Cogito's Quest

Moderators: (Shireroth) Duke of Modan and Malarboria, (Shireroth) Steward, (Shireroth) Kaiser

Post Reply
User avatar
Octavia Rossheim
Posts: 55
Joined: Mon Nov 25, 2013 10:31 am

Cogito's Quest

Post by Octavia Rossheim »

Lichbrook-Highpassian border, northeast of Rhodondra

Raising himself up on his appendages, Lich-Adept Cogito cast his searchlight gaze over the surrounding bustle.

A short distance from his staff buggy, a party of zombots were laying a line of stubby stone posts across the col under the unblinking eyes of several lichnik border guards; most of the latter wore the crowned demilich badge of Lichbrook, but a couple sported a green-and-gold roundel that marked them as servants of Highpass. The distinction was almost entirely cosmetic, of course; until recently, Highpass had been a part of the realm of Lichbrook and both sets of guards had left the same barracks early that same morning.

From the col, the ground sloped away to the south and west, carrying the road down in a series of increasingly violent bends toward the sparkling city of Rhodondra, lying snug within its valley. A triumph of symmetry , the city's quarters unfolded from a central core like the petals of a giant flower; each one was separated from its neighbours by the crystal-clear waters of a mountain stream, cleverly diverted for that purpose. In the centre, his enhanced vision could easily discern his eventual destination, the Tower of Flowers; its fairy-tale turrets rose like stamens above the surrounding buildings, the conical slate-roofs resembling purple anthers upon snow-stone filaments. It was, he reflected, a jewel of a city, as pleasing to the eye as its great rival, Spleazure, was painful.

Such visual wonders could wait for another day, though; there were matters of far greater import demanding his urgent attention. The Imperial Republic's unexpectedly swift withdrawal from Highpass had created a dangerous vacuum, threatening to undermine the Queen of Lichbrook's schemes. Had the Princess Octavia been a decade older, with suitable guidance she might have been able to assume the reins of government in person; but a tantrum-prone two-year-old was incapable of ruling, however exalted her lineage.

And that was where he, Cogito, entered the picture. Dispatched across the mountains by the Queen's Private Secretary, his mentor and fellow Lich-Adept, Viscount Braynes, his mission was deceptively simple, at least in theory: rule in the Princess' name, until she was old enough to do so unaided. Given that his new sovereign was currently beyond his reach- a ward of her father, no less of a man than the Kaiser of Shireroth- it promised to be a rather more interesting task in practice.

Lowering his braincase back into the specially-modified seat, he deftly flicked the driver intercom button with a finger-like tendril.

"Time to be moving, Parker..."

Post Reply

Return to “Highpass”