Pacts and Riddles
Eighteenth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC
Although you consider a pact aimed directly against the Deep Ones, you decide against it in the end, due in no small part to your mother's suggestion. The Emir has all too recently fought a war against that foe, a war that has gained him no glory and little wealth, as 'rogue' leviathans take the place of shark-men raiders. Better to offer to stand by his side, shield to shield, against future threats for now, a prelude for a wider alliance that would hopefully include several marid realms. Your time in Vialesk had made it clear that Mardja has few dedicated foes, though many trade rivals, and they are unlikely to see war before you are ready to move against the Deep Ones in force.
The Emir is at first wary of the notion, thinking, you suspect, that you wish to entrap him into battling your foes by baiting them into an open attack that would demand retribution under a pact. Between you and Dany, however, it is not hard to find the words to assuage his fears. Half those words are numbers anyway, concerned as they are with trade and its manifold advantages that leave you with no great incentives to drag Mardja into war.
Thus it is writ in dead stone and living coral, thus it is witnessed in the halls of deathless spirits, and thus you take a copy back with you to the Deep.
Defensive Pact forged: Emirate of Mardja
Of course, a treaty is not all you bear with you to Sorcerer's Deep. A full delegation of Mardjani diplomats ask to accompany you back to the Garden, most of them mermen and maids with brightly colored tails and hair the color of flaming sunset. They hail from a clan known for its bold exploration of perilous depths, whom the Emir has now assigned to plumb an even stranger world.
***
As you return to the Moonchaser, it is to pleasant though not unexpected news. Selyse has given birth with no undue trouble, indeed less trouble than the vast majority of women in her position, as Vee had cut the children out by the same deft skill which has seen the crafting of so many strange and wondrous beings, and sealed the wound then with sorcery. From the proud tone in his voice, it is clear Garin would very much like to show off the newest members of House Drekelis, though there is no need to return yet.
What Vee and Amrelath had found in the North, however, does raise quite a few troubling questions, even with the unliving mage of Hardhome finally put to rest. Who had been the traveler shipwrecked in those chill northern waters centuries ago, and what had been in the box that had seemingly caused the doom of Hardhome? Sadly the box itself could not be found, the dead mage's skull speaking nothing but mad gibberish. Still, if the skin-changer could be persuaded to talk about her past, or the wildling king Mance Rayder could be convinced to give up his magic cloak for study by Lya, you might find more pieces of the puzzle.
What do you do?
[] Seek out an audience with the envoys of one of the other major realms in Vialesk
-[] Zerbat to discuss alliance or trade
-[] Dawa to discuss alliance or trade
-[] Kela to see if you might be able to rid the Emir of his dragon foe
-[] Dyutho to learn more of the Deep Realms and perhaps the harvesting of riverine
[] Travel to one of the Emirates whose envoys you have spoken to in person
-[] Dalaqua, perhaps the Emir should prove less prickly than his envoy
[] Seek an audience with the envoys of one of the Dragon Dominions in Vialesk
-[] Althazi the Deathless to see about hiring his services, or those of his subjects
-[] Vornath and Thyrax, you have made use of raiders before, perhaps you could keep them in line long enough to unleash upon the Deep Ones
[] Buy something in Vialesk
-[] Exotic warbeasts for the tritons
-[] Write in
[] Return home to deal with the joyous occasion of the birth of Garin's children and happenings in the North
[] Deal with the weightier of Relath's grudges, a dragon's hoard would not go amiss and neither would more goodwill from the Lord of Tolos
[] Write in
OOC: A little short, but I figured it was better to have the break point now rather than push you guys towards one of the other actions.Not yet edited.
