"Please." a heavy voice said from the shadows.  Stefen, it seemed had been sitting in quiet repose watching over the Queen.   in the darkness, he might almost have been handsome.  Unless he turned to face you, and then the pock-marks and teh burn-scars were in solid bas-relief.

"Come in.  This place is as private as you'll find in this building.  From what Master Serule has said. we have much to discuss."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:15, Mon 03 Aug 2020.

"I cannot thank-you enough."  Jia began slowly, choosing her words carefully.   "Indigo tells me that something has been worked upon my boys at a fundamental level.  Something... that shouldn't be possible.   I would hear it from you directly.  What happened and what did you learn?"

She'd been crying.  The tracks of her tears were evident on her cheeks.  However, she made no move nor gesture to hide the fact.

It broke Etzagith's heart to see that Jia had been crying, even knowing that some of the tears are tears of relief and not of pain.  If the two were alone, he would be able to give her a hug.  Though maybe that would be presumptuous, now.  It's been a long time -- and she's a queen, now, not a princess.  "My La...  Highness, when first I saw them, they seemed ... drained ... maybe just exhausted.  They knew their names but did not seem to know that they were not where they belonged.  I'm sure Cara can say more about the magical effects, but my hope is that they just need a good rest and a little normalcy."

Etz pulled the vellum out of his large pouch.  "This is, I think, the evidence that will bury Duke Churthen once and for all.  I only had a chance to skim it quickly before, but it looks to me that he is guilty of conspiring with our enemies."  Etzagith points out the specific phrases he noticed earlier -- letter of Marque, disposition of prisoners, and suspension of tithe -- as well as Duke Churthen's signature.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:52, Tue 04 Aug 2020.

Cara had been among those who had disappeared in the hustle and bustle of getting everyone to the keep.  She had last been seen walking the wounded knife fighter and Hollis to the keep, trying to keep what refugees she could herded in with the main group.  Many of them had gotten away, they simply hadn't had enough men to keep them all together.  She had eventually been located near the healing temple grounds, and brought into the private audience chamber. She arrived last, and out of breath, having clearly run a great way to get there.

"If the goal was to find out what happened, Queen Jia, I'm afraid we did a piss poor job of it."

She said, dropping into a low bow that conveniently enough allowed her to rest her hands on her knees as she tried to regain her composure.

"Apologies for my tongue.  Our primary concern was to locate your royal heirs as quickly and efficiently as possible, and return them to you.  The results there speak for themselves, in that regard.  We got the job done."

She finally rose, still breathing heavily but some semblance of composure restored.

"But we know very little about what happened, who did it, how they did it, or why.  I would suggest letting Lore Mage Indigo examine the children, to determine if what was done to them was magical in nature.  Somehow, their sympathetic connections have been severed, rendering them outside of and apart of their Fate.  That's why the tracking magic didn't work, despite the strength of the sympathetic connections your College Mages have."

They could have used the Queen's own blood for a tracking spell, essentially the strongest sympathetic connection that Cara knew of for locating the twins.

"They were found at a warehouse under the control of the thieves guild known as the Ember Blades, and we have brought those members we found on site and were able to apprehend to you.  I suspect that those that we captured were merely pawns though, unaware of the seriousness of what it was they were doing.  You will have some luck extracting information from the man known as Hollis, currently sitting in your dungeons awaiting questioning.  It seemed to be some sort of smuggling operation, getting people out of the city with promises of work. Who knows what was actually waiting for the souls on the other end of it.  But the men we apprehended seemed genuinely shocked to learn just who was among their charges. Etzagith might know more about that, he overheard more than I did before we entered, enough to suspect that the twins were there.  We wasted no time after that, moving to secure them as quickly as possible."

Which was an entirely accurate and rather politically deft way of describing the mess that had been their miscommunication around infiltrating the warehouse.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:14, Sat 08 Aug 2020.

"No, you're right." Jia said, and the weariness was clear in her voice.   "They're back, and that's the key thing.  I'm not changing the race after the fact." A oblique reference to a popular children's tale wherein the tortoise, slow and steady won a race but the Rabbit accused him of changing the finish-line.

"But I don't understand why this happened.  They're old enough to walk about town on their own--even if there is a guard with them.  It would have been so much easier to just snatch them off the street.  Not take them from their bed-chambers. That makes it personal.

"I want them attended to."  She told Stefen.  "I want these people you've rounded up questioned and  whatever they say recorded."  She stood, then gathering herself, wiped a hand across her cheek.

"I do not, however, want the allegations against Duke Churthen made public." Jia's tone changed to one of command.  "Accusations such as this run the risk of formenting civil war.  I will not countenance that.  Not without confirmation."

"Ah."  Stefen said.  "My correspondent in East Pennryn passed through the black gate a year ago.  His wife wrote that it was hag's plague.  I'm working the wife, but she's not part of the hand and nor particularly well-placed.  Perhaps the Pennryn Maester?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:26, Tue 13 Oct 2020.

"And us?"

Cara asked, her eyes narrowed as she contemplated what was being discussed.

"We've proven ourselves capable agents, and I'm assuming you want your own people to handle the questioning.  What would you have us, Queen Jia?"

She'd never fully adhered to the conventions of title, instead always referring to the Royal Highness as "Queen Jia."  It was the same formality with which she spoke to all present, the practicality of title and function more important to her than truly proper etiquette. It wasn't insolence, but it was an edge.

When they brought the children to the guardhouse, Arui spoke in defense of the refugees who stayed as well as for Bardan.

At the Queen's meeting Arui let the others speak.  They were officials, she was only caught up in the situation. She did try and get a look at the vellum which Etzagith had produced.  She knew the desperate situation Pennryn was in; her own people faced the same threat, and she could empathize with the desperate actions that might lead to.  She said nothing though; she just observed.

"Would you truly do such a thing?" Jia seemed mildly shocked.   "As an honored guest, there is no requirement of you.  I cannot command you.   But this... situation.   Why have I not heard of how bad it is, before this week.  First The Tarenti, then Pennryn.  I do not believe in coincidence."

"I can forestall the public revelation of Masters Bardan and Hollis capture.    If they've arranged a transport to Pennryn, perhaps we should actually give them a set of passenger.  Easy enough to remake their manifest." Stefen offered.  "Ten days by horse.  Or three by sea and one by horse.  Seems an easy choice."

"And I will check my rolls." Jia nodded.  "I may yet have veiled settled in Pennryn.  Not all who served are terribly talkative."

The parchment that Etzagith had recovered was actually a letter of marque for the captain of the Sable Swan.

In exchange for the transfer a group of prisoners, under cover of silence and shadows, to Stoltgard, Duke Churthen was authorizing a suspension of tithe for a period of one year and authorizing free hunting rights off the coast of Pennryn.

The prisoners would be taken into custody by the Dock-master at Stoltgard, and from there, conveyed to Pennryn Keep.


Note: as we haven't defined anything beyond the known world of Aroen, it wouldn't be out of line to suspect that the letter of Marque was levelled against Khunic ships.

Cara made a face, her displeasure clear.  That she made no effort to hide it among such austere company was telling.

"I would greatly prefer ship them, given the seriousness of this endeavor. Speed will be of paramount importance. There is another reason to prefer such as well. If these letters of Marque are being leveled against Khundari Schooners, sailing under the Blue Sails might provide us an opportunity to intercept one of the Privateers and gain additional information." 

She grinned a wolfish grin, as a plan coalesced within her mind.  They weren't going to like it, but she knew just the right person for the job.

"Grain Mother Huarta Patil frequently has business with Pennryn.  It would not raise suspicion if one of her Schooners was seen on such a route.  She would of course require additional compensation for the risk she would be taking to her vessel and livlihood, but I'm sure such a thing can be arranged.  Then we would not only arrive at the Keep sooner, but we would have a chance to uncover some of the mystery of this letter. I fear it will be a bloody mystery to solve, but such is the price of things."

And if the Grain Mother made a tidy profit? Such was the price of doing business with the Khundari.   It had been a bloody business already, but her people only existed still because they excelled at finding advantage in such things.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:30, Tue 20 Oct 2020.

"You can command me, Your Majesty", offered Nathan, his blue cloak flaring as he stepped forward from the back where he had stood, "And that may provide a means of the Crown having a light hand upon the tiller, if I understand nautical metaphors. It would certainly provide us with some small facility for authority..."

He bowed his head to Cara, a slight smile forming, "Lady Cara's plan provides cover and speed; we should move swiftly"

Cara:

I accept the self-compel on the first suggested Aspect.  Take a fate point for it.

The second self-compel works as a story-guideline but I don't think it carries the weight to trigger drama enough to justify another fate-point.  It's not coming with any kind of cost, whereas the first one definitely has it's drawbacks... You both get (yay!) and are stuck with (boo) Huarta.

Certainly willing to discuss further if you wanna show me how this ratchets up the drama...

"Then do it, please."  Jia asid.  "If your ship-mistress is willing, I'll make it worth her while.   If this is some grave misunderstanding, Churthen will pay for it.  If not... I will.  But I need this information.  And I need it from eyes I can trust.  These... men take me for a coddled infant who can't bear to hear the truth.  I need brutal truths to make brutal decisions  or else how can I lead effectively?"

"Nathan...  Your reputation is questionable.  And I think it might serve you well going into this.  For the duration of this mission, I release you of your obligations to College and the Guard.  You may use that authority should you deem fit, of course, but you are free of the requirement to do so.  Don't get used to it."  She smiled lightly.  "It's not permanent.    You've at lest once voice in the court who wants you in the stocks alongside Churthen."

"Mistress Arui." Jia turned to the archer.  "I offer my apologies for the unfortunate situation that brought you into this, but I thanks the sky that you you were brought here.   Your swift action and mercy both made this much less bloody than it needed to be.  I strive to temper rule with empathy."

"If your people are as threatened by this as Pennryn, then I need to hear it from a tempered heart."    She held up a hand.  "Mistress Tabeta trusts you.  Therefore, so do I.  With your leave, I will discuss contracting your services for this mission."

"Ahem." Stefen interrupted the queen.  "Before you continue...    I don't think we can dismiss the involvement of the Ember Blades in this either.  I need more intelligence on what's happening in Cyren.  Could you spare Garland and Etzagith for this?    I have in mind a couple of talents I think would work very well for your sojourn to the North.  Give me two days to set it up and I should be able to bring them in for an initial counsel."

Nathan winced at the Queen's appraisal of his reputation, even as he wryly acknowledged its accuracy with a bowed head, "As you command, Highness. I will tread carefully for how I use such freedoms."

"Of course, Queen Jia."

Cara said with a sleight nod.

"I will go and make contact with Grain Mother Huarta Patil immediately, so that she can begin preparations."

She kissed the fingertips of her left hand, splaying them wide in what was likely some sort of Khundari salute. Evidently she interpreted that as a dismissal, because she immediately turned and departed.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:07, Mon 26 Oct 2020.

Arui inclined her head to the Queen, "I will try to live up to that trust."

To Cara she asked, "Will there be enough room to bring our horses on this ship? or will we get new horses when we land?"

Cara exited the royal hall, though not before Viscountess Martiness had spotted her.  Her handler left her perch in one of the alcoves and moved swiftly on her long legs on an intercept course.  Cara made a point of not acknowledging the woman even after she caught her and began walking briskly at her side.

"You've done well, haven't you Oathsworn?  Had the Queen's favor for less than a heartbeat, and already turned into to the advantage of a royal commission for your countrymen."

The Viscountess said with a cutting smile.  Cara looked to her left just long enough to return it, then returned her gaze to her path.

"Countrywomen, if we're being precise, Viscountess Oanna Martiness."

She answered.

"Ah yes, how could I forget possibly the most sensible thing to come out of Khune.  Still, it is not like you to leave the city, even for a day.  You haven't even been outside the walls once since you arrived here!  Why the sudden change of heart?"

The woman was too damn perceptive, which was likely why she had been assigned.  A senior member of the Veiled Hand, she had proven a worthy opponent for the Oathsworn more times than Cara could count.

"You can just say you're going to miss me."

Cara teased.

"You know, even eight months ago I think I might have tried to poison you at the suggestion.  Yet after all this time, I think I just might.  Give Sir Halson Berrick my regards when you get there, he's out of the business, but the man always had sharp ears, sharp eyes, and a good head on his shoulders."

The Viscountess was already turning away as the words left her mouth, departing for whatever next little bit of tedium awaited her.

---

People introduced - Sir Halson Berrick - Retired Knight and friend of Viscountess Oanna Martiness.

With Cara vanishing rapidly on her own business, Nathan turned to the Tarenthi archer, “Perhaps I can help with those logistics, Huntress Arui?”

Cara departed from the rear of keep through her usual route, stepping through a heavy door and into a narrow alley of the Merchant's Quarter.  She wasted no time making it to the main thoroughfare, moving crisply into opposite side of the busy street.  She did not bother trying to hail one of the many carriages that patrolled the district, for most who saw the coat of black and red coat sped up rather than stopping at her signal.  She'd learned long ago not to bother when she was in uniform, relying purely on the admittedly unimpressive strength of her own legs.  She was still not entirely sold on the concept of horses, mostly due to lack of experience.  Her people were able to breed none that lasted long upon the Godpoisoned hills of her homeland, and thus had stopped trying more generations ago than she cared to remember. Like most Khundari, she favored the deck of a ship over the strange beasts.

She allowed her mind to wander and she walked, heading in the opposite direction she had gone earlier that morning.  She'd bled her Dependent at the Royal Bank of Druvish and Harrell already that day, he would not appreciate her darkening his door for another boon.  His debts to House Yisil ran deep, but even those had limits.  If she drank from him too deeply, he would break.  Instead she turned East, walking for a half an hour to the very edge of the Merchant's Quarter, and passing the Blue Cloaks at the Gates to Sandor Square.  Just outside the Merchant's Quarter, both a part of it and not, Sandor Square was where the foreign merchants who came to Druvir were placed.  The Square was mostly an open air affair, giving the cities' many visiting merchants a place to set up their caravans and stalls.  A host of inns and taverns surrounded it, running the gamut from flea ridden hovels and Ekwesh fire filled drug dens, to almost palatial estates chock full of servants, attendants, and guards.  It was there that Grain Mothers of House Patil had been assigned, when they had first arrived with Saemira three years prior.  Matriarchs and Lesser Mothers had come and gone with the caravans, but Grain Mother Huarta Patil had remained.  She'd taken over a humble inn known as the Sleeping Giant, essentially buying up all two of the double story tavern's upper rooms for the last three years.  When she had a caravan in, like she did now, they merely pulled the wagons right up to the front door and formed their own camp.

She walked past the orange hooded Clanbound, who scurried and scuttled to get out of her way the instant they saw her coming.  Most had never seen an Oathsworn before, but all knew the stories, and had no desire to attract her attention.  As she pushed past the wagons, seeing three women bearing the triangular blue pennants that were runemarked to denote them as belonging to the Merchant Clan Patil.  These did not scatter as she approached, instead meeting her with polite bows of greeting in the Khundari style.

[Language unknown: "Hetoosev, Wheherhouhou k wint Wheastith Ughnteand Resardstr."]

One of the women said in Taal.  Cara didn't recognize her, but Huarta made sure that all of her Clansmates knew that there was an Oathsworn within the city.

[Language unknown: "Conshendecom, Theionant Canoro t Acmiad Laisus."]

Cara replied with an identical bow.

[Language unknown: "E tinoee nifopl n lin Noweoutr, T ne ilie butleshisenc."]

In reply to Nathan (msg # 23):

"Thank you," she said to Nathan, "I just need to know weather I should prepare my horse for the journey, or let my people know that she'll need to be cared for in my absence."

(ARUI)

"There is risk. Does your horse travel well on the sea?"   Stefen asked.  "And... ah.  I've heard that some among you are soul-bound to your horse.  Fain be it for me to seek to separate you if this were the case.  If you require it, lady, we will make sure it happens."

Which is to say, if you want Arui's horse along, sure!   But there's going to be at least one  encounter at sea.  I may just have to use that Horse as an Aspect-Compel...   My apologies for not respondign earlier.  I'd been so focused on other stuff I hadnt noticed that there were a handful of posts here... since last week!   All the more reason to continue trying to move things on...
This message was last edited by the player at 09:09, Fri 06 Nov 2020.