Laiser assigns a few (terrified) servants to you. You have run of the Island, and time to plan your next move.

Claire went to Resplendent Radiance's chambers and knocked on the door.

"It's Claire. May I come in?"

"Come in." She recognized Claire's voice, though was surprised to hear it.

Claire slipped into the faerie queen's room.

"Good evening. I trust you are well," she began. Pleasantries out of the way..."I have a proposal for you, if you will not be otherwise engaged in the coming months."

"Once we properly free the slaves on this island, I imagine that many of them will not want to remain even as free citizens. I want to help them establish a new community for themselves, where slavery will be forbidden and they can build new lives for themselves by the strength of their arms." She smiled lightly. "You are as committed to freedom and justice as I am. I wanted you on board before we pitched it to the rest of the group over dinner."

Increase had opted to not dwell within the mansion of Lasier and instead took up residence in the boat that he had prepared for their departure. Given the expendable time he opted to improve the boat, making it more comfortable for its occupants and modifying the hold to properly carry a creature as large as Gaja's scorpion.

He had a strong feeling that Resplendence and Claire would likely want to "free the slaves" but the ship was a cutter by design, built to ferry cargo and be swift. Not for mass transport. There was no way that a single ship could carry them all or even a substantial portion of them.

He wondered what their plan was but he didn't dedicate much thought to it one way or the other. Instead he assisted Gaja's efforts by blessing the land, at least a radius of 10 miles, with impossible fertility. Wild plants grew in a matter of hours, taking root in the suddenly fertile and lush land. The occupants would need to cultivate more suitable foodstuffs but even the native flora was mostly edible, albeit of coarse taste.

Increase also transmuted his sword into a staff roughly a foot tall than himself. At its apex was a beautiful angel, its wings outstretched, ensnared in large serpents which bite into their body. The length of the staff had a repeating pattern of scales etched into it, flanked by heretical bastardizations of religious passages ranging from the Unitary Church to the Dulimbai Ancestor Cult teachings.

"Good evening, Claire. I am well. I hope you are the same." Her interest sharpened at the talk of a proposal. "There is no return to my homelands for me; I will be amongst humanity for some time to come." Which is to say, she had no plans, beyond the vaguest sort.

"I imagine they will, yes. I would want them to remain free as well. Our freeing them is meaningless if we cannot ensure they remain so." A lovely smile in return for yours. "We are of one mind, it seems. I do not know what such a community would require, but I will help you build it. I intend to continue to fight for freedom, as well, and a community to send people to can be a home for those who wish to be free, or share our ideals. I do not know that the others will be on board, at least, not for our reasons. We will need to present them with some benefit to them or their goals, I think. Otherwise, there is no reason for us to stay together. It would behoove us to find out what those goals are."

Claire nodded and smiled at Radiance. "Well, then we shall gather our new allies together for a meal and request their aid. I think what we can offer everyone in exchange for their aid is a new home-town outside of the established powers."

She turned to speak to the attendant Lasier had given her and gave her a smile, triggering a bit of soothing warmth and joy in the scared girl's heart. (One-turn Banner of Passion) "Please arrange for a dinner in the side hall. Food for five, plus a glass of water and a half-portion of salted bread for me, and have your fellows arrange messages for our allies to invite them." If they were going to have servants, Claire would at least treat them kindly.

"I thank you for your assistance, Resplendent Radiance. Shall I see you at dinner?"

Radiance inclined her head. "You make a valid point. A place of safe harbour is no small thing. Very well, we shall propose it."

They would make a good team she thought. "That sounds perfect. I am glad you visited, Claire, I think we can accomplish much together. I will see you at dinner and wish you peace until then."

---

Claire came to the dining hall a little before time and sat at the head of the long table, waiting for the others to arrive.

Over the next day or two, you were all given a wide berth by the servants and newly freed slaves, who mostly stayed in their own areas. The servants were particularly terrified of you - perhaps not surprising, as one of you was walking around with their friends as undead servants, and the other had froze 6 or 7 of them solid, and another one had caused earthquakes that killed half a dozen or so.

For the next day or two as they buried the bodies, it was a little awkward.

Still, the servants assigned to the house did their duty, and a few seemed to willingly approach and initiate a conversation if they weren't turned away immediately. Being freed and told they could leave if they wished didn't seem to change many of their minds.

The place had been lovingly set up by the servant, a young mousy girl with big eyes, who kept trying not to stare at Gaja.

The table was set up with the simple foods requested, as well as a selection of preserved delicacies from abroad. The table ware was, of course, silk, and the servants dressed better than the courtiers in most countries.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:38, Thu 18 Oct 2018.

  Gaja's plate was empty, and she waved away the servants who came by to fill it.  Her plate had been empty at every meal since their dramatic reversal of fortunes.  She said she was fasting.  She caught the servant girl's eyes on the third attempt and smiled; the way she glanced to her side made it an invitation, not an order to come closer.  Gaja hadn't given anyone orders yet.

  "Claire, they told me you had some kind of message to give everyone?"

She did, blushing slightly. "Sorry, ma'am. I just.. wanted to say I liked your singing. And the talk earlier." She still kept her eyes low, and could not meet hers. But, it was a start.

  "Well thank you.  I practice my singing a lot.  Do you sing too?"  She keeps her voice soft and soothing and leaves the obvious question for later.

The blush continues, and a slight smile.

"A little. Not like you though. I have a few songs of the plains.. and I've learned more from the others.

It passes the time."

It made sense. Laiser traded or summoned everything. Servants would have much less to do than in any household. He seemed to keep most of them for his parties too, which happened irregularly.

  Gaja nods happily.  "Well, I think the metal woman wants to tell us something very stuffy and official.  But after, will you sing those songs for me?  I can play music for you, and you can teach me the words.  What's your name, plains girl?"

"Oh, yes! I would like that. I'm Sarnai." She warned fast, and gave an apologetic full bow for any perceived insult for interrupting Claire.

She quickly departed, noting the small bell they could use to summon servants if they needed it.

Increase arrived at dinner, having received the summons from the servant that was dispatched by his allies. He had abandoned the silken robes of Lasier's servants and adopted a much more humble set of clothing worked from hemp cloth and colored uniformly in gray.

"I see that you all have taken well to having servants."

He moved to a seat after resting his staff on the adjacent wall.

Radiance had tasked the servants with finding her more appropriate clothing. They were not ostentatious, it mattered not what she wore, she would seem like the Queen she now was; it showed in her manner, her voice, her carriage communicated her regal nature.

"Good evening," offered to her companions.

Plaga and Kanua entered the dining room, Plaga wearing new clothes and... skin? The only thing that remained from the form the others knew was her mask, the rest of his appearance had been significantly altered. Taking a seat close to the others, she spoke with a new voice.

"Greetings."

Claire looked over the group. "Welcome, everyone. Food is here for those of us who require it. As soon as Marius arrives, we should begin."

  Gaja waits until the girl has run off to sit up straight and protest.  "I have taken no such thing, Increase, and neither should you.  The soul of this place is sick, and playing along will let it sicken you, too."  So okay, she had some thoughts.  Still no food, though.

"That's actually part of what I invited you all here to discuss," said Claire in her calm contralto, smoothly cutting into the brewing discussion. "This place is tainted by evil and slavery, and I think that many of the freed slaves will want to make a new life and a fresh start elsewhere." Claire looked around. Marius hadn't arrived; oh well. "Resplendent Radiance and I wanted to ask your help in creating a new colony for those who wish to leave this island and make a new life elsewhere."

Claire looked at Increase. "In particular, we ask your help in building and supplying the colony ships. I've seen what you can summon up."

She glanced at Gaja. "I have seen how you make inroads with the people here. The fact is that I've quite managed to terrify them, and while I'm doing my best to change that, it's still better for Resplendent and I to keep our distance for the time being. I need someone who they will come with willingly." She chuckled. "They would probably obey me if I ordered some to come, but that would defeat the purpose of this and trade one slavery for another."

She finally glanced at the Doctor. "And a new village could use a healer in its founding days."

Marius had been busy ranging the island even if they were seemingly safe. He'd been charting the waters with a spyglass he'd gotten hold of and had been busy assisting Increase when he wasn't off refreshing his martial skills more. He'd been testing his body as well, adjusting to his increased physique and power as his frame seemed more filled now that the power had time to complete its possession of him.

He arrived in his new preferred outfit. He entered with a nod before taking his seat.

"I would prefer to be away from here soon as well. if only from the memory of what this place was. Still, its given me time to adjust to whatever has happened to us."

He paused and looked to the masked creature as he finished that thought.

"You have flesh now? And a new voice?"

Plaga have a nod and a short answer to Marius, not feeling the neednto explain the details of her new body. "Yes, I do".

She then adressed Claire. "I don't oppose your plans, but I'm not particularly interested in them either. If any of you wish for me to heal the wounded, then you must be ready to pay for it, one way or another. If it would be beneficial to me in some other way feel free to point it out. Right now, my focus is on rebuilding my life. And exacting vengeance on those that destroyed it. If it doesn't serve those goals in some way, then my efforts would be wasted."

Plaga's outlook was what she expected to come from this proposal. "It is often beneficial to have a home base from which to plan. There is that, and of course Claire and my new skills are not inconsiderable and should you help us with our goals, we will help you with yours. No doubt you can enact vengeance on your own, but there are ways in which we can be useful to you. If you wish to rebuild and you want willing people to assist, our charms might be of use.

"If that does not please you, then we may discuss the matter of payment."