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Aphonion Tales: The Archducal Council -- Unedited notes; later posts are edited transcripts (posts MWF, update 3/1/23)
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<blockquote data-quote="CPaladin" data-source="post: 8820368" data-attributes="member: 7030144"><p>Session 136 (January 5, 2022)</p><p></p><p>25 Tar</p><p>Following up on a long ago report (letter from Malacat to Kit): Alistair sends agents to try to hire Filegust and Thalmount, and to find out the status of the Demonist Shill the Unspeakable (in his estate, almost directly southeast of the Broken Lands), who they want to have killed. Alistair also provides that information to the Ambassador from the Broken Lands.</p><p></p><p>Kit reaches out through her fan to her agent in Debonai.</p><p></p><p><<Ah. My lady.>></p><p></p><p><<Are you alright?>></p><p></p><p><<I am, I am. There’s about to be a hanging—the head of one of the merchant families. I’m not certain he wasn’t set up, though, by one of the rival families. It’s the sort of thing that happens when these things start.>></p><p></p><p><<I can’t stay long.>></p><p></p><p><<Yes, your image is glowing, my lady.>></p><p></p><p><<It’s never done that before...>> (Kit realizes with exasperation that this is her soon-to-be-born child trying to join the link.)</p><p></p><p><<No, m’lady, at least not with me. But they’re building the gallows now. I don’t think the evidence was convincing, but they act out of fear. There are three houses—merchant houses, not noble—that want the trade that he has. The one house would never do this sort of thing, so I suspect it’s one of the other two. And if he hasn’t been framed, then he’s stupid.>></p><p></p><p><<Which of those merchant houses has more to gain by weakening the monarchy?>></p><p></p><p><<Bembick, in my opinion. Certain merchant houses have enough money to wish to become noble families, and that only happens when there are sufficient reasons for the monarch to sell the noble titles. Bembick has wanted to be part of the noble class for at least a century.>></p><p></p><p><<When you say a century, do you mean just for a long time, or almost exactly a century?>></p><p></p><p><<It was right around a hundred years ago that they started.>></p><p></p><p><<It’s them.>></p><p></p><p><<If you say so, my lady...>></p><p></p><p><<I do. Who in House Bembick is taking credit for bringing down this threat?>></p><p></p><p><<They didn’t directly—the evidence was brought by the Third Foot. But then, Tewk Bembick is an officer in the Third Foot...>></p><p></p><p><<It’s him, then.>></p><p></p><p><<Other than that, things continue to stabilize. There has been sporadic violence by the northeast border—raids of some sort. The King has sent five legions of foot, but it will take them some time to arrive, now that we are all but devoid of our chivalry.>></p><p></p><p><<Good. We’ll try to investigate with our vollers and provide some intelligence. Can you try to delay the execution? Hire a barrister or something, enter a plea?>></p><p></p><p><<Yes, I can do that. It will seem surprising that my house would be interested, but that will simply set people wondering.>></p><p></p><p>She breaks the connection.</p><p></p><p>Alistair and Kit discuss this, and Alistair suggests that they ask the King of Debonai to render the merchant to Canberry for further interrogation, along with providing some scouting via voller.</p><p></p><p>The Council wonders whether Debonai is being targeted for some strategic reason—a relic, an important tor, something of the like. Debonai has a basilica, so that has a relic, although Dame Brionna doesn’t know what relic. She goes to talk to the Archivist to find out what that might be. The Archivist says that the basilica has a phial of sun, with trapped sunlight in it. In addition to its religious value, it can strike enormous numbers of undead to dust. Rumor has it that it is also efficacious against demons, but that has never been tested. The relic itself generates pure sunlight, but would be more powerful in the hands of a powerful priest. The Archbishop of Debonai is Ulbrecht Garin, who was appointed within the last year or so. He is an orderly priest, of the Order of the Archangel Zadkiel the Merciful (a healing order, rarely raised to the hierarchy).</p><p></p><p>Alistair asks Lord Silverleaves if they could have a voller scout around the borders of Debonai. Lord Silverleaves says that for scouting, it would be no problem at all. He also asks if there is a tor in Debonai, and there is a large tor, predominantly with lesser fae (few sidhe). And near the great tor, there would be a large number of part-fae. It is very close to the capital, and is heavily integrated into their capital. The King’s line has a considerable amount of fae blood, though they would not admit it. Lord Silverleaves steps aside to contact the Queen of Singing Leaves. That may also be part of the reason that the King and his brother are all that is left of the direct line.</p><p></p><p>After a few minutes, Lord Silverleaves reports that she has dispatched a war schooner, with a complement of flitters to address any demons encountered without the borders of Debonai. He also suggests that Alistair reach out to warn the Tor lord.</p><p></p><p>Alistair asks the fairy godmothers to connect him to the Tor lord, which they are very happy to do. Alistair warns him, and he says he’ll warn his cousin, and direct his hunt in that direction in case they need a handful of sidhe knights. Alistair also tells him to pass on to his cousin that if he were to call on Singing Leaves for aid, they would answer.</p><p></p><p>They then reach out to the King of Debonai, via a psion with the Ministry of the Mind.</p><p></p><p><<I hope that you are well, your majesty,>> sends Alistair.</p><p></p><p><<Indeed, better than I have been in years, your majesty.>></p><p></p><p><<And I understand that congratulations are in order for your impending nuptials?>></p><p></p><p><<Yes, thank you. I shouldn’t say this, but a major, major thing is that I’m fully looking forward to getting married, if you know what I mean, which I never would have expected.>></p><p></p><p><<I do know what you mean, and that is one of the great pleasures of being married.>></p><p></p><p><<What can I do for you?>></p><p></p><p><<A few small matters came up that we thought we should inform you of. First, there was a small demonic horde on the outskirts of the Broken Lands. We think they may be heading in your direction, so we wanted to give you some warning.>></p><p></p><p><<Thank you for that.>></p><p></p><p><<We’re arranging for some voller flyovers along your borders, and we should know more soon. We’ll pass that on as soon as we do.>></p><p></p><p><<Thank you.>></p><p></p><p><<The second is that we think the great tor near your capital may come under a major attack soon. We’ve passed on a warning to the fey, but we thought you should know as well.>></p><p></p><p><<Those people again, then?>></p><p></p><p><<I am afraid so. I think they may wish to target the tor and those of part fey blood in the area.>></p><p></p><p><<I’ll make a general proclamation that all of fey blood must come within the city walls—we’ll be able to protect them better that way. There are so many of them, though—the tor has always been almost a part of our capital.>></p><p></p><p><<Indeed, I fear that that is what the enemy would wish to engage in mass slaughter of if they have the opportunity.>></p><p></p><p><<I’ll make the proclamation immediately. They won’t all come within the city, but most of them will obey.>></p><p></p><p><<The last minor matter is that I understand that you have managed to capture one of the people who has been plotting against your safety.>></p><p></p><p><<Yes. Very odd, that—a merchant with no obvious reasons to wish me ill. Still, the evidence was convincing to my brother and the captain of the guard, and they want him put to death immediately. But Lady Delilah Trombley intervened with her barrister—she claims the merchant was involved with some theft from her house, and wants him kept alive for the investigation. My brother didn’t like it, but she does have the right.>></p><p></p><p><<We think these assassination attempts might be part of the enemy’s broader plot, and we’d like to investigate further. We know that you don’t have the same resources of magic and psionics as we do. We would of course return him for your justice when the investigation is done, but we wondered if you could render him to us in the meantime.>></p><p></p><p><<Of course. Anything to aid in the fight against our mutual enemy. Perhaps it can explain what was going on as well. Shall we teleport him to you?>></p><p></p><p><<Yes, if you send him to our receiving platforms in the palace, we can take him from there. Oh, and if you could send a copy of the reports of the investigation, it would help us know where to start with our interrogations.>></p><p></p><p><<Certainly, certainly. I must admit, the fact that the royal compound has been breached three times in the last few weeks has gotten my brother in an absolute tear. None of them got close to me—well, one of them got a little close, but not really—but he’s still very concerned.>></p><p></p><p><<I gather your captain of the guard has responded with vigor?>></p><p></p><p><<Yes, he’s a fine young man, capable and energetic. But by the God, if he puts any more guards around me, I won’t be able to go to the bathroom without one accompanying me.>></p><p></p><p><<If it’s any consolation, my experience is that no sooner is your royal bride with child than everyone starts being a little less anxious around you.>></p><p></p><p><<I certainly hope you’re right. I’ll have the prisoner brought up presently. I think my brother has him chained up to a wall—we don’t usually do that sort of thing, but attempted regicide demands a strong response.>></p><p></p><p><<I understand. We had to have a noble who was conspiring with our enemies and nefariously waging war in breach of our peace dismembered and the parts paraded. It’s not what I’d like to spend my time doing, but you know, you have to send a certain message and leave no doubt.>></p><p></p><p><<I don’t think I have to worry about the nobles, at least. If I died and my brother died, they’d tear each other to pieces to try to take our place, but none of them really want that.>></p><p></p><p><<And with the loss of so many of your chivalry, there must be new opportunities.>></p><p></p><p><<Yes, every younger child will be a landed knight in twenty years.>></p><p></p><p><<And that also means every younger child will have a reason to be particularly loyal to you and your line. Anyway, this has been a delightful conversation, cousin, even if I could wish that it were under better circumstances. I will make every effort to attend your wedding personally, but I can make no promises.>></p><p></p><p><<Of course, I completely understand how busy you are. You are, after all, an Imperial majesty.>></p><p></p><p>After a few more pleasantries, they break the connection and send the psion to recover from the strain.</p><p>[cont'd]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CPaladin, post: 8820368, member: 7030144"] Session 136 (January 5, 2022) 25 Tar Following up on a long ago report (letter from Malacat to Kit): Alistair sends agents to try to hire Filegust and Thalmount, and to find out the status of the Demonist Shill the Unspeakable (in his estate, almost directly southeast of the Broken Lands), who they want to have killed. Alistair also provides that information to the Ambassador from the Broken Lands. Kit reaches out through her fan to her agent in Debonai. <<Ah. My lady.>> <<Are you alright?>> <<I am, I am. There’s about to be a hanging—the head of one of the merchant families. I’m not certain he wasn’t set up, though, by one of the rival families. It’s the sort of thing that happens when these things start.>> <<I can’t stay long.>> <<Yes, your image is glowing, my lady.>> <<It’s never done that before...>> (Kit realizes with exasperation that this is her soon-to-be-born child trying to join the link.) <<No, m’lady, at least not with me. But they’re building the gallows now. I don’t think the evidence was convincing, but they act out of fear. There are three houses—merchant houses, not noble—that want the trade that he has. The one house would never do this sort of thing, so I suspect it’s one of the other two. And if he hasn’t been framed, then he’s stupid.>> <<Which of those merchant houses has more to gain by weakening the monarchy?>> <<Bembick, in my opinion. Certain merchant houses have enough money to wish to become noble families, and that only happens when there are sufficient reasons for the monarch to sell the noble titles. Bembick has wanted to be part of the noble class for at least a century.>> <<When you say a century, do you mean just for a long time, or almost exactly a century?>> <<It was right around a hundred years ago that they started.>> <<It’s them.>> <<If you say so, my lady...>> <<I do. Who in House Bembick is taking credit for bringing down this threat?>> <<They didn’t directly—the evidence was brought by the Third Foot. But then, Tewk Bembick is an officer in the Third Foot...>> <<It’s him, then.>> <<Other than that, things continue to stabilize. There has been sporadic violence by the northeast border—raids of some sort. The King has sent five legions of foot, but it will take them some time to arrive, now that we are all but devoid of our chivalry.>> <<Good. We’ll try to investigate with our vollers and provide some intelligence. Can you try to delay the execution? Hire a barrister or something, enter a plea?>> <<Yes, I can do that. It will seem surprising that my house would be interested, but that will simply set people wondering.>> She breaks the connection. Alistair and Kit discuss this, and Alistair suggests that they ask the King of Debonai to render the merchant to Canberry for further interrogation, along with providing some scouting via voller. The Council wonders whether Debonai is being targeted for some strategic reason—a relic, an important tor, something of the like. Debonai has a basilica, so that has a relic, although Dame Brionna doesn’t know what relic. She goes to talk to the Archivist to find out what that might be. The Archivist says that the basilica has a phial of sun, with trapped sunlight in it. In addition to its religious value, it can strike enormous numbers of undead to dust. Rumor has it that it is also efficacious against demons, but that has never been tested. The relic itself generates pure sunlight, but would be more powerful in the hands of a powerful priest. The Archbishop of Debonai is Ulbrecht Garin, who was appointed within the last year or so. He is an orderly priest, of the Order of the Archangel Zadkiel the Merciful (a healing order, rarely raised to the hierarchy). Alistair asks Lord Silverleaves if they could have a voller scout around the borders of Debonai. Lord Silverleaves says that for scouting, it would be no problem at all. He also asks if there is a tor in Debonai, and there is a large tor, predominantly with lesser fae (few sidhe). And near the great tor, there would be a large number of part-fae. It is very close to the capital, and is heavily integrated into their capital. The King’s line has a considerable amount of fae blood, though they would not admit it. Lord Silverleaves steps aside to contact the Queen of Singing Leaves. That may also be part of the reason that the King and his brother are all that is left of the direct line. After a few minutes, Lord Silverleaves reports that she has dispatched a war schooner, with a complement of flitters to address any demons encountered without the borders of Debonai. He also suggests that Alistair reach out to warn the Tor lord. Alistair asks the fairy godmothers to connect him to the Tor lord, which they are very happy to do. Alistair warns him, and he says he’ll warn his cousin, and direct his hunt in that direction in case they need a handful of sidhe knights. Alistair also tells him to pass on to his cousin that if he were to call on Singing Leaves for aid, they would answer. They then reach out to the King of Debonai, via a psion with the Ministry of the Mind. <<I hope that you are well, your majesty,>> sends Alistair. <<Indeed, better than I have been in years, your majesty.>> <<And I understand that congratulations are in order for your impending nuptials?>> <<Yes, thank you. I shouldn’t say this, but a major, major thing is that I’m fully looking forward to getting married, if you know what I mean, which I never would have expected.>> <<I do know what you mean, and that is one of the great pleasures of being married.>> <<What can I do for you?>> <<A few small matters came up that we thought we should inform you of. First, there was a small demonic horde on the outskirts of the Broken Lands. We think they may be heading in your direction, so we wanted to give you some warning.>> <<Thank you for that.>> <<We’re arranging for some voller flyovers along your borders, and we should know more soon. We’ll pass that on as soon as we do.>> <<Thank you.>> <<The second is that we think the great tor near your capital may come under a major attack soon. We’ve passed on a warning to the fey, but we thought you should know as well.>> <<Those people again, then?>> <<I am afraid so. I think they may wish to target the tor and those of part fey blood in the area.>> <<I’ll make a general proclamation that all of fey blood must come within the city walls—we’ll be able to protect them better that way. There are so many of them, though—the tor has always been almost a part of our capital.>> <<Indeed, I fear that that is what the enemy would wish to engage in mass slaughter of if they have the opportunity.>> <<I’ll make the proclamation immediately. They won’t all come within the city, but most of them will obey.>> <<The last minor matter is that I understand that you have managed to capture one of the people who has been plotting against your safety.>> <<Yes. Very odd, that—a merchant with no obvious reasons to wish me ill. Still, the evidence was convincing to my brother and the captain of the guard, and they want him put to death immediately. But Lady Delilah Trombley intervened with her barrister—she claims the merchant was involved with some theft from her house, and wants him kept alive for the investigation. My brother didn’t like it, but she does have the right.>> <<We think these assassination attempts might be part of the enemy’s broader plot, and we’d like to investigate further. We know that you don’t have the same resources of magic and psionics as we do. We would of course return him for your justice when the investigation is done, but we wondered if you could render him to us in the meantime.>> <<Of course. Anything to aid in the fight against our mutual enemy. Perhaps it can explain what was going on as well. Shall we teleport him to you?>> <<Yes, if you send him to our receiving platforms in the palace, we can take him from there. Oh, and if you could send a copy of the reports of the investigation, it would help us know where to start with our interrogations.>> <<Certainly, certainly. I must admit, the fact that the royal compound has been breached three times in the last few weeks has gotten my brother in an absolute tear. None of them got close to me—well, one of them got a little close, but not really—but he’s still very concerned.>> <<I gather your captain of the guard has responded with vigor?>> <<Yes, he’s a fine young man, capable and energetic. But by the God, if he puts any more guards around me, I won’t be able to go to the bathroom without one accompanying me.>> <<If it’s any consolation, my experience is that no sooner is your royal bride with child than everyone starts being a little less anxious around you.>> <<I certainly hope you’re right. I’ll have the prisoner brought up presently. I think my brother has him chained up to a wall—we don’t usually do that sort of thing, but attempted regicide demands a strong response.>> <<I understand. We had to have a noble who was conspiring with our enemies and nefariously waging war in breach of our peace dismembered and the parts paraded. It’s not what I’d like to spend my time doing, but you know, you have to send a certain message and leave no doubt.>> <<I don’t think I have to worry about the nobles, at least. If I died and my brother died, they’d tear each other to pieces to try to take our place, but none of them really want that.>> <<And with the loss of so many of your chivalry, there must be new opportunities.>> <<Yes, every younger child will be a landed knight in twenty years.>> <<And that also means every younger child will have a reason to be particularly loyal to you and your line. Anyway, this has been a delightful conversation, cousin, even if I could wish that it were under better circumstances. I will make every effort to attend your wedding personally, but I can make no promises.>> <<Of course, I completely understand how busy you are. You are, after all, an Imperial majesty.>> After a few more pleasantries, they break the connection and send the psion to recover from the strain. [cont'd] [/QUOTE]
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Aphonion Tales: The Archducal Council -- Unedited notes; later posts are edited transcripts (posts MWF, update 3/1/23)
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