Ahmetia Travels to Ruritania « Gaming Outpost Discussions

Gaming Outpost Discussions » Multiverser

Ahmetia Travels to Ruritania

(257 posts) (2 voices)

Started 2 years ago by M. J. Young
Latest reply from M. J. Young

Tags:

« Previous 1 234…6 Next »

M. J. Young
Moderator

There is a wide variety of clothes in the Queen's closet, all pretty much exactly your size and tailored to your figure, from which you can choose. Or you can don the robe and slippers and head out into the other rooms of the suite, where no doubt Frieda and Sapt are waiting. Frieda might be asleep, but you're not sure whether Sapt ever actually does sleep.

You're probably hungry after such a long sleep; it seems to be morning, but it was near noon when you went to bed (after a short night's sleep, a very long and trying day, and a long night of riding with that bad shock in the middle). Frieda can arrange breakfast, and probably replace that usual white wine with something more to your palate. She previously suggested sticking with the coddled eggs for the present, so as not to attract attention to a sudden change in diet, but excusing the change from the wine based on a desire to keep a clear head during these early weeks.

--M. J. Young

Sat Jun 26 2010 6:09 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

((*looking up what cuddled eggs is*))

"It would figure that my identical twin has the opposite tastes as me. But it is best if we draw as little suspicion as possible."

Mon Jun 28 2010 1:34 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

That's cOddled. I'm not sure what cUddled eggs are myself, but I hope they're furry and not thin-shelled.

Freida smiles. "Absolutely. So, we've canceled the wine and gotten fruit juice instead--I'm sure the cooks are less happy about that, but they'll earn their keep. Tell me what you would like for breakfasts, and I'll start working on how to shift the menu to your taste. Also, we'll have sandwiches sent in for lunch, and get dinner brought to us here as well, on the claim that your majesty is busily studying the protocols for the upcoming meetings. We will start those tomorrow. They're mostly ceremonial, greeting foreign visiting dignitaries personally so they can return home and feel that they've been properly honored."

--M. J. Young

Tue Jun 29 2010 4:19 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"Maybe in addition to the cuddled eggs...so we don't draw suspicion...I could have some oatmeal and strawberry flapjacks and a good spiced sausage?" ((It's not till you think about what your favorite type of breakfast would be that you see your heritage in it, I kept wanting to type Scotch Eggs, but that might be more suspicious.))

Wed Jun 30 2010 1:10 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Sausage Frieda can order this morning; you're in a Germanic kingdom, and every city has its own recipe for sausage. As to flapjacks, she doesn't know the word, but when you explain them she identifies them and says that she doesn't think the cooks have ever made them, but probably could learn. Flatbreads with strawberries is an interesting idea, and since it is the first half of June strawberries are available, but the kitchen will want a day's notice on something of that sort, so she'll order it for tomorrow.

She's never heard of oatmeal. They do feed oats to the horses, but she has never heard of anyone eating them.

--M. J. Young

Wed Jun 30 2010 11:35 pm #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"It's popular in Scotland. There's a joke that the British feed oats to their horses, and the Scottish feed oats to themselves, that's why England is known for their horses and the Scots are known for their men." (Thank you Kat, aka Goddess of Useless information :) ) I'm probably realizing that may have come out a bit insulting though I'd probably realize that in my joking manner.

Fri Jul 9 2010 1:22 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Sapt laughs; Frieda blushes.

Then she has an idea.

"I think we have a Scottish emissary this week--Lord knows we have dignitaries from just about every country in Europe waiting to congratulate your majesty on her coronation. What if we schedule some of them as meeting over meals, and make a point of having the staff prepare meals appropriate to the nationalities of the guests? We could slate the Scottish delegate at breakfast, tell the kitchen to serve oatmeal and whatever else is appropriate for a Scottish breakfast, and then after that you could tell the kitchen that you want more of that in the future.

"Of course, we would have to pick delegates from several countries to meet at meals; it would not do to single out just the Scottish delegate. So we'll need to make a list of countries whose food you would like served for various meals, and plan accordingly. We'll also have to juggle things a bit to accommodate some of the delegates in some sort of order of eminence--I think it won't be Scotland first, but perhaps on the second or third morning of meetings. So let's think in terms of a breakfast meeting, a mid-morning meeting, a lunch meeting, an afternoon meeting, a meeting over tea--definitely the British Ambassador for tea, the first day, as I don't think many of the other delegates would be distressed at not having been invited for a meal they don't understand--and then an early evening meeting and a supper meeting. So, whose breakfasts, lunches, teas, and dinners would you like to experience?"

--M. J. Young

Fri Jul 9 2010 7:56 pm #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"Every country in Europe? I can't say I'm surprised, but it is quiet a number of important people. That is a good question though." After a while of thinking, (and getting an idea from a Europe map) "Are there any emissaries from Norway? I wanted to go there about a year ago but never got the chance, I'd like to discuss what they're country is like over the meal."

Sat Jul 10 2010 1:25 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"All, right, we'll line up Norway for tomorrow. Any ideas what they do for Breakfast, so we can order it?"

Sapt clears his throat. "Begging your pardon, but you might consider not meeting with the Finnish delegate over breakfast. I believe that prune stew is a fairly common breakfast in Finland, and it's not much to my liking, at least--although if you were interested in it, I'm sure the chef could make it. Or is there something else in Finnish cuisine which your majesty fancies?"

"I'm putting England in for tea tomorrow, Scotland for breakfast the next day; do you want Norway for breakfast, lunch, or dinner? You'll probably want France and Italy for dinners, as their cuisine is famous; also, Spain for lunch, I think, and Belgium does observe tea sometimes, as does Luxembourg, and the practice is not unknown in Sweden and Denmark, although less common. The Danes are noted for their pastries, though, particularly for breakfast. Eastern European states tend more toward rum cakes, and as desserts, and there's a tendency toward fried foods, particularly pork and potatoes, but there are other options. Apart from the caviar, Russian food is mostly copied from the continent, although pheasant is very good. There's also Switzerland, Austria, Prussia, Poland, Ukrania, Bavaria, the other German states, Portugal, Ireland, Hungary, Greece, and Turkey to include."

I figure this gives you a chance to "experience" the food of other European countries so that you can add new "favorites" to your menu and move away from what the real queen actually eats. Pick which countries you want for a few meals, and the rest we'll slot in and skim over.

--M. J. Young

Sun Jul 11 2010 9:39 pm #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"Actually, I'd prefer to see the Belgian emissary for lunch, last time I was there, it was quiet a mouthful of flavor. I am not sure what Norway dose for breakfast however. I'm more familiar that they're famous for their fishes and beers. Well, that and their rich mythology. Actually, maybe we could meet the Norway emissary for lunch and the Belgium emissary for dinner. I'm sure I need a brush up on my table manners before meeting them anyway. Maybe I could meet the Austrian emissary for tea if they like to take a short tea time for it. As for the other days I'll need to give it some thought. I'd like to be sure the emissaries have time to enjoy themselves here, but not to assume they don't want or need to return home."

Sun Jul 11 2010 11:26 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"Sounds good; but you have no particular preference about breakfast tomorrow? It is a difficult slot, as whoever we put first will be honored thereby, but a breakfast meeting is less honor than a later meal. I think we should not put Scotland nor Ireland before England, so we will see England for tea tomorrow and Scotland for breakfast the next day. I am thinking Austria mid-morning tomorrow, Russia for lunch, France for dinner. I'll let the kitchen staff know immediately, so they can start acquiring whatever supplies they need."

When you are finished discussing the menu with Frieda, Sapt says, "We need to talk about the long view. It is clear that Michelle has the Queen. Were you not here, she could kill her sister--and I do not doubt for a moment that she would--dump the body in a bad part of the city, and call for martial law and her immediate coronation. With you here, she cannot do that. Nor can she reveal that you are not the queen without producing the queen, which will require her to explain how it happens that the queen is in Zenda. So for the moment we are at stalemate. That does not mean that anyone is safe--it would suit Michelle fine for you to meet with a fatal accident, after which she can dispose of Rudolphia and step into power--as long as she can do so without any suspicion that she was involved. She has only five lieutenants that she truly trusts, and she knows better than to sacrifice them because they know enough to bring her down in this.

"So for the moment it seems to be a waiting game--we consolidate our position, Michelle decides her next move. Once things get a bit more focused and we get more information about the situation at Zenda, we can talk about how to rescue the Queen."

--M. J. Young

Mon Jul 12 2010 11:01 pm #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"Do you think Michelle would be keeping tabs on Rudolpha? Not seeing her herself but sending those she trusts? If she is, intercepting or tracking their movements anything would probably be the best way to find information about Zenda."

Thu Jul 15 2010 12:49 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Sapt responds. "Michelle is in her castle at Zenda, and is undoubtedly keeping Rudolpha in one of its dungeons. She won't have let most of her staff know that her prisoner is Rudolpha; they may be loyal to her, but they couldn't be trusted to support treason. That means only her most trusted henchmen--Rupert of Hentzau, Krafstein, DeGautet, Detchard, Bersonin, and Laungram--will know, and she'll need to keep at least one of them watching at all times. That limits what else she can do.

"But you're right: we need to find someone in Zenda who has been inside the castle, probably the women who do the cleaning. Michelle doesn't generally allow women to stay in the castle, because it distracts the men; only she and and that French woman--"

When he seems lost for the name, Frieda supplies it. "Madame Antoinette de Maubon, said to be a close friend of Duchess Michelle. She arrived in Zenda the same day you did--possibly on the same train, come to think of it."

"Right. Anyway, there might be a chance to talk to soldiers given furlough, and maids who are there only by day, and we might get information about the castle that way. I'll get some people on that, but discretion is important here--we don't want even rumors afloat that Michelle has captured the Queen. We will have to suggest that she is holding a close friend of yours, or perhaps a distant cousin. That is probably the better choice--after all, had things been different, you might have been the prisoner."

--M. J. Young

Fri Jul 16 2010 1:16 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"I hope we'll find information soon...in the mean time, I need you two to tell me more about Rudolpha, it is likely odd enough that our tastes are different, we should avoid any other tips, even the smallest idea, that I am not her. I don't want to fall into my own habits, to find that it was something she detested or could never do. Especially if it is enough to give Michelle reason to accuse me without drawing suspicion to herself."

Thu Aug 5 2010 4:55 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Frieda and Sapt look thoughtfully at each other.

"Well," Frieda begins tentatively, "I don't want to sound disrespectful--"

"Go ahead, she has to know."

"Rudolpha is something of a--well, if she were a prince, they would call her a cad. She is a terrible flirt who has more than once spent the night with one or another of the young noblemen of the country who awoke to find that she had left early and they were not seriously being considered for the next king. We keep those liasons quiet, of course, but the public still sees the frivolous, heavy-drinking, flirtatious girl. Life is a game to Ruldolpha, her position an accident of birth, and any suggestion that she was born to responsibility a joke. Well, you've met her."

"Personally," Sapt adds, "we'd just as soon you did not emulate her too closely. We would like the kingdom to think that becoming queen has sobered her, given her a sense of her responsibility. After all, Michelle's strongest support comes from those who think she, the serious somber illegitimate daughter of the Morganitic second marriage, would be a more responsible queen than the happy-go-lucky heir, and if we are to restore Rudolpha to her throne we must at least keep public opinion behind you."

"Beyond that," Freida says, "what would you like to know? She dresses impeccably, but that's because her dressmakers insist on it and she knows she can turn heads properly dressed. She cares more for what she drinks than what she eats, but enjoys rich foods and pastries and disdains vegetables and soups as peasant food, with few exceptions mostly based on appearances. She loves being the center of attention.

"We've mentioned Prince Flavius; you rode with him from the coronation. Everyone expects that she will marry him, but she's never really expressed an interest--perhaps because it is expected that they will marry and she assumes it is inevitable, so she ignores his intimations as necessary courtesy instead of sincere interest in her."

"I think she wrongs him in that," Sapt says. "She is a very pretty and attractive woman, even apart from being royal, and she carries herself well. I think he cares deeply for her; she thinks sometimes that he's only seeking the position that comes with marrying her or that he's only doing what is expected of him. However, Michelle's overtures have been rejected by him more than once. That is certainly because Flavius is smart enough to recognize that Michelle is seeking the status of being married to an Elfborg to cement her claim to the throne, but it is also because Flavius hopes Rudolpha will love him."

"The queen hunts; you knew that. She likes to ride, and to shoot. What else do you want to know?"

--M. J. Young

Fri Aug 6 2010 8:06 pm #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"Does she sing? Does she dance? Would it be suspicious that I am left handed? Yes, I wouldn't care for being too close to her being flirtatious...though sounds like she is someone who awakes early...I guess I should have pinned her as someone who might be...What are these exceptions, it's best to make a compromised choice of meals so we can draw as little suspicion as possible. Besides wines and other alcoholic things, what else does she like to drink?

I believe Flavius really cares for her too. Though I fear if he already suspected me if she was harsher with denying his advances. Although I still wonder if it is worth the risk to tell him what has happened..."

Sat Aug 7 2010 12:05 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"Good questions," Sapt says. "You're thinking. She is also left-handed, so that's not an issue."

"She never sings," Frieda says, "unless she is very, very drunk. She was trained in all the proper dancing, but prefers to watch others dance most of the time."

"You're wrong about getting up early," Sapt suggests. "She has a hangover every morning, which is why she has wine with breakfast."

"Exceptions? Oh, the soups." Frieda thinks a moment. "She'll eat a consume or some other soup that is difficult to prepare and expensive. Since the point of not eating soup is that any peasant can make it, she will enjoy a soup that peasants cannot make, largely for that reason."

Sapt says, "I don't know that I remember the last time Rudolpha drank anything that did not contain alcohol; but I think we can get away with fruit and berry juices. Grape is easiest, of course, but we can get apple, peach, plum--what are your preferences?"

When you mention telling Flavius, both get somber. "I think," Sapt says, "that we need to keep this situation as secret as possible. One can always think of reasons to tell yet one more person--Marshal Strackencz who runs law enforcement here in Strelsau, the Archbishop, the Prince--but the more people know, the greater the risk that someone will let something slip. And we don't know how any of these people will respond--it might take some effort to get them to see that we can't simply storm the Castle at Zenda demanding the release of a prisoner no one can prove is there, or demanding to search a Castle which Michelle knows better than everyone else together. I still say, as long as most people think you are the Queen, the Queen is safe; she is the only bargaining chip Michelle has. If she thinks she can persuade the world that the Queen has vanished and been replaced by an impostor, than none of our lives are worth the horses on which we would flee."

--M. J. Young

Mon Aug 9 2010 1:24 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"Well, I guess I need to make sure I don't fall into my sing when I'm bored habbit, and since I am not trained in proper dances, it's probably better that I watch as well..."

"Apple is usually what I drink, but if I feel in the mood for it, I'll drink pomegranate. And if I feel I might come down with something, I'll drink orange. If I am in the mood for a treat, I'll have watermelon..."

"I know deep down, even though I detest the idea of leaving someone like him in the dark and pretending to be his fiance, it probably would be best for her and to not out me..."

((do you recall what we did with the stuff that was brought with me?))

Mon Aug 9 2010 1:58 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"Apple, pomegranate, and watermelon are easy enough. Orange is rather exotic. We'll get the kitchen working on those three, then." Frieda makes notes for the kitchen.

"Technically," Sapt says, "the prince is not your fiance. The kingdom expects him to be, and we may have to move that direction to hold public support; but we can take it slowly for the present."

I believe you came in on the train, and had your gear with you then; I am not certain where you stayed upon arrival, but you met the Queen and her two companions in the hunting preserve at Zenda, and stayed in the hunting cabin overnight; if you had your gear with you there, you'd have left it there the next day when you went to the coronation, expecting to retrieve it that night when you returned. You did return, found the Queen kidnapped and Josef murdered, and then doubled back to the palace in Strelsau where you are now.

If any of this brings back to mind something different, we'll go with what you remember; otherwise, I will assume that you grabbed whatever gear of yours you wanted from the cabin and brought it back to Strelsau, so you have it in your rooms now; if you left anything at the cabin, you have a beacon pointing toward the cabin any time you need to follow it, because of the scriff sense.

--M. J. Young

Tue Aug 10 2010 2:35 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

((I'd probably try and bring everything back for the sake of keeping it close so I can keep and eye on it being hidden))

"Right, I keep forgetting...Is there anything more you can tell me about her? Or should we look into her policies?"

Tue Aug 10 2010 5:07 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Sapt stifles a laugh. "Policies? I'm afraid Her Majesty's policies began and ended with making sure there was plenty to drink wherever she was to be in attendance. I suppose, though, we ought to start thinking about what sort of policies she should have. For the moment we'll maintain her father's positions--polite to Bismark's Germany but eschewing his overtures, close ties to England and Sweden, but without offending France or Norway. Most of the rest fall into place fairly easily around that.

"You'll want to learn to ride, and probably to shoot if not fence, because she does these things for recreation. I'm not certain how we get you up to passable ability in these without calling attention to the fact that you're not so good as she was known to be, but we'll manage something. Do you shoot? Do you fence?"

--M. J. Young

Wed Aug 11 2010 1:28 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"I'm afraid I've never shot anything other then a few arrows, and my aim wasn't exactly good since I didn't get to do it often. The last time I have attempted, I hit the outer rim of it half of the time, and missed the other half. And all I know in fencing is the basic stance and foil positions."

Wed Aug 11 2010 4:06 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"Well, that's a start on the fencing," Sapt says. "At least you've handled a sword. But what about a gun? You mentioned arrows; we're talking about rifles and revolvers."

--M. J. Young

Wed Aug 11 2010 11:24 pm #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"Never so much as touched a gun in my life."

Thu Aug 12 2010 12:20 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Sapt looks a bit perturbed at this; Frieda looks surprised.

"Really?" she exclaims. "I thought all Americans used guns all the time. Are you--do you have some kind of religious objection to them or something?"

"Indeed, are you against being taught," Sapt asks, "or have you simply managed to miss such a critical aspect of an education?"

"That's not fair, Colonel," Frieda says. "I don't believe my mother has done much shooting. It wasn't considered lady-like until recently."

"You're right, I suppose. But the question remains: is our substitute queen willing to learn to shoot, or should we conceal the fact that she doesn't know how?"

--M. J. Young

Mon Aug 16 2010 1:19 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"I'm willing to learn, up till recently I thought of guns as a quick and brutish replacement to classic instruments. I don't think so anymore with a few exceptions where I've seen guns made with some form of class."

Mon Aug 16 2010 3:28 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"Good," Sapt says. "Unfortunately, the best place to teach you is in the game preserve at Zenda, and that means staying in the lodge."

"We could shoot at my parents' lodge," Frieda says.

"We could, and it would be more comfortable, certainly, with your parents' accommodations. But it would also call attention to the fact that our queen can't shoot. So let's plan two days of meetings, and then after dinner take the royal train to Zenda, spend the night at the lodge on the Royal Game Preserve, put time in the next day to learning to use several weapons, and return by evening train so that the next day we can put in more meetings, and after two more days we'll pop back out to the lodge for two days.

"You mentioned something about the classic instruments. What skill do you have with swords? Knives? What else?"

--M. J. Young

Thu Aug 19 2010 8:22 pm #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"I barely know how to hold a foil, I am more familiar with bows and arrows. As I said, last time, I hit the target, though not center, half the time. I just prefeered to be around those, still do.

Game preserve? Meaning I'd be learning by hunting?"

Fri Aug 20 2010 1:21 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Sapt answers. "Ah, bow and arrow. That might be useful, too, so we'll train with that, and with the sword, as well as rifle and pistol. As to the game preserve, it's the best place to get privacy for shooting a gun. No one will bother us save Michelle and her emissaries, and they will be proper, I expect, if they do. If you want to hunt, we can hunt as well; but targets will be better practice, at least initially."

--M. J. Young

Sat Aug 21 2010 1:27 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"I'd prefer not to hunt. I believe hunting should be more for survival, or food, rather then for sport or recreation."

Sat Aug 21 2010 1:30 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"That's fine. Of course, if we did hunt, whatever we killed would be dinner; but there's no reason to start with hunting."

Over the next two days you meet with nearly a dozen representatives of various countries, over meals and between meals. You give assurances to them that Ruritania appreciates their continued friendship, and you compliment those whose native foods you are tasting on their cuisine, although they have varying opinions on how well your staff managed to duplicate their country's foods.

The third day you are expecting to travel to the lodge. I'm guessing that you will take all your gear with you; correct me if I'm mistaken.

--M. J. Young

Mon Aug 23 2010 1:54 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

Most likely since I want to keep an eye on them, last thing I'd want is for someone to find my passport or anything else highly incriminating.

Mon Aug 23 2010 2:05 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

It's an early start, leaving the palace by carriage and boarding the royal rail car; arrangements have already been made for it to be drawn to Zenda with the first daylight run. Breakfast is served aboard the train, the cook staff from the palace having arranged for you to have some of the foods you enjoyed the past couple days, including those Scottish breakfast foods.

It is about twenty minutes to Zenda, but since they disconnect your car and leave it on the siding you have time to finish your breakfast unhurried before disembarking. At this end, it's horses. You're still a bit sore from your overnight ride here and back a few nights ago, but Frieda reminds you that the queen rides and it's one of those things that will be expected of you. It takes some effort and some help to get you mounted and riding, but you manage to stay aboard for the short walk to the game preserve.

They start with the guns, setting up some targets. Sapt takes his time showing you how to use a Winchester Repeating Rifle, and you pick it up quickly, being very comfortable with the gun and its design. You have less comfort with the Colt .45 revolver, which is large for one hand and hard to draw from the holster. You also fire a shotgun, which is similar to the rifle although the loading and the kick are distinct.

Sapt also lets you run through your paces with the sword, noting your fencing style and commending you for the positive points, while helping you work on it. He says you've got potential there, and he's going to work with you on it. You're not as good with the bow, but he works with you on that as well.

You spend some time training on the horse as well, both shooting and using the sword, but this is considerably more difficult.

Overall it's a long day, and you're bone tired by the time you ride the horse back to the train and eat dinner as darkness closes around the rail car. You realize that it is late spring, and so it must be late in the day, but you're too tired to think much about it.

Half an hour or so later, the carriage has carried you from the station to the palace, and you are returning to your rooms. The staff wants to know if you want anything else tonight, and Frieda suggests fruit juice, which they say they can have in a few minutes.

--M. J. Young

Tue Aug 24 2010 6:30 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

By that point I'd probably have the juice, thank Frieda and Sapt for helping me learn, and try and focus on figuring out what to do about Michelle with my moments of consciousness.

Tue Aug 24 2010 12:14 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

As you muse on the situation, it comes to you that Michelle has to keep Rudolpha secure without risking the possibility that anyone might discover this. That means she has only six people she might trust, and those six must rotate as guards. It also follows from this that there must be two guarding the queen at any given time, because one must be within sight of the queen and the other must be positioned where he can interact with other people in the castle without them becoming aware of who their prisoner is. That is, if Hentzau is watching the queen, Hentzau has to be close enough to see the queen; but that means no one can get close enough to Hentzau that they might also recognize the queen, and therefore someone like Lauengram must be in effect keeping people from getting through to Hentzau.

The Queen is Michelle's only bargaining chip, and once she surrenders it she has no defense. Therefore Michelle is not likely to bargain for the release of the queen unless someone can offer her safety and clemency plus something that can be delivered as a sort of consolation prize for not receiving the kingdom. On the other hand, having the queen is itself sufficient basis for charges of treason. Therefore, Michelle must have some way of preventing anyone from proving she has Rudolpha. She can't kill the queen and claim the throne because you're in the way; she can't produce the queen and challenge your identity because that would implicate her in treason. But if it were to appear that the queen would be discovered in her custody, she would have to have a way of preventing that from happening--some way that the queen would never be found. That would be her stalemate position, because it would mean you would continue as queen and she could do nothing about that, but you could never prove her treason.

That means that some plan has to be devised by which the queen can be rescued before Michelle realizes that something is happening, so that Michelle can't execute whatever plan she has to dispose of the queen.

That also means you need a lot better information concerning where the queen is being held and what the security arrangements are.

You could start by getting a look at the Castle at Zenda, which happens to be on a lake at the edge of the game preserve. In theory, a hunting trip would make good cover for such a view.

--M. J. Young

Tue Aug 24 2010 11:37 pm #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

We'll probably have to do it it quick in a random and rash decision in order for Michelle to not notice that we're within a few feet from there. Though I'm not likely to get any information there if I'm just stuck secluded on the outside.

Wed Aug 25 2010 1:24 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

You have two more days of diplomatic meetings, and then another trip to Zenda, this time for two days of training and practice. My previous post was entirely your own musings; are you going to make any suggestions to Frieda or Sapt in this connection?

--M. J. Young

Thu Aug 26 2010 12:23 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

Most likely since I'd be better to have them around if I were to be caught, otherwise, 6 eyes are better then 2.

Thu Aug 26 2010 3:42 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Sapt and Frieda agree, suggesting that since you'll be on the game preserve overnight it will be good to get within sight of the castle at dusk, and observe it from there.

The next day you again get the early start by train to Zenda, then by horse to the lodge. You spend the day practicing your weapon skills and horseback riding, and in the evening you go for a hike, easily over a mile, to the edge of a lake. In the fading light you get your first look at Zenda.

The castle itself is built in a lake. The main entrance is about twenty yards from a high point on the shore, with a drawbridge that lowers from the castle to the shore. You are there in time to see it being raised for the night. That section is fairly large, probably large enough to have a lower level room for arms practice as well as a stable for a score of horses; it also has two upper floors and crenelated battlements above that, with a tower overlooking the drawbridge providing good defensive positions.

Toward the rear there is a smaller single-level area which is probably private rooms, and at the end of this there is a double row of pilings supporting an open causeway leading straight out farther into the lake. Thirty yards out stands the old fortress, a drawbridge drawn up which would complete the last ten yards of the causeway. The door is perhaps ten feet above the water. It appears that there are two levels, one above the door and the other below, plus battlements atop. The tower is circular, thirty yards in diameter. The upper level has several narrow windows. The windows of the lower level appear to be boarded up but for one. That one has been fitted with some sort of enclosed metal chute which passes down the outside of the building into the water.

"Well," Sapt says, "I think we can guess where the queen is, and how Michelle will dispose of her if we assault in a frontal attack. They'll have a guard at the entry to the old tower, and another below watching the queen, and if the guard above sounds the alert, the guard below will kill her, attach weights to her body, and drop her down the chute into the lake.

"Which means, we're going to have to get someone through that door before who can kill both of those guards before the alarm is sounded."

"But Colonel," Frieda says, "the only way to that door is through the main castle, and the alarm will certainly be sounded if we have to assault the front gate."

"I know. Well, at least we can see the problem; now we need the solution."

--M. J. Young

Fri Aug 27 2010 2:23 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"We'll figure this out. In the mean time, it's already a risk being here. We better head back and note what we've seen. Better to discuss a solution in closed doors."

Fri Aug 27 2010 4:20 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"Good thinking," Sapt says. "Back to the lodge, and rest up for tomorrow's practice, and then we'll work on our plans."

Food is waiting at the lodge, and you manage to eat despite the grueling workout you've had again today. You're torn between physical exhaustion and a mind reeling with the problem of a hoped rescue attempt. Sapt seems to be lost in thought as he puffs on his pipe; Frieda looks pretty tired herself. What next for you?

--M. J. Young

Sat Aug 28 2010 2:02 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

If I am that tired, I'll most likely try and make detailed notes and a laid out representation of what we saw and what we think before getting ready for bed. Most likely sleeping with the notes and map.

Sat Aug 28 2010 2:27 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

The next morning you are still at the lodge, and you have a long day of practice and training slated. However, at breakfast, Sapt says, "All right, we saw the Castle last night. Shall we start by stating the obvious? Who wants to go first?"

--M. J. Young

Mon Aug 30 2010 6:02 am #
AhmetiaCampbell
Member

"You mean besides this is next to impossible."

Mon Aug 30 2010 3:50 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Sapt frowns; Frieda looks worried.

"It does appear to be quite a challenge," Sapt says. "But let's not rule it out as impossible. The weak point would appear to be the drawbridge. They have to lower it to bring food to their prisoner and to the men guarding her, and when they do the gates are open at both ends. Someone would have to be waiting below the gate such that they were hidden--perhaps on the far side of the old tower, low to the water and against the wall. Also, since the bridge opens from the old tower side, it has to be opened by the men inside when they expect someone to come. Their view outside will be limited--just enough, I should think, that they can see who is on the causeway. They will also have to close it, which is enough of a job that they're not going to close it behind the person bringing their food, but are going to leave it open until that person leaves again.

"We would have to have someone waiting who could remain hidden until the bridge was down, and then climb to the level of the bridge, and then swiftly dispatch whoever is guarding the entry. They would then have to get to the queen before the other guard was able to kill her and dispose of her body.

"Then the question is whether to get the queen out across the lake, or attempt to take the castle through the back door.

"For the moment, I'll post men in the woods to watch their movements, with special attention to movement between the two buildings. They won't know why, so they won't be able to answer if questioned. We'll tell them that we have reason to believe Michelle is plotting something--which is certainly the truth--and that we want to know every detail of movement in the castle that they can observe.

"I'm not sure who we get to do the rescue, though. We could order men to storm the castle on the assurance that a dear friend of the queen is being held prisoner; but whoever is sent to rescue the queen would probably have to know that it was the queen he was rescuing. Any thoughts on that?"

--M. J. Young

Thu Sep 2 2010 2:57 am #

RSS feed for this topic

« Previous 1 234…6 Next »

Reply »

You must log in to post.