Aid and occupation!

And that group going to Wallants?

"Ahem," one of the twins in front of Master Rift and his dwarven assistant, Tarin, coughs with a slight sneer. "State your name, kingdom of origin, and current monetary value in gold."

Attendant and former inkblotter blink at the odd behavior of the young man in front of them. They look at each other nervously, and then at their flag of truce. True, it was obvious that the arrayed forces outside the walls of Wallants could easily walk over the much diminished defense force of the suffering city. True, the only sane course seemed to have been discussing terms of surrender (Rifts had barely enough manpower to keep some type of order in his city.....never mind driving off invaders!) But perhaps....coming out wasn't such a hot idea. This guy sounded nuts, for he was quoting the same lines that Master Rift usually greeted any comers to his gate.

"Oh, but by all means.....don't offer Master Rift a bribe," the tall flame haired woman warrior mugs. "Else you'll either find yourself in jail.....to be blackmailed by him....or find that it was just a nice 'tribute!'"

Master Rift, who's dignity had been pricked by those words, found himself growing redder and redder by the second. Who were these....upstarts to accused him of such things?!

"Children," the older, grey haired gentleman scolds his entourage. "Apologize to the man. He's not the one who....you had problems with."

A chorus of half hearted apologies come forth, and is enough to mollify the insulted barrister. The older human smiles at the nervous truce bearers, noted the rather ragged condition they were in, and got down to the business at hand.

"Greetings from the Kingdom of Aqualaria," Duke Dredrick says. "We have heard that the city known as Wallants has fallen upon hard times since what is left of the government of Malbocton has consolidated itself into a smaller......sphere of influence to better manage the resources it has." Which had left the citizens of this place to either sink or swim. "In order to relieve the suffering and chaos that this has obviously afflicted your fair city with, we of the peace loving nation of Aqualaria offer our aid in bringing food.....and order....to Wallants." And never letting go once we have you, Dredricks eyes seem to say to the two people before him.

"Food?" Rift asks, just as his stomach begins to growl at the very mention of the word. "You actually have brought food with you?" A hand gesture from the flame haired woman causes the sheets that cover one ox drawn cart to fall away, to reveal it piled to the rim with vegetables and salted meets. And there are hundreds of these carts (courtesy of a certain demifox and his little playtoy).......

Rift, usually VERY adept with words, find that he is speechless. He had been able to scour the countryside for crops and farm animals....but even he had to tighten the belt out of hunger. His mouth begins to water at the mere sight of such aboundance.

"Aye," mugs Tarin, knowlingly. "Times here have been so tough here that you'll have no problem taking over. Hell, feed the dwellers within the walled city here and you'll find them eager and willing to do whatever you want!"

A familiar figure comes walking through the gates, and rushes at a dignified, but hurried rate, up to the taboo before the city.

"I see you've finally arrived," Natthias smiles, drawing glances from the dwarf and lawyer. "Alicia said that aid was on it's way....and frankly I need all the help I can get with this cesspool of a city!"

The former king of Ethiopia then explains how he had suggested that a force from Aqualairia might be useful in bringing some order to this Shadow town. The lawyer and dwarf keep their mouths closed about any opinion they have in this matter, instead working out the details of the cities.....annexation into the proud nation of Aqualaria.

As the adventurers are heading for the town gates, with the occupation/relief forces in tow, Natthias taps on a green pendant meaningfully.

"Alicia called for you, Duchess Astra 2." Natthias murmurs. "She said that you might want to check and see if your hairbrush is missing from your luggage....somebody has been stealing them from your counterparts....."

The conversation trails off as the sky turns turquoise for a few seconds....then returns to normal blue.

1. "I think....we better call the others about that ASAP," Fred 2 murmurs. Nobody argues with him.

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