Cairn's heart started thundering in his chest and tried to climb up and out of his throat as he slid towards the great wyrm's wing. He spun and reached out to latch onto...something...anything!... to no avail and slid right off the dragon with a scream.
Which died almost immediately as he started floating like...a leaf on the wind...
Gorian nods determinedly
"I can assemble the Sczarni, but you should go to the temple and speak to Tanor, then we can keep the city guard out of that...otherwise word would spread too soon and with the enemy so close to our gates we have no need for chaos and confusion inside the wall."
"I would be grateful for any help that you could offer! The Sczarni may have their faults, but their loyalty to Karcau shall never be questioned! Thank you. I think I will also take your advice and go find Tanor. Let's hope the priests can do some threat management here in the city. Fare well, my friend!"
Solaric departs outside, mounts Dart and makes his way across the city to the House of the Vigilant Flame.
"Onward, Dart! Our work is not done today!"
The dragon was about to snap-catch Cainr when he notices the spell - the great wyrm snickers and doubles his speed once he is sure that the human is safe...
The trees beneath you fly past, a carpet of dark green every now and then with a small clearing in it. After a hwile the dragon has reached the other side of the lake and gives a deep resounding roar - here the vanguard of the enemy's army has set camp and this tiume they are prepared a host of ice goblins commanded by yetis and frost giants are adjusting bolt throwers and catapults and...as expected fire much too early...but still, the opponent's force is impressive. A city of tents, large as big tops for the giants and tiny for the goblins expand around the lake shore.
----------
Gorian nods, silenty shakes his head again and joins you in leaving Swandsong House.
During your ride through the city, everywhere people call Sassandra's name and moan her fate...it's a ghostly atmosphere especially in the districts suffering under the plague. Black signs have been painted on the doors of families with sick people under their roof and the streets are empty and look forlorn.
As you get closer to the House of the Vigilant Flame, you hear a loud noise from the temple squre, loads of people have assembled in front of the sacred place to pray for salvation and a cure for the plague.
Solaric enters the temple square and calls to the people.
"My good people of Karcau. Have courage on this sad day! Know that almighty Inheritor is near and will guide us and bring healing to our city!"
Solaric takes a moment to give drops of the healing water from his flask to some of the assembled sick. "More healing water will be coming, but this should give some comfort until we extinguish this vile disease that threatens all of our lives!"
Solaric then proceeds into the temple to meet with Tanor Veredan at once.
Eyes wide in amazement at the thrill of flying, almost dying from a dreadfull plunge and the sheer size of the enemies army, Cairn was feeling overwhelmed.
Solaric will need to know the extent of the threat. I can return to Karcua to let him know. Anything I should add Lady Victoria? Johenric?
After getting any advice Cairn will make the run home.
The people raise their arms in praise and loudly echoes the Count's name over the square - loud enough to summon the temple servants and Tanor.
The imposing man looks tired and grey, but his smile is genuine
Count Zekkaran, the gods have answered my prayers, you found the healing water?
---------
Walking back to Karcau, Cairn is soon joined by Naga and feels at least a bit better now.
About a metres above him on the other side of the lake, the nighty black wyrm leaves the bolt throwers and spear slingers behind and speeds for Karcau. The enemy will reach the city in less than two days, so much is clear now.
"Thank you my Draconic friend, one day soon we will share a land together, where both of us will be afforded the due respect we deserve. You will be known as a dark hero, and afforded the proper accolades. For now, we return to Karcau and see what has transpired in our absence"
"Count Zekkaran, the gods have answered my prayers, you found the healing water?"
"Indeed I have! The fountain was hidden and controlled by an evil demon, but the Inheritor, bless her might, shone through and we destroyed the evil outsider! The fountain has been restored and purified and the healing waters flow through it once more. I have brought a great deal back to be used to heal this city. I gladly pass them on to you that our priests may see to the restoration of health to the people of Karcau"
Solaric hands several flasks to Tanor Veredan.
"There is much to be done, but at least we have taken this one step toward the coming of the Inheritor's Kingdom!"
"Thank you my Draconic friend, one day soon we will share a land together, where both of us will be afforded the due respect we deserve. You will be known as a dark hero, and afforded the proper accolades. For now, we return to Karcau and see what has transpired in our absence"
Johenric joins by saying
Not only because of the functional aspect of traveling but also because of this experience: Thank you very much.
Cairn's questions were carried away on the wind as he floated down to the ground. He knew he had a long way to go to get home and would have to run most of it if he stood a chance of staying ahead of enenmy scouts. He situated his gear and laced up his boots and was somewhat surprised by the viper's sudden appearance and smiled ruefully at Victoria's thoughtfullness.
You are a welcome sight Naga. We've a bit of a hike to go.
The young Sczarni set off in hopes that he'd be in time to be of use.
The dragon sneers and greenish vapor rises from his nostrils
A goodn future that is!
and with two powerful flaps is in the air again.
-----------
Tanor takes the flasks, but as the sick around you begin to push to get closer to their cure, he commands with thundering voice
No! We won't give out the potions to the strongest of you, but to those in most dire need! Form queues and we will examine you...you all heard that Lord Zekkaran was able to acquire more of the healing waters...so be patient!
-----------
I guess we can assume that Vicky and Jo reach the city now and Cairn some posts later?!
"No! We won't give out the potions to the strongest of you, but to those in most dire need! Form queues and we will examine you...you all heard that Lord Zekkaran was able to acquire more of the healing waters...so be patient!"
"Thank you for making that declaration. We cannot permit fighting. We must make sure that the healing waters are put to the greatest use."
Once Solaric has a moment alone with Tanor he adds, "You should know that Lucretia was found in Sassandra's room. She will need to be dispatched as quickly as possible. Her presence has become a sickness upon Karcau. When Karcau's Chosen return, we will need to put an end to her as quickly as possible."
Tanor seems very concerned and takes a deep breath
Problems in abundance...we have to make sure that no one thinks it is your lordship that is ill-fated but only a series of tragedies that are NOT connected...I will prepare a sermon for tomorrow and will praise your prowess and decision-making.
----
Once Solaric is ready you can all gather at the gates.
"Problems in abundance...we have to make sure that no one thinks it is your lordship that is ill-fated but only a series of tragedies that are NOT connected...I will prepare a sermon for tomorrow and will praise your prowess and decision-making."
"You are most kind, Tanor. Once Karcau's chosen return to the city, we will get back to the business of evil slaying, and I will keep you up up to date with our progress. Until then, may the blessings of Iomedae go with you."
"My dear friends! It is so good to see you again, but I'm afraid we were too late for Sassandra. She has already passed away. I found Lucretia in her room and I drew my sword upon her. Unfortunately, she has escaped through the bedroom window at Swansong."
"So... who will be next in line to take charge of Karcau? And I thought you had made a deal with Lucretia - wont breaking that contract create problems?" the crunching of numbers plain on Victorias face.
"So... who will be next in line to take charge of Karcau?"
"Well," Solaric replies reflectively. "I suppose that honor falls to me. Although I sure wish I had my dear Sassandra here to assist me. This is not the type of job that should be done alone. I will certainly need some advisors and perhaps a steward to assist with day to day matters when I am out bringing justice to this city!"
"And I thought you had made a deal with Lucretia - wont breaking that contract create problems?"
"We had a deal until she began to interfere with my beloved Sassandra. When she appeared to offer me a deal to save her life, I knew at that moment that she was the one who killed her. She was no longer to be trusted and as such, I attacked her. I think she is the one we need to deal with first and foremost. Once that vampire and her spawn have been rid of the city, then we can think about how to defend this place."
"Cairn, Johenric, have you brought forth more of the healing waters from the fountain. We need to get as much as we have to Tanor to help with the healing of the city."
"We might need a better platform, you were only 'Count' as a notional title as you were engaged to be married and that only held weight while she still drew breath, now she's dead your position is precarious. I am wary that no sooner we remove the threat at the gates than we will have the threat of her vicious relatives coming to stake their claims - and you'll make an easy target for them to lay the blame as the cause of all the troubles should they wish to be all righteous about their seizure... 'a mixed blooded commoner with dangerous religious beliefs' will be how they proclaim it, this is why I fought for you to be granted title of your own, this is why I kept trying to draw your darling to matters of State instead of fanciful games and flighty talk of weddings, now we're both defeated... she is unlikely to have signed her petitions."
Victoria further considers... "So what happens when you break the well known deal with Lucretia? It was a public deal, and you publicly breaking it, no matter where you apportion the blame is going to reflect poorly on you and be further 'proof' for any Livgraces coming here to take power."
"If you break the deal because Lucretia killed Sassandra, then you are the man that formed a treaty with the killer of the Countess. If you kill Lucretia, then you also killed a Livgrace, and the family will claim they are suffering two losses at your hand. If you are seen to be breaking the deal then you are an Oathbreaker... we lose lose lose, but there IS an option..."
Although Johenric always looks quite reserved, his voice sounds quite sympathetic. In a way it appears that Johenric is glad to be meet Solaric or to be back in the city...
Solaric, it is good to see you. First of all I send you my condolence. The water is close to the city; as much as we could bring.
Once Victoria has started to explain the social situation, he listens and became quite. At the end he adds:
Well I am not sure about the overall situation, but should we not take care first about the approaching army?
"Our problem is that if Solaric leads the army from the front he stands the possibility of being labelled a usurper and playing into the hands of any Livgrace plot, he isn't the rightful ruler nor appointed its Regent so he has no authority. Do nothing and he can stand accused of simply being a spineless puppet."
"The approaching army is days away, so not as pressing as the Livgrace problem at large in the city. At the end of the day the deal was struck with Lucretia by the acting Count, and whilst that role is no longer occupied she could argue she still struck it with the blessing of the Iomedians, so really its a bind."
"I recommend the following. The Ragman killed the Countess, it is all his fault, he did it out of spite because he hates Karcau and wanted its people to suffer. Solaric only acted the way he did, striking at Lucretia because he was in a fit of madness after losing his lady-love after a trying quest to find a cure and help the City - so beside himself with grief he was that he made an error of judgment... he will send word of an apology to Lucretia along those lines and rebuild the bridge between them , he will ask an audience with her to extend his apology."
"Solaric, it is good to see you. First of all I send you my condolence. The water is close to the city; as much as we could bring."
"This is good. We will need to see that Tanor Veredan gets ahold of it as soon as possible. He will know how to distribute it best."
"Well I am not sure about the overall situation, but should we not take care first about the approaching army?"
"The reserves of Karcau will need to stand and fight, but we must deal with our troubles from within the city or we will certainly not survive! We have little time to spare and much to do! I'm afraid that Lucretia has become a much greater problem than I initially anticipated."
""Our problem is that if Solaric leads the army from the front he stands the possibility of being labelled a usurper and playing into the hands of any Livgrace plot, he isn't the rightful ruler nor appointed its Regent so he has no authority. Do nothing and he can stand accused of simply being a spineless puppet."
"Your grace! I am far from a spineless puppet! Since our graduation, I have done nothing but fight for Karcau and her people, which as you know was nothing less than slaying the Ragman! People should not question my integrity, for I am willing to put it up to the scrutiny of others. I am guided by the Inheritor and she knows that my heart is true and that I will not waver in my dedication to Karcau and its people."
""I recommend the following. The Ragman killed the Countess, it is all his fault, he did it out of spite because he hates Karcau and wanted its people to suffer. Solaric only acted the way he did, striking at Lucretia because he was in a fit of madness after losing his lady-love after a trying quest to find a cure and help the City - so beside himself with grief he was that he made an error of judgment... he will send word of an apology to Lucretia along those lines and rebuild the bridge between them , he will ask an audience with her to extend his apology."
"Extend an apology?! Are you mad?! I made no error in judgement by attacking her! She deserves to die and my only regret is that I did not see her for her villainous ways right from the start! Being a relative of Sassandra, I was willing to keep an open mind, but now she has made her very intentions clear. Why would you not counsel me to put an end to her as soon as possible. She is clearly an enemy of this city and she needs to be dealt with imminently! We could all approach her lair and put an end to her wretchedness within the day!"
"Your grace! I am far from a spineless puppet! Since our graduation, I have done nothing but fight for Karcau and her people, which as you know was nothing less than slaying the Ragman! People should not question my integrity, for I am willing to put it up to the scrutiny of others. I am guided by the Inheritor and she knows that my heart is true and that I will not waver in my dedication to Karcau and its people."
"Did't say you were, only that you need to fight the Ragman, but that we have the problem that you can't do it at the spearhead of Karcaus forces."
"Extend an apology?! Are you mad?! I made no error in judgement by attacking her! She deserves to die and my only regret is that I did not see her for her villainous ways right from the start! Being a relative of Sassandra, I was willing to keep an open mind, but now she has made her very intentions clear. Why would you not counsel me to put an end to her as soon as possible. She is clearly an enemy of this city and she needs to be dealt with imminently! We could all approach her lair and put an end to her wretchedness within the day!"
"You made a contract, Paladin, and now you are being seen to break it on the grounds of a hunch or personal suspicion without so much as a trial or investigation, that reflects poorly. Her intentions were always clear, she wishes to grab power. Enemy of the City or not, she is a Livgrace and you are merely a any other citizen at this point, when the rest of her family arrive how might that appear if you kill her? We have no authority to strike, we need to play very carefully now... we are, you are, very exposed"
""Did't say you were, only that you need to fight the Ragman, but that we have the problem that you can't do it at the spearhead of Karcaus forces."
"Although I am happy to lead Karcau's forces at the front of the line, especially against the Ragman, but I also see the need for us to try to solve many of Karcau's problems with short tactical missions. If we can take care of Lucretia and this plague, we will be one step closer to victory."
"We have no authority to strike, we need to play very carefully now... we are, you are, very exposed."
"I admit that we are in a precarious position. To be honest, I've never seen evil of this magnitude building up and conspiring against me in so many different ways. However, I do know that I am called to do what is right. I prayed to the Inheritor that I be guided and I now see clearly that Lucretia must die. Her presence is not helping us in any way. She may be a Livgrace, but she is going to destroy this city if we permit her to continue as she is doing. She brought this plague upon the city so that she could manipulate me and maneuver into a position of power. We cannot negotiate with such trickery! If we allow her to continue, a plague will be the least of our worries. Besides, she has died before and it is time for her to stay dead. Few people can argue with that."
"I know you think that I have little authority in this city, but I have the support of the people and they know that I am here to fight on their behalf. When push comes to shove, I know that they will support me as their lord and they will accept my decision to put an end to her power. I also know that Sassandra would have supported my decision! We have powerful friends, Victoria, including Dumitru and the power of the military. If we do what is right, I am convinced that the rest of the pieces will fall into place, and we will be able to save Karcau and bring about that peaceful kingdom."
"I have little doubt that such talk would be considered treasonous. The support of the people means nothing, it is the support of the crown we require for any of the things you suggest to come to pass, this isn't Andoran. You aren't the appointed Lord of the people now that Sassandra is no more, and to suggest you are could see you executed as a usurper, have you forgotten the laws of the Crown? We have friends, yes, and that allows us some room to move, but we must not be seen to be doing it under any suggestion of authority - Lucretia is the typical sort we could expect from the Livgraces, Sassandra was a different creature altogether - this is Ustalav, and they are a Ustalavian ruling family, as they have done for centuries, indeed you might well now find that Lucretia is the rightful ruler of this place and then what?. You can't afford to fight the Ragman and the Livgrace family at once."
"The rule of Law must bind us all, and we are all answerable before it, we cannot simply throw it off when we don't agree with it. Speak no more of a coup. Livgrace will get her just deserts, no doubt of that, but right now you need to play smart and cautious, you need to prepare for her ascendancy and that of the Livgrace heirs. The first move is to bring her onside... If you cannot abide that then you need to proclaim her as a vile undead that preys upon innocent members of the public or something, you will need to justify your strike and make sure it never mentions the Countess. Though I suggest the best way forward is to broker peace..."
"We need whoever follows Sassandra to sign their petitions, you will never save the people from your current pegging on the noble ladder"
"More than that, we need to consult the Academy and find out who will be the rightful ruler, and the other likely claimants, and we need to know quickly... we need to know who our enemies are"
Tanor looks at you earnestly and nods
Time is pressing, I see...there are some problems with your plan, we won't be able to invite all members of the aristocracy who should be there at such an important ceremony - you have to invite Prince Aduard...even if he isn't interested in the fate of Ustalav you can't ignore him...so I would recommend to make this a secret wedding - you will be Count of Sinaria by all means, but no one has to know it now...Should something happen to Sasandra the land wasn't without a ruler, so this is a very good idea, we just can't do it in public...politics you know...
Cairn dunked his head in a nearby water barrel and massaged the cramp in his side as he grimaced. Not so much from the discomfort but mostly to the embarrassment...a year ago I could've ran twice that far without even running out of breath...getting soft...going to have to toughen up with whats coming and all...war... A war at the gates of Karcau and the two people best able to deal with the bureaucracy of it all were bickering over the fine points. It was a conversation he had no plan on getting into. he couldn't match wits with either one of them and was really at a loss as to what they should do next. He slicked back his thick hair and hoped Johenric would step in with his intellect.
"You can't afford to fight the Ragman and the Livgrace family at once."
"Oh how I yearn for a simple battle that I can win with a sword! This is such a tangle political mess!"
""The rule of Law must bind us all, and we are all answerable before it, we cannot simply throw it off when we don't agree with it."
"You do not need to lecture me about the law, your Grace! I am a follower of Iomedae and I have abided by the laws of the land all of my life. However, I also believe in justice and righteousness. We do need to think about the people of this land. If we keep following her lead, she will soon turn them all to undead, and then the law will not even matter!"
"Speak no more of a coup. Livgrace will get her just deserts, no doubt of that, but right now you need to play smart and cautious, you need to prepare for her ascendancy and that of the Livgrace heirs. The first move is to bring her onside... If you cannot abide that then you need to proclaim her as a vile undead that preys upon innocent members of the public or something, you will need to justify your strike and make sure it never mentions the Countess. Though I suggest the best way forward is to broker peace..."
"How is brokering peace going to help with that vile witch?! This does not sit well with me at all! I may have duty to the law, but I also have a duty to what is good in this world, and she is not that!"
"More than that, we need to consult the Academy and find out who will be the rightful ruler, and the other likely claimants, and we need to know quickly... we need to know who our enemies are"
"I just don't understand this, Victoria. I was declared Count of Sinaria at the the completion of the tournament. There must be some weight to that title. I mean, I did win the tournament of all the greatest knights of the land! There must have been some law around that!"
"What we really need is to get my dear Sassandra back. Tell me, is there a way to resurrect her? The healing waters cleared her of the plague. Obviously, we need to work quickly, but if there was a way to raise her from the dead, then we would still have a hope. I wonder if there is a staff of life that we could acquire."
"I just don't understand this, Victoria. I was declared Count of Sinaria at the the completion of the tournament. There must be some weight to that title. I mean, I did win the tournament of all the greatest knights of the land! There must have been some law around that!"...
"The title only bears weight if there was a marriage to cement it and documents to prove it. The tournament win opened the chance for you to wed the Countess, and lay claim to that title, but no wedding means that particular castle was only built of sand. You won a tournament, but the tournament did what I feared, took minds off business, and now we are left with a lot of dreams and no signatures where we need them - I would point to my own trials and tribulations with the unclaimed and suffering lands of Jarovicha, those people still suffer greatly and the potential to aid them rests in my hands, but Sassandras hand was the one needed to sign a form and make it so - but there is no ink on that paper. Your wish to marry her, a knight yes, but a commoner in your own right, the sort of matching from a fairytale but fuel for for rage in the Courts of Ustalav, I sought to get you your own title first to add legitimacy to any claim, that same legitimacy might give you some room for entitlement here, but no ink on paper once again, because young lovers never think, they just recite terribly poetry and promise the moon. Ink saves kingdoms"
"I have given you the reasons why you need to broker peace - to show that you honour your word in good times and bad, and that you are someone who can be trusted. Or, as I said, go to war against a foul undead creature that has broken the deal and preyed upon innocent victims, just don't tell them it was the Countess, we don;t even know she did, and it would be bad for reputations if people suspected it"
"If yuo wanted a battle you could win with a sword, then you should have stuck to swinging swords, instead you waded knee deep into this battle thinking riding around being a knight in a tournament was a winning move in a game of centuries. I urged you for caution, and now this is the battle you are in, a battle far from fair, and with people who will simply kill you if needed when they don't fear the consequences - remember me telling you that you don't have true power of your own? No titles, no lands, no armies? They won't fear killing you, you were better off when you were fixed on family revenge, now even that is escaping us"
"So, to the Academy, to see who we have coming next and how soon we can expect them, and to see what claim Lucretia might have to power. Undeath does not preclude one from ruling in Ustalav"
Victoria has a dark expression cross her face "Your love of the Countess, would you love her even in undeath? How far would you go?"
Cairn was horrified at the thought of trying to bring the Countess back from the dead...some things just shouldnt be undone... His own hatred of the undead might have had something to do with his thoughts which also had him hoping they would decide to track down and slay the vampire in their midst first.
"I have given you the reasons why you need to broker peace - to show that you honour your word in good times and bad, and that you are someone who can be trusted. Or, as I said, go to war against a foul undead creature that has broken the deal and preyed upon innocent victims, just don't tell them it was the Countess, we don't even know she did, and it would be bad for reputations if people suspected it."
Solaric remains silent as he wrestles with those thoughts. Finally, he acquiesces. "Ok, I will broker peace and plead grief for my own dear Sassandra, for that is certainly true. But how long must I wait until we can put things back in order? It is clear that we cannot trust her any longer."
"Your love of the Countess, would you love her even in undeath? How far would you go?"
"I proposed raising her from the dead by the pure good resurrection power of the Inheritor. I would never entertain the idea of raising her by some dark necromancy. I would sooner wait patiently for my own afterlife having lived a life true to myself and the Inheritor. The world does seem full of shades of gray, but despite what you think, I do have my own principles."
"Well there we go, you just had a moment of grief and now we have the old Solaric back firmly as he should be" Victoria smiles a happy smile. "I couldn't simply assume, I had to hear you say it."
"We will win this one, though arranging a calling back from the dead might pose some challenges, not the least of which is the intentions of her family... for all we know, they were the ones that offed her"
"I will see to it that she gets an envoy calling for truce, there needs to be a bit of a public display, where you publicly call for peace and a return to focusing on the true enemy, perhaps in a neutral place like the academy...I will see to it myself actually, that might be reasonable, as I had acted as a neutral agent before in such deals, perhaps she will listen to me again."
Sunken in thought and discussion, you finally reach Swansong House...the normally snow-white walls seem grey and gloomy now and behind it large dark clouds race by...Gregori waits at the entrance and nods
M'lord, I have sent small groups of Nightscarves into each and every corner and dark place of the city, Lucretia will be found...soon.
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M'lord, I have sent small groups of Nightscarves into each and every corner and dark place of the city, Lucretia will be found...soon.
"Until then I will be in the library finding out who is next in line to be running this place - who will be ruling Karcau now the Countess no longer graces us, and who will be leading its defence against that army out there... important questions."
Cairn nods to Gregori and drops his kit by one of the many plush couches. He hails Victoria before lying down on the couch and getting comfortable.
Good luck, I'll be getting some rest right here.
Gregori arches an eyebrow and gives Cairn a soft kick
You will not stay here...on the couch...this is a place of woe and grief.
then he turns to Victoria
Do you need assistance of any kind? I mean, magister Johenric will surely acompany you, but there are other sages in the city who could help you, too.
"I don't need any assistance, I just need my answers. Once I have those we can plan, until we have those we have only danger and uncertainty"
"M'lord, I have sent small groups of Nightscarves into each and every corner and dark place of the city, Lucretia will be found...soon."
"I appreciate the efforts. Can you tell me what you know of the status of the city. How close is the enemy outside of the walls of this city. What do we know about Lucretia's undead within the city? How many are we talking about?"
What is Johenric doing? Cairn is resting, right?
Gregori nods, but then hesitates
Victoria, I strongly advise not to wander the city's streets alone. Vampires are on the loose and the plague is still strong in many districts.
Then he turns to Solaric and straightens his posture
[b|M'lord...scouts are permanently on the alarm. The enemy's camp is about ten miles from here on the other side of the lake, I guess they could set up camp here at our walls within ten hours...at least if they rush, but there seems to be no indication for that. The size of Lucretia's flock is a matter of pure speculation...actually you were there and met her...how many others were at her court?[/b]
"Wander the streets? Who is wandering streets? I am looking for answers at the Academy. We cannot act unless we have our answers, Johenric always speaks to knowing the finer details and I agree..."
"When I was last within her crypt, she had many followers, but also about a half dozen body guards. My hope is that they leave Karcau and go and fight the enemy outside of the walls of this city. Naturally, I am concerned about vampires running loose throughout the streets. Gregori is right in that we should probably stick together and avoid traveling alone. Right now, Victoria needs to ask questions pertaining to the rule of Karcau. Captain Dumitru, perhaps you might know the answers to some of her questions. What I need to know is with my beloved Sassandra Livgrace dead, who now rules Karcau? What opposition can we expect to be coming soon? If you don't know, where might we find these answers?"
"Until then I will be in the library finding out who is next in line to be running this place - who will be ruling Karcau now the Countess no longer graces us, and who will be leading its defence against that army out there... important questions."
Johenric nods
Victoria, as soon as the sun rises we will walk to the library and find out the answers about the royal bloodline. It is the first thing we do tomorrow; but for now I need to rest.
Dumitru scratches his head and after a moment of hesitation - seemingly unsure - explains
Mhm...I think that there is a law in Ustalavian corpus juris of aristocracy...well, I'm not sure, but when I was trained at the academy I think I once read about the possibility to either choose or elect a Steward of War in dark times with the ruler dead....umm and about the vampires, I doubt that Lucretia will continue the attacks against our enemies now that you have attacked her...we will have to face her full pack, I fear. Maybe it would be wise to give out magic weapons to all NIghtscarves, m'lord.
"well then, we need to get that election sorted out so that our loyal and good actions do not get 'confused' as a coup by suspicious relatives"
"I also think it's time we met with Lucretia and brokered a truce, its not in her interests to pursue a fight at this stage either, even if she wins she loses, she is not an unintelligent fool. I have met with her before, I am sure she will meet with us again. Cairn can come as my escort, I have no fear of the vampires for I have not trespassed against them"