After searching with Chrysa, Sophiel notices the boat has left. Sighing, she says to Isabella and Annalla. "Please wait here. I'll try to get the boat back."
She flies over the water in the direction the boat left, searching for the boat. When she finds it, she flies in front of the boat, and annoyed, says "hey, boat... person. What are you doing? We're finished, we're ready to return." Her hands are on her hips, and frowning at him. "Look, I know it was scary, but it's over. Everyone's fine, and the others need to use your boat. We can compensate you further for your time, as well."
He hesitates for a moment before offering "If you have been stuck here for that long perhaps it would do you some good to see the surrounding lands and get to know some more people. I don't pretend to really understand what you are, but you don't seem to be like your father so as long as you can act within the bounds of our laws and not harm anyone, you are welcome to come with my back to Orrville, just to get out of this dreary tower."
"That is very kind." Vincent replies. "I think... I think I'd like that. I will join you. Thank you."
Aside from a small backpack he doesn't seem to have many possessions and casually topples backwards out of the window, which causes some heart-in-mouth moments until the group meets him, in perfect health, at the bottom of the tower.
"Your boat is that way." He offers, pointing. "I think I frightened him off earlier."
Orri runs over to the rail when the boy flops backwards off of it but when he sees Vincent is just fine down below he just shakes his head. He hurries to catch up to Chrysa and moves in close as he speaks quietly to her "Hey, maybe you can come back to Orrville with me for a bit before heading back to your lands? We still need to look over that journal and figure out what all happened here and with Vincent coming along with me, an extra pair of watchful eyes would be appreciated."
Orri eventually meets back up with Vincent and he goes over to note "So... you should probably try and act a little more... human when we get back to more civilized places. Other people may not be as understanding of your differences as we are, at least not until they get to know you."
"I appreciate the advice." Vincent says, "But I can manage. Don't worry." His posture changes subtly and then he gives a wide (fang free) smile and it would be near impossible to tell him apart from a normal boy.
"Whats our story? Are you my daddy now?" He asks with a look of cherubic innocence.
"Orphan." Chrysa suggests "Ancestor of the former Lord Maridos here to claim his birthright and accompanying Lord Lebeda for advice." she looks at Orri with a raised brow and nods to his request.
Orri is a bit shocked at first but quickly nods along to Chrysa's suggestion "Uh yeah... I think Chrysa's idea maybe works best..."
Are you my daddy now?
Isabella refrains from chuckling at the thought of Orri suddenly a father, jumping her to claim that right. "Excuse me Papa Orri." she says, turning to her wife.
While they walk, Isabella breaks away from Annalla to slow down and walk beside Chrysa. "I will be right back. There is something I must do."
When she moves alongside Chrysa, she doesn't slow her step nor does she look at her friend. She speaks softly so only Chrysa can hear her.
She turns to face Chrysa now, looking to her eyes. "And yet, it was not you that stabbed me in the back, was it? No more than it was I who assaulted my wife. No. I think not. I assaulted you earlier today when I was out of my mind. We all were seemingly out of our minds. And so, I want you to know, that I do not hold ill will and I forgive you."
"Sister." she says with a smile, wrapping her arm around Chrysa's shoulder.
As you search the tower, you fail to find the vampire lord's coffin. Nor anything else of value. However, when Orri happens to check his pack, he finds a few things that weren't present there before...namely a magical cloak, headband, and ring.
After about an hour of flying Sophiel manages to catch up to the boatman and, with some discussion, convince him to turn around. In all, it takes him about another thirty minutes to turn the ship around and another hour and a half to make it back to the island. Seeing you all safely walking around with no concern or threat, he informs you that sailing the waters at this point would be too dangerous, and he will set sail again with the rise of the sun.
Vincent waits with near ageless patience and, oddly enough, doesn't seem nervous at the prospect of the rising sun. He passes the time by identifying the magic items Orri has found, which he does so almost instantly, going into a long discussion about exactly how the magic is woven into the materials and the varying uses of the different metals in magical crafting with anyone willing to engage him.
When the first rays of the sun peek across the horizon the reason for his lack of fear becomes apparent. Wherever he stands Vincent falls slightly in shadow. It's not terribly obvious, but the sunlight never directly touches him, thereby leaving him unharmed.
"So Papa Orri, where is Orrville then?" He asks, winking at Bella as he asks the question.
Orri winces a bit when Bella jokingly calls him Papa, but then when Vincent says it too he shakes his head and spins on his heals toward the boy "Nope, that's not going to work. You want to give me a pet name use Uncle Orri, but most definitely not Papa. Don't want people getting the wrong idea." He lets out a frustrated sigh before turning toward the east and slightly north and point "Orrville is that direction. Not too far."
Chrysa listens stiffly as Bella talks, feeling sick to her stomach at every word. And hating it. She looks at Bella when the other woman wishes it, forcing herself not to scream.
not your fault
forgive me
The walls shudder and shake, but hold. The smaller woman accepts the half-hug without pushing her away. How can she not understand a single damned thing, not one SINGLE F*!$ING THING her mind shrieks, but outwardly she mumbles "thanks for understanding"
how can she if you don't even have a clue
The only thing she is sure of is that the boat back will be an infuriating long ride back.
Sophiel helps the captain (?) of the boat get back, and sees everyone milling around on the shore. "I got the boat back. Everyone say thank you to the nice boat ...captain?" She smiles at him.
When they aren't to leave until later, she exhales, exasperated, "So - leaving in the morning, now. How lovely. Get some rest, I'm going to take in the sights and see if there's anything the wisps left behind" She stretches, and then wanders off, exploring the rest of the island while they wait, supremely weirded out by the young man that seems to be calling Orri "Papa".
Annalla nods at her wife when she moves off to have a quiet chat with Chrysa. Her eyes follow the conversation even if she can't hear it.
Once the conversation has concluded, she finds herself at Vincent's side. "We are two sides of the same coin," she says, looking down at the 'child'. "According to what you've relayed to us, you are aged quite beyond your appearance, with a lifespan measured in decades rather than years. I, on the other hand, in spite of my appearance, can measure my life in months rather than years. I have not even had my first name-day celebration."
When Sophiel returns with the boat she curtsies towards the captain. "Thank you for returning, Good Sir," she says.
Isabella lets go of Chrysa and kisses her cheek before giving her another hug.
----
Once things are settled, Isabella makes sure Annalla is okay and situated before offering to take the first shift of watch.
"Anna, how are you holding up? What can I do to make amends with you?" she asks, afraid of what the answer may be.
Once things are settled, Isabella makes sure Annalla is okay and situated before offering to take the first shift of watch.
"Anna, how are you holding up? What can I do to make amends with you?" she asks, afraid of what the answer may be.
Annalla turns a surprised eye on her wife. "There is nothing you need make amends for," she responds. She tugs on Isabella's hand, encouraging her wife to sit at her side. "You have made no decisions that have ill-affected me, so there is nothing else you need to do, My Love." Her voice still carries a perfectly even tone. No anger. No happiness. Nothing.
"And there is no need for you to take a watch. You are with child and need all the rest you can get. I will watch over everyone tonight."
Once the conversation has concluded, she finds herself at Vincent's side. "We are two sides of the same coin," she says, looking down at the 'child'. "According to what you've relayed to us, you are aged quite beyond your appearance, with a lifespan measured in decades rather than years. I, on the other hand, in spite of my appearance, can measure my life in months rather than years. I have not even had my first name-day celebration."
Vincent looks Analla up and down, his gaze clinical rather than covetous or any of the other emotions that might be expected. "Indeed." He says quietly and doesn't pick the conversation up until later when Analla is standing watch alone.
"I would be willing to watch so that you can sleep." He offers. "I don't need it. But I can see why you might find that agreeable. Will you tell me what you are? To be this young... 你是从东方来的吗?"
He clearly means Numeria.
As usual, Sophiel sleeps very little, and speaks little to anyone else. She spends much of her time combing the island.
In the morning, before they leave, she briefly examines Orri and Isabella separately, away from the boat captain, before they leave.
She returns after a moment, speaking with each privately.
"Shall we go? I'd like off this rock."
It takes a full day of rowing upstream for the boatman to get you back to Orrville. Tired and weary, the man is in no mood for friendly banter and asks you all be off his boat with utmost haste, though in not so formal of a manner.
Isabella doesn't fight it, her exhaustion evident. "I won't argue with you." She pulls her blanket up and lays her head in Anna's lap, closing her eyes and falling fast asleep.
----
The following day, feeling rested, Isabella checks in with everyone, Anna first. "Are you feeling okay today? Ready to move on?"
Throughout much the trip, she keeps to herself and is eager to get off the boat as well.
"I must apologize, for that is not a language that I comprehend," Annalla when Vincent transitions to another tongue. "Until we come to know you better, I believe that my friends would prefer that one of us remain awake. I appreciate the offer and would be happy to speak with you at length regarding age and perception of same."
She looks down at her wife sleeping with her head in the android's lap. "I don't get tired as biological organisms do. If I wish to recover the energy to invoke arcane magic, however, I require a period of mental inactivity which is analogous to sleep. Seeing as how we're on our way back to Orri's home town, I will forgo that to watch over my wife and the others."
~~~~~
"I am feeling well. Thank you for asking," Annalla responds to Bella. "You look much better this morning. I hope you slept well."
"I must apologize, for that is not a language that I comprehend," Annalla when Vincent transitions to another tongue. "Until we come to know you better, I believe that my friends would prefer that one of us remain awake. I appreciate the offer and would be happy to speak with you at length regarding age and perception of same."
She looks down at her wife sleeping with her head in the android's lap. "I don't get tired as biological organisms do. If I wish to recover the energy to invoke arcane magic, however, I require a period of mental inactivity which is analogous to sleep. Seeing as how we're on our way back to Orri's home town, I will forgo that to watch over my wife and the others."
Vincent nods. "I can understand such a feeling. I rarely returned to my coffin when my father was present for much the same reason. Perhaps after I have spoken with Lord Lebeda I will journey to your realm and we can talk further. Your lands are west of here? And one day, if you were amenable I would very much like to taste your blood." He mentions the fact as though he was commenting that the moon was bright that night.
"Please do not be alarmed if you see any wolves in the night. There is a pack on the island but they will not harm you. I will not allow it, although some of the pups may be curious." And indeed later that night Analla does pick glowing yellow eyes out of the darkness, but true to the vampire's word none of them approach and the night passes peacefully.
----------------------
"So Uncle Orri, where are we going? And who's coming?" Vincent asks, his 'childish' face back on now there is some prospect of actually meeting people. "Are Auntie Sophie and Cousin Chrysta coming too?"
Orri gives Vincent a slight shrug "Any are welcome. I did ask Chrysa to come along for a couple of things before she heads back to her own land and Sophie just brought something concerning to my attention that will likely need to be dealt with. I believe Bella and Anna are heading home." He looks to them for confirmation one way or the other.
"Impeek as well, I'd imagine." Chrysa looks over to the chief for confirmation. "At Orriville, Vincent, we can draw up papers detailing the borders of your lands. I'll be headed into Rostev shortly after I return and can file them with their clerks." she'd detail the importance of an act, even with the mutual understanding of the current lords and ladies of the land, but she figures he'd ask if he disagrees.
Round 4
Chrysa returns to her lands coldly focused. Another problem rising the south to worry about. Though in truth it is other's problem to deal with way before it starts to be hers, but still. Logistics is the key to any war, whether it is with swords, secrets, or piles of gold. So she has her people focus on the river. No respectable trading empire can ignore the waterways, plus there is a convenient bridge Right There. She moves her road to the water, opens a lumber mill to keep Corax and his lumberjacks busy providing cheap lumber for the Fall.
While she is focusing on the tasks at hand, a fool comes to town. One that thinks a small woman with twisted deformities adorning her brow would swoon for a Man wanting to swoop in and take all her burdens away. A disgraced penniless son of son of a nobody who unfortunately believes, with all his heart, that he is somebody.
Easy enough to tell him, quite graphically, what would happen if he touched her ever again, and kick up out into the mud. That would have been the end, but the fool had a mouth and had a bunch of other fools with him listening to that mouth. Drunkard boasts talking about 'Taking the Fall' since the baroness was being ‘a typical woman’
In Her Own Dance Hall!?!? Did the fool really think her that weak, or maybe he held to the thinking that whores don't have ear?!? Stupid f@~#ing fool...
Chrysa built a jail.
A dark cold dank one that went down into the dirt where no light would reach fools with mouths speaking treason in her lands. At least the fool isn’t lonely, the Baker visits often enough, even Mama herself visited the poor poor poor fool.
------------------------------------
After Sophiel spends some time assisting Orri, she returns, and finds everything running smoothly. She had intended to expand into the areas surrounding the capitol later but now there was more pressure. She expands the border of Gliocas, marking the boundary clearly, according to the charter she was afforded. The border would run adjacent to Candlemere, and maybe act as a buffer against... whatever the kid might do.
She built a quarry, and a road in her home hex, along with another smithy, as she prepared for Gliocas to arm itself against whatever might occur.
After they get back to Orrville and Sophie pulls Orri aside he comes back to talk with Vincent a moment. "Ok, I need to do some things with Chrysa for a bit. I will have one of my trusted lieutenants give you a tour if you like, just to see how things are in a more 'normal' town since it sounds like you hadn't really been around one in awhile. Please, be on your best behavior and try not to scare anyone. Later this evening we can meet back up, I'd like to get your insight on something."
He sends word for one of his men, Joshua to come and give Vincent a tour of the town and show him around, until they can meet later in the evening.
Either way, after their talk he tells her that he needs to do some stuff with Chrysa and heads off with their friend.
When they return to Orrville and after Sophie pulls him aside to talk he eventually meets back up with the group. He talks to Vincent and Bella and then comes over to Chrysa so they can go do their planned work of reading through the journal and figuring out what all happened at the ruined tower where they found Vincent.
It is pretty apparent that something is bothering him when he walks with Chrysa back to his home. When she inquires about his concern he replies "Sophie was worried about me being bitten by that werewolf. Apparently... well I guess I am cursed or diseased or whatever it is but now I am going to turn into a werewolf on the next full moon unless we can find a way to cure it. Sophie thinks if I take some poisonous herbs it might be able to cure me so... I guess that is what we are going to try and do..." He pauses for a bit before adding "I think I'll build some places I can try and lock myself up too, just in case it doesn't work. I don't want to turn and then hurt anyone..."
Eventually after werewolf talk is aside, Orri shows Chrysa to his private chambers so they can have some quiet and look over the journal without any prying eyes, specifically from Vincent, which he sent off for a tour a bit earlier.
------------
Chyrsa looks around his room, which is so utterly Orri, before settling in to read. "From the father, it might not have enough to know the son, but anything is better than what we have now."
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~~~~~
Once Isabella and Annalla have left the others and begin their own journey home, Annalla finds a wide spot in the road and stops her mount. Sliding off, she approaches her wife. "I may need your assistance for this," she says, touching Isabella's thigh. "I must re-enable my emotions. I'm not sure what will happen so please don't let me do anything that I'll regret later."
After they step away from the horses, the android turns to face her wife and closes her eyes. Her head tips just slightly as if hearing something that Bella doesn't. Her eyes snap open and a multitude of expressions cross her face in an instant. Fear. Anger. Pain. Grief.
She stumbles forward as the tears begin to flow and wraps her arms around Isabella, pressing her face into the woman's shoulder as she begins to shake with sobs.
~~~~~
------------------------------------
Annalla stood regal on the small, hastily constructed wooden stage in front of the low-but-sturdy stone building. Her wife sat off to the side, her hands resting protectively over her round belly.
"I would like to thank you all for coming to the inauguration of the newest element of Gealladh Dòchas' infrastructure," she announced to the small crowd. "As most of you are aware, we had intended to add another sawmill to bolster our economic strength. An ecological addition to better the lives of mortals and fey alike. However, unfortunately, due to the blindness and ignorance of certain individuals within our midst, we had to redirect our efforts."
There's a low current of mumbling in the crowd.
"I've read about this occurring so many times, but I had really hoped that our community would have the vision to avoid such prejudiced. Alas, I was mistaken. It seems to always come down to the basest elements." She shakes her head before continuing. "So I've come before you today to inform you that we will not tolerate hateful speech of the sort that is occuring now. We will not be brought down by those that try to divide us. We will not be brought down by those that spew hatred."
She steps back and pulls the edge of the cloth covering the front of the stone building revealing an iron door and barred windows.
"We will tell those people that they have a place in our community and that place is right here."
By the time Joshua arrives the serious Vincent is carefully hidden in favor of the bright-eyed child and he spends the day wandering around town subtly pumping Joshua for information on the kingdoms, how long they've stood, what their long terms goals are and all sorts of other things - mostly disguised as childish musings and excitement about "Maybe there'll be a dragon! There's always dragons in swamps in the stories!"
That evening Orri finds Vincent waiting for him in a rather out of the way corner. "My apologies." Vincent offers. "There was a lovely, but rather persistent woman who kept wanting to feed me. I needed to get away."
"Curious." Is all he says. "My thanks, that was a most unique experience."
-----------
Isabella nods to Anna, "Of course, Anna. I'm here. I'm not going to leave you. I'll take care of you. Okay, I'm ready."
When the tears come with an embrace, it's much better than her casting a spell or attacking her which she actually did think for a moment might happen. Instead, she holds her as she begins to work through the backlog of emotions that had built up. "It's alright, it's okay. I'm here. You're safe. I'm sorry. It's okay." she says in a comforting voice, gently stroking her fingers down Anna's back while holding her.
Starting Unrest: 0
—Stability: Decrease by 1, +1 BP.
—Consumption: 1 (2 base, -1 food = -1 BP)
—Magic Items: N/A
—Modify Unrest: N/A
Edicts Phase:
—Terrain: Claim Hex (1 BP), build Sawmill and Fishery (7BP)
—Settlement:
—Holiday: 0
—Promotion: Token
—Taxation: Normal
Income Phase:
Treasury Deposit: 2000gp for 2BP.
Balance: +1 Stability, +2 deposits, -1 Consumption, -8 (Terrain), +12 (36/3 Taxes), +1 sawmill = 7 BP
Ending Balance = 17 BP
------------------------------------
Vincent took control over the lizardman tribe through a simple and overwhelming display of force and the memory of this sudden coup has the formerly slothful lizards working full pelt for their new master. Unable to expand upriver due to an influx of 'warm-bloods' the lizards head north into the woodlands instead, extracting wood to fortify and improve their village. In addition, with the lifting of the tribal taboo's on Candlemere island, the fishing opportunities are much improved for the tribe and their warriors.
When Vincent arrives to claim his tribute King Vesket is understandably pleased with himself and his work...
The kobolds build a set of roads to connect to Chrysa's kingdom. Perhaps there could be trade between the two. They also build a Foundry to begin processing the ore from the many mines. They take a break from expanding into further lands as the kobolds work to consolidate what they have.
He gives his agreement about the book as he works through it with her learning as much as he can about what happened at the ruined tower.
Taking Vincent somewhere quiet he starts "So, the reason I wanted to speak to you is because I was hoping you may have some experience with a certain problem I appear to have. Apparently, in fighting out way through your fathers minions I was cursed by the bite of the werewolf he had serving him. As such, it seems that now I am bound to turn into a beast on the next full moon. My friends already had some plans to help subdue me but I thought with you proximity to your father and his minions you might have further insight?"
Before things get crazy Orri goes to work on making sure his kingdom is in order before he needs to set out to the old bandit fort. Even with things weighing heavily on him of what is to come in the days ahead he does a solid job at continuing to grow his kingdom. Claiming more land, setting aside more farmlands and opening another mine. He continues to build more cisterns in the city to give people clean drinkable water and his people are happy, paying their taxes on average as expected.
A few days before the next full moon Orri makes his way to the old bandit fort, now Sophie's capital, in hopes that her and any of his other friends will help him keep others safe should he actually turn into a werewolf.
------------------------------------
Sophiel expands to the northwest, finally linking up with Chrysa. She's going to start having to save up her kingdom's finances to defend herself in the event that the young lord becomes aggressive.
As she had planned, the people of Gliocas are content. They work hard for themselves, and for the greater good. They have begun to donate to treasury what they can as part of Sophiel's newest plan for Tri Firinnean. Sophiel hoped desperately that fate would remain on her side.
--------------------------------------
When Orri shows up, Sophiel nods at him and leads him to the basement of the castle. She's there with Marcanth, and has a pair of masterwork manacles with locks on them, manacles which seem to have been coated in silver. The manacles are attached with a chain to a pair of fetters, and appear to be able to be secured to the ground using particularly strong pitons. There is a straw-filled mattress nearby, clean and utilitarian.
She smiles at him, "we'll get it cleared up, soon enough, Orri. Marcanth has helped me devise this mechanism. I will leave you in here, with food and water during the night, where you will be secured to the ground. During the day, you will be free to move around, and leave the room, but at night, you will not leave. We will keep you here for the days of the full moon. At the end, we'll have another expedition to find more wolfsbane." She looks carefully at him, "I will wait outside, with whichever of our companions wishes to join us. You will have no weapons, but if somehow you break free, we will have silver weapons, and we will beat you unconscious. Does that seem fair?"
Orri hesitates but eventually gives her a nod. "I trust you and I would really rather not hurt anyone, so do what needs to be done, just... try not to kill me. That... I wouldn't appreciate." He offers a weak smile as he attempts to joke somewhat about the situation he finds himself in.
The child is gone and in its place is a capable mage with years of experience behind his eyes - the offer is one to be taken seriously.
"I have something I must speak about with you as well Orri. Now that you have all arrived and claimed baronies of your own my lizardfolk and I are becoming... hemmed in, from what I understand of your maps. With Sophiel expanding down the Tuskwater, in what I can only assume is a pre-emptive move against me I think diplomacy is a better option. So let me ask you, if I were to expand what territory I have east and south, towards your borders, how would you respond? If you wish I will endeavor to avoid any border clashes. Unfortunately my subjects are not creatures of the forest... I plan to discuss the issue with Isabella and Analla as well since they are my nearest neighbors. So, in good faith Lord Lebeda, what say you?"
"May I enter?" He asks politely. "I felt it was worthwhile to announce my coming. I hope I did not cause undue concern."
King Sootscale agrees that Orri had best get himself locked up safe. "Big fort is near kobold home. Ipmeek can continue hunting for more Wolfsbane to help," he offers.
—Consumption: 0 (+1 to Granary)
—Magic Items: N/A
Edicts Phase:
—Terrain: Claim Hex, Build Farm, Build Mine
—Settlement: Tannery
—Holiday: 6
—Promotion: Standard
—Taxation: Normal
Income Phase:
Balance: -11 (Terrain) -6 (Settlement) +14 (33/3 Taxes) + 7 Income + 1 Deals = 27BP
The kobolds' latest addition is a Tannery. With winter approaching, the kobolds will need to cull animals for meat, and the skins can be used to keep warm. The kobolds resume their expansion once more, as they claim more space around their home.
Chrysa arrives at Orriville in time to travel with him to Sophie's. She's relatively quiet on the trip, comfortably worried for him, and just being there.
"We will be here the entire time. You do not need to be worried, we won't let you hurt anyone or let you hurt yourself." she assures him with as good a smile as she can manage, and a hug for luck. She'll look around the cell with a frown "And we will be getting you some blankets for tomorrow night. Some books too. Sophie..." she shakes her head at the spartanness of the cell.
Chrysa is distracted a bit this month. Orri maybe becoming a hulked out furry beast keeps creeping into her head. Not a good time to be distracted. The Weavers move from simple shopkeepers to a full guild, much to the anger of the pig-headed and bull minded. Chrysa normally would have stepped in, explained things calmly that slavery, even marital slavery was not allowed in the Fall. And if they didn’t like what their significant others did with their time, well they could either talk it out or leave. Calmly, without hammers, or pliers, or rotting pits of a jail cell. Calmly.
But she was distracted.
No one will say exactly who started it but it turned a mite bloody one cold Neth night. Five dead. One Weaver from the fire at their Trade Shop and the Four Drunken Fools who started it some hours later. Neatly drugged, slowly stabbed, but stitched up nice and clean right after.
Chrysa’s fury was swift, unsettling all. She had a discussion with the new guild master Cloe behind closed doors for hours, much to the worry of her guildmates. What was discussed was never talked about, but the Weavers remained a guild, even got a new guildhall built. A new house was built using the Guild’s profits for the families of the fools.
Still, the damage was done, the calm was not returned, and the Baroness was still distracted.
Since Chrysa is distracted, she leaves the settling of moods to her baker. Shortly things are back to being the nice calm Fall people are used to.
------------------------------------
------------------------------------
Annalla looked up at the grisly display in front of her as her staff milled around behind her. It was a message. The pixie's face was frozen in pain. Clearly its death wasn't painless. It had been pinioned and then staked to the keep's wooden kitchen door with a sharpened rod of cold iron.
"Find out who did this," Annalla ordered in a quiet voice.
"Your Ladyship, I don't know what we ..."
"I SAID FIND THEM!" Annalla shouted out, her fury cracking through her calm. "I want them pilloried and then hung!"
"Yes, Your Ladyship," the voices behind her muttered before moving away to leave her in peace.
She stepped up to the unfortunate carrier of the ultimatum. One hand reached up to close the small figure's eyes. "It is too late for you," she whispered in a small voice filled with emotion. "But I promise to lift the heavens and the earth to find who did this and ensure that they never do it again."
"Welcome to our home, Lord Maridos," she says with a curtsy. "Please, come in. We offer you the hospitality of our home."
Once they've retired to the second floor private chambers (which, Vincent notes, have books stacked on every available horizontal surface), she clears a space for him to sit and waits until Isabella is seated before taking one herself.
"So you've managed to brave the woods for a visit to our small kingdom. What can offer you?" she asks.
"I am here to discuss geography mostly. Now that you have all arrived and claimed baronies of your own my lizardfolk and I are becoming... hemmed in, from what I understand of your maps. Sophiel has claimed land down the Tuskwater, which is politically sensible, since she clearly considers me a threat. It does however make my situation difficult, lizardmen are not known for living in forests... Therefore I am limited in where and how I might expand my borders - which seems to be a matter of necessity. I do not, however, want to make enemies. So Ladies Lebeda I am here to consult with you. How might we live in peace?"
As the conversation turns to borders and politics Orri notes "Originally, I had planned on claiming your lands for myself, before knowing that someone already had claim to them. I have no issues with you claiming lands that connect to my borders. I can stop any further expansion west to give you some room to grow, but I would, for obvious reasons be against you expanding east into lands I've claimed. Perhaps there might be a better solution? Are your interests really toward starting your own kingdom and if so to what end? I mean, unless I'm mistaken you can't have offspring so to build a better place for, so that leaves the lizardfolk? You want to build a realm for them to rule over one day?"
He pauses to give things thoughts before suggesting "Perhaps instead of you building up a kingdom of your own you would consider joining mine. I could give you a seat on my council and we can leave the tower under your control, I could even see to helping to rebuild it to its former glory. I would even happily let you maintain control over the lizardfolk, to ensure no problems with my own people. Of course, I don't need an answer now, but please consider it."
Orri was surprised but very happy when Chrysa arrived unannounced before he set out to Sophie's lands. He was quite, obviously concerned but travelling with Chrysa definitely helped to ease his mind to some degree.
After the harrowing ordeal of being locked up in Sophies basement. Orri was glad that Ipmeek and Sophie were willing to keep trying to help him recover from this. A week after they found another supply of wolfsbane and set to work on trying to cure Orri once again. Luckily, thanks to the loaner cloak they had found, Orri was able to kick the disase with the help of the poison. Happily thanking his two friends for their help.
Promptly returning to Orrville he sends out letters to all of his adventuring companions letting them know the disease had been dealt with and would no longer be an issue. He also asks that in the coming months the group get together to explore a little bit of the last to the east of both his and Ipmeek's lands so that they can plan further development.
After sending the letters out to everyone, including Victor, he returns his focus on his kingdom. Expanding to the north he no butts up against Ipmeeks territory and as such begins construction on a system of roads hoping to connect his lands to Sophie's and Ipmeek's in the near future, as well as others when he can. He also keeps adding more cisterns for drinking water for his people. It isn't elegant but it is functional.
"Peace is, after all, the default state. If all the parties involved take no actions then the resultant situation is defined as peace. It is clearly easy to achieve. It is just as easily broken, however." She indicates a thick book of history balanced atop a book of gardening and numerous romantic fictions. "The Red Stag Skirmishes of 4683 and 4684 were reportedly begun over something so banal as an argument over who could sit in a particular stool in the namesake tavern."
She raises an eyebrow and her lip curls up into a smile. "Are you desiring my seat, Lord Maridos?"
Her smile fades a little. "More clearly, I have no desire to take yours from you. If you leave my subjects in peace then peace is what we will have. Candlemere is yours from now until such time as we all crumble to dust as far as I'm concerned. I have more immediate concerns and desires and they do not include displacing my neighbors. So put your mind at ease in that regard. Enjoy our hospitality. I have arranged for the best room at our inn for your stay. Feel free to peruse our library; there are gems there that even I have not had the time to read."
He grins and it is a cold smile, for the first time Orri notices his fangs - not overly large to be sure, but sharp enough. "I appreciate the offer you make. It might be that my interests are best served by aligning with your own and you are kind to make the offer, I will consider it carefully." With that he bows to his host. "I wish you the best of luck finding a cure for the wolf problem, my lord. If I come up with any other solutions I will contact you." He bows and heads for the door, before speaking over his shoulder.
"Be careful with my father's belongings. You are welcome to them all but his sense of... well, everything, was warped by grief. And he smelt... terrible."
"I have no desire for your seat or your land, Lady Lebeda. As I said, my lizards are creatures of water, not forest. Although an agreement between our nations would serve me well. Lady Sophiel apparently has no love for me, and buffers would be useful I think. I cannot match her lands in any way." He admits bluntly, "Unless I have allies who may intercede. Otherwise I must sacrifice my independence. Lord Lebeda has made me an offer already, a seat on his council and control over what lands I hold, under his authority." Vincent looks at both women, eyes slightly hooded. "It is a suggestion that I must consider, even as I look for alternatives."
He slides into a standing position and bows once more. "Later I hope to read, if I may, but for now I must ask, would you object to my feeding, if I find a willing partner? I will not drain them of course - unless there is someone you would rather went missing?"
Starting Unrest: 0
—Consumption: 1 (2 base, -2 food = 0 BP)
—Magic Items: N/A
—Modify Unrest: N/A
—Terrain: Claim Hex (1 BP), build Fort (6BP), Sawmill (3BP)
—Settlement: Monument (6BP)
—Holiday: 1
—Promotion: Token
—Taxation: Normal
Income Phase:
Balance: -10 (Terrain), -6 (Settlement) +12 (36/3 Taxes), +1 sawmill = -3 BP
The lizardmen continue to work extremely hard this month, causing a certain amount of unrest which is quelled in the usual lizardman fashion of the chief smacking the worst malefactors over the head with his war-club. None-the-less the lizards do as their undead overlord commands, expanding southwards to continue their logging operations. This ready supply of timber is soon traded for stone and new buildings arise. Firstly a short tower in Candelmere itself, equipped with lanterns and a wonder the lizardmen have not seen before, a mirror!
This is designed to convey signals to the tower taking shape in the lake - Candelmere reborn! Much of the stone goes here and Vincent's ancestral home soon looks less like a pile of rubble and more like a (primitive) building of some genuine import. The completion of these two buildings, and the brutal work required, silences all complaint for now at least as the lizardmen go about their business in the shadow of progress...