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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 2997773" data-attributes="member: 3448">Well, it certainly is dangerous to travel alone down dark alleys in Aphonion, regardless of gender.  But I think it helps rather a lot that in Kit's case, many of the people you would ordinarily worry about in dark alleys work for her. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />-----After checking it for psionic energy and having Dame Brionna check it for evil, Kit tossed the coin over to Alistair.  "This is what they're using to pay them, m'lord.  Just bribing the poor folk to do what they're asked.  It's elven, but...""Let me guess-- our friends the Noldar."  Alistair flipped the coin over carefully.  "But no.  Interesting... I thought they were all dead and forgotten, or at least all but...""My lord?""It's not a Noldar coin.  It's Eldron.  When the first elves chose between the Creator and Morgrath, and divided into the Eldar and the Noldar during the first war, a select few refused to take sides, and kept using the term Eldron for themselves.  Neither side forgave them, as both viewed them as traitors and apostates, and both the Eldar and the Noldar warred upon the Eldron during the Kinslaying.  They're all but extinct now; perhaps a half-dozen remain.  This is clearly a horde coin, from some ancient collection."Before they could discuss the matter further, Abigail entered.  "Your grace?  There are two flying ships approaching the palace from opposite directions.  They slowed to match speeds about forty-five miles from the City, and as best as the guard can tell they'll arrive at exactly the same time, in a few minutes.  One is a voller from the Forest of Singing Leaves.  They say the other is a Noldar dreadnought."Mahler laughed.  "They're deliberately making you choose.  You'll have to honor one of the ambassadors and slight the other.""You could make them both wait, I suppose," said Dame Brionna.  "Show them what Canberry thinks of their childishness, your grace.""And what would that get us?" replied Alistair.  "Besides, between Canberry's most ancient ally and the strongest other force for good in Southern Drucien on the one hand and an evil delegation nominally tied to the people who've been trying to murder me, and mostly only invited because we don't dare not, on the other, it's not a very hard choice."By the time the two airships docked, the Archduke and an honor guard waited at the west tower.  A substantial complement of elven warriors lined the sides of the voller.  While the elven troops were largely ceremonial, Dame Brionna noted with horror that the powerful energy lances mounted on the ship as a broadside had been charged, as if in expectation of imminent battle, and carefully trained on the dreadnought at the far side of the palace.  Her eyes widened as she imagined the carnage a battle would wreak on the entire city below the airships."Relax," said Alistair.  "Neither the Eldar nor the Noldar want a battle here.  They're just maintaining appearances and preventing the other side from getting any ideas.  Still, you might want to tell the palace guard that if a battle should break out, they should attack the Noldar ship.  They might land a lucky arrow, or at least distract one of the drow slightly.  But I really can't imagine that it will be necessary." Inexplicably, his words did not appear to relieve Dame Brionna at all.The Eldar Ambassador, Lord Everglowing Silverleaves, descended to the palace alone.  He was tall and thin, even for an elf, with a serene expression and an almost ethereal paleness to his skin.  His rainment was princely, shimmering with all the colors in the rainbow as the light played across what looked to be mithril chain woven so finely as to be more cloth than mail."Welcome to the Archduchy of Canberry, Lord Silverleaves.""Thank you, your grace.  It is always a pleasure to visit your land, although I do wish that it were under happier circumstances.  Archduchess Amelia's passing is a great loss for all of us.   She was a great woman and a wise ruler.  The loss saddened all of the Forest of Singing Leaves, and it must be felt even more keenly by her country and family.""Thank you."The barest hint of a smile appeared on the Eldar's face.  "We are pleased that you honored us when the ships arrived.""There was never any doubt of that, your lordship.  Canberry has always held the Forest of Singing Leaves as its closest and most honored ally.  We stand with you in all things," the Archduke replied.  "Speaking of our alliance, I must trouble you with a serious matter.  The Forest should prepare its defenses immediately.  A large army has been amassed to the west of Canberry.  I do not know their target for certain, but I fear that they may intend to strike at the Forest.  If they do, they will likely attack with allies from Hanal at the northwest of the Forest, and with the support of the Zorplona-Aragoni.""I will inform Her Majesty immediately.  I cannot believe they would dare such a thing, as no human army, even with the support of our fallen cousins, could hope to prevail.""Of course not.  Nonetheless, they may not realize this, and it will go better if you are ready.  Our primary reason for fearing that they mean to attack is that we have been unable to identify any other reasonable target.  We also wish to personally assure you that, although some in the army to the west may fly the standard of Canberry or its vassals, we remain loyal to our friends.  If the attack should come, call on Canberry for aid, and we will march to your aid immediately.""Thank you; I will inform the Queen.  And now, you had best go see my aunt.  I am honored that you chose to see me first, but it would not be prudent to keep her waiting.  We will have time enough to speak later.""Thank you, Lord Silverleaves.  But before I go-- you will presently receive an invitation from the emissary from Tang-- the One of Diplomacy, I should think-- to a meeting to discuss increased trade among Tang, Canberry, Singing Leaves, and Masque.  Please accept.  It is actually being sent on my behalf, to discuss more important strategic matters."Lord Silverleaves raised one eyebrow.  "Indeed.  I await the trade discussions eagerly."The Archduke, Dame Brionna, and the ceremonial guard hurried across the palace as quickly as they could, pausing only to regain their breath before greeting the Noldar ambassador.As they stepped out to the eastern landing, an elf in robes of flowing crystal descended from the dreadnought, followed by a group of eight clockwork automata.  Her skin was pale, so that any who were not well-informed might have supposed that she, too, was of the elves loyal to the Creator.  But the handful of drow upon the dreadnought-- apparently just enough to work the energy lances that throbbed with barely restrained destructive power-- left no doubt about her actual status as one of the dread Noldar.  To Dame Brionna's relief, none of the drow accompanied the ambassador off the ship."Welcome to Canberry, your excellence.""Thank you.  And thank you for the courtesy of not making me wait long while you met with my counterpart.""We would not wish to do anything to show disrespect.  Our relationship with the Forest of Singing Leaves required that we welcome their ambassador first, but we kept the delay as brief as possible.""I understand and appreciate your effort.  Archduchess Amelia always was a sensible woman; I'm glad that her family retains some of her nature.  Her death is a great loss for Canberry, and after such a short reign.""My grandmother was a great woman, and all of Canberry mourns her passing.""As well you should.""Your excellence, we understand that you have close ties to Region 9 of the Zorplona-Aragoni.  We have been very pleased to note Region 9's recent changes in policy and hope that you will convey our respect and admiration to the Controller.  While no trade with Canberry was possible while the old policy remained in effect, abolishing the slave trade allows us to discuss other forms of trade.""It would be my pleasure to pass on your message.  Though he is of the Moriquendarim, the father of the Controller of Region 9 had the good sense to marry one of my nieces.  My house, the Curini'rim, does not approve of the sale of human flesh.  It is beneath us and devices can provide better service than any slave.  It pleases me that my great-niece has focused her energies on more worthwhile projects than the slave trade.""If it would not be too much trouble, we were curious about a fellow Noldar we have had some dealings with.  I regret that Region 6 does not have as reputable policies as your great-niece's region.""I would be happy to answer your question, provided it does not probe to deep.""Do you recognize the Noldar represented on this parchment, your excellence?""Indeed.  It is one of the sisters of Quinliart of the Moriquendarim.  He is the Controller of Region 6.  And I must say, that is a remarkably accurate depiction.""Thank you for informing us.  We suspected she might be affiliated with Region 6 but were not certain.  The image was produced by a magical process.""I thought as much.""We also wish to know... some years ago, a Noldar accompanied by a group of drow established an outpost in unclaimed mountain territory, near our borders.  The Noldar declared an affiliation with House Aufaugauthala'rim.  But I did not think that house would have drow under them.""Impossible.  Almost all of the drow that remain in service to Morgrath are of the Moriquendarim.  Some of the other houses maintain a few drow followers; my house has one small cadet house of drow, to take care of such things as my creations cannot, but that are beneath ourselves.  But the Aufaugauthala'rim do not tolerate any imperfection in their children and would not associate with any drow subservient to another house.  That outpost is most assuredly not theirs, if the Noldar is served by drow.  It is almost certainly of the Moriquendarim.""Thank you.  That was as I expected.""Now, if you will excuse me, your grace, I should like to rest for a bit.  And then I think I will invite my nephew to tea." She smiled coldly.  "And you can tell your captain that she may relax.  When we rose up under Morgrath against the false oppressor, one of my brother's abandoned our rightful god.  I would not wish any harm to come to his son and there is thus no danger that we will bring violence to your coronation.""Thank you for the reassurance, your excellency.  I'm sure that Dame Brionna is very pleased to hear that." With that, they took their leave of the Noldar ambassador and returned to Alistair's apartments.  "When Lord Silverleaves referred to his aunt, I had no idea that he meant it literally..."</blockquote>

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