For the entirety of the council, Lord Demotoriaus had sat with complacency held close as the others spoke their piece. Demotoriaus, himself, was fine with most of the subjects brought about until the pastor had spoken in which a greater tax had been suggested. Being of peasant birth, the lord knew of how taxes were not something to be trifled with, a thin balance between what is good and what would cause rebellion. “My liege, I do not believe that the Parnal power gain addition gold at the expense of us. While I do agree that the Templar would crave the blood of the wretched Orcs, if they truly wished to field them then mayhaps they should not field them all at once.”

The eyes of the man shit over to the pastor before returning to his king, speaking once more with a rather neutral tone, “Additionally, if they cannot afford to maintain these Templars then perhaps they should consider disbanding some of these elite forces.” Demotoriaus crossed his arms while speaking, his voice growing colder as he continued, “How are we to be taxed because the Parnal powers wish to make war? If you ask me, the powers should be the final bastion of defense of our great Kingdom if our armies would fail or should we request their aid. That is my only suggestion as of now.”

Thane Gamvar Thogus, of the Hold of Marak of the Dwarven Realms

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Escorted by a pair of dwarves whose beards raked the stone floor, Thane Thogus was the first of the two envoys admitted into the room. He and his escorts slid to one side as Lord James Conrad--a nameless Duke of Osteria as far as Thogus was concerned--exited the hall. Thogus approached the throne and offered a bow. "Greetings and a great many congratulations upon you, King Alaric. With a heavy heart we send our condolences for the loss of King Timault and hope that your reign may last twice as long and be just as prosperous. The Dwarves of Marak first wish to grant upon you ten chests of our finest gold as naught but a gift to Osteria."

"Secondly, I bring word from the Great Thane Therren Bhardain that we wish to open a trade agreement between our great peoples for a sum of five years total. This will bring a great needed trade into both our lands; ours suffering from famine and drought, and yours from war."

[Dwarves of Marak gift 10 Gold to the Second Kingdom of Osteria]

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Prince Aearion Galonos of the Principality of Galonos, Lands of the Sylvari

Following in line mere minutes after the Dwarven Thanes, Prince Galonos--flanked on either side by lithe hooded figures--entered the throne room and approached the dais upon which King Alaric I sat. "Sídh bo cin, King Alaric. Peace upon you," he added, apparently translating. Laden in a fine white silk robe, Prince Galonos gave a parting glance to the Dwarves off to one side then flicked his gaze back to the King.

"We are glad that the misfortune of King Timault did not bring ruin upon Osteria, for it would have done little to advance relations with the Sylvari. We come seeking new trade relations, much like the harbingers under the mountain, though we promise that ours will be significantly more prosperous and for a term lasting twelve years. Please consider this with the same meticulousness that your predecessor did."

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[Duke James Conrad may not participate in negotiations regarding the emissaries, having left the throne room. He may not be readmitted.]

"Thank you, Pastor." Alaric Gyre spoke as a knight of Silk and Iron returned the Vinossian Pastor his tome. "You have my word that I shall do all within my power to ensure the Faith stands as stalwart as in the days of old. For Vinos lies as deeply within my heart as any within this Kingdom and whilst this crown rests upon my head I will do all I can." Alaric declared before his gaze turned to the Duke Demotarius. "I understand your grievances my Duke. It is however a necessity that the Church, that venerable institution to which we all look to guidance for, is maintained by the Realm which it guides. Do know however that your wise council is known."

The King would only watch on in silence as Duke Conrad left the throne room. A scowl hid itself well upon Alaric's face as he watched the man leave, the Council had not yet finished and this petulant Duke had taken it upon himself to walk away. Unsaid words fell away upon his lips as the emissaries from the Elven and Dwarven realms were admitted into the throne room. Another time, Conrad.

First came the Dwarves. "Master Dwarves. It is an honour, and you do me too much with such a fine gift. The Realm and it's peoples thank you and it is upon that same merry note that I can do nothing but accept this agreement for trade. Dwarven goods shall find many a home amongst our people just as surely as ours shall within Marak, of that I hold no doubt." The King spoke in a measured tone. His tone bore a hint of warmth, enough that one might find friendship in if they tried, but not enough so that those he spoke to forgot he was a King.

Following the bearded folk came the ethereal folk of the woodlands. Elves. The approach of hooded figures had several knights of the Silk and Iron taking steps forward whilst the King offered his reply to the Elven Prince. "You shall find Osteria to be a stalwart nation of stalwart peoples, Prince Galonos." The King replied somewhat testily. "I too would like to see an improvement in relations between our two peoples, and a trade agreement is something which I can easily accept."

Thane Gamvar Thogus, of the Hold of Marak of the Dwarven Realms

"I shall bring word of this agreement back to the Great Thane, m'lord. A great many blessings upon you, King Alaric." With a bow that saw his beard sweep the floor. He turned, along with his entourage and left the the hall of the newly elected King Alaric.

Prince Aearion Galonos of the Principality of Galonos, Lands of the Sylvari

Similarly, the high nosed Elven Prince gave a nod of approval and turned to leave, stopping only to gaze over the assembled Lords and Ladies, then exited the hall himself. The council meeting had adjourned, and unless King Alaric I had further measures to discuss, the Lords of Osteria were free to return to their fiefs, except for the newly appointed Marshal and Spymaster, who would then retain permanent positions in the city of Tythmas.

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Before departing for Tythmas, Lord Demotoriaus had ordered a contingent of two hundred plate mail knights to scour the countryside of the Duchy of Lordea and round up those who might still be feeling the "oppression of empire" and sort them out. Message reached Lord Demotoriaus while still in Tythmas that a handful of dissenters had been rounded up and the streets, patrolled by these same knights even now, were much quieter in their stead.

[Duchy of Lordea -1 Unrest]

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In celebration of the coronation of King Alaric I, a great festival was held in Stag's Hearth, the capital of the Duchy of Enea. Bards and songspinners came from the Elven Principalities, a great many shows were put on and the Duchess of Enea spared little expense in ensuring that the love of King and Land was known throughout Enea. In it's aftermath, many of those who traveled to the majestic and calm lands of Enea decided to stay, finding homes in the cobbled streets of small Enean villages and hamlets.

Additionally, a training program to teach Osterian soldiers the ways of the bow was initiated, turning them into competent swordsmen and archers both. These soldiers, dubbed to be rangers of the forest, are exceptionally capable of attacking with either sword or bow and disappearing into the forest moments later.

[Duchy of Enea loses -3 Gold]
[Duchy of Enea gains 40,000 Population]
[4,000 Men-at-Arms in Enea become 4,000 Rangers]

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A formal Inquisition begins in the Duchy of Lordea, with 500 Inquisitors being sent at the request of Lord Demotoriaus. They scour the land, seeking those who do not adhere to the whims of the Church. On one such occasion, a family of heathens--those who believed in Lordean customs, are dragged from their homes and beaten in the church square. The continued inquisition is a slow and dreadful process, but by Spring's end, a great many churches in Lordea see their attendance rise.

[Duchy of Lordea increases to 64% Vinossian (+3%)]

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[If you sent an order, it was accepted. Just because it was not commented here does not mean it wasn't.]

As James and his guard traveled back to the fortress city of the Summit James Sulked and swore revenge against King Alaric for the dishonor and mistreatment of his house. However without the support of the Wasps James would require a military something which wouldn’t be hard with the amount of gold and iron available but still far more difficult than simply having an assassin. Not only had he lost his position but his wild dog Baron Sforza as well something that James would truly want revenge for.

After several weeks James and his group finally made it to the City where the people were hard at work even if they weren’t in the best of spirits. James had to even stop to confront the crowd which had gathered for his arrival “MIGHTY PEOPLE OF THE SUMMIT, I have returned.” The crowd cheered “However, our new king is a liar. He had promised me food for you and the title of spymaster as recognition for my services to the previous crown, yet here I am forced to come back empty handed as King Alaric passed over his promises for the love and beauty of a half-elven whore.” The crowd booed at the mention of an elf whom they’ve hated ever since getting to know the Dwarves and relying on their support within the mines.

“ However, I make this promise to you we will get our food and I shall not take another dishonorable act from the King again, We shall build a force which will rival that of the Southern reaches and will become noticed again in the Kingdom’s politics this I swear, Furthermore, the recognizable Order of Wasps stand whole in this city however I had allowed that under the previous king for I had served as Spymaster and thought it best be put in the lands where I ruled, but if it is going to that elven whore it should be up to them to make a new building, I say we demand the king recall the order to the capital and that the grand building be turned into a huge market for the people for when we feast.” The crowd once again roared to life for the saturation of food which they so desperately needed and James knew how he could get them it. “Now I must return to my Keep and prepare but carry on brothers and sisters for a new dawn is rising.” The crowd cheered before James excited for the new dawn which he had promised and James smiled having come back from the hostile capital it was nice to be loved once more.

Upon reaching the Keep, James thought it best to send a message to the King demanding him to recall the order of wasps and that he wouldn’t be able to protect them should his people do something fierce.



James then sealed it with his family seal and sent it. James then called in his old friend and captain of the Guard Joseph Lansky.

“You called sir?”Lansky said dressed in full plated armor and in the best material of summit designs. James who was now dressed in more military defined clothes. “I want you to begin training new men-at-arms and to prepare for anything. Also we will want guards posted around the city more specifically the gate, the order of wasps building and my own palace as well just in case.” Lansky nodded thought was still curious “Is everything alright my lord, didn’t the council go well?” James turned to Lansky and shook his head no “Does it look like it? If it had I’d be the spymaster, have food for my people and not be under threat instead I’m here biding my time and preparing for the worst….just do as I say.” Lansky nodded and began to inform the men of their orders, while James looked out his window over the vast mountains dreading the future and what it holds.

"Afore we adjourn, there is but one more matter I intend to meet this day." King Alaric spoke as he sat up from his throne. The heavy cloak he bore across his shoulders of a royal blue, it's trim lined with fur and a clasp of gold across the heart, whispered lightly across the floor as Alaric stepped down from his throne and the slight plinth it sat upon. At it's foot he neared his champion, Jarl, whose longsword's edge met stone as he stood there clad in chain-mail and half-plate. With a nod the warrior turned the blade's hilt towards the King who clasped it and turned aside, blade now in hand.

"Baron Conrad Sforza, we bid you approach. Approach and kneel, and arise a Duke of this realm... With this blade I would dub thee Duke of the Duchy of Lussex. Under your charge may these lands never falter, nor face hardships nor tribulation, may they prosper and stand tall."

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It would be some weeks following the First Council's end that James Conrad's letter would arrive at the capital. It bore news of starving peoples in the Summit and of a growing fear of the Order of the Wasps amongst it's populace. Furthermore no levies, iron or gold, had been seen from the Summit during the season and it was suspected that nor would they come. As night fell upon the capital the same day the Duke's letter had arrived, a raven, as white as snow, was released into the night sky with a letter of ink adorned by the royal seal. It's destination however would not be the Summit, but to the wild lands of Lussex.

Duke Conrad Sforza

The crunch of two thousand hobnailed boots did not fill Duke Conrad Sforza with joy nor was this how the newly raised Duke had envisaged commanding royal troops for the first time. Yet, this was the duty he had been given by his newly crowned sovereign. A thousand knights and two regiment of men at arms had been dispatched from the capital. It was meant as a projection of power, clearly more than enough for an escort for the grain that Sforza was bringing for the starving populace of the Summit.

Would the show of force be enough for James to see reason? It remained to be seen. It had been weeks since the Council to elect a new King and already Duke James was choosing to defy his sovereign lord. While Sforza could sympathize with his former master, acts of rebellion before God or King had to be punished. He only hoped that Duke James would see reason.

‘’ If I do not return, ensure that this reaches the King and my bannerman. ‘’ The Duke said to his wrinkled old steward who watched his master with a mixture of concern and righteous anger that he was not accompanying him. The sealed parchment was placed into his hands and fixed with the Duke of Lussex’s seal.

It wouldn’t be the only raven that Blackmore would be sending. A second letter had been sent to Duke James himself.

Your Grace,

I have been charged with delivering a summons from His Majesty, King Alaric, for you to return with me to the capital. The convoy I travel with carries valuable grain for the King’s suffering subjects in the Summit. In the interests of preserving the bonds of friendship and peace between us, I hope you will do me the honor of granting me an audience and allow me to distribute the Kin’s bounty to your people.

Respectfully,
Duke Conrad Sforza

Slowly but surely, the King’s army began its slow march up the mountainside. Sforza had been careful on not raising his own levies to join the march. This was not meant to be seen as an invasion though he was aware that James may see it as such…

Attacking the King’s men would mean open war. The Duke himself rode at the head of the column, the banner of Lussex and Osteria flapping in the breeze.

James had recieved word from conrad a week prior to his visit, Conrad was admitted inside the city with a small escort and was sent before the Duke to convince him. The city was as mobile as ever however the people were still thin and not nearly as well looking as those from Lussex, the road construction was already underway as well and people had spent no time delying it for the sooner it was made they hoped the sooner food was brought in.

Conrad was brought before James inside his rather large meeting room, not much had changed from before when Conrad sat on James council, except the map on the table had been marked in several locations specifically the southern reaches, the capital and the forests of the elves. James turned from looking over the map and to Conrad "Bar- Duke Conrad, congradulations my friend and welcome to the Summit, it has been some time since we were both here hasn't it. Even brings back memories." James said as he trailed off.

The march up the mountainside had been slow and tedious, with Duke Sforza ordering his men to halt at several points and rest to become accustomed to the altitude. The slow pace of the march allowed Sforza time to take in the sights, it seemed as if the Duke was investing in a new road network. Hundreds of scrawny peasents toiled and stared at the wagons with hollow eyes. While the wretch’s seemed scrawny, Duke Sforza could find no evidence the peasantry were in fact starving.

The response from Duke James hadn’t been violence as Sforza had been fearing. There was no charging knights on the narrow path or the whistle of arrows, instead only the howling of the wind pursued the lonely column. The Summit spread out before Sforza in all its glory. The newly proclaimed Duke had always been impressed with the sights and sounds of the Summit, though he always detested how wheezy the damn climb left him. The Duke proceeded into the city with an armed escort of a hundred knights, a handful of wagons accompanying the Duke.

'' King Alaric sends his greetings! '' The wagonmaster shouted, as burly men began unloading the sacks of grain. Duke Sforza had ordered their immediate distribution upon their entrance to the city. It was merely a token of the grain that the King had sent him but it would spread amongst a hungry populace.

'' Your Grace. '' Sforza said with a bow befitting an equal, removing his helm to reveal that scarred and pockmarked visage. '' I thank you for your hospitality my lord, as always. '' He said, easing himself into a seat opposite James with the creak of bones. '' I still don't understand how you can live up here. '' He said with a hacking cough that was supposed to have been a chuckle.

'' As you stated the immediate need aid to His Majesty, I have arrived with a supply of grain. '' Though both men knew at this point that the need had been overstated.

'' You read my letter then Your Majesty? You know why I have come? ''

James nodded slowly "I simply love the weather up here. As for why you have came, I am well aware. While I know the King is upset about the taxes I too was upset having been lied too and my position given to some half-elven whore." He chuckled to himself before continuing "And while I'm aware my people aren't exactly starving I was infact hoping the king himself would be brave enough to meet me in person and clearly you can see my people aren't in the best condition they'll make do."

James sighed for a moment once more glancing at his map of the kingdom "Well, I suppose I should see what the King's Royal summons is about unless you've read it and wish to tell me?" James said looking at his old friend

'' James. '' Conrad said speaking as a friend, not as vassal to lord. '' The King is the man we swore fealty to. '' His voice was quiet but firm. '' He is the lord and master of Osteria and I swore an oath before God to serve the Throne. We cannot presume to summon His Majesty before us. Nor does this petulant sulking sound like the man I know and call a friend. '' He said, fingertps tapping hard on the table. '' You were given an unfair deal, while I was promoted as your equal. It has cost me sleepless nights but what frightens me more is the prospet of our kingdom falling to pieces while the Orc theat remains. You are better then this. '' Sforza said rising, with the King's summons in his hands. He threw it onto the center of the table for him to examine.

'' You are to return with me and explain to the King why you have not paid your taxes and are not fulfilling your duty as a lord of this realm. The King made his choice and while we may not agree with them, spewings insults from hundreds of miles away will do nothing to endear you to your peers. Return with me and show them that they are wrong. Please do not turn me away, it will bring you nothing but trouble. '' He said, finishing his plea. Now how would James react?

James once more sighed and nodded he stood up and walked around pacing thinking about his course of action "You say there is nothing we can do, I mean there are severals things, revolt is of course an option and when you think of it aside from the possibility of death isn't the worst idea, of course I could go back with some gold and ask for forgiveness but then I look like a dog with no bite as I had before when I was lied too. Instead, what if we requested the King summons here and not at my own request but yours as well, I could even set something up with the dwarves that live near by, see if the king wishes to apologize for his mistreatment or if he thinks of us as lesser men who know nothing and can't be treated with respect?" James smiled as he turned towards Conrad wondering what his reaction might be.

'' You've made your point, you can withold taxes and valuable trade revenue. If you wish, you could stop the Dwarven trade routes in its tracks. But you know that the King will not come here, it would be an admission of weakness when the King holds all the cards. You are committing an act of rebellion. If the King wishes, he can starve you out. It will take time, it will be painful, and many will die. And for what? Your pride? If you continue to pull this stunt of political theater, you are giving the King all the leverage he requires to remove you and at worst brand you as a traitor when this nation desperately seeks unity. Let this elven whore as you call her hang herself with her own ineptitude. She lacks your experience and her only skill is warming the Kings bed....and when he tires of her..and she fails..he will remember who he turned his back on... It is at that moment, you will hold all the cards. '' He wouldn't put it beyond James to try and engineer his rivals downfall through his own underhanded means.

James nodded "Of course, of course. I will go to the king, but I wish for you to join us. You can speak on my behalf in case anything goes down. But tonight let us drink, feast and retell stroies of old tomorrow we'll go to the capital and keep everything in order." James sat down and clapped his hands the servants had oddly enough already prepared a feast and James seemed rather easy going and ready to submit.

'' You have my word, as your friend, i will speka to His Majesty on your behalf and seek to heal the divisions between you both. '' Sforza said, becoming relieved at the turn of events. He did not want a civil war to begin here, in this chamber. Not between men whom had known eachother all their lives. The Duke clapped his hands for the servants to bring him more food and drink. It had been a hard march after all though Sforza would abstain from too much drink. They had a long climb back down the mountain after all all tomorrow.

The men traveled under cover of night, their steeds galloping under the moonlit sky, over the hills and across the plains of the Duchy of Lordea's borderlands. They pushed far into the duchy itself, their work already done in the villages closest to the rest of Osteria. Their destinations in the kingdom's newest province were numerous, but far from all-encompassing; it was unfeasible to scour the whole territory for what they were looking for, and there was no need in truth. It had never been necessary for their targets to be eliminated wholesale, even if such an act of excess was feasible. Pushing them to the shadows worked well enough—defeated them most effectively. The lies they peddled could not spread there, shrouded in secret and obscurity. A few zealots always lingered on for awhile, but only among the old. The young were the ones in need of teaching, and they were the easiest to teach. A man alone with little to lose had no reason to release his grasp on all he had ever believed, but a mother and a father had one reason for every one child they parented. The creator had been wise to make pagans love their children as much as good Vinossians did; it made them much easier to convert.

All cloaked in black, the inquisitors arrived in their assigned villages at their assigned times, and made haste for the local guardhouses. A dozen declarations had been signed, each identical in wording, each bearing the signature of Ecclesiast Timone II. Their demands were clear: there was to be no intervention. It was as important that the guards not halt the proceedings as it was that they not participate in them. If the inquisitors were seen to only be able to enact the will of Vinos upon the heretics with the aid of the village guard, it would embolden the enemy. How easy would it be, after all, for the pagans to ensure men of their own teachings guarded their own villages? No, it needed to be the inquisitors, and the inquisitors alone. If ever it was feared there would be serious resistance, the Templars would more than suffice in rendering it a mere annoyance. It was not feared for there to be resistance this time. The province had been spared inquisition for so long that some of the young had no memories of it, and some of the old had forgotten theirs. By the end of night, they would all remember. All the heretics would live in fear. And all those bathed in Vinos' light, who watched their godless neighbors suffer, would be more devout for the experience.

With the guardsmen subdued, the inquisitors set to work. Just outside of one of the villages, the very first target of the night was a pagan shrine in the woods, populated by a lone, elderly preacher who had spent his day singing the praises of some dead god and did not hear the commotion outside his door. He perished in agony, screaming as his place of worship was enveloped in holy flames. In another village, a family was ripped apart, the mother and father stabbed in the gut by men in black armed with swords, their two daughters dragged off to be taken in by the nearest church, to be taught of the glory of Vinos. In the largest town hit, a trio of inquisitors barged into the abode of a rich merchant. His house guard struck one of the attackers, injuring him, and was punished for his heresy with a wild flurry of blows from a studded club, breaking his arm and beating him unconscious. The merchant was captured, a jewel encrusted goblet full of expensive wine dropped to the floor as a dagger was placed to this throat. As the inquisitors proceeded to ransack his house, they found a pagan idol under the mattress. The merchant's throat was slit, and all his valuables taken, to be sent to the Parna. All his more meager possessions would be given away to whomever the local pastor declared were the town's most pious men, and his home itself was placed directly into the pastor's care. Perhaps it would be turned into an orphanage, to care for the vulnerable of Lordea, or perhaps it would be sold off to some other merchant so that the pastor could have a gold necklace and a new horse. The inquisitors did not know and did not care. All that mattered is that the pagans were made fewer in number, and the pious were enriched for it. The people needed to understand that just as there were penalties for shying away from Vinos' light, there were rewards for basking in it.

Days later, in a church in Tythmas, a pair of irrelevant lesser nobles from some glorified merchant house were being married in the capital's third or fourth largest church. It had been third before the Parna was built, that must have made it fourth now. The groom had been a holy man—not of the cloth, of course, but church-going and generous with his donations. The bridge, however, was from a house of pagans. They weren't idiots, they had never flaunted their apostasy, but nonetheless they kept faith with foreign gods despite being named under the light of Vinos. Some months ago, a visitor to their home had not spotted a single artefact of the Church of Vinos, and became suspicious. Rumor had spread since then of the family's lack of devotion, with those most paranoid among the nobility guessing, rightly, that they did not follow the church at all. The inquisitors generally did not respond to this sort of gossip, lest they be used as a tool for court intrigue. Yet still, they had circuitously managed to purge a pagan family from Tythmas. For the day the family's patriarch heard of the inquisition in Lordea, he made plans to wed his daughter to a pious Vinossian as soon as he could. Any visitors to their home would now see stars of Vinos prominently decorating every room, and they had made a substantial and very public donation to the Parna as well. Their wedding, too, was quite a holy affair, attended by many pastors and many holy families, and with Vinossian iconography everywhere the eye could see. One figure in the reception, though, stood out among the nobles in their fancy clothes and the pastors in their white robes. A man garbed all in black, a hilt at his side and a bronze necklace with a star medallion adorning his neck. He did not speak to any guest but one, sparing his words for the patriarchy of the once heretical family. His comment was a simple congratulations, a generic well wishes for his daughter and her new husband, but the gift he offered along with it held more distinctive meaning. A goblet, encrusted in jewels, was placed into the nobleman's hands. The inappropriately dressed man smiled, and told him it had been made especially for one of the wealthiest and most flaunting merchants in Lordea. He was pious, the man in black explained, even more so than the patriarch to which he spoke. The merchant had given everything that he had to the Church of Vinos—literally. Even his life.

The noble did not find it hard to understand what the inquisitor meant, and neglected to drink from the goblet. He doubted the red stain inside was only from wine.