The heroes had been in Kalaman for a few days before the King had time to see them. Which gave them plenty of time to wash and otherwise prepare. As well as catch up on whatever other errands they had to run.

Lunitari was waning and just a night before it reached last quarter. While Solinari was on its last of three nights as a full moon. The last of three days of celebration commemorating the return of the gods two years ago.

But as many had projected, it had been a more subdued affair in the Broken City, the latest nickname of the Pearl of the East. Still, a welcome break from the monotony of rebuilding.

A quarter of the sacked city had been rebuilt since the war. Another quarter had been cleared. But most of it was still in ruins. They had started by rebuilding those areas that would help rebuild the city faster, such as the docks and workshops.

D'aden, Olven, and Roisin had had an audience with His Majesty Eisen III, by the Grace of Paladine, King of Eastlund, Patriarch of Dragonword, Defender of the Covenant, Custodian of The Grove, Keeper of the Lost Tomb, and Lord Clerist of the Knights of the Sword just a few days ago. Hadn't it been longer than that? Alvin was with them this time.

They had passed paintings of dead royal ancestors and others, tapestries, empty sets of decorative armor, and other such palatial decorations on their way to the library. Apparently, the King liked meeting them there.

The walls in the library were covered by bookshelves filled with books from floor to ceiling, as was much of the space between the walls. They had traveled the serpentine path between the bookshelves, assaulted by the scent of books from every direction.

There had been two knights stationed at the door to the library and in its heart, four knights surrounded the royal couple. As last time, the King was not alone. Next to him sat the most beautiful woman in all of Solamnia. His wife, the Queen.

“Your Majesty,” the knight said, addressing the king, and bowed. “Your Majesty’s guests are here.” He then stepped aside so that the heroes stood before the royals.

[OOC: It's been a few days. If there's anything you want to do during those days, let me know. Depending on what it is we might do it in OOC or start a secret thread.

You may also want to check the Quest thread for any other unfinished quests.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:51, Thu 23 Aug 2018.

Roisin walked towards the King as the guards directed, she curtsied in front of the King and Queen as befitted their station. "Your Majesties" she stated smiling "I'm sure that you've heard by now, our task was met with a fair degree of success."

"Excellent, excellent," the King said. "How well did it go?"

Roisin pondered the question "Well enough, your treasury should be pleased. We encountered more than a few....problems. Some of which that have been resolved, some of which have yet to be resolved and some of which may never be resolved. There is one dragon highlord less running around in this world and a substantial number less draconians. I have some questions for you, Your Majesty if you permit?" Roisin waited for assent before continuing "What are your plans for the lyceum? The structure remains mostly intact...I had given thought to attempt to reopen the lyceum as a place for magical learning. I was wondering what it might take for the structure to be granted to me or to the Towers in order for this request to be granted? Furthermore, we encountered a magical construct. Utrecht by name. A strong and powerful guardian that might do well in protecting the lyceum....if your Majesty permits....and perhaps one final question. Is your majesty aware of a magical item called the Icon of Truth?"

D'aden stood back, appearing somewhat awed at the proceedings. When Roisin curtsied, he bowed stiffly, proving by his manner that he had seldom bowed before. He allowed Roisin to speak, having been sent on the mission as much because he needed some travel as for anything he might contribute.

The King allowed Roisin to ask her questions.

"I have no plans for the Lyceum. Though abandoned, and apparently ripe for the taking, it belongs to the Order and it is not located within the borders of my kingdom. So you should ask them about their plans and permissions to do such a thing."

"When I gave you this assignment, I told you that you could keep what you wanted. That includes magical constructs."

"I am indeed aware of it. And how did you know to ask that question?"

"The Lyceum hosts some entities of power. The dragon highlord we...dealt with. The others name is Jason. As I am understanding it, the Icon was borrowed against need and lent freely to assist in the fight against the dragon armies. At this juncture, its owner is seeking its return, Your Majesty."

"How fortuitous," the King said. "I was accompanied by Nathan Evardson to the Lyceum and when we parted ways, he had the Icon of Truth. Most days you will find him in Palanthus as he resides in the Tower of High Sorcery there."

"And as you are going there anyway. In the village of Plains View, located on the edge of the Vingaard Mountains, Baron Tinten Goldspear has agreed to come to the aid of Kalaman. He has not sent any such aid at this time. And it would be good if someone convinced him that it was time to do so."

[OOC: The Vingaard Mountains is the western border of Eastlund. West of the mountains is the province of Palanthus. But while the shortest route could be as little as 50 miles, as the crow flies, it would be a journey through mountains and wastes. The longer, safer journey on roads and through the pass guarded by the High Clerist Tower, would be at least 200 miles.]

Roisin nodded her head in agreement "Yes, your majesty. This is something we can do. I...don't wish to misrepresent your Majesties wishes. So...how urgent is the Barons assistance required? How forceful must we be in representing your Majesties desire that the Baron uphold his responsibilities to the crown? May we have some form of token of your authority?"

"Funny that you should ask," the King said. "For you to do this job, you have to be nobility. And there happens to be a barony about a day's ride west of here that has been fallow since the war. The Lord Plains View will only accept my proxy if it is the Baron himself."

"So, I have one title and two people I can bestow it on." The King looked at D'aden and Olven. "Which one shall it be?"



[OOC: Your other questions haven't been forgotten. We'll get to those too.]

D'aden looks at Olven, then says to the king, "your majesty, I would be a terrible baron. I'm notoriously bad at staying in one place, and have had such little use for holding my tongue that I've little practice at it. I would much rather play a tune than hear the finest minstrels in the land serenade me with it. My favorite food involves gathering and preparing as much as it does flavor, and I truly enjoy the feel of green leather softening over the stretcher."
Indicating Olven, D'aden continues, "But, perhaps more importantly, if either of us could hold a barony it would likely be Olven. He's one of the finest fighters I've seen, and, as I said, I've traveled quite a bit. If you've a barony to bestow, don't waste it on me. Olven's your man, sire."

Roisin smiled at D'aden's comment "Both of these men would be good choices your Majesty. Both are honest and hard working and in the time we have worked together, we have accomplished much good. I think D'aden may be too hard on himself, he might inspire many.... but Olven might be the wisest choice and a more solid and dependable man might be hard to find." her nose twitched in amusement as she glanced at D'aden "And the court might not be patient with D'adens ribald offkey monotonous singing." she smirked.

D'aden throws Roisin a shocked look, murmurs audibly, "certainly not ribald."

Roisin frowned "Not ribald? You might be right... Bawdy? Licentious> Crude?"

Still mumbling, and blushing slightly, D'aden replies "madam, you wound me. Have I so badly underestimated my own subtlety."

"Excellent," the King said. "We'll make it official in a couple of days. It will, of course, come with funds to put things in order. And about a month to get things going. After which you can go on your next assignment."

"Be as forceful with the Baron as you need to be, but not more than you have to be. He could withdraw his pledge and that would be problematic. You will also be provided a token of being on my errand."

Roisin nodded "D'aden's lack of subtlety aside, your Majesty. I'm sure we can persuade the baron to provide the forces he has set aside for you without the need for strong emphasis." she smiled to let the King and Queen know she was teasing D'aden.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 22:26, Wed 05 Sept 2018.

"Excellent," the King said. "Is there anything else we need to discuss?"


[OOC: This is more about money and resources than it is about forces and that is what the King is reacting too.]

Roisin nodded "Your Majesty, We're aware of what we might say in terms of incentivising the baron. Are there any things you may be able to offer as inducements to bring his forces to your side"

OOC:I wasn't sure whether or not you were talking about personal incentives or ones we might bring to bear on the baron.

"There is not," the King said. "Either he keeps his word or he does not. Being slow to do so is not a trait to be rewarded."

Roisin nodded, curtseying before the royals "Yes, your majesty, your wishes and what you require of us are known."

"Good," the King said. "A token of your authority will be prepared so that you have it when you depart in a month. You can leave."

D'aden performs a well-intentioned, but incorrigibly bad, obeisance and begins to back out for a step or two before noting Roisin's manner and attempting to copy it.

Much had occupied Olven Wolf's thoughts as he had waited for his companions to return to Kalaman City, for the mercenary had been changed by his experiences and was not the man he had been even a week before. The secret horror of what he had become troubled him constantly. He could not shake the memory of waking, alone and naked, far from his companions and not remembering how he arrived there. But the blood - oh how he remembered the blood. As much as he tried to stop his ears, to wipe the memories from his brain, the blood still called to him, its voice sweeter than any woman's, its scent like honey.

Wolf had been much relieved when D'aden and Roisin had found him, and he had forced a smile and accompanied them to the King's presence. When Roisin curtsied and D'aden bowed, Olven had knelt on one knee and bowed toward the king. Rising, he had listened to the king's wishes, and ever one to follow contractural instructions, he had nodded along until the issue of the barony had come up. At first, he had been flabbergasted. Olven, a baron? Now? With his current condition? Olven fears that if the truth were known about him, he would be slain on the spot, and the king is gracious enough to offer Olven a barony?

"Your majesty, your gift is too great for a mere mercenary like me," he had said, darting a glance at his three companions. "D'aden downplays his temperament too much. He is caring and bold, and never once did he abandon our quest in the Lyceum. Or could not Roisin be made a Baroness instead? She is highly intelligent and capable. I am a rough sort of man, sire, fit more to be a baron's guard captain than to occupy a fiefdom."

He looks helplessly at the others, and finding no succor there, turns back to the king. "Your majesty, I am of course remain at your command, and if you see fit to raise me as a Baron, I will submit to your too-great gift." He bows deeply. "We shall see to it that Baron Tintin Goldspear's aid is sent to Kalaman."

OOC: Olven will accept the king's decree and make preparations with the others to travel to Plains View.