Prepare for the Expedition to Phebis

(Portions of this post are based on the lore found in "Go about your day.")

You wait for your advisors to leave the court, before returning to your private sanctum. The servants are now working to retrieve your armor & weapons from the royal armory, as you walk over to your bed chamber. When you arrive at your bed chamber, you find a woman there standing near the door, leaning against the wall. The cat-like ears, tail, & other features make her a catfolk, one of the handful of beastfolk that are gradually becoming more integrated with the humanfolk of Itheria. Her mud-colored hair & fur mingle in well with her green eyes. You can tell from how tight her leathers are to her body, for while she may be quite small in size, she has the looks of a very lithe woman. A belt around her waist holds a few attached pouches, as well as her short sword, and a small crossbow. Straps around her thighs holds her throwing daggers.

"Good morning, your majesty." She tells you.

"And who are you to be mingling in my private sanctum," you ask her, "including my bed chamber?"

"I am Akina," she tells you, as she stands up straight, and curtseys to you, "and I am the leader of your Spy Corps."

"Lord Gilbert never told me about a Spy Corps, when I was preparing to be king." You tell her. "Why are you here?"

"To introduce myself, for one." Akina tells you. "Second, to let you know that you have a Spy Corps that has stood as long as the length of your dynasty. Me and my people are at your disposal, whether it's to gather intelligence for you, or the occasional **** or theft. And speaking of intelligence, I have already sent a few of the others out to Phebis, to scout for any dangers on the way to the Phebian capital, and learn more about the raiders from the distant sea."

"Have you learned anything about them?" You ask her.

"Nothing new outside of what is written in your family's lore books about them." Akina tells you. "You may want to give it a good read, before you find yourself riding to Phebis unprepared."

"And what will you do, in the meantime, Akina?" You ask her. "There is much preparation to be done, and I must make sure my armor & weapons are in the best condition."

"I am sure they are in the best possible condition." Akina tells you. "But as long as you get some training along the way, then you may stand a chance, should one of those women confront you in battle. As for myself, I will ride off to Phebis, and join the others. After all, the more intelligence you have, the better your chances of coming up with a good strategy to combat them."

"As you wish, Akina." You tell her. "See that it is done."

"By your will, your majesty." Akina tells you, bowing.

You watch as Akina walks up to you, and rubs herself lightly against you, purring like a cat. You jump at the feel of her body against you, while you feel her hot breath as she tip-toes to nearly match your height, enough for her lips to meet your ear.

"One last thing, before you don your armor, your majesty." Akina speaks softly to you. "I hear that the Amazons prefer their...meat...big and juicy. Just be careful not to let their...assets...distract you from your duties as king."

And with that, Akina pats you on the shoulder, and you hear her walk off, as you enter the bed chamber, to await your armor & weapons. It isn't long before servants come in with all the armor pieces you will need: a full suit of chainmail to go between your full suit of plate armor & your clothes, an open-face helmet made of chainmail & plate that is designed to accommodate your crown, and a large kite shield, with the crest of Itheria on it. Your longsword come next, followed by a couple of daggers that you can hide in your boots. When you finish putting on the armor, you walk over to the family library. It's a rather large chamber, with rows upon rows of books and scrolls. However, someone had already picked the book for you, as it is laying on the table, and it is open to show the written accounts of the Amazon folk, complete with rough sketches. You suspect Akina had something to do with you, but you do not deny the amount of time you save. With the book in hand, you make sure your shield & weapons are secured, and then walk out to where the army is assembling.