ITT: The Sapphire of Animor: A Medieval (Mis)Adventure!

I'm sure the boss wouldn't mind...at least after we explain to him what's going on, anyway. (The anglerfish knight says.) Ooh boy, I just realized how hard this is probably going be to explain...!

Accommodations? Protection? Ooh, that sounds nice! (The gargoyle says, nodding eagerly.)

(The whole time, the young cat has just been sitting quietly among the crowd watching the deliberation over what to do about the gargoyle and the sapphire play out, not having much to say.)

"Hey, um..." the mole says to the cat, trying to keep his voice gentle since he seems frightened. "Hi there. What's your name?"

Just then, the door to the round table room slams open, and in walks a black cat dressed in the gear of a young squire. He gasps for breath, seemingly having run all the way here.

"S-sorry I'm late!! I didn't know we were m-meeting today. W-whats this about a-a-a sapphire?"

The osprey points the squire towards the gargoyle. "We have a bit of a situation. Uh, can you inform the boss about them and the Sapphire of Animor?"

"S-sure thing!" the squire exclaims, quickly saluting the osprey, before he turns away and starts sprinting down the hallway in search of the Captain of the Guard.

Andrew... (The kitten replies. After a moment, he reaches into his pockets and hands the mole the keys to his toolshed.) I'm sorry.

(The captain of the guard, a tall tigress, is further up the hallway discussing things with a couple of guards when she sees the young squire running through the hall.) Oh? Everything alright? (She calls out to him.)

"Th-the Knights of the Round have a bit of a s-s-s-situation, ssir!!" the squire exclaims, respectfully saluting the captain. He silently curses his stutter, which always gets worse when he's nervous.

"I-it's about the, the S-Saphire of Animor."

"It's okay, really," the owl says to Andrew. "We hope you're okay."

The osprey takes out two rolls of bread; leftovers from her rudely interrupted supper. She offers one to Daniel and the other to the gargoyle. "I wonder, can you eat? Do you have a name?"

"Yeah, it's okay. Thank you, Andrew," says the mole, taking back his keys.

(Andrew remains quiet.)

(The gargoyle takes the bread and takes a small bite of it. Then he devours the rest of it.) I dunno, but it's something I can get used to!

(He thinks on the other question.) Well, nobody's ever called me anything before.

Oh? What about it? (The captain asks, hands on her hips.) Did anyone find out something new about it?

"Well, we can't keep calling you the gargoyle. How about... Taki? Anyways, I don't think we introduced ourselves. I'm Ausk."

"The name's Mitts," says the mole, "Nice to meet you fellows."

I'm Argus, by the way. (The angler knight properly introduces himself as well.)

(The gargoyle thinks on the suggestion Ausk presented to him.) Mmmm, I don't have any other ideas! I can go by that, I guess.

"W-well, n-no ma'am.. Err, well, t-technically, yes, um... I-I think it m-might just be best i-if you just come and s-see for yourself...."

"I'm Ostro," says the owl. "I'm not from around here, so this is all new to me."

(Now very concerned, the Captain begins heading toward the room where everyone else is gathered.)

(Upon entering, she finds everyone gathered around the now-living gargoyle with the sapphire on his shoulder.) YOU FOUND THE SAPPHIRE AND USED IT ON SOMETHING?? (She shouts.)

(Andrew hides behind his chair.)

Ausk tries to cover up Andrew's involvment in it. "We found them like this. We didn't see anyone actually use the sapphire. Just walked in on a now living gargoyle." Technically it was the truth.

"This looks bad..." says Mitts quietly.

(Although Ausk is only trying to protect Andrew, the cat still doesn't feel all that better.)

(Taki begins casually walking up to the Captain, clawed hand out for a handshake.) Hello! Name's Taki, what's yours?

(The Captain responds by crying out in surprise and backing up against the wall. After regaining her composure, the Captain steps around Taki and in front of everyone else, shaking her head and mumbling.) Why did the sapphire have to already be attached to something...?

Edited by kablammin45 on Jul 31st 2020 at 5:09:24 AM

Ausk stands up straight and faces the tigress. "My captain, what matters now is that the sapphire is in our hands. And we have to protect it. And right now, that means protecting Taki."

Ostro coos happily. "I agree. Now that this creature has been given life, why not give it a happy life?"

You all don't understand... (The Captain says.) As long as that sapphire is out here, it's basically free for anyone to take! Someone could take it straight from the creature's shoulder and afix it something far worse than a gargoyle who doesn't appear to mean harm. As far as I can tell, anyway. And on top of that, as long as we have the sapphire here in Notalot, anyone who knows it's here could try to break in and take it, and they may not come alone.

....True. (Argus mutters.)

(Taki nervously puts a claw on the sapphire on his shoulder.)

"Ah, I see..." says Ostro. "Maybe we could take the gargoyle to a safe location?"

"We would need to protect the gargoyle. And disguise them as well." With that, Ausk grabs a nearby cloak and throws it on Taki, trying to cover up the sapphire on their shoulder.