If he can indeed create castles so easily, I would wonder why he needs us. Perhaps I am overly cautious due to the politics back home that I had to deal with for a short time. However the thought that either we acquiesce to his... requests. Or become his enemies seems... worrisome at best. I would doubt such dilemmas as this would end after this one. That is to say, he would continue to use that threat against us. Fergus will take the time they are away from the group to cast detect magic and glance back around the room. His eyes turn clear and crystalline for but a split moment before returning to normal as the magic takes affect.
Zokon listens then answers the immediate responses
"No I did not enter into any marriage contract, except with Alia. I like the idea of giving Stroon the opportunity of Magister, you have the right of it Durgan. Fergus I would not attempt magic, he is a political animal and would be familiar with such magics. Also not my permission, the groups generally, unless we are time constrained."
Zokon considers for a second
"I think I will offer him a role as Magister of Avalon, with the requisite resources that the post would require for him to perform the role."
Zokon is awaiting Alia and Balzeros feedback, maybe Serena has more to say?
"It's a beautiful thing." Illthir remarks and leans in a little closer to inspect the instrument. While she'd love to hold it and play with it and poke it and prod it - she could never do so without permission. And now probably wasn't the time.
And Zokon passed by ...
With a smile she excused herself from the musician and hurried along.
---
"Hmm. I worry like Fergus about future demands. Perhaps not from Stroon - but other might try. What if word got out that one would simply need a deal with your father to secure a position at our court?" the skald shares her worries. "On the other hand - we hardly need more enemies."
"I wish we knew how much was bark and how much was bite. Feel ... Ambushed." she shudders a little.
"You did not seriously just suggest marrying both of us?", Alia asks of Zokon with a glare that is at least as deadly as that of the Stroon Mage.
As the others talk, she calms down just enough to respond to other open topics: "I agree with most of you - where possibly, we want to have Officials of our own choosing, people we can trust, people who share our vision. We know nothing of him. The only reason for him to get such a coveted position would be appeasement. If we do this, it will only be a short while before we have people lining up to bully their way into leadership positions."
Thinking a moment, she adds:"Plus as Magister he would run governmental bureaucracy except finance, and be in charge of education and promotion of knowledge. That is a powerful position that would allow him significant impact on the values and political structures in Avalon. I would rather see Eldiocesan, or Fergus in such a position. Anybody we know and trust."
As she listens to more arguments, she responds:"It is true that we may need to compromise in some way. I think there are three things we need to know: First - when was this marriage truly arranged and were you informed of it? Second, what does Stroon truly desire - if all he wants is some land and a noble title, he may settle for much less if it means his sister is free to marry someone else. Thirdly, what are the Brevoyan laws regarding Anulment of Marriages? Is "ratum sed non consummatum" an option? Are there callings for a ban and how are they handled? If I spoke up and claim that Zokon is betrothed to me as reason to disallow the marriage, what would happen next? Durgan, you are well versed in Brevoyan Law, what are our options here?"
"I trust Eldiocesan even less than I do Stroon. But Fergus would be a very good choice as Magister.
I do agree Alia, that if we can buy Stroon's support - or at least indifference - for a lower price then we should do so. Perhaps just a patch of land and noble title as you say.
I do not relish having to make a deal when not in a position of strength. I agree there is a risk in doing so. It would be better if we knew more about Stroon's abilities.
But if we don't make a deal... whereas before we could just walk away without Zokon's father's support, now we risk offending a powerful wizard. That is never good. Fortunately, such are few and far between, and I would not expect another to come knocking to try to shake us down. We are not wealthy marks."
And hopefully by the time we are, we'll be better able to counter such foes.
"Annulment happens after a marriage. To marry Pavetta and then immediately annul it would be even more of an insult. Or to interrupt the wedding with a reason why these two should not be wed. While technically legal, it would be an insult. As to the betrothal, I believe your contract should take precedence. Even though not in writing -" Durgan looks like he wants to say "I told you so" to Zokon " - a verbal contract is still a contract, and many of us witnessed it. Even if Zokon's father made the agreement earlier in time, I don't think it is legally binding on Zokon - perhaps in part because he is illegitimate. Zokon lacks the privileges of a lord, but also enjoys more freedom in his affairs."
"Fundamentally, there is what the law allows, and there is what will avoid offending Stroon. Most of the nobility in Brevoy are not sticklers for the letter of the law. Their self-interest comes first. A binding contract carries some weight if only because breaking one's word hurts one's reputation and future deals."
I believe friends we have reached an impasse of sorts, without more information we cannot plan accordingly. We can postulate all evening, however I would suggest deciding on a few plans of attack. First, we figure out when and how this marriage was arranged. If there is no way to annul the arrangement without angering Stroon. Then, we, or, you, Zokon, make an offer to him. First of a minor title or the like his reaction will tell you much. If he angers, we know he desires something more than a title. You could risk rousing his anger further by offering him the court position. A risk you should take in my opinion.
Honestly, I feel this is a risk you would have to take. Information is powerful, you will need to be able to push people, lest you be pushed.
If, once again he seems angered then we know he seeks something much greater than that. Something that would likely pose a danger to us. It is a risk yes, depending on how powerful he truly is and how easily angered he is. yet, I think it is the best option. Start low, and give ground slowly, just like haggling among merchants. We will know what we can get away with when he is not angered by a suggestion. We...you cannot show fear merely because he threatens his wrath. If you are not the greatest at reading people, perhaps take along one among us who is. Certainly not I, I am well spoken, but without magic I could not tell you what someone was thinking even if it was written on their face. We must look at this as haggling between merchants. At the moment we are on the back foot. But perhaps if we glean more information we can use that to our advantage.
"Getting this all straight, you support me using my political power to reject the marriage, as it is arranged by my father who has no power over the ruler of a nation. But we should see if we can assuage Stroon by offering him a role, where he will be productive."
He gathers his thoughts.
"I think I shall be straight up with Stroon and advise him that the marriage will not happen, but we can make an accomodation. This all could be for nothing if Lord Gurev steps in. I could defy him I suppose as it is Restov that is supporting the founding of our nation, but they'll hopefully bow to the carrot that is good relations with the neww nation." What do you think?
"Lord Gurev seems a rational man who, I think, would not want one of the powerful wizards of his realm angry at one of his vassal lords.
I hope he can broker a peace. Maybe talk to him first and outline this plan you have just spoken of? I would suggest bringing Illthir with you.
You could defy Gurev as well if he proves obstinate, but as you say he may see the profit to be gained by helping you."
"As long as none tries to marry me away!" the skald jokes, while her desire to see the cart wreck up close battled her wish to not be in said wreck. Be brave! she told herself. Surely a wrathful mage would wait a little with trying to turn them all into newts.
"I think this is a family matter, I will try and handle it, thankyou all for your input."
Zokon walks back to his father
"So we can offer Stroon a role in our new kingdom and Alia is Consort not co-ruler or wife, she will not be ruler after me. Marrying Pavetta is out, we have a biding arrangement in place and as a new ruler I must have my people backing me. The Stroons are welcome to join us."
"How interesting! Making music has never suited me, I've always had to settle for the birds," Balzeros admits. "So, what is it you do here?" he asks Naughleck
"You make birds?" says Lyre looking quizzically at Balzeros. "I am Lord Medvyed's Weapon's Master."
"I think this is a family matter, I will try and handle it, thankyou all for your input."
Zokon walks back to his father
"So we can offer Stroon a role in our new kingdom and Alia is Consort not co-ruler or wife, she will not be ruler after me. Marrying Pavetta is out, we have a biding arrangement in place and as a new ruler I must have my people backing me. The Stroons are welcome to join us."
Zokon will await any inspiration from his companions and then knocks on the doors and makes his statement to his father.
Zokon walks back to his father
"So we can offer Stroon a role in our new kingdom and Alia is Consort not co-ruler or wife, she will not be ruler after me. Marrying Pavetta is out, we have a biding arrangement in place and as a new ruler I must have my people backing me. The Stroons are welcome to join us."
Hearing Zokon's declaration that it is a family matter and he will handle it, Durgan nods and steps aside.
He offers a silent prayer to Abadar for fruitful and mutually beneficial negotiations.
"Oh, no I don't make birds, just in the woods they're really the only source of music. And the plants too, but it is awfully boring and what passes for rhythm to an Oak tree is jus- your face says you don't care, ok then, Weapon's Master! That explains the little tussle you had with Zokon! Ever the teacher, right?" Balzeros clumsily delivers. I'm an embarrassment. I'll speak to Durgan for pointers, not at all like speaking to farmers.
________
Zokon will await any inspiration from his companions and then knocks on the doors and makes his statement to his father.
Zokon's father opens the door. Near the back of sitting room the other two lords stop speaking and look grimly at Zokon. Tengar takes Zokon's gently urges outside, pulling the door all but closed behind him.
"Well?"
"So we can offer Stroon a role in our new kingdom and Alia is Consort not co-ruler or wife, she will not be ruler after me. Marrying Pavetta is out, we have a biding arrangement in place and as a new ruler I must have my people backing me. The Stroons are welcome to join us."
Upon hearing this Zokon's father looks at his son wild with undisguised panic. "You said you were going to come up with something!"
"Santyev?" calls the House Lord coming to the partially closed door. Tengar, his hand still on the handle looks ready to slam it and run.
Zokon stoicly replies
"It is a solution, Stroon can have a role where he will be able to gain power and fortune, if he performs his role well and helps out our new nation."
Defeated Tengar looks at the stone floor. "Alright. Let's give it a go."
He forces a smile to his lips, turns, and opens the door for Zokon. The wizard, and Lord Medvyed await looking stern.
Imeckus and Lord Medvyed listen to Zokon's proposal, the house lord looking nervous but hopeful, whereas the wizard looks stony.
When Zokon finishes Imeckus says: "And such is the apology of a base bastard." His eyes move over to Tengar. "This is not over, Santyev."
Then in flash of violet light that causes Medved to hop away, Imeckus Stroon vanishes from the room. He reappears through a similar flash in the great hall to the surprise of everyone.
"Come Pavetta. We are leaving." he says grimly.
Confused, Lady Stroon nonetheless gathers Jewel, and complies, taking her brother's hand. With a word and a gesture from Imeckus they vanish in clap of thunder that echoes through the hall, and puff of charcoal smoke. It as if they had been smote by unseen lightning.
{Glowers at Tengar.}
{Looks horrified.}
{Looks on amazed!}
{Ditto!}
Ditzy glares daggers at the dog before it disappears, along with its master. She gives a small, quick nod of her head before scurrying back over to Fergus.
They have fled! Victory! She thinks before snuggling down in Fergus's cloak for a nap.
Fergus's eyebrows raise slightly when Imeckus teleports away.
Interesting... very interesting. Truly, someone to make precautions for. I wonder...
he leans to the others. Teleportation magic, indeed, it is true he is an accomplished mage. I've never gotten close to such magic as yet. And I would wager an intimidation attempt.
One that likely is mildly successful, But also, one that gives information.
As the Wizard leaves with his sister, Alia suddenly worries.
She rushes to the door Zokon entered a short while ago and opens it.
Ignoring Zokons Father, she closes the door behind her and moves to Zokon and Lord Medyed, more to make sure nothing happened to Zokon than for any other reason: "The Stroons have departed via Teleportation Magic. I am glad to find you well - I worried for your safety, for a moment."
She curtsies to Lord Medyed: "Pardon my intrusion, milord. Lord Imeckus made it clear your meeting had adjourned - and I had hoped you might also have questions for me, considering the situation we find ourselves in."
And now we have a powerful wizard angry at us... was likely to happen, but I hoped it could be avoided with some tact and charm.
Durgan doesn't try to follow Alia.
He does look over at Illthir.
"I don't think negotiations went so well. Zokon can be... ah... direct."
Zokon waits for Alia to finish and stands beside her
"This is Alia, who is to be my consort when I step up to take control of New Avalon as it's ruling Duke, I hope to have your backing in what shall be a mutually profitable venture."
Illthir looks a bit confused as the mage pops in and out of reality. She half expected the stench of brimstone to accompany him. But no. Would've been a great story though ... The skald made a mental note to try and slip that rumor into the general population if she could.
"Oh. Yeah." She nodded and replied to Durgan with a pained smile. "Doesn't make him wrong though.." We'll have to try and stop people from springing these things on him!
Durgan thinks. "Not wrong in his position, no.
But he may have erred in trying to handle this on his own. You'd have been an asset."
The dwarf sighs and sips his ale. "I know Zokon was never expecting to have to handle negotiations and affairs of state, and he has now been thrust into that role. He's learning, but that takes time. I feel badly for him."
"Still, I don't think his error was overconfidence. I think Zokon wanted to go alone to protect us from Imeckus's wrath. Imeckus was already angry at him, and any of us trying to sell a deal to the wizard might have also incurred his anger if we had failed.
Well, what's done is done. Perhaps Lord Medvyed has some ideas."
The rest of the evening passes in fashion of an overcast afternoon. There are attempts at frivolity and laughter, but they seem forced. Even the traveling players struggle to cope.
Warm, hearty mountain food is piled high on platters before the assembly but it seems to go down tepidly, now that word has spread of Stroon's displeasure.
"This really isn't my thing, but would it be better if we stayed or left?" Balzeros asks, sticking by Illthir's side. "It feels like we're overstaying our welcome though... Now doesn't really seem like the time to push our own agenda either."
Illthir will try and poke around a bit for rumours of the wicked wizard that so rudely ruined the party. Without trying to make it too obvious that she was part of the other party he surely would want to ruin!
---
"I'm not sure that many cares about *us*. But yeah, no need to linger after the dinner I think." Illthir frowns.
"I think that we should take our leave. There is little more that we can do here that will not worsen the situation." Serena observes sagely.
"I fear you are right Serena ..." Illthir mumbles as she longingly eyes the party. A muted somber party, but still a party!
Illthir will try and poke around a bit for rumours of the wicked wizard that so rudely ruined the party. Without trying to make it too obvious that she was part of the other party he surely would want to ruin!
---
"I'm not sure that many cares about *us*. But yeah, no need to linger after the dinner I think." Illthir frowns.
A second third of the crowd doesn't like the fact that Zokon (a bastard) didn't go along with his father, thereby slapping the Brevic patriarchy in the face. What the hell does that bastard know anyway he's not even middle-aged.
The last third is merely confused by it all, and wonder if the actress in the play was made up to look like Alia for a joke meant to make fun of Zokon's "elf wench".
Without further explanations/intervention these impressions are likely to last.
Illthir will share her findings with the party - maybe they could try and spin it?
"Stroon was playing the game the way it is most commonly played in Brevoy.
He did not try to enchant the minds of Lord Medvyed or Tengar Santyev. Or have them replaced with magical copies.
He arranged a marriage for his sister to advance his power and status. That is hardly unusual in Brevoy.
He played the game the way it is played, and he will not be the last to do so that we encounter.
But that way did not get him what he wanted. I do not know what he will do next. He may resort to more arcane options."
"I think we may as well just move on. I don't have any ideas about what else to do here."
"Forget him for now and keep him in the pocket as a potential problem, getting some sort of revenge on us at the moment will do him little good and potentially make an enemy of Restov for him."
Zokon move up to Alia and puts a hand on her shoulder
"I am thinking we should hold the marriage soon, I would hate to see this scene repeated at Restov."
Alia is somewhat shaken at the situation, the hostility and open rejection. It was a stark contrast to how things had been at their previous stop. Moving closer to Zokon, she turns his extended hand into an embrace and rests her head against his shoulder.
"Yes...", she swallows, taking a deep breath and trying not to cry at the absurdity of it all, then adds with a low voice: "Maybe in your mother's village? We seemed welcome there."
Thinking of her own relatives, she adds with the same thin tone:"I doubt we'll find someplace where people are more friendly and accepting of us than there."
Fergus chuckles despite himself.
The problem with being a noble, as ever, is expectations, and "duty".
Well, hopefully the kingdom we build will be rather accepting of us all. Or did you mean at this exact moment. He gives a small wink.
he leans in closer to the group as many stare, and whispers.
Well, if the lords are to afeared of our teleporting friend, there is little we can do. To ally with us would likely be seen as an insult by Stroon, and cement them picking a side that is not his. You would need a way to guarantee their safety, the success of our endeavor, and that we would be more profitable allies than a powerful wizard. All at once. Which is quite the feat in my opinion. I plan to do some reading up on this Stroon and his family once I have access to better records. Knowledge is power after all. Zokon, does your family have access to accurate records? Perhaps we could purchase the use of them? Their may yet be an amiable way to end all of this, but that would certainly require profuse apologies.
I wonder if Restov has records on him. At this time, we know little of this man, and I'm sure he will know much of us, at least, of them, soon.
While the others plan their next course of action, Balzeros works up his courage and tries to mend some of the public's opinion.
Fortifying his courage by downing a glass of wine and walking around with another, he finds people nearby and tries to explain some of the context.
"Zokon was already promised to another before all this!"
"Wizards come and go, I'm sure something else will catch his eye soon and he'll find another region to call home!"
"Surely there is more to be gained through an ally in a budding country than whatever is happening here, no?"
________
Zokon appreciates the groups efforts he will try and find his father to have a last chat
he leans in closer to the group as many stare, and whispers.
Well, if the lords are to afeared of our teleporting friend, there is little we can do. To ally with us would likely be seen as an insult by Stroon, and cement them picking a side that is not his. You would need a way to guarantee their safety, the success of our endeavor, and that we would be more profitable allies than a powerful wizard. All at once. Which is quite the feat in my opinion. I plan to do some reading up on this Stroon and his family once I have access to better records. Knowledge is power after all. Zokon, does your family have access to accurate records? Perhaps we could purchase the use of them? Their may yet be an amiable way to end all of this, but that would certainly require profuse apologies.I wonder if Restov has records on him. At this time, we know little of this man, and I'm sure he will know much of us, at least, of them, soon.
While the others plan their next course of action, Balzeros works up his courage and tries to mend some of the public's opinion.
Fortifying his courage by downing a glass of wine and walking around with another, he finds people nearby and tries to explain some of the context.
"Zokon was already promised to another before all this!"
"Wizards come and go, I'm sure something else will catch his eye soon and he'll find another region to call home!"
"Surely there is more to be gained through an ally in a budding country than whatever is happening here, no?"
"You don't say...."