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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lylandra" data-source="post: 9820999" data-attributes="member: 6816692">Session 67Familial affairsAuryn laughs heartily at Gabriel's „command“, cutting through clouds of dread like warm sunlight. She throws her arms around him, and he holds her tightly, grounding her back in life, back in reality. The next morning finds both Auryn and Gabriel unusually well rested. Auryn, however, is in no hurry to go back to business as usual. With a small, unapologetic smile, she declares that breakfast should be taken in bed, as this should be usually one of the privileges of the King of Risur.(Even though she's fully aware that the former King used his privileges to have Breakfast all alone with Harkover Lee as his sole companion. Still... privileges.)Being truly relaxed for the first time in what feels like an eternity, they surprise one of the young manservants who hadn't really expected the King to be staying in bed that long.(Yeah, Gabriel still has that Ring of Sustenance, so he usually sleeps very little and eats only when he wants to. Handy, but not that good of a habit to stay in touch with reality though.)„I'm sorry, you majesty. I didn't meant to sneak up this way... I had expected you were... I didn't see anything...“ he mutters as he withdraws slowly.„Thought I was already up? Seems like the Dawn Knight and I needed a good rest after all. No need to apologize. Come in. We don't harbor any secrets.“, Gabriel states in an obviously good mood, before asking for aforementioned breakfast.Between quiet laughter and shared cups, Auryn leans close and presses a spontaneous kiss to Gabriel’s lips, clearly pleased with herself.“So,” she murmurs, “it seems I’m doing a rather good job filling that ‘inner emptiness’ of yours.”Gabriel cannot argue the point. In the same unguarded mood, Auryn adds that, as he had already begun to be more honest with the palace's servants, she would like their relationship to be more openly acknowledged. She tells him that she no longer wishes their bond to remain half-hidden, framed only by whispers and assumptions. If they are walking toward the end of the world together, then she wants that truth to be visible. And that this would include his “family”- specifically Lord Vantrys. Gabriel agrees, though he admits that Nathaniel deserves to hear the truth about the attempt on his family’s lives first.Before parting, we briefly turn to unfinished matters. The blue orb, an item they found to be part of Eddie's and Vantrys' ritual, has been confirmed to contain a dragon tyrant and thus capable of being used to locate and possibly dominate other dragons. So we deem it far too dangerous to leave unattended. We agree to keep the artifacts in our own pockets for now - better under our watch than in the hands of anyone tempted by power. (I think I missed to mention this object in the previous recap. Yep, we did find a blue orb of dragonkind which was used to control Alara. Though we don't know what kind of freak made an object like this in the first place...)Auryn also announces her intention to speak with Ottavia again, as she states that it was not particularly wise to ask the King of a foreign country to interfere in domestic politics. Also, being ignored by people she had personally helped previously had offended her somewhat. And though she more than shares Gabriel’s bitterness toward the Clergy, there is also a part of her that considers “passive retaliation” to be the wrong path towards the future. And – should the reports of the Crisillyiri killing Gods and thus their believers are true – this is clearly nothing that Triegenes would have wanted.“If Triegenes truly cared for his people,” she says quietly, “then I doubt he would want them to burn themselves to prove a point. Also, if there is even a chance of a political solution, or a future leadership willing to negotiate, it should not be dismissed outright." Gabriel listens, thoughtful, and does not disagree. Rather, he leaves it up to Auryn to find a solution that all can agree on. After all, she's not only the Dawn Knight, but also the bearer of the Humble Hook and thus more or less connected to the spirit of Triegenes. Gabriel teleports directly to Flint, arriving at the Vantrys estate beneath a dimly lit, but peaceful morning sky. He mentally prepares himself to bring the news to the young Lord, only to find Nathaniel pale, distracted, and deeply concerned. Cecilia, it turns out, has been unwell for several days, particularly in the mornings. A doctor has been summoned, and Nathaniel paces the hall like a man facing judgment. Hearing this, Gabriel strokes his beard, thinking for a quick moment, before asking something rather odd: “May I take a look at the Lady's morning gown?”Nathaniel, of course, does no object, though he now looks more confused than before. Pretending to observe the garment, Gabriel takes on the faint scent of Lady Cecilia Vantrys, then smiles mischievously. Attempting to lighten the mood, Gabriel remarks that such symptoms could indicate a “growing parasite.” The color drains from Nathaniel’s face just as the doctor emerges with his findings. “There is really nothing wrong with our patient.”, the doctor proclaims “But may I offer my congratulations, Lord Vantrys. The Lady is expecting a child.”The revelation hits with such force that the young lord faints outright. When Lord Vantrys regains consciousness, Gabriel congratulates him and expresses his joy that the Vantrys line will now continue after all. Relief, disbelief, and joy fill Nathaniel’s features, leaving him momentarily speechless. Recognizing that this is not the moment to burden him with tales of Eddie, missing Deva, or divine fragments, Gabriel keeps his report brief: The threat to the Vantrys family has been neutralized. Those responsible have been found and brought to justice.However, he realizes that this is not the right time to tell him the full story about Eddie, so he simply tells him that he has been able to track down those responsible for the assassination attempt and that the family is no longer in danger. For now, that truth is enough.As Gabriel prepares to return to Slate, he allows himself a rare moment of quiet satisfaction. Amid looming catastrophes and broken gods, life, at least, continuesAuryn seeks Ottavia and Morgan Cippiano out later that morning, choosing a quiet antechamber far from the bustle of Slate’s court. The Crisillyirian emissary looks weary - pressed by fear, urgency, and the weight of a nation coming apart - but she straightens when Auryn enters, sensing that this conversation will matter.Auryn does not waste time on pleasantries, as she offers a mental link to „talk“ without the need of sign translation.“It was a mistake,” she says calmly, “to officially request the aid of the King of Risur. Especially as Crisillyir and Risur have not been on good diplomatic grounds lately, to put it lightly. And also considering the King's past.”Ottavia stiffens, but Auryn raises a hand before offense can take root.“That does not mean help will be refused. Only that it must come from the right, proper place.” Her gaze is steady. “You should direct your request to the Dawn Knight instead. I am sure that words of her mission have reached the northern shores? I am sworn to the restoration of this world. And at present, Crisillyir’s path leads toward self-destruction and darkness. That alone gives me cause to act.” Ottavia exhales slowly, listening.“And,” Auryn continues, “if the world is to be saved, it will require more than kings and soldiers. Crisillyir’s scholars -those capable of thought beyond dogma -could be of great value.”But first, she wants to lay all her cards on the table: She agrees with Gabriel’s long-held view: Crisillyir’s leadership has historically been corrupt, selfish, or consumed by fanatical hatred of the foreign and the unfamiliar, and there is little evidence that this has fundamentally changed. A Crisillyir with a future, she says, must abandon that path. Then she speaks of Srasama and the event that went down as “Our Victory” in the history books. She explains that the Fall was not due to the Goddess’s fateful intervention, but rather the result of a mad Archhierarch forcing the priestess Dala to become a vessel for the Goddess. That the catastrophe which still haunts Eladrin memory was not a divine being overcome by mortal might, but a deliberate, planned act of cruelty. “It was genocide,” Auryn names it as softly as a parent teaching their stubborn children.Five centuries have passed, she says, and she has seen no sign that Crisillyir has truly reckoned with that crime. Quite the contrary. “To ensure this never happens again,” Auryn concludes, “our aid comes with conditions.”The truth must be taught all over Crisillyir. Xenophobia and the celebration of genocide as "Victory"must end. Crisillyir must formally acknowledge and apologize for the murder of Srasama. And it must enter a genuine peace pact with Elfaivar and Risur.“Elfaivar does not seek revenge,” she adds. “Only a future where its people no longer live in fear.”Ottavia "listens" in silence. Morgan Cippiano, standing nearby, nods slowly. Neither offers promises that they cannot give, but both clearly understand that this is not a negotiation that can be avoided.(This was such a great comeback and the perfect opportunity to get Crisillyir on the right track from our point of view. They were basically with their backs to the wall. The Obs obviously don't care, or they would have already intervened, with no word from Nicodemus, or possibly Luc.Also yeah... it was pretty wise from Gabriel to have the Dawn Knight be tasked with a mission that requires international action. We both thought it would be strange that, after all the animosities, some Crisillyiri would come to the official head of state of what would have been an enemy under Cardinal Tito's leadership of all people. To the majority of the population, this might just seem like a foreign power meddling in their internal affairs and thus a pretty hot potato to handle. With the Dawn Knight, things might just look different) Before discussion can turn to specifics, King Gabriel rejoins them, and the conversation shifts toward Crisillyir’s domesti affairs. Ottavia explains that secular governance lies with the Arch-Secula, Natalia Degaspare, who has gone into hiding within the Jenevah Grand Librarium, fearing for her life. Spiritual matters, on the other hand, are the responsibility of the Archhierarch, whose office is now held by Vitus Sigismund. The title of Archhierarch, Ottavia explains, should normally be decided by the collective high priests of the major deities. But Cardinal Tito Banderosso's catatonia, and the widespreas suicide of the other priests has left a vacuum Sigismund has filled by default. The Secula, they agree, may be the most promising starting point. But the larger question remains: how can Crisillyir be governed without repeating the sins of its past? Cippiano suggests the Familia, who is quiet, influential, and capable of pulling strings when necessary. Gabriel frowns at that, wary of replacing one shadowed authority with another, despite the reliability of Cippiano's own people in Risur. Auryn offers a different perspective.“The people deserve the freedom to make their own choices without fear and repression,” she says. “Even if that choice is imperfect.”Yet she acknowledges the danger, as the same common people have often followed the Clergy’s promises of salvation without question and can be easily swayed by demagogues.Finally, we discuss the Obscurati and Luc Jierre, whose whereabouts still weigh heavily on Ottavia. Gabriel suggests, not unkindly, that Luc may have always been vulnerable to such influence.“Especially if you consider the rest of the Jierre family,” he adds quietly.Ottavia explains that the last time she heard from Luc, he was in Trekholm, and we pass this information on to Amielle for further investigation. Before we pack our things, Auryn asks for an update on Vantrys, and is very pleased with the good news. We agree that the current situation in Crisillyir, as terrible as it seems for its inhabitants, may be exactly a once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity to push the heavy ship in a new direction.</blockquote>

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