Mol thought 'So the same group of demons that created the Orks and Trolls now rule Xian'. He knew what he needed to do. Weakly he stood and prepared for the dizziness, which came but was much easier to bear than before. He exited the room and looked around for someone to escort him to Wu.

"Really?" The nurse said, having not even made it all the way down the hall "there's a chamber pot in your room. It's in the corner"

Mol chuckled 'No I wanted to talk to Wu, do you have the time to escort me there?'

"I'll have to make time" she said annoyed, knowing that although Mol was lower in rank than she the Prince would be upset if she let his guest wander around without medical supervision

'Thanks, I appreciate it' Mol said, and let the nurse walk him to where Wu was being kept.

@Kenny1

"Thank you for the escort. Yes, this will do," he replied, nodding in reply to them.

For being a dead king, Turak was proving to be a rather gracious host at that. He soon went over to the Altar.

Emperor Iltar shook his head and rose, "I will not have Theolagean farms, which withstood the tests of time since before before I was born, be raided by those inhuman barbarians we call orcs!", (note, Iltar has a Scottish-English accent, if you wanna use one.) a row of guards lined on each side of the hall cheered and thrusted their spears to ceiling, one shouted "hiedefai o eth gantza!" (Death to the inhuman) while the others responded with "Hadafe!" (So it shall be).

To the right of the throne was the imperial advisor, to the left would be the general but he had matters to attend to elsewhere. "Sire, I might suggest sending an envoy to the orcs of Ocrad, though, I doubt they understand diplomacy as well as they understand how to fight." He jokes, Iltar grins and places his crown on the imperial throne as it should be.
"Hmm, very well, send someone of your choosing to speak with the orcs, I leave the matter in your hands old friend.", Iltar placed a hand on his shoulder, Iltar and the advisor, yktrisen, were friends from long ago, though now yktrisen was too old for any more adventures.
"I shall, sire. Oh and by the way, I think I'll find myself a nice homestead after this, maybe I'll live with the holy daughters in the southern mountains.", he stood as well, his drapes touched the floor but didn't trip him up in the slightest, Iltar still gave him a worrying look.
"I can arrange that, avakar, hiedelorn." (Live long, die hard.)

--------------

"Astreiden, where are you?!" Yktrisen called, a lean boy appeared from behind a rough kitchen wall, he was carrying a bowl of salad in one hand and reading a small parchment in the other.
"Yes attasivan." (Grandfather), "I was just reading a note from Karra in reis'n'wor, she says the slaves there are weak and can't work properly, must be annoying.", Yktrisen pulled the note from his hand and threw it in the letter basket behind him.
"Listen kitta (son, doesn't matter if it's a grandson), you said you wanted to become the next cheif adviser of the emperor, now you have a chance.", Astreiden turned wide eyed.
"I'll take it, no matter what it is, I'll do it."
"Hmph, good, I've seen your grades in demihuman studies, you'll do fine. I will have some guards waiting for you tommorow morning, as well as an interpreter, your grades were good, but not that good."

--------------

A week later

Astreiden and his small force of ten arrive at an orcish outpost, just at the edge of the border.
"Look at them, ugh, their green-grey skin, disgusting." One guard says.
"Don't mock them, they might have an interpreter as well and decide to kill us.", the group pulls to a stop just before the gates and the interpreter says:
"You, orcs, we seek council with your leader concerning diplomacy!", the group awaits an answer.

'Thanks, I appreciate it' Mol said, and let the nurse walk him to where Wu was being kept.

The clinic as it turned out was just across a small river that ran through the palace grounds. The building stood perched over the river and looked very plain compared to the living areas and meeting halls. But surrounded by the perfectly manicured garden it still seemed to emit a basic beauty.

Traversing the small clinic was not difficult, it being much smaller than the men's it only had a few rooms. Wu had been provided with a main floor room overlooking the river, and after the nurse confirmed Wu was dressed she allowed him in

Clinic, Nanking Palace

Mol walked over to Wu 'Alright I know I'm probably coming on a bit sudden here but I think that book has immense power, I mean, I recall it being called Dru Shikhdub but the others here recall it being called Ryu... Something or other. What do you remember?'

Ocrad, 46th Border Outpost.

'Druziak!' one of the orks called and a goblin translator stepped up 'Drugh Tako!' the ork said.
'Please state your intentions' the goblin asked.

Wu looked at the man a bit confused, not least because her head was still spinning from being dressed so quickly.

"What are you talking about Mol? All I remember is that you picked a book of the shelf and I fainted"

The nurse added "the man who found you said that the dust must have given you both asthma attacks. Your memory problems probably stem from air deprivation."

Mol sighed, frustrated, a fair bit of his memory had come back and he knew a bit more of what he was facing, although he knew with all of the formalities in Xian meant that he wouldn't be able to bring it to Lings attention without significant evidence. 'Where is the Ryu.. whatever being kept?' Mol asked the nurse.

"Don't even think about it kid" the nurse said "the scholar who found you has it, and he asked not to be disturbed."

'Alright I'll return to my quarters now if that's alright, unless you have some sort of quarantine procedure' Mol said and prepared to leave. Mol walked back to his room and sat, deep in thought. He had some ideas of what he would do but he needed to prepare first. It was obvious that he wouldn't be able to gain anyone's help in the matter so he was thinking of ways he would solve this himself. For the moment he needed to rest and think this over, so he lied his head on his pillow and rested, thinking.

Clinic, Nanking Palace

Mol walked over to Wu 'Alright I know I'm probably coming on a bit sudden here but I think that book has immense power, I mean, I recall it being called Dru Shikhdub but the others here recall it being called Ryu... Something or other. What do you remember?'

Ocrad, 46th Border Outpost.

'Druziak!' one of the orks called and a goblin translator stepped up 'Drugh Tako!' the ork said.
'Please state your intentions' the goblin asked.

"An envoy of the great Theolagian empire has come to speak with your leader, as I said before." the interpreter said, he shifted in his saddle, afraid for what might happen next.
"We only want safe passage, we mean no harm." Astreiden said to the small goblin interpret, he felt no fear nor any remorse for coming to orcish lands, instead he straightened up into a heroic posture.

'Alright I'll return to my quarters now if that's alright, unless you have some sort of quarantine procedure' Mol said and prepared to leave. Mol walked back to his room and sat, deep in thought. He had some ideas of what he would do but he needed to prepare first. It was obvious that he wouldn't be able to gain anyone's help in the matter so he was thinking of ways he would solve this himself. For the moment he needed to rest and think this over, so he lied his head on his pillow and rested, thinking.

Two Days Later
--------
Nanking Palace, Xi'an
--------

"It looks like you've received a letter from his Majesty." Wu noted, holding up a piece of paper sealed with a wax crest.

Opening the dispatch she read

"Dear honored guest,

As you may be aware I will be celebrating my 100th birthday this evening, where I will be crowned the Emperor of Xi'an. This is a joyous and sacred occasion, and I wish to invite you to attend as the representative of Ocrad. I thank you greatly for your time, and look forward to seeing you.

His Majesty,

Crown Prince Ling"

(Ooc: during the party the whole palace is going to be at the assembly hall, so it would be Mols best chance at stealing back the book)

@Ewin Rysell

Two days later
-----
Military barracks, Nanking Palace
-----

The barracks for the palace were surprisingly comfortable for a space designed to be utilitarian. The bedrooms were divided from the hall by sliding rice paper doors, allowing for minimal privacy despite each soldier having a private room. Each room had woven Reed mats on the floor, which doubled as the seating. The only furniture to speak of was a laquered closet meant for clothing and armour, and à chest under the window where the bed roll was stored during the day.

"A letter from his Majesty for Sir Ragnest" announced a messenger standing on the other side of the rice paper sliders

Nanking Palace.

'Thanks Wu, I'll try to make it but I have some things to think about and might be a bit late' Mol said. The past two nights he'd had strange dreams. The first night he was in the library again, the book was on the table. He had looked around but there was no one to be seen. He picked up the books and opened it. The page was a mirror, but instead of his face looking back at him there was that of a demon, and not one that looked human like the Xianese. It had said in the same voice he'd heard when reading the book 'Dru Shikhdub thoru, unhtakogh (fetch Dru Shikhdub, I will speak to you)' The book had then faded until he could no longer see it and he'd woken up. The second night he was in another world, which he assumed was hell. There were was a vast plain before him and it was empty. He took a step forward and suddenly there were demons all around him, fighting with one another. One turned to him and said, in common tongue 'We were the only ones brave enough to rebel. But perhaps it was foolish, as even with our Ork and Troll army we were no match for the Bagutoga'. A demon then stabbed him in the chest and they all disappeared. Mol took another step forward and there was the same scene, except on one side there were Orks and Trolls and the other demons. An ork turned towards him 'Inuziakh, Bagutogagarkh. Inu gurokh, eros Bagutoga ukudakh (we were weak, the Bagutoga were strong. We fought, but they won)' the ork was then killed and Mol woke up.
He assumed it was the voice from the book sending him these dreams, which had peaked his interest in it even more. He had made up his mind, he assumed since this was an important event everyone would be there, so he was going to steal the book then.

The goblin translated this to the orks and some seemed to laugh. The gates opened after a few seconds and 20 Orks in full armor marched out. 'Bako!' one of them yelled and they began to walk into the outpost, expecting the others to follow.

Nanking Palace.

'Thanks Wu, I'll try to make it but I have some things to think about and might be a bit late' Mol said. The past two nights he'd had strange dreams. The first night he was in the library again, the book was on the table. He had looked around but there was no one to be seen. He picked up the books and opened it. The page was a mirror, but instead of his face looking back at him there was that of a demon, and not one that looked human like the Xianese. It had said in the same voice he'd heard when reading the book 'Dru Shikhdub thoru, unhtakogh (fetch Dru Shikhdub, I will speak to you)' The book had then faded until he could no longer see it and he'd woken up. The second night he was in another world, which he assumed was hell. There were was a vast plain before him and it was empty. He took a step forward and suddenly there were demons all around him, fighting with one another. One turned to him and said, in common tongue 'We were the only ones brave enough to rebel. But perhaps it was foolish, as even with our Ork and Troll army we were no match for the Bagutoga'. A demon then stabbed him in the chest and they all disappeared. Mol took another step forward and there was the same scene, except on one side there were Orks and Trolls and the other demons. An ork turned towards him 'Inuziakh, Bagutogagarkh. Inu gurokh, eros Bagutoga ukudakh (we were weak, the Bagutoga were strong. We fought, but they won)' the ork was then killed and Mol woke up.
He assumed it was the voice from the book sending him these dreams, which had peaked his interest in it even more. He had made up his mind, he assumed since this was an important event everyone would be there, so he was going to steal the book then.

Wu sighed in frustration, partly convinced this man was trying to get her killed. "Ok Mr. Secrets spill it. What is going through your head that could possibly be more important than the coronation of the emperor of Xi'an?"

Mol looked annoyed on the outside but inside he was slightly impressed 'you were there with me so I suppose you should know. When I opened the book, Dru Shikhdub, I began hearing things. It described a battle and I felt like I was there. After a while a voice spoke to me, it said that I need to unite the orks and fight for the Totudage, who were a rebel groups of demons. I also think they had actually made the orks and trolls as it described them taking humans and changing them into orks. The voice grew louder and the battle sounds as well, so I dropped the book and it screamed. I closed it and fainted and woke up in the clinic. When I tried to explain it to the nurse she insisted that it wasn't called Dru Shikhdub and she wouldn't let me see it. You didn't remember anything so I gave up and retired to this room. But for the past two nights I have had strange dreams and I believe whatever the voice was wants me to get the book back, so that is what I was going to do. I suppose you'll rat me out now right? But at least try to raise the matter to attention before you do, unless you want to join me in reclaiming the book' Mol waited.

Wu looked doubtful and was weighing the options in her head. She could go with Mol and if his claim was true they would have found something of great importance, but on the other hand if he was insane or they were caught, there would be consequences. She did remember the book being called Dru Shikhdub and her falling unconscious the moment he opened the book made her curious, and she could always tell the truth and hope for the best if they were caught. She'd made up her mind 'I'll go, but this better be something important or I'm going to start treating you like an insane person. We should go once the coronation starts, what you've already thought is probably correct, that everyone will be there. Until then wait here and I'll try and get us both something to hide us better so that we aren't seen as easily and something to cover our faces'. Wu left the room and Mol sat down and closed his eyes, only to see the face before him. 'Good' it said in common tongue 'you will reclaim Dru Shikhdub, there will be few guards during the coronation, and the cloaks will hide you like shadows'. Mol opened his eyes and the word 'shadows' echoed in his mind. He sat down, refraining from closing his eyes, and waited.

Wu returned with a cloak, finding nothing to cover their faces but hoping that the deep hood of the cloak would be enough. She lied the cloak down and pulled out a map of the palace. 'As far as I know the Dru Shikh-whatever is being kept here' she pointed to a room 'there will most likely be guard here, here and here although most of them will be attending the coronation. I suggest that we go as soon as it starts, so that we won't be too late for the ceremony and raise suspicion. Anything else?'.
Mol shook his head 'No, you've covered everything we need' he said 'we'll go then, for now lets get something to eat as I am rather hungry'.

OOC I am stopping here because I'd be skipping to the coronation in the next part and I want to wait for Shmek first as I saw that he wanted to do an assassination attempt.