All so beautifully aligned against the Court of Stars. 👌
That said the more we learn about the Court of Stars the more I'm convinced that we won't have a choice but to go to war against it. Unfortunate, but hopefully we convince them to give up their scheme.
"Let all who would come into my service do so and may the hunters of the sky serve the Wild Hunt in their twilight wanderings," you proclaim. Numbers flash through the back of your mind. Over a million marks in arcane reagents fed into the Forge, enough on its own to be a meaningful portion of all the realm's trans-planar imports. There will doubtless be more than a few clerks quietly questioning why flesh-craft expenses have grown so much and Scholarum masters in turn why you need so many hawks as to cover the face of the sky.
Lost 1,032,192 IM
In truth you have gained hunters more skillful by far, perhaps ones that will prove themselves among the ruins of Sarnor once the bargain has been sealed by blood and oath, or else hunting beasts in the depths of Sothoryos and carving a way to the cities lost in the depths of the Green Hell. Uses for such power you have aplenty.
Even the Forge of Lys could not grow so many so swiftly. According to Vee it will take a moonturn before the last green-feathered bird flies free and the fey are nothing if not exacting in their deals. The Lord of the Hunt will make no use of his new creatures ere the last one has found its roost and his servants will not ride to serve you until the hunting horn is sounded.
Hired Fey will be available at the end of the Second Month after the Flesh Forge order is satisfied
With one last wild toast, that still somehow manages to spill not a single drop, the cupbearer bids you farewell and vanishes among the ivy of a nearby tree. Well, it had been ivy, it appears to be grapes now. "Give a report to the local commissar. We don't want passersby picking and eating those unknowingly," you send to Varys. After a moment you add: "And don't overstate the case just to see how fast they can get up here."
***
This time you find Galaneia, not in your study but by the sea, rising dramatically from the waves flanked by an honor guard of triton warriors bearing staffs of enchanted steel, an ornate conch-horn larger than could have come from any natural beast sounds in deep commanding tones behind her. Pageantry for the sake of the watchers that had begun to gather by the pier as well as, you suspect, her own amusement, but you already know what she is going to say from the message sent ahead: "My father finds your offer fair, o king of the high airs and the bright flame. A creche of Living Waters there shall be in the Undercity, a Herald shall arise in flesh and be invested in the blood of great sacrifice..."
There had been no sound save the nereid's voice since the horn had sounded, but now you hear an in-drawn breath. A septon in a simple brown robe looks on with a pained expression. He does not have to like it, just live with it.
"I will myself watch over the construction of the ivory halls where spirits new and old shall take shape, the gates open to all dully mages of the Scholarum." Galaneia seems a touch less pleased at her new duty, but you can see the logic of it. Someone familiar with not just the faith of the Ferryman but his living hand should be involved in the project, and she is likely the only one who also has such experience of your realm.
"Glad am I to hear such tidings, Daughter of the Sea," you play into the pageantry. "Know that This realm shall always welcome the blessings of the Ferryman while I and my line rule."
May construct a Water Elemental Creche as per the plan proposed last month.
There will be whispers and rumors of this aplenty, but your own thoughts turn to higher places, to stars unseen. Another fey had given word of a journey beyond the known, not to distant lands or otherworldly seas, but a place more mysterious by far. the Moonchaser turns its prow towards the stars, towards its namesake.
Who will join Moonsong to witness her historic though still secret test?
[] Write in (Dany, Lya, Waymar, Rina and Soft Strider have expressed an interest in being present previously)
OOC: Hopefully this does not feel too disjointed. I thought of ending it after the nereid spoke, but I had no vote since your proposal was accepted in full.
And so, we shall get on with planning out the Herald for Merling King. @Goldfish, what was the latest throw-together of brain matter on the subject?
@DragonParadox, can you remind what this Water Elemental Creche do mechanically?
We havent gotten much in the analogous Fire-aspected research, even though we've gotten it much earlier, so can't really guess here..?
"Let all who would come into my service do so, and may the hunters of the sky serve the Wild Hunt in their twilight wanderings," you proclaim. Numbers flash through the back of your mind. Over a million marks in arcane reagents fed into the forge, enough on its own to be a meaningful portion of all the realm's trans-planar imports. There will doubtless me more than a few clerks quietly questioning why flesh-craft expenses have grown so much and scholarum masters in turn why you need so many hawks as to cover the face of the sky.
Lost 1,032,192 IM
In truth you have gained hunters more skillful by far, perhaps ones that will prove themselves among the ruins of Sarnor once the bargain is sealed by blood and oath, or else hunting beasts in the depths of Sothoryos and carving a way to the cities lost in the depths of the Green Hell. Uses for such power you have aplenty.
Even the Forge of Lys could not grow so many so swiftly. According to Vee it will take a moonturn before the last green-feathered bird flies free and the fey are nothing if not exacting in their deals. The Lord of the Hunt will make no use of his new creatures ere the last one has found its roost and his servants will not ride to serve you until the hunting horn is sounded.
Hired Fey will be available at the end of the Second Month after the Flesh Forge order is satisfied
With one last wild toast that still somehow manages to spill not a single drop, the cup bearer bids you farewell and vanishes among the ivy of a nearby tree. Well, it had been ivy, but it appears to be grapes now. "Give a report to the local Commissar. We don't want passersby picking and eating those unknowingly," you send to Varys. After a moment you add, "And don't overstate the case just to see how fast they can get up here."
***
This time you find Galaneia not in your study, but by the sea, rising dramatically from the waves flanked by an honor guard of triton warriors bearing staffs of enchanted steel, an ornate conch-horn, larger than could have come from any natural beast, sounds in deep commanding tones behind her, pageantry for the sake of the watchers that had begun to gather by the pier as well as, you suspect, her own amusement. You already know what she is going to say from the message sent ahead. "My father finds your offer fair, o king of the high airs and the bright flame. A creche of Living Waters there shall be in the Undercity, a Herald shall arise in flesh and be invested in the blood of great sacrifice..."
There had been no sound save the nereid's voice since the horn had sounded, but now you head an in-drawn breath. A septon in a simple brown robe looks on with a pained expression. He does not have to like it, just live with it.
"I will myself watch over the construction of the ivory halls where spirits new and old shall take shape, the gates open to all mages of the Scholarum." Galaneia seems a touch less pleased at her new duty, but you can see the logic of it. Someone familiar with not just the faith of the Ferryman but also his living hand should be involved in the project and she is likely the only one who also has such experience in your realm.
"Glad am I to hear such tidings, Daughter of the Sea," you play into the pageantry. "Know that this realm shall always welcome the blessings of the Ferryman while I and my line rule."
May construct a Water Elemental Creche as per the plan proposed last month.
Perhaps on another day the proclamation that a god has seen fit to share his secrets with the realm would have been the sole tale on everyone's lips, but on this day and in this hour the Moonchaser hangs above the city. The great ship aims to travel to no distant land nor otherworldly sea, but on another heading entirely, up and over, its prow pointed to the light of distant stars.
Who will join Moonsong to witness her historic journey?
[] Write in (Dany, Lya, Waymar, Rina and Soft Strider have expressed an interest in being present previously)
OOC: Hopefully this does not feel too disjointed. I thought of ending it after the Nereid spoke, but I had no vote since your proposal was accepted in full. Not yet edited.
Here's an edited version of the chapter, @DragonParadox.
@DragonParadox, can you remind what this Water Elemental Creche do mechanically?
We havent gotten much in the analogous Fire-aspected research, even though we've gotten it much earlier, so can't really guess here..?
It makes water elementals, simple water elementals allowing you any sufficiently skilled observer to gain insight into the process. It is not anywhere near the sophistication of the flesh and fungus forge for the moment
Simple enough. We bring along everyone who has expressed an interest in it, then invite everyone else of importance who might like to attend as well. Nothing says they must attend, of course, but it's nice to extend them an invite.
[X] Viserys, Richard, Dany, Lya, Waymar, Rina, and Soft Strider will accompany the Moonchaser on its maiden voyage into the void of outer space.
-[X] Invitations will also be extended to any other Companions who have the time and wish to participate, along with Zathir, Rhaella, Teana, Glyra, Velen, the Arcanum, Lady Saenena, Qyburn, Yrael, Mereth, Zherys, Amrelath, Relath, and the Sealord. Attendance is hardly required, it is simply an opportunity to experience something that is perhaps unique in Planetosi history.
@DragonParadox, as an FYI just in case, this action was to test her vessel against the Space.
Do retrofitting if needed throughout the next month(s), and then fly to the Moon when we have our PR-machine ready to record it all.
My SoD would kinda strain if we just fly there, now.
Honestly, this is not seeking like the moment to gather people around or any momentous an occasion.
We scheduled this so that the ships don't break when we go to space seriously.
It's testing and repairing whatever breaks.
@DragonParadox, as an FYI just in case, this action was to test her vessel against the Space.
Do retrofitting if needed throughout the next month(s), and then fly to the Moon when we have our PR-machine ready to record it all.
My SoD would kinda strain if we just fly there, now.
[X] No one. As much as one may imagine this a momentous occasion, this is, in fact, but a dangerous technical task, on which the fewer people are on the ship, the less trouble an unexpected break can cause.
-[X] We can show the void above to everyone later, once we are sure the vessel won't break under them, and if something does break - we are aware and ready for it.
We just spent over a million iron marks for these fey mercenaries to come work for us.
What was our account balance again? I was never all that great at account balancing.
@DragonParadox, as an FYI just in case, this action was to test her vessel against the Space.
Do retrofitting if needed throughout the next month(s), and then fly to the Moon when we have our PR-machine ready to record it all.
Ah... OK, I just went with the public showing of the first test because I thought you guys would have wanted it. How dificult it would be is still up in the air.
On the balance I can see why you did not want it to be public, one moment while I edit.
Rather we all not die in the vacuum of space. Though the Planar adaption may be enough to help us and the ship survive space as well. We may want to cast Fire Restence on the ship though, reentry is going to be one hell of a trip.