(Sorry for the delay! Things are insane at work until Thanksgiving. I'll be back late on at least two of the first three days before Thanksgiving, but I'll still be replying here, once or twice a night. Not sure what the last week of November will be like.)

@Eviledd1984

Vespion listened intently to Smith's chanting. "That's fey speak, isn't it? I admit that I'm unfamiliar with that language, but I recognize its distinctive song-like quality." Kara didn't know how to translate it either. "Smith? Can you say something... anything else? I know you can hear me, my love."

@bloonewb

"Hold it! Rebat is with me!" Mazdak had suspected that something like this would happen. "He's here on a formal trip! Whatever he told you is probably true. The grand prince specifically requested his presence, and you are interfering with an important matter of state!" He hurried over to Rebat, putting himself between the kobold and the guards, glaring angrily at the latter. "You two will be lucky not to end up in cages yourselves. Now get out of here!"

@LordofthePies

Several of the courtiers looked on as Norix proceeded through the corridors of a palace. As usual for a dracon palace, gossip about newcomers was widespread.

"-hear she's an oracle."

"-a female with a robe on? Who ever heard of such a thing?"

"-heard she came from a caravan of-"

The chatter immediately ceased as an announcer entered the room, a rather large male dracon clad in dark blue silk robes with a gold lining, complete with a square hat with a pair of holes for his horns.

"His highness, Grand Prince Ternoc wishes to see the following: Mazdak of Hekaga, Norix Sirivistra, and Rebat of Xigyll. All others may go about their business."

@Aristocles

Smith was now still as a board like before, "Get..my...Mo..ther.." Smith whispered to Vespion, "Va'ei...mari'wq dalf'u" He added in the fey language looking over at Kara.

The dracons stepped back. Rebat was no expert at judging faces, but they did seem to look sorry to him. "No harm done," Rebat said, with a nervous smile. He looked down at his hand, already mangled from battles past, with the introduction of a solid red line. "Not much, at least. Cultural differences are a pain, are they not?" The dracons nodded solemnly, heads tilted towards the ground. "Now, honorable Mazdak, these fine soldiers have learned their lesson well enough. Send them on their way and they would not bother anyone more, isn't that right?" Again, a nod. The guards shuffled off under the steel gaze of their superior, going around the bend as quickly as they could. "Now . . . " Rebat said, feeling his snout where it was struck. "Let us make an agreement to never allow His Might to hear of this. He loves us so, and to hear of his ambassador being injured while in a dracon city would draw his ire like nothing before." He looked up at the large dracon, his expression brooking no argument. Not that there would be any. "Lovely sight, this city. I'm sure we could easily occupy our time until tomorrow."

Norix nervously played with her sleeves. She knew that Dracons enjoyed gossip, but she didn't quite enjoy being the center of their attention. Nasty things could easily be spread in the large game of telephone that they enjoyed playing. She didn't want to think it got to her, but it did. Nori wanted to do her best to prove herself, but she knew the power of words. A simple lie could take down everything she worked so hard for. Norix felt self-conscious about her wardrobe choice as everyone looked at her, judging her. But she wouldn't change. She refused. If she lived in such a world that people would stab you with words and glares for wearing something, she wouldn't accept it. Norix wanted a new world. One without such harsh judgment.

Nori looked towards the blue-clad Dracon. She didn't expect a meeting so soon. She didn't feel like she prepared enough. She felt dirty and stupid, a feeling that would probably worsen when she was under the Prince's gaze. Norix couldn't let it show. She had to make a good impression, both of herself and her caravan. She straightened herself and put her head up high. She would be meeting the Prince, and she had to look like she deserved it.

Norix patted her bag, making sure her cards were still there. She hoped the Prince wouldn't think it silly that she used normal playing cards to tell fortune, but it was her deck. Anything else simply wouldn't work. She followed the gold and blue dressed Dracon, mentally preparing herself for what was to come.

@Aristocles

@Eviledd1984

"Your mother? Smith, she- she isn't here" Kara explained, not wanting to upset him. At least, not get him more upset than he already was.

@LordofthePies@bloonewb

"Very well. I shall not tell anyone about that little 'misunderstanding' just now" Mazdak explained. "Of course, if you think this city is lovely, you've clearly never seen Naugo-"

Mazdak was cut short by the sudden arrival of a number of heavily armed and lavishly armored guards who had emerged from behind a pair of golden doors which had been securely closed not a moment ago. While their roles were as much a matter of ceremony as they were for actually keeping the monarch safe, they were clearly serious about their jobs. Without a word, they joined the messenger and ushered Rebat, Mazdak, and Norix into the Grand Prince's throne room. There were several such rooms in the palace, although this one was the only such room currently operating.

The room itself told a story, with elaborate mosaics, frescoes, bas-reliefs, and oil paintings adorning the walls and telling the history of the city in images. The oldest mosaic depicted the city's founding by a powerful dragon, while the most recent painting showed the crowning of Ternoc himself. Mazdak felt a soft carpet under his feet as he entered the chamber. It was the result of a decorative move which had surprised him given how informal it all seemed. Of course, etiquette as to what constituted an appropriate throne room for a king did not apply to a grand prince. It was one of the few perks of Ternoc's position. The grand prince himself sat on a relatively modest throne, taking a moment to apprise the newcomers before he spoke.

"At last you are all here. This is well and good. I have need of all three of you if we are to make Hekaga great again" he rose from his throne and turned his gaze towards Norix. "Esteemed oracle, I have need of your insight. While fate isn't set from the moment of creation, it is subject to the currents of causality. As I discuss matters with Mazdak and Rebat, I will periodically ask you to tell me what the likely long-term consequences of our negotiations will be and I expect you to intervene if you detect that our conversation will probably lead to disaster, and suggest a corrective course of action. I don't expect you to give me absolutely clear-cut answers, only to inform me if our diplomacy is going to have negative repercussions or not. Can you do that?"

@Aristocles

"Get....her...help...me..." Smith whispered to Kara, A hand slowly reaching up to grab her shoulder. It looked like they would have to contact his mother somehow.

"That I can, Your Highness," Nori held her cards in her hands as she addressed the Prince.

She had removed them from her satchel before she came in the room. They gave her something to fiddle with instead of her robes. Her bag had some other things inside, but none of it was needed for the actual reading. The rest was purely for show, but she wasn't interested in making it look real, she was interested in the results. Norix stood tall. She was actually in front of the Prince, she had to make a good impression. Hopefully, she wouldn't mess this up.

@bloonewb@Aristocles

Rebat bowed, upon being addressed. "I am present," he said, drawing himself back up to full height. If he was particularly proud of himself today, he'd say he was slightly taller than half the height of the dracons he met with. "Representing the Empire of Xigyll, headed by His Might Rughoi the Unbound." He didn't know how to address nobility. The closest he got was his master, who, as long as he worked the fields and called him "master", didn't care for associating at all with his kobold tenants. "I am pleased, genuinely pleased, that Xigyll shall soon have its first diplomatic relation. I hope prosperity follows both of our proud nations far into the future."

@Eviledd1984

"But, didn't you say your mother left your family years ago?" Kara didn't know how to give him what he wanted. "She-she can't be here, my love. I'm sorry."

"I may be able to help" Vespion interjected, quickly turning to an apprentice cleric. "Apuleius, get me a scrying bowl." The young dracon male nodded and returned not even two minutes later with a large brown bowl in his hands, filled with water up to its brim. Vespion knelt down and took Smith's hand. "Now Smith, I need you to concentrate on your mother. I'll cast a spell and it will reveal her location. Then I can cast a sending spell to contact her and then we can work on opening a portal for her to take to reach you."

@LordofthePies@bloonewb

"Very good. Let us open the negotiations, then" Ternoc announced. "Rebat, please feel free to open these accords by stating what Xigyll's requests are. We need to know what you want before we can even begin to find a way to accommodate you. I have already prepared Hekaga's requirements. Just know that there will be concessions to be made on both sides. And please be aware that Hekaga is the senior partner in this. We cannot pretend to be dealing with a kingdom of equal power, as that is simply not the case."

Mazdak nodded as he followed the diplomacy. Try as Ternoc may, the fact remained that this was going to be a tricky negotiation. Hekaga needed to benefit from this arrangement, and Xigyll had little to offer which Hekaga wanted. On the other hand, Xigyll's needs were great, and Hekaga could meet them if it wanted to, but doing so would likely create resentment among the kobold population, as it could easily render Xigyll into a protectorate, possibly even a province of Hekaga's kingdom. That simply wouldn't fly.

@Aristocles

For a moment Smith became responsive looking at Vespion, Blinking his eyes before closing them. Doing as he was told thinking about a happy memory he had with his mother, It was when he was around six years old picking Pickerberries with his mother.

Flashback Start

"Mommy I found some of those berries" The young Smith said proudly holding a basket of berries, His mother turned to him smiling and nodding her head.She was gorgeous looking with curly green hair, pale skin and a thin face. She was wearing a long frilly dress. "Lovely now then come sit with me" She said sitting on a tree stump, Smith placed the basket on the ground and sat in his mother's lap. "Now Smith i want you to know I love how so very much, And I will do anything to protect you...if you ever need me just whistle this tune and I will come" She said whistling the song of the forest god, Smith copying this tune looking at his mother happily.

"Very good my little Kar'vek (Sunflower), I love you Smith" She said again this time with sadness in her voice. Wrapping her long arms around him in a loving hug.

Flashback Ends

Smith started to perches his lips together whistling the song he was taught a long time ago.

"I shall," Rebat said, stepping forward. He wasn't completely sure how to start. It was as if the moment he stepped forwards, his eloquence with words suddenly left him. He opened his mouth, but all that emitted was a choking croak. Then, the words began to slowly come to him, and he smiled, remembering. " . . . His Might Rughoi the Unbound will not ask much of his mighty neighbor. He is of the belief that kobold strength and intellect will forge his nation, given time. I, the voice of His Might outside of his city, agree with this sentiment." He began picking up the pace, as terms began to come to him. "Our demands are humble and simple, and our willingness to give is great. What we ask is a total end to hostilities between our two nations, as well as a lasting peace that stretches to the end of time." That, he thought, was a good start. "In exchange, merchants flying the Hekaga flag will not be asked to pay tariff. We shall also turn over a number of dracon heirlooms taken from Traeton to you. Lastly, we offer you the title Friend to All Kobold, recognized by all citizens of Xigyll, and an exalted place in the annals of our nation."

Nori made herself comfortable at a nearby table and began "washing" the playing cards. She was careful not to get them in her sleeves. She was scared she wouldn't get a clear reading and doom an entire kingdom, but the prince would be waiting. There was no time for mistakes. She stopped shuffling, took a deep breath, and drew the top three.



Nori chewed on her lip. She could tell the truth and most likely continue the war, or she could lie an make things appear better. The second option sounded good at first until she realized that if she lied and the events came true, she would be killed for going against the prince. Neither option looked good. Either the truth would continue war and the lie would get her killed. Norix took a deep, but shaky breath. She had decided on the truth.

"The first card is a near future, the second a medium, and the last a far future. The two of spades, there will be bad luck in this future. Do not rely on others, you will only be let down. There will be opposition from friends and family. The five of diamonds, you will prosper, gain a long enduring friendship, have pride in your family, and success with children in this future. The eight of spades, this future will bring a sense of desperation and a need for money. In summary, you will gain from this agreement but bad luck, disappointment, a friend, a child, and monetary debt."

(Sorry about that. Job took a lot more time than I thought. Things will slow down there around the holidays.)

@Eviledd1984

Vespion looked at the bowl of water, inserted his right hand, which began to glow a light blue. "Can you hear me? I am looking for Smith's mother! This is Vespion on Minbenthac, a dracon cleric! Your son needs help that only you can give! If you can hear my voice, please respond! I can open a portal to bring you through to the temple courtyard!"

"Hang on, my love!" Kara exclaimed, rather ineffectually.

@bloonewb@LordofthePies

Ternoc considered Rebat's words. "That's a good start. That can't be all Xigyll wants, though. The lack of tariffs is an appreciated gesture, and we would be happy to reciprocate, but..." Ternoc cleared his throat. "...peace alone isn't what we want. A treaty is one thing, an alliance another. Obviously, the former has to come before the latter, so this a good first step. Nori, what do you think so far?"

The grand prince waited for her response.

"The first card is a near future, the second a medium, and the last a far future. The two of spades, there will be bad luck in this future. Do not rely on others, you will only be let down. There will be opposition from friends and family. The five of diamonds, you will prosper, gain a long enduring friendship, have pride in your family, and success with children in this future. The eight of spades, this future will bring a sense of desperation and a need for money. In summary, you will gain from this agreement but bad luck, disappointment, a friend, a child, and monetary debt."

"... I see. Thank you, wise oracle. Not a very encouraging sign, and I already have plenty of children by my wives." What could cause such a dire fortune? Treachery on Rughoi's part? A normally unforeseeable event caused by a strange chain of events which wouldn't normally come from a peace treaty? And what could possibly cause a ruler of an entire kingdom to go into debt but a war?

"Rebat, perhaps we are approaching this all wrong. Well-meaning deals often end in tragedy. 'The peacemakers are to be more feared than the warriors', or so the saying goes around these parts. Let's pare it down a bit, and shift the focus. Would Traeton be willing to send a contingent of soldiers into battle alongside one of Hekaga's armies? We'd treat your troops as equals, under their own officers and as full soldiers, not as porters or servants. My only condition for such an agreement is that a general from Hekaga be in overall command of that expedition. Norix, has this changed our current course?"

@Aristocles

Vespion could hear some voice speaking before a clear voice spoke up, It was a woman's voice speaking clearly and in a motherly tone of voice. "Open the portal, I wish to see my son" The voice said. Smith in the meantime was still eyes wide open like he was excited to see what came out of the portal.

@Eviledd1984

A portal opened up, and a female figure could be seen stepping forth. She wasn't dressed in very much, which was perfect for the dracon lands. Although Vespion had never seen this woman before, the similarities between herself and Smith were evident. They even had a similar scent.

"Welcome to Minbenthac, miss...?" He waited for her to tell her name.

@Aristocles

The female figure was very tall around 6'7 standing tall among the others in the room, Wearing a long green dress covering her body with hand made bracelets and anklets on her body.Her whole body pale with a thin face and long green hair pasted her shoulders, Making her way forward crouched down in front of Smith.

"My name is..Leonore.." She said to the Dracon now attending to Smith, "Oh my poor Kar'vek, I am sorry i could not be there for you" She said softly rubbing Smith's head. Smith's eyes looked over at the female figure with both anger and sadness in his eyes.

"Kar'vek? Is that... is that Smith's real name?" Kara asked, unsure of what to make of the situation.

Although he was quite surprised to see just how tall Leonore was, Vespion was still a little taller if one included his horns. Barely so. Her appearance was much like that of a human, but the exotic color of her hair immediately put that notion to rest.

"My lady, your son is seriously ill. It would be best to see to him immediately. If you need anything, you have but to ask."

@Aristocles

"Ah no my child..it means sunflower in my language, A nickname " She said to Kara smiling, "Although if you like to know his real name it is Sa'hin which means prince of the earth" She said feeling the expression on Smith's face. This worried her reminding her of her former husband, Her hand still rubbing the young man's forehead.

"I must take him to my home so i may work on him" She said to Vespion with a more serious look on her face. The named Leonore smelled of flowers and dirt.

"I should accompany you, then. With your permission, of course. I can open a portal back to Minbenthac" Vespion explained.

"And I want to come too" Kara interjected, running over to Smith's side. "I-I know this isn't really the best way to meet my boyfriend's mom, but Smith and I- we're in love. I really don't want to be apart from him." Kara had a gate stone and could teleport using it without anyone's aid, but didn't waste any time explained it to Vespion.

@Aristocles

The woman smiled nodding her head and standing up, Having picked up Smith holding him in her arms like she was holding a baby. "You may come with me, You two will be vital to his recovery" She said now looking over towards Vespion, "You may open the portal" She said to Vespion and then turning to face Kara.

"You are his lover? Well he does have..excellent taste in a mate, A pleasure to meet you miss" She said to Kara.