Court of the Falling Stars

Talking Crazy's Elder Challenge part two, Talking Crazy at the Court of Falling Stars.

And Because people don't seem to be reading the link I gave them...

The Court of Falling Stars:The Wishing-Duel Law

A vast and sprawling palace of stone and ice, the Court of Falling Stars tumbles end over end through the Aetherial Realm.
It sheds architecture and inhabitants alike as it spins, hurling them toward Eshtarra, Incarna of Earth.
I arrived in the eighth week of my quest.

(Eshtarra hates the Court. That’s why she sets fire to any part or person of the Court that invades her own realm.)

I came under the pretense of being expected by Alcyone, Queen of Falling Stars.
A bony but regal figure clothed in folds of midnight, she said she did not remember sending for me.
I convinced her she had: and in this way I became the Jester of the Court of Falling Stars.

Now one day a star feared far and wide for his deadly sword came to the Court.
The herald announced him: “Duke Rigel of the Horsehead Nebula, my Queen! He seeks audience.”

The Duke, a tall man with flashing eyes and a white mustache, stood before the court.
“Queen Alcyone of the Court of Falling Stars, the time has come! I challenge you to a duel.”

But then I appeared between the Duke and the Queen!
I had dressed like the Queen for this very occasion, wearing her second-best gown.

“I, Queen Alycone, accept your challenge, O noble Duke!” I replied in the Queen’s imperious tone. The court laughed.

The Duke sputtered. “What is the meaning of this?”

I drew my sword (a bolt of silver silk) and challenged him again. “Will you not face me, Duke of the Horse’s Ass?”

The Duke spat and drew his starlight sword. “Enough of these games,” he spat, and we faced off.

His attack was furious, and armed as I was with a bolt of silk, it was all I could do to evade his thrusts.
I feinted and dodged, leading him in a chase all around the great hall, to the great amusement of the crowd.
I stayed one step ahead, leaping off of chairs and swinging from the chandeliers.
How he cursed me! Nobody curses like an angry star!

Then I tricked him close, wrapped him in my arms and spun him around. “You are a fine dance partner, Duke!”

The laugher of the court shook the walls. The Queen’s laughter joined the rest.
The Duke was infuriated! I spun him away –

But he pivoted right back and impaled me through the heart.

There is a ritual stars do, when they finish a duel.
He drew me close and whispered a wish in my ear.
Then he drew back his sword and I collapsed.

The Duke spat on me and glared defiance at the crowd.
Their laugher withered.
He raised his sword to the Queen. “Now! Queen Alcyone of the Court of Falling Stars, I challenge—”

“His wish is for eternal power,” I revealed, standing and smoothing my dress.

Whispers swept the court.
The Duke whirled on me, aghast.
Stars die when you pierce their hearts; Garou don’t.

“Do I correctly remember the law of this court, Duke?” I asked. “If you kill a star in a formal duel and whisper your wish to their dying ear, your wish will be granted to you: and the greater the star you cut down, the greater the granting of the wish.”

The Duke could do nothing but gape, his face pale.
The Queen smiled.

“But there is a second part to the law: the wish must stay secret, or else it shall never be granted.”

The court applauded me, for I had utterly defeated Duke Rigel, preserving the reign of their Queen; and the Duke left in disgrace, all his dreams of conquest lost.

But the Queen was very angry that I had ruined her second-best dress.
I was quick to leave thereafter.

For the Translation on this, turn to this site:
[link]
Talking Crazy, this story and creative elements there within are copyrighted to Adam his player. Glyphs and elements of Werewolf the Apocalypse are copyrighted to White Wolf.