Arnold had doubts. Should the party actually complete this mission? Should they bring such dangerous weapons back to Greyhawk? They could upset the entire balance of power! And if they were modified by magic, who knew what havoc they would wreak back home? And what did they really know about the Enterprise, anyway? The rest of the party was having doubts too, and wondered if they shouldn't just return home now.
But the Duke would have none of it. "Oh, but I wouldn't hear of it," he said. "You must stay. I still have need of you and your witchcraft. And I had your word that you would aid me." The Duke continued, "Arth needs a final solution to the issue of Submission." Looking at Arnold, he declared, "I would like you to propose how we might act against the Most Praised One himself!"
Edward asked if the party could return home after providing their aid to the Duke in pursuit of this goal. The Duke assured him that they were free to go, with his blessing and with a suitable reward, if they assisted him in overthrowing the Most Praised One. The party then asked for time to discuss the matter, and the Duke had them provided with secure quarters to do so. Firiona expressed her unwillingness to return to Greyhawk with the new weapons. Lou didn't particularly care. Green Arrow favored aiding the Duke and completing the mission; Mediel was concerned that use of firearms would rapidly spread back on Oerth. Arnold saw huge profits in becoming arms dealers. Finally, Edward recalled the party's oaths to the Enterprise. After much discussion, the party decided (albeit reluctantly on the part of some) to complete the mission and aid the Duke.
Returning to the Duke's audience room, the party asks the Duke for more information about the Most Praised One. "He appears regularly to pilgrims in the central square of K'tesif, from the balcony of his palace. Women are allowed on the pilgrimage, provided they are covered up and segregated, of course. He's guarded almost all of the time, it's said." The Duke asked Firiona about her scrying and teleport abilities, wondering if such would be of use.
Much thought by the Duke and the party at last yielded a plan. The party--and the Duke along with them--would travel southeast to Stantin, capital of the Vatic Empire. There they would seek the support of the Basileus of the Empire in their effort to "strike a blow against Submission," without, of course, going into much detail. From Stantin, the party would secure passage to the city of Antachia, a great port on the Middle Sea, formerly one of the major cities of the Vatic Empire, now occupied by the Submitters. Antachia was a center for organized pilgrimages to K'tesif, and the party, disguised as Submitter pilgrims, would join a pilgrimage. Once in K'tesif, the party would find quarters, in which they could prepare themselves for the assault on the Most Praised One. If they were successful, they would proceed to depose and execute him in as spectacular and public a manner as possible, before teleporting back to Stantin.
A few days' preparation and the party, with the Duke, set off on horseback to the Korei River and the northern Vatic river port of Cherson. In Cherson, the Duke secured passage by boat down the Korei River to Stantin, a journey of about two weeks. Before departing, the Duke received another pigeon bearing news: the Varangs had renewed their offensive against the Submitters (as he had previously suggested to them). The Duke advised Edward of this new and encouraging development.
After two weeks' sailing, the ship bearing the party reached a vast metropolis centered on a large peninsula, guarded by a huge wall extending across the far end thereof. Quays lined the perimiter of the peninsula, some commercial, others clearly devoted to naval vessels. A vast complex of palaces, stadia, hippodromes and temples occupied the tip of the peninsula. They had arrived at Stantin: capital of the Vatic Empire, centuries old, center of commerce, stronghold against Submission, population over half a million souls.
On their arrival in Stantin, the Duke obtained quarters for the party: a luxurious suite at an inn catering to traveling nobility. The price was certainly kingly enough at 50 gold bezants per day! But the quality of the accommodations was commensurate with their cost, and the party were happy to rest and refresh themselves. After checking in, the Duke sent a request for an audience with the Basileus to the imperial palace.
That night, while the rest of the party relaxed, Arnold decided to explore the vicinity and see if he could add to the booty he had already obtained. He was able to liberate a considerable quantity of coins and jewels before returning to the suite. Next morning, when the party assembled in the suite's common room, Arnold bragged about his haul. The Duke, however, reproached Arnold and advised him to leave off thieving from those from whom he needed to obtain support.
The party awaited a response from the Basileus that morning, and that afternoon, and that evening. Finally, the next afternoon, an official from the palace appeared at the suite, and spoke to the Duke (in Vatic). The Duke bowed, the official bowed slightly lower, and the Duke then turned to the rest of the party to advise them that they had been granted an audience in the evening with Nicephorus VII, Basileus of the Vatic Empire.
When the appointed time arrived, the party were escorted by palace officials to the imperial audience hall. Massive doors, fifteen feet tall, parted before the party, through which they entered into a vast hall lined with marble columns and adorned with every kind of tapestry, sculpture, mosaic, inlay, gem and precious metal imaginable. Two hundred feet ahead of them, at the end of a long carpet of the finest silk, a dais rose, surmounted by an empty throne flanked by trees.
The Duke advanced, followed by the rest of the party. Arnold noticed that there were birds in the trees--mechanical birds! As the party approached, the birds began to sing. Music began to play, and the lighting within the hall dimmed. Suddenly, thunder rolled and lightning flashed. The floor under the party bucked and shook, throwing all to their knees. Before the party could react, the lights in the hall went out!
A short time later, lights again illuminated the hall. The party looked up--and saw the throne hovering in mid-air! A figure garbed in robes of the finest brocade, wearing a diadem, was seated on the throne. Behind the dais, a retinue of imperial guards had appeared.
The Duke, looking upward, rose, bowed deeply and addressed the hovering figure in the Vatic language. "Hail Nicephorus, Basileus of the Vatic Empire! I, Athelstan, Duke of Hargrave of the northern realm of Kingsland, humbly present myself before you, together with these my companions." He continued for what seemed like minutes, before the Basileus responded. As he did so, the hovering throne slowly descended until it again rested at the top of the dais.
The Duke stated his proposal to the Basileus. "We shall strike a blow against Submission that will shake the very foundations of that realm of evil, to the benefit of your realm as well as my own, and indeed all of the civilized world." "Indeed," replied Nicephorus, "and how do you propose to strike such a blow?" "We propose to present ourselves as pilgrims of Submission and make our way to K'tesif, there to witness the Most Praised One's appearance. We believe we have found a weakness that may be exploited to the detriment of the Most Praised One," the Duke hinted. "And what would you ask of us?" inquired the Basileus. "Only this," answered Athelstan. "Should we prove successful in our mission, I would request that your Majesty recognize my claim to the now-vacant throne of Kingsland, and offer your friendship once my position is secure." "A small boon indeed for such a worthy accomplishment," said Nicephorus. "It shall be done."
The Basileus agreed to provide the party with transportation to the vicinity of Antachia, from which they could join a pilgrimage as planned. After a day's preparation, the party boarded a ship, bound for the Abode of Submission.
That evening, the ship anchored and the party was put ashore a few miles from Antachia. They made camp inland from the shore, and the following day, dressed as pious, if unhygienic, Submitters (with Firiona fuming beneath the ugly sack decreed for Submitter females and Lou and Arnold disguised as children), the party reached Antachia. The Duke talked the party's way into the city, where they were directed to a narrow, busy street and found a dirty, decrepit but crowded inn reserved for incoming pilgrims. At the inn, the Duke loudly disciplined Arnold and Lou, as if they were his own children. The party took a suite of rooms--one large room for the males, with an adjoining cramped, closet-like room for Firiona, the latter having a lock allowing the males to secure the females within their quarters. The party quickly went to sleep, with the Duke and Edward taking watch. Arnold observed a slop bucket being emptied out of a window in an adjacent building and into the street below. Later that night, Edward heard a commotion in the street and watched as the religious secret police dragged someone off.
At dawn the next day, the party joined up with a caravan of other pilgrims. The journey would require thirty days, on foot(!), to reach K'tesif. The Duke made known his eagerness to make the journey, his religious duty and one of the six "Columns of Submission." However, during the journey, the Duke spoke often to other pilgrims, and expressed his need for the blessing and guidance of the Most Praised One in view of rumored events that had taken place in the north. "It is said that parts of the Abode of Submission have rebelled, and even reverted to infidel rule!" the Duke whispered. "It has even been said that heavenly beings are behind the rebellion! Surely this cannot be true--the Only God would never permit it!" In this way, the Duke subtly began to spread demoralizing rumors, rumors that he hoped would eventually bear fruit.
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