AWRR Chapter 8

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Summary

Session date: 2023-05-08

Ardith Aethlin invites Victorina to her office to inform her that they are moving forward with a proposal to create a framework for Ebemar's inclusion into the Confederacy. progress! Victorina gets invited to a meeting about it. Hopefully she understands that this is her life now.

Leonora invites Yadda for breakfast and they talk about what the next season might look like for Yadda. Hopefully fewer demons.

Katherina and Lavinia go dress shopping in advance of the wedding. They talk about Vinnie's plans for the future and how she is living the dream of being her own person and WITH a super hot partner! #Winning!

Leonora gets Thurston to admit he wrote the letter and then instills a self-destructive paranoia that he is about to be caught. Note: This leads to his being caught.

Lamont and Nik turn to Coifárë for help after getting caught up in a protest turned violent (with a little help and some well placed coins from Thurston), disrupting their morning-after canoodling with an opera singer. Nik manages a little divine healing and Coifárë takes care of the rest of Lamont's injuries.

Meanwhile, Rose and Juno enjoy the museum, wondering where the boys are, until they unexpectedly run into Rose's mother. Definitely a coincidence, 100%

Chitara stops by to apologize to Lamont for the assault, and is relieved when he doesn't feel like she or her cause are responsible. Almost like he knows there was something else going on :V

Nik drops in to see Callisto, and learns a few surprising things about the publishing industry that he might have rather not learned! Still he promises to keep her updated about his next book, which he will definitely have time to work on soon 100%. Nothing else on his schedule...

Zanne invites Lamont to an Extremely Formal meeting to tell him that their uncle is under Super Arrest and pretty much everything he has ever dared to want in his life is now on the table. Somehow he manages not to cry.

Lamont tells Nik the extremely good news and again, somehow manages not to cry (but barely). Nik is very excited: it's going to be a summer wedding after all, and they won't be separated by Lamont's military obligations!

Leonora and Magga invite Lamont over to tell him that they would like to offer him the position as babbydaddy, and they discuss the possible terms. Baby swap, anyone? She also lets him know of her role in Thurston's arrest. Good riddance!

Lamont and Nik invite Coifárë to Lamont's place to tell them the good news, invoke their help with the wedding, and invite them to live with them in Ahkas. Awwww :3

Session

Victorina Discusses Politics With Ardith

Josh: (Could have done the setup for this as epistolary, actually, but, ah well, did not think of it)

Ardith Aethelin: will send a letter to Victorina to try to set up a meeting at her office in the Parliament complex.

Victorina: Victorina will arrive at the appointed time in her best suit with a bulging satchel

Josh: A young shifter woman will greet Victorina upon her arrival, and see her into the office, walking with a noticeable limp.

Ardith Aethelin: is waiting in her office, and stands to greet Victorina with a smile.

Ardith Aethelin: Ms. Allement, thank you for coming.

Victorina: "The honor is mine for the invitation."

Ardith Aethelin: Please, have a seat. Would you like something to drink? Coffee, tea?

Victorina: "Some tea will be lovely."

Ardith Aethelin: Saiya?

Saiya Harrowden: On it, back in a bit.

Ardith Aethelin: smiles and shakes her head a little as Saiya exits.

Ardith Aethelin: I hope it wasn't too arduous a trek up here.

Victorina: "Not too difficult, I assure you. I'm use to long walks."

Ardith Aethelin: If nothing else, Highmark is good exercise.

Ardith Aethelin: So, I have to confess I have something of an ulterior motive for asking you here today. I did want to speak with you about some upcoming legislation, but I also very much wanted you to be seen coming to my office to discuss the same.

Victorina: "Oh? What legislation are you referring to?"

Ardith Aethelin: It's a motion to create a framework for an Ebemari application for Confederacy membership.

Victorina: Victorina internally:

https://tenor.com/view/run-through-happy-running-fans-crowd-gif-14962817

Josh: (Heh)

Ardith Aethelin: It's far from a done deal, but I'm hoping our meeting her will signal how seriously this is being taken.

Josh: (here*, not her)

Victorina: "Of course, of course. It's a step in the right direction." She settles the satchel on her lap. "Is there anything in particular you want to discuss?"

Ardith Aethelin: Well, I do want to caution you that this going to be a long, uphill battle, both here and back home for you. There will be benchmarks Ebemar will need to meet, and it will have to demonstrate its internal support for the move.

Victorina: "My presence here should be a good indicator of Ebemar's desire to join the Confederacy. What benchmarks need to be met?"

Ardith Aethelin: Well, as I'm sure you know, the Confederacy takes a dim view of the practice of slavery, for instance.

Victorina: "Right, right." She's taking notes.

Ardith Aethelin: Ebemar would need to take steps to eliminate the practice before membership could be seriously considered. There's also security concerns, parliamentary arrangements to consider...It's a complex issue, and somewhat unique despite several new states having joined recently.

Ardith Aethelin: I did want to ask...

Ardith Aethelin: I love my country, but our history in your homeland is...rocky at best. Are you certain this is in Ebemar's best interest?

Victorina: Victorina sets down her pen and puts all the papers aside. "My belief is that for now, joining the Confederacy is the better option for us in the long run. True, we're incredibly stubborn which can be a boon sometimes. However, we do not have the...mettle to back such pride."

Ardith Aethelin: nods contemplatively.

Victorina: "We need the reputation that being a member of the Confederacy can bring us, and the protection that'll make hostile neighbors think twice or even thrice about taking our territory for themselves."

Victorina: "I understand joining the Confederacy forces Ebemar to restructure a great deal many things. But it's changes that need to happen."

Ardith Aethelin: There are those, myself included, who have reservations about getting involved in any sort of military conflict in Ahkas again, but I recognize those sorts of commitments are part and parcel of this agreement.

Ardith Aethelin: My fervent hope is we can prevent any sort of hostility.

Victorina: "Exactly. Sometimes the threat is enough to keep the peace."

Ardith Aethelin: nods.

Ardith Aethelin: You're confident a referendum in Ebemar would support membership?

Victorina: "Yes."

Ardith Aethelin: Well, I suspect you'll have your work cut out for you regardless, much as we will here.

Ardith Aethelin: Councilor Tiobraide will be introducing the motion in committee in the next few days, and we'll begin this whole process.

Victorina: "All right. Will this meeting be available for public view?"

Ardith Aethelin: I'm sure we can arrange for you to be present, if you like. Committee meetings aren't usually open to the public, but clearly you're not a random lay person.

Victorina: She nods, "I understand. Thank you."

Ardith Aethelin: You're quite welcome. I'm sure we'll be working together more in the coming days.

Saiya Harrowden: will return with tea, and Ardith will happily discuss the political landscape re: the bill.

Leonara and Yadda Discuss Her Future Prospects

Leonora: has invited Yadda over for breakfast at our Inglenook apartments.

Yadda: will arrive promptly at the appointed time.

Leonora: Yadda, dear, how good to see you!

Leonora: embraces you warmly.

Yadda: will hug Leonora gently.

Yadda: Very well, thank you, aunt. Although, I must confess it has been somewhat less exciting since we returned from the spa.

Leonora: Well, I would hope so! Therma Alba is not normally such vigorous exercise.

Yadda: Well, I don't know if | would want to do it again, but it was interesting to actually put some of my training to use for once.

Leonora: I know that the Amathalis family was very grateful for all our help in the defense of the baths.

Yadda: I am sorry that their resort became the place of such an incident. Was anything ever found about the cause of the violence?

Leonora: Well, a little more, yes. It appears that the demons and cultists knew some of the high-value targets who would be there. It was not random, in other words.

Leonora: But more than that ... well, there is an investigation ongoing. I should not say too much more.

Yadda: I understand.

Leonora: So ... the season is almost done. And I would not be doing my duty if I did not guide you along the way from time to time.

Leonora: I'm presuming that you have not secretly been arranging your own marriage behind the scenes?

Leonora: says in what you hope is a joking tone.

Yadda: smiles.

Yadda: No, I can't say that I have, but it has been more interesting of a season than I had thought at first.

Leonora: Well, as you know, bringing you here this year wasn't about making a match. I think it's been a tremendous success, really.

Leonora: Now, I imagine your grandfather would not have been opposed to a union this year. So my first piece of advice to you is that we should come up with something that sounds vaguely promising for next year, without committing ourselves to anything. For the old man, you understand.

Yadda: Hmm, did you have something in mind?

Leonora: Well, I wanted to ask you. It could be as simple as, you met some female friends who have eligible brothers.

Leonora: You don't want to say anything about some man who might actually be betrothed in the next months. That would suggest to Hruggek that we failed.

Yadda: I see... I think.

Yadda: So nothing too specific, then.

Leonora: Right. I can have Nerea make you a list. She's very good at that.

Yadda: nods.

Leonora: Just names of families where you met one member at an event here.

Leonora: She may bombard you with detail, but the family won't care about all that too much.

Leonora: What they want to hear is that goblin races are treated with respect and dignity, and that you personally are as well, at the season.

Leonora: If they hear otherwise... well, I don't need to explain how that would be bad.

Yadda: Well, that shouldn't be too hard. Everyone has been most welcoming.

Yadda: More so than I expected, honestly

Leonora: I don't know for certain whether I'll be here next year. I may, or I may be back in Nachtur.

Yadda: Will I be expected to come back... alone?

Yadda: If you are not here, that is.

Leonora: Most certainly not! You would have an attendant, at least.

Yadda: nods.

Leonora: I have every confidence in you, dear. When your grandfather started out in the streets of Highmark, he faced endless challenges. These are different, but it is what Wengals do.

Leonora: And someday, perhaps you will be helping my son or daughter as they come out for their first season.

Yadda: smiles at that.

Yadda: I still don't know about making this place my home, but I suppose another season wouldn't kill me.

Leonora: The season doesn't kill people. Demons do.

Yadda: sighs.

Yadda: Demons I can handle.

Yadda: Social events are a higher level encounter, so to speak.

Yadda: I assume my friends Grega and Loriel will be pestering me for details on my time here when I get back. At least I have some good stories to tell them.

Leonora: Perhaps one of them will join you next year.

Leonora: That could be wonderful, especially if they're less attractive than you.

Leonora: says, deadpan.

Yadda: laughs.

Yadda: I suppose that depends on one's tastes.

Yadda: But perhaps I can arrange it when I'm home.

Yadda: speaking of which.... I don't suppose you've heard anything about whether Leid Vilyawen has made a match this season?

Leonora: I haven't ... but I would be surprised if they did. Why?

Yadda: shrugs.

Yadda: Just pondering my plan of attack for next season.

Leonora: That's the attitude. It is a military operation, and the stakes are potentially even greater.

Yadda: Well, the best defense is a good offense, I suppose.

Leonora: Speaking of which, it will behoove you to keep abreast of the latest fashions. Were you happy with your dressmaker this year? We can find another.

Yadda: They were serviceable, but I did have to go back a few times to have them let out in the shoulders. And the one I wore to the spa obviously did not survive well at all. Perhaps in the future I should make sure to have them made with room for a weapon of some sort and more room to move. Just in case.

Leonora: laughs.

Leonora: Well, your grandfather and uncle would approve of that, certainly.

Leonora: Although there is some value in ... conformity, I suppose you would say ... it is also important to highlight your own values and personality.

Leonora: After all, a marriage entered into under false pretenses is hardly likely to survive.

Yadda: That's the strange part. It seems like there is so much deception around all of this. All the pageantry and social fascades. It's like everyone has collectively decided to make it as difficult on each other as possible when the goal should be to get to know one another honestly.

Leonora: nods.

Leonora: Honesty is in short supply among the elite of Highmark, I'm afraid.

Leonora: That's unlikely to change.

Yadda: Mmmm...

Yadda: Well, I suppose I'll have to manage. Thank you and uncle Magga for helping me navigate this. I really do appreciate it.

Leonora: Magga's been glad to have you here. If only because it's made me so happy to be here for you as well.

Yadda: smiles

Yadda: gives her aunt another hug

Lavinia and Katherina Go Wedding Shopping

Lavinia: will recruitKatherina for a shopping trip and borrow the carriage from their mother for the purpose.

Katherina: Are we shopping for your engagement party? Annoncement? Portaits? Looking for wedding ideas? What's the goal? :D

Lavinia: Oh, all of them at once, I suppose! We don't have a lot of time honestly. I don't know what we were thinking asking for a midsummer wedding!

Lavinia: It sounded like a good idea at the time!

Katherina: oh no, see, now we can make sue everything is nicely themes running up to your dress reveal ^-^

Lavinia: Well, I need a dress first!

Katherina: yes but that's what i mean! I we find smethign I klike then you can put little hints of whats to come inthe other ensembles, like colours or lace or prints or what have you :D What colour dress do you want for your wedding? have you discussed it with mother?

Lavinia: Well, white is traditional, but... it's so boooring. I think I want something more colorful. Mother has left the details to me for the most part. I think she's just happy to have me engaged again.

Katherina: Well your groom is very red - so something that would look pretty with that?

Katherina: Do you think it could be arranged for him to show some of his tattoos? Hmmmm

Katherina: your guests need to be appropriately jealous ;)

Lavinia: Ooooh... If I know Gueiris, he could probably be persuaded.

Lavinia: He is quite daring

Katherina: oh yes I was thinking more of mother. And you, I'm so glad you woudl even consider it!  :D

Lavinia: Hmmm... I suppose I wouldn't have considered it a few months ago, would I?

Katherina: No! And I'm so happy! Tis has done you so much good - you are thinking about what you want and what makes you happy instead of just accepting whatever mother and everyone else says. Even at the beginning of the season you just just resigned to everything, and now I hardly feel I need to worry about you at all :3

Lavinia: laughs.

Katherina: have you decided where you will live? Wil you be staying in Highmark?

Lavinia: Surely I haven't changed that much have I? I suppose nearly being eaten has a way of focusing ones attention.

Lavinia: We want to travel. Gueiris will be moving around with his position and I will go with him. At least for now. Eventually we will settle down somewhere, but we're not really sure yet. It's really quite freeing.

Lavinia: And don't worry about me, Kitty. I'm more worried about you being left alone with mother!

Katherina: laughs

Katherina: I think you should worry for mother being left alone with me ;)

Lavinia: I can do both.

Katherina: You've always been the well behaved one.

Lavinia: Well, I won't argue with that, although you have always been the more fun one 😉

Lavinia: Have I ever told you how much I admire you Kitty? You've always had a bravery and a lightheartedness that I could never really match.

Lavinia: But then, you've never killed a demon, so I suppose now we're even.

Katherina: well, I never had a chance! And to my credit I also didn't kill an Aethrenari prince, which I think shows quite a bit of uncharacteristic restraint. So perhaps we're falling into balance ^-^

Lavinia: laughs

Lavinia: I think they call that growing up.

Katherina: Yuck! Dull.  ;)

Katherina: I have plans to remain a much more interesting person.

Lavinia: Well, we'll see about that.

Lavinia: 😉

Lavinia: Oh! I believe that's Madam Bellweather's dress shop ahead.

Katherina: Is that where we are headed, then?

Lavinia: For a start. She's one of the few in this part of town who specializes in halfling dresses. We can at least look at some samples.

Lavinia: will signal to the coach driver to let them off and leadKatherina into the shop where they can browse the dresses.

Katherina: Of course!

Leonora Corners Thurston

Leonora: will have written ahead to plan her visit for a day when Thurston is likely to be alone (except for his staff of course)

Thurston Allard: is often alone now that Lamont has moved out, he tends not to Entertain at home, so this is pretty easy

Leonora: will arrive, dressed in a long green dress and her pearls, nothing to suggest that she is here on Business.

Leonora: Mr. Allard, it's a pleasure to see you once again.

Thurston Allard: It is delightful to see you, Lady Wengal. To what do I owe the pleasure?

Leonora: smiles.

Leonora: Well, I wanted to talk about Therma Alba. If you have a few minutes.

Thurston Allard: Seems confused but not worried right now

Of course, yeah, It was a horrific attack, I'm very grateful that my nephew and my soon to be inlaws were not seriously harmed

Leonora: Oh, what wonderful news! Your family and the Amathalis must be overjoyed!

Leonora: Lord Evenor is a fine young man. And his father is very sensible. I had a long discussion with him in the aftermath of the attack.

Thurston Allard: Oh, were you a guest at the time as well? I was unaware you were acquainted with the Amathalises

Leonora: Of course! I grew up in Thantopolis, and much of my family is still there. My family has long been friends with them, although young Nikession, I only met this year.

Leonora: And yes, my husband and I were guests at the time of the attack. We saw much, and learned much.

Thurston Allard: Do you mean to imply you have an idea of how that attack came to be? I would be delighted to hear anything you are at liberty to share.

Leonora: Hmm.

Leonora: Do you know Fyan Sir Akan Sinan Nabari?

Thurston Allard: Passingly? We have met but not much more than that. I had heard that he was there at the time of the incident.

Leonora: Yes. In the aftermath of the event, he has come to believe that he was a target of the cultists. One of several, it seems.

Leonora: But needless to say, Nabari is not a man to be trifled with. He is older, but that has simply given him more fire in his heart to root out the perpetrators and anyone who would interfere with them.

Thurston Allard: I imagine so. I've heard he's a fierce combatant. I would never want to make an enemy of Fyan Nabari, personally. I almost pity anyone who did.

Leonora: Hmm, yes.

Leonora: You see, there's just one thing that is bothering him more than anything else.

Leonora: Amidst the belongings of one of the cultists was found a letter, an encrypted letter in fact, describing the targets of the attack. As he puts it, it was in a cipher that is one of ours. That is, an old Sentinel house cipher.

Thurston Allard: Thurston's eyes go wide in horror

Have you seen it? I'm afraid.. well, I may have spoken more than I should have in a letter. Is that why your here?

Leonora: What do you mean?

Leonora: Are you saying you wrote a letter?

Thurston Allard: nods, clearly ashamed and embarrassed

I did, yes. I had thought that I could trust its recipient, but even so it might have gotten lost or stolen.

Leonora: Who was the recipient?

Thurston Allard: An old friend in Thanatopolis. (insert random NPC name here). We went to school together, and I had intended to be bragging on the company my nephew was keeping.

Leonora: Well I'm sure that Nabari has already talked to them. I know he was talking to everyone.

Leonora: Having fought beside him at Therma Alba, I assure you that he's ferocious.

Leonora: When he comes to talk to you, you'll want to be able to answer two things for him. First, why the letter was written in an old Sentinel cipher, or any cipher at all. If it was just a letter boasting about your nephew.

Leonora: But then, you were always a bit odd. Maybe it was just an overabundance of caution.

Leonora: Or maybe you always write your letters to your friend in cipher, a vestige of your childhood friendship when you would write little nonsenses to one another. I'm sure he'll have confirmed that for you.

Thurston Allard: Well, you know me.

Thurston smiles and shrugs

I have always been an overly cautious man. Were I not... things might have been quite different.

Leonora: Of course.

Leonora: The other thing you'll want to be able to answer is why a man you barely know except 'passingly', and who apparently you only heard - somehow - was there at the incident, featured notably in your letter about your nephew, who doesn't even know Nabari. Because I assure you that Nabari is going to ask.

Chitara: hta frowns

I hope you don't seriously think I had anything to do with this.

Leonora: I think your letter gave the cultists information about a number of high-value targets who would be present at a major social event.

Leonora: I think that fact is going to be revealed, publicly, very soon.

Leonora: I also think that the fact that your dear nephew is engaged to marry the son of the hosts of Therma Alba, themselves of unimpeachable conduct, is going to look very, very odd to many people.

Leonora: So you should start thinking of your story, very fast.

Thurston Allard: raises an eyebrow

Why should my nephew's match raise eyebrows? They are a reasonable match.

Leonora: Because the attack caused irreparable damage to his parents' estate, which will one day be his.

Leonora: Perhaps you were trying to put an end to the union before it began? I don't know what society will say, but I assure you it won't be "oh, that poor Mr. Allard, he has had such coincidental misfortune in his vicinity."

Thurston Allard: Am I to understand an official investigation is underway? Or do I have time to salvage my reputation beforehand?

Leonora: There is an investigation underway, yes. Across the intelligence authorities of Thantopolis, Nachtur, Highmark, and possibly others.

Leonora: As you know, the Sentinels are not going to take such a breach lightly. Even if they believe that it was accidental.

Leonora: Honestly Nabari may not care. He's spent his life killing demons and cultists ... and their allies.

Thurston Allard: pales a bit

Surely he would not be so unreasonable as to attack someone extrajudicially

Leonora: I believe the new six-inch scar on his abdomen has given him a refreshed view of extrajudicial action.

Leonora: How adept are you at crying for mercy upon demand, Mr. Allard? Good? Or ... not so much?

Thurston Allard: If you will excuse me, you've given me much to think about and do, I do not think now is the time to continue entertaining a guest.

Leonora: Of course. Oh, I almost forgot. There is a third question you should be asking.

Leonora: That is: having had a conversation with a woman who is publicly well-known to have a dragonmark that ensures the secrecy of conversations from scrying.

Leonora: Why would she have such a sensitive conversation with you and not invoke her dragonmark? Which I assure you, I have not.

Leonora: Just something to ponder, Mr. Allard.

Leonora: I do hope our conversation has not been overheard.

Thurston Allard: frowns As much as I have enjoyed the chance to see an old... friend, I'm afraid I am unfamiliar with the manners you have picked up in your new home. Good day, Lady Wengal. The servants will see you out

Leonora: Good luck, Thurston.

Leonora: heads out.

Thurston Allard: rushes out, fuming

Rumor and Scandal

(include only every second chapter)

Epistolary

• [Engagement announcement for Nik and Lamont]