#sandalio

(Answering with the royal guard squad, Age of Calamity/100 years pre-Breath of the Wild verse.)

"As Hyrule Castle has been inhabited by mousers for longer than any of them have had their posts, I would imagine they would have to accept their presence regardless of any negative feelings towards them." Why was Rhoam answering this? This was such a trivial question.

(Buuuut to go in alphabetical order...)

Armok smiled at the query. "I love 'em. Sometimes, before I fly up to sun myself on a tower, they'll follow me outside for conversation. It's surprising, the things cats come up with. Friendly critters."

Bryn performed a perfect double-take at the question. "Why. Do you have one nearby– I'm allergic!" Her hackles only rose higher as she spoke. "I'm sure they're perfectly friendly and nice and all, but they make my sinuses explode!"

"They're frequent visitors to the library, and tend to like to 'bother' many of its inhabitants," Gateni remarked. "Not that I find them bothersome. Although, I have heard of scribes growing impatient with them after a mouser walks in ink and over the page they're working on..."

Hubert grinned wide. "Ah love 'em. They're so friendly, especially the kitties mah girlfriend Linnea has. Yanno, they have the weirdest names– Arson and Goose– and it's the only time you'll ever hear Gateni approve of Arson."

"Oh, the mousers." Isaac nodded. "I've lived with mousers for a long time– even before my mother sent me off to become a knight when I was a child, our farm had more than a few cats to deal with the local vermin. I got scratched a few times back then, but children aren't always the brightest– it was usually my fault."

Leonard shuddered. "The mousers are all well and good. It's my beloved Tallula who has the most bothersome cat of all– Fluffy. She speaks. A Tabantha forest cat who speaks! And she's the most insincere, disrespectful little monster you'll ever meet. My beloved gifting her that power was an accident, and sometimes I wish it had never happened..."

Thorn kept quiet for a time before he realized that he would have to answer. "... They're nice. Is that all?" His eyes drifted sideways, towards a passing cat– and slowly his neck followed as it wandered into his field of vision. "Oh, hello there–" and he stopped short as he realized he was not alone yet.

"The mousers, they're great. Useful critters, not just for mice. My dear Gwyn loves to play with them, and she often muses on adopting a cat as a companion, but I fear we'd lose the poor thing among the mousers, unless we were to get a less common breed like Lady Tallula has." Raven smiled– never was Gwyn far from his mind.

"Mousers?" Sandalio shrugged. "I've never had particularly strong feelings about them. They're necessary, we'd have more problems without them than we do with. Just don't let them near my linseed oil."

Taunch so happened to be kneeling down to pet a mouser. "They're lovely creatures. I wish I could understand them like my father can, but being a half-dragon only grants so many boons. I suppose it's enough that Armok speaks with them. It's a bit funny, watching a dragon converse in low growls with a mewing cat, and it puts a smile on my face."

"Does it say enough for me that my husband loves them?" Vair spoke. "He'd adopt them all if he could. I have to be careful anytime I see him with kittens... Even if I try to discourage him, he takes it as a sign that he should take one home. And I'm afraid neither of us have the time to look after one. Unfortunately."

He's still a former servant to the Liuvigild family, but he one day discovered his own family, the Ferros, dead to monsters in the ruins of their home. He vowed to ensure this could never happen, and spends his spare time tinkering to create superior weapons in the name of preventing this from ever happening again. He took the royal guard post knowing that the pay could easily fund his research.

I'm looking at Sandalio and going "he is so boring. no one would vote for this fucker if they knew what his prompts were about. he needs some spice."

and I'm looking at how he's a huge fucking gun aficionado in his modern verse.

and I'm just thinking.

Watching more of the royal guard and their guests entering the dining hall gratified Raven; he knew that all of the guardsmen genuinely wished to have some fun– even Leonard and Wynne– but observing them arriving with various guests brought a smile to his face regardless. He was about done with the rules of the drinking contest, and looked over them to ensure they were clear before he might post them.

Leonard and Tallula had arrived an hour or so ago, and aided Raven in deciding on allowing participants of draconic lineages. Wynne was likewise punctual, and brought not guests, but a healer's kit and some magical implements in case they were needed– better safe than sorry. Sandalio entered with his friend Reyes, who was a soldier in the army whose family had connections to Sandalio's, and he asked in jest when the drinking contest began, and expressed sporting disappointment when Raven told him only the guardsman would participate.

Hubert came next with his beloved and a strange man whom Raven immediately identified as a dragon of some kind; he appeared Hylian, sporting blond hair and green eyes, but with slitted pupils. "'Is name's Zehka, 'e's a friend o' the family," Hubert cheerfully explained, "'e's a sky dragon who's been a friend a' the Langloises fer a long time." Naturally, Zehka himself grinned ear to ear, took Raven's hand in both of his, and shook enthusiastically. Raven had to explain that a typical handshake only required one hand per individual– though this only confused Zehka, who shook his head and shrugged. Big words, Zehka said, don't use big words.

Taunch walked in alone, and regretfully informed Raven that his former liege Lady Kendra could not make it due to matters in Necluda requiring her attention. They were not emergencies, but still urgent, he said. Raven nodded and said a barrel of mead would be sent her way regardless as a consolation.

Vair and Shanz walked in after that, Shanz holding their baby daughter Noel in his arms. Raven warned them that the celebration might become raucous later, but Shanz waved a hand and said Noel always slept through thunderstorms, and Vair nodded to confirm. Besides, Shanz didn't trust sitters with his precious baby; bringing her was the only option.

Armok brought no companions, but he did help the servants bring in the barrels of mead the contest participants would be drinking. He figured Raven had banned him from "playing" anyways, so he might as well.

Gateni also brought a draconic companion– two, to be exact; her husband Saryfel, currently in a Hylian guise, and their teenage half-dragon daughter Sareni. Raven politely offered handshakes to both; Saryfel shook his hand normally while Sareni asked what this was and what she was supposed to do. Gateni wrapped an arm around her shoulder in support as she explained that it was a traditional Hylian gesture of greeting; she might not be familiar with them if Saryfel hadn't taken her out of his lair to socialize like Gateni had asked. Water under the bridge, though– she could get that socialization in now.

Raven turned around after that and sighted Isaac perusing the drinking contest rules. What the hell, man, Raven asked, when did he arrive and why didn't anyone see him? Isaac laughed. Apparently his pranking days may never be behind him if he could surprise Raven without even trying. He pointed out that Gwyn had seen him enter and greeted him, even brought him to the rules Raven was still finishing. Raven just shook his head. Gwyn doing that to him he understood; Gwyn liked to be a bit sneaky and was exceptional at it. Isaac made no sense, considering his clumsiness.

Thorn was nearly late, but still a few minutes before the official start time of the celebration, and he brought his wife, Lita. She grinned, and Raven once more explained that only the guardsmen would be permitted to partake in the contest. Lita only grinned wider, this time turning this mischievous expression to Thorn, who grimaced with chagrin.

His subordinates– no, comrades; he may be their captain, but he always saw the other guardsmen as comrades– each took time to digest his words. Sandalio reached for the halberd on his back and began looking it over, seeking any flaw to be corrected. Leonard folded his arms, a flinty squint to his gaze. Armok could have chewed gravel through his gritted teeth.

"So when do we lead the coup?" Gateni asked brightly.

"That's not–" Incredulity at Gateni's outrageous suggestion filled Vair's tone.

"I'm joking," she sighed. "As much as the man has proven that he's a poor king, I know that's beyond our purview."

Another brief pause filled the room, until Raven spoke once more. "I... dislike the risks involved, but I believe Gwyn would not take issue if I were to ask her to involve herself. We may require the aid of a trained covert agent. Does anyone have any ideas that will hopefully not lead to a war between Nohr and Hyrule?"

"It's barely less inhumane than what the Nohrian king wants, but," Armok spoke up, "we could find a rabbit that resembles Mr. Flops and use it. Or, Gateni, Hubert, you two know of magic; could another rabbit be magically disguised as him?"

The two mages glanced between each other, but Hubert spoke. "Well, it depends on whatever yer tryin' ta fool. Some folks see through illusions like nothin', King Garon might be one of 'em. Could be real bad if he found out someone was tryin' ta pull a fast one on 'im."

"Or," Gateni added, "one could attempt a more mundane effect. Makeup and dyes might do well with disguising another rabbit as Mr. Flops. I don't believe any of us are skilled with such things, though."

"Gwyn is," Raven volunteered. "It's one of her many talents. This is a good plan, but we must also have others. Gwyn or Prince Siegbert may identify flaws with this plan that we cannot; contingencies and backup plans must be considered..."

“Ugh. One of those dastards scratched my halberd.” –Sandalio Ferro