Tuck's Missive

[Brian]

When all awaken in the morning, Koriand'r, Ihliel, and Aella find a note taped to their doors instructing them to gather in Tuck's chamber.

[Corwin]

After a quick shower to start off the day, Kory follows the note's instructions.

[Trunkyboy]

Not sure wether to be pleased or disappointed that he wasn't going to pull weeds today, Ihlies shuffles about getting 'presentable' before shuffling off to find the Fat One.

[CyMage]

After a few quick morning excercises, Aella grabbed a quick shower then headed to the meeting.

[Brian]

After the demons find their way to Tuck's chamber, they find a new demon standing before his pedastal.  Not the innumerable spiky-one, but a withered, frail looking demon in a relatively nice suit.

He's studying an ostentatious stopwatch as the demons troupe in, and raises an eyebrow, saying nothing.

[Corwin]

Kory greets the new demon with a "Hello!" while remaining near her two companions.

[Brian]

"Greetings," he says in a low, dry voice.  "Tuck has called you here today," he continues, his words a flawless stream of menace turned into noise, "so that I may assign you a mission.  It is of the utmost importance to Tuck's invulnerability that we aquire that one thing he lacks to become immune.  We seek none other than a chicken."

He immediately scowls, and says, "This is no laughing matter!  We seek no hell-fowl, we desire -- nay, DEMAND -- a true chicken.  One of those fabled beasts from beyond Hell, before the War.

"Ah, but none live here.  Or do they?  After countless hours of research, I have painstakingly divined the location of the one remaining resource we require to reign supreme."  He strides forward, suddenly, nearly nose-to-nose with Kory.  "This is a mission of insurmountable importance, a task which none can be allowed to fail in."  His head whips to one side, and he's suddenly shooting Aella a hard glance from a half-pace away.  "We cannot allow the information of what we seek to fall into enemy hands, and our intelligence suggests that there will be detractors.  There will be opposition."  He whips his head back, and stares at a spot a few inches over Ihlies' head before flinching.  "Waaaaait," he mutters, pulling his watch from his pocket and inspecting it closely.

It's a huge thing, and at the end of the stick would probably make a hefty flail.  It's also got more hands than any reasonable clock should, and what looks like the text of an entire library scribed on the face.  "I can get this," he snaps testilly, looking back over his shoulder.  "No, YOU shut up."  After a few seconds of muttering, he adjusts the positons of half a dozen of the hands, winds a key on the back of the clock twice, and seamlessly flows back into motion.

Turning to Ihlies he continues, "But you will preservere, and you will succeed.  And with your task will come both reward, and power for Tuck.  With power ... we can resume our task and reclaim what is ours."

He glances across the collected demons, and heaves an exasperated sigh, tucking his clock away.  "Fine," he mutters.  "Ask your questions."

[Corwin]

"Where did you say the Fabled Fowl could be found?" Kory asks, adding, "And what opposition are we talking about?" while silently begging the answer won't be 'hell-roosters'.

[Brian]

"In the territory of General Davan," he replies tersely.  "And it seems that Lady Medide thinks to send her own forces into Davan's territory, though we don't know why ... most likely, they can be used as a distraction, if you practice care."

[Corwin]

"Okay, then!" Kory exclaims. "Power and chickens, here I come!" A bit calmer after her outburst, she nods to herself. "Consider me ready."

[Trunkyboy]

"Do, do chickens bite?"  Ihliel shuddering wants to know.

[CyMage]

"Can you tell us a bit more about the opposition?  Can we get a map of our destination?  And can we get a backbone for Ihiel?"  Aella rolled her eyes as she mentioned the last one.

[Brian]

"Chickens do not bite," the man with the watch says quietly.  "Hellchickens breathe fire, though.  Normal chickens merely peck.  They are annoying, but generally not dangerous."

Turning to look at Aella, he continues, "The opposition should be no more than a handful of animated clay statues.  Weak golems.  Ideally, you won't need to fight them, and can simply avoid them until they pass.  A map will be provided for you before you go.  Our backbone collection is currently soup-stock.  You should have taken one from the pantry while you were there."  He shrugs at that, and spends a moment fiddling with his watch.

[CyMage]

"Well, that answers that.   Just need to grab my stuff from my room, and I'm ready."

[Brian]

"Time is of the essense," the demon before Tuck's pedestal says.  "And you?" he adds, turning to look at Ihliel.