[X] Declare that you trust Jana as if she were your own sister.
[X] Encourage Jana to introduce herself properly.
[X] Ask Elward and Raene for more details about Norrange.
[X] Wait quietly and let the adults do the talking, after firing off your own comments.
Don't think we should really be asking about Yslena as a kid right now, though we could do so later.
[x] Encourage Jana to introduce herself properly.
[x] Ask Elward and Raene for more details about Norrange.
- "What's it like? Do you like it? I have only been here in the Isles and Marhanah, Mishrak took us! Marhanah was awesome, but Ismar is beautiful too and the sea and the songs of the fishermen. How is Norrange?
[x] Ask someone to tell you more about the Allardyne family.
-[x] Elward
--[x] "Uncle. what was mom like as a kid?"
[x] Ask about Joyzelle and her family.
Everything is going surprisingly well! Let's just all hope asking them about their family won't make them sad all over again. And that we'll get embarrassing stories about Yslena.
'Jana is my handmaiden, you said, clasping her hand in yours. You looked her up and down, curiously, wondering why your aunt had assumed you were sisters. Her skin was perhaps a shade darker than yours, but it was hardly noticeable; you both looked like little nut-brown pixies you'd seen in a woodcut, once. You wore very similar dresses, signifying the bond between you, but Jana's was simpler, with fewer decorations, befitting her status. You had the same colour hair, but yours was long, silky, and tied back in an elaborate braid; Jana's was thick, unruly, and regularly cut short. Her face was hard and angular, with a strong jaw and an aquiline nose; yours were soft and delicately curved, with a small nose and large eyes. You looked nothing alike.
And why had Raene asked if Jana was your "little sister"? You were used to her being bigger than you, so it came as a surprise that you were now several inches taller. In the months immediately after Jana had moved into your home and started getting regular meals, she had grown very quickly, as if making up for lost time, but in recent years her growth had slowed considerably. Probably, she wouldn't grow much taller. She'd always be a small and ferocious woman – and if anyone underestimated her they'd regret it! Still, she was a year older than you; if anything, she was your big sister.
'Your handmaiden, eh?' said Elward, peering at her. 'Prestigious. For both of you. You must trust each other very much.'
'Go on, Jana,' you said, releasing her hand and ushering her into the centre of the room where she could be the focus of everyone's attention and interest. 'Say hello.'
You'd never known Jana to be shy, but it seemed like she was at that moment. Or perhaps she was making a show of it for your pompous old relatives. 'Hi. I'm Jana Netpicker, Elys's handmaiden,' she squeaked.
'Pleased to meet you, Jana,' said Elward.
Your parents both seemed very amused, you noticed. It was probably the first time they'd seen Jana lost for words.
'I trust Jana as if she were my own sister,' you declared, putting your arm around her and giving her a reassuring squeeze.
'Very sweet of you, dear,' said Raene. 'When I was younger, I wished I had a handmaiden, but…' She hesitated. 'As a child, I was never any good at making friends, especially not with my social inferiors.'
There was an awkward silence after that. Jana shuffled behind you, using you as a shield.
After a minute or so, your mother gave a dry cough and said, 'Elward, how is father?'
'In good health, despite the recent tragedies. He is still Count of Norrange, still as quick-witted and capable as ever. I wouldn't have dared come here if he wasn't.' Your uncle paused, sipped his wine, and said, 'He's remarkably healthy, all things considered. Perhaps he'll outlive all of us.'
'Uncle, what was my mother like as a child?' you asked.
He smiled. 'Wilful. A little firebrand. Always running around, waving a wooden sword, playing at being a knight. She'd disappear for hours on end, make everyone frantic with worry, and then come home covered in mud, with scabby knees, telling tall tales of battling evil spirits and rescuing damsels in distress. I thought one day she'd grow out of it, but she never did. She always wanted to be a knight.'
'Yes, thank you, Elward,' your mother said tartly.
'Tell me about Norrange. What's it like? Do you like it?' you asked, working yourself up into a frenzy of excitement. 'I've lived here all my life, in the Isles, but I've been to Marhanah – Mishrak took us! Marhanah was amazing, but Ismar is beautiful too – and the sea and the songs of the fishermen! How is Norrange?'
'Norrange is my home. To me, it'll always be the most beautiful place I've ever been to,' your uncle said. 'What do you think, Raene?'
'I was born in Wathelyne. That's the place I love best,' she said. 'But Norrange is lovely. Beautiful old towns, untouched by war, with cobbled streets and ornate temples. Golden fields of grain stretching as far as the eye can see. And it's warm. Plenty of balmy, sunny days. I've never regretted living there.'
At this point, Layna entered the room and announced that dinner was ready.
'Would anyone like to wash their hands or use the privy before dinner?' your father asked. 'Now is the time.'
A while later, you all sat down to dinner. The main course was roasted cod with a cheese sauce and fresh vegetables grown in Seawatch Keep's kitchen garden. You ate slowly, taking care to notice the eating habits of people sitting at the table with you: your mother attacked the fish as if it had personally offended her; your father seemed deep in thought; Elward ate steadily but without much enthusiasm; Raene had little appetite; Jana was clearly hungry, but she made an effort to slow down and remember her table manners because she didn't want to embarrass herself.
Brus Warrence arrived late to the meal, shuffling in on crutches and breathing heavily. 'Sorry I'm late,' he said. 'I've been working with Quilby and Jeffers. We've uncovered a nest of smugglers in a cave near Letts.'
Letts was a tiny village on the north side of the island. It consisted of only three houses nestled around a secluded cove.
'Are you all right?' asked your father. 'Any bloodshed?'
'Nah. The smugglers weren't there at the time. There were definitely signs that it had been used recently, though: empty barrels and crates they'd left behind, some spoiled foodstuffs and broken glass, traces of various spices, and so on.' He sighed. 'Oh well. We'll have to keep an eye on it to see who makes use of it in future.'
'Let us know before you confront them,' said your mother. 'You'll need backup if it comes to a fight. Quilby and Jeffers aren't warriors.'
'They've had some training,' said Brus. 'It's part of their job to fight, if needs be.'
'I don't want any of you dead because you rushed in without backup. Let us know beforehand and we'll be there to aid you.'
'Are smugglers a common problem in Ismar?' Elward asked worriedly.
'No, but we don't want them turning this island into a base from which to smuggle goods into Aspitolm or Rivayne,' said your father.
'But aren't you the ruler of Flotsam? Forgive me, but I thought the reason for that town's existence was to be a haven for pirates and smugglers.'
Your father closed his eyes for a moment. 'Some ago, I led a small band of warriors to free the town from the grip of pirates and slavers. After we'd slain the pirate lord who was its former ruler, I put my own man in charge. Since then, we've been working to reduce levels of criminality in Flotsam; we've been cracking down on smuggling, among other things.'
'Hmm. I'll take your word for it.'
By this point, everyone had finished with the main course. The table was stripped of dirty plates and cutlery and dessert was wheeled in by some of the servants. Your father gave instructions for one of them to take a plate of leftovers to Bellona Kachalskey in her study; presumably she'd been too engrossed in whatever she was working on to bother to come down for dinner.
Dessert consisted of fresh fruit and cream. Some of the fruits were very exotic ones your parents must have bought from an Avanni merchant; you recognised some of them you'd seen on the market stalls in Marhanah. Your aunt and uncle seemed to enjoy it well enough.
Finally, Elward pushed his chair back, raised a cup of wine, and said, 'Tonight, we're here to honour the memory of Joyzelle Villiars, and her family, and all the others who died when the plague came to Greygor Keep. Joyzelle was my dear sister. She was always a good and dutiful woman, who raised her children well and encouraged them to be the best they could be. Her sons were fine young men and her daughters were lovely young women who – I'm sure – would have raised their own children in much the same way, given the chance.' He looked directly at you. 'I regret that you never had the chance to meet of them, Elys. You'd have got on well with your cousins.' He turned to his sister. 'Yslena, do you have anything to say?'
'I left home when I was quite young,' she said awkwardly. 'I didn't get to know Joyzelle as well I should have. She was a lot younger than me. We didn't have much in common. But I always appreciated that she liked the things I didn't; I was relieved when mother stopped trying to talk to me about dresses and betrothal contracts and being a proper little lady, when she gave up on me and focussed on Joyzelle instead. I liked that, and Joyzelle liked the attention; between us, we had a good thing going.'
Elward looked your mother up and down, eyeing her gown, and said, 'You seem to have got over your dislike of dresses, over the years.'
'I always dress appropriately for the occasion.'
'Just a minute,' your father said in a strained voice. 'From what you said earlier… Joyzelle's children were all grown up?'
'Yes. Her eldest son, Rolan, was twenty-five, with a wife of his own and a baby on the way. Her youngest daughter was seventeen and engaged to be married later in the year.'
'Then why were they all gathered together in Greygor Keep? Didn't any of them have homes of their own?'
'It was a feast day. The entire Villiars family gathered together to celebrate.'
'And they all died,' your father said uneasily. 'That sounds almost like it was planned. A deliberate act of mass murder.'
'Perhaps,' Elward said slowly. 'But perhaps now is not the best time to speak of such things.' He took a deep breath. 'Instead, let's talk about the future. I'm getting old. I've lived a long and relatively happy life. I have plenty of money: enough to eat and drink as much as I want – probably more than I should – and to treat my wife to the luxuries I think she deserves. I live in safety and comfort as the heir to a large county in the middle of Rivayne. My father trusts me with the management of large parts of his realm and I don't think I've done a bad job. I have friends, people I respect and trust, and my wife I love dearly. I have everything I want in the world, except one thing: I don't have an heir. I had agreed with Joyzelle that her second son, Gared, would be my heir, but…' He sighed forlornly. 'Best-laid plans, eh? So… ahh, that's why I came here. I came to make you an offer.'
'You want my daughter,' your mother said.
'She has the best claim. If she wants to be Countess of Norrange, no one could deny her.'
'But does she want to?'
'That's what I'm asking,' said Elward, pouring another cup of wine.
What did you say next? (Choose whichever options you think are appropriate.)
[] "I want to be your heir."
[] "I don't want to be your heir."
[] "Can I visit Norrange first, before making a decision?"
[] "May I have some time to think about your offer?"
[] "May I discuss this with my parents, in private, before I make a decision?"
[] "Why don't you adopt?"
[] "My other uncle, Mishrak, is a powerful god. He creates sea monsters all the time. I'm sure if I ask him nicely he could create a child for you: a child that would be the biological son or daughter of you and Raene."
[] "Wait, if the entire Villiars family was wiped out, who stands to inherit?"
-[] "Is somebody wiping out Rivayni noble families one by one?"
--[] "I don't want to be your heir if it makes me a target for assassination."
[] Say something else (write in).
I originally planned that the title of this chapter would be "It's Amazing How Many People Are Functional Alcoholics, Isn't It?" I leave it up to you to decide which is the better title.
[X] "My other uncle, Mishrak, is a powerful god. He creates sea monsters all the time. I'm sure if I ask him nicely he could create a child for you: a child that would be the biological son or daughter of you and Raene."
[X] "Wait, if the entire Villiars family was wiped out, who stands to inherit?"
-[X] "Is somebody wiping out Rivayni noble families one by one?"
[X] "May I discuss this with my parents, in private, before I make a decision?"
[X] "Why don't you adopt?"
[X] "My other uncle, Mishrak, is a powerful god. He creates sea monsters all the time. I'm sure if I ask him nicely he could create a child for you: a child that would be the biological son or daughter of you and Raene."
[X] "Can I visit Norrange first, before making a decision?"
[X] "May I discuss this with my parents, in private, before I make a decision?"
It's a good way to get out into the world more than Elys has so far and, whatever happens, Norrange is probably going to come up again in the future. I assume there's a good reason for not adopting and I'm really curious to what that is.
[X] "Can I visit Norrange first, before making a decision?"
[X] "Wait, if the entire Villiars family was wiped out, who stands to inherit?"
-[X] "Is somebody wiping out Rivayni noble families one by one?"
[X] "May I discuss this with my parents, in private, before I make a decision?"
Think we should talk to Yslena and Gareth about adopting/asking Mishraak to help before we suggest it, since they'd probably know if that would or wouldn't be legally allowed.
'Very sweet of you, dear,' said Raene. 'When I was younger, I wished I had a handmaiden, but…' She hesitated. 'As a child, I was never any good at making friends, especially not with my social inferiors.'
I don't suppose there's a way we can stall for long enough for Mishrak to help us get in touch with a wisdom and/or leadership deity is there?
Or perhaps a former wisdom deity, perhaps one well versed in necromancy? *hint hint* (Seriously though, if all else fails there are worse options than him. Of course he'd be a last resort, mainly because I have no clue how willing to help he would be.)
'Tell me about Norrange. What's it like? Do you like it?' you asked, working yourself up into a frenzy of excitement. 'I've lived here all my life, in the Isles, but I've been to Marhanah – Mishrak took us! Marhanah was amazing, but Ismar is beautiful too – and the sea and the songs of the fishermen! How is Norrange?'
No reaction to mentioning of Mishrak. I suppose Yslena kept in touch with them then and they are aware of our relationship?
[x] "Wait, if the entire Villiars family was wiped out, who stands to inherit?"
-[x] "Is somebody wiping out Rivayni noble families one by one?"
[x] "May I discuss this with my parents, in private, before I make a decision?"
Adoptions are understandably controversial when it comes to inheritance, since the claim is weak and rests on nothing more than a word. In a world where magic exists, this opens a can of worms that would be better kept sealed.
[X] "Can I visit Norrange first, before making a decision?"
[X] "Wait, if the entire Villiars family was wiped out, who stands to inherit?"
-[X] "Is somebody wiping out Rivayni noble families one by one?"
[X] "May I discuss this with my parents, in private, before I make a decision?"
Hrm. I'm not quite sure what to vote for. Narrative-wise, I kinda want to visit. World-building and murder mysteries! Maybe Mishrak can open up portals for them to travel.
But, Norrange also sounds huge and messy. Inheriting it could force Elys into dire events.
The Mishrak option is also amusing. I think Chandagnac has been offering it tongue-in-cheek. But if it wins, Chandagnac might actually run with it.
[X] "My other uncle, Mishrak, is a powerful god. He creates sea monsters all the time. I'm sure if I ask him nicely he could create a child for you: a child that would be the biological son or daughter of you and Raene."
[X] "Wait, if the entire Villiars family was wiped out, who stands to inherit?"
-[X] "Is somebody wiping out Rivayni noble families one by one?"
I had originally planned that Elward and Raene would have a more antagonistic role in the story: they'd have been greedy, arrogant nobles, easy to hate. I expected that their conversation with Gareth and Yslena would degenerate into volleying insults. I wrote several pages of amusing insults I planned to use (well, amusing for me, at least; not so amusing for the characters involved). However, I realised that if their guests behaved badly there'd be no reason why Gareth and Yslena wouldn't just kick them out. Why would they subject themselves to that if they didn't have to? Yeah, this could have been a very short story arc…
So, I thought a bit more and adjusted my plans. I thought a lot more about Elward and Raene, their motivations, and what kind of people they are. I decided it didn't make sense for them to come such a long way if they didn't care about Yslena and Elys. Maybe they're estranged family, but they're still family. In the end… well, Elward and Raene aren't bad people, they're just old, sad, and weary. Yeah, they're a bit snobbish, but they're basically well-meaning.
Maybe that was a mistake. Maybe I shouldn't have made that change. It's possible that by taking away the antagonists I've robbed this story arc of any sense of drama. As a result, it's probably going to end up really weird.
Or perhaps a former wisdom deity, perhaps one well versed in necromancy? *hint hint* (Seriously though, if all else fails there are worse options than him. Of course he'd be a last resort, mainly because I have no clue how willing to help he would be.)
In this setting, the Chosen are human beings that a god (or gods) have imbued with some of their divine power. Their power levels can vary markedly. At the higher end of the scale, Strashan's Chosen are basically a pantheon of lesser gods. Mamnioch's Chosen (a pair of wandering heroes, Sildar and Jorantul) are borderline demigods. They would be barred from becoming kings, dukes, etc. in Quellonia. However, Elys is on the lower end of the scale.
Mishrak imbued Elys with some minor telepathic powers and the ability to communicate with sea creatures. If she gets dunked in water, she becomes an Atlantean (i.e. she's still recognisably human, but she's got webbed hands and feet, no need to breathe underwater, and she's very streamlined so she can move faster underwater). That's not enough to justify barring her from the succession.
The Chosen are not automatically excluded from inheriting lands and/or noble titles in Quellonia. No one wants a situation where, for example, an evil god could bar a crown prince from the succession by imbuing him with powers he didn't want or ask for.
In Quellonia, gods aren't supposed to rule over human lands. That's because Quellonians believe that Telthalus, creator of humanity, wanted humans to be free to govern themselves. However, the law doesn't prevent those gods' human worshippers from becoming kings or powerful noblemen and ruling over vast tracts of land. Like I said before, there are some Quellonian nobles who are devout worshippers of gods. As long as you rule wisely and fairly, work for the benefit of the people you rule, and don't discriminate against people who don't share your religious beliefs, it's unlikely that anyone will complain. On the other hand, if you're breaking the law, depriving people of their rights, and committing atrocities because your god told you to do so, people will revolt against you.
The rule about gods not being allowed to rule human lands is very much open to interpretation and has meant different things at different times. Part of the reason why the Quellonian Civil War went on for so long and was so devastating was because there were various sects who were fighting because they wanted to force everyone else to accept their version of the law/the "true religion". These days, because of the war, Quellonians are a lot more tolerant and cautious of offending people with different beliefs from their own. If Elys becomes Countess of Norrange, her people might disapprove of her having such a close relationship with Mishrak, but their negative reaction will be limited to tutting and shaking their heads. They'll basically tolerate it unless she starts making horrible decisions and ruining their lives. (However, her political enemies may use it as leverage against her.)
As Mishrak's name was only mentioned in passing, in the midst of a lot of excited babble, Elward and Raene weren't entirely sure whose name they heard, so they decided to ignore it for the time being. When it's mentioned again, they'll react to it. (Remember, Mishrak is kind of an obscure god here in the east.)
My quests all have sandbox elements. I let my readers do what they want to do. I'm glad when they come up with innovative and exciting ideas for what to do next. So long as they're willing to accept the consequences.
Vote closed.
Vote tally: ##### 3.21
[X] My other uncle, Mishrak, is a powerful god. He creates sea monsters all the time. I'm sure if I ask him nicely he could create a child for you: a child that would be the biological son or daughter of you and Raene.
[X] Wait, if the entire Villiars family was wiped out, who stands to inherit?
-[X] Is somebody wiping out Rivayni noble families one by one? No. of votes: 2 veekie, keios
[X] May I discuss this with my parents, in private, before I make a decision?
[X] Why don't you adopt?
[X] My other uncle, Mishrak, is a powerful god. He creates sea monsters all the time. I'm sure if I ask him nicely he could create a child for you: a child that would be the biological son or daughter of you and Raene. No. of votes: 1 Tascion
[X] Why don't you adopt?
[X] Can I visit Norrange first, before making a decision?
[X] May I discuss this with my parents, in private, before I make a decision? No. of votes: 1 Kyrina
[X] Can I visit Norrange first, before making a decision?
[X] Wait, if the entire Villiars family was wiped out, who stands to inherit?
-[X] Is somebody wiping out Rivayni noble families one by one?
[X] May I discuss this with my parents, in private, before I make a decision? No. of votes: 2 Bommelom, Oh I am slain!
[X] May I have some time to think about your offer?
[X] May I discuss this with my parents, in private, before I make a decision? No. of votes: 1 Zam
[x] Wait, if the entire Villiars family was wiped out, who stands to inherit?
-[x] Is somebody wiping out Rivayni noble families one by one?
[x] May I discuss this with my parents, in private, before I make a decision? No. of votes: 1 Nevill
Hmm. I've spent so long thinking about my answers to things my readers said above that I haven't got around to writing the next chapter. Hopefully, I'll get it finished by tomorrow.
I had originally planned that Elward and Raene would have a more antagonistic role in the story: they'd have been greedy, arrogant nobles, easy to hate. I expected that their conversation with Gareth and Yslena would degenerate into volleying insults. I wrote several pages of amusing insults I planned to use (well, amusing for me, at least; not so amusing for the characters involved). However, I realised that if their guests behaved badly there'd be no reason why Gareth and Yslena wouldn't just kick them out. Why would they subject themselves to that if they didn't have to? Yeah, this could have been a very short story arc…
So, I thought a bit more and adjusted my plans. I thought a lot more about Elward and Raene, their motivations, and what kind of people they are. I decided it didn't make sense for them to come such a long way if they didn't care about Yslena and Elys. Maybe they're estranged family, but they're still family. In the end… well, Elward and Raene aren't bad people, they're just old, sad, and weary. Yeah, they're a bit snobbish, but they're basically well-meaning.
Maybe that was a mistake. Maybe I shouldn't have made that change. It's possible that by taking away the antagonists I've robbed this story arc of any sense of drama. As a result, it's probably going to end up really weird.
I hope you enjoy it, anyway.
How would that help?
Teryn isn't a god of wisdom. He never was. He'd probably do a better job than Vistander, but that's not saying much.
Not necessarily.
In this setting, the Chosen are human beings that a god (or gods) have imbued with some of their divine power. Their power levels can vary markedly. At the higher end of the scale, Strashan's Chosen are basically a pantheon of lesser gods. Mamnioch's Chosen (a pair of wandering heroes, Sildar and Jorantul) are borderline demigods. They would be barred from becoming kings, dukes, etc. in Quellonia. However, Elys is on the lower end of the scale.
Mishrak imbued Elys with some minor telepathic powers and the ability to communicate with sea creatures. If she gets dunked in water, she becomes an Atlantean (i.e. she's still recognisably human, but she's got webbed hands and feet, no need to breathe underwater, and she's very streamlined so she can move faster underwater). That's not enough to justify barring her from the succession.
The Chosen are not automatically excluded from inheriting lands and/or noble titles in Quellonia. No one wants a situation where, for example, an evil god could bar a crown prince from the succession by imbuing him with powers he didn't want or ask for.
In Quellonia, gods aren't supposed to rule over human lands. That's because Quellonians believe that Telthalus, creator of humanity, wanted humans to be free to govern themselves. However, the law doesn't prevent those gods' human worshippers from becoming kings or powerful noblemen and ruling over vast tracts of land. Like I said before, there are some Quellonian nobles who are devout worshippers of gods. As long as you rule wisely and fairly, work for the benefit of the people you rule, and don't discriminate against people who don't share your religious beliefs, it's unlikely that anyone will complain. On the other hand, if you're breaking the law, depriving people of their rights, and committing atrocities because your god told you to do so, people will revolt against you.
The rule about gods not being allowed to rule human lands is very much open to interpretation and has meant different things at different times. Part of the reason why the Quellonian Civil War went on for so long and was so devastating was because there were various sects who were fighting because they wanted to force everyone else to accept their version of the law/the "true religion". These days, because of the war, Quellonians are a lot more tolerant and cautious of offending people with different beliefs from their own. If Elys becomes Countess of Norrange, her people might disapprove of her having such a close relationship with Mishrak, but their negative reaction will be limited to tutting and shaking their heads. They'll basically tolerate it unless she starts making horrible decisions and ruining their lives. (However, her political enemies may use it as leverage against her.)
As Mishrak's name was only mentioned in passing, in the midst of a lot of excited babble, Elward and Raene weren't entirely sure whose name they heard, so they decided to ignore it for the time being. When it's mentioned again, they'll react to it. (Remember, Mishrak is kind of an obscure god here in the east.)
My quests all have sandbox elements. I let my readers do what they want to do. I'm glad when they come up with innovative and exciting ideas for what to do next. So long as they're willing to accept the consequences.
Vote closed.
Hmm. I've spent so long thinking about my answers to things my readers said above that I haven't got around to writing the next chapter. Hopefully, I'll get it finished by tomorrow.
We are being asked to lead, specifically to lead a place we know nothing about where nobles in the area are dying under mysterious circumstances. A leadership and/or wisdom deity could could give valuable advice on how to run the place if we accept, or if we should accept at all.
Also in the previous thread Teryn told Hedgy one of his domains was formerly wisdom, but that he gave it up because a current wisdom deity was paranoid and thought Teryn wanted to usurp him so Teryn cut himself off from that so he didn't have to deal with that headache. Of course even if I'm wrong it doesn't really matter, Hedgy knew somebody who was a wisdom deity at one point and this is a good chance for a cameo as our favorite uncle was a hermit and may not be up to date on that deity's status as a former wisdom deity.
Besides, if we do suspect foul play, what better course of action than to have a necromancer ask the dead directly if they were murdered.
...I think it says something about me that I meant my original comment as a joke but now I'm seriously considering this as a valid course of action. Curse you and your intrigue, and your plot lines, and your newfangled flying machines!
Also in the previous thread Teryn told Hedgy one of his domains was formerly wisdom, but that he gave it up because a current wisdom deity was paranoid and thought Teryn wanted to usurp him so Teryn cut himself off from that so he didn't have to deal with that headache.
You've got that the wrong way around. Teryn was once a god of mercy, not wisdom. Also, the reason why he cut himself off from that domain was because he doubted that he had the capacity to always be merciful.
'Hmm… "Compassion". You know, "Mercy used to be one of my domains. My worshippers called me "Merciful Death", and thanked me for releasing them from a thousand years of being blocked off from the Wheel. I tried to be merciful and compassionate even to my enemies, even to the Cachals who murdered me and nailed me to the earth so my spirit couldn't go walkabout: by the time I'd become a god and able to do anything about it, the Cachals were facing an alliance of tribes pledged to exterminate them for the crimes they'd committed. They begged me for mercy and I thought, "Well, they've suffered enough already," so I promised I'd protect them as long as they followed my rules from then on. In later years, their children became some of my most devoted followers and the founding members of my guild. So that was all right. However, being a god of mercy means always being merciful, always believing you're doing the merciful thing, and always believing that being merciful is the right thing to do. Eventually, I uh… realised I couldn't do that, so I cut myself off from that domain and the name, Merciful Death. Cost me quite a lot of power, but I've recovered, over the years. You're thinking of taking "Compassion" as a domain? You think you can always be compassionate, always see other people's points of view, and compassion is the correct response to every situation you might find yourself in? Well, so long as you always believe in yourself, always believe you're being compassionate, you'll probably be all right. But if you start to doubt, that's when it'll start to hurt.'
'Wait, if the entire Villiars family was wiped out, who stands to inherit?' you asked.
'A distant cousin. One of their impoverished relatives,' said Elward. 'I've never met him.'
'Is someone wiping out Rivayni noble families one by one?'
'There's no need to panic. Only one noble family was wiped out. Yes, it was a terrible tragedy, but it was an isolated incident. The plague spirit who caused all those deaths was destroyed. It won't happen again,' Elward said firmly.
'But… what if it does?'
'Investigations are continuing. If it turns out that there was a sinister conspiracy behind all those deaths, we'll find out.' Elward sighed. 'I don't blame you for worrying, princess, but don't let it stop you doing what you want to do. Live your life as best you can, without fear.'
'What if I don't want to be Countess of Norrange?'
'If that's your decision, then I respect it. I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want. But consider this: I'm offering you wealth, power, and status. Those are all things that people spend their entire lives struggling for, but I'm offering them to you because I don't want to have to struggle. I want you to have a good life. Because you're family, the closest family I have left. I want you to inherit my estate. Consider it, please.'
'May I discuss this with my parents, in private, before I make a decision?' you asked.
'By all means. There's no reason why you should have to make a decision right now. Take some time to think about it. I'd rather you did that, and made your decision after weighing up all the pros and cons, than rushed into it without thinking. I'd hate for you to end up regretting your decision later.'
'Family is important to you, isn't it, uncle?'
'Very important.'
'What if you could have a child of your own? My other uncle, Mishrak, is a powerful god. He creates sea monsters all the time. I'm sure if I ask him nicely he could create a child for you and Raene: a child that would be your biological son or daughter.'
Elward hesitated. 'Mishrak, you say? Er… the sea dragon god, right?'
'Yes, that's right.'
'When she was just a baby, Elys was kidnapped by evil spirits,' your mother explained. 'Mishrak helped us chase them down and get her back safely. Since then, he has taken an interest in her wellbeing.'
'More than that, Elys is Mishrak's Chosen,' your father said. 'When he rescued her, he imbued her with a little of his power.'
'How much power?' Elward asked warily.
'She swims like a fish and can communicate with sea creatures.'
Elward nodded, took a deep breath, and said, 'Well, that shouldn't be a problem.'
'Mishrak saved me from a water spirit who tried to drown me,' Jana piped up.
'I see. It sounds like Mishrak has been very good to you.'
'He could be good to you as well,' you said. 'He could give you a child of your own.'
Shaking slightly, Elward looked at Raene, poured himself another cup of wine, and said, 'Thank you for the offer. I'm sure you mean it kindly. But I don't think it would help. Gods aren't meant to interfere in the succession. It's well known that my wife and I are too old to have children. It would cause too many problems if we had a baby now.' He sipped his wine. 'A long time ago, we made our peace with the fact that we wouldn't be able to have children. Although… we had one once. A little boy. We named him Bryan.' He glanced at your mother. 'Did you know that, Yslena?'
'No,' she admitted. 'There were years when I didn't have any contact with you or father.'
'What happened to him?' you asked.
'He had a bad fever. It took a lot out of him, but he fought it off. It seemed like he was finally recovering,' said Raene. 'We were so happy. But then he fell ill again. And he had no strength left with which to fight it.'
'We buried him in the family crypt,' said Elward. 'For years afterwards, we hoped we'd have another child. But…' He grimaced. 'Miscarriage after miscarriage. We asked a Cunning Woman why this was happening – we'd had one baby, so why couldn't we have another? She told me that there was something that I'd passed on to my unborn children – something in my blood – which Raene's body violently rejected. Apparently, it takes time for a body to become sensitized to such things, so our first child was fine, but after that…' He slumped back in his chair.
'I think we both blamed ourselves,' said Raene. 'They were a miserable few years.'
'Still, as I said, we made our peace with it. By then, Joyzelle had four healthy children. We agreed with her that one of them would be our heir. Gared grew up to be a fine young man. I was happy to think he'd be the future Count of Norrange. But the Fates make mockery of us all.'
'Well, uh… you could adopt. Why don't you?' you asked.
'If we adopted a child from outside the family, we'd be under pressure to put him or her outside the line of succession. My cousins would not want to be deprived of their rightful inheritance,' said Elward. 'If you don't want to be Countess, then the next step would be for me to visit my cousins who have a claim, decide which of their sons and daughters I like the best, and then petition the king to make them my heir. It could be messy if one of the others tried to contest it, but I won't worry about that until you've made your decision.'
'Can I visit Norrange first, before making a decision?'
'I don't see why not. I would prefer it if you made a decision sooner, but I suppose there's no real hurry. We could delay it for another year or so, give you time to visit your ancestral home; we could have you over to stay for a few weeks, in the summer, perhaps. It would be good for you to get to know your grandfather, anyway.'
What did you do next?
[] Discuss Elward's offer with your mother and father, in private.
[] Agree to spend some time in Norrange before making your decision.
[] Decide that you want to be Countess of Norrange.
[] Decide that you don't want to be Countess of Norrange.
[] It's late, too late to be making important decisions. Go to bed.
[] Do something else (write in).
She told me that there was something that I'd passed on to my unborn children – something in my blood – which Raene's body violently rejected. Apparently, it takes time for a body to become sensitized to such things, so our first child was fine, but after that…' He slumped back in his chair
