To court a prince (closed)

[The Floor Kippers]

"Ah Good" Carol Nodded "That's a relief as I doubt My Old Doctor Would Make housecalls to another Part of the Multiverse"
She Ate some more of the Space Mambo
"So what Championship are you Attending to Pondera?" Carol asked

[Warhaven]

"The Citadel. Since Death has become an option, organized fighting has become popular. The public made the mistake of demanding one of the three of us participate, and now no one can defeat me." Pondera said, not as a boast, but as a matter of fact.

Pondera had finished his breakfast.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Pondera The Undefeated" Carol said, Thinking aloud "It has a Nordic Ring to it, I'd Keep that in Mind Should you Ever Visit Universe 233445/f"

[Warhaven]

"I have a much more impressive title, but now's not the time for that, I've got to get going, you know the Paladins and their unrelenting work ethic." Pondera said.

He finished what he had, and vanished on the spot.

"My first hearing's scheduled for eight." Tajen said, and vaporized.

"Just be glad you don't have any responsibilities yet." Cara said.

Then, moments later...

"Wanna know a secret, just between us girls?" Cara asked.

[The Floor Kippers]

Carol Smiled as she Put down her Knife and Fork, Having Finished the Space Mambo "Tell away Cara, I'm all ears"

[Warhaven]

"I think, at least I'm mostly positive, I mean I've always been aware of the most subtle changes in my body." Cara was rambling.

She took a deep breath, then continued.

"I'm going to see Kalia, because I'm 98% positive I concieved another child with Tajen last night. But keep it quiet, I don't want him to know yet because when I was carrying pondera he got hyper-protective and once threatened to behead a courtier because he passed within fifty yards of me while carrying a knife." Cara said.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Worry Not Cara, I am a Fortress of Secrecy, Not one word Shall Pass my lips, Its shall be Buried hidden deep with in my Consciousness, You have the word of a Gryphon and...." Carol paused as a thought struck her "I went a Bit over the top Didn't I?"

[Warhaven]

"It's ok, I'm just glad I can count on you." Cara said.

A red haired woman with green eyes walked in the room. She had on grey robes with a large red cross on the back, and the staff of alscepus on the front.

"Good, good, just the pair I need to see. A pair of medical examinations. I'll get yours done quickly young lady, just need to certify your good health." the woman said.

"I don't think you've ever met Kalia, have you Carol?" Cara said.

Kalia pointed at Carol, and her eyes started glowing momentarily, while she used a spell to take complete stock of Carol's present physical condition. She had worked on classic griffons before, a more evolved version like carol wouldn't prove to be too much of a challenge.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Morning Kalia" Carol said "I trust everything is in working order?"

[Warhaven]

"Find out just as soon as the spell completes." Kalia said.

OOC: With such a spell, you have to tell me what condition she's in, even if she's perfectly fine. Otherwise I'd be godmodding Carol.

[Warhaven]

"Ahh, it's done. Here are the results." Kalia said.

An image materialized in mid-air with charts and graphs, and statistics below.

"Name: Carol Miller
Gender: Female
Species: Gryphus Sapien
Height: 5ft 10in
Weight: 165 pounds
Wingspan: 10 Ft 3in
Age: 23
Brain activity: Normal
T count: Normal
Oxygen Levels: Normal
Metabolism: Normal
Blood pressure 140/90
Heart rate: 78bpm
Major Organs: Fully Functional
Bones: Structurally Sound
Eyesight: Near Perfect
Hearing: Perfect "

"That near perfect eyesight will have to be looked at another day, but for now I suppose you can go about your normal business." Kalia said.

Then she turned to Cara. She put a hand on the empress, then nodded.

"Yep, you are eight hours pregnant with what's going to develop into a baby girl." Kalia said.

She looked at Carol momentarily.

"I'm sure your familiar with most doctors inability to tell gender for at least a month. Well, my spells are similarly limited, mostly because new life is fragile.

Well, mothers naturally protect their children, which is another factor, and while I could overcome them both if I tried, I don't want to.

Regardless, over time I noticed that while scanning pregnant women, I was able to determine the baby's gender from its feel. Boys feel different from girls. It's like the difference between silk and satin.

This one has a satin feel to it, thus its going to be a girl. For the record, I've always been right.

[The Floor Kippers]

"That's Quite the Spell You Have" Carol said, Very Impressed "Sir Baron Humbert Would Love that"

She Listened to what Kalia had to say

"Cara, Congratulations are in order"

[Warhaven]

Cara put a finger in the air. It began emitting small circles that faded inches from the tip of her finger, as though she were broadcasting a message.

"Tajen dear, I'm pregnant." She said.

She smiled, and seconds passed.

"SOMEONE COME QUICK THE EMPEROR FAINTED!" a voice shouted from the hallway.

"Well, I guess I better go tend to the man."

Still, she seamed to be broadcasting.

"My dearest son, I've got a surprise for you, your mother is pregnant." Cara said.

Seconds later the sounds of an army of people cheering could be heard.

[The Floor Kippers]

Carol Smiled when she heard what had Happened to the Emperor, Merely out of Amusement and Not malice

[Warhaven]

Kalia re-entered the room moments later.

"You'll be pleased to know your husband has entered a state of shock. You have single-handedly halted the entire Bureaucracy. Cars are crashing and space ships are hurtling towards the ground. Chaos and pandemonium fills the streets and the people have gone mad with riots." Kalia said.

"It's not that bad, is it?" Cara asked.

"Well, no, but he has lost the ability to concentrate and think coherently for awhile, and so moved everything back." Kalia said.

"Well, the two of us are going to go make the problem worse and visit our favorite emperor in person." Cara said.

She stood up and glanced over to Carol.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready for your appointment with the Aquamarinians?" She asked.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Yes, Right, I'm off to go and Do that" Carol said Standing up and Leaving the room, in the doorway she turned and looked at Cara "Just one question will I have to find the Place I'm being tested or will someone show me there?"

[Warhaven]

"I'll do it in your room." a voice said from the hallway.

King Howard, leader of all Aquamarinians, was in the hallway.

"Business was set aside Howard. But with good reason. I'm pregnant!" Cara said.

"Congratulations. But, I already knew business was set aside. I was just checking to see if Ms. Miller was ready early." King Howard said.

The massive purple aquatic creature eyed Carol from within his wetsuit, filled with water, eight of his sixteen tentacles tapping the floor waiting an answer.

[The Floor Kippers]

"I'm Ready, Lets get this over and done with" Carol Replied
She then Added "Your Majesty"

[Warhaven]

King Howard followed Carol to her room.

"Alright then.

This test takes place in stages.

First, will be a level one connection to the Hive. This is equal to standard Telepathic communications. You'll hear voices, but you won't be going crazy. We overcame that weakness eons ago, and now all connect safely.

Secondly, once your mind has sufficently recovered its strength, usually around the minute mark, you'll make a level two connection. This begins sensory input from the hive. You'll recieve sensory input from all five senses. It will overlay the physical world, and is often disorienting to first time connectors. This factor will not be held against you if it holds true for you, which it might, but it might not.

Third, you will make the level three connection.

At level three, your mind seperates from your body. This is like sleep for your body, a very deep sleep. You will be inside the Hive Mind, appearing as you see yourself, your self-image becomes your form there.

Step four is simple. We meet inside the Hive Mind. I'll be right next to you, as I am now.

Step five, I will hand you a book. It contains all the laws still on the books in the Bureaucracy, that you might know what our laws are to avoid accidentally breaking one.

Afterwards, you disconnect.

This experience will leave you lightheaded and dizzy for sometime, an hour at most.

While you recover, I will tell you your results. I strongly advise you either sit or lay down on your bed." King Howard said.

Once Cara seemed ready, King Howard stared into her eyes, mostly to let her know he was starting the connection sequence.

Shortly, a buzzing sound would fill her ears, and it would sort itself out into a multitude of sounds.

"Did you hear the news release from the castle just now? The Empress is pregnant!" an excited male voice was saying.

"The woman Pondera was with last night seemed quite a catch." a different male voice was saying.

"Is it going to be a boy or a girl?" a female voice asked.

"So what is she, some kind of monster? She looks like a twisted mutant version of a griffon, probably some scientist's wet dream escaped from her cage." A snobby female voice said.

"What's it been like, twenty years since he was born? There must be some incompatibility between the two, or surely we'd have had another little prince or princess running around by now." a female voice was saying.

"Now, Lucy, take your medication like a good girl." a worried male voice was saying.

"I SWEAR I'M GOING TO HUNT THAT BITCH DOWN AND KILL HER FOR TAKING MY PRINCE FROM ME!" A crazed female voice was screaming, maybe it was Lucy, whomever she was. Good thing Carol was given a guard.

"You and Cara seem to be all anyone's talking about. I've limited your reception to the hospital. As for those last two, Lucy's in a straight jacket. She's completly schizophrenic, and refuses treatment. She can't get you, and even if she could, the imperial guards would prove more than a match for her." King Howard was saying.

He was waiting for Carol to decide to move on with the next level of connection.

[The Floor Kippers]

"That Is Quite Reassuring" Carol said calmly, Breathing Deeply "I'm Ready for the next level Connection"

[Warhaven]

Carol would become lightheaded, and the first image she would see, would be the prince himself, without a stitch of clothing on, appearently getting changed for something, as he was dripping wet. If she looked, she would find him, impressivly proportioned...

Walking through the prince came the sight of a little girl who skipped right over to Cara.

"Mommy, can I have a brownie?" the little girl asked.

From somewhere came a brownie, but off to the right came a seven foot pink rabbit. It seemed so calm, and peaceful, and benign, and gentle. Then it let loose a bloody roar revealing great sharp teeth, and ripped into something with large claws.

"Well, I just wish them luck. It was always just a fantasy for me anyway, especially after bob and I slept together at the wrong time and had charles." a young woman holding a baby boy said as she walked right past the ferocious monster.

"Scenes from the galactic mall, and Ephseus." Howard said as a large claw scooped up the feasting creature.

Still, he waited for Carol to be ready to move on.

[The Floor Kippers]

Carol Took The Images in, She was Impressed, Startled and Thoughtful all at once, Once again She breathed deeply "I'm ready to Move to the Next Level" She said

[Warhaven]

Everything seemed to dissolve into a sea of murky blackness, then from somewhere, lights came up, and Carol found herself in a great library filled with a mighty multitude of books. It would be impossible for any normal person to read them all in a lifetime.

"Behold, the entire knowledge base of Warhaven. Three fourths was contributed by Xos alone. Gods that man has an intimidating mind.

Anyway, here in The Hive Mind, everything exists, and happens by thought. It is its own reality, its own universe, seperate, yet connected to all others. All exist as they see themselves.

Case in point, there was a beautiful model once who connected. In the physical world, she had a knockout body, like yours. But because she thought herself fat and ugly, she appeared as such here.

Second case in point, you. Behold your appearance." King Howard said.

A mirror appeared before Carol, and she saw herself, exactly as she thought herself to be.

[The Floor Kippers]

Carol Looked around
"There Certainly is a lot of knowledge here"
Carol Peered into the Mirror and her reflection was Her as she was in reality, Though Her feathers were More of a shining gold colour than they were in reality
"I wonder what that says about me?" She though aloud

[Warhaven]

"Usually it means you have an enhanced notion of your worth. Nothing all that egotistical, it's fairly normal, especially considering the turn life has taken you." King Howard said.

There was no difference between reality and here for Howard. But, considering who and what he was, that wasn't all that unexpected.

A shelf of books flew over.

"These are books we recommend you absorb in time. The further your relation progresses, the more manditory they will be. Assuming all goes well, by the time you are married, you will have absorbed the entire shelf, and have the level of education deemed proper for a future empress." King Howard said.

There were books on culture, on the various creatures of the Bureaucracy, on history, books from Tajen and Cara on politics and the running of the government, and a shining book from Xos on practicing and controlling magic.

The Shelf retreated. A book picked itself up from the nearby table.

"You are permitted only one book per day, because you are not an Aquamarinian. Powerful Psions of other species may also be accorded multiple books per day, but never more than three.

This book is important. You have used up the temporary leeway accorded to you. From this point on, you will be held responsible and accountable for all laws in The Bureaucracy." King Howard said.

He held the book out to Carol.

"Just touch it."

Once Carol complied, it would begin to be absorbed directly into her, for here she was her mind, and thus it was the knowledge being absorbed into her mind.

As it was absorbed, words and phrases would fly across her vision, voices filling her head reciting the law, images and scenes of what each law meant and implied occupying her imagination.

OOC: And this is where I need you to tell me what happens again comes in, much like the scan spell from earlier.

This time, I just need to know how long in the physical world it took Carol to complete the download. It would be like downloading two or three movies onto your computer simultaineously, over a t3 connection. (T3 connections are incredibly fast, better than Broadband/DSL, but EXPENSIVE! Just so you know).

Also, I need to know in the OOC, how intelligent you want her to be. Above average, Genius, ETC.