The Eventide Game

Campaign: The Princess's Party

Chapter 9 / 4-3

The Eventide Game

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A New Horse

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Schemes Exposed

Summary

Chelle invites Leif to a game of Alberian Chess. Suspicious of the princess, Leif offers words of warning to the prince, who heads off to a mine at Jupiter's suggestion. There, the group is surprised to find a number of nesting fiends, and quickly readies for battle.

Dialogue

The Radiant City, Chanzelia. The evening after the welcome party. I would have you spend the evening with me, my dear Leif. After that splendid party, some quality time together would be just the thing for us—perhaps with a dash of competition? Alberian Chess? Interesting. It's been some time since we last matched wits in the capital. You are in for a rude shock indeed if you think the outcome will be the same as it was back then! Well then, let's see what you can do. My first move is to upset your line with my woodland archers. Then I shall fortify my position with my grassland warriors. Your tactics are as small-minded as ever. I rout your warriors with my sellswords! A flashy move is not necessarily an adroit one, Princess—for as you see, I now have you surrounded. Tell me, how will you escape this particular predicament? Hmm... Yes, this is... Well? Will you force your way through regardless of the casualties you receive? That is certainly what the OLD me would have done—fight to the very last man, even if it leads to my destruction. But a girl does not remain one forever. First, I flank you with my stone trebuchet. Then, using the cover it provides, I move my sorcerer princess forward. Fascinating. These tactics are... Clever? Impressive? All that and more? I have changed, Leif. I am no longer an impetuous young girl, but instead a gorgeous maiden of depth and character. If it were necessary, I would not even hesitate to take a step backward so I might later take two steps forward and obtain an ultimate victory. Your development is remarkable; your impulsiveness of old is nowhere to be found. Eee hee hee! Oh, I think you can do better than that on the praise front. Ah, but praise must be earned, Princess. Now, how will you respond when I move my sacred dragonlord forward? Ah! I missed that entirely! And that is checkmate. It seems you are not the only one who has improved. Ah, but that is utterly vexing; I thought for sure today was the day I would wipe that eternal composure from your face. You say as much, and yet you do not LOOK especially vexed. It is disgraceful to betray one's emotions. I noticed you stopped doing so. There was once a time when I feared your fiery passions might cause you to rise up and strike me full in the face. Yet now, beneath that mask of pleasure- seeking, you hide a multitude of faces. Where, I wonder, does your true heart lie? Now I AM truly vexed! Excuse me? Who was it that wounded my heart with a blade as sharp as the one at your hip? That "true heart" of mine disappeared that day. Ah, I... Eee hee! Do not fear, Sparrow— I bear no grudge. I learned well from you. You taught me not to be deceived by my eyes—and to keep what I cherish most tucked safely away. Chelle, you... But let us stop speaking of the past and instead engage in another round. The hour grows late, Princess. And yet morning has not arrived. A lady does not show her vexation openly just because she lost a game. But a lady also does not end her night cloaked in the stench of defeat! I will not withdraw at this point. Not now. Princess... ...... Is something wrong, Leif? You look troubled. Ah, Your Majesty. I suppose I'm a bit concerned about the princess. What did she do now? I find myself unable to determine her motives, and feel it could be a grave error to simply accept her words at face value. An error? How so? How do I put this... It is almost as if... She's hiding something. Jupiter? She and I are cut from the same cloth. I...understand her. Even when her face is calm, the thoughts in her head race like a whirlwind. I like that about her. I like it very much. So you think she's plotting something? But what? And why? Perhaps you would understand better if you got a personal look at the source of the power that supports Chanzelia. You mean to take him to— The materium mine? Yes, that is exactly what I intend to do. I feel the presence of a strange mana emanating from the ruins at the outskirts of this fair city. Well, you've got my attention. They're excavating relics at the mine, so there ought to be workers there who we can question. Then we'll leave first thing in the morning. No. We should visit the mine under the cover of night—THIS night. If we are found, things might become...problematic. Graaaaorgh! The hell's goin' on here, boss?! There ain't no workers here— it's just a crapload'a fiends! I don't know, Ranzal. But if these are no ordinary ruins as Jupiter suspects... Then perhaps we can learn the princess's motives if we descend into their depths. And if she IS plottin' something, we'll find it, beat the crap outta it, and send her smug face packin'!