Part Five

The world spinning one again, Giant soon found himself back at Camelot. Leaning against the wall, he soon regained his senses. Oh my, magics again so soon, tis not good for my head...
Eyeing the schuire Sydney as she spoke her babble and ran off, he new there would be time
enough to deal with her. Turning to who he had assumed brought him back he looked at her puzzled..  Seems thing to have gone awry in my short absence, please fill me in on what has taken place. Listening intently, as his new found ally explained what had transpired, when she had finished, he spoke again.... This calls for a meeting of the War council. I am going to change into something more appropriate, wait here and if my enforcer and advisor return have then wait here.. Thank you, your efforts in this have not gone unnoticed.......General.

Quickly leaving, and changing back into his fatigues, El Presidente is soon back on the balcony
with his advisor, enforcer, and new general.

Now, we must prepare for these Freedom Fighters, but first I need reports of their activities.......
 

austin draconis - 04:35pm Oct 10, 1998 MST
Baby Faerie Dragon to the Lady Valeana

Walking out of the kitchen munching on a drumstick austin looks about the halls muttering to
himself. "I know me gonna get in  trouble, I know me gonna get in trouble...when Valeana gets home... I gonna be in sooooooooo much trouble." Taking another bite he heads down the hall looking for El Presidente.  Rounding a corner he comes upon Mocha dragon leaning against a stone column blowing steam rings smelling like coffee. Looking out onto the balcony the air shimmers and two shapes begin to form. Instantly austin recognizes Valeana's newest Squire, Sydney and swallowing he sees El Presidente. Shaking his head he moans again...."I knows I gonna be in so much trouble."

"Ahhhhh, buck up kid," smirks Mocha as he adjust his black shades and heads out to the balcony. Hoping up onto El Presidente's shoulder he talks out of the side of his mouth. "Well it about time ya got back....we got insurrection going on here. My sources tell me that the wine cellar has been infiltrated by those freedom fighters. A red nosed Baron.....I think they call him Raven..and that damn cat Cali. And then this tin can dude, Areleth, is loose with an AK-47 Broadsword running around yelling Viva Gorditas." Shrugging Mocha continues, "I mean if ya gonna be popping in and out of here be no skin off  me nose, but if ya trying to overthrow ya got yer work cut out for ya. And this good looker just showed up," Mocha nods toward Melodias. "Hey El Presidente ya got good taste mon." Sitting back confidantly on El Presidente shoulder Mocha awaits for futher instructions.
 

Josiella - 08:46pm Oct 10, 1998 MST

Josiella is dressed all in black-black breeks, boots, weskit, jerkin, and ski mask. She
crawls on her belly along the ground, infiltrating the KoRT Keep. Like a rather large black snake, she weaves her way amongst the outbuildings, to a deep, stone well. Holding a dagger between her teeth, she slips into the well, and strongly swims downwards, until she reaches a grating. Treading water, she pries upon the rusty lock. She opens the grate, and swiftly swims horizontally until she senses a trap door overhead. Again she uses her knife to disable the lock. With a tremendous scissor kick, she propels herself upwards, forcing the trap door to open. She gasps for air, her grateful lungs accepting new oxygen.

She scrambles out of the underground water conduit into a completely darkened room. She pulls off  her ski mask, then shakes herself like a dog, scattering drops of water in every direction. She leaves the trapdoor open, so that others of her ilk may follow her. Feeling knee high across the clammy stone walls,  she comes to the remembered depression. Her small hand exactly fits the indentation, which mechanically operates the hidden door. Silently the door swings open-the hinges having been oiled by a confederate. Josiella begins to tremble, her soaked clothing clinging to her body, and making her want to sneeze. She pinches her nose shut, and holds her breath, until the urge passes.

Josiella silently inches her way along the musty, damp corridor until she comes to another hidden door.  Again she places her palm into the hand-sized depression. As the door opens, she sees a sleek Tomcat, lapping up wine. Next to the cat is a human guerilla fighter. Josiella remembers Raven wrestling a gorilla during the usual Saturday night matches. "Greetings, compadres, I am here as promised," she whispers in her soft, silky voice. "Others are coming. What is my next assignment?" She eyes the burgandy-colored wine, licking her soft lips. "Er, can you spare me a small libation? Just enough to warm the bod after a long, nasty swim." Josiella begins to tremble more noticeably in the damp, hidden room.
 

Sydney - 11:51pm Oct 10, 1998 MST
Squire to Lady Valeana

Sydney ran down the hall away from El Presidente. Her first thought was to get away from him. Had he caught her, she wasn't quite sure what would happen. Once she figured out he was not following, she stopped. She was only right down the hall from El Presidente, but wanted to find out what was happening. She knew there had to be some upheaval and turmoil going on, or that odd woman wouldn't be standing there.

Sydney heard a voice and ducked into a crawl space keeping out of sight. She listened closely as El Presidente was told of the happenings around the Keep. The wine cellar....freedom fighters. Just the place she needed to go. She felt her pocket and smiled as she realized the key to the wine cellar was still in her possession from her cleaning duties earlier. That was her chance she thought and she came out of the crawl space slowly, so as not to be noticed. But wait....There standing down the hall was Austin, looking out onto the balcony.

Sydney remembered Austin from her Knight Sponsor's office chambers. A quiet and loyal little dragon.....who must have been threatened to be associated with El Presidente. She knew little Austin looked worried. "pssssst" Sydney said softly, "pssst, psssst, Austin?" Austin turned around slowly and Sydney motioned for him to come to her. Surprisingly he did and without a word. "What are you doing Austin?" Sydney whispered. "The Lady Chancellor will have your hide if she catches you with him!" Austin looked at Sydney and she saw the fear in his eyes. He muttered, "I knows I gonna be in so much trouble."  Sydney looked at him and said, "awww, you are terrified little guy, come with me, quickly, I will keep you safe from El Presidente." For a moment, Sydney thought the little dragon smiled. She backed down the hall, keeping her eyes on El Presidente, with Austin close to her. They rounded the corner and headed for the wine cellar.

Sydney pulled the key from her pocket and turned the lock, opening the door to the cellar. She and Austin stepped in and she closed the door, locking it. Austin took off running towards the back of the cellar. Sydney hollered after him quietly "wait for me Austin! Where the heck are ya goin???" She followed him down the stairs to the semi-darkness of the back of the cellar. Sydney rounded the corner just in time to see Austin duck behind a row of kegs. She caught up with him to find him pressing against the wall. "What are you doing Austin?" she asked. He didn't answer. She saw his pushing motions increase and heard small grunts coming from him. She decided to push against the wall. It opened startling Sydney. Austin rushed in the opening and Sydney followed, hoping the little dragon knew where he was going. Sydney turned and pushed the wall back into place, then turned around to face a cat, a man and a woman. Startled again, she screamed and reached for her sword. Finding herself unarmed, she looked at the man and woman and decided to see if talking her way out of this would work.

"Greetings....My name is Sydney, Squire to Lady Valeana and this is Austin", pointing down behind her. "Who are you? The freedom fighters?" she asked. "I surely hope you are not representing El Prseidente. I wouldn't want to have to kill you, ya know Sydney stood nervously watching and waiting for the response, keeping Austin behind her.
 

areleth - 12:48am Oct 11, 1998 MST
Knight Baron of the Round Table

Baron's Log, Gordita Uprising, Day 4.

Our forces grow ever stronger, but El Presidente himself has returned to the Keep. It looks like it might be Chicken suprise on toast for dinner after all.

The time is now, all or nothing. I have sent squeeky the wonder mouse to the wine cellar to
inform my Brothers and Sisters there that we must make the final assualt on the kitchen now or never. I have yet to hear word. Horse and Bruno have the animals in the stables ready to attack on my command.

I have moved back to the balcony overlooking the courtyard with Beuford, who is regailing those below with tales of mexican food. I will defend him as long as I am able so he may rouse the people against leftovers.

Power to the people! Viva Gorditas!!!!

Excalibur - 03:50pm Oct 11, 1998 MST
Just call me "Cali", Lady Felena's Notorious Cat

Cali looked up at Josiella and blinked, then turned back to his wine. When he had finished, he
jumped down from his "chair" and made his way to the back of the small room where a large chest was located. Looking back toward Josiella, he mind spoke to her, informing her there were dry clothes to be found within. "Ahhhh...thank ye," she said, crossing the short distance and opening the chest. Raven looked at her in amazement as Cali nodded and returned to his "chair".

"How did ye know to find clothing within that chest, milady?" asked Raven. "The cat told me, of course!" Josiella responded as though it were normal for a human to read the mind of a feline. Raven glanced across the table at Cali again, wondering if the surprises this feline seemed to bring would ever cease. Within moments of Raven's thought, the hidden doorway to the small room opened once again to admit Sydney and Austin. Cali blinked at the two as Sydney gained control of herself and spouted on about hoping they were freedom fighters and it being a shame to kill them if they weren't. However Austin knew Cali well, and the little dragon squealed in delight, as he hopped up onto the table beside Cali and began chattering away in baby dragonspeak, telling Cali of his being "forced to join El Presidente's side" and something about "Chicken surprise forever!!" He spoke so fast that Cali finally swatted him with a paw to stun him into control, then mind spoke his request for the small dragon to begin again.

The baby dragon began again, more slowly this time, filling the group in on the latest plans El
Presidente and his cohorts had devised. Areleth, he told them, was trying to encourage the masses by having Buford tell them stories about tempting mexican dishes, including Gorditas and the like. When he had finished, Sydney told all that she had heard outside El Presidente's suite.

By this time, Josiella had changed out of her wet clothing behind a stand of barrels and
approached the table. In her hand was a leather mapcase treated with oil to repel water. From this she produced a parchment showing the layout of the entire keep, marked with secret passages and hidden doorways. Looking at Raven, she said, "It's up to us now, Commander. We must secure the kitchen or we shall be eating Chicken Surprise from now until the end of time."

austin draconis - 04:48pm Oct 11, 1998 MST
Baby Faerie Dragon to the Lady Valeana

"pssssst" Sydney said softly, "pssst, psssst, Austin?" Austin turned around slowly and his little heart leapt with joy. For there stood Valeana's Squire, the beautiful Sydney. Little did anyone know that the wee dragon had a big crush on the squire. With eyes round with fear Austin flattened himself against the stone wall of the balcony and slowly inched his way over to Sydney. Once off the balcony he lightly tip toed behind her till they rounded a corner then made a break for the wine cellar.

Once inside Austin ran toward the back wishing to put as much distance between himself and El Presidente and he knew just the place to do it. Why this old cellar was the KoRT pets stomping grounds. Going to the wall with Sydney on his wings, Austin found the lever and released it and leaned against the door with little luck. When Sydney caught up with the dragon, she was out of breath and a bit vexed. Pushing against the wall and they entered a secrect room.

Closing the door Austin was delighted to see Cali sitting on the table in his normal poise of regal superiority . Making small baby dragon squeals he ran and threw himself at Cali trying to tell him everything at once till he felt a thwap. Staggering back Austin grabbed his head and uncrossed his eyes and stuck out his bottom lip but decided this was no time for pouting. Taking a deep breath he began again giving the group all the inside information then went and sat down on Baron Raven's lap. He liked the Baron for wherever he was...there was fun..and he didn't understand why Valeana closed down his bathhouse..he had so much fun swiming there. Sighing he settled down as his eyes drooped shut and promptly feel asleep. After all he was just a baby..and its been a tough day all over.