[Deleted]

Crestfallen Castle was oddly quiet today, strange as there would often be someone infected with the Starvia wandering around here. You would hear them no matter how far you were in the castle, but the weirdest thing is that there's no signs of Starvia in sight and the castle was very quiet from the inside. The only person that was around was a worried Toad Officer, who was standing by the front entrance of Crestfallen Castle, worried about the fates of the two girls that had entered the castle and never came out.

He wondered if the mysterious figure that was with the first girl had done something to them. He sure hoped not and that the girls were alright. He was more unnerved with how quiet the castle has become.

"Ohh, I hope those girls are alright. Why didn't I do anything when I saw the second girl run towards the castle. I should of stopped her and done something sooner about the first girl. Now both of them are missing in this castle." The Toad Officer turned towards the door of the castle. Unlike before it had a word engraved onto it that looks like it was done recently, the Toad Officer didn't know what the word meant.

Yosuga

Was that the name of the figure who cursed this castle? Maybe that's why this place has gone quiet, because of the curse, either way the Toad Officer was too scared to find out, so he was going to let Emil and Isonus figure that out when they get here.

Hopefully soon, as who knows what kind of peril that the two girls would be in!

The Toad Officer thought about the first girl, the one with short red hair and wore white robes. Didn't someone in the Life Sphere once say that he knew a girl that fitted that description?

MISSION START!

[Jade Callisto]

Emil was not entirely sure of himself sure but it wasn't that he wanted to back out even after all this. After all he had Isonus backing him up and Ratatosk was there too. 
"Getting second thoughts Emil?" the voice in his head would ask him. Ratatosk had gotten used to Emil at this point as he supposed there was nothing to be done about their situation. Sure Ratatosk had been rough on Emil before but there was someone else who understood how Emil felt in his godhood, the mysterious mage known as Isonus. 
"You should not back down now Emil. You are a Knight of Ratatosk remember? So chin up alright?"

Was Ratatosk being nice for once? Emil could hardly tell but he nodded as he unintentionally raised his hand outward.
"Door to the boundary open!" Ratatosk would say through Emil's mouth as he slightly possessed Emil for a second there.
"Wha...what did I do?" Emil would ask as he noticed a round portal open right in front of him.
"W..where does this lead?" Emil asked as little scared.
"Just go Knight of Ratatosk." the voice in his head would say as Emil nodded in response.

"Alright then I'm going in!" Emil paced into the portal to the Crestfallen Castle on the other side.
As Emil paced out of the round portal that appeared suddenly at the Crestfalled Castle Emil would take notice of the worried Toad officer. 
"Are you the one that called us?" Emil referring to himself and Isonus even though right now he was not present.

A small smile lifted his spirits a bit as he tried to reassure the worried Toad Officer. 
"Don't worry sir we will find the missing girls and break this curse. A Knight is always willing to do what it takes to keep the people safe." he said confidently as he struck his fist to his own chest almost like a salute of honor. 
"Good going Knight I knew you were the right one for the job." said the voice in Emil's head. Ratatosk was proud to have Emil finally realize what he could do as he would await their ally Isonus now.

[Deleted]

The slow click of footsteps from the old dirt road approach as the Emil conversed with the Toad. The crackle of eldritch, antediluvian, even primordial magics surged through the air, tinging the swing of the wind with a sense of mystery, and danger. The danger of his presence is quickly dissuaded, however, by the comforting voice that calls from within the wraps of that armor and cloth. The voice of a man with everything to gain and lose from this, the voice of someone pushed a little too far into the realm of madness.

"Good day. Don't bother trying to understand the forces at work here, they're beyond your control. Pawns of fate, break your ties and join me, yaddah yaddah... I tire of giving this old speech. Let me give you both a new one."

He rolls his wrist in a bit of a sarcastic motion, as though his own words were boring him. Isonus cackles, rolling his hands into fists, one finger at a time, and placing them to his waist. As he raises his head, letting those orange glowing eyes pierce the dark veil cast over his face, Isonus's fists reach his middle back. The Thaumaturge's gaze might almost pierce through the toad before him, a stare that was of something far older than this world, far older than any world except his own. Primordial, beyond time, and watchful, almost curious of his fellows.

"We are going in, and we'll harvest the souls and power from every last being that resides in this place. What isn't our's, shall be ash. Leave no stone unbroken, no path unchecked. Today, we are the reapers of their evil, the villains of villains."

With that, he steps forward, letting his hat and the loose cloth attached to his body flutter backwards in the wind. His fists were lax, shoulders down, and chin facing up. Isonus feared nothing. Not even this.

THE GRANDMASTER
HP: 130/130
SHIELD: 40/40
STATUS: None
SPELL AUGMENT: None
COPIED ABILITY: Empty.

[Deleted]

That was the last straw!





The Toad Officer was already stressed about his failure to save the girls but Emil and Isonus appearance slightly scared him to the point that he quickly had a breakdown by sitting on the ground and started crying as he rubbed the tears from his eyes. "Bwwwah, I'm sorry. I should of saved those girls myself instead of watching them go into the castle. Please don't hurt anyone!" The Toad Officer begged to Isonus as he became intimidated with what he said, but was reassured when Emil told him that they were going to save the girls, as was Isonus, causing the Toad Officer to quickly get better.

"Oh, in that case, thank you for taking up this mission. But be careful when going into Crestfallen. Because of the nature of the curse, the entrance may be sealed off as soon as you enter the castle." The Toad Officer explained as he smiled.

"Anyway, i'm going back to the Life Sphere now, good luck in saving the girls and ending this curse!" The Toad Officer said as he marched himself back to the Life Sphere, leaving Emil and Isonus to enter Crestfallen...Which, when they did...






They would find themselves in the halls of a well polished castle, not like how Crestfallen originally looked when it was abandoned and filled with starvia. The hallways looked like any other halls that you would find in some royal castle. If they turned behind them they would find that the entrance has vanished. A brick wall in it's place and leaving them trapped in the halls of this mystery castle.




Nearby was two flags. It seems that this castle belongs to two royal family's, but who? There was also a sentence engraved in between the two symbols, which read: KINGS WORD IS LAW, HE WILL NOT LET THE WEAK GET IN!






The two would hear a woman humming a small tune as she trimmed a small hedge that resembled a woman. She appeared to be muttering something to herself. "As soon as that girl is executed, the curse will finally end, and we can finally leave this castle." The Woman said quietly as she continued to trim the hedge.

The hedge in question, resembled this woman.

[Jade Callisto]

Seeing the toad officer who was in charge of this mission crying on the ground like a child was quite disheartening to say the least. Not that he thought it was the worst thing in the world by a long shot but Isonus was making it harder for Emil to properly keep the child like toad to stay cheered up. Emil's brave words did an effect on that officer however mentioning the curse once again before heading back to the Life Sphere. 

As the two god like beings ventured into the castle without fear Emil would feel a cold chill run down his spine as they walked in. Sure the area was pretty compared to what he first expected but as soon as they entered that feeling of uneasiness would not go away. Emil would turn around to confirm his suspicions and sure enough the Toad Officer was spot on. 
"T..The door is gone!" Emil freaked out as he jumped backward in fright.

"Emil remember Aster's words." said Ratatosk in Emil's mind once more. "Aster's words?" he would ask aloud to no one in particular before remembering back to what Richter once told him about a certain human. "Oh I know! 'Courage is the Magic that turns Dreams into Reality' right?" Emil asked Ratatosk once again but out loud as he tried his best to be more brave for those girls sake. "Ratatosk is right. I need to press on to help break this curse and find those girls." 

Emil would pace over to the voice he heard in the distance as he saw a woman talking about a girl being executed to break the curse of this castle. "Executing a human to break a curse must mean these people are getting desperate. Emil I suggest you ask about this situation in a calm and cool manner." Ratatosk would say to the boy as advice within his head. "Excuse me Miss. We just got here but can you tell us what you meant back there? About breaking the curse?" Emil would ask politely to the woman cutting the hedges.

HP: 180/180 

SHIELD: 65/65 

STATUS: None 

[Deleted]

Isonus fearlessly treads along the bridge towards the castle alongside Emil. Unlike himself usually, as to keep ample distance from his comrades as to ensure their safety from himself, Isonus remains... close to the dual-soul young man. A show of compassion, or necessity for survival? With him, it was never clear. As for the door vanishing, temporal magics seemingly at play, or perhaps, some manner of illusion, Isonus places his hand on Emil's shoulder for a moment. "Fear not. It's merely some form of guise, or perhaps, vision. Tread lightly, touch nothing. Only speak when we must understand this realm of illusion."

Just as they venture from the pristine hold into the grand gardens, Isonus's nose is filled with the fragrances of the land, the hedges, and the clippings. A fresh scent from an otherwise crumbling ruin. Next, his vision turns to the woman clipping the hedges, humming an unfamiliar song as she speaks to herself, and listening to Emil's inquiry, it sums up all he wanted to ask. Though... Isonus was going to sweeten the pot a little. As a Thaumaturge, it was his occupation to deliver folks from this sort of madness, and this sort of lovecraftian play. Curses, of course, were among some of his favorites to break. "To that effect, what good is human sacrifice in this specific scenario? It staves off curses, not delivering you from them. Your children, grandchildren, and so forth would deal with this tragedy of wasted human resources. I feel as a Thaumaturge, a miracleworker in man's tongue, it is my responsibility to assist in freeing your people."

Not exactly one to speak or appeal to emotions, Isonus would rather appeal to the mind, to seem rational. It was careful manipulation. He wanted to show he had a cure, and bargain to get it. "Though please, speak to my dear friend here, first. I feel as though he's... better suited for diplomatic affairs."

THE GRANDMASTER
HP: 130/130
SHIELD: 40/40
STATUS: Fine
SPELL AUGMENT: None
COPIED ABILITY: None

[Deleted]

As the woman continued to trim the hedge lady, she was interrupted when Emil and Isonus approached her, causing her to chop off the woman's nose by accident as she sighed to herself. "Oh well, the king's so aloof that he won't even notice." The Woman thought to herself as she turned towards the men, who wanted information regarding the person that would be executed.



"Huh? Oh you mean the girl right. Judging by how I never saw you two before, i'm guessing your newcomers that are trapped in this castle? At least not for long. King Garon has apparently apprehended the girl that has placed the curse on this castle. She's currently undergoing her trial at the end of this hall." The Lady pointed at the end of the hall, where a giant door was seen. There were other doors nearby, although if Emil and Isonus tried to open any of them, then they would find that all of the doors sans the one at the end of the hall were locked.

"But everyone who's trapped here already knows that she's going to get a guilty sentence, simply because she started this mess in the process. So you two shouldn't be worried about being trapped here in the castle for long." The Lady placed the shears beside her.

"As soon she is executed then the doors and windows to the outside world will appear again and maybe all of those monsters and that horrible disease will disappear too. Since I heard rumours that the lady is also the cause of that, what with her looking like she came from the future." The Lady continued to explain, before looking at Isonus, who she became annoyed with.

"Umm, for one thing it would cause us to finally leave this castle. I'm tired of trimming the hedges in the shape of King Garon and the late King Semuragi's late wives everyday. I want to go out and do my own thing, it's my dream. I wish to be superior, Yosuga would want that." The Woman smiled at the amazement of her hedges, well except for the recent one that she did of the late Queen Mikoto.

"Besides, i'm not even married or have children of my own, now if you excuse me. I must finish my daily trimmings. If you wish to attend the trial then please, go down that door over there." She pointed towards the door as she continued to trim a bit of the Mikoto hedge.



When Isonus and Emil got closer to the door at the end of the hall, they would hear chattering and muttering from behind it. It seems that everyone else that was also trapped inside the castle was behind this door.

Preparing for what sounded like a fake trial.

[Jade Callisto]

The woman seemed convinced that killing this girl that they had held captive. Apparently they were having a trial that would decide her fate? "That can't be good. From what she is saying this 'trial' is likely a way to make the girl's death seem fair." The voice in Emil's head would say with a displeased growl. 
Emil visibly frown as he looked over to Isonus. "Thank you for your time Miss. My friend and I will see this trial and see what we can do over there." Emil would say with a re-assuring smile before pacing over toward the door. "Come on Isonus we should check this out." Emil would beckon him over toward him as they got closer to the large door. 

Once they were out of earshot of the woman Emil leaned in close to Isonus and whispered to him to make sure the woman would not hear them. "I don't think this girl has anything to do with the curse so we should probably be prepared for a battle if we plan to stop her execution." Emil would say trying to keep his voice from being overheard by the woman. 
As Emil paced over to the door he would hear all sorts of voices of different people behind it who were likely the people who were all trapped here to begin with. "You ready Isonus? Be prepared for anything to happen right now." Emil said before attempting to open the door to let them both in.

---

Emil:
HP: 180/180
SHIELD: 65/65
STATUS: None

[WolfEx]

B I G T H E C A T HP: 250/250, Shield: 75/75, Status: Curious FS: Call Of The Coast

The trip was quite the long one all the way from the Life Sphere to get to this far away, and quite out of the way, castle peak. Big and Froggy were pretty smart with themselves that they managed to grab enough food before leaving the Life Sphere to keep them satiated and their energy up. However all that hiking across the wastelands, and maybe a bit of rolling around here and there, did make Big start to feel a bit hungry again, but not so hungry that he would pass out or start seeing things or anything. He learned that lesson before.

The cat and frog duo found themselves walking through a garden like area that skirted the towering castle that Big has heard so many stories about. Froggy and Big have been through alot together, in some cases, near death scenarios that would never leave their minds, but in this specific case, even the things they've been through together does not measure up to the horrors and stories they have overheard within these castle walls. Big stopped walking around the castle grounds when Froggy let out a croak and pointed its head to the figure of what seemed to be a little boy speaking to a lowly gardener woman. The two got a weird vibe from the place and the gardener woman, with Froggy shivering a bit the closer they got to the castle, but Big remained the kind hearted soul he was properly introducing himself. He heard a bit of the chatter from afar and wanted to offer his assitance along with Froggy.

"I know you're a busy beaver over there madame, but I was wondering, if me and my companion Froggy can also attend the...trial?" Big then looks at the boy that stood near the woman and extends his hand out. "I'm Big, I'm here to help! What's your name?" He looked at the woman again correcting his unintended rudeness. "And your name as well miss?" He almost forgot the poor lady in his greetings and hoped there would be no issue for him and Froggy attending the trial, despite them clearly looking like they don't belong in a castle or anywhere near one, but more like a pet store, or somebody's domestic animal, they assumed the woman and the boy probably have seen all sorts of species on this planet by now. An open mind would be appreciated by Big if the two were welcoming to him and Froggy.

OWL

[Deleted]

The Woman turned again, obviously tired of the new vic---I mean people trapped in the castle with her and everyone else. She lowered her shears yet again and turned to Big the Cat, who asked about the trial.



"The trial is over there at the end of the hallway where that boy is standing at. It's about to begin now stop bothering me. If I don't finishes these hedges by the time the castle sundial reaches full, then the King will have my head and stick it on a pike outside the castle after the curse is lifted, along with that girl's." The Woman said, being very impatient with the new comers by now.

However when Big asked for her name. Her demeaned quickly changed, she dropped her shears and looked dead inside as she began to speak with a monotone voice.



"I do not have a name. Yosuga chooses what name to have, for I am merely the strongest in my team of garden sculptures. The others were too weak or slow to make these beautiful hedges." The Woman explained to Big, before she shook her head and sighed.



"It happened again, I keep having these black outs here and there lately and all the while I see some girl in some weird clothes and with long brown hair." The Woman lamented to herself as she grabbed her garden shears and went back to work. If Big tried to talk to her again then she would ignore him, leaving him and Froggy no option but to go to the door where Emil was.





Which, when Emil opened the door, he would find that there was a large amount of people inside what appeared to be a court room due to the people at the other side of the room. The amount of people in this room looks like they were enough people to live in three kingdoms, three, unified kingdoms.



They all stopped talking among themselves and sat down as the trial soon began. A large bell went off in the room to signify the start of the trial, nobody in the room appeared to have noticed Emil, Big and Froggy and from where they were, they could see the trial.



On the stand was Yumiko Shirasagi, one of the missing girls that the trio were looking for in the mission. She appeared confused with what's going on as the judge and the jury's soon arrived for her trial.



The judge was King Garon while his jury was his trusty assistant, Iago and his biological children, Xander, Leo & Elise, along with his adopted children, Takumi, Hinoka & Azura, Garon sat on top of a large chair while Iago and the royal children sat down on seven chairs near him. There were four other chairs that had three names marked on them, but the people that were supposed to sit on them were nowhere to be seen.

The names were:

CORRIN
CAMILLA
RYOMA
SAKURA

Garon remained silent as Iago stopped the bell from ringing and pronounced the start of the trial.



"Court is now in session of Yumiko Shirasagi. You may begin King Garon." He turned as Yumiko looked surprised with what's happening.

"Wait, i'm on trial? But I didn't do anything. All I did was wander into this castle and now i'm supposedly being blamed for some sort of curse?" Yumiko demanded answers about her whereabouts.

"I shouldn't be on trial. I'm supposed to be looking for someone, his nam---SILENCE!" Garon yelled to Yumiko, who jumped back in surprise as he began to talk about Yumiko's crime.



"Yumiko, ever since your arrival to this castle. It has been placed in a curse that has caused every door and window in this kingdom to shut out from the rest of the world. You may have also caused another curse in which strange purple undead beings have appeared around our unified kingdom of Hoshido-Nohr that would cause those who are attacked by them to turn into one of them. Sometimes they would even transform into a monster." Garon explained his crime, as Iago hissed to Yumiko.



"I suppose you plead guilty for these two horrible crimes, or do you wish to confess to another crime, such as you being responsible for the disappearance of four of the royal children?" He asked, which made Garon angry.



"Yes, my children...Four of them are missing. Are those you're doing as well!" Garon yelled as Yumiko snapped back.

"I did not take your children. I don't have a place to put them anyway seeing as how my home is in another universe. I just got here, I was not responsible from those zombie like beings outside this castle, or this castle being cursed so nobody can leave." Yumiko pleaded, which appeared to make Azura and Leo uncomfortable while Elise, Xander & Hinoka seemed to be convinced with Yumiko's story.

Takumi however, did not seemed to be convinced with what Yumiko's saying.



"Father...What if she's right? She looks very confused." Leo turned towards Garon as did Azura.



"Leo could be right. I don't think she poses a harm to this kingdom. In fact, I feel as though there is a greater threat to this kingdom as we speak, one who might be trapped in this castle with us." Azura sensed as Yumiko nodded.

"You're daughter's right...I also sense something wrong...I sense that there's a goddess among us." Yumiko revealed as her revelation caused the audience to gasp in shock.



"She's lying. She's probably some sort of spy from an unknown kingdom!" Takumi shouted as he banged his hand in anger over Yumiko's theory, causing her to glare at Takumi.

"I'm not lying, i'm telling the truth." Yumiko insisted, as Garon ruffed in anger.



"No, your not." Garon turned to Leo and Azura. The two of them looked away, fearfully, as did everyone else, except for Iago...Who smirked.

He always loved this part.



"You two, stop being swayed by such a cheap trick. I expected better from you Leo, but I see that you're as much as a disappointment as your fake sister here." He referred to Azura for reference. Leo's magic book that he was holding faltered in response as he looked away in sadness over his father's words.



"I'm...I didn't mean to upset you Father." He felt embarrassed by what happened and remained silent as Azura grabbed his hand, letting him know that he's not alone in what Garon was doing.



"And you...You don't have power in this courtroom. You're only here because of your royal heritage." Garon growled to Azura who looked away in disgust as Garon finally looked back at Yumiko, who was looking at him in anger.



"An...Oh, it appears you don't seem unphased by my threatening behaviour." Garon clenched his teeth with rage. Everyone in this castle was afraid of him, and so to see someone that stared at him with anger made him angry himself. Why wasn't this girl afraid of him?

"No because all I see is a very weak king who uses his threats to get people to follow his orders, and who treats their children like crap. I don't know what happened to the four missing people that are supposed to sit on those chairs over there, but their probably in a better place then this kingdom that's obviously ruled by a tyrant!" Yumiko yelled back to the King. She didn't care if she was going to get a guilty verdict in this sham of a trial, she was going to find this evil Goddess that had placed the curse onto this kingdom and she was going to undo it and defeat her. Maybe then everyone here will treat her nicely.



The audience gasped as Garon shouted back. "Forget this trial, you're GUILTY! And your punishment shall be death by hanging in a room nearby. Anyone who opposes this punishment shall join her!" Garon warned the audience before looking down at Yumiko, who crossed her arms.



"Don't call me a bad king ever again. I am the most worthy king of this unified kingdom and I shall lead on for the next few decades!" Garon proclaimed as Yumiko sighed.

"Please, you're so obviously evil due to your sickly pale appearance and you're aloof attitude. Your assistant's actions are not helping you either." She pointed out how Iago.



"Iago is not evil."

"He's laughing evilly right now because of the verdict." Yumiko pointed to Iago, who was...Laughing evilly over Yumiko's sentence. Two guards soon came from behind Yumiko to escort her to her execution as Leo grabbed the tip of his armour in worry.



"Either way, you shall go follow these guards to you're execution. Any last words?" Garon asked Yumiko.



Who shot a large amount of wind towards the two guards, knocking them off their feet in surprise. "Yeah, the execution is cancelled in favour of finding the true mastermind." Yumiko turned back to the Jury and Judge.

This trial was getting heated, now would be the right time for Emil, Big and Froggy to step in and help Yumiko before things get worse.



"Those aren't good final words!"

[Jade Callisto]

Emil looked to see Isonus had vanished from sight. This wasn't the first time he had to deal with someone just up and vanishing but it was for sure the first time he experienced it on Li for sure. "Isonus? Hey where did you go?!" Emil almost shouted as he then heard an unfamiliar voice from behind him. There stood a large purple cat like creature with a strange frog on it's shoulder. "Uhh..." Emil did not know what to say at first until he heard him talk. The big purple cat introduced himself as Big and almost instinctively Emil bowed his head and introduced himself back.

"Oh uh hi I'm Emil it is nice to meet you." he would say as he looked to the woman again before realizing something was going on with her now too. "Emil. That woman was possessed just now. I could sense it when she spoke to us in that strange tone of voice." The voice known as Ratatosk said to Emil in his head. "This Big must be the replacement for Isonus. I no longer sense his aura so he must have either returned to the Life Sphere or found his way back to his original homeland where he was born." Ratatosk would say as Emil visibly nodded to himself. "Big right? We should go check this trial out together." Emil would say before opening the door to it.

As the trial started he could see all sorts of royalty like figures in the jury along with a king who looked rather corrupt just from where Emil was standing. The Corrupt King now known as Garon was accusing this woman who seemed to be one of the missing girls seemed more confused than anything but as the trial went onward Emil could tell it was getting more and more heated. "This Garon is indeed corrupt but this girl is not helping her case even if she is innocent. Attacking guards with wind was not the smart move but I can see the need to do so." Ratatosk would say to Emil as he looked to see the jury up in arms and ready to attack the innocent girl at any moment!

Emil could no longer just sit back and watch as he dashed into the trial room without even thinking. "Stop this! This girl isn't the one who did it!" Emil said trying to convince the jury that even though he interrupted the court he had some clue as to who it really was.
"Emil shall I take over? I may have a pretty convincing argument against these people." Ratatosk would ask Emil inside his head. "Not yet. You can take over if things get rough." Emil would whisper to himself as he then looked over to the jury and continued his plea. "If there is anyone that is responsible it may be something we can't see. I found a clue as to what might be the cause of this curse if you can give us a chance." Emil wasn't lying of course. The possessed woman was definitely a clue that there was something 'else' in this castle for sure.

"Give us some time and we'll track down the real threat. If you are not satisfied with the result then kill me instead!" Emil of course wouldn't tell them that killing him would do nothing because he's a god and can just reincarnate but they didn't need to know that little fact. "Please King Garon! Give us a chance to help the kingdom! That's all I ask!" Emil would say confidently as he did his best to convince the corrupt king no matter how tough it would get.

[WolfEx]

B I G T H E C A T HP: 250/250, Shield: 75/75, Status: Curious FS: Call Of The Coast

Big's presence was definitely not going over well with the bush woman. She appeared to be annoyed by Big, or by any form of communication actually. And even though Big was not the smartest cat out there, he did start getting a strange vibe from the woman that he couldn't explain. She had a sort of, demeanor about her that didn't 100 percent sit well with Big and Froggy. Her voice even changed and she even looked....disturbed by something or someone as she spoke at one point to address her name. It was definitely an unusual interaction but all Big could do was guess and wonder about what kinds of secrets this woman may be hiding.

But the important information that Big needed to find this missing girl was gathered, and now he didn't have to pry much deeper with the gardener and could get back on the objective path. Big was glad to see that at least the boy he met was somewhat decent and kind. Or the impression was there at least when he introduced himself. "Nice to meet you. I think you and I clackin our old noggins together will help find that girl as a team." He knew for sure they both had the same objective, and he wanted right away to strategize as a solid team before anything else to ensure they get the most success out of finding the girl.

It was looking as if the boy would agree with that ideal as he mentioned to Big to accompany him to the trial room the lady pointed out not far from them. Big with a thumbs up to Emil acknowledged he was on board to follow through with visiting that trial. Not long after their little huddle, Big and Emil found themselves right in the middle of a large; make that, very large, political debate full of various beings of all shapes and sizes wearing some pretty extravagant garments. Big was jealous of their clothing actually, since he really didn't wear any clothes, and wondered if they would be able to cool themselves down after this bickering to give him some fashion tips or perhaps some of their less desired materials.

Either way, Big was in this room with a purpose and they simply had good style. He was going to find cold hard facts out about this missing girl and use whatever details he can gather to get her. Immediately upon entering the trial room Big's ears filled with words of harsh blame and detest. Try as he might, he really couldn't soak in alot of what they were saying since much of it was just mush to the less than sharp feline Mobian. He did piece together however, that they wanted to place the most guilt on a young lass who seemed as if she just wanted to help. Were these people in the early stages of Starvia Infection? Big couldn't believe their words could be so harsh and their personalities so bitter and talk such madness.

But he's seen worse. And this world can do crazy things to many beings. Luckily the boy he met, Emil, jumped in with some pretty convincing counter words that there really is another way to help instead of blaming a possible innocent person, and convicting them of something they may not have been involved with. That would also essentially do nothing to find the girl and solve her case. Make that two girls, as this escalated information just sunk in as a higher stakes matter to Big, which prompted him too, to speak. Standing right behind Emil Big stepped forward in front of him taking a deep breath and with a nice full voice, Big bellowed out. "I AGREE....WITH THIS BOY!" After saying that Big then stepped back behind the boy patting him on the shoulder signaling that he's got his back.

Froggy then hopped forward and did a loud ribbit, so his voice too can be heard agreeing with the boy's option of a search party. Afterwards, Froggy hopped back to Big and the two patiently waited for the verdict of whether or not they could go forward as a team, and find the missing persons themselves. Maybe just three was all they needed anyway for an effective team, whether or not the higher ups in this room would offer extra bodies to help search or would even go for this alternative, has yet to be seen. They had to try it, and now they'll find out what worked out of their conversation.

OWL

[Deleted]

Before more guards could come to take on Yumiko. Emil, Big and Froggy had decided to interrupt the trial in an attempt to defend Yumiko from the unified royal family. Everyone turned towards the trio as Emil offered to be executed instead if he doesn't satisfy Garon by finding the true culprit behind the curse, causing the audience to gasp in shock.

"No, don't do it. You can't just risk your life to a corrupt king like that!" Yumiko pointed to Garon, who growled in anger, but then she looked at Emil a little bit longer, sensing something...Odd about him.

"Wait a minute. There's something...About you." Yumiko gave a closer look at Emil, only for Garon to interrupt the moment.



"Enough! we have already found the culprit and she is standing in front of us all, fooling us with her pleads. Which will soon stop once she is hanged, along with you three." Garon pointed to Emil, Big and Froggy.



"You have ignored my warning of interrupting the trial, and for that, you three shall be joining this girl in death." Garon revealed, but then he looked at Big and Froggy.



"We may have to find bigger and smaller rope for you two. Cats and frogs are my least favourite animals." Garon smirked, as Iago did a bigger smirk. Leo did not want any of us, nobody in the court sans Garon and Iago wanted this, but before he could say anything to defend them, Xander stood up instead, not wanting Leo to be scolded by Garon again.



"Father, if I can ju---




"You don't have no say, only when your king which will be a very long time. Come along children, were leaving here, these four shall be executed by the hour. This trial is over!" Garon and everyone stood up as they prepared the leave. The crowd was already leaving, having been relieved of Garon's false promise that the curse will be over soon.



"Guards, seize these four, or by Yosuga's wrath you will all be next to be hanged!" Garon shouted as he, Iago and the remaining royal children left the room, with Leo shooting a look of concern to the four, with Yumiko shooting a look back as they leave. Leaving Yumiko, Big, Froggy and Emil to deal with guards that want them dead.




Royal Hoshido-Nohr Guards +3 (There triplets)
HP: 50% Each
Items: Swords and Shields
Status: Fine...Please don't hang us.



"Ok you four, if you can just come with us nicely we won't have to make this difficult." One of the guards said as Yumiko stood beside Emil, Big & Froggy.

"Were not going anywhere with you. Were going to go further into this castle and break the curse ourselves." Yumiko turned to the trio.

"I'm guessing you're three are here to find this goddess as well that placed this strange curse onto this castle?" Yumiko asked Emil, Big and Froggy as the Guards got ready to attack, she looked at Big a bit in surprise over...What he is. She never saw someone like that before.

(The guards will attack next turn, however if you want you can try and roll a 16 in charisma to try and convince the guards to let you all go, as their very easily scared of letting King Garon down. Maybe trying to explain the situation to them will cause them to change their minds on Garon's order.)

[Jade Callisto]

"I was afraid of this Emil. That King had no desire to listen and has now ordered your deaths. While we could just reincarnate I would advise against letting these three die." Ratatosk would say to Emil through his head as Emil nodded to himself. "Right but I think I'll attempt to convince these guards to let us go first." Emil would say to himself in an inaudible whisper. 

Emil stood his ground as he was unwavering with his confidence. "Please you got to listen to me! We know that you don't want to do this so if you can give us a chance we can find the real culprit!" 

CHA Roll for Emil: 


KjYuMepap_1d20

This would likely not work as Emil kept his hand on his sword handle just in case their persuasion attempt failed. 

"Please do what's right!" 

Emil would not attack until he was sure he would have to.

"Emil maybe we should wait and see first before we act. Though these guards seem like they won't take no for an answer. Be ready to attack if this fails." Ratatosk would say inside Emil's mind as Emil would visibly nod to himself. 
If this failed he would have to draw his sword and attack them. 1d20

[WolfEx]

B I G T H E C A T HP: 250/250, Shield: 75/75, Status: Anxious FS: Call Of The Coast

Thinking at first Big, in his mind, thought they had helped turned the tides of this trial by intervening and stating their peace, but realized as the trial and arguing went on, they've only made things worse. Big figured with him and Emil and Froggy too, as multiple testifying individuals, that it would bear some weight on changing the trial outcome, but there was something about these people stuck in their ways that didn't seem right to Big. They all seemed like they were in their own worlds and not understanding the concepts of human decency and kindness. Not even flashing any proper evidence as to why they decided what they did. Big felt pretty hopeless as they mentioned their verdict which now involved all of them being hanged so to speak.

When Big heard King Garon talk about rope, and cats and frogs being his least favorite animals, he thought that may be his way of helping turn the tides of this conversation without much malice. "Jump rope? That's a great idea. Maybe we can settle this over just a game of jump rope! And I believe the correct term for us creatures are Feline Anthropomorphic and Advanced Amphibian good sire." By the time Big's verbal alternative thought came to be there, it was already too late. The king made up his mind and sent three identical looking guards to Emil and Big. Big tried one more time to sound convincing. "Come on fellas, we just want to find the girls, not question your authority. Can you just let us go so we can find them...safely?" Big was pushing the envelope with his pleading, but he had to try.
CHA Roll for Big's Begging Guards To Let Them Go xanu9gWWp_1d20 -3 (Oh boy....)

Well, despite Big's pathetic and pitiful plea for letting them free, I think it might have created the opposite effect and ticked them off instead. Big looked at Froggy, and Froggy looked at him worried. They were about to get into that fighting spirit again, and they both knew it. So they got into a defensive position next to Emil and waited for them to make a move as Big followed Emil's lead and started on the defense first.

OWL

1d20 -3