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<blockquote data-quote="drnuncheon" data-source="post: 480702" data-attributes="member: 96">Session Twelve, Part Three: ConferenceA carriage bearing the arms of Marcus Roberts pulled up in front of the Sea Lord's palace.&nbsp; None of the councillors were taking any chances after the death of Lady Elise, and many had brought guards - as Roberts had.That's a strange pair of arrowcatchers, thought the sergeant of the Sea Lord's Guard, as they emerged from the carriage.&nbsp; An elf and a human.&nbsp; They look like they've been in a fight.&nbsp; And why were they riding in the...wait - those are the fugitives! His thoughts heeled over like a galleon in a storm as he saw the next person to emerge.&nbsp; Guildmaster Roth? But why is he tied... &quot;C-captain Roberts?&quot; he ventured, taking a more secure hold on his halberd.&quot;At ease, guardsman,&quot; the Captain replied.For some reason the sergeant was not reassured.&quot;These people are my guests, and I have invited them to speak at the Council meeting.&nbsp; Now, if you do not mind, we are running a bit late...&quot;&quot;O-of course, Captain.&quot;Dru and Di'Fier followed the Captain, marching Roth into the Council chambers.&nbsp; All the remaining councillors were there - with the notable exception of Arias Soderheim.&nbsp; The hackles on Dru's neck rose.&nbsp; I don't know what he's planning, she thought.&nbsp; But I have the feeling I'm not going to like it one bit.&quot;Captain Roberts!&quot; The objecting voice was from Dirwin Arnig, who was standing on his chair to be seen. &quot;I hope there is an explanation for, for this.&quot;&nbsp; His wave took in the fugitive Watchman, the bound Roth, the criminal elf.&quot;Of course, Dirwin,&quot; Roberts answered smoothly, taking his seat.&nbsp; &quot;I wouldn't have the Guildmaster of the Merchant's Guild tied up in the council chamber otherwise.&nbsp; There may be some members of the city government who enjoy such things, but neither I not the guildmaster are among them.&quot;&nbsp; He gave Dru a knowing wink that made her wonder exactly how much he knew about her rescue of Judge Ubu.Sister Gwendolyn rose, circling the Council table. &quot;Whatever they have to say, they need to be healed.&quot; As she began murmuring the words of her spell over Di'Fier, Dru stepped forward.&quot;It was very convenient for Captain Soderheim to have his accusations about Di'Fier and I, when it was he all along that has been working for the Claw.&quot;Buster Wallace exploded upward from his chair.&nbsp; &quot;You have no proof!&quot; he snapped. &quot;This is all some kind of conspiratorial trick to discredit Captain Soderheim - who isn't even present to acknowledge these accusations!&quot;Dru turned her gaze on Wallace - remembering that his support had shifted in the last Council vote.&nbsp; &quot;On the contrary,&quot; she said, as Sister Gwendolyn moved to tend to her.&nbsp; &quot;Guildmaster Roth?&quot;The man shuffled forward, his head bowed.&nbsp; &quot;I worked with the Dragon's Claw in their war against Tensin Naïlo,&quot; he began. &quot;For a long time, I thought that was the extent of it - providing their leader with the information I had about Naïlo's interests.&nbsp; I know he had several meetings with Soderheim, at the Guildhouse and at my home.&nbsp; Then I was made to finance their operations - store things for them.&quot;&quot;What sort of things?&quot; Di'Fier prompted.&quot;Weapons. Like the ones that killed Lady Elise.&quot;Wallace remained standing.&nbsp; &quot;This is preposterous,&quot; he spat.&nbsp; &quot;Look at him - they've probably beaten and threatened him to get him to make this testimony.&quot;A sudden anger shot through Roth's eyes as he looked up at Wallace. &quot;You know it's not true, Buster,&quot; he snarled.&nbsp; &quot;Tell them about the trade agreements that changed your vote.&quot;&quot;My legitimate business is no concern of the Council's!&nbsp; This entire meeting is a farce, and I refuse to participate!&quot; Wallace threw back his chair and marched to the door, the entire Council's eyes upon him.Captain Roberts' voice was soft.&nbsp; &quot;My friends - there are eight of us.&nbsp; We are a quorum, and if we all stand together, they cannot stop us.&nbsp; While there is no Sea Lord, we are vulnerable.&nbsp; I would like to open the floor for nominations.&quot;&nbsp; There was a long moment of silence.&nbsp; &quot;Come, there must be someone besides Soderheim.&quot;The sea-priestess resumed her seat, brushing her long green hair behind one ear.&nbsp; &quot;My duties to my god are sufficient that I would not find the position possible,&quot; she said. &quot;We need a strong leader, who is able to take charge of the city.&quot;Next to her, Captain Gordon nodded.&nbsp; &quot;My term is almost up, and I'm ready to get back to the sea.&nbsp; But we need a sea-captain,&quot; he added. &quot;Someone who understands the lifeblood of the city.&quot;Arnig frowned at Gordon's words, then reluctantly nodded.&nbsp; &quot;And someone with experience on the council,&quot; he added, with a glance at Marilise Maeorgan and Wallace's empty seat.Torian looked to his left.&nbsp; With each person to speak, Varellion looked more and more smug, and he leaned forward - to nominate himself, Hector knew.&nbsp; And the last thing we need is that overstuffed popinjay in office.&nbsp; Besides, he's Soderheim's man. &quot;I nominate Captain Roberts.&quot;&nbsp; The words were out of his mouth before he could think about them - colliding with Roberts' own &quot;Hector Torian.&quot;Varellion sat back, too embarrassed now to nominate himself as the rest of the Council nodded their approval.Sister Gwendolyn looked to the gnome. &quot;Councilman Arnig, as the senior member of the Council, would you collect the ballots?&quot;The gnome nodded.A moment later, the silence was broken.&nbsp; &quot;I hope you all wore your swords,&quot; said Dru.All eyes turned to her as she touched her ear.&nbsp; &quot;Someone is coming.&nbsp; A lot of someones.&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="drnuncheon, post: 480702, member: 96"] [b]Session Twelve, Part Three: Conference[/b] A carriage bearing the arms of Marcus Roberts pulled up in front of the Sea Lord's palace. None of the councillors were taking any chances after the death of Lady Elise, and many had brought guards - as Roberts had. [i]That's a strange pair of arrowcatchers,[/i] thought the sergeant of the Sea Lord's Guard, as they emerged from the carriage. [i]An elf and a human. They look like they've been in a fight. And why were they riding [/i]in[i] the...wait - those are the fugitives![/i] His thoughts heeled over like a galleon in a storm as he saw the next person to emerge. [i]Guildmaster Roth? But why is he tied...[/i] "C-captain Roberts?" he ventured, taking a more secure hold on his halberd. "At ease, guardsman," the Captain replied. For some reason the sergeant was not reassured. "These people are my guests, and I have invited them to speak at the Council meeting. Now, if you do not mind, we are running a bit late..." "O-of course, Captain." Dru and Di'Fier followed the Captain, marching Roth into the Council chambers. All the remaining councillors were there - with the notable exception of Arias Soderheim. The hackles on Dru's neck rose. [i]I don't know what he's planning,[/i] she thought. [i]But I have the feeling I'm not going to like it one bit.[/i] "Captain Roberts!" The objecting voice was from Dirwin Arnig, who was standing on his chair to be seen. "I hope there is an explanation for, for [i]this[/i]." His wave took in the fugitive Watchman, the bound Roth, the criminal elf. "Of course, Dirwin," Roberts answered smoothly, taking his seat. "I wouldn't have the Guildmaster of the Merchant's Guild tied up in the council chamber otherwise. There may be [i]some[/i] members of the city government who enjoy such things, but neither I not the guildmaster are among them." He gave Dru a knowing wink that made her wonder exactly how much he knew about her rescue of Judge Ubu. Sister Gwendolyn rose, circling the Council table. "Whatever they have to say, they need to be healed." As she began murmuring the words of her spell over Di'Fier, Dru stepped forward. "It was very convenient for Captain Soderheim to have his accusations about Di'Fier and I, when it was he all along that has been working for the Claw." Buster Wallace exploded upward from his chair. "You have no proof!" he snapped. "This is all some kind of conspiratorial trick to discredit Captain Soderheim - who isn't even present to acknowledge these accusations!" Dru turned her gaze on Wallace - remembering that his support had shifted in the last Council vote. "On the contrary," she said, as Sister Gwendolyn moved to tend to her. "Guildmaster Roth?" The man shuffled forward, his head bowed. "I worked with the Dragon's Claw in their war against Tensin Naïlo," he began. "For a long time, I thought that was the extent of it - providing their leader with the information I had about Naïlo's interests. I know he had several meetings with Soderheim, at the Guildhouse and at my home. Then I was made to finance their operations - store things for them." "What sort of things?" Di'Fier prompted. "Weapons. Like the ones that killed Lady Elise." Wallace remained standing. "This is preposterous," he spat. "Look at him - they've probably beaten and threatened him to get him to make this testimony." A sudden anger shot through Roth's eyes as he looked up at Wallace. "You know it's not true, Buster," he snarled. "Tell them about the trade agreements that changed your vote." "My [i]legitimate[/i] business is no concern of the Council's! This entire meeting is a farce, and I refuse to participate!" Wallace threw back his chair and marched to the door, the entire Council's eyes upon him. Captain Roberts' voice was soft. "My friends - there are eight of us. We are a quorum, and if we all stand together, they cannot stop us. While there is no Sea Lord, we are vulnerable. I would like to open the floor for nominations." There was a long moment of silence. "Come, there must be someone besides Soderheim." The sea-priestess resumed her seat, brushing her long green hair behind one ear. "My duties to my god are sufficient that I would not find the position possible," she said. "We need a strong leader, who is able to take charge of the city." Next to her, Captain Gordon nodded. "My term is almost up, and I'm ready to get back to the sea. But we need a sea-captain," he added. "Someone who understands the lifeblood of the city." Arnig frowned at Gordon's words, then reluctantly nodded. "And someone with experience on the council," he added, with a glance at Marilise Maeorgan and Wallace's empty seat. Torian looked to his left. With each person to speak, Varellion looked more and more smug, and he leaned forward - to nominate himself, Hector knew. [i]And the last thing we need is that overstuffed popinjay in office. Besides, he's Soderheim's man.[/i] "I nominate Captain Roberts." The words were out of his mouth before he could think about them - colliding with Roberts' own "Hector Torian." Varellion sat back, too embarrassed now to nominate himself as the rest of the Council nodded their approval. Sister Gwendolyn looked to the gnome. "Councilman Arnig, as the senior member of the Council, would you collect the ballots?" The gnome nodded. A moment later, the silence was broken. "I hope you all wore your swords," said Dru. All eyes turned to her as she touched her ear. "Someone is coming. A lot of someones." [/QUOTE]

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