Chosen by the Dragon God

Chandagnac · Dec 13, 2021

Lovemuffin said:
If voting is still open.

[X] Offer to get Mishrak to heal Dorian's father.
-[X] Suggest Dorian's father come in for an evaluation, without promising more.

Hey Lovemuffin, it's good to see you again.

*

The Dinner Party (Part Two)

When you settle down at the dinner table, there is not much conversation at first: the members of Cadre 1F are too busy examining and investigating the wide variety of food you have made available to them. They seem quite overwhelmed. Even Philander, who is the son of one of the richest men in Tyrepheum, and Dorian, whose father is an important government official, never had a meal like this before. For a while, the only sounds you can hear are the clattering, clacking, and scraping of cutlery against plates, the munching and crunching of industrious chewing, and a few soft whispers whenever someone is asked to pass one of the dishes to someone else.

Much later, when everyone has gorged themselves to satiety, you decide to begin your planned discussion by saying, "I'm sorry Green Flame couldn't be here tonight. I would like to free her from slavery and from being bound to the Tyrepheum Academy, but I don't know how to. When I spoke to him, Headmaster Prentigold wasn't very helpful in that regard."

"Of course not," Philander mumbles, picking at the remains of his bowl of raspberries and cream. "He's always been one to let things lie, especially if they benefit him."

"Having a highly qualified professor whom they don't have to pay must save the academy a lot of money," Dorian agrees.

"I want to free her, but… uh, I know I'm being selfish when I say that I want her to stay at the academy and be my teacher," says Venta with a nervous laugh. "I mean, surely she should be given the choice, but…"

"According to Sambian law, all elves are slaves," you say. "She can't stay in the Sambian Empire and be free. Unless someone were to change the law. I've been coming up with various schemes: persuading the emperor to change the law, getting a powerful group of elves to rescue her, or… well, I'm not sure how feasible any of my ideas are." You glance around the table at the others. "I was wondering if you had any thoughts about that?"

"You're on first name terms with some of the gods," Philander points out. "Surely they could help you."

"I'm sure they could." You nod. "But they tend to be extremely busy. If I'm going to ask one of them to do something, I'd like to know exactly what I want them to do beforehand."

"Which means that you need information," says Dorian, catching on.

"What kind of information?" asks Isolia.

"How many elves are there in the Sambian Empire? Where did they come from and what abilities do they have? What kind of man is the Emperor and what would he want in exchange for freeing the elves?" you ask. "What is the nature of the enchantments that keep Green Flame bound to the Tyrepheum Academy? If she were sold to another owner, how would her magical chains be changed?"

There is a brief pause following these pronouncements. Then, by way of explanation, you add, "The more I know about these things, the better chance I have of being able to free her."

"I'm not sure we are in the best position to be able to answer any of those questions for you," says Venta, rather uneasily.

"Perhaps not," you admit. "I'm not asking you to put yourselves at risk or get into trouble. I just want you to know that I'm in the process of coming up with a plan to free Green Flame from slavery."

"Well, that's… good for you," says Philander. "How long do you think it'll take?"

You shake your head. "I have no idea."

"At least you're trying," says Isolia, giving you an earnest glance.

"Actually, there were some other things I wanted to talk about," you say, taking the opportunity to change the subject. "Dorian, I know your father is very unwell, so… what if I brought him here and had Mishrak take a look at him? I don't want to promise anything, but Mishrak is one of the most skilful life mages there has ever been and has the powers of a god as well, enabling him to perform miracles that would be impossible for mere mortals. I'm not certain that he will be able to help your father, but… if anyone can, he can."

Dorian blinks at you and doesn't say anything for several moments. At last, he tilts his head slightly and murmurs, "That's kind of you. I would be grateful if you'd do that. Even if it doesn't work out."

Turning to the boy sitting next to him, you proceed, "Philander, I would like to have one of Teryn the Ghostlord's priests take a look at you. I don't know what your father has done to you, but I suspect that it has something to do with your soul – and Teryn's priests are experts at dealing with curses and afflictions that have to do with the soul." Not wanting to overcomplicate things, you refrain from explaining that your big sister is Teryn's Chosen and probably counts as one of his priests.

He frowns, looking suspiciously at you. "Teryn? The god of necromancers? Isn't he evil?"

"No, he and his worshippers actively try to prevent necromancy from being used for evil," you correct him. "I've been told that the reason why his worshippers have been banned from the Sambian Empire is that slavers don't like being told what they can't do with their slaves."

Philander is taken aback. "Uh, isn't necromancy inherently evil? I mean, raising the dead and trapping people's souls doesn't seem like the kind of thing a good person would do."

"The word 'necromancy' has come to mean much more than it originally did. In the beginning, it meant 'trying to divine the future by consulting the dead'. Much the same as how ornithomancy means 'divining the future by studying patterns in the flight of birds', pyromancy means 'divining the future by looking into fire', and so on," you explain. "However, over thousands of years, the meanings of words change. These days, necromancy is used as a generic term for all forms of soul magic. A necromancer can use soul energy to animate dead bodies or dolls or puppets, or they can repair damaged souls, or guide the lost souls back to the Wheel, or keep a dying man or woman alive for long enough to be healed – or at least give them a chance to say goodbye to their loved ones." You give a rueful smile at that. "Honestly, there are dozens if not hundreds of possible uses for it, relatively few of which are evil."

"Well…" Chewing his lower lip, Philander gives you an uncertain glance. "If you think that it'd be for the best if I get my soul examined by one of Teryn's necromancers, I guess that's what I should do."

"You can come here for it," you try to reassure him. "I know someone who can help."

He nods, but doesn't say anything.

Then, you glance at Isolia. "I think you should know that Humferth Hygmalion, your sponsor, was sacked from the Tyrepheum Academy of the Magical Arts because he was the mentor to a group of students who got themselves killed or maimed by trying to craft a powerful magical artefact. Prentigold believes that he deliberately encouraged them to do so, but he couldn't prove it."

"That's exactly what Green Flame told me," says Isolia, seemingly unruffled. "But I don't think she knows all of the details."

"Prentigold suggested that Hygmalion wanted those students die so that he could take the artefact they were crafting for himself," you inform her. "He is power-hungry and amoral."

"I could not afford to attend the Tyrepheum Academy if he wasn't sponsoring me," she replies. "It will be several years before I have learned enough to be able to 'craft a powerful magical artefact' or anything like that. Even if his intentions are…" She winces, takes a deep breath, and shakes her head. "Even if he means me harm, I will endure, for the time being at least."

At that, Jana nudges you in the side. "Come on, Elys, take a hint," she mutters at you.

"Oh… uh, Isolia, what if I get Mishrak to sponsor you instead?" you suggest. "He's incredibly rich, so he could easily pay for your tuition and anything else you need. What do you think?"

"That's kind of you, but… I don't know how Hygmalion would react if he found out that he was being replaced as my sponsor," she says. "I suspect that it would force a confrontation with him sooner rather than later. I'm not ready for that."

"At least think about it," you tell her.

Finally, you turn to Venta, who is sitting at the other end of the table. "There aren't many goblins in Quellonia, but…uh, the Dream Knights see Zora Alishanda as their patron and benefactor. I'm sure that I can persuade them to help out. Also, I was thinking… are there any goblin mercenaries I could hire – or get Mishrak to hire – to protect your people?"

"I don't know," Venta admits. "It's not something I've given much thought to. However…" She pauses, looking thoughtful. "I've heard legends of Dharta Thennir, far to the south, a land ruled by goblins, sheltered under the banner of the Avanni Empire. If you go there, perhaps you'll find warriors who'd be willing to fight for your money and a worthy cause?"

"That sounds like a plan," you say, beaming at her.

What else do you want to talk about?
[] Write in.

I've tried to include as many of your suggestions as possible. Where do you want to go from here?

EDIT: Alternatively, I could bring this latest month to a swift end and then we can vote for what Elys should do next month. It's gonna be a long list...

Chandagnac · Dec 15, 2021

All right, let's get this show on the road.

*

The Dinner Party (Part Three)

Chandagnac said:
"That sounds like a plan," you say, beaming at her.

"Still, we've talked for long enough about problems and plans for the future," you say, smiling embarrassedly and then rolling your shoulders as if to shrug it off. "Although I know some of your darkest secrets, I don't feel like I know any of you very well. Not really. Will you tell me about yourselves?"

"What would you like to know?" asks Dorian.

"What are your interests?" you ask. "What do you like to do for fun?"

There is a pause. It appears that Dorian is considering what to tell you. "I read. I tend my garden. I'm a keen alchemist," he says, after a few moments. "Professor Kunrath has allowed me to join his third-year class already. And sometimes I play Bladderwrack."

"Don't be so modest!" cries Philander. "We're one of the best teams in our year group!"

"What is Bladderwrack?" you ask. "I'm assuming you're not referring to the seaweed, right?"

Philander turns to you, looking disbelieving. "You don't know what Bladderwrack is? Don't you have it in Quellonia?"

You shake your head.

"I'm so sorry," says Philander in a tone of mock-horror and sympathy. "I had no idea you were so deprived."

He goes on to describe Bladderwrack, his favourite game, which seems to involve two teams of mages using their various abilities to move a ball around, past each other, and into one of the goals on either side of the playing area.

"Only into the opposing team's goal," he hastens to clarify, when he realises that you had not grasped that point. "Otherwise, you'd be scoring points for your opponents – and you wouldn't want that!"

"Obviously not," you say, gazing bemusedly at him. If you took his word for it, you would believe that Bladderwrack was one of the greatest things the human race had ever invented. His teammates are less enthused, but that hasn't prevented them from joining him for at least a couple of games every month since they began their first term at the Tyrepheum Academy of the Magical Arts.

"I also like to tend my garden," says Isolia, who seems eager to change the subject. "I'm not so keen on reading, but…" She sighs. "It's something I have to do to succeed at school. No choice about it."

"Do any of you like to swim?" asks Catharne, looking up from her latest bowl of custard and apple tart; she has continued to eat steadily, even while the rest of you have been absorbed in your conversations. "Swimming is one of my favourite things to do!"

"No. I don't know how to swim," Venta admits.

The other members of Cadre 1F agree with her: none of them know how to swim.

"The river through Tyrepheum is fairly polluted," says Philander, by way of explanation. "No one wants to be swimming in someone else's…" He glances at Catharne, seemingly remembers that you've told him she was only seven years old, and hastily bowdlerizes what he was going to say: "Um, waste matter. If you know what I mean."

"Yuck!" Catharne wrinkles her nose and puts down her spoon. "Put me off my food, why don't you?"

"I'm sure you'll survive," you tell her, thinking of the vast quantities she's already eaten. "It's not as if you're undernourished – far from it!"

"Nevertheless," your cousin says crossly. Then, as she picks up her spoon again, another thought occurs to her: "I could teach you how to swim! Or Elys could. She looks like a mermaid when she gets wet."

Out of the corner of your eye, you can see Philander making a frantic effort to restrain himself.

"When I'm doused in water, I can shapeshift into an aquatic creature with webbed hands and feet," you explain.

"Uhh… yes, that's exactly what I thought!" cries Phil, nodding vigorously.

"So why do you look so relieved?" asks Jana, grinning at him.

There a moment's tense silence before he comes up with an answer: "I'm glad because… she isn't going to drown. You know, if there was an accident," he says, with a nervous glance up at the ceiling.

Jana gives him an approving nod. "Good one."

"You've no need to worry," you assure him. "Mishrak's palace was built by one of the elder gods and is protected by many potent spells. It has stood firm for more than seven thousand years and I have no doubt that it will continue to do so for many more."

"That's a relief," says Dorian, moving to stand by Philander. "It's a wonderful place, but… knowing that it's at the bottom of the ocean, under so much water…" He shakes his head worriedly. "I can't help feeling nervous about that."

"Next time, we can meet up somewhere else," you promise him. "Truinon, maybe?"

"Where's that?" asks Isolia.

"It's the capital of Rivayne," Jana informs her. "One of the many nations that make up Greater Quellonia."

"Oh." Isolia looks thoughtful. "I don't know much about geography."

"It's never too late to learn," says Jana. She gives Isolia a crooked smile. "I don't know anything about portal magic myself, but… with Elys's help, I'll show you the world."

"That sounds lovely," says Isolia. The ghost of a smile haunts her lips, just for a moment, and then vanishes. "But remember what I said, all right?"

"Sure," says Jana, with a nod. "I won't forget."

Later, you ask her, "So, what did Isolia say? I assume it was when you asked her out, right?"

A contemplative expression settles uneasily on Jana's face. "She seemed flattered and said that she'd like to go on a date with me… but not right now. Not while there are so many problems and dangers swirling all around her and her friends. Life is too complicated right now, she said."

"So, she didn't turn you down," you say, trying to encourage her. "And that gives us yet another reason to solve all of their problems."

"Yeah. I just hope she was being honest with me," says Jana. "Not like Mel."

"I don't see why she'd lie to you. Unlike Mel, she felt confident enough to be able to say 'not right now, but maybe later', didn't she? Why wouldn't she just say 'no' if she didn't want to date you?"

Jana gives a small, apprehensive shrug. "I dunno."

"Don't worry about it," you say, putting an arm around her. "It'll work out, in the end, I'm sure."

"Thanks, Elys," she says, hugging you tightly.

That's the end of another in-game month. As usual, the Aspiti Warscore increases by 1. Also, because they have hired the infamous Battalion of Torment, led by the fearsome Everrarc Ninefingers (who claims to be the Chosen of Lothol), they gain an additional 3 Warscore. They now have a total of 21 Warscore.

What do you want Elys to do next month? (Choose one)
[] Go to Mishrak's undersea palace and spend time meeting various representatives of the different groups that make up the Coalition. (+Warscore?)
-[] Ask Sildar and Jorantul how they're getting on.
-[] Meet some of the Wranni.
--[] Be pleasantly surprised to see an old friend.
-[] Talk to some of the Deep Ones.
-[] Meet Red Ruin and a few of the orcs.

[] Join Sildar and Jorantul in one of their attempts to defend the Rivayni coastline from Aspiti slave raiders. (+Warscore)
-[] Fly around protecting innocent civilians while the Chosen of Mawroth do all the fighting.

[] Join Gareth and Yslena in trying to sort out what's going on with the Rivayni royal family, demon cultists, and the upcoming trial.
-[] Rescue them from a difficult situation.

[] Jana is worried about her mother.
-[] Go with her to Truinon and spend some time with her mother, Moraine.

[] DIPLOMACY TRAINING: Elys will attempt to convince the Kelwe clan to join Mishrak's coalition (+Warscore?)
-[] She will be thoroughly briefed on how to approach the Kelwe clan and what to say to them.
--[] Then she will travel to Vashiira and go to the Kelwe clan compound.
---[] Elys will try to persuade the Kelwe clan's chieftain that they should join in the war against Aspitolm.

[] DIPLOMACY TRAINING: Elys's mother, Yslena was once a member of a knightly order known as 'the Sisterhood of the Iron Orchid'. She believes that they might be willing to join Mishrak's coalition. (+Warscore?)
-[] Elys will be thoroughly briefed on how to approach the Sisterhood and what to say to them.
--[] Then, she will visit the city of Epiny and go to their headquarters.
---[] Elys will try to persuade the Sisterhood's leaders that joining the war against Aspitolm is the right thing to do.

[] Go to Norrange and meet her grandfather, Count Lymond Sayce. (+Warscore?)
-[] Visit her uncle, Elward, and his wife, Raene.
--[] Visit her cousin, Jesric.

[] Finish reading Kelamon Dumar's How to Enter the Underworld.

[] Ask Raef how you can free Green Flame from the magical bonds that keep her as a slave.
---[] Attempt to free her, maybe? (Warning: this will be extremely difficult and potentially dangerous)

[] Bring Dorian's father to the undersea palace.
-[] Mishrak will attempt to cure his supposedly incurable disease.

[] Invite Philander to the undersea palace.
--[] Get Bellona to examine his soul and the curses that bind him.

[] Go to Lyones. Visit the headquarters of the Dream Knights.
-[] Tell them what is going on in Tyrepheum.
--[] Convince them to help.

[] Get Raef to open a portal to Dharta Thennir.
-[] Speak with one of the captains of the Night Blades.
--[] Hire them to protect the goblins of Tyrepheum.

[] Tell Sildar and Jorantul about Humferth Hygmalion.
-[] Convince them that killing him would be the right thing to do.
--[] Transport them (via portal magic) to Tyrepheum.
---[] Keep an eye on them. Try to limit the amount of collateral damage.

[] Go to Tyrepheum and spy on Humferth Hygmalion
-[] What is he up to?

[] Visit the Headmaster of the Tyrepheum Academy, Opernus Prentigold.
-[] Offer to buy Green Flame from him.

[] Go to the Tyrepheum Academy and talk to Jaqari Pruyte, head of the space gonne project.
-[] Ask him what he needs to finish it.

[] Go to the Tyrepheum Academy and find Moroth Noorandiun.
-[] Convince him to tell you everything he knows about the Melphior cultists.

[] Go to the Tyrepheum Academy and find Simony Bulhac.
-[] Convince him to tell you everything he knows about the Melphior cultists.

[] Visit Archironaeus and ask him about…
-[] The Magic Mirror.
-[] Demon cultists at the Tyrepheum Academy.
-[] Green Flame's attempts to learn about portal magic.
-[] Something else (write in).

[] Do something else (write in)*.
*If there's anything I've forgotten to add to this list, that doesn't mean that you can't do it.

Chandagnac · Dec 18, 2021

Flashkannon said:
Why, Green Flame, of course! Specifically, her previous plans to free her. That's a good, good start to freeing her. However... I must concede that the matter of Phil's soul comes before GF's freedom, if only because it means the lives of several who are close to the chopping block. I am sure she'd agree, if asked.

Well, you may still get your chance.

*

Diplomatic Matters (Part One)

When you tell your parents about your recent visits to Tyrepheum and your conversation with Headmaster Prentigold, they are concerned.

"Please be careful, Elys," says your mother, shifting uncomfortably; she looks like she wants to settle into a combat stance, as if by force of arms she could fight off anything that might threaten you. "It doesn't sound like he's a very nice man."

"That's an understatement." Your father chuckles. "Still, your mother's right: I'm sure Prentigold could be extremely dangerous and – as you've said – he's linked to the Mystic Path, who are even worse. I hope you'll keep Raef close to you whenever you visit the Sambian Empire, just in case you need to make a quick getaway."

"He didn't come with me when I went to see the headmaster," you admit. "That's probably because he was worried that Prentigold would recognise him somehow."

Most of the time, when Raef is teaching you about portal magic, he wears the form of a scholarly old man, which is why you tend to use male pronouns to refer to him. However, while Raef is shapeshifted into a female form, she prefers to think of herself as female. His or her gender is fluid; it changes to fit whatever role he or she is playing at any particular time. Whereas Samaya always thinks of herself as a woman, even when she shapeshifts into the form of a man. You find that quite fascinating, but – even though you've seen her with Raef on a couple of occasions since you first met them a few months ago – you've so far refrained from asking about it. You worry that it might be rude to ask personal questions like that.

"Are you listening to me, Elys?" asks your father, looking worriedly at you. It occurs to you that he must have said something else before that, but you missed it because you were too wrapped up in what you were thinking about.

"I'm sorry," you apologize meekly. "It's just… There are so many things I need to do!"

"Is there anything we can do to help?" asks your mother.

You take a deep breath and consider the question carefully. "Jana said that Prentigold was running rings around me and that it was painful to watch. I want to be better than that. The next time I have a meeting like that, with anyone, I want to be better prepared. I want to be persuasive, to be convincing – and not to be manipulated."

"It'll come with experience," says your mother, consolingly. Then, she looks thoughtful and continues, "Perhaps we can help you get some experience."

"What do you mean by that?" asks your father.

"I would like to visit some of my old friends from the Sisterhood of the Iron Orchid. I am sure that I could convince them – at least a few of them – to join the coalition against Aspitolm. But we've been so busy with Prince Kristan's trial…"

"How is that going, by the way?" you ask, as her voice trails off into silence.

"I am quite sure that he will be found 'not guilty'," says your mother, speaking in a tense voice that you don't find particularly convincing.

"So… are you suggesting that Elys could visit the Sisterhood of the Iron Orchid on your behalf?" asks your father, making an effort to reroute the subject back onto its original course.

"Why not? It'll be an opportunity to get some practical experience in a safe environment." She gazes directly at you and says, "My old friends will treat you well and listen to what you have to say. I hope you will be able to persuade them, but even if you don't they will do you no harm. What do you think?"

"It sounds like a good idea, mom," you say, giving her a nod.

"Alternatively…" Your father folds his arms, looks up at the ceiling – there are some interesting paintings of fishy elves and seashells up there, you notice – and frowns. "The Wranni have taken heavy casualties in our recent battles against the Aspitis. Not so many that they're thinking of dropping out of the war, but enough that they're in need of reinforcements. There are a lot of them who are merely injured; given enough time, they'll recover. For now, they're stretched thin, which is why they asked me to play diplomat for them. I said no because I knew I'd be too busy with the trial. But maybe they'd be willing to accept Elys instead."

"Why did they want you to 'play diplomat for them'?" you ask.

"They wanted to invite one of the other Wranni clans – the Kelwe – to join the coalition," your father explains. "Most of the Kelwe are merchants, trading back and forth across the Sea of Squalls between Vashiira and the Avanni Empire, so they don't have a reputation for being great warriors like some of the other clans. Still, they're wealthy, their ships tend to be well-armed, and they have no love for the Aspitis."

"Why does it matter that they're wealthy?" you ask, curiously. "Surely Mishrak has more than enough money to buy whatever supplies the coalition needs?"

"Well… yes and no." Your father's frown deepens. "Mishrak has plenty of money, but sometimes it's difficult to know where to buy the things we need or how to transport them back here – or get them to wherever they're needed. The Kelwe could help with that, I'm sure."

"So, you want me to visit the Sisterhood of the Iron Orchid," you surmise, looking at your mother. "And you want me to visit the Kelwe." You turn to your father. "Why can't I do both?"

"I don't see any reason why you can't do both," says your mother. "If you're keen to get as much experience as possible, you probably should do both. But I don't rush into anything. Take some time to prepare."

"I'll visit the Kelwe clan first," you decide. "The Wranni need reinforcements as soon as possible."

"Good choice," says your father.

"It's probably for the best," your mother agrees. "It would be good to have the Sisterhood of the Iron Orchid on our side, but they're better suited to fighting on land. At this stage of the war, while most of the battles are taking place at sea, the Kelwe will probably be more useful."

"If he agrees to have you act as a diplomat on his behalf – and I don't see why he wouldn't – I'll introduce you to Gelfavar Wolfshadow, the Wranni warchief," says your father. "He'll tell you what you need to know before you can approach the Kelwe."

"When?" you ask.

"Tomorrow. It's too late tonight," he says.

"All right." You nod. "Tomorrow."

In the morning, while your parents are busy elsewhere, you visit the hospital for victims of the Sea Ghouls, where Bellona is hard at work. There seem to be fewer comatose bodies here than there were before; you hope that means some of her patients have recovered, not that they have died.

"Do you have time to talk, Belle?" you ask.

She looks up from her notebook, gives you a faint smile, and says, "Certainly, Elys. What do you want to talk about?"

"A friend of mine – his name's Phil – is under a curse that was put there by his father. I think it has something to do with his soul," you say. "I was hoping that you might be able to help him."

You go on to explain everything you know about Philander's condition, his siblings, his evil father and the deal he made with the Demon Lord Achamat, the fact that his surname keeps changing, and so on.

Belle is silent for a long time after you've finished speaking, long enough that it makes you nervous. You start to babble questions at her like, "What do you think? Can you help?"

"I'll try," she says at last. "Can you bring him to me?"

"I think so," you say. You will need Raef's help to travel to Tyrepheum and back; although your abilities have greatly improved, you still can't open a portal to somewhere more than a couple of miles away without his aid. "In a couple of days, maybe?"

"Very well," she says. "Do you need anything else?"

"No, thank you," you reply.

The next time you see Raef, you explain the situation to him. "And that's why I need to go to Tyrepheum," you say.

"Your friends won't be in school right now," he points out. "They have almost exactly the same summer holidays you do."

"Isolia and Green Flame don't have anywhere else to go," you say. "And I'm sure Philander would rather stay in school than go home to his evil father."

"Judging by what you've told me, I very much doubt his father will allow that."

"Well… let's talk to Green Flame," you say. "I'm sure she can tell us where to find her students."

Obligingly, Raef shapeshifts into the form of a young girl, about the same age as you, dressed in wizard robes and looking like she might be a pupil at the Tyrepheum Academy of the Magical Arts.

"Can't we just teleport straight into her office?" you ask.

"I'd prefer not to. I could very easily open a portal to the wrong room by accident." She gives you an appraising glance. "You should know by now that, when it comes to portal magic, the tiniest mistakes can have a disastrous effect."

You sigh. "Oh, all right. I suppose I'd better get changed into my robes."

Later, after you have travelled to Tyrepheum, sneaked through the Academy's grounds and entered the main building, you head upstairs to Green Flame's office. When you knock on the door, she opens it and doesn't look surprised to see you. Or maybe that's just because her face is as inscrutable as ever.

"Isolia stayed here at the Academy while the others went home to their families," she confirms.

"Do you think I could talk to Philander?" you ask. "Is he being allowed outside at all?"

"No," says Green Flame. "His father is angry with him. He is being punished."

While I was writing this chapter, I realised that getting hold of Philander would be more difficult during the holidays than while he's at school. Sorry if anyone feels like I've misled you about that.

What will Elys do next? (Choose one)
[] Ask Green Flame to guide her to Philander's father's crumbling mansion.
-[] Attempt to rescue Philander from where he is being kept locked up.

[] Ask Green Flame to guide her to Dorian's house.
-[] Introduce herself to Dorian's family.
--[] Offer to take Dorian's father to be healed by Mishrak.

[] "Hey, maybe Mishrak should practice a few more times before attempting anything as difficult as trying to heal Dorian's father?"
-[] Persuade Mishrak to de-age her mother.
--[] Persuade her mother to go through with it.

[] Decide to back off, for now.
-[] Head back to the undersea palace and meet with Gelfavar Wolfshadow, the Wranni warchief.
OR
-[] Spend some time talking to Raef.
--[] Ask about her plans to free Green Flame from slavery.

[] Do something else (write in).

Chandagnac · Dec 21, 2021

A short update, this time, sorry. I've been busy.

*

Diplomatic Matters (Part Two)

Chandagnac said:
Later, after you have travelled to Tyrepheum, sneaked through the Academy's grounds and entered the main building, you head upstairs to Green Flame's office. When you knock on the door, she opens it and doesn't look surprised to see you. Or maybe that's just because her face is as inscrutable as ever.

"Isolia stayed here at the Academy while the others went home to their families," she confirms.

"Do you think I could talk to Philander?" you ask. "Is he being allowed outside at all?"

"No," says Green Flame. "His father is angry with him. He is being punished."

You pause to consider your options, for a moment or two.

"Green Flame, if I had a good plan to rescue Philander from his evil father, would you help?" you ask, when you've had time to think.

"Yes, if I genuinely believed that it was a good plan and that it wouldn't make matters worse for him or his sisters," she replies immediately.

"I'm not ready yet," you decide, after another pause. "There are several things I need to do first."

"Wise of you," says Green Flame, inclining her head slightly.

"Will you take me to Dorian's house?" you ask. "You know where it is, don't you?"

"Yes." She gives you a pondering look. "May I ask why you want to go there?"

"You may. And it's because I'm going to make them an offer: Dorian's father is very ill, but I'm sure Mishrak could heal him."

"That's kind of you," says Green Flame. "What would you want in exchange?"

"Nothing. Except… maybe he could let people know who healed him. I want everyone to know what a good, kind, and powerful god Mishrak is!"

"And… as Mishrak's Chosen, that would make you more powerful, wouldn't it?" Green Flame gives you a shrewd look.

"I don't think that's how it works," you say. "And anyway, that's not why I want to help. Dorian is my friend; I can make his life better, give the father he loves a new lease of life, and so I'm going to do it."

"If they agree to it," says Green Flame.

You nod. "Yes, if they agree to it. I'm not going to force them to do anything. Actually, that reminds me…"

In the dark recesses of your mind, you reach for the bond between you and Mishrak. You call out to him, telepathically, saying, "I have a friend, Dorian, whose father is dying from an incurable disease. Would you be willing to take a look at him?"

"Yes, of course," he answers, after a brief delay. "Where is he? Can you bring him to me?"

"I'll find out," you promise. Then, you look directly at Green Flame and say, "All right, I'm ready."

"Very well," she replies. "Come with me then."

She strides past you, through the open door, down the stairs and out into the school grounds. You and Raef have to jog to keep up with her.

"Is there a reason why we're going so fast?" asks Raef, glancing nervously around, clearly worried that your rapid movements might attract some unwelcome attention.

"We can slow down, if you wish," says Green Flame. "But I thought you were in a hurry."

"I didn't say that, did I?" you ask, wondering why she thought that. Maybe she still doesn't trust you and this is her way of being passive-aggressively obstructive. "Well, anyway… let's just walk. I'm not in that much of a hurry."

Even at a relatively slow walking pace, the journey from the Tyrepheum Academy to Dorian's family's house is not a long one. In less than half an hour, you are walking up the path to the front door.

"Shall I knock?" asks Green Flame. "I've met his parents before. I'll introduce you."

After a moment's dithering, you agree to this; even if she is overly protective of her pupils and therefore suspicious of you, you don't see how she could deliberately mess up the task of introducing you to Dorian's parents, at least not in a way that makes you look bad. And if you defer to her in this matter, perhaps it will make her like you better?

You nod your acquiescence, Green Flame knocks on the door, and then you have to wait a few minutes before it opens.

An attractive, elegantly-dressed middle-aged woman stands in the doorway. "Green Flame, it's good to see you," she says, giving her a beaming smile. "Are you here to see Dorian?" Then, looking past her, she notices you and Raef. "Oh… and who are these two?"

"They are two of Dorian's friends from school," says Green Flame, as poker-faced as ever. "And I'm sure they would like to see him."

"I'll get him for you," Dorian's mother promises. "Please come in. Would you like anything to drink?"

"No, thank you," you and Raef say as one, almost in the same instant.

Dorian is fetched for you from one of the upstairs rooms. His hands are spotted with ink, so you assume that he was working on something before you arrived. He stands blinking at you for a moment and then says, "Ah, Elys and... uh, Raef. It's good to see you. How have you been?"

"I'm fine, thank you. I've had a pleasant summer so far," you say, smiling at him.

"Same as ever," Raef murmurs, rather noncommittally.

"'Raef' seems like an unusual name for a young lady," Dorian's mother comments. "Is it short for anything?"

"Yes," says Raef. Then, after a moment's deliberation, she continues, "It's short for Raefferty. It was my mother's family name. Mercadian, you know. From the southern Ryk."

Dorian's mother raises an eyebrow. "Really? How unusual."

"How have you been, Dorian?" you ask, trying to guide the conversation safely away from Raef's oddness. Honestly, considering that she has been a shapeshifting infiltrator for much longer than you have been alive, couldn't she have made more of an effort not to be noticed?

"I can't complain," he murmurs. "Uh… is this just a social call or was there something you wanted?"

How will Elys respond to that?
[] Write in.

More specifically, how will Elys convince Dorian and his family that she should take his father, Theophyllus, to be healed by Mishrak, who has a reputation for being a crazy recluse who spends most of his time creating sea monsters?

Chandagnac · Dec 23, 2021

x_lksk said:
Personally, I would have gone for "Really? How Strange."

I thought that would be a little too on the nose.

Flashkannon said:
Mildly hostile GF is a very interesting experience, actually.

She's rather overprotective of her little ducklings, I mean pupils.

*

Diplomatic Matters (Part Three)

Chandagnac said:
"How have you been, Dorian?" you ask, trying to guide the conversation safely away from Raef's oddness. Honestly, considering that she has been a shapeshifting infiltrator for much longer than you have been alive, couldn't she have made more of an effort not to be noticed?

"I can't complain," he murmurs. "Uh… is this just a social call or was there something you wanted?"

"I'm here to help your father," you tell him, earnestly, gazing directly at him as if to emphasize how honest and forthright you are being. Then, turning to his mother, you explain, "As well as being Dorian's friend, I'm also the Chosen of Mishrak. He's a god and one of the most gifted life mages on the planet. If anyone can heal your husband, I'm sure he can!"

Mrs. Valens looks taken aback. "I… I don't think it would be a good idea for you to move him," she says tentatively. "He is in a delicate state."

"I don't need to move him; I'll just open a portal and transport him directly to Mishrak's palace, along with his chair or bed or whatever he needs to be comfortable. You can come too!"

"Well, that's… very generous of you," she says, looking even more bewildered.

"You should ask my father," says Dorian. "He should be the one to decide if…" Instead of finishing the sentence, he stares at the wall and lets his voice trail off into silence.

It seems odd to you that anyone might choose not to be healed, especially after they've spent many years wanting to be healed and asking for help from some very peculiar people – Alikada Zinistrari of the Mystic Path, for instance – but even if the correct choice seems obvious, you suppose that Theophyllus Valens has a right to make it for himself.

"Very well," you say, giving Dorian an encouraging nod. "Take me to him, please."

He leads you into the drawing room, where an elderly bearded man is sitting in an armchair by the window, with a blanket over his knees and cushions cunningly placed around him to keep him upright.

"Father, I've brought someone to see you," says Dorian. "This is Elys. She says she might be able to help."

Theophyllus Valens is withered and wasted-looking, with brittle grey hair, spindly arms and legs, and skin like musty yellow parchment. Even the act of turning to look at you seems like too much of an effort.

"Agkh. Help with what?" he asks, coughing horribly.

"She says… she's the Chosen of Mishrak. The dragon god of the deep sea. He can cure you, she says." Dorian shifts awkwardly and scratches the back of his neck. "Uh, she's a friend of mine. She's been good to me in the past."

"Mishrak… the creator of sea monsters," murmurs Theophyllus Valens. "I don't think I would want to be a monster. No thank you."

"You don't have to be," you tell him. "You won't be. For the past decade or so, ever since he helped my parents to rescue me from evil spirits, Mishrak has taken an interest in humanity. He wants to expand his portfolio and to be known for more than just sea monsters. That's why we're working on a scholarship for pupils at the Tyrepheum Academy of the Magical Arts. And…" You take a deep breath and a moment to reorganize your thoughts. "When the Aspitis attacked, my father was grievously injured, but Mishrak healed him. Not only that, he made him look younger as well. I'm sure he could do the same for you."

Dorian's father is silent for what seems like a long time after that. You wonder if you should say something else. But then he mutters, "Why not? In the past, I've given money to some utter charlatans because they offered me hope. So why not?"

Not exactly the enthusiastic agreement you were hoping for, but at least he seems to be warming to the idea. Glancing around the room, you see Raef, Mrs. Valens, and Green Flame have followed you in here. "If you like, I'll take you to Mishrak's undersea palace so he can examine you. You won't even need to get out of your seat."

"How much will I have to pay for this treatment?" asks Theophyllus Valens, in a harshly cynical voice.

"Nothing," you assure him. "Mishrak has no need of money; he has all the wealth that has fallen to the bottom of the ocean since the beginning of time. I want to do this because Dorian is my friend and you're the father he loves. But if you insist on thinking that we must have selfish reasons for getting involved… well, I hope that it'll improve Mishrak's reputation and encourage more people to worship him. You're the beneficiary of that. Congratulations."

He closes his eyes and says, wearily, "Forgive me for being suspicious. It was wrong of me."

"I don't know what you've experienced in the past. Maybe you're right to be cautious," you say. "But please, don't assume that I'm a confidence trickster. Give me a chance to prove myself; that's all I ask."

"Very well. When do you want to do this?" he asks.

"What about now? Your family can come as well," you say.

He acquiesces. With Raef's help – actually, she does most of the work, but makes it look as if you're in charge – you open a portal to the undersea palace. Then, you move the portal so that it seems to swallow up Theophyllus Valens and the armchair he is sitting on, without him having to move.

"It's safe, isn't it?" asks Dorian, looking like he wants to rush through after his father.

You give him a nod. "Go ahead."

He does. A moment later, his mother follows him. You and Raef are about to go through as well when you hear Green Flame say, "I'll stay here and look after the house, shall I?"

"That'd be great," you say, giving her a beaming smile. "Thanks a lot!"

By the time you cross through into the undersea palace, Mishrak is already there, in human form, standing by Theophyllus's armchair and gazing at him intently. "Is there anything I should know about your medical history?" he asks.

"I've been healed so many times that I've developed a resistance to life magic," says Theophyllus, sounding as if he has just recovered from a coughing fit. "These days, none of the doctors in Tyrepheum can do anything for me."

"Ah. That will be a problem," says Mishrak, looking thoughtful. "But not, I hope, an insurmountable one."

In human form, Mishrak is a very tall bald man with acid green eyes, dressed in plain white robes. There is something unusual about the shape of his face, but you'd find it hard to describe exactly what. Anyway, it seems like the Valens family find him very impressive.

"I think this is likely to take several hours, so… I could give you a tour around the palace, if you like," you say to Dorian and his mother.

"You've already given me a tour," Dorian points out.

"I've only shown you a small part of the palace," you say. "There's a lot more you haven't seen."

Turning to Mishrak, Mrs. Valens asks, "Would it be for the best if we don't stay here and watch? I wouldn't want to distract you at a crucial moment."

"I think that would be wise," says Mishrak in a distracted tone. "I will do everything I can to heal him, but… if you stay, you may see and hear things that distress you. Instead, I recommend that you go away and try to distract yourselves, if you can."

"He will be all right, won't he?" asks Dorian, in a small voice.

"I'll be fine," says Theophyllus. "Think of it like… agkh, no different from when I've been in hospital. It's not as if you were allowed to sit around and watch the procedure any of those times, is it?"

His wife and son don't look particularly reassured, but they agree to come with you on a tour of the palace. Maybe it won't be much of a distraction, but at least they'll be somewhere else while Mishrak needs to concentrate on his work.

Before you go, you pull Raef to one side and say, "Thank you for helping me today. I appreciate it."

"No problem," she says, giving you a nod. "Just… keep practising, all right?"

As it happens, Dorian and his mother are too wrapped up in their own gloomy thoughts to pay much attention to your attempts to make the tour lively and interesting. Therefore, you are relieved when you come across Jana and Catharne in one of the living areas, sitting together next to a small fire. Catharne is in human form: it would have been difficult for her to get through the doorway otherwise.

"Is that an illusion?" you ask. "I feel the heat, but there's no smoke or wood-burning scent."

"Yeah. Just a little trick I learned at school," says Jana.

"Jana has been telling me a lot of stories about school," Catharne pipes up. "So I know what I've got to look forward to."

"Oh? Are you going away to school soon?" asks Mrs. Valens. "I hope you'll have a nice time."

"Thank you," says Catharne, with an awkward smile that reveals too many teeth.

"Catharne is Elys's cousin. I met her when I was here last time," Dorian explains, neatly skirting over the fact that she is Mishrak's daughter, a shapeshifting dragonling who has temporarily assumed human form; perhaps he doesn't want to alarm his mother with too much strangeness all at once.

This seemed like a fairly natural place for me to stop. The meeting with Gelfavar Wolfshadow will probably be fairly long, so I'd prefer to start it in a separate update.

What will Elys do next? (Choose one)
[] Ask Jana and Catharne to take care of Dorian and his mother while you go to your meeting with Gelfavar Wolfshadow of the Wranni.
-[] Go to the meeting immediately.

[] Spend more time with Jana and Catharne. Delay your meeting with Gelfavar Wolfshadow until later in the day.
-[] Go to the meeting as soon as possible after that.
OR
-[] First, do some research into Wranni history and society, with the hope of impressing Gelfavar when you meet him.
OR
-[] Visit Belle in the hospital. Apologize for not being able to bring Phil to her.
--[] Remember that she was born in Vashiira and lived most of her early life there. Therefore, she might have something relevant to say about your diplomatic mission to the Kelwe clan.
---[] Ask her to come with you to meet Gelfavar.

[] Do something else (write in).

This will be the last time I'm able to update before Christmas Day, so... like I've said before, Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it. Happy holidays and so on!

Chandagnac · Dec 28, 2021

I hope everyone has has fun over the past few days. I had a good time with my family over Christmas.

*

Diplomatic Matters (Part Four)

Chandagnac said:
"Jana has been telling me a lot of stories about school," Catharne pipes up. "So I know what I've got to look forward to."

"Oh? Are you going away to school soon?" asks Mrs. Valens. "I hope you'll have a nice time."

"Thank you," says Catharne, with an awkward smile that reveals too many teeth.

"Catharne is Elys's cousin. I met her when I was here last time," Dorian explains, neatly skirting over the fact that she is Mishrak's daughter, a shapeshifting dragonling who has temporarily assumed human form; perhaps he doesn't want to alarm his mother with too much strangeness all at once.

Apparently, Jana and Catharne spent the morning playing together while you were otherwise engaged.

"Sorry about that," you say, shifting uncomfortably. "I've been busy."

"No problem," says Jana. "You've got more important things to do." She rolls her eyes. "It's not like you're the princess of a tiny little island anymore."

"You're a princess?" asks Mrs. Valens. "As well as everything else?"

"It doesn't really matter. My parents made themselves king and queen of a tiny island you've probably never heard of," you explain. "And then, a couple of years ago, the Aspiti Empire invaded and we were forced into exile. Now, we live here, in Mishrak's palace, under the sea."

"For nearly ten months of the last year, you and I were at boarding school on the mainland," Jana points out. "It's not as if you've spent a lot of time here."

"Even so, this is my home, for now," you say. Then, you turn to Mrs. Valens and tell her, "Jana is my handmaiden and my best friend. She's like a sister to me. That's why we bicker all the time."

"I see," Mrs Valens says doubtfully. "Is that normal for Quellonians and their handmaidens?"

"Honestly, I have no idea," you reply. "I've never been normal."

"It's nearly lunchtime. Jana and I were thinking of getting something to eat," says Catharne. "Do you want to come along?"

"Why not?" you smile at her. "Let's all go."

"I'm not hungry right now," Dorian mumbles.

"It could take hours for Mishrak to finish healing your father," you warn him. "You should probably eat something. If not now, maybe a little later on?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "Well… I suppose I could nibble on something."

"Yes, that sounds like a good idea," says Mrs. Valens. "Please, lead the way."

After you've eaten a light lunch, while Catharne is still happily munching and Dorian is staring into the depths of his bowl as if forgotten secrets might be hidden in the dregs of his soup, you say to Jana, "Well, I must be on my way. I have a meeting to go to. With Gelfavar Wolfshadow, the Wranni chieftain, you know."

"Not personally, but I wish you good luck." She smirks at you.

"Will you look after Dorian and his mother while I'm gone?"

She nods. "Yeah, I think I can be trusted with that."

"Thank you, Jana." You give her a quick hug. "You're the best."

"Tell me something I don't already know," she says with a mischievous grin.

You let go of her and then head off to prepare for your meeting with the Wranni chief.

First, you have to speak to one of Gelfavar's underlings, asking them to relay a message to him, politely inquiring as to whether or not he will have time to speak with you today. Then, when you have received an answer in the affirmative, you run to your mother and let her know. She wants to attend the meeting as well; ever since you asked her to help you become more diplomatic, she has been taking this new duty seriously. After that, you still have a couple of hours before the meeting is due to start, so you decide to go back to Belle in her hospital for people with badly damaged souls.

"Sorry, I couldn't bring Phil to you," you say. "His evil father is keeping him locked up at home during the summer. I thought about mounting a rescue, but… uh, I didn't want to make things worse for him."

"I'm sure you did everything you could. Thank you for letting me know," she says, giving you a wan smile.

"Hey… fairly soon, I'm meeting with Gelfavar Wolfshadow, the Wranni chieftain. He wants someone to act as a diplomat on his behalf, to visit the Kelwe clan in Vashiira and convince them to join the war. I volunteered for the job," you tell her. "I've been thinking… you were born in Vashiira, weren't you? Can you tell me anything about it? Or about the Kelwe clan?"

"Are you trying to get Vashiira to join Mishrak's coalition? Or just the Kelwe clan?" she asks, looking confused.

"It would be great to get the whole of Vashiira on our side, but I'm only going to visit the Kelwe clan."

Bellona pauses. A melancholic frown settles on her face. "I haven't been to Vashiira since I was eight years old. And I don't know much about the Kelwe clan. Anything I could tell you would be woefully out of date."

"Still, that's better than nothing." You smile encouragingly at her.

She nods. "Very well. Now, where should the story begin? I was born in Vashiira thirty-six years ago, the only child of two necromancers who had travelled across the Unbounded Ocean because they believed that the souls of the Vashiiri should be protected despite the fact that…" Her voice trails off. She shakes her head. "No, it begins much earlier than that. Many centuries ago. Have you heard of Gozraka, the dragon emperor? He founded the great empire of Tatserai by uniting the Uangots, Kityans, Kuchans, Pechengs, Songshans, Tiansheks, and various other Chamdarese tribes."

"Tatse Gozira, yes. He was Mishrak's brother."

"Different names for the same dragon." She waves a hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter. This story takes place more than a thousand years after his death, during the reign of one of his human successors. There was a rebellion. As usual, the rebels were fighting against political corruption, the mistreatment of the lower classes, crimes committed by the aristocracy, and so on. Also, they believed that the Necromancers' Guild had too much power and influence; some of them went so far as to demand that it should be dissolved entirely. However, in the end, the rebels were defeated. Many of them were executed because of the atrocities they had committed; the rest were exiled from the Dragon Empire. It seemed likely that most of the exiles would perish in the mountains, or the jungle, or at sea, before they could find a new home."

Bellona pauses. She takes a deep breath before continuing, "One of their leaders was visited by the goddess Shaori of the Many Wings, who promised to guide them to safety. They bought, built, or stole ships from somewhere; she blew them across the Unbounded Ocean, to the east coast of Ardenor, where they found the little village that would one day become the great city of Vashiira."

"Who lived in that village before they arrived? Was it the Kelwe clan?" you ask.

"Possibly. The land where the Tatseri exiles settled was sparsely populated, but it was considered to be part of a Wranni chiefdom." Belle gives a vaguely non-committal gesture. "Whatever the case, it is recorded that the settlers were welcomed with open arms. Possibly because the locals were vastly outnumbered and knew that they'd be slaughtered if it came to a fight. So, they showed the newcomers the best places to fish or forage for food. The settlers chopped down trees or used the wood from their boats to build new homes. Over several generations, they lived in relative peace and harmony, until the new city-state of Vashiira had grown so large and powerful that some of the Wranni chieftains in the neighbouring lands got very worried and decided to form an alliance of mutual defence, just in case. But that's another story."

She sighs dismally. "Nearly forty years ago, my parents, my uncle, and a few other necromancers decided to travel across the Unbounded Ocean to Vashiira. They felt sorry for the descendants of the former rebels who had been exiled from Tatserai and therefore didn't have any necromancers to protect their souls. Perhaps they thought they'd be welcomed, that after the passage of a few hundred years the Vashiiri would have realised how necromancers could be useful to them, or at least they'd be given the benefit of the doubt until they'd had a chance to prove themselves. But that didn't happen. My parents did their best, tried to fit in, protected Vashiira from all manner of ghoulies and ghosties and undead beasties, but… it wasn't enough. They were hated and feared because of what they were. I remember, when I was a child, the other little girls were afraid of me. Their parents had told them horrible things about me and my family. And then…"

Discomforted, you say, "You don't have to tell me this story if you don't want to. I can see that it's hard for you."

"It's nearly over. Might as well finish it," she says. "When I was seven years old, a plague passed through Vashiira. Many people died, including my parents. Perhaps they wouldn't have died if they'd been able to get better food and medical treatment, but…" She gives you a helpless look. "So, I went to live with my uncle. He was a busy man, who spent most of his time travelling between the little villages on the outskirts, selling protective spells and amulets. I travelled with him for several months until we were attacked by a group of raiders who'd destroyed one of the villages and taken the inhabitants as slaves. My uncle tried to fight and was slain. I suppose I'm lucky that they didn't kill me as well. There isn't much of a market for child slaves, or so I've been told." She wrinkles her nose in an expression of distaste. "So they put me with the other slaves. They planned to ship us to Aspitolm and find buyers for us there."

"But then you were rescued by my parents and their adventuring companions," you say, finishing the story for her.

"Yes. They killed the slavers. And, because I didn't have anywhere else to go, your parents sort of… adopted me," she says, in a whisper. "You know the rest."

What do you want Elys to do or say next?
[] Ask Bellona if you can give her a hug.
OR
[] Give Bellona a hug.
OR
[] Restrain yourself.

[] "Bellona is a Wranni name, isn't it?"
-[] "Your parents were really trying to fit in, huh?"
--[] "So, the Vashiiri have absorbed some of the language and culture of the Wranni they've lived alongside for so many years. Has that happened in reverse as well?"
---[] "These days, do the Kelwe consider themselves to be more Wranni or Vashiiri? No, I wasn't asking you, I was just thinking aloud..."

[] "Mom told me that if I want to be more diplomatic I should try to find out something about the people I'm going to meet before I get around to meeting them for the first time."
-[] "So... can you tell me anything about Gelfavar Wolfshadow?"

[] "Thank you for telling me your story. I know it was difficult, so I appreciate it. See you later."
-[] Leave. Go to meeting with Gelfavar Wolfshadow.

[] Say something else (write in).

~~Let's have a discussion first. I'll add some more options later.~~

EDIT: All right, I've added some more options.

Chandagnac · Jan 2, 2022

Happy new year, everyone!

*

Diplomatic Matters (Part Five)

Chandagnac said:
Discomforted, you say, "You don't have to tell me this story if you don't want to. I can see that it's hard for you."

"It's nearly over. Might as well finish it," she says. "When I was seven years old, a plague passed through Vashiira. Many people died, including my parents. Perhaps they wouldn't have died if they'd been able to get better food and medical treatment, but…" She gives you a helpless look. "So, I went to live with my uncle. He was a busy man, who spent most of his time travelling between the little villages on the outskirts, selling protective spells and amulets. I travelled with him for several months until we were attacked by a group of raiders who'd destroyed one of the villages and taken the inhabitants as slaves. My uncle tried to fight and was slain. I suppose I'm lucky that they didn't kill me as well. There isn't much of a market for child slaves, or so I've been told." She wrinkles her nose in an expression of distaste. "So they put me with the other slaves. They planned to ship us to Aspitolm and find buyers for us there."

"But then you were rescued by my parents and their adventuring companions," you say, finishing the story for her.

"Yes. They killed the slavers. And, because I didn't have anywhere else to go, your parents sort of… adopted me," she says, in a whisper. "You know the rest."

"Would you like a hug?" you ask Bellona, holding your arms out.

"No, thank you. I'm fine," she says, as if saying it could make it so. "Don't worry about me."

"Well, if you're sure." Somewhat awkwardly, you lower your arms. "Thank you for telling me your story. I know it was difficult, so I appreciate it. I'll see you later."

Her voice echoes yours: "See you later."

You head out, on the way to your meeting with Gelfavar Wolfshadow. The large chamber in which you've agreed to meet is rather plainly functional by the standards of Mishrak's magnificent palace, which may be one of the reasons why it has frequently been used as a meeting place, first by Roylott Flawse and his advisors back when they were acting like a government-in-exile, occasionally by the Deep Ones when they've felt the need to get together in conference, and most recently by your parents and the other members of the 'War Council' when they've been trying to coordinate their efforts to defeat the forces of Aspitolm.

When you get there, your mother is waiting for you. She looks haggard and weary, almost as if she has aged several years in the past few days. It makes you uncomfortable to be reminded of how old she is, especially when you compare her to your father who looks so much younger and stronger these days. Idly, you wonder if Mishrak could rejuvenate her – but of course he could! – and, just as crucially, if she would agree to it. It scares you to think that she might not.

She gives you a fretful look and says, "It scares me to think of how quickly you're growing up. It seems like only yesterday you were a toddling child – my little girl – and now you're getting ready to go on a diplomatic mission by yourself. Did we force you to grow up too fast?"

"No," you say, truthfully. "The Aspitis did."

"Sometimes I wish you would remember that you're only twelve years old." She sighs heavily. "But… I know, I'm not helping you by saying that. Right now, you need to be ready for your mission. Is there anything I can do to help you prepare?"

"What do you know about Gelfavar Wolfshadow?" you ask.

"He is well-named," she replies. "You'll realise that when you see him."

"Why? What does he look like?"

"For some reason, his shadow is in the shape of a wolf. No matter where he is standing or how intense the light is, his shadow always looks rather wolfish."

"Oh. I assumed his nickname was… more metaphorical than that," you say, pausing mid-sentence while you search for the right words. "What else can you tell me about him?"

"Decades ago, he was a soldier in the Sambian army. He still wears the armour of one of their lord commanders, though I'm not sure if it belonged to him or if took it as a trophy from one of his defeated enemies."

"Well… I think that will have to do," you say, glancing at the clock on the wall; unless it is several minutes fast or slow, it appears that now is the time when you agreed to meet with Gelfavar Wolfshadow. "Are you coming with me?"

"If you want to become a master diplomat, you'll have to stand on your own two feet eventually," she says, an amused light in her eyes. "But… for now, while you're just starting out, I don't see why I shouldn't accompany you. If I can give you any extra guidance, I will."

"Thank you, mom," you say, stepping into the council chamber.

The Wranni chieftain, Gelfavar Wolfshadow, is waiting for you there. He is a big man, tall and muscular, but he is wiry rather than bulky, even though he is wearing the segmented armour of a Sambian lord commander. Also, despite his size, you sense that there is something curiously insubstantial about him. It is as if he is an illusion, or an image cunningly reflected on a series of mirrors. Is that because the light seems to bend around him, turning his shadow into the vague shape of a snarling wolf, or is there some other reason? Has he been cursed by some god, witch, or evil spirit? Or is he a werewolf like your mother's friend, Hrolmar? As far as you can remember, there was nothing abnormal about Hrolmar's shadow, but…

Fixing your gaze on Gelfavar, you scan him for wolfish traits. You notice that his ears are pointed, his canine teeth are abnormally long – but only a little – and his hazel-brown eyes have flecks of yellow in them. His dark grey hair and beard have been neatly trimmed, but you suspect that they would rapidly grow out of control if he didn't make an effort to regulate them.

"Good afternoon, Princess Elys," he greets you. Then, when your mother follows you through the door, he adds, "And good afternoon to you as well, Queen Yslena."

"Yes, good afternoon," you reply. "I hope that you are well and that the forces under your command will continue to win many victories against the Aspitis."

He gives you an approving nod. "Well, that's what we're here to discuss. Perhaps you can help with that." There is a pause, during which he takes a deep breath and puts on a contemplative look. "To be honest, you wouldn't be my first choice as an ambassador. I'd much prefer to go myself, but my people have been stretched thin recently and I need to be here to lead them. Besides, you are the Chosen of Mishrak. That gives you a certain prestige, even if you are very young. Also, if I send you, it will signify to anyone who is paying attention that the various members of this coalition are working together as a unified entity and not as a collection of disparate factions who just happen to have a common goal, at least for now. That should get them to sit up and take notice, I reckon."

"For what purpose?" asks your mother.

"The coalition is still growing, but… one of the problems we've got is that many of the nations on either side of the Sea of Squalls – even the ones who have good reason to hate Aspitolm – don't want to join because they are not taking us seriously. Since Rivayne joined, that's less of a problem, but the Rivayni aren't good sailors. With time and experience, they'll get better, but time is not on our side." He gives his head a little shake. "We need reinforcements. That's why it's important that we appear to be unified, work competently together and achieve as many victories as bloodlessly as possible, so that new allies will take the risk of joining us. Starting with the Kelwe clan, I hope."

"Tell me about them," you say.

"Their clan chief is Erion Stormcrow. His wife is known as 'Ilona the Mourning Dove'. They're second cousins, I believe, although it's probably best if you don't go on about that. They have three young children: two little boys, Erri and Rurik, and a baby girl named Cerianna."

"Why do they have bird-related nicknames?" you ask.

"They're worshippers of Shaori the Many-Winged Goddess," Gelfavar informs you. "At least, she's the most important god in their family's pantheon. I suppose that's a sign of how much they've integrated with the Vashiiri."

"In that case, do they still consider themselves to be Wranni?" you ask.

There is another pause. "I don't know," Gelfavar says at last. "Our family is large and has spread all over the world, even to Chamdara – we still consider the Yusani, the last surviving descendants of Teryn's tribe, to be Wranni – but there are many others who've forgotten how many of their ancestors were Wranni. Even you, probably. Do you know how many Wranni fought alongside the Queli at the battle of the Taronian Fields? And how many settled down and intermarried with the Queli afterwards? I'd wager that you have at least a few Wranni ancestors."

"I've looked at my family tree a few times," says your mother. "I know that we have several Wranni ancestors. The daughters of clan chiefs, most of them."

"Well, there you are," says Gelfavar, with a dismissive wave. "But do you care? Probably not. And it's possible that the Kelwe don't care anymore either. Still, the fact that they keep themselves to their own 'clan compound' separate from the rest of Vashiira suggests that they're not fully integrated. Maybe they still remember their kin."

"What should I say to the Kelwe?" you ask. "How can I persuade them to join our coalition?"

"These days, the Kelwe make their money as merchants, but they still know how to fight; their ships tend to be well-armed. Even though Aspitolm is the richest merchant city hereabouts, the Kelwe refuse to do business with them because the Aspitis are heavily involved in piracy and the slave trade. Numerous unlucky members of the Kelwe clan have ended up being sold in the markets in Aspitolm. Plenty of grudges need to be settled. Remind them of that. Also, if we win the war against Aspitolm, we'll have got rid of one of their main trade rivals and given them an opportunity to make fabulous profits, at least in the short term, until things settle down again. And, I suppose, if all else fails…" Gelfavar looks uneasy, but presses on. "Mishrak has been paying to keep us fed and supplied, for which I am grateful. It's possible that the Kelwe might demand a cash payment before they'll agree to join us. Or you could make them an offer, I suppose. Personally, I hope that you can persuade the Kelwe to join us without offering them monetary rewards for doing so, but… that'll be up to you. If you're going to lead this diplomatic mission, you'll have to make some of these decisions for yourself."

Now, it is your turn to pause, thinking about the information he has given you. What else do you need to know? What do you want to ask him while you have the chance?

So yeah, any questions? (Choose as many options as make sense)
[] "Tell me more about the Kelwe clan."
-[] Write in: what specific questions do you have about the Kelwe clan?

[] "Tell me more about the Wranni."
-[] Write in: what specific questions do you have about the Wranni?

[] "Hey, if I have Wranni ancestors, does that mean I'm part of your extended family?"
-[] "May I call you 'cousin'?"

[] "Tell me more about yourself."
-[] "Why does your shadow look like a snarling wolf?"
-[] "Are you a werewolf?"
-[] "Do you know Hrolmar the Wolf?"
-[] "You used to be a soldier in the Sambian Imperial Legion, didn't you? Tell me about that."
-[] "Did most of the Wranni under your command used to live in the Sambian Empire?"
--[] "It seems to me that the Kelwe are from a different branch of the Wranni 'family'. You came from Sambia whereas they have become integrated with Vashiira. Will that make a difference?"
-[] "Are you married? Do you have any children of your own?"
-[] "I'm sorry, I don't speak the Wranni language. What does 'Gelfavar' mean?"
-[] "What did they call you before you were known as 'Wolfshadow'?"

[] "Do you think we will win the war against Aspitolm?"
-[] "Are there any other potential allies you think we should try to recruit?"

[] "What do you think of Mishrak?"

[] Write in: what else do you want to talk about?

Sorry it's been a while. I hope you'll enjoy this: a fairly meaty chapter for you to get your teeth into.

Chandagnac · Jan 6, 2022

I'm busy this weekend, so this might be the last update for a while. I just hope that I can make it count.

*

Diplomatic Matters (Part Six)

Chandagnac said:
"What should I say to the Kelwe?" you ask. "How can I persuade them to join our coalition?"

"These days, the Kelwe make their money as merchants, but they still know how to fight; their ships tend to be well-armed. Even though Aspitolm is the richest merchant city hereabouts, the Kelwe refuse to do business with them because the Aspitis are heavily involved in piracy and the slave trade. Numerous unlucky members of the Kelwe clan have ended up being sold in the markets in Aspitolm. Plenty of grudges need to be settled. Remind them of that. Also, if we win the war against Aspitolm, we'll have got rid of one of their main trade rivals and given them an opportunity to make fabulous profits, at least in the short term, until things settle down again. And, I suppose, if all else fails…" Gelfavar looks uneasy, but presses on. "Mishrak has been paying to keep us fed and supplied, for which I am grateful. It's possible that the Kelwe might demand a cash payment before they'll agree to join us. Or you could make them an offer, I suppose. Personally, I hope that you can persuade the Kelwe to join us without offering them monetary rewards for doing so, but… that'll be up to you. If you're going to lead this diplomatic mission, you'll have to make some of these decisions for yourself."

Now, it is your turn to pause, thinking about the information he has given you. What else do you need to know? What do you want to ask him while you have the chance?

"If I have Wranni ancestors, does that make me part of your extended family?" you ask, putting on a mischievous smirk. "Should I call you 'cousin', perhaps?"

He remains impassive. "We're all cousins, if you go back far enough. Children of Telthalus, every one of us, the entire human race."

"Goblins, too?" you ask, tilting your head to one side and regarding him quizzically.

"Yes. They're not so different from the rest of us, where it really matters. And elves, those poor mutilated children…" He pauses and heaves a mournful sigh at that. "I always try to remember that other people are people, the same as me, even if I don't speak their language, or they worship gods I'm not familiar with, or their skin colour is different to mine, or whatever. Never lose sight of that."

You're not sure why he feels it's so important to say that to you, here and now. "All right, I won't," you reply, with a raised eyebrow.

He gazes consideringly at you for a few moments. "Do you hate the Aspitis, Princess Elys?" he asks, at last. "I'd understand if you did. They drove you from your home, nearly killed your father, and tried to enslave your people. For hundreds of years, they've been at the centre of the slave trade and responsible for countless atrocities. So why not hate them, am I right?"

"I… I don't think I know them well enough to hate them," you say, discomforted. "Until recently, I never came across any of them, except as the villains in some of my old storybooks. Even now, they seem very far away."

"Wise of you," says Gelfavar with a nod. "I've been a soldier for several decades, long enough to know better, and during that time I've learned that hatred is poison. All across the world, kings and generals and religious leaders pour it in the ears of their soldiers in the hope that it'll help them to kill their enemies. But it's corrosive stuff, causes festering wounds that linger for generations, makes good men and women much less than they otherwise could be." He firmly shakes his head. "I'll fight because it's what I do best, kill because I have to, but I won't hate my enemies. Not even the Aspitis, no matter what they've done. Besides, most Aspitis are poor labourers, working for a meagre pittance and a roof over their heads, barely more than slaves themselves, who have no say in anything their leaders decide to do. Why should I hate them? If I'm going to hate anyone, I should hate their leaders, the rich and powerful, the slave-owners and the warmongers."

"But you don't hate them?"

"What good would it do? How would it help anyone?" he asks. "I'll stop them, if I can. I'll punish them for their crimes, if I can. But I won't hate them."

Thinking back to what he said previously, you venture so far as to say, "The Aspitis are our cousins as well."

"Precisely." He nods and gives you the approving smile of a teacher to a diligent pupil. "In fact, they're more closely related to us than most. Just like the Wranni, the Queli, and the Sini, the Aspi are sons and daughters of ancient Urosh."

"What happened?" you ask, unable to contain your curiosity. "How did we get separated? What's our shared origin and how did we separate and spread out all over the world?"

"I'm surprised you don't know already," he says, giving your mother an assessing glance, as if wondering what kind of education she has been giving you. "It's ancient history, so old that it's passed into legend, but I didn't think that it had been forgotten entirely."

Your mother rolls her eyes at him. "The world is full of stories. Should I have told her all of them?"

Gelfavar holds her gaze for a moment before turning away. "It's none of my business, really," he mutters. "But, if you want to know… the Kingdom of Urosh was one of the first human nations, formed during the First Age, rivalled only by Os and Emer. It's said that Telthalus himself – and his wife, Zora Alishanda – were frequent guests and advisors to the king. Multiple kings, in fact, over hundreds of years. Some of those kings were great – such as Valurhiag the Just, who slew the dread Oudagorgon – and others were much less so. Still, great or not, they managed to preserve their kingdom for nearly two thousand years. The Elder Gods slew each other or fled, the world changed almost beyond recognition, but Urosh endured."

He hesitates, staring at the wall as if looking past it, as if peering through the mists of time at the ancient kingdom that vanished so long ago. "Bolvariag was not a good king. He was a cruel tyrant who exploited his people ruthlessly. When he heard of a beautiful sorceress who had turned her home village into a virtual paradise, he became enamoured of her. He wanted to marry her, but he was married already, so he had his wife put to death. Frightened of what would happen if she continued to refuse him, the sorceress agreed to marry him, on the condition that her beloved hometown would remain intact and its people would be protected. One of the king's enemies saw this as an opportunity: he sent his private army to raze the village to ashes and slaughter everyone who lived there. Enraged by this, the sorceress cast off her mortal flesh and ascended as the goddess Nyssa, the Autumn Mother, Queen of the Harvest, the Equinox Flame, and so on. She laid a terrible curse upon the Kingdom of Urosh, so that whenever its people saw each other they were filled with rage and compelled to fight.

"And so, brother fought brother, sister fought sister, mothers and fathers slew their children and were compelled to slay each other in turn. It was a time of hunger and cold and anger, of treachery and murder, of people who preyed on each other and became less than wild beasts. And then, when civilisation had collapsed, when the last remnants of the Uroshi people had fled into the wilds and were living like animals, Nyssa was satisfied that her revenge was complete. At last, she lifted the curse. The surviving Uroshi banded together for warmth and mutual protection. Over time, they split into four separate tribes who didn't even speak the same language: the Aspi, the Queli, the Sini, and the Wranni. According to legend, the Queli are descended from the priests and scholars of ancient Urosh, the Aspi from merchants, the Sini from farmers and craftsmen, the Wranni from the warrior caste and the nobility, and the working poor were split between all four camps, but…" Gelfavar shrugs his shoulders. "Who can say how much of that is true?"

He takes a deep breath and then finishes his story: "The fall of Urosh meant that other tribes were able to fill the empty spaces that had been left behind. The Cafalors, Dunhas, Enishari, Inglyri, and Samanoi – or 'Sambians' – all built their own great kingdoms during that time. The Sini mingled with the Dunhas and share the northern coast of East Ardenor with them. The Queli congregated in the south-west. For many centuries, the Aspi lived along the southern-eastern coastline until they were all subjugated by the Sambian Empire or forced to flee to the isle of Tolmar. And the Wranni dwell in the spaces in-between, the mountains and the plains, split into hundreds of little kingdoms and chiefdoms. We are great sailors and explorers, which is why we've spread so far across the world. Some of us live nomadic lives, others have settled in various places. For a long time, many of us lived in the Sambian Empire, were hardworking and patriotic, and considered ourselves to be citizens of the empire just as much we were ethnically Wranni. But… well, that's all over now."

"Thank you for telling me that story," you say, after a significant pause. "But I think we've drifted away from the topic we came here to discuss. I need to know more about the Kelwe clan. For instance, what languages do they speak? Are there any customs or traditions that I should be aware of? I want to avoid giving offence."

"They speak Wranni and Vashiiri, but you should speak to them in the Trader tongue," says Gelfavar. "They won't mind that. It's not like you're travelling halfway across the world; Vashiira is right next to Greater Quellonia's northern border. You don't need to worry that they'll have some unusual customs that you've never heard of. They won't bat an eyelid when they see you or any other Queli visiting their city."

"Well, what about their religious beliefs?"

"They seem to favour Shaori most of all, but I'd be surprised if they didn't still pay homage to the old Wranni pantheon: Strashan and his siblings, Wranolf the Bloody and the other denizens of the Hall of Heroes, the Forgotten God, and so on."

Privately, you wonder if it would be possible to get Vashiira to join the war against Aspitolm by getting Mishrak to speak to their patron goddess, Shaori of the Many Wings. She is a goddess of freedom, so is it possible that he could convince her to send her worshippers to fight against the city-state that is attempting to enslave its closest neighbours?

"What do you think about Mishrak, by the way?" you ask.

"He seems nice enough, very different from his reputation as an insane recluse. I'm glad that he's been paying for our food and supplies. Those of his worshippers I've met seem like pleasant people, if a little peculiar." As he says that, he gives you a playful grin. "But I don't know him well enough to have formed a strong opinion, I'll admit."

Ignoring his teasing, you change the subject again and say, "Oh! Earlier, you said that some of the Kelwe had been sold as slaves in Aspitolm. Do you know anything else about what has happened to them?"

He shakes his head. "Sorry, I don't know much about them. It was just a rumour I heard."

"So you don't know if it's true or not," you point out.

"A fairly reliable rumour, I think. But I don't know any of the Kelwe personally," he admits. "It's not as if I've had an opportunity to talk to them about it."

"I suppose you don't know much about Erion Stormcrow or his wife, then," you say, somewhat dismayed. "I wanted to ask you about them."

"I only know them by reputation. Erion is supposed to be a stern and lugubrious fellow, hence his nickname. His wife is of a similar temperament, though I've heard that she dotes on her children."

"Well, do you have any advice for me?" you ask.

"Try to be dignified without being standoffish, honest without giving too much away, and put on an impressive show without making the Kelwe think that you are looking down on them," he recommends.

"Good advice for any diplomat," says your mother with a nod.

"I want to take Jana and Catharne with me," you say.

"Yes, a diplomat should have an entourage," says Gelfavar. "And, as you're acting on my behalf, I want to send two of my Wranni with you as an honour guard. Hafjon and Rekka, I think. They've both been injured, so they're on light duties, but they should be more than capable of standing around and looking like they'd be ready to defend you if it was necessary. Not that you'd need them to fight for you, of course. But Vashiira is a city like any other, with its fair share of thieves and thugs who might see three young ladies as easy targets. Appearances can be deceiving, so let's use that to our advantage: if they see you with two well-armed bodyguards, the city's criminal element likely won't dare to approach."

"What if Catharne stayed in her dragon form?" you ask.

"I think that would attract too much attention," he replies. "But, if you think differently, do as you will. See what happens."

What should Elys do next?

Please discuss.

For example, is there anything else you want to ask Gelfavar? Or, do you want to go back to Mishrak and see if he's finished healing Theophyllus Valens?

Otherwise, if we've finished here, maybe we should time-skip ahead to when Elys goes to visit the Kelwe clan. Or would you prefer to do something else first?

EDIT: This is the first test for the new system. Soon, I'll see how well it works (or not).

Chandagnac · Jan 13, 2022

Nolrai said:
That makes sense. Do we know from who his father is getting the psudo-cloning from?

Green Flame is fairly sure that he made a deal with Alikada Zinistrari of the Mystic Path. See here.

Nolrai said:
It's weird that it makes female children at all, honestly.

Maybe it doesn't. Cinna Bulhac has had a long string of mistresses who've born children for him.

Nolrai said:
I really like the way this setting rifts on ideas from Exalted, btw.

That is most definitely a coincidence. I know very little about Exalted and I wouldn't consider it to have been one of my inspirations for this quest or its predecessors. If there are any similarities, it's probably because I've been inspired by real-world mythology just like the writers of Exalted were.

Flashkannon said:
If they call Catharne 'Princess Jailbait' I think we are justified in causing bodily harm.

Although Catharne has some unusual magical abilities, her understanding of the basics (of Ritual Magic and so on) is fairly limited. It's likely that she'll be placed with the first-year students and be on the same level as them in most areas.

*

Diplomatic Matters (Part Seven)

Chandagnac said:
"What if Catharne stayed in her dragon form?" you ask.

"I think that would attract too much attention," he replies. "But, if you think differently, do as you will. See what happens."

Instead of reacting to that last bit of sarcasm, you smile serenely and say, "Thank you for speaking to me. You've given me a great deal to think about."

"You're welcome." He nods. "If you're going to be doing me a favour, it behoves me to make sure that you're well-equipped for it."

"Goodbye for now," you say, turning to leave the room.

"Let me know when you're planning to leave; I'll have your bodyguards ready," says Gelfavar.

"I will," you promise, just before you pull the door open and step out into the corridor.

Your mother troops after you. "Well done," she murmurs.

"It wasn't hard; he was going out of his way to be nice to me," you point out.

"Even so, you gave a good account of yourself, which makes me feel better about letting you go off to do this on your own."

You start heading towards where you left Mishrak trying to heal Dorian's father. Surely he must be finished by now, you think; you've seen him create a whole new species in far less time!

Her arms folded, seemingly lost in thought, your mother walks with you. "Gelfavar is a renowned warrior, but he also has a reputation for being something of a philosopher," she says, thinking aloud. "Of course, you've met him and talked with him for long enough that you don't need me to tell you what he's like. I wonder if that's why…?"

As her voice fades away, you wait a few seconds for her to continue. Then, after your curiosity has grown too much to bear, you ask her, "What are you wondering about, mom?"

She blinks. "Ahh…" After a brief hesitation, she takes a deep breath. "The Wranni have plenty of hereditary rulers, but their systems of government always tend to be somewhat elective. Many of the fireside stories they tell are about unworthy kings who were deposed and then replaced with someone better. Therefore, if one of their leaders does a bad job, it doesn't matter who his father was or how many noble ancestors he can lay claim to; he must expect that his own tribe will turn against him and choose someone else to lead them."

"But Gelfavar isn't doing a bad job."

"Indeed not. Presumably, his ragtag band of Wranni – the remnants of many tribes who barely survived the Sambian Empire's attempts to exterminate them – chose him as their leader. And yet I've heard rumours that, not so many years ago, he was a grief-stricken drunk who'd fallen so deep into misery that he could barely function. So why would they choose him as their leader? What changed? How did he pull himself back from the brink and earn their respect?"

"And why does his shadow look like the silhouette of a wolf?" you add.

"Another question I would like to know the answer to. I suppose I should just ask him."

"But where's the fun in that?" You grin at her.

She gives a faint huff of laughter. "I'd be wasting my time if I treated this like a mystery I need to solve by careful detective work. Better to just ask him."

"It's probably a god or spirit or some kind of magic," you theorize. "Perfectly normal."

Your mother gives you a sidelong glance. "Oh yes," she replies, with heavy irony. "Perfectly normal, by your standards."

By the time you arrive in Mishrak's makeshift infirmary, Theophyllus Valens is a new man. You see him staring at his own reflection; the wall nearest to his sickbed has taken on a mirror-like sheen. He wears a bewildered expression, as if he doesn't recognize himself. His body is skeletally thin, his face is gaunt, and his limbs are like sticks. And yet, he is breathing easily, with none of the wheezing and crackling you heard when you saw him earlier.

"It will take time for you to build up your strength," says Mishrak, still wearing the form of a large bald man with acid green eyes. "Only a few steps at a time, to begin with."

"Perhaps some kind of walking frame would help?"

"Uh, I suppose…" Mishrak looks baffled, for a moment, but rallies quickly. "A mobility aid. Excellent. Yes, you should have one of those – and use it for as long as you need it. I'll get one for you."

"I am a wealthy man," Theophyllus begins, in a tone of injured pride. "I–"

Mishrak waves a dismissive hand. "Yes, yes, you have plenty of money. So do I. Forget about that, for now, and let me give you the things you'll need to get home without injuring yourself again."

There is a sigh, but Theophyllus doesn't argue any further.

As you step into the room, he notices you out of the corner of his eye and embarrassedly wraps his simple robe tighter around himself. You notice that his bare feet are as smooth and pink as those of a new-born baby.

"I know you. Dorian's friend." He looks flustered. "Ahh, I'm sorry, but what was your name?"

"I'm Elys," you say, smiling at him. "I take it you've been healed? How do you feel now?"

"Much better than I was. Of course, I… I don't want to seem ungrateful, but I've been healed before." He pauses and takes a deep breath. "I can only hope that this time it'll stick."

"You need more time," says Mishrak, who evidently doesn't mind that Theophyllus seems to doubt his miraculous powers. "In time, you'll have the proof you want."

"Even if it doesn't last, you've given me a new lease of life," says Theophyllus. "Thank you for that."

"You don't trust me, do you?" says Mishrak, intoning the question as if it was a statement of fact. "Well, never mind."

'I replaced every cell in his body, one by one, which took several hours," he tells you, speaking through your mental bond. 'In a very real sense, he is not the same man as he was yesterday. He is like a house that has been rebuilt with none of its original stones, or a ship that has had all of its timbers replaced, or a rusty old axe that needed to be given a new head and handle. Essentially, I gave him an completely new body without the genetic illness that has caused him so much suffering over the course of his life.'

'But his soul is still the same,' you tell him. 'He's still the same person.'

'The bodies of living beings are constantly rejuvenating themselves. Almost every part, after several years, will have been replaced and renewed. I suppose what I did to Mr. Valens wasn't much different from that. Just quicker.'

Still smiling, you tell Theophyllus, "I'll fetch your wife and son. I'm sure they'll be delighted to see you looking so much better!"

He nods. "I'd be grateful if you would."

Mishrak gains 3xp for healing Theophyllus Valens's seemingly incurable illness. He now has a total of 5xp. He needs 24xp to reach the next Rank.

Elys gains 1xp because she facilitated all of this. She now has a total of 5xp. She needs a total of 9xp to reach Rank 4.

The relationship between gods and their Chosen can be like a positive feedback loop: as the god becomes more powerful, so does their Chosen, and vice versa.

Anyway, I'm going to end this here. It's getting pretty late and I don't have any more time to write tonight. I'll try to post another update over the weekend.

In the next chapter, Elys will…
Fetch Dorian and his mother, as well as Jana and Catharne.
Suggest to Mishrak that he should talk to Shaori about getting the Vashiiri to join the war.
Send the Valens family home through the portal, which Elys will then close after she's got back to the undersea palace.
And then I guess I'll timeskip ahead to the diplomatic mission, unless there's anything else you want Elys to say to Mishrak, Dorian, or anyone.

Please let me know what you think about that!

Chandagnac · Jan 16, 2022

Sorry, I haven't been able to write as much as I wanted to because I've spent most of this weekend writing a job application. In the next update (after this one), I'll finally get around to writing about Vashiira and the Kelwe clan, I swear.

*

Diplomatic Matters (Part Eight)

Chandagnac said:
Still smiling, you tell Theophyllus, "I'll fetch your wife and son. I'm sure they'll be delighted to see you looking so much better!"

He nods. "I'd be grateful if you would."

You go off to find Theophyllus's family and bring them back, which doesn't take long. They have a joyful reunion which you feel quite uncomfortable watching, especially when Mishrak leaves the room with the stated intention of going to get a walking frame. When you see Theophyllus's wife weeping with happiness or listen to Dorian's startled murmuring that this is the first time he has ever heard his father breathing without difficulty, you feel like an intruder.

"Aww, isn't that sweet?" Jana says cheerfully.

"How did you get on while I was away?" you ask, turning to face her, deliberately angling your body so you can't see any of the Valens family. While they're out of sight, you can pretend that you're giving them some privacy.

"Oh, fine. They didn't give us any trouble. We mostly just talked."

"They were quite curious about me," says Catharne, in a small voice. "Especially when they found out about my shapeshifting powers."

You turn to look at her. She still looks like a young girl – a human girl – like she did when you last saw her.

"How did that happen?" you ask.

"Uh… I got some dust or something in my nose and it made me want to sneeze. And when I did, it gave them a glimpse of my true form."

You take a moment to consider the implications of this new information; what if something like that happens when Catharne is at school, in front of all the other pupils?

"We'll need to have a cover story ready in advance," you mutter.

"I'm sorry?" asks Catharne, who doesn't seem to have followed your train of thought.

"I'll explain later," you say. "For now, uh… I hope they weren't rude to you."

"Oh no. They were just surprised to find out that I'm Mishrak's daughter, that's all."

"Hmm." You don't think there's any real harm in Dorian and his family knowing that, unless they start spreading it around; you'd prefer it if Catharne's parentage didn't become common knowledge until she's older and better able to defend herself. It's not as if a dragonling whose natural form the size of a horse is completely defenceless, but there are plenty of much more powerful and unpleasant beings who might see her as easy prey if they knew that she existed.

"If I were you, I wouldn't go spreading that around," you warn her.

She blinks confusedly at you. "Why not?"

"There are some people who, if they find out that you're Mishrak's daughter, will see you as a weakness of his. They might try to hurt you in order to hurt him," you explain. "That is why… when we go to Vashiira, I want you to stay close to me. If we get separated for any reason, call your father and I'm sure he'll come to pick you up immediately. If you meet any curious strangers, remember that they might not have your best interests at heart. But don't be unfriendly!"

"Uh… I'll bear that in mind," she says, looking even more confused.

Fortunately, Mishrak returns before you can jam your foot any further into your mouth. He carries with him a wooden frame on wheels, which he claims to have borrowed from Gelfavar's Wranni; evidently, they've put some thought into how they can help their wounded soldiers to convalesce.

"Try this," he says, depositing the walking frame next to Theophyllus's bed. "Just a few steps, to begin with. Then we'll see about taking you back home."

"You still have my armchair," Theophyllus reminds him.

"Oh yes! I'll make sure you get that back as well," Mishrak assures him.

Dorian gently embraces his father, then releases him and turns to you. "Thank you… for everything," he croaks. "I mean it. You've done a lot for me."

"It's no problem," you say. "I was given the opportunity to help, so I did. What else are friends for?"

He gives you an odd, scrutinizing look, as if trying to work out if you're being honest about your motivations or just spouting meaningless platitudes.

"You can give her a hug, if you like," Jana suggests, putting on a mischievous smirk.

"Yeah… thanks for making things awkward, Jana," Dorian says, shaking his head.

After the Valens family have gone home, taking the walking frame and the armchair with them through the portal, you take Jana aside and hiss at her, "Why did you say that?"

"Um? I beg your pardon," she says, looking blankly at you.

"You told Dorian to hug me," you remind her.

"Yeah, I did." She nods. "Didn't you want him to hug you?"

"I like hugs. But not if they make things awkward. So why did you say that?"

"Well, I guess… I was curious as to how you'd react," she says slowly. "I mean, I'm pretty sure you don't like girls. Not the way I like girls, anyway. But you've never shown any signs of liking boys either. And Dorian is a half-elf, so... uh, aren't they supposed to be really handsome? He's got that silky hair, sculpted features, and so on. " She gives a little shrug. "I don't know; what do you think of him?"

"I… I don't really think of him like that."

"No. You don't think of anyone like that, do you?"

"I'm only twelve years old!" you cry. "I'm not old enough to be thinking about that!"

"Most girls your age or even younger are at least curious about kissing and falling in love and getting married and so on," she points out. "But you're not. I wonder why that is?"

"I'm too busy! I have too many other things to think about!"

"Maybe that's so." She nods. "Look, I'm sorry, all right? If it bothers you, I'll never do anything like that again." Then, under her breath, she mutters, "I just thought you'd make a cute couple, that's all."

Earlier in this thread, when I asked my readers to consider Elys's future romantic prospects, there was a lot of support for ace!Elys. I've decided that I actually quite like that.

Anyway, you can decide what Elys might say to Jana if you want. I'll try to update again in a few days' time.

Chosen by the Dragon God

Recent threadmarks

Recent threadmarks

Recent threadmarks

Chandagnac

Broken Robot

Chandagnac

Broken Robot

Chandagnac

Broken Robot

Chandagnac

Broken Robot

Chandagnac

Broken Robot

Chandagnac

Broken Robot

Chandagnac

Broken Robot

Chandagnac

Broken Robot

Chandagnac

Broken Robot

Chandagnac

Broken Robot

Recent threadmarks

Recent threadmarks

Recent threadmarks