Noon of the 3rd Riverday of Petals, the Council of Masur Keep
You all arrive at the Council at the same time. When you enter the cramped throne room, the assembled Knights make way, among them some wearing the crest of the cradle. You approach the round table below the Council where Lydia stands by the empty throne. Gundhilde, who sits next to her, is about to get up and greet the Salt Knight but thinks better of it and nods subtly at Anastaz instead. Ludomir nudges Dorota, who has fallen asleep and looks up with bleary eyes. A tall, broad-shouldered Knight with the braided beard of a Svenrik warrior gets up to offer Freya his seat, and Lady Zdenka gestures Zoltan to join her. Opposite the throne sits an old woman you haven't seen before, her frail body wrapped in layers of furs and shawls. She is attended by a red-haired woman: Her likeness to Anastasia is unmistakable and you conclude the old woman must be Natalya, Anastasia's mother, with the Queen's sister. You recognize Sir Dragan by his traditional plaid. He hasn't aged much since you last saw him, although his disfigured red nose betrays a newfound passion for strong alcohol. The Circle is completed by Sir Mateusz and Sir Osvald of Karpat. Two chairs at the table closest to the throne but on opposite sides remain empty and none of the Knights claim them.
Anastaz looks from
one empty seat to the other, and strides to the throne. He sits
without hesitation and without fanfare.
Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight
Perilake looks to
the two chairs "I see the Queen will not be joining us."
He says with an utterly sincere and regretful smile upon his face.
"What a pity". He sits down next to Zoltan, nodding
at the gathered notables.
Sir Heldris, The Dove Knight
Heldris rushes into
the room, thinking himself late. He glances around, sees Perilake
taking a seat next to Zoltan, and spots a free chair next to Mateusz.
He greets the Lord of Karpat, and before sitting down on his side he
turns towards the throne, “My Que…” a surprised look
turns slowly into a confused smile, “My King.” He takes
his seat and throws a knowing look at Perilake.
Referee
Lydia seems perplexed
for a moment and Ludomir shoots an exasperated glance at Dorota.
Gundhilde looks down to hide a smile. Over the murmuring of the crowd
you hear a soft voice. Lady Natalya waves weakly with one hand:
“Please, Lady Lydia … proceed. The King-Regent should take my
daughter's place in her absence.” Lydia nods and angrily hits the
floor with a sharp rap of her cane. The room falls silent. “Knights
of the Realm!” she mumbles toothlessly. “I want to thank the
Brotherhood of the Black Fleece, who have slain the Axebearer and
crushed the peasant rebellion. Let this be a warning to all who
oppose the will of the Queen!” She waits until the approving
responses from the Knights die down before she turns around to face
the Salt Knight. “We understand that the leader of the peasants has
been taken prisoner. We assume he is to be executed publicly?”
Sir Heldris, The Dove Knight
The Dove Knight stands
to take the floor: “Enough blood has already been spilled, and on
this day we are supposed to be working to a more prosperous and
peaceful realm. I suggest that the leader of the rebellion be given
the choice to take the black: either joining the Church of the Child
or entering the service of a Seer who may be willing to have him.”
Referee
Angry murmuring ripples
through the knights in the background, only Sir Osvald knocks on the
table in support. Lydia keeps her watery eyes fixed on Anastaz, her
back turned to Heldris. “We all want a prosperous Realm,
Houndslayer… but if we allow peasants to neglect their fields and
oppose the natural order, the Realm will descend into chaos.” A
murmur of agreement runs through the hall as Zdenka and Dragan strike
the table with flat palms to indicate their
approval.
Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight
"What will an
execution do to restore order?" Perilake shakes his head. "We
speak of the vassal's neglect, but what of ours? The houses of this
realm have been at each others throats for an age. This fury is
because we have failed in our duty to provide order" "The
Axebearer was consumed by the madness of a curse, but it is the
madness of a realm divided that drive our people to rebellion."
He holds a hand in the air to forestall objections. "The
role of the houses is to provide stability for the vassals. Let us
show that this is more than the threat of an executioners blade."
 |
| Seeker Knights listening to the Father |
Sir Dragan scoffs and
there are confused whispers from the Knights of the Order who
consider the words of the Father. Lydia glares at Perilake. “A
public execution would remind the Vassals that there are consequences
for undermining the rule of the Queen, and it would reassure those
among them who still trust in the Knights to protect the Realm from
chaos.” She pauses for a moment, leaning on her cane. “It is a
curious thing … the Brotherhood hesitate not to execute nobles in
secret, yet when called upon to punish wicked vagabonds, they grow
faint-hearted.” She turns around to face the Salt Knight again: “Is
this the leadership we can expect from the King-Regent? The vagabond
will be ... what? Pardoned or exiled or will he rot for the rest of
his life in the dungeon ... like Tonda!” She almost spits the last
words but quickly recollects herself. "What is your verdict, my
lord?"
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
The Salt Knight
strokes his chin. "Trying to end rebellion with brutality
can be like trying to douse a fire with wine. We must find a way to
smother it for good. Any rebels imprisoned in our dungeons may choose
between service with a Seer or execution. For any with young
children, one child will become a page to an established knight.
After our wedding, I shall instruct the stewards to make plans for
more peasant children to be taken as wards each year."
Referee
While the room erupts
in angry shouts from the Knights, Sir Dragan gets up and slams his
hand on the table: “Preposterous! Peasants to be made squires? The
King has lost his senses!” Natalya whispers something in her
daughter's ear and she makes her way through the agitated crowd of
Knights to the door. Osvald attempts to pull Dragan back to his seat,
but the old man resists and reaches for his dagger. Gundhilde rushes
down to put herself between the two, while Ludomir calls for the
Knights to show restraint, but to no avail. Eventually Lydia raps her
cane violently on the stone floor until the room is silent again
except for Osvald and Dragan who are still shouting at each other.
“Sit ye down, or I shall have you both cast out.” Zoltan whispers
something about a drunken fool in Zdenka's ear, and Mateusz turns to
Heldris. He looks tired from the journey but his eyes glint
dangerously: “The new King? I tell you this: He might be reckless,
but the man has mettle!”
Sir Heldris, The Dove Knight
"Indeed he has,"
Heldris smiles to Mateusz, then looks around the raging room.
"He is the man who can bring some change into this mess of
rebellious vassals and indolent families, but to be successful he
needs our full support."
Referee
As Osvald and Dragan
calm down, Lydia addresses the Circle again. She is leaning on her
cane, an old woman in tattered clothes. Her speech is slurred, but
through sheer will, she commands the room.
“Tomorrow, the Realm
will come together and pledge loyalty to the Queen.” She turns and
gives Mateusz a respectful bow. ”House Karpat was loyal to Masur in
the past. It never abandoned King Tadeusz, and your perseverance, Sir
Mateusz, is an example to all of us … and that includes my own
family,” she adds remorsefully, ”who shamefully abandoned the old
King.”
She pauses and looks
around.
“Once all the houses
are united, the Barow family will be isolated, and they should
realize that the age of their rule is over. And yet! Our spies tell
us that they won't. They plan to wait for reinforcements from the
North and strike at the weakest holding when the opportunity arises.
Now is the time for us to end this once and for all!”
Cheers erupt from the
crowd, only the Knights of the Order stay silent.
“Barow can muster
three warbands, and another with veterans from the Crownlands. Only
an overwhelming force will be able to smoke them out… which brings
me to the tax.” She turns around and faces Sir Anastaz. ”Everyone
- and that includes Karpat and the Church of the Child - has to pay
their fair share for our military campaign to be successful. We need
funds to pay our soldiers, and with a slight increase in taxes, we
could even hire Landsknechts from Svenrik. We suggest sending Knights
at the end of spring to all the holdings and the Chapel of the Mother
to demand a moderate increase in taxes. What say you, Sir Anastaz?”
There is a grumbling
from the Seeker Knights, and Osvald whispers something to Mateusz,
who shakes his head.
Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight
"Lady Lydia is
correct," Perilake raises his voice and nods. "A
fair and temporary tax to support the war before it can spiral
further is a wise decision. But no more than we need for our own
forces; the Realm should settle its own affairs. They are fierce
warriors, but Barow's rule was always the weaker for the victories
owed to the Landsknechts." He knows that the passing of Ages
will not have dimmed the memories of Kranach or Karpat. "Thanks
to our honoured guests at this wedding and this council, we need not
turn to the mercenaries of Svenrik to bolster our forces." He
gestures to the Seekers. "The Prioress has offered both a
blessing to the marriage and the aid of her sworn Seekers in the
battle to come. No need to gather forces from beyond - we can march
by Harvest with an army of the realm." He looks back to
Lydia, and chooses his words carefully. "A realm united by
Masur."
Referee
In the silence that
follows Perilake's words, you hear the door opening. Anastasia’s
sister slips back to her place, whispering into Natalya’s ear.
Servants follow in her wake, bearing wine and bread. All the while,
Lydia stands motionless before the round table, weighing the Gilded
Knight’s proposal. Finally, she turns to Lady Zdenka and asks her
opinion on the matter. Zoltan steadies the tall ruler of Kranach as
she rises. She looks down at Perilake, her voice warm and smooth
despite her years, but you can hear a lingering pain. “The Realm
remembers. We remember the heroes who stood guard… and the invaders
who sought to burn it down. We would betray our fallen if we invited
eastern freebooters and plunderers into lands already soaked in our
people's blood. In the years since the war our faith has offered
solace. The Seers guided our hands at the Feast of the Stars and the
Sun and the Moon. Now a new faith rises in the South and many follow
its teachings. Whether it holds the wisdom of the Seers, I cannot
say. But Kranach does not abandon those who find answers in the
scripture of the Child. When Sir Zoltan, the Pigeon Knight, claims
the crown, he must decide if the Church blesses his coronation. The
Salt Knight shall be granted that same choice.”
“The choice
belongs to husband and wife,” Natalya interrupts in a brittle
voice. “I demand that the meeting be adjourned until the afternoon,
when my daughter can lead it as the rightful Queen of the Realm.”
Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight
"Of course my
Lady, the Queen must decide on her own marriage." Perilake
shakes his head in charming disbelief at the very thought. "I
only spoke to Lady Lydia's wisdom, of the need for strong forces and
our good fortune in having an ally at hand to enable a swift
offensive." He looks around the room at the assembled
council. "And I am sure all of those attending this council
understand its import. I pray, let us continue whilst we have such
personages turned to the matters of the realm."
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
"We rule on behalf
of the people of this realm," Anastaz says, "which
includes the Church. If they want to be a part of it, they must pay
their fair share. The wedding would never take place without the
blessing of the Seers, but with Anastasia's consent, I do not see why
it should not be blessed by the Church as well. We shall wait to
decide until she has had time to hear this matter, of course."
The Salt Knight glances around. "Are there any other
matters of state worth discussing aside from our nuptials?"
Referee
Mateusz rises so
abruptly that he knocks his heavy oaken chair over. He turns his back
to the throne and faces the knights standing behind the round table
instead. “We have sworn an Oath to honour the Seers; we haven't
sworn to pray to false gods. Karpat has been loyal to Masur when
everyone else kneeled before the usurper. If the new King abandons
our traditions, we won't bend our knees to him either.” There are
hisses of disapproval from the Seeker Knights, but when he and Osvald
leave, a handful of free knights follow. Natalya laboriously gets to
her feet. ”We had hoped that the King-Regent would show restraint
in wielding his new authority in the absence of the Queen.” She
shuffles slowly toward the door and adds, barely audible over the
noise of protest from Council and Circle, “We have been mistaken.”
Sir Heldris, The Dove Knight
The Dove Knight
follows after the lord of Karpat. “Sir Mateusz,“ he calls,
as they walk one of the long corridors of the castle, “I
understand your resentment, but didn’t you tell me just a few
minutes ago how our new King has mettle as much as recklessness?”
They slow down to a window overlooking the lake. “He pushed
some boundaries not to insult you, but to protect you. Do you want
famine to strike again while the crown collects taxes to arm foreign
soldiers? The people don’t care who sits on the throne, they care
that harvest will be good and winter meek.” Gentle gusts of wind
moves ripples over the glistening lake. “The Seers will always
be the keepers of the truth. These cults, whether they call
themselves churches, will always come and go. Let them play with
their new toy, if that will convince them to fight at our side
without having to tax our people, all the better. The church won’t
last, it’ll be like the prick of a thorn in the Seers’ finger.”
 |
| The long Corridors of the Keep |
”The ruler of Karpat is a custodian of the land and its people. If
they hunger we shall not eat. If we ask them to fight. we fight from
the front. But the people need more than peace and a full plate. They
need meaning and purpose for their struggles.” He turns to you.
“You have been more than a friend to my house, you are family. You
married Lady Hedwig and spent many winters in the Fortress. Your
words carry weight.” His face is bathed in the warm spring sun for
a moment but there is a chill in his voice. ”I ask you, champion of
the River: When more and more Vassals abandon the old ways and meet
in caves and pray to their false idols, shall we allow it? When they
forget the old songs and sing their hymns of the Child, shall we be
silent? When they kneel at the Feast of the Stars while we dance,
shall we let them?”
Sir Heldris, The Dove Knight
The Dove Knight
listens to Mateusz worries. “None of that will matter if the
land is still at war… we have to give, in order to get. Lady
Lamberta would have given even more, to get rid of Barow's hand over
her people, but would have never put them in danger.” A large
bird glides over the lake, perhaps a hawk, perhaps something else.
“You're right, Karpat feels like home to me, with all its happiness
and all its sorrow, and I care for its fate. If you're worried about
your vassals, I will seek the Seers and ask them how to strengthen
their faith. But you know better than me, that their solution won’t
be an easy one.” He watches the bird land on the roof of a lower
fortification, overlooking the land with its impenetrable gaze.
“We shouldn't forget that the Seers know more than we ever will.
This Church of the Child might have some role to them that we're yet
to understand. Let's worry about our people's health, and let the
Seers worry about their faith."
Referee
Mateusz nods gravely.
“I will wait for the Seer's wisdom before I lead my troops into
battle alongside the warriors of the Church... but you have spoken
like a true Karpatian: The people first, and let the Seers decide. I
guess I will have to grit my teeth when the priestess stands at the
altar.” He grabs your good hand with his. “Whenever you have a
chance to bring their verdict to Karpat... you know you are always
welcome in the fortress.”
Back in the throne room, Lydia watches the Dove Knight leave. “There are matters of taxation still to be discussed… but it seems pointless, my lord, to proceed without the Queen or her mother present.”
Zdenka cuts her off. “I
agree, Lady Lydia. However…” She shrugs off Zoltan, who is about
to help her up again. Even seated, she is almost at eye level with
the Steward of Masur. “House Kranach has agreed to pledge loyalty
to the Queen under the condition that the rule of the Kingdom will be
transferred to Sir Zoltan of Kranach.” She looks over to Anastaz.
“We need guarantees from Masur and the King-Regent that Zoltan
becomes ruler of the Realm before he is an old man.”
Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight
Perilake frowns at
Zoltan. All those years, and he still has no voice of his own?
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
"How old is the
Pigeon Knight?" The Salt Knight barks to the emptying throne
room.
Referee
Zdenka doesn't flinch.
“He is not a young man anymore. We agreed to Masur and Farkash
uniting the land but what the Realm really needs is a King in his
prime to rule for as long as possible.” She raises her voice over
the protesting Council members Dorota and Ludomir. “Five years
should be enough to steady the ship!”
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
"We have seen the
perils of making decisions without the Queen's input," Anastaz
forces a thin smile. "This is a matter to discuss with
Masur. But my Lady, I do not wish to die on the throne any more than
you do."
"Further
discussion is futile. This meeting is adjourned." The Salt
Knight looks at the exit and sighs before standing from the throne.
Referee
Lydia is standing
forlorn before the round table with her sunken face and tattered
clothes as the knights of the Circle are filing out of the throne
room.
Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight
Perilake lingers,
waiting for a word with Lydia. "I know that in ages past, we
fought to different ends. But neither of us have changed our cause -
it is time that has made them one and the same." He pauses,
and looks around the emptied room. "It is a pity this was
not more fruitful. The greatest lesson of my life is that our time
must be spent previously, for it can be snatched from us with no
warning." He sighs. "I mean no insult, but I do not
understand why this council was even drawn if it could not be
conducted in the Queens absence. Is all well?"
Referee
“All
is well with the Queen ...” Lydia says absentmindedly, “... very
well indeed. I was not expecting anything final to be decided today …
and neither did Her Highness.” She probes the floor with her cane.
“She has chosen to spend the day in preparation of her wedding and
… ah well … I didn't have the heart to deny her the pleasure of
choosing the dinner and the colour of the flowers and ...” She
straightens herself and looks at you with watery eyes. “It is a
pity that we haven't made much progress today, but maybe with some
preparation the next meeting might prove more fruitful … let us
take a walk, Gilded Knight. I have grown tired of this dark room.”
In the corridor she leans on a windowsill with both hands and closes her eyes and faces the sun. “If it weren't for the brotherhood the Secret Order would have been successful in removing King Andrasz … decades ago. Sir Heldris killed the Prince and Sir Anastaz slew the Iron Knight. Tonda was thrown in prison where she wasted away for decades and poor Ida was executed after the Salt Knight delivered her to the Barows.” She gives a short bitter laugh. “So yes one could say we fought on different sides. But let us not dwell on the past.” She grabs her cane and starts walking again. “They call you the Father, I heard?”
Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight
Perilake thinks of
the heir to Masur's banditry, of those he robbed and harmed and
killed. But Lydia is right; now is not the time to dwell on the past,
nor on the hypocrisy of this woman and her earlier rhetoric. Now is
the time for progress. "I hope our next meeting is more
fruitful too." He ignores her question for the moment, and
considers how best to avoid offence whilst addressing the issue that
Masur and the Queen mother have undermined the council and their
shared cause. "I confess I find it a poor omen that such
important matters were taken so... trivially. " He shrugs,
"But let us not dwell on the past. We can only hope for better
at our next opportunity." "You asked me a question, and I
must confess you have heard correctly; that is what some have taken
to calling me. But for myself, I am only the father of my son,
Avert." He walks slowly beside Lydia. "He was taken
from us, and thanks to my brothers, he is returned. Alas, we were not
the only ones to return from the Kingdom of the Elves; it is my
belief that King Barows adviser is the mortal wizard Ashling, and it
is his powers that alert Barowia to our movements."
Referee
Lydia pauses at the
next window. She is out of breath and leans with one hand against the
wall. “How strange… a wizard is their eyes and ears.” She
shakes her head. “We haven't gotten good information from our spies
in years, it seems your wizard also found a way to blind and deafen
us." She looks up at you quizzically. “Thank you, Ser
Perilake. Maybe we can find a way to take him out from afar… a
poisoned arrow… a crossbow bolt… In the meantime, we need to
muster enough troops that the information about their position won't
make a difference. And that means uniting the Realm and all the
houses. To make concessions.” She takes a deep breath and starts
shuffling further down the corridor. “I am willing to use what
influence I have over Natalya and the Queen… if you can rein in
Anastaz. He seems to want to grab the bull by the horns. In my
experience, it is sometimes smarter to move out of the way and let
the bull blow off some steam first.”
Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight
Perilake sighs, and holds her gaze. "I must speak bluntly; this council was a failure of its own making. I do not believe this holding lacks for chairs, yes?" He shakes his head in disappointment. "A poorly dug moat will flood the foundations of your own castle, and we will all be caught in the collapse." "But I think we understand each other. I am sure you will wield your influence with wisdom Lady Lydia." He says solemnly. "I will do my best to sweeten the Salt Knight's disposition. Let the next council be about the future, and not futility." He bows, and leaves.
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
At the threshold of
the throne room, Anastaz whispers a message to a servant to tell
Natalya to meet him in his quarters. He returns to the shared
bedchambers and pours a cup of wine.
Referee
There is a weak knock on the door and when you call out, the young
woman who has attended Natalya steps in, hesitant and shy, but her
voice doesn't waver. She has curly red hair and striking green eyes
that seem to look past you. “My lord, I beg your pardon, but my
mother doesn’t feel well. She wonders if I could be of service?”
She remains at the door like a doe ready to flee at the first sign of
danger.
 |
Nadezhda of Masur |
Sir Heldris, The Dove Knight
After talking with
Mateusz, the Dove Knight walks the corridors of the castle, thinking
about the Seers and about his dreams of a city of upward roots under
a clear sky. He remembers the rough white cloth that’s still in his
pocket: Beware… As he walks absorbed in his thoughts, he finds
himself outside and spots the large plane tree, and sees sir Anton
still sitting under its heavy branches. He approaches the acolyte: “I
apologise if I had to run, duty called.” He smiles as he takes
place under the tree. “I received a message this morning,” he
takes out the cloth and shows it to Anton, “the message is as
clear as it could be, but its subject is not… What do you think?”
Referee
The ground is warm and smells of spring. When you hand Anton the
fabric, he looks confused for a moment, as if he has just woken up
not knowing where he is, but he smiles at you, takes the cloth, and
feels it with his thumb. “A message?” When you explain the walnut
containing the message, he just nods. “From a Seer, it seems, and
just one word. The Veiled Seer is known to be… parsimonious in
explaining themselves.” His carefree laughter turns into a cough
and his eyes water. When he regains his breath, he adds, “A
warning, maybe. I hope he is not warning you of me… or is the
warning for me?” He smells the cloth. “Dusty and old, like a
tomb. Maybe the warning is for me to be careful? I hope I can trust
the mighty Dove Knight to protect me from…” He trails off. “I
don't think anyone would mean me harm. Do you?”
Sir Heldris, The Dove Knight
The Dove Knight
smiles, in between amusement and worry. “Do you think this
message was meant for you?” He holds the cloth in his hand.
“We seem to be on the verge of a clash between the faiths…
although I think the only ones clashing are those of the Church of
the Child… the Seers, as always, seem to be watching their own fate
from afar.” He observes sir Anton, his watery eyes and labored
breath. “I’ve promised the lord of Karpat that this new
church won’t sweep away the old faith… but if you feel yourself
at harm, don’t hesitate to call for me.” As he says so, his
teeth show and his breath is heavy, “I may be forgetting my
body, but I haven’t forgotten my oaths.”
Referee
“To honour the
Seers,” Anton nods, “is the duty of all Knights!” A thrush is
singing in the tree and the Acolyte closes his eyes and listens. Just
as you think he might have fallen asleep, he adds, “There is an old
woman in Swinjo who carries the sign of the cradle and a slow goat
herder in the mountains whose daughter fell to her death, but … I
don't fear the Church, its roots are shallow and will never take hold
among the common folk.” “I was afraid when the sun turned black.
The Seer moaned, the stones shifted and I dreamt of the tomb
crumbling …” he shudders, “I don't need protection … but the
Entombed Seer might.” He opens his eyes and looks at you solemnly.
“Visit us when you can.”
Sir Heldris, The Dove Knight
The Dove Knight’s
face darkens, “You speak of worrisome omens, I will visit the Seer
as soon as I'll be free from my duties here. Have you any idea of
what might be the threat? Of what this black sun might signify?”
Referee
“An end to the age of
Seers and the beginning of something foul … “ he shudders, ” …
or the end of all things.” The last words are whispered and the
Acolyte looks away to hide his fear. Despite his dark prophecy the
thrush sings sweetly and the golden sun shines in the clear sky and
after a moment Anton composes himself. “The Seers don't reveal the
truth to us … only the Knight are worthy of their guidance. I have
faith that you will protect them.”
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
Anastaz fixes the
woman in his gaze for several moments, then pushes forward the
goblet. "You will have to do. I know I have done plenty to
offend your family, but now our interests are tied. My only goal is
to unite Masuria, and I cannot do that when I am challenged by
critics on all sides."
Referee
She smiles without much
confidence but gracefully takes the seat opposite you. “I apologize
for my lack of decorum. My name is Nadezhda, which means hope in the
old tongue. My mother gave me the name in the hope that I would see
the Realm united. You have fewer enemies than you might think, Salt
Knight.” Her smile is genuine now and she takes a tiny sip from the
goblet. ”When the Realm was still called Masuria there were plays
and games and poetry. If my sister can govern like a Masurian ruler,
we will rebuild the Gamehall and dance at the Feast of the Stars, and
peace and beauty will return.” For the first time your eyes meet.
“What will become of the Realm if King Anastaz rules?”
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
The Salt Knight
pours a cup of wine, takes a small sip himself, and stands. He
carries his chalice to the window and looks out. "Peace,
unity... hope. Fine words, that matter sadly little in this world. If
Masur's rule was so perfect, it never would have ended. You forget
that peace is submission is surrender. Beauty is not enough; plays
and games and poetry are not enough. You must be loved or feared or
both." He turns back to Nadezhda, plants his hands on the
table, and leans towards her. "My brothers want peace; it is
all we desire. You have a claim to the throne; in exchange, we offer
you strength and a legend you can use to keep it. If the Queen does
not wish to sully her hands, so be it. But it will take blood and
dirt to rule this realm. With us, or without us."
Referee
“Our rule ended because the Barowians invaded the Realm and killed
without mercy.” she exclaims in protest. She immediately regrets
her outburst however and covers her eyes in the fashion of the women
of the East. “Of course my lord knows more about ruling than I ever
will … and I'm here as a mere messenger … What is it my lord
would ask of my mother?”
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
Anastaz gently takes
Nadezhda's hands in his own, his expression softening as he stares
directly into her eyes. "Let. Us. Help."
Referee
Her hands are small and
cold and fragile but she holds your gaze and whispers, “House Masur
relies on the help of the Brotherhood.” When she continues, she
speaks without hesitation, as if she had memorized every word:
“However, my mother suggests that any decrees shall be agreed upon
by husband and wife before they are declared, that our faith in the
Seers shall not be challenged, and that radical reforms shall be
introduced gradually and only after consulting all the houses.”
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
The Salt Knight
suddenly lets go of the young woman's hands. "There is a
sickness at the heart of this realm. One that matured with Barowia
and, I'm sure, was nascent in Masuria. We must cut out the rot. If
you do not take decisive action, you may as well tie your own noose."
"A two-headed doe cannot run, that I will allow. And my faith in
the Seers has never wavered. But I will not permit the near-sighted
and close-minded to doom this realm to more conflict." "Give
my lady my regards."
Referee
She looks confused or scared for a moment and wordlessly gets up and
bows deeply and leaves.
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