Nimora feels like she is caught in a dream, and it's not the happy kind. She keeps her dignity though and once the dance is over attempts to discreetly withdraw from the reception. Preferably to go back to her room and cry or possibly punch things. She's not sure which.
Nimora feels like she is caught in a dream, and it's not the happy kind. She keeps her dignity though and once the dance is over attempts to discreetly withdraw from the reception. Preferably to go back to her room and cry or possibly punch things. She's not sure which.
"Lady Olbereth? My name is Tempest. May I accompany you?"
"What? Oh, yes of course, Tempest. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"What? Oh, yes of course, Tempest. It's a pleasure to meet you."
As Nimora and Tempest walk away from the crowds the guests seem to part ways for them. Nimora thinks it's her at first, until she sees the other knights shift as well.
"Is there anything I can do for you, milady?"
"What? Oh, yes of course, Tempest. It's a pleasure to meet you."As Nimora and Tempest walk away from the crowds the guests seem to part ways for them. Nimora thinks it's her at first, until she sees the other knights shift as well.
"Is there anything I can do for you, milady?"
"I, er, I'm not sure. I am not having the best of days, as was made humiliatingly publicly obvious. I'm sorry. Umm, you're not just an ordinary knight are you?"
"I, er, I'm not sure. I am not having the best of days, as was made humiliatingly publicly obvious. I'm sorry. Umm, you're not just an ordinary knight are you?"
"If you like I could kill them for you."
"Just joking."
"Maybe a couple of broken bones? I do so hate blowhards. Especially when not done by whales."
"Maybe a couple of broken bones? I do so hate blowhards. Especially when not done by whales."
Nimora sighed. "I just hope that this doesn't lead to war between the nomads and Sandreef. The city has no defenses. It would be a massacre. I just don't understand how this happened. My mother is usually so skilled at diplomacy. I knew she would make me pay for it dearly, but I was sure she could find a way to break things off without making a scene. I couldn't possibly marry Blurghoot. That would start a war. Probably before the ceremony was over. I don't understand what she was thinking trying to force me into the match in the first place."
Nimora sighed. "I just hope that this doesn't lead to war between the nomads and Sandreef. The city has no defenses. It would be a massacre. I just don't understand how this happened. My mother is usually so skilled at diplomacy. I knew she would make me pay for it dearly, but I was sure she could find a way to break things off without making a scene. I couldn't possibly marry Blurghoot. That would start a war. Probably before the ceremony was over. I don't understand what she was thinking trying to force me into the match in the first place.""Maybe a couple of broken bones? I do so hate blowhards. Especially when not done by whales."
"Many are consumed with their own power. Or maybe desperation. Only she would be able to tell you if this was personal, or ambition."
"Many are consumed with their own power. Or maybe desperation. Only she would be able to tell you if this was personal, or ambition."
"My mother and I haven't been able to have an honest conversation since I was very small. Those probably weren't honest either. I was just too young to know any better. It's always politics. But I just don't understand this. It was bad politics and that's not like her."
"My mother and I haven't been able to have an honest conversation since I was very small. Those probably weren't honest either. I was just too young to know any better. It's always politics. But I just don't understand this. It was bad politics and that's not like her."
"Many are consumed with their own power. Or maybe desperation. Only she would be able to tell you if this was personal, or ambition."
"Bah, politics. But I guess they keep us from killing each other all the time. Though a straightforward fight is SO much simpler."
"Bah, politics. But I guess they keep us from killing each other all the time. Though a straightforward fight is SO much simpler."
Nimora chuckles a little at that in spite of her bleak mood. "I agree. It's just that so few fights are straightforward. Especially with so many lives to consider."
Nimora chuckles a little at that in spite of her bleak mood. "I agree. It's just that so few fights are straightforward. Especially with so many lives to consider.""Bah, politics. But I guess they keep us from killing each other all the time. Though a straightforward fight is SO much simpler."
"It is good that you are concerned for your people, but you cannot control everything. Sandreef has allies. They do not stand alone."
"It is good that you are concerned for your people, but you cannot control everything. Sandreef has allies. They do not stand alone."
"I know that. It's just... My family has been responsible for the welfare and safety of Sandreef for a long time. I can't just turn that off. I don't know how familiar you are with the politics of Sandreef, but the king there is..." she searched for a good way to say this. "He is doing much better according to palace gossip since his physician switched his medicine. He's supposedly much calmer these days and only woke the palace twice last month with his attempts to learn whale song in the middle of the night." She shrugged. "Someone has to step up and be responsible."
"Is there no General, or a Knight to take charge?"
"Is there no General, or a Knight to take charge?"
"Sandreef has a few guards, but no real military. I'm the closest thing to a General they've got," she added with a wry smile. "It is a trade city not a military outpost. They rely entirely on the help of others. Many powerful nations keep each other at bay because they do not want the wealth they have invested to fall into the hands of their rivals. But there is no true military presence. And a swift attack would decimate the city since they would not have time to call their allies for help."
One of Blurghoot's brothers finds himself in the treasure vault of the Black Pearl syndicate, stripped of his armour and weapons, in a 'stealth suit' of tight-fitting camouflage clothes and with a garland of stringy seaweed wrapped around his neck, just as a very senior Black Pearl boss is checking out a valuable item whilst accompanied by his retinue of ninjas.... An item which the brother is discovered holding.
The ninjas, pleased to find an intruder with something so handy about his throat, make use of the opportunity to throttle him.
The other brother to vanish from the inn finds himself naked in the bed of the boss of bosses of the Black Pearl, with that godfather of the organisation's most beautiful mistress, just as he returns home. His end is neither swift nor pleasant...
Meanwhile, the brother with the amulet arrives home hideously deformed and warped.
The brother, Skorrag, arrives at his clan's encampment and croaks out :
Treachery! The Pearl! All dead!
He collapses, his features warped and hideous
The brother, Skorrag, arrives at his clan's encampment and croaks out :
Treachery! The Pearl! All dead!
He collapses, his features warped and hideous
Lucinda glides serenely through the city, idly peeling open one of the fish which had been following her, and poking around with its insides, before pushing it back together and releasing it. It swims off, its eyes glowing and swirling with such pretty colours.
She waves a hand, and dismisses her train.
This city is so much fun, that she intends to come back here one day.
There isn't so much as a single Hound of Tindalos in sight, and the place is mercifully free of Heralds too.
She makes for the omniportal.
Meanwhile, the swarm of pseudonatural piranha ferociously attack a delegation of surface dwellers, who were visiting, attending Mirathan's coronation, causing many casualties before they are finally deal with, and the fish with the glowing eyes explodes at the height of the battle unleashing a powerful area magic dispelling effect that causes countless more casualties as waterbreathing and shapechange magics are suddenly neutralised.
Lucinda glides serenely through the city, idly peeling open one of the fish which had been following her, and poking around with its insides, before pushing it back together and releasing it. It swims off, its eyes glowing and swirling with such pretty colours.
She waves a hand, and dismisses her train.
This city is so much fun, that she intends to come back here one day.
There isn't so much as a single Hound of Tindalos in sight, and the place is mercifully free of Heralds too.
She makes for the omniportal.
Meanwhile, the swarm of pseudonatural piranha ferociously attack a delegation of surface dwellers, who were visiting, attending Mirathan's coronation, causing many casualties before they are finally deal with, and the fish with the glowing eyes explodes at the height of the battle unleashing a powerful area magic dispelling effect that causes countless more casualties as waterbreathing and shapechange magics are suddenly neutralised.
The attacks on the surface dweller delegates is mitigated slightly by qucik-reacting citizens and guards, and plenty of gillyweed extract. Still, there are many deaths. Ignoring the spread of panic, the air zones of several inns and the air breather wing of the palace are converted to hospitals/morgues. Though it may drain the city coffers Miratan orders Raise Deads and Resurrections, even for non-delegates, regardless of rank, when wishes are found to have limited success.
The ball is cancelled.
Melusine approaches King Mirathan when she gets a chance
Your Highness, I must beg leave of your fair city. I fear that my home will be subject to much worse than this attack when the Brightwater Clan calls up the Free Companions. I have exhausted my curative magics on the recent victims, and I have nothing else to offer.
Melusine pauses
I know that perhaps this isn't the best time, but if you have honorable intentions towards my daughter I would beg of you that you send whatever forces you can spare to Sandreef. We sit on the edge of the Great Kelp Plains, and we will bear the full brunt of any nomad invasion. Nimora's home and all she knew in her youth stands likely to be razed to the ground.
When she hears of the attacks, Nimora will get changed back into her armor as quickly as can be managed and try to help as best she can, even if that is simply by carrying bodies to the clerics so they can be helped.
Afterwards, she will take what seems to her to be an inordinate amount of time to compose a letter to Mirathan, and attempt to discreetly leave Pearl via omniportal.
The letter:
Poor bastard. Why'd somebody stab that fella?
Melusine approaches King Mirathan when she gets a chance
Your Highness, I must beg leave of your fair city. I fear that my home will be subject to much worse than this attack when the Brightwater Clan calls up the Free Companions. I have exhausted my curative magics on the recent victims, and I have nothing else to offer.
Melusine pauses
I know that perhaps this isn't the best time, but if you have honorable intentions towards my daughter I would beg of you that you send whatever forces you can spare to Sandreef. We sit on the edge of the Great Kelp Plains, and we will bear the full brunt of any nomad invasion. Nimora's home and all she knew in her youth stands likely to be razed to the ground.
Despite the manner in which this kelp got tangled, we will do what we can to help.
Mirathan turns and swims away.
When she hears of the attacks, Nimora will get changed back into her armor as quickly as can be managed and try to help as best she can, even if that is simply by carrying bodies to the clerics so they can be helped.
Afterwards, she will take what seems to her to be an inordinate amount of time to compose a letter to Mirathan, and attempt to discreetly leave Pearl via omniportal.
The letter:
[spoiler]omitted
Waiting at the omniportal is a familiar face.
"Running to, or from, my lady?"
"It seems as if your mother was willing to sell you to the Black to get what she wanted. With or without your permission, I'd like to see what type of place this Sandreef is."
She dials the omniportal to Sandreef and waits on Nimora.
Waiting at the omniportal is a familiar face.
"Running to, or from, my lady?"
"It seems as if your mother was willing to sell you to the Black to get what she wanted. With or without your permission, I'd like to see what type of place this Sandreef is."
She dials the omniportal to Sandreef and waits on Nimora.
"Running to. If the nomads attack Sandreef, it will be decimated. There are no defenses. I have to at least try to defend my people. And, since you insist," she says with a smile, "I would be glad of your company. And any advice you might be able to provide."
Whoa dudes....get a room already.
"Running to. If the nomads attack Sandreef, it will be decimated. There are no defenses. I have to at least try to defend my people. And, since you insist," she says with a smile, "I would be glad of your company. And any advice you might be able to provide."Waiting at the omniportal is a familiar face.
"Running to, or from, my lady?"
"It seems as if your mother was willing to sell you to the Black to get what she wanted. With or without your permission, I'd like to see what type of place this Sandreef is."
She dials the omniportal to Sandreef and waits on Nimora.
"Other than kill all of your enemies before they kill you? Strategy is not my strong suit Lady Olbereth."
She whistles and a small sea serpant with a saddle swims over to them. Various weapons adorn the sides of the beast, yet she coos at it like it was a puppy. She mounts.
"Do you not have a mount?"
Sending to Nimora:
I am two men now. One a king, one a simple artist in love. The man would join you in your defense of your home, just as you would do for me. The king must stay behind. Our city is too fragile right now.
I will send what aid I can. Though I fear that others may see that aid as an attempt to annex Sandreef.
All my love,
M
The triton sends a report to his superiors noting rumours that the Black Pearls are apparently blaming the government for forcing the nomads to attack them, in an effort to frame them for killing the nomads. The Black Pearls are said to be preparing a demand for money to the government if the King wants them to take the blame for killing Blurghoot and his companions.
She whistles and a small sea serpant with a saddle swims over to them. Various weapons adorn the sides of the beast, yet she coos at it like it was a puppy. She mounts."Do you not have a mount?"
Nimora laughs. "I am much faster on my own. Though I may still have a dolphin or two in my grandmother's stables."
The city seethes with rumors and unrest. Dire portents are prophecized by the seers. People on the street murmur about the bad beginning of King Mirathan's reign. Some even are starting to call him 'King Mirathan the Unlucky'. Agents of the Black Pearl stir up unrest among the urban poor in the Sandflea District, the poorest part of the city.
The reports start trickling in. Not only is there a city to rebuild, then these bizarre attacks, the threats to Pearl and Sandreef, and it only seems to get worse. The unlucky name he can handle, but the more distractions the less the city moves forward. Mirathan calls on the skills of his father's administration to fight 'fires' on all fronts, and prepare for another attack. These Black Pearls need to be dealt with, swiftly and harshly. And he knows just the elf.
And he knows just the elf.
Remember the comm crystal you have. Faster than sending an emissary.
And he knows just the elf.Remember the comm crystal you have. Faster than sending an emissary.
In his private chambers, away from prying ears save for Telestial, Mirathan uses the comm crystal to bring Kaelar up-to-date on the growing mess(es) and ask for help.
In his private chambers, away from prying ears save for Telestial, Mirathan uses the comm crystal to bring Kaelar up-to-date on the growing mess(es) and ask for help.
** spoiler omitted **
"Of course I'll help."
I may be able to infiltrate Black Pearl organization, and I'll have my rebreather and an artifact in case something goes wrong. I'm sure I'll be able to find one of their members and talk my way into the organization. Telestial's help will ba appreciated. My business on the surface is concluded, I'll be back in your city shortly." Soon he does indeed arrive. "Where do you wish I start?"
"Where do you wish I start?"
In his private chambers, away from prying ears save for Telestial, Mirathan uses the comm crystal to bring Kaelar up-to-date on the growing mess(es) and ask for help.
** spoiler omitted **
"Of course I'll help."
** spoiler omitted **
"Where do you wish I start?"
"Awkward as it is, I need their help. At the least I need them stopped."