Melusine hurries about preparing a formal outfit and panoply."I think we need to be at the forefront before anyone else thinks to gain control of the new soldiers dear. Why don't you wear something formal military dress? I think we need to introduce ourselves to their commanding officer immediately."
"I agree that we should be at the forefront, but I think I'll pass on the military dress. It sends the wrong message given that I am the Guildmaster."
Melusine hurries about preparing a formal outfit and panoply."I think we need to be at the forefront before anyone else thinks to gain control of the new soldiers dear. Why don't you wear something formal military dress? I think we need to introduce ourselves to their commanding officer immediately."
"I agree that we should be at the forefront, but I think I'll pass on the military dress. It sends the wrong message given that I am the Guildmaster."
The captain pauses as he lets these tidbits sink in.
"Who is acting regent then? We cannot intrude on his sovereignty. Permission is required, lest our actions, our very presence, be maligned."
Nimora sighed. "There is no acting regent, nor has there ever been. The king is completely nutters and the job of the nobles is to keep him entertained and out of the way so he doesn't interfere with the actual work of running the city. He signs decrees giving power to the appropriate people for certain tasks and that is the extent of his authority. Well, he signs the decrees presented to him when he can be cajoled into a good enough mood to sign them. My father as the current head of the Merchant's Guild, and my mother as the High Priestess of Aventurnus are the only ones currently allowed to present decrees to the king. Although my grandmother could also as Guildmistress Emeritus. She just doesn't usually choose to. You will have your permission. It just has to go through a rather circuitous route to get there."
You can tell that the Captain isn't happy with this situation.
"I guess we can patrol on extended maneuvers until that permission is received."
"I know this is awkward, and it isn't the sort of politics you're used to. But this has worked for Sandreef for centuries. And no one likes shifts in power when there's money involved. Aventurnus help us if anything happens to King Orca as he hasn't any heir. But hopefully that isn't something that we need to worry about for a good long time yet. If there is anything that you need, you only have to send word. I'm sure that my family will be happy to provide it."
Tempest snorts
"It seems that, aside from you, your family has failed to impress the king."
"But we are only to report to the King, or to you..."
She stared at him silently, blinking several times as she processed that information.
"To me?" she asked confused.
Tempest snorts
"It seems that, aside from you, your family has failed to impress the king."
Nimora blushed. "Oh, I think they made an impression," she murmured.
"Oh, my grandmother is just going to love this. Alright," she said pushing her hair back from her face. "I think I can work around this. If my grandmother gets me a writ with the authority to give you permission...This just gets more and more tangled."
"We'll await word from you, or your cha...Tempest. Thank you, milady, for understanding our position."
"Thank you for coming to the aid of my city, Knight-Captain Velantium."
With that she swam back to her grandmother.
"This just gets better and better. They have orders that they can only take orders from either the King or me. I sort of forgot to mention to Mirathan that King Orca is...well, you know. So now..."
"So now I need to get myself put on the king's schedule for tomorrow. Well, well. This is an interesting development," she said, her mouth twitching with amusement. "And it looks like it's about to get more interesting. Here comes my darling son and the witch he married."
Tempest swims up.
"General Olbereth... looking at Nimora... any specific orders you wish me to convey to the captain?"
"General Olbereth...looking at Nimora...any specific orders you wish me to convey to the captain?"
Nimora looks a bit taken aback at the rank she is being given. "Er, pay special attention to that drop-off near the Kelp Forest. It's a bloody good hiding place, and if the nomads send scouts, that's where they'll hide. Other than that, I can't think of anything at the moment."
"General Olbereth...looking at Nimora...any specific orders you wish me to convey to the captain?"Nimora looks a bit taken aback at the rank she is being given. "Er, pay special attention to that drop-off near the Kelp Forest. It's a bloody good hiding place, and if the nomads send scouts, that's where they'll hide. Other than that, I can't think of anything at the moment."
Tempest smiles. That was easier than she expected. She salutes and swims back to the troops. That drop-off might be a good place to 'station' a squad of archers.
"I agree that we should be at the forefront, but I think I'll pass on the military dress. It sends the wrong message given that I am the Guildmaster."
Melusine sighs
"As you wish, dear. By all means, wear what you desire. I hope that King Mirathan sent us a good amount of troops."
Melusine gets her handmaid to dress her in a fromal outfit and she awaits Nerion impatiently
Melusine gets her handmaid to dress her in a fromal outfit and she awaits Nerion impatiently
Nerion dresses in formal wear rich enough to be suited to a wealthy Guildmaster and then they leave in their carriage, heading for the Sapphire Gate.
A black angelfish swims by the gathering, unaware of its unique appearance.
A black angelfish swims by the gathering, unaware of its unique appearance.
A black angelfish swims by the gathering, unaware of its unique appearance.
Melusine and Nerion swim out to the troops. Melusine is startled by Nimora and her mother-in-law already there. She surveys the small troop with a slight look of dismay on her face that is quickly smothered. She advances to the front, smile wide
Nymphaea, my dear, you look positively radiant! I don't know how you manage to keep so youthful so long. Nimora, this is quite a surprise! I would have thought you would be in the Pearl arrainging the royal wedding?
Turns to Knight-Captain Velantium and Tempest
And who are these fine worthies?
"You assume a great deal, Mother. There is no official arrangement between Mirathan and myself. And right at the moment we are both dealing with other concerns."
The smile drops from Melusine's face
Then why would you negate the contract with Blurghoot? Child, what exactly is going on? Has this whole thing been an elaborate ploy to get out of the marraige I had arrainged? Do you even realize the danger you have put all of us in? The Free Companions will be riding to avenge their honor, and I wouldn't be surprised if Blurghoot puts all of our heads on pikes!
Melusine breathes deeply and looks about at the troops
Is this your honor guard? Or a vanguard for the Pearl's forces?
"I never bother to worry about things that are beneath me," Nymphaea says with a smug smile, in response to Melusine's backhanded compliment. "It keeps away pesky things like wrinkles. You should try it some time."
"I should let you know that I am putting myself on the king's schedule first thing in the morning. You've already made enough of a mess of this, Melusine, and the troops have clear orders from their king that they are only to take orders from Nimora or our king while they are here. I intend to get her the military command of the city's forces while I'm at it. I don't care one whit about your politics. I want someone who knows what they're doing in charge if we're being threatened by rampaging nomads. I'm rather fond of my villa and I'd hate to see it razed."
"Oh, and Nerion, I declared the troops from Pearl to be official guests of the Merchants Guild until they can get official permission from the king. I expect you to supply them adequately while they're here."
Turns to Knight-Captain Velantium and TempestAnd who are these fine worthies?
"I am Tempest, Sister of the Trident, and your daughter's champion."
The smile drops from Melusine's face
Then why would you negate the contract with Blurghoot? Child, what exactly is going on? Has this whole thing been an elaborate ploy to get out of the marraige I had arrainged? Do you even realize the danger you have put all of us in? The Free Companions will be riding to avenge their honor, and I wouldn't be surprised if Blurghoot puts all of our heads on pikes!
Melusine breathes deeply and looks about at the troops
Is this your honor guard? Or a vanguard for the Pearl's forces?
"These are all the troops that Mirathan could spare. They've just lived through a war, themselves," Nimora snapped. "And I never said anything about any official arrangements when I spoke to you before. I told you that I love him. And he loves me," she added with a deep blush. "But right now we both have a duty to our respective cities to defend against attack from the nomads. There are too many lives at stake right now. And don't you dare blame me for that, Mother. You blackmailed me into a betrothal. And then flubbed the diplomacy badly when you broke it off because you saw richer prey on the line. And it was a bad match. That alliance wouldn't have made it through the wedding ceremony and you know it. I don't know what game you think you're playing at, but I don't have time for it right now. I have a city to defend. And that means I need to be a warrior first and a woman second."
"I should let you know that I am putting myself on the king's schedule first thing in the morning. You've already made enough of a mess of this, Melusine, and the troops have clear orders from their king that they are only to take orders from Nimora or our king while they are here. I intend to get her the military command of the city's forces while I'm at it. I don't care one whit about your politics. I want someone who knows what they're doing in charge if we're being threatened by rampaging nomads. I'm rather fond of my villa and I'd hate to see it razed."
Melusine swells with indignant rage.
I have made a mess? All I tried to do is forge a marital alliance with the most powerful nomad clan, which would have assured peace on our borders for a generation! Plus your great-granchildren would have ruled the Brightwater Clan! I recieved approval from Nimora to advance this allance only to be told after everything was in place that she had a relationship with King Mirathan! Then, after ruining the alliance and humiliating me, she now states that her and Mirathan have no formal engagement?
She glares at Nimora
If you wish to assess blame Nymphaea, look no further than your stubborn granddaughter.
Looking at the troops
Considering that King Mirathan sends us a company-strength troop detachment when thousands of noamds prepare to overrun our city, I have the feeling perhaps he is not too attached to Nimora's wellbeing after all. If you will excuse me, I will leave you all to your own ends...
Melusine swims off, glancing to see if Nerion is following
Turns to Knight-Captain Velantium and TempestAnd who are these fine worthies?
"Knight-Captain Velantium, Order of the Blue Eel."
"This company is the aid your city will be receiving. We are very experienced with mobile tactics."
"As for Blurghoot, he is dead. Under very bizarre circumstances. Also, a great number of surface delagates have been attacked and killed, under bizarre circumstances yet again."
"These are the reasons our city has to prepare to defend itself again, and cannot spare more assistance. Have none of your other allies sent assistance?"
"Blurghoot is dead? We knew about the surface delegates, but this..."
"I am Tempest, Sister of the Trident, and your daughter's champion."
Turns to Knight-Captain Velantium and TempestAnd who are these fine worthies?
"Wait, what? My champion?"
And don't you dare blame me for that, Mother. You blackmailed me into a betrothal. And then flubbed the diplomacy badly when you broke it off because you saw richer prey on the line.
Melusine laughs bitterly
Blackmail! Child you try my last fin! If it was so horrible you should have said NO. Or perhaps, said, the person I was scrying for you is the prince I love? Did you ever think of that? No, out of stubborness you kept quiet, then had remorse later on. So I WILL blame you for all this!
EDIT:
Nerion glances at his mother with a raised eyebrow. "I do not appreciate you baiting my wife, Mother. And as for you," he added turning to Nimora, "you should address your mother with more respect." He raised a hand cutting off any protest she was about to make. "I will call at my mother's villa later and I will hear your side of the story then. And we can speak about what resources will be necessary for the defense of our city."
"Wait, what? My champion?"
"You don't expect that you can do everything yourself, do you?"
"And two of his brothers. The taint of Chaos was strong in all of the attacks. We know not who is responsible, and auguries fail to help."
"Blurghoot is dead? We knew about the surface delegates, but this..."
Nimora pales. "Oh no. Oh please, don't let it be her," she whispered, half to herself.
"You don't expect that you can do everything yourself, do you?"
"Wait, what? My champion?"
"Er, no, but I - that is, I, umm..." Nimora fumbled. "I think we're going to need to talk about this later," she said, hopelessly torn between wanting to discuss the matter and being terribly embarrassed by the public spectacle she was currently stuck in.
watching the abrupt departure of the Nimora's parents.
"Didn't sound like any of your other allies are sending aid."
"Oh well, if the nomad forces split their focus we should be able to hold them off. Hopefully, their shamans will be smart enough to sense the taint behind these attacks, or better yet leave the Brightwaters to deal with their own anger. But soldiers don't deal in hope, so we need to prepare for the worst. At least buy time for reinforcements, should they attack in mass."
"We have allies who would be willing to send aid, but they won't be able to get it here in time. The ones most likely to be willing to help can't because they live above the waves. And with the recent deaths of the surface dwellers in Pearl they are understandably skittish to assist with an underwater battle. I'll talk to my father about what resources we do have and see what plans we can come up with from there. I'm sorry you had to see that er, family argument. We, uh, have a few personal differences."
"Er, no, but I - that is, I, umm..." Nimora fumbled. "I think we're going to need to talk about this later," she said, hopelessly torn between wanting to discuss the matter and being terribly embarrassed by the public spectacle she was currently stuck in."You don't expect that you can do everything yourself, do you?"
"Wait, what? My champion?"
"Sure. You can talk about this all you want." Her grin tells you the discussion might be held with yourself
"If I had an oyster for every person that has wasted their energy fighting their own instead of the enemy I could have my own oyster farm."
Nimora laughed. "Don't worry, we'll pull together. We may not like each other, but the Orlbereths have cared for this city for centuries. We're not about to give up on it now."
Nymphaea grinned. "That's my girl. Ever the optimist. Someone in this family needs to be."
Nerion calls at his mother's villa as promised and has a long conversation with Nymphaea and Nimora. The negotiations are quite heated at times, but eventually they do come to an agreement. The wording of the writ that Nymphaea is going to get the king to sign in the morning is debated most closely. The gist of it is that Nimora is to be given temporary command of the combined military forces of the city and whatever allies are able to send help for the duration of this crisis. However, she was still answerable to Nerion. Also, Joren would be placed in command of the city's guards such as they were. Joren would be tasked with acquiring the support of the nobles and as an acting cleric of Aventurnus would of course act as political liason for the religious leadership. Nerion had been hesitant about giving Nimora so much authority, but after listening incomprehendingly to her discussions of tactics he realized that his mother might have a point about the girl after all. Now all he had to do was convince Melusine that this was the right decision. The last thing they needed was Melusine and Nimora having another public spat.
Nerion swims into Melusine's favorite sitting room looking for her. When he finds her, he kisses her cheek and sits down next to her.
"I trust that everything went well with the landwalker diplomats, my dear?"
Melusine smiles tiredly
Well, I think I have things patched up as well as can be expected. Has there been any news from the nomad lands?
Melusine smiles tiredly
Well, I think I have things patched up as well as can be expected. Has there been any news from the nomad lands?
"Only rumors thus far, but they are not positive. We will have to prepare for war, I'm afraid. I worked out many of the arrangements with Mother. Hopefully we will at least be able to hold them off until the promised troops from Sargassia and Seahaven arrive."
Melusine sighs
Aventurnus willing they will arrive in time.
She swims over to a wall mosaic of their family when Joren and Nimora were much smaller. She stares at it wistfully
Nerion, when did Nimora grow apart from us? I swear, I cannot even talk with her these days without an argument erupting.
Melusine sighs
Aventurnus willing they will arrive in time.
She swims over to a wall mosaic of their family when Joren and Nimora were much smaller. She stares at it wistfully
Nerion, when did Nimora grow apart from us? I swear, I cannot even talk with her these days without an argument erupting.
Nerion sighed. "I do not think that she has grown as far apart from us as you think. You are a very forward thinking person, dearest, and you often have a habit of jumping about five steps ahead and expecting others to keep up with you. Nimora is cautious and doesn't like to be rushed. Be patient with her. Let your plans slow down a little. We are elves, there is time. And I think if you do that you will find her much more biddable."