ralph_dnd | empire-building and a family visit

June 8 (Sunday)

Yesterday I contacted Trina, Theodocius' apprentice, via the crystal ball. She seemed quite surprised to hear from me. I asked if we could meet, and today Turok and I went to Durgam's Folly.

The place is in much better repair than when last we were here. They have allowed Trina to set up a lab, though she complains that she is under some scrutiny "just in case". She has stayed steadfastly away from anything involving organic life, though, so all should be fine there.

Turok described Dorla's situation, which Trina found fascinating. She has not worked with implanted magic of that sort, but she has some ideas from Theodocius' notes, and she will do some research. She said she would like to meet Dorla when she arrives, which we will arrange.

Trina asked after Prolix, and we said that he had left us to join Nithelin in Covanion. She said she might go there; I warned her to think carefully about two gnomish wizards in the same room. She said she'd take precautions.

June 9 (Monday)

Turok brought Karameikos to meet Agondre today. Agondre approves, so we invited him into the new knighthood order and he accepted.

Turok suggested that the members of the order need regalia -- at least prominent cloaks and probably other stuff. I think that's a grand idea and suggested that he find a tailor to assist. We found some rich velvet in Agondre's colors in the palace store-rooms.

More importantly, he is continuing to look for suitable candidates. He believes we will be able to have ten by Coronation. We already have three. Kyle turned us down, or we would have had four. This doesn't surprise me, mind; Kyle is a good man and a friend and he seems to regard the rest of us well, but this is not his calling.

We talked with Seamus today about handling the other dukes. Since Tergia, Thoracis, and Lescap have this historic rivalry, I think it's important that we not give any of them a preceived advantage over the other two. We've come up with ways to make each feel special, and tomorrow Turok and I are going to take a whirlwind tour and visit all three. When they compare notes later, that will make it harder for any to claim preferential treatment from us.

They all sound like challenging individuals. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.

June 10 (Tuesday)

It is done. All three dukes understand the current structure of the empire, and all will comply. They will also all send heirs to Cardior.

It was a long day. I need a drink. And I need to spend some time away from politics now.

Hrolf just commented that I need to go out hunting with him. That's fair. Ok, first a hunt by a pair of owls; then some mead from the ever-flowing pitcher on the table in the sanctum. Why choose?

June 11 (Wednesday)

Reports from the soldiers we sent out from Cardior are good so far. Many of the smaller towns had already begun their own cleanup; we had worried that they might cower in fear from all the monsters that had ravished the land in the past, but apparently the change in the land invigorated many people and inspired them to take back their towns from the monsters. That's great! It also makes things easier for Cardior's army.

Today was, as I decided yesterday, a day of not dealing with political intrigue. Instead, I decided to visit Shepford. It's been a long time, and I was going to have to tell them what's been happening eventually anyway.

Liandra and Tobin came with me and Hrolf. I made a point of dressing up, and they did as well. Agondre's influence has a significant effect on me anyway, but even so I made a few magical tweaks just to ensure that I made a powerful impression. While it may be a cliche in some places, I decided to enter in a puff of smoke, hovering a couple of inches above the ground.

We went at dinnertime and teleported straight into the center of Jehan's inn. The place was crowded but instantly fell silent. I looked around, spotted my parents, and said "hi Mom".

They were stunned. In fact, everyone was stunned. (Mom fainted.) Well, almost everyone -- Dad was positively beaming! Dad doesn't miss much, though I think he pretends to because it's easier to handle Mom that way.

Everyone wanted to know what has changed and how we're so powerful now. I decided that Mom is still not ready to know about a daughter facing a dragon in combat, so we told the tale, err, creatively. We also decided that this was not the time to bring up the topic of the empress, exactly.

I did report that the land will have a new emperor soon, and Mom gushed -- "you've met the emperor?!" Well yes, in a manner of speaking, and I said that I would be able to get the family into coronation in a couple weeks. Note to self: arrange a visit from a good tailor; I don't want my parents to feel underdressed and out of place.

Mom asked if I'm married yet and Liandra mentioned that I have someone close in Cardior, but he doesn't travel. I was just going to say no. Some people... but it did placate her, so maybe Liandra had the right idea.

Maria was eyeing me suspiciously. I gave her one of the bracelets I was wearing and she asked if it was a trick. No, I said -- just a gift. It took her a few minutes, but she did eventually put it on.

The rat-queen was there -- or perhaps had slipped in; I'm not sure which. I thanked her for her generosity last year and offered her the flarestone back, along with a few pieces of sparkly jewelry. She seemed pleased but didn't want to accept at first; Tobin, translating, said that she had nothing to give us in return. I told her that she had already given us good relations with her people and that she should be especially proud of Tobin. Tobin then gave her the magical cloak that I had made originally for Kyle. She was thrilled. And I believe that this public bestowal of gifts from us should take care of any lingering hostility toward the rat-kin in Shepford; it is quite clear to all that they are under my protection. No one seems inclined to argue.

Brion was there; we exchanged some knowing glances while I was telling the story of our adventures, but he kept silent. When I hugged him later I whispered "thank you" to him and he said "good call". I told him to plan for a trip to coronation, too. He said he would be offended if he wasn't invited.

Brion told us that the crops are doing well so far thanks to Liandra's blessing last fall. Jehan's beer seems a little better than I remember; I wonder if the crops affected that too. And Jehan's inn is quite nice now; you can't tell that there was ever a problem with the floor.

We sat and talked and ate for a while, and Tobin spent some time with some of the rat-kin. Later, when it was time to leave, Tobin brought three rat-kin over and introduced them, saying that they are bright young rats who are eager to do more in the world. I said we would be happy to take them to Cardior if the rat-queen released them, which she did. So they returned with us, and Tobin will begin teaching them more of our language. Currently they know only a few words, including several for "cheese".

I assured my parents that the danger in the land is now contained and while I won't be coming back to Shepford to live, I am comfortable and we will see each other again soon. They seemed content.

Just before we teleported away I glanced at Maria. She was juggling three coins -- a hard trick, but it would have been even harder if she'd had to do it all physically. Mom and Dad may not be done with magic in their house just yet.