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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: 8900787" data-attributes="member: 7030144"><p>Session 145 (July 6, 2022)</p><p></p><p>7 O-Tar (cont’d)</p><p>Dame Agatha approaches Kit. “All contracts come to an end. The end of my mistress’s contract draws near.”</p><p></p><p>“I’m so sorry. What can we do?”</p><p></p><p>“We have arranged for a propitious astrological condition for her passing. She will pass on the night of the coming festival. But I approach you for a more delicate reason. At the time of her passing, someone of status must transfer her rings to me. Otherwise, those bindings will be lost to us, and they have been useful to the Empire for some time.”</p><p></p><p>“Are you asking me to find someone, or to be that someone?”</p><p></p><p>“You are a ranking member of the Imperial Council. It will be unpleasant. You will receive the rings from her, and convey them to a magic circle where they can be claimed by me. I have my own rings, but her devils are of considerably greater power. That will not give them any opportunity to break free. And the pain of her passing will be considerable. They will be angry about the circumstances of her passing, astrologically, and they will seek to take it out on you. She did not start training a replacement until late in her life.</p><p></p><p>"I did not wish to approach you near the child. Our aura is not the best until they're a bit older than that."</p><p></p><p>"Yes, he does get a little cranky."</p><p></p><p>"And for good reason. I would get a little cranky with me, too."</p><p></p><p>"And I'm sorry if he has tossed out any thoughts at you. Having a powerful psion infant is a new experience for all of us."</p><p></p><p>"Yes. I do hope that the Emperor will continue to keep the covenant in his service. We have been useful, and I believe we will be again."</p><p></p><p>"You have. Your knowledge and your service are both invaluable to the entire Empire. I will have to tell the Emperor about this, and Dame Brionna.”</p><p></p><p>***</p><p>Kit informs Dame Brionna, who insists that she should not sign anything.</p><p></p><p>Alistair plans on standing vigil while Dame Constance passes, and to play a song of solace for her.</p><p></p><p>Dame Agatha says that she can prepare another magic circle, somewhat farther away, to enable this.</p><p></p><p>* * *</p><p>At 7 in the evening, a page slips in to inform Dame Brionna of a messenger.</p><p></p><p>“Who from?”</p><p></p><p>“I believe the Temple of Paranswarm. They are dressed entirely in black except for a white sash.”</p><p></p><p>Dame Brionna recognizes that as a sign of Paranswarmian mourning, and asks that he be shown in. The messenger is a high-ranking cleric in the hierarchy of Paranswarm, clearly exhausted at the end of a very long day but still attending to vital matters.</p><p></p><p>“I have come from the chambers of the Council to inform you as a great ally of the Ecumenical Council that the Archbaroness of Mandrath, Protector of the Faith and until recently acting Regent of the Archduchy of Ergmoth, has passed. I can only share the details with your liege.”</p><p></p><p>Dame Brionna immediately goes to inform Alistair and Kit. Dame Brionna is uncertain about the Archbaroness's exact status, so Alistair explains: "She succeeded the Grand Duchess Sharra as Protector of the Faith and acted as regent for Sharra's child. I don't know why she's no longer regent--the heir may have come of age, I don't know." Alistair then says to Dame Brionna, "Have him await me in one of the audience chambers. Inquire of the Empress whether she wishes to to join us."</p><p></p><p>He then changes into black silk appropriate mourning clothes by Canberran standards and then slashes the clothes with a knife as a sign of additional respect.</p><p></p><p>As he gets ready, Kit asks, "Should I be in my usual place, invisible offstage, or be there with like a black sash across my uniform?"</p><p></p><p>"Present and visible, I think. That seems best."</p><p></p><p>The Empress joins Alistair in an antechamber, also in hastily donned muorning garb that her lady-in-waiting has carefully slashed as well.</p><p></p><p>They enter, and the messenger does a grand incline. “Your Imperial Majesties, I bear grave tidings from Khamista and from the First Mouth. The Archbaroness of Mandrath has passed, during the ceremony that was investing her formally as Regent for the Archduchy of Ergmoth until the heir to Archduchy comes of age. That is not the worst news. There was an assault during the ceremony. The heir has been kidnapped, and her grandchild was slain during the ceremony. Investigations continue as to how they gained entrance to the royal chapel. She did not die during the assault, but it appears her heart gave out after she received word of her grandson's fate. The First Mouth has declared 13 days of mourning. The Archbaroness’s daughter—the mother of the slain grandchild—has taken the position of acting Archbaroness. It is not clear what will happen to the Archduchy of Ergmoth or to the protection of the Holy See within it. As a ranking member of the Ecumenical Council and Protector of the Light, the First Mouth wished that we inform you immediately and directly."</p><p></p><p>"We appreciate this, and we shed our tears with those of the Weeping Woman for the losses that you have endured."</p><p></p><p>"We believe the boy is still alive. However, we have not had any success at divining his location."</p><p></p><p>"If I may, have you applied substantial psionic resources to that?"</p><p></p><p>"Yes, the Society continues to work on the task as we speak."</p><p></p><p>"Are there at least Grand Master level Farsensors participating?"</p><p></p><p>"Yes. Only one, but there is one. They are able to trace the boy from the scene to the sea, which indicates a teleportation of some type after he left the palace. The time has not yet been since efficient for them to have reached the sea by horse or even by voller, at least unless the had an elven ship, and we do not believe that any of the elves are involved in this. They have not yet been able to trace where he went beyond the sea."</p><p></p><p>"I do not wish to overstep; but if it would be desirable for us, on behalf of the Ecumenical Council, to request the assistance of a Paragon Farsensor from either of the great elven houses, we would be willing to do so on behalf of the First Mouth."</p><p></p><p>"I feel empowered to accept any offers of help you can make. If he is lost and killed, or worse yet at his age, lost and corrupted... Ergmoth is the stabilizing influence in the entire central region of Khamista."</p><p></p><p>"We have of late encountered evidence that suggests that Ergmoth and Canberry have been deliberately stabilized by the Brothers. Has your Ultimate Lord been informed directly of this? Not simply in the way that ordinary prayers would, but by being addressed by an appropriate member of your hierarchy?"</p><p></p><p>"The First Mouth has done so."</p><p></p><p>"Because I believe that that there is a possibility that there would be a response on a theological level, rather than merely a clerical level."</p><p></p><p>"We can but hope. With your permission, Your Majesty, I wish to speak freely of something that is probably already evident to you given your experience in politics."</p><p></p><p>"Please."</p><p></p><p>"The First Mouth's declaration of the maximum possible period of mourning will keep everything quiet for 13 days-- now 12 and a half. He cannot renew it. When that expires, all hell will break loose. That means Ergmoth needs the young Grand Duke to make a formal appearance and show strength."</p><p></p><p>"Does the Grand Duke have any siblings?"</p><p></p><p>"Sharra followed the methods of her husband's people, and slew all but the oldest and strongest of the litter. They did not have to time to make younger siblings from other litters--that would have been permitted--but the old Grand Duke died before that could happen. He was old to take such a young bride."</p><p></p><p>"And then that means that there are also no younger siblings, or nephews or nieces, of her late husband."</p><p></p><p>"Correct."</p><p></p><p>"And I assume that he either had no prior children, or that they met with misfortunes ."</p><p></p><p>"He had never... he was... forgive me, I wonder if it is my place..."</p><p></p><p>"You have been given permission to speak freely."</p><p></p><p>"The Grand Duke was were and not controlled. Only Sharra ever managed to bring him to heel. Prior to that, his interests and his lusts did not include the having of children."</p><p></p><p>"Understood. I know that it is a lesser importance but nonetheless, with regards to the Archbarony of Mandrath, you said that there's a daughter who can succeed, at least for the time being. Does she have other children?"</p><p></p><p>"She does not. It may be necessary for someone appropriately placed to convince her husband--I tell you, as a member of the clergy, I do not like to speak of these things... He needs to step aside. We are told by our allies among the Gunnorans that he has become incapable over the years of their marriage."</p><p></p><p>"I will have a conversation with them," replies Alistair. "I promise you that I will tell him, in no uncertain terms, that his choices are to find an acceptable to the temple means to restore his fecundity, of which there may be some and I can propose some possibilities. Or he needs to agree to turn a blind eye to other means of ensuring that there is a proper heir, or he needs to accept that the Archbaroness will dismiss him. If none of these options are acceptable, than we will see to it that he dies."</p><p></p><p>Through the mind link, Kit says <<We will what now?>></p><p></p><p>Alistair doesn't meet her glance, but continues staring at the priest. He glances over at the Empress, who is entirely placidly and assuredly listening to Alistair's declaration.</p><p></p><p>The priest seems to also understand, but to find this very difficult to consider.</p><p></p><p>"As I said, I will have this conversation with him personally, when presumably I will travel out for the late Archbaroness's funeral. Any resources that we can offer to secure the child are of course yours for the asking."</p><p></p><p>"You have already offered us better Farsensors than the Society has, although I ask that you never say to a senior member of the Society that I have said that."</p><p></p><p>"I must be clear. I can only ask. We have no Paragon Farsensors ourselves. But there are elves of, let's say, at least two senior extractions that we have sufficiently close relationships with that we could inquire."</p><p></p><p>"Thank you, Your Majesty. If it is acceptable, I would, in fact, seek to pursue this with both of them."</p><p></p><p>"Is there any history of ill blood between the gnomes of the Larmenon Hills and Ergmoth? Do not mind why I ask. Anything at all?"</p><p></p><p>"Ergmoth has never been very expansionistic once it's solidified its borders, so no."</p><p></p><p>"Then there may be another option as well, but we will take that under our own advisory."</p><p></p><p>"Thank you, Your Majesty. The Temple thanks you."</p><p></p><p>"I assume that no new Protector has been announced. Is there any plausible candidate?"</p><p></p><p>Historically, yes. Now... we do not wish to turn to either of the two principal Drucien domains that are part of the Temple, for obvious reason. Emperor Jaziel of Tarsh is so young, but we may have no choice. You're doing very well as Protector of the Light and you're more or less his age. But he's only 19, and he went out in sowed his oats with his best friend from his mid-teens until the death of his father."</p><p></p><p>"I'm familiar with such things," says Alistair with a smile, realizing the priest doesn't know his own history.</p><p></p><p>"Perhaps he's a better choice than stodgy clerical types might have been thinking."</p><p></p><p>"The difference between Tarsh and Canberry is that I can command the unquestioned loyalty of all my vassals, except one who I can command the reliable loyalty of. That is not the case for the Emperor, and he must be in a position to focus on his domestic concerns and not on the concerns of the Temple abroad."</p><p></p><p>"That leaves us in a position where it is difficult to imagine who we call. We will not call, cannot call the Empress of Masque. The insanity of Masque is well known. The One of the threes would serve willingly, but even the Ones have a tendency toward consensus that cripples them in crisis. The archbaroness's daughter does not wish to find herself even in the position she's already in. In fact, we know for a fact that she intended to bypass herself once her son reached majority. So it gets thin on the ground. We will have to find someone, but if we appoint someone from one of the lesser nations, they won't have the military strength to back themselves. That's the beauty of your declaration as Protector of the Light. You have tremendous strength you can bring to bear. Even the Archbaroness. It's as if someone were picking off our best people."</p><p></p><p>Dame Brionna interjects, "No, it it is not 'as if' that. That is exactly what is happening." She's pretty sure this priest is quite innocent--he managed to look shocked by that, and she thinks he meant what he said. <<Bless his poor dark little heart,>> she thinks over the mind link.</p><p></p><p>"Walk me through this," says Alistair. "The Paranswarmian powers on on Zest'qua are all at best second-rate powers."</p><p></p><p>"Correct. And some of them arguably third-rate, with Caldefor barely able to hold the land it has retaken from the Shadow."</p><p></p><p>"I believe that leaves only a few possibilities. The Queen-Empress Anastasia is possible, but the state in Hanal cuts in two directions. On the one hand, she is a capable leader and she's currently working hand-in-glove with the Temple to control Hanal, which is the greatest, or at least the most present, threat faced by the Temple of Paranswarm currently. On the other, to be blunt, she controls one hierkovate and perhaps two kovates currently, as I'm sure you are aware. Her court ruling over Hanal is in exile."</p><p></p><p>"Yes, and the fact that the entirety of her forces as well as the Inquisition troops are there fighting will be one of our greatest concerns when the thirteen days have elapsed. Ecsilias strikes us as too weak, but it is loyal."</p><p></p><p>"You may have to elevate him temporarily with the expectation of displacing him with Anastasia when she has gained control over enough of Hanal."</p><p></p><p>"If Ecsilias were elevated, there would have to be a narrative created about the Archbarony as a rising power."</p><p></p><p>"There is uncontrolled territory near and around Ecsilias, and I can assure you that there would not be concerns raised if Ecsilias were to expand into some of those territories, provided, of course, that they recognized the traditional neutrality and independence of Enclaves. The City of Enclaves, of course, would be beyond their grasp anyway. It is not nothing, but it is not a fully convincing narrative."</p><p></p><p>"Yes, even mooting about a story that might fool commons as Ecsilias as the rising Paranswarmian power on Drucien would have value. It would not pull the sophisticated, but it is the people we are concerned about, not the nobility."</p><p></p><p>"If Ecsilias is selected, I would suggest that sometime before that is publicly announced, the Archbaron should claim a loftier title, which then we can have a coordinated acknowledgement of by various other nearby realms that suggests that no one could possibly be the offended by this because it's simply recognizing the reality that Ecsilias has become a grand duchy or some such as it has expanded its borders. This will fool no one serious, and it's possible that this will cause difficulties with places like Korflock or the areas around the Inland Sea. But especially in Khamista, it might create the appearance that Ecsilias is a rising power. If we knew we needed this, we should have done this two years ago, but nothing can be done about that now."</p><p></p><p>"I will report this to the Council and to the First Mouth as your recommendation. We are a bit at sea; we have relied on the Grand Duchess's advice, and then the Archbaroness's for years. Suddenly being without them..."</p><p></p><p>"I could also imagine that you might install the Queen-Empress Anastasia, and that she would then appoint the Archbaron to some title like Viceroy of the Darkness--you understand what I mean-- authorized to act on on her behalf while she attends to matters in Hanal. I don't know which of those would display more strength."</p><p></p><p>"If she were appointed, it might give some pause to commons, and to all who are still bowing their necks to... the usurper who... is not her sister?"</p><p></p><p>"That would be an advantage, yes. You find that difficult to think here, because you're closer to the locus of the magical curse. You are used to thinking about that from Khamista. It's harder here."</p><p></p><p>"Much slips away."</p><p></p><p>"It does. Those effects are much stronger in Hanal itself, except near where the Lady Aufaulgautharim broke those permanently."</p><p></p><p>"That would perhaps be the better route. I will report it to the Council and the First Mouth as soon as I can."</p><p></p><p>"Is it your traditions that the funeral will be within the mourning period, or will it be after the mourning period?"</p><p></p><p>"The last day."</p><p></p><p>"Very well. And it will be in in Mandrath, I assume."</p><p></p><p>"Yes, her family have ruled Mandrath for a very long time. She will be buried with her forbears."</p><p></p><p>"We will attend. We will consult with Her Majesty the Empress as to whether both of us will attend, or whether as I think is more likely, she will remain here to exercise imperial authority while we are abroad."</p><p></p><p>"Thank you, Your Majesty."</p><p></p><p>"We will, of course, bring a substantial guard."</p><p></p><p>* * *</p><p>They reach out to Princess Curinirim. A human psion reaches out to make a connection, and then the connection is entirely taken over from the other end. An entire chamber appears around them. It seems to be made out of cut crystal with a pool in the middle, with music rising out of the pool. The Princess Curinirim is seated with a small group of other people, a couple of Twilight Elves and a couple of others. She turns to regard them, and the music fades.</p><p></p><p>"Your August Highness, I hope you will forgive the intrusion."</p><p></p><p>"Your Majesty, what can I assist you with?"</p><p></p><p>"As you may have heard, the heir of the Grand Duchess of Ergmoth has recently been kidnapped, and were he not returned promptly, it could create exceeding difficulties for the stability of Ergmoth, and through Ergmoth, all of Khamista. The Temple of Paranswarm has applied their best Farsensors, who are of the highest quality of human psionics, to attempt to locate him, and they have been able to trace him to the sea but not to identify his location or where he was teleported to, or what's happening to him. We thought that in the interest of acting in harmony with the Ecumenical Council, maintaining stability, and given that this is almost surely a stratagem of the great enemies, that we would see if the Temple of Morgroth and its people might be able to offer rather more capable Farsensing capabilities."</p><p></p><p>"You're kind to think of it. I am certain that we can assist in locating him--at least, if he's alive."</p><p></p><p>"Our suspicion is that he still lives, and that they wish to corrupt him; and thus we hope that if we can retrieve him quickly enough that we can ensure that nothing untoward happens that they will fail."</p><p></p><p>"You have an image of him?"</p><p></p><p>"We can, of course, obtain one The easiest way would be through the great tower of the Society of the Hands of Hell. We can arrange for them to contact, perhaps, your duty Farsensor?"</p><p></p><p>"Yes, I will not speak to them directly, but if they give him an image, he can pass it to me."</p><p></p><p>"And due to the nature of this crisis, we will, of course, also be reaching out to other members of the Ecumenical Council about which the less said, the better."</p><p></p><p>"Yes, I understand the necessity. Have them reach out to me with an image, and I will pursue this expeditiously."</p><p></p><p>"It would be greatly advantageous from a political perspective, if he could be recovered within the next 12 days. From a perspective of preserving him from corruption, I do not know whether we have even less time or we have substantially more."</p><p></p><p>"That depends in part upon how susceptible he is. The shorter, the better."</p><p></p><p>"Our thanks, Highness."</p><p></p><p>"Thank you, Your Majesty. I await the image."</p><p></p><p>"It will be with you shortly."</p><p>* * *</p><p>They then, of course, go to talk with Lord Silverleaves, the Grandmaster Farsensor. He's still in skin, recovering, so they go to him.</p><p></p><p>"Visitors! Welcome!"</p><p></p><p>"Good to see you, Grandmaster. How are you feeling?"</p><p></p><p>"Better than I was, worse than I hope to be."</p><p></p><p>"That's about right. It will not be long before this is simply another story of the excitement that happens when you spend time among the young people."</p><p></p><p>"There's a heaviness about you."</p><p></p><p>"There is. The heir of the Grand Duchess of Ergmoth has been kidnapped. This would greatly destabilize Khamista, and it's surely a stratagem of the great enemy."</p><p></p><p>"Indeed, I wonder... Perhaps Paranswarm is the weaker branch on the vine, and they're pursuing its destruction directly."</p><p></p><p>"Also they have shown an affinity for striking at deities that have some pale, weaker version of their evil about them, and in that regard Paranswarm would be a more likely subsequent target than, for example, Glordiadel."</p><p></p><p>"Reasonable, reasonable."</p><p></p><p>"The Grand Duchess's son is still a child, although I believe that he was approaching majority. He was kidnapped from Ergmoth. Apparently they managed to breach the Royal Chapel itself."</p><p></p><p>"Let's see. Oh, is there any way you can prop me up," he says to the young psion who's trickling energy into him.</p><p></p><p>"Under the circumstances, I do not think that it is wise that you attempt to investigate this yourself. We believe that they have applied Farsensors of the Grand Master level of capability, albeit merely human Grand Master. I do not mean to suggest that they are as skilled or perceptive as you are, but we wondered if it might be possible to ask if one of the Paragons in the Steading of the Elven Lords or some such place might be willing to assist."</p><p></p><p>"I can ask."</p><p></p><p>"I must inform you that there's already been a request made through the Ecumenical Council to another group that could supply a Paragon level Farsensor, and we understand that they have agreed. But I think we can all agree that it would be better, by far, for assistance to be rendered by your people."</p><p></p><p>"I will speak to the Speaker of the Starcouncil in the Steading of the Elvish Lords and see. The difficulty there is going to be that time does not pass the same within the peace of that wood as it does within Singing Leaves, and regrettably, there can be a certain failure to understand urgency. Let me speak to them, and if I become rather vague for only an hour, it could have been much worse." While the ice still forms around him, it forms about an inch from him.</p><p></p><p>"That is very nice," comments Kit.</p><p></p><p>"Oh, I'll teach you how to do that."</p><p></p><p>"It's probably very helpful."</p><p></p><p>He suddenly shakes his head, and all the ice crystals fall to the floor. "I've convinced him that it it's urgent. He's going to speak to the Paragon Farsensors. They have a circle of 5 of them over there, if any of them can be convinced to act quickly, it would be a marvelous thing. We will see. I am almost inclined to contact my cousins, but I know better. They are rather better at focusing on things than we are."</p><p></p><p>"I think that that they should be left to their tasks."</p><p></p><p>"I assure you, Your Majesty, I will get word to you as soon as I get word. I've learned something about the importance of time being here."</p><p></p><p>"Indeed, and we greatly appreciate it."</p><p></p><p>They then make some small talk and so forth, both to avoid being rude and because the Grandmaster is clearly very bored.</p><p>[cont'd]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CPaladin, post: 8900787, member: 7030144"] Session 145 (July 6, 2022) 7 O-Tar (cont’d) Dame Agatha approaches Kit. “All contracts come to an end. The end of my mistress’s contract draws near.” “I’m so sorry. What can we do?” “We have arranged for a propitious astrological condition for her passing. She will pass on the night of the coming festival. But I approach you for a more delicate reason. At the time of her passing, someone of status must transfer her rings to me. Otherwise, those bindings will be lost to us, and they have been useful to the Empire for some time.” “Are you asking me to find someone, or to be that someone?” “You are a ranking member of the Imperial Council. It will be unpleasant. You will receive the rings from her, and convey them to a magic circle where they can be claimed by me. I have my own rings, but her devils are of considerably greater power. That will not give them any opportunity to break free. And the pain of her passing will be considerable. They will be angry about the circumstances of her passing, astrologically, and they will seek to take it out on you. She did not start training a replacement until late in her life. "I did not wish to approach you near the child. Our aura is not the best until they're a bit older than that." "Yes, he does get a little cranky." "And for good reason. I would get a little cranky with me, too." "And I'm sorry if he has tossed out any thoughts at you. Having a powerful psion infant is a new experience for all of us." "Yes. I do hope that the Emperor will continue to keep the covenant in his service. We have been useful, and I believe we will be again." "You have. Your knowledge and your service are both invaluable to the entire Empire. I will have to tell the Emperor about this, and Dame Brionna.” *** Kit informs Dame Brionna, who insists that she should not sign anything. Alistair plans on standing vigil while Dame Constance passes, and to play a song of solace for her. Dame Agatha says that she can prepare another magic circle, somewhat farther away, to enable this. * * * At 7 in the evening, a page slips in to inform Dame Brionna of a messenger. “Who from?” “I believe the Temple of Paranswarm. They are dressed entirely in black except for a white sash.” Dame Brionna recognizes that as a sign of Paranswarmian mourning, and asks that he be shown in. The messenger is a high-ranking cleric in the hierarchy of Paranswarm, clearly exhausted at the end of a very long day but still attending to vital matters. “I have come from the chambers of the Council to inform you as a great ally of the Ecumenical Council that the Archbaroness of Mandrath, Protector of the Faith and until recently acting Regent of the Archduchy of Ergmoth, has passed. I can only share the details with your liege.” Dame Brionna immediately goes to inform Alistair and Kit. Dame Brionna is uncertain about the Archbaroness's exact status, so Alistair explains: "She succeeded the Grand Duchess Sharra as Protector of the Faith and acted as regent for Sharra's child. I don't know why she's no longer regent--the heir may have come of age, I don't know." Alistair then says to Dame Brionna, "Have him await me in one of the audience chambers. Inquire of the Empress whether she wishes to to join us." He then changes into black silk appropriate mourning clothes by Canberran standards and then slashes the clothes with a knife as a sign of additional respect. As he gets ready, Kit asks, "Should I be in my usual place, invisible offstage, or be there with like a black sash across my uniform?" "Present and visible, I think. That seems best." The Empress joins Alistair in an antechamber, also in hastily donned muorning garb that her lady-in-waiting has carefully slashed as well. They enter, and the messenger does a grand incline. “Your Imperial Majesties, I bear grave tidings from Khamista and from the First Mouth. The Archbaroness of Mandrath has passed, during the ceremony that was investing her formally as Regent for the Archduchy of Ergmoth until the heir to Archduchy comes of age. That is not the worst news. There was an assault during the ceremony. The heir has been kidnapped, and her grandchild was slain during the ceremony. Investigations continue as to how they gained entrance to the royal chapel. She did not die during the assault, but it appears her heart gave out after she received word of her grandson's fate. The First Mouth has declared 13 days of mourning. The Archbaroness’s daughter—the mother of the slain grandchild—has taken the position of acting Archbaroness. It is not clear what will happen to the Archduchy of Ergmoth or to the protection of the Holy See within it. As a ranking member of the Ecumenical Council and Protector of the Light, the First Mouth wished that we inform you immediately and directly." "We appreciate this, and we shed our tears with those of the Weeping Woman for the losses that you have endured." "We believe the boy is still alive. However, we have not had any success at divining his location." "If I may, have you applied substantial psionic resources to that?" "Yes, the Society continues to work on the task as we speak." "Are there at least Grand Master level Farsensors participating?" "Yes. Only one, but there is one. They are able to trace the boy from the scene to the sea, which indicates a teleportation of some type after he left the palace. The time has not yet been since efficient for them to have reached the sea by horse or even by voller, at least unless the had an elven ship, and we do not believe that any of the elves are involved in this. They have not yet been able to trace where he went beyond the sea." "I do not wish to overstep; but if it would be desirable for us, on behalf of the Ecumenical Council, to request the assistance of a Paragon Farsensor from either of the great elven houses, we would be willing to do so on behalf of the First Mouth." "I feel empowered to accept any offers of help you can make. If he is lost and killed, or worse yet at his age, lost and corrupted... Ergmoth is the stabilizing influence in the entire central region of Khamista." "We have of late encountered evidence that suggests that Ergmoth and Canberry have been deliberately stabilized by the Brothers. Has your Ultimate Lord been informed directly of this? Not simply in the way that ordinary prayers would, but by being addressed by an appropriate member of your hierarchy?" "The First Mouth has done so." "Because I believe that that there is a possibility that there would be a response on a theological level, rather than merely a clerical level." "We can but hope. With your permission, Your Majesty, I wish to speak freely of something that is probably already evident to you given your experience in politics." "Please." "The First Mouth's declaration of the maximum possible period of mourning will keep everything quiet for 13 days-- now 12 and a half. He cannot renew it. When that expires, all hell will break loose. That means Ergmoth needs the young Grand Duke to make a formal appearance and show strength." "Does the Grand Duke have any siblings?" "Sharra followed the methods of her husband's people, and slew all but the oldest and strongest of the litter. They did not have to time to make younger siblings from other litters--that would have been permitted--but the old Grand Duke died before that could happen. He was old to take such a young bride." "And then that means that there are also no younger siblings, or nephews or nieces, of her late husband." "Correct." "And I assume that he either had no prior children, or that they met with misfortunes ." "He had never... he was... forgive me, I wonder if it is my place..." "You have been given permission to speak freely." "The Grand Duke was were and not controlled. Only Sharra ever managed to bring him to heel. Prior to that, his interests and his lusts did not include the having of children." "Understood. I know that it is a lesser importance but nonetheless, with regards to the Archbarony of Mandrath, you said that there's a daughter who can succeed, at least for the time being. Does she have other children?" "She does not. It may be necessary for someone appropriately placed to convince her husband--I tell you, as a member of the clergy, I do not like to speak of these things... He needs to step aside. We are told by our allies among the Gunnorans that he has become incapable over the years of their marriage." "I will have a conversation with them," replies Alistair. "I promise you that I will tell him, in no uncertain terms, that his choices are to find an acceptable to the temple means to restore his fecundity, of which there may be some and I can propose some possibilities. Or he needs to agree to turn a blind eye to other means of ensuring that there is a proper heir, or he needs to accept that the Archbaroness will dismiss him. If none of these options are acceptable, than we will see to it that he dies." Through the mind link, Kit says <<We will what now?>> Alistair doesn't meet her glance, but continues staring at the priest. He glances over at the Empress, who is entirely placidly and assuredly listening to Alistair's declaration. The priest seems to also understand, but to find this very difficult to consider. "As I said, I will have this conversation with him personally, when presumably I will travel out for the late Archbaroness's funeral. Any resources that we can offer to secure the child are of course yours for the asking." "You have already offered us better Farsensors than the Society has, although I ask that you never say to a senior member of the Society that I have said that." "I must be clear. I can only ask. We have no Paragon Farsensors ourselves. But there are elves of, let's say, at least two senior extractions that we have sufficiently close relationships with that we could inquire." "Thank you, Your Majesty. If it is acceptable, I would, in fact, seek to pursue this with both of them." "Is there any history of ill blood between the gnomes of the Larmenon Hills and Ergmoth? Do not mind why I ask. Anything at all?" "Ergmoth has never been very expansionistic once it's solidified its borders, so no." "Then there may be another option as well, but we will take that under our own advisory." "Thank you, Your Majesty. The Temple thanks you." "I assume that no new Protector has been announced. Is there any plausible candidate?" Historically, yes. Now... we do not wish to turn to either of the two principal Drucien domains that are part of the Temple, for obvious reason. Emperor Jaziel of Tarsh is so young, but we may have no choice. You're doing very well as Protector of the Light and you're more or less his age. But he's only 19, and he went out in sowed his oats with his best friend from his mid-teens until the death of his father." "I'm familiar with such things," says Alistair with a smile, realizing the priest doesn't know his own history. "Perhaps he's a better choice than stodgy clerical types might have been thinking." "The difference between Tarsh and Canberry is that I can command the unquestioned loyalty of all my vassals, except one who I can command the reliable loyalty of. That is not the case for the Emperor, and he must be in a position to focus on his domestic concerns and not on the concerns of the Temple abroad." "That leaves us in a position where it is difficult to imagine who we call. We will not call, cannot call the Empress of Masque. The insanity of Masque is well known. The One of the threes would serve willingly, but even the Ones have a tendency toward consensus that cripples them in crisis. The archbaroness's daughter does not wish to find herself even in the position she's already in. In fact, we know for a fact that she intended to bypass herself once her son reached majority. So it gets thin on the ground. We will have to find someone, but if we appoint someone from one of the lesser nations, they won't have the military strength to back themselves. That's the beauty of your declaration as Protector of the Light. You have tremendous strength you can bring to bear. Even the Archbaroness. It's as if someone were picking off our best people." Dame Brionna interjects, "No, it it is not 'as if' that. That is exactly what is happening." She's pretty sure this priest is quite innocent--he managed to look shocked by that, and she thinks he meant what he said. <<Bless his poor dark little heart,>> she thinks over the mind link. "Walk me through this," says Alistair. "The Paranswarmian powers on on Zest'qua are all at best second-rate powers." "Correct. And some of them arguably third-rate, with Caldefor barely able to hold the land it has retaken from the Shadow." "I believe that leaves only a few possibilities. The Queen-Empress Anastasia is possible, but the state in Hanal cuts in two directions. On the one hand, she is a capable leader and she's currently working hand-in-glove with the Temple to control Hanal, which is the greatest, or at least the most present, threat faced by the Temple of Paranswarm currently. On the other, to be blunt, she controls one hierkovate and perhaps two kovates currently, as I'm sure you are aware. Her court ruling over Hanal is in exile." "Yes, and the fact that the entirety of her forces as well as the Inquisition troops are there fighting will be one of our greatest concerns when the thirteen days have elapsed. Ecsilias strikes us as too weak, but it is loyal." "You may have to elevate him temporarily with the expectation of displacing him with Anastasia when she has gained control over enough of Hanal." "If Ecsilias were elevated, there would have to be a narrative created about the Archbarony as a rising power." "There is uncontrolled territory near and around Ecsilias, and I can assure you that there would not be concerns raised if Ecsilias were to expand into some of those territories, provided, of course, that they recognized the traditional neutrality and independence of Enclaves. The City of Enclaves, of course, would be beyond their grasp anyway. It is not nothing, but it is not a fully convincing narrative." "Yes, even mooting about a story that might fool commons as Ecsilias as the rising Paranswarmian power on Drucien would have value. It would not pull the sophisticated, but it is the people we are concerned about, not the nobility." "If Ecsilias is selected, I would suggest that sometime before that is publicly announced, the Archbaron should claim a loftier title, which then we can have a coordinated acknowledgement of by various other nearby realms that suggests that no one could possibly be the offended by this because it's simply recognizing the reality that Ecsilias has become a grand duchy or some such as it has expanded its borders. This will fool no one serious, and it's possible that this will cause difficulties with places like Korflock or the areas around the Inland Sea. But especially in Khamista, it might create the appearance that Ecsilias is a rising power. If we knew we needed this, we should have done this two years ago, but nothing can be done about that now." "I will report this to the Council and to the First Mouth as your recommendation. We are a bit at sea; we have relied on the Grand Duchess's advice, and then the Archbaroness's for years. Suddenly being without them..." "I could also imagine that you might install the Queen-Empress Anastasia, and that she would then appoint the Archbaron to some title like Viceroy of the Darkness--you understand what I mean-- authorized to act on on her behalf while she attends to matters in Hanal. I don't know which of those would display more strength." "If she were appointed, it might give some pause to commons, and to all who are still bowing their necks to... the usurper who... is not her sister?" "That would be an advantage, yes. You find that difficult to think here, because you're closer to the locus of the magical curse. You are used to thinking about that from Khamista. It's harder here." "Much slips away." "It does. Those effects are much stronger in Hanal itself, except near where the Lady Aufaulgautharim broke those permanently." "That would perhaps be the better route. I will report it to the Council and the First Mouth as soon as I can." "Is it your traditions that the funeral will be within the mourning period, or will it be after the mourning period?" "The last day." "Very well. And it will be in in Mandrath, I assume." "Yes, her family have ruled Mandrath for a very long time. She will be buried with her forbears." "We will attend. We will consult with Her Majesty the Empress as to whether both of us will attend, or whether as I think is more likely, she will remain here to exercise imperial authority while we are abroad." "Thank you, Your Majesty." "We will, of course, bring a substantial guard." * * * They reach out to Princess Curinirim. A human psion reaches out to make a connection, and then the connection is entirely taken over from the other end. An entire chamber appears around them. It seems to be made out of cut crystal with a pool in the middle, with music rising out of the pool. The Princess Curinirim is seated with a small group of other people, a couple of Twilight Elves and a couple of others. She turns to regard them, and the music fades. "Your August Highness, I hope you will forgive the intrusion." "Your Majesty, what can I assist you with?" "As you may have heard, the heir of the Grand Duchess of Ergmoth has recently been kidnapped, and were he not returned promptly, it could create exceeding difficulties for the stability of Ergmoth, and through Ergmoth, all of Khamista. The Temple of Paranswarm has applied their best Farsensors, who are of the highest quality of human psionics, to attempt to locate him, and they have been able to trace him to the sea but not to identify his location or where he was teleported to, or what's happening to him. We thought that in the interest of acting in harmony with the Ecumenical Council, maintaining stability, and given that this is almost surely a stratagem of the great enemies, that we would see if the Temple of Morgroth and its people might be able to offer rather more capable Farsensing capabilities." "You're kind to think of it. I am certain that we can assist in locating him--at least, if he's alive." "Our suspicion is that he still lives, and that they wish to corrupt him; and thus we hope that if we can retrieve him quickly enough that we can ensure that nothing untoward happens that they will fail." "You have an image of him?" "We can, of course, obtain one The easiest way would be through the great tower of the Society of the Hands of Hell. We can arrange for them to contact, perhaps, your duty Farsensor?" "Yes, I will not speak to them directly, but if they give him an image, he can pass it to me." "And due to the nature of this crisis, we will, of course, also be reaching out to other members of the Ecumenical Council about which the less said, the better." "Yes, I understand the necessity. Have them reach out to me with an image, and I will pursue this expeditiously." "It would be greatly advantageous from a political perspective, if he could be recovered within the next 12 days. From a perspective of preserving him from corruption, I do not know whether we have even less time or we have substantially more." "That depends in part upon how susceptible he is. The shorter, the better." "Our thanks, Highness." "Thank you, Your Majesty. I await the image." "It will be with you shortly." * * * They then, of course, go to talk with Lord Silverleaves, the Grandmaster Farsensor. He's still in skin, recovering, so they go to him. "Visitors! Welcome!" "Good to see you, Grandmaster. How are you feeling?" "Better than I was, worse than I hope to be." "That's about right. It will not be long before this is simply another story of the excitement that happens when you spend time among the young people." "There's a heaviness about you." "There is. The heir of the Grand Duchess of Ergmoth has been kidnapped. This would greatly destabilize Khamista, and it's surely a stratagem of the great enemy." "Indeed, I wonder... Perhaps Paranswarm is the weaker branch on the vine, and they're pursuing its destruction directly." "Also they have shown an affinity for striking at deities that have some pale, weaker version of their evil about them, and in that regard Paranswarm would be a more likely subsequent target than, for example, Glordiadel." "Reasonable, reasonable." "The Grand Duchess's son is still a child, although I believe that he was approaching majority. He was kidnapped from Ergmoth. Apparently they managed to breach the Royal Chapel itself." "Let's see. Oh, is there any way you can prop me up," he says to the young psion who's trickling energy into him. "Under the circumstances, I do not think that it is wise that you attempt to investigate this yourself. We believe that they have applied Farsensors of the Grand Master level of capability, albeit merely human Grand Master. I do not mean to suggest that they are as skilled or perceptive as you are, but we wondered if it might be possible to ask if one of the Paragons in the Steading of the Elven Lords or some such place might be willing to assist." "I can ask." "I must inform you that there's already been a request made through the Ecumenical Council to another group that could supply a Paragon level Farsensor, and we understand that they have agreed. But I think we can all agree that it would be better, by far, for assistance to be rendered by your people." "I will speak to the Speaker of the Starcouncil in the Steading of the Elvish Lords and see. The difficulty there is going to be that time does not pass the same within the peace of that wood as it does within Singing Leaves, and regrettably, there can be a certain failure to understand urgency. Let me speak to them, and if I become rather vague for only an hour, it could have been much worse." While the ice still forms around him, it forms about an inch from him. "That is very nice," comments Kit. "Oh, I'll teach you how to do that." "It's probably very helpful." He suddenly shakes his head, and all the ice crystals fall to the floor. "I've convinced him that it it's urgent. He's going to speak to the Paragon Farsensors. They have a circle of 5 of them over there, if any of them can be convinced to act quickly, it would be a marvelous thing. We will see. I am almost inclined to contact my cousins, but I know better. They are rather better at focusing on things than we are." "I think that that they should be left to their tasks." "I assure you, Your Majesty, I will get word to you as soon as I get word. I've learned something about the importance of time being here." "Indeed, and we greatly appreciate it." They then make some small talk and so forth, both to avoid being rude and because the Grandmaster is clearly very bored. [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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