“Vordakai!” Cass laughed.

OOC : One mission at a time should be plenty. I was thinking that you might want to do it as fuzzy time so various group members can have a chance to interact without disturbing their missions.”
This message was last edited by the player at 22:52, Sun 22 Jan 2023.

ooc:  *Grin*  I still need to run the threads  :)  And you are assuming that there is no risk in a diplomatic mission  :)

"We share the Mordane's concerns about the defenses of the region.  I will look to expand my own commitment bu building a keep at Silverhold as well as increasing the defenses at Varnhold to a castle, in addition I will be looking at supporting additional training schools.

I hopw to keep smooth relationships with the Nomen and perhaps enlist them as allies that we can xount upon in times of conflict." Domitius said firmly.

He then turned to Kendrick "My friend, if I could give you one of my eyes you know I would, uf there is anyway I may assist with your quest then I and all the powers of House Solanus are yours to command." 

Alisa added to what Domitius had stated: "You are a true paragon and an exemplar for anyone who's chosen to walk a holy path, Sir Kendrick.  As Domitius says, the resources of our family and its retainers are at your disposal, till this thing is dealt with in full." Then to the collective:

"For all whom were part of it, my deep thanks for initiating a relationship with the Nomen centaurs.  They are important neighbors, and I pledge under the god I serve, I'll make it my personal work to see that relations continue in a positive light."

Henry pauses as he considers the jobs in front of them.

“OK. Let’s start with The Eye.  Kendrick goes, obviously.  Andalon, you have been central to this so far, and you have the ability to get everyone home, and help Kendrick achieve blindness,”  Henry winces as he says it, “Without having to gouge his other eye out.  Marceline, would you go too?  I know that your sect is dedicated to sending the undead to their final resting place, but I hope that a trip to Pharasma’s boneyard will  make up for missing out on the trip to Candlemere Island.  Brother Bart tells me that you will be able to summon a spirit guide to help you find Kendrick’s gravestone.”  Yet again, Henry winces as he speaks. “Vova, I hope you will be able to move The Eye from its resting place onto the gravestone without touching it and,”  With a glance towards Dom and Alisa, “I will ask Barbatius to travel with you, both as moral and physical support, should it be required.”

He pauses for a moment, before continuing.

“I have been promising Adoven a trip to Candlemere Island for quite a while now,” Henry smiles slightly, pleased to finally live up to his promise,  “We know that last time someone went to the island, they met a strange dancing spirit, so I would ask you to accompany him, Ethankos, although I am afraid that denies you to opportunity to travel to the Boneyard while you still live.  Cass, as leader of Greater Tusk, the city that has supported Adoven’s request, I think you and Jensen should join them.  Then round the group out with Sayifa and Tobias.”

Again he pauses.

“I know that Dom and Alisa need to spend time in and around d their new holding, and Socha can travel with you, although Barbatius is needed elsewhere.  Marik, and one of the few who have met the Nomen previously, I would like you to travel with them, and Gabriel’s wilderness skills may well help when  you are in the Nomen planes.  Rana, I hope that you will accompany them, and support your friends, as well.”

This time Henry looks all around the room, “Does that work for you all?  We could do a bit of shuffling about, but that seems like the best fit to me.”

Andalon walks over to stand beside Kendrick.

” It will be an honour to journey with Kendrick once again. We found that accursed Eye together and we share the same determination to ensure it is destroyed. It is right and fitting that we should finish this task together.”

Marceline nods slightly to Lord Henry, surprised at the request to travel to The Boneyard but unable to refuse, does her best to be composed as she moves to join Andalon and Kendrick.

"Well. I've never traveled the planes before, but I believe The Boneyard will be safer than most. How soon do we leave?"

Barbatius looked surprised as he was assigned to Kendricks group he looked towards Domitius first and saw a nod of approval and then moved over to stand with Kendrick, Marcelline and Andalon. "By the light of the Sword I will stand as your shield Lord Kendrick."

Dommitius nodded to indicate his blessing to his childhood friend, he would speak to him later and ensure he was prepared for his journey.

Then Henry spoke of his own assignment.  He looked at him, his face tightened and he looked to Alisa for a moment before he returned his gaze to the lord of Midmarch.  An interesting choice Lord Henry,  not one I would have chosen myself.  Perhaps another may better serve Sunsmarch. he said cooly.

"I am not sure that I understand you, Dom.  You have someone with you that the Nomen will recognise, and who helped destroy their ancient enemy …  although they had thought Vordakai was little more than a bogey man.  You are travelling with your wife, and I thought that you got on well with Rana?  I know Gabriel is untested in the Southern region, but Lord Marik assures me that he is well skilled in his profession."

"It is Master Marik, apologies Lord Marik I refer to, I am not convinced that he is the best man to explore the land near my home.  However, you are the Knight Commander and I will abide by your decision.

"Thank you, Dom.  I think you need someone who has met the Nomen before, and Marik fills that role admirably, and as a bonus, you get Garbiel as well, who has quite a lot of experience of working in wild and untamed lands."

Rana was quiet throughout the discourse between Lord Henry and Dom.  There definitely was an undercurrent of something, but what caused it was unknown to the sorceress.  She glanced from Marik to Dom, and back again as she tried to glean anything obvious.  Her gaze then turned to Alisa, one of her eyebrows raised in puzzlement.

Whatever the men's history, she hoped it wouldn't impact negatively on their assignment.  They would all need to work together and trust each other for success to be achieved, of that she was certain.  With the planning room pointed out to them, Rana paused a beat before moving towards the indicated room.

“Please forgive me if I speak out of turn.” Cass began in as humble a voice as he could muster, and he hoped that all of the sincerity that he intended would be revealed. “But I can’t help but believe that these tensions are at least partially my own fault. During the uprising in Brevoy, I spoke boldly and perhaps too passionately and I have no intention of making that mistake again. In considering the Mivon Aldori, I mistakenly spoke of them as one with all Aldori, specifically those of Rostland. I have come now to consider them as two different entities.”

Cass was sorry that he could not provide a more concise summation, but the fullness of detail required this long winded form. “Perhaps to be even further divided in groupings, if truth be told. But in my brashness I made a grave error against all Aldori and offered direct offense to Lord Domitius Aldori-Solanus. And although it was not my intention, it was the result. I have since apologized to Lord Aldori-Solanus who was gracious enough to accept my apology and allow me to be one of those blessed to participate in his precious wedding ceremony to Lady Alisa.”

“During the discourse, other matters were brought to question, including the responsibilities of those of the Southern Chapter. Although I do not speak for Lord Aeris in any manner, I believe that he had no intent to offer offense to Lord Aldori-Solanus, but his own questions did have a similar effect in being taken as an offense. So it was my own fault in leading the discussion in such a haphazard direction without proper etiquette and form.”

“I know Lord Marik to be an honorable man. In fact, I believe I owe my life to him more than any man in the realm.” Cass paused to offer an apologetic smile. “No offense to Sir Jensen, who is dedicated to saving my bacon. Marik has simply had more years and opportunity to do so. Again, I do not propose to speak for Lord Aeris, but I do feel that we are something of the same stripe, having grown up as commoners among rugged circumstances. Even though I am honored to bear the title of lord, I have never been comfortable bearing a title beyond Elkin’s mocking of me as ‘The Mordane.’ So proper gravity might not be given as understood by those of noble experience.”

“What I am trying to say is that I hope Domitius will give Marik a clean slate. And that I trust Marik with my life. He’s cared for it better than I have.” As if to underline his point, Cass finished his words by taking a large and long drink from an ale tankard triple the size of those found in local taverns.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Tue 24 Jan 2023.

Marik glared at Domitius as he spoke, making it quite clear to the swordlord that he had indeed heard the insult thrown his way, and was none too impressed. His demeanor seemed to lighten somewhat at Cass' heartfelt words, and he nodded in thanks to his friend, the one he'd known longer than anyone else in Midmarch. "Thank you Cass, but I am quite certain we are even."

He then turned to Domitius, "Lord Aldori-Solanus," he said, placing special emphasis on the first word. "As Lord LeMaistre has pointed out, I do in fact have some experience with the Nomen, having of course been one of those who negotiated for peace with them as well as rescuing the daughter of their leader. Oh, and of course liberating the estate that you have chosen to call home...but perhaps you are not in need of such expertise?"

Domitius returned Mariks glare with one equally fierce "Alas Lord Henry has seen fit to place you with me.
As such I have little choice in the matter. he gives a shrug then lifted his left hand and regarded his finger nails before continuing in a condescending tone.

Still there may be some value in your attendance, without Barbatius there we will need someone to set up the tents and other menial tasks, I expect you have some cantrip that is suitable.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:29, Wed 25 Jan 2023.

Alisa had sat listening to the exchanges, her best diplomat-poker face in place.  She sat still, no trace of surprise in her expression, her gaze shifting  briefly to trade that glance with Rana. 

"Aye, just as you always pitch in with such tasks, that some lords would consider beneath their dignified behinds," Alisa quipped with sincerity to Domitius.    And then placed a hand upon his arm:

"Husband, I'm going to speak very frankly, here.  Let's take this as an opportunity to try and smooth relations with Lord Aeris.   Remember, not so very long ago, you and 'the Mordane' were trading cold words and facing each other at swordpoint.  We worked through that, and moved past it, and now you get along well.  To the benefit of us and him.   May we not try once more?   Prior to meeting up with you this last time, Rana and I traveled together, and I was telling her the one thing we have often lacked in our outings is a dedicated arcane caster.    I was sizing Rana up for that, in fact, but learned she has other commitments with Lord Aeris.  But she suggested we get to know him better, and collaborate with him, where that makes sense.   And now, here is an opportunity, to see if it works."     Alisa paused before continuing.

"Try working with him, this one time.   If by the end, you feel it isn't for you, then next time I'll support you in finding other options.    But this time, we really could use someone who's already familiar with the Nomen, and has earned some measure of their trust.  Please, let's not cast that boon aside, without true reason."

Henry throws Dom a hard glance and is about to say something, when Alisa beats him to it.  So he sits quietly, waiting for the Swordlord's response.

Although he changes his mind fairly quickly. "Lord Sunsmarch, I will remind you that Baron Aeris is a senior, and well respected, member of my court and this council.  Insults are not appropriate, no matter what your personal feelings are."

A quick glance towards Marik, implies that he should follow the same strictures.
This message was last updated by the player at 21:41, Wed 25 Jan 2023.

Domitius turned his glare from Marik to look at Alisa, then Cass in the light of Henry's rebuke.  He paused for half a second then  looked towards his former liege.

"Very well Lord Midmarch, perhaps it is best I recuse myself from this council. he states as he rises from his seat and with a nod to Barbatius and Alisa leaves the room.

Rana paused before she left the room as the Lord Mayor began speaking.  Any insight he could offer into the apparent rift between Marik and Dom was worth waiting to hear.  She listened without comment as the men 'discussed' and then Alisa tried to smooth the matter over.  She nodded to the other woman, then glanced from Lord Henry, to Marik, then Dom then back to Marik.

"If I may?" Rana interjected once Lord Henry made his thoughts clear.  "I don't necessarily know why either of you came to Midmarch, but for myself I can say that Midmarch has allowed me to become who I am and the person I was meant to be.  Alisa may well understand the challenges I would have faced in Stoneclimb, but it isn't something I dwell on or speak about often.  I presume that each person who has come here, and made their homes here, and contributed to the prosperity of these lands has their own reasons and some will have stated their whys, and others will have not."

A slightly sad smile touched the sorceress' lips, but then she smiled before continuing.  "I think of it as the change that occurs from catepillar to butterfly.  We have all gone through changes and it is those changes that we need to embrace.  It is as if we have been given an opportunity to be a better version of who we were and perhaps, Dom," her gaze settled on the swordlord, "what this land offers you is the chance to become more than just a typical Aldori swordlord, or at least a more understanding version of an Aldori swordlord."  Rana's gaze then moved to Marik, and her smile seemed to soften ever so slightly.  "And you, Lord Marik, have the capacity to see the best in people and bring out the best in people as is evident through the community you have built in New Dawn."

A sigh escaped Rana's lips unbidden as she felt that her thoughts and words were jumbled and not well structured, but she had more to say.  "I think that what is important is that Lord Henry trusts each of us and has put his trust in each of us; and, likewise, I believe that we trust him.  To my mind, it then follows that we need to trust in those people that Lord Henry trusts."

She glanced at Cass and nodded slightly at the Lord Mayor, "I appreciate the Lord Mayor's attempt to help to smooth over this rift, however, I believe that further discussions would be better had in private.  Don't you?"  She looked pointedly at Marik, then Dom, and it was apparent from her tone that she expected them to agree with her.  She turned to Lord Henry, curtsying slightly, "If you will excuse me."   Rana turned and now left the main hall for the 'planning room'.

The ample priest of Pharasma smiles and nods as Sir Henry allocates him to the mission to Candlemere.

"In truth, I've no driving need to visit the Boneyard," he vouchsafes to Adoven.  "I'm certain to see those endless lands one day, as will we all ... and I'd much rather not spoil the surprise !" he snorts.

"And with Marceline and Andalon already chosen for that journey, I'm sure I'll be far better suited to accompany you."

The obvious tension between Domitius and Marik puzzles Ethankos, for while he knows little of the Lord Aldori-Solanus, he has counted the mage amongst his companions on several occasions and enjoyed his company ... but refrains from becoming involved, reasoning that it is up to the pair of them to resolve whatever matter is between them.

"I came to these lands that I might shepherd troubled souls back to their final rest," he rumbles.  "Thus I eagerly anticipate our coming visit to Candlemere."

Adoven nods. "Frankly, I've been seeing this pattern of behavior develop in Dom over the last few years. He's no longer associating himself with Midmarch in his mind. He's been realigning himself with the Aldori. I fear what direction he will choose should the Aldori ever seek to take these lands from us."

 Vova, who up to this point has been lounging in a chair with an empty glass in one hand and several empty bottles nearby is mercilessly pecked awake by an angry peacock, generating a few startled exclamations from the dozing reprobate... But his protests die off as he's glared at by said bird, then has to wave a hand in the general direction of the lord, explaining.

 "Uhm, hello? Yeah, no... Sorry. No can do. Can't go around breaking magical artefacts, even evil ones... Lot of work goes into them, lot of knowledge, lore and effort. Smashing them's the sort of thing I'd get shouted at for days."

Henry Nods at Vova's comment, while he doesn't quite understand it, he isn't prepared to force the strange man into doing  something he doesn't feel that he can.   He thinks for a moment or two, before commenting. "Ok. Why don't you join Adoven's group in visiting Candlemere Island.  I'll ask Tobias to go with Adoven instead."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:45, Thu 02 Feb 2023.