The Scroll of Exalted Ponies

As the circle hurried to their final meeting with the last of the Daimyos Cash sent Sullen Hoof back to the lunch banquet to keep an eye of what was going there.

“Maybe that deathknight, what was his name, Typhon – maybe he arrived late for lunch, go check, but don’t do anything beyond that” Cash commanded as the circle rounded a corner.

“That Ting fellow, nasty – but I didn’t see him earlier, do you think he sent another to speak for him?” Speaker wondered to Cash.

As Cash shrugged Red answered: “Ya, that’s how he’s always been from what I’ve heard. I bet those sex-slaves of his cry themselves to sleep at night... if they don't get crushed if he rolls over”

The circle agreed that it wouldn’t be that big a loss if Daimyo Ting was replaced with a slightly more proper Daimyo.
“By the way, how did you know that threatening him would work?” Red wondered.

“His sort always worries about loss of revenue more than small raids – my social charms did the rest” Cash confidently stated as the circle approached the final Daimyo’s quarters.

The guards outside Daimyo Soaring Blade’s quarters were vigilant and looked incredibly disciplined as the circle approached, their gaze never wavering from their constant pattern of looking from one of the hallway to the other. They didn’t even respond when Cash asked them to announce his arrival.

Regarding the uncooperative guards for a brief moment, then letting himself and the circle in, the circle was met with several stony-faced ponies with serious expressions – all of them silent and adorned garbs befit of advisors and samurai, except for the pony who stood at their center: He was an old stallion, older-looking than Speaker (but then again Speaker didn’t really act his age anymore in that regard) by virtue of his very long white beard, the multitude of healed scars that adorned his face and chipped hooves which protruded from under a stark grey coat. The stallion was wearing ceremonial lamellar armor, Speaker recognizing the gilded bits on the armor from the earlier negotiations.

A servant calmly bid the four ponies to take a seat. The chairs provided were of equal height to what the Daimyo was sitting on, meaning that .

“Took you long enough” The Daimyo grunted in high realm as Sunrise and Speaker finally settled in as the last of the four to sit down.

Cash bowed his head answered in kind: “I humbly apologize great warlord, our meetings with-“

“Enough prattle” the old pony bellowed. His voice was coarse like gravel, having clearly shouted many a command in his lifetime, with his annoyance being the only thing clearly communicated to Speaker and Sunrise as neither of them understood High Realm, the language of unicorns and uppity nobles everywhere.

Cash waited for the old pony to speak again, Speaker, Red and Sunrise equally waiting – none of them entirely sure what this old pony wanted to say – although Red did understand High Realm and Shimmer, having heard the noble, translated as quickly as she could.

“Yeddim do not fly – how did you make it fly?!” the old pony barked, his bushy brows and balding mane quivering ever so slightly, his question just as inquisitive as it sounded accusatory.

“Oh, now that’s for me to know and-“ Cash began, but was again interrupted by the old pony as he shouted “Enough prattle, can’t stand all that wishy-washy crap – just say you don’t want to tell me if that’s it! I've lived through too many decades of meaningless crap, don't need any more from you”

Looking pensive for a moment as Cash reevaluated how to address the Daimyo, Speaker found himself comparing Soaring Blade to how some of the really old unicorn commanders he’d seen acted: They were too old to fight, and wise enough to see how their younger counterparts were doing it wrong, but not strong enough in either body or mind to stand up and correct them, slowly filling them with resentment and annoyance. He didn’t need to understand what the old stallion was saying to see this.

The old Daimyo leaned in towards Cash, his ceremonial lamellar armor creaking: “You made the yeddim fly. Unicorns don’t do that, can't do that. So tell me Cash Charmer... what is the color of your soul”

Both Red and Cash were both surprised by this question, Speaker as well once Shimmer finished translating. Speaker wondered what Cash would say, now that Cash hopefully had caught on that the usual courtly act of verbally around a touchy subject didn’t really sell well with this ornery old noble.

Flashing a brief smile, Cash responded with a question of his own: “Why do you want to know?”

From under bushy brows that almost entirely obscured the Daimyo’s eyes, a furious frown gathered – and like a sudden storm it erupted with a furious condemnation: “Because I want to know if you’re the same as that blackhearted Typhon who’s been filling Lotus’ cofers with realm jade and promising him undying servants with unwavering loyalty”

“Oh he has those down in the basement already, the zombie serfs” Cash casually noted.

The old warlord cracked a menacing smile with many missing teeth, the kind of smile that had announced many an execution: “Oh I know… disgusting little things. Crane Lotus put them on show when we arrived here a week ago in preparation for the siege. Typhon has sold the other Daimyos on the idea, but not me – now answer my question properly before I gut you just to be safe”

“Now hold on, that’s no wa-“ Cash began, but was quite literally cut off as Soaring Blade, in a lightning move, leapt from his seat and drew his blade in one smooth motion, holding the blade tightly in his hooves up to Cash’s neck. Not even Red had managed to react in time…

His blade – a straight-edged short-sword just long enough to reach across the table - held tight in worn hooves, the old pony stated firmly through gritted teeth: “Answer”

Cash swallowed audibly. Whatever Soaring Blade was it was clear that he was faster than Red, and Cash’s forte was his endlessly eloquent use of honeyed weasel words…

After a tense moment that felt far too long Cash finally replied: “No” in high realm. Speaker didn’t need Shimmer’s translation for this.

Soaring Blade withdrew his blade and tossed it up in the air, catching it in his sheath in a maneuver that Red found very impressive: “Very well, that is at least a straight and honest answer”

“We have no love lost for Typhon – if we can help it he won’t leave the Chung lands alive” Red commented, speaking in common riverspeak so Sunrise and Speaker could understand.

The old Daimyo nodded as he sat down, his demeanor changing from lithe warrior to aching old stallion as if nothing had happened. Cash took a mental note: This old fart knew how to play others, even if there wasn’t much point in playing weak and decrepit at this point.

“So, whatever you are, were you serious about your proposal on forming a council of Daimyos to rule the Chung lands until Onyx gets old enough to ruler properly?” The old stallion suddenly began, speaking in Riverspeak, the circle still reeling from the previous sudden display of clearly supernatural speed and precision.

Cash nodded, feeing his throat with a hoof… there was a clean-shaven patch.

The old pony smiled, again with that menacing execution-sentencing smile: “Good. I will head that council and have Onyx as my assistant. Furthermore, he will marry one of my daughters who will move in with him in Castle Chung. These are my terms, you will agree with them”

Cash considered the proposal for a moment, then considered Soaring Blade’s previous reactions to answers that weren’t definite yes or no questions.

“Wait a second, how do you know that the other Daimyos will agree on that?!” Red burst out.

The old stallion gave Red an disapproving glare, but it did not frighten the dawn caste solar: “Ting will shit himself if I even consider withdrawing my patrols that safeguard his part of the northern border. The Fu know that if I wanted to I know lay siege to and take at least two of their holds before they can raise enough militia to form a counter-offensive, and Lotus talks a big game but is only playing his hoof here because Typhon is backing him. Once Typhon is gone or revealed for what he is they will all accept your plan with me as head of this council of yours”

Cash nodded, not appearing that surprised by what Soaring Blade had said – even if it was fairly surprising to see the old stallion suddenly turn into a very alert and eloquent, if not still very direct, negotiator: “Assuming that the other Daimyo’s agree then that could be acceptable, as long as you do not double cross us the moment we leave and let Onyx become Shogun when it is time”

“Do I look like someone who would renege on my word? Of course I’ll keep my word!” Soaring Blade stated, again giving Cash that menacing sugary smile that just looked so fake and forced that it practically dripped with malice.

Turning to Speaker, Cash very bluntly – yet without saying a word – indicated to Speaker that he wanted to know if Soaring Blade had lied or not. Speaker nodded: “Sounds good to me”

Turning to Red, Cash shot her a pair of inquisitive eyes, as if to ask her if she is ok with the terms put forth. She nodded.
“Good, well then – Sunrise, sing the good lord a little verse, like the one you sang to the mighty warrior we met up north. Let’s see if Lord Soaring Blade here likes it just as much as the Bodhisattva did” Cash said, his face smeared in a sly but friendly grin – as if about to reveal a surprise gift.

Sunrise cleared her throat and used the charms she had employed to burn the deathknight known as the Bodhisattva of Resurgent Misery and Lost Causes with the might of her zeal and righteous fury. What came out was a pleasing hymn to Celestia. Soaring Blade did not burst into holy fire. Speaker sighed in relief.

“Well then – we best leave for the negotiation table” The Daimyo proclaimed. His entourage quickly and methodically picked up their gear, stuffed their saddle-bags and readied scrolls and quills – the whole group leaving so quickly that the circle was in the room wondering what had just happened.

“Is he a sidereal or something?” Red wondered.

Cash shrugged: “Wouldn’t surprise me – he seemed intent on testing us and figuring out what we were with that soul question. At least he accepted that I wouldn’t say. Whatever he is we just promised him the Chung lands and Onyx in marriage… let’s see if we even need to follow up on that, come on”

The circle quickly made their way to the grand meeting room. Sullen Hoof was there waiting for them, with ragged breath and a most freaked out and frantic tone: “Typhon is in there, you can’t miss him – and be careful… he knows, everything – literally everything. Water Walkers, Shimmer starting that fire, us down in my old manse, what I did in Great Forks…”

Gesturing for Sullen Hoof to slow down and breathe, Cash reassured the the disguised orichalcum chef that no matter what everything would be ok: “Seriously, calm down. Other ponies are looking. Now, go down to the kitchen, then to the basement… bring up one the zombies, don’t ‘kill it’ or knock it out – hide yourself and it near the door and wait for my signal – we’ll show these fools just what Crane Lotus and this deathknight has been doing - gah, no wait, Soaring Blade said that Crane Lotus had showed them... damnit, just make yourself scarce”

Sullen Hoof bowed and stepped back, followed by Cash gesturing for the circle to head into the meeting room.

Just as Speaker passed Cash, Cash whispered to Shimmer: “Go somewhere secluded and send a magic message to Heath Rose, ask if there’s one of her coworkers on the case here – perhaps one specifically tailing Typhon”

“She’s in the other ear” Speaker noted, but he none the less felt a slight itch as Shimmer left him and turned into a fly, buzzing up towards the vaulted ceiling.

Cash nodded: “Right, and Speaker, I want your essence sight on all the time – you have to warn us if this Typhon fellow tries to use charms on us or the nobles”

The remaining members of the circle entered the meeting room and took seat just as last time, with the nobles on their elevated and ornate thrones opposite them. Speaker regretted not having gotten any lunch.

“Good to see you return. I hope that you have enjoyed your private audiences” Daimyo Crane Lotus proclaimed with a smug tone, flaunting the fact he had gotten the circle followed and spied upon during lunch.

Cash did not smile at this; instead he assumed a much more serious demeanor: “We all did, I assure you. Now, with that said, I would move that we put my proposal to a vote. The sooner we end this unfortunate episode the better”

There was some mumbling among the nobles, but then a clear and strong voice spoke out. It was in a bright and cheerful tone, tempered by great knowledge on etiquette and a wit sharps as swords: “Let us not rush to hasty acts, lest we forget why it was decided to remove Onyx from his throne…”

Sunrise, Cash, Red and Speaker all turned to see a very pretty beige-coated stallion in an exquisitely embroidered and decorated black garb, his face framed by a wild by well kept black mane, punctuated by deep green eyes and the most kissable lips anyone had ever seen. Of course, this wasn’t what Speaker was seeing.

To Speaker, using essence sight, looking at Typhon was almost painful. The clothes that the stallion wore were illusions wrought from the pony’s ear-rings, although Speaker couldn’t see through the illusions, and all around Typhon was a carefully suppressed aura of the darkest of shadows eating all light around him. It looked as if the shadows writhed and were ‘alive’ somehow - Typhon was a deathknight: No doubt about that.

“…oh but where are my manners, please forgive me. I am Typhon, emissary of Thorns” the eloquent stallion said, bowing his head in the tiniest of nods while somehow never breaking eye-contact with any member of the circle.

Speaker instantly felt Red swelling with fury, but Cash spoke out before she could do anything in breach of protocol: “So, you are the illustrious pony we have to thank for all of this?”

Typhon flashed the circle a sickeningly fake smile: “Oh I don’t know about that… I am merely here at the behest of my lord to improve relations between Thorns and the hundred kingdoms, such as by funding worthy and righteous causes”

At the mention of his cause being a worthy and righteous Daimyo Crane Lotus nodded, appearing quite pleased with himself.

“Really, because from what I understand if it wasn’t for your funding then Daimyo Crane Lotus wouldn’t have been able to afford to organize this here rebellion – and I must admit, I am not feeling very much gratitude towards Thorns because of that” Cash noted. Speaker felt Red quivering next to him, her ornate ceremonial armor giving off slight rattles.

Typhon craned his neck and sighed: “Well, in any conflict there is bound t be winners as well as losers – I cannot help that you and your companions chose poorly”

The nobles got a good chuckle out of that, although Soaring Blade and his coterie remained silent.

Finally Red couldn’t hold herself back anymore, standing up and shouting: “Typhon! If you hadn’t interfered then an outbreak of plague – caused by another deathknight I might add – might just have stayed that way, and the relief caravans heading to Chung Do would have been able to take the main roads to the city, instead of having to detour through forests and wilderness – thousands of ponies are dead because you and master chose to fund Daimyo Crane Lotus’ dreams of power. I demand satisfaction!”

Speaker looked up at Red. Her breath was ragged, her face a paragon of righteous indignation. Cash looked, if not pleased, then at the very least quite ok with this development. The nobles chuckled… which they really shouldn’t, since if Typhon died they wouldn’t be able to fund their army – so Speaker had to wonder: What did they know that amused them over this, rather than frighten them? Or did they simply think so little of Red's abilities since she was an exile?

Typhon nodded: “Very well, I understand that ronin cannot understand how it is honorable to support righteous rulers – so I will let that one slide. Now, Cash Cha-“

“Courtyard, us, now!” Red shouted, pounding her fore-hooves down on the thick oaken table.

Daimyo Crane Lotus looked over to Typhon who merely nodded ever so slightly: “Very well, if you wish to embarrass yourself in front of Daimyo Crane Lotus’s court so be it”

The nobles, Typhon and Red marched down to the castle courtyard. Trailing them came the circle, as Cash had gestured for them to wait to get up and leave until last.

“Cash, this isn’t right – the nobles laughed when Red challenged Typhon. They should be scared of losing their war-chest” Speaker said in a hushed tone.

Cash nodded cautiously, taking careful note of anyone watching them: “I know – but it could just as well be that they don’t think Red is that good a warrior. Remember, as an exile she never got the formal training a normal samurai would get - and what Soaring Blade said hinted that Typhon had revealed the extent of his powers to them, so they might think that Red as a mortal pony doesn't stand a chance”

Speaker wasn’t convinced and noted that there had to be more to it than that as they followed the nobles down in the courtyard next to Nah where a large circle was formed for the two duelists to fight in.

The usual protocol for duels of this sort, duels to the death, was for each participant to enter into the dueling arena with equal armament: There was no honor in a samurai striking down a servant who had no blade. In this case Typhon entered the dueling arena bearing no arms. Red followed suit after removing her ceremonial suit of lamellar armor, confident in the knowledge that she had not needed to carry around swords for quite a while now.

As the nobles had lavishly decorated chairs brought out for them to sit on, Speaker attempted to sneak around to ask Soaring Blade a question – his attempt at subtlety failed miserably – but Soaring Blade gestured for his guards to let Speaker approach none the less. Quickly asking about Typhon and the other noble’s reaction to Red’s challenge, Soaring Blade explained the situation in a tone equally tired and worried, although that nuance was lost on Speaker. Typhon had apparently arrived with the rest of the nobles a week or so ago, but Typhon had apparently visited Birdstone often during winter and before that. Every morning Typhon would assemble five of Crane Lotus’s strongest ponies-at-arms and train with them in the courtyard. This ‘training’ consisted of the five guardsponies wielding clubs and beating Typhon black and blue – but he would never fall. This had been how Typhon had impressed upon the nobles that his master, this Deathlord called the Mask of Winters, had gifted him with enlightened essence and powerful magical martial arts that made him both master of his sense of pain, as well as invulnerable. Speaker understood why Soaring Blade found this worrying.

“…but three days ago he also demonstrated that he could do the same when he turned a blade bare-hoof. He cannot be hurt. I do not know how he does this, but he wields a strange martial style that I have never seen before. A mere mortal samurai has no hope against Typhon” Soaring Blade noted.

Ok that… that was bad – and Red didn’t seem to be in a mood to stop and listen.

In the makeshift dueling arena Red and Typhon squared off, initially trading a few minor blows. Typhon then pulled back and gestured for Red to disengage: “I must say; it is quite good to see one so stout and brave defend her honor. I thought you were all talk. I see that you’re not. I thus concede this duel. You and your friends were quite right: If not for my funding this little would-be war could not happen – and for the undue suffering of your people I do apologize, even if it was all done to secure a better future for the Chung lands. Now, if possible, we should return to the meeting room an-“

“No! You started this, so I’m ending this!” Red roared, thoroughly ignoring Typhon’s half-hearted plea to simply be allowed to give up, following through by galloping towards Typhon and head-butting him quite spectacularly, the force of the impact – thanks for the charms Red used – translating directly from Typhon's head into the ground as if Typhon had been up against a solid stone wall when struck, conferring all the more force into the deathknight. The ground shook and splinters of stone coble erupted left and right as the cobblestone was shattered by magic in an instant in response to Red’s blow, leaving Typhon at the center of it all in a huddle of dusty robes and broken stone. The noble's ohhh'd and ahhh'd, as if watching as show, rather than showing any kind of fear.

As the dust settled, to Red’s great surprise, Typhon slowly got up. His face was nearly one continuous welt thanks to Red's mighty blow, with both his eyes almost pure red from burst blood vessels, plus a slight but insignificant bleeding from his nose and mouth. Still, a quick hoof-twiddle at one of his ear-rings and his illustrious robes cleaned both themselves and Typhon – he then looked at Red: “That was very nice my dear, but really, if that is all you have then I must say that I find you sorely lacking”

Red gave the deathknight a most furious glare and reared up only to stomp down with both her hooves for a mighty blow to Typhon’s head – it should have caved in already from the charm-enhanced head-butting, but if he wanted it rough then she would gladly deliver! To Red’s horror her Hooves of Iron charm, which would enhance her hooves with gleaming cutting edges of pure essence, had no effect on Typhon – for his head didn’t fall to pieces like a melon struck with a sword... in fact she didn't even leave a scratch

Looking at her hooves in despair, Typhon smiled: “So, not so much of a warrior anyway… I must say, I am disappointed”

Back among the nobles and the rest of the circle, Speaker noticed that Sullen Hoof had showed up, briefly exchanged words with Cash, then left again looking disappointed. Shimmer’s faint voice had also reappeared in his left ear – but Speaker took little notice of it, for between looking at alternately Red fighting and the bemused smirks of the nobles the Solar felt really bad about the situation. It was in the first pages of the junior Lookshy field officer’s manual: If you find your forces in unfavorable circumstances then never fail to act on it, lest your foes exploit the situation – but Cash didn’t look like he was trying to end the fight as seemed busy chatting with the nobles, and Red didn’t look like she was stopping either…

In a frightful mix of fury, despair and rage Red flared her anima to its fullest, displaying the glorious might of her soul for all to see – but Typhon was not swayed by this intimidating display – not even when Red drew each of the golden weapon that appeared above her anima’s bagua and slashed, stabbed, chopped, punched, and shot an arrow with them… for while Typhon was hit perfectly each time, each time with a lethal force great enough to kill a pony at least twice over if not more, he seemed quite unaffected. Red couldn’t even get her golden blades forged by her very essence to draw his blood!
Finally, after Red’s barrage had ended, her anima fading, Typhon stood up. His robes has been cut to ribbons, but they reformed quickly as strands of essence flowed from his ear-rings to dress the regal looking stallion in the finest of silks black once more.

“What… what are you!?” Red said, taking a step back. With the Bodhisatva she hadn’t been able to pierce his armor or cut his ghost flesh, but she was ok with that for she had understood that foe to have been made to be a perfect and unstoppable killing machine… but this pony, this arrogant smirking creep who was giving Red such a haughty grin right there was wearing nothing but flimsy silk robes. This could not be.

“I am but a dutiful servant to a master who has forbidden me from death, until such a time that my services are no longer needed” Typhon eloquently noted, speaking with painfully faked humility.

Having blown nearly all her essence on her all-out attack, an attack that had previously proved more than enough to slay that other deathknight who had even worn actual bloody armor, Red hesitantly stepped near Typhon – never dropping her guard, but at the same time weary of actually attacking: Perhaps the deathknight had cursed her somehow? Perhaps she could no longer fight properly?

Typhon gave Red a predatory smile: “I take it that you’re done now? Yes?” The stallion turned and walked out of the circle to the nobles, receiving many an approving nod as he did so.

Red stood and watched as the nobles withdrew to the castle, after which she slumped down on the ground, looking at her hooves in disbelief.

Cash, Speaker, Sunrise and Sullen Hoof all rushed to Red’s side once the nobles had cleared away. Speaker relayed to the circle what Soaring Blade had told, Red still finding it difficult to believe.

“…and when I looked at him with essence sight all I could see was that he was sheathed in necrotic essence, but he’s a deathknight, so he’s full of that anyway – and honestly, not even first age solars could maintain that kind of effortless invulnerability for so long… it doesn’t make sense” Speaker explained.

“Plus, while Red was fighting I had a hell of a time convincing the nobles that we could even continue the talks after this – they weren’t sure after Red started using her powers...” Cash noted glumly.

Speaker had completely overheard any such talking Cash had done, having focused on Red’s duel, but of course the nobles would have freaked out at the sight of Red’s anima and display of powers: “So… are the talks still on, or do we leave?”

Cash waved a hoof at Speaker as a calming gesture: “No no, we’re good – although they were… disappointed… that we hadn’t revealed her true nature, which of course wouldn’t have been that bad if Sunrise had noted that we’re all equally blessed with powers” Cash said, giving Sunrise a disapproving look.

Looking at Sunrise, even Speaker had to admit that such an utterance during the duel was poorly timed, but Cash noted that it turned out quite well anyway: “…and I think we have Typhon to thank for that. It seemed that he’s convinced all of them that the celestial exalted are no more a threat than unicorns”

“Hold on, they still thought I was bad when we got here” Speaker wondered.

Cash shrugged: “Well ya, because rumor still has it that you tried to murder the son of a Daimyo – they apparently couldn’t care less of us being Solars”

“And that’s supposed to make our work here any easier?” Red wondered, sounding particularly dejected.

Of this Cash was quite sure. Thanks to Red’s performance the nobles thought that Solars were much weaker than whatever Typhon was, plus now they also thought Solars weaker than unicorns since Cash had managed to compare the two situations: “…because you, as a Solar, couldn’t kill a unicorn – and heavens knows that even a group of mortal farm ponies with hatchets can get the better of a lone unicorn. They think that as chosen of the sun we can at best do tricks of light, which is how they now think Red’s conjured weapons worked… and why they didn’t work”

Red didn’t look very pleased by Cash having spun a tale to the nobles that made her look completely unable to fight properly, but Speaker saw what Cash had worked the situation into: “Red, now they’ll underestimate us. Once we figure out how to circumvent Typhon’s tricks we’ll be able to surprise them and catch them off guard”

That kind of talk was something Red could understand much better: “Alright, but how the hell do we figure out Typhon’s secret? Ask him?”

Cash shook his head while flashing Red a broad smile, his lightly tussled golden mane bobbing ever so slightly: “Already on it – Shimmer hitched a ride on him when he walked past. All we have to do is find a means to discredit him in the eyes of the nobles…”

“Hold on, I head-butted Typhon so hard I left an imprint on the cobblestone under him – how did you explain that to the nobles!?” Red suddenly wondered, having though furiously about the story Cash had told to explain her powers as harmless illusions of light.

Cash noted that it was well known that unicorns, especially earth aspected unicorns, could smash boulders with ease – so a little magic hoof to hoof fighting was easy to explain.

“I still don’t like you making us sound this weak and useless…” Red said, frowning deeply.

Cash ignored red’s whining as he addressed Speaker and Sunrise: “Ok, we need to get some dirt on Typhon – and quickly. I have a few ideas, but I’d love to hear from you two”

“Why not wait until we’re alone before talking of such sensitive matters?” Sunrise suggested, looking over beyond Cash.
Speaker, Cash and Red turned to look in the direction Sunrise was looking. There was nothing, and yet when he turned to face Sunrise Speaker could see that her eyes were tracking something…

“Sunrise, what are you looking at?” Red asked cautiously, not sure if maybe Typhon had addled the minds or bodies of the whole circle somehow.

Sunrise pointed towards a spot near the castle wall, then moved her hoof as if tracking something that was moving: “There’s a pony in a servant uniform looking… and she’s not happy that I’m pointing at her”

To Speaker there were very few a pony could be in a place and not be seen – one would be advanced stealth charms that would render one invisible, like what Sullen Hoof could do, but that wouldn’t really make sense here… but there was one other option that made all kinds of sense all of a sudden!

Speaker turned and tried to spot what Sunrise was pointing at, using essence-sight as it also allowed one to see dematerialized spirits… or ghosts. He quickly spotted the pony, a young mare in a Crane Lotus servant uniform, looking uneasily at the circle and trying in vain to get out of Sunrise’s tracking gaze.

“I see it – hold on” Speaker said, leaping into action as he ran down the ghost before it could escape by walking through
Against a servant who had no real combat training beyond what foalhood rough and tumble she'd taken part in there was no contest - but to the others it looked really weird as Speaker wrestled with an invisible foe.

"Talk - who are you, is Typhon having you spy on us?" Speaker inquired in between catching his breath.

The semi-transparent ghost of the servant mare quaked in fear, half-crying: "I... I'm... I was Dutiful Petal, and yes... It hurts if I disobey him"

Cash quickly suggested that they all relocate to a more private location - the ghost following along willingly: Apparently it was under orders from Typhon to spy on the circle.

In an empty room that Speaker and Sunrise both checked for spirits, Speaker relayed what the ghost said to the rest of the circle as they gathered around him and the ghost of Dutiful Petal. She had been one of Daimyo Crane Lotus' many servant-ponies, but when Typhon had arrived almost a year ago when the new of the plague had just come to Birdstone he complete sold Crane Lotus on the idea of undead servants... and Dutiful Petal was 'used' for the initial demonstration...

"That's horrible!" Sullen Hoof exclaimed angrily, finding the idea of a noble ordering a perfectly good servant killed just to have her reanimated absolutely deplorable.

The ghost noted that while her body was reanimated, much to the Daimyo's amazement, then she found herself and the dozen other ponies killed and reanimated bound to a new master...

"And Typhon didn't tell you not to ever talk to anyone else?" Cash wondered, finding such an obvious oversight in the operational security of a spy-network laughable.

Sullen Hoof inquired into the exact appearance of the ghost. Speaker described her as a brown-coated mare with a cream mane, and what had once probably been green eyes.

"I've seen that zombie... it's down in the dungeons doing laundry, barely holding together, almost completely decayed" Sullen Hoof solemnly noted. The ghost burst into tears, crying that Typhon had forbidden her and the other ghosts from going near their old bodies...

"Hold on, ask her if the nobles know about this ghost-enslavement that Typhon has going on" Cash inquired.

According to the weeping ghost, the nobles knew nothing of her conditions - and she was powerless to tell them, because as a 'young' ghost she was too weak to even materialize, leaving her trapped as ghost where the only other ponies that could hear her were either fellow ghosts or Typhon.

Cash nodded as a sinister grin appeared on his face: "Well then, all we have to do is find a way to show the nobles these ghosts and we'll have this situation turned around in an instant - I mean, I'm certain that they'll be thrilled to know that Typhon has invisible spies keeping tabs on them all this time, even more so the ghosts of their own former servants"