{"sf1_id":859649,"sf2_id":"Xnry82rm","title":"The Lead Crown: Ch 8.3b, A Dozen 'Tails' Told","author":"comidacomida","words":1497,"posted_at":"2015-05-11T05:49:00.000Z","tags":["Antelope","Bat","Cat","Doberman","Dragon","Fox","Human","Monkey","Mouse","Mutt","Otter","Steam Punk","Wolf","Wolf Dog","Wolverine"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/859649-the-lead-crown-ch-8-3b-a-dozen-tails-told","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/Xnry82rm","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/e7/c9/e7c96d18-db56-4e64-822a-f5b975cf2459","description":"#97 of The Lead Crown\n\nHello, readers, and welcome back to The Lead Crown!\nPresented here for your reading enjoyment is the third post of Chapter 8 for group B.\nThe caravan has stopped on the way to Newport to converse with Friar Juun. This contact has given information to the party involving where they can find the Sisters Divine.\nAt this point the group will be splitting into two. The new Group B will be heading to the Church to help rescue the Sisters Divine. The new Group C (Malcom's group might be bowing out of the story for the next several posts) will be seeking out the Princess to deliver Prince Malcom's missive (and/or seeking her aid in dealing with the Order of Blades).\nRather than votes, each Contributing Reader will instead choose the direction their contributed character takes:\nSister Aurelie (and Aodhan)\nWith Sada's aid, Aurelie and Aodhan take a secret passage to the Church's dungeon.\nCruffington Flew (and Arlowe Flew)\nCruff and Arlowe are going to help save the Sisters Divine.\nUmberto Marino (and Brody)\nUmberto and Brody are going to help save the Sisters Divine.\nAlvis Lazarus (and Brother Jessen)\nAlvis and Brother Jessen are going to join the group going after Princess Noriene.\nSanmer LeMarre\nSanmer leaves the group entirely and gets back the Princess' group on his own (he automatically rejoins group A).\nTobias Severna\nTobias is going to help save the Sisters Divine.\nInigo Golagra\nInigo is going to join the group going after Princess Noriene.\nRoland Silverfang\nRoland is going to join the group going after Princess Noriene.\nJoshew Helix\na) Joshew is going to help save the Sisters Divine.\nb Joshew is going to join the group going after Princess Noriene.\nc) If FruancJH does not speak up then Joshew sacrifices himself to save Roland.\nUnless already attached to a specific character as above, Author Contributed Characters can be swayed to choose a different path. Any given Contributing Reader can try to have their character sway the opinion of any of the following Author Contributed Characters by spending a Character Point. They may only try this once, and with one character. Note: Character Points are becoming increasingly important as we near the end of the story.\nNicole \"Alarice\" Arnswold\nNICOLE IS GOING TO FIND THE PRINCESS.\n(she can be swayed from this by any Contributing Reader character that wishes to try a Social check at difficulty 25)\nSada De'ahm\nSada is going to join whichever group ends up with the most people unless Tiyu selects option \"A\".\n(she can be swayed from this by any Contributing Character that wishes to try a Social check at difficulty 20 but if Tiyu selections option \"A\" the difficulty increases to 25).\nWiesen \"Crook\"\nWIESEN IS GOING TO FIND THE PRINCESS.\n(he can be swayed from this by any Contributing Reader character that wishes to try a Social check at difficulty 26)\nDr. Chrinstine Brownell\nDR BROWNELL IS GOING TO FIND THE PRINCESS.\n(she can be swayed from this by any Contributing Reader character that wishes to try a Social check at difficulty 24)\nSandoval DeLaRocha\nSANDOVAL IS GOING TO FIND THE PRINCESS.\n(he can be swayed from this by any Contributing Reader character that wishes to try a Social check at difficulty 22)\nDecisions are due by midnight on Thursday, May 28th. Failure to vote will result in option C being chosen automatically. It can also be noticed that option C is in many cases undesirable (the more times a Contributing Readers has not voted the worse it generally is); we are moving toward the climax and end of the story, and it's a reader contribution story-- make sure you contribute!\nThe floor is now open for questions, comments, and critiques!","content":"Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown  \nCh 8.3, A Dozen Tails Told\n\nIt took awhile for Nicole to join the rest of the travelers at the front of their caravan once the wagons had come to a halt.\u0026nbsp; She wasn't certain at first why they had stopped but as she approached the woman caught sight of the white Dragon and the white Fox speaking with a gray furred primate.\u0026nbsp; Even in the pre-dawn light she was able to determine the traveler was a Monk by his distinct robe.\n\nThe discussion came to a halt when the Monkey caught sight of Nicole's approach.\u0026nbsp; He offered a courteous bow of his head.\u0026nbsp; \"It is fair to assume that you are Lady Arnswold?\"\n\nWiesen handled the introductions.\u0026nbsp; \"Friar Juun, this is Lady Nicole Arnswold of the Arnswold Family, premier bloodline of Vallara.\u0026nbsp; My Lady Arnswold, this is Friar Juun... emissary to Bishop Fulgaré of Mehnzil.\n\nNicole had spent enough of her life as Alarice to understand carefully concealed emotion as the Dragon spoke the name of the Bishop and she stored that thought away for later; for the moment her focus was on the old Monk.\u0026nbsp; \"What brings you to Lehsunia, Friar Juun?\"\n\nThe Monkey's accent was not Mehnzilian and, despite appearing on the older side his voice was still strong.\u0026nbsp; \"I was here at the behest of the Bishop, my Lady, and am actually concluding my activities here.\u0026nbsp; It is by God's will that I meet you on the path to Vallara, as that is the final leg of my journey.\"\n\nShe gave the Monk a cursory inspection then looked to Aodhan and Sister Aurelie who had also been taking part in the conversation; the Cat looked particularly disturbed.\u0026nbsp; Nicole looked back to the traveling clergyman.\u0026nbsp; \"God's will that we meet, you say?\u0026nbsp; Unless you know something I do not I would hardly consider a random introduction on the roadside to be worthy of divine notice.\"\n\nSister Aurelie spoke up, the Cat's voice severe.\u0026nbsp; \"He was at the Church in Newport... he has news of the Sisters Divine.\"\n\nNicole didn't even bat an eye.\u0026nbsp; \"Then it is God's will that you meet with THEM on the road.\u0026nbsp; THEY have business with the Church, not I.\"\n\nAodhan stepped forward.\u0026nbsp; \"Lady Arnswond, Friar Juun has seen that the representatives from the Sisters Divine are being TORTURED.\u0026nbsp; Tell her, Friar.\"\n\nThe Monkey nodded slowly.\u0026nbsp; \"It is not God's will being done within the halls of the Church in Newport, I am afraid.\u0026nbsp; Bishop Fulgaré was concerned that there may have been misdeeds being carried out in Lehsunia by the Church, but he could not have known what they--\"\n\nNicole held up a hand to stop him.\u0026nbsp; \"Again, I understand their plight and I am sympathetic to their suffering.\u0026nbsp; Unfortunately injustices are carried out every day and I have my own battles to fight.\"\n\nSir Umberto had walked up behind her and, for a moment she was worried that he was going to create problems by taking sides.\u0026nbsp; Thankfully when he spoke up it was in more of a neutral declaration.\u0026nbsp; \"The difference is that Lady Arnswold has an army helping her.\u0026nbsp; Perhaps you should consider joining us in reaching the Princess and then she might see fit to provide you the aid you desire.\"\n\nInigo, loyal, big-mouthed Inigo decided to challenge that thought.\u0026nbsp; \"We're heading to Newport to deal with the Order of Blades, not bring some message to the Princess.\"\n\nSanmer leaned against the wagon he was borrowing from the Princess.\u0026nbsp; \"The way I see it, we're all traveling to Newport together... and not for ENTIRELY different reasons.\"\n\nThe Mouse woman that had been in the middle carriage stepped into the conversation in a most impressively diplomatic manner.\u0026nbsp; \"There's actually no reason to think that our separate reasons are separate at all.\"\n\nSister Aurelie's ears fell and the Cat practically hissed out a challenge.\u0026nbsp; \"They aren't worried about the Sisters Divine at all... how can that be anything BUT separate reasons?\"\n\nThe Mouse took that in stride.\u0026nbsp; \"When I was first learning about identifying illness I made a mistake common among all students of medicine: I spent so long focusing on the symptoms I didn't stop to think about how they are all related.\u0026nbsp; Every problem represented here, from the Princess to the Order of Blades to the Sisters Divine are related.\"\n\nAodhan's ears raised and even Sister Aurelie paused, but the Cat quickly countered. \"How can they all be related?\"\n\nThe Doctor shook her head slowly. \"I don't know.\"\n\nNicole frowned when she saw Sandoval step up behind the Mouse.\u0026nbsp; He was the one who provided the answer.\u0026nbsp; \"I do.\u0026nbsp; It is the Mechanists... I would stake my life on it.\"\n\nFriar Juun bowed to those closest to him.\u0026nbsp; \"I have passed on what I know of the Sisters Divine.\u0026nbsp; I hope the information will be of some aid to you.\"\n\nSister Aurelie took the Monkey's hand and clasped him by the wrist, kissing his first knuckle.\u0026nbsp; \"Yes. Thank you, Friar... God's favor to you on your journey.\"\n\nThe Monk smiled, resting his other hand on the Cat's head.\u0026nbsp; \"And His blessing to you on the task set before you.\"\n\nAodhan didn't wait for the Monk to leave before he started pleading his case.\u0026nbsp; \"Friar Juun said that the Sisters are being held in the same area where the Church had Friar Arlowe.\u0026nbsp; We can get there but we'll need help.\"\n\nFriar Arlowe, still in the carriage was looking out the window.\u0026nbsp; \"I will help however I can.\u0026nbsp; If what Friar Juun said was true we can't let the Church move the Sisters-- if they're taken to Mehnzil then all is lost.\"\n\nSandoval stepped past Nicole, speaking up.\u0026nbsp; \"If the Church says it plans to move them, my friend, they will never make it to Mehnzil.\u0026nbsp; This is the decree of the Mechanists, and they will use this as an opportunity to start a war, not take prisoners.\"\n\nInigo turned to challenge the swordsman.\u0026nbsp; \"And how's that, exactly?\u0026nbsp; They're just a bunch of nuns and stuff.\"\n\nNicole sighed.\u0026nbsp; \"Shut up, Inigo.\"\n\nThe Bat glanced her way but did as she bade.\u0026nbsp; It was Sister Aurelie that elaborated.\u0026nbsp; \"The Sisters Divine will not stand for this.\u0026nbsp; If they do not release my sisters then there will be a holy war.\"\n\nSandoval nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"Yes... this is it exactly.\u0026nbsp; It is as the lovely Dr. Brownell says... all of this is easily connected-- the Mechanists are trying to tear down all houses of power.\"\n\nNicole turned to stare at the man.\u0026nbsp; She surprised herself by humoring him. \"Get to the point, Sandoval.\"\n\nHe did.\u0026nbsp; \"You have said that your involvement in all things out-of-the-ordinary started with a sabotage of a University invention... and that you have reason to believe that this sabotage came from within.\"\n\nInigo interjected.\u0026nbsp; \"It WAS.\u0026nbsp; We were framed to take the fall.\"\n\nSandoval continued unabated.\u0026nbsp; \"The Church is fractured-- the local clergy are acting against the will of Mehnzil and a Bishop saw fit to involve himself in it... another sign that there is dissent among the ranks.\"\n\nSanmer rubbed the end of his muzzle.\u0026nbsp; \"The Mechanists... they made an attempt on the Princess' life.\"\n\nThe swordsman pointed right at the Fox.\u0026nbsp; \"And the third of three powers creating the triumvirate of control in Lehsunia; they wish to eliminate the royalty.\"\n\nNicole turned to regard Sanmer.\u0026nbsp; \"So you know about the Mechanists?\"\n\nThe Fox nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"Sure... had a run in with the Order of Blades-- apparently the Mechanists hired them to do a lot of the dirty work in--\"\n\nShe slammed her hand on the wheel of the nearest carriage.\u0026nbsp; \"Done.\"\n\nSada glanced around Wiesen.\u0026nbsp; \"Done?\"\n\nNicole nodded with certainty.\u0026nbsp; \"Yes... Done.\"\n\nWiesen spoke up.\u0026nbsp; \"What is done, Lady Arnswold?\"\n\nTurning and heading back toward her wagon, Nicole spoke over her shoulder.\u0026nbsp; \"Half of you have been trying all trip to convince me that you could use my help.\u0026nbsp; Well... now you have it... in rank and file.\"\n\nShe didn't linger any longer.\u0026nbsp; She knew there would be questions as to who she planned on helping so she made herself scarce so as to avoid having to answer them.\u0026nbsp; Nicole planned on figuring out the particulars later but one thing was certain: the scales of power were tipping and she planned on balancing things out in a way that was much more favorable than letting those who opposed her win.\n\nInigo hopped up into the carriage with her.\u0026nbsp; \"You know... something about that traveling guy got me to thinking.\"\n\nNicole eyed the bat.\u0026nbsp; \"About what?\"\n\nHe cracked a wry grin as he adjusted his glasses.\u0026nbsp; \"I know he was a primate, but didn't he seem a little monk-y to you?\"\n\nSomething about Inigo's humor always managed to put things into perspective and it inspired her into creating a decisive plan that took everything into account.\u0026nbsp; She mumbled to herself \"Now all I have to do is come up with one.\"\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"The Lead Crown","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/868109-the-lead-crown-ch-8-4a-rude-awakenings.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/859654-the-lead-crown-ch-8-3c-the-great-illusion.json"}}