Fondo laughs. "You say it is not writ in stone, and yet your words betray the truth: your minds are set. Pray tell, if I or we were lords who sat before you in the council hall, would you both still pretend an open mind while secretly resolving not to heed our words? Is that the government you seek? Have you not learned from Ileosa that you have still much to learn?" Fondo shakes his head, and wonders to himself about the laws of succession in Korvosa. Surely there must be some room for, say, trial by combat?
hehehe. I don't think there is a trial by combat option to be King of Korvosa, but if you want to be king - say so. No need to do it over bare blades. :)
Fondo laughs to himself and smiles. "Forgive me, please. It's clear we've taken different tacks along the way, and you had little reason to believe us early on. But pray, do hear me know. There can—there must—be better candidates for this most sullied throne. Would you permit us six a moment to discuss?"
He turns to the party. "I think we have some matters to discuss."
Neolandus fills your goblets with more wine and he and Vencarlo move off into the other room, chatting about something you can't quite make out.
You are alone with the throne again. The blood from the recent battle still leaves a few stains on the floor. Though clearly someone has tried to clean it - the Queen's blood-double made quite a mess.
Briar sips more, trying to maintain, rather than overdo his cele-libation.
Barael flicks an eye at Nik, hoping the swordsman might ease the discomfort in the room.
...
"Enough about that! If you're not bound for government work, what does the future hold for you? All of you - what are your plans now? We owe you a lot. If it's not to be Lordships - and all the hassles that can bring - what can we do to help?"
Lordship? Huh. Hadn't thought it would go that far. Barael cocks his head, and considers.
"I might have said a city saved from an ancient evil was reward enough, but you've kinda ruined that chance with Glorio." Barael looks at Fondo, and again at Nik, then at Charlie one more time, facially gesturing for a little Charlie-Stink-Eye.
As the two retreat to allow for some discussion, Barael calls out.
"I'll never get my Ma to leave this city as her home, so I'd ask you to make sure that her final years of life are well-attended. Perhaps a finer house, with a nurse and a maid? Yeah, I would enjoy knowing that she's more comfortable." Thinking that not too unreasonable a request, Barael nods in satisfaction. His eyebrows shoot up, as another thought occurs to him. "Oh, and the Church of Aroden. I'd like it to be renovated, and the priests welcomed back, if it's at all possible."
While you're at it, why not get rid of all the city's cats, too? They're really nothing but carnivorous vermin, shedding all over the place, and threatening the well-being of well-meaning rats citywide. Argente nods in satisfaction from Barael's shoulder.
"I think we have some matters to discuss."
Barael turns back to Fondo, interested in hearing some common sense.
"You have the energy, eh? Devil's Hour approaches. I suppose it's as good a time as any other." Barael rubs his eyes, and looks about the chamber, trying to ignore the sense of disbelief that they might argue for the ruler of Korvosa here. They. This ragtag group.
"I would propose another choice. To them. To all the people of this town. If we should offer one among our number to be king or queen, methinks they'd change their mind." He looks sourly at the chair. Despite his rather oversized ego, it's clear he does not savor the idea of being tied to it. "I dread a life that's tied within such blood-soaked walls. And yet, what choice have we but bondage if Korvosa's to be free?"
Barael raises an eyebrow. "You would consider the throne, Brov? Set down roots in Korvosa? I would think that would make Ruan very happy, especially should he entertain foreign dignitaries in your court." Barael smiles at the thought.
Briar says little, happy to return to the DOLL Warrens and his craftorium.
"Charlie, see me back to my bed. I have ideas to reveal what must be revealed...on the morrow."
Briar begins to stumble back home.
Fondo looks at Barael. "Together we could do much good, I think. Enough to weigh against the curse of staying in one place for over long, as lord among the lords, or king who would his power give away. Korvosa's people needs must learn to find their voice, and not be pawns whose fates are bound to those who claim good will. Do you not think?"
He turns to Charlie and smiles.
"What say you, Kako? Which of us would you see 'pon the throne? Who would you curse to such a fate?"
"Togetherwe coulddo much good, I think. Enough to weigh againstthe curse ofstaying in one placefor over long, as lord among the lords, or king who would his power give away. Korvosa's peopleneedsmust learn to find their voice, and not be pawnswhose fates are bound to those who claim good will.Doyounotthink?"
Barael teases his understanding from the rat king of Fondo's words. "...yes. That would be good." Fatigue gets the better of Barael, and he grows quiet, watching Fondo grow contemplative, and watching Briar grow thoughtful of his foot placement.
"Should we speak further with Vencarlo and Neolandus, or excuse ourselves for the need of rest?"
Fondo shakes his head. "Twould not do to wait until the morning, should we wish to nominate one of our number. It's been a long, long day, but fate is longer still, should fortune gift us with long lives."
"Speak your mind, Brov. If we do nothing, we see a Rakshasa make its way onto the throne. Who do you see taking its place?"
"Put forth Sward, for his word has always been good and his deeds noble," Briar offers.
Barael jumps, losing track of the Elf and his inebriated wanderings. "Well, if Nik is going to consider it, doesn't Shadow's Death have to as well? What say you, Death? Would you allow Nik to assume the throne, for all its bureaucracy? Two assume the throne if we put forth Sward."
Barael turns to Fondo. "Are you considering a role amongst the Lords?"
"Nikolay is Chelish and a mage to boot. Dandi has her noble blood, and I have may have a way of speaking to the people's hearts. I wager none of us would like to be forever bound to this dread throne. And yet, there is some good that we could do."
He ponders. "Whomever leads will need the strength and wisdom of their friends, and ways to win yet more through words and deeds. It would not hurt to be the kin of those who bring Korvosa trade and threats of war. Shoanti blood, if not by birth." He spits on the ground and then ponders while absently cleaning the spittle with magic. "There is no perfect fit. But I would wager Nikolay or me. May Desna help us both."
Dandi lays a gentle hand upon Fondo's arm, "If he'll allow, let Niko be the one chained to the throne. Your feet have paths yet to follow and a King's traveling days are done. A lord though, may serve as ambassador, and still travel the world in Korvosa's service." She does not address such things as blood or what nobility might be found there; she's seen too much, and it was all the same when it hit the floor.
Barael unsheathes White Twitch. He turns it over by his wrist, and watches as the weapon becomes Shadow's Death. He trots over to Nik, and swats him on his seat, before tumbling into the seat of the Throne. Surveying the room, he raises Twitches at Shadows, and acknowledges ghostly courtesans with a point of the blade. "You should sit down, Nik. The view is lovely from here." Barael vacates the seat quickly, should Nik advance in the slightest.
"Huh?"
Nikolay looks up at the mention of his name (several times).
"Oh, no. I'm with Vencarlo. I've been as close as I want to be to a throne already. I'll drink with with royals, but I have no desire to be one of them. And Shadow's Death would never be content to do nothing, but tap the shoulders of new knights."
"We'll take our chances with someone else and clean up the mess if need be."
Fondo looks at Nikolay. He has even less stomach for it than I, and none of the craft. But the elf loves him, and that's most rare. And he does love courtesans as much as many kings.
"I'll not see Glorio upon the throne. I'd rather chain myself, if it means others may be free. But I'd need you to do another deed. Remove the Fangs. Find means with which they might be sundered true."
"We'll take our chances with someone else and clean up the mess if need be."
"I'm done with messes, I think. My neck's been stretched enough, so yeah, I'll take my chances that Neolandus and Vencarlo, and Cressida for that matter, understand the risk they take. That's only if they don't choose Fondo over Glorio. I look forward to hearing why they'd choose Rak over Brov."
"Should we bring them back in?" If the party assents, Barael moves to the corridor whence the two gents departed, and calls down the hallway for their return.
"Twere better if we had some shared resolve, dear Brov, before we bring them in. If there's resolve that's to be be had."
"From what I gather, none of us, save you, will step up to challenge Glorio's assignment to the Throne. I'm sure that when you choose to, you'll present yourself most regally for Neolandus's consideration, eh? None of us will argue against your desire to oppose Glorio, is my guess. In that, we are resolved." Barael looks at the others, then back to Fondo.
"Are you sure, Brov? The Throne, it's said to be cursed. First a king, then a queen, then... you? Are you certain that you want to do this? You have Deyanira, and Ruan. An asset, and a liability. You have your followers, too, and, of course, the citizens of Korvosa themselves. Well, those not prejudiced against Varisians. Oh, and you're also honorary Shoanti, too. That's got to be something to Neolandus, I would think. Are you resolved?"
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Fondo looks with some bewilderment at Barael, then at Nikolay.
"I just don't understand. You fought and died and fought some more, for what? To stop a Queen who instigated plague and regicide? Was that the only thing?"
He perches on the arm of the throne. "Barael de Gare. When we first met, this city and its lovely guard were your true love. You ached to be its guard. And yes, I know: The times have changed—you've love to guard. But would you leave behind the world, and all the cares and needs of those you once called countrymen?"
Dandi catches his eye. And Dandilion. Spider Queen. This city and its fiends did draw you into nightmare dreams. O'er months and many battles, you have shown your mettle. Overthrown the queen and devils who would make you smaller than the smallest spider babe. Would you now leave the city where you proved how great you are? The people who now owe their lives to you? And draw away the man whose heart did beat Korvosa's blood?"
He then turns his mix of praise and reproach to Nikolay. "Now you, I understand. The Sward does draw you 'gainst the shadows. You are its keen edge. I'd not deny your right to wander, as is the swordsman's wont. But what did you achieve, that you would wish preserved? What's squandered if you turn your back away?"
Shaking his head, he chuckles. "I do not wish this throne, but I will not abandon what we've fought so hard to forge. A city at the cusp of something new. An opening to heal the rifts between this region's tribes: of Chels, Shoanti, Wererats, and Varisians. I'd like your help."
Getting up from the throne's arm, he puts his hand on its back. "It may be that I could appoint myself. But even if that were the case, Korvosa doesn't need a king alone. It needs its heroes as it heals. And yonder nobles will most surely see it so. We need to nominate ourselves to lead. One loser shall ascend the throne, that others may their light throughout this city spread."
He moves to Charlie and holds out his hand. "What say you, Kako? Shall we make Korvosa be a city we can truly love?"
Briar pauses in his stumbling, a bit of wisdom and clear sight passing through the fog of booze.
The Gods, the Fates, the Furies...they mock us. Mock our efforts, mock our grand dreams for happiness in Korvosa. They have lost one monster and now the nobles steel themselves to install another. Then, we are mocked further as the only one among our number who will take the job is the Varisian, one who...
Briar shakes his head at the folly of it all.
We will not win this one, neither will the Korvosan people. I shall stay to ensure the Elves and their conclave are protected.
Barael listens to Fondo state his intentions. As he mentions 'wererats', Barael finds himself stroking his forearm, smoothing back the hair, realizing slowly that Argente has balanced herself on it while he maintains crossed arms. It is her hair he strokes.
How far we've come...
"Leaving the world behind? Quite the opposite, Brov. The world awaits. In your company, we've traveled through Shoanti lands, traveled across orc lands, breached haunted castles, reached the cliffs of exotic cities... quite a world, and only visited in crisis, force fed to us, under constant threat. What that world must be, when one has the time to savor it, taken in with deep, confident breaths." He takes one of those breaths.
"True, I once aspired to the Guard, but no longer. I played at Knights and Knaves, and dreamed of a time when the queen herself would knight me in front of all those who pushed me around. Honestly, I thought it was the only way I could rise above my station. Now, look at us. We've been left to our own devices, in the queen's audience chamber." Barael stirs his free hand around. "Us." He points at Fondo, then the queen's recent seat.
"We defeated Lamm together, then Andaisin... all the way to Ileosa herself. We gave Korvosa a second chance, against some pretty heavy odds. Can't that be enough? Saving everyone's lives? Like Nik said, we can always return, if we need to confront a new threat. I can't continually play the game of Thralls and Thrones. We forged nothing. We killed a viper in the weeds, and should probably suggest they cut down the tall grass. Neolandus suggests the sickle begins with the establishment of the House of Lords."
Less talking, more scritching.
Barael remembers his rat, and goes back to scritching, while focusing on Fondo.
Dandi listens as Fondo waxes eloquently. Her face flushes, and finally she shakes her head, "What do I care if they think me great or small? They think I am monstrous, that my darling Wraith is something to fear, or to use. The queen was a monster, true enough, but she is dead. I'll not stay to take her place in their nightmares." Her hair coils and roils as she speaks.
"As for Barrie's heart..." she eyes the rat perched upon his forearm. A slight smile melts over her mouth and the twitch of her hair soothes for a moment, "it is his to give, to beat where he wills and for which causes. I would support him if he chose to stay, but hear him, he does not. I would return, if called, but I cannot stay. I cannot live my life entire for the people of Korvosa, or I would become the monster they think me."
She pauses, catching her breath, "If you would chain yourself to the throne, to this one city while forsaking all others, I will support your claim. and if the crown you wore, I would come if called, but I cannot stay here. I cannot."
Charlie looks up from his reverie of beautiful maidens frolicking in the afternoon sun.
"Ummwhat? Uh, hmm? Yes? Oh, right. Ahem. I don't really see any of us following rules, let alone making them. Before we dash another would-be monarch's hopes, why don't we meet with the one that seems to be their choice. We got an impression of him before but we were focussed on another task. Maybe we can ask more pointed questions this time."
"Good idea, Halfblood!" Briar opines. "Get an audience with him, then kill him...before it is considered another act of regicide. Then the next non-rakshasha King quickly pardons us. Very devious, Halfblood."
Briar loves Charlie's idea.
"I didn't think you had that in you."
"I don't think his pickled mind is planning on that, Long-Lived. He'd actually want to talk with Glorio, and size up his intent." Barael turns from Briar to Fondo.
"Do you think Glorio would vie for the position regardless of your nomination? I guess that becomes clearer as Neolandus moves this forward. Shall we take an audience with Glorio here? I'd rather not return to the Arcona Estate."
Barael looks to Fondo for his assent, then tries to locate Vencarlo and Neolandus for further discussion.
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Briar squints at Charlie, sure that Barael is confused.
"Why did he mention *pointed questions*, then? I'm sure he was talking about my arrows...what else could he have possibly meant?" Briar guffaws. "I'm quite sure that Charlie meant my arrowy kind of questions that will quickly and easily end the Rakshasa threat here once and for all. Not the silly Varisian blathering and ganderdoddling that doesn't accomplish anything."
"'Ganderdoddling'? You're making that word up, surely. I think Barrie has the right of it, but Charlie, please confirm for Briar that immediate assassination was not your intent." Odd. I always thought he would be more fun with a bit of wine in him. Lesson learned, I suppose.
Fondo snickers at 'ganderdoddling' and shakes his head at Kako. "Who is more fit to lead the people past these times? We've lived a life outside of noble walls, and heard the cares of folk from Vault unto the Shingles and the Heights. We've friends among Shoanti, and could craft a lasting peace. It's true we're skeptical of laws, when justice and the common good demand that it be so. I see that as a virtue, not a trait that makes a man unfit to govern other folk."
He looks to all of his tired, battle-weary companions. "I'll gladly meet with Glorio once we've announced his rival to the throne. To dither now would be to miss our chance."
Barael rubs his eyes. "Speak your mind to Neolandus then, Brov. Let him speak his mind on you and your appeal to the position. Once you've done that, meeting with Glorio seems ill-mannered."
Barael moves to the corridor, and calls to Neolandus for his return. "Neolandus!! We are done chatting! Please, return and hear us out."
"Kako, might I ask a boon? Call Deyanira to our moot. I would be grateful, as I ever am."
"I'll gladly meet with Glorio once we've announced his rival to the throne."
"Tell me, Varisian, who do you intend to announce for us? For me, the best choice so offered was the Sward...and if not him, nor Barael, then the Asmodean was the next least-worst option," Briar toasts a question.
Fondo looks quizzically at Briar. "Announce, friend Elf? To Neolandus, I'll announce myself, if no one else will see it done. We need no heralds when we speak to friends."
Briar arches an eyebrow, looking around for another drink that he surely needs to enjoy the night of laughs.
"You would announce yourself. That will be good to see," Briar agrees.
None of our number will announce for him. Perhaps they also worry about him serving the people rather than himself?
"I'm fine with you claiming the throne...but ask that you turn over the teeth for destruction before you do. I'll not have to fight through more Varisians should the teeth find their way onto your large, regal head."
Dandi rolls her eyes, tired beyond all measure of this day. She just wants it to be over, and would nearly, almost, though not quite anything to see it so.
"I will announce him. Fondo, I have to agree with Briar that if you are to be King, you must excuse yourself from the destruction of the teeth and leave it to us. They are too tempting and the weight of the responsibilities you are to assume too great. You can be no part of it."
Fondo bows to Dandi. Taking out the portable hole, he summons forth the fangs and lies them on the ground. "I did already ask if you would see to their destruction in my place. Believe me, I've no love of tyranny."
Barael yelps, as he watches Fondo set the Fangs on the blood-stained floor. "Are you out of your mind?! The blood! Careful with the Fangs and the queen's residue!" Barael tumbles across the room in order to pick up the Fangs, and inspect them for any sign of blood transference.
Dandi sighs again, "Of course you did, and of course you don't, Fon--!" Dandi's hair grabs for the fangs as Barael picks them up, a web of silk tangling in his way for a moment. Tired and slow, she misses, her hair tangling upon itself as she tries to pull it back again.
Smoothing it back, she seeks composure, saying, "Perhaps you should give us the portable hole as well, that they may be seen as little as possible, by as few as possible."
"All... a bit tired... sure has been a long day..." Barael places a couple of the Fangs in Dandi's hands, a brief look of encouragement to inspect them with the eyes of someone wise to the ways of magic.
"Speaking of which... how do we destroy these things?"
Fondo frowns at Dandi's suggestion. No better magic have I found for one who walks the road. But I've no need, if I indeed shall walk another path... Reluctantly, he holds it out to Dandi. "We'll want to first relieve it of it's other many golden things."
"Of course!" Dandi frowns, feeling more than a little untrusted.
Barael's request distracts her though, and so she turns her gaze to the Fangs"How...do...we... destroy..."
Briar peers down to the fangs in Dandi's hands.
Know (Arcana)
"How can we destroy them, Waif? Or should we craft a nice tiara for you?"
"A tiara? I don't think I need a tiara....do I?" She pauses, more from exhaustion than anything else.
"No... I don't think these should be crafted into anything else...for anyone else."
"Serithtial might wish them sundered from this world. What does she tell you now, friend Elf?"
Dandilion and Briar examine the fangs, but cannot think of an easy way to destroy them. They were, after all, scattered and hidden by the last good folks to have them. It will take much research to determine how to best end their existence.
Serithtial cannot do it. If she could, they'd already have been destroyed by Fondo's hand when he destroyed the crown initially. She does however seethe with anger in their presence...
You hear the voices of Neolandus and Vencarlo in the corridor, returning due to Barael's summons, though they've not yet arrived in the room.