If Piper isn't in the room how is she addressing the Queen?

She came in with Platime and Talen.

...I somehow missed that. Just a moment.

Well, I suppose Piper can always somehow be hiding behind Platime...are we more concerned with Platime, the Queen, or the blasted higher powers? I suspect the latter might be most urgent, if a trifle dangerous to check.

And does anyone care if Platime gets a pardon?

The agreement with Annias includes a defensive alliance; if the Zemoch attack the Terrans would help.

I'm still checking in with the game. I've just been so drained the last little bit I can't really think of what to say or add.

Just assume Felix is nearby and helping. Maybe rolling engineering to show the best way to help defend the castle with Terran tech.

Ground Control to Major Clock...

Hiya. Apologies - stuff happened and then other stuff happened and then there was this other stuff...

Part of it was that I, admittedly, got really distracted by some recent developments in AI that allow you to hold an entire conversation with a fictional character (actually, it's the AI cosplaying as the fictional character, but...)

I have not forgotten. I will be back. Probably Possibly later today.

No worries.

Speaking of worries, how long has it been since I dumped Harparin in that closet with a claymore strapped to him? Might want to get him and arrest him properly before he wakes up and makes a mess.

Maybe five, ten minutes?

Probably a good idea to deal with him before things get messy, yeah.

where is the party at the moment?

Still hanging about in Queen Cehlana's throne room, I believe.

Is there anything else we can do at this point?

I doubt the Queen is in the mood to be subjected to a barage of medical tests at the moment. Suppose we could do a few security sweeps before heading on to the troll den for more misadventure.

There does seem to have been a distinct lack of any serious organised opposition to your efforts to free and cure the Queen, doesn't there? I'm sure you can leave the question of her ongoing security to a mix of the Pandion Knights and Platime. Surely nothing can possibly go wrong with that idea.

There are, of course, no roads that go anywhere near to Ghwerek's den. Piper's suggested route involves a lot of hiking and mountain climbing on foot. Dress warm; trolls like the snow (and, as a general rule, lower temperatures than humans enjoy).

You are right, it is suspicious how easy this was.

Shouldn't Raven be here by now?