To court a prince (closed)

[Warhaven]

"Thank you."

Back inside...

"Yeah, that CVE was interesting. Just gotta be careful of where you go, I'd hate to hear you ended in The Warp. It was hard enough retrieving Chaos from there. Or Mechanus, the great Machine. I went there when I was hunting down Law.

How do you prevent from ending up somewhere unsuitable for the support of life, or somewhere extraordinarily hostile?" Pondera asked.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Well" Bill began "We can Predict where an already made CVE Comes out through the use of an electronic pulse that Plots the CVE's exit on a Map of the known Multiverse, If it doesn't come out in a part of the Multiverse we know we send probes in to scan the area to check if its safe and place it on the map. If We're Making a New one we can choose where it comes out, so we avoid the dangerous stuff"

[Warhaven]

"That would have been extrordinarily helpful when I went to Mechanus. Nothing like a 50 ton Piston crashing towards you to inspire you to move, quickly." Pondera said.

He looked at Carol.

"I almost didn't make it. I was a lucky 12 year old boy." he said with complete seriousness.

[The Floor Kippers]

"I Know the feeling" Bill said "The same goes for a 12 ton boulder and a Runaway Glacier"

"That's why these Mapping systems and Probes were developed, to ensure the safety of the traveler" Bill said

[Warhaven]

"Unfortunatly, there will be no dimensional travel for me for a week. But, this is a nice start to my recovery." Pondera said, relaxing.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Its weird A lot of People come to this country to recover" Bill said "They say it has a calming affect, I suppose it makes sense with a government who's mantra is "Keep Calm and Carry on""

[Warhaven]

"After encounters with the sheer complexity of government, and the enourmous amount of laws that comprise The Bureaucracy, the people decided our motto should be "Fear the Legislation!" Pondera said.

He finished off his juice, and looked disappointed he had done so.

"It's not really that complex though. It's remarkably simple." Pondera said.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Government Is always daunting from the outside" Bill said "That's why so few people want to get into it. Can I get you anymore juice Pondera?""

[Warhaven]

"I think I'll try Blastberry this time around." Pondera said.

He looked lost in thought for a moment. Then chuckled to himself, and returned to normal.

[The Floor Kippers]

Bill looked at Pondera, as if to say, I wonder what that was about

"Ah Yes, Blastberry, a delicious Berry and Delicious Juice, Let it ferment and you'll discover how it got its name" He said Walking into the kitchen

[Warhaven]

"Let the Jesters get their hands on it, they'll give it a new meaning.

The Bureaucracy is relieved, and also pities the new students in Floor Kippers. Ray Ignintantus and Chris Morganson are comedians and pranksters to the core. Hence their nickname, The Jesters. You are fairly warned, beware them, in all instances. You can be sure they pulled a joke on you, somehow. Their students are extrodinarily aware of their surroundings." Pondera said.

He thought for a moment.

"Then again, all 12 of The Masters have exceptionally high standards. You can be certain that any student you send them, will come away worthy of the title of Master. Pardon, Sir Rahegalhoff and Lady Irene will likely remain on Ephseus. So that would be ten masters then." Pondera said.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Well I would Hope that A group of People called The Masters would have high standards" Bill said from the kitchen "Anyway, the Prime Minister won't mind them playing the odd joke on people, so long as no-one is hurt and he Laughs at the Joke, Which he often does, even to ones played on him"

"Am I right in thinking Sir Rahegalhoff and Lady Irene are staying on Ephseus because they both have Jobs to do back in The Bureaucracy?" Carol asked Pondera

[Warhaven]

"Well, she was just married to the man, and as for Sir Rahegalhoff, who else do you propose maintain such hellish standards during training? You've only had a week of near constant practice from before sunrise to after sunset with some exceptions.

Next week starts the tests and the exercises.

For example, monday, your going to wear the resistance bands, AND climb a mountain, at the same time. Oh, and this won't be some simple hike up the side. Oh lord no, that's too simple. No, your going to scale a sheer cliff face!" Pondera said.

He took a drink.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Not wanting to Poke holes in an otherwise Top notch training program, Why do I need to climb a mountain?" Carol asked "Ah well, for what ever reason we're doing it It'll give me a great chance to free fall, I Love doing that"

[Warhaven]

"To improve endurance. But, there is a choice in all this, you could tow large heavy boxes back and forth through the air great distances all day.

Both have a point.

The mountain climb is up to Lookout, carrying supplies to the scouts up there.

The flying is over to lookout carrying other supplies to them. The scouts need supplies after all. You wouldn't begrudge the scouts, their supplies, would you?" Pondera asked.

[The Floor Kippers]

"No, I wouldn't begrudge the scouts their supplies." Carol said "I'm starting to see that, Kernkraft and Bruno aside, week one is Peanuts to the coming weeks of training"

[Warhaven]

"Week one, understanding the basics, after that, improving one's self." Pondera said.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Well I really can't complain about training getting Harder" Carol said "I did volunteer to join"

[Warhaven]

"Near-death experiences at the hands of a large predator didn't have anything at all to do with it?" he asked.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Okay so that was Instrumental in me joining up" Carol admitted "But I still volunteered, I wasn't pressganged into it"

[Warhaven]

"Ok, that's true. Yeah, it's been an adventurous week for you. There's an old saying: Warhaven is the land of infinite adventure.

I guess we know how true that is now."

[The Floor Kippers]

"It Most certainly is True" Carol said "It Has been an adventurous week and I Wouldn't have missed it for the world"

[Warhaven]

"That was just the beginning. Just wait until the climax." Pondera said.

Law and Chaos began ringing, audibly. It sounded like the distant rumble of thunder combined with the tolling of large bells.

His blades appeared in his hands.

"Now, why are you two ringing?" he asked

The tone went up slightly.

"Oh. That's why. Gee they don't waste time, do they? These are my blades, Law and Chaos, forged from the essences of each. They ring as warning of high dimensional activity. The Masters are moving their tower." Pondera said.

[The Floor Kippers]

Bill Smiled "That means that The Cloister Bell is ringing back at the Ministry"

Nigel laughed
"Seems they don't waste time" He said, He paused to think about something "Bother, I forgot to ask if they want the Village reconnecting to the railway network.

Anyway, those are some Nice swords."

[Warhaven]

"These blades once belonged to the God Warfare, founder of Warhaven. He was renowned far and wide as everyone's friend, for such he sought to be.

The legend says, that once long ago, a great and mighty blacksmith challenged him to create better swords than he could make. Warfare took up the challenge.

First, he went to The Warp, from which all chaos is born. He went deep into The Warp, where the purest essences dwell, and through sheer will power, took the ever changing heart of chaos. He returned to his home, and by channeling the great lawful energies of the machine, forged the chaotic energies into the form of a blade, sealing their form with Lawful energies.

Then, his new blade in hand, he went to Mechanus, and went deep into the machine, further than any outsider had ever been before, and found a block of metal that could not be changed, it seemed to be the center of the machine. Through great effort, and chaotic assistance, he took the block to his home, and discovered the lawful energies borne of it were tremendous, and perfectly matched the chaos energies he already had.

Once more, through great effort, he forged his blade, and thus were born the twin blades of Law and Chaos.

As for the blacksmith, he conceded his defeat. But that's a whole story by itself, concerning how Warfare met Arianna, and the birth of their only begotten child. Sad ending though.

As for how I got them, moments before Warfare was lost to us, he cast his blades away saying they should not be lost with him. Many say he sealed his fabulous armor away in the blades. The two blades returned from whence they came, to the heart of that whose names they bear.

When I was twelve, against my father's direct orders to stay in my room all summer for playing with fire and catching the entire palace on fire, I snuck out.

Though I faced many powerful enemies along the way, like Warfare, I too got to the heart of Law and Chaos, and retrieved their blades. Many had been there before, seeking these as a prize, and none would the blades yield to. Yet, in my hand, they rang truly, and accepted me as their new master.

Needless to say, my father was surprised to see them in my hand. During my absence, he was working his stress, sorrow, and anger out in the arena, dueling any who dared. To surprise him, I came in as a mystery opponent. I came within a hair's breadth of beating him too, but he surprised me and teleported behind me." Pondera said.