle of soldiers straight from the motor vehicle to the palace. The party were unable to see all that much of the palace interior as they were surrounded by a rather unnecessary gaggle of soldiers the entire way from the gate until they reached the doors to where the emperor was to meet with the party. The lead soldier knocked on the door curtly and announced the party’s presence outside the door, this was met with the doors being opened from the inside and the party being shown inside a large but narrow room with steps at the far end leading up to a throne. That sight sent shivers down the spines of the party as they recalled their experiences with a similar set up in their visits to Ehccihster.

“RISE FOR EMPEROR ZETA!”

That announcement caused all of the currently sitting members within the room to rise to their feet, moments later a door to the left of the throne was opened by one of the room’s dedicated soldiers and through the door walked the Emperor, Zeta. Like with the Dark King the Emperor turned out to be a girl, one that must have been around the same age as the other city leaders they had encountered. But this one dressed in a very different way, more like a Roman general or something similar not like you would expect a royal or even a leader to dress.

“You. You are the party of Maria, are you not?”

The party exchange confused looks with each other trying to figure out if they know a Maria or anyone who’s name might be close in pronunciation to Maria. Everyone draws a blank, and the confusion written across the faces of the party prompts Emperor Zeta to question them again.

“Are you not the party under the command of Maria? Have you deceived my soldiers in order to do the bidding of my rivals? Answer me you who stand before me.”

The party begin to panic as they don’t know who Zeta might be talking about, but knowing that this invitation was sent all the way to Seolford the party know that whoever this Maria is they must have set this meeting up for them. So Ilev steps up as leader once more and decides to go with the flow.

“Yes, we are the party under the command of Maria. We are most honoured that you have been able to meet with us so soon to discuss our proposition.”
“What proposition do you speak of? I have been told to bestow upon you a pair of weapons forged in the empire beyond the sea, so that you can fulfil your mission to destroy the Empires mortal enemy in the center of the Dark Lands.”

Ilev switches his plan to match what Zeta is saying so that they can get their hands on the already forged weapons, so they don’t have to spend more time waiting about for the weapons to be forged which would be inviting disaster to come and strike some part of the chain.

“Yes exactly, I am terribly sorry I had gotten my thoughts confused for a second there. We have had a long period of restless travel between many meetings, which has made it very hard for me to remember what is happening where.”
“I know what you mean, adventurer I have experienced similar myself so do not worry.”

Zeta motions for one of her personal guards to take a box down to where the party are standing and present it to them.

“Inside you will find the requested sword pairing, one for both of your frontline fighters. Please take them and slay the infernal king that threatens the heart of my empire, while my forces are beyond the seas protecting the rest of my vast empire.”

Arano and Ami both take a sword out from the presentation case, the guard then retreats back to Zeta’s side and the main doors behind the party once again open.

“Thank you for this gift, Emperor Zeta, the next news you hear of us will be when we have defeated the Dark King.”
“Good fortune and easy travels be with you adventurers.”

With that the party take their leave and are surrounded once again by the very overboard gaggle of soldiers as they are guided back outside the palace where they are then left to their own devices to get back to their temporary base or to anywhere that would have the supplies they might need.

“This Ilev seems to be one of those situations where it would be helpful if we had Isla with us. But we don’t because we fell for the distraction that Alyssa had set up for us to walk into.”
“Lexa could you drop that, please?”
“Ilev in this situation I think Lexa has a point, we have no clue how to get around this place. And it seems like there are different rules here than there are in a more adventurer focused city.”
“Sure, let’s just ask someone and we can make a plan once we find the place Isla gave us access to.”

With the rift in the party about the decision to abandon Isla to the grasp of Alyssa widening, they set off in a random direction into the city asking around to see if anyone knew where the house that serves as the party’s base in Empire city might be.