Ignoring the threat of plagiarism, I'm going to repeat what Isabella posted above; Annalla is going to join her wife back in Gealladh Dòchas at first opportunity to rule in relative peace.
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Annalla closes her eyes for a moment to check for magical auras.
"No, but they certainly could have commissioned someone or something to do so," Annalla adds. "Although that's not really their style."
Sorcerer 9 HP +5 Fort/Ref +1 Pure of Mind
New Spells:
Feat:
Skills: 3+2
Annalla returns the embrace just as tightly. "I was scared too," she whispers back. "I didn't want to leave." Once the embrace is broken - not before a few impassioned kisses - the android sets about repairing herself with magic. Healing Spam:
"I am well," Annalla responds to Chrysa's abrupt entrance. She's partially thankful for it, not knowing how much further she would have given in to the emotion she assumes is passion.
Sorcerer 8 HP +5 Cha +1
New Spells:
Skills: 3+2
The pale woman opens her eyes as she's laid down on the ground. "Isabella?" she asks as her eyes seek out her love. "Are you ok?"
Images flit through the android's mind as darkness falls. Isabella, her love. Tremaine and Tristan, her sons. Her friends. And a glade that she only remembers from dreams. The light fades.
Having no need to breath, Annalla nevertheless isn't a fan of being grappled and crushed. She attempts to drain the creature's strength.
Annalla points at the huge creature and attempts to drain some of its strength.
Isabella and Annalla's response comes quickly. 'We will be happy to join you and will be there on the selected date.'
Annalla nods at King Sootscale in a friendly greeting. "Yes, Your Highness, Tristan and Tremaine are here. We didn't feel it would be appropriate to bring them to the meeting itself. As adorable as they are, they can prove to be quite distracting when business needs attending to."
"Sophiel, it seems that you should take a stronger hand with your lover. If he's doing things that you don't like, you need to speak up."
She takes her leave and seeks out Annalla. "Anna. I have given it some more thought, and I am now leaning toward letting Vincent oversee things here. I don't want to take your sons away from you. Ruling a barony is not more important to me than our family is." Annalla lets the fear out of the box for a moment and tears begin to brim in her eyes. "I don't want you and the babies to leave," she says, her voice growing brittle. "But I don't want you to feel that you have to choose between Orri and me. I want you to choose what's right, but I don't know what that is." ~~~~~ The rest of the group finds Annalla and Isabella already inside. Annalla is sitting possessively close to her wife and clasps her hand tightly.
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"We all must make sacrifices," Annalla replies in a steadier voice than before. She's already shutting away the pain and anguish that threatens to influence her behavior into a small box to be visited when she's at home ... alone. She places a comforting hand on Isabella's shoulder and then rises to find the senior advisor to begin arrangements.
Annalla blinks for a moment as the implications of that choice sinks in. Isabella would be here instead of Gealladh Dòchas. A half-day's ride at best. No more loving wife by her side at night. Her babies would no doubt be here as well. No more singing them to sleep at night. The pain she feels at that thought is almost physical. She swallows. "If you ... you feel that that's what Orri would want, then that's ... that's what you should do," she says in a quiet voice. "Vincent would make a good advisor."
Annalla adjusts the blankets covering Orri and then sits by her wife. "Did Orri believe in hereditary rule?" she asks. "Even if he didn't, we should set up a regent until he's well enough to manage his kingdom, himself." She looks off towards the single window in the room. "If he did so, and he never recovers enough to take control again, we should make arrangements. As the eldest, Tristen is slated to inherit rulership of Gealladh Dòchas. As Orri's nephew, Tremain should be in line to rule Orriville and its lands."
Annalla turns and fixes her gaze on Vincent. She realizes what he's done, but is conflicted as it's what she would recommend. "Please, leave us to discuss this," Annalla says to Vincent. Once he's left the room, the android takes a seat next to Isabella and takes the woman's hand in hers. "No, Orri would not wish to be turned," she says calmly. "But you know as well as I that he's a fighter and would take as small a chance as this offers." She reaches further and pulls Isabella into her arms. "Orri deserves the chance to see his nephews grow up and become men in their own right."
Isabella and Vincent: "I have no plans to go anywhere for the rest of my natural life," Annalla says calmly. "As far as conditions, I would expect you to deal with us as fairly as we've dealt with you. Our sons and their descendants will have first claim on the ruling title. I would expect you to work for the good of our combined barony rather than your own immediate gain."
She glances at Isabella again. "In the case of a merger, we would officially offer you the position of Warden. If you would prefer a different position, we can discuss it."
Isabella and Vincent: Annalla turns and looks at the diminutive vampire for a moment.
"Are you suggesting a merger?" she asks carefully. "I see benefits to such an arrangement, but I will be clear that I have no desire to step down as ruler of our small realm. If that is acceptable to you then we may have more to discuss."
Isabella and Vincent: "Vincent," Annalla calls out as everyone is leaving. "May we have a word with you for a moment?"
"As you may have become aware, Isabella and I have recently lost our warden. We understand that you're currently helping Orri manage his kingdom while he deals with his health." She glances at Isabella who is showing signs of wanting to leave this very moment. "But setting that issue aside we would like to talk to you about engaging your services in a more official capacity."
"Banditry or no, I agree with Sophiel that discussions of such are best for another time," Annalla says. "As far as the subject of mutual protection and sovereign immunity are concerned, I will state that none of you would be under any threat of officially-sanctioned harm in Gealladh Dòchas. I would like to make the promise that you would be under no threat of harm in the absolute in our barony. However, this is the real world and if any one of us claimed that they suffered from no law-breakers whatsoever in their own city then I would question either their honesty or their sanity." She glances at the parchments filled with writing. "We also offer whatever resources we are able to provide if someone is in need of aid." "If anyone requires me to sign a document that states as such, I will. But the intent of that signature is to reinforce the intentions of my words. Not as a manacle tying me to written words with possibly deceptive meanings."
"Isabella, please, sit," Annalla says to her wife. "We'll leave to visit Orri as soon as we've finished here, I promise."
"Yes, I'm sure all the citizens you've recruited to reside in Gliocas are all perfectly tolerant and have no prejudices whatsoever," Annalla interjects, unable to resist Sophiel's subtle jibe. "However, I have a hard time believing that you've personally vetted every single citizen in your domain." She shakes her head. "But to avoid arguments, we'll assume that no one in your barony bears ill will to anyone of any species, age, gender, lifestyle, or religion." "When we left, Jhod Kavken was making preparations to speak to Akiros' mortal remains. In his final emotional state, however, I don't know how helpful his answers will be. He wasn't under any magical compulsion that I could detect and we already know that Willard fully believed that he'd been given legitimate orders. Assuming that Akiros never actually gave the order, then we have to assume that someone was impersonating him well enough to fool an entire squad of our militia. That implies magic of some sort. Either a magic item, innate arcane ability, or a shape-shifter. We're continuing to follow up leads in that regard." "As far as mutual support, we will provide what we can when asked. Although that may not be much for the foreseeable future. If signed documents make ... some people ... feel better, then we'll sign them. However, we're in an environment where a signed agreement can be dismissed as easily as fluff from a dandelion. If a ruler's word isn't good, then their signature on a piece of parchment isn't worth anything more."
After entering the meeting room, Annalla pulls Sophiel aside. Sophiel:
"Since I believe that Akiros was a friend of yours as well as Isabella's, I feel that it's only right that you should know that when Willard's testimony was presented to him, Akiros' response was to cut the man down before any of us could intervene. We relieved him of duties and confined him until he could calm down so we could verify his innocence of the original accusation. Unfortunately, he took his own life before we could do so." She frowns. "I don't believe he had anything to do with it, but proving that now has proved to be problematic. Since you knew him, I felt it only right to inform you of his chosen fate." ~~~~~
"I have been attempting to follow this infection back to its source," Annalla says, speaking up. Knowing that Isabella would prefer she not get into a heated discussion, she lets Sophiel's not-so-subtle baiting pass unanswered. "Someone is providing small-minded individuals within our borders resources and encouragement." Her gaze avoids looking at any single individual as she continues. "While some may wish to label our populace as racist and ignorant, please don't feel that any of your citizens are above it or immune. I have little doubt that there are like-minded people in each of your home cities. They just haven't been given the encouragement or funds that ours have ... yet."
Annalla's face lights up at the gifts for their sons. "These are so precious. Thank you!" she gushes, pulling them in close, hugging them as if in replacement for the absent babies. "They'll love them!" She reaches out to draw Chyrsa in for an effusive hug.
The second floor of the northeastern guard tower had been set aside as an office for Annalla to transact business related to the barony. She was ensconced there writing a letter in response to Sophiel's request for a meeting. She was torn. In these tumultuous times, it caused her great anxiety to leave their babies home without their mothers to defend them. It's not that she didn't trust Wilberta; the dwarf had taken to the two little boys as if they were her very own. But it had already been demonstrated that their enemies had no qualms about using ruthless means. She had considered keeping her closer to home and promoting her to the vacated title of Warden, but Annalla knew that the woman really enjoyed her romps through the woods to the outlying members of the community. A knock at the door interrupted her reverie. "Come," she called out as she folded up her response. It was Wilberta, herself, at the door. "Your Ladyship?" she questioned, "I brought Simmers as you requested." "Thank you," Annalla replied. "Please, bring him in and remain. I have some things to discuss with you when my business with Simmers is concluded." The stocky dwarven woman opened the door wider and entered the office with a man wearing the tabard of their militiamen following. "Your Ladyship," he said with a tip of his head before reaching up to pull off the simple cap from his head. "Close the door, please," Annalla instructed as she sealed her response with some dripped wax. The android looked up at the middle-aged man in front of her. "Martin Simmers, I will be direct because I am running out of patience to deal with this nonsense. You have been brought before me to answer charges of sedition. I am willing to forgo the traditional punishment and reduce the charge to conspiracy if ... and only if ... you will name me the one that was pulling the strings." The man's eyes widened in surprise and he clutched his hat tightly in his hands. "Your Ladyship, I don't know who would've said such 'orrible things about me, but I ain't ..." Annalla raised a pale hand to forestall any further protestations. "Please don't insult my intelligence with denials," she said. "We've already collected all the other members of your little cell of fanatics and they've all confirmed that you were the one giving them instructions." The man shook his head. "I don't know who you've been talking to, but ... " "Mocilla, Shakim, Cetha, Stolo, Radhyap," the sorceress interrupted. "Did I leave anyone out?" She could see the wheels turning in the man's mind as if they were mounted on his forehead itself. She stood and walked around her desk to stand in front of the taller man. She reached out and touched the heraldry of Gealladh Dòchas on the tabard on his chest. "I wish to know who was giving you orders and resources." She turned about and took a step back towards her chair. As she stepped away, Simmers threw his hat to the ground and lunged for her with a growl. Unfortunately, he had ignored the cloudy-faced dwarf next to him who almost casually stuck her heavy foot out in front of his. His momentum carried him forward flailing and Annalla turned around at the sickening crunch as his mouth struck the edge of the desk. "Sorry, Your Ladyship," Wilberta said as she lowered herself to put a knee in the man's back. "I didn't realize that he was going to do something like ... like that." The man spat out blood and pieces of white that might have been teeth. "We won't be stopped!" he snarled. "We're gonna see all you moonstruck idiots strung up, you fey-loving c@*~!" Annalla hitched her dress up slightly and squatted down to be closer to the foul man. She reached out a dainty hand and plucked a tooth from the floor and examined it. "I will find out who is attempting to tear this barony apart," she said in a cool voice. Blue light flared along the traceries on her arms and the tooth crumbled to powder in her fingers. "One way or another." She rose and gestured to the dwarf to remove the man. ~~~~~
Annalla seems relieved that Vincent is present at the meeting. "How are you faring, my friend?" she asks with a smile. "Once we finish out business here, I have business that I would like to discuss with you." She looks suspiciously at the opening that Sophiel has created, but after a glance at Isabella, she descends into the magical space.
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"There is no need for you to be judged, Sophiel, because I don't believe for an instant that Gliocas was the source of this trouble," Annalla replies. "As far as his self-determination goes, again given my choice, he has already waived that right as the crime he is guilty of was under the color of authority. Therefore, the choice would lie in the hands of his superiors - in this case, me. I would choose for the maximum exile from Gliocas. Subject to your approval, of course."
"Where and when specifically did he tell you this and what exactly did he say?" she asks.
Once the man has answered her, Annalla moves away to speak to Isabella, Sophiel, and Marcanth out of earshot of the prisoner. "I am unsure as to how to proceed with Mister Willard," she says with a frown. "Given my desire, I would return to Gealladh Dòchas with this man alive and in our custody to continue our investigations. While it was not a legal order that he was given, he had no way to know that. Under our system, he has done nothing that would warrant anything more than a discharge from his post." She gives Sophiel a cool look. "However, as I have no official authority here, it is not my decision to make. Seen from your point of view, the source of the order is irrelevant. If it was legal and proper then he is now a prisoner of war and subject to the laws of Gliocas and its ruler ... excuse me, administrator. And if the order was invalid, he has still slain citizens of Gliocas and answerable to you." After a glance at her wife, she nods in Sophiel's direction. "We shall await your decision on this matter in the quarters provided for us. We would appreciate expediency, though."
"Lord Ismort himself told you this? When and where? And what did he say they were the cause of? Speak clearly!" Annalla questions.
Willard it is?" Annalla says to the prisoner. "You will tell me exactly what you were ordered to do before leaving Gealladh Dòchas and who gave those orders. Not who you were told gave the orders, but who told them to you."
Annalla gives contingency instructions to their servants should they not return within a specified period of time. Once that's done, she heads off quickly with Isabella to follow after Sophiel and her subordinates.
Annalla frowns. "You wish to leave without speaking to this Willard individual? Isabella, we need to find the source of this."
"No," is Annalla's response. She looks to Marcanth to confirm her answer.
Annalla looks at Isabella, confusion still on her face. "I agree that we will answer your question, yes," she replies, a frown on her face an indicator that she still doesn't quite understand.
Annalla looks confused at Sophiel's reading of legalese. "I don't understand. You're asking us if you can ask us a question? Of course you can ask us a question." She looks to Isabella as if for further clarification and then back to Sophiel. "Was that the question?" She shakes her head. "Akiros Ismort is our Warden. If he gave this order then he is soon to be our ex-Warden and possibly, soon after that, an ex anything. I'm sure you can understand that I will still need to see and speak with this individual that is claiming that Akiros gave this order."
It's only her desire to question her accuser that prevents the android from turning around and directing her people to leave the city immediately. Instead she glances at Isabella, her look reinforcing her earlier whispered comment. "Yes, of course," Annalla says to Sophiel in a polite voice. "I'm sure I entirely misunderstood the blades that were drawn upon us earlier. They were totally harmless, no reason to think otherwise. My mistake. We will wait upon your pleasure."
"I have threatened no one, Your Administrativeness. Don't attempt to place the aggression in our hands. It has been your people pointing weapons. Although your assurance that they wouldn't have actually injured us, I take as completely meaningless where our sons are concerned. There has been a claim from someone that someone else from our nation has given orders to carry out aggressive acts. But I have heard nothing but second or even third hand testimony. And simply wish to confront our accusers directly." "As far as how often I carry either of my sons, I see no need to explain myself. But I will. In our home, it is very rare for me not to be carrying one or the other. But anywhere where their safety is not assured ..." she leaves the implication hanging, "Then we prefer to have our hands free to defend them as may be needed." "You may claim not to rule here, Sophiel, but that claim is disingenuous. You hide behind the rules that you have created to shield yourself from any responsibility of their consequences." "I have committed no crime that I'm aware of. Under your laws or ours. I have directed no actions against your nation. I will be patient, however, and trust that you are as good as your word and will let me confront those that say otherwise."
Sophiel's response is like a slap in the face to the android. She takes a step back and her face flushes. She takes a step closer to Isabella. "Thank you for making your feelings clear," she says in a clipped voice. "Then when it pleases Your Highness, we would like to get our sons inside and out of the sun. I would also like to petition the ruling powers that we may feed them." She leans in and whispers to Isabella.
"I wish to speak with this person that claims to be from my city and acting under my orders," Annalla demands.
Annalla throws an accusatory look in Sophiel's direction before stepping between the weapons and the babies. Blue light swirls along the traceries on her arms and forehead mimicking the spells spinning and dancing in her mind.
Annalla pauses in her swaying to look at her wife. "You are such a good mother," she says, reaching up to pat Isabella's cheek. "I think I prefer wine over beer," she says with a frown. "But other than that, it has been interesting watching the others negotiate and ingratiate." She smiles. "That's a fun word ... 'ingratiate'." She repeats it a few times with different emphasis each time. She leans in to kiss Isabella's neck. "If I let you have some beer, would you take me back to our room and have your way with me?" she whispers with a giggle.
Annalla stumbles into her wife's arms, ignoring the outstretched hand entirely. Already weaving to music that isn't really tempoed for dancing, her arms slide around Isabella's body. "Did you enjoy your beer?" she asks as they sway awkwardly.
Annalla blinks and reaches up to wipe the remainder of the beer from her face. She looks down at the few swallows left in the mug and gives a curt nod. "Fine. She can have what's left in the mug," she says. She lifts a hand with a single finger raised. It wavers slightly as does the android. "If either of my sons end up sick, Chrysa, I'm hold ... urp ... holding you personally responsible."
Annalla watches her wife walk away and a moment later give Chrysa a hug. Chrysa then heads over and grabs a second mug of beer. She wonders in confusion for a moment why the rogue would need to drink with both hands. Her eyes narrow with suspicion as comprehension slowly trickles down into her non-biological brain. She rises from her bench to confront Chrysa. "Yes," she responds to the woman's attempts to distract her. She touches her own chest with a finger. "Boobs." She reaches out and pokes Chrysa bosum. "Boobs." She leans to look at the mug she dangles behind herself with her hair. "Beer." "That wouldn't, by any chance, be for my wife, would it?" she asks. "Because if my son's own godmother was dish-disobeying my reshtrictions. I might have to rethink her ... appointment."
True to her earlier admonition, Annalla expressly forbids Isabella from imbibing anything other than water for the rest of the evening. She on the other hand is quickly weaving and blurry-eyed.
"You are so beautiful," she slurs at her wife. "I don't tell you that enough." She reaches out and grabs at Chrysa's arm clumsily. "Isn't she the most beautiful woman you've ever seen? And her boobs are to die for." She giggles, surprised at her own usage of language so crude.
Anna nods her head politely at their host's introduction. When he envelopes her in a boisterous hug, her eyes widen in surprise. "Oh, uh, and we're hugging," she says with a nervous laugh. Once the initial pleasantries have been seen to, she takes a seat off to the side to watch and try to learn the dynamics of the newly met players. She'd been spending a large amount of time reading about human and demi-human behavior, but nothing compares to seeing the interactions in person. She arranges for mugs to be delivered to their table and steels herself to the look of disappointment from Isabella when the warrior-woman takes her first sip and realizes that hers has been strongly watered down. "You remember what I told you I read in that book?" Annalla says with an understanding look. Beer isn't good for babies. And some of what you eat and drink gets passed through to the milk you produce. If I could share the duty with you, you know that I would. Unfortunately, the body that I currently possess has no means of milk production." A look of longing crosses the android's face before being replaced with her neutral smile. "So enjoy what drink that you may partake in and entertain yourself with conversations about tribal centaurs," she says, patting the woman's thigh.
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