[Cards] Staff of Pigeons (Patreon)

"I will NOT subject my people to senseless fear-mongering tactics! We have no evidence of your claim's validity, and I will take my chances by—"

It was then, in the middle of the King's rousing argument against the council, that a sharp rapping rattled from the room's great window's glass.

The members at the table all turned to look at the window. A looming shadow blocked out the light filtering in from the evening sun: a massive bird's head. Was it a griffon, sent by the Scouts, bearing news?"

Without a word, the King left the table to open the window's hinged side. The bird, a massive pigeon, twisted its feathered head through the opening. It delivering from its beak a hastily written scroll.

With a raspy voice, the pigeon then let loose a scream. A human's. From the shout could be heard a single, blood-curdling word.

"Run."

With that, the pigeon vanished in a burst of downy feathers, its mission now complete.

The King stood before the window. The orange light of the sun, now unobscured, silhouetted his figure. Hands trembling, he put down the scroll and turned to face the rest of the chamber.

"Councilman Hendrok, I believe I owe you an apology. Alert the generals and sound the alarm. The...circus troupe...is indeed on its way."