The Stag Lord shrugs off Tandri’s spell. Tyr bites him, but Floare and Sariana miss. The big bandit growls and screams, demoralizing Sariana. As she flinches, he clobbers her over the head, taking her down with two brutal blows!
Tandri's will grabs hold of Sari's undead life force and pulls it back into consciousness. "I don't... have too.. many more of those. Break him please."
She also concentrates some of her goddess's will into Tyr to help him hurt the stag lord more.
Mom?!
Floare glances down at her familiar, rubbing against her calf and wound up tighter than a bowstring.
With a look back at Sariana struggling, she casts a spell on Dante as iron bands of fear tighten around her heart. "Go!" is all she says.
The wolf pup dashes forward and snaps with tiny but vicious teeth at the Stag Lord.
Another spell follows to protect her precious familiar.
Deregar buffs up Tyr and the dragon tears at the bandit leader.
for
for
for
The Stag Lord fends off Sariana and Dante, but Tyr scores a critical hit with his jaws! The dragon then rips at the bandit's midsection with his claw, and at last, the mighty Stag Lord succumbs to his wounds. He sinks to his knees, groans, and then topples forward!
A cheer goes up from your companions. You have secured the fort. Victory is yours!
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Sariana is on top of the Stag Lord in a moment, wrenching his head back and sinking her fangs into his throat. She's quite a neat eater, not letting any of the Stag Lord's blood escape for nearly a minute as she drains draught after draught of life essence. When she drops him the corpse hits the floor with a decisive thud and she wrenches the helmet off his head with a single yank before turning to scratch Tyr behind the ears.
"Can you get this one standing again Sweetling? He turned on the Stag Lord with me and loyalty gets at least one reward."
Trusting Tandri to deal with that Sariana marches out of the tower and raises the bloody helm high to cower any remaining bandits. Akiros is the only one she proposes mercy for though - Falgrim Sneed, more valuable alive than dead, is roughly trussed and tossed into the smallest easily locked room for the night, but Sariana checks the rest of the bandits individually and carries out the sentence for unrepentant banditry without pity or remorse.
"This place would be a good place for us to hold." She suggests as the sun rises the next morning, casting the lake beyond in wonderful shades of orange and pink. "But we'll need to go back to Oleg's first."
And they do so, turning Falgrim over to a grimly delighted Kesten Garress, along with a bag of other, rather grisly, trophies to prove the death of the remaining bandits. "Send word to Restov as soon as possible." Sariana commands Kesten. "The Swordlord will want to hear the good news as soon as possible."
She pens a letter of her own, the first two drafts are burned as they don't meet her exacting standards, but by the third draft Sariana has regained her muscle memory and her pen produces narrow, slanting letters in neat progression across the page.
I write to you from the Greenbelt with good news. My companions and I have accomplished the goals of the charter provided to us. I enclose copies of the maps we have made of the Greenbelt as well as evidence of our conquest of the Stag Lord and his bandits. Captain Garess has plenty of other evidence which will be presented to you shortly.
With this successful accomplishment of our charter I respectfully request the resources that you promised, so that we may permanently tame the Stolen Lands.
Sariana, Lady Nightsong.
"So," She asks the assorted group at breakfast, the morning after the letters and assorted other evidence has been sent north. "What are your plans now? Our charters have been completed but I would like all of you to remain and assist me in pacifying these lands. Naturally you will receive positions of honor and power within my new realm, I am not so proud that I can't admit that I would have achieved this without you all."
Tandri looks at the bleeding bandit that Sari asked her to keep alive. Her mind shifting through every interaction with the man to see if there is any reason for her to let him suffer or die. Luckily their interactions were brief and rather uneventful (her attention was on the big fluffy and a certain vampire).
So she nods, stabilizing him with magic, then getting out her needle and thread to make sure he lives.
Then she moves around her companions, with new thread and magic is need be to sew back flesh and erase bruising.
To Floare she asks rather longingly while looking at the owlbear still eating corpses "Do we have to kill it?" the quiver in her voice tells the other woman that a Yes will break the poor tiefling's tender heart. Well conditionally tender.
Tandri comes down for breakfast, neat as a pin. She's been avoiding Sari and has had no more make out sessions with Harrim, though she does chat with him often. About religion or cooking or horrible childhoods... well okay there has been a couple of make out sessions but nothing that went too far.
But not last night. She assumed this was over, they would get paid and that the Real kingdom builders would come in. A understandable double cross by the powers that be, since a vampire, a witch, a dragon summoner, and a demon tainted dwarf (and their various and odd companions) would never be given a land of their own.
So she was packed and ready to move on to the next attempt of a life.
But Sari?? "They won't let us do this, will they? Not really." her doubt is evident on her face and in the air.
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"The very authority they gave us requires them to." Sariana replies. "The whole point of the charters was so that Restov can secure its border without having to actually do anything themselves, beyond sending some resources they can spare. Yes we've done the initial work but there will be much more to do. I intend to stay, I intend to rule and I would like you to stay with me." The last statement could be applied generally but Sariana looks Tandri straight in the eye as she speaks.
"We may be an odd band." She admits with a tight smile. "But we deserve a place of our own and I fully intend to build a kingdom where each and every one of us can be ourselves without the gossip and judgement of fools! Is that something you'll help me with?" Again she addresses herself to Tandri but her eyes flick sideways in a questioning glance to Floare too.
Tandri's eyes are held, widen, and then admits softly "Th-that's all I've ever wanted. A place... just to Be." as the gaze shifts to Floare, her own drop in thought.
She had her doubts, no matter Sari's confidence. It is much more likely the Swordlords let them do all the dirty work than come in to 'Help' which would end up replacing all the oddities with their own.
But... if there was a chance...
"I'll stay." her amber eyes rise again, a hesitant but hopeful smile on her lips. "I'll help."
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To Floare she asks rather longingly while looking at the owlbear still eating corpses "Do we have to kill it?" the quiver in her voice tells the other woman that a Yes will break the poor tiefling's tender heart. Well conditionally tender.
"If we keep such a creature in captivity, it would deserve something much more appropriate than the simple cage that they've given it," Floare responds, watching the beast warily.
~~~~~
Floare listens quietly as Sariana outlines her plans for rulership. This was the woman in her element - commanding everything around her. Inspiring her subjects with her words and very presence. Generating in them ...
Well ... hopefully what Floare was feeling wasn't felt by all the others. Tandri, probably, but that was something that could be sorted another day.
"And what about our situation leads you to believe that you should be the one to rule?" Floare finally asks with a teasing smile. "Perhaps Deregar or Tandri ... or even myself wish to claim leadership. How will we rectify this?"
"A good haul of valuables, in addition to the fort itself. Tyr and I can see to them." Tyr looks over the gems and crystals with interest and helps to pack up the portable valuables.
Deregar sees the opportunity in Sari's offer. "There's still.plentu to do here, and now that the bandits are eliminated, I'm sure people will want to settle in the area."
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"And what about our situation leads you to believe that you should be the one to rule?" Floare finally asks with a teasing smile. "Perhaps Deregar or Tandri ... or even myself wish to claim leadership. How will we rectify this?"
"Challenge me if you will." Sariana replies, and there is no teasing in her return gaze. "I will accept. If you are not willing to give me your loyalty then face me, but should I win you will have no more part in this group. If you win then you will have my support until death."
It seems that this is one thing she's not willing to joke about.
Tandri's eyebrows rise "Those terms of that contract are NOT equal." her legalize rises. "She beats you, you get to stay and serve her. You beat her, she has to leave?" her hopeful smile dashed in sudden heat. Appears the potential of banishing Floare (and more important Dante) is something she's not willing to joke about.
It's obvious that Floare has touched a sore point for the vampire and she tips her head, acquiescing.
"I have no desire to challenge you," she says. "I only wished to open a discussion. But it seems that it's not a subject you feel is open for such." She places a hand on Tandri's arm, hoping to forestall any further legalistic arguments.
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"If I lost and she told me to go I would " Sariana replies flatly. "Loyalty matters Tandri. It has to be given. I believe that I have earned it, and I don't want Floare to go Sweetling, but without loyalty we will have nothing. So if she, or anyone here," She adds in a louder voice, "Is not willing to give me that loyalty then go. There is no ill will but this is a work of the willing. I will not have it any other way."
On the way back to Oleg's, you stop at the crossing of the Shrike River where the undead man rose to demand revenge on the Stag Lord. When you place the Stag Lord's body in the water, the unead appears again and lurches up from the river to grab the remains and pull them down into the water forever. Moments later, the undead's magical ranseur washes up on shore at your feet, a final gift from the grateful man who may now find peace.
You make your triumphant return to Oleg's! You celebrate well into the night, and the next morning, Kesten Garess departs for Restov escorting Falgrim Sneg and carrying the letter that Sariana penned.
"What are your plans now? Our charters have been completed but I would like all of you to remain and assist me in pacifying these lands. Naturally you will receive positions of honor and power within my new realm, I am not so proud that I can't admit that I would have achieved this without you all."
All of the varied companions that you've met along the way generally assent to staying around to help with the founding of the kingdom. Their reasons for doing so vary, but it seems they all are interested in seeing where things go from here!
You feel stronger from your recent experiences...
***
Chapter 3: Rivers Run Red
Soon enough, Kesten returns bearing rewards (200 gp and 3 +1 weapons of your choice) and a new charter from Lady Jamandi:
Be it known that the bearers of this charter, having delivered the northern reaches of the Greenbelt from the scourge of banditry, having provided detailed maps of the lay of the land, and having done no small amount of work in the exploration of said land and in the removal of hostile monsters and local hazards, are hereby granted the right to rule. The nature and laws of rule are theirs to define, and the wellbeing of this new nation is theirs to protect. In accordance for providing a stable nation to the south of central Rostland, let there be a generous stipend of funds, support, and advice provided to this fledgling nation as a token of Restov and Brevoy’s goodwill, such that future relations between kingdoms might be mutually beneficial. So witnessed under watchful eye of the Lordship of Restov.
With Floare's calming hand on her agitated arm, Tandri abandons her discussion "Loyalty goes both ways, is all I was trying to say." the dwarf mutters to the witch. Her mood is definitely lowered but gets better over the next few days of activity.
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Sariana leaves Tandri to mope for a couple of days and then deliberately catches her alone one evening.
"You're still upset." The vampire says, crossing her arms and lounging against the door frame. "I'm sorry that I upset you Tandri. I care about you, and about Floare, no-one will ever send either of you away from me while I have any say in the matter, but I was wrong once. I was too arrogant, too powerful and I was careless. I assumed nothing could hurt me and then I was betrayed, by some of the people closest to me. I won't make that mistake against Tandri, that's why I'm so focused on loyalty, and it's also -" She pauses, stalking forwards to wrap a hand in the tieflings hair and hold her gaze before Sariana's own. "Why I'm waiting for you to be ready, rather than simply taking you the way I want to."
Deregar and Tyr haul the spoils of their conquest to Tandri.
"You should watch these, Tandri. If you need us to guard them, let us know."
There's a decidedly serpentine mein to Deregar's features--the hint of scales stand out under his skin, and you realize he's not wearing his armor any more.
Tyr, for his part, seems to have sprouted wings overnight. He has taken to climbing trees near the path and jumping off the top to glide through the forests.
On the day of looting...
"Hmmm... we'll need to, until we can sell them for less Attractive targets. Like lumber and building materials. We'll need them for repairing this place so we might as well get to it." she plans with Deregar, to smoother her irritation.
With Sarri after a couple of days of constructive moping...
Until that night, trapped as she was coming back from a bath, magical heating and create water might be the very reason to become a cleric of any faith. "I... mean... I understand... yes... But..." the small dwarf is caught easily, by hand and eye. "The way you phrased, and ordered, said to me at least 'You Cannont Disagree'." despite not even being able to blink in the wake of Sari's commanding gaze, she is finding her ability to argue intact. Softly, delicately. "I mean, um, Floare is brilliant, you know this, and I'm decent up there as well, somewhat, so... um... trust us... please" a quiet as a mouse plea, the air warm and humid suddenly.
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"I do trust you." Sariana says softly. Then suddenly Tandri feels an unexpected pressure against her lips, a strange tastes, of spices and iron on her tongue as the vampire kisses her for a few long seconds.
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Some time later Floare and Dante find that they have a visitor - Sariana is perched on Floare's bed, legs folded underneath her in a meditative posture. When they enter the room she glides back to her feet and crouches down in front of Dante.
The wolf pup meets her eyes and there is an almost audible *click* as something shifts between the two.
"Dante, I'd like a few minutes alone with Floare. Would you mind giving us some privacy please?" Sariana asks softly.
A sound like a whimper, maybe an even more pleasing one, escaped her caught lips. Her eyes close, her body leans, and she surrenders. The hold on the cloth covering her body (she just got out of the bath) slips.
Her taste confuses the vampire nearly instantly. Tandri taste is like her smell, xactly what the taster desires most.
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Sariana pulls back with a hiss and Tandri can see that her eyes have been nearly swallowed up by her black pupils, leaving dark pools which seem to draw the dwarf in by some unknown force.
"You are dangerous Sweetling." Sariana whispers, her fangs protruding from her lip. "Waiting was hard enough already but now... oh I want to eat you up!" She leans in closer and drags her tongue slowly up Tandri's neck to her jawline before pulling away again.
Her usual smirk reappears after a moment but Tandri can see it's a little forced. "You might want to pick the towel up Sweetling, although I do appreciate the show. But right now, unless you're willing to give me what I want, I'd better leave."
Picking up a towel is impossible without looking down and by the time Tandri looks up again Sariana is gone.
"Dante, I'd like a few minutes alone with Floare. Would you mind giving us some privacy please?" Sariana asks softly.
Floare looks on with a smile as Sariana speaks to her familiar. The surprise is evident on her face, though, when Dante gives a small yip and trots off out the door. The witch turns from where she watched the wolf-pup disappear back to the vampire in her room.
"So? What do we need privacy for?" she asks without a trace of subterfuge.
Floare's initial surprise is quickly replaced with acceptance and then enthusiasm. Very soon, though, it sinks into her fogged mind that her partner has no need to actually breath. And while she'd like to put that off as long as possible, it's going to be an intrusion before too long.
When that moment arrives, she pushes Sariana back enough to catch her breath, leaving the vampire surrounded by hints of woodsmoke, sweet peas, and ... honey.
Gasping for air, Floare smiles and touches her lips. "I ... I have tarts in the oven and ... and I really need to talk to Tandri."
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"She knows." Sariana replies, pulling back enough to nuzzle into the crook of Floare's neck. "I told her exactly what I told you, but you're both so tempting." She pulls back with a slight sigh.
"Go. Talk." She commands, turning Floare towards the door and pushing her forwards with a hand on her bottom.
"Oh, and Floare." Sariana speaks just as Floare reaches the door. "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to go but... I was betrayed once... because I was careless. I don't want to make the same mistake twice. That's why I'm waiting, even when you're so..." She shakes her head sharply. "Go, talk to her. And let her know I appreciated the show."
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Once Floare is gone Sariana goes to find Dante instead.
"So tell me Dante, what does your mistress like most?"
"So tell me Dante, what does your mistress like most?"
Dante tips his head in response, letting his tongue loll out.
If you could understand me, I would tell you that Mom really likes raspberries and green apples, he yips and ruffs.
But since you don't, you'll have to ask her yourself.
~~~~
The witch finds Tandri in the common area. She offers the tiefling one of the warm berry tarts she has in a cotton cloth.
"Sariana told me to tell you 'Thank You' for the show," she says with a grin as she bites into her own pastry. "I don't know what the show was and I probably don't want to, but ..." She shrugs.
"So ... We should talk about our intentions towards her. In the interest of full disclosure, she kissed me. Well ... I kissed back so it was more mutual kissing, but ... "
She shakes her head and takes another bite of the tart. "Needs more butter," she mutters. "I would like to continue doing that ... kissing, I mean. But I don't want to create any animosity between us." She gestures with the half-eaten tart between the two of them. "So if that's an issue, let us discuss it."
Tandri had a ledger in front of her, comparing lists and charts and doing her best to determine the best way to handle their goods, ALL while not trying to think about the kiss.
She brightens and reddens equally as Floare arrives. Gluit and happiness in equal measures at seeing someone she counts as Friend. The tart makes the happiness soar into the majority, but then the Show comment makes Guilt skyrocket.
"She kissd me too." she whispered touching her lips, eyes looking down, but then repeated it louder just in case Floare didn't hear. eyes meeting the other woman.
"Is it a problem? That you want to keep kissing her?" Tandri thinksn tapping her chin with the pencil, then answers plainly "I'm a Calistian, we... don't lay restrictions on things like that." she offers, her eyebrow rising, wondering "If... I wanted to keep with the kissing, would you mind?" an honest inquiry, a gentle probe, with her amber eyes dancing in the question.
"Why would it be a problem if I wanted to keep kissing her?" Floare asks, meeting Tandri's gaze with confusion. "Wait, are you saying that you wouldn't be bothered if we both ... well ... you know?"
The witch looks around the area as if that thought hadn't occurred to her. As she contemplates the concept she pops the last of her tart into her mouth.
"I guess I would be okay with that as long as our needs didn't conflict," she says finally. Pulling another tart from the baking cloth she puts it on the table in front of Tandri.
"I'm glad we had this little chat," she says with a quick nod of her chin. "We'll have to do this again some time."
Tandri realizes her weakness for the other woman's tarts would have probably make her agree to anything. As she savors she decides to ask something else "Are you worried? That... gives yourself over to as much as Sari demands... will change you?"
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The next few weeks are almost insanely busy for everyone but Sariana in particular is unrelenting, working day and night on everything that needs doing. And there is a lot that needs doing. Every day, despite the sunshine, she is out on the job, helping with building, chatting to the settlers and generally both seeing and being seen.
She works late into the night as well, letting loose with some of her more unnatural gifts to do the work of three or four men in half the time it had taken under the blazing sun. Given this devotion to the tasks at hand it is unsurprising that barely a month has passed by before a large gathering of people assembles outside the large 'town hall' that has been constructed out of the Stag Lord's former fortress. Perhaps in response to Sariana's fervent prayers the sun is hidden behind a thick layer of cloud and Sariana stands before her people in the practical black trousers and tunic which she has been wearing every day to work in.
"My people!" She declares, taking a moment to let the muttering die down. "Welcome, one and all to Stag's End! You have come from different lands, for different reasons but we are all here, together, and I am proud of you all!"
She pauses and examines the crowd in front of her - tough men and women all, alongside a few children who mostly stare at her with wide eyes. Sariana has made no effort to quash the rumours about her 'unique' nature, and although she's confident that the two settlers who sought her out and offered her their blood won't have said anything, word still gets around a small group like this.
"I have spoken to many of you over the past few weeks and my..." Friends? Councillors? Lords? "My companions have spoken to the rest of you. I know you to be, one and all, strong women and men. Unafraid of hard work and bold enough to claim a new land. You all know me too and you know what I value - hard work, and loyalty!" She places heavy emphasis on the last word and casts a swift glance across the crowd once more. Still listening. Good.
"I have called you all here to celebrate the founding of Stag's End and alongside that the birth of our new nation. For each and every family here I have a gift, ten gold pieces to help you set up your own business or begin your life anew. In return I ask only one thing, your oath, of loyalty to me and to Nightsong. It is your promise, and your commitment, to our nation, to me and to each other. I set no limits on your ambition, for it is you and your desire to succeed that will make this nation great and I will not hold any of you back. All I ask is for your loyalty in return. This law above all others - Nightsong comes first. Sedition and treason shall have no place here, now or ever. If you do not wish to remain then you are free to go, I will never force anyone to stay, but if you do stay you will swear this oath, and hold to it from now until the end of your days!"
Valerie steps forward, resplendent in finely polished plate armor and slowly kneels before Sariana.
"This is my oath." She says in ringing tones. "To Lady Sariana and to Nightsong I pledge my loyalty, service and fealty. In need or in plenty, in peace or war, this I pledge until the end of my days."
"I accept your pledge and fealty Valerie Neryan." Sariana replies, playing her part in this carefully scripted moment. "and I will not hesitate to reward what you give: fealty with love, valour with honour, oath-breaking with vengeance. Rise a citizen of Nightsong."
She raises Valerie and symbolically kisses the taller woman on each cheek before turning to the crowd once more. "In thanks for your courage in being the first and recognition of your honour, skill and valour I name Valerie Neryan General of Nightsong. May she always lead us to victory!"
Valerie salutes and steps back, where Tandri (also following the script) makes a production of handing her a pouch of clinking coins which Valerie accepts with a grave nod. Amiri steps forwards next, swearing the oath in turn and being named Warden, then Linzi, appointed councillor, Harrim as Magister and so on until each and every member of the crowd has sworn the oath and the head of each family has received their heavy pouch of gold.
"It is done!" Sariana declares after the last two, a pair of black-haired twins of no more than seven years old, have sworn the oath and been rewarded with a gold coin each for their efforts. "We are one nation now, and forever more. May Nightsong prosper always!"
She lets the cry hang in the air for a few moments and then grins at the people in the front row. "Well, what are you all waiting for? There's a feast inside and it won't eat itself!"
So, amid hard work, cheers and laughter, a new nation is born.
"Thank you." The new ruler says softly to Tandri and Floare, having held them both back from the crowd streaming into the town hall. "The speech was perfect, thanks to you both." Tandri had crafted the oath: simple, binding and above all, aspirational and Floare had sat through hours and hours of Sariana's practise, all aimed at making a perfectly honed performance seem artless and natural. "I couldn't have done it without each of you."
Once the formalities have finished and everyone sets into the feast with a vengeance, Sariana - having no interest in the provided victuals - continues to move among the revelers.
Passing by the head table, she notices Tandri and Floare whispering conspiratorially and giggling, all the while keeping their eyes on the vampire. It couldn't be any more obvious that the topic of their - possibly wine-fueled - discussion is Sariana.
Deregar enjoys the feast and Tyr is curled behind him. He loudly toasts, "To Nightsong!" at the conclusion of Sari's speech.
Later, Tyr grumbles a bit, "Lady Nighsong presumes much about her leadership role."
Deregar shrugs, content to have an important role in running the kingdom. "She's certainly driven, and it's bringing all of us a lot of prestige."
By day he is content, but Deregar's dreams are a bit haunted by visions of crowns and fire.
Over the month, Tandri concentrated on work and less on 'activities' with another dwarf. Less, meaning none, she had talked to him, hoping he would understand while she believed that her goddess's viewpoint of abundance and diversity in partners, she didn't assume a particular leader might feel the same. At least in the partners having partners.
So she concentrated on work and tried to have a meal with Floare every single day. A friend was a new prospect, more than even the potential of Sari, and one that she cherished.
She also worked hard on becoming a friend to Beaky the Brave, the fort's new watch animal. The dwarf spent a LOT of time, an ABUNDANCE of time working diligently combing, training, scratching, and playing fetch.
Then the speech came, and her heart pounded in excitement and pride. At the dinner, wine and company had her heart pounding in another way. Her amber eyes tracked the vampire, then back to the witch, over and over, not even once losing her gaze on the wolf or owlbear.
Valerie gets many stares and whispers from the crowd as she proclaims her oath. The new general's almost supernatural beauty has unsurprisingly drawn a lot of attention onto her. She keeps her head held high, refusing to acknowledge it.
Amiri doesn't seem very interested in the praise as she accepts the title warden. "I'll take it, until I get killed or you find someone better," she grunts.
Linzi can't help but cheer after swearing her oath. "You won't regret putting me on your council! I've got some big plans. We're going to build a nation that will make the fools who run Pitax realize how a kingdom is supposed to be run!"
Harrim is stoic as he swears the oath of the magister. "We will prepare the people as best we can, for Groteus gets closer each and every day," he intones.
Both Nok-Nok and Jaethal seem pleased with the direction things are going. Ekundayo remains his sullen and aloof self, staying around only in the hopes of one day resuming his crusade against Gragglebeard's Reavers, once the giants resurface. Tristian seems a bit put off by the despotic nature of Nightsong, leaving the feast early to tend to private matters...
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Sariana works the room hard, not eating but 'drinking' heartily with many of the settlers and if a lot of ale ends up on the floor well then that's clearly an accident. Sharp as she is, and with senses that can't be dulled by alcohol she notices how giggly her girls are becoming and how their eyes follow her around the room. It's possible that her hips sway a little more in response but no-one says anything to her face!
As the festivities die down and families start spiriting children away to bed, or looking for better places to conduct more amorous activities Sariana perches on the edge of the table in front of her Emissary and Treasurer and looks at the pair of them with a raised eyebrow.
"Enjoying yourselves girls?" She asks, voice low and more than a little seductive. "I'm glad you're getting on so well... together."
Floare glances at Tandri and collects herself from her most recent round of giggles. Looking back at Sariana, she does her best to comport herself as a woman of her standing should.
"Yes we are, Your Majesty," she replies and almost breaks down in laughter again, only preventing it by reaching out for her wine goblet and taking another drink. She ignores the stifled sounds that her tiefling companion is making.
"If you must know, we have been discussing you. We have come to the conclusion that an arrangement between the three of us is not insurmountable."
Proud of herself for managing that much without flustering or giggling, Floare rewards herself with, yet, another drink.
"The question remains, however, whether you are capable of handling both of us."
Unaware of how that statement may sound to someone more sober than she is, Floare doesn't even blush. Well, no more than the amount of wine she's already drank could be blamed for.
Blushing is being handled well enough by Tandri. Since she is already quite pink, this is more of a full rose coupled with air quality. "It's a simple matter of efficient multitasking, I think" the tiefling advises, her words just a touch slurred.
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"Not insurmountable sounds... promising." Sariana replies, "But you two are drunk so tonight you're coming with me."
She proceeds to demonstrate that she can, quite easily, handle the pair of them, at least when they're drunk and not really resisting, by carrying them both to the small room at the back of the town hall which is currently her personal quarters.
The room is sparse, but comfortable enough, with a bed large enough for two (or three who are very friendly), a rough chair and table and a small rug - a gift from a capable weaver among the settlers.
She deposits Floare and Tandri on the bed with easy, but gentle motions.
"Go to sleep girls. We'll talk in the morning."
Tandri pouted cutely then snuggled into Floare.
To Floare's surprise, she wakes in Sariana's bed, pressed up against Tandri's pink skin. She doesn't remember going to sleep here and she definitely doesn't remember divesting herself of her dress.
Doing her best to not disturb the priestess, she slips free from the bedding and searches for her discarded clothing. Finding it, she whispers for Dante to follow her. The pup looks up from his nest within the blankets and gives a wide yawn before slowly climbing free and dropping to the floor.
"What happened last night?" she asks, picking up her familiar as she walks along on tiptoe.
You and Lady Tandri ate a lot of food and drank a lot of wine.
"Yes, but after that."
Lady Sariana brought you both back to her room.
"Oh, gods! And ...?"
She left and you both slept. And snored.
"I do not snore."
Then you were growling all night long.
They quickly make their way to Floare's quarters to continue the conversation in private.
~~~~~
Floare spends the next few weeks getting to know the residents and attempting to learn just how far their loyalty might actually extend. She's quick to note those that seem overly interested in what their fellow citizens get up to - nosey, some may call it, but she sees it as a valuable resource.
In her first actual duty as Emissary, she sends a couple of her less fearsome villagers off with a letter to the Sootscales. She's done her best to keep the offer simple, but hopes it doesn't get lost in the translation.
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When the 'less fearsome' villagers reappear a couple of days later, sans letter, introductory gift and with rather more bruises and bumps than they left with Sariana takes immediate action. She takes half a dozen of the more fearsome villagers and heads for the Sootscale caverns herself, where she and Chief Sootscale have a frank conversation about manners and exactly how Sariana expects the kobolds to treat her citizens in future.
By the time the two leaders part a firm accord has been reached, helped by a number of considerable gifts which appeal kobold's draconic senses and serve to win them over in short order.
Fortunately, the Sootscale kobolds remember how you helped them escape from under the thumb of Tartuccio. Though they are initially leery of working with so many unfamiliar humans and other settlers, they eventually agree to open up diplomatic relations with your fledgling nation!
Tandri wakes up with a splitting headache, alone, in someone else's bed, with no clothes on. While she knows her own skin enough to believe nothing happened, she still wilted with humiliation and left as quick as she could (after getting dressed).
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In the next few weeks the dwarf inventoried all their resources, as well as identified assistants: An old gnome named Nuddle with a memory as sharp as scissors and never with holding repeating those memories whether it was relevant or not and Pretlee, a young woman with devastatingly amazing ability with figures.
With their help, the Nightsong office of coin was established. Quickly they all agreed, "We need to open trade with a large nation, not arguing against trading with the kobold village, just we will get more out of someone like Restov. And they already have connections to us."
She discusses with Floare, and anyone else interested, "We should send letters to the merchants I think as well as the politicians. They are the ones that might be interested in new markets and wares, so might Push the others."
"Excellent idea, Tandri. Let's get some merchants and traders established. Our settlers will need to buy their basic necessities here." Deregar agrees heartily with the plan.
"I know some people in Restov, let me send them a letter."
To Tyr, he says, "Let's keep an eye on those kobolds. They respect you, so hopefully we can keep them in line."