Calling the Council

[Tyr]

As the weeks passed by construction crews steadily made their way through the castle remains until finally Castle Mardok stood solid, rebuilt as a proud example of ancient architecture. While the Duke's other projects established the duchy as a monument to progress and creation, the castle's reconstruction was a reminder that the Duke remembered the traditions of old. Whether that actually mattered to the people was a different subject. Either way the walls were strong, the supports reinforced, and the Mardok family was once again living inside their ancestral home. All that was left was to celebrate.

With the miracle hacklung cure having been mass-produced and distributed throughout the country, it seemed like a good a time as any to throw a small festival to celebrate surviving that nightmarish plague. Tyr had laid out grand plans for a tournament, feast, general celebration events, but also something far more serious. Letters were drafted and sent out to each of the great houses, requesting the presence of each sitting Duke or Duchess. Tyr was calling for a meeting of the Council. It had been quite some time since the last, and this would be the first he called under his own power. Whether the rest would come had yet to be seen, but with his recent actions he hoped to have enough political clout to manage such a thing.

While he awaited replies decorations were made, drinks were brewed, and storerooms got stocked up for the feast. Tyr busied himself for a while in the Artificery, turning out magnificent pieces of jewelry to offer up as tournament prizes, but eventually the crafting was done and all he could do was prepare for what was to come. Kilinger was brought in and more plans were drawn, defenses outlined, logistical trails laid out. There was a war coming to Mardok and they needed to be prepared for it. With any luck the existing groundwork would see them through well enough, and the outcome of this Council meeting would ease his worries for what was to come.

---

When the appointed time came Mardok was decorated for a grand party. Pavilions were set up just around the town, inside the town, and a few even inside the castle. There was a jousting field, dueling arena, feasting hall, the works, all ready to go as the people arrived. A general call had been sent out, Mardok was hosting a Festival of Life following the end of the great plague. There was plenty of food to be had, street vendors were selling all sorts of wares, and tournament registration was just beginning. Tyr played his part as the hosting duke, making public appearances and greeting people as they came, but it was the council meeting he was waiting on. The meeting had been scheduled for the evening before the Festival's official start, that all business might be dealt with so everyone could freely enjoy themselves after.

Thus it was that on the 25th of Oceaus, a week before the start of winter, Tyr stood in the meeting hall of his castle. A large round table had been moved in, with enough seats for each standard member of the council, and a few for any unexpected guests. Ornate place settings with the crests of each house were carefully arranged around the table to try and keep those with rivalries farther apart. There was a fine meal awaiting all of them in the kitchens, with staff in the wings to serve it. The hall was covered in rich tapestries, the guards had newly polished armor, Kilinger was on hand to oversee proper decorum. Everything was following a protocol that made Tyr chafe, but such was the nature of the powerful. Two guards in highly decorative armor stood at the doors, ready to announce the nobility as they arrived. Tyr would greet each one and direct them to their place, whether they would stand and wait with him or seat themselves was up to them. All he could do now was hope things worked out for the best.

[Azuloth]

One after another the Dukes and Duchesses of Cruinthe arrived at the castle in Mardok. They came in carriages and on horseback with their retinues. A few were early, some were slightly late, but they had all made good time in arriving around the 25th of Oceaus. They had begun to gather in the meeting hall. The circular table was a normal affair, everyone had expected it in one way or another. Some great houses had theirs as two semicircles with some space between for servants to walk about. Others had a firepit in the center. Others still had theirs in smaller quarters so the discussion could be more private. Either way, they were expecting the shape of things.

Duke Charyn was the first to arrive.

"Well well well, Mardok is looking nice and ripe. Eh? Been a while since we've all been together. Let's see what this is about in due time, eh? Hahahaha!"

The man croaked out a laugh as he went into the meeting hall.

Duchess Farfalles arrived second.

"It has been a long time, our parents were ruling at the last Council of Dukes. Now it is our turn. I'm hopeful for the future."

Duke Leddentine was third.

"Hail, lords of high caliber. Is this where the future of the nation is going to be decided? I hope you have good security, Mardok. It wouldn't do for all of us to die in one fell swoop."

He sounded paranoid.

Duchess Ardesta and a guest were fourth. They were clad in black long cloaks.

"Greetings and salutations, cousins and kin."

The guest merely nodded.

Duchess Van'Cressa was fifth to arrive, and she arrived in style.

"OH TYR! I just LOVE what you've done with the place! Wasn't this a crumbling ruin not long ago? Oh my! The tapestries! Simply DARLING! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! I can't wait for the party! I can't wait!"

Duke Telestere, Duke Sharalyre, and Duchess Havenkor had managed to arrive at the same time.

"This shall be so much fun. I'm not much for politics, but I think it has been an age since we've been together. I'm ready for the games, aren't you Padraig?"

"Yes! The games. Ha, are you going to enter into the melee? No... no no... Jousting is for you my friend. Yes. I can see you jousting."

"And what of the mental acrobatics? Will I see either of you at the card table? You don't fear my deck do you?"

"Not on your life Rynna. Not on your life. You and a card game, that's not something to mess with."

"Weaklings. You'll bow before my mightiest cards."

"Too true. I am already bowing!"

They gathered in the meeting room and naturally formed their own circles. Circles that mimicked their childhood friendships. They began to catch up with each other. It had seemed tragedy had stricken each of their families. Telestere, Sharalyre, and Havenkor remained together. Ardesta, her guest, and Charyn formed a triangle. Farfalles and Leddentine were sticking together, as they were neighbors. Van'Cressa was wandering around the room, floating from group to group, admiring everyone's best clothes.

Redgar hadn't arrived yet.

[King Redgar Karligar]

Redgar would arrive two or so hours after the last of the other dukes arrived. His retinue looked worse for wear. The members of his family that had arrived with him were a tad shaken. He was elated, he couldn't stop grinning. He didn't care if he was late at all. He only wanted to talk about the encounter he had on the road to Mardok to his friend Tyr. Redgar arrived atop his dire wolf Baalrung. A long howl pierced the air as they stopped in front of the castle. The other dire wolves in the column howled as well. Redgar strode into the castle and into the council chamber partially armored by the equipment Tyr had given him. It was slaked with dried blood. Two of his men followed him as well.

"Ah, everyone is here already? I hope you didn't start without me. I slew several Ithe on the way here when the mongrels attacked us in Mallon."

There wasn't a hint of a lie. Redgar was a formidible opponent when atop his dire wolf. In the several months since Tyr had last seen him, Redgar had grown much stronger.

"I'm ready to begin when you are, friend Tyr."

Redgar would find a spot and sit down. His guards stood behind him.

[Tyr]

Tyr greeted the guests as they arrived and were announced, letting them take their places individually as he watched passively. It wasn't that he couldn't engage the individuals, it was more as he was the one calling such an event he felt a need to remain the impartial observer until everyone was present. Make sure the proceedings went smoothly, act as administrator up until he joined the Council for the actual meeting on equal ground. It was a weird place to be in, but there was a measure of decorum he wanted to observe in order to add credibility to his eventual arguments.

At least, that was until Redgar took two hours to show up after everyone else. Refreshments had been served to keep everyone happy, Tyr mingled with the various groups trying to keep conversation light while avoiding the subject of where the hell 'King' Karligar was. When he did finally show a runner informed the kitchens to quickly reheat or finish whatever food had been waiting and prepare to serve it. As the last Duke seated himself Tyr addressed the gathered group.

"Fellow Duchesses and Dukes, I thank you for coming together to answer my call. Business will be attended to shortly, but first a proper meal has been prepared that we might dine in good company. Afterward the floor shall be open for any general matters to be put before the Council, and I will close the night with my reason for gathering you all." He hated speeches, but it had a decent effect. At the very least it was a proper rundown of how the night would go. The servants came out of the wings at his final words and platters were distributed. Served was various breads, stews, some salads, and plenty of cooked meat to go around, along with water, tea, and wine. Various small pies and cakes finished the evening off and the floor was finally opened for anyone to speak.

[Azuloth]

Indeed, the entire group was famished for dinner. They ate and conversed politely about things that had no real importance to the state of the realm as a whole. They discussed childhood and what their parents had been up to before various tragic circumstances took them and such. The whole of the affair seemed like a normal state dinner. No one addressed any of the business that was going to be laid out after dinner, as it was bad politics and diplomacy to bring up such things while people were hungry. This was known to all of them. It was an easy lesson to learn. Empty stomachs led to bad moods, bad moods led to bad decisions. It was simple.

Once dinner was over, and almost everyone had a drink or two in them, they started to look to Tyr or Redgar to begin the council meeting. The first person to speak up was Van'Cressa.

"If I may begin with a piece of business, now that we're all done our meal. Yes? Good. There is a matter to address, that affects my duchy as well as some of the others. It is the matter of our beloved Redgar here crowning himself King of Morith and Kushfire. This Kingdom of Kushfire, well it's natural borders, the Kushfire region, take up much of the eastern duchies territories. It also creates a stranglehold on trade. A stranglehold you had, Redgar, before with your tax on transport or... border control. Whatever you called it. It is an unprecedented and wholly illegal move. Admit it for what it is, a power grab."

"Now hold on there, Van'Cressa. It is a bold move, I'll say on behalf of our friend here. But it is not unprecedented. In the annals there was a count of Skaraptica who ceded from the nation during a civil war because it was unclear whether or not a monarch was on the throne. The monarch in question, whose name is lost to history, said the action was legal so long as their status was unknown or in a state of inability. So his action may have merit to it." Duchess Farfalles said.

Van'Cressa looked flustered.

"I'm not familiar with those annals."

The group grew quiet.

"What is the state of our Monarch, currently?" Duke Charyn asked.

The group grew quiet again.

[King Redgar Karligar]

For a moment, Redgar's anger flared. He was being called into question? When the country was in shambles? He brought order to a large swath of its center. He brought stability to Morith. He defended that city himself, he took wounds for it. Or so he remembered. In his mind it was a much more heroic day than it probably was in reality. He remembered sitting atop his wolf when everything was going to shit. He remembered blood and chaos, and himself leading the militia to victory against hardened veterans of the Sovereign Kingdom of Cruinthe.

When Duke Charyn asked what the state of the monarchy was Redgar stood up.

"I'll tell you the state of the Monarchy, friends. It is no more. The Sovereign Kingdom of Cruinthe attacked one of its own cities. Put its own citizens to the sword. A city and province I was charged with defending, legally, as its governor. I did that. I did my duty, and as I realized the dereliction of feudal duty that the king had committed, I did what any noble would do. I did the right thing. I've brought stability to Kushfire and Morith. That city is rebuilding, it is recovering. Stamping out this pretender, Palejaw, and his rulers if he has any, should be our first priority. We are the ancient houses of Cruinthe, there is no Cruinthe without us. The sorcerer-king has fled to his... fortress by the small lakes. He has gone mad. Palejaw isn't a member of the aristocracy. I've never heard of him. Have any of you? I don't think so. That my friends is the state of the monarchy. It doesn't exist anymore. The country is living under chaos, under a dictatorship that has no right to rule. I at least have a right to rule my lands. As each of you have a right to yours. Let us unite under a banner, and put this country back on the right road."

[Jorkahn Wealddir]

Jorkahn was stood, motionless, just behind Tyr. He wasn't used to having to keep up appearances like this, but he respected Tyr too much to do anything other than be observant of the goings on of the room. He was there to guard, and that was exactly what he would do. The topics being discussed were way beyond his purview even if he did have opinions about the whole thing. His armor was polished but looked distinctly different than the other guards. The symbol of Tyr's Ritgr was emblazoned on his chest and his armor looked a bit more well-worn than the other guards. It also had a more practical design, obviously meant to be used in combat and less decorative than the other guards. His head was completely covered by a helmet and he wielded a large two-handed ax that he kept the end of resting on the floor in front of him.

For now, he said nothing and simply watched the room carefully, occasionally letting his gaze rest on those who were speaking.

[Tyr]

He had been hoping to delay the massive salamander in the room as the starting point of business, but it seemed that it would need to be one of the first things addressed instead. Van'Cressa was rightfully defensive of her own land and how Redgar's actions had impacted them, but Farfalles challenge raised a good point and one that could be capitalized on. As Redgar himself had said, Palejaw was not a member of the aristocracy and he seemed to be the one calling out orders these days. The true Sorcerer King had vanished, and with that a power vacuum was left. One Tyr himself had been trying to exploit by rapidly building up the defenses of his land, as he had little doubt Palejaw would inevitably bring the might of the sovereign armies against Mardok.

"But which banner shall we take? Yours? Or fracture back into the ancient houses and sit under our own?" Redgar had indeed done fairly well in consolidating his own power and defending his land, with some help. But there was no indication that would continue to work, or that it was even a good option. Tyr's own improvements to his duchy stopped at the borders, there was no way to affect change upon everyone else while they remained distinct entities. This was going to be the difficult part of the speech.

"We have an option. There is no hiding that an Alliance has formed to war against the Kingdom. They control Helkorth, Innorsford, and what was once Rosterford. Skaldira I believe it is called." Tyr didn't actually know if anyone would banter about whether the Alliance was a credible force, but cutting that line of thinking off quickly would be best. Debating about that at all would distract from the point. "They clearly have military capability, and their goal is the same. Destroy the King currently claiming to rule." He paused a moment, unsure quite how to bring up perhaps the most important part. "They may even have Justeans leading them." He had met Vilkan, spoken with him in the old tongue. While Tyr was far from an expert, his base instinct was that the man felt every bit a rightful ruler of the country. There was weight to that, although whether the others remembered it he did not know.

"We have a choice to make. United amongst only ourselves we create yet another faction, one that will end up clashing with the other two. We will fight the Kingdom one way or another, of that I have no doubt. Julgrava cannot be permitted to continue his wasteful and destructive rule. But do you also wish to fight the Alliance? Or shall we join them, work with them, and end this conflict all the faster for the good of our houses and people?" At some point he had stood. Maybe he had always been standing. His arms were outstretched to entreat the gathered nobles, hoping beyond hope to draw them into his proposal.

[Azuloth]

"Then it appears we are at an impasse. Is the age of nobility ruling over what is rightfully ours at an end?" Duke Charyn says.

"Have you not heard? The Republic wants to institute democracy. The people, of all people, being made in charge of their country? What do the people know about policy? What do the people know about trade, or about diplomatic relationships with others? How would Jarik Smithyofwherever deal with a drokagr matriarch? How would he deal with a Skaldi chieftain? Not well. He would not do well." Duke Telestare says.

"So alliance is off the table?" Duchess Havenkor says.

"We are simply discussing options. Siding with the alliance is one thing we can do, but what about when its over? Our ancient houses have always been a part of things. Now we have nothing, and if the Republic gets their way, we still won't. If the Royal Justean Guard get their way, we may all be displaced. Then we have a second war on our hands." Duchess Farfalles says.

"This still doesn't deal with our initial situation. King Redgar's banner." Duchess Van'Cressa says. Biting.

[King Redgar Karligar]

"My banner..."

Redgar says thinking aloud. For a moment the room grows quiet again. He sighs and says.

"This is not an easy thing. I admit that. I have a hard time with it. I've been considering what I would do if one of you were asking me to step in behind you and follow your banner. Not sure I would. That's because I'm not sure what the rest of you have done other than securing your own borders, if you've done that at all. I defended Morith from an enemy much greater than my forces, I've been protecting my people, and I'd extend the same to you and yours if you could stand with my banner."

He says steepling his fingers. He looks about the room, settling on each Duke and Duchess.

"As for the factions of the alliance and the current regime, let's talk about that. If either of them can prove their legitimate inheritance to the throne, then I'll stand behind them. All they have to do is sit on the Hydrillium throne, no? Isn't that all it takes to prove it belongs to them?"