Split up as a group

Although you take separate accommodations from Angelica, you gather together in her room to create a plan. Fizzlewig, the wizard, has to be brought up to speed, but understands quickly. Sort of.

"Wait a minute? You're trying to find a princess from a kingdom that was destroyed a century and a half ago? And you find her, you intend to start nothing short of a revolution, against the largest and most powerful **** ever conceived? Based on a divine prophecy that neither of you actually had? And you think you can win?"

"That is the compressed version of it yes." Gabrielle responded first "there are any number of steps and hurdles that will interfere with all of this, but that is our general pathway"

"And you think this princess is here? Why is that?"

"It's where most of the refugees from the war went to" You mention "The capital of the old kingdom is all ruins now. At the very least, it's the best place to start looking. If she isn't here, we start combing the villages outside"

The halfling processed well and seemed eager, despite the enormity of the task "Well, than it sounds like you have no time to lose. I'm glad I'm here to help you both in this. What a story it'll be when this is all over"

You and Gabrielle give each other uneasy looks. Despite his relative age as a halfling, he seems naively optimistic about your future, but neither of you can bring yourself to quash it "Indeed..." Gabrielle steps in "Tell us, wizard, what spells or knowledge can you provide us in this moment?"

"At the moment? not a one, but when it comes time to fight, just you watch. I'll bring them all down!"

You chuckle quietly at his enthusiasm. Fizzlewig seems more enthused about this mission than you are. "Well, at any rate, Orkuz is a large city, and I think we should start by splitting up. We'll cover more ground that way"

"This sounds prudent, Lord Mastbreaker." Fizzlewig said "I don't know the city well, but I will go where I'm needed. Where do you plan on starting?"

"I was thinking on meeting the Reagant, Daryll Radforde, to see what he knows"

Gabrielle shoots on her feet immediately, her soft face turning bright red in rage "Are you insane!? You're going to tell an Imperial Lord of our plans to try and dethrone him? Daryl Radforde is without honor, and is a lechorous slob."

"He is all of those things, but to our advantage, the man is also an idiot. I know him personally, we schooled together as teenagers. I don't plan on telling him about the princess, but with the right plying, I think we can make him give up anything he knows voluntarily. Before we left, the Bishop told us that she would be in her own form of hell. Being around Radforde is a good start"

Gabrielle proceeds to sit down, her anger tempered but not fully extinguished "It's a risky idea Michael, but there is some value to it. Be careful. I shouldn't go with you. By reputation, he'll find my presence disquieting and will ruin any chances you have. I'll comb through the Refugee quarter. Fizzlewig can talk to the shopkeeps and intellectuals, see if they have heard any recent news of odd occurrences."

The three of you in accord, you leave the inn and make your way directly for the Keep of Orkuz, where the Reagant resides. Like many Imperial territories, it serves as a defensive structure against an incursion as much as it does a display of wealth, and the structure is well built and well defended. Ceremonial guards stand in parade rest up the hill to the actual gate of the keep. Despite being well disciplined and organized, they couldn't fit their way out of a linen closet, you suspect. The guards at the end stop you from going any further.

"State your business Sir Knight"

"I am Michael Mastbreaker, from the Imperial province of Sangine. I'm an old friend of the Reagant's, and while passing through on business, I wished to see him again, for old time's sake."

"Very well, please wait here. We will see if the Reagant is able to see guests at this time." One of the guards hustles into the keep to find it's master. The minutes seem to drag on after a while, until the guard returns, followed by Daryl Radforde himself, and a female companion. You begin to suspect why it took so long, Daryl appears haphazardly dressed, and his companion is hardly dressed at all. The barest of threads cover her bottoms, and clamps in the shape of the emblem of the Intrasican Empire cover her nipples. She tried to recoil into herself as she walked alongside the Reagant, likely here and in this state unwillingly.

"Michael! Why, it's been years since I've seen you."

"Far too many. It would seem that fate has worked in your favor."

"Indeed, but fear not Sir Mastbreaker, I suspect fate has many more favors to bestow upon you in good time. But come in, come in! We have much to catch up on and discuss. We'll get you comfortable yet, and I'll make sure you are treated to the best my royal hospitality can provide you..."

The nearly naked companion starts to catch your attention as you enter the keep. This is a pretty hard distraction from your mission, but on the other hand, it has been a long time since you scratched that itch, and you'll still be able to get what you want out of Daryl...eventually